Darryn Peterson will miss another game for No. 25 Kansas this weekend because of a lingering hamstring issue, Bill Self said Friday, though the Jayhawks coach added “we don't think it's a long-term deal at all.” The nation's top-ranked recruit, and potentially the No. 1 pick in next year's NBA draft, missed Tuesday night’s 77-46 rout of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi after hurting himself in a shootaround earlier in the day. The big question is whether Peterson will be back for some high-profile games beginning next week.
What Are the Avalanche’s Plans for Ilya Nabokov After Wedgewood's Extension?
Before the season started, the goaltender pipeline looked something like this: MacKenzie Blackwood, the bona fide starter with his five-year contract extension; Scott Wedgewood, the reliable backup for this season and maybe an extension if he plays well; and finally, Ilya Nabokov, heading over to North America with his ELC signed. Probably the backup next season, but that has all changed to start this season.
Blackwood is starting to come back from an injury he sustained this training camp, and while he's only played a couple of games, he still looks a bit rusty. Nabokov, after having a tremendous rookie and sophomore years with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, is off to a rough junior year. The most surprising of all is how Wedgewood has been one of the best goaltenders in the league. This now puts the future of Colorado Avalanche goaltending into question next season.
Quality Goaltending Being Shown
Many thought that when Nabokov signed his ELC, he would join the Colorado Eagles in the AHL and compete with Trent Miner for the team's starting position. It would be a good way to have him acclimate to the North American style of hockey without throwing him into the NHL fire and placing unreasonable expectations on him to carry the team. However, he was loaned back to the KHL for another season, as management must have had good faith in their goaltenders this season, and that faith is being shown.
Both the Avalanche and the Eagles are the number one teams in the league, with the Avalanche at 12-1-5 and 29 points, and the Eagles at 11-2-0-1 and 23 points. Wedgewood is leading the way with a record of 10-1-2, a .913 SV%, and a 2.26 GAA. He leads the league in wins, SV%, and is third in GAA among goalies who have played more than 10 games. Isak Posch has been the guy for the Eagles, posting a 7-1-1 record, a .918 SV%, and a 1.89 GAA.
This is all with Blackwood playing only two games this season and boasting a 2-0-0 record, a .870 SV%, and a 3.28 GAA. Blackwood is rusty, and head coach Jared Bednar has stated in two games that he needs to be better. So if we do get Blackwood back to the form he showed last season with Wedgewood's improved play, how come the Avalanche doesn't run this tandem back for another season?
Bednar’s Tough Love Puts Blackwood on NoticeJared Bednar made it very clear that Mackenzie Blackwood needs to step up his game. Roles Being Changed?
This has been the case recently, with Wedgwood signing a one-year extension. The team recognizes his play and, instead of waiting until free agency, when other teams will offer more money, sign him now and enjoy the fruits of his labour as he continues to play out of his mind. Though this now raises the question of Nabokov's role within the Avalanche if both spots on the main roster are taken.
Wedgewood Signs One-Year Extension With Avalanche Through 2026-27 After Stellar StartScott Wedgewood is sticking around for at least another trip around the sun. From his first two seasons in the KHL, I thought Nabokov could come over to the Avalanche and fill the backup role, like Wedgewood did. Get into 15-20 games, start maybe 10, and be a great backup to Blackwood. Get the opportunity to grow, develop, and learn the ropes of what a full NHL season is like without being forced into the starter role, but now? A good year in the AHL might be the way.
This season hasn’t been what he has been used to seeing from Nabokov. Despite an 8-2-0 record, he boasts a .893 SV% and a 2.63 GAA with 14 games played. It is early in the season, as he finished both previous seasons with over 40 games played, so he has time to improve on those stats, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on.
A Good Problem to Have
I know, despite being on top of the league with a 12-1-5 record with 29 points, I’m still finding something to complain about, and of all things, it's goaltending? After everything this team has been through with Alexander Georgiev, we finally get quality goaltending, and we were complaining? No, just an interesting thing to look into next season, with arguably the Avalanche's top prospect being involved in this situation. Since Calum Ritchie was moved to acquire Brock Nelson, Nabokov is now the number one guy to keep an eye on, but it's hard since he plays in the KHL, and it's hard to watch games in North America, or even to remember to keep track of the scores and stats.
