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Flyers answer test, reel off three goals in 59 seconds to cruise past Sabres

Flyers answer test, reel off three goals in 59 seconds to cruise past Sabres originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet felt Wednesday night’s game would be a “good test” for his team to see where it was “mentally.”

The Flyers handled the test pretty well.

They blew out the Sabres, 5-2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena, just a day after they learned Tyson Foerster would miss two to three months with an upper-body injury.

Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, Bobby Brink, Noah Cates and Owen Tippett all found the back of the net for the Flyers (15-8-3). Ten players recorded at least a point and five of them had multi-point efforts.

Tocchet said Foerster was in the locker room giving his teammates high fives.

“We all saw him,” Zegras said with a smile. “He’s still here.”

A week and a half after ripping off three first-period goals in 26 seconds against the Devils, the Flyers jumped on Buffalo with three in 59 seconds of the opening stanza. The spurt flipped a 1-0 deficit into a two-goal lead for the Flyers before the halfway mark of the period.

By second intermission, the Flyers were in total control.

Tocchet had to like his team’s response after it was rolled Monday night by the Penguins, 5-1. The Flyers have dropped consecutive games in regulation only once this season (Nov. 1-2).

“Two points after last game, so really happy about that,” Tocchet said. “I still think we run around too much when the pressure [comes]. There are certain things that we’ve got to clean up with the running around. I don’t know if that’s bad habits from before, but there are chunks [of the game] that we’ve just got to communicate more.”

This was the first of three matchups between the Flyers and Sabres (11-12-4) this season.

• The Flyers gave Samuel Ersson plenty of run support and he played well with it.

The 26-year-old converted 27 saves on 29 shots.

“He was fantastic,” Konecny said.

Tocchet’s club committed a couple of early penalties and fell down 1-0 on Jason Zucker’s power play goal.

But then Konecny, Zegras and Brink went on that 59-second spree.

The goals by Konecny and Zegras were on the power play. Buffalo was burned when it challenged Konecny’s goal, claiming Tippett interfered with goaltender Colten Ellis. The challenge was unsuccessful, which put the Flyers back on the power play and they capitalized.

“I think we took advantage of our power play chances early,” Tippett said. “That kind of set us up for the rest of the game.”

Making just his seventh career NHL start, Ellis allowed the Flyers’ five goals on 35 shots.

• The Flyers got the balanced scoring they’ll need in Foerster’s absence.

Cates and Brink looked very good being back on a line together. Nikita Grebenkin, who is set for an expanded role, joined their line and had an assist.

“He showed a lot of talent, a lot of hard work, won his battles, made a lot of good plays,” Brink said of Grebenkin. “It was a treat to play with him.”

Zegras’ goal was his 10th. The 24-year-old forward was also shaken up after being boarded by Rasmus Dahlin with 3:10 minutes left in the second period. Zegras was OK, though, staying in the game, while Dahlin was hit with a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct.

• Cam York was not on the bench for the third period.

The specifics of his injury are uncertain. The 24-year-old defenseman was involved in a melee after Zegras was boarded by Dahlin.

“We were trying to look for it, but I think he got hit behind the net, a little bit late or something,” Tocchet said. “But I haven’t talked to the doctors.”

• Rasmus Ristolainen, while wearing a non-contact jersey, took part in the Flyers’ morning skate Wednesday.

It was the first time the 31-year-old defenseman participated in a team skate this season. He has been recovering from surgery in March on a second triceps tendon rupture.

Ristolainen is now working with the Flyers’ assistant coaches rather than in a rehab setting with the club’s player development staffers. Being cleared for contact in practice would be his next step toward a return, which could come at some point during December.

“Do I have an exact date?” Tocchet said after morning skate. “No, but it’s not a month and it’s not a week.”

• After playing six games in 10 days, the Flyers go the next three days without a game before returning to action Sunday when they host the NHL-leading Avalanche (1 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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Fantasy Basketball Week 7 Injury Report: Stephen Curry, Zion Williamson among the key absences

The NBA world received some shocking news in the early hours of Wednesday, as the Los Angeles Clippers announced they’re moving on from Chris Paul. One of the veterans added to that roster in hopes of being a contender in the West, CP3's return to the Clippers did not go as planned. He received inconsistent rotation minutes, going from someone who was a legitimate fantasy option in San Antonio last season to a person whose rostership (five percent in Yahoo! leagues) could not be justified.

It goes without saying that his exit will not affect fantasy basketball in the short term, especially since the Clippers are a second-apron team that cannot add another player (or waive Paul) immediately. Let's look at some of the key injuries affecting fantasy basketball during Week 7.

C Kristaps Porziņģis and G Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Young last appeared in a game on October 29, and on Saturday, it was announced that he will miss at least two more weeks as he recovers from a sprained right MCL. Nothing changes from a fantasy standpoint, as Nickeil Alexander-Walker (47 percent) will continue to start, and he should be on the radar for more 12-team leagues and some 10-team leagues as well. The question is whether he'll be worth holding onto after Young returns, and Alexander-Walker should be. In Atlanta's first four games, when Young was also available, NAW averaged 29.8 minutes per game. That's more than enough time to continue to provide reliable fantasy value.

As for Porziņģis, he has missed the last three games with an illness, and that unfortunate streak will hit four on Wednesday when the Hawks host the Clippers. The concern is that a late-season illness derailed his 2024-25 season, and Porziņģis never seemed to get back to his usual self. Hopefully, this current situation isn't similar, but fantasy managers can't be blamed for being concerned. Onyeka Okongwu (86 percent) will start until Porziņģis returns, and he'll have reliable value regardless of his place within the rotation. Mouhamed Gueye (two percent) has played rotation minutes, but the production has not been there to justify rostering him in most leagues.

F Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets

Miller appeared to tweak his left shoulder, the same one he injured earlier this season, during Saturday's win over the Raptors. While his injury description for Monday's loss to the Nets was a sore left shoulder, the Hornets changed it to a shoulder subluxation for Wednesday's game against the Knicks. That's the injury that sidelined him for 13 games, with rookie Sion James (one percent) filling the void in the starting lineup. Managers in 12-team leagues (and some 10-team leagues) should consider leaping Kon Knueppel (51 percent) if they haven't already, and Collin Sexton (28 percent) is a bit more appealing in deeper leagues, especially with LaMelo Ball's shaky injury history.

