Heavy rain at Daytona International Speedway has forced NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500 on Sunday to be postponed for a day.

NASCAR Cup Series drivers are scheduled take the track for the 66th annual Daytona 500 on Monday afternoon as they look to etch their name in history and lift the Harley J. Earl Trophy in victory lane.

It will be an all Ford front row with two former Daytona 500 winners pacing the field. Joey Logano, the 2015 winner, won the pole Wednesday night. The two-time Cup Series champion will start alongside 2021 Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell.

Thursday night’s Daytona Duel winners will start on Row 2. Tyler Reddick starts third to lead the Toyota contingent, followed by fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell. Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, starts fifth, the best of the Chevrolet drivers.

Here is all the information you need to get ready for the 2024 Daytona 500, the season-opener of the NASCAR Cup Series:

What time does the 2024 Daytona 500 start?

Saturday’s Xfinity Series opener was also rained out. It’s been rescheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. The 2024 Daytona 500 is now scheduled to start on Monday after the conclusion of the Xfinity series race, sometime around 4 p.m. ET at Daytona International Speedway.

What TV channel is the 2024 Daytona 500 on?

The Daytona 500 will be broadcast on Fox.

Will there be a live stream of the 2024 Daytona 500?

The Daytona 500 can be live streamed on the FoxSports website and on the FoxSports app. 

What is the weather forecast for the Daytona 500?

After rain is expected to leave the Daytona area early Sunday evening, the forecast calls for clearing skies on Monday with temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s throughout the day.

How many laps is the 2024 Daytona 500?

The race is 200 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for a total of 500 miles.

The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 65 laps; Stage 2: 65 laps; Stage 3: 70 laps.

Who won the Daytona 500 last year?

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. edged 2022 NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano in double overtime to win the 2023 Daytona 500, notching his third career Cup victory and first since he won the Daytona summer race in 2017.

What is the lineup for the 2024 Daytona 500?

Here is the lineup, with car number in parentheses and manufacturer:

1. (22) Joey Logano, Ford

2. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford

3. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota

4. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota

5. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet

6. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford

7. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet

8. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota

9. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet

10. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota

11. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota

12. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford

13. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet

14. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet

15. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota

16. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford

17. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

18. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet

19. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford

20. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford

21. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet

22. (51) Justin Haley, Ford

23. (84) Jimmie Johnson, Toyota

24. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota

25. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford

26. (36) Kaz Grala, Ford

27. (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota

28. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet

29. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet

30. (4) Josh Berry, Ford

31. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford

32. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford

33. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

34. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet

35. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet

36. (15) Riley Herbst, Ford

37. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet

38. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford

39. (62) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet

40. (60) David Ragan, Ford

College Sports Inc. is big business, so why should conference commissioners act differently than your Fortune 500 CEO?

But, is it too much to ask for a fourth rule? That is: Don’t mess with March Madness, sports’ greatest postseason event, that beautiful spectacle we celebrate each spring. Sixty-eight bids. Thirty-two automatic berths to conference champions, plus 36 at-large bids. A mix of bluebloods, directional schools and schools you’d previously never heard of. An event during which any team can get hot and go on a run.

Apparently, it is too much to ask for the tournament to be left alone. The “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” theory doesn’t apply where there’s more money to be made.

Count Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark among those interested in modifying the men’s tournament in the name of … fairness.

‘I want to see the best teams competing for a national championship (in basketball), no different than (the Big Ten and SEC) want to see in football,’ Yormark recently told Yahoo Sports. ‘I’m not sure that is currently happening.’

I fail to see how that’s not happening.

Allow me to translate Yormark’s quote: The Big 12’s version of P.T. Barnum wants to modify the tournament in the name of more access and money for his league.

As it is, the Big 12 rates as the nation’s best hoops conference, and it’s appropriately rewarded. Last year, seven of the Big 12’s 10 teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

So, what’s Yormark’s issue? That Oklahoma State, which was 18-15 on Selection Sunday, didn’t qualify for the Big Dance and instead lost to North Texas in the NIT quarterfinals? Give me a break. This is an attempted cash grab from the commissioner responsible for college basketball coming to Mexico City.

ESPN projects nine Big 12 teams to make this year’s tournament and nine more from the SEC. Again, I fail to see a tournament access issue for major-conference teams.

What’s the end game? Seventy-two teams? Maybe 96? Double the field to 136, further devalue the regular season, water down the bracket with mediocre teams, and turn the tournament into a monthlong event? By the time the championship game finally arrives, gassed athletes will be calling for IVs and oxygen so they can survive 40 minutes.

Yormark isn’t alone among major-conference commissioners hinting at a desire for more at-large bids. Last March, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey told me he’d be open to considering modifying the field. More recently, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told Yahoo Sports that the NCAA Tournament “needs a holistic look.”

A holistic look? Please. More like, additional at-large bids would mean more spots for major conferences’ bottom feeders. And, more bids translates to more revenue distribution for those leagues.

If you polled 100 random fans and asked them what was lacking from the NCAA Tournament, I doubt you’d find a single one who’d say: The 10th-best team from Major Conference X. That’s what this tournament needs.

What this tournament needs is to be left alone by meddlesome commissioners eager to tap into greater revenues.

Tournament tinkering would fit power-conference commissioners’ standard tactics, though.

The past few years, while NCAA officials, university leaders and coaches bemoaned so-called chaos in college sports, the guys running the power conferences caused some of the biggest chaos. Conferences from the SEC to the Big Ten to the Big 12 spent the past few years raiding rival conferences in a quest to aggrandize their television value.

The price of this game of Rob Your Neighbor? Realignment disrupted rivalries, and even ardent fans need a cheat sheet to know which teams are in what leagues. The Big Ten grew to nearly the size of Europe while spanning from Oregon to Rutgers.

Meanwhile, interconference bickering over the College Football Playoff’s format and revenue distribution is ceaseless. Just as soon as they finally approved a logical 12-team format, the playoff went back under the microscope for further review.

Try as they might, conference commissioners failed to ruin college sports for most of us. And, I’ll admit, some of the realignment maneuvers excite me. I’m itching for the revival of Texas vs. Texas A&M football next Thanksgiving.

So, go ahead, commissioners, do what you do: Look out for yourselves, and try to sidestep the doo-doo while chasing piles of cash, but please keep your hands off the NCAA Tournament.

I’m not optimistic. College Sports Inc. houses no sacred cows, especially when there’s more cash to be gleaned from the cow.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s SEC Columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

One of the highlights of an outdoor NHL game, outside of the spectacle of a rink in a stadium, is the players’ grand entrance.

At the 2024 Winter Classic in Seattle, Vegas Golden Knights players dressed up as Elvis and the host Kraken players dressed up as fishmongers.

A year earlier, the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins wore vintage Red Sox and Pirates uniforms for the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park.

With the NHL holding two outdoor games this weekend at MetLife Stadium in this weekend’s Stadium Series in East Rutherford, New Jersey, it gave players another chance to show off their coordinated cleverness.

The Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils were up first on Saturday night and they came through.

Flyers players got off their bus dressed as Rocky Balboa, imitating Sylvester Stallone’s running scenes from the ‘Rocky’ movie.

Devils players went with ‘The Sopranos’ look.

‘I think it was kind of fitting,’ Devils forward Tyler Toffoli told NHL Network. ‘We obviously had some options. I think we were looking at the iconic Bruce (Springsteen) with the red hat, too. But I think we pulled it off and some guys went all out.’

The New York Rangers and New York Islanders got their chance on Sunday when they arrived with police officers and firefighters in official NYPD and FDNY vehicles.

As the two New York teams were set to take the temporary ice covering the football field, they were introduced by a contingent of NFL players from the New York Jets and Giants.

Perhaps appropriately, the last word came from Giants quarterback and – as football fans well know by now – nearby New Jersey resident Tommy DeVito.

The eight total Jets and Giants players on hand for the ceremony also included star running backs Breece Hall and Saquon Barkley.

The NBA All-Star skills challenge featured title defenses and a thrilling 3-point showdown between Sabrina Ionescu and Steph Curry.

Mac McClung, who plays for the Osceola Magic of the NBA G League, capped the evening by defending his slam dunk contest title. McClung defeated the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown in the championship round, using Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal as a prop for his final dunk, which drew consensus scores of 50s from the judges.

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard won the 3-point contest for the second consecutive year, burying his final shot to edge the Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young.

Mac McClung defends slam dunk contest title

McClung, a G League player for the Osceola Magic with just four career NBA games played, jumped over TNT analyst, Basketball of Hall of Famer and 7-footer Shaquille O’Neal, who was wearing a jersey from McClung’s high school, Gate City in southwest Virginia, for a two-handed reverse dunk.

McClung received a perfect score of 50 from judges Gary Payton, Fred Jones, Mitch Richmond, Darnell Hillman, Dominique Wilkins and slipped by Boston’s Jaylen Brown for the championship.

‘I’m trying to sit with it right now and take a second and understand what’s going on,’ McClung said. ‘I feel like life is so fast sometimes, it’s just I’ll look back in 20 years when I can’t jump anymore and not as quick. But I know I’m a lucky dude.

‘Shaq is so cool to put on my high school jersey. Makes me emotional that he did that.When he put it on, he said, You better not miss a dunk. And I was like, All right, I won’t miss it.’

Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and New York Knicks/Westchester Knicks forward Jacob Toppin were eliminated in the first round.

McClung needed a strong final dunk after Brown put on an oversize white glove on his left hand, jumped over Donovan Mitchell and dunk with his left.

‘I think ultimately in this media era, some players are afraid to make it into a meme or anything like that,’ Brown said. ‘Like I wanted to come out and have fun with it, and that’s what I did.’

In their first dunks of the final round, McClung jumped over two people for a one-handed dunk, and Brown did a 360 windmill dunk wearing a No. 5 Brewster jersey, honoring his friend Terrence Clarke who died in car accident in 2021 two months before the NBA draft.

McClung also had an impressive dunk in the first round: he grabbed ball off top of person’s head while jumping over the person, let go of the basketball and caught it before completing a reverse dunk.

Jaylen Brown honors the late Terrence Clarke in dunk contest

Before his third dunk of the night, Jaylen Brown put on Terrence Clarke’s high school jersey — a No. 5 from New Hampshire’s Brewster Academy. After slamming down the ball, Brown pointed to Clarke on his back. 

Clarke, a Boston Native, played basketball at Kentucky for one season, where he averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and two assists in eight games. He declared for the 2021 NBA draft, but Clarke tragically died in a car accident on April 22 in Los Angeles months before the draft. He was 19.

The NBA honored Clarke at the draft and he was posthumously drafted in the first round. — Cydney Henderson

Steph Curry wins 3-point contest vs Sabrina Ionescu

Sabrina Ionescu and Steph Curry are settling this once and for all — Who is the better three-point shooter?

Curry has a 42.7% three-point percentage throughout his 15-year career, while Ionescu has shot 37.3% from three during her four-year career. 

Both came out very humble. Ionescu said she wanted to “do the best I can” and hopefully “can make more than I miss,” while Curry said he only wants to “have a great time and put on a show.”

They put on a show indeed, and Curry needed a great round to beat Ionescu who made her first seven shots.

‘Being able to have this crossover and understanding the respect I’ve been able to receive from a lot of the NBA guys, just knowing that Steph wanted to do this as well, in terms of just respecting another shooter,’ Ionescu said. ‘It’s going to show a lot of young kids out there, a lot of people who might have not believed or even watched women’s sports that we’re able to go out there and put on a show. So it was really exciting to finally be able to do this. Like Steph said, it happened perfectly.’

Ionescu went first and put up a score of 26 after her first round. Curry followed with 29 points to win. He shared a friendly hug with Ionescu before being presented with the championship belt. 

Ionescu is the reigning WNBA All-Star 3-point champion after she was nearly perfect, knocking down 25 of 27 three-point shots during her final run to set an all-time record for either the NBA or WNBA.

Curry has a couple 3-point contest wins under his belt, hoisting the trophy in 2021 and 2015. (In fact, Curry is the only player to win the skills challenge, 3-point contest and All-Star Game MVP in their career.)  

He added another title to his resume on Saturday.

Following the inaugural competition, Ionescu called Curry the “greatest to ever do it.” Curry was equally complimentary and said Ionescu “set the bar and was unbelievable to watch.”

Curry added: ‘The media has changed the conversation for little boys and girls watching us play. It doesn’t matter what gym you show up to, don’t discount who’s to your left and to your right. If they can shoot, they can shoot. We can compete and have fun. Hopefully we can be models of what that looks like on the biggest stage.’

Sabrina Ionescu shooting from NBA 3-point line vs. Steph Curry

Sabrina Ionescu and Steph Curry will be shooting from the same depth. 

Sabrina Ionescu had the option of shooting from either the WNBA three-point line (22 feet and 1.75 inches) or NBA three-point line (23 feet and nine inches), but opted for the NBA arc. However, she will still use a WNBA ball. 

Damian Lillard defends his 3-point title

Once again, it was Dame Time in NBA All-Star 3-point contest.

One of the clutch players in the game, Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard needed to make the final shot of the event to edge Atlanta’s Trae Young and win his second consecutive 3-point contest. He also needed to make his final shot last year to win the event.

Lillard had 26 points in the final round, slipping past Young’s 24 points.

‘When I got to the final rack, I didn’t know my exact score, but when I missed a couple, I heard the crowd just oohing and aahing. Once they kept doing it over and over, I knew I was still alive because I knew they would have stopped if it had been over for me,’ Lillard said. ‘The next two balls, I missed again, and then I grabbed the next one and I knew I needed that to win.’

He is the first player to repeat since Toronto’s Jason Kapono in 2007 and 2008.

In the final round, Lillard made 16 of 27 3-point shots, including the final money-ball shot (worth two points) on each rack and hit one of the two deep-range shots (worth three points).

Lillard said going last in each round helped him. ‘It’s an advantage because you can see a target, know what you’ve got to get to,’ he said. ‘You’re not shooting just aimlessly where someone can come behind me and beat this score. You either have a chance to beat it or you’re going to fall short.

‘That’s the only advantage that it is, is just knowing. You can still go out there and miss. I like that advantage because I can see it. As a shooter, you have to tighten up and be sharp and try to hunt somebody down if it comes down to it. So I think it helped me for sure.’

Lillard is 15th in 3-pointers made this season with 148.

In the first round, Lillard, Young, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns had a four-way tie with 26 points and went to a tiebreaker: 30 seconds to make as many shots as possible, and Haliburton was eliminated with a  score of 12 while Lillard and Towns posted 16 points and Young had 15 to reach the final round. Towns, the 2022 3-point winner, had 22 points in the final round.

Lillard earned $60,000 for the win, Young picked up $40,000, Towns $25,000 and Haliburton $15,000. — Jeff Zillgitt  

Tyrese Haliburton, Benedict Mathurin and Myles Turner lead Team Pacers to skills challenge win

Is there a such thing as home-court advantage? It appears so. For the third consecutive time, the home team has won the NBA All-Star skills challenge. Team Pacers, composed of Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner, took home the trophy in front of the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday evening. 

Team Pacers got on the board first with 100 challenge points for winning the first round, which consisted of a 35-foot outlet pass, pylon dribbles, a short shot in the lane, corner three over an automated windmill defender, and a made basket on the opposite end. Haliburton capped his team’s impressive run with an off-the-backboard dunk. 

The second round consisted of a passing challenge, where each team had 30-seconds to collect as many points as possible by scoring in moving targets. Team All-Stars and Team Pacers tied with 74-points, resulting in a tiebreaker, which Team Pacers ultimately won by scoring 92 to the All-Stars’ 90 points. With the second-round win, Team Pacers took a 200 point lead over Team First Picks and Team All-Stars, who both had zero points.

Team All-Star evened things up with Team Pacers by winning the shooting challenge, where each team had 60-seconds to make as many shots from certain locations on the floor, including a five-point shot from half-court and a four-pointer beyond the arc.  

Team All-Star and Team Pacers both had 200 points, while Team First Pick had zero. 

Adam Silver defends eligibility rule for MVP, All-NBA honors

NBA commissioner Adam Silver remained supportive of the new 65-game rule to become eligible for major regular-season awards such as MVP and All-NBA. Though Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is ineligible for a second consecutive MVP and All-NBA because he won’t play in 65 games, and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton can’t afford to miss more than six games the rest of the season not only for All-NBA consideration but the possibility of an extra $41 million in his five-year supermax contract.

“As you know, a lot of thought went into the 65-game demarcation,” Silver said. “Not only was it collectively bargained with the players, but we spent extensive time leading up to collective bargaining talking to all the various constituencies in the league, most importantly the coaches or general managers, individual players directly, and as was built into your question, the notion was we needed to further incentivize players, particularly star players, to play more games.

“So I’m not ready to say that it isn’t working so far. I can tell you that the number of games that players have participated in is up this season, and interestingly enough, injuries are actually down. Whether that’s meaningful data yet, I don’t know.” — Jeff Zillgitt  

When is the NBA 3-point contest?

The 3-point contest is Saturday at the Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. The event will take place after the skills challenge and before the Steph Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu 3-point shootout and the dunk contest. 

What time does the dunk contest start? 

The dunk contest is the last event on Saturday night. 

NBA dunk contest, 3-point contest stream: How to watch 

TNT, ESPN, ESPN 2 and NBA TV and the NBA will provide coverage of the weekend’s events and news conferences. 

NBA All-Star weekend schedule 

Here’s the schedule for the rest of the weekend: 

Saturday, Feb. 17 

All-Star Saturday Night Skills Challenge, 3-point Contest, Steph vs. Sabrina 3-point Challenge, Slam Dunk Content, 8 p.m. ET, TNT 

Sunday, Feb. 18 

G League Up Next Game, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV 
NBA All-Star Game, 8 p.m. ET, TNT 

News from NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s All-Star Weekend press conference

A few items of note from Adam’s Silver’s NBA All-Star Weekend press conference:

∎ Silver acknowledged he is focused on improving player-referee relations.

“I’m so sympathetic to both players who feel that an official missed a call, and sometimes they do, and I’m incredibly sympathetic to officials who have some of the hardest jobs in sports and are under a microscope and occasionally, of course, do miss calls, and we acknowledge when they do,” Silver said. “What makes me most frustrated are the communication issues sort of between players and officials. I feel that’s an area we should be able to do a better job, both ways. … It’s an area where we can make progress.”

∎ With NIL deals changing the college sports landscape, Silver said he will re-evaluate the G League Ignite, which the NBA has used to develop teens who did not want to play in college and sought a payday but were draft-age eligible.

“We are in the process of reassessing Team Ignite because now some of those same players who didn’t want to be one-and-done players because they felt it was unfair and they wanted the ability not just to earn a living playing basketball but to do commercial deals that weren’t available to them at college, to hire professional agents, an opportunity that wasn’t available to them at college, they now – all of those same opportunities have become available to them,” Silver said.

“I’m not sure what the future of Team Ignite will be, because before there was a hole in the marketplace that we thought we were filling before doing that, and now my focus is turning to earlier development of those players.”

∎ Silver praised former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban who sold his majority share to the families of Dr. Miriam Adelson and Sivan and Patrick Dumont.

“He’s truly been a game-changing owner in this league, and he’s had great success, obviously, with a championship but also competitive teams most of the time during his tenure. And he’s been a very active participant in league matters, whether it’s been our media committee or Board of Governors meetings. He’s never hesitated to speak his mind.

“I’m pleased that he’s still – he’s not the controlling governor of the team anymore – a very significant investor in the Dallas Mavericks as he’s made clear he’s not going anywhere. If you just tune into a game, he still seems to be standing in the same spot he was when he was the governor, and he continues to text, email, call us at the league office when he has something he wants to share with us.” — Jeff Zillgitt  

Is Victor Wembanyama an All-Star?

Victor Wembanyama — the San Antonio Spurs rookie and No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft — is not a Western Conference All-Star.

However, Wembanyama did take part in the rising stars competition on Friday night.

Wembanyama finished the second semifinal game with a team-high 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, though his team was defeated and did not reach the final. — Jim Reineking

LED court debuts during NBA All-Star Weekend

This year’s NBA All-Star Weekend marks the debut of the LED court.

The court, developed by the German company ASB GlassFloor, included design and color changes, location-based player tracking animations, and countdowns for extra point periods.

It’s the first time a fully LED court’s been used for an NBA event. — Ayrton Ostly

Dunk contest participants 

Mac McClung, G League’s Osceola Magic (2023 dunk contest winner) 
Jacob Toppin, New York Knicks, G League’s Westchester Knicks 
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics 
Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat 

NBA 3-point contest 2024 participants 

These are players are taking part: 

Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks (2023 3-point contest winner)
Malik Beasley, Milwaukee Bucks 
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers 
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks 
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves 
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks 
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers 
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz 

3-point contest winners 

Here are the winners for the last 10 years. Find the complete list here. 

2023: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) 
2022: Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves) 
2021: Steph Curry (Warriors) 
2020: Buddy Hield (Kings) 
2019: Joe Harris (Nets) 
2018: Devin Booker (Suns) 
2017: Eric Gordon (Rockets) 
2016: Klay Thompson (Warriors) 
2015: Stephen Curry (Warriors) 
2014: Marco Belinelli (Spurs) 

Who has won the most 3-point contests? 

The Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird and Chicago Bulls’ Craig Hodges have each won the event three times. — Jeff Zillgitt 

What is the record for most points in an NBA 3-point contest round? 

Golden State’s Steph Curry and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton share the record with 31 points out of a possible 40. — Jeff Zillgitt  

What are the NBA 3-point contest rules? 

Ball racks are stationed at five locations around the 3-point line, and four of the racks contain four orange basketballs and one money ball. The orange basketballs are worth one point, and the money ball, which has to be the last ball shot on each rack, is worth two points. The fifth rack will be an all money-ball rack and each competitor gets to choose where this rack will be among the locations. Each money ball on this rack is worth two points. Two pedestals are placed deeper than the 3-point line, edging closer to the center court logo, and each pedestal holds a white basketball. A made shot from deep range is worth 3 points. Each contestant has 70 seconds to shoot as many of the 27 basketballs as he can. — Jeff Zillgitt   

Dunk contest winners 

Here are the winners for the last 10 years. Find the complete list here. 

2023: Mac McClung (76ers) 
2022: Obi Toppin (Knicks) 
2021: Anfernee Simons (Trail Blazers) 
2020: Derrick Jones Jr. (Heat)  
2019: Hamidou Diallo (Thunder) 
2018: Donovan Mitchell (Jazz) 
2017: Glenn Robinson III (Pacers) 
2016: Zach LaVine (Timberwolves) 
2015: Zach LaVine (Timberwolves) 
2014: John Wall (Wizards) 

Steph vs. Sabrina 3-point contest

Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu will compete head-to-head in the first NBA vs. WNBA 3-point challenge. This event will take place after the traditional 3-point contest and before the slam dunk contest. 

