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Giannis Antetokounmpo explains heated incident with Tyrese Haliburton's dad

Giannis Antetokounmpo explains heated incident with Tyrese Haliburton's dad originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Indiana Pacers knocked out the Milwaukee Bucks from the NBA playoffs Tuesday with a gentlemen’s sweep, and emotions ran high not long after.

Milwaukee held a 118-111 overtime lead and looked to extend the series in the first game after Damian Lillard’s Achilles tear.

But Doc Rivers’ side stunningly blew the cushion and lost 119-118, ending the Bucks’ season and potentially Giannis Antetokounmpo’s final game with the franchise that drafted him.

After the game, Antetokounmpo got into heated conversations with some Indiana players — and the father of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.

The two were forehead to forehead for a few seconds exchanging words before being separated.

Shortly after the clip went viral on social media, new angles emerged on Haliburton’s dad appearing to provoke Antetokounmpo before they exchanged words.

Haliburton addressed the incident involving his father in his post-game conference, saying his dad was in the wrong and that he’ll reach out to Antetokounmpo to ensure there’s no bad blood.

Antetokounmpo detailed what happened when Haliburton’s dad provoked him, but Antetokounmpo didn’t know who the fan was until later and showed respect to Haliburton.

“Losing the game. The emotions run high,” Antetokounmpo explained. “Having a fan, which at the moment I thought he was a fan, but then I realize it was Tyrese’s son, which I love Tyrese. I think he’s a great competitor. It was his dad, sorry. Coming in the floor and showing me his son, a towel with his face, this is what we do. This is what we F-ing do. This what the F we do. This… I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful.”

Antetokounmpo also mentioned being “humble in victory,” as he has won a championship in his career while the Pacers have not.

Haliburton’s father, John, later posted to social media apologizing to Giannis, the Bucks and the Pacers.

Haliburton scored the game-winning layup in the closing seconds to avoid a Game 6, with a series against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers up next.

Meanwhile for Milwaukee, the future could get dark if Antetokounmpo chooses to leave via a trade. The Bucks don’t have a competitive roster and Antetokounmpo turns 31 in December.

With Lillard’s Achilles tear and Kyle Kuzma not providing help after Khris Middleton faded away, Antetokounmpo’s best shot at winning may lie elsewhere. Milwaukee’s pool of young talent and draft picks are both stark, too.

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Jaxson Stauber Signs Extension With Utah Hockey Club

© Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The Utah Hockey Club has announced that they’ve signed goaltender Jaxson Stauber to a two-year, two-way extension. The deal comes with an AAV of $775,000 at the NHL level and $350,000 in the AHL.

Stauber took over as the backup when Connor Ingram stepped away from the team for personal reasons. In six NHL games, he went 2-1-1 with a .892 save percentage and a 3.26 goals-against average.

He also played in 21 games with the Tucson Roadrunners, Utah’s AHL affiliate, where he had a 12-7-2 record with a .897 save percentage and a 3.14 goals-against average. Unfortunately, Tucson was knocked out of the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs earlier this week.

Stauber also has a cool piece of trivia attached to him. On November 30, he recorded the first shutout in Utah franchise history, a 6-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

NHL Draft Lottery Set For May 5 — How High Can Utah Pick?NHL Draft Lottery Set For May 5 — How High Can Utah Pick?The NHL has announced the date for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. It will take place on Monday, May 5th. With the Utah Hockey Club now in the bottom 11 teams, the question is: where exactly did they finish—and how high can they move up? Utah's AHL Affiliate Tucson Roadrunners Season Is OverUtah's AHL Affiliate Tucson Roadrunners Season Is OverUtah Hockey Club's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, has been eliminated from the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs. Karel Vejmelka Will Join Czechia At IIHF World Championships Karel Vejmelka Will Join Czechia At IIHF World Championships Utah Hockey Club's Karel Vejmelka will represent Czechia at the 2025 World Championships in May. He will be representing Czechia for the fourth straight year, which saw him win gold on home soil last year in Prague.
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Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez return to help the Mets reach 20 wins | The Mets Pod

Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo drop a new episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, as the Mets reach 20 wins after bouncing back in a huge way from their ugly loss to the Nationals on Sunday.

