Blake Baker’s time as Missouri football’s defensive coordinator — one that not so long ago looked to have become extended and more lucrative — is over.

The defensive play-caller who led Missouri from the 106th-ranked unit in total defense in the FBS to Nos. 33 and 34 in 2022 and 2023, respectively, will take the same role at LSU, a team spokesperson confirmed to the Columbia Daily Tribune on Friday. LSU announced Baker’s hire late Friday night.

On Dec. 23 — just two weeks ago — Missouri announced Baker had signed a contract extension along with offensive coordinator Kirby Moore. Despite a public records request submitted by the Columbia Daily Tribune, no details were ever returned about Baker’s extension.

Under his previous deal, which was an amendment to his original contract and signed in November 2022, Baker would owe the university $800,000 for terminating his contract between Dec. 21, 2023, and Dec. 18, 2024. 

It is unclear if his new contract ever went into effect. In the event that it did, it is unknown what Baker now owes the university in liquidated damages.

Under his previous deal, he was set to earn $1,400,000 in 2024.

LSU is set to make Baker the highest-paid assistant in the nation at $2,500,000 per year, according to multiple reports.

In his previous contract, Baker would have avoided paying liquidated damages if he accepted a head coaching position in college or professionally; took a defensive coordinator or assistant coach position at a professional organization; or if Eli Drinkwitz was no longer the Missouri coach.

Drinkwitz was extended through 2028 on Monday.

Baker graduated from Tulane and coached linebackers at LSU in 2021. His wife is a former LSU soccer player.

Baker’s exit for Baton Rouge is a speedbump in what has been a period of tremendous momentum for Missouri.

In the leadup to the game against the Buckeyes, Baker said he had “never really considered going anywhere else.”

“A lot of it, honestly, has to do with my happiness and my family’s happiness in Columbia. There were some possible other opportunities out there, but Coach Drink (Drinkwitz) is a phenomenal guy to work for. He’s first class in everything that he does. And really, I feel like we have unfinished business still here at Missouri. All in all, I never really considered going anywhere else. To me it was — I said the same thing last year when I signed the contract extension. It was a no-brainer. Really happy to be able to do that.”

LSU coach Brian Kelly, who fired Baker as the LSU linebackers coach when he took over the program in 2021, cleared out his defensive staff Wednesday, relieving defensive coordinator Matt House and three defensive assistants. Baker immediately became a name to watch on hot boards.

He leaves Columbia following two stellar seasons at the helm. Seven members of the Tigers’ defense have declared for the NFL Draft since the end of the season, four of whom had remaining eligibility.

Missouri linebackers coach D.J. Smith has held the title of co-defensive coordinator for the past year.

Pop Isaacs ‘remains in good standing’ at Texas Tech University and with the Texas Tech men’s basketball team, according to a statement released by the athletics department Friday night.

Isaacs was named in a civil lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted a minor during the team’s trip to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis in November, which was first reported earlier Friday by ESPN.

‘Upon learning of the allegations,’ the statement begins, ‘the matter was immediately and properly reported to the University’s Title IX Office. The Title IX Office and its process are external to and independent from TTU Athletics. The Title IX Office’s investigation into the allegations promptly commenced.’

According to the ESPN report, the lawsuit — which the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal was not able to obtain before the close of business Friday — states a Texas Tech booster bought alcoholic drinks for Isaacs and a teammate during the trip. The lawsuit says the athletes were in a room with two girls, ages 17 and 16, and Isaacs moved to a different room with the 17-year-old where he allegedly assaulted the girl after she ‘attempted to fight him off.’

The age of consent in the Bahamas is 16, though the lawsuit states the alleged victim was intoxicated at the time and could not give consent. The suit, filed by the parents of the girls, is seeking $1 million in damages.

‘Athletics reached out to the Title IX Office on two occasions,’ the Texas Tech statement continued, ‘and was informed both times that based upon the information, Pop Isaacs remains in good standing, and there is no reason to withhold him from University activities, including basketball competition.

‘The Title IX Office will continue to follow its process until it is completed, regardless of the civil lawsuit.’

Isaacs leads the Red Raiders in scoring at 15.8 points per game and is second on the team averaging 3.4 assists.

Texas Tech (11-2) opens Big 12 play Saturday at No. 22 Texas (11-2).

Note: This story contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse that may be offensive to some readers or painful to survivors of sexual assault.

The attorney for the alleged sexual assault victim of Canadian Olympic figure skater Nikolaj Sørensen is calling on Skate Canada to suspend Sørensen from next week’s Canadian national championships, where he and his ice dancing partner are the defending champions.

“As the survivor’s lawyer, now that these violent and traumatic events have been published in USA TODAY, I’m calling on Skate Canada to suspend Nikolaj Sørensen prior to next week’s Canadian national figure skating championships,” Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead, a well-known Title IX attorney, told USA TODAY Sports Friday afternoon. 

“If he competes, Skate Canada is sending a demoralizing message for survivors of sexual assault. For sport to effectively address athlete abuse, enforcement cannot wait.”

Skate Canada spokeswoman Karine Bedard did not reply to an email seeking comment Friday afternoon. 

The Canadian national championships are being held next week in Calgary. The ice dancing competition begins Friday, January 12. 

Sørensen, one of the world’s top-ranked ice dancers, is being investigated by Canada’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner for the alleged sexual assault of an American figure skating coach and former skater on April 21, 2012, according to documents and emails obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

The documents said the woman, then 22, said Sørensen, then 23, held her down against her will on a bed after a party at a condominium near Hartford, Connecticut.

“He pinned me down with his left arm over my collarbone,” the woman said in a report made to Canada’s OSIC and the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a copy of which was obtained by USA TODAY Sports. “He pushed down hard on my collarbone, making me gasp for air the moment he inserted his penis into my vagina and covered his right hand over my mouth.”

The report continues:  “All sound at that point became virtually inaudible and it felt like I would suffocate under the pressure of his arm on my collarbone and chest. I pushed my arms against his hips to try to get his penis out of me and I was struggling to breathe. At this point, I feared for my life and let my body go limp as I lay there and he raped me.”

The woman is not being identified because USA TODAY Sports does not publish the names of victims of alleged sexual abuse.

Hogshead, who founded Champion Women, a non-profit legal advocacy organization for girls and women in sports, confirmed that an investigation of Sørensen is taking place but said she could not comment further on any details due to a confidentiality agreement mandated by the OSIC. 

Multiple attempts to reach Sørensen via email, social media messages, his coach and the agency that represents him went unanswered. 

Bedard, director of communications and brand for Skate Canada, the nation’s governing body for figure skating, said in an email, “In accordance with our policies, Skate Canada has no knowledge of matters before the OSIC.” 

Bedard did not reply to several requests for comment from Sørensen himself. 

A spokeswoman for the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada said in an email that the OSIC “operates under existing confidentiality parameters and, as such, the office does not comment on any possible or ongoing matters.”

While the U.S. Center for SafeSport has been notified of the allegations against Sørensen, it has no jurisdiction over Sørensen at this time because he is not skating for the United States, according to a document obtained by USA TODAY Sports. However, that document reveals that SafeSport has placed Sørensen on “an administrative hold,” meaning that if he were to apply for U.S. Figure Skating membership in the future (a process necessary to coach figure skating in the U.S.), SafeSport would then begin its investigative process.

Sørensen, now 34, competed for his native Denmark earlier in his career, then represented Canada starting in the 2018-19 skating season. He became a Canadian citizen in Sept. 2021. He finished ninth at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and fifth at last year’s world championships with his ice dancing partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry. They finished fifth at the 2023 Grand Prix Final in Beijing in early December and are expected as of now to compete at both the Canadian nationals next week and the 2024 world championships in Montreal in March.

According to the report, the woman said she remained silent for years and never reached out to the police or sports officials because she feared that she would be blamed and that no one would believe her. 

The report said she sought psychological treatment and considered filing a criminal complaint in Connecticut but discovered the statute of limitations for such action had expired. 

Then, on July 22, 2023, according to the report, she opened an online article that included an interview with Sørensen in which he commented about the importance of keeping women safe in ice dancing. 

