Pierce was asked about his candidacy for the Raiders’ head coaching vacancy a day after he coached the team to an upset 20-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

‘My resume is on the grass. What do you want? I can put up a fancy presentation, I’ve seen that before. I can put up stats, I can put up my resume, but the best thing that happened for me was an opportunity,” Pierce told reporters Tuesday. “I said this maybe last week, the worst day I was going to be as a head coach was my first day. And each day is my job and I really take pride in growing each and every day to get better. No different than when I was a player to get better. And by the end, you look at it, whatever your career was and whatever my coaching careers is, and you sit there and say, ‘Look, this is what he was.’ And hopefully (Raiders owner) Mark Davis sees improvement and growth within our team. He sees the style and play that he wants from the Raiders. He sees a fan base that’s behind us. He sees a building that loves coming to work and loves being here. And people that’s covering the team, enjoying covering the team. And at the end of the day, we got to win. And right now, my record, our record is 4-3.’

Pierce, who played linebacker in the NFL for nine seasons and won Super Bowl 42 with the New York Giants, has a 4-3 record as Raiders interim head coach, including big wins over the Chargers and the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs in consecutive weeks. His experience as a former player, motivational skills and leadership ability have help the Raiders right the ship after a disappointing start.

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“Antonio Pierce has done an incredible job with the Raiders,” Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, who was teammates with Pierce on the Giants, said on FOX. “This is not with his staff. He inherited this staff from Josh McDaniels when he was coaching there. I would love to see Antonio Pierce have the opportunity to coach this Raiders team as the permanent head coach. I think he deserves it, and this win (Monday) was a statement toward how great he is as a coach and as a motivator and as a leader of men, which is what he did for me with the Giants and what he’s doing now as a coach for the Raiders.”

The Raiders are still mathematically in playoff contention, although, their postseason chances are a long shot. The Raiders’ final two regular-season games against the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos will likely serve as an extended head coaching audition for Pierce.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X: @TheTylerDragon.

The last time the Detroit Pistons won an NBA game, Halloween hadn’t arrived.

The Pistons set a single-season record for futility on Tuesday, losing their 27th consecutive regular-season game, eclipsing the record the Philadelphia 76ers equaled in 2013-14 and set by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010-11.

Detroit is now the sole owner of the unwanted record after a 118-112 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, dropping to 2-28.

The Pistons took a 97-92 lead on Cade Cunningham’s 3-pointer with 8:10 left in the fourth quarter, but Brooklyn’s 13-0 run gave it a 105-97 lead with 4:53 remaining. Detroit trailed 112-110 with 57.9 seconds remaining but were unable to stop Brooklyn in the final minute.

Cunningham scored 37 of his game-high 41 points in the second half but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Pistons from infamy. 

‘You have to be real about where we are,’ Pistons coach Monty Williams said. ‘Nobody wants something like this attached to them. Bottom line, it’s my job. It’s my responsibility. … I was brought in here to change this thing. It’s probably the most on me than anybody. Player are playing their hearts out. I’ve got to get them in the position where they don’t feel tight or heavy.’

No team with a .067 winning percentage has a winnable game on its schedule, but of the Pistons’ next seven games, five are on the road, and four are against teams with winning records (Boston, Houston, Denver, Sacramento). They are on pace for a miserable 6-76 record, which would be the fewest victories in a season in NBA history.

‘It weighs on us every day. … Everybody staying together is key, and we’ve got to stay desperate,’ Cunningham said.

The Pistons entered Tuesday’s game with the No. 28 offense, the No. 26 defense and the 29th net rating. Based on those statistics, they are not the worst team in the NBA. Record-wise, they are, with San Antonio right behind at 4-25 and Washington at 5-24. Detroit has lost seven games by six points or fewer but also lost six by 20 or more.

Over the course of two seasons in 2014-15 and 2015-16, the Sixers lost 28 consecutive games, which is an NBA record for consecutives losses spanning two seasons.

Pistons owner Tom Gores met with local reporters last week and apologized to fans.

“I’m as disappointed as anybody,” Gores said. “Speaking to our fans and letting them know what’s happening, it’s critical at this time. It is a pivotal moment. I have a lot of thoughts about it.’

He promised changes without sharing specifics, other than saying the jobs of coach Monty Williams and general manager Troy Weaver are safe.

“Within all the losses here, what we still have is a very good future,” Gores said. “No. 1, we have an amazing set of young players. High-character, high-talent. This set of players, and I know them individually and I saw them the other day, we’re in a great spot with our young talent. I think seven or eight players are under 22, so they’re young. 

“No. 2, we have set ourselves up in the way our contracts are flexible. We had all these contracts that saddled us, we couldn’t be nimble. We are also set up with a lot of cap space, and you know I’m willing to do whatever it takes for this organization to be successful.

“As much as the vision feels blurry, to me it’s the same feel I had at the beginning of the season of a bright future. I still have that.”

The starting quarterback job for the Washington Commanders no longer belongs to Sam Howell.

Jacoby Brissett will start against the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, head coach Ron Rivera announced Wednesday, following two straight games in which the veteran backup has relieved the second-year starter.

Rivera wouldn’t say whether that meant Brissett would start the final game of the regular season against the Dallas Cowboys. He also said that he advised ownership, which will make a decision on Rivera’s own future in the coming weeks, of the decision.

‘This is about Sam’s continued development,’ Rivera said. ‘Things hadn’t gone as well as we’d like the last few weeks, so we just think this is a good opportunity for him to watch.’

The Commanders have lost a league-worst six straight games and Howell has struggled during that span with a 57.4 completion percentage and eight interceptions.

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Over 15 games, Howell leads the league with 18 interceptions and has been sacked 60 times. The offense moved the ball more consistently after Brissett’s insertions against the Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets.

‘I think this is an opportunity for (Howell) to take a breath,’ Rivera said.

Washington entered the season with its focus on handing the starting role to Howell, a fifth-round pick who started the final week of the 2022 season, with Brissett as the veteran option if that didn’t seem viable during training camp. But Howell didn’t do anything to lose the job then, and Rivera wanted to commit to the young quarterback in an effort to create a long-term plan at the position.

Brissett will be the ninth starting quarterback for the team since Rivera took over in 2020.

‘I think (Howell) has a bright future in this league, I really do,’ Rivera said.

He added: ‘We’re all culpable in this situation. This is not an indictment on Sam … this has been a long year, for everybody.’

It’s never too early to talk about the future, especially when we’re talking specifically about the future of the NBA. 

This week a handful of top basketball prospects – all of whom will be playing professionally sooner rather than later – will showcase their skills at the Les Schwab Invite, an annual holiday tournament held at Liberty High School just outside Portland. (Nike is also heavily involved in this tournament, which is often a preview of the Nike Hoop Summit.) 

The biggest names making their Les Schwab Invite debut are Cameron and Cayden Boozer, twin sons of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. Both are expected to be lottery picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, and their college recruitment has been closely followed by thousands of diehard hoops fans. Will they follow in their dad’s footsteps and head to Duke? Could Kentucky steal them? 

Along with the Boozer twins, other top players to watch include guards Jase Richardson (signed with Michigan State) and Trent Perry (signed with USC), and 2025 forward Koa Peat. 

Last year, current Oregon freshman Jackson Shelstad led West Linn, a local powerhouse, to an upset over the nation’s top-ranked high school team, Sierra Canyon (featuring none other than Bronny James). Afterward, West Linn found itself ranked No. 1 in the country by USA TODAY. 

The tournament tipped off Tuesday, though all of the best prospects, who are traveling from out of state with the teams, don’t start play until Wednesday. You can check out the bracket here. 

Who is Carlos Boozer’s son? 

We’re going to answer this question with another question – which one of his sons are you talking about? 

Carlos Boozer has twin boys, Cameron and Cayden, juniors who are slated to graduate from Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School in 2025. They are considered not only two of the top college prospects in the country but two of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA draft class. 

According to 247Sports.com, the Boozer twins are considering playing college basketball at Duke, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky and Miami, among others.  

Cam Boozer, lottery pick

Of the Boozer twins, Cameron – who goes by Cam – is the better (and bigger) one. A 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward, Cam Boozer has been praised by scouts for his ability to score in a variety of ways, both with his back to the basket and facing the rim. The word that comes up most when talking about Cam Boozer is ‘polished.’ He’s also known for having good hands; he can catch just about everything. 

Cam Boozer is a surefire lottery pick for the 2026 NBA Draft, and might go No. 1 overall. He was favored to be the top selection until AJ Dybantsa, also a 6-foot-9 forward, reclassified to the 2025 class. Now it’s likely that either Dybantsa or Cam Boozer goes No. 1 

Cayden Boozer, also a lottery pick

But don’t count out Cayden Boozer, the smaller of the Boozer twins. A 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard, Cayden has described himself as ‘a versatile point guard who likes to attack.’ He told On3.com that he’s definitely headed to college, and doesn’t need G League money, though that’s another route open to him. 

Carlos Boozer’s NBA career

A 2002 NBA draft pick, Carlos Boozer had an impressive professional career after playing at Duke from 1999-2002. Though he wasn’t selected until the second round (No. 35 overall), Boozer had a long NBA lifespan, playing mostly for the Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls. He was a two-time NBA All-Star, in 2007 and 2008, and averaged 16.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists over 13 seasons. 

Boozer retired from professional basketball in late 2017. He last played professionally with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. 

Follow Lindsay Schnell on social media: @Lindsay_Schnell

The long wait until the College Football Playoff semifinals is almost over. There was controversy when the pairings were announced earlier this month, but the matchups might be the best in the playoff era.

The first showdown on New Year’s Day will see Michigan face off with Alabama in the Rose Bowl. The nightcap has Texas and Washington clashing in the Sugar Bowl. Which teams will prevail and advance to the national title game in Houston on Jan. 8?

Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports off theri picks and discuss the other interesting storylines during bowl season in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.

REBOUND: How Jim Harbaugh led Michigan to success after his lowest point

CANINE AID: Meet the dogs that bring joy to college football’s big names

POSTSEASON LINEUP: Complete college football bowl schedule

FROM 1 to 41: Ranking the entire college football schedule from best to worst

The next time you see Caleb Williams play, it’ll probably be on a Sunday, Monday or Thursday.

The Southern California quarterback is one of the top prospects for the 2024 NFL draft, and as is the case for a decent chunk of players with NFL aspirations, college bowl games might not be the most enticing matchup to lace ’em up for.

Heading into the 2023 Holiday Bowl, Williams falls into that camp. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and top prospect in next year’s draft decided a while ago that he won’t take the field in San Diego.

Here’s what to know about Williams’ absence from the Dec. 27 USC-Louisville Holiday Bowl matchup:

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Is Caleb Williams playing in the Holiday Bowl?

On Dec. 4, USC head coach Lincoln Riley announced that Williams would not be playing in the Holiday Bowl matchup vs. the Louisville Cardinals. Williams did not release a statement or announce his decision to sit out of the bowl.

In his stead, Moss Miller will be under center for USC for the matchup.

Williams hasn’t declared for the NFL draft, but if his decision to sit out the bowl game is any indication, all signs point to him moving on from college to the pros in the near future. Despite a down year for USC, Williams is still considered one of the top QB prospects in this year’s draft, alongside North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

That said, it hasn’t been a straight line to the draft stage for Williams. Earlier this year, Williams’ father, Carl Williams, made it clear that returning to school was an option if the teams at the top of the draft weren’t a fit for his son’s talents.

To that end, Williams returning to USC would be something of a surprise: Riley has been open about finding quarterback options to replace Williams (and also former recruit Malachi Nelson) for 2024, including scouring the transfer portal for a potential passer of the future.

Caleb Williams stats

After winning the Heisman in 2022, Williams couldn’t quite replicate his previous successes. He finished the 2023 season with 3,633 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions. USC scuffled and finished 7-5, going 1-5 over its last six games.

In 2022, Williams threw for 4,531 yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions, helping guide the Trojans to a Cotton Bowl appearance.

Williams’ dazzling 2022 season led to several awards in addition to the Heisman: He was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Pac-12, the Sporting News College Football Player of the Year and was voted a unanimous All-American.

The NHL’s holiday roster freeze ends at midnight Dec. 28, so trades can start up again.

Then it’s a little more than two months to the NHL trade deadline March 8.

There have been several trades and plenty of other transactions this season. The latest was a trade between the Seattle Kraken and Colorado Avalanche.

General managers will be guided by another year of a tight salary cap, but it’s expected to rise next season to $87.7 million. Last summer, a lot of players signed low-cost, one-year deals, increasing the pool of potential unrestricted free agents who could be moved out for draft picks or prospects.

Follow along this season for news and analysis on deals, major transactions and other announcements that have happened in the months leading up the trade deadline:

Dec. 27: Carolina Hurricanes recall veteran goalie Antti Raanta

The Carolina Hurricanes recalled veteran goalie Antti Raanta from a two-game stint in the American Hockey League. Raanta, 34, went 1-0-1 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage with the Chicago Wolves during his first AHL appearance since the 2019-20 season. Raanta was sent down after seeing his numbers drop to a 3.61 goals-against average and a .854 save percentage from last season’s 2.23 and .910. He is fourth to last in MoneyPuck’s goals saved against expected. Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to get the start Wednesday in Nashville. Carolina reassigned goaltender Yaniv Perets to the Norfolk (Virginia) Admirals of the ECHL.