The guys recap New York's Monday afternoon rout of the Nationals, headlined by Brandon Nimmo tying the single-game franchise RBI record. They also discussed Edwin Diaz's inconsistency and how to balance the return of Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez.

Later, the guys bring back “Tales from the Pitching Lab” to break down what adjustments have helped Tylor Megill, and then go Down on the Farm to check in on Marco Vargas after his promotion to Brooklyn.

Finally, The Scoreboard sees a flip and the Mailbag gets opened to feature questions about a future GM under David Stearns, a former Met that would have benefited from the pitching lab, and the gameplan once Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas return.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Royals Extend Affiliation Agreement With Philadelphia Flyers

Photo Courtesy of the Reading Royals

On Tuesday, the Reading Royals and the Philadelphia Flyers announced a multi-year affiliation agreement that will see Reading continue to serve as the ECHL affiliate of the Flyers.

The affiliation agreement runs through the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons with an option for a third season (2027-28).

This new agreement is an extension of the original affiliation agreement made in 2014, with four prior extensions made since then (2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022).

The Flyers, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) and Royals form the closest geographical chain of affiliates in professional hockey. Santander Arena is 39 miles southwest of Lehigh Valley's PPL Center and 67 miles northwest of Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. Meanwhile, the Phantoms play 70 miles north of Wells Fargo Center.

"We’re excited to continue our affiliation agreement with the Flyers and Phantoms for the foreseeable future,” Royals president David Farrar said in a statement. “Since the Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA) took over ownership of the Royals, we feel the relationship has been valuable to all parties involved. We’re all excited for the upcoming season and look forward to watching future Flyers take the ice at the Santander Arena.”

Royals head coach Jason Binkley added, "the affiliation relationship with the Flyers and Phantoms has been a great asset to our players and team. We look forward to developing more players with the Flyers while achieving the ultimate goal of bringing the Kelly Cup back to Reading.”

Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere is pleased with how the relationship between the Flyers and Royals has been over the years.

“We are very happy to extend this affiliation with Reading," Briere said. "The Royals are a first-class organization and I've seen how beneficial this relationship is to the development of players on both the Phantoms and the Flyers, especially this season with Jacob Gaucher making his NHL debut and playing a pivotal role in Lehigh Valley."

Gaucher, 24, became the 38th player in franchise history to reach the National Hockey League after playing for Reading when he debuted with the Flyers on Sunday, Feb. 2nd, 2025 against the Colorado Avalanche. Gaucher is one of five players to make their NHL debut with Philadelphia after playing in Reading in the affiliation's tenure (Tyrell Goulbourne, Hayden Hodgson, Felix Sandström, Max Willman).

The Royals have a proud history of affiliations with NHL franchises that has included stints with the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals.

The renewed agreement between the Flyers and Royals extends the longest tenure Reading has had as an NHL team’s affiliate at 12 years with the option for a 13th.

The Flyers were founded in 1967 and were one of the six expansion franchises introduced in addition to the Original Six in the NHL. They’ve won two Stanley Cup titles in 1974 and 1975 and 16 division titles. Comcast Spectacor Chairman and CEO Dan Hilferty leads the franchise while President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones and Briere direct its on-ice talent.

The Royals were purchased by the Berks County Convention Center Authority in 2019, paving the way for the Royals to bring competitive professional hockey to Berks County for years to come.

The 2025-26 season will be the Royals 24th season in Reading after the franchise was relocated from Columbus as the Columbus Chill ahead of the 2001-02 season. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013 and are five-time division champions.

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Golden Knights Emphasizing Urgency Ahead Of Pivotal Game 5

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) dives for a loose puck during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images

As the Vegas Golden Knights prepare for a pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild, HC Bruce Cassidy and his players are emphasizing urgency. 

In Game 2, the Golden Knights were far too lackadaisical with the puck, coughing up turnovers in dangerous positions. They also weren't sharp enough in their coverage, something that affected them in Game 3. 

In Game 5, Cassidy won't let it happen again.

"You can have a game, like Game 2, where you didn’t manage the puck and took ourselves out of it. But those days need to be behind you."

Cassidy has thrown his lines in the blender, searching for offence and consistency on the defensive side of the puck. He may have found it in Game 4 and has decided to stick with the lines that have the hot hand.

The lines are headlined by a new trio of William Karlsson, Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev, a trio that had never played together but got positive results in 6:52 of ice time. 

The other three combos consist of Brandon Saad, Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone; Ivan Barbashev, Nicolas Roy and Reilly Smith; Tanner Pearson, Brett Howden and Keegan Kolesar. 

The Wild should feel confident heading into Game 5 despite the loss in Game 4. They seem to have solved Adin Hill at times. The 28-year-old has allowed three or more goals since Game 2, but showed signs that he was finding his game.

Each game has been won by the team that scores first, placing more pressure on starting the game with intensity and focus. 

Puck drop is set for 6:30 PM PST at T-Mobile Arena.

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Captain Mark Stone Epitomizes Leadership Role For Golden KnightsCaptain Mark Stone Epitomizes Leadership Role For Golden KnightsLAS VEGAS -- When the Golden Knights traded for Mark Stone in 2019, general manager Kelly McCrimmon knew the franchise landed much more than one of the most talented 200-foot forwards in the NHL.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Recall 14 Players From Toronto Marlies

© Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have recalled 14 players from the Toronto Marlies following their AHL affiliate's first round playoff loss to the Cleveland Monsters. 

Forwards Alex Steeves, Jacob Quillan, Nicholas Abruzzese, Reese Johnson, Alex Nylander, and Roni Hirvonen were recalled.

Six defensemen including Matt Benning, Cade Webber, Topi Niemela, William Villeneuve, Mikko Kokkonen, and Marshall Rifai were recalled. 

Goaltenders Matt Murray and Dennis Hildeby will also join the Maple Leafs. Artur Akhtyamov has been serving as the team's third goaltender. 

All 14 players will join the Maple Leafs as 'Black Aces' that will allow them to practice with and be around the team during their playoff run. 

While none of these players are likely to see playoff action Steeves - who finished second in the AHL with 36 goals in 59 games - Quillan, Nylander, Hildeby, and Murray have all played NHL games this season. 

This is a common move for playoff teams as the NHL's roster limits and salary cap do not apply in the playoffs. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. 

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Why Mosley ‘absolutely loves' coaching against Mazzulla

Why Mosley ‘absolutely loves' coaching against Mazzulla originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — The first-round NBA playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic has featured two entirely different coaching philosophies. Despite trailing 3-1 heading into Tuesday’s Game 5, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has enjoyed the “chess match” against Joe Mazzulla.

Mosley was asked before the matchup about taking on the reigning champion Celtics coach.

“I absolutely love it,” Mosley said. “Joe is an incredible coach. He does a great job of putting his guys in the right position, the right spaces after time-outs, finding different situations to put guys in that have you constantly thinking throughout the game.

“This is the part of coaching that you love, that chess match of trying to figure out what you can do without overthinking it, and putting yourself in a situation where you have to worry about not doing what you’re capable of doing because you’re chasing something that they’re doing.”

The Mazzulla-led Celtics are the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA. The Magic are the worst from beyond the arc, but no team has been better all season at defending the 3-point shot.

“It is our identity,” Mosley said, noting the importance of Orlando sticking to its game plan even on the brink of elimination.

Although it hasn’t translated to a series lead, the Magic have succeeded in limiting Boston’s 3s. The C’s made only nine 3s in their Game 4 win, nine in their Game 3 defeat, and 12 in their Game 2 victory. They averaged 17.8 3-pointers per game during the regular season.

Mosley’s defensive-minded Magic will have to keep Mazzulla’s high-powered Celtics in check from deep again in Game 5 to bring the series back to Orlando. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.

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Canadiens' Farm Team To Start Quest For Calder Cup

Sep 30, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Reinbacher (64) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

After getting a bye for the first round of the AHL playoffs, the Laval Rocket will finally start its quest for the Calder Cup on Wednesday night. At the same time, the Montreal Canadiens will try to avoid elimination against the Washington Capitals in D.C., with Rocket’s number one goaltender, Cayden Primeau, acting as backup for the big club.

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Pascal Vincent’s men will take on the Cleveland Monsters in the best-of-five division semi-final. In four meetings during the regular season, the Rocket had a 2-0-2 record against the Ohio-based franchise. The Rocket was the regular-season champion, while the Monsters finished fifth in the North Division.

The Rocket elected to play the first two games away and the last three in Laval. With Primeau being with the Canadiens, newly signed goaltender Jacob Fowler will be tasked with manning Laval’s net, and he’ll be facing one of the hottest goaltenders down the stretch, Jet Greaves.

The 24-year-old netminder was a big reason the Columbus Blue Jackets almost qualified for the playoffs, winning seven of his last NHL games. In 11 games with the Jackets this season, he posted a 7-2-2 record with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

Meanwhile, the Rocket can rely on a fully healthy David Reinbacher. The right-shot defenseman had a tough year, sustaining a knee injury that cost him most of his season in a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The young defenseman didn’t lose his season, though. In an interview with RG.org, he explains that he became a student of the game, learning the team’s system and attending meetings usually reserved for players who are in the lineup.

Game one of the series between Laval and Cleveland is set for 7:00 PM on Wednesday night, game two on Friday at 7:00 PM, and game three on Sunday at 3:00 PM. You can catch all the action and a glimpse of the Canadiens’ future on RDS.

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

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. 

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Sabres Have 6.5% Chance At Winning NHL Draft Lottery

The Buffalo Sabres have a 6.5% chance of winning the NHL Draft Lottery to be held next Monday. 

The NHL announced on Tuesday that the league’s Draft Lottery will be held next Monday, May 5th, to determine the order of selection for the NHL Draft in late June. The Buffalo Sabres have a 6.5% chance at winning the lottery, which will be held at the NHL Network’s studios in Secaucus, N.J, and will be broadcast on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.

The lottery only allows the top 11 seeds to be eligible to receive the first overall draft pick, and is held in two phases: the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick.

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The San Jose Sharks, who won the Draft Lottery one year ago and selected Macklin Celebrini at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas last June, have the top odds (18,5%) of selecting first overall this year. The Chicago Blackhawks are second at 13.5%, the Nashville Predators third at 11.5%, the Philadelphia Flyers fourth at 9.5%, Boston fifth at 8.5%, Seattle sixth at 7.5%, and Buffalo seventh at 6.5%.

With only a longshot chance of making the postseason after the trade deadline, the primary focus of Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff and GM Kevyn Adams down the stretch was to establish a winning culture, but that came at the cost of finishing with a top-five draft pick this June. Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schafer is projected to be the top overall selection, with Saginaw’s Michael Misa, Mississauga’s Porter Martone, James Hagens of Boston College, and Swedish center Anton Frondell expected to go in the top five.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Rangers Reportedly Won't Let Any Team Outdo Them In Pursuit Of Mike Sullivan

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Since Mike Sullivan parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, rumors have linked him to the New York Rangers. 

With the Rangers looking for a new head coach after firing Peter Laviolette, Sullivan has jumped up as a top-tier candidate to get the job. 

Multiple NHL insiders are getting a sense that Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury is intrigued with the chance to bring Sullivan on board. 

Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

“In 2021, when Chris Drury was hired as GM, he didn't hire Gallant until he knew Sullivan was staying [in PIT]...Until someone beats the Rangers out for Sullivan's services, that's who I'm picking...He's their #1,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said.

While TSN’s Pierre Lebrun reported that five teams have already inquired about Sullivan, there’s no doubt that the Rangers remain the frontrunners to land the Stanley Cup-winning coach as of right now. 

He has direct ties with Drury from Boston College and USA Hockey. The Rangers’ past interest in Sullivan has also been very well documented. 

NHL general managers have reportedly been wondering if Sullivan could strike a deal with the Rangers over the next 48-72 hours. 

“I cannot imagine [the New York Rangers] allowing anyone to outdo themselves in the pursuit of Sullivan,” Friedman said.

Now, we just have to sit and wait to see how everything unfolds.

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Spurs' Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year

Spurs' Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Stephon Castle made no secret about it: He wanted to be rookie of the year.

And he got it done — by a wide margin.

The San Antonio Spurs now have back-to-back winners of the award, with Victor Wembanyama last year and Castle this season. Castle was the fifth rookie in Spurs history to score more than 1,000 points.

It was one-sided in the voting. Castle got 92 first-place votes, easily topping runner-up Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks and third-place finisher Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies. Risacher got five first-place votes, Wells got the other three.

“Coming in with all the confidence that I had in myself as a player, that was definitely a goal of mine from Day 1,” Castle said on TNT, which broadcast the unveiling of the results. “I’m just happy I was able to execute it.”

Castle’s win marked the second time in more than a half-century that one franchise went back-to-back with the top-rookie honor. Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins (now of Miami) and Karl-Anthony Towns (now of New York) were voted rookies of the year in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

The last instance of a team going back-to-back before that: 1973 and 1974, when Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio pulled it off for the Buffalo Braves.

“I get so excited watching him play,” said Chris Paul, Castle’s backcourt mate this season in San Antonio. “The first thing that I want to see in a teammate or anybody is how competitive they are. That’ll take you further than talent any day. And I saw immediately was that he was competitive. I was like, ‘OK, cool. This is going to be easy.’”

Castle led all rookies this season in points (1,190) and steals (74). Risacher finished strong, winning Eastern Conference rookie of the month for both February and March. Wells led all rookies in games started (74) and 3-pointers made (138, matching the total posted by Washington’s Bub Carrington).

Risacher — who hails from France, like Wembanyama — was looking to give the NBA the first instance of international players winning the award in consecutive years since Australia’s Ben Simmons and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic in 2018 and 2019. Wells was bidding to be Memphis’ first rookie of the year since Ja Morant in 2020.

The rookie of the year award was voted on by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the league and cast ballots shortly after the end of the regular season.

The other awards that were part of that voting process and have already had their results unveiled: Cleveland’s Evan Mobley winning defensive player of the year, New York’s Jalen Brunson winning clutch player of the year, and Boston’s Payton Pritchard winning sixth man of the year.

On Wednesday, the most improved player — Cade Cunningham of Detroit, Dyson Daniels of Atlanta, or Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers — will be announced, also at 7 p.m. EDT on TNT.

Other awards announced by the league since the end of the regular season: Golden State’s Stephen Curry won the Twyman-Stokes teammate of the year award and Warriors teammate Draymond Green won the hustle award.

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Spurs' Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year

Spurs' Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Stephon Castle made no secret about it: He wanted to be rookie of the year.

And he got it done — by a wide margin.

The San Antonio Spurs now have back-to-back winners of the award, with Victor Wembanyama last year and Castle this season. Castle was the fifth rookie in Spurs history to score more than 1,000 points.

It was one-sided in the voting. Castle got 92 first-place votes, easily topping runner-up Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks and third-place finisher Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies. Risacher got five first-place votes, Wells got the other three.

“Coming in with all the confidence that I had in myself as a player, that was definitely a goal of mine from Day 1,” Castle said on TNT, which broadcast the unveiling of the results. “I’m just happy I was able to execute it.”

Castle’s win marked the second time in more than a half-century that one franchise went back-to-back with the top-rookie honor. Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins (now of Miami) and Karl-Anthony Towns (now of New York) were voted rookies of the year in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

The last instance of a team going back-to-back before that: 1973 and 1974, when Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio pulled it off for the Buffalo Braves.

“I get so excited watching him play,” said Chris Paul, Castle’s backcourt mate this season in San Antonio. “The first thing that I want to see in a teammate or anybody is how competitive they are. That’ll take you further than talent any day. And I saw immediately was that he was competitive. I was like, ‘OK, cool. This is going to be easy.’”

Castle led all rookies this season in points (1,190) and steals (74). Risacher finished strong, winning Eastern Conference rookie of the month for both February and March. Wells led all rookies in games started (74) and 3-pointers made (138, matching the total posted by Washington’s Bub Carrington).

Risacher — who hails from France, like Wembanyama — was looking to give the NBA the first instance of international players winning the award in consecutive years since Australia’s Ben Simmons and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic in 2018 and 2019. Wells was bidding to be Memphis’ first rookie of the year since Ja Morant in 2020.

The rookie of the year award was voted on by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the league and cast ballots shortly after the end of the regular season.

The other awards that were part of that voting process and have already had their results unveiled: Cleveland’s Evan Mobley winning defensive player of the year, New York’s Jalen Brunson winning clutch player of the year, and Boston’s Payton Pritchard winning sixth man of the year.

On Wednesday, the most improved player — Cade Cunningham of Detroit, Dyson Daniels of Atlanta, or Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers — will be announced, also at 7 p.m. EDT on TNT.

Other awards announced by the league since the end of the regular season: Golden State’s Stephen Curry won the Twyman-Stokes teammate of the year award and Warriors teammate Draymond Green won the hustle award.

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Wild's Marcus Johansson Returns From Lower-Body Injury Tonight

Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

Wild head coach John Hynes confirmed this morning that forward Marcus Johansson will return to the lineup tonight. He did not play in Game 4 with a lower-body injury but will play tonight. 

Johansson, 34, has one assist in three playoff games so far. He had 11 goals and 34 points in 72 games during the regular season. 

In nine career playoff games for the Wild, Johansson has two goals and one assist. He is a minus-seven in those nine games as well. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

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2025 NHL Draft Lottery Odds/Date Set

Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

The NHL has announced that the NHL Draft Lottery will be on May 5th at the NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves in unfamiliar territory than they have been in the last few years. That unfamiliar territory would be that they can't win the NHL Draft Lottery. 

Per the NHL: "The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Participants are all teams that did not qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (or the teams that have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams)."

"The Lottery will be conducted in two phases, the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick. There is a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery can “move up” in the event it wins one of the Lottery Draws. Thus, only the top 11 seeds will be eligible to receive the first overall Draft pick."

So what does this mean for the Blue Jackets? The CBJ have a 2% chance of winning the first draw of the lottery, and a 0% chance of winning the second draw. 

Columbus can only move up as far as #3 in the draft. A far cry from the previous season's drafts, but that's because the Jackets defied all expectations and finished just two points shy of a playoff spot. 

The CBJ will have two first-round picks in this year's draft, and many people expect GM Don Waddell to trade one or both picks for roster help. 

What should Don Waddell do?

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

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Report: Draft Lottery Set For May 5 — Sharks Eye No. 1 Pick

© Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

The NHL has announced the date for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. It will take place on Monday, May 5th, giving the San Jose Sharks a glimpse into what could be a franchise-altering moment.

As it stands, the Sharks hold the best odds of winning the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. After finishing the season with a 20-50-12 record, they have a 25.5% chance of securing the top selection.

NHL Draft Lottery:

  1. San Jose Sharks: 18.5%
  2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5%
  3. Nashville Predators: 11.5%
  4. Philadelphia Flyers: 9.5%
  5. Boston Bruins: 8.5%
  6. Seattle Kraken: 7.5%
  7. Buffalo Sabres: 6.5%
  8. Anaheim Ducks: 6.0%
  9. Pittsburgh Penguins: 5.0%
  10. New York Islanders: 3.5%
  11. New York Rangers: 3.0%
San Jose Barracuda's Advance To Second Round Of AHL PlayoffsSan Jose Barracuda's Advance To Second Round Of AHL PlayoffsThe San Jose Sharks' AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, have made it to the second round of the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs.

This year’s draft will also mark a significant change, as it will be the first decentralized NHL Draft in history. It will be held June 27–28 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

The Sharks picked Macklin Celebrini first overall in 2024. This year, they may have a shot at drafting standout defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the Erie Otters of the OHL.

San Jose Barracuda's Andrew Poturalski Wins AHL MVPSan Jose Barracuda's Andrew Poturalski Wins AHL MVPSan Jose Barracuda's Andrew Poturalski has won the 2024-25 AHL MVP award (Les Cunningham Award). Sharks' Sam Dickinson Wins OHL Defensemen Of The YearSharks' Sam Dickinson Wins OHL Defensemen Of The YearSan Jose Sharks' Sam Dickinson has won the OHL Defenseman of the Year award.