Goaltending has been a significant issue with the team since the 2021-22 Stanley Cup-winning team. Management has finally found/built a system where they have more than reliable goaltending to win them a Stanley Cup, but prospects in their system that continue to grow, hopefully to use one day, and that being Nabokov for one.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/latest-news/necas-throws-a-marty-party-avalanche-offense-off-the-charts
Nečas Throws a Marty Party: Avalanche Offense Off the ChartsThis could be a historic season for Colorado on a number of fronts. Alex Bregman Free Agent Profile: Contract prediction, best fits, stats
Having failed to find the long-term deal he wanted last time around, Alex Bregman is back on the market for the second year in a row, this time without a qualifying offer hanging over his head. The three-time All-Star and two-time world champion opted out of a three-year, $120 million deal with Boston to get here and will take a lesser annual salary to receive the kind of rest-of-his-career contract he desires as he enters his age-32 campaign.
Don’t forget: Check out theRotoworld player news feed for all the latest news, rumors, and transactions as MLB’s Hot Stove gets underway!
Stay up to date with the MLB free agent market this offseason, including player signings, contract details, and team fits as the 2025-26 Hot Stove heats up.
- ,
D.J. Short
▶ Bregman in Review
Bregman’s first and perhaps lone season in Boston couldn’t have started much better. After a first-week slump, he had a four-game span in early April in which he had two homers, five doubles and 10 RBI. He was batting .299/.385/.553 over 51 games when he suffered a strained quad on May 23. Back just before the All-Star break, his production held up initially before waning in late August. He wound up hitting .180/.273/.262 in his final 31 games, lowering his OPS from .933 to .821.
That .821 OPS was good for a 128 OPS+ just below Bregman’s career mark of 132. He peaked an MVP-type performer in 2018 and ’19, finishing with a 157 OPS+ those two seasons. He suffered a big drop off immediately afterwards, but that’s still left him as one of the league’s steadiest hitters these last six seasons. He has a 123 OPS+ during the span, never finishing a season below 112.
Bregman’s defense at third is similarly steadily above average. He no longer has the range to play shortstop, as he could have done for the Astros in his mid-20s had he not been shifted off the position in favor of Carlos Correa, but he should last at the position for at least a few more years before perhaps becoming a liability towards the end of the decade.
▶ Market Outlook
Bregman is really the one player in free agency who projects as a long-term third baseman. Maybe Bo Bichette could end up there, but he seems better suited for second base after moving off short. Most teams view Japanese imports Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto as first basemen. 34-year-old Eugenio Suárez will probably stick at third for another year or two, but he’s below average there these days.
So, that’s nice for Bregman. It probably also doesn’t hurt his case that Nolan Arenado, the most prominent third baseman on the trade market, seems very clearly in decline at this point. Last winter, Arenado was put forth as a viable alternative to Bregman before ultimately declining to waive his no-trade with the Cardinals. No one will be looking at them similarly this winter, though.
Bregman’s closest recent free agency comp would seem to be Matt Chapman two years ago. Chapman, though, had to deal with the qualifying offer and overplayed his hand some in a weaker market. He signed a deal set up like Bregman’s, but with a guarantee of $54 million over three years rather than Bregman’s $120 million. He made $18 million in 2024 and then, before he could opt out, signed a six-year, $151 million extension to stay with the Giants.
▶ Best Fits
Red Sox: Boston seemed to love Bregman’s clubhouse presence and would undoubtedly like to have him back for 2026. The problem is that Bregman will want at least a five-year deal, and the Red Sox aren’t going to think that’s any better of an idea now than it was last winter, even if the exit of Rafael Devers did free up a bunch of money and end the third base controversy.
Alex Bregman sends one OVER THE MONSTER for the lead! pic.twitter.com/06GNdS1VCw
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2025
Tigers: Detroit seemed like the perfect fit for Bregman last winter, but the Tigers’ longer offer -- reportedly for six years -- didn’t come with a high enough salary to land him. There’s still a pretty obvious match here for now, but it’d be much more difficult to imagine something coming together if Gleyber Torres accepts a $22.025 million qualifying offer.
Mets: Swapping in Bregman for Pete Alonso would hopefully result in a significant defensive upgrade at two infield spots for the Mets, assuming that Mark Vientos and/or Brett Baty proves adept at first base. Still, it wouldn’t help the offense, and Bregman will probably wind up landing a bigger contract than Alonso, if only by a bit. Also, the Mets have an abundance of quality infield prospects and might be better off with a short-term solution.
Yankees: The Bombers didn’t really solve third base in trading for Ryan McMahon, who hit just .208/.308/.333 after arriving at the deadline. If they miss out on Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, trying for Bregman or Bichette might be their best avenue to improve their lineup.
Cubs: The Cubs wouldn’t need to replace Tucker with an outfielder if they lose him; they’d probably just move Seiya Suzuki back to right, and they’d have a couple of very good outfield prospects in reserve. In fact, they don’t really have any holes at all in their lineup. Still, Matt Shaw’s weak exit velocity numbers as a rookie were pretty discouraging, and if they were going to upgrade anywhere in free agency, third base would seem to be the best option.
Mariners: Seattle knows that contact was an issue in the postseason, and Bregman’s 13.4% career strikeout rate would help out a bunch there. However, it’s hard to see the Mariners coming up with the $30 million or so per season that it would take to land him.
Contract Prediction
It’s pretty great for Bregman that a bunch of contenders are currently in flux at third base. Even the Blue Jays could make room for him if Bichette leaves. Or perhaps the Phillies could trade Alec Bohm to open up the hot corner, though they have their own free agents to deal with. Bregman’s floor would seem to be $140 million for five years, with his annual salaries potentially decreasing some if he holds out for a longer deal.
Mets - Six years, $168 million
Reports: Other teams eyeing Dallas to see if it tries to trade Anthony Davis, but his market is small
There is a predictable pattern around the NBA: Whenever there is front office upheaval, other teams start to poke around, looking to go bargain shopping on players they like.
Enter the Dallas Mavericks, who fired general manager Nico Harrison and have replaced him with a couple of interim GMs in Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, while a search is underway for a full-time replacement (Riccardi's name is part of that search, and he is rumored to be coach Jason Kidd's guy). With that, other teams are circling, expecting Dallas to make a move eventually, starting with potentially trading Anthony Davis, league sources have told NBC Sports. That is being reported elsewhere as well, here is how Tim Bontemps phrased it at ESPN:
The belief, from sources I spoke to, is that the Mavs moving on from at least Davis, if not both stars, was the optimal strategy. Those moves would help maximize the 2026 first-round pick in a loaded 2026 draft class -- the only selection Dallas controls the rest of this decade -- to reposition the franchise around 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
Notice how that is phrased: other teams think Dallas should trade Davis — and maybe Kyrie Irving — and essentially tank this season to use their 2026 first-round pick to get a young running mate for Cooper Flagg. That is the strategy I have written here at NBC Sports that the Mavericks should follow. That doesn't mean that is the current thinking in Dallas, especially with both of them out injured (Davis is near a return, but owner Patrick Dumont wants more medical data on Davis' calf strain before okaying his return).
Saying the Mavs should trade Davis is also a lot easier than putting together a workable deal.
Trying to find a Davis trade
There are a lot of moving parts here, let's break it all down.
• Is Dallas going to let its interim GMs make a massive trade like this that sets the future direction of the franchise? The more logical scenario is for the Mavericks to let things play out and then allow the new GM to make the call, but will all that come together in time for the February trade deadline?
• Nobody is going to trade for Davis or Irving until they see them back on the court, healthy and playing well. Until then, everything is pure speculation.
• Neither Davis nor Irving is a 1A, best player on a championship team guy (the Lakers hoped Davis would take that mantle from LeBron, but it never happened, in part because LeBron never faded away that much). Davis and Irving are, at this point, No. 2 or 3 guys on a title team. This means that teams trading for them are not going to give up elite prices — the Mavs are not going to get back what they gave up to acquire Davis. However, if healthy, both players could be important parts of a contending or playoff team. There are just a limited number of those teams, and even fewer looking to trade for a high-priced big man.
• Davis is making $54.1 million this season, and the Dallas Mavericks are hard-capped at the second apron, which they are just $1.3 million below. That combination makes it incredibly difficult to find a trade partner during the season, especially since most of the teams he would go to are also facing a hard cap or other apron/tax issues.
• Davis is extension eligible this offseason, which is going to scare off some teams. Here is what one GM told Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
"I just looked it up so I could say this to my owner if he asks me about it, AD is turning 33 in March and he's going to be in position next summer where he'll probably want a contract extension that would cost $70 million per year when he'd be 37," one general manager said. He's a great player, full stop. But when you consider a player at his age with his injury history, you'd also be trading for the stress of that extension. That plays into it."
• What teams are interested? On FanDuel’s Run it Back show, John Wall floated the idea of Davis wanting to return to his native Chicago. He may want that, but would Chicago? The Bulls would want to swap older big men, sending out Nikola Vucevic in the trade, but would have to add a young player such as Coby White and another player (Isaac Okoro?) to make the math work, plus picks to interest Dallas. And why would Chicago do that, exactly? If they believe they have something to build around with Josh Giddey, Chicago should be looking for players on his timeline. Davis is not that.
• Golden State fits the "would take on an older player to try and win now" criteria and could use some help along the front line, but constructing a trade is very difficult (the Warriors are hard-capped at the second apron and just about $2 million below that number). Jimmy Butler for Davis straight up works under the cap (they have the same salary), but why would either team do that?