G Coby White and G Kevin Huerter, Chicago Bulls

Chicago's injury report for Wednesday's game against the Nets was loaded with names, with White and Huerter being the most noteworthy. While White is recovering from a strained calf, Huerter strained his hamstring during Monday's loss to the Magic. Tre Jones (22 percent), who's questionable for Wednesday with a sprained ankle, and Ayo Dosunmu (23 percent) are the players to target, with the latter possessing a slightly higher ceiling when the Bulls are close to whole.

Also, Zach Collins (one percent) participated in Wednesday's shootaround and could make his season debut against Brooklyn. He isn't worth adding immediately, but he is worth watching as someone who may be able to provide value playing behind (and at times alongside) Nikola Vučević.

NBA: Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings
Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Collin Gillespie breaking through
Gillespie is stepping up for the Suns in his third NBA season.

C Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

Allen was held out of Sunday's loss to the Celtics with a strained right ring finger, and the Cavaliers announced that he will miss at least one week. With the Cavaliers' starting center missing five of the team's last six games, we have a decent idea of who to target in Allen's absence. Jaylon Tyson (20 percent) has been close to a top-50 player in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks, and the only game he didn't start was the one that Allen was able to play. This also shifts Evan Mobley to the five, and while it hasn't paid immediate fantasy dividends yet, he has (in theory) more room to operate in the frontcourt.

C Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

Lively has appeared in only seven games this season, with a foot injury the reason for his current absence. Based on the timeline provided by the Mavericks on November 25, that the 7-foot-1 center would miss at least another seven to ten days, an update should be provided by the end of this week. With Daniel Gafford (16 percent) also struggling with injuries, the Mavericks have used Anthony Davis as their starting center when available. And in their most recent game, Dwight Powell (less than one percent) served as the backup.

The most appealing option on the waiver wire would be Naji Marshall (18 percent), especially with P.J. Washington (45 percent) having missed the last two games with a sprained right ankle. Marshall isn't going to provide blocked shots, but he has been a solid late-round option in nine-cat formats.

G Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Murray sprained his right ankle during Monday's loss to the Mavericks and is questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Pacers. He's only missed one game this season, a November 8 win over Indiana, with Jalen Pickett (less than one percent) replacing him in the starting lineup. However, Pickett was a DNP-CD on Monday, with Murray's fourth-quarter minutes being split among Tim Hardaway Jr. (six percent) and Bruce Brown (two percent). Brown's second stint with the Nuggets has not been as productive as his first, but a spot start could boost his short-term fantasy value.

Murray's potential absence also affects Nikola Jokić, whose playmaking is even more critical to the Nuggets. Also, with Aaron Gordon (49 percent) and Christian Braun (69 percent) out, Peyton Watson (26 percent) has heightened fantasy value, and Spencer Jones (five percent) scored a career-high 28 against the Mavericks.

G Stephen Curry and F Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors

Curry has missed the Warriors' last two games, most recently sitting out Tuesday's loss to the Thunder, with a right quad contusion. Following the game, head coach Steve Kerr revealed that the guard will not travel with the team on its three-game road trip that opens in Philadelphia on Thursday. The earliest that Curry will be able to play is on November 12 against the Timberwolves. Brandin Podziemski (37 percent) is the player to target, as he is Curry's direct replacement in the starting lineup.

Also of note from Tuesday was Butler exiting during the first half with a sore left knee. The Warriors leaned into their "strength in numbers" mantra, with four reserves scoring in double figures, including new addition Seth Curry (one percent) and Pat Spencer (less than one percent). Those two aren't worth grabbing right now, especially if Podziemski or Moses Moody (14 percent) is available in your league. But they're worth keeping an eye on, especially if Curry is not ready to go when the Warriors return home from their road trip.

G Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Morant has been out since November 15 with a strained right calf. However, due to the Grizzlies' timeline provided two days later, there should be an update sometime this week. Vince Williams Jr. (19 percent) has moved into the starting lineup, and he's a good source of rebounds, assists and steals in this role. However, over the past three weeks, he has been shooting 32.7 percent from the field and 64.7 percent from the foul line. Cam Spencer (seven percent) may still be coming off the bench, but he has been a more productive option for managers seeking a streamer with Morant sidelined.

G Norman Powell, Miami Heat

If you include Wednesday's game against the Mavericks, Powell has missed two of Miami's last five games, with the most recent absence being due to a sprained left ankle. And with the Heat ending Week 7 with an away/home back-to-back against Orlando and Sacramento, Powell may miss at least one more game. Pelle Larsson (two percent) made the start for Miami's November 24 win over the Mavericks, and that may be the case for Wednesday's rematch. However, his fantasy ceiling is limited, especially with Tyler Herro back in the fold. The same can be said for Jaime Jaquez Jr. (39 percent), whose value has taken a significant hit as the Heat have gotten healthier.

G Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

While the basketball world is processing reports of conversations between Giannis Antetokounmpo, his representation and the Bucks regarding his future in Milwaukee, head coach Doc Rivers has another issue to address. Porter Jr. exited Monday's loss to the Wizards with lower back spasms and is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Pistons. The biggest beneficiary if KPJ sits is Ryan Rollins (57 percent), who is ranked just outside the top-100 in nine-cat formats over the past week. No Porter means more time on the ball for Rollins, which is a good thing for those who have him rostered. AJ Green (14 percent) has been a fixture in the starting lineup, and he's been more than a points and three-pointers option recently. He's someone to make a run for in deeper leagues, especially if Porter misses time.

F Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

Sadly, fantasy managers find themselves in a spot where they have to once again account for Williamson's absence due to injury. On Tuesday, the Pelicans announced that a strained right adductor will sideline the former first overall pick for at least three weeks. Given his history of lower-body injuries, that timeline could prove to be conservative. With Yves Missi (nine percent) also out for Tuesday's overtime loss to Minnesota, the Pelicans started Derik Queen (42 percent) at the five, something they've done on multiple occasions this season.

Of course, Trey Murphy's return from an elbow injury helped account for Williamson's absence. Saddiq Bey (36 percent) needs to be on the radar of more 12-team league managers, while Bryce McGowens (one percent) isn't worth the risk despite remaining in the starting lineup on Tuesday. Another question for the Pelicans is when Herb Jones (20 percent) and Jordan Poole (85 percent) will return from their injuries, and that could happen soon based on the team's timelines.

