Here’s to the search for the next coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Good luck, prospects. Mike McCarthy gave it a shot, but in five years couldn’t take the franchise any further in the quest for championship glory than his predecessors – including Jason Garrett, Wade Phillips and Bill Parcells – so they are starting over again.

Of course, the drama will be thick. After all, this is Jerry Jones’ team. Following a week in limbo, when Jones and McCarthy engaged in meetings to review another season that turned to dust and project the future, it ended Monday with McCarthy, 61, becoming a coaching free agent and another key job posting hitting the NFL landscape.

Wanted: Head coach for an underachieving team. Lots of exposure attached to the NFL’s most valuable franchise. High salary comes with many perks. Must be willing to operate in the shadow of the league’s highest-profile owner (and GM). Immense pressure to produce tradition-rich franchise’s first Super Bowl berth after 29-year drought (and counting). Final say on personnel moves? Forget it. Comes with foundational talents Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons…and serious salary cap issues. Never mind the fan tours at team headquarters. They come with the culture.

There’s a healthy debate about how coveted the job will be for top-notch coaches – if you caught Cowboys legend Troy Aikman’s take on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” pregame show, there are significant doubts about that – but somebody’s gotta do it.

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Despite the perceived drawbacks, that the Cowboys job is on that mega stage – “only the big room,” is how Parcells described the lure of coming out of retirement for the gig in 2003 – will be enticing enough as one of only 32 in the league.

McCarthy came with his Super Bowl resume, yet despite getting the best out of Prescott and winning the locker room, the clock ran out. Never mind that the Cowboys (7-10 in 2024, following three consecutive 12-5 campaigns) played hard for McCarthy down the stretch, and all without Prescott, finished at midseason due to a hamstring injury. The compliments from Jones in recent weeks didn’t ensure that the coach, who publicly expressed his desire to return, were not valid clues after all.

In many ways, it seems that the course was set for McCarthy a year ago, when the Cowboys suffered arguably the worst playoff loss in franchise history at the hands of the Green Bay Packers. It also appeared to some degree that McCarthy was set up to fail after his contract wasn’t extended last year. The Cowboys signed Prescott and Lamb to top-market extensions, but they weren’t completed until the just before the start of the season and latter part of training camp, respectively, fueling drama. Even worse, the Cowboys had a miserable time of it during free agency – for instance, Derrick Henry wanted to play for Dallas, where he has a home, but didn’t even get a call for the Cowboys, with Jones contending they couldn’t afford him.

And look at Henry now. The Cowboys sure could’ve used him.

McCarthy ultimately couldn’t deliver the championship run that has eluded the Cowboys since the mid-1990s, when the franchise last played in an NFC title game. That his final, injury-battered unit was less talented than the previous groups offered no grace.

The thinking that Jones couldn’t find a better coach on the market will now have to be proven, while McCarthy, kept in check last week when Jones denied the Chicago Bears’ request to interview him, will interview with…the Bears.

But who fits with the Cowboys now?

It’s almost a given to expect that Kellen Moore, the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, would be a consideration. Moore, who transitioned from Prescott’s backup quarterback to begin his coaching career with the Cowboys, was thought of so highly by Jones that McCarthy inherited Moore as the hand-picked coordinator and play-caller when he took the job in 2020. Then again, Moore left for a reason in 2023, and his first year with the Eagles – boosted by Saquon Barkley’s phenomenal season – has included so many questions about the viability of the passing game.

Then there are the Detroit Lions coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Every team with an opening has targeted these two critical pieces to Detroit’s ability to seize the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Johnson, who pushes the buttons for a creative offense that the Cowboys were foil for during a rout in October, is a hot name on the market for the third consecutive season. Glenn’s stock, meanwhile, has skyrocketed as his defense has endured despite massive injury losses, including the fractured fibula and tibia that Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson sustained, incidentally, in Dallas. There’s also a familiarity factor with the high-energy Glenn, who played cornerback under Parcells for two seasons with the Cowboys.

Timing, though, could hamper Dallas in pursuing any of the coaches still in the playoffs. Per NFL rules, interviews with coaches from existing playoff teams can’t be conducted until their teams are eliminated – or after the Super Bowl. Had the Cowboys parted ways with McCarthy last week, though, they could have had virtual interviews with those top prospects during a window last week. Still, the possibilities can’t be ignored – even if the Cowboys are behind the eight ball because the process of cutting the cord with McCarthy dragged on.

Yes, this is Jerry’s team. Thus, you can never rule out the possibility of a stunning move that shocks the NFL landscape.

Hello, Coach Prime?

Multiple reports surfaced on Monday that said Jones has already spoken to Deion Sanders about the job, with the Colorado coach later confirming the connection. Stay tuned.

One thing for sure: Sanders could surely handle the big stage. And given his years with the Cowboys during his Hall of Fame journey (including a Super Bowl ring), there’s undoubtedly a connection with Jones. Shoot, nobody is better equipped to deal with the Cowboys’ circus-like environment than Sanders, whose rise during two seasons at Colorado has continually fueled questions about whether he wants to ultimately coach in the NFL.

Sanders has seemingly softened his previous position about not wanting to coach on the pro level. He recently maintained that he would be open to the idea if he could coach his sons, star quarterback Shedeur and safety Shilo. With Prescott receiving a massive contract extension in September that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid player, it’s a stretch to expect that Shedeur Sanders would wind up with the Cowboys. Yet a report last week in the Las Vegas Journal-Review maintained that Sanders has some interest in the Raiders’ vacant job. If he would consider the Raiders, why not the Cowboys? Especially if he’s flexible about, well, the quarterback. And Sanders, by the way, still has a home in the Dallas area.

In any event, Jones has maintained – going back to Sanders’ tenure at Jackson State, at least – that he saw the Hall of Famer as a potential NFL head coach.

Other stuff to ponder: Would Jones tap the college ranks and try luring Steve Sarkisian from Texas? Would he buck the NFL and go after Jon Gruden, despite the former coach’s lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell? Would he call the Pittsburgh Steelers and inquire about trading for the embattled but well-respected Mike Tomlin?

With Jones, you just never know. Remember, he came into the NFL in 1989 with a shock as he replaced the legendary Tom Landry with Jimmy Johnson, and that worked out. Then when he split with Johnson in 1994, he brought in another college coach, Barry Switzer.

Did you hear the one about Jason Witten? Fans have been making a lot of noise on the internet suggesting that the team pursue the Hall of Fame-credentialed former tight end who has begun his coaching career, and coaching his son, at Liberty Christian High School in Argyle, Texas.

Maybe Witten can be the next Coach Prime or the next Dan Campbell, tight-end-turned coaching star. Check back in 10 years.

With the current crisis, the Cowboys have a sense of urgency that just can’t wait.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell on X @JarrettBell.

Tiger Woods’  TGL (TMRW Golf League) debut was not what he was hoping for. 

The Los Angeles Golf Club, featuring Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala took down the Jupiter Links Golf Club, made up of Woods, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner, 12-1 on Tuesday at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

It was never close. LAGC jumped to a 5-0 lead early before Jupiter Golf Club even got their first point on the board. It appeared that Jupiter Golf Club was going to make a run on hole No. 7, but LAGC answered right back with Theegala’s nine-foot par putt to keep them from adding to their score. 

Jupiter Golf Club finished with six penalties on Tuesday.

How does the competition work? Think PGA Tour meets Top Golf. Players start by driving into a giant simulator screen before transitioning to a real green once their shot lands 50 yards or less from the hole. During the first nine holes, teammates alternate shots in the “triples” phase. The final six holes feature head-to-head matchups between players from each team, known as “singles.”

Here are the best highlights and results from Woods’ TGL debut match:

Hole No. 15: Sahith Theegala eagles final hole

The final hole of the TGL match virtually took golfers to the Grand Canyon. Sahith Theegala of LAGC sunk a 6-foot eagle putt to win hole No. 15 – a par-5, 729-yard hole – and defeat Homa to go up, 12-1. 

Hole 14: Collin Morikawa defeats Kevin Kisner, again

Collin Morikawa sunk a 4-foot putt to win the hole and extend LAGC’s lead to 11-1.

Hole 13: Tiger Woods loses to Justin Rose in nightmare hole

Tiger Woods couldn’t find his stride. His tee shot landed in the water on hole No. 13 (par-4, 464 yards), incurring a one-stroke penalty. All Woods could do was laugh. He found the bunker on his next stroke. To make matters worse, his bunker shot landed… in the bunker again. Justin Rose easily won the hole to put LAGC up 10-1. 

Hole 12: Max Homa, Sahith Theegala tie

Max Homa of Jupiter Links Golf Club got a little bit of luck on hole No. 12 (par-3, 200 yards). His shot landed in the bunker and hoped out onto the green. Homa’s luck, however, appeared to run out. His 34-foot birdie putt to win the hole drifted right and then he missed a 7-foot par putt. Homa went head-to-head with LAGC’s Sahith Theegala, who also missed a 13-foot parr putt. They tied the hole. 

Hole 11: Collin Morikawa defeats Kevin Kisner

Kevin Kisner of Jupiter Links Golf Club faced off against Collin Morikawa of LAGC on hole No. 11 (par-4, 535 yards). Kisner’s tee shot went out of bounds, incurring yet another penalty. “That’s like my third penalty of the day,” Kisner said. Morikawa took advantage to claim the hole to give LAGC a 9-1 lead. 

Hole 10: Justin Rose misses dagger vs. Tiger Woods

The competition shifts to the ‘singles’ segment, where one player from each team goes head-to-head on each hole. Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club faced off against Justin Rose of LAGC on hole No. 10 (par-5, 616 yards). Jupiter Links Golf Club threw out the Hammer ahead of tee shots, doubling the value of the hole. 

Tiger Woods missed a 15-foot par putt when he made it to the green. LAGC instantly threw out their own hammer flag to increase the hole’s value to three points with Rose less than 6-feet away from the hole. Rose missed his putt slightly to the left to keep the Jupiter Links Golf Club’s hopes of getting back into it alive. 

Charlie Woods in attendance

Tiger Woods’ biggest fan (or critic) is his 15-year-old son. Charlie Woods was in attendance at SoFi Center on Tuesday for his dad’s TGL debut with the Jupiter Links Golf Club and he apparently had a lot to say about the team’s lackluster performance.

“Charlie tried to give us a pep talk, which was just him saying we aren’t really good,” Max Homa said ahead of hole No. 10, as his team trailed 8-1. “I don’t know if that was a pep talk, but our spirits are still high.”

Kevin Kisner jokingly asked if Charlie wanted to take his place: “Charlie, you want to come play? Come sub in, man.” 

Hole 9: LAGC capitalizes on hammer, leads 8-1

The final hole of “triples” is here and the Jupiter Links Golf Club has some major ground to make up if they want to stay in this. Hole No. 9 (par-5, 586 yards) offered both teams a challenge, as they each ended up in the bunker opposite sides of the hole. LAGC managed to get out unscathed. Did we mention a hammer is in play?

Jupiter Links Golf Club’s Max Homa set Tiger Woods up with a 8-foot putt for par that would have tied the hole, but Woods missed to the left, giving LAGC two points. They now lead 8-1.

Hole 8: Justin Rose extends LAGC’s lead 6-1

With five seconds left on the shot clock, Justin Rose stepped up and knocked down a 14-foot putt to win hole No. 8 (par-4, 436 yards) and give LAGC a 6-1 lead. ‘I’m loving it, digging it and having fun,’ Rose said afterward.

Hole 7: Sahith Theegala saves hole, teams tie

Momentum looked like it was shifting to the Jupiter Links Golf Club, but then Sahith Theegala entered the chat. Jupiter Links Golf Club was on the verge of picking up its second-straight point on hole No. 7 (par-3, 234 yards). All that stood in their way was a 9-foot putt that Theegala had to nail in order to tie the hole. LAGC called a timeout to talk over the putt, which drew boo birds from the crowd. But then Theegala stepped up and sunk it.

‘That was huge honestly. That was really big,’ Theegala said afterward. ‘You never want to let these guys in. Against the GOAT, you don’t want to give any breathing room.’

Hole 6: Jupiter Links Golf Club wins first point

The Jupiter Links Golf Club is on the board. LAGC got off to a shaky start on hole No. 6 (Par-4, 474-yard) after Sahith Theegala’s tee shot ended up out of bounds, incurring a penalty shot. Collin Morikawa attempted to save his team with a Hail Mary on a 16-foot putt. He missed a hard to the left and LAGC conceded the hole to Jupiter Links Golf Club for their first point. LAGC leads 5-1.

Hole 5: Teams tie after hammer, timeout called

We have another hammer. This time, LAGC threw it down to double the value of hole No. 5 (Par-3, 170 yards) in an attempt to extend their lead. Tiger Woods nailed a 9-foot putt to give the Jupiter Links Golf Club a par. Justin Rose had to make a 6-foot putt to tie the hole, but Jupiter Links Golf Club attempted to ice him out by calling a timeout as Rose was about to attempt his putt. It didn’t matter. Rose nailed the putt to tie the hole. 

Hole 4: Tiger Woods’ hammer backfires; LAGC up 5-0

The Jupiter Links Golf Club is not afraid to throw down the hammer. They did so ahead of Woods’ tee shot that found the fairway on hole No. 4 (Par-5, 582 yards), but Kevin Kisner’s next stroke found the water and incurred a penalty. 

Meanwhile, LAGC safely found the green in two strokes. Justin Rose missed a 17-foot putt for the win, opening the door up for Tiger Woods to do some damage control. He had the opportunity to tie the hole, but missed a 7-foot putt. LAGC has a 5-0 lead.

Hole 3: Tiger Woods barley misses 42-foot putt, LAGC up 3-0

Tiger Woods almost won hole No. 3 (Par-3, 188 yards) for the Jupiter Links Golf Club on the green. Woods narrowly missed a 42-foot putt to the left. That opened the door for LAGC, who threw the hammer down to double the value of the hole ahead of Justin Rose’s 10-foot putt attempt for the win. Rose curled the ball in the pin to give his team a 3-0 lead. 

Hole 2: LAGC leads 1-0 

Adrenaline appeared to get the best of the Jupiter Links Golf Club on hole No. 2 (Par-5, 582 yard). Both Max Homa and Tiger Woods’ drives found the water. Homa’s shot was too far right, while Woods overshot the hole completely. Each water hazard incurred a stroke penalty and set the team back. ‘I don’t know what the hell happened. I don’t hit it that far. With my old body, I don’t know how it went that far,’ Woods laughed.

LACG took advantage of the errors and won the hole with a two-putt from Collin Morikawa.

Hole 1: Tiger Woods throws hammer, ties hole

The Jupiter Links Golf Club started off with a bang. Tiger Woods dropped the hammer ahead of his drive on hole No. 1 (Par-4, 376 yards), doubling the value of the hole to two points. 

“That was awesome,” Woods said after his opening drive. “Seriously man, that was the best. We get this place hopping with a little hammer. Let’s go.” 

Both teams ended the hole in a tie after finishing par. 

WATCH: Tiger Woods chooses ‘Eye of the Tiger’ as walkout song for TGL

The 15-time major winner makes his TGL debut at SoFi Center tonight, and the question on everyone’s mind was what music would the 49-year-old golf legend walk out to? Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one, Tiger Woods opted for the classic 1982 rock hit ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor.

This came after the rest of his Jupiter Links team came out to the T.I. song ‘Bring Em Out’ and the entire Los Angeles team came out to ‘California Love’ by 2Pac and Dr. Dre. Unlike the rest of tonight’s contestants though, Woods’ career accomplishments were not read aloud by the MC. He walked out on his own, with only the song and cheers from the crowd. That’s the kind of aura Woods brings to the table. — Jon Hoefling

Serena Williams in the building

We have a GOAT sighting at SoFi Center and we aren’t talking about Tiger Woods. Serena Williams was on hand in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida to watch Los Angeles Golf Club take on Jupiter Links Golf Club, alongside husband Alexis Ohanian. The broadcast showed her applauding the golfers as they made their grand entrances. 

The question is, who will Williams root for? She has allegiances to both clubs. Despite residing in Palm Beach Gardens, the 23-time major winner and Southern California native is the team owner of LAGC.

When is the TGL match between LAGC vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club?

Tiger Woods’ debut TGL match between his Jupiter Links Golf Club and the Los Angeles Golf Club is scheduled for Tuesday and tees off at 7 p.m. ET at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

How to watch the TGL match between LAGC vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club

The TGL match between Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club and the Los Angeles Golf Club will be televised nationally on ESPN with streaming available on ESPN+.

Watch TGL action with a Fubo subscription

TGL: Los Angeles Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club odds

The Los Angeles Golf Club are favorites to defeat Jupiter Links Golf Club, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 14

Moneyline: Los Angeles Golf Club (-175); Jupiter Links Golf Club (+145)

TGL odds tournament winner

Los Angeles Golf Club and Bay Golf Club are favored to win the inaugural season, according to BetMGM. Here are the remaining odds for the season.

