News broke Wednesday morning that Carlos Correa suffered a serious ankle injury that will require surgery. The surgery will rule out the Houston Astros’ starting shortstop’s 2026 season.

It was an apparent end to the season for Correa, who was injured during batting practice before Tuesday night’s win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 0 for 4, but is off to a solid start this season, hitting .279 with 16 RBI. Along with young slugger Yordan Alvarez, he was a big part of why Houston was still excited for the upcoming season despite a slow start to the year.

Korea was a surprise trade at last year’s deadline. The veteran player was traded to the Minnesota Twins to strengthen Houston for a playoff race, which did not succeed. This marked the return of the veteran player who was drafted by the Astros with the first pick in the 2012 draft. But Correa wasn’t just a good hitter, he was an essential leader in the clubhouse, and his presence will be greatly missed.

Myriad injuries destroy Astros’ 2026

It felt like Houston’s season was over before it even started. 14 players of the club are on the injured list. That group is made up of Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown, Corea, Yener Diaz, Josh Hader, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, Joey Loperfido, Jake Meyers, Nate Pearson, Jeremy Pena, Taylor Trammell, Brandon Walter, and Hayden Wesneski.

Those injuries destroyed the clubhouse, forcing the Astros into fourth place in the American League West. The only club they are currently ahead of is the Los Angeles Angels. Houston can certainly bounce back later in the season once those starters return, but until then they need to be cautious and the news from Correa won’t help matters.

The Astros’ roster is primarily made up of young guys who probably should have spent more time in Triple-A. The problem is that Houston no longer has that luxury due to bad luck with injuries. Because of this, those young players are being trusted more than necessary.

That being said, if the Astros want to reverse their 15-22 record, they will need that group of players. Not a ton, but enough to reach a .500 record. This could be enough for Houston to save this season as they await the return of several of their injured players.

Billy Donovan walked away from the Chicago Bulls after six seasons, and the coaching market is already taking notice. Their coaching job is not done and with several jobs open across the league, the next few weeks could be very interesting.

According to ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania, speaking on 104.3 The Score’s Mulally & Hoff Show, Donovan is one of the most respected free agent coaches available right now, and his name will soon appear in searches.

“Definitely very respected. I mean, his name is going to be included in these job searches that may come up based on the playoffs, exits and different things that happen over the next few weeks around the league.”

It is this trace of past opportunities that makes his situation noteworthy now.

Billy Donovan turned down Knicks and UNC before leaving Bulls

Charania revealed that Donovan had had genuine conversations about the New York Knicks head coaching job the previous summer, and had also shown serious interest from North Carolina during the season. Both times he stayed there.

“He could have gotten the New York Knicks job last summer. And his conversations with Michael and Jerry Reinsdorf basically led him to decide to stay, honor his commitment, honor his contract, and stick with it. And in the season, he could have gotten the UNC job. But he never committed with UNC, because the program made multiple back-channel attempts for him.”

Two different occasions. Two different moments. And both times Donovan chose to honor what he signed up for in Chicago, with the Bulls clearly headed toward a rebuild.

“So he potentially had multiple opportunities to get out of his contract with the Bulls. But he decided to continue. And so I think we’ll see what jobs open up.”

That’s just who he is. He is not a person who chases the exit when things get uncomfortable. He waited for the right moment, and now that he’s free, teams around the league will be lining up.

When asked specifically what jobs he considered realistically suitable, Charania was measured. The three current openings, Chicago, Milwaukee and New Orleans, are not where he sees Donovan landing. More interesting scenarios come later.

“Right now, it’s Chicago, it’s Milwaukee, it’s New Orleans. I don’t see him getting into these jobs. But we’ll see what happens around the league, like what happens in New York, what happens in Orlando.”

New York and Orlando are two very different situations. The Knicks are in the midst of a playoff race with Mike Brown on the hot seat. The Magic have Jamahl Mosley, but his future isn’t guaranteed either. Both are worth watching as the playoffs progress.

And through it all, Charania was clear about one thing. Donovan didn’t leave Chicago because something better was already waiting.

“Many other circumstances could arise this year. So I don’t think he’s made a decision, or at least I know he hasn’t already made a decision based on the job he’s been offered.”

Donovan spent five seasons in Oklahoma City, making the playoffs every year, winning two national championships at Florida and last September he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Wherever he lands, the job will be better for him.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Thomas Frank’s agent says his client is enjoying life with his family and friends since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in February.

Spurs parted ways with Anze Postecoglou in June 2025, days after helping them win the Europa League.

The Premier League team appointed the Dane as his successor, but things did not work out.

Two months ago, Tottenham sent Frank out and brought in Igor Tudor. The latter has also left the club, and Roberto De Zerbi took over from him on 31 March.

Frank managed 38 matches during his tenure at the north London club. His record with them is as follows:

• Match: 38
• Win: 13
• Draw: 10
• Defeat: 15
• Goals scored: 62
• Target allowed: 54

Frank’s situation after his exit from Tottenham

Wednesday edition of spare magazine There’s a report on what Thomas Frank has been up to since leaving Spurs.

He has not given any interviews or appeared on podcasts or any shows to discuss his exit from Tottenham Hotspur.

The newspaper points out that it is common for managers to speak out after leaving a club and cites the exits of Frederik Birk and Jakob Nystrup from Brøndby IF and FC Copenhagen respectively earlier this season as examples.

Frank’s silence is ‘somewhat unusual’ as he has already declined four requests from Ekstra Bladet for an interview.

He also contacted the north London club to find out if there is a clause that prevents the 52-year-old from speaking about Tottenham for a specific period. However, there was no response.

The newspaper also contacted his agent Alan Bach regarding Frank’s current condition and lack of interviews.

Responding to that he said: “He’s going to get some rest and meet friends and family. There’s still a little time left for interviews.”

“He is enjoying this time with his family and friends. He has decided to give up alcohol and relax.”

Spurs have not improved since Frank’s departure

last month, Danish press reported Still a worrying issue at Tottenham Hotspur after Frank’s exit.

Spurs now sit 18th in the table and Roberto De Zerbi has six matches to avoid relegation.

Formula 1’s 2026 energy management reforms have a tight deadline – and the clock is ticking. Three races. Two canceled Grands Prix. One driver is threatening to walk away from the sport he has dominated for half a decade. The big new era is not going according to plan.

The FIA ​​confirmed last week what most of the paddock already knew – the 2026 rules need to be worked on. Following the first round of meetings on 9 April, the governing body issued a statement acknowledging what it diplomatically called “a commitment to make changes to certain aspects of the rules in the field of energy management”. Two further meetings are scheduled on 15 and 16 April, before a high-stakes vote on 20 April, where team principals, FIA officials and Formula 1 management will determine what, if anything, changes will be made ahead of the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May.

What happens in that room matters a lot.

Problem in layman’s terms

Start with the basics. The 2026 power unit regulations shifted the power balance in these cars to approximately 50-50 between internal combustion engines and battery-electric power. The old MGU-H – the component that used exhaust energy and kept the battery running at high speeds – is gone. It has been replaced by a much more powerful electric motor and much more complex maneuvering.

Since teams cannot produce energy as before, drivers must now create their own opportunities to recharge the batteries. On straight lines, in the braking zone, wherever they can get a moment. The problem is that cars that do this look to anyone looking at them as if they are randomly losing speed for no reason. Super clipping, when the energy management system draws power while the driver still has the throttle pinned, is as strange as it sounds.

Charles Leclerc called it “Mario Kart”. Max Verstappen went further, calling it “Formula E on steroids”. Lewis Hamilton, whose credits stand out, says the racing is the best he has experienced in the last 20 years. Hamilton isn’t wrong about Sunday’s race. He is not entirely correct about the qualifying.

Qualification has been the most visible casualty. To manage the battery reserve the cars have to be lifted and parked. They cannot move around high-speed turns like they did before. Drivers are openly dissatisfied with the amount of energy-saving and energy-harvesting tactics required in qualifying the new cars – lifting and coasting, downshifting on the straights, super clipping. An unintended consequence is that they no longer push in high-speed corners. For anyone who grew up watching Schumacher and Senna pass Suzuka’s 130R, watching an F1 car slow down before a corner that it used to take without lifting is truly disturbing.

Bearman’s accident made it a safety issue

In Suzuka the abstract became very concrete.

Oliver Bearman’s Haas was perfectly positioned when Franco Colapinto’s Alpine, ahead of him, went into crop mode in mid-corner. When Colapinto’s Alpine touched that limit midway through the corner, Bearman faced a car that had effectively dropped anchor on the racing line. “It was a huge overspeed, 50km/h, which is real, you know, it’s a part of these new rules and I think we have to get used to it,” Bearman said.

He left with a badly injured knee. The impact was 50G. it could be worse.

Verstappen did not say anything about the reason.

“Basically, one guy is stuck completely without power, and then the other one uses mushroom mode. It could be a difference of 50-60 kilometers. Really big.”

GPDA President Alex Wurz called for immediate software-level intervention.

“From a safety point of view, we should simply prevent sudden increases in power output at top speed,” he said. “This will require software that is the same for all teams.”

McLaren’s Andrea Stella had been warning for weeks before Bearman hit the wall that this exact scenario was coming. Haas boss Ayao Komatsu said immediately after the accident: “We can’t ignore it.” They won’t be able to.

What F1 rule changes are really on the table

The April meetings are Formula 1’s best attempt to push for meaningful energy management reforms for 2026 before the season goes away entirely.

The most straightforward solution: Increase how much power can be produced during super clipping. Right now, drivers are limited to 250kW when doing this, with 350kW available from lift and coast. If super clipping were increased to the same 350kW limit as Lift and Coast, it would become the preferred route, at least reducing the prevalence of Lift and Coast.

There is also a specific solution to qualify the under discussion, even if it seems counterintuitive. Strict recharge limits are also on the table. Qualifying currently allows nine megajoules of energy recovery per lap. Suzuka was dialed back to 8MJ at the last minute. Some discussions have centered on reducing it to 6 MJ, which would cost lap times but eliminate the frantic energy management scramble that is turning qualifying into a math problem.

Active aero zones are also under discussion. Adjusting where and when Straight Mode can be activated will reduce the speed difference that makes Suzuka dangerous.

What may not be coming yet is any change to the basic 50-50 power split. This is a hardware conversation that engine manufacturers (notably Audi and Honda) who have built their power units around the current regulations will aggressively oppose. Any change in that range is discussion for 2027 at the earliest.

verstappen variable

None of this happens in a vacuum. There is no negligible chance that Max Verstappen will leave Formula 1 in the near future – and Red Bull’s collapse is not the main reason. The four-time world champion has been one of the most vocal critics of F1’s new rules, particularly energy management, and he has made it clear he is not having fun right now.

We’ve written about this before – there is real merit in the criticism, even if Verstappen is the wrong messenger for it, and the contract clause that could have let him leave Red Bull altogether has not gone away. The April 20 vote is as much a technicality as it is a Verstappen retention decision, whether Formula 1 wants to frame it that way or not.

Helmut Marko, who is now a Red Bull Ring ambassador rather than the man running Red Bull’s driver program, put it clearly this week. “The current rules are overly focused on energy management – ​​this only works in conjunction with software engineers. The driver has been deprived of his key role.”

Hamilton admitted that he did not expect much from these meetings, as drivers often feel that they are not heard enough in regulatory discussions. “I hope they make big changes. We drivers don’t have a say and we don’t have any power.”

That quote from the seven-time world champion – the one who praised racing more eloquently than anyone – is one the Formula 1 leadership should consider ahead of April 20.

Good news (yes, there is some)

Formula 1 is not in freefall. Sunday’s racing has been really entertaining. There were 149 officially recorded overtaking moves in the first three Grand Prix races – significantly more than the 63 passes in the previous year’s Melbourne, Shanghai and Suzuka competitions. The race day action is real. The problem is that qualifying — the part that determines what fans watch on Sunday, the part that decides who starts where, the part that used to be appointment television — has become a chore.

Determine eligibility. Eliminate the closing-motion threat that put Bearman in the medical center. Let Sunday’s race breathe. This is the work.

The last date is the meeting of 20th April. The test is on May 3 in Miami. Formula 1 has faced difficult tasks in a short period of time. But the game will need the best rooms in that room, not the most cautious rooms.

Drivers telling you what’s broken. Suzuka’s data tells you what’s dangerous. the window is open.

use it.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

The New Jersey Devils’ alternate black jersey – known as the Jersey Jersey – has been officially retired.

They will have a new uniform next season as part of a league-wide initiative. Early indications are that there will be a black one, too, but that’s certainly still subject to change. It will be interesting to see what Fanatics cooks up.

In the Links, how the Devils sent the Jerseys away with a bang. Plus, Brendan Shanahan’s potential fits in with New Jersey.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils said goodbye to the black jerseys last night, sending off their black alternate uniforms with a win against the Ottawa Senators amid their home finale for the 2025-26 season.

📺 devil’s rink report:The Devils’ stance on management is still unclear. We know they are interested in some candidates. Brendan Shanahan is one of them. However, is he the right fit? Greg Wishinky sat down with me to break down the latest episode of Devils Rink Report.

Full episode here 👇🏼

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: Jamie Benn took a hard look at New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov over the weekend. That’s why JT Miller didn’t hesitate to take the gloves off with him.

Colorado hockey now: It would be a serious injury if the head coach is going to miss the remainder of the road trip. Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was hit in the face by the puck, knocking him out of commission briefly.

Florida hockey now: Has Sergei Bobrovsky played his last game with the Cats?

Athletic ($): I thought that was a really interesting thing from Pierre LeBrun. Apparently the Florida Panthers—winners of the last two Stanley Cups—will not make the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. So, who do they think could be the next person to take up Lord Stanley?

NYI Hockey Now: It really seemed like Matthew Schaefer and the New York Islanders had a playoff spot sealed for most of the season. However, they were officially eliminated from the playoffs last night after a poor month of hockey and a coaching change.

Philly hockey now: One of the teams that potentially stole a spot from the Isles? Philadelphia Flyers. Here’s how they’ll fare in the playoffs tonight.

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

Barcelona will have to open fresh talks to keep Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford after this season.

The England international had no future at Old Trafford since the start of 2025. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.

Last summer, Manchester United allowed the forward to join Barcelona on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy.

The purchase clause is €30m and Barça’s sporting director Deco is already confirmed in February about the option of making his stay permanent.

At that time he said: “No, it’s a loan, and we have the option to buy.”

However, the La Liga side’s official did not mention the deadline or deadline for activating the clause.

Latest twist in Manchester United’s future

to be a chain‘QT’Hi Juges has shared the latest information on Barcelona’s stance and purchase clause on Marcus Rashford.

The Catalan club had until 31 March to inform Manchester United that they wished to exercise the €30m buyout clause. However, the deadline has passed, and he did not inform the Red Devils of his desire to buy him until yesterday.

The refreshing twist opens up a new vista. Hansi Flick’s team will now have to open fresh talks with the English club if they want to extend the 27-year-old’s stay.

The Premier League side could set a new price, while the Spanish giants do not intend to attend the auction.

The latter plans to extend his loan for another season while Michael Carrick’s side are not in favour. Therefore, Rashford’s stay at Barcelona beyond this season seems ‘very complicated’.

He has not scored a goal or assisted since January and his performances towards the end of the season could be crucial to his future.

Q.T’Hi Jugs concluded his report by saying: ‘Today, the feeling that is emerging is that the options for Rashford’s continuation are closer to no than yes. There are more doubts than certainties and with one determining factor: the economy. In that sense, in optimistic terms, Rashford would not be a priority right now.’

Rashford could return to Manchester United

At the moment, this claim has not been supported by any other Spanish publication. If Marcus Rashford returns to Old Trafford, the Red Devils will have to make a decision on his future.

There should be more clarity on his long-term stay at Barcelona in the coming weeks. If not, he may have to find another club if Manchester United do not include him in their plans.

Former Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has admitted he knew he was done for Everton when he signed Jordan Pickford.

This happened despite the confidence of manager Ronald Koeman at the time.

Stekelenburg Speaking on the Football According Podcast About Ajax and his experiences at Goodison Park.

ronald koeman faith

The goalkeeper initially moved to England with Fulham, but after playing actively during his first season his opportunities at Craven Cottage became limited.

He spent the second two years of his deal on loan before joining Everton for an undisclosed fee to reunite with former manager Ronald Koeman.

He was at Southampton and signed Maarten Stekelenberg on loan last season. This led to a relationship which Koeman was keen to continue at Everton.

Stekelenburg explained of that loan, “Their first-choice goalkeeper had a very serious knee injury.”

“He asked if I wanted to come and told me I would play every game until he was fit again. I did that, and I played 22 or 23 games in the Premier League before he was fit again.”

everton promise

That bond led to a promise; The pair will remain together in the summer, no matter where Koeman is.

“My relationship with Ronald was always very good,” he says.

“He then said: If I leave, I’ll take you with me. If I stay – I was on loan there – I’ll sign you permanently. He went to Everton, and I went with him.

“Sometimes you need managers in your career who help you. I signed a contract with Everton and played almost every game in the first year.”

jordan pickford arrival

However, football moves fast, and Everton’s ownership was moving quickly at the time. The club invested heavily in a new, long-term goalkeeper in 2017, signing Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for €28.5m.

Maarten Stekelenberg immediately understood the implications of that move.

“You’re working with the owners there, and they bought Jordan Pickford, England’s biggest goalkeeping talent at the time, for a massive £40 million. Then you know what’s going to happen.”

Fortunately for Everton, it proved to be a smart investment. Pickford has proven to be one of the best In the Premier League, most Everton fans were comfortable accepting that he had kept them in England’s top flight.

Perhaps that will soften the blow somewhat for Stekelenberg, who doesn’t seem to have any outward unhappiness about how things turned out anyway.

Former Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has admitted he knew he was done for Everton when he signed Jordan Pickford.

This happened despite the confidence of manager Ronald Koeman at the time.

Stekelenburg Speaking on the Football According Podcast About Ajax and his experiences at Goodison Park.

ronald koeman faith

The goalkeeper initially moved to England with Fulham, but after playing actively during his first season his opportunities at Craven Cottage became limited.

He spent the second two years of his deal on loan before joining Everton for an undisclosed fee to reunite with former manager Ronald Koeman.

He was at Southampton and signed Maarten Stekelenberg on loan last season. This led to a relationship which Koeman was keen to continue at Everton.

Stekelenburg explained of that loan, “Their first-choice goalkeeper had a very serious knee injury.”

“He asked if I wanted to come and told me I would play every game until he was fit again. I did that, and I played 22 or 23 games in the Premier League before he was fit again.”

everton promise

That bond led to a promise; The pair will remain together in the summer, no matter where Koeman is.

“My relationship with Ronald was always very good,” he says.

“He then said: If I leave, I’ll take you with me. If I stay – I was on loan there – I’ll sign you permanently. He went to Everton, and I went with him.

“Sometimes you need managers in your career who help you. I signed a contract with Everton and played almost every game in the first year.”

jordan pickford arrival

However, football moves fast, and Everton’s ownership was moving quickly at the time. The club invested heavily in a new, long-term goalkeeper in 2017, signing Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for €28.5m.

Maarten Stekelenberg immediately understood the implications of that move.

“You’re working with the owners there, and they bought Jordan Pickford, England’s biggest goalkeeping talent at the time, for a massive £40 million. Then you know what’s going to happen.”

Fortunately for Everton, it proved to be a smart investment. Pickford has proven to be one of the best In the Premier League, most Everton fans were comfortable accepting that he had kept them in England’s top flight.

Perhaps that will soften the blow somewhat for Stekelenberg, who doesn’t seem to have any outward unhappiness about how things turned out anyway.

The New York Sirens are trying to clinch their first postseason berth in franchise history – but they will have to do so without one of their key offensive contributors. Third-year forward Taylor Girard will go on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season, the Sirens announced Wednesday morning.

Midway through the second period of New York’s TakeOver Tour matchup in Denver on Sunday, Girard attempted to deliver a hit on Minnesota Frost forward Britta Curl-Salem. Instead, the toe of his right foot caught the ice awkwardly, causing his knee to buckle. Girard collapsed in pain and immediately grabbed her right knee. He was taken out of the snow on a stretcher.

The Sirens lost to Minnesota 4–3 despite an inspired third period effort. New York has lost six of its last seven games (1-0-2-4) and sits in sixth place overall with 27 points (8-0-3-9) – four behind the PWHL’s final playoff spot.

The more significant loss, however, is that of Girard. The 27-year-old was having the best season of his career, scoring seven goals in 17 games. Kristina Kaltunkova, New York’s No. 1 overall pick in 2025, is the only Siren with more (11). Girard is 10th in league scoring after registering only five goals in 46 games in his first two PWHL seasons.

This marks Girard’s second season-ending knee injury since 2024. As a member of the Boston Fleet, he suffered a serious left knee injury on April 27, 2024, during the final game of the regular season; As a result she missed Boston’s race in Game 5 of the Walter Cup Finals. Girard has yet to appear in a post-season game during his three-year PWHL career.

New York’s troubles have been compounded by an upper-body injury to star rookie center Casey O’Brien. The Sirens listed O’Brien as day-to-day, but he did not travel with the team to Denver for Sunday’s match against Frost.

What’s next for Sirens after Girard’s season-ending injury?

The Sirens include former Scepters forward Claire DeGeorge

New York signed 26-year-old forward Claire DeGeorge to a standard player deal on Wednesday after she was released by the Toronto Raptors. Sceptres and Siren reportedly discussed a trade on Tuesday, but no deal was reached.

With Girard sidelined and O’Brien’s status uncertain, DeGeorge has added much-needed depth to New York’s forward group. The Sirens have no forwards on their reserve roster, leaving them with only 12 active forwards. That includes O’Brien, who remains day-to-day after taking a heavy hit from Ottawa Charge forward Kateryna Mrazova on March 8.

DeGeorge was not added to the active roster. Instead, the Sirens signed reserve defender Nicole Valario to a 10-day standard player deal to fill the open spot. Barring another move, New York will field just 11 forwards on Wednesday against the Vancouver GoldenEyes with O’Brien unavailable.

DeGeorge played a limited role with the Sceptres this season, appearing in 17 games as a fourth-line winger or extra skater. His 2:23 average time on ice (ATOI) ranks second behind any PWHL skater with at least five games played in 2025–26. He scored a season-high 9:57 in Toronto’s 2-0 win over Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

He saw a larger fourth-line role last season with the Montreal Victoire, averaging 8:32 in 26 games. With the 2024 Walter Cup champion Frost, DeGeorge averaged over 10 minutes per game in 23 regular season contests and 10 playoff games.

DeGeorge will never replace Girard’s scoring touch. The Alaska native has not recorded a point yet this season; He has no goals and three assists in 66 career PWHL games. But despite his limited offensive range, DeGeorge is a capable pro-level fourth-liner, with a tall 5-foot-11 frame and the ability to play center.

This gives the Sirens some insurance in their forward group and should not stop general manager Pascal Doust from adding another addition before the PWHL roster freeze on March 31.

Siren can detect SDHL player pool

DeGeorge helps the Sirens’ bottom six, but the move does little to fill the offensive void left by Girard’s injury. If Doust wants to add a more impactful scoring threat, he may have to look abroad.

The Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL) – widely considered the top professional women’s league in Europe – features several former PWHL skaters who will be eligible to sign immediately. As the SDHL playoffs continue, PWHL free agents from eliminated teams become potential targets.

Lulia lost in the semi-finals on Monday. Its roster includes a handful of PWHL talent – ​​most notably former Charge forward Akane Shiga. Shiga scored two goals in 23 games with Ottawa in 2024 and finished seventh in the SDHL with 38 points (12 goals, 26 points) this season.

This is especially noteworthy as a handful of Lulea players are PWHL free agents and are now eligible to sign a PWHL contract if interested.

Most notably: Nadia Mativi, Akane Shiga, Sarah Bujold, Cameron Sikich.

If a team needs help on D, I’ll call Matthew. https://t.co/8wr3XUNAmn

– Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) 16 March 2026

If SDE is removed before the roster freeze there may be some other interesting names available. SDE trails Frölunda 2-1 in the best-of-five semifinal series, with Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday.

SDE’s roster includes former Victoire forward Gabrielle David and former Sceptres forward Samantha Cogan. David is second in the SDHL in scoring with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists); He tallied two goals and six points in 26 PWHL games, most recently appearing in 2024–25. Kogan is fifth in the SDHL with 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) after scoring two goals with Toronto in 2024.

It’s unlikely that any of the above will match Girard’s scoring pace, but true needle-movers are hard to find on the open market at the end of the season. If Doust wants to take the Flyer further, SDHL may be his best option.

Adding a player would require the Sirens to remove someone from their active roster. New York is currently using two of its three reserved roster spots.

Do the Sirens have enough aggression for a playoff push?

In all likelihood, the Lions will need to replace Girard’s scoring inside. Whether they have the scoring depth to do that is another question.

New York’s rookies have largely powered an offense that ranks fifth in the entire league in goals per game. Kaltounkova has a share of the PWHL lead in goals; Overall, first-year skaters scored 23 of New York’s 47 goals.

Star forward Sarah Fillear hasn’t enjoyed the same puck luck in 2025-26 after scoring 13 goals and 29 points in a stellar rookie campaign last season. With 10 games left in the regular season, Fillioner has three goals and a 4.7 shooting percentage.

Girard helped lead the Impact forward from 2024-25, joining Alex Carpenter, AB Roque and Jesse Aldridge – all of whom landed on different teams in the 2025 offseason. But with Girard’s season-ending injury and a banged-up O’Brien, New York is lacking some offensive punch, especially at the bottom of the lineup.

Without increased production from players like Patin Lewis, Kristin O’Neal and Fillioner, New York may find it difficult to keep up with Ottawa’s dangerous attack and surging Sceptres team.

Lou Orlando is an alumnus of Fordham University, where he covered the New York Rangers for three seasons… More about Lou Orlando

Arsenal have set their sights on bringing RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba to the Premier League this summer.

This is according to a reliable French newspaper TeamWho cover Arsenal’s interest in a summer transfer and their stance on the centre-back.

The France international progressed through the ranks of Lyon’s academy. He spent two years with the Ligue 1 side’s first team before leaving for Leipzig in August 2023.

He soon cemented his place in the Bundesliga team and made regular appearances when available for selection.

The defender has made 95 appearances for Leipzig in all competitions, 23 of which have come this season.

Arsenal official chased Lukeba

Last month, the Gunners sent a scout to Germany to watch Castello Lukeba live in action against Borussia Dortmund. The match ended in a 2–2 draw and the left-footed defender played the full 90 minutes.

It appears that Arsenal officials have gathered positive reports about the Frenchman. This would have convinced Mikel Arteta’s side to make the necessary moves to try to bring him to the Emirates in the summer.

L’Equipe’s headline suggests the north London club are ‘working’ on signing Lukeba. The newspaper reports that the Gunners have started discussions. It has not been made clear whether contact was made with his agent in Leipzig or both.

The Frenchman is aiming for a summer exit

As things stand, Arsenal have not submitted any offer to the player or his club.

Lukeba is expected to leave the German club after this season and the Premier League and La Liga are his preferred destinations.

That would delight Arsenal, provided they decide to make a further move to secure his services.

Last year, Sports Witness disseminated claims From France that he has a €90m release clause. The price has been reduced as Leipzig are now expected to collect between €60-70m for Leukeba in the next window. transfer market He is now worth €45 million.

Our Opinion: Lukeba’s interest could be a clear sign

Arteta now has William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Cristian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie as his four centre-backs.

However, the manager has used the Ecuadorian primarily as a left-back rather than in the center of defence.

The interest could be an indication that he would replace Hincapie in the centre-back position. If that happens, the South American will move into the left-back slot.

Christian Norgaard has spoken this week about Mikel Arteta wanting to change his position from a midfielder to a defender, suggesting the manager feels there is a gap there.

L’Équipe is a reliable French newspaper, but it is worth considering where they obtained this information. Castello Luceba was born in Lyon and is represented by BS Group International, which has clients almost exclusively from France.

Given Arsenal’s potential need, this could be an attempt to link a client to him. The coming months will reveal what the Gunners’ true intentions are.

🇩🇰Christian Nørgaard | Arteta meeting on status change

✅ Everyone is being taken positively by the midfielder
✈️Denmark manager also traveled to join
💬 Arsenal players explain what happened + their stancehttps://t.co/2WdAhZwNzz #afc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 10 March 2026