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.”

Playing for the Sixers’ G League squad, the Delaware Blue Coats, McClung won a G League title and averaged 19.8 points, 5.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds and shot 54.8% from the field, 47.4% on 3-pointers and 82.3% on free throws.

Still, no NBA contract, and McClung had to change the way he thought.

“The word dharma was something I kept telling myself,” he said. “It’s just doing something because you authentically love to do it. I don’t play for the game a call-up or anything like that.

“I really tried to let go of all expectations. Every time I’m on the court, I want to win a championship. But for myself, I let go of, ‘Is this going to happen?’ It’s ‘Can I be better than I was last year?’ And I worked on the things that I felt like I needed to get better at and just continue to grow.”

Playing again the G League – this season for the Osceola Magic – the 6-2 McClung returns to All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis to play in the Rising Stars event.

“There was a funny joke or a meme – a 25-year-old rising star,” McClung said. “But there’s something beautiful about it, too.”

McClung will also defend his slam dunk contest Boston’s Jaylen Brown, New York/G League Westchester Knicks’ Jacob Toppin and Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr.

At Gate City High in southwest Virginia – small, mountain-town Appalachia – McClung became a viral sensation with his dunks and skills. For a brief time, McClung was Virginia’s all-time leading scorer in boys’ basketball and scored 47 in a state title game in 2018. He attracted the attention of major Division I colleges and spent two seasons at Georgetown and one at Texas Tech, declared for the draft in 2021.

He was not drafted and has spent the past three years trying to get a guaranteed NBA contract. He was the G League  Rookie of the Year in 2021-22 and has proven himself as a scorer (21.3 career average) and playmaker (6.4 career assists per game).

To add intrigue and spice to the dunk contest last season, the NBA invited McClung who had at the time played in just two NBA games. With All-Stars cheering him on courtside, he won with a series of dunks jumping over people and 360 and 540 aerials – he clinched the victory with his third perfect 50 score from the judges while wearing his Gate City High jersey.

‘He solidified himself as probably one of the greatest slam dunk competitors that we’ve had in the history of the game,” Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said who added he had been watching McClung’s videos since McClung’s high school days.

Dominique Wilkins was a judge, and Julius Erving – two of the best dunkers ever – presented McClung with the trophy. Family and friends were in attendance, and his press conference that night was filled with joy.

“Everyone around me, I love them and they love me,” he said. “I just felt really lucky. And I think that’s the key to never forget how lucky we are to do what we do and to have the experiences I’ve had. I felt that and I still feel that to this day. That was the coolest part – just my family and best friends being there.”

The dunk contest opened previously unavailable doors. McClung won $100,000 for his dunk contest, signed deals with Puma, AT&T and Raising Cane’s and he has a short film coming out this summer (nothing to do with basketball).

“You get to be in different rooms,” McClung said. “I’m making sure I’m doing exactly what I want to do in life and to not really limit myself to one thing.”

His G League contract totals $120,000, and his Puma deal is valuable enough that he turned down a seven-figure offer to play in China.

He has worked on his game – cutting down on floaters he attempted and trying to slow down his pace, moving without the basketball, setting better screens and applying more defensive pressure. This season, he averages 24.5 points, 6.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals and shoots 48.4% from the field and 37.1% on 3s.

“I heard a lot of GMs say, I don’t know what he has to do. He’s done a lot. But I keep applying pressure,” McClung said.

It seems he’s close. But there is concern is that he’s not a true point guard – and he’s trying to prove he can be – and he’s too small to play shooting guard.

“It’s just been unique because there’s nothing to compare it to,” McClung said. “There’s nobody I know who’s went through an experience like this. You have this popularity, you go places and people support you and they’re following you online, but you haven’t made it yet. You haven’t done what you – and I don’t know if there’s a certain end point that I’m looking for – but I’m not in the NBA right now. But you have this popularity and you’re trying to balance it and really stay true to the one goal.

“But there’s been a lot of blessings from it. I’ve met a lot of cool people. I’ve got to experience so many cool things. But my life, it definitely changed after last year.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Single lap runs by single cars are one thing … It’s time to go racing, for real, now.

That’s right, Daytona 500 qualifying, which went down on Wednesday night, may have been the first session with cars on the track at Daytona International Speedway this week, but on Thursday night, beating, banging and bump drafting will commence.