Would Golden State be willing to trade Draymond Green to get Davis? I imagine the answer to that is no, considering Green's chemistry with Stephen Curry, but it's another path. While difficult to construct (but can work with a third team involved), there is a trade that sends Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and another player, such as Buddy Hield, out of the Bay Area. Again, why would Golden State do that? Does this really make them better right now? Davis is a better player than Green in a vacuum, but at twice the salary and wanting an extension. Also, is Dallas willing to bet on Kuminga fitting next to Flagg and being a long-term part of what they are building? It's hard to see the sides finding common ground.
• It's possible a team like Sacramento or Phoenix could kick around a deal (the Kings could send out Zach LaVine or Domantas Sabonis), but do either of them want to get that much older with Davis?
• The bottom line is that while teams are poking around and think the Mavericks should trade Davis (and fans are clamoring for the bold move), finding a deal that actually makes sense for the Mavericks — with young players and picks to help them pivot around Flagg — is very difficult to find. And it's more likely to happen around the draft or next offseason than in the next three months.
(11-14-25) Flyers-Blues Gameday Lineup
ST. LOUIS – Hunter Skinner was all smiles, and why not?
The defenseman will make his NHL debut for the St. Louis Blues (6-8-3) on Friday when they host the Philadelphia Flyers (8-5-3) at 7 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
The 24-year-old, who will have his parents Steve and Michele as well as a brother and sister in attendance for the game, was acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 9, 2023 in the deal that sent Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to Broadway.
“Since I was a little kid,” Skinner said. “It’s a dream-come-true. I’m super-excited for tonight. Took last night and this morning to prepare for it, but I’m super-excited about it.”
Skinner will play on the third defensive pairing with Matthew Kessel.
Making his NHL debut tonight, Hunter Skinner, leads the stretch. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/DMYEhCRUyK
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) November 14, 2025
“If this is not the greatest day in his life, it’s in his top three,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Everybody remembers their first game, you dream of it. There’s nothing like your first game in the NHL. Bright lights, big city. St. Louis Blues against the Philadelphia Flyers, legendary teams. It’s awesome that you get to have that experience. But he’s someone that over time can be a Blue.
“I got to know him in training camp really for the first time and he has energy, loves playing hockey. You can tell it pours through his pores. … What we’re wanting to see is he has poise with the puck, but he’s hard too. He plays the game with physicality and emotion, which our team can use.”
Skinner has toiled with Springfield of the American Hockey League since his arrival to the Blues organization, playing in 147 games before finally getting the chance to perform on the big stage. It never deterred him from continuing to put the work in.
“No, not really,” he said. “Just trust in the process, just the path that I’m on. God put me here for a reason.
“Just putting the work on, trying to be as consistent as possible, keep my head down, grinding every day, not worrying about the future, just going day by day.”
Skinner said he found out, “(Wednesday) at practice, I kind of got a little nod and mostly this morning. Once I walked in and I saw the board, I was super-excited.”
Having his family here will be important.
“Parents, brother, sister, grandparents have passed away so they’re not here, but I’ll be playing for my grandma for sure and my grandpa,” Skinner said. “I haven’t really talked to (his parents) over the phone yet. I just shot them a text. I’m pretty sure they’re ecstatic, as ecstatic as I am.”
Skinner impressed the coaches during his run in training camp and wants to keep that momentum going.
“I felt good. I felt like I put my best foot forward. Hopefully it led to me getting to this point. I’m just excited about it.
“Playing simple, just be physical, hard to play against, tight gaps, getting my shot through. I think using my feet.
I played with (Kessel) and I played with ‘Tucks’ quite a few times. I’m pretty excited. Two Michigan boys.”
- - -
Skinner will replace Tyler Tucker, who along with Nick Bjugstad will be healthy scratches for the first time this season.
“It is a reset, yeah,” Montgomery said of Tucker. “I’m seeing him give up more time and space than he did last year. Last year it was consistent that he didn’t give it up, this year it’s been inconsistent. We had a good talk about it. I know when he gets back in, he’s going to be the aggressive, physical … even in the offensive zone, he’s not as aggressive as he was last year.”
Bjugstad will sit for Mathieu Joseph, who returns after missing Tuesday’s 3-2 win against the Calgary Flames with a lower-body injury.
“Defensively I think he’s done a lot of good things even in the last 2-3 games,” Montgomery said of Bjugstad, who has four goals and one assist in 17 games. “He’s just not having the same impact he was having. I don’t mean scoring, I mean building the team game, building momentum for our team. A lot of times when we talk about a good shift, it’s what you leave for the next guys going on the ice, it’s not what you actually did. You can have a great shift, two scoring chances and then you play five seconds in your D-zone and you have a bad change, I’m not leaving good ice. That’s how you want to try and build, good changes, good rhythm for the game.”
- - -
The Blues are 3-1-1 the past five games and after Friday, host the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday before heading out on a big five-game road trip starting Tuesday.
“There’s signs, but we’ve got to see consistency coming out the right way,” Montgomery said. “I liked the way we came out and started the game last game. We didn’t put them on their heels, but we played intelligently.”
- - -
Blues forward Jake Neighbours was on the ice for the morning skate, his first time with the team since blocking a shot Oct. 25 against the Detroit Red Wings.
Neighbours, who leads the Blues with six goals, started skating this past Sunday on his own and is still on target to be reevaluated in the five-week timeframe the team gave.
We have a Jake Neighbours sighting for the morning skate #stlblues ... pic.twitter.com/5K7u3dPqX7
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) November 14, 2025
- - -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud
Dylan Holloway-Dalibor Dvorsky-Jordan Kyrou
Brayden Schenn-Pius Suter-Mathieu Joseph
Alexey Toropchenko-Oskar Sundqvist-Nathan Walker
Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler-Justin Faulk
Matthew Kessel-Hunter Skinner
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Nick Bjugstad, Alexandre Texier and Tyler Tucker. Jake Neighbours (leg) is out.
- - -
Flyers Projected Lineup:
Matvei Michkov-Sean Couturier-Travis Konecny
Owen Tippett-Christian Dvorak-Trevor Zegras
Tyson Foerster-Noah Cates-Bobby Brink
Garnet Hathaway-Rodrigo Abols-Nicolas Deslauriers
Cam York-Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler-Jamie Drysdale
Emil Andrae-Noah Juulsen
Samuel Ersson will start in goal; Dan Vladar will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Nikita Grebenkin, Adam Ginning and Egor Zamula. Rasmus Ristolainen (triceps) is out.
Blues Top Four Defensemen Logging Big Minutes, Especially Of Late; Are They Getting Taxed Too Soon?Parayko, Broberg, Faulk, Fowler all over at least 22 minutes a night, more so in past half dozen games; Blues will need more from likes of Tucker, Kessel, Mailloux on bottom pair as season rolls along to keep others from getting worn down
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
There's little reason to believe that Shohei Ohtani won't catch Barry Bonds' 7 MVPs
Another year, another unanimous MVP award for Shohei Ohtani. Baseball’s unicorn added another major accolade to his already crowded mantel, winning his fourth MVP award Thursday. Ohtani continues his reign as the best player on the planet with the latest MVP honors, but this one puts him in a different conversation.
Barry Bonds has always stood alone when it comes to MVPs. MLB’s all-time home run leader holds the record with seven MVP trophies and was the only player in history with more than three. Those days are no more as Ohtani notched his fourth, and is well on his way to doing what many believed impossible — catching Bonds.
When Bonds was in his prime, it was a challenge to pry the award away from him. And as the feared slugger was hitting well over. 300 every season with over 40 homers, stolen bases and Gold Glove defense, you could see why. But unlike Bonds, Ohtani has a skill set that makes him one of a kind, and makes his quest to catch Bonds’ seven MVPs more probable than any player in history. Not only is he one of the two most feared hitters in baseball, he’s also an ace on the mound, giving him a huge edge over other MVP candidates every season.
This past season, the Dodgers’ $700 million man hit .282 with a career-high 55 home runs and an NL-leading 1.014 OPS. An offensive season like that would usually launch a player into being a frontrunner for MVP, but it’s only half the résumé for Ohtani. He made his much-anticipated return to the mound in 2025 after his second UCL surgery and showed that he’s not only one of the game’s best hitters, but one of its best pitchers too.
[Get more Dodgers news: L.A. team feed]
Ohtani returned to the mound, going 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts. While many of his outings were abbreviated as L.A. worked him back into its rotation, it didn’t take long for him to look like an ace again and become another weapon on the team’s starting staff.
Now that Ohtani is well over a year removed from elbow surgery and has a full offseason without rehab to prepare for 2026, it’s not foolish to think he could hit another level as a pitcher over a full season.
Let’s be very clear: When Ohtani has a normal year for him, he will win MVP.
The one thing you’d worry about that could prevent Ohtani from catching Bonds outside of injury would be fatigue. But the BBWAA writers who vote haven't let Ohtani’s greatness work against him. Not only did he receive all 30 first-place votes in this year‘s NL MVP balloting, he’s won unanimously all four times he’s taken home the award.
Ohtani, the AL MVP winner in 2023, is the first to win three consecutive MVPs since Bonds won four straight with the San Francisco Giants from 2001-04. The Dodgers’ superstar is also the first back-to-back winner in the National League since Albert Pujols did it in 2008-09 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
For some time now, Ohtani has been firmly entrenched as the world’s best player and after another remarkable season, the Dodgers’ two-way superstar is adding to an already mind-blowing legacy. In two years since signing his 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, Ohtani has won two league MVPs and two World Series championships. The five-time All-Star also has three Silver Slugger Awards and the 2018 AL Rookie of the year on his résumé with plenty of hardware before he hangs it up.
When it’s all said and done, Ohtani may not only be the best player ever, but also one of the most decorated.
Ohtani’s excellence shouldn’t be taken for granted. When he came to the States from Japan, many believed his two-way ability was a gimmick that wouldn’t last. Now sitting on four MVPs and finally winning championships, Ohtani is better than anybody could have ever envisioned or imagined.
As Ohtani enters his prime already more than halfway to Bonds’ seven MVPs, the chase is not only on, but well within reach.
Mets sign versatile Jackson Cluff to minor league deal
The Mets have signed Jackson Cluff to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to big league spring training.
Cluff, 28, got time at all four infield positions last season while playing for the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate.
He got most of his starts at shortstop (71) but also started games at second base (16) and third base (six).
During his six-year minor league career, Cluff has hit .219/.324/.363 with 42 home runs, 75 doubles, 15 triples, and 86 stolen bases in 498 games.
Celtic accelerate move to take Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew as new manager
Club hope to have Frenchman in charge next weekend
Any compensation not regarded as problematic
Celtic are to accelerate talks with Wilfried Nancy over the weekend as the Columbus Crew manager edges closer to replacing Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow. Celtic are understood to have informed the Major League Soccer side on Friday of their plans, with any compensation required to coax the Frenchman not regarded as problematic. Nancy is believed to be keen on the switch.
Celtic hope to have Nancy in place by the time they visit St Mirren next weekend, which would bring an end to Martin O’Neill’s caretaker spell. O’Neill was due to meet Celtic’s main shareholder, Dermot Desmond, in London on Friday. The second tenure of Rodgers in Glasgow ended in acrimony in late October, with Desmond taking public aim at the former Liverpool manager.
Continue reading...NHL Trade Rumors: Sabres Star Should Be Very Popular Target
The Buffalo Sabres are continuing to struggle big time, as they fell to the Colorado Avalanche by a 6-3 final score in their last game on Nov. 13. With this, the Sabres are now sporting a five-game losing streak and have a 5-8-4 record on the season. They are also at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings.
With the Sabres looking to snap their 14-year playoff drought, having a start like this to the season is undoubtedly concerning. The clock is ticking for them turn their season around, but things are undoubtedly looking bleak right now.
Given the way this season is going for the Sabres, it is very likely that teams are already keeping an eye on Buffalo star winger Alex Tuch. The pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) is exactly the kind of player that contenders love to add, and he should generate a ton of interest if the Sabres do not improve and he still does not have a contract extension near the deadline.
While the Sabres are having a bad start to the year, Tuch is not. In 17 games this season, the 2014 first-round pick has recorded six goals, nine assists, 15 points, and an even plus/minus rating. With this, he is certainly chipping in offensively for the Sabres.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Sabres and Tuch, but interest in his services should be very high as the season carries on.
Filip Forsberg Partners With NHL To Donate Hockey Equipment For Youth In His Home Country
Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) moves the puck as Dallas Stars goal tender Jake Oettinger (29) covers the goal during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Alan Poizner-Imagn Images
As he prepares for an important two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Stockholm, Sweden, Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg still found time to make an impact off the ice while visiting his home country.
The National Hockey League Players’ Association, the NHL and Forsberg are teaming up to make donations of ice hockey and street hockey equipment to Forsberg’s hometown club, Leksands IF Youth Hockey. The donation is part of the NHL and NHLPA’s ongoing efforts to support grassroots hockey worldwide and coincides with the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal.
NHLPA Goals & Dreams and Forsberg are making a donation of 20 full sets of ice hockey equipment, at a cost of $15,000, to the Sweden-based organization.
The NHL, through its Street Hockey initiative, will provide 120 sets of ball hockey equipment to Leksands IF to provide fun, accessible and inclusive opportunities for children to experience the game and learn fundamental skills of the sport, fit for newcomers and hockey fans alike.
“It all started for me in Leksand,” Forsberg said in a statement released by the NHL Friday morning. “That’s where I fell in love with hockey, in the same arenas these kids skate in now. To be able to give back with NHLPA Goals & Dreams and NHL Street Hockey to help more kids experience that same feeling, that same opportunity, means a lot. This is what the game is about.”
New York Islanders winger Emil Heineman, also from Leksand, wrote a reference letter for the program to endorse the donation.
“Sweden has always held a special place in the history of NHLPA Goals & Dreams,” Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director, stated. “It’s a country where the love for hockey runs deep, and where players like Filip Forsberg show what it means to give back. This is the true spirit of NHLPA Goals and Dreams and the Global Series – connecting the global game to the local rink.”
