標籤: Buzz

Kyle Busch has been the subject of speculation over NASCAR’s silly season for months, with many wondering if the future Hall of Famer will stick with Richard Childress Racing. What seemed like a foregone conclusion is no longer the case.

NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that it now appears “increasingly likely” that Busch will sign a new contract with RCR. The hope is that both parties will “stick together” and eventually sign a long-term agreement.

RELATED: What’s happened during and since Kyle Busch’s winless streak

Busch has now won 105 races without a Cup Series victory and is currently 24th in points, behind teammate Austin Dillon and slightly ahead of Erik Jones.

The issues resulted in RCR making another crew chief change for the No. 8 team with Jim Pohlman being replaced by Andy Street. It’s a move that appears to be paying off, with Busch finishing in the top-10 twice in the last three races, and would have made it three consecutive top-10s had he not gotten revenge against John Hunter Nemechek on the final lap at Texas.

Another reason Bush could re-sign with RCR. Hendrick, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske and 23XI Racing don’t want him and clearly don’t see the 41-year-old as an upgrade from what they have. This potentially leaves a return to RCR as the best of Bush’s limited options.

RELATED: NASCAR All-Time Cup Series Winners, Including Kyle Busch

Who can replace Kyle Busch at RCR?

While Richard Childress Racing would obviously like to bring Busch back to the No. 8 car for the 2027 season, they have options. If he decides to leave or his contract demands become too high, there are two names to keep in mind as replacements.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

The most obvious RCR prospect is Jesse Love. In his age-21 season, Love is already a part-time driver for RCR in the No. 33 car and is poised to win the Xfinity Series this season.

Reigning Xfinity Series champion Love was previously looked at as an option for Legacy Motor Club in 2027 before their search focused on Riley Herbst. One reason for this could be the hope that Love is destined to occupy the number 8 car.

If RCR determines that Love is not quite ready for a full-time seat at the Cup Series level, the team could give Austin Hill a chance. He has proven to be far better racing in the lower levels than in the Cup, but he may be a short-term option until Love takes over.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Ime Udoka’s comments following the Houston Rockets’ loss in Game 3 of the series against the Los Angeles Lakers fueled recent speculation that the team could trade young star Alpern Sengun this summer.

The Rockets’ 2025-26 campaign is on the verge of a stunning finish. They entered the year with serious NBA Finals expectations after acquiring future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. But Houston finished fifth in the conference. Still, they were fortunate in a first-round playoff matchup against a Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

However, after a bad loss on Friday night, where they blew a huge lead in the final minute of regulation, the Rockets advanced to Game 4 on Sunday by a 3–0 margin. After the loss, Houston head coach Ime Udoka was asked about their Game 3 collapse, and his opinion was surprising.

“Terrible mistakes. I don’t know whether you want to say young or scared of the moment,” Udoka said in his post-game press conference.

His comments were honest but also very interesting, as they seem to confirm why Alpern Sengun could be on the trade block this summer.

Did Ime Udoka confirm why Alperen Sengun will be traded?

On Friday, The Athletic’s William Guillory explained why the next few games were so important for Sengun’s future in Houston. After being a major part of the team’s rebirth in 2024–25, they had a poor performance late in the regular season and were even worse in the playoffs.

Guillory wrote, “The Rockets were expecting much better than this. More specifically, they were expecting a lot more from Sengun at this point in the season, especially after last year’s playoff run helped solidify the 23-year-old as one of the pillars of the franchise.”

“It’s no exaggeration to say that Sengun has been one of the biggest disappointments in this year’s playoffs – not just in Houston, but among all postseason teams.”

While the two-time All-Star played much better in Game 3, posting 33 points, 16 rebounds, and was +10 when he was on the floor, he couldn’t carry his team across the finish line in a very winnable game at home. It added to his reputation that he couldn’t do it under a bright spotlight for a franchise with championship aspirations.

The team was willing to give up Jalen Green despite notable development in order to trade Durant, with Guillory speculating that Sengun could easily be added to a winning proposal in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Donovan Mitchell in the offseason.

While Udoka didn’t specifically call out Seungun, he was one of the guys who was scared at the moment, and that doesn’t bode well for his long-term prospects in H-Town.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new report suggests that the New York Mets and pitcher Freddy Peralta will not agree to a contract extension during the season.

The top priority for the Mets during the offseason was to acquire a legitimate ace, if possible. A big reason for their poor performance at the end of the season in 2025 was that they had no losing-streak stopper leading their rotation.

Well, they addressed it in January when they made a blockbuster trade for Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. 2025 was a historic year for the two-time All-Star as he posted 17 wins and a 2.70 ERA – both career bests. Unsurprisingly, shortly after the deal, speculation began regarding the impending free agent extension.

Locking the 29-year-old to a multi-year deal rather than letting him hit the open market would be a smart move. However, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic, an in-season extension is not something the Mets ever do.

Britton wrote, “The Mets’ hesitation to extend has persisted over nearly two decades of varying player cores, front offices and even ownership.” “The Mets are 27th in baseball in extensions signed this decade with three. They are 28th in extensions signed in the last decade under Wilpon ownership, with six.

“Since 2010, the Mets’ nine extensions are ahead of only the Detroit Tigers (eight) and New York Yankees (five).”

Sources suggest NY Mets will not give Freddy Peralta a season extension

Still, the club’s long history of being resistant to in-season extensions is not the only reason this is unlikely. Britton also said, “The Mets are unlikely to get deeply involved in extension talks across their entire roster, according to people familiar with the club’s thinking.”

Considering the big money the team has already invested in multiple players, it would be understandable if they would at least want to see how Peralta handles half a season in New York. Additionally, team president David Stearns has consistently shown that he is against major extensions for players 30 or older. Peralta will turn 30 in June.

However, if Peralta posts another All-Star season in 2026, the Mets are at major risk of losing his services in free agency this winter.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Charlotte Hornets may have the NBA’s most prolific three-point shooting duo this season, but rookie guard Kon Nueppel didn’t seem entirely convinced about the nickname suggestion for himself and LaMelo Ball.

During the pregame broadcast before Charlotte’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on Prime Video on Saturday afternoon, broadcaster Taylor Rooks floated a possible nickname for the pair after Knueppel struggled to come up with a name herself.

Rooks noted how the Golden State Warriors duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson earned the nickname “Splash Brothers” during their peak while leading the league in three-pointers made.

Since Charlotte’s backcourt was also producing from beyond the arc, Rooks suggested the nickname “Buzz Brothers” for Knueppel and Ball.

Knueppel responded in a light-hearted manner.

“What about the Buzz Brothers?” ???

Con Knuppel: “It’s okay.” 😅@TaylorRooks Get creative with Kon Nueppel and LaMelo Ball’s nicknames 🤙 pic.twitter.com/IhW1panTCV

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 14 March 2026

“It’s fine. It’s fine,” he said, laughing.

‘Buzz Brothers’ idea came up when Kon Nueppel, LaMelo Ball led NBA in three-pointers

The moment highlighted the growing chemistry between Charlotte’s young backcourt as both players rank among the league’s most productive shooters from deep.

Entering Saturday’s contest, Knueppel leads the NBA with 233 three-pointers, while Ball is third in the league with 202. Their combined perimeter production has been a key factor in Charlotte’s offensive identity throughout the season.

At halftime of Saturday’s game, San Antonio held a 59-46 lead over Charlotte.

Welcome to our live New Jersey Devils trade tracker on deadline day!

It’s NHL trade deadline day, and the Devils are quietly in the mix, especially with regard to their blueline.

The Devils are in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, and are likely to miss the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

However, the latest Devils trade discussions indicate that general manager Tom Fitzgerald is interested in making a “hockey trade.” What does it mean?

By Friday morning, all healthy Devils were on the ice for practice. This includes some of the latest names in the rumor mill, which will be named at a later date.

Let’s see what we know so far.

Devils adds so far

Fitzgerald was active before the NHL trade deadline, making deals to bring in Maxim Tsyplyakov from the New York Islanders and Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues.

The only significant subtraction at this point is Ondrej Palats who went to the Islanders in the Ciplakov deal.

Devil’s Wave Three

Yesterday, the Devils waived three players. Evgeni Dadonov, Luke Glendening, and Maxim Tsyplyakov are all on waivers as of 2PM today.

If/when all players are cleared, the Devils will open up some cap space.

Here’s more on the Devils salary cap implications based on a trio of waived players.

simon german

Simon Nemec’s name is at the forefront of Devils trade rumors.

Multiple reports, including New Jersey Hockey Now’s own, indicate that the Devils are willing to move Nemec in a deal that would significantly upgrade the Devils’ top-six.

There has long been a vacancy for Jack Hughes’ wing for a winger, however, with Pierre LeBrun hinting on Thursday that the Devils are hoping to bring in a top-six centre.

dougie hamilton

Indications are that the Devils would like to resolve this by the deadline, but trading Dougie Hamilton has proven difficult.

Hamilton is due a $7.4 million signing bonus on July 1, hindering Fitzgerald’s ability to move defensemen.

Hamilton also has a $9 million cap hit on his contract, which is for two more years after 2025-26.

remaining devils blueline

The Devils have made available every defenseman named Luke Hughes and Brett Pace.

We’ll see if it goes anywhere, but names like Brendan Dillon and Johnathan Kovacevic currently have full no-move clauses. On July 1, full safety Dillon was downgraded to the 10-team no-trade list.

Jonas Seigenthaler is another name to watch. His favorable $3.4 million cap hit with two years remaining on his deal is certainly attractive to inquiring clubs.

Devils forward trade candidate

It’s been relatively quiet on the Kodi Glass front, however, with the central market scoring.

The prices paid for centers — not all of whom are as good as Glass — have yielded big returns, such as Nicolas Roy who went to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2027 top-10 protected first-round pick and a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick.

Makes you wonder what the Devils will get for Glass.

Nick Bjugstad and Paul Cotter are the other leading names to watch until today’s 3pm trade deadline.

Keep it here for our live Devils trade tracker which will be updated as the day progresses.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

We’re nine hours away from the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Will the New Jersey Devils make some noise, or kick the can down the road until the summer in the draft?

They started yesterday with an effort to free up cap space. There is more information on what the multiple player discount means in the link below.

Below, there’s also an update on Simon Nemec ahead of the deadline.

Elsewhere, a surprise name on the trading block in Toronto, the latest on Vincent Trocheck, and more!

Let’s do that hockey.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils waived three players on Thursday. Evgeny Dadonov, Luke Glendening, and Maxim Tsyplyakov. Here’s what this trio of exemptions, the implications of the limits, and what it all means.

With the current state of the NHL trade market, the Devils should consider trading Cody Glass for one reason only.

TSN: Here’s the latest on Simon Nemec, and his apparent desire to reel in a first-line center?

📺Devils Rink Report:

Please be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on those notifications for when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

This could be a very active day on the business front. Here’s what happened yesterday:

Toronto Hockey Now: Well, that’s a big deal. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Matthew Nize is listening on. However, on one condition. Wouldn’t that look good in red and black?

The Athletic ($): Another name that could be in trend today is Sergei Bobrovsky. That’s why it’s a good idea for the Cats to potentially move the Russian netminder.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Yes, Evgeni Malkin is going to be fined at least. The Pittsburgh Penguins forward had a stellar performance last night against the Buffalo Sabres, providing a blow to Rasmus Dahlin.

Colorado Hockey Now: The NHL trade deadline is less than 24 hours away and the Colorado Avalanche have already made several moves to address roster needs. However, this has been nothing unprecedented. Is there more coming next?

Florida Hockey Now: The Florida Panthers started selling some pieces yesterday. AJ Greer sat out last night as well. Is he on the next step?

Philly Hockey Now: After Colton Parayko snubbed the Sabers by exercising his trade clause, could Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen be back on the table?

Montreal Hockey Now: Can the Montreal Canadiens be a winner in the Vincent Trocheck sweepstakes? At least they’re in the mix.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Three days left until the 2026 NHL trade deadline. So, who is in charge of the New Jersey Devils and the decisions they make moving forward?

Well, David Pagnotta and I discussed this very topic on the latest Devils Rink Report. That conversation can be found in the link below.

Below is also how the Devils achieved a rare five-goal win yesterday. It was his first four-plus goal game since November 28, a span of 95 days.

Elsewhere, a handful of deals were made last night, the Robert Thomas deal is heating up, and other NHL trade talk.

Let’s do that hockey.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Look, the Devils know how to score. And they did it against the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The Florida Panthers tried to claw their way through Tuesday night’s tilt, but the Devils called on Sergei Bobrovsky for three goals, and added two empty-netters. Learn more about how the Devils won their second consecutive season.

📺 Devils Rink Report: We’re three days away from the 2026 NHL trade deadline. With Tom Fitzgerald’s job up in the air, who is in charge of the roster? NHL Insider David Pagnotta joins me to discuss the latest Devils rink report.

Full episode here, like and subscribe 👇🏼

Please be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on those notifications for when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

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Plus! Subscribe to the New Jersey Hockey Now newsletter to get all our work delivered straight to your inbox!

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

The Nashville Predators made some deals yesterday. No big deal, but they are taking steps:

Forever Blueshirts: What’s next for the New York Rangers after JT Miller lands on injured reserve?

The Athletic ($): Robert Thomas trade rumors with the Buffalo Sabers are heating up. So, what would a trade from the St. Louis Blues look like?

Montreal Hockey Now: The Calgary Flames are interested in Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arbor Zekaj, according to reports.

Toronto Hockey Now: Nicolas Roy was the catcher when the Toronto Maple Leafs finally traded Mitch Marner. Now, he may be on the move again – and to another Canadian team.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils’ win over the weekend doesn’t change anything. It is likely that they will come up with some things by Friday, including some names that can be considered.

NHL insider David Pagnotta joined me on Friday’s podcast to discuss Dawson Mercer and how his name has come up several times. You can find the YouTube link to that conversation below.

Also below, how other teams view Dougie Hamilton.

Elsewhere, a Vincent Trocheck reunion? Auston Matthews calls Toronto, and Igor Shesterkin claims “not English.”

Let’s do that hockey.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

The Athletic ($): Regardless of how you feel about Dougie Hamilton’s play, he is still viewed as a top-pairing defenseman in the league. That’s why he can still expect a solid return at the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

📺 Devils Rink Report: On Friday’s episode of Devils Rink Report, NHL insider David Pagnotta talked about where he thinks the core and its surrounding big names can move forward. Dawson Mercer as a bubble core guy is a name that has come up a few times.

Full episode here, like and subscribe 👇🏼

Please be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on those notifications for when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok! Follow us here.

Plus! Subscribe to the New Jersey Hockey Now newsletter to get all our work delivered straight to your inbox!

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: Igor Shesterkin has done this before. And now, he has done it again. The Russian goaltender was injured and unavailable to speak when the New York Rangers published the letter waving the white flag on their season. Recently, when asked about this, he jokingly said that he “does not know English.”

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Another great win for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Here’s how they survive without Sidney Crosby.

Florida Hockey Now: Man, Matthew Schaefer is incredible, isn’t he? However, their heroics on Long Island defeated the defending Stanley Cup champions, who see their season come to an end. Do the Florida Panthers have any reason to keep believing?

Detroit Hockey Now: Here are some of the top centers on the NHL trade market right now. So, what are the Detroit Red Wings willing to sacrifice for what?

Toronto Hockey Now: As the season winds down, Auston Matthews says the Toronto Maple Leafs are “embarrassing.”

Carolina Hockey Now: Could they be a reunion for Vincent Trocheck? Reports suggest that the Carolina Hurricanes are one of the teams pursuing him before the deadline.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham’s MVP case continues to gain significant momentum. The Pistons recently defeated the Orlando Magic 106-92. This marks the most regular season wins for Detroit since 2007–08 with 45, and the Pistons’ All-Star was a major reason for that.

Cunningham had another impressive performance with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and two steals. He even took a defensive step, taking on the challenge of guarding Magic forward Paolo Banchero. Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff has been a big supporter of Cunningham as an MVP candidate. He continued that campaign in front of the media after the Pistons’ win in Orlando.

Bickerstaff explained, “He’s special because of the type of person he is. He’s special because of the type of teammate he is. It’s a blessing to be with him and work with him every day.” “The basketball skills speak for themselves. There’s nothing on the court he can’t do on both ends of the court. He can score, he can share it, he can manipulate, he can get stops, block shots and get steals. Whatever you want him to do on the basketball court, he’s able to do it, and it’s not hollow. Everything he does, he has winning in his mind.”

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the current betting favorite for the coveted MVP award. Cunningham is currently ranked third in the highest ranking. Despite the buzz of the Thunder guard winning awards in back-to-back seasons for Oklahoma City, there is still plenty of regular season left for Cunningham to make his case.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed the last nine games due to injury. If he misses six more games, he will no longer be eligible for MVP. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic also missed a long time due to a knee injury. Jokic can only miss one more game before his eligibility is up. The Nuggets have also moved into the fifth seed in the Western Conference after going 4-7 through February.

Cunningham has 23 games left in the regular season to stake his claim. He is currently averaging 25.4 points, 9.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds in the 2025-26 regular season. These stats place him in the top-15 in scoring and second-best in assists. Cunningham has also totaled 33 double-doubles this season as the Pistons’ leading guard.

His exceptional production has helped lead Detroit to a 45–14 record. This leaves them in first place in the Eastern Conference and with the best winning percentage in the entire NBA. Detroit has made tremendous changes since drafting Cunningham. After the success they have achieved this season and last season, they have left their days as one of the worst losing teams behind them.

Cunningham has also played on several nationally televised stages to help present his game more publicly among the league’s voters. The Pistons have eight more nationally televised games before the season ends. The Pistons should continue to emerge as the best team in the league record-wise, with an elite level of production from their 2026 All-Star starter. Cunningham could carve out a legitimate path to becoming the first Pistons player to win MVP in franchise history.

A new report has fueled speculation that AJ Styles could finally be heading to AEW after retiring from WWE this week.

Following his career-ending loss to Gunther at the Royal Rumble last month, supporters of “The Phenomenal One” got the catharsis they wanted on this week’s edition of Monday Night Raw. They got a great highlight reel package. His teammates showered him with love and then The Undertaker surprised him with the news that he was being inducted into the 2026 class of the WWE Hall of Fame.

It was one of the best farewells WWE has ever given to a retiring performer. However, that hasn’t stopped speculation from die-hard AEW fans that he will eventually make the jump to a rival wrestling brand.

The assumption is that since his WWE contract is up, after he gets some much-needed time off as a full-time father, the wrestling itch will eventually return and he’ll scratch it in AEW. The No. 2 company in the world, a place where he has lots of friends, and a promotion with a boss who is his avowed fan.

However, this possibility seems even more unlikely after new comments from one-time Bullet Club and OC castmate Karl Anderson.

Is AJ Styles dealing with a serious neck injury?

“We get to the back, I said, ‘AJ! I didn’t know you were actually going to retire.’ He says, ‘Really!?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ What exactly do you mean, AJ?'” Anderson said on a new edition of his Talkin ‘n’ Shop podcast. “We haven’t talked. How do I know whether you are really going to retire or not?’

“And he said, ‘Man, I have to. My neck’s a pain in the ass. I’m beat up. It’s time,'” he said, recalling their conversation Monday night. “‘I want to help the next generation,’ and I say, ‘Well, I didn’t really believe it. So I just kept talking on my podcast about how you weren’t going to retire, and you’re going to go here, and you’re going to go there, and now, I have to eat a lot of crow, dude.'”

Apparently, AJ Styles may undergo surgery to fix whatever problem he has with his neck. However, after performing in sports for more than 25 years, the problem may become serious and require major surgery. This is something he may want to avoid during the months or years of rehabilitation.

Styles has made it clear that he wanted to retire before he was no longer able to compete at the level he desired. A serious neck injury a few months before his 49th birthday provides evidence as to why he is retiring from not just WWE but the industry as a whole.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos