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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. 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.

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To understand what makes the Dow Jones tick, you have to first understand one of the key differences between the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 indices. There are a few, but none more critical than the following:

Index Weighting

The S&P 500 is market-cap weighted, meaning that companies with the highest market capitalization have a stronger hand in moving the S&P 500 index value. Currently, these are the companies that play the largest role in moving this benchmark index, including their weighting:

AAPL – 7.58%NVDA – 6.59%MSFT – 6.27%AMZN – 4.11%GOOGL – 4.02%

These are 5 of the Mag 7 stocks and they carry 28.57% of the entire weighting of the benchmark S&P 500 index. It’s easy to see how the S&P 500 can be swayed easily by the performance of just these 5 stocks.

Well, guess what? We need a cute lil name for the Top 5 price-weighted stocks in the Dow Jones, because their collective weight is 32.43% of the entire Dow Jones Industrial Average. The Dow Jones, by contrast, is a price-weighted index. The highest priced stock carries the most weight, while the lowest priced stock carries the least weight. Market capitalization plays NO role in the weighting. Want to know who the “Fabulous 5” are? Here ya go:

GS – 8.25%UNH – 7.29%MSFT – 6.07%HD – 5.60%CAT – 5.22%

All 5 of these stocks now trade beneath their declining 20-day EMAs and only one (MSFT) still shows a 20-day EMA above its 50-day SMA. In other words, 4 of the 5 have experienced “death crosses”, which are bearish technical developments.

Looking at the RRG

Here’s another way to look at the change that’s taken place within the Fabulous 5, just over the past 5-6 weeks. But before we do that, let’s first pull up the chart of the entire Dow Jones:

Heading into December, there was a solid uptrend on the Dow’s absolute chart and mostly sideways relative action after a very strong relative performance in July. Since early December, even late November, everything has headed south on the Dow Jones.

We can now take a look at an RRG as of early December to show how the Fab 5 were leading at that time:

This shows how each of the Fab 5 were performing relative to the benchmark S&P 500. 4 of the 5 were situated on the right side of the chart in the leading or weakening quadrants. This means they were relative leaders. Now, just a handful of weeks later, check out how these 5 stand relative to the S&P 500:

All 5 are currently residing on the left side of this chart, indicative of relative weakness, not strength. Momentum is building in the majority of the companies, so if that continues, we could begin to see relative outperformance of the Dow Jones again. For now, though, caution is the word.

One last thing. I’ve updated my Dow Jones Components ChartList and have numbered them 1 to 30, in price order, which reflects the highest-weighted to lowest-weighted stocks in the Dow Jones. I’m sorting this ChartList based on 1-month performances (SCTR scores are also reflected):

Of the 7 worst 1-month performers, 5 of them are in the Top 7 in terms of market weight. In other words, many of the worst recent performers in the Dow Jones also happen to be among the most heavily-weighted. Also, it’s important to note that many of the top-weighted Dow Jones stocks are also among the worst relative performers, as measured by SCTR scores (StockCharts Technical Rank, a form of relative strength). This combination is what has been crushing the Dow Jones. Until this changes, the Dow Jones will remain under relative pressure vs. the other major indices.

My Favorite Dow Jones Component

There are a number of ways to rank the potential of the various Dow Jones component stocks for 2025 and, obviously, it depends on your criteria. But I’ll be providing my FAVORITE Dow Jones stock (and why) for 2025 in Monday’s EB Digest, our 100% free newsletter. If you’re not already an EB Digest subscriber, and you’d like to check out my pick for 2025, please CLICK HERE and enter your name and email address. Again, it’s completely free and there’s no credit card required!

Happy trading!

Tom

The 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot is stacked with second basemen.

Ian Kinsler is one of three on the ballot, joining former Arizona State University teammate Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley. He’s also one of 14 players appearing on the ballot for the first time.

The Hall of Fame is comprised of 348 elected members, including 275 former major league players. Of those, only 20 are second basemen − one of the fewest by position. The last second baseman to join the gang in Cooperstown was Craig Biggio in 2015.