This contribution will be formally recognized during the 2025 NHL Global Series in Stockholm, where 12 children from Leksands IF Youth Hockey will represent NHLPA Goals & Dreams in the on-ice pregame ceremony prior to Friday’s game between the Penguins and Predators. The initiative will also be acknowledged in-arena, celebrating the ongoing efforts of NHL players giving back to communities around the world.
On Saturday, NHLPA Goals & Dreams, the NHL and Forsberg will welcome 100 guests from Leksand, including 63 youth hockey players, to watch Nashville’s open practice in Stockholm. Each child will receive a commemorative NHLPA-licensed Filip Forsberg t-shirt designed by 500 Level, an autographed photo, and the opportunity to meet Forsberg in person.
The following day, 16 additional children representing Fritidsbanken Sweden – a past NHLPA Goals & Dreams recipient – will participate in the on-ice pregame ceremony, highlighting NHLPA Goals & Dreams’ deep connection to the growth of grassroots hockey in Sweden.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
FREE GIFT ISSUE + 12 ISSUES + FREE DIGITAL ARCHIVE + FREE SHIPPING*** Canada Post Strike update - as of October 15, 2025 - Please be aware that Canada Post is now in a rolling strike. While they are accepting mail, delivery times could be longer than expected. US orders are not impacted. WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PRINT & DIGITAL ARCHIVE SUBSCRIPTION > FREE GIFT ISSUE* of your Canadiens: Gallagher And Evans Join Adam Nicholas
After the Dallas Stars obliterated the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at the Bell Centre, Martin St-Louis had set a practice at 11:30 on Friday morning for his men. Still, at 10:00, two players were already jumping on the ice. No, they weren’t Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov but Brendan Gallagher and Jake Evans.
Offensive production has been harrowing to come by so far this season for the two veterans, and they joined Adam Nicholas on the ice for some skills coaching. With both nets put together at the same end of the ice, the players had to practice their saucer passes above a row of pucks and then take backhand shots. Clearly, the row of pucks filled in for a goaltender’s stick aimed to recreate an in-game scenario.
Canadiens: St-Louis Speaks On The Eve Of His 300th Game
Canadiens Collapse In Biggest Defeat Since Last December
Canadiens: Kent Hughes Inquires About Big Forward
Then, one of the two goals was put flat on the ice in front of the other, and one of the two players was dishing out passes from behind the net, while Nicholas was putting some shots on the net of the cage that was laid flat on the ice to simulate rebounds from the goalie. Obviously, the second player was in front, trying to score on both the passes and the makeshift rebounds.
Finally, with the nets remaining in the same position, one of the two players moved to the blueline, taking wrist shots from far out, while the other had to tip them past the goal that was lying flat on the ice. Each of the mini drills lasted around 10 minutes and given that Gallagher is still looking for his first goal of the season, while Evans has only two lamplighters (one was an empty net). The alternate captain is in the second-to-last year of his contract and has 239 goals in 851 career games, the 15th-highest total in Canadiens history. He’s only four goals away from Mats Naslund, who’s 14th with 243. Having played every game this season so far, Gallagher remains on target to play 1,000 games with the Canadiens in the last game of the 2026-27 season, providing he stays healthy, of course. -net goal), the extra work may come in handy.
As for Evans, he’s in his first year of his new four-year contract with a $2,85 million cap hit, and so far, this season, the coach has yet to find a perfect fit for his fourth line. Joe Veleno doesn’t seem like the right man to skate with Evans and Josh Anderson, but who is? With Gallagher currently playing with Kirby Dach and Zachary Bolduc, technically, he’s out of the running. Still, everything could change with Alex Newhook’s injury, since the coach will be forced to go back to the drawing board.
The only other players who skated at the optional skate were Hutson, IDemidov, Oliver Kapanen and Zachary Bolduc. The rest of the team did off-ice training, and at the time of writing, there was no news on Newhook's injury or a call-up from the Laval Rocket.
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.
Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here.
Ex-Blackhawks Superstar Hits New Impressive Milestone
It is not a secret that former Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane has had a spectacular NHL career. The 36-year-old winger is continuing to make an impact with the Detroit Red Wings this season, too, as he has recorded two goals and seven points in eight games so far this season.
Kane had a solid game against the Anaheim Ducks in the Red Wings' most recent contest on Nov. 13. The former Blackhawks forward recorded two assists in the matchup and hit a notable new milestone in the process.
With his two-point game against the Ducks, Kane has now recorded his 1,350th career NHL point. It took Kane 1,310 games to hit this major milestone, which shows just how incredible of a player he has been during his career.
