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Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has assembled a young and exciting 3rd line centered by rookie Fraser Minten for Sunday's clash with the Utah Hockey Club.
After a fairly light practice schedule in recent days, the Leafs returned to practice on Saturday to brush up their skills ahead of a Sunday game against Utah.
Yesterday, the team announced that they had signed Alex Nylander to a one-year NHL contract worth $775K. On Saturday, he joined the Leafs on the ice for his first official practice as a Maple Leaf.
While fans were hoping that Berube would unite William Nylander with his brother on a line, the Leafs' head coach opted to go in a different direction, as Alex Nylander dawned a blue practice jersey and William wore his usual white jersey, signifying that the plan is to have them play separate from one another.
That being said, Berube is being smart and reunited Alex with Marlies linemates Nikita Grebenkin and Fraser Minten at practice. The trio has skated together since Minten's return from a high-ankle sprain, which means there's some pre-existing chemistry there for the line to tap into.
Berube is also giving Nicholas Robertson an opportunity in the top-six amid all of the injuries to the forward group as Robertson skated on a line with Pontus Holmberg and William Nylander.
The fourth line remained intact with Connor Dewar taking over down the middle for Steven Lorentz, while the top line of Bobby McMann, John Tavares and Mitch Marner remained together as well.
On the back end, Oliver Ekman-Larsson returned to practice after missing Friday's skate with an illness and slotted back in alongside Morgan Rielly. It would appear that Simon Benoit will remain in the lineup as he skated again with Conor Timmins, meaning that Jani Hakanpaa will likely be a scratch for the second consecutive game.
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Golden Knights to sign star center to eight-year extension
The Vegas Golden Knights are expected to sign star center Jack Eichel to an eight-year, $108M contract extension, per the Vegas Review-Journal’s Danny Webster. The move was first reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger. Weber adds that the deal is believed to carry a $13.5M cap hit. On a day when the Winnipeg Jets extended star winger Kyle Connor, the Golden Knights have still found a way to steal the show. Eichel’s extension was long anticipated, both for his impact on the Golden Knights’ roster and the intricacies of how Vegas would fit the deal in alongside the $12M cap hit of Mitch Marner. That question has now been answered, with Vegas locking up the tandem through the next eight seasons for $25.5M each season. Landing a max-term extension with Eichel before he has a chance to play alongside 100-point scorer Marner could prove lucrative for the Golden Knights. Eichel had a career year last season, setting career-highs with 94 points and a plus-32 in 77 games. It was a major leap over the 31 goals and 68 points that Eichel managed in 63 games of the 2023-24 season — and the 66 points he scored in 67 games of the 2022-23 campaign. It seems the top center simply needed to ease into his starring role in Vegas after going through a true saga with the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo drafted Eichel second overall in 2015, properly dubbing him second-fiddle to Connor McDavid’s historic draft season. Despite that seat, Eichel boasted plenty of reason for excitement in his own right and seemed to single-handedly will Boston University to a National Championship loss in his draft year. He brought that team-leading drive straight into the NHL, marked by 24 goals and 56 points in 81 games of the 2015-16 season. That remains the most a Sabres rookie has scored since the 1980s. Even better, Eichel matched it in fewer games of his sophomore season, with 24 goals and 57 points in 61 games. But that quickly became Eichel’s M.O. He was oft-injured, but proved to be the undeniable star of Buffalo’s lineup when healthy. He reached at least 25 goals in each of his next three seasons in Buffalo, and even showed his strength with 82 points in 77 games of the 2018-19 season, when the Sabres collectively only won 33 games. The tension between a struggling club and its productive star reached a peak as the 2020s rolled around — and a breaking point when the two sides couldn’t agree on how Eichel should handle an unprecedented shoulder surgery in 2021. Sabres traded Jack Eichel to Golden Knights in 2021 After multiple bouts back and forth