PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A brawl between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina in the women's Sun Belt Tournament on Wednesday left eight players ejected and knocked a referee to the ground where she required medical attention.
There were under six minutes left in the fourth quarter when South Alabama’s Cordasia Harris and Coastal Carolina’s Tracey Hueston began fighting under the basket. Harris appeared to bump Hueston slightly from behind before Hueston turned around and began pushing and swinging at Harris, who pushed back.
Two referees, multiple teammates and staff members quickly worked to separate the women and a referee was knocked to the ground in the melee. She appeared to be hit in the head or neck area by Hueston as the referee was attempting to push her away from Harris.
She remained on the ground on her back while order was restored and multiple staff members and a medical professional ran onto the court to attend to her. A sheriff’s deputy also came onto the court after the fight ended.
There was no immediate update on the referee's condition.
Hueston and Harris were both given technical fouls and ejected, along with six other players who participated in the fight.
Christian Scotthas been thinking about this day for a long time.
After missing nearly two years following Tommy John surgery, the young Mets starter made his highly-anticipated return to game action Wednesday against Team Israel.
Scott admitted there were some nerves, but it certainly didn’t show.
The right-hander was in complete control, working around a walk and a stolen base in the fourth, before striking out two in the fifth, then retiring the final two batters he faced in the sixth.
Certainly an encouraging way to rip off the band-aid.
“It felt great to go out there and have a defense behind you,” Scott said. “It was a lot of fun to be able to see people in the stands and get out there for my first game action -- I thought it went really well, just excited to be out there.”
Scott used his full arsenal as he allowed just two baserunners, struck out five, and threw 40 of 50 pitches for strikes.
His secondary pitches looked extremely sharp on the afternoon, and he topped out at 96 mph on his fastball, a very encouraging sign this early in camp following surgery.
“It’s just my first start, but I think there’s a lot to build off of,” Scott said.
“The way the ball is coming out, he has life on his fastball,” Carlos Mendoza added. “Not only hitting 96, but there’s a lot of life, and the way he was using all his pitches -- the cutter, the sweeper, the changeup -- it was fun to watch.”
The 26-year-old will now look to continue building up his pitch count from here.
While he figures to begin the season in Triple-A, he could find himself back in the majors before long if he can stay on the mound and put together more dominant outings like his return.
One of the Montreal Canadiens' top objectives ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline should be to add another right-shot defenseman. Now, a very interesting one has entered the trade market who they should seriously consider pursuing.
With the Canadiens being a team on the rise, there is no question that Nemec would be an excellent young player for them to add to their roster. The 2022 second-overall pick is already a good defenseman in the NHL, but he is still plenty young enough to get better as he continues to gain experience. Because of this, the Canadiens should strongly consider making a push for him.
Nemec also recently played with Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and they linked up well with each other during it. Thus, it would be fascinating to see what they could do if they played together on the Canadiens.
Overall, with Nemec being just 22 years old and having a ton of potential, he is exactly the kind of player who the Canadiens should look to bring in. In 47 games this season with the Devils, the 6-foot-1 blueliner has already set new career highs with nine goals and 21 points.
“Vamos, vamos!” (“come on, let’s go!”) screamed Rodri in his native Spanish following a 62nd-minute header that seemed to grab a precious victory for Manchester City.
But the title chasers’ 2-1 lead lasted only 14 minutes as Phil Foden allowed Elliot Anderson to run off him and the Nottingham Forest midfielder, from range, curled a sublime equaliser beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma. City’s faithful were silenced.
Wyatt Kaiser was not ready to return to the Chicago Blackhawks when the Olympics ended, so they called up both Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.
Rinzel was up heading into the break, but they decided to let him play some games in the AHL while the team was on break. For Korchinski, it was another opportunity to spend time with the NHL club.
Of the four games played so far, Korchinski only dressed for two of them. The only reason he got into those games is the fact that Rinzel came down with an illness. The plan was for him to sit for all of them.
In the loss to the Colorado Avalanche, he only played a total of 8:24. He saw a slight bump in the win over the Utah Mammoth, skating for 10:27.
The interesting thing is that Connor Murphy was traded on Monday, and they still scratched Korchinski. Sam Rinzel was back in the lineup, but they actually called up Ethan Del Mastro to take Murphy's spot instead of just letting Korchinski play.
