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As the offer sheet drama comes to an end, the Edmonton Oilers will potentially have new faces on the roster. Coping with the loss of two young talents, the Oilers made some waves in the hockey world, picking up two young less expensive players to fill the holes left. Despite the drama created, many are excited about these new additions. Adding these potential teammates to the players signed in free agency, the 2024-25 Oilers could have a slightly new feel.
The Oilers have had quite an intense offseason. Looking offensively, they are expected to continue to run the top line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid, and Zach Hyman. But that’s where the familiarity ends. Rounding out the projected top six, a second line consisting of Jeff Skinner, Leon Draisaitl, and Viktor Arvidsson is expected. Draisaitl faces the challenges of two new wingers on his side.
As for the bottom six, much of it is still up in the air. Due to the fact forward, Evander Kane is rumored to undergo surgery, it’s not clear yet if he’ll be worked into the plans. It’s expected that the surgery would force him onto LTIR for a considerable amount of time. If accurate, the bottom six might be a mix of Vasily Podkolzin, Adam Henrique, and Corey Perry. Finishing the offensive side of things, Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, and Connor Brown are the expected fourth line. One of these names may be demoted to make salary cap room if necessary.
Another wrench — but a potentially positive one — in the projected bottom six is Matthew Savoie. He is a young prospect the Oilers picked up over the offseason that many fans want on the opening night roster. The Alberta-born center has only played one game in the NHL. Despite that fact, many believe Savoie could eventually replace Ryan as the fourth center.
What Will the Oilers’ Blue Line Look Like?
As for the back end, the losses of Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, and Phillip Broberg complicate a few things.
Luckily, the top pairing of Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard is expected to remain together. They were great last season and another year of the two working together should only improve their production.
Similarly, barring an upgrade before the opening of the regular season, Brett Kulak and Darnell Nurse are the projected second pairing. Many fans are excited that Nurse and Ceci will no longer be a pairing, but Kulak’s ability to step up in a top-four role will be tested.
As for the final pairing, there are a couple of options. Some predict a Josh Brown and Ty Emberson pairing. That said, Troy Stecher is another defenseman in the Oilers system who could be paired with Emberson. Additionally, with the extra cap space created over the last week, the Oilers have an opportunity to get a midseason defensive upgrade.
Even with all the new additions and changes to the Oilers’ roster, the projected lineups continue to suggest strong Cup-contesting abilities. Adding to the little flexibility the Oilers had financially, the Oilers’ mission for redemption is still within their sights. As the days remaining in this offseason dwindle down, the excitement to see these new line combinations in action grows.
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Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving takes first step toward solutions with honest assessment
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving took a good first step towards turning around the negative situation in which the franchise finds itself. Treliving held his quarterly news conference at Scotiabank Arena before Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Blues. "As we sit here today, we’re not where we want to be or where we envision to be," he initially said. "Obviously, we’ve underperformed to this point. And I take full responsibility. I’m in charge of the hockey department, and I put the people in place on the ice, off the ice. So, the responsibility lies with myself." Treliving recognized that it is not a problem that warrants simple solutions, and there is a lot of work to do. "There's a lot of areas that need to improve upon," Treliving said, "and my job is working with Craig [Berube], the coaching staff, and our players to get us back going and playing to a level that I believe we’re capable of playing." Bad Treliving's words are a start, but the Maple Leafs now need actions Treliving's public accountability was necessary and is the correct start to improve the situation. His words stabilize the situation by backing the coach in the middle of a five-game losing streak. It also manages the trade expectations. "The reality in the business is that you’re not trading your way out of problems," he said, making it clear that he will not sell the team's future for a quick fix. The following changes must be operational and measurable. Berube now has to redefine the team's defensive structure with straightforward rules of back pressure, DZ exits and coverages in the slot to reduce goals against and expected goals against per 60. It is also necessary to rebalance the new players' minutes, putting them in a position to succeed with teammates and situations where their profile works. They must evaluate specialized use on the second power play unit or PK according to real impact. Although he made it clear that it is not the definitive solution, Treliving will also have to be attentive to the market, looking for pieces with immediate defensive impact without mortgaging premium assets. The Maple Leafs must avoid panic moves and put tactical fit first.
Steelers work out two QBs amid Aaron Rodgers injury
With Aaron Rodgers dealing with a left wrist injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers worked out veteran quarterbacks Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai on Tuesday, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The Steelers currently have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and zero on their practice squad. Backup Mason Rudolph, and third-stringer Will Howard will both move up a spot on the depth chart for at least a week, leaving the Steelers without a third option should either of them get injured. Bean, 26, signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kansas in 2024. He did not make the 53-man roster, but stuck around on the practice squad for the entire season. He was waived during final roster cuts this year and did not draw practice squad interest from the Colts or any other team. Mordecai is also a 26-year-old who entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2024. Mordecai finished his college career at Wisconsin and signed with the 49ers last spring. He spent the season on San Francisco’s practice squad and was repeatedly cut and re-signed during training camp as the team balanced their other roster needs. He was waived due to injury a final time during roster cuts. The Steelers did not sign Bean or Mordecai, though that could be coming in the next few days as they continue to assess Rodgers’ wrist. They could also work out other available quarterbacks later this week.