It will come in the form of two 150-mile qualifying races, known now as the BlueGreen Vacation Duel at Daytona. Of course, throughout history they’ve been referred to as many things, namely the ‘Twin 125s’.

Thursday night is unique only to Speedweeks with the Duels serving as the only qualifying races in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season.

So, what is the Duel? How does it work?

We’re so glad you asked. Here’s everything you need to know about the Duel at Daytona:

When are the Daytona Duels tonight?

The first of two Duel races is set for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday night with the second beginning after the first’s conclusion. The estimated start time of Duel 2 is 8:45.

How many laps are the Daytona Duels?

The two races are scheduled for 60 laps apiece.

How to watch the Duels at Daytona on TV

Both BlueGreen Vacation Duel at Daytona races will air on FS1 (Fox Sports 1).

How do the Daytona Duel races work?

Wednesday’s single-car qualifying runs determined only the front row for Sunday’s Daytona 500. Joey Logano won the pole, and Michael McDowell finished second and will start beside him on the front row.

The rest of the field will be set during the Duels. The drivers who posted qualifying times in the odd-numbered positions will run in one race with the even-numbered times participating in the other. The finishing order of the two races will determine the starting order in the two rows for Sunday’s Great American Race.

Daytona Duels lineup

Race 1

Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Ryan Preece, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
JJ Yeley, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet

Race 2

Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Riley Herbst, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Josh Berry, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
David Ragan, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Justin Haley, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Zane Smith, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
BJ McLeod, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
Kaz Grala, No. 76 Front Row Motorsports Ford

Daytona Duel winners by year

1959: Bob Welborn, No. 49 Chevrolet; Shorty Rollins, No. 99 Ford
1960: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Jack Smith, No. 47 Pontiac
1961: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Joe Weatherly, No. 8 Pontiac
1962: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Joe Weatherly, No. 8 Pontiac
1963: Junior Johnson, No. 3 Chevrolet; Johnny Rutherford, No. 13 Chevrolet
1964: Junior Johnson, No. 3 Dodge; Bobby Isaac, No. 26 Dodge
1965: Darel Dieringer, No. 16 Mercury; Junior Johnson, No. 27 Ford
1966: Paul Goldsmith, No. 99 Plymouth; Earl Balmer, No. 3 Dodge
1967: LeeRoy Yarborugh, No. 12 Dodge; Fred Lorenzen, No. 28 Ford
1968: Duels canceled due to rain
1969: David Pearson, No. 17 Ford; Bobby Isaac, No. 71 Dodge
1970: Cale Yarborough, No. 21 Mercury; Charlie Glotzbach, No. 99 Dodge
1971: Pete Hamilton, No. 6 Plymouth; David Pearson, No. 17 Mercury
1972: Bobby Isaac, No. 71 Dodge; Bobby Allison, No. 12 Chevrolet
1973: Buddy Baker, No. 71 Dodge; Coo Coo Marlin, No. 14 Chevrolet
1974: Bobby Isaac, No. 27 Chevrolet; Cale Yarborough, No. 11 Chevrolet
1975: Bobby Allison, No. 16 Matador; David Pearson, No. 21 Mercury
1976: Dave Marcis, No. 71 Dodge; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Chevrolet
1977: Richard Petty, No. 43 Dodge; Cale Yarborough, No. 11 Chevrolet
1978: A.J. Foyt, No. 51 Buick; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Chevrolet
1979: Buddy Baker, No. 28 Oldsmobile; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Oldsmobile
1980: Neil Bonnett, No. 21 Mercury; Donnie Allison, No. 1 Oldsmobile
1981: Bobby Allison, No. 28 Pontiac; Darrell Waltrip, No. 11 Buick
1982: Cale Yarborough, No. 27 Buick; Buddy Baker, No. 1 Buick
1983: Dale Earnhardt, No. 15 Ford; Neil Bonnett, No. 75 Chevrolet
1984: Cale Yarborough, No. 28 Chevrolet; Bobby Allison, No. 22 Buick
1985: Bill Elliott, No. 9 Ford; Cale Yarborough, No. 28 Ford
1986: Bill Elliott, No. 9 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1987: Ken Schrader, No. 90 Ford; Benny Parsons, No. 35 Chevrolet
1988: Bobby Allison, No. 12 Buick; Darrell Waltrip, No. 17 Chevrolet
1989: Ken Schrader, No. 25 Chevrolet; Terry Labonte, No. 11 Ford
1990: Geoffrey Bodine, No. 11 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1991: Davey Allison, No. 28 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1992: Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet; Bill Elliott, No. 11 Ford
1993: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1994: Ernie Irvan, No. 28 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1995: Sterling Marlin, No. 4 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1996: Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet; Ernie Irvan, No. 28 Ford
1997: Dale Jarrett, No. 88 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1998: Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1999: Bobby Labonte, No. 18 Pontiac; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
2000: Bill Elliott, No. 94 Ford; Ricky Rudd, No. 28 Ford
2001: Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Dodge; Mike Skinner, No. 31 Chevrolet
2002: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Michael Waltrip, No. 15 Chevrolet
2003: Robby Gordon, No. 31 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 8 Chevrolet
2004: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 8 Chevrolet; Elliott Sadler, No. 38 Ford
2005: Michael Waltrip, No. 15 Chevrolet; Tony Stewart, No. 20 Chevrolet
2006: Elliott Sadler, No. 38 Ford; Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet
2007: Tony Stewart, No. 20 Chevrolet; Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet
2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
2009: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
2010: Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet; Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Ford
2011: Kurt Busch, No. 22 Dodge; Jeff Burton, No. 31 Chevrolet
2012: Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet; Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Ford
2013: Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
2014: Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Toyota; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
2015: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
2016: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
2017: Chase Elliott, No. 24 Chevrolet; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
2018: Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford; Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
2019: Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Ford; Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
2020: Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford; William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
2021: Aric Almirola, No. 10 Ford; Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
2022: Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford; Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
2023: Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford; Aric Almirola, No. 10 Ford