This is an interesting spot for the young former first-round pick. Sure, Del Mastro plays a style that replicates Murphy more than he does, but Rinzel was also going back into the lineup with an expected jump in ice-time with Murphy's absence.
If he's not going to play while with the NHL team, having him there instead of developing further in the AHL is a curious decision. The team clearly feels that, for now, Korchinski is benefitting from practicing with the NHL guys.
Korchinski is an offensive defenseman. His stock was high entering the 2022 NHL Draft because of his skating and offensive IQ. Since being drafted, however, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levhsunov have been better at those things, while also showing more of a ceiling in other areas of the game. That has pushed Korchinski further down the line.
Wyatt Kaiser is going to return from his injury on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks, which blocks the path for Korchinski even further. He deserves to get a chance down the stretch, but so many players at his position on the roster make it hard to see logistically.
Even if they trade Matt Grzelcyk, they still have Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier, Alex Vlasic, and Ethan Del Mastro ahead of Korchinski on the depth chart.
Is a change of scenery necessary for the young defenseman? For the sake of roster space, it might be wise for the Blackhawks to consider something like that. His pedigree as a prospect still makes him worth something on the open market, but they likely want a contributing player or prospect back in a deal.
If they can't find a deal, they must think of a way to get him NHL ice time so they can see what they have in the player as the season comes to an end.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Hunter Greene #21 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning during Game One of the National League Wild Card Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
On two separate occasions the Cincinnati Reds have turned to Hunter Greene to start for them on Opening Day, first back in 2023 and again in 2025. He’s the undisputed ace of their staff, a former #2 overall draft pick who was long assumed to be a frontline starter for any team that lucked into getting his services, and despite being banged up off and on through the years he’s absolutely begun to live up to the immense hype.
The Reds, presumably, were going to turn to Greene for the start on Opening Day 2026. After finding out this morning that Greene was dealing with stiffness in his right elbow – an issue that dates back to last fall prior to the end of the 2025 season – it’s looking less and less likely he’ll be available to do that.
As Mark Sheldon of Reds.com relayed, Greene is set for an MRI after experiencing pain in his right elbow after his first start of the spring. Greene remains optimistic that it’s not going to be anything too serious – he goes as far as confirming that his surgically repaired UCL is completely intact – but notes he knows there are bone spurs in there and that he received an injection in it over the winter after it ailed him down the stretch in 2025.
The Cincinnati Reds have a wealth of depth at starting pitcher, for now. They just welcomed back each of Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson, and Julian Aguiar after the trio was lost for 2025 with their own arm injuries and surgeries. Still, Greene’s the kind of arm that simply cannot be fully replaced even if the Reds are perhaps better equipped than any team in the game to stomach having him out for a short period of time.
How short that is remains to be seen. That’s why the MRI is going down in the first place. If it’s merely an issue of rest and taking time off, that’s obviously the best-case scenario, but even then that would put him behind the eight-ball to build back up to be ready by Opening Day. If it’s anything beyond that, god forbid, any timeline for when he’ll work his way back onto the 2026 squad gets thrown up in the air.
Greene, who only fired 107 IP last year and has only once reached so much as 150 IP in a season, is going to be managed with the softest of gloves in this instance. The Reds want him to get to that number and be ready to pitch deep in the playoffs, after all, and it now looks like the best route for him to get to that number may include being sidelined for the first week, weeks, month of the season and then ramping it up from there.
Brady Singer, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Chase Burns, Lowder, Williamson, Aguiar, and Chase Petty buy the Reds the chance to be patient with this, however serious it ends up being. Still, there was immense hope that 2026 might be the year Greene shakes off the injury bug for once and pitches well enough (and often enough) for his typically elite production to put him squarely in the mix for a Cy Young Award – or more – and now that path is already facing a serious hiccup.
The Vegas Golden Knights made a quiet but practical move to bolster their forward group, picking up winger Cole Smith from the Nashville Predators. Heading back the other way is defense prospect Christoffer Sedoff along with a 2028 third-round pick.
Smith isn’t a flashy addition, but he brings experience and reliability to Vegas’ bottom six. The 30-year-old has six goals and four assists through 42 games this season, his sixth year in Nashville. He’s playing out the final year of a two-year deal that carries a manageable $1 million cap hit — the kind of contract contenders like to add this time of year.
Smith during a recent game.
A native of Brainerd, Smith has spent his entire NHL career with the Predators, totaling 23 goals and 39 assists across 271 games in the National Hockey League. He’s also appeared in five playoff games, giving Vegas a player who understands postseason intensity, even in limited action.
Sedoff, 24, has been skating with the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL, where he’s posted four assists in 38 games this season. He now joins a Predators organization that appears to be leaning further into future assets.
Vegas currently sits atop the Pacific Division with a 28-19-14 record, and this move signals they’re looking to solidify depth rather than make a headline splash.
Earlier in the day, Nashville also moved forward Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick, another sign the Predators are reshaping their roster with an eye toward what’s next.
What Fans Can Expect
The Minnesota native’s most productive offensive season came in 2023–24, when Cole Smith recorded nine goals and 14 assists with the Nashville Predators. Offense, however, has never been the defining element of his game.
Smith’s value is rooted in his defensive reliability. He owns an 82-game average of 1.1 defensive point shares (per Hockey Reference), with a career-best 1.3 posted during that same 2023–24 campaign. His ability to suppress chances, win board battles, and execute clean exits makes him a dependable presence in a depth role.
In Vegas, he’ll reunite with former Predators teammate Colton Sissons, giving the Vegas Golden Knights a familiar pairing on the lower lines. The duo developed chemistry in Nashville as defensively responsible forwards capable of handling tough matchups while adding a physical edge.
Physicality is another clear part of Smith’s profile. He has delivered 119 hits this season, reinforcing his reputation as a hard, straight-line winger who finishes checks consistently. That style fits seamlessly with the Golden Knights’ identity and complements players such as Jeremy Lauzon and Keegan Kolesar, who also bring size and edge to the lineup.
Overall, Smith projects as a defensively sound, physical depth addition who strengthens Vegas’ bottom six without altering its core structure.
The NHL trade deadline arrives at 3:00 p.m. on March 6, and for the Philadelphia Flyers, it has the potential to be a referendum on direction.
The front office has said that this season is one where they hope to be out of the subtracting stages of the rebuild, and instead be in a position to start adding strengths to the roster. But trade deadline week always comes fraught with rumors, and the Flyers are certainly no exception.
The Flyers can believe in their trajectory while still recognizing that certain players carry heightened market value. What follows is an objective examination of the names most frequently mentioned in league circles—not as expendable pieces, but as assets with defined value across the NHL landscape.
Rasmus Ristolainen: A Resurgent Top-Four Defenseman With Defined Value
Rasmus Ristolainen has played some of his most efficient hockey in recent weeks. His gap control has tightened, his decision-making with the puck has become more economical, and his physical presence remains unmistakably valuable.
The Flyers are reportedly asking for a first-round pick and a prospect for the 31-year-old and are not inclined to settle for less—a reflection of both his recent form and the broader scarcity of right-shot defensemen capable of handling top-four minutes.
Pierre LeBrun: Re Rasmus Ristolainen: The current asking price from the Flyers is a first round pick and a prospect - Insider Trading (3/3)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) March 4, 2026
Two teams reportedly expressing significant interest are the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins.
Buffalo’s interest sounds particularly acute. Ristolainen was drafted eighth overall by the Sabres in 2013 and spent eight seasons there. A reunion would not simply be sentimental; Buffalo is seeking defensive stability and playoff credibility. Ristolainen’s familiarity with the market and his matured defensive profile could provide both.
The Bruins, on the other hand, prioritize defensive zone reliability and physical deterrence in playoff series. Ristolainen’s size, penalty-kill usage, and willingness to engage physically align with that identity.
The key question is valuation. If Philadelphia holds firm on their reported asking price, it highlights confidence not just in Ristolainen’s play, but in their negotiating position.
Owen Tippett: Upside, Leverage, and a Contract Clock
Owen Tippett may be the most discussed Flyer in league conversations at the moment. While he is not being aggressively shopped, every team reportedly asks about him when they give Danny Briere a ring.
The appeal is obvious. Tippett combines high-end straight-line speed with a heavy, quick-release shot. When engaged, he can tilt games with pace alone. He has the frame to play physically and the skill to finish from distance, a combination that remains attractive in today’s transition-heavy NHL.
