The New Jersey Devils trading Nico Hischier is a bad idea. However, not trading for Quinn Hughes is also a bad idea.

You have to give to get.

I want to reiterate that I am not advocating that the Devils should move Hischier. They should build their 1-2 center punch around him and Jack Hughes.

After all, the Devils are screwed by keeping Hischier—who is undoubtedly a top-line center—on the second line.

Still, you’re not getting Quin without premium returns. And if you can acquire arguably the best defenseman in the league, you will.

It’s more than uniting the Hughes brothers. Still, the Minnesota Wild are just as interested in employing them all on one team as the Devils.

evidence?

After bringing Quinn back from Vancouver last season, Bill Guerin tried to bring in Luke Hughes via the Devils trade.

This will undoubtedly help Guerin sign the Jacks as a free agent in 2030. Nevertheless, the Devils did not entertain Guerin’s pursuit of Luke, and the Devils remained with two of the three Hughes brothers.

However, Sunny Mehta is no Tom Fitzgerald. How much does he desire to unite Hughes’s triumvirate – if at all?

How much is he willing to trade his captain for Quinn?

This seems unlikely. Still, if the nuclear option of acquiring Quinn is successful for Hischier, there are options who should be available to fill the center void this summer, even if not the same as the Devils captain.

Perhaps Quinn’s presence covers any holes left by Hischier, because although you’re upgrading with Quinn, you’re upgrading at center.

Ryan O’Reilly-Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators were treating Ryan O’Reilly with kid gloves last season.

O’Reilly has no protection from a trade, yet Predators GM Barry Trotz was treating him as if he did. Thus, despite all the trade speculation, O’Reilly remained in Nashville as they tried for the playoffs.

They couldn’t make it, and now Nashville will have a new GM.

Who will be at the helm in Nashville has yet to be determined, but after a roller coaster season, a new GM should be ready to move O’Reilly who is going into the last year of his contract on a roster that needs to get younger.

O’Reilly is cut from the same cloth as Hischier. He may no longer have elite metrics in the neutral and defensive zones, but he’s still on the bubble.

In his age-34 season, O’Reilly scored 25 goals and 74 points in 81 games. That’s fewer goals than Hischier (28) but more points (66) while winning 55.8% of faceoffs.

You’re betting on the 35-year-old O’Reilly’s play as a potential short-term stopgap solution and pending free-agent to fill the void.

Mason McTavish-Anaheim Ducks

You might be shopping upside down here.

It seems things are rocky between the Anaheim Ducks and Mason McTavish, who often served as a healthy scratch through two rounds in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The ducks were eliminated on Thursday night. The focus now turns to the offseason where they will undoubtedly look to improve on an unexpectedly successful 2025-26.

Still, McTavish serving as a healthy scratch in his most important games over seven seasons shows where he stands in the eyes of Joel Quenneville.

Now the Ducks will have to make a decision about his future, just like they did with Trevor Zegras last summer.

And it worked out very well for the Philadelphia Flyers.

McTavish has completed the first year of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $7 million. Heading into his age-24 season, there is still a lot to like about McTavish’s game.

The Ducks forward has shown good scoring touch with occasional high-end flashes — winning battles along the wall, driving through contact, and making quick plays in tight areas — but his skating and defensive reliability remain glaring areas of limited consistency so far.

Perhaps Quinn’s tarpaulin-like ability to cover the ice will make up for the defensive deficiencies here. And the Ducks would certainly be selling the player at a low price.

Shane Wright-Seattle Kraken

For a more defensively reliable option, Shane Wright brings some interesting tools to his game – he’s a strong short-field player with solid wheels and reliable defense.

That said, he has seen very limited puck touches in both of his NHL seasons, making it hard to project him as a true driver given how limited his overall participation has been.

Instead, he will need the support of two key top-six wingers. Perhaps Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer will provide ample support until Wright figures out how to move the game forward on his own – or rather If He figures out how to carry the game on his own.

The Kraken were challenging Wright to make his splash at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. In this situation, the Devils are a good fit for a 22-year-old player heading into the final year of his entry-level contract. And there is a positive side to Wright’s development as the aforementioned playdriver.

Wright was more successful in his first full season in 2024–25, scoring 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games, compared to only 12 goals and 27 points the previous season.

Perhaps in a more offensive system in New Jersey – as opposed to Seattle – he can unlock what made him so popular in his draft year.

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

You shouldn’t put anything past Bill Guerin. That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised to hear that he’s attempted to poach the youngest Hughes brother from the New Jersey Devils.

If you haven’t heard of it, visit the link below.

Yesterday was a good day for New Jersey Hockey Now. We’ve acquired Daniel Amoia who is joining me on Devil’s Beat.

NJHN is your go-to Devils source for all your New Jersey hockey needs, and we’re taking it to another level with Daniel.

You can find his author page here.

Daniel made his first publication yesterday which is also below, but stay tuned for more to come.

Elsewhere, Quinn on the Future in Minnesota, Heavily Fined on Torts, and More!

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: interesting. So, Bill Guerin has as much interest in bringing all of the Hughes brothers to Minnesota as the Devils have in employing all of them in New Jersey. evidence? Guerin called Tom Fitzgerald about a possible trade for Luke Hughes.

So, given the fact that Guerin feels the need to give himself an advantage when it comes to the Hughes brothers, what does this mean for how he feels about his chances of retaining Quinn Hughes? Daniel Amoia breaks it down in his first appearance with New Jersey Hockey Now.

📺 devil’s rink report: It has been reported that Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto is uncertain. Well, some people have drawn attention to New Jersey in a potential franchise changing trade. In the latest video on Devils Rink Report, I break down the deal that’s received a lot of backlash online and weigh in on whether it makes sense.

Last week, we went live with immediate reaction after the draft lottery. The full episode can be found here 👇🏼

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Athletic ($): I mean, what else was he going to say? He loses all his leverage in contract negotiations by saying otherwise. At the Minnesota Wild exit meetings, Quinn Hughes was asked and stated that he was interested in remaining in Minnesota.

As many have already pointed out, Zach Parise said the same thing before leaving the Devils… for the Wild!

We will see what happens.

Forever Blueshirts: John Tortorella always finds a way back into the spotlight. New York Rangers fans know his fiery passion, and now the Vegas Golden Knights do too. And man, is the NHL attacking Torts with a big hammer. Tortorella has been heavily fined, and Vegas is being forced to forfeit a high draft pick for refusing to hold a media availability after eliminating the Anaheim Ducks.

pittsburgh hockey now: What’s next for Ricard Raquel who has definitely been pushed back from 2024-25? The decision here is definitely in the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

San Jose Hockey Now: Okay, no big deal. This is his second year in the league and Maclin Celebrini was fourth in league scoring with 104 points. Well, on July 1st, he is eligible to extend with the San Jose Sharks. What will that look like?

Philly hockey now: Here’s how the Philadelphia Flyers are becoming a destination players want to visit.

Montreal hockey now: It may not be as sustainable as it has been for them, but the Montreal Canadiens are succeeding in their adversity.

Toronto Hockey Now: What does Auston Matthews’ future hold with the Toronto Maple Leafs? Here’s the latest update from inside.

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

According to a recent report from Michael Russo of The Athletic, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin attempted to acquire Luke Hughes from the New Jersey Devils during the 2025-26 season — a move that would have seen Luke leave one brother, Jack Hughes, to join forces with another in the form of Quinn Hughes.

Of course, rumors and speculation about the future of all three Hughes brothers have been running rampant. Just last week on an episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek, all three brothers’ agent, Pat Brisson, talked about the idea of ​​them all playing together at some point:

“We probably haven’t had any specific discussion about this. These are possibilities, I will not deny the factBut when your three brothers get together during the summer or in the offseason, we have lots of fun conversations about lots of fun things.

Obviously, no deal happened for Luke. Based on the language used by The Athletic, it doesn’t seem like the Devils ever seriously considered parting ways with Luke.

But here’s what we know. All else being equal, there is no reason to believe that Quinn will be someone More He is willing to sign an extension beyond his current deal (which runs through 2026–27), which he would not have done if the team had made a deep run in the playoffs.

“I’m definitely ready to re-sign here,” Quinn said in his exit interview today. He also said that getting a deal in the summer is “more ideal”, but is “so mentally tough” that it is not possible to go into the season without it.

Regardless, the possibility remains that Guerin attempted to acquire Luke to increase his leverage for a Quinn extension. This will prompt a GM who does not have full Confidence in your ability to accomplish it. Quinn’s words confirm that the outlook at this position is far from certain, even if he enjoys playing in Minnesota.

At the end of the day, the Devils have something the Wild don’t: both of Quinn’s brothers. There’s no telling what Devils GM Sunny Mehta’s plan will be – and whether he’s considering a potential pursuit of Quinn in any near-term decisions.

Additionally, Quinn is already 0-for-1 on a contract extension entering the season and there are plenty of rumors surrounding him. Even if he is 100% genuine in his desire to stay in Minnesota, things could change quickly if he doesn’t make a move this offseason.

Mehta, Guerin and everyone involved know that Jack’s contract expires after 2029-30 and Luke’s after 2031-32. If Quinn really wants to play with his brothers, the quickest path is to New Jersey.

While ex-Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has rightfully faced his fair share of scrutiny, some of his late decisions could potentially play a big role in any Devils success in the future:

Her refusal to part with Luke may one day be the reason the Devils finally meet Quinn. And their ability to let Ondrej Palat’s contract out without any salary retention would add some much-needed flexibility for Mehta to work with this offseason.

Time will tell what direction the Quinn saga and the Devils as a whole will take. In the meantime, until proven otherwise, Devils fans should hold their positions full confidence In Mehta.

Daniel is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for SportsNut. He graduated from Montclair State University in 2025… More about Daniel Amoia

Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild were eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Colorado Avalanche. It was a disappointing end to a season that had high expectations after Hughes was traded to Minnesota. However, could this partnership prove to be one-and-done?

This seems like a possibility, so what exactly would Hughes have to do to land in Detroit? Here’s what needs to happen for the Detroit Red Wings.

Quinn Hughes to decline extension with Minnesota Wild

If Detroit wants any chance of landing Hughes during the 2026 NHL offseason, it starts with the defenseman’s intentions. After being traded to Minnesota, Hughes was not able to sign a contract extension as he is not eligible until July 1, 2026. However, what if the Wild are not able to complete a contract extension?

In a scenario where Hughes declines to sign with Minnesota, the organization would be encouraged to move him this offseason or at the 2027 NHL trade deadline. The Wild gave up a lot of asset to acquire the 26-year-old defenseman, so losing him in 2027 NHL free agency would be detrimental.

Therefore, it makes the most sense to trade Hughes during the offseason to get more value. More likely is Hughes to sign a contract extension with Minnesota, and an NHL insider recently predicted it would be a three-year deal. If not, it will allow Detroit to correct the mistake during the 2026-27 NHL season.

After all, NHL stars are hard to come by, and Detroit had the opportunity to acquire Hughes in December 2025.

Detroit Red Wings must complete an extension with Hughes

The Red Wings had the opportunity to trade for Hughes during the 2026–27 NHL season. The star defenseman is from Michigan and Detroit is one of his favorite places. However, the organization reportedly declined to acquire Hughes without a contract extension.

Allowing Hughes to go to Minnesota was a mistake when Detroit was more likely to be able to complete an extension this summer. If the Wild trade Hughes declines to sign a contract extension, the atmosphere surrounding a potential deal should be similar. The Red Wings would have to complete an extension with Hughes.

In December, the 26-year-old defenseman was not allowed to sign a contract extension, as he could not complete it until July. Now, Hughes will likely have to assure another team that he will re-sign to give up property. After all, a year of Hughes wouldn’t be worth “leaving the farm.”

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman reportedly wanted a verbal extension in December, but this time will be different. If Hughes declines to sign a contract with Minnesota, it means he has his sights set on a specific organization. It could be Detroit or the New Jersey Devils, but Yzerman needs a commitment.

Hughes will likely sign an extension this summer, but if he doesn’t, the Red Wings should be in the mix once again.

READ MORE: Auston Matthews moved to Detroit Red Wings? what will it actually take

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

Sunny Mehta was brought in as general manager to be bold and he certainly has the opportunity to do that this summer via the New Jersey Devils trade.

Mehta’s background shows that he is willing to take risks having been a former professional poker player, an options trader, and even a professional musician.

So, why wouldn’t he at least try to acquire Quinn Hughes?

You know the story. Quinn is the older brother. Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes have long been associated with New Jersey. It would be crazy to get these three together in New Jersey – the kind of thing fans have been daydreaming about for years.

This was almost a reality in 2025-26. Ultimately, former GM Tom Fitzgerald missed the opportunity and it didn’t happen.

Thus, Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin swooped in and ran the ball back for a touchdown. Wild believed Quinn was one of, if not the final piece of the puzzle that would ultimately lift the Stanley Cup.

Still, Minnesota was devastated by the inevitable Colorado avalanche last night.

With a new person in charge, many are wondering if Mehta will be able to do what the old front office could not.

Quinn is still under contract in Minnesota through next season. He’s coming off another big year, and the Wild are in no position to “sell.”

But contracts eventually end, conditions change, and the family works harder. Therefore this story will not end.

adventure part

If the Devils are serious about it, it will definitely be worth more than just prospects and picks.

Let’s preface this by saying that I’m not advocating that Satanists should or shouldn’t do this. All I’m saying is that it’s the kind of bold move Fitzgerald wouldn’t come close to.

The Wild’s eventual collapse in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs may be due to one very obvious thing. They have no central depth.

In New Jersey, the Devils have a frontline center with the same contract expiration date as Quinn and nearly identical cap hits for the rest of their deals.

Yes. We are talking about the captain. Nico Hischier.

Hischier has been the devil’s heart. He is a reliable, two-way center who leads by example. Trading him for a defenseman – even one as good as Quinn – will feel uncomfortable at first. But hat math is hat math. Quinn wants big money on his next deal. Hischier himself is about to get a big promotion. If you’re trying to fit three Hughes brothers under one hat while trying to build a contender, something’s got to give.

A deal that really catches Minnesota’s attention might look something like this:

• devils send: Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec (or Anton Silayev), this year’s first rounder, and maybe one more piece
• devils get:Quinn Hughes

This is a huge offer. You’re leaving your captain and a young NHL defenseman who has a shot at being a top-four prospect.

However, you are becoming arguably the best defenseman in the NHL. And the Wild have been yearning for a legitimate center for years.

Maybe bold doesn’t even cover it.

Will Mehta do this?

We’re talking about a move with a magnitude of 10 here.

However, this is not unfamiliar territory for Mehta. You have to remember, Mehta didn’t get a final shot with his former club, the Florida Panthers. However, he was instrumental in assisting GM Bill Zito with important moves that ultimately led them to consecutive Stanley Cups in the last two seasons.

One of those tricks? The foresight to move Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk.

In the end, that trade ultimately changed the Panthers’ trajectory from bubble threat to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

This was the final gamble in which the Panthers lost cash twice.

So no, don’t take such a bold step in front of Mehta. History shows that calculated risks are in its DNA.

Will this also work?

On paper, adding Quinn ahead of Jack and Luke would be ridiculous. The passing, the power play, the ability to control the game from the back end – this will inevitably force the Devils to lean back on their strengths, but on steroids.

As a result, you’ll be centering the situation and diluting your already weak prospect pool at the same time. That doesn’t mean Mehta can’t figure out another 2C solution, but it won’t be easy — they don’t grow on trees, especially ones like Hischier’s that undoubtedly have 1C quality. If this doesn’t change rapidly in the cup window, you’ll have years of regrets.

Mehta’s background in analytics and poker means he probably approaches trades differently than the previous guy. The lower the sentiment, the higher the expected value. Will this lead to any major accomplishments like this in his first few months on the job… who knows.

Right now it’s all smoke. No real traction beyond the usual off-season whispers that I’ve heard. In fact, it’s more likely that Quinn extends to Minnesota.

But that kind of boldness was lacking under the previous regime and that’s what the Devils ownership are hoping Mehta will bring to the table. If the Devils really want to unify the Hughes Triforce, Mehta will have to lure Guerin to the dance.

The offseason is young and Mehta is just getting started. However, he will undoubtedly want to make his mark on the roster.

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

One of the things New Jersey Devils fans are hoping for is a first-round exit from the Minnesota Wild.

Why?

Because some people are still holding out hope that the Devils might take Hughes’ older brother if he is hesitant to commit to his new team. When the calendar turns to July 1, Hughes has one year left on his contract. So whether it’s a deal this summer or via free agency next offseason, the less successful Minnesota is, the more likely it is that Quinn won’t commit.

Personally, I see Quinn staying in Minnesota. But never say never. Especially when there are no results.

At the Links, a slow burn by Devils ownership before eventually firing Tom Fitzgerald.

Elsewhere, chaos in Philly, Alexis Lafreniere’s big deal, and goalie crisis in Buffalo?

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Why didn’t Devils ownership fire Tom Fitzgerald sooner? At Sunny Mehta’s introductory press conference, managing partner David Blitzer explained that “there was no eureka moment.”

📺 devil’s rink report: So, what priorities will Mehta face as he steps into his new role as general manager in New Jersey? We break it down in the latest Devils Rink report.

Full episode here 👇🏼

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Buffalo hockey now: Yes, that’s my name in the byline. I’m helping with our Buffalo Sabers coverage while they’re in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. First, after heading into Game 2, does Buffalo already have a goaltender crisis?

Forever Blueshirts: The New York Rangers knew their top six wasn’t scaring anyone. Part of the issue is that Alexis Lafreniere hasn’t taken the step forward expected. The former No. 1 overall pick explained that he knows he can get even better, and wants to maintain his strong position in 2025-26.

Athletic ($): Devils fans are expecting it to be bad, but after the Minnesota Wild’s loss to the Dallas Stars last night, their reaction in Game 4 while falling behind 2-1 in the series will really tell us all if they are any different.

If not, maybe Quinn Hughes isn’t ready to live in Minnie.

Boston Hockey Now: As for the Boston Bruins, they do not have a captain in this Stanley Cup playoffs. However, Jeremy Swayman is establishing himself as a leader.

Philly hockey now: What a series this is shaping up to be for the Philadelphia Flyers. Amidst massive chaos last night they took a 3-0 series lead over their rivals from Pennsylvania. More from Will James here.

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

With the NBA now regularly hosting regular season games in cities such as Paris, London, Mexico City and Berlin, conversations about potential European leagues or expansion franchises internationally are gaining momentum. In particular, the NBA’s ongoing effort to bring regular season basketball to international territories may rely on Dyson Daniels and the Atlanta Hawks for support. Australian and inventive head coach Quin Snyder fully agrees, lobbying for more European and Austrian-based regular season games around the NBA All-Star break.

For Snyder, the initiative comes handy in an industry that has become increasingly global. The NBA’s efforts to strengthen ties with international markets is a positive development for all.

“I think (the NBA Europe project) is great,” Snyder told ClutchPoints. “The league is global and has players from all over the world. So playing in Europe, whether it’s in London, Paris or Berlin, there are games everywhere right now. You hear a lot about European players watching the NBA before they come here, and I think more and more American kids are exposed to basketball internationally.”

Snyder pointed to the long pipeline of European talent entering the league as evidence of basketball’s growing international roots, while influence flows in both directions.

“You usually see an increase during the World Cup or the Olympics,” Snyder said. “The more the game expands internationally, the better it is for everyone in the NBA. So, there are a lot of benefits from teams and players going out there. Whether it’s cultural benefits or raising awareness about other parts of this world that we live in.”

As decision-makers look to take advantage of the game’s global momentum, the increase in support reflects a growing sentiment among coaches and players that the league’s future success depends largely on its ability to think beyond the boundaries. For Snyder, the strategy is straightforward; The more the NBA invests overseas, the stronger the league will be domestically.

華盛頓指揮官們搖擺不定，錯過了新任防守協調員的大牌。緊隨其後的是未經證實的 OC 聘用。主教練丹·奎因的教練聘用將做兩件事之一：讓他的球隊進入季后賽，或者在 2027 年讓他回到另一支球隊擔任防守協調員。

可以肯定的是，指揮官們試圖利用他們的協調員位置打出全壘打。奎因看著邁克·麥克丹尼爾負責進攻，布萊恩·弗洛雷斯負責防守。如果指揮官們同時簽下這兩名球員，這將是球隊多年來最大的全壘打僱傭組合。

相反，指揮官們將滿懷希望而不是保證地前進。

這是指揮官 HC Dan Quinn 的豪賭

讓我們公平地對待奎因並承認他嘗試過。在 NFL，你的目標是明星，但很多時候希望安全降落在高樓上。

奎因面臨的問題是，聘用的協調員都沒有堅實的基礎。至少在經驗方面不是。進攻協調員大衛·布洛（David Blough）是一位30歲的年輕教練。與此同時，即將成為正式防守協調員的達龍特·瓊斯（Daronte Jones）也曾任職，但之前從未擔任過這個職位。瓊斯在 2025 年擔任維京人隊的防守後衛教練。

指揮官們可能會在賽季中打五六場比賽，並發現自己在防守排名上接近墊底。對於一個想要獲得晉昇機會的教練來說，這是一件困難的事情。通常，這意味著接管一個人才較少的團隊並試圖讓事情順利進行。

從一開始就能對瓊斯有所幫助的一件事是，指揮官們能夠在選秀中找到像小魯本·貝恩這樣的猛男。但坐在第七位的貝恩資本有可能被剔除。

希望瓊斯能夠懇求指揮官用這個選秀權進行防守。總經理亞當·彼得斯是否會聽完全是另一回事。

但奎因已經把他的教練工作置於危險之中。他必須在 2026 年獲勝。他在 2024 年所做的一切讓每個人都想要更多。但到了 2025 年，它又回到了原來的指揮官手中。

DC達龍特·瓊斯帶來了什麼？

至少指揮官們得到了一個在弗洛雷斯手下學習的人。在 NFL 世界中，這是一個優勢。

此外，瓊斯也已經繳納了他的會費。他之前曾在海豚隊（2016-17）和孟加拉虎隊（2018-19）擔任助教。他於 2020 年轉投維京人隊，並於 2021 年成為路易斯安那州立大學的防守協調員。隨後他回到維京人隊，在弗洛雷斯手下執教了三年。

當然，為指揮官聘請任何防守協調員都是一項艱鉅的任務。指揮官們根本沒有豐富的防守天賦。除非他們在選秀中打出大滿貫，或者在自由球員市場上大獲全勝，否則計劃對瓊斯來說就是一切。

對瓊斯有幫助的一件事是，改進的門檻不高。事實證明，奎因僱用的小喬·惠特是一個糟糕的人選。奎因執教的第一年，指揮官隊表現平平，碼數排在 NFL 第 13 位，得分排在第 18 位，傳球排在第 20 位。這足以讓球隊保持充滿活力的進攻。

但上個賽季，輪子脫落了。惠特在指揮官隊取得碼數第 32 位、得分第 27 位和傳球數第 31 位的過程中發揮了重要作用。

因此，如果瓊斯只是讓球隊恢復到中間狀態，他可能會被視為一個不錯的聘用者。但是伙計，這要求太多了。

瓊斯需要處理什麼？

從目前的情況來看，瓊斯的防守線表現平平。 《Pro Football Focus》在 2025 年最終排名中將指揮官隊排在 NFL 第 24 位。

在下一個級別上，指揮官有鮑比·瓦格納。據《職業足球焦點》報導，他排名第三。然而，他已經 35 歲了，並不能保證他會在 2026 賽季回歸。

“瓦格納……沒有表現出放緩的跡象，”梅森·卡梅倫寫道。 “雖然瓦格納的 PFF 覆蓋等級在過去兩個賽季中有所下降，但瓦格納仍然是一名精英跑衛（PFF 等級 91.2）、鏟球手（86.3）和閃電手（90.9）。

“2024 年，他在 PFF 跑動防守和傳球衝擊成績方面領先所有符合資格的線衛，他的跑動得分為 91.2，這標誌著他連續第三個賽季超過了 91.0 的門檻。”

有點令人驚訝的是，Frankie Luvu 排名第 14。但他必須在 2026 年發揮更大的影響力。

卡梅倫寫道：“盧武並沒有在 2024 年打出最高評分的賽季，但他仍然保持著作為跑動防守者和閃電戰球員的堅實的整體形象。” “在過去的四個賽季中，他每年都會在 70 次或更多的閃電戰中取得 72.0 以上的 PFF 衝傳評分。雖然他的跑動防守指標在過去三個賽季中逐年下降，但他的評分仍然位於第 87%。”

至於次要的，那就更醜了。據 PFF 稱，指揮官們對角衛特雷·阿莫斯 (Trey Amos) 抱有希望，但他在 10 場比賽中的成績很差 (55.8)。他的 23 次接球讓他在 114 名合格角衛中排名第 88 位。

安全衛傑里米·里維斯（Jeremy Reaves）有時會表現出火花，但他已經 29 歲了，這是他作為防守後衛的第一個富有成效的賽季。

這對瓊斯來說是一個巨大的挑戰。這對奎因來說是一次重大的賭注。

丹佛野馬隊全職業後衛 Quinn Meinerz 正在利用他的 NFL 季后賽平台成為首批公開反對 ICE 的運動員之一。這位 27 歲的球員似乎對周六野馬隊與新英格蘭愛國者隊的亞冠冠軍賽對陣明尼蘇達州的致命槍擊事件做出了反應。

在現已刪除的 Instagram 故事中，Meinerz 轉發了極左服裝品牌 CHNGE 的圖片，表達了他對 ICE 的反對。該圖片引起了人們對周六明尼蘇達州居民亞歷克斯·普雷蒂被殺的關注，並以“廢除冰”的聲明結束。

Meinerz 的帖子被 ESPN 的 Mina Kimes 發現並在社交媒體平台 Bluesky 上分享，然後被刪除。

在哈利伯頓以外的明尼阿波利斯，還沒有看到很多運動員對這一新聞發表評論，但這裡有兩次入選全隊/職業野馬隊的後衛奎因·邁納茲，他在一小時內上場：

— 米娜·基姆斯 (@minakimes.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T19:05:59.619Z

普雷蒂居住在明尼蘇達州，但來自威斯康星州綠灣。邁納茲在威斯康星州哈特福德出生並長大，並在威斯康星大學白水分校打球。

梅納茲的帖子在野馬隊即將對陣愛國者隊的比賽后幾個小時內就被發布了。

通過這樣做，邁納茲成為自上個月明尼蘇達州發生第三次槍擊事件以來第一批公開反對 ICE 的運動員之一。印第安納步行者隊後衛泰瑞斯·哈利伯頓WNBA 球星布里安娜·斯圖爾特 (Breanna Stewart)、猶他爵士隊前鋒凱爾·安德森 (Kyle Anderson) 等人都對這種情況表達了不滿。

邁納茲並不是一個直言不諱的球員，但他從不害怕對有爭議的話題發表自己的想法。人們看到他在步行觀看比賽時穿著寫有“結束槍支暴力”和“有素質的人不懼怕平等”的T卹。

邁納茲連續第二次入選全職業一線隊的時間已經過去兩週了。這位價值 8000 萬美元的後衛還在常規賽結束時首次入選職業碗。

至少在接下来的四场比赛中，费城老鹰队将没有经验丰富的冲锋手罗伯特奎因。

通过 NFL 网络 汤姆佩利塞罗:

“根据消息来源，#Eagles DE Robert Quinn 本周将接受膝盖检查，今天将进行 IR。 在上周膝盖在练习中扭伤之前，奎因一直在努力适应这个计划。 现在至少缺席了 4 场比赛，但人们乐观地认为他会回来冲击季后赛。”

根据 Pelissero 的说法，Quinn 将因膝伤进入伤病预备队，并将接受膝盖手术。 即便如此，人们似乎相信奎因可以及时回归以推动季后赛

进入第 14 周，Jalen Hurts 带领的老鹰队以 11 胜 1 负战绩成为 NFL 最佳战绩。 他们在交易截止日加入了罗伯特奎因，希望他们能够让防守变得更好。

奎因需要时间才能完全融入老鹰队的防守。 在他为球队出场的五场比赛中，他还没有在一场比赛中出场超过 27%。

即使在球场上的时间有限，罗伯特奎因也设法让人们感受到他的存在。 他只记录了两次总铲球和两次四分卫命中率。

在加入老鹰队之前，奎因在芝加哥熊队开始了这个赛季。 在本赛季的前七场比赛中，他没有填写统计表，因为他总共有 8 次铲球、2 次铲球失误、3 次四分卫命中和 1 次擒杀。

如果罗伯特奎因能够在季后赛前及时复出，老鹰队的防守将会处于有利位置。 他们本赛季已经成为精英，他的出现只会让他们变得更好。