標籤: deadline

brentfordThe €45m offer for Said Al Malaa includes conditions for the transfer to go through as quickly as possible.

image And game creation Cover Brentford’s 19-year-old winger’s efforts to push a deal ahead of the competition on to the stage today.

Brentford offer has a deadline

BILD kicked off by reporting that Brentford are ‘entering the final stages’ for the Cologne superstar. They have made a written offer for the winger.

“We have received an offer, which we are considering,” Cologne sporting director Thomas Kessler, 40, confirmed on Tuesday. He did not mention Brentford specifically.

But according to BILD’s information, the written proposal reportedly includes a deadline. If no agreement is reached within a few days, the bees intend to withdraw from the race.

Sportbild go into a little more detail. He says ‘things are getting serious’ around the Cologne winger. Brentford are in the final stages of the race for his signature.

He has made a written proposal, which has been received by the Rhineland Club. The proposal was finalized and sent over the weekend. Now they intend to put pressure on Cologne to accept it.

€40m fee plus €5m bonus

The offer is close to Cologne’s €50m asking price. This is a base fee of €40m, with a €5m ‘easily attainable’ bonus added. The German side can easily expect to receive €45 million in total from the deal.

He will also receive a 15% share of any future transfer fees. No other club including long term lover brightonHave come closer. The Seagulls wanted to submit an offer of €35m but never officially did so. Their only written offer in January was €28m.

Brentford want to avoid the drawn-out negotiations that Brighton found themselves in last year. If no agreement could be reached within a few days, they would step back and focus on alternative candidates. However, Cologne will try to get a better deal.

Meanwhile, a big increase in player salaries is certain. Brentford are offering him more money than Brighton. The Seagulls were offering him €4m a year in his first year.

Now it’s a matter of him, his mother, who is refusing to work with an agency, and Colon deciding if they want a deal. Brentford are offering everything they want, but they won’t wait for it to be accepted.

The New York Mets have been one of the worst teams in baseball this season, resulting in rumors of an MLB trade involving starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. With the trade deadline just a few months away, there is some early buzz about New York’s approach.

According to MLB insider Robert Murray, the Mets are “no closer to being sold” and there is complete confidence throughout the organization that the season can turn around. Although New York has a number of players who would generate significant interest from around the league, a sale is not even considered an option by the front office right now.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 7, New York Mets Climb

Entering MLB games today, the Mets are at the bottom of the NL East with an 18-26 record. ^{This puts New York 12.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves and 8 games behind the San Diego Padres for the final wild card spot in the National League.}

However, there are some signs of hope on the horizon. New York is 8-5 in May, which is tied with the Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals for sixth-most wins in Major League Baseball. This all comes during a period where the Mets pitching staff has a 2.85 ERA (fifth in MLB).

However, injuries remain an issue. New York’s starting rotation suffered a loss to Clay Holmes with a fractured fibula, and it could keep him out for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, there is still no timeline for All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor’s return from a calf injury, and running back Jorge Polanco has no timeline for a return as he battles Achilles bursitis.

The next few series on the Mets schedule could potentially change the front office’s approach. Following the Subway Series this weekend, New York will face the Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds to conclude May. Looking at opponents, there’s a chance New York could be within three games of .500 entering June.

On the other hand, if New York records a loss during that period, selling may be the best option. Moving homes is now off the table, but the expiring contracts of Peralta, David Peterson, Craig Kimbrel and Brooks Raley could potentially be reversed.

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

The Detroit Tigers are struggling as the summer approaches. Through 42 games, the Tigers are in last place in the AL Central with a 19–23 record. The 2026 MLB season was expected to be a good one for Detroit; However, injuries have taken a significant toll on the organization.

Now, the Tigers may be on the verge of selling some of their key pieces before the 2026 MLB trade deadline.

Detroit Tigers labeled as potential seller at 2026 MLB trade deadline

USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale listed the Tigers as a team to watch as sellers at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. As of now, Detroit is just 1.5 games out of the final wild card spot and three games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.

The Tigers have plenty of time to turn their season around, but it’s notable that they are being labeled as potential sellers. In fact, it focuses on starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, who is expected to miss one to two months after undergoing elbow surgery to remove a loose body.

Skuable is set to enter MLB free agency after the 2026 season. If Detroit does indeed become a seller and fall out of contention, it would make sense to trade the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner to maximize his value. If not, the Tigers will waste Skubal’s last season in Detroit and lose him for a draft pick.

There are other players like Jack Flaherty and Gleyber Torres who will also become free agents. It’s the start of the 2026 MLB season, but the Tigers need to change the direction of their campaign. The goal should be to transform yourself into a buyer, not a seller.

How the Detroit Tigers can become a buyer during the 2026 season

Detroit is still firmly in contention, but the 2026 MLB season may be over. The Tigers have struggled with a plethora of injuries, especially to their pitching staff. Of the original five starting pitchers, only Flaherty and Framber Valdez remain in the rotation to start the season.

Meanwhile, Javier Baez and Kerry Carpenter are not in the lineup due to injuries. This also doesn’t include Parker Meadows, who is recovering from a broken hand. Needless to say, it’s clear what Detroit needs to do moving forward. If the Tigers want to be a buyer, he’ll have to get healthy soon.

There are very few, if any, teams in MLB that can avoid so many injuries. The Tigers had great starting pitching depth to start the 2026 MLB season, but it quickly disappeared. Detroit desperately needs its players back and healthy for the remainder of the regular season.

If not, the Tigers would continue to fall in the American League standings. At the moment, the loss is not bad. Detroit has missed two games in the 2026 MLB postseason. However, the Tigers know they cannot afford to suffer so many injuries, and things must improve to keep their postseason dreams alive.

READ MORE: MLB Rumors – New Tarik Skubal contract projection revealed after injury

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

If the New York Mets season doesn’t pick up serious momentum over the next few months, a team insider offered an idea for what they could get in return if they sold some of their valuable pieces, such as Freddy Peralta.

After a poor performance in April, the Mets have played better of late. Winning four of their last six and back-to-back series. But things still feel volatile, and it wouldn’t be surprising if things spiraled out of control once again in the coming weeks and months. That’s why the idea of ​​becoming a seller before the trade deadline is being whispered among fans.

This was something a supporter questioned The Athletic’s Mets insider Tim Britton about in a new mailbag piece. In response to the question of which players are most tradeable, Britton offered some interesting ideas on what the team could get for pitcher Freddy Peralta.

He wrote, “I think Peralta would be able to bring back a top 100 prospect and maybe one other prospect in a July trade.”

Clay Holmes won’t get a strong trade return to the Mets?

The Mets gave up top 100 prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sprott in a deal for the two-time All-Star. After a poor start in his New York debut in March, Peralta has performed well in his seven starts since then. Giving up two or fewer runs in four of those starts.

Besides Peralta, who else did Britton think could get a good return in a potential trade amid the summer trade deadline? Many may consider Clay Holmes as he has had a great start to the season. However, a Mets insider suggests that since he is likely to opt out of the final year of his contract, his limited track record will hurt his value in the market.

Britton actually believes relievers Brooks Raleigh and AJ Minter can provide good returns for the club if Raleigh can maintain his strong start or Minter can get healthy. Furthermore, they do not see any obvious players who would attract much outside interest.

Britton wrote, “Bo Bichette’s complicated contract makes it difficult to trade him. Luis Robert Jr. needs to get healthy and perform to be of interest to other teams.” “Guys like Marcus Semien, Sean Mania and Kodai Senga are going to have to straight up salary dump at this point.”

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

liverpool Favorite Dirk Kuyt has admitted he could have joined Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Anfield.

Speaking on the Rondje Robb podcast, the Feyenoord legend explained why he rejected Spurs at the last minute. He chose loyalty over a Premier League switch.

“I could go to Spurs”

The former Netherlands striker has revealed he turned down Tottenham a year before moving to the Premier League with Liverpool.

He joined the Reds in August 2006 for €18m. He made 285 appearances at Anfield, scoring 75 goals and 40 assists and winning the League Cup during his time in the Reds.

During his time on Merseyside he firmly established himself as a fan favourite. But things could have been very different had Tottenham made the call a year earlier.

Kuyt confirmed that Tottenham, under chairman Daniel Levy, applied serious pressure to sign him in the final hours of the window. But the forward refused to walk away from Feyenoord.

“I could have gone to Spurs on the last day, but I didn’t want to do that with Feyenoord.” In 1908 he was reported as saying.

He then expanded on that conversation with Levi. “I told him at the time: ‘I don’t want to do this with Feyenoord on the last day of the transfer window.’

“At that point, you find yourself wondering: ‘Will that opportunity ever come again?’ But a year later, Liverpool came calling.

Atletico Madrid sent a private jet

Tottenham were not the only side trying to lure Dirk Kuyt away from Feyenoord. He revealed that Atletico Madrid had also come very close to securing his signature.

“The president of Atlético Madrid sent a private jet to Rotterdam. He intended to take us to Madrid,” he said.

“My agent told me: ‘You have to understand: If we get on that plane, we’re not coming back.’ I thought it was really amazing that we ultimately decided not to do it.”

no regrets

Luckily for the former striker, it appears he has no regrets. He remained loyal to Feyenoord. A year later he received a big fee from Liverpool. He then became a cult icon at Anfield.

Yet he found a storybook ending at Feyenoord. He made a comeback towards the end of his career and captured the title by scoring a hat-trick in his final game. This was his first time in 18 years.

None of this would have been possible had he accepted Tottenham’s offer so many years ago, something he clearly knows.

Injuries continue to be an issue for the Chicago Bulls, especially to newcomers. Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simmons are both out with injuries. Now, Rob Dillingham has faltered.

Dillingham suffered a strange wrist injury during Tuesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors. Although the Bulls won 130-124 in OT, concerns about the health of players are more uncertain than ever.

Afterwards, according to Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune, head coach Billy Donovan provided an analysis of Dillingham’s injury. Necessarily saying it’s not terrible, but he needs time to get back into the team.

“It’s nothing too serious, but he has some wrist issues that need to be addressed in the offseason,” Donovan said. “He doesn’t feel OK all the time shooting the basketball. I think he’ll be OK once everything gets settled, but it’s something he’s struggling with and dealing with.”

Overall, Dillingham played 20 minutes and finished with five points and four rebounds.

Meanwhile, the bulls are in a very delicate position. In February, they made seven trades before the trade deadline, causing fans and observers to ask more questions about the franchise’s long-term plans.

Dillingham arrived in Chicago from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the deal that sent Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota. Originally, Dillingham was brought in to give him more opportunities to score and play more minutes.

However, with Ivey, Simmons and their injuries, the validity of the Bulls’ decision making over the past month is under even greater scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the Bulls will kick off their five-game road trip in Los Angeles. On Thursday they will play the Lakers and on Friday they will play the Clippers.

The Golden State Warriors have been without Moses Moody for the last three games due to a sprained right wrist. On Tuesday, the organization shared an update regarding the timeline for his return.

Moody, who will turn 24 in May, was said to have made progress during his evaluation process on Tuesday. However, he is not ready to return yet and will be reevaluated at the end of the week, according to the Warriors PR.

“Warriors guard Moses Moody, who has missed the last three games after suffering a right wrist sprain on March 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers, was recently re-evaluated. The re-evaluation indicated that Moody is making good progress and has progressed in on-court work. He will be re-evaluated later this week.”

Based on the announcement, the fifth-year veteran will miss Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls. However, it seems like there’s a chance he could be back as soon as Friday when the Warriors take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at home. But it really depends on when the next revaluation process takes place.

Moses Moody has played in 59 games for the Warriors this season, starting 48. He has been a solid contributor, averaging 11.9 points (career-high), 3.3 rebounds (career-high), and 1.6 assists (career-high) per game, while shooting 44.1% from the floor and 40.2% from beyond the three-point line (career-high).

The Warriors are currently struggling with many injuries. Since Moody is going to miss at least one more contest, we should expect Will Richard to play an extended role when the Warriors take on the Bulls. Pat Spencer, LC Cryer, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford could also see more playing time.

The Carolina Hurricanes were particularly quiet on Friday, getting only one player, Nick Deslauriers, an hour before the deadline. However, by the final minutes of the deadline, it was noted that they were working with the New York Rangers in an effort to bring back Vincent Trocheck.old north state‘.

The deal had fallen through by three, and Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky soon joined the media, where he called the price too high for this season. Now, one of the top NHL insiders, Elliotte Friedman, has revealed that he may have heard about the heavy demand for Trocheck.

On Monday, Friedman joined Sportsnet’s The Fan Hockey Show to discuss his perspective on the trade deadline. One of the first topics they discussed was Rangers’ price tag for the 32-year-old centreman.

“I will say this, I talked to another team that was on Trocheck,” he said. “They told me the Rangers were looking for a first-rounder, a player off your roster, and a legitimate prospect. That was a lot, and they decided not to pay it.

“I heard that’s what was asked. I don’t know what Carolina was willing to do, but [Tulsky] Just said ‘Hey, this is too much for us’.”

Really Overpriced Trading Deadline

Realistically, a first-round pick, roster players and quality prospects aren’t a particularly high price for someone to fill the top-six center role. However, if the price tag for Carolina had remained the same as it was for the team referenced by Friedman, the Rangers may have been eyeing specific players or prospects that the Hurricanes were unwilling to part with.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi was the top name on the trade block, while Alexander Nikishin was rumored to be the name available at the right price: a superstar-level player with a good contract. With that in mind, Kotkaniemi would likely be the only roster player the Hurricanes would be willing to trade for Trocheck, and the Rangers would likely be considering other players instead.

Later on in the show, Friedman said he believed the Hurricanes looked at other players who could fill that role, but ultimately came up with nothing.

Many believed that Robert Thomas could have been a fit for Carolina, but Friedman also pointed out that if a deal had been attempted, the price the Buffalo Sabers would have paid the St. Louis Blues would have ‘devastated’ the Rochester Americans, adding that they would have had to trade for AHL vets to fill out their roster.

Considering what the Hurricanes had to lose, it seems like a conservative deadline approach may be better than it initially seemed.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

Trading time is over! With the NHL trade deadline approaching, the Ottawa Senators are set to play their final 21 games with a slightly adjusted roster. Inside is Warren Foegele, outside is David Perron. Since the Sens are currently four points out of a playoff spot, did they do enough? Let’s get into the details.

A look at two trades

For a full analysis of the two Senators trades, you can see here and here. These are the basics:

• In: Warren Foegele, conditional 2026 third-round pick, conditional 2026 fourth-round pick
• OUT: David Perron, 2026 second-round pick, conditional 2026 third-round pick

To simplify, the Senators went with some of their picks in the draft in exchange for an upgrade on Perron, signing Foegele for next season. With Perron out with injuries, adding a healthy winger to play the final quarter of the season would help with a playoff push. Of course, for Foegele to upgrade, he needs to return to last year’s 24-goal form. This season has been a struggle, with Foegele scoring only 9 points in 47 games.

Steps that senators did not take

The Senators have long been linked to right-shot defenseman McKenzie Weegar, who ended up with the Utah Mammoth. “I suspect Ottawa was also involved in Rob Thomas,” he said on Elliotte Freedman’s 32 Thoughts podcast.

The problem for the Senators was that they didn’t have a lot of trade chips. They have one of the weakest prospect pools in the NHL and no first-round picks. While Steve Staios has come out and said that it was the coach’s decision to sit Stephen Holiday with the Flames, I wonder if he was being held out just in case. If senators had struck a bigger deal, it would most likely have been going the other way.

As things stand, the Senators’ defense and goaltending remain the same. This is no real surprise on the net. There weren’t exactly a ton of goalkeepers available. The good news is that Ullmark has played better recently. Since returning from his leave of absence he has gone 4-0-2 with a .909 SV%. Don’t think that Levi Merilainen will be back any time soon. He is slashing .890 SV% in 14 games at Belleville. On defense, if they need a change they could add Nicholas Matinpalo to the lineup. They could also call up top prospect Carter Yakemchuk. His 27 points in 44 games are impressive. He doesn’t have a minus 37 rating.

senators lineup

Here’s how the Senators will look in their final 21 games:

• Batherson-Stutzle-Giroux
• Tkachuk-Cozens-Gregg
• Foegele-Pinto-Amadio
• cousins-or-zetterlund

• sanderson-zab
• Chabot-Jensen
• cleven-spence

final thoughts

The Senators have a playoff lineup. He has played at a playoff team level throughout the season, in addition to his goaltending and penalty kill. Ulmark has been better recently. It’s the same with the penalty kill. Since Mike Yeo took over with the penalty kill, the Senators PKs are at 80%. Earlier, PK was in a pitiful state of 71.7%. They are currently on pace for 93 points. The Bruins, who hold the final wildcard spot, are on pace for 98. You can’t forget about the Blue Jackets, who landed Connor Garland at the deadline and currently lead the Sens by three points.

In their final 21 games last season, the Senators went 14-5-2. If they can repeat this, they will finish the season with 99 points. This should be good enough to make the playoffs. Of course, there will be no bad effects from here on out. It’s hard to do, but the Senators have what it takes.

Sure, the Senators didn’t make any blockbuster moves at the deadline, but they didn’t really have the assets, nor were they in a position to do so. Warren Foegele should help this team. If he can add another hard hit that can help on the penalty kill, that would be great. Another reason for optimism—the Senators’ next two games are on the road. However, after that, they finish the season playing 12 of their remaining 19 games at home.

Danny was born and raised in Ottawa and still lives in that city. He has followed… more about Danny McCloskey

What do the Vegas Golden Knights have in common with someone who takes blood thinners? Once bleeding starts it may be difficult to stop.

All season long, the Golden Knights have suffered from an uncharacteristic problem: they tend to spiral after allowing a goal. That’s exactly what happened when they hosted the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena on Friday. The Wild scored three quick goals in the second period, which proved too much for the Golden Knights to overcome in the 4–2 loss.

The first round was equal. The Golden Knights got off to a good start, shutting down the Minnesota power play and defeating the Wild 8–6. Colton Sissons got two breakaway chances, but Phillip Gustavsson shut the door both times.

Except for a three-minute gap early in the second period, the Golden Knights were the better team. They outshot the Wild 10-7 and created five high-danger scoring chances while allowing only one.

The problem is that during that 3:07 exception, Minnesota scored three times.

The Wild broke the ice at 5:18 of the second period. Noah Hanifin couldn’t connect with Mitch Marner on a no-look backhander, and Matt Zuccarello raced to the loose puck. Zuccarello slipped between Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson, drove in alone, and completed the breakaway.

The Wild doubled their lead at 8:25 of the second minute. Yakov Trenin had the puck behind the goal and found Daniil Yurov for a one-timer. Akira Schmid made the save, but the rebound went to Zack Bogosian above the right circle and the defenseman deflected the shot past the Rockets.

Just 18 seconds later, the Wild added to their lead. Brock Faber hit a shot from the point and Michael McCarron redirected it home.

After McCarron’s goal, the Golden Knights finally managed to stop the bleeding and not dig their hole any deeper. They renewed their attack, but Filip Gustavsson was exceptional.

As has often been the case this season, the Golden Knights ultimately finished in third place. Pavel Dorofeyev scored a penalty just 1:22 into the period, giving his team its first power play of the night.

The Golden Knights scored their third goal at 2:17, less than a minute into the power play. Jack Eichel delivered a pass through the middle and Pavel Dorofeyev found the winger’s 30th goal of the season.

Solving Filip Gustavsson did wonders for the team’s confidence and the Golden Knights continued their attack. He recorded 14 shots and created 13 scoring chances in the third period; However, their desperate offense resulted in the Wild having 10 scoring chances.

The Wild took advantage of one of those scoring opportunities and restored their two-goal lead at 15:42 of the third. Michael McCarron passed the puck out to Vladimir Tarasenko, who raced up the ice on a 3-on-1 with Yakov Trenin and Jared Spurgeon. Tarasenko entered the field, played catch with Spurgeon and fired a shot that went past Akira Schmidt short-side.

The Golden Knights refused to go quietly and responded with 3:05 remaining in regulation. Tomas Hertl pressured Kirill Kaprizov under the goal line and forced a turnover. Pavel Dorofeyev sent a centering pass to Mitch Marner, who redirected it to Filip Gustavsson.

Despite pulling Akira Schmid for an extra attacker, the Golden Knights failed to generate the expected looks and lost 4–2.

“It’s pretty much the same,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said after the team’s loss. “We fall behind. Our stretch is very bad, and one becomes two and becomes three… It should be better now, with a more experienced group.”

Hannah Kirkel is a beat writer who covers the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNote. She studied more about Hannah Kirkel

The Carolina Hurricanes took a conservative route at the NHL trade deadline, opting to forego a major trade and instead upped the toughness factor with the acquisition of big bruiser, Nick Deslauriers from the Philadelphia Flyers.

After the deadline, Tulsky spoke to the media on a variety of topics related to the day’s events, from what he saw in Deslauriers to the always-controversial second center role plan and everything in between.

What does Nick Deslauriers bring to the table

Tulsky began the press conference by discussing the latest addition to the storm.

“Nick is a veteran. He’s a physical presence. He’s a guy who has great character, does things the right way, makes the team tough to play against, and just generally adds the kind of character and toughness that we wanted to bring to the group.”

He later spoke about the doggedness Deslauriers brought to the team as well as the tenacity he already possessed.

“Ultimately, a lot of the toughness is personal and internal, right? ‘Am I going to take it, or not? That’s what toughness is for me – it’s not really ‘Do I have someone else to take care of it’. And I think we have a group of people who have that internal toughness, that’s the fight.

“Stankoven is the smallest guy in the world, and when he felt like that needed to happen, he grabbed guys and started fighting, right? So, it looks like we have that fire, but of course, it’s easier to maintain that toughness when you have a guy like Deslauriers. When it feels like games are getting more intense, and that can be useful for people, that’s something we wanted to explore.”

Comfortable with current center staff

A lingering dilemma for the Hurricanes has been their second centerman role, an issue that came to the fore following Trocheck’s departure in 2022. Addressing questions about the rumored attempt to reunite with the former Hurricane, Tulsky confirmed his feelings about Logan Stankoven’s performance at the position.

“I think Logan has been great in that role,” he said before giving a list of reasons why. “I know there’s a lot of people out there that look at the point total and worry about it. Seriously, at five-on-five, he produced at a high rate.

“We have three of the top 40 centers in the league in five-on-five production. And the fact that he’s not on our first power play unit has nothing to do with how good he is as a center. I think people forget how many nights in October and November that line was our best line. That line has generated a lot of offense this year, and he’s been part of that.

“He’s not the tallest guy, and people worry about that, but he works really hard. He’s extremely competitive. He’s the kind of guy who pulls teammates into battles. Other guys look at it and say, ‘Well, if he can do it, obviously I can. I’m twice the size of him.’ You know, I have no worries about it moving forward.”

Players received calls due to the storm

Although this was expected, Tulski confirmed that he had received calls from players. However, the storm wisely avoided taking out anyone.

“At the end of the day, you know, we’re trying to win a cup here, and it’s going to be hard to take players out…no matter what role they play.

“We anticipate that at some point everyone on this team will be needed. And so, we had some calls, we explored some things, but at the end of the day, you know, we’re trying to win a Cup, and we didn’t want to weaken our team going into the playoffs.”

Deals don’t matter to Hurricanes

Tulsky also talked about his desire to add more high-quality players to help push the team toward the Stanley Cup, but the difficulties the market presented, and his confidence in the team remain the same.

“Obviously, we have a lot of confidence in this roster. We’ve battled through a lot of injuries and are on pace for, I don’t know, 112 points or something – and as we get healthier, we’re getting better. We’re very happy with what we have right now.

“I would say we’re always trying to get better. We’d like to be on pace for 130 points or 150. So it’s not like I’m ever going to say, ‘This team is good enough, we don’t need to add.’

“I know the players are excited to see reinforcements, and I want to do it for them as much as they want to see it. We all want it. Like, nobody is more competitive than us. And, you know, we’re up and down the organization. We’re extremely aggressive in trying to add.

“Ultimately, you know, it’s not about my confidence in him. It’s about the opportunities that were really on the market to make something addition that will make us better. Yeah. I would love to bring somebody in that is, you know, one of those top 20 players and make everybody say we’re one guy closer to being in those top 20 on a team. It wasn’t meant to be that way this year.”

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes met with the media on Friday afternoon following the NHL trade deadline, which resulted in no deal for the Habs.

According to Hughes, the Canadiens had the outlines of a potential deal, however it fell through in the final minutes of the deadline.

“We spent a lot of time on one case in particular,” he said. “And it came down to the wire, but that doesn’t stop us from revisiting it in the summer.”

Without trying to read too much between the lines, it seems like the Habs were actively involved in a trade for a player like Robert Thomas or Vincent Trocheck, two talented centers who should still be available in a trade after the regular season and playoffs are over.

When pressed for more details about a potential deal, Hughes once again pointed to the possibility that a trade could be completed in a matter of months.

He said, “I’d love to answer, but maybe you’ll find out in the summer.”

As far as pending unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine is concerned, Hughes suggests that despite all the trade talks approaching the deadline, he won’t be a distraction moving forward.

Hughes explained, “Patrick is part of the team like the other players, he’s not a distraction.” “I expect Patrick to be available for the team based on the decisions made by the coaches.”

If the Habs had pulled off a significant trade, Hughes noted that it would likely have resulted in other trade dominoes falling.

“We had some things that would have happened if the deal we were working on had gone through,” he said. “Yes, it was an important business for us.”

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

As for the lack of action, Hughes reminded fans that the team actually made some big deals earlier in the season, including the trade that brought star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Canadiens.

“I think our players are happy to be here and they’re happy with the group,” Hughes said. “They are not unaware of the fact that we have taken significant steps since the end of last season to improve our team.

“Part of the message to the group is that we like these players, we have good hockey players, and we have good hockey players that are not playing.”

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, when the LA Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline, there were two teams in particular who reportedly jumped to inquire about Kawhi Leonard’s availability. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne, it was revealed on Friday that one of the teams interested in a potential Kawhi Leonard trade with the Clippers was the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors’ original trade deadline targets were believed to be Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaren Jackson Jr. His interest in Kawhi Leonard was ignited after the Clippers trades, which seemingly signaled a reset. When none of those potential deals came to fruition, the Warriors turned to their backup plan which was the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Leonard is entering the final year of his contract with the Clippers, which is worth approximately $50.3 million. Siegel suggests he may once again attract trade interest from opposing teams. This could be a similar situation to when the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard was in the final year of his deal at the time, and ultimately left the franchise in free agency after only one season. But it was still a success for the Raptors because it got them a championship.

Despite injury problems the past few seasons, Leonard has been relatively healthy this year and has been among the NBA’s top players. He has appeared in 47 games at a rate of just over 32 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals while splitting 49.7 percent shooting from the field, 37.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 90.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

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

According to some inside sources, the Montreal Canadiens have inquired about the acquisition cost of New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck.

Pierre LeBrun believes the Canadiens have spoken to the Rangers, although we should note that this is far from a report, as he mentioned that he “thinks” the Habs have been somewhat active in this dossier.

Pierre LeBrun: I think the Canadiens have checked in with the Rangers on Vincent Trocheck, although it could be a huge haul – Melnyk in the Afternoon (3/4)

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

potential impact

Given that the Habs have shown interest in trading for Robert Thomas, a deal that would obviously improve the roster while ignoring some more pressing needs, it makes sense that they have done their due diligence regarding other available centers, including Trocheck and Nazem Kadri.

Darren Dreger: If Robert Thomas doesn’t move on most people think Vinny Trocheck is going to be the second rung on that ladder, and then you get to Nazem Kadri – Barn Burner (3/4).

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

The 32-year-old Trocheck doesn’t fit the Canadiens’ ideal age bracket, but it should be noted that he has managed to maintain a very respectable level of play for a skater who is on the wrong side of 30.

He is in the fourth year of a seven-year contract with an annual average value of $5.625 million, and he will be 35 when it expires in 2029.

For your buck, this is a good value deal, especially when we consider Trocheck is on pace to score 18 goals and 40 assists in 68 games. To make matters even more interesting, he has produced fantastic underlying numbers on a depleted Rangers roster, a testament to his ability to stave off the usual statistical decline that tends to take over at his age.

Trocheck is also excellent at the faceoff dot, winning over 58% of his draws this season, an asset that will certainly interest a head coach like Martin St-Louis.

In that vein, Trocheck would project as a significant upgrade over current second-line center Oliver Kapanen.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Like a potential Thomas trade, this deal would ignore the most significant issues in the organization, which are a lack of goaltending excellence and questionable defensive coverage.

And then there is the matter of acquisition costs, which are expected to be exorbitant.

Chris Johnston: Ray Vincent Trocheck: The question now is still being considered a little too rich for some contenders – Insider Trading (3/5)

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

However, Vincent Trocheck checks almost every box for the Habs, except his age. There is also the issue of his lack of discipline, which will be further exacerbated by playing for a team that has already struggled with indiscipline for a few seasons now.

If the Canadiens were just one center away from being legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, this is the type of trade that would be considered a slam dunk, even if he is much older than most of the players Hughes acquired.

But the Habs aren’t at that point yet, making this a potential trade that would generate a certain amount of legitimate excitement while ignoring some major roster construction problems.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Charlotte Hornets are officially one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and head coach Charles Lee believes the looming trade deadline is a major reason why. After Wednesday night’s impressive 118-89 win over the Boston Celtics, Lee praised guard Coby White, calling him a “battle-tested” veteran who has turned the team around.

“He adds a lot to our environment and our product on the court,” Lee said of White. With the win the Hornets moved to 32–31, the first time they have sat above the .500 mark since late October. This extended their current winning streak to six games, a stretch where Charlotte has boasted one of the most efficient offenses in the league.

🎙️ Charles Lee on Coby White: “He adds a lot to our environment and our product on the court.”

“We have a very deep team, but there’s something about having a guy like that who is battle-tested, a high-level thinker and has been through a lot of experiences as a basketball player.”… pic.twitter.com/WsJ9sYnhqC

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 5 March 2026

White was surgically efficient against the Celtics at TD Garden, finishing with 17 points and six assists while shooting an impressive 6-of-9 from the field in just 20 minutes of action. His ability to stabilize the second unit and provide clutch scoring punch has provided Lee with a luxury the Hornets have lacked in recent seasons.

Lee said having a high-level thinker like White makes it easier for him to put the ball in his hands at the end of quarters so the team can get quality shots.

The blowout featured a balanced attack as rookie Con Knueppel led all Charlotte scorers with 20 points. Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball each scored 18 points, while the defense held a powerful Boston team to just 89 points.

For a team that was struggling to stay in the play-in race a month ago, the addition of White along with stars like Ball and Miller has created a tremendous rotation. As the Hornets head toward the postseason, their new “battle-tested” creator appears to be just what the doctor ordered.

The Florida Panthers are on the rise. After the Olympic break, the Panthers have lost three consecutive games and are in last place in the Atlantic Division with 63 points. Florida is 10 points (five games) out of the final wild card spot with 21 games left. Time is ticking, and the Panthers have made a decision on their plans for the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

Florida has decided to become a seller ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports. The Panthers will not include Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and others in trade talks, but they will make their unrestricted free agents available. This also includes goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky.

Bobrowski is on the 16-team no-trade list, but Florida is listening to other teams. That doesn’t mean the Panthers aren’t willing to move the 37-year-old goaltender, as an extension could be done. Another notable player that Florida has been listening to is forward AJ Greer.

The Panthers have won the last two Stanley Cups, but a third is becoming less likely. Florida has faced injuries throughout the 2025–26 NHL season. Florida captain Alexander Barkov has missed the entire campaign due to a torn ACL ahead of the new season.

The NHL team has played a lot of hockey over the past three seasons, and it could pick up the pace in 2026. Like the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, the dynasty is not over, but it is taking a break. The Panthers are expected to be active before the NHL trade deadline, but they will not receive a deal.

Read more: Florida Panthers could trade Sergei Bobrovsky, 5 best landing spots

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed Tuesday.

montreal canadiens news

It’s officially silly season! Habs-related rumors have been increasing, with one of the most recent reports linking the Calgary Flames to defenseman Arbor Zekaj. [Canadiens Rumours: Calgary Reportedly Interested in Xhekaj]

Patrik Laine’s name also came up on Tuesday. Apparently, the Los Angeles Kings have renewed interest in the power play specialist. [Canadiens Linked To Kings In Laine Trade Rumour]

While the Flames have shown interest in Zekaj, the Habs continue to kick the tires on Flames forward Nazem Kadri. [Evaluating Canadiens Rumour Linking Kadri To Montreal]

With the March 6 NHL trade deadline looming, we take a look at the most pressing needs of Kent Hughes and company. While many want the Habs to acquire a forward, the defensive situation is far more worrisome. Montreal scored a lot of goals, but struggled to keep the puck out of their own net. [Top 5 Canadiens Needs Heading Into Trade Deadline]

There were 12 goals scored in Tuesday night’s game between the Habs and Sharks! Watch highlights of the goal bonus in California that resulted in a 7-5 win for the Sharks [Canadiens Highlights: Goal Bonanza In San Jose]

One of the Canadiens’ top prospects, Bryce Pickford, refuses to stop scoring goals at will in the WHL. Pickford was voted as the No. 7 player in our annual Top 20 Habs prospects rankings. [Canadiens Top 20 Rankings – No. 7 The Extraordinary Bryce Pickford]

Don’t take your eyes off Pickford!! His 38th year has put us over 1!! 🚨🐅@CanadiensMTL | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/OuGlGF855G

– Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) 4 March 2026

As always, phenom Lane Hutson has his eyes on the prize.

Len Hutson on this Habs squad today:

“We have a young group that is confident in what we’re doing and building. But we all bring different things and it’s fun… We all share the common goal of competing and trying to win a Stanley Cup.” pic.twitter.com/ABg2XuwBtH

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 4 March 2026

ICYMI: We’ve landed the top spot in our annual Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings, as voted on by Habs fans. Dynamic forward Michael Hayes earned the No. 1 spot because of his elite skill set, not to mention he has already established himself as one of the top players in the NCAA. It remains to be seen how long he’ll stay in the NCAA, and whether the Habs will want him to spend some time in the AHL before graduating to the NHL, but there’s no doubt that Hayes represents Montreal’s best hopes of drafting an elite player from their current prospect pool. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects – No. 1 Dynamic Michael Hage]

Sportsknot Network

Despite some players with expiring contracts, the New Jersey Devils still have value heading into next Friday with some short-term deals and favorable cap hits. [New Jersey Devils]

The St. Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabers are working on a trade that will shock the entire NHL. As TSN’s Darren Dreger reports, trade talks between the Blues and Sabers involving Robert Thomas are “heating up.” St.Louis is serious about trading Thomas after weeks of speculation. [Buffalo Sabres]

The Carolina Hurricanes have the most points in the Eastern Conference heading into the NHL trade deadline on Friday. Carolina is speculated to acquire Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. Peterson, who has been criticized in Vancouver, could be traded despite his $11.6 million camp hit. The 27-year-old center has 35 points in 52 games in 2025-26. [Carolina Hurricanes]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

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 👇🏼

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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 Boston Bruins are looking for some upgrades ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Boston holds the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 71 points. However, the Bruins have several needs, such as a top-4 right-shot defenseman and options to improve their blue line and offensive depth.

Below, we’ll break down the five best trade targets for Boston ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline!

Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues

Robert Thomas would give Boston an incredible update at the center position. With prospects like Mathieu Poitras and Dean Letourneau, the St. Louis Blues will be able to get the breakthrough they are looking for with Thomas. That would be a steep price, but the Blues center would look good in Bruins colors.

Connor Garland, Vancouver Canucks

Connor Garland will give Boston more offensive depth moving forward. The Vancouver Canucks are the worst team in the NHL and are set to trade most of their roster. Attack isn’t as big a need as defence, but the Canucks forward would be a great addition moving forward.

Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues

Colton Parayko is an ideal target for the Bruins before Friday’s deadline. Boston needs a top-4 right-shot defenseman, and Parayko would be an excellent replacement for former Bruin Brandon Carlo. The St. Louis defenseman is estimated to have a lot of suitors, but the price would be reasonable.

McKenzie Weegar, Calgary Flames

McKenzie Weegar would be a great pick this season, but there are some negative factors in the future. Weegar is 32 years old and is under contract for the 2030-31 season with a $6.25 million cap hit. The Calgary Flames defenseman is good enough to anchor the Bruins’ defence, and although his play may decline in the coming years, this would be a multi-year solution.

Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues

Justin Faulk continues the trend of strong St. Louis options for Boston ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Faulk has a strong 2025-26 NHL season, providing strong offense and defense. The Blues defenseman is arguably the best option for the Bruins, and can take this team to the next level moving forward.

READ MORE: St. Louis Blues could trade Robert Thomas, 5 best landing spots including Boston Bruins

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

The 2026 NHL trade deadline is less than a week away. The New Jersey Devils are out of playoff position and possibly looking to prepare for next season.

After all, preparing in the spring to rebuild in the summer is in GM Tom Fitzgerald’s DNA. That’s what they did when they acquired Jake Allen two deadlines ago.

There appears to be no indication that Fitzgerald isn’t making a decision, he will proceed as if he will be heading into the 2026 NHL Draft and there will be three men in charge on July 1.

Despite some players with expiring contracts, the Devils still have value moving forward next Friday with some short-term deals with favorable cap hits.

We wouldn’t speculate on players like Brendan Dillon and Johnathan Kovacevic, who have full no-move clauses. Although they may offer a discount, we are not sure that will happen.

And New Jersey’s Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier aren’t going anywhere. Still, there are parts on the Devils that will be coveted by Friday.

However, here’s a mix of what we’re hearing about some players, including some speculation based on the opposing team’s needs.

So, who could be next?

dougie hamilton

for detroit red wings

Rasmus Andersson recently acquired Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud, Abram Wiebe, a first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in 2028.

Except, Anderson’s trade protection is much less limited than Dougie Hamilton’s. A six-team no-trade list as opposed to Hamilton’s 10-team trade list, thus, expect a smaller package in return.

The Detroit Red Wings will certainly want to strengthen their right side as they are in playoff position and want to solidify themselves as a playoff threat. Behind the Moritz Seider, it is a little thinner.

Cider isn’t exactly a power play specialist. Perhaps Hamilton can increase the Detroit man advantage, whether by replacing Seider, or setting up a tandem in the left circle.

The Red Wings have the ability to do the same, with $12,778,692 in their pocket. Even the devils will not have to be retained.

Hamilton will not trap someone like Simon Edwinsson. Don’t go there either.

However, could the Devils poach Axel Sandin-Pellica? Maybe attached with draft compensation? After all, Hamilton is still viewed as a top-pairing defenseman with a hot shot that any power play would love. And the Red Wings are ripe with young blueliners like Ceder, Edvinsson and Jacob Bernard-Docker.

Detroit seems to be a good fit for Hamilton as a team that looks like he’s headed to the postseason and could come back for the duration of his contract. Why wouldn’t he approve a transfer to the Motor City?

cody glass

to edmonton oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are in the market for a third-line centre.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has moved to the wing, and seems to be comfortable there, and Chris Knobloch likes having him there.

Thus, they want to reel in a center with size and speed.

Cody Glass fits the bill. A center core heading into the playoffs of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Glass is strong to interchange with Adam Heinrich and Curtis Lazar on the fourth line.

The Oilers do not have any first-round picks this year. But for a 20-goal, third-line defenseman, Glass can probably score one goal. Perhaps McDavid’s thirst to win is on the table next year – especially after the Olympic loss.

If Kiefer Sherwood and Mason Marchment receive second-round picks-plus, Glass as a center should net a little more to play at a premium position. Additionally, the Oilers’ first round pick is as close to a second round pick as they can get.

Otherwise, perhaps a bubble NHLer like Isaac Howard could be included in a deal.

jonas siegenthaler

to the buffalo sabers

Buffalo Saber!

Who would have guessed that the Lindy Ruff-led Sabers were postseason bound?

Well, Ruff certainly knows Jonas Seigenthaler, and he looks to be a much better fit on the third pairing than Zack Metsa in Buffalo.

The Sabers have a ton of young talent that could be of interest to the Devils.

Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, Jiri Kulich, Konsta Helenius. There won’t be room for all these people in Buffalo.

Seigenthaler will provide the Sabers with a steady presence on the blueline to compliment their offensive defenders like Bowen Byrum, Rasmus Dahlin, and to a lesser extent, Owen Power.

Familiarity with Ruff is one reason for the former Devils head coach to advocate for him. There is a match.

Dawson Mercer

to utah mammoth

The Utah Mammoth are looking for a top-nine forward with tenure.

Dawson Mercer is in the second year of a three-year contract that keeps him a restricted free agent. Thus, he is in control for at least the next three seasons.

Mercer is an upgrade over some of the forward players at Utah who are probably playing better than expected in the Mammoth lineup.

Jack McBain and Kailer Yamamoto are good players, but Mercer can offer more offensive flair, as well as provide two-way play that will open up the ice for Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley at Utah.

What doesn’t Mammoth have in terms of compensation? They have all of the second- and third-round selections in addition to their 2026 selection.

But, Mercer is young enough and strong enough to do some important things.

I’m not sure Utah is ready to part ways with Tyz Iginla. However, perhaps Danil Butt will be on the table.

But he stands tall at 6-foot-5, 203 pounds. Certainly, the Devils could use more size on the wing, and he brings that element. And he’s already shown some promise at the NHL level with three goals and seven points in 28 games.

evgeny dadonov

for the vegas golden knights

Evgeny Dadonov has been there and done that, but only for a short time, playing in Sin City for one season in 2021-22. The Vegas Golden Knights need some middle-six help, and Dadonov has no reason to stay in New Jersey.

The Golden Knights don’t have much to offer either. They are a match here to connect in a low-risk, high-reward business deal.

Dadonov’s price tag also isn’t too high for Vegas, who don’t have a lot of wiggle room with $5,503,376 in cap space. If they throw up to a fourth-round pick to the Devils, be it next year or not, it might be a little too much for Dadonov, who hasn’t recorded a single point in 17 games this season.

paul cotter

for the montreal canadiens

Playing against the Montreal Canadiens could be a little tough.

So they would want Paul Couture.

Cotter is a pending restricted free agent who has not duplicated his production on the stat sheet in 2024-25.

However, he still hits everything and that motor never stops.

That’s the type of player the Canadiens are in the market for. Plus, without much cap space, Couture’s $775K is easily affordable.

The Canadiens have everything except their fifth-round draft pick in 2026. Some mid-to-low draft compensation, maybe New Jersey’s own pick that Montreal has, is all it takes.

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!

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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

The Milwaukee Bucks are in no position to make fun of other teams, considering the franchise is on life support amid the many trade rumors swirling around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

And they’re certainly in no position to mock the Chicago Bulls’ deal before the trade deadline, as they lost to Chicago by 23 points on Sunday night when the Bulls outscored them 33-8 in the fourth quarter, including a 27-0 lead.

However, the basketball gods remember everything, and they certainly didn’t forget what Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said before their contest on Sunday. Before their game against the Bulls, Rivers mocked Chicago’s trade deadline moves.

According to The Big’s Drew Stevens, in response to a question about how much the Bulls have changed, Rivers said, “Yeah, they added 17 more guards.”

It’s a bit of a trend to make fun of the Bulls, but the Bucks had to back up their head coach and they didn’t. Chicago may have added 17 or maybe even 67 guards, but in the end, a win is a win. And on Sunday night, Milwaukee was on the verge of defeat.

The boxes are stuck in limbo

The Bucks have few draft assets and Antetokounmpo should move with a trade demand and not much in the way of solid young prospects to make the team. Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins are two of the best young players on the team, and their long-term position home appears to be the same (point guard).

The Bucks will have no choice but to try to remain semi-competitive for at least the next few years, as they don’t control their future first-round picks until 2031. Until then, they will have to avoid the defeat they suffered against the Bulls on Sunday at all costs if they want to.

Khris Middleton found himself freshman in a different area code when he was part of a three-team deal at the trade deadline that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks.

Middleton played only 48 games for the Washington Wizards before being sent to the Mavericks. Adding offensive firepower and experienced leadership, he has been a solid contribution for Dallas.

But according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the 34-year-old forward could find himself on a different team again in the next few days.

“Chris Middleton just told @TheSteinLine “He is still considering his options before Sunday’s deadline to buy out a contract, and is deciding whether to finish out the season in Dallas or join a playoff team,” Steen wrote on Axe.

“League sources say Denver (Nuggets) and other playoff teams have expressed interest.”

with the way things are goingMavericks probably will not Qualify for the playoffs with a 21–37 record. They lost to the Sacramento Kings 130-121 on Thursday.

Steen said Dallas would be willing to agree to terms with the three-time All-Star, who won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, if he wanted a buyout.

“Middleton stressed he’s grateful for the warm welcome he’s received in Dallas, where the Mavericks — as @TheSteinLine first reported — have told the former All-Star they’ll work with him if he wants a buyout before Sunday’s deadline to be playoff-eligible for the new next team,” Stein said.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised Middleton’s importance to the team, including helping Cooper flag his game and setting an example of professionalism.

Middleton had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Kings. He has scored in double figures in three of six games since joining Dallas.

Crystal Palace made a late attempt to sign Lyon’s Ruben Kluivert in the winter market.

On 2 February, Game Witness Covered claims from France Crystal Palace attempt to sign the defender on deadline day. The source revealed that the Eagles have held talks with Lyon and are keen to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Later that day, witness the game broadcast news Lyon immediately rejected the London club’s late approach for the 24-year-old. This is because they had no plans to approve the sale in the middle of the season.

The Ligue 1 side was against the centre-back’s exit from both a sporting and financial perspective.

There was no mention of the Dutchman’s stance on Crystal Palace’s interest and Lyon’s rejection of his advances. That was until he gave an interview to Le Progress west france Has released his comments.

Ruben Kluivert confused by Crystal Palace approach

The defender spent his career in the Netherlands until signing a contract with Casa Pisa in June 2024. He played 24 matches for the Portuguese club, and that was enough to convince Lyon, who signed him until July 2025.

Kluivert has operated primarily as a centre-back and occasionally as both a left and right-back for the French club, and has played 1,267 minutes in 19 matches. His contract is till 2030.

Lyon’s decision not to entertain Crystal Palace’s effort has pleased the player. He also talks about his Premier League dreams but insists he has no plans to leave in the near future.

Relief Lyon did not encourage Oliver Glasner’s team

“It was confusing, because it was so late in the day. I am happy to be here, 100% committed to this project in Lyon. We are still in the Europa League and the Coupe de France, we have a lot of games to play with a really fantastic team, and I am confident that we can go very far in all these competitions,” He said.

“For these reasons, I would say the club did the right thing by keeping me. Personally, I can’t deny that the Premier League remains a dream. But if I had to choose, I prefer the way things turned out. The club made the right choice.

“I signed a five-year contract with Lyon, and I see myself wanting to stay for at least two or three years. The fact that they wanted to keep me here was a relief.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to begin their season in the post-Olympic portion of the schedule. And almost every game must be won. Well, close to it. It is estimated that they will need to win about two-thirds of their remaining 25 games to make the playoffs. They are currently six points behind.

But should his postseason prospects really be considered based on what the front office does at the upcoming trade deadline? Most believe it should not matter. And from the latest reports from some notable insiders, it doesn’t look like that will be the case.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, GM Brad Traveling & Co. No Going “all-in” as a buyer. Nor will they be outright sellers. Extensions will not be given priority for pending UFAs. But what those potential deals could mean in the future will be.

This is less about Toronto’s playoff chances and more about the cost effectiveness of actually moving certain players like Bobby McMann and Scott Lawton. Therefore the decisions are pending.

But what I’m told is that there is a plan in place, and Brad Treliving and hockey operations for the Maple Leafs are going to follow that plan. They are not going to pursue expensive expansion.

It will be notable and interesting, given that we have some time, if Toronto closes the (playoff) gap and they have to make a call on these pending unrestricted free agents. They can’t let them roam free, so the next several days could be interesting.

As Dreger says, what if the Buds pick up right where they left off before the break, and go on a three-game winning streak? Or win most of the six remaining games before the March 6 deadline? At that time, they will have to take some big decisions.

Do the Leafs replace UFAs with assets they can flip?

Insider Elliotte Friedman, appearing on NHL Network Radio Wednesday morning, has a different take on things. This appears to suggest that there are plans to move some players in order to acquire assets for a future-focused move.

My thought about what’s going on with Toronto is I think they’re in a situation where they’re trying to accumulate assets, and then see if they can utilize some of those assets and do something where they can have more of an impact on a young player… I think that’s their thought.

Of course, the Leafs are largely deprived of the above “assets”. Due to raiding prospects and the draft picks pantry over the past few years, they do not have any first-round picks in the 2026 or 2027 NHL drafts. They also traded away a top prospect in Fraser Minton in the Brandon Carlo deal last year (and we all know how that worked out).

So it makes sense that spending more money on players like McMann and Laughton – good role players who have performed their duties well this season – probably doesn’t make sense at this point. Instead, they will try to turn guys 30 years old or closer into draft picks who can then be flipped. Bring back a young player they can build around. A guy who could potentially play a bigger role in the near future than McMann or Laughton (or anyone else traded for them).

Toronto faces a tough Florida doubleheader over the next few days – at Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, and against the Panthers on Thursday. After that, it’s matchups with the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers that get them to the deadline.

After recently announcing his retirement from the NBA, Chris Paul is now looking to enjoy his personal time.

Paul went on to have an illustrious career spanning 20 seasons and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest guards in league history. Once eligible, he or she must be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Paul, 40, was looking forward to his farewell season with his return to the Los Angeles Clippers. But things quickly deteriorated, with the Clippers surprisingly releasing Paul before their game against the Atlanta Hawks in December.

CP3 remained confident that he would find another team. But he also remained realistic and set a self-imposed deadline before deciding to walk away, as he shared on “7pm in Brooklyn.”

Paul said, “When all this happened, I trained and worked out, obviously, I was in Atlanta. A whole bunch of my family was in Atlanta for that game. My brother and some of my friends were there.”

“Then we flew back, and I was working out and training, and I talked to some of my friends, and I said, ‘I’m going to give myself a deadline. If I’m not on the team by a certain point, All-Star (weekend), I’ll be done with it.'”

At the trade deadline in February, the 12-time All-Star was traded to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets. However, the Raptors immediately waived Paul.

Some believed that Paul, who had career averages of 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals, might eventually land with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers or San Antonio Spurs, but nothing panned out.

Although Paul’s exit from the NBA was not ideal, he will always be remembered as a great competitor and a fearless leader.

The 2025-26 season was supposed to be a watershed moment of sorts for the Denver Nuggets, as they added some new pieces to their core four of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun, and this new depth was going to make them unbeatable, especially in the postseason.

However, this campaign has been particularly unforgiving for the Nuggets on the injury front, with players like Jokic, Gordon, Braun, new addition Cam Johnson and now breakout star Peyton Watson missing significant time with significant innings. Of course, the goal for the Nuggets is simply to complete the rigors of the regular season together, and given their situation at present, even that is not certain.

Whatever the case, the Nuggets have called on some unlikely contributors to step up, and credit to them. But the Nuggets front office knows time is ticking. Their salary cap obligations are about to increase significantly, as Watson is set for a new big contract. To retain Watson, the Nuggets will have to dive into the luxury tax if they choose to keep their current roster together for the next few seasons.

This prompted them to pull off a salary dump trade before the deadline, sending former second-round pick Hunter Tyson along with a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets just to avoid the luxury tax. They were $1.8 million under the luxury tax before the move was made to comply with the 14-roster size requirement following the Tyson trade.

Spencer Jones’ Nuggets future is secure…for now

In an ideal world, the Nuggets would have unlimited resources, and they could put their core together without being overly cautious of the punitive nature of the luxury tax under the current CBA. Alas, the Nuggets are not living in an ideal world.

Paying luxury tax is not really a problem when a person is careless. Of course, this plays a factor, as owners are at least very adamant about not wasting money, but the roster move restrictions that come with being in the first or even second apron make roster construction much more difficult.

The Nuggets wanted to get into the tax bracket to reset their timer for at least this season, because their hand will be forced very soon. Nonetheless, they finalized the facilitated transaction of converting Spencer Jones’ contract to a standard contract, making him eligible for the postseason.

Jones is one of the players the Nuggets have relied on to help their injured starters. In fact, the 24-year-old sophomore has made 34 starts for the Nuggets this season, which is nothing short of a huge developmental win for a team that needs some cost-effective but productive players to fill out the roster.

Jones plays unselfishly and he shoots efficiently, and considering how important he has been this season, it was no easy task for the Nuggets to turn his deal into a standard one. His impact doesn’t go beyond the stat sheet, but as a 6’7″ wing who can shoot and defend at multiple positions, he is invaluable to a team with contending aspirations.

However, the problem is that the Nuggets were able to convert his contract to a prorated minimum deal for the remainder of the season instead of signing him to a multi-year contract, which would keep him in the Mile High City on an affordable arrangement for the next few seasons.

With this agreement, Jones will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, and if he makes seven more starts for the Nuggets, he will be eligible for a qualifying offer of $5.9 million – further reducing the Nuggets flexibility amid their current troubles clearing the salary cap.

At least, the Nuggets now have Johnson and Braun healthy, and they’ve been riding the hot hand of Julian Strother lately, reducing their need to rely on Jones to fill in as the starter. It was going to be difficult for the Nuggets to keep Jones out of the starting lineup as his situation has not improved on the injury front, but now, they have a legitimate reason to bring him off the bench.

But it seems that the hard part is just beginning for the Nuggets.

Denver’s bill is coming due

The Nuggets were absolutely impressed by Braun’s 2024-25 campaign, as he made the move after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left in free agency. Braun signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension – a significant commitment for the Nuggets knowing their cap obligations at the time.

Braun has struggled this season with 36 missed games, a huge decline from last season. And the Nuggets have since seen Watson take the next step in his development, blossoming into a legitimate shot creator on the wing and a far more well-rounded two-way threat than Braun.

Watson is set to enter restricted free agency in the summer, and the Nuggets will have to pay more than $20 million per season to retain Watson. Denver has some tough decisions to make moving forward, and that’s without considering what it would take to keep Jones on a long-term contract.

Cutting Zeke Nnaji’s salary is a way for the Nuggets to make room, and so is moving Johnson out. However, the Nuggets hardly have any assets left to sweeten salary-dump trades, and losing Johnson would be costly, as he’s shooting over 43 percent from deep this season and is on an affordable contract anyway.

Will the Nuggets let Braun go to make room for Watson? This seems like a possible route Denver could take. But his best bet for maintaining his status as a title-contender during Jockey’s prime is to endure the tax hit for at least a year before making a change if he really has to.

Winning fixes everything. And for a Nuggets team that is about to be financially ruined, all the blood they shed will be worth it if they hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.

Is it really over for the Golden State Warriors? It hasn’t been for lack of trying, but the Warriors no longer look like they have a chance to compete for a title. Jimmy Butler’s injury at the end of the season practically sealed the Dubs’ fate: whatever slim chances they had of competing for a championship vanished when Butler aggravated his knee and tore his ACL on an errant pass from Brandin Podziemski.

The Warriors’ two-timeline ploy didn’t work. James Wiseman was a failure. Jonathan Kuminga has not lived up to expectations. Moses Moody is a role player, a quality player, but not a star who can take over the team. Jordan Poole flared up and upset one of the pillars of the franchise in Draymond Green. And now, the Dubs are stuck with a mediocre and aging roster that is going to have their work cut out for them in a Western Conference challenge.

Credit should go where credit is due; The warriors are still not giving up. They traded for Kristaps Porzingis in a deal that sent Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks, taking the risk that Porzingis’ talent is worth the gamble despite his season-long battle against POTS.

This trade created a roster spot for the Warriors, although they had already filled one of their open roster spots by converting Pat Spencer’s contract to a standard deal, a move that made sense considering how instrumental Spencer has been in covering the team’s injury problems.

The Dubs created another roster spot when they traded Tracy Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a second-round pick. With that in mind, the Warriors may have one more move left to make to prepare for the stretch run ahead.

Will the Warriors raid the buyout market?

Before diving into the potential targets the Warriors may set their sights on filling their open roster spot, their financial situation should be taken into consideration. Currently, the Warriors have a total of $205.2 million allocated for their player payroll, which puts them above the tax apron. They are a repeat tax-paying team, which will only serve to make their luxury tax penalty more punitive.

This also reduces their flexibility in the buyout market. The Warriors cannot sign any players in the buyout market whose contract was worth at least $14.1 million (equivalent to non-taxpayer MLE) this season because they were above the first apron. Not many buyout candidates are making that much money anyway, so it’s not like it’ll be a huge factor for the Dubs moving forward.

The Dubs don’t need help at the guard positions. In addition to Stephen Curry, the Warriors have the following playing minutes at the one and two: Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Spencer, Gary Payton II and Will Richard. Seth Curry could also be a factor after returning from injury.

Whatever happens, the Warriors need help on the wing. Butler’s injury and Kuminga’s departure have further depleted the Dubs’ depth at the position, pushing Gui Santos into the starting role. Santos has been very much solid and seems like he has established himself as at least a quality role player, but their depth on the wing leaves a lot to be desired.

The Warriors were rumored to be interested in Lonzo Ball, but Ball has looked bad all season, and although he can play one position, he doesn’t necessarily provide anything different than the likes of Payton or Melton. He can be a play initiator, and his court vision is still top-notch, but it might be best for the Dubs to reserve their open roster spot for someone else.

The current buyout market does not inspire much confidence. Of those who have already been forgiven, someone like Chris Boucher matters the most. Boucher is also a former Warriors player, so that could make some sense.

Still, Boucher hasn’t played well enough to earn minutes for the Boston Celtics despite the battle for the wide-open position at center, and it’s not like the Dubs need help at the big man spots, considering they have Green, Al Horford, Quinton Post and now Porzingis to fill all the minutes at five.

Of the players who could potentially be acquired, someone like Kyle Anderson or Nicolas Batum would make the most sense for the Dubs, although it’s not at all clear if those two will get a nod of departure from their teams.

Dubs could bring back a familiar face

Batum is unlikely to leave the Los Angeles Clippers. The veteran credited the team for saving his career in 2020, and he clearly loves the franchise. Furthermore, the Clippers value him as a veteran presence, and rumor has it that he will hang up his sneakers after the season. LA has already let him go once, and they’re not doing it again.

This brings the Warriors into a possible reunion with a familiar face in Anderson. Slo-Mo signed with the Dubs ahead of the 2024-25 season, and he was traded to the Miami Heat in the deal that brought Butler to the Bay. He played in 36 games for the Warriors and started three games, playing 15.0 minutes a night.

Anderson is the kind of cerebral veteran that Kerr relies on, and his playmaking, defending and feel for the game make him an easy piece to integrate for the Dubs.

He’s not going to be a very impactful veteran for the Warriors, but he should at least give the team additional insurance at the forward position. The Memphis Grizzlies are also betting on the 2025-26 campaign, meaning Anderson could very well be bought out, paving the way for a return to the Bay.

However, it’s unclear whether the Warriors have any desire to fill their open roster spot. This will only increase their luxury tax bill. But if they do, bringing in Anderson wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently endured a turbulent trade deadline, during which forward Rui Hachimura was frequently mentioned in league-wide discussions. Reports from ClutchPoints and other insiders indicate that the Lakers are engaged in direct talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers regarding a potential trade for De’Andre Hunter. Hachimura was reportedly a key part in these negotiations, as his expiring contract and high-level on-court production made him a valuable asset to teams seeking wing depth.

Despite being made available in these discussions, the Lakers’ front office maintained a firm stance: they would only move the veteran if it meant significantly upgrading the roster, refusing to part with him merely for salary relief. This strategic discipline ensured that Hachimura remained in Los Angeles as a key contributor to the team’s championship aspirations.

Addressing the continued speculation surrounding the franchise, Hachimura provided a candid assessment of the situation. “With the Lakers, we get a lot of rumors,” he told ESPN. “But a lot of times, those rumors are bullshit. Now we have a time where it can be said, ‘Okay, this is our group now.’ Because we know this now. So we are ready to move forward.”

His comments reflect a sense of relief and focus within the locker room now that the deadline has passed, allowing the team to move forward with its established core.

Hachimura’s importance to the Lakers has become clear since his return from a calf injury. He has found a distinctive rhythm recently, serving as the driving force in several key wins, including a remarkable 23-point performance against the Chicago Bulls, where he shot an impressive 9-11 from the field.

This season, he has emerged as one of the league’s premier catch-and-shoot threats, averaging a 43.9% three-point shooting percentage. By retaining Hachimura, the Lakers have kept a versatile wing who not only understands the team’s system but also actively improves their spacing and offensive efficiency.

As the team turns its attention to the playoffs, Hachimura’s presence provides the stability needed to ignore distractions and achieve another championship win.

The trade deadline has come and gone and Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a member of the Milwaukee Bucks after much trouble. It certainly seemed as if Antetokounmpo’s eyes were wandering, and for the first time, a trade out of Cream City seemed more realistic than ever. But in the end, the Bucks didn’t pull the trigger – a refusal that echoed loudly throughout the association.

The Bucks organization has been in decline over the past few years, and their big offseason move smacked of desperation. Instead of taking 2026 as a gap year, they decided to waive and extend Damian Lillard’s contract while he recovers from a torn Achilles so they can bring in Myles Turner. Suffice to say, bringing in Turner isn’t enough to make Milwaukee a playoff team, let alone a contender in even the weak Eastern Conference.

Now, the Bucks are in a tough position moving forward, although they can always revisit Antetokounmpo trade talks in the offseason. Their long-term approach hasn’t changed, though it’s still debatable whether they did the right thing by moving these trade talks into the offseason rather than cashing out before the deadline.

Bucks did not receive any substantial Giannis Antetokounmpo trade offer

The Antetokounmpo trade saga became the most anticipated announcement of the pre-deadline season. Every NBA fan was refreshing their feeds on social media, waiting for the next tweet from renowned NBA insider Shams Charania and anxiously awaiting the next update regarding trade talks involving the Bucks.

Finally, Charania teased fans with constant breadcrumbs and non-updates, until he revealed that the Bucks were actually going to hold on to Antetokounmpo, causing trade talks to drag into the offseason.

It’s never going to be easy parting ways with a franchise cornerstone, especially one who has done so much for the Bucks like Antetokounmpo has. The city of Milwaukee has also adopted Antetokounmpo as one of their own; He has been there since 2013 and under his tutelage he has become one of the greatest superstars in the league.

So try as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, or Golden State Warriors might have done, it will always be a godfather proposition for the Bucks to consider trading the greatest player in franchise history. Antetokounmpo may have said it’s hard for him not to be upset considering how the team has fallen apart around him, but he clearly hasn’t given the order by demanding he be fired.

Since Antetokounmpo hasn’t pushed the issue at all, it’s hard to criticize the Bucks for not trading Giannis away yet. Giannis has long expressed his desire to be a one-team player for the rest of his career, but he also wants to compete for championships. Perhaps there’s a possibility, no matter how slim, that a competitive team could still thrive in Milwaukee while it’s still in its prime.

But in all likelihood the Bucks will continue to struggle over the next few seasons, and if Antetokounmpo’s desire to win another championship outweighs his desire to stay in Milwaukee, the team will have no choice but to trade him in the final year of his contract.

One could argue that even if Antetokounmpo had pushed the issue regarding a potential trade, the Bucks would have been best served by doing what they did and waiting until the offseason. The Warriors’ choice looked very attractive, but gambling on huge returns in exchange for the greatest player in franchise history is a risky game.

The Heat do not have any blue-chip prospects they could trade to include future first-round picks; Predictably, any realistic Heat trade proposal for Giannis would revolve around Bam Adebayo, and trading Adebayo for Antetokounmpo instead of adding them together seems counterproductive for a team with championship aspirations.

As for the Timberwolves, try as they might, they couldn’t raise enough draft capital to convince the Bucks to trade Antetokounmpo to the northernmost part of the United States. Minnesota may be willing to trade Jaden McDaniels, but they were unable to acquire enough first-round picks for some of their key players, including Julius Randle, to make a deal.

Limiting themselves to contenders before the deadline doesn’t serve the Bucks in any shape or form; He should receive similar offers in the offseason, although being in the offseason opens up more opportunities for other bidders to get involved in the Giannis sweepstakes, which should benefit Milwaukee in the long run.

At the end of the day, the Bucks have to prioritize getting the best package available in any potential Giannis trade.

Perhaps the Houston Rockets become more open to trading someone like Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson if they make an early exit in the playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder might have put Jalen Williams on the table if they don’t repeat as champions. Or perhaps the Spurs reconsider a potential Giannis pursuit and try to get over the hump if they fall short in the postseason.

The Bucks at least have the luxury of waiting, although they don’t have much time to wait considering Giannis will hit the open market in 2027.

Milwaukee made some buy-less moves

The Bucks settled for a few buyout-less moves before the deadline, bringing in former Thunder prospect Ousmane Dieng and giving Cam Thomas a chance after being let go by the Brooklyn Nets.

Thomas is still only 24 and a proven rookie, so there’s probably still some untapped potential there. Meanwhile, Dieng is showcasing two-way ability, as evidenced by his 19-point, 11-rebound, four-block night against the Thunder in their last game before the All-Star break.

For a team with a serious lack of assets like the Bucks, this is the best thing to do: take a risk on players who may have lost their spark but may still have some untapped potential.

Bucks trade deadline grade: B

It’s very difficult to convey the Chicago Bulls’ NBA trade deadline deal in so few words. But the way the Bulls maneuvered before the deadline left more fans scratching their heads than any other team in the league. It certainly seemed like Chicago was ready for a fire sale, considering some of their established players were in the final year of their contracts. But some of the deals he has accepted are so complicated that it is difficult to believe them.

Over the past few seasons, the Bulls have been part of an honorary four-team, play-in tournament club that includes the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, and Orlando Magic. They don’t have the young prospects that can lead the team to their next competitive run, and their veteran players aren’t good enough to lead a deep playoff run.

However, as is the case with the Bulls, they couldn’t pull the trigger when they needed to and as a result, their roster is now a mix of players who don’t look like they have any long-term future in the Windy City.

Finally, here is a review of how the Bulls performed before the trade deadline and what grade they deserve for their maneuvers.

Bulls trade their guards to bring in more guards, Hydra style

The oxen were at a crossroads; They had a lot of players on expiring deals that they could get some value from instead of letting them leave in free agency for nothing. And it’s not like those players won’t make any kind of impact on winning teams. But again, the problem was that the Bulls have waited too long and been content to remain as an average team for too long, limiting their returns on the trade market.

Chicago made such moves before the trade deadline that it wasn’t exactly clear what the ultimate goal was for their front office. For starters, they brought a lot of guards. And this is not being exaggerated to any extent. They actually traded for so many combo guards that it’s hard to imagine most of them remaining on the roster for next season.

To start, the Bulls finally traded Nikola Vucevic in a deal that was honestly a long time coming. It was always going to hurt that the Bulls gave up Wendell Carter Jr., another starting-caliber big man in the NBA, and Franz Wagner to take Vucevic in the first round, but there was no reason for Chicago to hold on to Vucevic for too long.

For Vucevic, the Bulls received Anfernee Simmons and a 2026 second-round pick from the Boston Celtics. As it was, it would have been a great comeback. But Chicago made it even worse for themselves by attaching a 2027 second-round pick to Vucevic.

Chicago also kept Coby White for a very long time. All the Bulls could do was trade for White for a package from the Charlotte Hornets headlined by Collin Sexton, another guard, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks. Due to White’s failed medical, which showed some severity of the calf injury he is currently experiencing, the Bulls had to settle for a lower selection in the second round.

Rather than trade White during the offseason if his value was high, the Bulls had to settle for that return for one of their best players.

And then Chicago made it even worse for itself; Due to their critical big man situation, they had to flip 22-year-old big man Dieng to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Nick Richards, who could show promise. Dieng has shined so far in his brief time with the Bucks, while Richards is a hot commodity – he’s a backup big man who can only be used as a starter in an emergency situation.

The Bulls’ guard wheeling and dealing didn’t stop there. They shipped Kevin Huerter, who was on an expiring contract, to the Detroit Pistons for the return of Jaden Ivy. While it’s hard to attack the Bulls for betting on another former lottery pick, especially considering that Ivy has shown promise in the past, he is yet another guard who adds to the team’s logjam at positions where he should play.

Ivey also continues the Bulls’ trend of gambling on former lottery players who have lost their luster; Chicago has brought in Ivey, Isaac Okoro and Jalen Smith in recent years, and yet their original teams passed on them for reasons that were all too obvious.

Speaking of gambling on former lottery picks, Rob Dillingham was somehow the primary piece the Bulls got in exchange for Ayo Dosunmu, whose speed, shooting and ballhandling would be such a boon to a contending team.

Sure, Chicago traded four picks in the second round for Dosunmu, who himself was drafted in the second round in the past, but Dillingham has further complicated the sticky web that is the Bulls’ backcourt picture.

For those not counting at home, the Bulls now have the following players who need minutes at the guard position: Josh Giddy, Simmons, Sexton, Ivey, Dillingham, and Tre Jones. Things are fine at the moment as Giddy and Jones are improving, but when those players return, head coach Billy Donovan will have his work cut out for them.

The swap for Guershon Yabusele for Delon Terry at least appears to be working out in the Bulls’ favor, with Yabusele hell-bent on reviving his career in the Windy City.

Chicago got a total of eight picks in the second round, which is nothing to scoff at. This should at least help them grease the wheels for future trading.

But the fact that they failed to get at least a first-round pick for players like Vucevic, White and Dosunmu is a complete failure. Chicago will have to pay Ivey big money for his next contract. Simmons and Sexton’s contracts are expiring. Patrick Williams’ deal is still on their books.

The Bulls front office may have been cooking before the trade deadline, but sadly, the dish they came up with is going straight into the trash can.

Bulls Trade Deadline Grade: D

The Toronto Raptors moved from a position of relevance to the 2026 NBA trade deadline. Not just play-in relevance, but legitimate home-court playoff position in a loaded Eastern Conference. That context matters when evaluating their viewpoint. Rival contenders began aggressive roster swings. However, Toronto’s front office opted for fiscal discipline and a change in surgical depth rather than headline-grabbing moves. outcome? Two trades that quietly reshaped their margins without touching their core. Was that an example of strategic intelligence or competitive hesitation?

From reconstruction to bracket danger

The Raptors have emerged as one of the Eastern Conference’s most pleasant surprises. They headed into the All-Star break with a 32–23 record, sitting solidly in 5th place. After a disappointing 30-win campaign last year, the “new-look” Raptors have flourished under coach Darko Rajakovic’s fluid offensive system. As a result, it currently ranks third in the league in assists per game (29.3). The uptick in performance has been largely attributed to the health and chemistry of their core trio. First up is Scotty Barnes, who is playing at an All-NBA level with a 19/8/5 stat line. Next up is Brandon Ingram, whose scoring gravity (21.8 ppg) has revitalized the half-court offense. Last up is Immanuel Quickley, who continues to provide elite spacing and playmaking.

Toronto’s offensive identity has developed in constant motion. Barnes starts, Ingram bends the defense from mid-post, and Quickey stretches pick-and-roll coverages beyond his comfort zone. This has made the Raptors much less predictable than last season. It has also transformed them from a transition-heavy outfit into a balanced scoring machine.

Despite the strong record, the season was not without setbacks. The frontcourt has become a revolving door due to Jakob Poeltl’s lingering back injury. This has forced Colin Murray-Boyles into crucial minutes sooner than expected. Yes, this young player has immense defensive ability. As noted, the lack of experienced players led to mid-season inconsistency and some big losses against an elite frontcourt.

However, Poeltl’s recent return has stabilized the rotation. Toronto is now top 10 defensively. Thus, the Raptors have established themselves as a dangerous “bracket-buster” threat capable of upsetting higher seeds. That competitive base framed every decision they made at the deadline.

Here’s what the Raptors did and didn’t do at the trade deadline.

Deal 1: Salary dump and future plans

The first transaction was less about basketball and more about the balance sheet.

Toronto received:Chris Paul
brooklyn received: Ochai Agbaji, 2032 second-round pick (via TOR), cash
LA Clippers received:Draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic

It was a purely financial maneuver. By extending Agbaji’s contract and absorbing Paul, the Raptors slipped below the luxury tax limit. Paul had fallen away from the Clippers and was already hinting at retirement. It’s no surprise that he never suited up for Toronto. Instead, CP3 was waived on February 12 and formally announced his retirement the next day.

From a roster standpoint, nothing changed. However, everything went well financially. Eliminating the tax preserved future flexibility and mid-tier exception access. Toronto also avoided repeater-tax implications that could have hampered their roster construction for years.

In short, the Raptors paid a modest second-round pick to reset their financial runway.

Deal 2: Frontcourt Insurance Policy

The second step addressed the Court’s actual need.

Toronto received: Tracy Jackson-Davis
received the golden state: 2026 second round pick

Poeltl’s health remained uncertain and Murray-Boyles carried heavier loads than planned. In that context, GM Bobby Webster targeted cost-controlled rotational bigs rather than chasing blockbuster names.

Jackson-Davis brings vertical spacing, rim running and defensive energy. Those attributes should complement Toronto’s ball-movement system. His contract structure, including a minor team option next season, adds value beyond this playoff push.

Most importantly, the Raptors avoided overpaying. He kept an eye on high-profile large companies across the market but refused to surrender premium draft capital for short-term upgrades. It wasn’t the big star-sized splash that many fans were expecting. Instead, it was a profound acquisition.

Resilience vs Firepower

Toronto’s dual-track approach reflects fiscal discipline and incremental depth. This signals a front office confident in its internal development curve.

The core of Barnes, Ingram and Quickley (add RJ Barrett as well) remains untouched. His developmental arc was prioritized over disruptive roster swings. By staying within the tax bracket and preserving first-round picks, the Raptors positioned themselves for big offseason moves if necessary.

Jackson-Davis, meanwhile, represents the type of invaluable rotation piece that playoff teams rely on when injuries inevitably arise. From a risk-management perspective, Toronto had a clean performance. On the other hand, championship races are rarely won on caution alone.

Stand firm even as rivals increase

Context shapes perception, and the context of the Eastern Conference was offensive. Cleveland strengthened its roster with star power. Boston reinforced its frontcourt. Other claimants took steps that clearly indicated the urgency of the title.

Toronto, in contrast, chose conservation over growth.

The question becomes inevitable: Did they miss any windows?

With an abundance of tradable first-round picks, the Raptors had the ammunition to pursue a major upgrade. This was especially true in the frontcourt. Giving more opportunities shows the front office views this season as competitive but perhaps not championship-ready yet.

It’s a defensive stance, but one that risks leaving modest playoff gains on the table.

practical but inactive

Grade: C+

Toronto’s deadline wasn’t bad. It was simply measured and, of course, boring.

The positives look good on the balance sheet. They avoided the taxpayer label, preserved financial flexibility, and added a large functional rotation at minimal cost. The Raptors protected their young core and retained draft capital for future blockbuster moves.

That said, the downsides and opportunity costs remain. Toronto’s restraints could potentially limit his range. Raptors look a little darker but not necessarily more dangerous. Their playoff fate still depends on health, internal development and matchup variation rather than reinforced star power.

Ultimately, the Raptors chose stability over urgency. That kind of patience could prove either wise or painfully conservative. The upcoming playoffs will decide.