and a seemingly endless run of trade rumors, Buffalo decided to trade Eichel to Vegas in November 2021. In return, the Sabres received Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, the draft pick used on Noah Ostlund (2022: 1-16) and a second-round pick traded to Minnesota. All three players remain with Buffalo. Meanwhile, Eichel quickly received the surgery he had preferred upon arriving in Vegas. His 2021-22 campaign was limited to 34 games due to injury, but he recovered in time for the 2022-23 season. Routine injury still marred his year, but he stayed healthy long enough to lead Vegas on a run to the Stanley Cup in 2023. He led the Golden Knights and the postseason in scoring with a dazzling 26 points in 22 games — though the Conn Smythe trophy would go to his goal-scoring teammate Jonathan Marchessault. Regardless, Eichel’s push towards a Cup win showed the Golden Knights, and the hockey world, that he had the grit to be the star center on an NHL champion. He has reaffirmed that thought with 17 points in 18 playoff games since Vegas lifted the Cup. Extension should give Jack Eichel confidence boost With this move, Vegas will place a strong bet on Eichel’s ability to hang onto that role through his 30s. More importantly, they’ll give him a big boost of confidence as he heads into his age-29 season. Eichel has never played alongside a 100-point scorer, nor broken that ceiling himself, but he’ll get his first chance this season. Like Eichel, Marner struggled to crack the century mark for multiple seasons, recording at least 85 points three times between 2021 and 2024. He even reached 99 points in 2022-23. But it wasn’t until last season, when he scored 27 goals and 102 points in 81 games, that Marner was finally able to achieve the feat. In a rare shift, he has now changed teams following a career year and will look to keep the good times rolling on a recent Cup winner. The top of Vegas’ offense is truly a stacked group, featuring Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson, Pavel Dorofeyev and Ivan Barbashev to support Eichel and Marner. The heights of the lineup seem hard to place, and if all goes well, Vegas has ensured they can keep the band together with a pair of long-term extensions for their two stars.
North Carolina reportedly considering nuclear option with Bill Belichick, and that's justified
Jayden Daniels takes firm stance on Dan Quinn's decision about elephant in the room ahead of Commanders and Bears rematch
The Washington Commanders are back home to take on the Chicago Bears in an anticipated rematch on Monday Night Football. This game had everything you could ask for last season, between the buildup of the number one and number two overall picks in the draft, and the most chaotic finish of the year. That was last year, though, and the Commanders know they can't reflect on the past as they prepare for this game. Jayden Daniels' mindset has always been one of his biggest strengths, and he showed it again when he agreed with head coach Dan Quinn's comments on the rematch. No reason to hang onto the Hail Mary The showdown between the Commanders and Bears last season had the biggest surprise ending of the season, and it was a massive momentum shift for both teams. The Commanders went on to make a run through the playoffs, while the Bears struggled the rest of the season and made major changes after the year ended. It's very easy to hold onto such an emotional moment as a football player, especially for Daniels, who threw the pass, but he's moved on from it and won't reflect on it anymore, because there's no reason to bring it into the rematch. "I just left that in last year. It speaks for itself," Daniels said. "Like, I mean, that Hail Mary ain't gonna help us win a game on Monday. So what's the point?" Dan Quinn won't bring it up with the team Quinn is on the same page with his quarterback, and the Hail Mary isn't even a topic that has been brought up to the team. "It's last year's story. You know?" Quinn said. "Like, it was awesome. We loved it, but like, it doesn't apply to this week's game at all unless we get into that exact scenario and that exact situation. So then we can talk about it, but until then, like we have a lot of stuff to get better at and work on, to get ready." The Commanders are facing a different Bears team that is coming off a bye week, while the Commanders are looking to bring the momentum from last week's win, and not the Hail Mary finish from the previous season. Every NFC game matters when it comes to the playoffs, so you can't afford to let this one slip away at home.
Officiating Crew For Steelers-Browns Game Gives 1 Team Clear Advantage
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dominant against the Cleveland Browns under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. However, an AFC North contest coming off a bye week is never something Steelers fans overlook. With the Browns sitting at 1-4 and the Steelers at 3-1, a victory in this matchup is pivotal for Pittsburgh to start AFC North play on the right foot. The Steelers are looking to carry momentum from a strong start to the season, and continuing their winning ways against a divisional rival would set a positive tone for the months ahead. The Browns will be starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will be making just his second-ever NFL start. The Steelers' defense will look to make life extremely difficult for the rookie on Sunday. One area that is always important in these matchups is the officiating crew. According to NFL Ref Stats, the Steelers appear to have a significant advantage in this contest against the Browns. Historically, Pittsburgh has fared well under certain officiating crews, particularly those with tendencies that favor defensive schemes and physical play at the line of scrimmage. This statistical edge may not guarantee a win, but it certainly provides a subtle advantage that could tip critical calls in Pittsburgh’s favor during a tightly contested game. Beyond the numbers, the Steelers will need to execute clean football on both sides of the ball. Protecting the quarterback, establishing the run, and maintaining discipline on defense will be key to neutralizing Cleveland’s biggest playmakers. While the Browns are struggling this season, divisional games often bring out unexpected performances, making preparation and focus essential. If Pittsburgh can combine their historical dominance, officiating edge, and disciplined execution, they have a strong chance to assert control early in AFC North play and keep their division hopes alive. Ron Torbert will serve as the officiating head for this contest, and the numbers clearly favor the Steelers. In games Torbert has officiated, Pittsburgh has gone an impressive 10-1, showing a consistent trend of success under his oversight. Even more striking, the Steelers are a perfect 8-0 at home in games where Torbert is the head referee, highlighting a significant home-field advantage when he is on the crew. Steelers Should Have Edge In Week 6 Against Browns Expect the officials to focus heavily on offensive penalties, as Torbert has a reputation for calling more infractions on the offense than the defense. According to NFL Ref Stats, he assesses 52.5% of all penalties against the offense, ranking fourth in the league for offensive penalties per game. This suggests that both teams will need to maintain discipline, but it could particularly benefit Pittsburgh, a team built around physical play and disciplined execution. For the Steelers, this officiating angle could be an advantage they can capitalize on, especially early in the game. By staying sharp and minimizing mistakes, Pittsburgh can force Cleveland into difficult situations while maintaining momentum. With Torbert on the field, the historical trends and penalty tendencies both point to a scenario where the Steelers have an extra edge in controlling the pace and flow of this crucial AFC North matchup. The Steelers sit as -200 favorites in this contest and it seems like a lot is on their side.
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Cowboys coach makes it sound like personnel change some were expecting won't happen ahead of Week 6
The Dallas Cowboys are trending toward getting starting left tackle Tyler Guyton back for Week 6's matchup versus the Carolina Panthers. According to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Guyton is "finishing up" the concussion protocol and "hopefully, he'll be out of it shortly." However, after a standout performance from backup tackle Nate Thomas, it was unclear how secured Guyton's starting job protecting Dak Prescott's blindside. Some fans and even media members and content creators were expecting Thomas to keep the job over the former first-round. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer dissipated any doubts on Wednesday. "I'm a little bit old school, I don't really think you lose your job because of injury," Schottenheimer told reporters. "But it also doesn't guarantee that you're going to stay the full-time starter. It goes back to the whole mantra of 'compete everyday.' But when guys come back from injuries they're going to take their spot back." Though Schottenheimer was responding to a question that wasn't specifically about Guyton, the message was clear. Cowboys fans should expect Guyton back at left tackle when healthy, which could be as soon as next Sunday. Schottenheimer mentioned backups could earn increased playing time if they stand out while filling in for someone, but that's hard to do at offensive line. Continuity in the trenches is one of the most important aspects to an offensive line's success and rotating offensive tackles could do more harm than good. But does that mean Thomas' quality start meant nothing? Not quite. Could Nate Thomas compete for playing time moving forward? There's no question Thomas played a good game on Sunday and even in Week 4, when he handled Micah Parsons one-on-one more than once. During the Jets win, he showed his athleticism run blocking for Javonte Williams, including leading the way on his 66-yard run. So even if Thomas won't take Guyton's spot for good, he's played well enough to put Guyton and Terence Steele on notice. If they don't play good, there's a good backup waiting for his name to be called. And here's the thing: Thomas' name was called even before Guyton's injury. In Week 4's tie to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys rotated Thomas in at right tackle, taking Steele's place even though the latter was healthy. Benching Guyton is tough because he's a first-round talent. Even if he hasn't been perfect so far, the Cowboys believe in his talent and upside. Plus, he's been playing better and better this year despite missing most of training camp due to a knee injury. But Steele? It's much more realistic to take his place. He's been a liability in pass protection. And yet, Steele could be a Top 3 run blocker on the team. What is clear is Thomas is making the Cowboys' coaching staff at least look at him and keep him in mind. I wouldn't be surprised if he winds up starting sooner rather than later. window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*');
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