Kinsler was a true second baseman. He played 15,857 innings in the field, with all but three of those innings at second.

His case for the Hall is an interesting one. He was known for his intensity and was an above-average player in multiple facets of the game. He could hit for power, run and was an excellent fielder.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

The 17th-round pick in the 2003 draft played 14 seasons in the majors, mostly with the Texas Rangers (2006-2013) and Detroit Tigers (2014-17). He had short stints with the Los Angeles Angels (2018), Boston Red Sox (2018) and San Diego Padres (2019), then went on to represent Team Israel in 2021 at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. He was a member of the 2018 World Series champion Red Sox and retired with a .269 batting average, 257 home runs, 909 RBI and 243 stolen bases.

Here’s a closer look at Kinsler’s Hall of Fame candidacy:

The case for Ian Kinsler

Kinsler’s credentials begin with Wins Above Replacement. His WAR of 54.1 is the 19th-highest for a second baseman in history. His WAR is also higher than eight second basemen who are already in the Hall.

During the prime of his career from 2007-2016, he had WAR of 48.5, which ranked sixth among position players during that span. He trailed only Robinson Cano (57.5), Adrian Beltre (56.2), Albert Pujols (55.3), Miguel Cabrera (54.8) and Pedroia (50.6).

Kinsler was also known for his power and speed. He retired with 257 homers, eighth-most among second basemen in baseball history, and 243 stolen bases. He’s one of seven second basemen with 200-plus homers and 200-plus stolen bases.

He’s also one of only three second baseman in history to record a 30-30 season, accomplishing the feat in both 2009 and 2011.

And his 185 homers out of the leadoff spot are the fifth-most in MLB history, behind Rickey Henderson, Mookie Betts, George Springer and Alfonso Soriano.

The case against Ian Kinsler

Kinsler retired with 1,999 career hits, falling just short of a milestone that most Hall of Fame candidates have on their resume. His 1,999 hits also rank 29th among second basemen.

He also falls short in traditional measuring sticks. For example, of the 179 players who logged at least 4,000 plate appearances and 50% of their games at second base, his career batting average of .269 ranks 89th.

And lastly, his case is hurt by the lack of accolades. Over 14 seasons, he only had four All-Star appearances and two Gold Gloves.

Voting trends

Kinsler is one of 14 players making their ballot debut − a group headlined by pitcher CC Sabathia and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. Through 119 public ballots in Ryan Thibodaux’s Hall of Fame voting tracker, Kinsler had only received four votes, totaling 3.2% support. He’ll need about 16 more votes to reach 5% in the final tally and stay on the ballot.

Bottom line

There’s a better chance that Kinsler falls off the ballot in his first year than he ever receives 75% of the vote.

Inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2022, Kinsler helped Texas win the American League pennant in 2010 and 2011 and holds the club records for a second baseman with a .273 batting average, 156 home runs and 539 RBI over 1,066 games from 2006-2013.

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(This story has been updated with new information)

Defense wins championships.

It’s an overused sports saying, but one that Ohio State football’s Jack Sawyer proved once again to be true.

With the game on the line in the fourth quarter of Friday’s College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, the Buckeyes’ 6-foot-5 defensive lineman stripped the ball from Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and returned it to the house for an 83-yard touchdown.

It’s the longest scoop-and-score in the history of the College Football Playoff per ESPN’s broadcast.

Watch: Jack Sawyer scores touchdown on stripped fumble

To make Sawyer’s moment even sweeter, it came again his freshman-year roommate at Ohio State: Ewers transferred to Texas after one season at Ohio State and has become one of the top quarterbacks in college football with the Longhorns.

‘Can’t say enough about Jack Sawyer. He’s a guy who loves being a Buckeye. He loves his teammates. He’s done everything we asked him to do,’ Ohio State coach Ryan Day told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge postgame about Sawyer. ‘He’s everything that we could possibly ask for in a captain.

He added: ‘He just became a legend at Ohio State.’

Here’s a look at Day and Sawyer sharing a moment on the field after Sawyer’s touchdown:

Sawyer’s scoop-and-score was the fourth play of a crucial goal-line stance by Ohio State’s defense, after defensive pass interference penalties were called back-to-back on Lathan Ransom and Jermaine Mathews Jr., respectively, put Texas at the 1-yard line.

On first-and-goal, Ohio State held Texas running back Jerrick Gibson to no gain. Ransom then tackled Quintrevion Wisner for a loss of 7 yards on second-and-goal, before Ewers threw an incomplete pass on third down. Then came Sawyer’s play that etched his name further into Ohio State history.

‘Just means everything to me,’ Sawyer, who grew up a Buckeyes fan and lived 30 minutes away from Ohio Stadium in Pickerington, Ohio, told ESPN’s Holly Rowe on being able to make the play.

‘I was just put in a good position by the coaches. I saw the ball popping out right to me after I tackled him. I was just thinking, I just got to keep saying my feet because like I said, I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw anything but green grass ahead of me.’

Before heading into the locker room to celebrate the win, Sawyer even shared with Rowe what Ewers said to him as the two trotted of the field.

‘He said, ‘Screw you’ and started laughing,’ Sawyer with a laugh. ‘That’s my boy. Obviously we roommates when he was here. Got a lot of respect for him and the rest of the Texas team. I mean, that’s a great team that took it four quarters. They had a great season, shout out to them too.

Sawyer finished with three total tackles, two broken-up passes, two quarterback hurries, a sack, a forced fumble and touchdown on the night against Texas.

Ohio State held to beat Texas 28-14 following Sawyer’s heroics, sending the Buckeyes back to the CFP national championship game.

No. 8 seed Ohio State will now face No. 7 seed Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, Jan. 20.

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President-elect Donald Trump indicated that he plans to push 100 — or around 100 — executive orders after assuming office, senators and reports have indicated, with the number varying slightly.

Trump, who will take office later this month on Jan. 20, met with Senate Republicans on Wednesday.

During a Thursday morning appearance on ‘Fox & Friends’ Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said that Trump indicated that there are almost 100 executive orders to address issues like border security and U.S. energy.

‘He threw that out — 100 — there could be like 100 EOs, yeah. I believe him.’ Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., noted to The Hill.

Senators were provided previews regarding some of what they were informed would be 100 executive orders, two sources noted to Axios. Stephen Miller, who Trump has tapped to serve in his new administration, discussed plans for using executive authority to tackle border and immigration beginning day one, the outlet reported.

The Associated Press claimed that Trump is readying more than 100 executive orders beginning day one, and had informed GOP senators during the meeting. ‘There will be a substantial number,’ Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., noted according to the outlet.

Fox News Digital emailed a Trump spokesperson with a request for comment on Saturday, but did not receive a response in time for publication. 

Signing scads of executive orders would enable Trump to unilaterally push his agenda after returning to the Oval Office, but GOP lawmakers also plan to work with him to enact his legislative priorities as well.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have both declared their intent to push the president-elect’s agenda.

‘Biden is doing everything possible to make the TRANSITION as difficult as as possible, from Lawfare such as has never been seen before, to costly and ridiculous Executive Orders on the Green New Scam and other money wasting Hoaxes. Fear not, these ‘Orders’ will all be terminated shortly, and we will become a Nation of Common Sense and Strength. MAGA!!!’ Trump declared in a post on Truth Social earlier this week.

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On Friday night, Texas will take on Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, with an appearance in the College Football Playoff championship game on the line.

If the Longhorns lose, it may very well be the final game of their starting quarterback’s college career.

Ewers has been the Longhorns’ starter each of the past three seasons and has another season of eligibility remaining, should he choose to use it. 

This season, he has completed 66.5% of his passes for 3,189 yards, 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading his team to a 13-2 record and a semifinal appearance. Many of his most important statistics are worse than they were in 2023, when he completed 69% of his passes for 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions and helped guide the Longhorns to a Big 12 championship and their first College Football Playoff appearance.