Dec. 22: Colorado Avalanche’s Samuel Girard cleared to practice after stint in assistance program

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association said defenseman Samuel Girard has been cleared to resume practicing with the Colorado Avalanche after spending time in the player assistance program. Girard, 25, had announced last month through his agent that his severe anxiety and depression had gone untreated too long and had led to alcohol abuse. He now is in the aftercare phase but hasn’t been cleared to play in games.

Also: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six-game suspension to Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron for cross-checking Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub in the head. Perron, who had been reacting to an injury to captain Dylan Larkin, has served the six games and was set to return in Friday’s game.

Dec. 19: Banged-up Detroit Red Wings sign goalie Michael Hutchinson to NHL contract

Tuesday was a good day for Michael Hutchinson: He got himself an NHL contract, five days before Christmas.

The one-year, two-way contract (worth $775,000 at the NHL level) came about because the Detroit Red Wings need Hutchinson’s services at least through the end of the week; neither Ville Husso nor Alex Lyon is available, leaving James Reimer the lone goalie standing. Husso is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Coach Derek Lalonde described it as, ‘Ville will be unavailable to us for a while here.’ He added: ‘Alex, I do not see him available to us till probably after Christmas.’

Husso was injured in the first period of Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Lyon suffered an upper-body injury Saturday night in Philadelphia. The Red Wings play three games before the three-day holiday break.

– Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Dec. 18: Ottawa Senators fire D.J. Smith, name Jacques Martin interim coach

Jacques Martin was hired earlier this season by the Ottawa Senators as a consultant for coach D.J. Smith. Now, he will run the team on an interim basis after Smith was fired on Monday.

Martin, 71, is the Senators’ all-time leader in coaching wins during the regular season (341) and playoffs (31). Daniel Alfredsson, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, was named an assistant coach, replacing Davis Payne.

Smith, who had never finished better than sixth in the division, was fired amid a four-game losing streak that included blown leads in the last two. The Senators sit in last place in the Eastern Conference.

‘I think we’re all looking for more consistency, more detail to our game, more structure,’ president of hockey operations Steve Staios told reporters.

Also: Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. … The Boston Bruins loaned forward Matthew Poitras to the Canadian national team for the world junior championships.

Dec. 16: Carolina Hurricanes place goalie Antti Raanta on waivers

The Carolina Hurricanes have placed veteran goalie Antti Raanta on waivers a day after he gave up six goals in a loss to the Nashville Predators. He cleared waivers and was sent to Chicago of the American Hockey League on Sunday. Carolina recalled ECHL goalie Yaniv Perets, who won an NCAA title with Quinnipiac last season. Raanta, 34, who gave up eight goals in a loss last month to the Tampa Bay Lightning, has seen his numbers drop to a 3.61 goals-against average and .854 save percentage from last season’s 2.23, .910 and is second to last in MoneyPuck’s goals saved against expected. Pyotr Kochetkov has been the better goalie since No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen was sidelined with a blood-clotting issue. Andersen remains out indefinitely.

Dec. 15: Seattle Kraken acquire forward Tomas Tatar from Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche receive a fifth-round pick in the trade. The Kraken rank near the bottom of the league in scoring, and they’re hoping for the Tomas Tatar of previous seasons, not this season. He’s a seven-time 20-goal scorer who has just one goal this season after not getting a free agent contract until September. But he’s a veteran of 810 games with 212 career goals, including 50 on the power play. He’ll help Seattle deal with injuries among its forwards. The team placed Jaden Schwartz on long-term injured reserve.

In a depth trade Friday, the San Jose Sharks acquired center Jack Studnicka from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Nick Cicek and a sixth-round pick.

Dec. 15: Columbus Blue Jackets’ Patrik Laine suffers fractured clavicle

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine, who has had problems recently staying healthy, will be out six weeks after suffering a fracture clavicle during a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team announced Friday. He left the ice holding his shoulder in the second period after he was tripped by Toronto’s William Lagesson and slid into the boards. Laine had scored his sixth goal of the season during the first period. He was in his second game back after missing three games with an illness. He missed nine games early this season with a concussion and also was a healthy scratch once. Last season, Laine was limited to 55 games by injury or illness and played only 56 the season before.

Dec. 12: St. Louis Blues fire coach Craig Berube, name Drew Bannister as interim

General manager Doug Armstrong said he started having sleepless nights after a Dec. 8 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After the short-handed Detroit Red Wings rallied to hand St. Louis its fourth consecutive loss, Armstrong fired Craig Berube and named Drew Bannister, head of their American Hockey League affiliate, the interim coach. ‘Your mind is starting to work when you’re everybody’s homecoming game,’ Armstrong told reporters on Wednesday, a day after making the move.