Curry will shoot from the NBA 3-point line and use NBA basketballs, and Ionescu has the option to shoot from the WNBA 3-point line but she said she plans to shoot from the NBA line. She will use WNBA basketballs. Each made shot will result in a donation from State Farm to the NBA Foundation to support economic empowerment in the Black community.

Sabrina vs. Steph 3-point contest rules 

The format for the Sabrina vs. Steph 3-point contest is the same as a traditional NBA and WNBA 3-point contest: 

∎ 70 seconds to shoot as many of the 27 basketballs as he/she can. 

∎ Four ball racks with four game balls and one “money” ball. 

∎ Fifth rack will be a special “all money ball” rack. He/she can decide the spot for this rack. 

∎ Two deep range shots. 

∎ Game balls worth 1 point, money balls worth 2 points and deep range balls worth 3 points. 

Will Sabrina Ionescu shoot from the NBA or WNBA 3-point line? 

“I shoot from that range to begin with,” she said. “I practice from that range and wanting to just be a better shooter, a better basketball player and get better as a whole. And so knowing that I had the opportunity to pick what line I wanted to shoot from, it was a no-brainer from when it was first presented that I wanted to shoot from the NBA line and continue to just prove that we’re capable and we’re willing. 

“It’s not something that it took a lot of convincing and knowing that I wanted to continue to just equal the playing field and do so when it matters and on the biggest stage.” 

She can change her mind and shoot from the WNBA 3-point line though it seems unlikely. — Jeff Zillgitt 

Mac McClung, 2023 NBA dunk contest champ, reaped many rewards. But not the one he wanted most 

Mac McClung’s life took off, skyrocketing into the NBA stratosphere on a February night in Salt Lake City when he won the 2023 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest as a G League player one year ago. 

Fame appeared. Exposure increased. Endorsement opportunities arrived. 

He ended the season playing two games with the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 20 points, grabbing nine rebounds and collecting nine assists in the Sixers’ season-ending victory against Brooklyn. 

What didn’t show up was a guaranteed contract with an NBA team. 

“That’s the biggest battle I fought this summer,” McClung told USA TODAY Sports. “So many people around me were like, ‘Man, you deserve this. What’s going on? What’s wrong? Why didn’t you get this?’ There were so many questions. 

“And truly, I felt the same way. I felt like I deserved to get a contract somewhere with the way I played last year.” Read Jeff Zillgitt’s full feature on McClung here. 

NBA dunk contest judges 

Here are the judges for Saturday’s slam dunk contest: Two-time dunk contest winner Dominique Wilkins, 2004 dunk contest winner Fred Jones, Hall of Famers Gary Payton and Mitch Richmond, and Darnell Hillman.

NBA dunk contest prize money 

Here is how the prize money is distributed: 

First place: $105,000 
Second place: $55,000 
Third place: $20,000 
Fourth place: $20,000 

NBA 3-point contest prize money 

Here is how the prize money is distributed: 

First place: $60,000 
Second place: $40,000 
Third place: $25,000 
Fourth place: $15,000 
Fifth place: $15,000 
Sixth place: $15,000 
Seventh place: $15,000 
Eighth place: $10,000 

NBA dunk contest odds 

The highest number of tickets at BetMGM are on Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (+525) to win the dunk contest. Mac McClung (-225) is the favorite. — Richard Morin 

NBA 3-point contest odds 

The field is wide open for the 3-point contest, according to BetMGM. The most money is on Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton (+500), who owns 26.7% of the handle. — Richard Morin  

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If TCU sees its name in the field on Selection Sunday, it might have to thank Jameer Nelson Jr. for getting him there.

With a projected nine teams in the men’s NCAA tournament in the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology prediction and four teams in the initial top 16 seed reveal, the Big 12 has become a dogfight of a conference where every win is a resume booster. But of those projected teams, the Horned Frogs entered Saturday as one of those squads still needing to prove they are worthy of a bid, and in such a deep conference, it’s imperative to get wins against the lower half of the Big 12, like on the road against 10th place Kansas State.

After a mediocre first half, the Horned Frogs woke up and took a 10-point lead with seven minutes to go and looked fine with a five-point lead with 30 seconds left.

Then came a bad foul on a 3-point shot, with all free throws going in, to keep Kansas State alive. After both teams traded a pair of free throws, a bad turnover on the inbound led to the Wildcats tying the game up with 15 seconds left, with the game appearing to head to overtime and the Horned Frogs having a devastating collapse in Manhattan.

But the son of the Saint Joseph’s legend stepped up on what was looking like a disorganized final play. With a defender in his face, Nelson knocked down a 3-point shot to give TCU the lead with one second left, and the full court heave by Kansas State was unsuccessful, giving TCU a much needed victory.

It wasn’t a Quad 1 win, but it was necessary for the Horned Frogs to pick up a victory when three of its next four games (Texas Tech, Baylor and BYU) are Quad 1 games, meaning TCU will enters its toughest stretch of the season while holding onto a top four spot in the Big 12, which would get them into an automatic spot in the conference tournament quarterfinals. That is why the Horned Frogs top the biggest winners and losers on the bubble this Saturday.

WINNERS

Florida

Don’t look now, but Florida is getting hot, going on the road to beat Georgia for its seventh win in its last eight while picking up a Quad 2 victory. The Bulldogs ambushed Florida offensively in the first half, leading by as much as 11 in the first frame, but the Gators defense clamped down in the second half to hold Georgia to shooting 37% in the final 20 minutes. The backcourt duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin is also taking this team to success, averaging a combined 34.4 points per game in the last eight contests.

The Gators have turned around a 1-3 start in conference play with wins at Kentucky and a blowout win at home against Auburn in recent weeks, and while not pretty, the best thing they can say about its seven losses this season is they all came against Quad 1 opponents. Florida will have a chance to boost its resume and possibly get toward a 7-seed projection on the road against Alabama next week.

Mississippi’s SEC teams

The Magnolia State’s SEC schools should keep their current spots in the projected field after securing wins against the cellar dwellers of the conference.

Chris Jans would much rather his team make the field of 64 than play in the First Four like last season, and a win against Arkansas has given Mississippi State three wins in-a-row after starting SEC play 3-6, putting them in the middle of the pack. North of Starkville, Mississippi used a second-half comeback against Missouri to end a three-game losing skid that took the Rebels out of the top of SEC.

Next for both teams is the second-meeting of the season between the two. Ole Miss beat Mississippi State in the first matchup at home, and Wednesday’s game between the in-state rivals could be a decider in March of who makes the tournament and who doesn’t.

Cincinnati

The first season in the Big 12 hasn’t been all too kind to Cincinnati, but the Bearcats are staying in the NCAA Tournament picture after picking up a road victory at UCF. Cincinnati looked like it would pull away from the Knights with a double-digit lead in the second half, but UCF was able to claw back to tie it late. But Cincinnati was able to get a clutch layup from Simas Lukosius off a turnover to give the team the lead for good.

It’s hard to argue for a team with a losing conference record to make the tournament, especially when they entered Saturday with losses in three of their last four games, but a victory against UCF gives Cincinnati its third Quad 1 win, all while possessing a NET ranking of 38, just one spot above fellow bubble team TCU, who it will face next Saturday. The Bearcats certainly have work to do to get out of the first four out picture, but Saturday’s win keeps them in the hunt.

Pittsburgh

There are few squads playing as good as Pittsburgh right now, who won its fifth-straight game in 27-point win over Louisville, fueled by Blake Hinson dropping an outstanding 41 points with nine made 3-pointers.