Interest in Ewers’ future comes from a number of different angles.

Should he enter the 2025 NFL draft, as he seemingly indicated to ESPN he would, he’s widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the class. If he remains in college, though, there’s a question of whether he would hold on to the starting job at Texas, where redshirt freshman and former five-star recruit Arch Manning has served as his backup the past two seasons, or whether he would enter the transfer portal, where he would immediately become one of the most sought-after quarterbacks available.

On Dec. 31, On3 Sports reported that Ewers had been offered a $6 million name, image and likeness deal to transfer. The report, which cited unnamed sources, did not name specific schools courting Ewers.

‘I think that’s selfish of me to be even thinking about it or looking at that,’ Ewers said earlier this week ahead of the Cotton Bowl. ‘I owe my teammates the best version of me right now. I can’t be looking forward or I’ll trip on the rock that’s sitting right in front of me. I’ve got to be locked in on what’s right here.’

Ewers entered the college game with no shortage of hype. He was the No. 1 overall recruit nationally in the 2021 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports, and is one of the highest-graded quarterback prospects in the history of recruiting websites.

The Southlake, Texas, native began his college career at Ohio State, where he became one of the first college athletes with a known NIL deal. He spent one season serving as a backup to C.J. Stroud with the Buckeyes before transferring after the 2021 season and committing to Texas.

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Three plays later, Texas was facing fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line. The Longhorns’ scoring opportunity turned into a disastrous 14-point swing for Ohio State, as Jack Sawyer strip-sacked Quinn Ewers and returned the fumble 83 yards for a touchdown. It arguably was the most pivotal play in the Buckeyes’ 28-14 win.

The second-most pivotal play may have come two downs earlier. After all, how did the Longhorns move back seven yards after facing first-and-goal at the 1?

Texas and coach Steve Sarkisian dialed up a toss to the left sideline, which was run down by Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Though he didn’t make the tackle, he forced Quintrevion Wisner back far enough that Ohio State was able to tackle him for the huge loss.

‘That’s one of those plays, if you block it all right, you get into the end zone,’ Sarkisian said after the game. ‘We didn’t, and we lost quite a bit of yardage.’ 

Here’s how social media reacted to Texas’ play call in the important moment:

Social media reacts to Texas’ toss play vs Ohio State

Here are the best reactions to Texas’ toss play call late in the fourth quarter against the Buckeyes on Friday night:

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As 2025 kicked off, many Americans began their quest for a healthier year ahead by committing to more exercise, a renewed focus on mental well-being, a healthier diet, and ‘Dry January’ (that is, a month without alcohol consumption). Then U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released his latest advisory linking alcohol to an increased risk of cancer.  

Specifically, the advisory highlighted an increased risk in mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, breast (in women), liver, and colon and rectum cancers among those who consume any amount of alcohol. Further, the report states that alcohol consumption leads to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths in the U.S. each year, making it the third leading preventable cause of cancer after tobacco and obesity. 

I believe many of us have long suspected alcohol was not necessarily ‘good’ for us. But what I think we did not know – or perhaps did not want to fully acknowledge – was just how bad it could be for our health. In fact, 60% of Americans report being unaware of the relationship between alcohol and cancer. Hopefully, this advisory begins the process of educating the public of this important health-related link. 

Since the advisory’s publication, Americans have raised numerous questions about what the government may do next, what the findings mean for them, and how they should consider the findings in their daily lives.  

Here’s what to know and to keep in mind. 

How does alcohol cause cancer? 

From a 30,000-foot view, alcohol damages your DNA, which increases your cancer risk. This occurs through several different mechanisms. For example, our DNA can be damaged by acetaldehyde, the toxic metabolite alcohol is broken down to in our body, or by the oxidative stress alcohol causes.  

Alcohol also alters hormone levels in our body, such as estrogen, which likely explains alcohol’s relationship with increased breast cancer risk. Not only does alcohol directly damage our DNA, but it also increases the absorption of cancer-causing chemicals, or carcinogens, into the body. So, while we may think of a glass of wine or beer as calming or relaxing for our body, it – in fact – does the exact opposite, causing inflammation.  

What comes next? 

The advisory lays the groundwork for action – by the government, physicians and our fellow Americans. 

Murthy suggests that the surgeon general’s warning label on alcohol be updated to clearly note the link between alcohol and cancer. Such a labeling change would require an act of Congress, and I believe this should be done quickly on a bipartisan basis. What’s one thing we can all rally behind? Reducing cancer among our family, friends and neighbors. 

However, this is not a ‘silver bullet’ strategy. While one study assessing cigarette warning labels showed that more comprehensive, larger, and graphic labels better communicate health risks of smoking to the public, another suggested they did not have an actual effect on smoking behavior.  

So, if we extrapolate what this may mean for the future impact of an updated surgeon general’s warning label on alcohol, the effect may be nominal. Further, it is important to note that this was the result despite the cancer risk being substantially higher for cigarettes than alcohol when they’re consumed at comparable amounts. 

But updating the warning label is a start to the needed education to raise general awareness and physician ‘buy-in’ that Murthy also highlights are important ‘action items.’ We must work collaboratively to increase knowledge of the alcohol and cancer risk relationship, not only in the media but in more personal settings, such as doctors’ offices and across our local communities. A targeted strategy is needed to deliver on the potential of an education program to reduce alcohol consumption. 

Lastly, we must always make sure that policy follows the latest, up-to-date science. It’s OK to not know, but we need to be clear with the public when that is the case. For example, the current definition of moderate drinking (one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men [one drink is 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor]) is relatively arbitrary and using it as a ‘scientific’ guide can be misleading and confusing. As Murthy noted, we must reassess these definition ‘cut-offs.’ 

What are some of the limits of what we know? 

While the current research overwhelmingly shows a link between alcohol consumption and cancer, the details of what we do not know also matter. The evidence suggests that cancer risk is directly proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed, meaning that if you drink more alcohol, your risk of cancer increases. This makes sense – alcohol is a toxin and the more toxins you put in your body, the worse it should be for you. 

But is it only the quantity that matters? Does the risk differ by alcohol ‘quality’ (for example, a natural wine or high-quality wine versus one with more additives) or type of alcohol? Is there a ‘safe’ limit? What role does genetics play? Do other preventative measures, such as healthy, clean eating and exercise, ‘offset’ your cancer risk from alcohol use, and – if so – by how much?   

These questions highlight only some of what we do not know, and it is important to note that they do not discredit the central fact – alcohol and cancer are directly linked. But what it does show is that there is more research to be done, especially to reduce some of the bias, or confounders, in the current data used to date. This makes sure the most complete evidence is available to guide education and policy making.

From a 30,000-foot view, alcohol damages your DNA, which increases your cancer risk. 

So, what does all of this mean for you? 

We should commend Murthy for bringing this information into the national spotlight. Information is empowering, and now – after reading this piece – I’m confident you can make a more knowledgeable decision for yourself about how much and how often to drink alcohol. 

From my perspective, I strongly believe that moderation is key, and I will continue to stress this as a physician and follow this approach in my own life. While many may stop drinking alcohol altogether after this advisory was published, I urge all others to strive to moderate their intake.  

Personally, I will still enjoy a social beer here or a glass of wine there. At the same time, however, I plan to decrease my alcohol consumption overall. It’s an individual decision, and as a cancer survivor (testicular cancer) myself, I still want to ‘live my life’. 

Ultimately, I challenge all of us to take a step each day to be a bit healthier – eat better, drink less, work out more and support our mental and spiritual health and well-being. 

The opinions, thoughts, and ideas expressed in this article are those of the author only and not necessarily those of any employers or institutions of which he is affiliated.