Yet Tippett has been known to struggle with inconsistency. His impact can fluctuate from dominant to peripheral within the span of weeks. That volatility complicates valuation.
A recent Daily Faceoff report suggested that there has not been significant traction on a deal this week and that movement, if it occurs at all, may be more likely in the offseason. In Tippett's case specifically, timing matters. The 27-year-old has a no-trade clause that activates on July 1, meaning Philadelphia would need to act before then if they intend to preserve maximum flexibility.
The Bruins have reportedly “kicked the tires” multiple times, and they are not alone. Speed and shot volume are appealing across systems. Teams searching for a middle-six winger who can escalate into a top-line threat in the right environment will continue to inquire.
For the Flyers, the decision hinges on belief: Is Tippett a long-term foundational scorer, or an asset whose market may never be higher?
Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (74). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Bobby Brink: Development Curve Meets Roster Mathematics
Bobby Brink represents a different kind of asset. He's younger, cost-controlled, and still ascending.
Small in stature but creative in tight spaces, Brink has evolved from a perimeter playmaker into a more assertive competitor. He has added strength, increased his puck battle engagement, and diversified his offensive reads. His versatility allows him to move between lines and adapt to varied tactical demands.
The speculation around Brink is less about dissatisfaction and more about roster dynamics. The Flyers have plenty of winger prospects pushing for NHL roles. To create space, they may need to convert an existing young asset into a different positional need.
Anthony Di Marco: Re Flyers: I have gotten the sense that Bobby Brink may be (one of) the wingers to walk the plank to clear space for the incoming influx of prospect wingers over the coming years - Daily Faceoff (1/27)
Around the league, Brink would appeal to teams seeking secondary scoring with playmaking instincts. His hockey IQ translates across styles, whether in a puck-possession system or a structured forecheck.
He has made tangible strides over the past two seasons and still projects with a meaningful ceiling. That combination makes him valuable both internally and externally.
Garnet Hathaway: Veteran Presence With Playoff Utility
Garnet Hathaway embodies the archetype of a deadline acquisition.
At 34 (turning 35 in November), Hathaway remains physically assertive, defensively reliable, and tactically disciplined. He plays defined minutes, kills penalties, and rarely deviates from his role. In postseason environments, those traits amplify.
His value extends beyond the ice. Hathaway is widely regarded as a strong locker-room presence—vocal, accountable, and an example of a true professional that younger players can follow.
He is not a top-six scorer, nor is he expected to be. But for teams seeking fourth-line stability, playoff edge, and experience, Hathaway represents low-risk reinforcement with immediate utility.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway (19). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Noah Juulsen: Defined Role, Predictable Execution
Noah Juulsen offers something contenders covet in depth defensemen: clarity.
He understands his role as a third-pair, physical, detail-oriented defenseman. He does not overextend offensively. He prioritizes body positioning, net-front coverage, and simple exits.
In postseason play, injuries are unfortunately inevitable. Having a defenseman who can step into limited minutes without disrupting structure is an asset. Juulsen’s physicality and willingness to handle “dirty work” situations make him appealing to teams seeking insurance on the back end.
His market may not command headline returns, but there will be teams out there looking for depth optimization, and Juulsen's predictability can carry some value in that department.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Noah Juulsen (47). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Carl Grundstrom: Bottom-Six Stability With Scoring Touch
Carl Grundstrom fits a mold that playoff teams routinely pursue: a bottom-six forward who can finish.
Grundstrom brings physical engagement, forecheck pressure, and enough offensive instinct to convert opportunistic chances. He does not require power-play time to produce. His value lies in five-on-five contributions and matchup flexibility.
For teams looking to solidify their third or fourth line with a player capable of elevating during tight-checking series, Grundstrom can provide cost-effective reinforcement.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Carl Grundstrom (91). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)<div data-empty="true"><br></div>
The Broader Calculation
Trade deadlines can be chaotic, especially for a team like the Flyers that may not necessarily want to subtract or make short-term solution deals, but have several players who could initiate long-term success in a trade deal.
For Philadelphia, the calculus is layered. Some players, like Ristolainen, may command peak value. Others, like Tippett, force philosophical questions about ceiling versus consistency. Depth veterans such as Hathaway and Juulsen provide immediate playoff utility for contenders, and younger pieces like Brink carry developmental upside that can be reshaped into positional balance.
What remains clear is that the Flyers are not navigating this deadline from a position of desperation. They hold assets that other teams want. That distinction grants them patience.
March 6 will reveal not only who might move, but how the organization goes about this next phase of rebuilding. This week could showcase incremental recalibration or accelerated repositioning, or it could be uneventful if other GMs don't bring the desired pieces to the Flyers' table.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that shortstop Francisco Lindor started his hitting progression on Wednesday.
The skipper didn’t provide any further details in terms of how many swings were taken.
This is obviously another step in the right direction for the stars shortstop, who had surgery on his left hamate bone on February 11.
Lindor played catch on Monday, took part in live defensive drills on Tuesday, and now has moved on to hitting, with Opening Day just over three weeks away.
All along, Lindor, Mendoza, and Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns have said that they are all optimistic that the five-time All-Star will be ready to go when the Mets host the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 26.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 02: A detail view of the Nike basketball shoes of Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks before a game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on March 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a fair question — and one that’s becoming harder to ignore around the league.
Among qualified NHL goaltenders, the Calgary Flames netminder sits first in save percentage at .922 and sixth in goals-against average at 2.28. Dig a little deeper, and the numbers become even more compelling. His high-danger save percentage stands at .863 — placing him in the 97th percentile league-wide, well above the NHL average of roughly .813.
Yet for much of the season, Cooley’s performance has flown under the radar. Playing behind a team that has battled inconsistency and struggled to generate offence at times, his body of work hasn’t always been accompanied by highlight-reel wins or national headlines. But inside the organization, the appreciation is clear — and he’s been turning opponents heads, too.
“I think he’s starting to,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “Maybe early on in the year he didn’t get as much (credit) as he probably deserved. I think now he is, because he’s been really consistent with what he’s done when he’s gone in there.”
There’s a noticeable edge to his game — a refusal to quit on plays, regardless of the scoreboard. Whether the Flames are protecting a lead or chasing one, his effort level rarely wavers. That compete has resonated with Huska, particularly in difficult nights when momentum swings heavily the other way.
“Even (against Dallas) when the game was out of reach, he competed and tried to make a save on everything that was coming at him and that’s what you love about him,” explained Huska.
That resilience matters. Goaltending can be isolating, especially when breakdowns happen in front of you or games spiral beyond control. Cooley’s response hasn’t been frustration — it’s been fight.
“And you want, hopefully, other players to recognize what he did in a situation where things weren’t going in our favour,” Huska continued. “He stayed in there and made some saves, so I was really proud of him for that.”
The numbers make a strong case. The underlying metrics strengthen it. But perhaps what separates Cooley this season isn’t simply statistical dominance — it’s mentality.
On a team searching for consistency in other areas, the goaltender has quietly provided it.
Underrated? Maybe earlier in the year.
Overlooked? Increasingly difficult to justify.
If recognition across the league hasn’t fully caught up yet, it’s only a matter of time.
WREXHAM, Wales (AP) — Wrexham will play Liverpool in a friendly match at Yankee Stadium as part of its East Coast tour this summer, and by that time the fast-rising Welsh club will know if it has reached the Premier League.
Wrexham has earned an unprecedented three straight promotions and is playing in the second-tier Championship for the first time since the 1980s.
Its surge up the English soccer pyramid, documented in the Emmy-winning “Welcome to Wrexham” TV series, began in 2022 with promotion from the non-league fifth division.
Wrexham is currently in sixth place in the Championship with 11 games remaining in the season. The top-two finishers secure automatic promotion to the Premier League and the teams that finish third to sixth will qualify for the end-of-season playoffs for the one extra promotion spot.
Wrexham's three-match tour, announced on Wednesday, begins July 25 against Leeds at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Liverpool game is July 29. The team then faces Sunderland on Aug. 2 at Subaru Park near Philadelphia.
The Colorado Avalanche have been atop the NHL all season. But as Friday’s trade deadline nears, swirling speculation suggests the club could be open to shaking things up — including potentially moving a player who might be more valuable staying put than gone.
Former Avalanche insider Adrian Dater wrote on X, "I’m hearing that Val Nichushkin might suddenly be in play as #Avs trade piece."
Let’s make one thing very clear: this would be a very poor decision by the Avalanche.
Valeri Nichushkin at training camp.
An Indispensable Piece of the Core
Nichushkin, who turns 31 this week, has been a foundational piece of Colorado’s identity for years. At his peak, he was one of the NHL’s most dangerous two-way power forwards — a force on the forecheck, a puck-possession driver, and a relentless net-front presence. During Colorado’s Stanley Cup run, he was indispensable. Nichushkin posted nine goals and six assists for 15 points in 20 games and even played through a broken foot in the Cup-clinching game.
Yes, this season’s scoring numbers — 12 goals and 24 assists in 51 games — don’t match the highs Avalanche fans are used to. And yes, his eight-year, $49 million contract has drawn scrutiny. There have been injuries and off-ice personal challenges. But focusing strictly on raw counting stats misses what Nichushkin actually provides.
Built For Playoff Hockey
Nichushkin does the things that matter most in playoff hockey — disrupting opposing breakouts, forcing turnovers, wearing down defenders, and tipping pucks in dangerous scoring areas. Those contributions rarely dominate headlines, but they frequently decide postseason games.
Nichushkin with the Stanley Cup. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas
Colorado’s record without him over recent years is also telling. The Avalanche have been significantly better with Nichushkin in the lineup than without him — a reflection of the subtle but very real impact he has on the ice.
Championship teams need skill. They also need weight, pressure, and players willing to do the punishing work between the dots. Nichushkin thrives in that environment.
The Brotherhood Factor
Beyond systems and analytics, there’s also the human element — something Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now highlighted when discussing Nichushkin’s relationship with goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.
Deen reported that Nichushkin has opened up socially since Blackwood’s arrival in Denver, with the two routinely seeing each other postgame and building a genuine bond as locker room teammates. For a player long viewed as quiet and reserved, that growth matters.
Blackwood has been open about how the relationship started early — the two “just started chatting,” Blackwood told Deen — and it evolved naturally from there. It’s more than casual camaraderie. That’s chemistry. That’s trust. That’s accountability.
Blackwood and Nichushkin embrace following a big win. Credit: John E. Sokolowski
All of those things matter.
There’s also broader context. Blackwood signed a long-term deal in December and appears fully invested — and happy — in Colorado. Stability in net has been a storyline for this franchise, and the organization finally has it.
A healthy, confident Nichushkin playing in front of him — blocking lanes, winning board battles, applying relentless forecheck pressure — directly supports that stability. Goaltenders benefit immensely from predictable, committed defensive play in front of them. Nichushkin provides exactly that.
Trading him now would not be a simple cap maneuver. It would send a message through the locker room. And for a team capable of winning another Stanley Cup this season, disrupting that chemistry carries real risk.
The deadline is approaching fast. If the Avalanche believe they need another layer to push them over the top, the focus should be on adding — not subtracting the subtle glue that helps hold a contender together.
Valeri Nichushkin may not always dominate the stat sheet. But his impact on this team, stylistically and culturally, is undeniable.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 25: George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees stands for the national anthem before a spring training game against the Washington Nationals at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 25, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What’s the best way for a young top prospect to introduce himself to a national baseball audience before making his MLB debut? Is it gaudy minor-league numbers? Is it College World Series heroics? Is it highlight plays or eye-popping Statcast numbers on the backfields?
What about homering off of one of the most dominant starters in baseball in your first-ever at-bat against him while your swing is broadcast live on ESPN? For George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ top prospect, that’s the path he chose on Wednesday afternoon in Fort Myers, making an early statement off of Boston’s Garrett Crochet that served as the opening salvo for the Yankees’ 4-0 win over their rival Red Sox down at JetBlue Park. Lombard, paired with a home run from Ben Rice and strong pitching from Luis Gil, gave Yankees fans a lot to be excited about in another spring victory.
With a very young Yankees lineup making the trip down to Fort Myers to face one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, the bar was relatively low entering the day as to what we’d be happy to see with this lineup against him. Well, Lombard told a national audience that he’s not just a slick defender, absolutely tattooing a 1-2 fastball at the top of the zone for a leadoff home run in the first against the 2025 AL Cy Young Award runner-up.
Yes, the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect that multiple outlets have slowed their roll on because of the growing pains he encountered at Double-A at the age of 20 just homered off one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.
It was the way he did it that might’ve been more impressive than the feat itself. A 96.8-mph high fastball from Crochet is near-unhittable, and he not only put a tremendous swing on it, but crushed it over JetBlue Park’s Green Monster replica. Pulling this ball—given its velo, location, and who threw it—for a home run over a high wall is absolutely absurd for a young hitter like Lombard.
Crochet settled in to retire the next three in order, but the ESPN broadcast and all Yankees fans were buzzing over Lombard. Gil took the mound in the bottom half and started his day with a pair of strikeouts, toying with Kristian Campbell and freezing Trevor Story. Marcelo Mayer tagged a ball to deep center for a barrel shortly after, but it innocently landed in the glove of Spencer Jones on the lip of the warning track.
Crochet rolled through the second, with the aforementioned Jones avoiding a punchout (good) with a non-threatening groundball to second base (not so good). Gil opened the second with two scary long fly balls, one off the bat of former Yankees prospect Caleb Durbin that landed in Jones’ glove, and another from Andruw Monasterio that hit the top of the wall for a double. Fortunately, non-roster invitee backstop Payton Henry erased the baserunner with a dart of a throw to catch him stealing third to evade the jam.
After getting the bottom-two hitters out with relative ease, Crochet once again faced off with the 20-year-old Lombard. After falling behind 2-1, Crochet grooved a relatively hittable sinker down the cut that Lombard smashed up the middle for a 108.5 mph single. The All-Star was replaced by minor-league reliever Max Carlson, who gave up an RBI double to Rice to make it 2-0 Yankees.
Gil’s command was strong through two innings, but he opened the third with a walk to both Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Tyler McDonough, though the latter was a matter of just barely missing rather than pure wildness. A trip to the mound was all he needed; however, striking out each of the next three hitters he faced, capped off with a 97.9-mph fastball he ripped past Story to end the third.
Paul DeJong led off the fourth and had to deal with Crochet being able to re-enter due to spring training rules. At the end of his rope, though, Crochet fell behind and hung a sweeper to DeJong, who crushed one off the confusing Mini Monster for a single to finally end the lefty’s day for good. Tayron Guerrero took the bump for the BoSox and gave up an excuse-me ground rule double to Jones before Jonathan Ornelas perfectly executed a safety squeeze to bring in the game’s third run.
Mayer singled off Gil to open the bottom of the fourth and, after he fell behind Durbin 2-1, Aaron Boone interrupted his interview with Karl Ravech and Eduardo Perez to take out Gil. Overall, it’s an encouraging day for the young starter, whose fastball had more zip on it than he had previously shown this spring and racked up six strikeouts, some of which came against guys who he’ll see in the regular season.
Jake Bird was first out of the ’pen and immediately induced a 5-4-3 double play after taking over mid-at-bat. He continued what’s been a very sharp spring by making Monasterio look silly with an array of sweepers to end the inning.
Justin Slaten took the ball in the fifth for the Red Sox and showed Crochet how to get Lombard out, but even he couldn’t escape the inning unscathed. With two out, he left a fastball up in the zone to Rice, who clobbered it 412 feet to right-center field for his first home run of the spring to make it 4-0. At 108.8 mph off the bat, it marked just another day that ends in “y” for Ben Arroz.
Bird got the first out of the fifth before Rice knocked down a hard grounder and flipped to a covering Bird, who missed the bag and allowed IKF to reach. That, kids, is why they practice PFPs! Bird was pulled for Yerry De los Santos, whose job was immediately made easier when Henry hosed his second runner of the day (with help from a nifty tag by Lombard). He gave up a single shortly after, but induced a groundout to end the fifth.
We got a mini-blockbuster battle between hyped prospects in the sixth between Jones and Payton Tolle after DeJong opened the inning with a walk. The hulking outfielder jumped ahead 3-1 with good patience, but missed his opportunity on a wheelhouse fastball that he fouled off before being caught looking on strike three at the top of the zone. Jones challenged, but the ABS system ruled that it nipped the top of the zone. Bah humbug. Even worse, the pinch-running Kenedy Corona slid off the bag on a stolen base attempt two pitches later.
De los Santos walked a pair in the bottom of the sixth before rebounding to strike out Max Ferguson to end his day. Bradley Hanner was tasked with getting the third out, and he got out of the jam by inducing a flyout to Jones in center.
After Tolle tore through the NRI trio in the seventh, Hanner flirted with more trouble after the seventh-inning stretch, allowing a double to IKF before walking Will Turner with two out. Double-A reliever Carson Coleman came on to extinguish the fire and retired Corey Rosier with a filthy 1-2 curveball to end the frame.
Tolle put up another zero in the eighth, working around a two-out single by Braden Shewmake. Boston’s offense, while continuing to be held off the scoreboard, once again refused to go away. An E3 by Ernesto Martinez Jr., a walk, and a single suddenly loaded the bases with one out for Jason Delay, who represented the tying run. As much as the outcome doesn’t matter that much this time of year, don’t tell that to Shewmake, who turned a very flashy 6-2 double play to end the inning.
Noah Song, most known for being the highest-drafted player out of the Naval Academy, got a 1-2-3 ninth. Kervin Castro, who induced the double play to end the eighth, finished off the shutout victory with a perfect final frame.
Oh, and because we’d be remiss if we didn’t share a monster Aaron Judge homer, he obliterated a pitch from Colorado’s Kyle Freeland for a 453-foot bomb in Team USA’s final World Baseball Classic tune-up.
Judge and the Americans will open up their WBC slate on Friday night at 8pm ET against Brazil on Fox. But you won’t have to wait as long to watch the Yankees again. They’ll be back at it on YES at George M. Steinbrenner Field tomorrow afternoon at 1:05pm ET, with Paul Blackburn on the bump.
After a slight setback, Mets and Team USA starting pitcher Nolan McLean was back on the mound Wednesday and feeling more like himself again.
"Pretty good. Almost too loose at times, which I guess is a good thing," McLean told reporters after throwing in a sim game on the backfields. "Felt a little erratic. I think I was just fired up to get out there."
McLean had been scheduled to leave Mets camp last Friday, but after dealing with the vertigo-like symptoms, he has yet to travel. Luckily, he seems to be in good spirits and is ready to join his Team USA teammates (likely in Houston) as they prepare for the 2026 World Baseball Classic and their first game on March 6.
"I had no symptoms out there throwing, which I think was the ultimate test," McLean said, adding that he'll meet with the Mets training staff soon to make sure he's good to go. "Hopefully I can leave here in the next day or so."
The right-hander is scheduled to pitch in the final pool-play game on March 10 against Team Italy, but could make arguably the biggest start of his career later on in the tournament. Manager Mark DeRosa said Tuesday that McLean is slated to be the WBC Championship Game starting pitcher if Team USA makes it there on March 17. When asked about the honor, the 24-year-old said he's focused on having a strong outing against Italy and helping the team reach the title game.
"That's a great honor, but there's a lot of baseball to be played and a lot of really good teams out there," McLean said. "So my job is to go out there and get to compete against Italy, do the best I can, and to be a good teammate for the rest of the games. Hopefully make the finals and get the ball."
When McLean joins the rest of Team USA, he'll be the second-youngest pitcher on the roster (Paul Skenes is 23) and the one with the least amount of major league experience. With other aces on the team in addition to Skenes, including Tarik Skubal, Logan Webb, and retired, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, McLean is looking forward to being a sponge around them.
"I'm super excited to pick their brains," McLean said. "We got a bunch of Cy Youngs in that building so it'll be really cool to kind of learn from them, see how they handle everything, and just also watch from afar at the same time."
In his one spring training start on Feb. 26, McLean tossed four innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts. Afterward, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted how the young star is "built different" for the big moments. McLean was asked about that on Wednesday and gave some insight into his mindset, especially with the potential WBC Championship Game outing on the horizon.
"I'm just uber-competitive. Whether it's out there on the backfield today or if it's in the WBC, I try to treat every start the same," McLean said. "At the end of the day, it's a competition -- me vs. the batter. I never want to give in and lose any competition that I'm playing in.
"I try to do my best to treat it all the same. Obviously there is an intensity spike in certain situations and certain games, whether it's at Citi Field, WBC, or like I said, in the backfield. I try to treat everything the same and just win the competition every time I go out there."
