The NHL trade deadline is rapidly approaching.

So far, the NHL season had two blockbuster trades before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Mikko Rantanen was dealt by the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes and J.T. Miller was traded by the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers.

Also this season, the Avalanche have changed up their goaltending, and the Dallas Stars acquired Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks.

Other moves will be made in the coming days as teams beef up for the playoffs or move veterans for draft picks and prospects.

Here is analysis on the deals that have happened leading up to the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET on March 7.

March 1: Avalanche acquire Ryan Lindgren from Rangers

The Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Ryan Lindgren from the New York Rangers in a five-player deal involving two draft picks. The Rangers retain 50% of the Lindgren’s salary. He plays a top-four role, which Colorado has needed after trading Bowen Byram last season, and kills penalties. Lindgren, who had two recent two-assist games but often seems to get hurt, and forward Jimmy Vesey are pending unrestricted free agents, so the Rangers get something in return. Juuso Parssinen, 24, is a pending restricted free agent who played a depth role in Colorado. This is his second trade of the season. De Haan is a pending UFA with 676 games of regular season experience.

Also: The Nashville Predators are holding forward Gustav Nyquist out of the lineup for trade-related reasons.

Feb. 24: Red Wings trade Ville Husso to Ducks

The Detroit Red Wings get goaltender Ville Husso’s $4.75 million cap hit off their books. Husso has played only nine games with the Red Wings and had spent much of the season in the American Hockey League. Detroit receives future considerations in the deal. The Anaheim Ducks sent Husso to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, where goalie Calle Clang is out with an injury.

Feb. 1: Stars acquire Mikael Granlund, Cody Ceci from Sharks

The Dallas Stars give up a 2025 first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick for forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci. Dallas was short on both positions because forwards Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment are injured, as are defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Nils Lundqvist.

Granlund led the Sharks with 45 points in 52 games and will add to a solid forward group, especially with Marchment getting closer to returning. Ceci led San Jose in ice time and blocked shots. Both newcomers are pending unrestricted free agents. The conditional third-round pick will be a fourth-rounder if the Stars don’t reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Jan. 31: Rangers acquire J.T. Miller in deal with Canucks

The New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, two teams in the midst of disappointing seasons, swung a big trade Friday night they hope will shake things up for the better.

Vancouver shipped center J.T. Miller along with Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington to the Rangers in exchange for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 draft, the teams announced. The pick is top-13 protected, according to multiple reports.

The Canucks weren’t done dealing Friday, either, flipping that first-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a separate deal, along with Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais and Melvin Fernstrom. They got back Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. – Jace Evans

ANALYSIS: Who won the trade?

Jan. 31: Flyers, Flames swap forwards in four-player trade

Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost went to Calgary and Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2028 seventh-rounder went to Philadelphia. The deal was announced early Friday morning following the two teams’ games.

Farabee, a two-time 20-goal scorer, and Frost, who has hit double digits three times, can give the Flames scoring depth as the team tries to hold on to a playoff spot. Farabee is signed through 2027-28 and Frost is a pending restricted free agent.

Kuzmenko, a pending unrestricted free agent, wasn’t going to be re-signed in Calgary after the former 39-goal scorer (with Vancouver) had four goals this season. But it gives the Flyers a chance to see how he fares with Russian rookie Matvei Michkov, a fellow former Kontinental Hockey League player. Pelletier can fit in the Flyers’ bottom six forward group and kills penalties. He’ll be a restricted free agent.

Jan. 31: Golden Knights sign Brandon Saad for rest of the season

Not a trade, but the Vegas Golden Knights made an addition ahead of the deadline. They signed forward Brandon Saad (pro-rated $1.5 million) for the rest of the season after he was cut loose by the St. Louis Blues. The Blues had waived the two-time Stanley Cup winner, but the sides agreed to terminate the rest of his contract so he could become a free agent. Saad’s numbers (seven goals) have dropped off this season, but he scored 26 last season.

Jan. 27: Islanders acquire Scott Perunovich from Blues

The New York Islanders give up a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick for Scott Perunovich to address another injury on their blue line. The trade was announced after Ryan Pulock (upper body) was placed on the injured list. Perunovich had six points in 24 games with the St. Louis Blues this season. Last week, the Islanders signed free agent defenseman Tony DeAngelo for the remainder of the season because Noah Dobson is out with a lower-body injury.

Jan. 24: Mikko Rantanen traded in blockbuster deal

The Colorado Avalanche no longer have to worry whether they can fit pending free agent Mikko Rantanen in their salary structure. The two-time 100-point scorer was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder. The Hurricanes also get Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks, who retained 50% of Rantanen’s salary.

The Avalanche pay MVP Nathan MacKinnon $12.6 million a year, and that was likely their top limit for Rantanen. Though Colorado loses a prolific scorer, Necas is the Hurricanes’ top scorer and is signed through next season. Drury is also signed through 2025-26 and will be a restricted free agent.

Last year, the Hurricanes were also aggressive before the deadline, but they lost in the second round and weren’t able to re-sign Jake Guentzel.

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. 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 Dec. 18 trades:

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 gives the Canadiens a veteran right-shot defenseman. The Predators save $2.6 million in cap space.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine continued Friday in Indianapolis, offering defensive backs and tight ends the chance to make or break their draft position.

Projected first-round WR/CB Travis Hunter, CB Will Johnson and TE Tyler Warren were among the players who opted out of participating in drills on Friday, but there was no shortage of standout performers who took advantage of the spotlight. Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston turned in the top 40-yard dash time of the combine so far (4.28 seconds), while Texas TE Gunnar Helm recorded a shaky 4.84 second run. (More on that later.)

Which players helped or their hurt draft stock? Here are USA TODAY Sports’ winners and losers from Day 2 of the 2025 NFL combine:

Winners

Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Hairston quickly established the top 40-yard dash time, clocking in at 4.3 seconds. Despite turning in the best time of the combine so far, the 5-foot-11, 183-pound cornerback shook his head as he walked off the sideline and said his time “isn’t enough.” Hairston proceeded to run a 4.28 on his second attempt and hit a top speed of 24.25 mph, which marked the fifth-fastest recorded time over the past three combines. Hairston coincidentally trains at Exos in Phoenix, the same sports performance training facility where Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy works out. Worthy set the record for the fastest 40-yard dash last year at 4.21 seconds and his performance boosted him; he was a first-round pick. The same could happen for Hairston. 

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

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Emmanwori may stand at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, but that didn’t stop him from flying. The South Carolina safety recorded a 43-inch vertical jump, tying the third-best vertical for a safety since tracking began in 2003. His show of athleticism didn’t stop there. Emmanwori turned in an 11 foot, 6 inch broad jump and a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, both highs for his position. Emmanwori was projected to be the No. 31 overall pick in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft, but he’s sure to rise following his dazzling performance. 

Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. gave a shout-out to Emmanwori on X.

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon

Ferguson turned in the top 40-yard dash time (4.63 seconds) at the tight end position and highlighted his explosiveness with a vertical jump (39 inches), another high at the position. The 6-foot-5, 247-pound tight end finished with a 10 foot, 2 inch broad jump.

Losers

Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

Helm didn’t do himself any favors at the combine. The 6-foot-5, 241-pounder’s 30-inch vertical ranked the worst among his position and a 4.84-second 40-yard dash attempt was the third-worst among tight ends.

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Entering Friday, Starks was projected to be the first safety off the board, with USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft having him selected with the 14th overall pick. Starks didn’t necessarily have a bad showing at the combine. He excelled during on-field drills and showcased his versatilely, recording the fastest top speed among safeties in five different drills. But Starks was outperformed by his main competitor at the safety position. Starks was out-jumped and outrun by South Carolina’s Emmanwori, the second safety projected off the board. Starks’ 33-inch vertical jump tied for the third-worst at his position, compared to Emmanwori (43 inches) and Starks’ 4.5-second 40-yard dash was noticeably slower than Emmanwori’s (4.38 seconds).

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

A little more than a month after a passenger plane collided with a military helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport, dozens of past and present stars of U.S. Figure Skating will host a two-hour exhibition Sunday to pay tribute to those who died in the crash.

The tribute show, titled ‘Legacy on Ice,’ will feature dozens of the most well-known faces in American figure skating, from 1968 Olympic champion Peggy Fleming to 2022 Olympic champion Nathan Chen.

All proceeds from the exhibition, which runs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET, will benefit the families of the victims who died in the Jan. 29 mid-air collision and the first responders who worked on the scene.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s show:

The purpose behind the ‘Legacy on Ice’ tribute show

U.S. Figure Skating announced earlier this month that it would be hosting ‘Legacy on Ice’ at Capital One Arena in Washington, just a few miles from the site of the Jan. 29 crash over a portion of the Potomac River.

The passenger plane involved in the incident had been returning from Wichita, Kansas, where much of the U.S. figure skating community had recently gathered for the 2025 national championships − and some of the top young figure skaters in the country then remained for a national development camp. Of the 60 passengers on the plane, U.S. Figure Skating later revealed, nearly half were figure skaters, coaches or family members returning home from the camp.

In total, all 67 people aboard the two aircrafts died in the collision, authorities said. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the cause of the incident.

U.S. Figure Skating and Monumental Sports, which operates Capital One Arena, have portrayed ‘Legacy on Ice’ as both a chance for the figure skating community to collectively mourn those lost in the crash as well as try to financially support their families through ticket sales and donations.

The clubs, families impacted by the Jan. 29 crash

According to U.S. Figure Skating, 28 members of the figure skating community died in the mid-air collision on Jan. 29 − including 11 skaters, all between the ages of 11 and 16. The victims include:

Franco Aparicio, 14 (Washington Figure Skating Club)
Brielle Beyer, 12 (Skating Club of Northern Virginia)
Jinna Han, 13 (Skating Club of Boston)
Cory Haynos, 15 (Skating Club of Northern Virginia)
Sean Kay, 11 (University of Delaware Figure Skating Club)
Spencer Lane, 16 (Skating Club of Boston)
Alydia Livingston, 11 (Washington Figure Skating Club)
Everly Livingston, 14 (Washington Figure Skating Club)
Olivia Eve Ter, 12 (Ion Figure Skating Club, Leesburg, Virginia)
Angela Yang, 11 (University of Delaware Figure Skating Club)
Edward Zhou, 16 (Skating Club of Northern Virginia)

Four coaches were also on board the fatal flight, including married couple Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who won the 1994 pairs world championship with Russia.

The skaters and their families represented a handful of figure skating clubs along the East Coast, specifically in the Washington area, Boston and Delaware. 

Olympic stars slated to perform at ‘Legacy on Ice’

Sunday’s exhibition will be co-hosted by 1988 Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano and 1992 Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi. It will also feature performances, or appearances, by some of the most recognizable names in the history of the sport, including:

Kitty and Peter Carruthers, 1984 Olympic Pairs Silver Medalists
Nathan Chen, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist
Peggy Fleming, 1968 Olympic Champion
Scott Hamilton, 1984 Olympic Champion
Nancy Kerrigan, 1994 Olympic Silver Medalist
Ilia Malinin, 2024 World Champion

U.S. figure skater Maxim Naumov, the son of Naumov and Shishkova, was also added to the list of participants earlier this week. He had been scheduled to compete in the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships after finishing fourth at nationals but withdrew following the Jan. 29 crash.

What time is the ‘Legacy on Ice’ figure skating tribute show?

The exhibition will run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Sunday at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington.

How to watch ‘Legacy on Ice’

An encore showing of the exhibition will air on NBC at 1 p.m. ET on March 30. 

How to stream ‘Legacy on Ice’

‘Legacy on Ice’ will be broadcast live on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock.

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

INDIANAPOLIS – Miami quarterback Cam Ward is one of the top overall prospects at the 2025 NFL combine.

Many believe Ward is the No. 1 quarterback in this year’s draft class. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound quarterback has a strong arm, good mobility and is an accurate thrower of the football. As a redshirt senior, he set Miami’s single-season record for passing yards (4,313) and touchdowns (39), he became the first player in program history to win ACC Player of the Year and was also the recipient of the 2024 Davey O’Brien Award.

Ward said Friday that he won’t throw at the NFL combine. He’ll throw at his pro day instead. The Miami product could potentially be the first pick in the 2025 draft. USA TODAY Sports analyzes the four places where Ward could land in April.

Tennessee Titans

Teams are inquiring about the Titans’ coveted No. 1 pick. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi is at least listening to those calls. Yet, if the Titans believe in Ward, they should keep the top draft pick and select the quarterback.

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

Tennessee’s endured three straight losing seasons. Inept quarterback play has held the franchise back. The Titans ranked 26th in total offense and pass offense and 27th in points per game this past season.

The Titans haven’t had a 4,000-yard passer since Hall of Famer Warren Moon did it in back-to-back seasons in 1990-91. Ryan Tannehill is Tennessee’s most recent 3,000-yard passer and that was in 2021.

The Titans have plenty of holes. They can accumulate assets by trading down. But Ward possesses the arm talent and mobility that Tennessee can begin to build around.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are perpetually in the quarterback market. Cleveland’s started 40 different quarterbacks since 1999, the most (by far) in the NFL in that span. Deshaun Watson’s Achillies re-tear and underwhelming play when on the field, has the Browns in need of another starting QB in 2025.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said this year’s quarterback draft class is really good “from top all the way through.”

Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Jalen Milroe are a few of the quarterbacks the Browns met with.

There’s a realistic chance Ward is on the board when Cleveland selects second overall. If the Browns acquiesce to Myles Garrett’s trade request, accumulate multiple first-round picks in exchange and draft Ward, it could accelerate their rebuild.

New York Giants

General manager Joe Schoen declared the Giants “have to address” the quarterback position this offseason. Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold are some of the veteran quarterbacks available via free agency or trade. Or the Giants can draft a young signal-caller at No. 3 overall.

Ward might not be available when New York is on the clock. The Giants shouldn’t waste any time in the event Ward is still on the board.

The Giants are currently in a rebuild. Teams in a rebuild who don’t have a starting QB typically draft a quarterback with a premium pick.

Ward and Sanders are the top quarterbacks in this year’s class. At least one of them could be available when the Giants are on the clock.

Las Vegas Raiders

There’s a slim chance Ward will be on the board when the Raiders pick at No. 6. The Raiders will realistically have to trade up to draft the Miami product.

Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, head coach Pete Carroll and the rest of Raiders brass are well aware that they have a void at starting quarterback. Las Vegas has to compete with the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert four times a year. Plus, the Broncos reached the postseason with promising QB Bo Nix in his rookie campaign. The Raiders could adopt Denver’s approach and build around a rookie QB in 2025.

Tight end Brock Bower had a record-breaking rookie year and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers posted over 1,000 receiving yards with subpar quarterback play in 2024. Ward’s arm talent and athleticism would give the Raiders offense a much-needed jolt behind center.  Unfortunately for the Raiders, they’ll probably need to trade up to get him.

Head football coach Deion Sanders and the University of Colorado have dramatically increased their investment in coaching the team’s offensive line after it gave up the most quarterback sacks in the Big 12 Conference in 2024 (43) and the second-most sacks in the nation in 2023 (56), according to records obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Since the end of last season, the Buffaloes have:

∎ Hired former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl offensive lineman Andre Gurode, a former Colorado star, to serve as assistant offensive line coach at a salary of $250,000.

∎ Promoted Gunnar White to co-offensive line coach at a salary of $275,000 after he previously made $73,000 at CU as a quality control analyst.

∎ Moved former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman George Hegamin to be the co-offensive line coach with White at a salary of $250,000. Hegamin last year served as the team’s director of leadership and engagement at a salary of $100,000.

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

Those three coaches help replace last year’s offensive line coach, Phil Loadholt, who left to take a similar position at Mississippi State after making $325,000 last year at CU.

The increase in staffing on the offensive line – and the increased pay – reflect an NCAA rule change last year that allows for an unlimited number of on-field coaches instead of the previous limit of 10 assistant coaches, in addition to the head coach. This allowed Sanders to hire two co-offensive line coaches, plus Gurode as an assistant line coach, instead of just having one main offensive line coach.

Deion Sanders’ hiring strategy

In theory, major college football teams can hire as many assistant coaches as they want now. They’ve just got to come up with the money to pay for it while also coming up with the money to pay players soon under the terms of a pending legal settlement. The three offensive line coaches for CU still earn less combined than what some individual offensive line coaches make around the county, including Jim Harding at Utah ($850,000 last year).)

In Sanders’ case, his strategy has been to hire prominent former NFL players in coaching roles, hoping their NFL backgrounds and name recognition help bring in recruits even if Colorado might not be able to pay as much to players as teams in richer leagues, such as Ohio State. Sanders also recently hired former NFL defensive lineman Domata Peko to be help coach CU’s defensive line at $300,000 in his first season.

“When kids come to play for me at Colorado, they came to play for me and the coaching staff that we assembled,” Sanders said on ESPN’s First Take in February. “They hadn’t come to play for money, because I let them know that will maintain you, (but) that pro contract is gonna sustain you. So we’re chasing that thing. And I don’t attract those type of kids that’s playing for a bag (money).  I attract those types of kids that’s just playing because they love the game. That’s what I want.”

Betting on NFL experience, not college

In recruiting, major college football teams are still limited to having only 11 “countable” coaches who are allowed to recruit off-campus. Sanders has employed a unique strategy of not recruiting off-campus at all as head coach. Several of his new coaching hires also have no apparent previous college coaching or recruiting experience, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (running backs).

Gurode previously coached with the Cowboys and other pro football leagues. Hegamin coached high school football. Peko recently coached as an assistant with the Cowboys.

That lack of college experience might not matter, however, even if recruiting is a huge and unique part of the college game. Sanders has shown he’s more about the vision ahead than the track record left behind.

For example, Robert Livingston, a former NFL assistant coach with the Cincinnati Bengals, had little prior college coaching experience and no experience running a defense before being hired last year by Sanders as the team’s new defensive coordinator. His defense led the Big 12 in quarterback sacks in 2024, when the Buffs finished 9-4 after going 4-8 in Sanders’ first season in 2023.

Colorado also recently gave Livingston a new two-year contract that boosted his pay from $800,000 last year to $1.5 million this year, a school record for an assistant coach. The CU board of regents said in a statement that it was necessary “in light of the prevailing market conditions and competitive employment agreement practices nationwide.”

Big 12 rival Utah had the highest-paid, public-school defensive and coordinators in the league last year at about $2 million each.

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

Saturday’s NHL outdoor Stadium Series game has met a key ingredient: an iconic venue.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are hosting the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium on the Ohio State campus.

But there’s a bonus because the game is also important in the standings.

After the Blue Jackets beat the Red Wings Thursday night, the teams are tied with 66 points and hold the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots. The winner will get sole possession of the top spot.

Saturday’s game is expected to be the second-most-attended NHL game, drawing more than 90,000 fans. The record was 105,491 in 2014, when the host Red Wings lost in a shootout to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium.

Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s Stadium Series game between the Blue Jackets and Red Wings:

When is Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings Stadium Series game?

The Blue Jackets and Red Wings will play at 6 p.m. ET Saturday at Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State football team.

Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings Stadium Series TV channel

Saturday’s Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

How to stream Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings Stadium Series game

 Sling, Fubo and ESPN+ carry ESPN games.

Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings weather forecast

The forecast calls for 29 degrees and mostly cloudy weather at puck drop. Temperatures will drop to 25 degrees.

Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings TV channel, streaming

Date: Saturday, March 1

Time: 6 p.m. ET

Channel: ESPN

Streaming: Sling | Fubo | ESPN+

Site: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Stadium Series special touches

Late Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, will be commemorated at the event. They died last year when they were hit by a car while bicycling in New Jersey.

“We’re going to celebrate Johnny and do it in a different way,” Steve Mayer, the NHL’s president of content and events, said, according to The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network. “This is a unique, worldwide forum to make sure that his story and his memory stays alive, and that he is celebrated, and the family is celebrated in a unique way. They’ll be a part of everything that goes on Saturday, as well.”

There are also plans to celebrate the Buckeyes’ national champion football, women’s hockey and spirit programs during the second intermission.

The famed Blue Jackets replica Civil War cannon has made the trip to Ohio Stadium. It goes off after every Columbus goal and victory and has been known to startle visitors to Nationwide Arena.

The Ohio State Athletic Band will perform throughout the game, including during player introductions. It will play the national anthem.

Blue Jackets, Red Wings outdoor records

The Blue Jackets are making their outdoor debut. The Red Wings are 2-0-2.

Who has played in the most outdoor games?

Columbus’ James van Riemsdyk has played in seven outdoor games, totaling three goals and three assists. Detroit’s Patrick Kane has appeared outdoors six times, totaling one goal and two assists. Red Wings coach Todd McLellan is 2-1, and Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason is 0-1.

Blue Jackets, Red Wings players to watch

Blue Jackets: Defenseman Zach Werenski is among the favorites for the Norris Trophy. He leads Columbus with 62 points. Forward Kirill Marchenko is having a breakout season and leads the team with 24 goals.

Red Wings: Forward Lucas Raymond leads the Red Wings with 62 points. No. 2 scorer Dylan Larkin is Werenski’s friend and former Michigan and U.S. 4 Nations Face-Off teammate.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

This story has been updated with new information.

PHOENIX — Certainly, the man has a flair for the dramatic.

Just when you wonder how Los Angeles Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani will recover from his offseason shoulder surgery, rehabbing not only his shoulder but also trying to pitch again at the same time, along comes a magical moment Friday night when you wonder if he should be wearing a Superman cape.

Ohtani, who suffered a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series, left a sellout crowd shrieking in delight Friday night when he homered to the opposite field in his first at-bat of the spring against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, and his former classmate from Hanamaki Higashi High School in Japan, Yusei Kikuchi.

“He does not cease to amaze,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There was a lot of anticipation for this night, and for him to homer in his first at-bat off Kikuchi was pretty special.’’

Well, so much for any concern with his shoulder.

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

“Obviously, he’s fine,’’ Kikuchi said, “after that first homer that he hit, to be able to hit it that far. I’m sure he’s going to be able to put up the same numbers this year.’’

Ohtani, who hit 54 homers and stole 59 bases last season — the charter member of the 50-50 club — may have difficulty duplicating his MVP season. Roberts plans to rest him occasionally once he returns to the mound in May, and wants to keep him from running as frequently as last year.

Still, the man may be the greatest show on Earth.

“The guy is incredible, just incredible,’’ Dodgers outfielder Michael Conforto said. “I plan on being on the top step every time he hits this year. I don’t want to miss anything.’’

Ohtani, who popped up and struck out in his next two at-bats before leaving, believes that with about 50 plate appearances in live batting practice and exhibition games this spring, he’ll be ready by the time the Dodgers open the season March 17-18 in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs. The shoulder, he insists, feels perfectly normal.

“Regardless of the results,’’ Ohtani said, “I think the biggest takeaway was being able to go through my three at-bats without any issues.’’

Ohtani shook his shoulder after his last at-bat, but there was no pain or discomfort, he said — just making sure everything felt fine.

“I was just checking to make sure it was OK,’’ Ohtani said. “My last at-bat, my last swing, I was pretty late, and my shoulder felt great. So, that was a good test.’’

Really, it just validated his work ethic all offseason, trying to regain his shoulder strength while still rehabbing to return to the mound.

“He really hasn’t missed a beat,’’ Roberts said. “… Given where we’re at in spring training, I would not have thought he had surgery this offseason.’’

It’s almost unfathomable, Roberts says, that Ohtani not only looks the same, but that he shows absolutely no discomfort.

“That’s surprising,’’ Roberts said. “You’d think there’d be some residual soreness or pain or lack of strength. But he’s put in a lot of work, so it’s good to hear that.’’

Certainly, he looks the same to Kikuchi, 33, who’s three years older than Ohtani. He wonders if he’ll ever be able to figure out how to keep Ohtani in check. Ohtani is hitting .304 with a .739 slugging percentage and three homers in 23 at-bats against Kikuchi in the regular season.

“Just lucky,’’ Ohtani said, smiling.

Welcome to the club, where apparently Ohtani is lucky against every pitcher he faces, and rises to every big moment.

This may have been just a spring training game, but it certainly didn’t feel like one. There was a sellout crowd of 12,279 on hand at Camelback Ranch, with fans paying $180 just to get their first glimpse of Ohtani in 2025.

There were about 3,000 fans who started streaming into the Dodgers’ complex at 3:30 p.m., roaming the back fields, hoping to see the star attraction without resorting to the secondary ticket market.

Then, precisely at 4:52, Ohtani emerged from the indoor batting cage.

Fans started shrieking, racing towards the restraining fence to get a closer look at him, yelling out his name.

He ran onto a practice field, playing long toss to keep his arm loose, and nine minutes later, rushed back inside with fans pleading for him to stop for autographs.

Sorry, no time today, Ohtani had a game to play, his first of the spring, with John Sebastian singing  “Welcome Back’’ over the loudspeakers.

Fans were kept entertained inside the stadium watching videos of Ohtani on the right-field scoreboard, with highlights of his magical 50-50 season shown. They were cheering as if this was the first time they saw them.

Ohtani, who had not faced an opposing pitcher since the World Series, took three practice swings and stepped to the plate against Kikuchi at 6:10 p.m., with fans chanting “M-V-P, M-V-P.’’

Ohtani took a first-pitch fastball for a strike. Watched a curveball for Ball 1. Swung and missed at a curveball for Strike 2. Took a curveball for Ball 2 and a low fastball for Ball 3.

Now, on a full count, Kikuchi threw a 94-mph fastball over the plate.

Ohtani sent it soaring over the left-field fence for an opposite-field homer.

“I threw a fastball down the middle,’’ Kikuchi said. “A player of his caliber, you can’t get away from that. So, he got me there.’’

The crowd gasped.

And then roared.

Ohtani, with a television audience watching live on NHK in Japan and on the Dodgers’ SportsNet, showed the world that he indeed is back.

He walked off the field at 7:33 p.m. with the crowd standing and cheering again, believing this could be his greatest season yet, not only hitting 50 homers, but dominating on the mound, too.

As the baseball world has learned, it’s silly to put any type of limit on Ohtani.

All of Japan is counting down the days until his celebrated return to Tokyo. Simply, it will be one of the most-hyped events in the country’s history.

“It’s going to be like the Beatles going there,’’ Dodgers president Lon Rosen said, laughing.

Only bigger.

“I think all of Japan,’’ Kikuchi said, “is pretty excited for that.’’

Follow Nightengale on X: @BNightengale

This story has been updated with new information.

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

INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL’s annual game of quarterback musical chairs commenced Friday … with the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford deciding to remain seated.

The reigning NFC West champions put all speculation about their QB1’s future to rest by revealing “HE’S BACK” on X. According to multiple reports, Stafford also agreed to a restructured contract. He was set to make $27 million in 2025 (only $4 million of it guaranteed), the penultimate year of a deal that was well below market value for the league’s elite passers.

But, for the second consecutive offseason, it appears the Rams have – temporarily at the very least – allayed any of Stafford’s financial concerns and should again move forward as a legitimate threat to reach Super Bowl 60.

As for the rest of the league? Plenty of winners and losers to be found:

WINNERS

Stafford and the Rams

On the surface, it never seemed to make much sense to fix what certainly didn’t seem to be broken – even as the team gave its 37-year-old quarterback permission to assess his value on the market at a time when extending his career seems to have become something of a Favre-ian revisit on an annual basis. Overall, Stafford (the only quarterback to bring the Rams a Lombardi Trophy when the franchise has been based in LA) didn’t play as well in 2024 as he did in ’23 but reserved some of his strongest performances for the postseason. He passed for a season-high 324 yards in the team’s divisional round loss to Philadelphia and nearly led a late-game comeback at Lincoln Financial Field in what was easily the eventual champion Eagles’ toughest test in an otherwise dominant Super Bowl run.

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

With Stafford remaining in the fold – and assuming GM Les Snead didn’t use an inordinate chunk of his salary cap space to retain the 16-year veteran – the Rams, who have only missed the playoffs once during his four-year tenure since arriving via trade from the Detroit Lions, should once again be among the NFC’s primary contenders. And that’s good news for Snead, Sean McVay, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Jared Verse and anyone else affiliated with what has become one of the league’s steadiest operations.

Sam Darnold

Yes, yes, those last two games of the peripatetic passer’s best NFL season were unsightly. But moving forward, a 27-year-old coming off a Pro Bowl breakout with the Minnesota Vikings – Darnold’s 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns through the air in 2024 were easily NFL personal bests – might actually command a multi-year contract worth in the neighborhood of $40 million annually after resuscitating his career so impressively.

Tennessee Titans

Purveyors of the No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft, it might have just become a little more valuable … if the Titans are, in fact, a little more interested in ‘generational’ talent and accelerating their rebuild rather than gambling on a passer in what seems to be one of the weaker drafts at the position in recent years.

Aaron Rodgers

With Stafford no longer available, the soon-to-be New York Jets castoff might actually become the top established veteran passer available, Darnold notwithstanding, in a market with so many barren shelves. Rodgers would obviously come with his unique set of luggage, but then, too, so do Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in their own ways. As for what occurs between the lines, a healthier Rodgers played much better than Wilson down the stretch in 2024.

WINNERS AND LOSERS?

2025 NFL draft passers

It happens every year – young passers who aren’t ready to be franchise quarterbacks get pushed up the draft board by virtue of their high-profile position and the perpetual need to fill several of those jobs at the NFL level. But with Stafford no longer in play, the market’s ravenous demand seems bound to quickly consume its light supply. From one perspective, that might not ultimately be great for the likes Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward of Miami (Fla.) or even Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. However in the short term, they’re likely to draw even stronger consideration from clubs such as the Titans (maybe), Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Jets and others … for better (at least financially based on draft slotting) and/or worse (based on many of these teams’ abysmal records at developing franchise passers).

LOSERS

Aaron Rodgers

If he was hoping Stafford might pull up his stakes and that he could be based in California, his home state, for the first time since he was the triggerman for the Cal Bears in college – while playing for a bona fide contender during a season in which Rodgers will turn 42 – welp. And with the San Francisco 49ers working on an extension for Brock Purdy, it’s appearing increasingly likely that Rodgers, a four-time league MVP, will have to choose among teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants or even the Titans … if he even comes back at all for a 21st NFL season.

New York Giants

They were heavily linked to Stafford in recent days as HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen seek a quick turnaround in what’s likely to be a prove-it-or-lose-it season for the club’s current regime. Now the Giants will likely be weighing options like Darnold, Rodgers or Wilson if they opt for a quick fix, or draft prospects such as Ward or Sanders, though a rookie might not provide a quick enough fix.

Tom Brady

Plenty of rumors and conjecture about how heavily the Raiders’ minority owner was recruiting Stafford – so much rumor and conjecture, that high-profile members of the NFL’s media corps were nearly coming to blows at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Here’s what we do know: The Silver and Black came up snake eyes on Stafford and, aside from the presence of Brady and new coach Pete Carroll – for whatever they’re worth to players considering a move to Sin City – Las Vegas still decidedly appears to be well back of the pack in an otherwise loaded (and otherwise improving) AFC West.

All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.