It’s been quite the turnaround for a team that was just 10-7 and 1-5 in the ACC a few weeks ago, with the Panthers finding themselves now in fourth place in the conference. The shaky start to the season is why Pittsburgh doesn’t have a projected tournament spot at the moment — sitting in the next four out — but if the Panthers continue to perform at the level they are at right now, it would be tough to deny them a bid. They could also pick up another Quad 1 win next week on the road against another ACC bubble team in Wake Forest.

Mountain West at-large hopefuls

If the Mountain West can really pull having six teams make it to the big dance, it’s going to need consistency from the at-large contenders in the conference. Boise State was able to do it, while Colorado State had the best win of the day in the conference.

Colorado State, current a 9-seed in the projected bracket, could be moving up a spot after a dominant 20-point win over conference-leading Utah State, giving the Rams their fourth Quad 1 win of the season while keeping them in the hunt of the conference title. On the other hand, Boise State handled business against Fresno State in a 90-66 win, a needed victory for a team that is currently one of the last four squads to make the tournament.

Colorado

No team needed a win more than Colorado on Saturday, which entered the day losers in four of its last five and was coming off a loss against a resurgent UCLA squad. Against a bad Southern California team, things looked horrible when the Buffaloes were down by 16 with around 10 minutes left in the game, but was able to storm back to force overtime in the final seconds of regulation. A second overtime was needed, but Colorado was able to keep the Trojans from tying the game in the final second for a three-point victory, only the second road victory of the season.

Recent struggles have pushed Colorado to the next four out of the projected field, so it was going to be an uphill climb to get a spot back, but the Buffaloes couldn’t afford going winless in a trip to the Los Angeles schools. The team can only hope the win gives them momentum into what will be a big game next Saturday when Colorado host a fellow bubble team in Utah.

LOSERS

Texas, Texas A&M

The soon-to-be SEC rivals are both on the path to make the tournament, but games against highly ranked opponents on the road would’ve given a big boost to Texas and Texas A&M should they have won, or at least make it a compelling game.

But neither team came close, with Texas losing by 21-points to Houston while Texas A&M giving up 100 in a 25-point loss to Alabama.

In terms of staying in the NCAA tournament picture, Texas is fine at the moment, but it could be dropping seeds if it doesn’t get out of the bottom half of the Big 12. It also doesn’t help that its last three road games of the regular season come against Quad 1 opponents, putting the Longhorns in dangerous territory if they can’t pick up another impressive win. 

It’s been a week to forget for the Aggies after they had a highly questionable loss to Vanderbilt on Tuesday, their third Quad 3 loss this season. The Aggies were big risers after knocking off Tennessee last week, but things will need to be picked up quickly if Texas A&M wants to avoid falling to a double-digit seed spot.

Wake Forest

One of the first four out teams, Wake Forest could have jumped into one of the last four spots with its first Quad 1 win against Virginia.

Instead, the Demon Deacons are now 0-5 against Quad 1 teams.

Wake Forest entered the day one of 49 Division I teams averaging at least 80 points a game, but fell victim to Virginia’s defensive prowess, shooting just 35% on the day while scoring a season-low 47 points. Despite the struggle, Wake Forest hung around and had several opportunities to take a late lead, but they couldn’t capitalize despite the Cavaliers shooting an abysmal 1-for-11 from the free throw line. 

Saturday was a wasted opportunity for Wake Forest to bump its resume, but not all hope should be lost; it’ll have chances to strengthen it in what will be a big upcoming week for the Demon Deacons: They host surging Pittsburgh on Tuesday and Duke on Saturday in what is pretty much turning into must-win games.

Butler

After defeating Creighton on the road two weeks ago for a fourth-straight win, Butler looked primed to solidify a tournament spot in the final month of the regular season.

The first half against the Bluejays at home on Saturday was promising with the Bulldogs up by one point, but the second half was dismal. Creighton’s offense ramped up while Butler went cold, including 1-for-11 behind the arc after making five 3-pointers in the first half. By the end, Butler suffered a 22-point loss at home.

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the Bulldogs, losing three of their last four, with all the loses coming to teams ranked in the top 16 of the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll. At 16-10, Butler is in tournament contention because of its four Quad 1 wins, and it has two more games against Quad 1 opponents in what is an easier end of regular-season schedule in theory, but the Bulldogs can’t afford any slip ups to get pushed back toward a first four team out spot.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The jersey is almost like currency for a Major League Baseball player.

They toil for years to earn the right to wear one. They exchange tops with their pals or their idols after games, and perhaps give a little extra attention to a kid wearing a replica of the threads they put on day after day.

So it was no small moment Friday when veteran reliever Jeff Hoffman pulled on his freshly redesigned, Nike-stamped Philadelphia Phillies jersey for the first time, hours after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred deflected fan and player criticism of the togs.

It is, Manfred said, a “performance jersey,” trotted out at the 2023 All-Star Game to rave reviews for its lightness and comfort and noting that “everything (Nike) has done for us so far has been 100% successful.”

Well, score this one 50%.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

Sure, Hoffman appreciated the jersey’s comfort, considerably lighter than its predecessor. But that’s just half the equation.

“Feel and look,” says Hoffman, “are two very different things.”

And let’s not mince words here: The jerseys look bad.

Oh, from a distance, and facing frontward, the differences aren’t apparent to the naked eye. Rather, it’s the back of the jerseys: The number and the lettering and the significant gap between the two that might as well be the Atlantic Ocean.

It’s somewhat akin to a Yankee fan buying an Aaron Judge or Derek Jeter shirsey or jersey with the player’s name on the back. Even a relatively lukewarm baseball fan knows Yankee jerseys do not have the name on the back.

The jersey, and by extension, the fan, look phony.

That’s the vibe this gear creates, an immediate feeling that something is not right, that the fan paid $25 for something cheap, rather than the $150 or more MLB, Nike and Fanatics, which produces the jerseys, expects them to pony up.

The problem is exacerbated based on the size and last name of the player.

With their full squad not due in camp until Monday, Phillies pitchers are the lone models for now, wearing the jerseys for their bullpen sessions. And if you’re 6-foot-2, 245-pound lefty Jose Alvarado, the ALVARADO on the back of the jersey reads more like alvarado.

Pity the fellows with brief last names. Reliever Kaleb Ort has just three letters in his name and hasn’t yet put on his jersey. He hadn’t noticed the diminutive lettering yet.

He’s now worried after a reporter pointed it out that perhaps he won’t be able to un-see it.

Where’s Mark GRUDZIELANEK or Marc RZEPCZYNSKI when you need them?

Alas, the checks have cleared, and the Nike-MLB partnership isn’t going away.

“We always pay attention to what people are saying about any new initiative,” Manfred said Thursday. “There’s going to be some negative feedback. First and most important, these are Nike jerseys. The jerseys are different. They are designed to be performance wear as opposed to what’s traditionally been worn.

“They have been tested more extensively than any jersey in any sport. The feedback from the All-Star Game last year where the jerseys were worn was uniformly positive from the players. I think when people wear them a little bit, they’re going to be really popular.”

With the players, on a 100-degree day in August, sure. Hoffman already feels the palpable lightness, likening them to “a T-shirt or a gym shirt.” He says they nailed his measurements, feels great.

But that name.

“It does look a little small. It does look a little worse,” he says. “My name is long enough. But that space (between number and name) looks huge.”

And that brings us to the fans. When jersey dispatches trickled in from camps in Florida and Arizona, #DHGate began trending on social media. Less discerning shoppers might think that referred to J.D. Martinez remaining unsigned into late February.

No, DHGate is an online shopping vendor that bills itself as a “Top-notch China Wholesale Marketplace.” And perhaps that’s not the association MLB, Nike and Fanatics imagined when they trotted these babies out.

It all wouldn’t be such a big deal if MLB did not correctly determine that attractive uniforms and alternate offerings were a fabulous way to connect with young fans. By and large, the ‘City Connect’ series has been a significant success, even if some of the more recent offerings lacked the pizzazz the first generation of alternate tops offered.

In short, the league’s apparel partner are failing them on this one.

Fan anger is fickle, of course. The most ardent tend to snap up anything new, almost sight unseen, if it involves their favorite team, player, sport, whatever.

But fans can always vote with their feet, and their wallets. We’ll know soon enough if they simply had to have the newest gear, even if the point size of the names is better suited for a T-baller.

Oh, well. The greater honor is earning the right to wear one, and even in this era of #DripChecks, the paycheck still wins out over sartorial splendor.

“I get to put on a big league uniform, still,” says Hoffman, 31. “There’s not much better than that.”

Noah Lyles’ sprint hot streak has made its way indoors.

Lyles narrowly defeated Christian Coleman to win the men’s 60-meter indoor national title at the USA indoor championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Coleman got out of the blocks fast and had the lead at the beginning of the race, but Lyles sprinted pasted Coleman with 15 meters left and crossed the finish line first with a world-leading time of 6.43 seconds.

Coleman, the world record holder in the indoor 60, finished second posting a time of 6.44.

Ronnie Baker placed third, running a 6.51.

The win was Lyles’ first ever national title in the indoor 60 meters.

“I dreamt of the day that my 60 got faster,” Lyles said after the race on the NBC broadcast. “I come out here ever year try to get faster, faster and faster.”

Lyles is coming off a banner 2023 season in which he captured three gold medals (100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100-meter relay) at last summer’s track and field world championships.

Lyles and Coleman are two of the favorites at the world indoor championships next month in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The two American sprinters are also front runners to make Team USA’s track and field roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

World records fall in indoor hurdles

Grant Holloway ran a 7.27 to break his own world record in the men’s 60-meter hurdles by .02 seconds. Holloway won the 60-meter hurdles world title in 2022. He has seven of the 10 best times in the event.

On the women’s side, Tia Jones posted a time of 7.67 seconds in the qualifying rounds in the women’s 60-meter hurdles. In the final round, Jones came back and ran a 7.68 to win the event.

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

Less than a month remains before the NHL trade deadline on March 8.

There have been plenty of trades and other transactions this season, including contract extensions. The latest trade was between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens.

There also have been six coaching changes, with the Los Angeles Kings firing Todd McLellan in the latest move.

The salary cap remains tight this season, but it is expected to rise to $87.7 million next season.

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:

When is the 2024 NHL trade deadline?

The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on March 8.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: Mikhail Sergachev breaks leg in first game back from injury absence

What transactions took place before the March 8 trade deadline?

Feb. 17: Outdoor game will be held next season at Ohio State

The Columbus Blue Jackets will host the Detroit Red Wings next season in an outdoor game at Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State football team. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement of the March 1, 2025, game during ABC’s broadcast of the Philadelphia Flyers-New Jersey Devils game at MetLife Stadium. This will be the first outdoor game for the Blue Jackets and the fifth for the Red Wings. The 2025 Winter Classic will be at Wrigley Field between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues.

Feb. 15: Blue Jackets fire GM Jarmo Kekalainen

Jarmo Kekalainen has been fired as the Columbus Blue Jackets general manager, team president of hockey operations and alternate governor John Davidson announced Thursday. Davidson and the team’s hockey operations management team will take over the general manager responsibilities as the organization hires a replacement.

The Blue Jackets are at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings with a 16-26-10 record, and currently have the fewest of points of any team in the Eastern Conference with 42.

Prior to the 2023-24 season, the Blue Jackets hired coach Mike Babcock, who was fired 78 days later after allegations surfaced of Babcock violated players’ privacy during offseason meetings. – Colin Gay, Columbus Dispatch

Feb. 13: Phil Kessel talking to Vancouver Canucks

Free agent forward Phil Kessel, the NHL’s reigning ironman, is in Vancouver and will work out with the Canucks’ affiliate in Abbotsford, British Columbia, general manager Patrick Allvin said. Kessel, 36, hasn’t played since early in last season’s playoffs with the Vegas Golden Knights. He picked up his third Stanley Cup title last season after winning twice earlier with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kessel holds the NHL ironman record of 1,064 consecutive regular-season games.

Feb. 7: Winter Classic to return to Wrigley Field in 2025

The NHL announced that the Chicago Blackhawks will host the 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field against the St. Louis Blues. The date and time are to be determined, but it be aired on TNT. The Chicago Cubs’ home stadium was the venue of the 2009 Winter Classic, when the Blackhawks lost to the Detroit Red Wings 6-4. The Blackhawks are 0-4 in the Winter Classic and haven’t played in one since 2019 at Notre Dame Stadium. But they’re now they’re a draw again with generational talent Connor Bedard on the team. The NHL is returning to more established teams after the 2024 Winter Classic between the recent expansion teams Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights had lower ratings while being played on the same day as the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Also: The Boston Bruins announced that rookie forward Matthew Poitras had season-ending shoulder injury. … The Los Angeles Kings have hired fired Ottawa Senators coach D.J. Smith as an assistant coach. He joins the staff of interim coach Jim Hiller, who will make his head coaching debut on Saturday.

Feb. 5: Washington Capitals’ Evgeny Kuznetsov enters assistance program

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov is entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, the league and union announced Monday. He will be away from the team indefinitely while he receives care. He can return to the team for practice and then games when cleared by administrators.

Kuznetsov, who has 17 points in 43 games, is the fourth announced player this season announced to enter the program after Columbus’ Patrik Laine and Colorado’s Samuel Girard and Valeri Nichushkin. Girard has returned.

The NHL suspended Kuznetsov in 2019 for three regular-season games for “inappropriate conduct,” less than a month after he was banned from playing for Russia for four years because of a positive test for cocaine. – Associated Press

Feb. 4: Pittsburgh Penguins sign forward Jesse Puljujarvi

Jesse Puljujarvi had been with the Penguins since December on a professional tryout agreement and had been playing in the American Hockey League. He’ll get a prorated $800,000 for the remainder of the year.

Puljujarvi, 25, had previously played for the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes and had bilateral hip surgery during the offseason.

Feb. 2: Winnipeg Jets acquire Sean Monahan from Montreal Canadiens

The Winnipeg Jets gave up a 2024 first-round draft pick and a 2027 conditional third-round pick for pending unrestricted free agent center Sean Monahan. The move came two days after the Vancouver Canucks acquired center Elias Lindholm.

Monahan, 29, healthy this season after recent injury-filled campaigns, has 35 points in 49 games – his best scoring pace since 2018-19. Those numbers include 16 power-play points and two short-handed goals. He has 11 points in his last seven games and has won 55% of his faceoffs this season.

Feb. 2: Los Angeles Kings fire coach Todd McLellan

Coach Todd McLellan paid the price for the Los Angeles Kings’ slump as the team fired him on Friday and replaced him with Jim Hiller for the rest of the season.

The Kings were soaring on Dec. 27. They picked up their 20th victory and were third in the Pacific Division. But they have had only three wins in their past 17 games and have fallen behind the surging Edmonton Oilers, though they still sit in the first wild-card position in the Western Conference.

Hiller will be tasked with shoring up the Kings’ defensive play, which has taken a step back during the slump.

The King had allowed the league’s fewest goals (74), through Dec. 27 (31 games). They have given up 58 in their last 17 games. All-Star goalie Cam Talbot was 0-6-2 with 4.27 goals-against average and .873 save percentage in January.

Jan. 31: Vancouver Canucks acquire Elias Lindholm from Calgary Flames

The Vancouver Canucks showed they are going for it and the Calgary Flames showed they’ll be sellers. All-Star forward Elias Lindholm, a pending unrestricted free agent, is a strong, two-way center who will boost the No. 1 overall Canucks’ top six forward group and help their middle-ranked penalty kill.

The Flames get forward Andrei Kuzmenko, prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick. Kuzmenko, who has been a healthy scratch at times this season and has only eight goals, will benefit the Flames if he rediscovers his 39-goal form from last season.

The Flames still have to make decisions on pending unrestricted free agents Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev before the deadline.

Jan. 31: Columbus Jackets’ Adam Fantilli out long-term after skate cut

Adam Fantilli and the Columbus Blue Jackets received tough news Wednesday after the rookie forward’s full medical examination of his lacerated left calf.

Fantilli, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2023 draft, will miss an estimated eight weeks after he was injured while checking Kraken forward Jared McCann on Sunday. McCann’s skate blade cut Fantilli, first slicing through his outer “hockey sock” plus a protective Kevlar-based sock that all Blue Jackets players wear under their gear. Had he not worn the protective sock, the injury could have been much more devastating. 

Should Fantilli require the full estimated length of recovery, he’ll be out until March 24 and miss the next 21 games. – Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch

NHL ROOKIE RACE: Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli out with injuries

Also: The Vancouver Canucks gave general manager Patrick Allvin a three-year contract extension. That follows a similar extension for president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford.

Jan. 28: New York Rangers’ Filip Chytil ruled out for season

The fears about Filip Chytil have been realized. The 24-year-old center, who was hurt in practice during a comeback attempt, has been ruled out for the rest of the 2023-24 season, the New York Rangers announced Sunday.

‘Following a thorough evaluation of Filip Chytil after his recent setback from an upper-body injury, it has been confirmed he will be out for the remainder of this season,’ the team statement read. ‘The organization’s top priority throughout this process has been Filip’s health and we will continue to fully support him in his recovery with an aim to return for the 2024-25 season.’ – Vincent Z. Mercogliano, lohud.com

Also: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine has entered the NHL/NHL Players’ Association assistance program. He has been recovering from a broken clavicle.

Jan. 26: Colorado Avalanche sign veteran Zach Parise

The Colorado Avalanche signed Zach Parise to a contract for the rest of the season, giving the Stanley Cup contenders some added depth and experience. General manager Chris MacFarland announced the deal Friday night. It’s worth a pro-rated $825,000. Parise, 39, is joining his fourth organization for his 19th season in the NHL. He spent the past two seasons with the New York Islanders after lengthy stints with the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils. — Associated Press

Jan. 26: Philadelphia Flyers’ Owen Tippett agrees to extension

Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett will be sticking around a long time. He has agreed to an eight-year, $49.6 million extension that has an annual average value of $6.2 million, the team announced. Tippett, 24, was the key return when the Flyers traded captain Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers in 2022. He had 49 points last season and has 18 goals and 30 points in 46 games this season. He also scored an impressive spin-o-rama goal this month.

The Flyers also agreed to terms with forward Ryan Poehling on a two-year, $3.8 million contract extension, the Associated Press reported. He has 14 points in 44 games this season.

Also: New York Rangers forward Nick Bonino passed through waivers and was assigned to the American Hockey League. He hasn’t played there since 2011-12. … Rangers forward Filip Chytil was injured in practice Friday.

SUSPENSION: Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher gets five games for hit to head

Jan. 25: Defensemen get healthy, waiver news, plus a small trade

The Dallas Stars announced that No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen (lower body) is returning Thursday after missing three weeks with a lower-body injury. The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated No. 1 defenseman Zach Werenski, who was out with an ankle injury. He was hurt on Dec. 27. Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington is scheduled on Thursday to make his first appearance since May 2022. He took personal leave at the start of last season to attend to his mental health.

In other news, the New York Rangers placed forward Nick Bonino on waivers, and the Flames had two of their players claimed off waivers, defenseman Nick DeSimone (New Jersey Devils) and forward Adam Ruzicka (Arizona Coyotes).

The Minnesota Wild acquired minor league defenseman Will Butcher from the Pittsburgh Penguins for minor league forward Maxim Cajkovic. Though Butcher has 275 games of NHL experience and Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon is out for the season, Butcher will stay in the American Hockey League.

Jan. 24: Chicago Blackhawks’ Petr Mrazek gets two-year extension

Maybe the Chicago Blackhawks won’t be major trade deadline sellers after all. Goaltender Petr Mrazek (two years, $8.5 million) is the third Blackhawks player to sign an extension recently, joining Nick Foligno (two years, $9 million) and Jason Dickinson (two years, $8.5 million). Mrazek, 31, has gone 12-17-1 this season with a 3.01 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. The Blackhawks, who are missing injured Connor Bedard and are tied for the bottom of the league in points, still have to make decisions on other pending unrestricted free agents, including two-time Stanley Cup winner Tyler Johnson.

REPORT: 5 from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team to face sexual assault charges

Jan. 22: Edmonton Oilers sign forward Corey Perry

Corey Perry, who had his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in November for undisclosed ‘unacceptable’ behavior, was signed by the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the season. He’ll get a prorated $775,000 and can earn additional performance bonuses. Oilers general manager Ken Holland said he talked to Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, deputy commissioner Bill Daly and others before signing the gritty forward.

Perry, 38, didn’t elaborate on what he did that led to his release, but said, ‘Over the last two months, I really had a chance to reflect and get the help and take full responsibility for what happened in Chicago and try to better myself.’

Perry won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and was league MVP in 2010-11. He went to the Final in three consecutive seasons with the Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022). He has 53 goals and 124 points in 196 career playoff games, plus has won Olympic gold medals with Canada.

‘He’s been a player who’s been on a lot of winning teams,’ Holland said.

Also: In a corresponding move, the Oilers placed forward Adam Erne on waivers. … The NHL announced All-Star Game replacements for injured Connor Bedard and Jack Eichel.

Jan. 20: New York Islanders name Patrick Roy coach after firing Lane Lambert

The news was stunning, although Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is famous for keeping moves under wraps and also for making coaching changes. The Islanders had fallen out of a playoff position with a four-game losing streak in Lane Lambert’s second season with the team.

Patrick Roy last coached in the NHL in 2015-16 and resigned from the Colorado Avalanche that August. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2013-14 in his first season in Colorado and won junior hockey’s Memorial Cup as coach/GM of the Quebec Remparts in 2022-23. He stepped down after that.

Roy, 58, won four Stanley Cup titles as a Hall of Fame goalie and is third in NHL wins after Marc-Andre Fleury recently passed him. Roy is known for his fiery competitiveness. He was fined $10,000 after his NHL coaching debut for shoving the glass partition between the two benches during a game against the Anaheim Ducks, though he was more composed after that.

Also: Florida Panthers forward William Lockwood was suspended for three games for goaltender interference against Marc-Andre Fleury during Friday’s game. Fleury ended up leaving the game. Lockwood will forfeit $12,109.38 in pay.

Jan. 19: Ottawa Senators sign Shane Pinto to one-year deal

Shane Pinto, who was suspended for 41 games early this season for violating the NHL’s sports wagering rules, signed a one-year deal worth $775,000. The Senators restricted free agent had been unsigned at the time of the suspension and will be eligible to return on Sunday. The league never said what he did to earn the suspension but said its ‘investigation found no evidence that Pinto made any wagers on NHL games.’ Pinto, 23, had a career-best 20 goals, 15 assists and 35 points last season.

Also: The Carolina Hurricanes, missing goalies Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, claimed goalie Spencer Martin off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets. … The Washington Capitals signed Aliaksei Protas to a five-year, $16.875 million contract extension that keeps the 6-6 forward under contract with Washington through the 2028-29 season. Protas, 23, has 18 points in 42 games this season. … The Vancouver Canucks gave a three-year contract extension to president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford.

Jan. 18: Minnesota Wild’s Jared Spurgeon to have season-ending surgery

The Minnesota Wild have shut down captain Jared Spurgeon for the season. The defenseman is scheduled to have hip surgery on Feb. 6 and then have back surgery four weeks later. He had missed the first month of the season, plus seven games in December, with injuries and hasn’t played since Jan. 2. He’s expected to be fully recovered by the beginning of next season.

Jan. 16: Chicago Blackhawks’ Jason Dickinson gets two-year extension

The deal is worth $8.5 million over two years. He joins Nick Foligno (two years, $9 million) as Blackhawks signing recent extensions. Dickinson is second on the team with 14 goals and third with 21 points.

Jan. 15: Colorado Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin enters assistance program

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The league and union announced Monday that Nichushkin will return once he’s cleared by program administrators. No other information was provided.

Nichushkin, 28, becomes the second Avalanche player to enter the Player Assistance Program this season. Defenseman Samuel Girard announced in November that anxiety and depression led to alcohol abuse and to him seeking treatment from the program. Girard returned in mid-December.

Nichushkin was away from the team in the playoffs last season for what the team explained at the time were personal reasons. He missed the final five postseason games of a first-round loss to Seattle.

His absence started after officers responded to a crisis call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle the afternoon before Game 3 on April 22. A 28-year-old woman was in an ambulance when officers arrived, and medics were told to speak with an Avalanche team physician to gather more details.

The report, obtained at the time from the Seattle Police Department by The Associated Press, said the Avalanche physician told officers that team employees found the woman when they were checking in on Nichushkin. The physician told officers the woman appeared to be heavily intoxicated – too intoxicated to have left the hotel “in a ride share or cab service,” and requested EMS assistance. – Associated Press

Jan. 12: Chicago Blackhawks sign Nick Foligno to two-year extension

Gritty forward Nick Foligno, 36, landed a two-year, $9 million extension from the Chicago Blackhawks. He had been acquired with Taylor Hall from the Boston Bruins last summer to surround No. 1 pick Connor Bedard with veteran leadership and was making $4 million this season. He ranked fourth on the Blackhawks with 17 points, including five power-play goals, and second with 39 penalty minutes.

“The impact Nick has already had on our team in such a short time is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to helping the players around him succeed,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. 

Foligno is out with a fractured finger after fighting New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith, whose hit had given Bedard a broken jaw.

Jan. 10: Anaheim Ducks claim Gustav Lindstrom off waivers

The Anaheim Ducks were in need of a defenseman after trading Jamie Drysdale to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in the week. Gustav Lindstrom, 25, claimed from the Montreal Canadiens, is a right shot like Drysdale, 21, though he doesn’t have his offensive upside. Lindstrom has 29 points in 142 career games, compared to 45 in 123 for Drysdale. Lindstrom’s best season is three goals with Montreal this season and 13 points in 2021-22 with the Detroit Red Wings.

Jan. 8: Toronto Maple Leafs sign William Nylander to eight-year, $92 million extension

His $11.5 million cap hit, which kicks in next season, will place him second on the team behind Auston Matthews (league-record $13.25 million) and ahead of John Tavares ($11 million) and Mitch Marner ($10,903,000). Those four will take up 53% of the projected $87.7 million salary cap. Marner and Tavares will be unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2025.

According to The Athletic, the contract includes $69 million in signing bonuses and has a full no-movement clause in all eight years.

Jan. 8: Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers make trade

Cutter Gauthier, 19, voted the top forward at the world junior championships for gold-medal-winning USA, is heading to Anaheim for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick. Both were top-six draft picks. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said the Boston College forward wasn’t interested in signing with Philadelphia, and he called Drysdale, 21, a ‘pretty special’ and ‘exciting’ player. Drysdale is the first year of a three-year contract but missed all but eight games last season and has played only 10 games this season because of injuries. He had 32 points in his lone full season.

Jan. 6: Chicago Blackhawks place Connor Bedard, Nick Foligno on injured list, add two forwards

The Chicago Blackhawks placed star rookie Connor Bedard and forward Nick Foligno on the injured list Saturday. Bedard suffered a fractured jaw on a hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith and Foligno broke his finger in a subsequent fight with Smith. The Blackhawks now have nine players on the injured list.

With the Blackhawks in need of healthy players, they acquired forward Rem Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2026 seventh-round pick. He has spent this season in the American Hockey League. They also claimed forward Zach Sanford off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes. He has two points in 11 games this season.

Also: Devils All-Star forward Jack Hughes, who left Friday’s game early, sat out Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury. … Los Angeles Kings goalie Pheonix Copley had season-ending ACL surgery.

Jan. 4: Calgary Flames’ Oliver Kylington takes step toward return from season off

The Calgary Flames sent defenseman Oliver Kylington to a conditioning assignment with the Calgary Wranglers, a key step in his return from taking more than a season off for personal reasons. ‘I feel I’m in a good place with my mental health and ready to take another step forward,’ Kylington said in a statement. ‘Returning to Calgary has been the right decision.’ Kylington, 26, set career highs in 2021-22 with nine goals, 22 assists and 31 points, but returned to Sweden last season. He began skating in Calgary last month. ‘We are so happy that he has made positive progression with his mental well-being, and we will continue to support Oliver through this process,’ general manager Craig Conroy said.

Also: The San Jose Sharks announced that defenseman Matt Benning had hip surgery. He’s expected to miss the rest of the season but be fine for training camp. … Montreal Canadiens forward Christian Dvorak will have season-ending surgery for a torn pectoral muscle. … Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto (knee surgery) will be out six to eight weeks.

Jan. 1: Toronto Maple Leafs send down goalie Ilya Samsonov

The Toronto Maple Leafs loaned veteran goaltender Ilya Samsonov to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League after he cleared waivers. They called up Dennis Hildeby. Samsonov, 26, has struggled in his second season with the Maple Leafs, recording a 3.94 goals-against average and .862 save percentage. He has given up 17 goals in his last three games and was pulled in one of them. Samsonov filed for salary arbitration last summer and was awarded a $3.55 million contract. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Also: The Buffalo Sabres assigned Eric Comrie to Rochester (New York) of the AHL after he cleared waivers. The Sabres had been carrying three goalies this season. Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen remain with the Sabres. Comrie is 1-5-0 this season.

Dec. 28: New Jersey Devils send down goalie Akira Schmid

The New Jersey Devils, who have lacked consistent goaltending this season, sent Akira Schmid to Utica (New York) of the American Hockey League. Schmid, 23, helped the Devils win their first-round series last season, but is 5-7-1 with a 3.26 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. Coach Lindy Ruff wants him to play more games and ‘get into a rhythm.’

‘Our goalies can give us more saves at times,’ Ruff said. ‘But we haven’t been as good a team in front of our goalies, either, so it’s kind of a two-way street.’

Nico Daws, who has returned from hip surgery, will back up Vitek Vanecek.

Dec. 28: Washington Capitals sign defenseman Ethan Bear

Ethan Bear will average $2.0625 million for the two-year deal. He is coming off shoulder surgery and had been working out with the Capitals. Bear, 26, has 16 goals and 47 assists in 251 career games with the Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers. He kills penalties and blocks shots. The Capitals could be getting additional help, too, because offseason signee Max Pacioretty (Achilles surgery) has resumed skating.

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.’

SABRES: Rookie Zach Benson scores first NHL goal in spectacular fashion

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.