“I couldn’t believe the words coming out of the rapist’s mouth,” the report quotes the woman as saying. “It hit me at that moment that mothers would likely be sending their daughters to train with him (as a coach) at some point after he retired from competitive skating, and I could not live with the guilt of knowing I never told any authority figures.”

According to the report, the woman filed her report with the OSIC that same day. 

Four division titles — AFC East, NFC East, AFC South and NFC South — will be decided in NFL Week 18.

In all, 11 teams enter Week 18 with a chance to secure a playoff berth: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Colts, Jaguars and Texans still are in contention to win the AFC South; the Buccaneers, Falcons and Saints still can win the NFC South. The Dallas Cowboys can win the NFC East with a win, thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles’ stunning Week 17 loss. The Miami Dolphins — who already have clinched a playoff berth — host the Bills on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in what is essentially an AFC East division championship game.

The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs have clinched division titles. For the Lions, it’s the first time since 1993 that the team has won its division. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have won the AFC West for the eighth consecutive season, the second-longest streak of division titles in NFL history (New England Patriots from 2009-2019, 11 seasons, is the longest).

The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers have clinched the top playoff seed in their respective conferences and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

AFC playoff clinching scenarios for Week 18

Clinched:

Ravens (13-3): AFC North division title; AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, first-round bye and home-field advantageChiefs (10-6): AFC West division titleBrowns (11-5): Playoff berthDolphins (11-5): Playoff berth

➤ Bills (10-6) clinch AFC East division title with:

Win

➤ Bills clinch playoff berth with:

TieSteelers loss or tieJaguars loss or tieTexans-Colts tie

➤ Texans (9-7) clinch AFC South division title with:

Win, Jaguars loss or tie

➤ Texans clinch playoff berth with:

WinTie, Jaguars loss, Steelers loss or tie

➤ Colts (9-7) clinch AFC South division title with:

Win, Jaguars loss or tieTie, Jaguars loss

➤ Colts clinch playoff berth with:

WinTie, Steelers loss or tie

➤ Jaguars (9-7) clinch AFC South division title with:

WinTie, Colts-Texans tie

➤ Jaguars clinch playoff berth with:

Tie, Steelers loss or tieSteelers loss, Broncos loss or tie, Texans-Colts doesn’t end in a tie

➤ Dolphins (11-5) clinch AFC East division title with:

Win or tie

➤ Steelers clinch playoff berth with:

Win, Bills lossWin, Jaguars loss or tieWin, Texans-Colts tieTie, Jaguars loss, Texans-Colts doesn’t end in a tieJaguars loss, Broncos win, Texans-Colts doesn’t end in a tie

NFC playoff clinching scenarios for Week 18

Clinched:

49ers (12-4): NFC West division title; NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, first-round bye and home-field advantageLions (11-5): NFC North division titleCowboys (11-5): Playoff berthEagles (11-5): Playoff berthRams (9-7): Playoff berth

➤ Falcons (7-9) clinch NFC South division title with:

Win, Buccaneers loss

➤ Cowboys (11-5) clinch NFC East division title with:

WinTie, Eagles tieEagles loss

➤ Packers (8-8) clinch playoff berth with:

WinTie, Seahawks loss or tie, Saints loss or tieTie, Seahawks loss, Buccaneers lossTie, Seahawks tie, Buccaneers loss or tieVikings loss or tie, Seahawks loss, Buccaneers lossVikings loss or tie, Seahawks loss, Saints loss

➤ Vikings (7-9) clinch playoff berth with:

Win, Packers loss, Seahawks loss, Buccaneers lossWin, Packers loss, Seahawks loss, Saints loss

➤ Saints (8-8) clinch NFC South division title with:

Win, Buccaneers loss or tieTie, Buccaneers loss

➤ Saints clinch playoff berth with:

Win, Seahawks win or tie, Packers loss or tieTie, Seahawks loss, Packers loss

➤ Eagles (11-5) clinch NFC East division title with:

Win, Cowboys loss or tieTie, Cowboys loss

➤ Seahawks (8-8) clinch playoff berth with:

Win, Packers loss or tieTie, Packers loss, Buccaneers loss or tieTie, Packers loss, Saints loss or tie

➤ Buccaneers (8-8) clinch NFC South division title with:

WinTie, Saints loss or tie

➤ Buccaneers clinch playoff berth with:

Tie, Seahawks loss, Packers loss or tie

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State guard Chris Paul fractured his left hand Friday night in the Warriors’ 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons and will have surgery next week.