Los Angeles Golf Club (+350)
The Bay Golf Club (+350)
Boston Common Golf (+375)
Atlanta Drive GC (+450)
New York Golf Club (+550)
Jupiter Links Golf Club (+800)

TGL predictions: Los Angeles Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club

Golfweek: Gut says Jupiter Links Golf Club

Riley Hamel writes: ‘If you think I’m picking against Tiger Woods, you’re insane. Riding with the GOAT and two grade-A trash talkers in Max (Homa) and Kiz (Kevin Kisner) on Tuesday night.’

Sports Illustrated: Take Los Angeles

Iain MacMillan writes, ‘Unless a lack of walking will allow Tiger to turn back the clock and Kisner can look better than he has in two years, we could be in for a second straight blowout.’

Covers: Los Angeles Golf Club

Neil Parker writes, ‘Unlike last week, the proper team is favored in the golf odds for this match, and I don’t think the Los Angeles Golf Club is chalky enough. Laying -170 odds might not jump off the page as a first-click option, but it has an implied probability of just 63% that L.A. will win, and I think it’s far closer to 70% (-233).’

Sports Illustrated: The Bay GC to win season

Iain MacMillan writes, ‘Los Angeles GC and Boston Common GC have all four members of the team inside the top 50 in the world but both teams also sit atop the odds list with much shorter odds than we can get with The Bay GC at +460.

‘With alternate shot playing a significant role in the outcome of matches, I’d much rather bet a team with depth than one that’s top-heavy.’

LAGC vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club: Who is playing in tonight’s TGL match?

Los Angeles Golf Club will send out Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala for tonight’s match. Jupiter Links Golf Club counters with Tiger Woods, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner.

What is TGL?

TGL, which unofficially stands for Tomorrow’s Golf League, is a new tech-infused golf league that will partner with the PGA Tour. The idea behind it is to combine the latest in golf technology with in-person competition.

TGL’s format is designed to, in Woods’ words, ‘bring a fresh, modern, and fast-paced twist to the game we all love so much.’

It will include a shot clock, timeouts, and both team and individual match play. The league will be comprised of six teams, with four players on each team for the inaugural 2025 season. — Steve Gardner

Is Tiger Woods playing TGL golf?

Woods and the Jupiter Links Club face the Los Angeles Golf Club, featuring golfers Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala, Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose. The LAGC is owned by Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams, Venus Williams; and limited partners Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers, Alex Morgan, Servando Carrasco, Michelle Wie West, Tisha Alyn. — Elizabeth Flores

TGL teams: Rosters for debut golf league

Here are the six teams and their players competing in the first season of TGL:

Atlanta Drive GC

Patrick Cantlay
Lucas Glover
Billy Horschel
Justin Thomas

Boston Common Golf

Keegan Bradley
Hideki Matsuyama
Rory McIlroy
Adam Scott

The Bay Golf Club

Ludvig Åberg
Wyndham Clark
Shane Lowry
Min Woo Lee

Jupiter Links Golf Club

Max Homa
Tom Kim
Kevin Kisner
Tiger Woods

Los Angeles Golf Club

Tommy Fleetwood
Collin Morikawa
Justin Rose
Sahith Theegala

New York Golf Club

Matt Fitzpatrick
Rickie Fowler
Xander Schauffele
Cameron Young

TGL format: Rules for the inaugural season

Each TGL match is a competitive showcase of skill and strategy, consisting of two intense sessions. The first session is a nine-hole, 3-on-3 alternate-shot format known as ‘triples.’ In the second session, golfers compete in singles, going head-to-head over six holes, with each player playing two holes. A shot clock set to 40 seconds adds to the pressure, as any shot clock violation incurs a one-stroke penalty.

Each hole is worth one point. If the teams are tied at the end of regulation, the match will proceed to overtime. During overtime, players compete head-to-head, and the team that lands their shot closest to the pin will be declared the winner. — Elizabeth Flores

TGL schedule

All Times Eastern

TGL regular season

Tuesday, Jan. 7

The Bay Golf Club def. New York Golf Club, 9-2

Tuesday, Jan. 14

Los Angeles Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday, Jan. 21

New York Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Jan. 27

Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday, Feb. 4

Boston Common Golf vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Feb. 17

Atlanta Drive GC vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Atlanta Drive GC vs. The Bay Golf Club, 4 p.m. (ESPN)
The Bay Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, Feb. 18

Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Feb. 24

Los Angeles Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Boston Common Golf vs Atlanta Drive GC, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, Feb. 25

The Bay Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, March 3

The Bay Golf Club vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
New York Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, March 4

Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

TGL semifinals

∎ March 17-18

The top four teams in the SoFi Cup standings compete in the semifinals.

TGL championship

∎ March 24-25

The championship series will be a best-of-three matches.

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Editors note: USA TODAY Sports is covering tonight’s TGL match. Click here for the latest news, updates and highlights.

The inaugural season of the TGL, spearheaded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley, continues tonight as the Jupiter Links Golf Club takes on the Los Angeles Golf Club in the league’s second match of the season.

The TGL held its first ever match last week, when the Bay Golf Club dominated the New York Golf Club, but Tuesday’s matchup is drawing even more interest due to one simple fact: Tiger Woods is playing for Jupiter Links.

The 15-time major winner makes his TGL debut at SoFi Center tonight, and the question on everyone’s mind was what music would the 49-year-old golf legend walk out to?

Tiger Woods has spent most of his lengthy career shielding his inner most thoughts from the rest of the world. However, as the tweet above keenly points out, this may be a rare opportunity to peer into the psyche of one of the greatest golfers of all-time.

Here’s what he chose:

Tiger Woods’ entrance for TGL

Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one, Tiger Woods opted for the classic 1982 rock hit ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor.

This came after the rest of his Jupiter Links team came out to the T.I. song ‘Bring Em Out’ and the entire Los Angeles team came out to ‘California Love’ by 2Pac and Dr. Dre. Unlike the rest of tonight’s contestants though, Woods’ career accomplishments were not read aloud by the MC. He walked out on his own, with only the song and cheers from the crowd. That’s the kind of aura Woods brings to the table.

What is TGL?

TGL stands for TMRW Golf League, a reference to TMRW Sports, the name of company that Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley founded to get the league and several other projects off the ground.

It is a new tech-infused golf league in partnership with the PGA Tour that’s designed to combine the latest in golf technology with in-person competition. It will include a shot clock, timeouts and both team and individual match play. — Steve Gardner.

How to watch TGL

Tonight’s TGL matchup will be televised by ESPN. It can also be live streamed on ESPN+ or Fubo.

Stream the TGL matchup with an ESPN+ subscription

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A Philadelphia Eagles fan who verbally harassed a visiting spectator has been banned from attending any future events at Lincoln Financial Field, a person with direct knowledge of the decision confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday.

The person requested anonymity because they said they were not authorized to discuss the incident, in which the Eagles fan referred to a female Green Bay Packers fan as a ‘ugly, dumb (expletive)’ during the Eagles’ 22-10 win in a wild card game Sunday. Her fiancé captured the exchange on video and posted it on social media, where it had been viewed more than 26 million times as of Tuesday.

‘What it’s like going to Philly just trying to root for your team…,’ Alexander Basara wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in a post accompanying the video. ‘Unprovoked, uncalled for. Packers twitter, help me out and find this guy…. this is not okay. I hate that my fiancé [sic] had this happen simply cheering for her team.’

The 43-second video shows the Eagles fan leaning down to yell an inaudible statement at Basara’s fiancé, who was wearing Packers gear, after an in-stadium announcement about the result of an official’s review. Basara told the Eagles fan not to describe his fiancé as a ‘dumb (expletive),’ which he then repeats back to her.

‘You going to do anything?’ the fan asks Basara. ‘Then shut the (expletive) up.’

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

The Eagles fan has not been identified by the team or another official source. But BCT Partners, a management consulting firm based in New Jersey, released a statement on social media Monday about ‘a video circulating involving an employee making offensive remarks outside of the workplace.’ The company denounced the behavior and said it has opened an investigation ‘to determine what actions will be taken.’ A BCT Partners spokesperson did not immediately reply to an email seeking more information.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The 2025 NFL playoffs are marching onto the divisional round as the league’s battle for Super Bowl 59 continues.

Wild card weekend treated fans to one close contest and a series of blowouts. The divisional round figures to be much more competitive.

Why? The group of quarterbacks set to participate in the four games is among the best we’ve seen during a postseason in recent memory.

