Darryn Peterson scored 17 points in his return after a month lost to a hamstring injury, and No. 21 Kansas used a 23-3 run spanning halftime to seize control against Missouri, before the Jayhawks rolled to an 80-60 victory over their bitter rival Sunday. The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Peterson had missed the past seven games with the nagging injury. Tre White led the Jayhawks (7-3) with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
College Football Playoff committee sending message to Notre Dame by leaving Irish out of 12-team field
The work is finally done for the worst selection committee in the CFP's history, and make no mistake, excluding Notre Dame was a message from the CFP.
Jeff Kent avoids joining Barry Bonds Hall of Fame debate after earning own nod
Jeff Kent avoids joining Barry Bonds Hall of Fame debate after earning own nod originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Former Giants star second baseman Jeff Kent finally earned a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday after being elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.
However, his longtime teammate in San Francisco, Barry Bonds, again failed to garner enough support to make it to Cooperstown.
Now that Kent is set to be enshrined in the Hall, what does he think of Bonds’ controversial case to have the same honor? The 2000 NL MVP was asked that very question shortly after Sunday’s announcement.
“Barry was a good teammate of mine,” Kent told reporters. “He was a guy that I motivated and pushed — we knocked heads a little bit. He was a guy that motivated me, at times in frustration, in love at times. …
“I don’t think I ever saw a better player play the game overall. Everything that he did, every phase of the game, maybe other than throwing, I don’t know if Barry had such a great arm. But every phase of the game, Barry was one of the best players I ever saw play the game. Amazing. So for me, I’ve always said that.
“I’ve always avoided the specific answer you’re looking for because I don’t have one. I don’t. I’m not a voter, but I can say that he was a teammate that helped me. I believe I helped him. I believe he was one of the best baseball players I ever saw. You know, if you’re talking about moral code and all that, I’m not a voter, and I’m trying to stay away from all of that the best I can because I really don’t have an opinion.
“I’ve left it. It doesn’t matter to me anymore. And I know he’s been argued amongst a lot of baseball elites about if he ought to be in or not, and, you know, keep having that argument. And, you know, you argue through it, and if he’s not, he’s not, and if he is, he is. And it’s not going to matter to me one way or the other.”
Bonds’ Hall of Fame debate long has been a topic among baseball media and fans, and Sunday’s setback certainly reignited that discussion online. But Kent still opted not to take a side even after his own election.
Nevertheless, it’s understandable that Kent doesn’t feel the need to add much to the conversation; after all, he likely is asked about Bonds all the time, and the two have a rather complicated history between them.
Bonds now will have to wait until 2031 to be reconsidered for the Hall of Fame, so the debate will have to continue for a few more years before there’s any resolution.
Who’s No. 1? Top-ranked Purdue’s loss opens the door for a change atop the AP poll
The second-ranked Wildcats can certainly make a case with Saturday night's dismantling of No. 20 Auburn and top-ranked Purdue's first loss of the season. Then again, Michigan can also stake a claim to No. 1. “Obviously, it's not something you shy away from,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said after the 97-68 win over Auburn.
Without Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks down Magic, 106-100, for third straight win
The Knicks (16-7) defeated the Orlando Magic (14-10) by a final score of 106-100 on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- The Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns, as the big man was ruled out before tipoff due to calf tightness. Towns, who went for 35 points and 18 rebounds against Charlotte on Wednesday night, is the team’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, so the Knicks were obviously missing a very important piece.
With Towns out, Mitchell Robinson started alongside the usual starting group.
-- Franz Wagner, Orlando’s leading scorer on the season averaging 23.4 points per game, went down hard in the first quarter. On an alley-oop attempt, Wagner was fouled by Ariel Hukporti and landed awkwardly, appearing to injure his left knee or ankle. Wagner had to be helped to the locker room, putting no weight on his left leg.
The Knicks then suffered an injury scare of their own in the third quarter, when Miles McBride went down and ended up limping off the floor. Shortly after the game, the Knicks announced he hurt his left ankle and they would share more information on his status Monday. McBride, who has been an absolute spark for the Knicks this season, had four points and two assists in 21 minutes.
-- Coming off a 33-point night against Utah,Jalen Brunson led the charge for the Knicks once again. Playing at an MVP-level this season, Brunson had 16 points and five assists in the first quarter alone, attacking the rim and playing well in the mid range. The Knicks led by four points at the end of the first quarter. After getting a rest to start the quarter, Brunson ended up going scoreless in the second frame, as both teams dialed up their defense.
After a back-and-forth first half, the Knicks started the second half on a 9-0 run and went on to outscore the Magic 28-18 in the quarter, with Brunson scoring 10 points.
The All-Star guard finished with 30 points and nine assists.
-- OG Anunoby, playing in his second game back from injury, once again had his minutes limited. But when he was on the floor, he was in All-Star form, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in just under 28 minutes. His fourth three of the game came early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Knicks' lead to 16 points. Anunoby was a difference-maker on both sides of the floor.
--The story of the game for Orlando, even before Wagner left the game, was attacking the Knicks in transition. Orlando players beat the Knicks down the floor after made baskets multiple times early on, but the Knicks' defense adjusted and stifled the Magic, holding them to 38.3 percent shooting on the game. Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, and Paolo Banchero all finished in double digits, but it wasn't enough.
-- With Towns out and Robinson dealing with some foul trouble, Josh Hart stepped up and was all over the glass. The veteran finished the game with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hukporti also gave the Knicks some strong minutes off the bench, finishing with six points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
-- The Knicks have now won eight of their last nine games, and are now 2.5 games behind Detroit for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Game MVP
Anunoby, whose two-way play, even in limited minutes, played a huge role in the New York victory.
Highlights
JALEN BRUNSONNNNN pic.twitter.com/XqzC3dDpwG
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 7, 2025
hart on a heater ❤️🔥
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 7, 2025
15 PTS | 10 REB pic.twitter.com/hiq19dDpM5
cap getting what he wants 😤
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 7, 2025
29 PTS | 9 AST pic.twitter.com/JSp8YTnjxn
Upcoming schedule
The Knicks will take on the Raptors in Toronto on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m.
Jonathan Kuminga's DNP vs. Bulls is latest bump in up-and-down Warriors tenure
Jonathan Kuminga's DNP vs. Bulls is latest bump in up-and-down Warriors tenure originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The writing might have been on the wall, but it’s still wild to see.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr used 10 players in the first quarter Sunday against the Chicago Bulls. Jonathan Kuminga wasn’t one of them. Gary Payton II started the second quarter and made it 11 Warriors to see the floor, the same number that saw time in the first half. Kuminga still wasn’t one of them.
Kuminga rode the bench the entire second half, too. The 23-year-old who signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract in restricted free agency to return to the Warriors a day into training camp received his first healthy DNP-CD (Did Not Play — Coach’s Decision) of the 2025-26 NBA season in a 123-91 wire-to-wire road win against the Chicago Bulls.
“Just got to keep going, just like everybody else who’s in this position,” Kerr said after the game. “And it happens to everybody, pretty much, other than the stars. Guys come in and out of the rotation depending on who’s available, how the team’s playing.”
There were several factors that Kerr went into about why Kuminga was leapfrogged in the rotation Sunday. From a positional standpoint, he mentioned wanting to give more minutes to Gui Santos after the impact he made the previous two games. Santos was a plus-15 in 11 1/2 minutes on Thursday, and scored 14 points, including five clutch points in the fourth quarter, on Saturday.
Kerr did not elaborate about his conversation with Kuminga on his decision to keep him out of the rotation against the Bulls.
“All that stuff is private,” Kerr said.
Kuminga spoke with reporters in Chicago for a little more than five minutes after the Warriors’ win. There wasn’t any animosity towards Kerr. Kuminga chose a mature approach, saying “we don’t have any problems,” and noted that he’ll work every day to be ready for his next opportunity.
“As long as things are working out and we’re winning, I don’t see a point of switching anything or changing,” Kuminga said. “Whenever my number gets called, I’ll be ready. But I don’t see the point [of changing]. We’re doing good. We’ve been doing good, things are working really well.
“I don’t see a point of taking certain people out of the rotation when they’re playing well and things are going good right now. I don’t see a point.”
A numbers crunch was sure to come Sunday in Chicago. Along with the absence of Steph Curry, who didn’t join the team on the three-game road trip as he continues to rehab a quad contusion, the Warriors on Saturday also were without Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry. Only 10 Warriors were healthy, and all 10 played.
Kuminga was one of them, and he was in the starting lineup after coming off the bench his previous four games. But he scored just four points on 1-of-10 shooting in 21 1/2 minutes. Kuminga missed his first seven shot attempts and was held scoreless in the first half.
“Some of the guys that played tonight aren’t going to play tomorrow,” Kerr said Saturday night after the Warriors’ short-handed win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. “That’s got to be OK. For them, for everybody. It’s what it takes to be a great team. You have to be able to sacrifice for the good of the group. Some nights are yours, some nights aren’t.
“Fortunately, we’ve got really good guys one our team and they’re committed to each other, and I feel confident going forward we’ll have a lot of guys who are going to contribute and every night will be a little different.”
Despite being extremely depleted, Warriors had their best feel-good win of the season Saturday by beating the Cavaliers on the road.
Then came the Warriors’ reinforcements. Butler and Melton returned Sunday against the Bulls. A healthy Seth Curry was back but also received a DNP-CD. His older brother is expected to return Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center, as are Green and Horford.
Kuminga played nine minutes and 18 seconds in the second half Saturday, and a lowly two and a half minutes in the fourth quarter. His role being reduced in the more important parts of the game has been a recent trend. He sat the entire fourth quarter of their 12-point loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, and again Thursday in their one-point last-second loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
As Kuminga watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench against the Thunder, his agent, Aaron Turner, posted his disapproval of Kerr’s decision on X. He also reposted somebody else who was against the decision as well.
Restricted free agency between Kuminga and the Warriors dragged to the very last minute. And it didn’t just affect him. The Warriors were stuck in limbo and weren’t signing other players until knowing what the final number on Kuminga’s contract was going to be. In the end, Kuminga came back, but not on the contract he expected going into the summer, and the final deal didn’t include his preferred player option.
Turner took a public approach to Kuminga’s restricted free agency and joined multiple outlets to speak on the situation, including NBC Sports Bay Area.
“Can he be the player he wants to be here, right now, with this roster composition? No. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to win and he’s not willing to sacrifice for the group,” Turner said to myself and Monte Poole on the “Dubs Talk” podcast in September.
Earlier that same day, Turner was on 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” and hit on where things stood between Kuminga and his coach.
“The last point where we ended with Steve was, I can’t play this guy big minutes with what I have now. I don’t think that can’t evolve or can’t change but that’s where we are right now, until we see differently. That’s got to be the worst sales pitch to a 20-plus million dollar free agent in the history of basketball,” Turner said.
Kuminga began the 2025-26 NBA season doing all the things the Warriors asked from him and was a big reason why they started the campaign 4-1. The Warriors then went 2-5 over their next seven games, all with Kuminga in the starting lineup. He was dropped to a reserve role in San Antonio on Nov. 12 and left the game at halftime with knee soreness before missing the next seven to bilateral patellar tendonitis.
Before Sunday night’s DNP, Kuminga has played four games since returning from his knee issues and has averaged 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 30 percent from the field and 30.8 percent on 13 3-point attempts. Kuminga in those four games has as many turnovers (eight) as assists.
The Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline now is less than two months away. The first day Kuminga can be traded is Jan. 15, and Sunday’s healthy and loud DNP is the latest development in a rocky relationship.
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CFP bracket is a mess with too many underdogs, not enough elite teams
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What we learned as Jimmy Butler's return fuels Warriors' road win vs. Bulls
What we learned as Jimmy Butler's return fuels Warriors' road win vs. Bulls originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Maybe it was knowledge that they would have Monday and Tuesday to themselves, but the Warriors on Sunday delivered one of their zestiest performances of the 2025-26 NBA season.
After an inspiring victory Saturday night in Cleveland, they floated into Chicago and cruised to a tip-to-buzzer 123-91 triumph over the Bulls at United Center. It was the first game this season where the Warriors led the entire contest.
The Warriors moved back above .500 (13-12) behind Jimmy Butler’s all-around play, with an efficient 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Six other Warriors scored in double figures, led by Brandin Podziemski coming off the bench to put up a game-high 21 points. Quinten Post finished with 19, De’Anthony Melton had 13, Pat Spencer scored 12, with Moses Moody and Will Richard each totaling 11.
The Warriors poured in 22 3-pointers, the third time this season they’ve drained 20 or more in a game. They dominated the glass, outrebounding Chicago 51-38, more than offsetting the 21 points they gave the Bulls off 17 turnovers.
The Warriors, whose 25 games are tied for the league high, return home with an opportunity to get healthy and reset. Their next game is Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and that will the first of two games over a 10-day span.
Here are three observations from the finale of a three-game road swing through the Eastern Conference:
Jimmy Grabs His Cape
The Warriors maintained a double-digit lead from the final minutes of the first quarter, hiking the advantage as high as 24, before the Bulls rallied late, going on a 17-1 run to pull within eight (87-79) with 11: 24 remaining.
There was no Stephen Curry to stop the onslaught. There was no Draymond Green to cool Chicago’s offense. There was no Al Horford, either. All three were out with injuries.
To whom would the Warriors turn to restore order? Butler.
Clearly sensing a threat, he reached for his cape, scoring eight of his points during a 16-2 run that closed the door and pave the way for Golden State to outscore the Bulls 36-12 over the final 11 minutes.
Butler did so much work, so quickly, that he managed to post a plus-16 in five fourth-quarter minutes before taking a richly deserved seat with the Warriors up by 27 with a 6:31 to play.
Hello, Chicago!
After introducing themselves during the opening tip, the Warriors immediately made themselves at home inside the United Center, racing out to leads of 11-2, 23-10 and, by the end of the first quarter, 38-25.
Showing no ill effect from their late-night arrival from Cleveland, the Warriors made six of their first eight shots and nine of their first 12. They shot 68.2 percent in the quarter, including 61.5 from deep.
After losing the tip against Bulls big man Nikola Vučević, Post made three consecutive 3-pointers within the first five minutes to finish the quarter with nine points. Six different Warriors drained triples in the first 12 minutes.
In another show of early energy, Golden State outrebounded the Bulls 12-6 in the quarter and limited them to 44-percent shooting from the field, including 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Latest Chapter In The Book Of Kuminga
Eleven different Warriors participated in one of Golden State’s most decisive wins this season, and none of them was Jonathan Kuminga.
One night after making his first start in 25 days in a win over the Cavaliers in Cleveland, Kuminga never left the bench in Chicago. He was not listed on the injury report, so this DNP-CD makes a curious statement.
Kuminga, inconsistent all season, didn’t exactly help his cause in Cleveland. Making his first start since returning last Tuesday after missing seven games with an ankle sprain, he grabbed seven rebounds but scored only four points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field, including 0 of 3 from distance.
In the three games since his return, Kuminga is averaging 7.0 points per game, shooting 25 percent (8 of 32) from the field, including beyond the arc.
Though Kuminga won’t be trade eligible until Jan. 15, it will be very interesting to see how the Warriors manage him over the coming weeks.
Orlando's Franz Wagner leaves game with very concerning apparent knee injury after fall
Just as the Magic get Paolo Banchero back comes this potentially troubling news.
Orlando forward Franz Wagner left Sunday's game against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden after going to the ground when, on a first quarter transition opportunity, New York's Mitchell Robinson came in to block a pass to Wagner, and the German went to the ground and instantly grabbed his left knee. He stayed on the ground for a while before being helped back to the locker room by his brother, Mo Wagner.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner landed awkwardly and held his left knee in pain for a while. Wagner was helped to the locker room by his brother, Moe Wagner, and another Magic player. pic.twitter.com/x66iqwcPOU
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 7, 2025
The Magic only said that Wagner would not return to the game due to a "lower left leg injury" and "will be re-evaluated upon the team's return to Orlando."
Wagner had been playing at an All-Star level for the Magic, averaging 23.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game, shooting 35.4% from 3-point range. He had been the best player on the team through the Magic's run of elite play in recent weeks.
Pittsburgh Penguins At Dallas Stars Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four of their last five games, including two-straight.
They recently defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in a wild, chaotic game on Thursday, in which Nikita Kucherov's game-tying goal was taken off the board for a hand pass. The Penguins were able to survive the final minute of regulation and walk away with two points.
The Penguins have responded since head coach Dan Muse called them out following the Nov. 22 3-2 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken, and will try to carry that strong momentum into Sunday's game against a Dallas Stars team with Stanley Cup aspirations. The Stars are currently in second place in the Central Division with a 19-5-5 record and have won two in a row and seven of 10.
Stars forward Jason Robertson has been outstanding this year, compiling 18 goals and 37 points in 29 games. He's been doing it all for the Stars and if he's not on Team USA's Olympic team in February, then something is seriously wrong.
Mikko Rantanen has also been outstanding, racking up 13 goals and 38 points in 28 games. He's very crafty in the offensive zone and can make anyone pay in an instant.
Wyatt Johnston continues to do his thing with 16 goals and 33 points in 29 games and doesn't get talked about enough. He's one of the most underrated players in the NHL.
Miro Heiskanen leads the Stars defensively and is one of the best defenseman on the planet. He can do everything in all three zones and has exceptional gap control.
Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith have both been good in goal this season and it'll be interesting to see which goalie gets the nod in this one.
As for the Penguins, there may be a couple of changes coming to the lineup after Saturday's practice. Evgeni Malkin missed practice with a maintenance day and will not play on Sunday due to an upper-body injury. Justin Brazeau was back in his usual spot on the second line during line rushes, and Noel Acciari was back on the fourth line.
Matt Dumba was also in Connor Clifton's spot on the bottom pairing with Ryan Graves.
Here's what Sunday's lineup could look like if Brazeau and Acciari are cleared to return:
Forwards
Novak-Crosby-Rust
Mantha-Hayes-Brazeau
McGroarty-Kindel-Koivunen
Dewar-Lizzote-Acciari
Defense
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Shea-Letang
Graves-Dumba
Penguins head coach Dan Muse will likely announce a starting goaltender when he meets with the media before the game. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh, and fans can listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
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Predators' Star Forward Notches Huge Milestone Against Carolina
In the Nashville Predators' (10-14-4) 6-3 loss over the Carolina Hurricanes (17-8-2), Preds star forward Filip Forsberg recorded a big milestone.
After getting an assist on Matthew Wood's goal in the third period, Forsberg scored his tenth goal of the year and notched his 19th point of the season in 28 games.
The Preds leading goal-scorer this year recorded his 328th career goal with his tip in the third period. It was his 700th career point.
Forsberg, 31, is still second all-time in Predators scoring behind defenseman and captain Roman Josi (734). Forsberg, with the goal, has put himself 118 goals in front of David Legwand for most goals in Predators history.
You're looking at Fil's 700th @NHL point 👏 pic.twitter.com/DPe779z2g6
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 7, 2025
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In Colton White's Return To NHL He's Proven Invaluable To Devils
As New Jersey Devils Public Address Announcer Adam Hamway announced the in-game Dessert Race from his booth at the top of Prudential Center on Friday night, down below on the ice was Colton White skating small laps near his team's bench.
In the nine games he has appeared in for the Devils this season, you can count on the 28-year-old to take advantage of every TV timeout, jumping over the boards for a quick skate to keep his mind in the game and his focus sharp.
Since being called up on Nov. 05, White has averaged 11:58 of ice time, serving as a depth defenseman. His minutes are limited, but that doesn't mean they are easy, as any player or coach can speak to the challenges of waiting long periods in between shifts.
"It is extremely hard to play (limited minutes)," Andy Greene previously told The Hockey News. "They are sitting there for 15 minutes at a time, and all of a sudden they get their shift, and it is, 'Oh my God, what do I do?'
"The guys that can do that and can figure it out, they are usually always around," Greene continued. "There is always a job for them."
Understanding the disadvantages and struggles of filling a depth role makes White's numbers even more impressive.
In many defensive-zone metrics, White's numbers rank first or second among the Devils' defense. Of course, it is a small sample size, but he is playing hard minutes. With the team on the road, he is not getting the desired matchups. He has played with multiple defensive partners, including Dennis Cholowski, Brenden Dillon, and Simon Nemec. He has also spent most of his time playing on his off-side. It is for these reasons that MSG Networks Devils Analyst Bryce Salvador has called White's contributions invaluable.
A Long-Awaited Return To The NHL
940 days.
It took 940 days of commitment, hard work, persistence, and having the right attitude to lead White to this moment and opportunity.
After a short stint with the Anaheim Ducks organization, White contacted the Devils and showed interest in returning to the organization that drafted him in 2015. In July 2024, he signed a two-year, two-way contract, reuniting him with the Devils. In the first year of his contract, he spent the season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Comets. He was quickly named an alternate captain, getting an 'A' stitched to the front of his jersey, an honor he has this season as well.
Utica Comets General Manager Dan MacKinnon had a simple message for White: if he was going to be with the Comets, he needed to take hold and own that leadership and mentor role, not just for the younger defensemen, but for every player in that room.
Well, he has done that in spades. His teammates will be the first to tell you that White is among the first to congratulate someone on a call-up or check in to see how they are doing. One player he specifically took under his wing was defenseman Seamus Casey, who began his professional career last season.
"(White) is the best," Casey previously told The Hockey News. "He is such a good person, first and foremost. I think he is definitely someone who constantly looks out for me here. One of my favorite guys that I have played with, for sure."
Even during this current stint with the Devils, White is keeping a close eye on the Comets. In addition to checking the box scores, he is keeping in contact with those in Utica.
"When I am with New Jersey, I keep track of how the team is doing, and I talk to a lot of the guys, some almost every day," White told The Hockey News. "It is asking how games are, but also seeing how things are going with them off the ice as well."
Part of what makes him a favorite among his teammates is his approach and positive energy, regardless of where the team is in the standings.
"His attitude day in and day out is always incredible," Casey said. "When things are going good for the team or if they are going bad, he has got that unwavering positivity, and his work ethic matches it and his consistency. It is no surprise he is thriving in an NHL lineup."
Doing What Is Asked
When the organization recalled White, Devils' head coach Sheldon Keefe knew precisely what type of defenseman he would be inserting into this lineup, as he first met White when he was a teenager.
"He is a more mature version of who I have always known," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "I coached him as a 16-year-old kid coming into junior hockey. And at that time, you really appreciated his demeanor. He is a very genuine person, works hard, is a good teammate, and has a good skill set-a broad skill set. I don't think he's ever had one thing that he has really latched onto. He is good at a lot of things. A very solid defenseman. He can skate, move the puck, but is also smart enough to defend. And again, that's what we need from him here."
The thing with White is that he is not a flashy player; most of his contributions won't show up on a stats sheet or scoreboard. Still, he has received praise from those around the game, from Keefe to goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who, when asked explicitly about Simon Nemec's performance post-game, also said that White is not getting enough credit for his contributions.
The question becomes: what is it about White's game that does not necessarily get recognized by fans but is praised by those around the game?
"He is such a good skater and plays with a lot of skill, but also plays a very smart and patient game and rarely makes mistakes," Casey explained. "Guys will always appreciate someone who is a constant driver of the puck, making their jobs easier. He can play pretty much every role on the backend as well."
"He puts a lot of value in the defensive side (of the game), but when you put him in the position where he gets a call-up, he knows exactly what he needs to do to stay and be impactful for the team," Comets' head coach Ryan Parent said. "He essentially puts all of his focus into making sure he's sharp on all those details. That is what his priority is. That is what he believes he has to do to help the team out. It is about the way you are preparing for the game and what your expectations of a good game are."
One person who has been an asset to White is Devils' assistant coach Brad Shaw, who has given the Ontario native attention he didn't necessarily get in the past.
"Brad has been really helpful," he said. "He is very detailed, always communicates, and is very patient with me. In games, practice days, or video sessions, he takes his time with everyone, and that is something I haven't had before, usually being the extra defenseman. Just little tidbits of information to help my game and play to my strengths."
Any Day In The NHL Is A Good Day
White is usually one of the last players off the ice on practice days, and among the first to arrive on game days. Not a participant in the team's overly competitive sewer ball game, he opts to find a quiet place to go through his own routine before he hits the ice for warmups wearing no. 45.
A quiet and polite individual, White will never be the center of attention, nor is that something he strives for. Being a good teammate and a good person is enough, and for now, he is just soaking in the moment, his return to the NHL.
"Any day in the NHL is a good day," he said. "It is a privilege to be here. It takes a lot of work to stay here. I am just doing my best day-by-day, whether it's in a practice or in a game, just doing what's asked of me and try to contribute any way I can."
It is unclear how long White will remain with the Devils, but two things are clear. The first, is he has done an excellent job playing hard minutes. The second, he is valued and respected by those around him in both the AHL and NHL.
"At the end of the day, everyone wants to get to the NHL; that is everyone's dream," Angus Crookshank said. "He deserves to be up there, and I couldn't be happier for him, seeing the success he is having."
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Barry Bonds' snub from Hall of Fame sparks disgruntled social media reactions
Barry Bonds' snub from Hall of Fame sparks disgruntled social media reactions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Social media was sent into a frenzy on Sunday night after MLB announced the shocking results of the Hall of Fame Contemporary Baseball Era ballot.
To the surprise of many, the results revealed that Giants icon Jeff Kent is the lone name bound for Cooperstown in July, while his former teammate and San Francisco great Barry Bonds — and six others — didn’t make the cut.
Here are the votes in full detail, followed by some interesting social media posts about Bonds enduring exclusion once again.