Youth movement: Five new players who should be part of Team USA basketball's future
A veteran-heavy USA Basketball squad took home a gold medal last summer in Paris. But their two biggest stars won't be returning. LeBron James and Steph Curry made it clear on the newest episode of "Mind The Game," James' podcast, that they wouldn't be part of Team USA in 2028. That leaves two big pairs of shoes to fill. In addition, the oft-injured Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis are unlikely to be back, Kevin Durant will be 39 in the summer of 2028, Jrue Holiday will be 38 and the national team will get younger. Here are five new players who should be part of Team USA going forward. 1. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets There's always a spot on Team USA for a hard-nosed perimeter defender, and Amen Thompson is one of the toughest defenders in the NBA. He finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and has upped his assists to 5.2 per game, making him the ideal player to slide into Holiday's stopper/ball handler role. Plus, Thompson is still only 22, which means he has plenty of international basketball ahead of him. And if Team USA needs another elite defender, he's got a connection with one on the Detroit Pistons — his brother Ausar Thompson. The only danger is if the Thompson twins decide to play for Jamaica instead. 2. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham, 24, has experience with USA Basketball, winning a gold medal in 2019 at the FIBA U19 championships and leading the USA Select team to scrimmage upsets against the 2023 FIBA Cup team. He only turned down joining the main team because he was recovering from shin surgery. Now he's firmly established as an NBA star, averaging 27.5 points and 9.9 assists for the first-place Detroit Pistons. Not only is he scoring an distributing the ball at an elite level, Cunningham has excellent size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds for the more physical international game. 3. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Team USA needs a rim protector, and they'd love to have one who can stretch the floor like Chet Holmgren. The 23-year-old is shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range this season and 59.1 percent overall while anchoring the NBA's No. 1 defense. Holmgren may not be best suited to banging with some of the huge big men he'd face in the Olympics, like Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun, but the threat of his shooting can draw these big men out of the paint and create driving lanes. Plus, he has three years to bulk up before the Los Angeles Olympics. 4. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has turned into a legitimate three-point threat this season, sinking 1.7 threes per game, while remaining one of the NBA's best defenders. While Holmgren is more of a shot-blocker and rim protector, Evan Mobley, 24, has the speed and mobility to guard smaller players out on the perimeter, and the height and wingspan to bother big men. In addition, Mobley attended college at USC and high school in famed fight capital Temecula, so he'll be an excellent local choice. 5. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder Jalen Williams, 24, is a bulldog defender who showed he can also be an elite big-game scorer during the Thunder's run to the title. Team USA plays best when they can pressure opposing teams defensively, and Williams has been great with that approach for OKC. Honorable mentions Cooper Flagg (18), Dallas Mavericks Stephon Castle (21) and Dylan Harper (19), San Antonio Spurs Kon Knueppel (20), Charlotte Hornets Darryn Peterson (18), Kansas Jayhawks
Dallas Cowboys just got even better at a position they're already looking great at with latest roster move
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Kenny Clark found the perfect word to describe the team's defensive tackles during the win over the Las Vegas Raiders: Nasty. It's easy to see why. Clark, Quinnen Williams, and Osa Odighizuwa combined for three sacks and nine quarterback hits. They made plays against the run, too, with three combined tackles for loss and a lot more plays invisible in the eyes of the stat sheet but important nevertheless. Odighizuwa and Williams led the NFL in PFF defensive grades for all defensive tackles for Week 11. It wasn't only nasty, it was scary. And believe it or not, that position group for the Cowboys just got better on Tuesday. The team announced its activated Perrion Winfrey from its Injured Reserve. Winfrey was a preseason standout not expected to make the 53-man roster when he was signed. However, his strong play everywhere on the defensive line earned him a spot on the team, though an injury delayed his season debut until now. In Week 12, he is set to officially join one of the best defensive tackle rooms in the NFL. The Cowboys waived LB Damone Clark to open up a roster spot. Winfrey's activation poses first-world problem for the Cowboys With Winfrey's activation, the Cowboys have six defensive tackles on the 53-man roster, which is considered on the higher side in the NFL. On a 48-man gameday roster, it's difficult to use six spots on defensive tackles. For reference, Dallas has listed at least one defensive tackle as an inactive player every week this season—most times as a healthy scratch. Before it was either Jay Toia or Mazi Smith. Now, the Cowboys might be forced to place Toia—a seventh-round rookie—on the inactives list but he's the only true nose tackle on the team. Even on Monday, he logged 13 defensive snaps. The alternative could be to place Winfrey in the inactives while the room remains healthy. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has a tough decision to make. But anytime you're forced to choose because of having too many good players in one position, it's a first-world problem to have. 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'}}, '*'); This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Nov 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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