G Luguentz Dort and G Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder

The reigning champs continue to motor along, moving to 21-1 with their win over the Warriors on Tuesday. And they've been without Dort and Caruso, with the former being sidelined by a strained adductor and the latter dealing with a sore quad. The absences have allowed Ajay Mitchell (35 percent) and Cason Wallace (26 percent) to remain on the radar in 12-team leagues, even with Jalen Williams making his season debut late last week. Oklahoma City has also been without Isaiah Hartenstein, whose calf strain may keep him out through Week 8. That's coincided with J-Dub's return, so there hasn't been another post player on the roster worth streaming.

G Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Booker exited Monday's blowout of the Lakers with a groin injury, not seeing any time after the first quarter. He will reportedly be re-evaluated in one week, meaning that Booker will miss at least three games. As has been the case throughout the season for the Suns, others stepped up to pick up the slack. "Villain" Dillon Brooks (43 percent) and "Villain Jr." Collin Gillespie (32 percent) continue to play well enough to merit rostering in 12-team leagues. Royce O'Neale (20 percent) also has value due to the continued absence of Jalen Green, and Grayson Allen recently missed time due to a quad contusion and an illness that sidelined him on Monday. Beyond those three, Jordan Goodwin (six percent) may be worth a look in extremely deep leagues, especially if Allen can't play on Friday against the Rockets.

G Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers

Holiday has been out since November 14 with a strained calf, leaving the Trail Blazers without a healthy point guard. Deni Avdija (99 percent) has taken on more playmaking responsibilities, and while the turnovers have been high, his production in other categories has compensated for that. Jerami Grant (41 percent) and Toumani Camara (43 percent) are worthy of a look in more 12-team formats, even with Grant not bringing much to the table defensively and Camara having a limited offensive ceiling.

C Victor Wembanyama and G Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Wembanyama and Castle did not travel with the team ahead of Wednesday's game against Orlando, the first of four games the Spurs will play on this road trip. However, head coach Mitch Johnson said both are progressing from their calf and hip injuries, respectively, and he did not rule out either rejoining the team during the road trip.

For now, the approach remains the same for fantasy managers. Luke Kornet (11 percent) and Julian Champagnie (17 percent) have added value as the replacements in the starting lineup. In comparison, Keldon Johnson (23 percent) and Dylan Harper (22 percent) have higher ceilings than usual despite coming off the bench.

G/F RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

Barrett has missed Toronto's last five games with a sprained right knee, most recently sitting out Tuesday's win over the Trail Blazers. An MRI revealed no structural damage, and he's expected to be re-evaluated toward the end of this week. Second-year guard Ja'Kobe Walter (one percent) has been Barrett's replacement in the starting lineup, providing 12th-round value in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. Whether it's him or Gradey Dick (three percent), the production has not been good enough to make either a must-stream player with Barrett sidelined.

C Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards

Sarr has missed Washington's last two games with a sore right adductor, and at the time of publishing, his status for Thursday's game against the Celtics had not been determined. Marvin Bagley III (13 percent) has been the replacement in the starting lineup, and he has provided top-25 value over the past two weeks. Is that sustainable? Probably not, considering Bagley's track record. However, he's worth the risk if Sarr continues to miss time.

Also of note for Washington have been the absences of Tre Johnson (four percent) and Corey Kispert (one percent), which have led to more playing time for Justin Champagnie (one percent). With Khris Middleton getting the night off, Champagnie started Tuesday's loss to the 76ers. The Wizards won't have their next back-to-back until December 20-21, so there isn't much to gain from adding Champagnie right now.

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What we learned as Yaroslav Askarov struggles in Sharks' blowout loss to Caps

What we learned as Yaroslav Askarov struggles in Sharks' blowout loss to Caps originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN JOSE – So much for keeping the momentum at the Tank going.

Riding a three-game winning streak at home, the Sharks ran into the buzzsaw that is NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

Nearing the end of his incredible hockey career, Ovechkin – a 12-time NHL All-Star – scored a pair of goals, one during a wild second period that seemed to take the life out of San Jose fans.

The Sharks never recovered and came up on the very short end of a 7-1 loss on Wednesday at SAP Center.

Ovechkin scored his 910th career goal midway through the first period when he got free in front of the Sharks’ net and scored an unassisted goal. His second came on a cross pass in front of the net from Ryan Leonard, less than three minutes into the second period.

Sonny Milano’s fourth goal of the season, a shot from the left circle, gave the Caps a 2-0 lead.

Ryan Leonard scored three and a half minutes later off a deflection by rookie goalie Yaroslav Askarov before Brandon Duhaime made it 4-0 with a shorthanded goal at the 17:07 mark.

It was San Jose’s biggest deficit at the end of a first period at home since Edmonton had the Sharks on the ropes 4-0 at the end of one on Dec. 28, 2023.

San Jose eventually pulled Askarov but Washington also got to Alex Nedeljkovic for two goals in the second period and one in the third.

It was one of San Jose’s most lopsided losses of the season, dropping the Sharks to 13-12-3 and in seventh place in the West.

The Caps, on the other hand, have won four consecutive on the road and lead the Eastern Conference with 36 points.

Earlier in the day, the Sharks announced they sent rookie center Michael Misa to the team’s top minor league affiliate to begin conditioning. The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft, Misa sustained a lower-body injury during a morning skate on Nov. 5.

Here are the takeaways from Wednesday:

Caps blitz Askarov early

Askarov had been on a roll, enjoying a month’s worth of solid work in the net.

All the momentum and good vibes he carried into the night disappeared in the span of 11 minutes in the first period when the Caps turned a scoreless contest into a one-sided runaway.

To be fair, the struggles to prevent Washington’s offense from getting loose weren’t just on Askarov’s shoulders. As a team, the Sharks repeatedly allowed the Caps to get deep into the zone for second and third shots off the same play.

Additionally, there’s no shame in getting beaten for a goal by Ovechkin. He’s the best to ever do it and had scored against Askarov previously.

Good luck and good riddance

Though there has been no official announcement, Wednesday’s game might have been Ovechkin’s final appearance in San Jose.

The 40-year future Hall of Famer has been a pain in the Sharks’ fins for years before adding yet another chapter to his masterpiece of a career.

Ovechkin had burned the Sharks for 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points in 29 games, and then gave San Jose a memorable, albeit painful, goodbye.

Early flurry for nothing

The Sharks came out much more aggressively than they had begun their previous two games at the Tank and had eight shots in the first eight minutes and finished the period with 11, but had nothing to show for it.

Washington withstood the early flurry, then responded with their own, a much more efficient and productive attack on the other end of the ice in a matter of minutes that flipped the game on its head.

San Jose managed only seven shots in the second period and was on the verge of being shut out before Pavol Regenda broke up the shutout when he scored off an assist from Dmitry Orlov with 7:02 remaining in the third.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

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Knicks will be one of Giannis Antetokounmpo's desired landing spots if Bucks part ways with superstar

While trade talks between the Knicks and Bucks regarding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't pick up enough speed this past offseason, it appears the two-time MVP is still very much interested in a blockbuster change of scenery.

The Knicks can at least express new optimism in their years-long pursuit, as ESPN insider Shams Charania reports the Bucks and Antetokounmpo have started to discuss his future with the team again, and whether it behooves them to part ways this season.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reports "nothing has changed" on the Antetokounmpo front and there are still "big hurdles to clear."

What remains clear, however, is the Knicks should be atop a long list of teams seeking Antetokounmpo's talents if the Bucks determine trading him is the neccessary solution in the coming weeks. 

Back in October, a source confirmed to Begley the Knicks and Bucks had cursory talks about an Antetokounmpo deal in August. Those negotiations didn't reach an advanced level, but Antetokounmpo was intrigued by winning a title with the Knicks, according to Begley.

Of course, the price for Antetokounmp wouldn't be cheap, and the Knicks aren't flush with draft capital for leverage in trade conversations. Several top picks were bundled in a trade with the Nets for Mikal Bridges two summers ago. A trade package for Antetokounmp requires win-now players.

Antetokounmpo, who turns 31 this week, is under contract through the 2026-27 season and holds a player option for the 2027-28 campaign.

He's averaging a laudable 30.6 points (career-high), 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists through 16 games -- quality production for a player carrying a hefty cap hit of $54.1 million.

The Knicks, operating in championship mode, currently own a 13-7 record, best for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

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Arsenal 2-0 Brentford, Leeds 3-1 Chelsea, and more: Premier League – as it happened

Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the table, while Leeds beat Chelsea and Villa came back from 2-0 down to win 4-3 at Brighton

Email! “Could this be the first time that a player with the surname Henry will grace the Arsenal pitch since Thierry’s retirement? wonders Peter Oh – no, I’m sure Karl Henry played there for Wolves, as well as Rico himself, and how good it is to see him back.

“As a Liverpool fan I would love to see Arsenal drop points today and feel some Schade-freude. Ouattara the chances?”

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Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland: Premier League – as it happened

Sunderland were on course for their first win at Anfield since 1983 until Florian Wirtz forced an own-goal from Nordi Mukiele

1 min Liverpool kick off from right to left as we watch. They are in red; Sunderland are sporting their stylish Hummel change strip.

YNWA is being sung with the usual gusto at Anfield. The players on both sides look ready for business; let’s get it on.

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3 Teams Who Make Sense For A Laurent Brossoit Trade

The Chicago Blackhawks signed Laurent Brossoit on July 1st, 2024. He was coming off an injury sustained in the previous playoff tournament, but he has not been able to return until now. 

On Tuesday, the Blackhawks made it official that he is getting a conditioning assignment with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. During his stint there, the Blackhawks are seeking a trade partner.

Blackhawks Expected To Trade Laurent Brossoit After Conditioning Stint With IceHogsBlackhawks Expected To Trade Laurent Brossoit After Conditioning Stint With IceHogsThe Chicago Blackhawks will move on from Laurent Brossoit after his conditioning assignment with the Rockford IceHogs.

Chicago has Spencer Knight as their number one, Arvid Soderblom as a solid backup, Drew Commesso waiting in the wings, and Adam Gajan dominating college hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth. 

There is no need for Brossoit on the roster anymore. The idea was that he’d help them transition into a younger goalie alongside Petr Mrazek, but the injury, plus the Knight trade, changed everything. 

Now that Brossoit is healthy, it would benefit everyone for him to move to another team that can offer him NHL playing time. If they can make money work and get an asset back, there are a handful of teams that make sense. 

Winnipeg Jets

Brossoit's last NHL game came as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. Maybe his next game should be with them as well. He would certainly be familiar and comfortable with the city, fanbase, and culture there. 

Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning Hart Trophy winner and back-to-back Vezina Trophy recipient (three total), is out for an extended period of time. He will be back in time for the postseason, if the Jets make it, but Brossoit could be their guy in the meantime. 

When Hellebuyck gets back, Brossoit can go back to being his backup, which was when he was at his best in his entire career. Taking a chance on him could be an upgrade over Eric Comrie, or at worst, a solid duo. 

Edmonton Oilers

The Winnipeg Jets are not the only former team of Brossoit's that could use some help in the crease. The Edmonton Oilers might be the most desperate team in the league. 

Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have struggled, and it has cost the Oilers games this season. It's been an issue for them over the last handful of seasons, despite two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final. 

If they brought in Laurent Brossoit, who was a young goalie trying to find his place in the league when he was last in Edmonton, they would be getting a veteran goalie who has his name on the Stanley Cup. He wasn't the starter all the way through for Vegas in 2023, but he played a role on that team that won it all. 

That kind of experience, especially in the net, could be what the Oilers need to bounce out of their early-season slump. They know they can't waste another year of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid's prime because of standing pat at the most important position on the ice. 

Utah Mammoth

Laurent Brossoit never played for the Utah Mammoth (or Arizona Coyotes) in the past, but they could use him now. They have been a bubble team in the Western Conference for the last two seasons, but a boost in net may be what they need to get over the hump. 

Right now, Karel Vejmelka has a 2.87 goals against average and a .885 save percentage, while Vitek Vanecek has a 3.11 goals against and a .869 save percentage.

Goaltending numbers are down in 2025-26, but taking a chance on an upgrade may be just what the doctor ordered for Utah. 

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Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly meeting with Bucks front office about future with club

On Tuesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo scrubbed virtually all mentions of the Milwaukee Bucks from his social media — a troubling sign for a 9-13 team built around the two-time MVP.

Now comes a report that Antetokounmpo and his agent are meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks to discuss "whether his best fit is staying or a move elsewhere," Shams Charania reports at ESPN. The report states that the sides are expected to reach a resolution "in the coming weeks," which will impact whether Antetokounmpo is available around February's NBA trade deadline.

This is far from the first time Antetokounmpo trade rumors have surfaced. He reportedly pushed the Bucks to discuss a trade with the New York Knicks over the offseason, but those talks went nowhere. That led to these comments from Antetokounmpo at the team's media day.

"I've said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I'm here," Antetokounmpo said. "I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it's definitely going to be hard... Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that's human too, you're allowed to make any decision you want, but I'm locked in. I'm locked into this team. I'm locked in to these guys, to this group and to this coaching staff and to myself."

"Six or seven months" implied Antetokounmpo would revisit the issue next offseason, a re-evaluation he says he makes every summer. However, the Bucks' rough start may have changed his thinking and his timeline.

Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level this season, averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists a game. Milwaukee recently went 0-4 when Antetokounmpo was out with a groin strain. The team is now 1-5 on the season when he does not play and just 8-8 when he does, including an ugly loss to the Wizards on Monday night. Milwaukee is not a contender as constructed, even in a wide-open East. Beyond that, the Bucks don't have the draft picks or young players it would likely take to make a trade that would dramatically upgrade the team this season.

The Bucks are not going to trade Antetokounmpo unless he directly requests it. Even if he does, trading Antetokounmpo and his $54.1 million salary during the season is incredibly challenging. Especially considering the teams he would want to be traded to — the Knicks, maybe the Warriors, others — are also hard-capped or up against the luxury tax aprons themselves.

If Milwaukee is forced to trade him, it will ask for a massive haul of quality young players, high draft picks, and veteran contracts it can flip in a trade, all to jump-start the inevitable rebuild. To use the Knicks as an example, they are thin on quality young players and have only one first-round pick, plus a couple of swaps, to offer. The math works on a trade of Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride plus the pick, but is that nearly enough for Milwaukee? Especially considering there would be a long line of teams at least checking in — Houston, San Antonio, Golden State, the LA Clippers, and the list will go on and on — and some (many?) of those would put together offers more enticing to the Bucks.

All of that is getting ahead of things. For now, the Buck and Antetokounmpo (as well as his agent Alex Saratsis) are sitting down and figuring out what is next. Even if that is a decision to part ways, an offseason trade is far more likely than one at the deadline.

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Four Best Long Shots To Win The NHL's Eastern And Western Conference

By Gary Pearson, BetMGM

If you're looking to back a long shot to advance to the 2026 Stanley Cup final, the following four teams represent my best predictions of the bunch.

Eastern Conference 

Pittsburgh Penguins (+10000)

Backing the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Eastern Conference is my best long-shot play, thanks to various factors.

First, no team is less likely to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final. That’s right, even the East's 15th-place Buffalo Sabres have shorter NHL odds (+8000) to win the conference. 

You might have to re-read that sentence a few times to let it sink in. 

Sidney Crosby is on a pace for a career-best 59 goals. Only once before in his illustrious career did he break the 50-goal threshold, when he netted 51 in 2009-10. 

And while most of the Pens' stats have regressed, they are still getting solid goaltending from the resurgent Tristan Jarry and have the best power play (33.3 percent) and fourth-best penalty kill (84.9 percent). 

If you ask me, those factors alone merit a better chance of making the Stanley Cup than the 0.99 percent oddsmakers have them pegged at.

Ottawa Senators (+1800)

Picking the Ottawa Senators to make it to their first Stanley Cup final since 2007 is more a reflection of how wide open the Eastern Conference is. 

The Sens are second in the Atlantic Division despite playing without captain Brady Tkachuk for most of the campaign, while receiving consistently subpar play from Linus Ullmark. 

Ullmark's numbers don’t instill much confidence, but he's 4-1-0 in his last five starts, and Tkachuk has returned to the lineup. 

Let’s see how the team’s trajectory changes once the captain recaptures peak game sharpness. Their +1800 NHL odds represent a 5.26 percent chance.

Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke controls the puck as Minnesota Wild forward Danila Yurov gives chase at Grand Casino Arena on Nov. 15. (Nick Wosika-Imagn Images)

Western Conference 

Anaheim Ducks (+2200)

What neutral hockey fan doesn’t want to see the youthful Anaheim Ducks go on a fairy-tale run? 

I would have laughed hysterically had you told me before the season that Anaheim would be atop the Pacific Division after 26 games. The only ones laughing now are Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and the Ducks' band of effervescent upstarts, who, scoring 3.62 goals per game, boast the second-most prolific offense. 

They have the sixth-best points percentage (.635), tied with the New Jersey Devils, and Carlsson is tied with Connor McDavid for fourth in scoring. 

Lukas Dostal, meanwhile, has the 12th-best goals saved above expected (10.1).

The Ducks' +2200 odds of making it to their first final since winning it all in 2007 carry an implied probability of 4.35 percent.

Odds For The Five Most Likely Stanley Cup FinalistsOdds For The Five Most Likely Stanley Cup FinalistsWill the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet yet again in the Stanley Cup final? Will the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes break their conference final curses?

Minnesota Wild (+2500)

The Minnesota Wild have gotten their act together since a stretch of eight losses in nine games. Since Nov. 1, they have the second-best points percentage (.867), behind only the high-flying Colorado Avalanche (.929). 

Minnesota's recent seven-game win streak was thanks primarily to Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt's dominance. The tandem has secured five shutouts in their past 11 games, four of which were by Wallstedt. 

The 23-year-old netminder, who is 8-0-2, has five shutouts in his first 15 games in the NHL, quickly becoming one of the stories of the season.

If he and Gustavsson maintain their otherworldly form, I believe the Wild pose a threat even to the most formidable Western Conference opponents. 

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Scouts and execs on whether Mets would be better off trading Kodai Senga

It’s understandable if the Mets were frustrated with Kodai Senga by the end of last season, with his slow recovery from injuries, with his need for extra rest even when healthy, with his seeming obsession over his mechanics, and with his honest-yet-eyebrow-raising admission in late September that he wasn’t in a position to help the Mets nab a Wild Card spot.

In short, to say he’s high maintenance would seem to be an understatement.

As such, the Mets have made it no secret this offseason they’re open to trading Senga, to the point where, according to The Athletic, the Japanese right-hander reached out recently to let David Stearns know he’d prefer to stay in Queens -- though a 10-team no-trade list in his contract is the only control he has over the situation.

So would the Mets benefit by moving on from Senga? I asked that question of several MLB scouts and executives this week and the consensus answer was no -- that his proven upside and relatively affordable contract make keeping him the more reasonable decision.

“He’s pitched at a high level in two different seasons,” said one scout, referring to 2023 and Senga’s pre-injury 2025. “You’d be selling low on him. You almost certainly wouldn’t get comparable value in return. He’s got the stuff to help you win a championship, so I think you have to roll the dice and hope he’s healthy when it counts most.”

That was the theme of most other responses, though a couple of people did make the case that the Mets theoretically could better spend the $30 million that Senga is owed on the remaining two years of his contract. 

But even those suggestions came with disclaimers. 

“If dumping his money helps them justify overpaying to keep (Edwin) Diaz or signing a top free-agent pitcher, then maybe it makes some sense,” one team exec said. “But does Steve Cohen really need to do that? If you have his financial power and you’re trying to compete with the Dodgers, you need high-end assets, and even with Senga’s injuries, I’d put him in that category.

“Now if there’s more going on behind the scenes that makes the ballclub feel he just can’t be relied on, that adds a different layer to the situation. But on the surface I can’t see how you’re a better team by trading him.”

As an aside of sorts, there was less of a consensus from the same evaluators as to how far the Mets should go to re-sign Diaz, especially after signing Devin Williams. All agreed that a Williams/Diaz combo would be a championship-worthy weapon, but there was a split on where to draw a line in negotiations for their closer, with only a couple of people willing to give him more than a four-year deal in the $20 million per year range. 

“I wouldn’t go to five for $100 (million),” one exec said. “If you believe in Williams, you got a closer on a reasonable deal and you can build depth around him without that type of risky overpay (for Diaz).”

“I’d go to five (for $100 million) to build a super pen,” countered another. “I’d want the protection for Williams too. What Stearns does will probably tell you a little more about him, about how committed he is to making value judgments.”

Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field.
Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

In that sense, the decision to trade or keep Senga may be revealing as well. Remember, the Japanese star was a Billy Eppler signing, a year ahead of Stearns’ arrival, and at the time there were concerns about his elbow.

To this point there is no indication the elbow has been an issue, but Senga has been sidelined by a shoulder capsule injury, as well as in-season injuries to his calf in 2024 and hamstring in 2025 that both kept him out for extended periods, and seemed to affect him when he returned to pitching -- in the ’24 postseason and the second half last season.

Still, he was in good form last season before the hamstring injury on June 12th, pitching to a 1.39 ERA over 14 starts, averaging between five and six innings per start. Senga returned a month later and showed flashes of dominance but struggled badly at times while putting up a 6.56 ERA over eight starts, and indicating at one point that he was lacking his usual leg drive.

To his credit, Senga accepted a demotion to the minors. But with the Mets desperate for pitching in late September, he essentially opted not to try to make a start.

“You always want guys to want to take the ball,” said one exec. “But you also want guys to be honest what’s going on with them, so that’s a tough situation. If I was evaluating him for my team going forward, it would be more about the injury history and the certainty. Obviously when he’s healthy he’s a guy you want on the mound.”

With that in mind, another exec pointed out that the way the Dodgers used their pitching depth to win the championship in 2025 could serve as reason enough to keep Senga.

“They had a ton of injuries to their starting rotation,” the exec said. “Look at their innings totals during the season and you’d never believe they were the champs. But they got their top guys healthy for October and that’s how they won.”

It’s true, the Dodgers had only one starter throw more than 112 innings last season, and that was Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who totaled 173.2 innings. Tyler Glasnow threw only 90 innings, while Blake Snell threw 61, Shohei Ohtani 47 and Roki Sasaki 36.

Yet all of them played important roles in the postseason.

“You can’t plan on that,” said the exec, “but when you have the Dodgers’ depth you can manage injuries with an eye on the big picture and still have the talent to reach the post-season. I don’t know if the Mets are quite there yet but with the young pitching they used late in the season, they seem to be developing the kind of depth where it would make sense to keep Senga.”

To that point, one scout noted that for all the injuries and missed time, Senga has shown he can be tough-minded when he does pitch.

“I’ve seen him make pitches to get out of trouble a bunch of times,” the scout said. “He seems to be able to set up the forkball and command it when he really needs to. So he looks like a guy you’d want pitching big games.”

The numbers bear out that observation. For his career Senga has allowed a .170 batting average against with runners in scoring position, and in 2025 that average was just .155 -- even including his poor second half performance.

All in all, then, there is plenty of reason to believe Senga could still be a difference-maker. If the Mets don’t believe he’ll stay healthy, you can understand wanting to trade him, but with a 2026 championship as the goal, they may be better off taking another shot with him.

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NHL Power Rankings: Avalanche Lead An Unpredictable Season, Canucks Fall To Last

The one constant in a pretty unpredictable season is the Avalanche sitting at the top of the NHL standings and power rankings. 

With only one regulation loss and a league-best plus-50 goal differential, they're burying everyone.

The separation between the Avs and the rest of the league is huge, and it's not an exaggeration to say they might be the best team in the Salary Cap Era. The 2022-23 Bruins that finished with 135 points had a plus-128 goal differential, and the Avs might blow right past that mark. Imagine what the Avs can do if they improve their 25th-ranked power play.

The Wild are the newest entry into the top five of the NHL power rankings this week, largely due to the play of the 'Wall of St. Paul,' Jesper Wallstedt. Their big Swedish tandem of Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson have been brick walls akin to the ones in Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, and in six starts Wallstedt has vaulted to the top of the league with four shutouts. 

We're starting to see more separation in the West with the Preds, Flames, Blues and Canucks very unlikely to make the playoffs. Mathematically, they're certainly still in contention, but you look at their play so far, and the outlook is bleak. A string of losing streaks from teams such as the Kraken, Mammoth, Jets and Oilers has kept the door wide open – it just doesn't seem like anyone's been able to take advantage.

In the East, even the last-place Sabres are just five points out of a playoff spot, and they've picked it up with six wins in their past nine games.

1. Colorado Avalanche (19-1-6, +50. PR: 1)

Parity feels like it's at an all-time high, and the Avs are just speedrunning through the regular season. I have no other notes. Moving on…

2. Minnesota Wild (15-7-5, +6. PR: 7)

Unbelievable run by Jesper Wallstedt, who needed just six starts to take over as the league leader in shutouts. Filip Gustavsson has been good, too, and the Wild have not lost in regulation since Nov. 6.

3. Dallas Stars (17-5-5, +21. PR: 2)

The Stars aren't getting enough credit for how well they're playing despite missing several key players, and they lost Tyler Seguin for an extended period of time after he left the game against the Rangers with an ACL injury.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (16-8-2, +18. PR: 5)

Is this the year Jon Cooper finally wins the Jack Adams?! I bet you can't name four players on the Lightning blue line right now, and despite numerous injuries to numerous key players, the Lightning are somehow in the top five.

5. Anaheim Ducks (16-9-1, +12. PR: 3)

The Ducks are so good they helped Ville Husso win a game. They've cooled off a little bit following their seven-game winning streak, but with a third-string goalie in net, they're still finding ways to win. That's a sign they're legit.

NHL Jack Adams Award Rankings: Ducks' Quenneville, Penguins' Muse LeadNHL Jack Adams Award Rankings: Ducks' Quenneville, Penguins' Muse LeadDo the Boston Bruins or Pittsburgh Penguins have a rookie NHL coach who could win the Jack Adams Award? Will Jon Cooper finally earn the honor? Here's this month's top five.

6. Carolina Hurricanes (16-7-2, +16. PR: 4)

So… is Brandon Bussi their new No. 1? The Canes will return to action on Thursday after a three-day break, and it'll be interesting to see who starts in net going forward. The knock against Frederik Andersen is that he's really good but never healthy, but this season, he just hasn't been very good at all, losing five straight with a .878 SP on the season.

7. Washington Capitals (16-9-2, +21. PR: 19)

Pretty amazing what an 8-1-1 run will do in a league that has been so tight. The Caps were 8-8-2 just two weeks ago, 15th in points percentage this time last week and now enter Wednesday's games ranked sixth. Logan Thompson and Tom Wilson are making impeccable cases to be included on the Canadian Olympic team.

8. New Jersey Devils (16-9-1, +4. PR: 9)

After a hot start, the Devils just can’t seem to get into a rhythm, winning three games but then subsequently losing to the Flyers and Jackets on home ice with 10 goals allowed. 

9. Los Angeles Kings (12-7-7, -4. PR: 6)

All of a sudden, winning games seems to have become very difficult. Both of their recent regulation wins came against the Sens in one-goal games, and they've lost three of their past four games in extra time. They've failed to score more than two goals in six of their past eight games.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (12-6-8, +1. PR: 14)

If Carter Hart can at least solve some of their goaltending woes, the Knights might go on a run. Last season, they went 19-5-4 following two separate four-game losing streaks. They went 0-2-2 to cap off a six-game homestand and 0-2-2 to finish November before winning against the Sharks and Hawks. The wins showed the Knights aren't going anywhere despite a clear changing of the guard with the West's upstart teams.

11. Detroit Red Wings (14-11-2, -11. PR: 10)

A win against the Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak, but it was a close call with the Wings allowing two goals late in the third period. It doesn't seem like either John Gibson or Cam Talbot really wants the starting job. By the way, Sebastian Cossa just won goalie of the month honors in the AHL, so… 

12. Ottawa Senators (13-9-4, -2. PR: 11)

Getting Brady Tkachuk back is huge, and the Sens are somehow grinding their way up the standings without a top scorer and really mediocre goaltending. Coming out of a seven-game road trip with a 4-3-0 record, where they had to play the Pacific's best and then stop in Dallas and Montreal, was pretty impressive.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-5, +8. PR: 17)

I'm convinced that as long as Sidney Crosby is wearing the black and gold, the Pens will never be a bad team. Buoyed by the league's best power play – who saw that coming?! – the Pens are in a good position to make the playoffs. Aside from a lousy stretch from late October to mid-November, when there was a ton of travel, the Pens have been much better than expected on defense and in net, the two areas considered their weaknesses coming into the season.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (14-8-3, +2. PR: 20)

The Flyers are 6-3-0 with some impressive wins, and like the in-state rival, they've been much better than expected thanks to some above-average goaltending. The best part is that their rivalry with the Pens is so much more interesting when both teams are competitive, especially when you have Trevor Zegras – of all people – trying to goad the Pens into doing something stupid. 

15. San Jose Sharks (13-11-3, -7. PR: 13)

The wins following a 6-0 loss to the Avs and 4-3 to the Knights showed the Sharks can be a really resilient bunch. With the Macklin Celebrini-Will Smith combo thriving and Yaroslav Askarov playing up to his potential, the only thing missing now is a marquee defenseman. 

16. Chicago Blackhawks (11-9-6, +6. PR: 12)

Connor Bedard is truly a human highlight reel and worth watching even though the Hawks are mired in a 1-4-2 slump. Other than a 9-3 drubbing by the Sabres, the silver lining is all of those losses were by just one goal. 

17. New York Islanders (14-10-3, even. PR: 15)

It's been a tough homestand so far, with only one regulation win. The Isles suddenly look like the Isles of old, once again having a lot of trouble scoring goals. 

18. Seattle Kraken (11-7-6, -7. PR: 16)

The Kraken may have 11 wins, but they rank third-last in regulation wins with seven. It's been difficult for them to get on a sustained run of any kind, and injuries certainly are not helping. Once they got Jared McCann back, Jaden Schwartz went out.

19. Winnipeg Jets (13-12-0, +2. PR: 8)

Did anyone think the Jets would be good without Connor Hellebuyck? Their scoring has certainly dried up, which doesn't help at all, and they've now lost five of their past six, sitting two points out of a playoff spot. 

20. Montreal Canadiens (13-9-3, -8. PR: 21)

Much better than previous weeks when they lost seven of eight, but a three-game winning streak was brought to an ugly halt with two straight losses and 12 goals allowed. There's a big gap between Nick Suzuki and whoever they deem to be their No. 2 center, and along with subpar goaltending, it's been killing them.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Canadiens' Defensemen, Senators Still Shopping AroundNHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Canadiens' Defensemen, Senators Still Shopping AroundIt's speculated that the Montreal Canadiens could once again draw on their blueline depth to acquire a forward, while the Ottawa Senators continue to explore the trade market for roster depth.

21. New York Rangers (14-12-2, +2. PR: 26)

The Rangers played a good game at home… and won?! Things will be really tough without Adam Fox, but this may be the sort of thing that galvanizes an underperforming unit. Tough matchups loom against the Avs and Knights, and it'll be important to keep their momentum going, having won four of their past five.

22. Boston Bruins (15-13-0, -4. PR: 22)

It's a good thing they banked 14 points during their winning streak, because since then, they're 4-6-0 with only two regulation wins.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs (12-11-3, -1. PR: 28)

Just… maybe? Leafs Land feels hopeful again after a 7-2 win against the Pens and a 4-1 win against the Panthers, both on the road. 

24. Columbus Blue Jackets (12-9-5, -7. PR: 24)

All these games going into extra time just feels like a coin flip. The Jackets are 1-1-3 in their past five but could easily be 3-1-1 if the bounces went their way. The margins are tiny and the Jackets are still only two points out of a playoff spot. 

25. Florida Panthers (12-12-1, -5. PR: 18)

Last week, I mused whether the Oilers would miss the playoffs after making the Stanley Cup final again, becoming the only team to do so twice following 2006. The East is tighter, so it's harder to say, but could the Panthers join this ignominious club? It truly feels like 2006 again.

26. Buffalo Sabres (11-11-4, -6. PR: 25)

Slow and steady, right? Getting Josh Norris back was huge, and the Sabres have now won six of their past nine as they try and move out of the league basement. 

27. Edmonton Oilers (11-11-5, -15. PR: 27)

Sometimes they can't defend, sometimes they can't score. Sometimes they can't buy a save, and sometimes they shut out their opponents. The only thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the Oilers look spent, often making simple errors with the puck. An upcoming stretch where they face the Kraken, Jets, Sabres, Wings and Leafs is crucial because the West's general mediocrity is still leaving the door wide open.

28. St. Louis Blues (9-11-7, -26. PR: 30)

Are we sure Jordan Binnington should be starting for Team Canada? At what point does goodwill run out? After getting pulled against the Ducks, Binnington appeared to have strong words for Jim Montgomery, but it wasn't just that game. Binnington ranks 64th out of 79 goalies in total goals saved above average at 5-on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com.

29. Utah Mammoth (12-12-3, -3. PR: 23)

They have so much talent on paper, yet they have the league's worst-ranked power play. They started off hot, but they've struggled mightily since, losing four straight and 11 of their past 14. 

30. Nashville Predators (9-13-4, -24. PR: 32)

Barry Trotz's criticism might've sparked something because they've won three of their past four. I wouldn't be surprised if reports of 'toxic' environment help galvanize a veteran team that doesn't need reminding of how poorly they've been playing. There are captains, former captains and Stanley Cup champions in that dressing room.

31. Calgary Flames (9-15-4, -21. PR: 29)

The Flames were perking up, but then lost three of their next four, including an ugly 5-1 loss to the Preds, where they trailed 4-0 going into the third period. You can't embarrass yourself like that in a matchup to see who the league's worst team might be. Fortunately for them, neither of them is the worst team this week.

32. Vancouver Canucks (10-14-3, -18. PR: 31)

Quinn Hughes is playing so much, and the Canucks are leaning on him so heavily, you wonder if he has enough in the tank to last all season. The Canucks have lost nine of their past 11 and simply do not defend well enough to really give themselves – or their goalies – a real chance to win. 

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Clemson legend, NBA champion and 15-year player Elden Campbell dies at 57

Elden Campbell, the all-time leading scorer in Clemson basketball history, who went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA and won a ring as part of the 2004 Detroit Pistons, has died at the age of 57.

Clemson and the NBA confirmed his death. No cause of death has been given.

Campbell was a 6'11" big man known for his easy-going style off the court — his nickname was "Easy."

On the court, he scored 1,880 points for the Clemson Tigers, a university scoring record that still stands today. He came to Clemson as Horace Grant's backup, but by his senior season, he and Dale Davis formed a formidable frontline that led the Tigers to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of Elden Campbell's passing," Cliff Ellis, Campbell's head coach at Clemson, said in a statement released by the university. Elden was a great player for four years, especially in 1989-90, when he was a major reason we won Clemson's only ACC regular season championship. He went on to a 15-year career in the NBA and won a World Championship. But most of all, Elden was an outstanding, giving person. This is a sad day for the Clemson family."

The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Campbell with the No. 27 pick in the 1990 NBA Draft.

That coming season was Magic Johnson's last in the NBA — Campbell was on the Lakers' team that lost to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals — and from there Campbell was a key part of the Lakers teams between the Showtime era and when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal came to town. He is still third on the Lakers' all-time blocked shots list.

After that, Campbell played for the Hornets, Sonics, and then was part of the 2004 Detroit Pistons championship team, a season where he played in 65 games, primarily off the bench.

For his career, Campbell averaged 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks across the 1,044 games he played.

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Celtic confirm Wilfried Nancy’s arrival as Martin O’Neill signs off with victory

  • O’Neill has been in interim charge since Rodgers’ exit

  • Celtic move level on points with Hearts after Dundee win

Celtic have appointed Wilfried Nancy, coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, as their new permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers, who was dismissed in October. He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract.

Martin O’Neill signed off his spell as interim manager with a 1-0 home win against Dundee on Wednesday night. The result moved Celtic level on points with Hearts, who remain top of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Kilmarnock. Celtic also have a game in hand on their title rivals.

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"I'm Happy For Him": Todd McLellan Talks Up John Gibson After Win Vs. Bruins

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The Detroit Red Wings made sure they enjoyed a better result in their second consecutive meeting against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday evening.

Detroit managed to build a 5-2 lead by the midway point of the third period, and despite a late comeback attempt by the Bruins, they held on for a victory to snap what was a four-game winless skid. 

For Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, it was his first victory since Nov. 13 and he did so while making a season-high 34 saves.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The scoreboard will show that Gibson did allow four goals for the fifth time in his last six outings, but he was completely dialed in for most of the game with several critical saves. 

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Head coach Todd McLellan would say afterward that while it was more of a "roller coaster" style victory for the entire club, a win is still a win for Gibson and that he earned it. 

"There were some really tough saves and there were periods of nothing, and the game was under control, and then it wasn’t,” McLellan said. “So, it was a very much a roller coaster-type game for a goaltender to play in. At the end of the night, he got the win, so it can’t do anything but help his confidence, the team’s confidence. I'm happy for him."

"It's been a while since he got one (a win), and I'm happy for him." 

Red Wings Snap Winless Skid By Holding On For 5-4 Win Over Bruins Red Wings Snap Winless Skid By Holding On For 5-4 Win Over Bruins The Detroit Red Wings built up a 5-2 lead over the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday evening and hung on for a 5-4 victory, ending their four-game losing streak.

Gibson's numbers since being acquired by the Red Wings during the offseason from the Anaheim Ducks aren't what he'd like them to be, as he currently sports a goals-against average of 3.62 along with an .868 save percentage. 

But with a critical six-game road swing ahead of them, during which Gibson will get playing time, the victory on Tuesday evening should go a good way toward building his confidence. 

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