Kane is now the 31st player in NHL history to reach 1,350 career points and is on the verge of passing legends like Guy Lafleur (1,353 points in 1,126 games) and Brendan Shanahan (1,354 points in 1,524 games) on the NHL's all-time points list.
The majority of Kane's career points came during his time with the Blackhawks, as he recorded 1,225 points in 1,161 games during his 16-year stint in Chicago.
Longtime JUCO coach, ‘Last Chance U’ star John Beam shot on campus
Longtime JUCO football coach John Beam, who starred on Netflix's "Last Chance U", was shot at Oakland's Laney College on Nov. 13.
Golden Knights Lose Fourth Straight, End Homestand 1-3-2
LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights lost for the fourth straight time when Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored a short-handed goal at 3:02 of overtime to lift the New York Islanders past Vegas, 4-3, on Thursday.
The Golden Knights will hit the road for a mini two-game road trip after a 1-3-2 homestand, the only win being a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 4.
Since opening the season 5-0-2, the Knights are mired in a 2-4-3 skid since Oct. 25.
Shea Theodore, Thomas Hertl and Reilly Smith scored for Vegas, while Akira Schmid finished with 20 saves.
KEY MOMENT: After scoring three unanswered goals to erase a 2-0 deficit and take a 3-2 lead, the Golden Knights squandered it away and lost all momentum when New York's Mathew Barzal scored his fifth goal of the season to tie the game again, and ultimately force overtime.
KEY STAT: It's beginning to sound like a broken record with the Golden Knights, but another goose egg with the power play, as they were 0 for 5 with a man advantage. The Knights are now 3 of 34 with an extra skater in the last 10 games - coincidentally, or not - since Mark Stone has been sidelined with an injury.
WHAT A KNIGHT: Braeden Bowman took his rookie lap for warmups and roughly 30 minutes later made his NHL debut. Bowman, the AHL Henderson Silver Knights' leading scorer, landed four shots over his 16:45 time on ice.
Taylor Rocha (@TaylorRochaTV) on XBraeden Bowman, rookie lap. #VegasBornWith injuries to forwards Stone and William Karlsson, the Knights looked to bolster their offense with the 24-year-old. Bowman skated on the right side of second-line center Tomas Hertl, along with left wing Pavel Dorofeyev. He also saw time with the first power-play unit, skating into Stone's role below the goal line.
"The rookie lap, being able to play with world-class players like Hertl and Dorofeyev, even being on the edge with (Jack) Eichel is pretty surreal and hasn’t really sunk in yet," Bowman said. "But I think that’s what I’m going to remember most."
UP NEXT: The Golden Knights conclude their season-long six-game homestand on Thursday against the New York Islanders.
PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights right wing Braeden Bowman (42) warms up before a game against the New York Islanders at T-Mobile Arena.
RECENT READ: Defenseman Brayden McNabb Set To Become First-Ever To Skate In 600 Games As A Golden Knight
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Hockey News Big Show: Will The Canadiens, Senators And Bruins Continue To Lead The Atlantic?
The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond.
Will The Canadiens, Senators And Bruins Continue To Lead The Atlantic? by The Big ShowHere’s what Gary Pearson, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed:
2:00: There is now a three-way tie for the top of the Atlantic Division between the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators. Which team(s) will stay in the top three?
5:55: Toronto's winless streak has stretched to four games after Thursday's overtime loss against Los Angeles. How concerned are you about them?
8:50: Who will be the player to drag this team out of the slump?
10:41: After a poor start, the Los Angeles Kings are now second in the Pacific. Are the Kings looking legit again?
13:20: Are these Kings a better team than last season?
16:27: New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec is now up to 12 points in 17 games after a hat trick against Chicago. Is the 21-year-old finally coming into his own after going second overall in the 2022 draft?
21:08: Trade rumors continue to swirl for the Blues, with Jordan Kyrou and Brayden Schenn's names being at the forefront. Who, if either, is more likely to be traded for the Blues?
25:31: Jack Roslovic has points in eight of his last 10 games. Should any teams be kicking themselves for not signing him?
31:00: BetMGM Playbook: The Sabres are the worst team in enemy rinks, sporting a .200 point percentage. How could at least a few wins on the road help them out?
32:45: Can any of the other teams at the bottom, like the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames, overtake the Sabers for last in the league?
36:55: Name a player that's thriving on their new team this season.
38:09: The NHL Global Series is taking place this weekend in Sweden between the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins. What country do you want to see it being held in next?
41:08: In four games since shaving his head, Artemi Panarin has three goals, six assists and nine points. Should he just stay bald at his point?
43:25: What quote from this week caught your eye?
Watch the full episode on YouTube
Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.