Coaching changes have turned around the fortunes of the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild this season, and Berube took a last-place Blues team to the 2019 Stanley Cup title after his midseason hire. Bannister isn’t necessarily the coach for the rest of the season, though. Armstrong said he is looking for a full-time coach but didn’t have a timetable on when he’ll make a hire.

The Blues rank near the bottom of the league in power play and goals per game. They traded Robert Bortuzzo and waived Jakub Vrana, who’s headed to the AHL with Mackenzie MacEachern being recalled. Armstrong said he and the players share in the blame for the team’s performance. ‘Nobody should feel safe in our group,’ he said.

Dec. 8: New York Islanders acquire St. Louis Blues’ Robert Bortuzzo

The New York Islanders acquired defenseman Robert Bortuzzo from the St. Louis Blues on Friday in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The trade was announced after the team said Ryan Pulock (lower body) was going on the injured list, joining fellow defensemen Adam Pelech and Sebastian Aho. Bortuzzo, 34, won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 but has been limited to four games this season and often was a healthy scratch. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Dec. 7: Nashville Predators’ Tyson Barrie discusses trade request

Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie knew he was about to be uncomfortable with the questions that were going to come his way Thursday, ones about him requesting a trade after being a healthy scratch last weekend. About the Predators granting him permission to talk with other teams.

‘I’m trying not to really air it out in the media,’ Barrie said.

As much as he might have wanted to, Barrie didn’t exactly bury any hatchets, either.

‘Well, if we’re getting into it, I’m in the stands so it doesn’t really feel like a great fit,’ he said. ‘My goal is to be playing hockey. Whether that’s here or elsewhere is up for the powers that be to decide.’ – Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean

Dec. 6: Detroit Red Wings announce when Patrick Kane is expected to make debut

Star Patrick Kane is scheduled to make his Detroit Red Wings debut on Thursday at home against the San Jose Sharks, coach Derek Lalonde told reporters. Kane was signed last week to a one-year, $2.75 million contract after offseason hip resurfacing surgery. Lalonde plans to play him with former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat and will try the pair with different centers. Kane’s minutes will be monitored. ‘There’s a lot of unknowns still there so we’ll all be patient with it and kind of let it play out a little bit,’ Lalonde said.

Also: The Buffalo Sabres acquired winger Eric Robinson from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2025. The fourth-liner has 82 points in 266 career games, including one goal in seven games this season. The Blue Jackets later placed defenseman Adam Boqvist, goalie Elvis Merzlikins and forward Cole Sillinger on the injured list. Boqvist (shoulder) is expected to miss four weeks. … The Toronto Maple Leafs announced defenseman John Klingberg will have season-ending hip surgery. He signed a one-year, $4.15 million deal in the offseason but hasn’t played since Nov. 11. The Maple Leafs, also missing defensemen Mark Giordano and Timothy Liljegren, are looking for a replacement through a trade. ‘It’s no secret we’ve investigated what the market is, what those costs could be,’ general manager Brad Trevling told reporters. … Jacques Martin, who has been a head coach for nearly 1,300 NHL games (692 with Ottawa), was named an advisor to the Senators’ coaching staff.

Dec. 4: Winnipeg Jets sign Nino Niederreiter to three-year extension

He’ll average $4 million in the contract that kicks in next season. He is the third player signed long-term since the Jets moved out Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler during the summer, following Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck. Niederreiter, 31, is tied for fourth on the Jets with six goals and is sixth with 14 points.

Dec. 1: Simon Nemec called up amid New Jersey Devils’ issues on defense

Simon Nemec, the No. 2 pick of the 2022 NHL draft, made his NHL debut after being called up amid the team’s major absences on defense. He played 22:38, had two assists and three shots, and was a minus 2 in the 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Before the game, the Devils announced that top defenseman Dougie Hamilton is out indefinitely after having surgery on his left pectoral muscle. Also, defenseman Brendan Smith was suspended for two games for slashing Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny. He will forfeit $11,458.34 in pay and Konecny was fined $5,000 for his cross-check on Smith. The Devils also announced that forward Tomas Nosek had surgery on his right foot.

Also: The Montreal Canadiens and goalie Sam Montembeault agreed to a three-year, $9.45 million extension. The Quebec native had been claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers in 2021

Nov. 30: Vancouver Canucks acquire defenseman Nikita Zadorov

The Vancouver Canucks got stronger on defense by adding rugged 6-foot-6, 248-pound defenseman Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames. The Canucks gave up the fifth-round pick they acquired a day earlier in the Anthony Beauvillier trade, plus a 2026 third-round pick. Calgary’s return doesn’t seem high for a player who led the Flames in hits and is going to a division rival, but Zadorov had requested a trade and is a pending unrestricted free agent. The Flames, who have pushed closer to a playoff position after a tough start, also have forward Elias Lindholm and defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev in the final years of their contracts.

Nov. 28: Chicago Blackhawks waive Corey Perry, trade for Anthony Beauvillier

The Chicago Blackhawks placed Corey Perry on unconditional waivers on Tuesday in order to terminate his contract. The team said it determined that Perry ‘engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.’ The Beauvillier trade happened later. The Vancouver Canucks, who acquired Beauvillier last season in the Bo Horvat trade, will receive a fifth-round draft pick. More important for Vancouver, the Blackhawks take on his entire $4.15 million cap hit, giving them flexibility before the trade deadline. Beauvillier, a winger like Perry, has two goals and six assists in 22 games this season.

Perry issued an apology Thursday for his ‘inappropriate and wrong’ behavior.

BLACKHAWKS: More details on why Chicago is cutting ties with Corey Perry

Nov. 28: Detroit Red Wings sign Patrick Kane

The one-year, $2.75 million deal will reunite Patrick Kane with Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat, his former linemate on the Chicago Blackhawks. DeBrincat had two 40-goal seasons while in Chicago. The question is how Kane will perform after hip resurfacing surgery during the offseason.  Though recent videos showed Kane going through intense workouts, Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence to determine his future after having the same surgery during the 2022 offseason. Considering Kane wanted to play for a contender, that says something about his faith in the Red Wings’ direction after they try to end a seven-year playoff drought. Daniel Sprong is giving up his No. 88 for Kane and will wear No. 17 instead.

Also: The Buffalo Sabres loaned rookie goalie Devon Levi to Rochester (New York) of the American Hockey League. He had been in a three-goalie system with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Eric Comrie and his numbers were down from the strong start he had last season after leaving Northeastern University. The move allows Levi to see more action than he would in the NHL. “We’re super excited about Devon, believe in him,’ general manager Kevyn Adams told reporters on Wednesday. ‘This is an opportunity for him to get in a rhythm, get sharpened up.”

Nov. 27: Minnesota Wild fire coach Dean Evason, hire John Hynes

John Hynes is back in the NHL after being hired to replace fired Minnesota Wild coach Dean Evason on Monday. The Wild made the switch after a 5-10-4 start in which the team struggled defensively and especially on the penalty kill. Hynes, who knows Wild general manager Bill Guerin from their days in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, was a midseason replacement previously with the Nashville Predators. He was fired last summer after missing the playoffs. He also coached the New Jersey Devils and has a 284-255-63 NHL record, making the playoffs four times.

Nov. 25: Chicago Blackhawks’ Corey Perry to be away from team for foreseeable future

Corey Perry will be away from the Chicago Blackhawks for the foreseeable future, general manager Kyle Davidson said Saturday. Perry, 38, hasn’t played since a 3-2 loss to Buffalo last Sunday. He was a healthy scratch for the last two games.

“It’s been a team decision so far to hold him out, and that’s about all I’m able to provide,” Davidson said.

In a statement provided to Hockey Night in Canada, Pat Morris, Perry’s agent, said the forward stepped away from the team to attend to personal matters.

Perry was acquired from Tampa Bay in a June trade, then agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract. He has four goals and five assists in 16 games. His absence comes as the Blackhawks deal with a series of injuries among their forwards. Taylor Hall, another offseason acquisition, is scheduled for right knee surgery on Monday in Minnesota. – Associated Press

Also: The New York Islanders claimed veteran defenseman Mike Reilly off waivers from the Florida Panthers and placed defenseman Adam Pelech (upper body) on long term injured reserve.

Nov. 24: Colorado Avalanche’s Samuel Girard enters mental health treatment

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard is entering the NHL/NHL Players’ Association Player Assistance Program. He announced through his agent that his severe anxiety and depression had gone untreated too long and had led to alcohol abuse.

‘Taking care of your mental health is of the utmost importance, and I encourage everyone to speak up and seek help should you feel like you need it,’ he said in a statement.

Girard, 25, has played all but five games of his seven-year NHL career with the Avalanche and had a career-best 37 points last season. He had one goal and three assists through 15 games this season and had missed the past two games for personal reasons.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said the team supports Girard going to get help.

“You’ve got to take care of yourself first before you’re able to come and help a team,’ he said.

Nov. 24: Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness returns from leave of absence

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness returned behind the bench Friday for the first time since he took a leave of absence on Oct. 23 after his wife Judy had a seizure. He said she’s doing as well as expected with her new medication and will stay with their children when he’s on the road. Associate coach Scott Arniel went 9-2-2 in Bowness’ absence. The Jets beat the Florida Panthers 3-0 with Bowness behind the bench.

Also: Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson played his 10th NHL game on Friday, meaning he’s staying in the league and not being returned to his junior hockey team. Benson scored his first NHL goal on Wednesday with a spectacular move. … The Washington Capitals said forward T.J. Oshie won’t travel with the team after a hard collision in Friday’s 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Nov. 23: Chicago Blackhawks’ Taylor Hall to have ACL surgery

Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall, the former No. 1 overall pick who was acquired to mentor and play alongside rookie Connor Bedard, will have ACL surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

‘It came from an accumulation of a bunch of little injuries from the game and even in practice the other day,’ coach Luke Richardson told reporters. ‘It became unstable and we need to fix it.’

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Hall had been limited to 10 games (four points) this season because of injuries.

“It’s heartbreaking — someone that loved to play so much and every game is so impactful, such a good hockey player and such a good person,’ Bedard said.

The Blackhawks also placed forward Andreas Athanasiou (groin muscle) on the injured list and called up Joey Anderson and Cole Guttman.

Nov. 17: Florida Panthers activate Brandon Montour, Aaron Ekblad

The defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers got off to a 10-5-1 record even with key absences. Now, they’re getting defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad back, activating them from the injured list after they recovered from offseason surgery for playoff injuries.

Montour set a franchise record for points by a defenseman (73) and was their top-scoring blueliner in the playoffs. Ekblad, like Montour a right-hand shot, was taken No. 1 overall in the 2014 draft. Defenseman Josh Mahura went on the injured list to make the salary cap situation work.

Nov. 12: Edmonton Oilers fire coach Jay Woodcroft

The Edmonton Oilers fired coach Jay Woodcroft on Sunday after a 3-9-1 start and replaced him with Kris Knoblauch, the Hartford Wolf Pack coach and Connor McDavid’s former junior hockey coach. That’s the third recent move with a connection to three-time MVP McDavid. His agent, Jeff Jackson, was hired earlier as CEO of hockey operations and the team also signed his former junior hockey linemate Connor Brown.

McDavid said Monday he was surprised by the move and said Woodcroft ‘never lost the room.’

The Oilers were a trendy pick to go far in the playoffs, but have disappointed this season. Last season’s No. 1-ranked offense is 26th this season, with McDavid possibly slowed by an injury that cost him two games. Their goaltending issues have been worse. Jack Campbell was sent to the American Hockey League in the second year of his five-year contract. Stuart Skinner, a rookie of the year finalist last season, ranks last in the league in goals saved above expected, according to MoneyPuck.

Knoblauch – and newly hired Oilers legend Paul Coffey coaching the defense – will be tasked with getting the Oilers back to a playoff spot. There’s precedent: Woodcroft went 26-9-3 down the stretch in 2021-22 as a midseason replacement and led the team to the Western Conference final. 

Also: The Colorado Avalanche announced that goalie Pavel Francouz (lower body) will miss the rest of the season. He has yet to play in 2023-24 and will return to the Czech Republic to be with his family. The team also signed forward Joel Kiviranta to a one-year deal.

Nov. 10: Pittsburgh Penguins to retire Jaromir Jagr’s number

Jaromir Jagr, drafted fifth overall in 1990, won Stanley Cup titles in his first two seasons and ranks fourth in franchise history with 1,079 points in 806 games. He played 11 seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to the Washington Capitals. He ranks second all-time in NHL history in points and fourth in goals. His No. 68 will be retired on Feb. 18.

Nov. 8: Minnesota Wild trade Calen Addison to San Jose Sharks, acquire Zach Bogosian from Tampa Bay Lightning

Addison was sent to the San Jose Sharks for forward Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. The defenseman is a power play specialist, but he is unreliable in his own zone. That led to him being a healthy scratch often down the stretch last season. With the Wild getting Jared Spurgeon back soon from injury (he was activated from long-term injured reserve on Friday), the power play opportunities will dwindle. Addison will be more valuable to the Sharks, who dealt Erik Karlsson last summer. He will be a restricted free agent at season’s end.

Bogosian lacks Addison’s offense, but the veteran takes care of his end of the ice. He’s a right-handed shot, like Addison.

“He’s a big guy,’ Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin told reporters. ‘He still skates well. He brings heaviness. He brings some grit and we need that.”

The trade buys the Lightning a little bit of salary cap breathing room. Bogosian, in the final season of a three-year contract, has a $850,000 cap hit.

Nov. 7: Edmonton Oilers place goalie Jack Campbell on waivers

Campbell, who signed a five-year, $25 million free agent deal in 2022, hasn’t played well since arriving. Stuart Skinner surpassed him last season and was a rookie of the year finalist. This season, Campbell was chased in the season opener and has gone 1-4 with a 4.50 goals-against average and .873 save percentage. He cleared waivers and will work on his game in the American Hockey League as the struggling Oilers try to get into a playoff spot. Edmonton recalled Calvin Pickard from Bakersfield (California) to back up Skinner.

Oct. 13: Colorado Avalanche sign defenseman Devon Toews to seven-year extension

He’ll average $7.25 million in the deal, which begins next season. Heading into the season, Toews led the league with a +120 plus-minus rating since he was acquired from the New York Islanders in 2020. He’s right behind defenseman Cale Makar in average ice time during that time.

Oct. 10: Carolina Hurricanes acquire forward Callahan Burke from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Caleb Jones

The Hurricanes loaded up on defense this offseason and Jones was the odd man out. Both players will play for the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles.

The Chiefs’ offensive scuffles continued, as the Raiders handed K.C. a 20-14 lump of coal of a loss Monday. During the game, the normally cool and collected Kelce caught the eye of cameras, as he tested the durability of his helmet.

On the Dec. 27 edition of Travis and Jason Kelce’s ‘New Heights’ podcast, the Chiefs tight end explained the viral helmet toss and his head coach’s response to the ordeal:

‘Right now, I’m just not playing my best football, and I gotta (expletive) lock the (expletive) in, and be more accountable for him (head coach Andy Reid) and be more accountable for my teammates. I gotta keep my (expletive) cool, man, ’cause as a leader on this team, that’s not how you switch the momentum.’

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Kelce wasn’t and hasn’t been the only one to wear his emotions on his sleeves during the wishy-washy Chiefs season. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has blown his stack a few times this season, both on referees and, most recently, the Chiefs offensive line on Christmas.

The motivational methods haven’t exactly worked, though Kelce does appreciate his head coach looking out for him.

‘He’s (Reid) looking out for me, and I love him for it. I didn’t go back out there and play good. He wanted to see the fire in me, and I reacted in a bad way. He wanted to just get the best out of me.’

The Chiefs offense has been fairly un-Chiefs like in 2023, and that’s obviously drawn the attention of Kelce, who offered a blunt assessment of the unit.

‘It hasn’t been a well-oiled machine like it’s been in the past. We just gotta get everybody on the same (expletive) page. Maybe that’s just getting into the facility and just talking things out together. Maybe that’s getting a few reps after practice, maybe that’s getting a few more reps, mental reps with each other in the film room. Whatever it is, we gotta do something else. …

‘We just gotta find a way to clean this (expletive) up, man.’

To his own admission, Kelce didn’t put forth his best performance Monday, notching five catches for 44 yards in the matchup. He was also 0-for-1 passing, with the helmet landing incomplete.

Time will tell if the helmet throw got Kelce a head start on the 2024 naughty list.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic are searching for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, but have yet to locate him, according to Spanish-language reports.

The Santo Domingo Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents sent police officers to Franco’s mother’s house on Tuesday, according to the Dominican news outlet Listin Diario, and then moved on to Franco’s nearby residence in his hometown of Bani.

“They went to raid two properties that Wander Franco has there, but they were not carried out, because he was not in any of those places,” a Dominican agent told the Associated Press. The person requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

The agent said people at the residences were informed that Franco was being sought for questioning at the office of Public Ministry.

Franco, 22, was placed on administrative leave in August, when allegations of an improper relationship with an underage girl first surfaced. Franco, who made the American League All-Star team for the first time in 2023, has denied the allegations.

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Franco was having his best season as a major leaguer, hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 112 games when the allegations surfaced. He played his last game on August 12, and the Rays placed him on the restricted list two days later.

‘This is a very delicate topic because there is a minor involved,’’ Angel Dario Tejada Fabal, a prosecutor in the Peravaia, a province of the Dominican Republic, told the Associated Press in August. Relationships between adults and minors under the age of 18 years old are prohibited in the Dominican Republic, regardless of whether the minor gives consent. 

MLB is also conducting its own investigation.

The Rays signed Franco to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. The team put him back on the 40-man roster last month since administrative leave is only applicable during the regular season. He will continue to be paid and accrue service time while he is away from the team.