Who has won the most Duels at Daytona?

12: Dale Earnhardt
6: Cale Yarborough
5: Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4: Junior Johnson, Bobby Isaac, Bill Elliott
3: Fireball Roberts, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Sterling Marlin, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano

Which organization has won the most Daytona Duels?

16: Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing
10: Joe Gibbs Racing
7: Robert Yates Racing, Team Penske
6: Junior Johnson & Associates
4: Holman-Moody, Bud Moore Engineering, Nord Krauskopf, DiGard Motorsports, Rainier-Lundy, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Stewart-Haas Racing

Which manufacturer has won the most Daytona Duels?

53: Chevrolet
32: Ford
11: Dodge
8: Pontiac
7: Toyota
6: Buick
5: Mercury
3: Oldsmobile
2: Plymouth

Only six days and one preseason match remain for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami before the start of the 2024 MLS season.

But this match holds a special place in the hearts of Messi and Inter Miami coach Tata Martino. 

Messi will start as Inter Miami hosts Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys to end their lengthy preseason on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 

Newell’s is the hometown club where Messi’s illustrious career began before stops in Barcelona, Paris and Miami, while Martino played and coached for the team based in Rosario, Argentina. 

“Clearly I have a very special bond with Newell’s and surely it will be a wonderful night for me and all the people who come to the game,” Martino said during a news conference Wednesday. “I never could have imagined as a young player with Newell’s that one day I would be here coaching this game.”

How to watch Messi match today? 

Inter Miami’s match against Newell’s Old Boys at 7:30 p.m. is available via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. 

When does Inter Miami’s season begin? 

Messi and Inter Miami will play the first game of the 2024 MLS season Feb. 21 at home against Real Salt Lake, and will travel to face the Los Angeles Galaxy on Feb. 25.

How much will Messi play? 

Messi is expected to start in Thursday’s match and could see some extended minutes with Inter Miami’s season opener only six days away, Martino said. 

After a groin injury sidelined Messi for a match in Hong Kong earlier this month, causing outrage among fans and officials in China, he returned to action in Tokyo to play 30 minutes against Japanese champions Vissel Kobe and he appeared close to full strength. 

“If everything goes as it is going, [Messi] will be in good shape for the beginning of the season,” Martino said. 

What did Messi say about his injury? 

Messi, during a rare news conference in Tokyo Feb. 6, said he had a hip adductor injury he suffered while in Saudi Arabia for two matches Jan. 29 and 31. Although an MRI found no injury, Messi said he still experienced discomfort.

“Unfortunately, it is something that happens in football, in any game it can happen that we get injured. It happened to me and I couldn’t be in the game in Hong Kong, and it’s a shame because I always want to participate, I want to be there, and even more so when it comes to these types of games where we traveled so far and people were so excited to watch us play,” Messi said.

Lionel Messi injury timeline: What led to Messi’s hip adductor injury?

∎Jan. 29: Messi scored on a penalty kick and played to the 88th minute against Saudi powerhouse Al Hilal, where he first experienced the injury.

∎Jan. 31: Messi practiced with Inter Miami, one day before Al Nassr match, leading to the MRI evaluation.

∎Feb. 1: Messi did not start, but came on as a substitute against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. He entered in the 83rd minute and played through six minutes of extra time conservatively.

∎Feb. 3: Messi ran around Hong Kong Stadium and participated in some light workouts with Inter Miami teammates.

∎Feb. 4: Messi was listed as a substitute on Inter Miami’s roster for the Hong Kong match, but Inter Miami did not list him on their roster published on social media. He did not play.

∎Feb. 6: Messi shares he has a hip adductor injury and experienced discomfort. Messi said the injury was an ‘unlucky’ situation, and hopes to play again in Hong Kong if the opportunity arises.

∎Feb. 7: Messi entered in the 60th minute and played to the end of Inter Miami’s match against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, and appeared close to full strength.

Winning H-O-R-S-E is a different matter. That depends on how hard everyone else’s shots are.

If you’ve played someone enough, you know what your friends or teammates tend to miss. So you take those shots. You hope each will lead to the misses and the letters that ultimately spell H-O-R-S-E.

But what if you’re playing Iowa basketball phenom Caitlin Clark for the first time? Where would you even start? Perhaps you’d start with a record of all her shots during the past four years?

How Caitlin Clark’s scoring has changed in college

As an experienced H-O-R-S-E player, you probably wouldn’t be encouraged by any of the charts derived from CBB Analytics data. She’s that good. But if you had a time machine, maybe? More on that soon.

If you were able to play Clark as a freshman, she probably would have been open to trying many different shots from different spots around the court. That might have been an opportunity.

Her shooting percentage then was just over 47% – essentially the same this season. But she tended to miss more than she made to the left of the free-throw line. That ‘hole’ in her shot extended back beyond the 3-point arc.

Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.

To be sure, this is more of an exercise in potential opportunities. The holes in her shots would undoubtedly narrow significantly if she weren’t being defended by a top Division I player. But, then again, could she match your double-bank shot off the side of your house?

Sophomore year Caitlin Clark: You say there’s a chance?

If you could get access to a time machine – maybe a used DeLorean, Clark’s sophomore year might be when you want to return in her college career. Perhaps you could have hung an ‘H’ on her beyond the 3-point arc before she ultimately took you out.

In her sophomore year, Clark shot two percentage points below her average of the other three years, or just over 45%. Yes, that’s not a lot to work with, but you’re playing one of the top scorers ever in NCAA history.

It might seem odd to take on one of the game’s best 3-point shooters beyond the arc. But that’s where her sophomore year shot chart says your opportunity would be. She made a third of her 274 threes that season – about 7 percentage points below her rate in other seasons.

Time to start getting the behind-the-back shots ready

After her sophomore year, you pretty much missed your opportunity. In her junior and senior years, the holes, if you can even call them that, have become much smaller. Yes, trick shots might be your only chance, but you have to expect she’s going to have some crazy ones, too.

In her senior year, Clark’s gaps continued to narrow while her range has become remarkable. She’s made 131 3-pointers this season. Dyaisha Fair of Syracuse and Aaliyah Nye of Alabama, No. 2 and No. 3 in threes this season, are more than 40 behind Clark.

What’s also clear is how much her approach has changed since she was a freshman. As a senior, she’s either taking and making shots inside the free-throw lane or behind the 3-point line. She generally is not taking the mid-range, 15- or 20-foot shots she might have as a freshman.

What does that mean to you? She’s not messing around now. You’d might have H-O-R-S-E faster than you can spell it.

For the record: How Caitlin Clark’s senior year shot selection compares to her freshman year

So maybe the odds aren’t great. Well, they’re probably terrible. But should you get a chance to play H-O-R-S-E against Clark, why not? At least you can tell your grandkids you played against one of the greatest scorers in NCAA history.

Hmm, maybe there’s another NIL deal in there for her with a fast food company.

Sort of.

EA Sports announced Thursday that its highly anticipated EA Sports College Football will come out this summer, with the full reveal coming in May.

The game will mark the return of the popular video game franchise, which stopped in after the release of NCAA Football 14 in July 2013 with former Michigan Wolverine quarterback Denard Robinson on the cover.

After EA Sports made the announced, several football programs like Nebraska, UCLA, Southern California and Missouri shared the excitement of the upcoming game, likely indicating its team will be included.

The series was discontinued due to the debate over student athletes being compensated for their names, images and likenesses continued around the country and in legislative bodies. The old video game franchise did not use actual college football player names, but the roster closely mirrored the actual players with their numbers and positions linked to the general physical appearances and attributes of those players in the games.

Since then, NCAA Football 14 has developed a cult-like following with it still being played to this day. A group of people even modded the game into College Football Revamped, giving players the ability to play the game with an updated presentation, updated team uniforms, new FBS teams and updated rosters, almost mimicking a new game.

With NIL new sweeping the college sports world, the new game is expected to allow FBS players to opt into their likeness being used for compensation. The new game is also expected to feature classic modes like dynasty mode and ‘road to glory,’ the mode that allowed gamers to create a player and navigate their journey in college football.

Now fans will only have to wait a few more months to get their hands on the newest edition of college football video games, more than 11 years later.

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. 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.’

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nov. 12: Edmonton Oilers fire coach Jay Woodcroft

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is the monetary backing of LIV Golf, and the PGA Tour received good news last month, reaching a deal with Strategic Sports Group that could add up to $3 billion to the tour.  In exchange, SSG received a 25% stake in PGA Tour Enterprises.

‘Ultimately, we would like to have PIF be a part of our tour and a part of our product,’ Woods said ahead of The Genesis at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. ‘Financially, we don’t right now, and the monies that they have come to the table with and what we initially had agreed to in the framework agreement, those are all the same numbers.

‘Anything beyond this is going to be obviously over and above. We’re in a position right now (where) hopefully we can make our product better in the short term and long term.’

Last June, the PGA Tour, the Public Investment Fund, and the DP World Tour signed a framework agreement to create PGA Tour Enterprises, with a Dec. 31 deadline. A deal still has not been consummated.

‘At the end of the day, we’re trying to provide the best entertainment, and in order to do that you have to have the best players play,’ said Woods, who is one of six golfers named as a player director on the PGA Tour’s policy board. ‘We want to involve the history and the traditions of our tour, and have the pathways, accessibility, all of the intangibles that have made the PGA Tour what it is right now and what has been, and hopefully what it will continue to be even better.’

Woods was also asked about former PGA players − most recently Jon Rahm − who jumped to the LIV Tour to secure a big payday, making their way back on the tour.

‘We’re looking into all the different models for pathways back,’ Woods said. ‘What that looks like, what the impact is for the players who have stayed and who have not left, and how we make our product better going forward, there is no answer to that right now.’

Nearly three years since the first lawsuits against him were filed by multiple women, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson might have to testify again in one of the remaining cases that accuse him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions.

An attorney for a woman who sued him in October 2022 recently asked a court in Harris County, Texas, to compel Watson to testify in another in-person deposition before Aug. 1.

Watson last appeared in a deposition in the case in Houston on June 9. But a new court filing states the woman’s attorney ended it after two hours and 14 minutes because Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, improperly instructed Watson not to answer certain questions about other cases, such as whether he had been sexually aroused during massage sessions in the past.

‘Plaintiff seeks an order from this Court compelling the re-deposition of Defendant Watson in order to propound allowable discovery and have such answers produced,’ said the court filing submitted by David Bickham, one of the woman’s attorneys.

Deshaun Watson’s remaining lawsuits

The plaintiff in this case was the last of 26 women to sue Watson in civil court and accuse him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions when Watson was playing for the Houston Texans. Hardin said Watson sometimes had consensual sexual encounters during massage sessions but denied wrongdoing. Watson then reached confidential settlements to resolve 23 of the 26 lawsuits. Of the three others, one was withdrawn by the plaintiff shortly after being filed in March 2021, and two more remain pending – this one and another one filed in March 2021 that has no apparent trial date set.

All things Browns: Latest Cleveland Browns news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The allegations upended Watson’s NFL career, but he was never arrested or charged with a crime. He didn’t play in the 2021 season, then was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March 2022. After the NFL investigated him, he was suspended for 11 games under a settlement reached between the league and the NFL Players Association.

Deshaun Watson’s previous deposition

In this case, Hardin has aggressively denied the woman’s allegations that Watson pressured her into oral sex at The Houstonian hotel in December 2020. In Watson’s deposition in June, Hardin blasted one of the woman’s attorneys, Anissah Nguyen, during their dispute about her questions to Watson, according to a partial transcript filed in court last week. Hardin appeared to reference how this lawsuit was the only one that was filed after Watson settled the other cases in 2022.

‘Not only is your lawsuit irrational and has no value at all, but we are not going to be trying other incidents in other cases,’ Hardin said to Nguyen, according to the transcript. ‘There’s no secret in the world that he was sued by multiple women and settled multiple lawsuits.· But we are not going to try those cases again, and we’re not going to be answering questions about those other cases, all of which are the subject of Confidentiality Agreements.

‘You − you jumped in at the last minute,’ Hardin continued. ‘The evidence is going to show and has shown already with the filings just what a bogus lawsuit this is.· And you can’t just file a lawsuit against a man that has some money and then get to go into any and everything.· Not going to happen. If you want to take it to the Court, you can do so, but he is not going to answer about other incidents.· You ask a man to come in here and ask did he ever get an erection during a massage, we’re not answering those kind of questions.· We will answer anything you want about (the plaintiff in the case) and her − and his encounter with her.’

It’s up to a judge to decide whether Watson must testify again. The woman’s attorney wants Watson to provide his availability for a deposition on or before May 1.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart is facing a suspension after he punched the Phoenix Suns’ Drew Eubanks in a confrontation that occurred hours before the teams’ game Wednesday night.

Stewart, 22, was arrested for assault, issued a citation and released, according to Phoenix Police Department news release. The report has the incident occurring in the parking tunnel of the arena.

The Athletic was the first to report the news of the confrontation between Stewart and Eubanks.

Stewart did not play Wednesday night as he is dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him out of the lineup since Jan. 28.

Eubanks was walking to the Suns’ locker room at Phoenix’s Footprint Center when he was stopped by Stewart, the Suns player told Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.

“Just walking in and words were said and got sucker punched and security stepped in and that was it,” Eubanks told Rankin.

The Suns’ backup big man, who entered Wednesday averaging 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds, told Rankin he was OK and said Stewart’s punch was ‘soft.’ Eubanks was in the lineup Wednesday night against Detroit. He scored six points and pulled down eight rebounds in 17 minutes in the Suns’ 116-100 win. Stewart left the Footprint Center after the incident, The Athletic reported.

‘The attack on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked, and acts of violence such as this are unacceptable,’ the Suns said in a statement. ‘We unequivocally support Drew, and will continue to work with local law enforcement and the NBA.’

In their own statement, the Pistons said they were ‘aware of the incident between Isaiah Stewart and Drew Eubanks prior to this evening’s game. 

‘We are in the process of gathering information about what happened and what provoked it, and responding to the NBA and local authorities.’

Pistons coach Monty Williams took issue with the Suns using the word ‘unprovoked’ in their statement about the incident.

‘I think that is irresponsible for them to do that when you really don’t know because two sides are giving their story,’ Williams said. ‘I think until you find out everything, you can’t make those statements. I heard about that and I just thought that did not need to happen. I think there is a time for information to be gathered and then you can make a statement.

‘For me, it’s let’s get all the information. The league will do its due diligence and it’ll come up with something. It’s just one of those situations that we just have to wait and see.”

The league is investigating the incident.

Stewart has been suspended once before, following a November 2021 incident in which he went after Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James after James busted up Stewart’s face while battling for a ball. Stewart was suspended two games for that incident.