The NFL’s top two MVP candidates face off in a battle on the AFC side of the bracket, while a three-time Super Bowl champion squares off against the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year in the other AFC game. The NFC side also features a quartet of high-caliber quarterbacks, including a recent Super Bowl winner and several players who have routinely been in the MVP mix.

The stacked field of quarterbacks should make the games competitive, and potentially unpredictable. It also begs a key question: How do the remaining playoff quarterbacks stack up against one another?

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

Here is USA TODAY Sports’ ranking of the quarterbacks remaining in the 2025 NFL playoffs based on how they have played this year.

NFL QB power rankings for divisional round of NFL playoffs

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Passer rating: 119.6 (1st)
QBR: 77.3 (2nd)
PFF grade: 94.8 (1st)

Jackson may just have a 3-4 record in the playoffs, but he is playing at the highest level of his career right now. He is coming off what will likely end up being his third MVP season in seven years while setting career-best marks in passing yards (4,172), passing touchdowns (41) while throwing just four interceptions.

Not only is Jackson an elite passer, but he is also the best and most elusive running quarterback in the NFL. He is slippery in space but also has the speed needed to rip off massive chunks of yardage. That’s how he racked up an additional 915 yards and four scores on the ground, giving him over 5,000 scrimmage yards and 45 touchdowns for the season.

Jackson’s dual-threat ability was on display in the wild card round, as he handled 15 carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That marked his highest carry total since Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. If he continues to be a willing, high-volume runner while remaining as efficient as he has been through the air (he had a league-best 119.6 passer rating), it’s hard to imagine any quarterback outperforming him.

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Passer rating: 101.4 (8th)
QBR: 77.4 (1st)
PFF grade: 92.5 (3rd)

If any quarterback can match Jackson head-to-head, it’s Allen. The Bills signal-caller was considered the MVP favorite for much of the 2024 NFL season until Jackson caught up to him during the season’s final month. Allen finished the season with 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and a career-low six interceptions while adding 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

Allen’s style is different than Jackson’s. The Bills star is powerfully built at 6-5, 237 pounds and uses his big-bodied frame to run over players rather than around them. He also has arguably the NFL’s strongest arm, which allows him to make explosive passing plays down the field.

Allen has just a 6-5 record in the postseason, but his numbers during it are among the best in the league. He has completed 65.4% of his passes for 2,995 yards, 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions in his 11 starts. He has also added 609 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, giving him an average of 327.6 total yards per playoff game played.

Watching Allen and Jackson go head-to-head after a season’s worth of MVP debate will surely be a treat for NFL fans. While Jackson’s current form is slightly better than that of Allen, it would hardly be a surprise to see the long-time Bill outplay his fellow 2018 draftee.

3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Passer rating: 93.5 (16th)
QBR: 67.8 (8th)
PFF grade: 85.8 (7th)

What you’re probably thinking: How can Mahomes only be No. 3 overall on this list? He has won three Super Bowls, including back-to-back championships, and is fresh off a 16-1 season with the Chiefs.

While that’s true, Mahomes had a below-average season by his standards. He has been a starter for seven seasons, but the 2024 campaign saw him set career-low marks in passing yards (3,928) and passing touchdowns (26) over that span. That’s partly because he wasn’t asked to carry the Chiefs as much in high-scoring affairs, as Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has developed into one of the top units in the NFL.

Mahomes remains a Houdini-like presence who is hard to bring down in the pocket and who can throw from all sorts of different arm angles. His creativity as a passer alone could be enough to catapult him to No. 1 on this list, especially after he completed a career-best 67.5% of his passes this season.

Still, Mahomes is lagging slightly behind Jackson and Allen statistically this season. He draws into the No. 3 slot as a result, but his Chiefs could easily make the Super Bowl yet again – and he will play the biggest part in their quest for a three-peat.

4. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Passer rating: 111.8 (2nd)
QBR: 68.4 (6th)
PFF grade: 81.8 (12th)

Jackson, Allen and Mahomes are the clear-cut Tier 1 quarterback options in this postseason, as they represent the three best quarterbacks in the NFL right now (though Joe Burrow might have something to say about that).

Things get muddled moving onto the second tier, which contains a mix of younger quarterbacks and veterans who are proven passers but lack mobility. Goff falls into the latter category, but his skills as a passer are enough to make him the most trustworthy of these options.

Goff is coming off a season that saw him post a career-best 111.8 passer rating, which was second-best in the NFL behind Jackson. He completed 72.4% of his passes, including an early-season game during which all 18 of his throws were completed, and logged a career-high 37 touchdown passes.

Goff has complete command of Ben Johnson’s offense in Detroit, and his comfort in that system will make him a big-time postseason threat. He is prone to the occasional blow-up, as evidenced by his five-interception game against the Houston Texans, but the fact remains when Goff is on, he is one of the NFL’s most efficient passers. That makes him and the Lions offense very difficult to consistently stop.

5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Passer rating: 100.1 (11th)
QBR: 70.5 (4th)
PFF grade: 90.1 (5th)

Is this premature? It’s possible, but Daniels looks like the NFL’s next elite, young quarterback. The presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year helped carry the Commanders to the 2025 NFL playoffs and earned them a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thanks to his dynamic playmaking.

Daniels has had three games during his rookie season where the Commanders neither turned the ball over nor punted. By comparison, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning and Mahomes have done that twice combined, according to CBS Sports’ Doug Clawson.

Granted, that stat is also is impacted by coaching, as Dan Quinn tends to be aggressive in fourth-down situations. Still, Daniels gives him a reason to be, as the rookie helped Washington convert a league-high 82.14% of its fourth downs in 2024. He simply seems to know how to get the yardage needed for a first down in key situations, just as he did on this run to guarantee the Commanders a game-tying field-goal attempt as time expired against the Buccaneers.

It will be interesting to see if Daniels can continue to be clutch in late-game situations after earning five fourth-quarter comebacks during his 13 wins thus far during his rookie season. Either way, he appears to be a clutch, star in the making after completing 69% of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and just nine interceptions as a rookie.

6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Passer rating: 103.7 (5th)
QBR: 65.4 (10th)
PFF grade: 76.3 (19th)

A case can certainly be made that Hurts deserves to be ahead of Daniels on this list. The Eagles starter helped get his team to the Super Bowl in 2023 and has posted passer ratings of 101.5 or better in two of the last three seasons.

Hurts is one of the most powerful quarterback runners of his group as well. He is compactly built at 6-1, 223 pounds, and that, along with his powerful leg drive, is what has made the Eagles’ ‘tush push’ play nearly unstoppable for the better part of three seasons. He is also an accurate passer, and completed 68.7% of his passes this year while tossing just five interceptions.

Why then is Hurts ranked sixth on this list? It’s all about opportunities. Hurst has made the most of his, but the Eagles have averaged a league-low 26.1 passing attempts per game. The Eagles have preferred to run the ball with Saquon Barkley, so that has eaten into Hurts’ ability to make explosive plays as a passer and off scrambles.

Hurts is still doing a great job in his role as evidenced by his efficiency, and he could still carry the Eagles if they run into a team that can contain Barkley. Still, the 2,000-yard rusher looks more like Philadelphia’s offensive engine right now than Hurts, so that will drop him just below the greener Daniels in a tight battle.

7. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Passer rating: 93.7 (15th)
QBR: 65.0 (12th)
PFF grade: 76.3 (20th)

You know you have a good group of playoff quarterbacks when a Super Bowl winner checks in this low on the list. Stafford is coming off an excellent game against the Minnesota Vikings during which he threw for 209 yards and a touchdown after a red-hot start to the blowout.

In that game, Stafford showed everything he does well. He got the ball out of his hands quickly and threw with accuracy and anticipation while distributing the ball to his group of quality receiving weapons. That kept Brian Flores’ blitz-happy defense off balance, something Stafford does very well.

Stafford’s field-reading skills give him one of the highest floors among the quarterbacks on this list. The soon-to-be 37-year-old’s only issue is he isn’t very mobile and doesn’t like to move off his spot in the pocket, if he can help it. Stafford can still occasionally scramble for a few yards and has the ability to navigate a pocket, but he doesn’t have the same sort of running ability that most of the remaining quarterbacks do.

For those wondering why Stafford is being penalized for that more than Goff, it’s because Stafford has been more prone to bouts of inaccuracy this season, as evidenced by his solid but unspectacular 65.8% completion rate.

That said, Stafford still has the passing talent needed to top the second-tier quarterbacks – if he’s at his best. This ranking represents his floor; he has a much higher ceiling.

8. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Passer rating: 87.0 (26th)
QBR: 50.2 (29th)
PFF grade: 77.8 (T-16th)

Stroud was the belle of the ball after leading the Texans to a playoff win last year. This time around, the energy surrounding him is different. He had a sophomore slump during his second NFL season and saw his completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns dip while his interception total more than doubled.

That may sound bad, but it’s still worth noting that Stroud posted a decent stat line, completing 63.2% of his passes for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. More importantly, he led the Texans to a 10-7 record and another playoff win, setting them up to once again try to win a divisional playoff game for the first time in franchise history.

Stroud is a prototypical NFL passer and has the arm talent needed to great long-term starter. He needs to improve his accuracy and consistency, but there’s little doubt that he is an above-average quarterback.

Still, above-average won’t be enough to place Stroud ahead of any of the other quarterbacks on this list. He might be able to take a step forward next year and work his way up the pecking order, especially if his top receiving weapons – Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs (if he re-signs) – can stay healthy in 2025.

Even when awaiting the birth of his child, Patrick Mahomes made sure to be locked into the NFL playoffs.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and wife Brittany welcomed their third child, a daughter Golden Raye Mahomes, on Sunday, joining three-year-old daughter Sterling Skye and two-year-old Patrick Lavon III, nicknamed ‘Bronze.’

The birth of baby No. 3 came at a perfect time for the couple since Mahomes’ Chiefs secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and had Wild Card Weekend off before starting their postseason run in the divisional round. It’s what the couple was hoping would happen.

But as the couple awaiting the arrival of Golden Raye, the three-time Super Bowl MVP was allowed by the expecting mother to catch some of the action across the postseason over the weekend.

‘It was cool that football was on TV while I was in the hospital, so I was able to watch a little bit,’ Mahomes said on Tuesday. ‘Brittany was kind enough to let us watch football as she was getting ready to give birth to our second daughter.’

All things Chiefs: Latest Kansas City Chiefs news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Mahomes said his wife ‘crushed it’ giving birth and he also talked about what it was like to welcome the newest addition to the family.

“It’s been cool to welcome another baby girl in our family and see how my other kids react to her and having a baby sissy and stuff like that. So it’s been a lot of fun,’ he added.

Now with his third child and two weeks off from playing — he sat out the regular season finale against the Denver Broncos before the bye — Mahomes has his eyes set on trying to get Kansas City to become the first three-peat champion in the Super Bowl era. The Chiefs will host the Houston Texans in the divisional round on Saturday.

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UAB football coach Trent Dilfer was on the radio Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama, explaining the Blazers’ plight in trying to keep up financially with other schools in the American Athletic Conference.

Dilfer mentioned during the appearance on WJOX-FM there were two teams in particular “that will go to our roster and sign double or triple what these guys can make on our roster and make them backups on their roster, so we can’t have them.”

But the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback and ESPN analyst emphasized in the interview he was not going to name those two teams. But, Tulane coach Jon Sumrall took a different approach with Dilfer’s comments. 

Through his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sumrall reshared a clip of Dilfer’s appearance Tuesday and tagged the social media accounts of Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield and South Florida coach Alex Golesh. Sumrall also included eyeball and wink emojis for his thinly-veiled response.  

Add tweet-baiting opposing coaches about money problems to the many ways in which college football has changed now that the players are being paid and recruiting is increasingly just free agency on steroids. 

But this social media kerfuffle does highlight another layer of separation occurring between the haves and have nots within college football. While the growing divide among the power conferences and the Group of Five leagues is a frequent topic of discussion as college sports become more professionalized, there also appears to be a chasm developing within certain non-power conferences based on how much schools are willing and able to spend. 

Memphis is receiving significant NIL support from FedEx, which last year announced an NIL initiative with the university’s athletic department worth $5 million annually. The Fowler Ave Collective aligned with USF announced a goal to raise $3.5 million for 2024. Tulane’s athletic department announced last week it raised a record $3.6 million in fiscal year 2024, with a goal to eclipse $4 million for the first time this year.

“When you have people in our conference that have four to six players making more individually than our entire payroll,” Dilfer said Tuesday, ‘you better be able to provide them something else to show them value.”

Dilfer, 52, is coming off a disappointing second season at UAB and faced increasing scrutiny for the team’s performance, 3-9 record and dwindling attendance.. He’s 7-17 overall since being hired after a two-year stint coaching high school football at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Memphis football has grabbed at least two former UAB players from the transfer portal this winter – defensive back Chris Bracy and linebacker Everett Roussaw. Tulane, meanwhile, received a commitment from former UAB defensive lineman Derrick Shepard Jr. last month. USF has not yet gotten a player from UAB out of the transfer portal this offseason. The Blazers have had 29 players enter the transfer portal this offseason, according to 247 Sports.

Memphis finished with 11 wins for the second time in program history in 2024, but have not qualified for the AAC championship game under Silverfield. Tulane lost to Army in the AAC championship game in Sumrall’s first season. USF went 7-6 and won a bowl game for the second season in a row with Golesh. 

This is all happening as every school prepares for the potential implementation of revenue sharing as a result of the House vs. NCAA settlement that received preliminary approval from a federal judge last October. It would permit schools the ability to directly pay their athletes as much as $22 annually. A final approval hearing has been scheduled for April 7.

The NHL is back from its holiday break, and trades can resume after the lifting of the holiday roster freeze.

So far, there have been 15 trades, four coaching changes, plus extensions signed by Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger, Alexis Lafreniere, Linus Ullmark and others. Other top players also remain eligible for extensions, including Mikko Rantanen, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Brock Boeser.

There will be more trades as teams build toward a Stanley Cup run or make moves for their long-term future. The trade deadline is on March 7.

Follow along here this season for signings, trades, transactions and other news from the NHL:

Jan. 14: Canadiens’ Emil Heineman out after accident

Montreal Canadiens forward Emil Heineman will be out three to four weeks after being hit while crossing a street in Utah. The team said the accident occurred Monday and Heineman suffered an upper-body injury. ‘He got hurt crossing a street yesterday,’ coach Martin St. Louis told reporters on Tuesday. ‘I don’t think it was at a high speed but enough to cause some damage. It’s unfortunate.’ The Canadiens are in Salt Lake City to play the Utah Hockey Club. Heineman, 23, has 17 points in 41 games this season. He ranks third among NHL rookies with 10 goals.

Also: Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point is a healthy scratch Tuesday after missing a team meeting. … The Boston Bruins placed defenseman Charlie McAvoy on the injured list. … New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider was activated from the injured list.

Jan. 12: Penguins’ Michael Bunting misses game after car accident

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Michael Bunting missed Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being involved in a car accident outside PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Coach Mike Sullivan told reporters that everyone in the accident was OK. In other Penguins news, Evgeni Malkin is going on the injured list, and Philip Tomasino was activated. Malkin, who missed a fourth consecutive game on Sunday with an undisclosed injury, remains day-to-day, Sullivan said.

Jan. 11: Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren goes on injured list

Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren went on the injured list Saturday, a day after he was knocked down in the crease and left a game. Capitals forward Brandon Duhaime checked Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, who collided with the goalie. Lindgren was stretching his neck as he got up. He left a few minutes later, replaced by Logan Thompson.

Lindgren and Thompson have been alternating starts this season. The Capitals called up Hunter Sheppard.

Jan. 10: Oilers’ Evander Kane has knee surgery

Evander Kane will need more time before he makes his season debut after he had knee surgery on Thursday. The Edmonton Oilers said Kane would need four to eight weeks of recovery time, which will pause his rehab from the abdominal surgery he had in September. Kane, 33, had 24 goals last season plus eight points in the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final. He was unable to play the final five games of that round because he had been slowed in the playoffs by a sports hernia. He has another year left on his contract at a $5.125 million cap hit.

Also: The Utah Hockey Club called up Josh Doan after a lower-body injury to Dylan Guenther, who’s out indefinitely. … The Ottawa Senators signed forward Ridly Greig to a four-year, $13 million contract extension.

Jan. 9: Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin, Matt Rempe to return to lineup

New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said goalie Igor Shesterkin will start Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils. He had missed four games with an upper-body injury. Recently claimed Arthur Kaliyev will make his Rangers debut.

Rangers forward Matt Rempe will return from his eight-game suspension and play in the game. He had received a four-game suspension last season for a hit in a game against the Devils. He said he’ll have to pick and choose the hits he makes because of the previous suspensions. ‘If it’s any way in doubt, I’m feeling like I’ll err on the side of caution because I’m a marked man right now so I got to keep it clean,’ he told reporters.

Also: The Columbus Blue Jackets placed the team’s No. 3 scorer, Sean Monahan, on the injured list (upper body) and called up Owen Sillinger. … The Utah Hockey Club recalled goalie Connor Ingram from a conditioning stint. Last year’s Masterton Trophy winner for perseverance has missed 22 games.

Jan. 6: Rangers claim Arthur Kaliyev off waivers from Kings

Arthur Kaliyev, 23, had two seasons of double-digit goals, though he dropped to seven goals last season. He has yet to play in the NHL this season because of injury but completed a five-game conditioning stint. The former second-round pick averages about 12 minutes a game. He’ll likely fill a bottom-six role after the Rangers’ earlier trade of Kaapo Kakko.

Jan. 5: Ducks re-sign Frank Vatrano for three years

The Anaheim Ducks are often sellers leading up to the trade deadline, but they lock in their third-leading scorer, Frank Vatrano, for three years. He would have drawn a lot of interest if the Ducks had made him available. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the deal is worth $18 million but deferred money lowers the salary cap hit to $4.57 million. He scored 37 goals last season and has 20 points this season. He had a three-point night after the signing was announced.

Jan. 3: Bruins re-sign Mark Kastelic

The rugged forward’s deal averages $1.567 million a year. He was tied for the team lead with 76 penalty minutes and had 151 hits.

Dec. 31: Rangers placing Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve, per reports

As if the New York Rangers’ problems were bad enough, they now will be without star goalie Igor Shesterkin for a while. ESPN reported that the team is placing him on the injured list with an upper-body injury and recalled Louis Domingue. Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren had checked Sam Bennett in the last game and the Florida Panthers forward collided with Shesterkin, who stayed in the game. The Rangers goalie recently signed an eight-year, $92 million contract that will make him the highest-paid netminder. The Rangers have lost four in a row and 15 of their last 19 games.

Dec. 28: Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche make trade

The Nashville Predators called up forward Vinnie Hinostroza, the American Hockey League’s leading scorer, then traded forward Juuso Parssinen to the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche also get a 2026 seventh-round pick and the Predators get back forward Ondrej Pavel and a 2027 third-round pick.

Hinostroza, a 374-game NHL veteran, signed a two-year deal with the Predators in the offseason but had spent the entire season in the AHL. So has Pavel. Parssinen had five points in 15 games with Nashville this season. The Predators and Avalanche swapped backup goaltenders earlier in the season.

Dec. 27: Avalanche give extension to Mackenzie Blackwood

The Colorado Avalanche gave goalie Mackenzie Blackwood a five-year extension 18 days after acquiring him in a trade. Terms weren’t disclosed, but reports said it was worth $5.25 million a year, up from the current cap hit of $2.35 million in his contract that expires this summer.

The Avalanche goaltending struggled at the beginning of the season, and Colorado traded Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators for Scott Wedgewood on Nov. 30. The Avalanche shipped out Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 9 for Blackwood.

Blackwood has gone 3-1 with a 2.03 goals-against average and .931 save percentage since arriving.

Also: Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, who’s tied for fourth in the NHL in scoring, is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Dec. 26: Red Wings fire coach Derek Lalonde, hire Todd McLellan

The Detroit Red Wings fired coach Derek Lalonde on Thursday after two-plus seasons and brought in veteran Todd McLellan to try to turn around the season.

McLellan, 57, who won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings as an assistant coach in 2008, was signed to a multi-year contract as the franchise’s 29th head coach. He has a 598-412-134 regular-season record over 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, making the playoffs nine times. He was with the Red Wings from 2005-08 and left after the championship season to join the Sharks.

Associate coach Bob Boughner also was fired, and Trent Yawney was hired as an assistant coach. The Red Wings had lost nine of their last 12 games to follow to seventh place in the Atlantic Division

Dec. 19: Bruins waive forward Tyler Johnson

The Boston Bruins placed forward Tyler Johnson on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating the one-year contract he signed in November. That would make him free to pursue opportunities with other teams. Johnson had two points in nine games this season and the move follows the Bruins claiming Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers.

Dec. 18: Rangers trade Kaapo Kakko to Kraken

The New York Rangers get back defenseman Will Borgen and 2025 third- and sixth-round picks in exchange for Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick of 2019. The trade happened less than a day after Kakko complained about being a healthy scratch. ‘It’s just easy to take the young guy and put him out,’ he said Tuesday. ‘That’s how I feel.’

Kakko, 23, has never matched the expectation of being that high a pick, getting 40 points in his top season in 2022-23. He has 14 points this season and was named by Finland to the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The trade is the second recent shake-up move by the sliding Rangers, who dealt captain Jacob Trouba, a defenseman, to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6. Borgen, who was taken by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, had 20 or more points and averaged nearly 200 hits the past two seasons but has just two points and a minus-13 rating this season.

In other trades Wednesday:

The Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators swapped defensemen with Justin Barron, 23, heading to Nashville in exchange for Alexandre Carrier, 28. Carrier signed a three-year deal this offseason and the Predators save $2.6 million in cap space with the trade.
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman P.O. Joseph from the St. Louis Blues for future considerations. Joseph will help the Penguins with defenseman Marcus Pettersson out with an injury. Joseph played his first four NHL seasons with Pittsburgh.

Dec. 18: Justin Schultz retires after 12 NHL seasons

Defenseman Justin Schultz, 34, who won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced his retirement after 12 seasons with four NHL teams. Originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2008, he couldn’t reach terms with that team and joined the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent in 2012, making the all-rookie team. Schultz was traded to the Penguins in 2016 and won championships that season and the following season. He played two seasons each with the Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken, finishing his NHL career with 71 goals and 324 points in 745 games. Schultz signed to play in Switzerland this season but stepped down after eight games.

Dec. 14: Blues acquire Ducks’ Cam Fowler in trade

The St. Louis Blues give up minor league defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka and a 2027 second-round pick to land defenseman Cam Fowler, 33, who spent his entire NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks. St. Louis also gets a 2027 fourth-round pick and the Ducks retain about 38.5% of Fowler’s remaining salary.

The Blues, who will be without Torey Krug (ankle) this season, get a veteran defenseman who averages more than 21 minutes a game in ice time. Fowler was moved eight days after the Ducks acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba in a trade.

“This was a difficult trade to make considering what Cam has meant to this organization,” general manager Pat Verbeek said. “He has been a valuable and respected member of our team for 15 seasons, representing the Ducks with ultimate class. … After meeting with Cam several times over the last few months, it became clear to both of us it may be time for a change.”

Also: The Boston Bruins claimed forward Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from the New York Islanders. The Maine native had played for Boston College in 2018-19.

Dec. 13: Islanders waive Oliver Wahlstrom, Pierre Engvall

The New York Islanders have placed forwards Oliver Wahlstrom and Pierre Engvall on waivers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports. The move happened after injured forwards Mat Barzal and Anthony Duclair returned to practice. Engvall, who signed a seven-year contract in 2023, passed through waivers earlier this season and played six games in the American Hockey League. He has six points in 20 games. Wahlstrom, a 2018 first-round pick, has four points in 27 games.

Also: The Minnesota Wild claimed defenseman Travis Dermott off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. The Wild placed defenseman Jake Middleton on long-term injured reserve after he was hit in the hand by a shot on Thursday night. … The Vegas Golden Knights signed forward Keegan Kolesar to a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension.

Dec. 12: Canucks’ J.T. Miller returns from personal leave

Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller said he was returning from his personal leave and played Thursday night against the Florida Panthers. The Canucks announced his leave of absence on Nov. 19. The team went 5-3-2 while he was away.

Miller, who has 16 points in 17 games this season and topped 100 last season, said he wouldn’t answer questions about why he was away from the team.

‘I’m excited to play,’ he said. ‘I want to play and obviously a fun game against the defending champions. Just happy to be around the guys and looking forward to tonight.’

Miller skated a little more than 14 minutes, had two assists and won 60% of his faceoffs.

While he was away, he was named to Team USA for February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Also: Anaheim Ducks forward Travis Zegras had surgery for torn meniscus in his right knee and is expected to miss six weeks. … The Utah Hockey Club claimed defenseman Dakota Mermis off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dec. 10: Kevin Shattenkirk announces retirement

Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk announced his retirement on Tuesday after 14 NHL seasons with seven teams. He won a Stanley Cup in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Drafted 14th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2007, he also played for the St. Louis Blues (five 40-point seasons), Washington Capitals, New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks before joining the Boston Bruins in 2023-24 for what would be his final season.

Shattenkirk, 35, finishes with 103 goals, 381 assists and 484 points in 952 career games, plus 48 points in 91 playoff games. He scored in overtime during Game 4 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.

Dec. 9: Avalanche land Mackenzie Blackwood in goalie trade with Sharks

The Colorado Avalanche’s season-opening goaltending tandem of Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen is out after a subpar start. Now they’re running with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood after separate trades with the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators, respectively.

The Blackwood trade is the latest one and includes forward Givani Smith and a draft pick going to Colorado, while forward Nikolai Kovalenko and two picks go to San Jose. Blackwood has a .904 save percentage to Georgiev’s .874, and he made 49 saves in his last game. Georgiev was pulled in his second-to-last start.

GOALIE SWAP: Full details of Avalanche-Sharks trade

Dec. 6: Rangers trade Jacob Trouba, extend Igor Shesterkin

The sliding New York Rangers dominated the news Friday by trading captain Jacob Trouba and giving Igor Shesterkin an eight-year extension that makes him the highest-paid NHL goalie.

The Rangers officially announced the extension on Saturday.

The Trouba trade happened first Friday with the Rangers getting back defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick. But the biggest part is the Anaheim Ducks took on Trouba’s $8 million cap hit, giving the Rangers flexibility. Trouba, who has struggled this season and didn’t waive his no-trade clause this summer, adds a veteran presence to the young Ducks. He and new teammate Radko Gudas are two of the hardest hitters in the league.

Shesterkin will average $11.5 million in his new deal, according to reports, moving him past Carey Price ($10.5 million) as the top-paid goaltender. The Rangers rely heavily on Shesterkin, who faces a lot of high-danger shots.

Also: The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens pulled off a minor trade. Forward Jacob Perreault, son of former NHL player Yanic Perreault, heads to Edmonton for defenseman Noel Hoefenmayer. … The Carolina Hurricanes placed forward Brendan Lemieux on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract. He requested the move so he can pursue another opportunity, general manager Eric Tulsky told the team’s website.

Dec. 5: Blackhawks fire coach Luke Richardson

The last-place Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson. Anders Sorensen, coach of the Blackhawks’ Rockford IceHogs team in the American Hockey League, was named interim head coach.

The move happened with generational player Connor Bedard going through a sophomore slump and unhappy with his production. He recently ended a 12-game goal drought and didn’t make the Canadian roster for this season’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

‘As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary,’ general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement about the coaching move.

Richardson leaves Chicago with a 57-118-15 record.

Dec. 4: Stars’ Tyler Seguin to have hip surgery, miss 4-6 months

The Dallas Stars announced that forward Tyler Seguin will have surgery on his left hip on Thursday and is expected to miss four to six months. That timeline would have him out of the lineup until near the end of the regular season or into the playoffs. Seguin, 32, had been having a strong season, ranking third on the team with 20 points in 19 games.

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF: Rosters announced

Nov. 30: Wild acquire defenseman David Jiricek from Blue Jackets

The Minnesota Wild acquired former first-round pick David Jiricek, 21, from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a package that includes 22-year-old defenseman Daemon Hunt and a package of draft picks including a top-five protected 2025 first-round pick. Jiricek, a 2022 sixth-overall pick who had been sent to American Hockey League, will report to the Wild’s AHL team. The other picks heading to Columbus: 2026 third- and fourth-rounders and a 2027 second-rounder. The Wild get a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Nov. 30: Predators, Avalanche swap goaltenders

The Colorado Avalanche acquired backup goalie Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators for backup goalie Justus Annunen and a sixth-round pick. The Avalanche, who have the league’s third-worst team goals-against average, were expected to make some sort of goaltending move but not necessarily this one. Annunen, 24, has slightly better stats this season, but he’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Wedgewood, 32, who was signed in the offseason and played five games for the Predators, has another year left on his contract.

Also: The NHL fined Boston’s Nikita Zadorov and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin $5,000 each for an exchange in Friday’s game. Zadorov poked Malkin with his stick from the bench, and the Penguins star responded with a slash toward the bench, hitting Mason Lohrei.

Nov. 25: Penguins acquire Philip Tomasino from Predators

Philip Tomasino (one point in 11 games) is the final year of his contract so the struggling Nashville Predators get something in return, a 2027 fourth-round pick. The equally struggling Pittsburgh Penguins get another person for their bottom six. The former first-round pick’s best season was 32 points as a rookie in 2021-22.

Nov. 24: Blues fire coach Drew Bannister, hire Jim Montgomery

In a surprising move, the St. Louis Blues on Sunday fired Drew Bannister after less than a year as coach, replacing him with former Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.

The announcement from Blues president and general manager Doug Armstrong comes with the team losing 13 of its first 22 games this year. Bannister had taken over for Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube last season and had his interim tag removed at the end of the season.

Montgomery, a former assistant to Berube, has an overall regular-season record of 180-84-33 as a head coach with Boston and Dallas. He was just let go by the Bruins last week after they lost 12 of their first 20 games. – Steve Gardner

Nov. 22: Golden Knights sign Brett Howden to five-year extension

Forward Brett Howden will average $2.5 million in the five-year contract extension. He plays in the Vegas Golden Knights’ bottom six and has eight goals this season.

After the Golden Knights lost free agents Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others from their 2023 Stanley Cup title team this summer, they’ve been working to get extensions done early. Defensemen Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb signed recently. Goalie Adin Hill and Keegan Kolesar also are pending unrestricted free agents from that championship team.

Also: Seattle Kraken captain Jordan Eberle had surgery on his pelvis and will be out at last three months.

Nov. 21: Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen to have knee surgery

This marks the fourth season in a row that Andersen has missed extended time. He was limited to 16 games last season with a blood-clotting issue and missed more than two months of 2022-23 with a lower-body injury. An injury kept him out of the 2022 playoffs.

Pyotr Kochetkov is the Hurricanes’ No. 1 goalie in Andersen’s absence. Andersen, 35, is in the final year of his contract.

Nov. 19: Canucks’ J.T. Miller out indefinitely for personal reasons

‘Right now, our sole focus is making sure that J.T. knows the entire organization is here to support him,’ general manager Patrik Allvin said. ‘Out of respect to J.T., we will have no further comment at this time.’

Miller ranks second on the Canucks and is their top-scoring forward with 16 points in 17 games. He scored 103 points last season.

Nov. 19: Boston Bruins fire coach Jim Montgomery

The Boston Bruins made Jim Montgomery the first coaching casualty of the 2024-25 NHL season, firing him less than two seasons after he was named coach of the year.

Associate coach Joe Sacco, a former Colorado Avalanche head coach, will take over behind the bench as the interim head coach.

The move came after a blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Montgomery, who was in the final year of his contract, was let go with the team sitting at 8-9-3 and sporting poor underlying numbers.

BRUINS: More details on coaching change

Nov. 19: Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin out with leg injury

Alex Ovechkin’s chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record is temporarily on hold after the Washington Capitals star left Monday night’s game with an injury.

The team announced Tuesday that Ovechkin is week-to-week with an injury to his lower leg after he absorbed a leg-on-leg hit from Utah Hockey Club forward Jack McBain during the third period.

Ovechkin had been on a torrid scoring pace this season. Before Monday’s injury, he had scored twice in the 6-2 win over Utah, giving him five goals in the last two games and a league-leading 15 goals in 18 games.

Also: The Edmonton Oilers claimed forward Kasperi Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues. He provides speed and depth to a team that hasn’t received much scoring from the wings this season.

Nov. 18: Islanders’ Mike Reilly to have procedure on heart

General manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters that the pre-existing heart condition was discovered during routine testing for a concussion that had sidelined the defenseman since Nov. 1.

‘It’s probably a blessing in disguise of what transpired,’ Lamoriello said. ‘They detected this, something that you’re sometimes born with, but never knew.’

He said Reilly has been cleared from the concussion.

Nov. 15: Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin returns from suspension

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin returned Friday night from his six-month suspension. He was suspended during the playoffs last May under Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He also was in the program for about two months earlier in the 2023-24 season and missed part of the 2023 playoffs for personal reasons. Nichushkin is a key offensive contributor with 28 goals in 54 games last season. Injured forwards Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood also returned Friday.

Also: The Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Brayden McNabb, the franchise leader in games played, to a three-year contract extension that averages $3.65 million a year.

OILERS: Connor McDavid is fourth fastest to reach 1,000 points

Nov. 13: Sabres claim goalie James Reimer off waivers

The Buffalo Sabres claimed goaltender James Reimer off waivers, bringing him back to where he signed a free agent contract in the summer. Reimer was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks off waivers earlier this season when the Sabres tried to send him to the American Hockey League. The Ducks put him on waivers after the return of injured goalie John Gibson. Reimer, on a one-year, $1 million contract, played two games in Anaheim with a 4.50 goals-against average. No. 1 Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was hurt in Monday’s loss but hasn’t been ruled out for Thursday’s game.

Also: Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm will be out ‘weeks’ with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot, coach Jim Montgomery said.

Nov. 12: Capitals reacquire Lars Eller in trade with Penguins

Center Lars Eller, 35, is a familiar face for the Washington Capitals after playing in Washington from 2016-23 and winning a Stanley Cup there in 2018. He kills penalties and is strong in the faceoff circle. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ side of the trade might be more interesting. They get a 2027 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder, and this also could be an indication that the Penguins are shaking up the roster after a disappointing start. Eller’s trade will allow the team to give more ice time to younger players. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent.

Also: The Winnipeg Jets claimed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche and loaned him to their American Hockey League affiliate. They had lost him on waivers to the Avalanche last month.

Nov. 11: Flames’ Anthony Mantha to have season-ending surgery

Also: The Colorado Avalanche placed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers. They had claimed him off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets last month.

Nov. 9: Penguins recall veteran goalie Tristan Jarry from minors

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled two-time All-Star goalie Tristan Jarry from his conditioning stint in the American Hockey League. Jarry was loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Oct. 26 after recording a 5.37 goals-against average and .836 save percentage. His AHL numbers were 2.16, .926.

Also: The Philadelphia Flyers made rookie Matvei Michkov a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game.

Nov. 8: Kraken acquire Daniel Sprong from Canucks

The Seattle Kraken landed Daniel Sprong, one of their former players, in exchange for future considerations. The Kraken have struggled to score this season and Sprong had 21 goals for them two seasons ago. The forward has scored double-digit goals five times. He had one goal with Vancouver this season.

Nov. 7: Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov to be healthy scratch

Coach John Tortorella called the move ‘part of the process.’

‘With young guys, they can watch games, too, as far as development,’ he told reporters. ‘It’s trying to help them.’

Michkov, 19, has 10 points in 13 games and a minus-8 rating and was NHL rookie of the month in October. He had just one point in his last five games and his ice time dropped in the last four.

Nov. 4: Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini ready to return from injury

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, is ready to return to action after aggravating an injury in the season opener, according to NHL.com.

He took part in practice Monday on the top line with Tyler Toffoli and Mikael Granlund and is looking to play his second game season Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Celebrini said he reinjured his hip on his first shift of the opener but played the full game and had a goal and assist. He has missed 12 games. The Sharks opened the season 0-7-2 but are 3-1 in their last four games.

Also: St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. He needed help getting off the ice Saturday after he was checked by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner. … The Boston Bruins signed forward Tyler Johnson to a one-year, $775,000 contract. He won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning and spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Nov. 2: Islanders’ Mathew Barzal, Adam Pelech go on injured list

New York Islanders No. 1 center Mathew Barzal was placed on long-term injured reserve with an unspecified upper-body injury. He’ll be out four to six weeks. He had 80 points in 80 games last season but had been limited to five points in 10 games this season as the Islanders have struggled to score.

Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech also will be out four to six weeks after being hit in the face by a puck. He went on the injured list.

Oct. 30: Sharks acquire Timothy Liljegren from Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs get defenseman Matt Benning, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder. Liljegren, 25, had been limited to one game in Toronto this season, and the Maple Leafs recently committed to blue-liner Jake McCabe with a five-year extension. But Liljegren should fit in well in San Jose, which is building around younger players. Benning, 30, and Liljegren are signed through 2025-26.

This is the second day with an NHL trade after none previously since the season opened in North America.

Oct. 29: Utah acquires defenseman Olli Maatta from Red Wings

The Utah Hockey Club gives up a third-round pick as it addresses a desperate need for a veteran defenseman. Sean Durzi and John Marino are out long-term after surgery. Utah has been leaking goals during a four-game losing streak, including blowing a 4-1 lead late in the third period against the previously winless San Jose Sharks. Maatta is solid defensively and has nearly 700 games of NHL experience.

Oct. 28: Maple Leafs sign Jake McCabe to five-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Jake McCabe to a five-year extension with an annual average value of $4.51 million. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports there is some deferred money in the deal. McCabe, 31, had been acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in a February 2023 trade and ranks fourth on the team in average ice time this season. He has three assists in nine games and a team-best plus-6 rating.

Also: The New York Rangers recalled rugged forward Matt Rempe from the American Hockey League after he played two games there. The Rangers play the Washington Capitals on Tuesday in what has become a feisty rivalry.

Oct. 26: Penguins send goalie Tristan Jarry to minors

The Pittsburgh Penguins sent two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry to their American Hockey League affiliate on a conditioning loan after his early season struggles. He had been sent home from the Penguins’ road trip to work on his game after recording a 5.47 goals-against average and .836 save percentage in three games. He was pulled from his last start on Oct. 16 and gave up six goals in the opener.

Jarry is in the second season of a five-year contract that carries a $5.375 million cap hit. Rookie Joel Blomqvist has had the most starts in the Penguins net this season and Alex Nedeljkovic recently returned from an injury.

Also: The New York Islanders signed rugged forward Matt Martin for the rest of the season. He had been to camp on a tryout agreement after spending 13 of his 15 seasons with the Islanders.

Oct. 25: Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere gets seven-year extension

The New York Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere have agreed to a seven-year extension as he builds on last season’s breakthrough. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick will average $7.45 million in the deal, according to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. That’s up from this year’s $2.325 million cap hit. Lafreniere, 23, broke through with 28 goals and 57 points last season and added eight goals and 14 points in the playoffs. He is averaging a point a game this season through seven games and scored his fourth goal of the season on Thursday. He is signed through 2031-32.

Oct. 24: Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore signs for seven years

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore will average $7.425 million in the extension, which kicks in next season and runs through 2031-32. Getting him signed now is important after the Golden Knights lost Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others from their 2023 Stanley Cup team to free agency during the summer.

Theodore, 29, is the franchise’s top-scoring defenseman with 296 points and has opened this season with seven points in six games. Vegas’ top three defensemen (also Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin) are signed through at least 2026-27.

Oct. 23: Utah’s Sean Durzi, John Marino out long-term after surgery

The Utah Hockey Club, who beefed up their defense in the offseason, will be without two key blueliners long-term after they had surgery.

Sean Durzi, who was injured in an Oct. 15 game, will miss four to six months after shoulder surgery. John Marino, who has yet to play this season, is out three to four months after back surgery.

Utah added defensemen Mikhail Sergachev, Marino and Ian Cole in the offseason. Durzi, acquired last season when the team was in Arizona, signed a four-year, $24 million contract during the summer.

In other injury news, St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas has a fractured ankle and will be evaluated in six weeks.

Oct. 22: Panthers give coach Paul Maurice contract extension

Maurice, who joined the Panthers in 2022-23, went to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season and won it last year. His 29 playoff wins are a franchise record.

He has 98 regular-season wins with Florida and his 873 career wins rank fourth all time in NHL history.

Also: The Blues signed forward Jake Neighbours to a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension.

Oct. 17: Stars’ Jake Oettinger signs eight-year contract extension

The Dallas Stars signed goalie Jake Oettinger to an eight-year, $66 million contract extension that kicks in next season. The $8.25 million cap hit matches the deals recently signed by the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman and Senators’ Linus Ullmark.

Oettinger has led the Stars to the Western Conference final the past two seasons.

Oct. 12: Aleksander Barkov, Macklin Celebrini are injured

The NHL season is young, but two prominent players are already out with injuries.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will miss two to three weeks after crashing leg first into the boards while trying to prevent an empty net goal on Thursday. His stick had broken but he couldn’t stop Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle from scoring. The time frame should allow Barkov to participate in the two Global Series games against the Dallas Stars in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 1-2. Barkov is the first Finnish NHL captain to win the Stanley Cup. He won the Selke Trophy last season for the second time as top defensive forward.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks placed No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Coach Ryan Warsofsky said Celebrini is week-to-week. He had been dealing with an injury in training camp but played in this week’s season opener, scoring a goal and an assist.

Oct. 11: Avalanche claim goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers

The Colorado Avalanche claimed Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets. Colorado lost 8-4 in the opener, with Alexandar Georgiev giving up five goals and backup Justus Annunen giving up two goals on four shots. The Avalanche are Kahkonen’s fourth team in a year. He split time last season between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils.