The greatest team in baseball is adding an extremely talented, cost-effective and potentially dominant piece to a star-studded pitching rotation.

Rōki Sasaki, the 23-year-old phenom from Japan whose services for the next six seasons could be procured by every Major League Baseball franchise for the equivalent of a rounding error, ended his six-week recruiting period by agreeing to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, he announced in a social media post.

And with that agreement, not only did the rich get richer, they also got more efficient, more viable for the future and that much more unbeatable in the 2025 season. It also leaves more than a dozen spurned suitors in his wake, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres, apparently the last teams eliminated in this derby.

Sasaki chose to get posted by his former franchise in Japan, Chiba Lotte, before he’d accrued enough service time to become a major league free agent. And in following the path paved by Shohei Ohtani in 2018, Sasaki’s acquisition cost would be limited to teams’ international signing pool – and then have his salary controlled by the club for the following six seasons.

That meant all 30 teams functionally had a shot at Sasaki. And in what’s surely a cruel twist for Sasaki’s suitors – most notably the second runner-up Padres and fellow National League West combatant San Francisco Giants – Sasaki and Ohtani are now teammates, soon to share a rotation.

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Along with Blake Snell – signed to a five-year, $182 million contract in December. And Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was posted one year ago after seven dominant seasons in Japan, signed a $325 million contract – and was the starting pitcher for four of the Dodgers’ 11 postseason wins.

Let’s not forget right-handers Dustin May and former All-Star Tony Gonsolin, returning from injury. Oh, and Clayton Kershaw, who has a presumably standing offer to return to the club.

Throw in youngsters Bobby Miller and Landon Knack and that’s nine – count ‘em, nine – starters the Dodgers can throw at teams for 162 games and however many playoff matchups necessary. That array of arms will only serve to ease Sasaki’s transition to the major leagues, as he both won’t be needed to make 30-plus starts nor amass 200 innings.

That’s a significant perk for a pitcher who’s never tossed more than 129 ⅓ innings in a season and whose agent, Joel Wolfe, lauded Sasaki’s desire to learn and intimated that a club’s track record and apparatus in developing pitchers would play a significant role in his client’s decision.

And his new club will have a pretty good floor to start on.

Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA over 69 games for Chiba Lotte, peaking in 2023 with a 1.88 ERA over 15 games and 91 innings, with 135 strikeouts. He backed that up in his final season in Japan, winning 10 games in 18 starts and striking out 129 in 111 innings.

He pitched a perfect game in 2022 and followed that with eight more perfect innings in his next start before his manager pulled him for precautionary reasons.

At 6-foot-4 and with a frame that should pack more than the 200 or so pounds it currently carries, Sasaki has touched 102 mph with his fastball, and it sits comfortably in the upper 90s. Like Yamamoto, his splitter is a wipeout pitch late in counts; it stands to reason Sasaki will, also like Yamamoto, have an adjustment period with regard to pitch mix and usage once he’s attacking major league hitters full time.

Yet for the Dodgers, the risk is virtually nil. After unloading most of their $5 million international signing pool to acquire Sasaki, they’ll pay him salaries at or just above the major league minimum, or less than $800,000, for the next three seasons.

They’ll also control his rights through three years of salary arbitration and, should Sasaki spend no time in the minors, three years of arbitration before he’s eligible for free agency after the 2030 season. That’s a long time to possess such a prized asset.

And that’s just one reason why the game’s most consistently dominant franchise – with two World Series titles, four NL pennants and 12 consecutive playoff berths since 2013 – is beyond equipped to remain in that perch.

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The NHL is back from its holiday roster freeze and fewer than two months away from the trade deadline.

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 March 7.

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

Jan. 17: Oilers sign John Klingberg for one year

The Edmonton Oilers added defensive depth by signing veteran John Klingberg for the remainder of the season. Terms weren’t disclosed.

Klingberg, 32, who had season-ending hip surgery in November 2023, is known for his puck-moving ability and work on the power play. He has 412 points in 633 games, plus 39 points in 63 playoff games.

The 2024 Stanley Cup finalists traded Cody Ceci and chose not to match an offer sheet to Philip Broberg during the offseason.

Jan. 15: Penguins place goalie Tristan Jarry on waivers

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed goalie Tristan Jarry on waivers after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken in which he gave up three goals on 17 shots. A Kraken short-handed goal leaked through him in the first period, and Seattle scored twice in 50 seconds in the third period to overcome a 2-1 deficit.

The veteran two-time All-Star was sent to the American Hockey League in late October and recalled on Nov. 9. Jarry is in the second season of a five-year contract that carries a $5.375 million cap hit. He has a 3.32 goals-against average and .886 save percentage.

‘He’s continued to come in here, put the work in and that’s not been a question at all,’ general manager Kyle Dubas said. ‘That just hasn’t materialized the way we would like it to on the ice. At this level, you get to the point where you have to do what’s right … for him and for us.’

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.

After a somewhat lackluster opening slate of games, the NFL playoffs could produce some more thrills in the divisional round.

Save for the Washington Commanders’ last-minute win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the wild-card round was short on excitement, with the home team securing comfortable wins in five of the six matchups. But with only eight teams remaining, the setup for this weekend could feature a few more fireworks. And with the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions in action after sitting out the first-round as the top seeds in their respective conferences, all eyes will be on whether the conference championship games end up as a battle of established heavyweights or whether they include a surprise entrant.

With that in mind, here are our bold predictions for the divisional round:

Travis Kelce will christen the playoffs with a 100-yard breakout game

It’s that time of year. The Chiefs are on the runway of a mission to become the first three-peat Super Bowl champion, which means their star tight end – and Taylor Swift’s sweetheart – is primed to raise his game to the next level in the divisional playoff against the Texans.

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Kelce caught 97 passes during the regular season, which was about on par with the 99.6 receptions he’s averaged over the past seven seasons. But his impact hardly measured up to the standard he’s set for many years. He had career-lows for receiving yards (823), touchdowns (3) and yards per catch (8.5) while posting his fewest 100-yard games (1) in a decade. No matter. It’s a new season. Remember last year’s Super Bowl drive? Kelce had just two 100-yard games during the 2023 campaign but came alive during the postseason, when his average of 8 catches for 88.8 yards included a monster game (11 catches, 116 yards, 1 TD) in the AFC title tilt at Baltimore. It figures that he’s due for another statement game. And perhaps his last outing, in a Week 17 rout at Pittsburgh, provided a Christmas preview (8 catches, 84, 1 TD). Keep an eye on Kelce. Surely, that will be the M.O. for his pal, Patrick Mahomes and for, well, the Swifties.

— Jarrett Bell

Jayden Daniels leads game-winning drive to upset No. 1 Lions

Jayden Daniels has one last game-winning drive in him, and it’s his biggest one yet. This time, he helps take down the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions and end a magical season in Motown, while sending Washington to the NFC championship game for the first time since the 1991 season (when they, coincidentally, beat the Lions in the conference title game).

Even 18 games into his career, Daniels carries an air of inevitability when he is taking snaps in the fourth quarter. Call him Thanos. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has been operating like a Michelin-star chef cooking in a Manhattan-apartment kitchen, and he could (should) be rewarded with a head-coaching position in a few weeks’ time. But he’s never had to fry a cut like Daniels, who completed 24 passes to six different receivers in Washington’s 23-20 wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Head coach Dan Quinn has drilled his team for nearly a year to excel when games are in the balance – clearly a part of his game he vowed to improve upon in his second head-coaching stop after his Atlanta Falcons teams left something to be desired in that area. His first Commanders squad has answered the bell nearly every time, and their last five wins have all come down to the final play. The reaction – or lack thereof – from Daniels after kicker Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yarder in Tampa Bay said it all: there is nothing that fazes the soon-to-be Offensive Rookie of the Year.

— Chris Bumbaca

Derrick Henry steals spotlight in Buffalo

Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are garnering most of the pregame headlines. The two MVP candidates will take center stage on Sunday. But Derrick Henry will steal the show.

I predict the Ravens running back will rush for 175 yards and two touchdowns, 100 yards coming in the second half. Henry’s two touchdowns will equal his best single-game playoff total. The Ravens will make a concerted effort to feature Henry, especially while Zay Flowers continues to nurse a knee injury. Henry’s downhill bruising running style is going to wear on the Bills defense. Buffalo gave up 199 rushing yards and two total touchdowns to Henry when these two teams met in Week 4.

Henry’s compiled 918 career postseason rushing yards, including a postseason record-tying four games with 150 or more rushing yards. His performance on Sunday will make him the seventh player all-time with at least 1,000 career postseason rushing yards, and he’ll have a fifth 150-plus rushing yard game on his resume.

— Tyler Dragon

All four games are decided by one score

From an entertainment perspective, it’s hard to view wild-card weekend as anything other than a letdown – though that would require one to have had high hopes for what seemed like a lopsided set of matchups. Maybe it’s the optimist in me, but I have to think that a reward is coming in the upcoming pair of doubleheaders.

The game that appears most likely to threaten this prediction is the Detroit Lions facing off against the Washington Commanders. A battle-tested top seed with the league’s highest-scoring offense seems like a natural mismatch for a group that’s already ahead of his schedule and led by a rookie quarterback. But if Jayden Daniels can again keep his composure a week after the Washington offense did not turn the ball over or punt, then the Commanders could at least stay within striking distance of the Lions. And while the Kansas City Chiefs handled the Houston Texans three weeks ago, DeMeco Ryans’ defense at least has a chance to throw Patrick Mahomes off his game with the relentless pursuits of edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.

— Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

The Tennessee Titans have added a new face to the front office, hiring Kansas City Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi to be their next general manager.

Tennessee finalized the deal and announced the hiring on Friday evening.

Both sides were in the negotiation phase earlier Friday, according to the The Tennessean, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. The vacancy opened up less than two weeks ago when Tennessee opted to fire Ran Carthon on Jan. 7 after just two seasons with a 9-25 record.

The Titans are entering a critical offseason, armed with the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft and just over $55 million in cap space, currently ranked as the 11th-most in the league, according to Spotrac.

Borgonzi is set to become the sixth full-time general manager in Titans history and their third in four seasons. Tennessee will hope that its new hire will bring some stability to a team that’s been increasingly unstable since reaching the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2019-2021.

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Here’s what to know about Borgonzi.

Who is Mike Borgonzi?

Borgonzi served as the second in command behind Chiefs general manager Brett Veach before becoming a candidate for the Titans’ job.

The former Brown University fullback is a native of Everett, Massachusetts, and he was a four-year starter before shifting over to the coaching and front office ranks.

Mike Borgonzi coaching, front office history

Borgonzi has been in the coaching and front office space since 2009, but started as a recruiting coordinator at Boston College from 2007-08. Following his stint there, he joined the Chiefs’ organization, where he’s been ever since. Here’s a look at the various roles he’s held in Kansas City:

College scouting administrator: 2009
Manager of football operations: 2010
Pro personnel scout: 2011-12
Assistant director of pro scouting: 2013-14
Co-director of player personnel: 2015-16
Director of player personnel: 2017
Director of football operations: 2018-20
Assistant general manager: 2021-24

Beloved ESPN basketball commentator Dick Vitale will make his return to broadcasting on Jan. 25 for Duke vs. Wake Forest basketball, the network announced Friday.

Vitale, 85, has battled four types of cancer in the past three-and-a-half years, according to ESPN. The National Basketball Hall of Fame member announced he was cancer free on Jan. 8.

“I am absolutely ecstatic and I can’t believe this is happening after going through five major vocal cord surgeries, 65 radiation treatments and chemotherapy for six months,” Vitale said in the announcement. “It’s been a very tough journey, but all of the prayers and messages from the beautiful fans have inspired me. I can’t thank Jimmy Pitaro and all of my ESPN colleagues who I consider my second family enough for the love they showed me through such a tough time. I just hope that I can offer the people some basketball insights that can bring even more excitement to the game.”

Vitale’s last appeared on an ESPN broadcast on April 3, 2023, for San Diego State vs UConn in the national championship.

‘Dickie V’ has called over 1,000 games since joining ESPN for the 1979-80 season, also calling the network’s first major college basketball game. He has also played a major role in ESPN’s ‘V Foundation,’ which was founded by the network and former NC State coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer.

Vitale made a name for himself in coaching before joining ESPN, as he served as an assistant at Rutgers from 1971-73 before becoming the head coach at mid-major Detroit Mercy from 1973-77, reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 1977. Vitale then became the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, a role he occupied from 1978-79 before taking a job at ESPN.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — With Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer, and Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino taking the helm of the U.S. men’s national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the Argentine presence in American soccer is clear.

Can Pochettino’s Argentine influence translate to U.S. Soccer eventually replicating Argentina’s winning ways in the sport? It may be easier to translate Spanish to English, but it’s easy to see the aspiration.

Argentine players such as Messi play with pride and passion, inherit feelings they rely on despite their size or other physical attributes in the most heated of competitions.

They’ve won 65 of their past 70 matches, including the last two Copa Americas and the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Pochettino hopes to find USMNT players who play with the same purpose, despite having a player of Messi’s caliber and being far from World Cup favorites at this point.

‘The way Argentine players compete: When you lose a ball, you cry,’ Pochettino said Friday before USMNT takes on Venezuela at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Saturday. ‘When you lose a game, you spend maybe one week in your room when you want to go out. It’s how you defend your patch, your flag. It’s how you defend your identity, your culture. It’s what we want to translate.

‘When you play for the national team, you need to feel something in your skin and inside yourself.’

Pochettino faces a tall task leading U.S. Soccer, but his Argentine flare could help steer the direction of the program moving forward.

The new USMNT coach is 3-1 so far: The Americans won 2-0 against Panama on Oct. 12, but lost 2-0 to Mexico on Oct. 15, and beat Jamaica 5-2 on aggregate in two Concacaf Nations League games in November.

Along with their World Cup preparation, USMNT will compete with Canada, Mexico and Panama at the Concacaf Nations League finals in March, and in the Concacaf Gold Cup later this summer.

Pochettino has fielded a group of MLS players at this January’s camp, giving the league’s players an opportunity to audition for the national team. USMNT star Christian Pulisic isn’t available since Saturday’s match and Wednesday’s tilt in Orlando against Costa Rica falls outside the FIFA international window.

‘The message is: Show me we can with you,’ Pochettino said. ‘And playing in MLS, you can compete with players in Europe.’

Benjamin Cremaschi, an Inter Miami standout of Argentinian descent who played with the U.S. at the Paris Olympics, didn’t have much trouble adjusting to Pochettino’s coaching during the USMNT in the last two weeks.

He already plays with Argentine pride from playing alongside Messi for the past 18 months, while being coached by former Inter Miami coach Tata Martino and new coach Javier Mascherano – both also from Argentina.

‘I think Argentinians play with a lot of passion. I think they’ve shown it around the world. So that’s something that they definitely bring to the table,’ Cremaschi said this week.

‘I think just the passion, the way they live the game. I feel like that’s something that a lot of players could learn from.’

Drake Callender, an Inter Miami goalie unable to play with USMNT this weekend due to a minor muscle issue, is a fan of the Argentine mentality and philosophy he’s learned from playing with Messi and his Inter Miami coaches.

‘I feel like it brings the best out of the players,’ Callender said. ‘It’s hard work combined with passion, combined with skill. It’s a type of soccer that is exciting, but also is tactically sound.’

Inter Miami youngster Yannick Bright, who was born in Italy and played college soccer at the University of New Hampshire, also echoed the Argentine passion he’s experienced.

‘It’s a different kind of futbol,’ Bright said. ‘It’s a little more like having fun with the ball rather than being all about physicality and stuff. And I try to embrace it. It’s nice to learn with the ball and be calm with the ball, rather than just run everywhere around.’

St. Louis City’s Indiana Vassilev, 23, has played on several U.S. soccer youth levels and been instructed by Argentine coaches in his career.

‘I’ve had our Argentinian coaches in the past. I think they’re very intense. They’re very direct, and focused in what they do. I think they can obviously help us,’ Vassilev said. ‘I think that’s why they were hired, and I think that’s why they’re here.’

Pochettino categorized himself Friday as a demanding and intense coach.

He wants his players to be explosive and play with power. He wants them to control the ball and fight until they regain possession. And he wants balance on both sides of the pitch to score goals and not concede them.

More important, Pochettino wants his American players to find their pride and purpose.

‘I don’t know the percentage you’re going to give more. But for sure, (if it’s) one, five or 10 percent more, you’re going to have an extra energy that you’re going to put on the pitch,’ Pochettino said.

‘If you’re able to feel that … I think we can build a very competitive team. That is one of our objectives.’

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid will miss at least the next three games against Indiana, Milwaukee and Denver with swelling in his left knee, the team announced Friday.

“Joel Embiid participated in an on-court workout (Thursday) after missing the last six games due to a left foot sprain,” the 76ers said in a news release. “While the foot sprain has healed, Embiid experienced an increase in swelling in his left knee following the workout. After consulting with team medical staff and external doctors, Embiid will receive treatment in the coming days to address the swelling. As a result, he will be out for the upcoming road trip and re-evaluated in approximately 7-10 days.”

It’s yet another setback for Embiid and the Sixers who are 15-24 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA MVP, has played in just 13 games this season, missing time with knee, foot and sinus injuries. He was sidelined for Philadelphia’s first nine games, sat out seven consecutive games in late November and early December and has been sidelined for the past six games.

He is averaging 24.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 blocks and shooting 45.2% from the field – which is the lowest shooting percentage of his career.

On October 29, the NBA fined the 76ers $100,000 for “public statements, including by president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse, that were inconsistent with Joel Embiid’s health status and in violation of NBA rules, including the league’s Player Participation Policy.

“The league’s investigation also confirmed that Embiid has been unable to play in the 76ers’ regular season games this season due to a left knee condition, and therefore his games missed have not violated the Player Participation Policy.”

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt