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What we learned as De'Anthony Melton's 23 points spark Warriors' win vs. Blazers

What we learned as De'Anthony Melton's 23 points spark Warriors' win vs. Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors reached the halfway point of the season Tuesday night, and rarely have they looked better than they did in Game 41.

That their tip-to-buzzer 119-97 victory came over a skeletal version of the Portland Trail Blazers matters not because these Warriors (22-19) have not earned the right to overlook any version of any opponent on their schedule, particularly one they had lost to three times this season.

On a night when Stephen Curry, with his father, Dell, in attendance at Chase Center, did not find his shot – 2-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-8 from deep – his teammates provided more than enough cover.

De’Anthony Melton, continuing his strong recent play, scored a game-high 23 points, with Jimmy Butler III finishing with 16, Brandon Podziemski had 15 and Moses Moody put in 14, with Draymond Green adding 10.

This was one of those rare occasions when Curry and Green were spectators for the entire fourth quarter, and Butler played only 90 seconds in the fourth before joining them on the bench. The fourth “uncle,” Al Horford, played six minutes for the fourth for conditioning.

Here are three observations from Golden State’s second blowout win in its last three games:

Pride matters

Having lost to Portland in all three previous meetings this season, and realizing the Blazers were a mere 2.5 games back in the Western Conference standings, there surely was a measure of pride within the hearts of the Warriors.

Their commitment to avoiding a season sweep against a rebuilding team was prevalent early, as they took leads of 11-4 and 33-15 in a blistering opening quarter. 

The Blazers were without leading scorer Deni Avdija (lower back soreness), who is having a terrific season. Also unavailable were No. 3 scorer Jeremi Grant, part-time starter Kris Murray and Matisse Thybulle.

The Warriors, healthy as they have been all season, led by as much as 29 in the first half. They spread joy across the roster, as 14 players took the floor – everyone by Jonathan Kuminga – with 12 getting into the scoring column.

Golden State has not given itself many cathartic victories this season, but this one can be defined as such.

Melton keeps coming

As Melton has found his rhythm after missing the better part of two seasons with injuries – including a torn ACL sustained in November 2024 – he continues to exhibit the full scope of his abilities.

After playing solid defense but struggling with his shot in the first few weeks upon his Dec. 4 season debut, his defense continues to be stellar, but his scoring has become the answer to Golden State’s dreams.

His 23 points came in only 18 minutes off the bench, as he shot 9-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. He scored 11 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, crushing any notion of a late Portland comeback.

Melton, over the last eight games, is averaging 13.7 points on 52.5-percent shooting from the field, including 42.5 percent beyond the arc.

Coach Steve Kerr has been carefully increasing Melton’s workload. At this rate, he could enter the starting lineup in a matter of weeks.

Far from perfect

Coming off a light practice (mostly video study) on Monday after being demolished by the Atlanta Hawks a day earlier, this matchup presented the Warriors with a splendid opportunity to play a clean game.

They failed to meet that standard.

While it looks impressive enough to hold the Blazers to 24 first-quarter points on 39.1-percent shooting from the field, including 20 percent from distance, 10 of those points came off Golden State turnovers.

Green, who of late has been much more careful with the ball, was the primary culprit. He regressed to his worst tendency, committing six turnovers in 22 minutes.

There was just enough sloppiness by the Warriors to give the coaching staff enough ugly video to review, should they be inclined to show it.

It’s even less often that Golden State’s turnovers – 13, giving Portland 21 points — are irrelevant, but this was one of those nights.

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Ja Morant trade rumors: Destinations including Miami, how much might Grizzlies get back in deal?

Ja Morant remains the hottest name in trade speculation, but while there is a lot of smoke, how much fire there is remains in doubt.

The most interesting question may be: Do the Grizzlies already have an acceptable trade lined up and in their back pocket, and are they shopping Morant publicly, hoping another team steps up with a better deal? Or is this it? There's a lot to talk about, so let's break it down in bullet points.

• Does Ja Morant want to be in Miami? Yes. At least that's what NBA insider Rachel Nichols said she heard during the latest episode of the Open Floor podcast with Chris Mannix.

Morant may want to go to Miami, but does Miami want Morant? While the Heat have been star-hunting for a couple of seasons, they might only have interest in Morant if the price was low enough (keep reading the next bullet point about what that might be). Nichols goes on to make an excellent point about the Heat taking a potential flier on Morant.

"Heat Culture is not boot camp for wayward souls. It is not, 'Oh gee, the Heat will clean him up.' Heat Culture is, 'We are tough and we are disciplined, and you either play by our rules or you leave and go home. We are not here to babysit you, hope you get up to our level.' And that's why the players who have worked there have really worked.

"Morant, and the way he approaches the game, seems to me to be the opposite of that. I used to live down in Miami, I used to cover that team, it just seems to be the opposite of what that team represents and stands for. And I know he wants to go down there, from what I've heard, I just can't imagine that would be a smart move."

• East exec rips Morant. Everyone seems to have a fake trade idea for Morant, but many vastly overestimate Morant's value around the league — this is not the 2021 All-Star version of Moarnat teams would be trading for. Here is what ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said during the latest Hoop Collective podcast:

"He's not attacking the rim nearly like he used to be. … He's a bad jump shooter who's shooting more jump shots than ever. And I'll just quote an East executive from then: 'The combination of pain in the a**, injury-prone, not that good anymore, and big contract is a bad one.'"

• Realistic fake trades. About all those fake trades floating around, the return Memphis will get for Morant will be similar to what Atlanta got for Trae Young, who was dealt for expiring contracts. Zach Lowe explained this well on his podcast:

"I saw some fake trade where it was like [Andrew] Wiggins plus [Jamie] Jaquez and two first-round picks, and I was like, 'What are you smoking?' The Miami trade is more like [Tyler] Herro plus dead money [Terry Rozier] and not much more than that.

"I think some team will trade something real for him eventually. It's the ultimate 'buy low' thing; He'll never be this unhealthy. The off-court stuff is hopefully in the rear view. He's totally unmotivated there, and will get the motivated chip on his shoulder [once traded]."

• Motivated Morant. The idea that there is a Ja Morant revenge tour is what gives him a little more value than Young (that and the fact that Morant has, in the past, shown he can be a decent team defender). That said, Morant has not looked like an All-Star for a few seasons, he's not been consistently healthy for a while (he has not played six consecutive games since 2023), and he's not developed a 3-point shot that teams fear (20.8% this season). More concerning, scouts have told NBC Sports that Morant is not driving as much as he used to, not blowing by players and finishing inside (or kicking out) like he once did.

That said, there are teams willing to find out whether that is still in him and if he is motivated. Draymond Green laid out the positive case for Morant on his podcast.

"Needless to say, if Ja Morant is traded, whatever team lands him instantly gets better. Make no mistake—when you have that level of talent, your team improves overnight.... And sometimes when you think about reviving a career, etc., sometimes guys just need a fresh start. And I don't know that Ja feels he need a fresh start. I don't know the sentiment around that. But maybe he do. But I think nonetheless, if he does get a fresh start, I think we'll see the Ja Morant that we've grown accustomed to seeing."

• What might Memphis get in return? Expect the return for Morant in a trade to be a young player with potential who has struggled in his current setting, and expect any picks dealt to be heavily protected, or more likely swaps and second-round picks. Certainly not unprotected firsts. Teams are willing to take a flyer on Morant, but they are not giving up much to do so.

• Long-term money. What makes this trade different from Young and Atlanta is that the Hawks did not want to take back long-term money in any trade, but that is not the case in Memphis. Just last summer, the Grizzlies got four first-round picks and a swap for Desmond Bane, except at least one of those firsts (and really, two) was for taking on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's contract (two years and $43 million). The same is true here, Memphis is letting teams know that if they get the right compensation, they will take on a longer contract as part of this trade, according to Kevin O’Connor at Yahoo and other reports.

• Is Toronto a destination? Along those lines, look north of the border. Toronto could be facing win-now pressure, which is why they would be open to a splashy trade, like one for Morant, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.

The Raptors want to get off Immanuel Quickley's salary (he is owed $97.5 million over three guaranteed seasons after this one), and if the Raptors are willing to include the right draft compensation, the Grizzlies will be open to the idea. How well the ball-dominant Morant fits with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram is up for debate (what the Raptors need more is a center) but it's worth watching, this could be more than just smoke.

• More fake trades.At The Athletic, Zach Harper came up with a couple of realistic Morant trades: One to Brooklyn (a team others have mentioned as a dark horse) and one to Chicago. Would the Bulls want to pair Josh Giddey and Morant, moving Giddey more off the ball? Not sure they do, but Chicago needs talent so if the price was right… maybe?

• Jaren Jackson Jr. In all the talk about a potential Morant trade, other front offices are wondering if the Grizzlies will blow the whole thing up, specifically trading former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. (a player a lot of front offices covet). Teams are being told the Grizzlies have no interest in trading him, league sources told NBC Sports. That is not going to stop teams from asking.

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Pressure Begins To Rise On Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios

The Ottawa Senators finally made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season after an 8-year drought, and coming into 2025-26, the expectations were reasonable: make it again, and maybe make some noise.

But just over halfway through the season, the Senators need to defy the odds to return to the playoffs, a position nobody in the organization could have possibly expected to be in.

And the team’s President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios has to wear it, marking the first time this front office has faced adversity from its own missteps.

The whole season hasn’t been a disaster. Around the quarter mark, the Senators were right in the mix, sitting top-3 in the Atlantic division, most of which was accomplished without star forward Brady Tkachuk while he recovered from a thumb injury.

THN Ottawa's Jack Richardson says GM Steve Staios bears responsibility for this season's goaltending issues.

However, a record of 8-12-1 since the captain’s return has the Senators tied for last place in the Eastern Conference and 7 points out of a wildcard spot, with six other teams ahead of them.

Typically, in such a disappointing season, the coach is the first one under the microscope. But Travis Green is in a unique position because the results under the hood are very impressive in his 2nd year with the Senators.

According to Moneypuck.com, in all situations, the Senators have the best Expected Goals Against rate in the NHL.

In other words, no team in the league makes life easier for their goaltenders than the Senators do, yet the club is dead last in the NHL in team save percentage at .868.

The issue for the Senators is goaltending, and it’s been so bad that trying to point blame at any other area of their game for this disappointing season is foolish. 

That is why Staios is getting scrutinized.

Coming into the season, addressing the crease was not a priority for the Senators. They let Anton Forsberg go in free agency, putting faith in a tandem of Linus Ullmark and Leevi Meriläinen, which has proven to be a colossal mistake.

Forsberg has a respectable .901 save percentage for the Kings, right where he was last season, which was deemed expendable by the Senators’ front office. 

It’s notable when a Senators goaltender provides a .900 save percentage or better this season. That’s not good.

Let’s start with Ullmark. He was acquired from the Boston Bruins for a package that included a 1st round pick, one of Staios’ biggest trades as GM. The 32-year-old is in the first season of a 4-year deal that pays him $8.25M per season, the biggest contract Staios has signed to date. 

The Senators are all-in on Ullmark, so his results will reflect on this front office. To be blunt, he is having a bad second season in Ottawa through 28 starts.

Ullmark has a -18.3 Goals Saved Above Expected, ranked 2nd last in the NHL this season, according to Moneypuck.

He did seem to be turning his game around before taking a personal leave of absence on Dec. 28th. He had a .908 save percentage in 8 games from Dec. 1 - Dec. 24 with a record of 5-2-1.

Meriläinen has not been any better, especially in Ullmark’s absence, and that’s the biggest knock on Staios. The 23-year-old has a .866 save percentage in 17 games this season.

Meriläinen burst onto the scene a year ago, when Ullmark and Forsberg each went down with an injury. He had a record of 8-3-1 with a .925 and 3 shutouts. Meriläinen’s performance was remarkable, but he’s taken such a significant step back this season that it’s now hard to analyze what the Senators have on their hands.

The way they handled his development feels uncharacteristic for this front office.

23-year-old forward Stephen Halliday had a stint in Ottawa this season with extremely sheltered minutes, and barely got a look in any offensive situations before being returned to Belleville. Top prospect Carter Yakemchuk played well enough in each of his first two training camps to get a look in the NHL, but was sent to junior last year and Belleville this year to develop his defensive game.

Yet Meriläinen was handed a backup role because there was nobody else to push him in camp, which is where his troubled season started.

In what can only be categorized as a desperation move, Staios signed 37-year-old James Reimer last week to help stop the bleeding in Ottawa. When Ullmark returns, Reimer will likely back him up for the rest of the season, and Meriläinen will mercifully be sent to Belleville to find his game.

The Senators need to salvage the season, because they are in danger of missing the playoffs in a year they don’t own a 1st round pick in the draft.

To be fair, not having a pick this season isn't on Staios. Former GM Pierre Dorion is to blame, as the Senators were ruthlessly punished by the NHL for his blunder while trading away Evgeny Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Senators had to forfeit their pick in either 2024, 2025 or 2026 - and Staios chose to keep 2024’s at 7th overall, selecting Yakemchuk, and then keep 2025’s to trade back and select Logan Hensler at 23rd overall.

The choice to continue deferring was likely made on the assumption that the Senators would progress this season, but as it stands right now, they have regressed. 

If the season ended today, the Senators would have the 9th-best odds to win the Draft Lottery and pick 1st overall based on points percentage.

Coupled with a tumultuous week off the ice where he released a strongly worded statement discrediting online rumours about his players, Staios has been busy trying to keep the Senators from tailspinning out of control.

With the season in the balance, the pressure has never been higher on the first-time GM in Ottawa.

Jack Richardson
The Hockey News- Ottawa

This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:

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How The Vancouver Canucks Stack Up To The Rest Of The NHL: 45 Games In

The Vancouver Canucks are 45 games into the 2025–26 NHL season. The Canucks have yet to win their first game of 2026, as they are currently riding a seven-game losing streak. Their last win came against the Seattle Kraken on December 29, with their first regulation win coming against the New York Islanders on December 19. Here’s how the Canucks stack up to the rest of the NHL 45 games into the season. 

Team Stats 

Vancouver Canucks team stats 45 games into 2025-26. 
Vancouver Canucks team stats 45 games into 2025-26. 

While they had previously registered a couple of stats within the top-half of the NHL, at the 45-game mark, Vancouver currently ranks within the bottom-half in all the listed categories. Their highest-placed listed team stat is their power play, which ranks 18th in the NHL with a success rate of 19.7%. Everything else places below the top-20, with their penalty kill (72.7%, t-30th), goals-against (163, 31st), points-percentage (0.411%, 32nd), and record (16–24–5, 32nd) all placing within the bottom-three in the league. 

Individual Skaters

Vancouver Canucks individual skater stats 45 games into 2025-26.
Vancouver Canucks individual skater stats 45 games into 2025-26.

Vancouver’s offensive woes this season are summed up pretty well in how their individual skater stats compare to the rest of the NHL. Their team points leaders, Elias Pettersson (12G, 15A) and Filip Hronek (3G, 24A), are tied for 135th in the league in total points scored this season. For reference, the current highest point total on the season belongs to Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche who has 36 goals and 45 assists. Maintaining their places at the top of the league are Hronek with overall TOI (1104:58, 11th) and Kiefer Sherwood with hits (210, 2nd).  

Goaltenders

Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats 45 games into 2025-26. 
Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats 45 games into 2025-26. 

Canucks goaltenders Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen have maintained their team-leading stats in goaltending for the third consecutive segment of this check-in article. Demko has once again held the team lead in SV% (0.895%, t-37), GAA (2.90, t-36), wins (8, t-41), and high-danger SV% (.803%, 37th). On the other hand, Lankinen holds the team records in overall minutes played (1272:15, 29th), shots faced (611, 19th), and high-danger shots faced (185, t-22). With Demko once again out for an undetermined period of time, Lankinen will have to continue carrying a fair chunk of the weight for his team. 

The Canucks will return to Vancouver throughout the next five-game span, but not before taking on the Ottawa Senators in the second-half of their current back-to-back tonight. They’ll face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday for the final game of their road trip before heading back to Rogers Arena for a Saturday night matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. To round out this upcoming five-game stretch, the Canucks will face the New York Islanders on January 19 and the Washington Capitals on January 21. 

Jan 12, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Vancouver Canucks center Max Sasson (63) celebrates with his teammates at the bench his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Jan 12, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Vancouver Canucks center Max Sasson (63) celebrates with his teammates at the bench his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Mets' David Stearns 'not blind' to fan frustration: 'What we're doing is the right thing for our franchise'

It’s been an offseason of seismic changes for the Mets, and while there are still plenty of moves to be made between now and the Opening Day, president of baseball operations David Stearns sat down with reporters on Tuesday to discuss where things currently stand with the club.

The Mets have already said goodbye to Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil this offseason, but Stearns believes the organization is in a very good spot, and with good reasoning.

"We’ve said goodbye to players who have performed really well here, people we care a lot about, players that out fans care a lot about who have meshed well with our community, who have done what we as organization have asked them to do for a long time, and that’s really tough and we all recognize that," Stearns said. "And we’re doing all of that because we are committed universally, from ownership down, to ensure that the next five years of the Mets are better, and that we win more games and meet the lofty expectations that we have for ourselves, than what we’ve done previously. What we’ve done previously has not been good enough. We all know that, I certainly know that, and we’ve got to do better. And we’re committed to doing that.

"We have tremendous ownership support to do that. We have elite talent at the top of our major league roster. We’ve got a very good farm system, and we’ve got a very good present-day major league team as we sit here today that’s going to get better before we get to Opening Day."

Stearns added that the Mets currently have a mix of “truly elite talent on our major league team, combined with some young players who have already established themselves at the major league level and are ready to take that next step."

"We have this pretty unique combination right now of MVP-caliber talent up top, players who have already established themselves at the major league level who are at that point of their career where there is the potential – not the certainty, but the potential – for a jump, and really exciting premium young prospects who are about to hit the major league level," Stearns said. "That is an enviable place for any organization to be." 

The timing of these statements is certainly of note, considering there's now reporting that the Mets have offered All-Star Kyle Tucker a short-team deal worth $50 million per season.

Losing fan-favorite pieces like Diaz and Alonso hasn't been an easy pill to swallow, but potentially adding Tucker, the best position player available via free agency this year, would completely change the narrative for the Mets.

And Stearns is committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve the ultimate goal.

“I certainly understand that there have been points this offseason that have been frustrating for our fan base. We’re not blind to that at all," Stearns said. "I’m certainly not blind to that. I hear it, I recognize it. I hear it from my friends and family at times. I’m also very convicted that what we are doing is the right thing for our franchise going forward to accomplish our goals of creating a consistent playoff team, a team that year after year is a true World Series contender, and ultimately a team that does what we are all here to do, which is to win a World Series. And that’s why we are doing all of this."

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Former Islanders Forward Matt Martin To Be Inducted Into Sarnia Sting Hall Of Fame

Former New York Islanders forward Matt Martin, who is currently the special assistant to general manager Mathieu Darche, will be inducted into the Sarnia Sting's team Hall of Fame on Feb. 27 ahead of their game against the Barrie Colts. 

Martin, who retired from the NHL after 987 games over 16 years following the 2024-25 season, was not selected in the CHL Draft. He walked on with Sarnia ahead of the 2006-07 season. 

After just three goals and three assists through his first 39 OHL games, the Windsor, Ontario native scored 5 goals with 13 assists for 38 points in 66 games during the 2007-08 season. He was drafted 148th overall by the Islanders at the 2008 NHL Draft.  

In his third and final campaign with Sarnia, Martin exploded, scoring 35 goals with 30 assists for 65 points in 61 games. He then joined the Islanders' organization. 

Over 166 games with Sarnia, Martin totaled 60 goals with 43 assists for 103 points, with 349 penalty minutes. 

Sarnai made the playoffs in each season Martin was on the roster. In 18 career OHL playoff games, Martin recorded six goals and three assists for nine points. 

What will be cool about the induction ceremony is that Sarnia will be playing an Islanders' prospect, 19-year-old defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, who was selected 17th overall at the 2025 NHL Draft. 

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Martin Pospisil Assigned to AHL on Conditioning Loan as Flames Manage Long-Term Injury

The Calgary Flames have placed forward Martin Pospisil on the long-term injury list and assigned him to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers on a conditioning loan, marking a significant step in his return-to-play process.

Pospisil has yet to appear in a game for the Flames this season, and until recently, it remained uncertain whether he would return at all. Given his history with concussions, the organization has continued to take a cautious, measured approach with the 26-year-old forward, as timelines surrounding similar injuries can often be unpredictable.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

The conditioning stint suggests Pospisil is progressing toward game readiness, allowing him to ease back into competition in a controlled environment. While the Flames have not indicated when — or if — he could rejoin the NHL roster, the move itself is a positive signal after an extended absence.

There may also be international implications. Team Slovakia general manager Miroslav Šatan recently hinted at the possibility of Pospisil being part of Slovakia’s roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The timing of this assignment could indicate that both the player and the Flames are preparing him for potential Olympic participation later this season.

© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Selected by Calgary in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. Over 144 NHL games across two seasons, he has recorded 12 goals and 49 points while playing an energetic, physical style that has resulted in 193 penalty minutes. He also finished last season with a plus-14 rating, highlighting his effectiveness at five-on-five.

For now, the focus remains on health and gradual reintegration. How Pospisil responds during his time with the Wranglers will go a long way in determining his NHL future — and potentially his availability on the international stage later this winter.

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Are The Los Angeles Kings a Good Fit For Jesperi Kotkaniemi?

On Friday morning, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Carolina Hurricanes are open to dealing center Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

In Friedman's blog, he shared that Kotkaniemi has already been pitched in trades that ultimately went in the other direction. 

The Hurricanes were in on ex-Vancouver Canucks D-man Quinn Hughes, who was moved to the Minnesota Wild. Kotkaniemi was mentioned in that deal.

Furthermore, when the Los Angeles Kings were in the process of trading away Phillip Danault, Carolina was involved in that discussion, with Kotkaniemi on the table. However, Danault was traded to the Montreal Canadiens instead, in exchange for a second-round pick.

On Saturday, The Hockey News posted three potential trade destinations for Jeperi Kotkaniemi. On that list were the Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and the Kings.

Three Potential Trade Fits For Hurricanes' Jesperi KotkaniemiThree Potential Trade Fits For Hurricanes' Jesperi KotkaniemiThe Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly listening to offers for Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Which teams could make sense as potential landing spots for the 25-year-old center?

The connection can be made with the Kings who dealt a center in the Danault and picked up another, younger center in Kotkaniemi. However, that doesn't mean it's a great idea.

After this season, Kotkaniemi still has another four years on his current contract. His deal pays him $4.82 million in average annual value in what was inked as an eight-year ticket.

That price wouldn't be so hefty if the 25-year-old contributed at a sufficient level. But with the Hurricanes this season, he only has two goals and six points to show for it.

As a result, he's been demoted to the fourth line this year, and hasn't scored a goal in 14 games.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

An indication of how poor and disappointing Kotkaniemi has been as of late would be the lack of representation he's had for Finland.

He was left off the Olympic roster for the upcoming tournament in February, and wasn't even included on Finland's 4 Nations Face-Off roster either.

Not only does acquiring Kotkaniemi not make sense for the Kings from a quality and performance standpoint, but there also isn't a true spot in the lineup for Carolina's center.

With Danault in Montreal, Kings center Alex Turcotte has been given an elevated role, moving from the fourth line to the third line. Bringing in Kotkaniemi would just complicate Turcotte's role once again.

There isn't much more time in Turcotte's development as a young player. Turning 25 years old in February, he could use all the opportunities he can get in order to blossom as an effective NHL player, and the Kings organization should roll with that.

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Adam Ginning Loaned Back to AHL, Tocchet Gives Jamie Drysdale Injury Update

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that defenseman Adam Ginning has been loaned back out to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. 

Ginning was recalled to the Flyers on Jan. 9 after Jamie Drysdale was placed on Injury Reserve retroactive to Jan. 6, after suffering a brutal hit from Anaheim Ducks forward Ross Johnston that caused Drysdale to exit the game early with an upper-body injury. 

Recently, though, Drysdale has been participating in practices and morning skates in a non-contact jersey, and updates from Rick Tocchet suggested that the 23-year-old was moving in a positive direction regarding his recovery. 

On Tuesday, when asked if Drysdale and Bobby Brink (who also left the Anaheim game early with an upper-body injury) would be available for the Flyers' game against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 14, Tocchet said that both players would be a "possibility."

Through 41 games played in the 2025-26 season, Drysdale has recorded 18 points (3G, 15A) and had been showing significant improvements in several aspect of his game, most notably his five-on-five play.

"I think he's a big loss sometimes, when things get a little hectic going on there," Tocchet said of Drysdale on Tuesday. "He does settle things down."

The Flyers are heading into a back-to-back on the road, against the Sabres on Jan. 14 and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 15. 

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Wofford hosts Chattanooga after Machowski's 33-point showing

Chattanooga Mocs (7-10, 1-3 SoCon) at Wofford Terriers (11-6, 3-1 SoCon)

Spartanburg, South Carolina; Wednesday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Wofford hosts Chattanooga after Nils Machowski scored 33 points in Wofford's 109-97 loss to the Mercer Bears.

The Terriers are 6-1 on their home court. Wofford ranks seventh in the SoCon in rebounding averaging 32.5 rebounds. Kahmare Holmes leads the Terriers with 6.0 boards.

The Mocs are 1-3 against SoCon opponents. Chattanooga is second in the SoCon with 16.1 assists per game led by Jordan Frison averaging 4.2.

Wofford averages 9.8 made 3-pointers per game, 2.2 more made shots than the 7.6 per game Chattanooga allows. Chattanooga has shot at a 44.5% rate from the field this season, 1.9 percentage points below the 46.4% shooting opponents of Wofford have averaged.

The Terriers and Mocs meet Wednesday for the first time in SoCon play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Holmes is shooting 48.2% and averaging 17.5 points for the Terriers. Machowski is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.

Billy Smith is shooting 31.3% from beyond the arc with 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Mocs, while averaging 9.6 points. Frison is shooting 52.1% and averaging 16.5 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Terriers: 7-3, averaging 81.0 points, 31.5 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.5 points per game.

Mocs: 3-7, averaging 75.0 points, 29.8 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 6.9 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.0 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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East Tennessee State plays Western Carolina after Barkley's 24-point performance

East Tennessee State Buccaneers (12-5, 4-0 SoCon) at Western Carolina Catamounts (5-10, 1-3 SoCon)

Cullowhee, North Carolina; Wednesday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: East Tennessee State takes on Western Carolina after Blake Barkley scored 24 points in East Tennessee State's 86-60 victory against the UNC Greensboro Spartans.

The Catamounts are 4-1 in home games. Western Carolina is the SoCon leader with 11.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Samuel Dada averaging 2.9.

The Buccaneers are 4-0 in conference play. East Tennessee State has a 0-1 record in one-possession games.

Western Carolina scores 77.2 points, 11.0 more per game than the 66.2 East Tennessee State allows. East Tennessee State averages 7.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 fewer made shots on average than the 9.7 per game Western Carolina gives up.

The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams in conference play.

TOP PERFORMERS: Marcus Kell is scoring 13.7 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists for the Catamounts. Cord Stansberry is averaging 11.5 points over the last 10 games.

Cam Morris III is averaging 14 points for the Buccaneers. Maki Johnson is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Catamounts: 2-8, averaging 79.0 points, 34.8 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.1 points per game.

Buccaneers: 6-4, averaging 76.6 points, 30.1 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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No. 23 Utah State hosts Nevada after Camper's 31-point outing

Nevada Wolf Pack (12-4, 4-1 MWC) at Utah State Aggies (14-1, 5-0 MWC)

Logan, Utah; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Nevada visits No. 23 Utah State after Corey Camper Jr. scored 31 points in Nevada's 92-83 victory over the Wyoming Cowboys.

The Aggies have gone 6-0 in home games. Utah State is 2-0 in one-possession games.

The Wolf Pack have gone 4-1 against MWC opponents. Nevada ranks fifth in the MWC with 10.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Elijah Price averaging 3.1.

Utah State averages 8.8 made 3-pointers per game, 1.0 more made shot than the 7.8 per game Nevada gives up. Nevada has shot at a 43.9% rate from the field this season, 3.7 percentage points above the 40.2% shooting opponents of Utah State have averaged.

The Aggies and Wolf Pack face off Wednesday for the first time in MWC play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Collins Jr. averages 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Aggies, scoring 20.5 points while shooting 47.8% from beyond the arc. Mason Falslev is shooting 52.3% and averaging 16.2 points over the last 10 games.

Tayshawn Comer is averaging 13.9 points and 3.8 assists for the Wolf Pack. Price is averaging 12.7 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aggies: 9-1, averaging 86.1 points, 31.1 rebounds, 17.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 53.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.5 points per game.

Wolf Pack: 8-2, averaging 76.1 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Saint Louis hosts Fordham after Reaves' 31-point outing

Fordham Rams (10-7, 1-3 A-10) at Saint Louis Billikens (15-1, 3-0 A-10)

St. Louis; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Fordham visits Saint Louis after Dejour Reaves scored 31 points in Fordham's 81-77 win over the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies.

The Billikens have gone 11-0 in home games. Saint Louis has a 1-1 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Rams are 1-3 in A-10 play. Fordham has a 2-1 record in one-possession games.

Saint Louis averages 10.6 made 3-pointers per game, 2.8 more made shots than the 7.8 per game Fordham gives up. Fordham scores 6.2 more points per game (73.6) than Saint Louis gives up to opponents (67.4).

The Billikens and Rams meet Wednesday for the first time in conference play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Green averages 2.7 made 3-pointers per game for the Billikens, scoring 10.9 points while shooting 44.8% from beyond the arc. Robbie Avila is averaging 12.9 points and 3.8 assists over the past 10 games.

Reaves is shooting 47.2% and averaging 17.4 points for the Rams. Akira Jacobs is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Billikens: 9-1, averaging 93.6 points, 40.2 rebounds, 21.5 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.6 points per game.

Rams: 5-5, averaging 71.1 points, 35.6 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 6.4 steals and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.4 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Anthony Davis denies report he is likely to undergo hand surgery for torn ligaments

Where things stand with Anthony Davis' hand injury remains up in the air, with Davis stepping in to deny the latest reports.

Davis is "likely to undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand," reports Shams Charania of ESPN, something that would sideline Davis for months. Charania's use of the word "likely" is interesting as a qualifier, implying Davis is still looking to find a way back sooner from this injury.

Davis posted this not long after the Charania report.

Davis also replied "lies" to an aggregation site's echoing of Charana's report. There has been no official confirmation from the Mavericks on Davis' plans (or, for that matter, details about the injury).

In addition to his injury report, Charania adds that Dallas is reengaging in trade talks with "multiple interested teams." The idea is that if Davis has surgery, he might be able to return during the playoffs and help a team. Assuming Davis even goes through with the surgery, betting on him being able to return and be impactful is a considerable risk for a team, the kind of gamble contenders are hesitant to make in-season. These teams would be giving up a large package of players and picks in the hope that Davis could make a comeback during the playoffs and step right in, instantly helping them in an intense series. He'd also be "establishing himself for the long-term elsewhere," Charania writes. A Davis trade in the offseason remains the most likely outcome.

Davis' injury happened to be on what appeared to be an innocent play against Utah on Jan. 8. Lauri Markkanen tried to drive past Davis, who was physical in response, but he got his hand caught up in Markkanen's jersey. Davis was clearly in pain and left the game.

Davis, an NBA champion and 10-time All-Star, has played well when healthy this season, averaging 20.4 points on 50.6% shooting, grabbing 11.1 rebounds per game, plus playing at an All-Defensive Team level on that end of the court. Dallas has been looking for a trade partner as it works to pivot to building around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. However, pulling off an in-season trade for a 32-year-old injured player making $54.1 million — plus $58.5 million next season, a $62.8 million player option after that, and he wants a contract extension — is very difficult to pull off.

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Tampa Bay Lightning At Pittsburgh Penguins Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Tampa Bay Lightning are bringing their 10-game winning streak into Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

The Lightning are fresh off a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night and will try to win their 11th straight game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. 

These two teams met in Tampa Bay back on Dec. 4, and it was a wild affair. The Penguins held on for dear life in a 4-3 win after they had a 3-0 lead for most of the game. Evgeni Malkin scored the game-winning goal late in the third period. 

The Lightning will start Andre Vasilevskiy on Tuesday after backup Jonas Johansson started on Monday. Vasilevskiy has been sensational this season, winning 18 games with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. He's a big goaltender and takes up a ton of space in the crease, so creating traffic in front will be paramount for the Penguins. 

Brayden Point got injured during Monday's game and his status for Tuesday is up in the air. He needed help getting off the ice after scoring a goal to make it 3-0.

Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel are still doing their things this season. Kucherov has compiled 23 goals and 67 points in 40 games, while Guentzel has 20 goals and 47 points in 44 games. 

Brandon Hagel has also been great, racking up 22 goals and 41 points, ditto for Darren Raddysh, who has 12 goals and 39 points as a defenseman.

The Penguins are set to get Bryan Rust back after missing the weekend back-to-back with an injury. He was a full participant during the morning skate. 

However, they'll now be without star defenseman Erik Karlsson for at least two weeks. The Penguins announced that he'd be out with an undisclosed injury before Tuesday's morning skate.

This is a major loss since Karlsson is having an outstanding season. He does it all on the blue line and has been elite at generating offense in the offensive zone. 

Here's a look at the expected lines for this game:

Forwards

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Malkin-Novak-Chinakhov

Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defense

Kulak-Letang

Wotherspoon-St. Ivany

Shea-Clifton

Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins after he was the first goaltender off during the morning skate.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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