The Warriors made the announcement after the game regarding Paul, who had eight points, six rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes. He’s expected to return this season.

“That’s tough, I feel so bad for Chris, I know he’s had a couple of hand surgeries before I believe, maybe on the other hand,” coach Steve Kerr said. ”I saw him holding it and instantly was worried. Just got the word after walking off the floor. So I feel terrible for Chris and obviously guys will step up and be ready to play. We’ve got to hold down the fort without him.’

The 38-year-old Paul, acquired from Washington on draft day for Jordan Poole after earlier going to the Wizards from Phoenix, had started the past four games but has also guided the reserves so far this season.

“It’s tough, Chris is a really big part of the team,” Dario Saric said. “We’re going to need to figure it out somehow. … It’s a huge loss.”

Paul came into the game Friday averaging 9.0 points, 7.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

‘It’s going to be tough, Chris is an all-time great and he’s fit right into our team and made life so much easier not only on Steph but he’s kind of captained that second unit,’ Kerr said.

ESPN issued an apology Friday afternoon for the false comments New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers made on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ earlier this week about late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

Through ESPN vice president of digital production Mike Foss, the network called the comments Rodgers made about Kimmel in relation to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein court documents ‘a dumb and factually inaccurate joke.’

‘It never should have happened,’ Foss said in a statement obtained by USA TODAY Sports. ‘We all realized that in the moment.’

‘The show will continue to evolve,’ Foss told FOS. ‘It wouldn’t surprise me if Aaron’s role evolves with it.’

Kimmel took to social media Tuesday night to blast Rodgers and say he never had any contact with Epstein, who died by suicide while imprisoned in 2019.

Earlier that day, McAfee co-host A.J. Hawk egged Rodgers on about the potential release of the court documents, to which the 40-year-old quarterback responded: ‘There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel who are hoping that doesn’t come out … if that list comes out, I will definitely be popping some sort of bottles.’

The situation created internal strife at ESPN’s parent company Disney, which also owns ABC, where ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ airs.

Rodgers is paid $1 million annually for his weekly appearances on McAfee’s show, according to reports. On Wednesday, McAfee offered a half-hearted apology, saying he hopes his show is a positive one that uplifts people.

However, the show found itself in more hot water by Friday afternoon.

Pat McAfee accuses ESPN exec of ‘attempting to sabotage our program’

The dramatic start to 2024 for the show and ESPN took another turn Friday when the host accused an ESPN executive of intentionally ‘attempting to sabotage our program.’

‘There are folks actively trying to sabotage us from within ESPN,’ McAfee said. ‘More specifically I believe Norby Williamson is the guy attempting to sabotage our program.’

ESPN had no comment when asked about McAfee’s claim. Last year, the network signed McAfee to a contract worth $85 million over five years to license his show and for his work on ‘College GameDay.’

Williamson is the head of event and studio production at ESPN who wields immense power within the company.

‘(Williamson) is seemingly the only human that has information, and then somehow that information gets leaked and it’s wrong and then it sets a narrative of what our show is,’ McAfee said. ‘And then are we just going to combat that from a rat every single time?’

On Thursday, New York Post sports media columnist Andrew Marchand wrote that Disney, which owns ESPN, would accept the turmoil in return for impressive ratings. But Marchand’s reporting included a somewhat dismal look at the numbers since McAfee started airing on ESPN in September. The network loses 48% of viewers from its ‘First Take’ lead-in, although that does not account for the nearly 400,000 viewers who watch on the show’s YouTube channel. Still, according to Marchand, the show is down 12 percent from the same window in 2022, which aired a noon ET version of ‘SportsCenter.’

McAfee said the numbers are inaccurate without providing additional data and that he wasn’t ‘100 percent sure’ it was Williamson, who McAfee feels is ‘seemingly the only human that has (that) information.’

‘Somebody tried to get ahead of our actual ratings release with wrong numbers 12 hours beforehand,’ McAfee said. ‘That’s a sabotage attempt, and it’s been happening … from some people who didn’t necessarily love the old addition of the Pat McAfee Show to the ESPN family.’

McAfee retold a story of Williamson not showing up for a meeting they had scheduled in 2018, adding ‘this guy has had zero respect for me.’

As McAfee’s comments circulated, other ex-ESPN employees chimed in with similar views toward Williamson. Former ESPN talent Jemele Hill wrote on social media ‘I can relate.’

Ex-ESPN host Michelle Beadle replied to Hill, writing ‘Well well well … (laugh-crying emoji).’ And a former executive producer for ‘The Dan Le Batard Show,’ Mike Ryan, posted ‘Pat’ with three clapping emojis. Le Batard previously aired on ESPN.

The Crimson Tide’s starter at center in 2023, McLaughlin entered the transfer portal shortly following the team’s Rose Bowl semifinal loss to Michigan on Monday. Not five days later, he has landed with a team that is guaranteed to play the Wolverines at least once in 2024.

The 6-4, 305-pound lineman will have one season of eligibility remaining in Columbus. In explaining his decision to transfer to Ohio State, McLaughlin told On3’s Hayes Fawcett he ‘really liked’ offensive line coach Justin Frye, adding he ‘trusts him to get me to where I want to go as a player.”

Here’s everything you need to know of McLaughlin as he looks to finish his career at Ohio State:

Seth McLaughlin 247 rank

McLaughlin is considered a four-star prospect, per 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings. He is considered the No. 118 overall prospect in the portal and the No. 2 interior offensive lineman.

Coming out of Buford (Georgia) High School, McLaughlin was considered a three-star prospect per 247Sports’ Composite rankings. He was the No. 476 player in the 2020 recruiting class, No. 10 center and No. 49 player from the state of Georgia.

Seth McLaughlin stats

McLaughlin transfers to Ohio State with extensive starting experience as a center. He started all 14 games for the Crimson Tide at the position in 2023, and also had eight starts in 2022 and three starts in 2021. Per his Alabama player bio, McLaughlin played 11 total games in 2022, earning 913 snaps; he played 10 games in 2021, with 301 snaps.

Despite his experience, McLaughlin had recurring issues with low snaps throughout the 2023 season, including in Alabama’s Rose Bowl loss to Michigan. The center had two consecutive bad snaps to open the second half, stalling what was a promising drive for the Crimson Tide; he also snapped the ball low to quarterback Jalen Milroe on the Crimson Tide’s fourth-and-goal try to end the game, making the play call that much more difficult to execute.

If McLaughlin is to remain at the position in 2024 for Ohio State, that is an issue he must address.

The NHL’s holiday roster freeze is over, so trades can start up again.

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

There have been several trades and plenty of other transactions this season. The latest trade was between the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

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

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

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.

LeBron James had a blunt assessment of the Los Angeles Lakers following their Friday night loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

“We just suck right now,” James said after the 127-113 defeat at home, which dropped the Lakers to 3-10 since they won the NBA In-Season Tournament on Dec. 9 – a victory James noted represents a small sample size compared to their recent struggles.

“Everybody’s getting so cracked up about Vegas, keeps bringing up Vegas – it was two games,” James said. “We took care of that business, that was the In-Season Tournament. We played. We won it. But that was literally just two games.”

The Lakers, losers of four straight, were lit up by the Grizzlies Friday night. Memphis (12-23) hit a season-high 23 3-pointers on 45 attempts (51.1%). Marcus Smart led the way with eight made 3-pointers while Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. each added five.

“They shot the heck out of the ball tonight,” James said.

Coach Darvin Ham, who addressed his job security prior to the game, said the Lakers (17-19) need to ‘block out all the noise.’

‘It’s the NBA, man. This is a marathon,’ Ham said. ‘You have to look at the totality of the picture. I’m tired of people living and dying with every single game we play. It’s ludicrous, actually. It’s like ‘come on, man. This is a marathon.’

‘We hit a tough stretch. It’s the same team — we played some high-level games a little while ago and we just got to get back to that. We got to keep the fight, though. We cannot lose our fight.’

James, who had a game-high 32 points against the Grizzlies, said he will continue to “show up to work, punch my clock every day. Stay positive and go out and try to lead out on the floor, inspire on the floor.”

“That’s what I do,” he added.

Watching CeeDee Lamb shred the Detroit Lions defense during his monster game last Saturday night left me wondering: How in the world did he repeatedly get so wide open?

Sure, Lamb’s 13-catch, 227-yard statement was punctuated by a 92-yard catch-and-run that was enabled by a defender who slipped and fell to the turf. It was the longest offensive play in the NFL this season and second-longest reception in Dallas Cowboys history, the distance exceeded only by a 95-yard job from the great Bob Hayes in 1963.

Yet so often, Lamb had all types of separation. And we’ve seen this for the better part of the season.

‘I just work at it,’ Lamb said, rather nonchalantly, as he sat at his locker after the game.

I put the question to Dak Prescott. He grinned.

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‘He ain’t open enough for me!’ the Cowboys quarterback declared.

Prescott also alluded to the extensive hours they have put in to develop QB-WR chemistry. Or as Jerry Jones, team owner and famous hype man put it, ‘The Aikman-Irvin thing, really shades of that. They’re really hooking up.’

It was fitting that on a night when so many Cowboys legends – including Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin – were at JerryWorld to christen Jimmy Johnson’s induction into the team’s Ring of Honor, Lamb made his own history. He broke the single-season Cowboys records Irvin set in 1995 for catches (111) and receiving yards (1,603) and will head into the regular-season finale at Washington with an NFL-high 122 receptions.

Still, in a league where defensive strategists are known for devising schemes that neutralize top threats, there have been no easy answers lately for containing Lamb. Prescott hinted at the man-to-man coverage as a factor.

But why risk that?

‘It’s an egotistical league,’ Prescott replied.

In any event, it’s a league where Lamb, named this week to his third consecutive Pro Bowl, has established himself as elite. Since the start of the 2022 season, only Tyreek Hill has topped Lamb’s 3,010 receiving yards.

‘I worked my tail off to be that and to say that confidently,’ he told reporters at the Cowboys headquarters this week. ‘It’s good to be elite. But how consistent and how long you can be elite in the next challenge.’

Playoff competition should increase the level of difficulty for Lamb. And then there’s a Cowboys running game that has sputtered. Typically, less potent rushing attacks allow for the allocation of defensive manpower to disrupt the passing game.

To this point, though, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has been forcing the flow with his high-powered offense. And Lamb’s versatility is a huge key.

‘He goes anywhere,’ said Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis, whose expert opinion draws on the task of trying to cover Lamb in practice sessions. ‘He can go outside, inside, the backfield. It’s hard to match up with him…hard to prepare for him because he can be anywhere.’

Lewis calls Lamb a ‘route guru,’ which says something about his knack to bring the X’s and O’s to life.

‘He knows where your coverage is soft,’ Lewis said. ‘He beats you that way.’ 

And in other ways. The physical Lamb is one of the best in the league for racking up yards after the catch. And he’s been lethal with the inside routes, evidenced by his seven TDs while aligned in the slot, which is tied for the NFL high.

Lamb has blossomed since becoming the Cowboys’ top receiver after Amari Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns. And he’s also lived up to wearing No. 88, which has its own significance in the Cowboys universe. The number became special to the Cowboys with Drew Pearson during the 1970s and ’80s. Since, it has been represented well by the likes of Irvin and Dez Bryant.

Funny, there was some initial resistance from Lamb about the uniform number when the Cowboys drafted him out of Oklahoma in 2020 with a first-round pick. Lamb apparently wanted to wear No. 2.

‘If I had known for sure that he’d break that 88’s record, there wouldn’t have been any question about it,’ said Jones, referring to Irvin’s marks. ‘You know, we had to sell him on 88. He had his mind on another number. I finally had to pull rank.’

Irvin congratulated Lamb for breaking his records, then put it all into context.

‘Now it’s time to go and chase a ring,’ Lamb said of Irvin’s theme. ‘Basically, that was the end message. Obviously, I’m with that. That’s always been my end goal and it still is.’

Pro Bowl snubs: Who were best players left off roster?

You can mark it on the NFL’s annual calendar. Just as riveting as the announcement of Pro Bowl rosters each year is the aftermath with grumbling about players who didn’t make the cut. This time around, there again is no shortage of candidates to fill up what would be a rather impressive lineup for an All-Snub Team.

No Josh Allen? Well, actually there’s one on the AFC’s list, and the Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker surely deserves his slot as he ranks third in the league with 16½ sacks. The Buffalo Bills quarterback by the same name, however, was passed over in favor of Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa. 

Sometimes, the omissions represent a numbers game. That may best reflect why the Bills standout – despite his heavy load – didn’t get the nod in an AFC loaded with premier quarterbacks. Yet that hardly accounts for the bulk of the head-scratching cases.

Consider one of the biggest snubs: Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. For all of Winfield’s versatility and production, he was bypassed for Budda Baker of the Arizona Cardinals and Julian Love of the Seattle Seahawks.

‘I’ve seen a lot of guys get snubbed, but that was probably the biggest one I’ve ever seen during my time in the league,’ said Mike Evans, the 10th-year receiver who was the lone Buc named to the NFC team.

Winfield’s stat line includes three interceptions, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and five sacks.

And his father, the former NFL defensive back, provided the best response to the snub. On Instagram, Winfield, Sr. posted: ‘We demand a recount!’

Other notables left hanging included Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is tied for second in the league with 112 receptions and matches Hill and Lamb with an NFL-high eight 100-yard games.

‘The receivers that got picked, they’re great players,’ St. Brown said, ‘but I was hot.’

Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone can surely relate. Stone leads the AFC with seven interceptions but saw Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick land a Pro Bowl nod – despite missing six games. Fitzpatrick is undoubtedly one of the league’s best safeties, but the injuries derailed his season.

It works both ways. Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker, one of the best ever, nailed the honor again. But Steelers kicker Chris Boswell is more deserving for this season. Boswell has converted 93.3% of his field goals (28 of 30) on the season and is 6-for-7 from 50-plus yards. Tucker, meanwhile, is 1-for-5 from 50 yards or more.

Ultimately, some of the ‘snubs’ will be added to the Pro Bowl teams and allowed to participate in the events that make up the newfangled ‘Pro Bowl Games.’ Along the way, though, the debates rage on.

Quick slants

With the playoffs looming, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay wasn’t feel very secure about his kicking situation. So, he cut Lucas Havrisik and re-signed Brett Maher, who was cut after Week 7 in favor of Havrisik, In nine games, Havrisik missed a PAT or field goal try in six of the contests, and last weekend against the New York Giants he missed two PAT kicks. As McVay explained this week, experience was the driving motivation for the move. Just don’t think it’s automatic. Maher’s experience includes missing an NFL-record four PATs during an NFC wild-card round matchup last season at Tampa Bay, then following that up with a PAT miss at San Francisco. We’ll see whether the ‘experience’ will be a benefit during the postseason…The stunning revival of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense since Mason Rudolph replaced Mitch Trubisky could fuel an interesting decision for Mike Tomlin if they make the playoffs. Would Tomlin put Kenny Pickett, out for more than a month after ankle surgery, back in the lineup? Perhaps not. Rudolph has brought the deep ball back to Pittsburgh and avoided Trubisky-like turnovers as the Steelers have averaged 32 points per game during his two starts. During the coming offseason, there will be no dilemma about this: The Steelers will try to re-sign Rudolph while dumping Trubisky, who could collect $11.5 million on the final two years of his contract. The controversy could come if Tomlin doesn’t open up a competition between Rudolph and Pickett…A stunning stat to ponder as the Dolphins try to fend of the Bills on Sunday night and claim the AFC East title. Hill, aka The Cheetah, has averaged an incredible 38 yards on his 12 TDs this season. Now comes a Bills defense that has been burned repeatedly by big plays.