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How The Dallas Stars' Cap Space Looks After Re-Signing Matt Duchene

The Dallas Stars re-signed center Matt Duchene to a four-year contract on Thursday.

Duchene's new contract runs through the 2028-29 campaign with an average annual value of $4.5 million. The 34-year-old was a pending UFA after playing the past two seasons with the Stars on one-year, $3-million contracts.

“We are thrilled to have Matt back with our organization,” Stars GM Jim Nill said in a press release. “As our team’s leading scorer last season, he helped to solidify our forward group while also providing invaluable leadership off the ice and in the community. The fit with Matt and our team has been seamless from the start, and we’re looking forward to continuing to pursue our shared goal of bringing a championship to Dallas.”

With this new contract, eight players on the Stars have higher cap hits than Duchene does for next season, but none had more points than his 82 in 82 games in 2024-25. He also ranked third on the team in goals, with 30. Those were his best totals since his career-high 43 goals and 86 points with the Nashville Predators in 2021-22. Duchene's 52 assists this past season, however, set a new high.

While Nill took care of getting Duchene under contract, the Stars now have some difficult decisions to make.

They have a projected $455,094 of cap space for next season, according to PuckPedia, but they still have six pending UFAs and two pending RFAs.

Among the UFAs are longtime captain Jamie Benn and trade deadline acquisition Mikael Granlund.

Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

Benn, 35, finished an eight-year contract worth $9.5 million annually. While he had 78 points in 82 games in 2022-23, his point totals decreased to 60 in 2023-24 and 49 this past season. He also averaged 15:18 of ice time.

In the playoffs, Benn had a goal and two assists for three points in 18 games while logging a minus-11 rating and 13:06 of ice time.

Granlund, 33, had five goals and 10 points in the playoffs while averaging 17:27 of ice time. He also had 21 points in 31 games after the Stars acquired him and Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks in February. Dallas sent a first-round pick and third-rounder in the 2025 draft, but the Stars lost to the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 in the Western Conference final.

Granlund had a four-year contract with a $5-million cap hit. Overall, in 2024-25, Granlund had 22 goals and 66 points in 83 games.

The Stars' other pending UFAs are Evgenii Dadonov, Colin Blackwell, Ceci and Brendan Smith. Their RFAs are Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist.

Three massive contracts kick in for the Stars next season.

Dallas signed starting goaltender Jake Oettinger to an eight-year contract extension with an $8.25-million cap hit last October. At the trade deadline, they re-signed 22-year-old Wyatt Johnston to a five-year deal worth $8.4 million per season.

Also at the trade deadline, the Stars pulled off a blockbuster by acquiring right winger Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes and signing the 28-year-old to an eight-year contract with a $12-million cap hit.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Stars' Jason Robertson And Avalanche's Martin NecasNHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Stars' Jason Robertson And Avalanche's Martin NecasThe Dallas Stars' elimination from the Western Conference final last month prompted media speculation about whether significant off-season roster changes were coming.

Those massive signings don't leave enough room for the team to bring back everyone. That's led to speculation about who might not come back or what cost-cutting moves the Stars could make. That includes potentially trading their second-top scorer, Jason Robertson, or buying out the contract of Matt Dumba.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Ben Stokes calls on England to adapt better ‘when we’re up against the wall’

  • Test captain identifies weakness ahead of India series

  • He reveals Jofra Archer is pestering him for a Test call

Ben Stokes may have described England’s recent lack of Test action as “a bit odd” but playing just one game in the past six months has given the side space to reconsider their approach before the series against India.

Stokes has won 23 of his 33 games in charge while losing 12 and insisted: “I don’t think it’s arrogant to say that we’ve been good over the last three years.” But with England’s next 10 Tests coming against either India – starting at Headingley on Friday – or ­Australia they have prepared for potential adversity.

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Who are the most expensive sports teams in history?

The Los Angeles Lakers' proposed $10billion (£7.45bn) sale to the TWG Global CEO Mark Walter would make them the most expensive sports team in the world.

Should the sale of the Lakers - who have been owned by the Buss family since 1979, be completed - it will be the most expensive takeover in sports history.

Forbes named Dallas Cowboys ahead of the Lakers' estimated sale value with a valuation of $10.1bn (£7.5bn). However, they were last sold in 1989 to owner Jerry Jones.

The previous record sale for a sports team is one of the Lakers' NBA rivals in the Boston Celtics, who were sold for $6.1bn (£4.5bn) in March this year.

Of the 10 highest-recorded sports team sales, nine of them are from American franchises across American football, basketball and baseball.

What about English football teams?

Chelsea celebrate winning the 2024-2025 Conference League trophy
Chelsea's sale in 2022 is among the most expensive ever recorded for a sports team [Getty Images]

Chelsea's sale to Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly for $5.4bn (£4bn) is the fourth highest in sports history.

No other football team enters the top 10 in terms of highest recorded sports team sales.

Manchester United, with a valuation of $6.55bn (£4.9bn) are viewed as the most valuable English football team, ranking 14th in Forbes' list. Although they did trail neighbours Manchester City in Deloitte's Football Money League for 2025.

Liverpool (27th) and Manchester City (32nd) also feature in Forbes' most valuable sports teams list.

Top 10 highest sports team sales

  1. Los Angeles Lakers (Basketball) $10bn
  2. Boston Celtics (Basketball) $6.1bn
  3. Washington Commanders (American football) $6.05bn
  4. Chelsea (Football) $5.4bn
  5. Denver Broncos (American football) $4.65bn
  6. Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury (Basketball) $4bn
  7. Dallas Mavericks (Basketball) $3.5bn
  8. Charlotte Hornets (Basketball) $3bn
  9. New York Mets (Baseball) $2.4bn
  10. Carolina Panthers (American football) $2.275bn

*Figures are based on highest sports team sales and at the Los Angeles Lakers' expected sale price

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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Seven NHL Buyout Candidates: Will The Leafs Buy Out Reaves' Contract?

The 2024-25 season is over as the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup again. However, there is still plenty of work ahead for all 32 GMs as the buyout window opens on Friday.

The buyout window will remain open until June 30, according to PuckPedia.

Last season, six players were bought out of their contracts. One of those six was defenseman Nate Schmidt, who won the Cup with the Panthers on Tuesday. 

Here are seven potential buyout candidates for the remainder of the month.

Pierre Engvall, LW, New York Islanders

Newly appointed GM of the New York Islanders, Mathieu Darche, has a decision to make on Pierre Engvall’s contract. Two years ago, former Isles GM Lou Lamoriello signed Engvall to a whopping seven-year contract at $3 million per year.

The term of his contract doesn’t match his offensive production and value. This past season, the left winger played 62 games, scoring eight goals and 15 points. In addition, he averaged 11:49 of ice time for the Islanders, one of the lowest averages among the team’s forwards. He cleared waivers twice as well.

TJ Brodie, D, Chicago Blackhawks

After three straight years of finishing last in the Central Division, GM Kyle Davidson and the Chicago Blackhawks are under pressure to show some progress. Buying out defenseman TJ Brodie is an option for the team.

Brodie, 35, is going into the last year of his two-year contract that gives him $3.75 million per season. He played 54 games and didn’t play after March 1. In addition, he averaged the least amount of ice time in his 15-year career at 15:38 per game.

Philipp Grubauer, G, Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken’s Philipp Grubauer is in a similar situation to Jack Campbell after the Edmonton Oilers bought out his contract last off-season.

Grubauer, 33, posted a career-worst 3.49 goals-against average and .875 save percentage. It got to the point where he was sent down to the AHL in February and played seven games for the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Grubauer has two more years left on his contract while he earns $5.9 million per year.

Ryan Reaves (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

Ryan Reaves, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Ryan Reaves, 38, has cemented himself as one of the most respected enforcers in the modern game, but he is regressing.

He had just one fight in the regular season, a tilt with Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his 15-year career, he never went an entire season with just one fight, according to hockeyfights.com. He also averaged 7:48 of ice time and had two assists in 35 games.

Around the trade deadline, he was sent down to the  AHL's Toronto Marlies for cap reasons. A buyout for Reaves might be the way for the Leafs to shave off some more money.

Matt Dumba, D, Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars defenseman Matt Dumba is a candidate for a buyout because the team could use any salary cap space they can get. The 30-year-old D-man is going into the last year of his contract, worth $3.75 million. He had a goal and 10 points in 63 games, and he didn’t play in the playoffs.

Captain Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund are pending UFAs that they could lose on July 1. There have also been rumors that GM Jim Nill could look to trade Jason Robertson to clear even more cap space.

Justin Holl, D, Detroit Red Wings

Justin Holl is another right-shot defenseman going into the final year of his contract. The Detroit Red Wings signed him to a three-year deal at a $3.4-million cap hit in the 2023 off-season.

Detroit hasn’t made the playoffs in nine years, and GM Steve Yzerman needs to make some tough decisions. Buying out Holl would free cap space and a spot on the Red Wings’ blueline, an area where they struggled lately. For the past two seasons, the Wings are 26th in goals against.

David Kampf, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Buying out Kampf is another cost-cutting option for the Leafs.

Kampf is a solid bottom-six center who can kill penalties and win faceoffs. However, he earns $2.4 million for the next two seasons. The Leafs also acquired Scott Laughton at the trade deadline, who took Kampf’s spot on the roster during the playoffs.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Mets to call up RHP Justin Hagenman for Friday's game against Phillies: report

The Mets are calling up right-handed pitcher Justin Hagenman from Triple-A Syracusefor Friday's game against the Phillies in Philadelphia, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post.

Per The Post, it's possible Hagenman will be used after an opener.

Earlier this week, manager Carlos Mendozacharacterized Friday's TBA starter as a one-and-done situation.

Hagenman acquitted himself well during his major league debut earlier this season.

Pitching in relief against the Twins in Minnesota on April 16, Hagenman allowed one run on three hits in 3.1 innings while walking none and striking out four.

Hagenman has struggled for Syracuse this season, with a 6.21 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 33.1 innings (six starts, four relief outings).

Beyond Hagenman, the Mets had a host of options they could've called on to pitch Friday against the Phillies.

Top prospects Nolan McLean (in line to pitch for Syracuse on Friday) and Brandon Sproat (in line to pitch on Thursday) could've been used. But neither pitcher is on the 40-man roster. And in the case of Sproat, he has yet to master Triple-A.

Blade Tidwell, also with Syracuse, is on the 40-man roster after making his big league debut earlier this season. But he was hit hard in his last start in Triple-A, allowing six runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings.

Jonah Tong could be an option at some point later this season, but he has yet to pitch above Double-A Binghamton.

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Phillies shift Nola to 60-day IL, call up Buddy Kennedy

Phillies shift Nola to 60-day IL, call up Buddy Kennedy originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Weston Wilson hasn’t been hitting and has played sporadically over the last two weeks so the Phillies are shipping him out for a hotter hand.

They optioned Wilson to Triple A Lehigh Valley on Thursday afternoon and selected the contract of right-handed-hitting Buddy Kennedy.

Kennedy, who played eight games late last season with the Phillies, has hit .283/.388/.447 for the IronPigs with eight home runs and 40 RBI in 268 plate appearances. The majority of his 60 starts have come at first base (33) and third base (15). He’ll be another corner infield option against lefties behind Alec Bohm and Otto Kemp as the Phillies await Bryce Harper’s return from right wrist inflammation.

The Phils played Kennedy some in the corner outfield in spring training but he hasn’t played there at all in Triple A so it would be surprising to see them use him out there.

The 26-year-old Millville, NJ native has already had a few moments with the Phillies. He walked in front of a Kody Clemens walk-off hit last September and hit a game-tying double in the eighth inning of a win over the Mets the next week.

The Phillies freed up a 40-man roster spot for Kennedy by transferring Aaron Nola to the 60-day injured list. Nola has been out since May 15, first with a right ankle sprain and now with a stress fracture in his right rib.

The move to the 60-day IL officially ends Nola’s first half but he wasn’t coming back before the All-Star break anyway. August appears more likely given the number of boxes he’d have to check — multiple bullpen sessions, live batting practice, multiple rehab starts — before rejoining the Phillies’ rotation.

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Mets have three glaring issues but no immediate fixes

Let's go back in time to this past Friday.

The Mets carried a 5-1 lead into the sixth inning against the Rays at Citi Field. But a fatigued Clay Holmes (who was feeling run down after his start at Coors Field) was pulled before the inning started, and Paul Blackburn (who isn't a reliever) had a disastrous relief outing as New York blew that lead and lost.

Now let's go back in time to Tuesday against the Braves in Atlanta.

The Mets carried a 4-1 lead into the eighth inning at Truist Park, but poor execution from the players and a few questionable decisions by Carlos Mendoza conspired to turn that into a 5-4 loss in 10 innings.

Why do we bring these games up?

Because had the Mets won them, they would be -- at worst -- in the midst of a 2-3 stretch that people would be shrugging their shoulders at in an unbothered fashion.

Instead, they have lost five games in a row, and lost 4.0 games to the Phillies in the NL East standings in the process.

The strange thing about the losing streak, though, is that it has much more to do with things that weren't mentioned above.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. / Mark J. Rebilas - Imagn Images

Specifically, there are three glaring issues with the Mets right now. And there don't seem to be any quick fixes...

The starting rotation is in flux

Just under a week ago, right after Kodai Senga went down with a hamstring injury that could keep him out until around the All-Star break, I wrote that the Mets had more than enough starting pitching depth to withstand the loss.

Since then, Tylor Megill has hit the IL due to an elbow injury and Frankie Montas got battered in his final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse.

Meanwhile, Blackburn did not inspire confidence during his return to the rotation on Wednesday against the Braves, when he was jumped for three runs in the first inning and lasted just 3.2 frames.

That means the Mets' starting rotation right now consists of Holmes, David Peterson, Griffin Canning, and two question marks.

Sean Manaea should be back soon, which will be a massive boost. He's starting for Syracuse on Friday, and will likely have one or two more rehab starts after that before being activated from the IL.

In the immediate, the Mets need a starter for Friday against the Phillies (likely to be a spot starter called up from the minors) and have to decide what to do with Montas. Their choices are to activate him and use him in the rotation, activate him and use him in the bullpen, or leave him on the IL due to an injury.

New York Mets pitcher Frankie Montas (47) pitches during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park
New York Mets pitcher Frankie Montas (47) pitches during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park / Sam Navarro - Imagn Images

It's possible a prospect like Nolan McLean is ready to seriously contribute soon, and that Jonah Tong -- who hasn't yet pitched above Double-A Binghamton -- could debut at some point this summer.

For now, though, the Mets aren't in an advantageous spot.

Third base is a giant question mark

With Mark Vientos nearing a return but still needing a handful more rehab games, the Mets' third base situation isn't great.

Brett Baty, who caught fire after being called up from Syracuse in early May and looked to have perhaps turned a corner offensively, is again scuffling.

He is hitting just .159/.229/.286 in 70 plate appearances over his last 20 games. Beyond that, he is dealing with a groin injury that could possibly land him on the IL.

In Baty's place, Ronny Mauricio has been getting starts at third base. But Mauricio, who was hurried back to the majors when Vientos went down, has looked mainly overmatched at the plate.

He's run into a few homers, but not done much otherwise, with only seven hits in 41 at-bats.

It's fair to believe Vientos will be inserted back as the starting third baseman upon his return, which should help the offense a bit. But Vientos' defense at the hot corner (he is in the first percentile in Outs Above Average) has been a serious detriment.

The catching situation is unsettled

On Tuesday against the Braves, Francisco Alvarez made two glaring mistakes in the 10th inning that helped cost the Mets the game.

Jun 17, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) walks against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park.
Jun 17, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) walks against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. / Brett Davis - Imagn Images

First, he lazily backhanded a ball in the dirt, allowing it to trickle away. He had Luke Williams caught between second base and third base, but strangely threw to second -- allowing Williams to advance to third and score the winning run on a sacrifice fly.

After the game, Alvarez seemingly still didn't understand what the right play (throw to third or run toward the runner with the ball) should've been. Couple that with his 85 OPS+ and the Mets have an issue.

Luis Torrens started in place of Alvarez on Wednesday and didn't inspire confidence, either.

He balked when he used his catcher's mask to pick up a ball that got a way from him -- leading to two Braves runs in the first inning. Torrens had a passed ball later in the game that cost New York another run.

***

Despite everything covered above, the Mets are 45-29 and in first place in the NL East.

They remain a very good baseball team, and should be just fine.

And it's fair to believe that David Stearns, who has done a stellar job since taking over as president of baseball operations, is already knee deep when it comes to exploring how to address the team's issues.

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Report: Flyers Inquire About Islanders Defenseman

(Header/feature image courtesy of Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers have made no secret about their desire to start adding to their team instead of subtracting—and with significant cap space and an arsenal of draft capital, they’re in a strong position to make good on those ambitions.

According to a report from RG, the Flyers have shown interest in 25-year-old New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, a pending restricted free agent known for his physicality, defensive reliability, and emerging offensive instincts.

While a deal is far from imminent, the Flyers have reportedly inquired about Romanov’s availability as the offseason market begins to heat up. And the fit, frankly, makes a lot of sense.

The Player: Romanov’s Versatile Value

Romanov, who the Islanders acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in 2022, has quietly built a reputation as a punishing and consistent left-side defensemen. In his time with the Isles, he’s played in 221 NHL games, recording 64 points (13 goals, 51 assists), 465 blocked shots, and 502 hits.

If there’s one word to define his game, it’s presence—Romanov is a true tone-setter, the kind of defenseman who makes forwards think twice before cutting to the middle of the ice.

And yet, he’s not a one-dimensional bruiser. Over the past season, Romanov showed real signs of growth in puck-moving and playmaking, elevating his offensive confidence without compromising his defensive structure. He won’t quarterback a power play, but he can transition the puck effectively and hold his own in the offensive zone. However, his real value lies in being a shutdown defenseman with great skating and mobility skills. His responsible, physical, high-motor game is exactly the kind of stability the Flyers could use on their left side.

The Fit: What the Flyers Need

It’s no secret that Flyers GM Danny Brière is open to upgrading the NHL roster while continuing to stockpile young talent. With $18.99 million in cap space (pending RFAs Cam York and Jakob Pelletier have yet to sign new deals) and seven picks in the first 48 selections of this year’s NHL Draft, Philadelphia has the currency to be active.

If the Flyers are indeed eyeing Romanov, the interest likely stems from a few key needs:

  1. A reliable, physically mature top-four defenseman who can eat tough minutes and complement a more mobile partner.
  2. A left-handed presence who could round out a top-four that already includes Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale.
  3. A young veteran entering his prime, with room to grow—but also enough experience to step in right away.

At just 25 years old, Romanov is entering his best years, and if the Flyers believe his upward trajectory will continue, they may see him as a long-term core piece worth investing in.

The Price: What Could It Take?

According to RG’s reporting, Romanov could be seeking a contract in the range of $5 to $6 million AAV.

That’s a significant investment, but perhaps not an unreasonable one—especially for a defenseman who can be trusted with high-leverage minutes and provide some snarl to a team that’s been trying to carve out a more physical identity.

The real cost, of course, would be in trade assets.

The Islanders are thin on picks and prospect depth and may be looking to recoup assets. A package that includes some of the Flyers’ late first-round picks or one of their four second-rounders could appeal to New York, especially if it’s paired with a young player or mid-tier prospect. The Flyers would need to decide just how high they’re willing to go for a player like Romanov—and whether they believe he’s worth giving up a shot at drafting another young, cost-controlled piece.

But if the Flyers truly see themselves on the upswing—and if Romanov is viewed as part of a potential playoff-caliber top four—it could be the kind of proactive, controlled risk Brière has shown a willingness to take.

The Outlook: Risk vs. Reward

No trade is ever a lock, and RFAs come with their own set of complications—especially when it comes to contract demands, arbitration risk, and the sheer unpredictability of restricted free agency. But Romanov presents a compelling mix of reliability, edge, and upside.

He’s already logged meaningful NHL experience. He’s shown growth each year. And most importantly, he plays a style of hockey that Flyers fans (and coaches) tend to appreciate: structured, tough, responsible, and intense.

For a Flyers team that’s still finding its identity but wants to keep inching closer to contention, this could be the right kind of bet—a player still developing, but ready for a bigger role. The question now becomes: how much are they willing to pay to make it happen?

And perhaps just as critically: are the Islanders ready to deal?

Stay tuned. The Flyers’ blue line may not be set just yet.

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2026 Jack Adams Award Race Heats Up With Comeback Coaches, Cinderella Stories

FanDuel's early odds spotlight a wide-open Jack Adams race fueled by comeback coaches and surprise contenders.

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As the 2025 NHL season draws to a close, the race for the Jack Adams Award as the league's best coach as started to intensify.

FanDuel's current odds reflect this competitive landscape, with Columbus' Dean Evason and Anahiem's Joel Quenneville leading the pack ahead of what will be a busy summer for both clubs. 

It's easier to look at the award as the team that generally improved the most and provided the best storyline like this past season with Spencer Carbery and the near-President's trophy winning Washington Capitals, after many pegged them to be a wild card team at best entering the season.

With that in mind, we present the betting odds for next year's Jack Adams award with some potential storylines that could come out of certain teams and lead to their head coach winning the predigest award. 

2025-26 Jack Adams Award Betting Odds per FanDuel Sportsbook

  • Dean Evason +1000 (Columbus Blue Jackets)
  • Joel Quenneville +1000 (Anaheim Ducks)
  • Andre Tourigny +1100 (Utah Mammoth)
  • Martin St. Louis +1200 (Montreal Canadiens)
  • Mike Sullivan +1500 (New York Rangers)
  • Ryan Huska +1900 (Calgary Flames)
  • Jeff Blashill +1900 (Chicago Blackhawks)
  • Ryan Warsofsky +2000 (San Jose Sharks)
  • Rick Tocchet +2200 [Philadephia Flyers)
  • Travis Green +2200 (Ottawa Senators)
  • Todd McLellan +2300 (Detroit Red Wings)
  • Adam Foote +2300 (Vancouver Canucks)

More NHL: Panthers' Sam Bennett Signals To Fans Likely Extension

Dean Evason (+1000) 

Evason brings a wealth of experience, having previously coached the Minnesota Wild, where he led the team to multiple playoff appearances. His leadership is credited with revitalizing the Blue Jackets, guiding them to a strong finish in the 2024–25 that almost no one expected, with preseason expectations having them pegged as a lottery team. 

Joel Quenneville (+1000) 

Quenneville is back as an NHL head coach after a hiatus and could prove to be a difference maker for a hungry Ducks team.

With over 969 career wins and three Stanley Cup titles, Quenneville's extensive experience will almost certainly help improve and develop the younger players on the team while creating a culture not seen in the City of Angels for quite some time. The team will also look signicantly better after the Ducks use their $32.1 million in cap space to bring in fresh blood like New York's Chris Kreider. 

Andre Tourigny (+1100) 

The Utah Mammoth had a fun team last season that finished with a very solid 38-31-8 record and will look to build on that success with just over $20 million in cap space heading into the summer.

One thing that team owner Ryan Smith made clear is that he wants his team to win and to bare minimum make the playoffs next season. The attitude of the organization is to win and perform like Smith's Denver Nuggets of the NBA and this should lead to some aggressive moves from GM Bill Armstrong this summer.

Martin St. Louis (+1200) 

The Habs have a promising young core and as much as their rivals like it, they are building towards a potential cup contender. Since taking over as head coach, St. Louis has led a remarkable turnaround in Montreal, guiding the team to an unexpected playoff berth this past season and earning recognition with votes for the Jack Adams Award.

His leadership and tactical adjustments have been key to the team's success and with more talent on the way like Ivan Demidov, there's a very real chance the Habs could be a top three seed in the Atlantic division and earn St. Louis a relatively easy Jack Adams next season. 

More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

Mike Sullivan (+1500) 

Sullivan, a two-time cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has a very easy case to win the award as he has to turn around a Rangers team that finished with a 55-23-4 record just one year ago. With his expertise of a 409-255-89 all-time record with the Penguins, the Blueshirts should have one of their best years yet but it could depend on the talent in the lineup. 

GM Chris Drury has made some aggressive moves to change the culture of the team like trading away longtime Rangers in Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider. If Drury doesn't manage to trade away all of New York's skilled players, Sullivan will have one of the safest cases to be a contender for the Jack Adams. 

Ryan Huska (+1900) 

Huska has been leading a Flames team that is focusing on building a resilient and competitive group. Despite their 41-27-14 record this past season, Calgary fell just short of a playoff berth but showed lots of promise as a physical team that many dreaded to play against.

With the fifth-most cap space in the league at nearly $27 million, the team could make some key improvements and continue to ride the hot hand of rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf, who looks like he will be the anchor of the Flames for years to come.

Jeff Blashill (+1900) 

The Blackhawks are desperately looking to improve on their 126-215-43 record since 2020 and the hope is Blashill is the man to get the job done.

With potential reinforcements from trading the third overall pick and utilizing $25.2 million in cap space for free-agent signings, Chicago could assemble a competitive roster. A playoff berth would almost certianly put Jeff Blashill in contention for the Jack Adams Award.

More NHL: Blackhawks Reportedly Open to Trading No. 3 Pick in 2026 NHL Draft

Ryan Warsofsky (+2000)

The Sharks were one of most exciting teams in the league to watch last season as they remained a reliable betting team to cover the puck line despite their troublesome record that has them listed as a lottery team once again. San Jose is slowly building as a team in the basement for a long period of time almost always leads to a sleeping dragon much like the Florida Panthers for several years. 

If Warsofsky can develop San Jose’s young players into difference-makers and make key additions using their league-leading $41.7 million in cap space this summer, it could result in a far more competitive roster than anticipated and put Warsofsky in the running for the Jack Adams Award.

Rick Tocchet (+2200) 

The Flyers have a promising future thanks to their talented young players such as Matvei Michkov and Noah Cates, who have already demonstrated they can make an impact at the NHL level.

Adding to that, Rick Tocchet’s elite coaching resume, highlighted by his recent Jack Adams Award, brings proven leadership and player development expertise. With Tocchet guiding this youthful roster, the Flyers are well-positioned to improve and compete more strongly in the upcoming season.

Travis Green (+2200) 

Green has helped develop the young Senators team into a playoff contender and depending on the success of the team next season, he could be an easy pick to win the award. A top three division seed for Ottawa would make Green hard to beat

Todd McLellan (+2300)

Todd McLellan took over as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings mid-season, replacing Derek Lalonde. Despite the team's overall struggles, McLellan's experience with defensive structure should help lead the Red Wings to one of their best seasons in years as they are on the cusp of a playoff berth. Watch for McLellan to be one of the biggest darkhorses for the award.

Adam Foote (+2300) 

The case for Foote is easy as the Vancouver Canucks have the makeup of a team that challenged the two-time Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game slugfest a year ago and could build up to that same level once again.

Star players like Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes will need to play massive roles and get the Canucks back in the playoff picture at minimum. 

More NHL: Frontrunners Forming In Marner Sweepstakes After Recent Insider Reports

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Celtics draft fits: Is Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis worth trading up for?

Celtics draft fits: Is Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis worth trading up for? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Should the Boston Celtics trade up in the 2025 NBA Draft to select a player who could make a meaningful impact as a rookie?

The C’s are one of only three teams in the second apron of the luxury tax, which limits their ability to add players via trade and free agency. Therefore, the upcoming draft is likely the best avenue for the Celtics to add young, cost-controlled young players.

More Celtics Draft Fits:

But the Celtics own the No. 28 pick near the end of Round 1. There are usually a couple good players near the end of the first round and early second round in each draft, but finding them is difficult.

If the Celtics packaged the No. 28 pick, the No. 32 pick (second pick in Round 2) and maybe a future pick, perhaps they’d be able to move up into the late lottery or early 20s.

And if they were able to swing that kind of move, one player worth considering in that range is Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis. He is projected to land between the No. 10 and No. 17 picks in a lot of mock drafts.

Learn more about Jakucionis and his potential fit with the C’s below:

Kasparas Jakucionis’ bio

  • Position: Guard
  • Height: 6-foot-6
  • Weight: 200 pounds
  • Birthdate: May 29, 2006
  • Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuania
  • College: Illinois

Kasparas Jakucionis’ collegiate stats

  • 2024-25: 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 44.0 field goal percentage, 31.8 3-point percentage (33 games)

Kasparas Jakucionis’ college accolades

  • 2025 Big Ten All-Freshman Team
  • 2025 All-B1G Second Team (AP)

Kasparas Jakucionis’ highlights

Why Kasparas Jakucionis fits with Celtics

Jakucionis hit just 31.8 percent of his 3-pointers for the Fighting Illini, but an arm injury during the season might have been the reason for those struggles. He does have a nice offensive game driving to the basket. He boasts an impressive repertoire of moves near the rim, including fantastic footwork. Jakucionis is a three-level scorer and is effective on pick-and-roll scenarios.

The Lithuanian guard also is a very good playmaker, but he did turn the ball over a little too much at Illinois — 3.7 turnovers per game, tied for the fourth-most of any player last season — so he’ll have to clean that up a bit in the pros.

Should the Celtics target Jakucionis in Round 1, especially if they have to trade up to get him?

Here’s what our insider Chris Forsberg thinks:

“The one-and-done Illinois combo guard is known for his creative passing and the way he sees the floor. He gets to the free throw line a lot, too, and as we’ve seen with Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the foul-merchant business is a good one to be in.

“Before suffering a midseason arm injury, Jakucionis was shooting 41 percent from 3-point range. His numbers dipped afterward. If that dip can be attributed to his injury, his game fills out a bit more. If the Celtics can get higher in the draft through some wheeling and dealing, Jakucionis could be the target.”

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Warriors' 2025 NBA offseason has to start with shooting, scoring firepower

Warriors' 2025 NBA offseason has to start with shooting, scoring firepower originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If the Oklahoma City Thunder end the Indiana Pacers’ season Thursday night, or simply win one of the next two games in the 2025 NBA Finals, the age-old adage of “defense wins championships” can take a victory lap. 

The Thunder had the best defense all regular season, and that continued in the playoffs. Their league-best 106.6 defensive rating has dropped to 105.9 in the playoffs, with one or two games remaining. They averaged 10.3 steals per game in the regular season, and that number has jumped to 10.9 in the playoffs. OKC’s defense circles its prey, swarms, and in thunderous unison releases the Kraken to send a dagger through their opponents. 

Having a 26-year-old MVP who’s a modernized throwback scoring machine that averaged 32.7 points per game to lead the NBA this season certainly helps. So does having a No. 2 who can score all over the floor. Jalen Williams has increased his scoring output in each of the first five games of the Finals, putting 40 on the Indiana Pacers to take a three-games-to-two series lead in Game 5. 

Wherever the Warriors have been watching the Finals, they could be shaking their heads and sweating at the mere thought of going against the Thunder’s defense for a playoff series in the alternate universe that a healthy Steph Curry led them past the Minnesota Timberwolves and into the Western Conference Finals. In the real world of how the Warriors’ season unfolded with an injured Curry watching from the sidelines, however, the front office should have seen that more shooting and scoring firepower will be needed to get past the Thunder and anybody else if they want to climb the mountain once more in the next two years of Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond’s Green contracts. 

“When Steph went out, the lack of shooting was an issue, and that impacted Draymond, it impacted Jimmy, impacted [Jonathan Kuminga],” Steve Kerr said after the season. “So those are things that we have to figure out for sure.”

In the four games of the conference semifinals that Curry missed because of his strained hamstring, the Warriors only made 38 threes and shot 31.9 percent. As the Timberwolves kept missing, the Warriors made 18 threes in their Game 1 win when Curry had 13 points and three 3-pointers in just 13 minutes. They made 11 threes in that win after his exit, but five came from Buddy Hield. 

The other six were from a combination of Green, Butler, Kuminga and Gary Payton II, four players considered “non-shooters” from deep. The Warriors in Game 2 through 5 averaged 9.5 threes per game, five fewer than the Timberwolves’ average of 14.5. 

Plenty of question marks surround the Warriors going into the offseason. There’s one certainty: If healthy, Curry, Butler and Green will all be in the starting five as the trio that makes everything go. When those three are on the floor together, the Warriors like their chances against anyone. It also complicates a couple of things. 

“Obviously with Steph, he’s such a unique player and creates so much gravity, but Jimmy and Draymond are unique in their own rights,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said last month. “Jimmy’s ability to get to the line, it’s a highly efficient way to score and get to the basket and those things.

“We’ve got ways to be a really good offense, but it’s just maybe not as traditional in 2025 as some of these other clubs.” 

Simply said, the Warriors can’t be a five-out team with both Butler and Green in the lineup. Can they even be a four-out team? On a list that could be long, shooting and scoring have to be the Warriors’ main priority entering the NBA draft, free agency and possibly conducting their next trade. 

That can come through multiple avenues, including internally. It’s no surprise that the best offensive rating of a three-man unit for the Warriors that included Butler and Green was inserting Curry (117.8 offensive rating). But Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski were the two players who spent the most regular-season minutes next to Butler and Green. 

Moody in the final 28 games of the regular season when he became an everyday starter shot 36.8 percent from three with 1.3 steals per game as a steady two-way player. From Jan. 1 to the end of the regular season, a 48-game span, Moody was a 37.6 percent 3-point shooter on five attempts per game. He then shot 33.3 percent in the playoffs, went four consecutive games without a made three, and was a shell of himself offensively. 

The Warriors then announced Moody underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right shooting thumb less than a week after the season ended. Like Moody, health surely played a part in Podziemski’s playoff shooting struggles. 

Podziemski played 26 regular-season games after the Butler trade and shot 41.7 percent from three on six attempts per game. He averaged 15 points per game in that span, and then 11.3 points per game in the playoffs on 32.8 percent beyond the arc. Forty percent of his points in the playoffs came from two games. 

And then the Warriors announced Podziemski has gone through left wrist surgery and surgery to repair a core muscle injury this offseason. The healthy sample sizes of Podziemski and Moody, especially with how they fit their roles once Butler was aboard, has to make the Warriors feel confident moving forward. 

Hield was brought in to pick up the 3-point slack from Klay Thompson’s departure, and he fulfilled that need by making at least 200 threes for a seventh straight season. He also averaged 9.3 points and shot 31 percent from three for a two-month stretch. Hield is hot and cold, rarely finding a middle ground. 

The reality of a possible Kuminga return as a restricted free agent only intensifies the need for more shooting. Curry has played at least 70 games the last two seasons, and that number should be expected to drop next season and the season after. A scorer like Kuminga can help ease that burden, but only if the proper shooting is around him, spacing the floor for driving room to the basket. 

Size is undoubtedly part of the priority list. Height might not matter much if the player can’t stretch the floor like we’re seeing by the last two teams standing from players like Chet Holmgren and Myles Turner. The Pacers have a true five-out starting lineup, and the Thunder led the NBA in 3-point percentage once the calendar moved to 2025. 

The NBA offseason began before the season even ended when the Orlando Magic traded for Desmond Bane on Sunday. Why did the Magic send Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four first-round picks and a future pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies for someone who’s yet to make an All-Star team in his first five seasons? Because Bane’s scoring ability as someone who has averaged more than 20 points twice, and shooting 41 percent behind the 3-point line for his career, is exactly what the Magic have been missing.

Making it further than a second-round exit is the expectation after understanding who the Warriors are in the Butler era. The only way that will happen is if the main investment the next few weeks and throughout the summer is circling players who can put points on the scoreboard and make the nets drip once again inside Chase Center, and beyond.

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As Club World Cup hands out riches, a plan is needed for those left behind | Nick Ames

With the top-level juggernaut careering away the majority of Europe’s clubs need help and should be better rewarded for players they develop

While a dozen of Europe’s elite clubs were chasing the American dream, 170 of their less garlanded peers gathered for a barbecue next to Lake Geneva. They had converged on Uefa’s headquarters to attend the qualifying round draws for next season’s continental competitions; Tuesday night was time to get together, perhaps to speed-date representatives of the team you had been paired with or simply to cut loose before a labyrinthine summer spent journeying in search of league-phase football.

Borussia Dortmund were slugging out a goalless draw with Fluminense while the meat hit the grills, but “Club World Cup” is a dirty formulation in Nyon’s corridors of power. Any available screens showed action from Uefa’s own Under-21 Championship and alternative sources of entertainment roamed the pastel green lawns. A caricature artist did the rounds, stopping at the table occupied by Aleksander Ceferin and putting his pencil to work.

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When India won at Headingley for the first time and left England in despair

Mike Gatting took over from David Gower as captain before the Test at Headingley. It didn’t make much difference

By That 1980s Sports Blog

India will be hoping the Test at Headingley this week goes better than their last visit to the ground in 2021. Dismissed for 78 in the first innings, a defeat inevitably followed for the visitors. It was a far cry from their two previous visits – the victory in 2002 inspired by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, and their first Test win at the ground in 1986.

England’s defeat at Headingley 39 years ago was a tough one for their fans. As the World Cup in Mexico grabbed the attention of the sporting public, and Boris Becker defended his Wimbledon crown, England’s Test team were plumbing new depths. The glory of the 1985 Ashes series seemed a lifetime ago. That victory had led some to believe that the winter series against the West Indies could be an evenly matched contest between two of the best teams in the world. File that under misplaced confidence. England were crushed 5-0, and the pressure on captain David Gower started to crank up.

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2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Reese Hamilton

The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Reese Hamilton, who plays for the Regina Pats.

Credit Mark Peterson // Prince Albert Raiders

Hamilton's biggest strength, without a shadow of a doubt, is his skating. Explosive strides, smooth edgework, the former Calgary Hitmen blueliner has ways to close gaps and push opposing skaters to the outside. Once he gets there, a finished body check is likely on the way and puck possession will change hands.

However, the Pats defender at one point was a top-15 player in the 2025 class. Since the beginning of the season, he has fallen to somehwere in the 125-175 range. As is the case with multiple players in the past, this isn't a death sentence; Hamilton does have the tools to become a solid defender in the NHL, especially with his skating, but the offensive output could use some work.

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Tri-City Americans Jackson Smith Commits To Penn State University

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