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The stock market is in pullback mode with the S&P 500 EW ETF down 5.15% over the past month and down 1% year-to-date. This makes it a good time to monitor relative performance and create a relative strength watch list. Stocks and ETFs holding up best during pullbacks often lead when the market regains its footing. Today’s report will show a starter list and analyze the chart for an AI Robotics ETF.

The table below shows 1-month and year-to-date performance for a selection of industry group ETFs. With the S&P 500 EW ETF down on both timeframes, ETFs with gains are holding up well and ETFs with smaller losses show relative strength (less weakness). Five ETFs are up on both timeframes and holding up well in the face of broad market weakness.

Note that this list is simply the first cut. I would make a further cut by insuring that the ETF is in a long-term uptrend. For example, the Clean Energy ETF (PBW) is below its 200-day SMA and would not make the cut. The Medical Devices ETF (IHI) and Robotics AI ETF (ARTY) are in long-term uptrends, and make the cut. Let’s look at ARTY. A recent Chart Trader report/video highlighted the recent breakout in IHI.

The chart below shows ARTY hitting a new high in early December and price above the rising 200-day SMA. ARTY is in a long-term uptrend. There was a big breakout in mid October, an oversold reading in late October and then a 17% run to new highs. ARTY then formed a pennant and broke out with a surge earlier this week, only to fall back the last three days. Overall, I think the pennant breakout is still bullish and this is a throwback to the breakout zone. A break below the pennant lows would negate this pattern and argue for a deeper correction.

Chart Link

The middle window shows the price-relative (ARTY/RSP Ratio) breaking above its 200-day SMA in late November. ARTY shows relative strength and the price-relative hit a new high in early January. The lower window shows %B, which I use to identify oversold conditions within an uptrend. A dip below 0 means the close is below the lower Bollinger Band. This means there was a pullback within the uptrend, which is an opportunity.

I will be following ARTY and other leading ETFs closely in the Chart Trader reports and videos. Our reports warned of the breakout in the 10-yr Treasury Yield in before Christmas (HERE) and we also showed how to distinguish between a robust bounce and a dead cat bounce (HERE).

Click here to take Chart Trader trial and get immediate access.

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The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff bracket has been narrowed down to the final two teams.

The No. 7 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish will face off against the No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20 after punching their tickets in the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl, respectively.

Both teams benefitted from the expanded playoff field. Instead of a four-team playoff format that was used the last decade, the CFP bracket officially expanded to 12 teams this season. Despite Notre Dame suffering an early loss to Northern Illinois and Ohio State dropping two games – to Oregon and rival Michigan – both teams’ playoff hopes remained alive. Now, they are one win away from their ultimate dream.

ORANGE BOWL: Notre Dame edges Penn State to reach CFP title game

COTTON BOWL: Ohio State upends Texas to reach CFP title game

Ohio State is looking for its first national championship since 2014, while Notre Dame is vying for its first national championship since 1988. Here’s everything you need to know about the CFP national championship game:

When is the CFP national championship game?

The College Football Playoff national championship game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

How to watch the CFP national championship game?

The national championship game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes will broadcast nationally on ESPN.

The game can also be live streamed on ESPN+, the ESPN app and Fubo, which is offering a free trial.

Watch the CFP national champioship game on Fubo

CFP national championship game: Date, time, TV

Date: Monday, Jan. 20
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

College Football Playoff scores

How did we get here? Here are the scores from all the College Football Playoff games leading up to the championship, from semifinals to quarterfinals and first-round games:

College Football Playoff semifinals

Thursday, Jan. 9

Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 6 Penn State 24

Friday, Jan. 10

Cotton Bowl:No. 8 Ohio State 28, No. 5 Texas 14

College Football Playoff quarterfinals

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14

Wednesday, Jan. 1

Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (OT)
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21

Thursday, Jan. 2

Sugar Bowl:No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10
The Sugar Bowl was postponed one day as a result of the deadly attack in New Orleans.

College Football Playoff first round

No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 Arizona State all had first-round byes.

Friday, Dec. 20

Game 1: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17

Saturday, Dec. 21

Game 2: No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
Game 3: No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24
Game 4: No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17

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