Manchester City Star Rodri has insisted that winning with Spain is a more special experience than winning with his club.

AS reports on an interview with the midfielder today after appearing on DAZN’s Revelado program. In this, the 29-year-old player was seen focusing on his career.

spain success

The Spanish midfielder has enjoyed a trophy-filled career so far, winning 19 major club and international trophies so far.

His honors include one UEFA Champions League title, four Premier League titles and one UEFA European Championship title with Spain. He has also won the UEFA Nations League with his country and was the UEFA Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament.

He now has his sights set on winning the World Cup with Spain this summer and says winning with Luis de la Fuente’s team is more special than winning with Manchester City.

Regarding a photo of himself with the European Championship trophy, he said, “The most beautiful moment of my career. It is more special to achieve my dreams with my country than with my club.”

“It’s amazing how the tournament started, how the team won it. We weren’t the favorites, and what we did… it ended up being a special, unique year. Maybe we weren’t considered contenders, and that made us stronger.

“That confidence is something you keep within yourself. We knew we were the best, but we had to prove it. And that’s what we did. That European Championship speaks volumes about the ambition of the national team. The rivals we beat. We prevailed strongly; we won every match in the tournament. It speaks volumes about what was in store for us.”

manchester city trophy win

That doesn’t mean Rodri is completely disregarding his success at the Etihad. That will be difficult after winning 11 major trophies with Manchester City, including four Premier League titles.

The last of those, was won through his own strike and he admits it was a special moment in a big year for him.

He added, “It was probably the most fulfilling year I’ve ever had.”

“In terms of goals, I was in incredible physical condition. I helped the team win its fourth title in a row. It was an extremely difficult, complicated year. Like every year when you’re aiming for everything. To finish it with that goal was special.”

The club’s first Champions League success in 2023 is also hard to ignore, but that success has different memories for everyone else.

“A very special day because of what the Champions League means to the club, what that iconic goal means to me personally, but what I remember most is the team,” he concluded.

“Our ability to recover from the last years, I think, to not win the title that we deserved, but which was taken away from us. I remember that moment I spoke to Pep about how difficult it was. Moments of pure joy.”

Two Washington Capitals rookies were recognized for the 2025-26 Calder Trophy. Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdiff both received top-12 votes for the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.

Leonard finished eighth in the voting with one third-place vote, four fourth-place votes and 19 fifth-place votes. Meanwhile, Sourdough finished in 12th place with a fourth-place vote and a fifth-place vote.

Meanwhile, New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer won this year’s Calder unanimously. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft did so by earning all 198 first-place votes.

Leonard made his NHL debut at the end of the 2024–25 season, recording one goal and an assist in nine regular season games and eight playoff games. He then returned for his first full NHL season and finished with 20 goals and 25 assists in 75 games.

Additionally, Leonard was a vital part of the lineup and helped spark the Capitals’ power play. Although he missed a period due to injury, he returned and led the team in goals by March.

Meanwhile, the Sourdough Capitals had a new addition via trade with the Florida Panthers. After some call-ups and time in the AHL he made quite an impact in his first full NHL season.

Following an injury to Pierre-Luc Dubois in late October, Sourdiff moved from the fourth-line wing to full-time centre. In 78 games, the 24-year-old player recorded 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

The NHL has announced the winner of the Calder Trophy, given annually to the first-year player who makes the most impact, and although a few Montreal Canadiens players were in the running, the trophy was awarded to New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer.

It’s a fair decision, considering that Schaefer is an 18-year-old defenseman who somehow managed to score 23 goals. Full marks to the young blueliner for a fantastic year in an incredibly difficult situation.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Ivan Demidov was the runner-up for the award, having a remarkable rookie season where he recorded 62 points in 82 games, leading all rookies in scoring in the process.

That being said, it was not a close vote. Schaefer won every first-place vote, leaving Demidov to receive the majority of second-place votes.

Demidov was given 120 votes in second place, while Beckett Seneca (Anaheim Ducks) was given just 41 votes.

Interestingly, Canadiens netminder Jacob Dobbs received the fourth-most second-place votes, enough to finish fourth in all Calder Trophy voting.

Coming into the season, there was no guarantee that Dobbs would play more than a handful of games, and yet, he not only managed to take over as the team’s de facto starter, but he has also been their most valuable player in the playoffs.

Full voting table for the Calder Trophy for Best Rookie, won unanimously #island Defender Matthew Schaefer. pic.twitter.com/mlxsfErw9v

– NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) 13 May 2026

We should also note that Oliver Kapanen received some votes, and despite the fact that he is currently in the playoffs, it cannot be denied that he was the surprise story of the season for the Montreal Canadiens.

Playing the majority of the season alongside Ivan Demidov, Kapanen scored 22 goals in 82 games. Yes, Demidov gave them plenty of high-end scoring chances, but Canadiens history is littered with players who failed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, while Kapanen did a great job of complementing the team’s offense during his first season in the league.

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

chelseaThe obliging Giovani Quenda finally got the moment he’s been waiting for, and it holds extra meaning for the winger.

The 19-year-old ended a goal drought of more than five months this week, scoring again for Sporting ahead of his expected summer move to Stamford Bridge. He scored in the 90th minute in a 4–1 win at Rio Ave.

Undoubtedly, their goalless period was due to a serious injury Which kept him sidelined from December 2025 to April 2026.

And obviously, it meant a lot to him.

Promise fulfilled before leaving for Chelsea

According to Portuguese outlet to ballQuenda made a personal promise to himself that he did not want to leave Sporting for Chelsea without scoring again for the Lisbon club.

The winger had not found the net since November 26, when he helped Sporting beat Club Brugge 3–0 in the Champions League tie stage. Shortly thereafter, he suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal that interrupted his season.

Between injury, rehabilitation in London and a difficult process of regaining his rhythm, Kwenda played nine matches without scoring. But that race is over now.

The goal may not completely erase the disappointment of the past few months, but it feels symbolic given everything that has happened to his season.

Tough season still ends with strong statistics

Giovani Quenda’s campaign never fully recovered after the injury setback.

Before the fracture, he was one of Sporting’s most explosive attacking players and one of the biggest stories of Portuguese football. Chelsea’s agreement to pay him around £43.5m (€50m+) increased the headlines around him.

Then everything stopped. Chelsea took charge During the recovery process in London, he was kept at Cobham for months while he built up his muscles and prepared himself physically for Premier League football.

When he returned there were clear signs that he still lacked some sharpness and explosiveness. Portuguese press openly raised questions Was the move to Chelsea coming at the right time?

Still, the numbers remain impressive for a 19-year-old dealing with such a major setback. Kwenda now has 6 goals and 6 assists in 27 matches this season.

Last two games before Chelsea

Unless something unexpected happens, Kwenda only has two Sporting matches left before he officially moves to Chelsea. And He is absolutely ready.

The Portuguese title race is already over, with Porto confirmed as champions, meaning there is little pressure heading into Sporting’s remaining league clash against Gil Vicente.

However, there is still one more trophy available. Sporting will face lower-league team Torreense in the Taça de Portugal final, which should represent Quenada’s final match before starting their Chelsea adventure.

For months, Kwenda’s season was dominated by injury discussion, recovery plans and debate over Chelsea’s project. Now, at least briefly, the focus is back on football.

And the important thing for him is that he will not leave Sporting without scoring one last time.

The good news keeps coming for the Montreal Canadiens. Habs rookie Ivan Demidov has been named a finalist for the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the best first-year player in the league, after winning a tightly contested series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

The 29-year-old Demidov finished the year as the highest-scoring rookie in the NHL with 19 goals and 43 assists in 82 games. He will be matched up against Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders) and Beckett Seneca (Anaheim Ducks), two very solid rookies in their own right.

This is the second consecutive season a Canadian player has been a finalist for the coveted trophy, with phenom Lane Hutson taking it home after a tremendous campaign in 2024-25 in which he scored 66 points on Montreal’s blue line.

This is the second consecutive season in which Demidov will be in contention for the Rookie of the Year award in any professional hockey league. He was awarded the KHL Alexei Cherepanov Trophy, the Russian equivalent of the Calder Trophy, in the KHL last year.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Schaefer is considered the favorite to take home the trophy because he is an 18-year-old defenseman who somehow scored 23 goals, which is a ridiculous feat. He played a big role for the Islanders and was even considered for a role with Team Canada at the Olympics.

As for Seneca, he also enjoyed a 23-goal campaign while playing a second-line role for the rising Anaheim Ducks. The 20-year-old winger finished fourth in Ducks scoring with 60 points.

Demidov was the most productive player of the first year, but according to many analysts this would not be enough to capture the trophy. Regardless, the fact that he was one of four rookies in the Canadiens’ lineup this season shows the team’s dedication to a rebuilding mantra, favoring youth enthusiasm over experience.

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

Montreal – It feels like there’s more Montreal Canadiens news every hour, and we’re all bound to miss a story or two. On Sundays, we always recap relevant NHL news you may have missed, to help you stay in the Canadiens loop.

Make sure you don’t miss any news from Canadians by signing up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for a daily newsletter covering various other NHL teams, or the most exciting developments in the game.[Sportsnaut]

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

• Elliotte Friedman officiated in the first round series between the Habs and Lightning. Or more precisely, they immediately discussed a penalty, which at first seemed imaginary, but was actually a legitimate penalty on Oliver Kapanen. In this particular case, I would argue the point was that the referee’s hand did not go up until Dominic James oversold the contact moments later. Either way, the Canadians cannot focus on umpiring in this series, as it is a factor they cannot easily control.

Here is the Kapanen penalty.

When I saw it…I thought there was an obvious high-stick above the hashmark – and those penalties were being called all series. Obviously, the Canadiens (and their fans) feel the hand was raised late or an actual penalty was ignored/missed. pic.twitter.com/fTgS9coIzm

– Elliot Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) 27 April 2026

• Even though the results on the ice at 5v5 have been less than ideal, Lane Hutson has done a great job when tasked with defending star players 1v1.

Lane Hutson defending Nikita Kucherov 1v1: pic.twitter.com/UAXZVeFxvs

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 April 2026

• Lost in the shuffle over the weekend, the Canadiens re-assigned defenseman David Rickenbacker to the Laval Rocket (AHL). The Rockets’ playoff push begins on Wednesday, with a series against the Toronto Marlies on the menu.

The Canadiens have loaned defenseman David Rickenbacker to the Laval Rocket.

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 27 April 2026

• Members of the organization who met with the media on Monday included Alexandre Texier, Alex Newhook and head coach Martin St-Louis.

Follow Canadians’ media availability

Tune in now for live Canadian media ops #GoHabsGo https://t.co/cZHoLurSSf

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 27 April 2026

• The Habs are now one game away from advancing to the second round of the NHL playoffs. Veteran Brendan Gallagher was again included in the lineup, and he made an immediate impact by scoring the opening goal of the game. Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier provided the other goals in a vital 3–2 win. [Canadiens Highlights: Gallagher Leads Way In Huge Win]
• Rookie netminder Jacob Dobbs was great, stopping 38 of 40 shots sent his way, including nearly 10 high-danger saves.

Rookie netminder Jacob Dobbs made 38 saves to secure the win #GoHabsGoIncluding 10 high-threat defenses! pic.twitter.com/2rvoPaCHjR

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 30 April 2026

• Defensive defenseman Lane Hutson had another outstanding game. It should also be noted that he has maintained his ridiculous production rate in the playoffs. The phenom has registered his name on the scoresheet 10 times in 10 games of his career.

NHL game score impact card for Montreal Canadiens on 2026-04-29: pic.twitter.com/9Iaw9UTCwU

– hockeystatcards (@hockeystatcards) 30 April 2026

• While the Canadiens were taking a series lead against the Lightning, the Laval Rocket were busy doing the same in the AHL. Laval beat the Toronto Marlies 3-1 on Wednesday to take a 1-0 series lead. Florian Czekaj, Joshua Roy and Samuel Blais scored for the Rockets, while Kaapo Kakkonen made 20 saves to ensure the win.

Florian 🚨 1-0 pic.twitter.com/SxI6DRC2NO

– xy – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 29 April 2026

• The entertainment factor is through the roof when it comes to this Lightning Fan Crash.

This Tampa Bay Lightning fan is in shambles right now pic.twitter.com/diDdhqL1wB

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 30 April 2026

• That’s not the case anymore, but there was a time when some doubted whether Lane Hutson’s impressive production would translate to the NCAAs. And then he questioned whether he could do it in the World Championship. And World Juniors. In the nhl. And finally, the playoffs. At this (very early) point in his career, there is little left to prove.

Lane Hutson (10 GP) scored his 10th career playoff point and required the fewest games by a defenseman to reach the mark. @CanadiensMTL history, besting Chris Chelios (13 GP). #Stanley Cup

TUNE IN 🇺🇸 (@ESPN 2), 🇨🇦 (@sportsnet, @TVASports), 🌍: https://t.co/dT34F4MhkC pic.twitter.com/uIVGxEiKkL

– NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) 30 April 2026

• Sniper Cole Caulfield is one of the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the player in the league who displays the best type of sportsmanship throughout the season. In 81 games played, Caufield accumulated only 14 penalty minutes. [Caufield Among Finalists For Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]

• The French call of Alexandre Texier’s game-winning goal is absolutely brilliant.

Alexander texiiiiiier#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/8mu7JfXdNn

– The Icebreaker (@TheIcebreakerFR) 30 April 2026

• Veteran Brendan Gallagher had his mother on his mind when re-inserting him into the lineup on Wednesday. Considering how much he has sacrificed for the franchise, it was a fitting start to their playoff run from the perennially underappreciated forward.

Brendan Gallagher on his playoff goal in tonight’s Habs win:

“For me, I think about my mother. I think about the people in my life who mean a lot to me. There’s a little moment where you enjoy it and you think about those things, then you get back to playing the game.” pic.twitter.com/KJ1iuPh1Zt

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 30 April 2026

• Unfortunately for the organization, the Laval Rocket also dropped their playoff game, losing 6–2 to the Toronto Marlies. Laval actually established a 2–0 lead midway through the first period, but the Marlies’ four powerplay goals were too much to handle. [AHL]

• One of the main reasons the Canadiens have been able to keep up with the Lightning is because of the play on the team’s third line. Or is this his fourth line? Either way, Alexandre Texier, Kirby Dach and Zachary Bolduc are scoring at a first-line pace. [Caufield Among Finalists For Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]

• Caufield, one of the players who has struggled at 5v5, was quick to send his praise.

Cole Coffield on Bolduc-Dach-Texier’s Habs line today:

“They’ve been unbelievable. For them to be able to see the puck low low and see a lot of the puck in the O-zone, it definitely helps our whole team. I think everybody has stepped up in their own way and brought more… pic.twitter.com/FaqV2hy9po

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 1 May 2026

• As for Bolduc, he is one of several young players in the province who were inspired by the experienced Brendan Gallagher.

When he was just a kid, Zachary Bolduc (left in photo) went to an autograph session in Trois-Rivières.

Who was giving autographs that day? Brendan Gallagher.

Today, not only are they teammates, but Zachary Bolduc told me this… pic.twitter.com/7BXNMB7HTj

– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) 1 May 2026

• Gallagher is appreciative of the support he has received since returning to the lineup.

“I really appreciate the support I get from my peers!” -Gallagher pic.twitter.com/iWbaHIfT6o

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 1 May 2026

• With all due respect to Henrik Lundqvist, the game clearly lacks respect for Jacob Dobbs. Sure, he’s a rookie, but you could argue he’s done just as good a job as the veteran Andrei Vasilevskiy.

.@HLundqvist Revealed his Eastern Conference hackings 👀 pic.twitter.com/X8pIEEZXN1

– NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) 30 April 2026

• big bill It truly epitomizes what it means to be a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

Apparently after being named the first NHL Conn Smythe winner on this day in 1965:

Initially Jean Beliveau did not like the trophy very much nor was she very keen on having photographs taken with it, as it was a silver replica of the Maple Leaf Gardens. https://t.co/aHY4VtnDZp pic.twitter.com/3Laa5oKALw

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 1 May 2026

• Noah Dobson skated on Friday, and by all accounts, it looks like he’s as close as possible to returning to the lineup. There were also some whispers that he was almost cleared to play in Game 6.

noah dobson on ice #hubs Morning skate after missing the first five games of the playoff series vs. the Lightning due to a thumb injury. pic.twitter.com/2rmifJ6dOw

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) 1 May 2026

• Juraj Slafkowski decided to take a shot at Max Crozier, who was taken out of the lineup for Game 6.

Juraj Slafkowski on running into the Lightning’s Max Crozier in Game 4 today:

“He got a good hit. Good for the guy. He doesn’t play a lot so maybe that makes him play a little more. Gotta take it, it doesn’t matter if I get a hit or anything, it’s (about) how I come back. I just… pic.twitter.com/0NRLsMnSO7

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 1 May 2026

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

On Friday, it was announced that Jordan Stahl and Jacob Slavin were both recognized for their efforts by the Carolina Chapter of the PHWA, as Stahl was awarded the Steve Chiasson Award, and Slavin was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.

This news comes on the heels of Wednesday’s announcement, as Brandon Bussey was named team MVP, and Taylor Hall was awarded the Joseph Vasicek Award, as well as nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Jakob Slavin nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and makes a notable humanitarian contribution to his or her community.

It has been a difficult season for Slavin, who missed 41 games due to injury. However, when he returned, he did so without missing a single opportunity, averaging 21:10 of ice time a night and even earning a spot on Team USA’s Olympic roster, where they won the gold medal.

In recent years, Slavin, along with his wife, Kylie, have used their platform to help those in need, and glorify God in doing so.

During the 2023–24 season, they launched a “Fight for Freedom” campaign with International Justice Mission, where they raised $1,008,535 – surpassing the initial $1M goal. Their campaign raised awareness in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery and IJM used the funds to combat online sexual exploitation of children.

In the 2024–25 season, they launched another campaign with “The Fight for First”, partnering with Compassion International to help poor mothers and babies, supporting survival centres.

Additionally, Slavins continues to work with local initiatives such as the Raleigh Dream Center and Raleigh Rescue Mission, as well as the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation.

Last season, Florida Panthers captain Alexander Barkov was awarded the King Clancy Trophy for his longtime campaign with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

Jordan Staal wins Steve Chiasson Award

The Steve Chiasson Award is presented annually to the Hurricanes player who best exemplifies determination and dedication while proving to be an inspiration to his teammates through his performance and approach to the game.

Currently in his 20th season, the Hurricanes captain has scored 19 goals (his best since 2017–18). Four of those goals have come on the power play, which he was involved in in early December, playing a key role in reviving Carolina’s man advantage after a poor start to the season.

He has continued his exemplary performance at the face-off dot, where he trails only New Jersey Devils captain, Nico Hischier, in face-off wins this season, and has his second best season on record in face-off wins.

This season, he became the longest-tenured Hurricanes player after transferring, surpassing his older brother Eric Staal who played in most games played in a Hurricanes sweater.

Last season, the award was given to then-Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns.

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

泰勒·霍尔 (Taylor Hall) 在其 16 个赛季的职业生涯中首次获得比尔·马斯特顿纪念奖杯 (Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy) 提名。 PHWA 周三宣布了这一消息，同时公布了当地分会提名的其他 31 名男子的名字。

霍尔是在引进米科·兰塔宁 (Mikko Rantanen) 的大规模三队交易中获得的，人们普遍认为霍尔是交易中的“另一个人”。 2023 年，在为芝加哥黑鹰队打了 10 场比赛后，霍尔遭遇了严重的膝伤，需要接受手术并结束了他的赛季。

下个赛季回归后，他的上场时间是有史以来最低的，场均只有 14 分 59 秒。被交易到卡罗莱纳后，他的平均上场时间提高到了 15 分 27 秒。

本赛季，霍尔在飓风队的底线度过了赛季的一部分时间，直到与二年级组合洛根·斯坦科文和杰克逊·布莱克的线交换将他转移到第二线。

从那时起，他不仅成为年轻前锋的强大老将，而且还帮助将第二防线改进为罗德·布林德阿穆尔经常所说的最佳防线。

霍尔本赛季拿下 46 分，这是他自 2021-22 赛季效力波士顿棕熊队以来的最佳得分。

此外，霍尔还因其与当地媒体的杰出合作而被授予卡罗莱纳州 PHWA 的约瑟夫·瓦西切克奖（Josef Vasicek Award），也被称为“好人奖”。

雷切尔·巴克利 (Rachel Barkley) 是 Sportsnaut 节目《Carolina Hockey Now》中报道卡罗来纳飓风的节拍撰稿人。与雷切尔·巴克利 (Rachel Barkley) 一起绘画故事

泰勒霍爾 (Taylor Hall) 在其 16 個賽季的職業生涯中首次獲得比爾馬斯特頓紀念獎杯 (Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy) 提名。 PHWA 週三宣布了這一消息，同時公佈了當地分會提名的其他 31 名男子的名字。

霍爾是在引進米科·蘭塔寧 (Mikko Rantanen) 的大規模三隊交易中獲得的，人們普遍認為霍爾是交易中的「另一個人」。 2023 年，在為芝加哥黑鷹隊打了 10 場比賽後，霍爾遭遇了嚴重的膝傷，需要接受手術並結束了他的賽季。

下個賽季回歸後，他的上場時間是有史以來最低的，場均只有 14 分 59 秒。被交易到卡羅萊納後，他的平均上場時間提高了 15 分 27 秒。

本賽季，霍爾在颶風隊的底線度過了賽季的一部分時間，直到與二年級組合洛根·斯坦科文和傑克遜·布萊克的線交換將他轉移到第二線。

從那時起，他不僅成為年輕前鋒的強大老將，而且還幫助將第二防線改進為羅德·布林德阿穆爾經常所說的最佳防線。

霍爾本賽季拿下 46 分，這是他自 2021-22 賽季效力波士頓棕熊隊以來的最佳得分。

此外，霍爾還因其與當地媒體的傑出合作而獲得卡羅萊納州 PHWA 的約瑟夫·瓦西切克獎（Josef Vasicek Award），也被稱為“好人獎”。

雷切爾巴克利 (Rachel Barkley) 是 Sportsnaut 節目《Carolina Hockey Now》中報道卡羅來納颶風的節拍撰稿人。與雷切爾巴克利 (Rachel Barkley) 一起繪畫故事

The Vegas Golden Knights have named goaltender Akira Schmid as their candidate for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

All NHL teams nominate a player for the award, which is presented each year to the player who best exemplifies tenacity, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

“Akira Schmid’s perseverance and dedication to hockey has paid off as he signs with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2025-26, plays his first full season in the NHL and starts for Switzerland at the Olympics,” the PHWA said. “Schmid spent most of the last four years improving his game in the Minors, and achieved career highs in terms of starts and wins in the NHL. In a season of inconsistency and injuries in the Vegas crease, Schmid has been consistent for the Golden Knights and is a big reason they are still in playoff position.

He is an excellent teammate and plays whatever role is asked of him, which often includes skating late with the shooters after practice, or entering games in the cold and playing lights out to steady the ship. “His humble, internally driven mentality is perfect for a role that is often underappreciated but has played a crucial role for the team.”

This season, the 25-year-old goaltender has started 34 games and posted a 16-10-6 record with a .893 save percentage and 2.59 goals-against average.

Since the return of Carter Hart, Schmid appears to be the third goaltender on the roster moving forward behind Adin Hill, with no clear path to a starting role unless an injury occurs.

The Golden Knights will play the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at 7:00 pm and will be looking for their fifth consecutive win under head coach John Tortorella.

Cooper Krigbaum is a beat reporter covering the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNut. He also told about Cooper Krigbaum

For the second consecutive year, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. This certainly comes as no surprise if you’ve been following the team.

The Masterton Trophy is an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It is awarded “to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

The PHWA Washington Chapter released this statement:

“In Alex Ovechkin’s 21st season with the Capitals, and after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record a season ago, he continues to play with the same passion and dedication he has given to the game since entering the league in 2005. At the age of 40, Ovechkin remains an integral part of the Capitals’ locker room. And on the ice, Ovechkin leads the team in goals and assists this season. Having again made history by hitting 1,000 career goals combined in the regular season and playoffs and tying Gordie Howe for the most 25-goal seasons in NHL history, he is undecided about his future next season, but has maintained a love of hockey that is infectious in the dressing room.

Despite turning 40 before the season, Ovechkin still made a major contribution on the ice. The Russian winger now has 61 points (31 goals, 30 assists) in 78 games, along with 928 career goals.

Ovechkin is in the final year of his contract and will make a decision about his future this summer. The 40-year-old talked about it in a recent interview with Capitals radio play-by-play announcer John Walton.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

The National Hockey League’s Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded each season to the player deemed most valuable to his team in the NHL. This season, teenage phenom Maclin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks should be the pick.

As we near the end of the 2025-26 NHL regular season, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov are the favorites for the Hart Trophy. While they both certainly deserve it this year, their team’s Most Valuable Player in hockey played in San Jose in 2026.

Let’s look at our case for why Celebrini should win the Hart Trophy.

Macklin Celebrini’s historic season deserves a historic trophy

In professional sports, narrative and history shape MVP voting. We’ve seen it in the NBA, when Russell Westbrook won MVP after averaging a triple-double on an Oklahoma City Thunder team that finished sixth in their conference. Miguel Cabrera won the AL MVP while hitting for the Triple Crown in 2012, and the NFL MVP has been awarded based on storylines in the past.

Narrative and NHL history should also influence Hart Trophy voting. This season, Celebrini became the sixth teenager in history to record over 100 points in a season, joining such all-time greats as Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux, Dale Hawerchuk, and Jimmy Carson. Earlier this season, he joined Lemieux, Gretzky and Crosby as the fourth teenager in NHL history with more than 40 points in 27 or fewer games.

The 19-year-old is also set to break Gretzky’s NHL record for highest points percentage on his team’s goals as a teenager. Celebrini is on pace for the third-most points total by a teenager in NHL history, behind only Crosby and Gretzky. Additionally, he is set to break San Jose’s single-season points record (Joe Thornton, 114).

From a narrative standpoint, it seems appropriate to end a historic season with Celebrini, joining Gretzky and Crosby as the only teenagers to win the Hart Trophy in NHL history.

RELATED: How the Sharks are looking at Maclin Celebrini’s minutes

The Celebrini Effect: Most Valuable Player in Hockey

The Hart Trophy is what defines what Celebrini is doing in San Jose this season. Through 76 games, the Sharks have scored 234 goals, with Celebrini scoring one point on 45.7 percent. For comparison, Kucherov has recorded a point on 45.2 percent of 279 goals for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and MacKinnon has recorded a point on 42.5 percent of 287 goals for the Colorado Avalanche.

Taking things a step further, let’s compare how each Hart Trophy candidate scores against their peers. Kucherov has a 40-point advantage over Tampa Bay’s second-highest scorer (Jake Guentzel, 86) and the Lightning have four players with more than 60 points this season. At Colorado, MacKinnon has 28 more points than teammate Martin Necas and the Avalanche have four skaters with more than 60 points. Meanwhile, Celebrini has a 52-point advantage over his next closest teammate (Will Smith, 55) and is the only player on the Sharks roster to score more than 60 points this season.

Another statistic to capture Celebrini’s value: The Sharks have a 2-15-3 record in games where Celebrini doesn’t record a point, and they are 35-17-4 when he does record a point. In games where Celebrini scored multiple points, San Jose is 24–3–1. This team is at the bottom of the NHL standings without him.

San Jose Sharks year-to-date improvement

Heading into the 2025–26 NHL season, the Sharks were projected to have an overall over/under of 70.5, with ESPN projecting them to finish last in the Pacific Division. The team was also in the bottom five of the consensus NHL power rankings. Entering the game on April 7, San Jose is 2 points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, having scored 29 more points than last season thanks to 17 more wins. This was unimaginable in October, especially after the team started the season 0-4-2. It is still one of the youngest teams in hockey and is being run by a teenager. All this is another reason why Celebrini deserves to win the Hart Memorial Trophy.

A season for the ages: Celebrini deserves the Hart Memorial Trophy

The Hart Trophy is a regular season award; It’s a way to look back years from now to remember a defining moment of that year. Both MacKinnon and Kucherov have had excellent seasons, but what the hockey world will remember even more is that 19-year-old Celebrini put himself in the same company with the all-time greats with a historic season that turned the rebuilding Sharks into playoff contenders. Narrative matters here, and it’s impossible to ignore how valuable Celebrini has been to San Jose this season. If the Hart Memorial Trophy is truly meant to be awarded “to the player declared most valuable to his team”, it is Celebrini.

RELATED: Love the San Jose Sharks? Watch San Jose Hockey Now

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

Crystal Palace defender JD Canavut has insisted he does not think about his €23m price tag, or the expectations it brings.

19 year old talking to ft mercato About life with Crystal Palace Joining them in September.

He is slowly establishing himself in Oliver Glasner’s team and has started their last three Premier League matches. The defender is seen at the club as a long-term replacement for Marc Guhi, who ultimately left in January and joined Manchester City.

This opened the door for Canavot to gain playing time and eventually begin his career with Crystal Palace. Considering his transfer fee, expectations are high. But the youth are refusing to focus on that.

“No, honestly, I don’t care. I haven’t thought about it,” He said.

“I do my job on the pitch; the financial and administrative side is not my responsibility. Yes, this transfer represents a lot of money, but it’s just football today, everything moves fast. But I don’t think about it when I sleep.”

What surprises Canavot about the Premier League?

Canavot had to wait for his chance after Guhi’s unsuccessful move to Liverpool in the summer transfer window.

This led to him suffering a slow start to the season and spending the first six Premier League matches on the bench. He has been on and off the bench since then, with 13 of his 25 call-ups to the Crystal Palace squad this season.

However, the young player did not take it as an insult. Instead, they used the time to observe and learn about their new surroundings.

“I studied players who played in my position as centre-back,” he explained

“I also watched the opposition players, I analyzed their movements, and I also saw how focused you had to be from the first minute to the last minute. Then there’s the intensity of a Premier League match. I think that’s what impressed me the most.”

Why is Crystal Palace taking Europe seriously?

The focus now is on continuing his solid start to life in the first team. With Guhi’s departure the door has opened and Canvot has passed through it.

He has started and finished Crystal Palace’s last three matches, including an impressive performance in a 3–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

He also played 90 minutes in a 2–0 win over Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League last month. The focus now turns to this week’s clash with AEK Larnaca. And Canvote says they’re in the running to win it.

“Definitely, I think we have everything we need to win it,” He concluded.

“Everyone in the group feels like we have what it takes. We’re playing in the conference to win it, and we’ve made it our competition. We’re going out there to win a title.

“I wasn’t here last season, but they had the best year in the club’s history, won two trophies, so I would like to win my first one too. And why not this season?”

Trust, Adaptation and Growing Conviction

There is no point in relaxing or waiting for the future for Canvote. Crystal Palace’s recent success has raised expectations inside the dressing room as well as outside it and he has accepted that responsibility.

With growing confidence and the trophy firmly in mind, he is clear about the mentality that is driving him: This is a team that expects to compete, and he intends to move forward with it.

Anthony Edwards has certainly been having a great time lately. After winning the All-Star Tournament and MVP awards, Ant was once again the star for the Timberwolves as they recorded a dominant 122–11 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

And well, in totally typical fashion, according to a post by the NBA on X, Edwards was seen showing off his MVP trophy to his teammates with a big smile on his face. Edwards can be seen patiently showing the trophy to each of his teammates before putting it back.

Ant made sure all of his teammates got a good view of the Kobe Bryant trophy 🏆 https://t.co/6EB7MyQIvj pic.twitter.com/Eem2nH4g9C

– NBA (@NBA) 21 February 2026

Playing his first game after the All-Star break, Ant made 16 of 30 shooting (53.3%), hit 5 of 13 from three, and added six rebounds in 38 minutes. Despite being the main focus of the hapless Mavericks defense, Edwards committed only three turnovers on the night.

The Mavericks struggled to keep up throughout and fell behind every time they threatened to take over the game. When Dallas erased a significant deficit and tied the game at 103 with 6:55 remaining, Edwards answered with a step-back three that reestablished Minnesota control.

Edwards scored 14 fourth-quarter points as the Timberwolves finally got comfortable and finished the game ahead by 11 points. The Timberwolves shot 16-of-42 from three (38.1%), leading to a 24-point advantage from beyond the arc.

Rudy Gobert delivered 22 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks, while Naz Reed provided ample support, adding 21 points and four three-pointers. For the Mavericks, Khris Middleton led the way with 18 points and Marvin Bagley produced a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double.

However, in the absence of several stars including Cooper Flagg, Max Christie and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks struggled with their shooting all night and their team field-goal accuracy was 42.3%. This proved to be his downfall as ANT bounced back with his eighth 40-point game of the season, helping hand the Mavs their tenth consecutive loss.

Minnesota will now face the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday while the Mavericks will next face the Indiana Pacers.