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Another week has passed, and it’s time for our Three Stars of the Week honors for the Ontario Reign, who went 2-0-0 in two games. Before we name the three stars, let’s quickly recap the last week’s two games for the Reign.
4-1 victory over Tucson
The Ontario reign surrendered the first goal but took control the rest of the way. Led by Charles Hudon and Jeff Malott, Ontario scored four unanswered goals, and Pheonix Copley stopped 21 of 22 shots for his fourth consecutive victory. Copley’s performance bumped his save percentage to .965 over his last five starts, a stretch that has seen him allow one goal or less in every start. Seven skaters recorded a point, with Malott and Hudon recording multi-point games.
4-3 OT victory over Calgary
The Reign found themselves behind the eight-ball in this one. They trailed 2-0 and 3-1 in the second period and had to claw their way back in this one to win in overtime. Erik Portillo made 17 saves on 20 shots, and ten different skaters earned a point, which was capped off by Francesco Pinelli’s overtime tally. The Reign handed Calgary their first loss of the season when leading after two periods of play.
Third star
Francesco Pinelli
Stat line: Two games played, one goal, zero assists, one point, +1 rating, four shots on goal
Francesco Pinelli, the man who capped off the comeback in Ontario’s overtime win in Calgary, is this week’s third star. Pinelli had only one shot on goal (and a shot off the post) in that game but made it count with his overtime-winning goal that went five-hole on Devin Cooley. Pinelli’s shot looked like it was intended to go glove side on Cooley, but it went five-hole instead because he fanned on it. Hey, it’s better to be lucky than good. Pinelli has 21 points in 45 games this season.
FRANKIE SAYS GAME OVER!
#ReignTrain I #ONTvsCGY pic.twitter.com/or0L5eWDdX
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 15, 2025
Second star
Jeff Malott
Stat line: Two games played, two goals, one assist, three points, +2 rating, two shots on goal
Jeff Malott is this week’s second star with three points. Malott started the week with two goals against Tucson to help propel Ontario to a commanding victory. In that game, Malott had two shots on goal, and both found the back of the net. He didn’t record a shot on goal in the Calgary game but recorded a primary assist on Charles Hudon’s game-tying goal late in the final frame as he drove wide, circled the net, and found Hudon in the soft area of the ice.
Malott has 40 points in 46 games and is third on the Reign in goals (16), assists (24) and points (40). He is currently on a five-game point streak and has recorded nine points (6 G, 3 A) in this stretch. Malott has a few milestones he could reach this week.
Here they are:
- One assist away from 100 in his AHL career.
- Two goals away from 100 in his AHL career.
- Three points away from 200 in his AHL career.
Huds & Malott are
IN!#ReignTrain I #TUCvsONT pic.twitter.com/wOGItGize1
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 13, 2025
Second goal of the night? Just another day at the office for Malott.
#ReignTrain I #TUCvsONT pic.twitter.com/1ozP9D2UoK
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 13, 2025
First star
Charles Hudon
Stat line: Two games played, two goals, two assists, +4 rating, six shots on goal
Another veteran made the list. Charles Hudon is this week’s first star, with four points in the two games. Like Malott, Hudon started the week with a multi-point effort against Tucson with a goal and two assists. All three points were primary points. With his dazzling performance, Hudon was named the game’s first star. Samuel Fagemo got hurt in this game in the first period and didn’t return. That prompted Marco Sturm to reunite Hudon, Malott, and Glenn Gawdin and the trio took off.
Hudon’s only point in the game against Calgary was a late third-period strike to tie the game at three as Malott found him in the soft area of the ice in front of Calgary’s net. Hudon is tied for the team lead with Gawdin with 42 points and is second in goals (17) and assists (25). He is on a six-game point streak with nine points (3 G, 6 A) in that span.
The 29-year-old needs two more goals for 200 in his AHL career.
Huds ties it up
#ReignTrain I #TUCvsONT pic.twitter.com/HsGpLQtQlL
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 13, 2025
Hu tied it up? HUDON TIED IT
#ReignTrain I #ONTvsCGY pic.twitter.com/o9n7X0TH1E
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 15, 2025
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TODAY'S BEST
Veteran center attempting NHL comeback
Free-agent center Adam Ruzicka turned to the KHL last season and had a solid showing in Russia with Spartak but notably hasn’t signed a new deal there yet. Spartak adviser Valeri Kamensky told Alexander Abustin of Sport-Express that the reason Ruzicka hasn’t re-signed yet is because he’s holding out hope to get another NHL opportunity. The 26-year-old was a fourth-round pick by Calgary back in 2017, going 109th overall. He spent parts of four seasons with the Flames before being claimed off waivers by Arizona in early 2024. However, a month later, Ruzicka and the Coyotes agreed on a mutual contract termination a month later, making him an unrestricted free agent. After another NHL chance didn’t materialize in short order, he ultimately signed with Spartak in late May 2024. Ruzicka was certainly productive in Russia, notching 26 goals and 19 assists in 65 regular-season games, good for fifth in team scoring. He was even better in the playoffs, picking up seven goals and five helpers in 12 postseason contests, making the most of his opportunity to play a more offensive role after being more of a depth player in the NHL. Over his four NHL seasons, Ruzicka has played in 117 games, picking up 14 goals and 26 assists. However, a good chunk of that production came in 2022-23 when he recorded 20 points in just 44 games with Calgary before his output tailed off the following year. Basically, he’s not too far removed from being a legitimate depth contributor at the top level. Kamensky acknowledged that discussions are underway with Ruzicka so if he doesn’t get another NHL look, he’ll simply re-sign. But, for now at least, it appears he’s hoping to get another chance at the top level first.
Kevin Love reportedly has preferred buyout destination
Kevin Love is eyeing a return to his roots. The five-time NBA All-Star big man Love has a preferred destination on the buyout market, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported on Tuesday. Love would like to end up in Los Angeles. Now 36 years old, Love spent the last two-and-a-half seasons with the Miami Heat. He averaged just 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds over 10.9 minutes per game in 2024-25 but still managed to shoot 35.8 percent from three on the year. Earlier this summer however, the Heat traded Love to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team blockbuster deal. Now Love, a 17-year NBA veteran, is pursuing a contract buyout from the rebuilding Jazz. Though he is a native of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Love played his college ball in Los Angeles at UCLA. He also has ties to both L.A. teams — he won an NBA championship with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and was also coached on that team by Tyronn Lue, who is now head coach of the L.A. Clippers. Both the Lakers and Clippers are currently sitting at 14 guaranteed contracts each. While they still have spots for two-way and Exhibit 10 players, that means the Lakers and Clippers are both down to their final open roster spot. The ex-rebounding leader Love still has some value, though probably more so as a jokester than as a contributing rotation piece. While Love clearly wants a homecoming to Los Angeles, he may have some convincing to do for either the Lakers or the Clippers to give him that final open roster spot.
Celtics’ Georges Niang Trade Wasn’t Just About Salary Dump
The Boston Celtics have made yet another curious offseason move, trading 32-year-old 3-point specialist Georges Niang and two second-round picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for RJ Luis Jr., an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract. On the surface, this trade was more or less a salary dump. While a rebuilding team, the Jazz are expected to absorb Niang’s 2024-25 salary ($8.2 million) in the trade exception they generated from shipping John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers. This reduced Boston’s luxury tax by $50 million, according Third Apron salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan. For their efforts, the Jazz not only got a pair of second-rounders but a veteran that can teach their young players the nuances of professionalism. Celtics’ Georges Niang Trade Wasn’t Just About Salary Dump Though the Celtics obviously wanted to reduce their bill, the deal wasn’t just about that. Boston genuinely wanted Luis, per ZAGSBLOG draft expert Adam Zagoria. With that in mind, he entered the 2025 NBA Draft out of St. John’s, he played his freshman season at local UMass. That season, he averaged 11.5 points per game on 45.5 percent from the field. He also earned 10 starts, averaging 15.5 points per game in those contests. As a junior in 2024-25, Luis exploded for 18.2 points per game. His season ended on a low note. In a nine-point loss to Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32, he went just 3-17 from the field, scoring nine points. Nonetheless, his body of work shouldn’t be overshadowed by the last sentence. Nor should the pedigree he enters the NBA with. In 2024-25, he was a Consensus All-American. His father, Reggie Charles, was a professional basketball player who spent 15 seasons overseas. For the last two seasons of his college career, he was coached by Rick Pitino. The Celtics undoubtedly have a complex history with their former head coach but there’s no denying his greatness at the collegiate level. What Can RJ Luis Jr. Bring To The Celtics? Flawed though he may be, Luis is a good get for Boston, especially on a two-way contract. With Jayson Tatum likely to miss at least the first half of 2025-26 after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics have a lot of minutes to fill in at forward. As a result, players like 2023 No. 38 pick Jordan Walsh and 2025 No. 28 pick Hugo Gonzalez have a real chance of barging into the rotation. In a vacuum, they’re both rotation-caliber forwards but they’re raw, particularly offensively. That being said, if they’re trying to step into Tatum’s shoes, their limitations at that end are problematic. Tatum’s one of the most dangerous scorers in the league, averaging 27.5 points per game over the past five seasons. Luis probably won’t explode onto the season looking like a perennial All-Star. Still, he’s a more masterful scorer than either Walsh or Gonzalez right now. In the open court, he’s exciting, like many athletic wings with his length (6-foot-7). Yet, he’s not refined to impacting the game on the break. In the halfcourt, he’s able to use his handle and footwork to create space whether in the drive or in the post. Indeed, utilizing his instincts and body control, he’s actually pretty nifty with the ball in his hands. He even follows up his own shot, leading to frequent putbacks. Though he doesn’t have elite efficiency in any area, he’s a multifaceted offensive player who also has a knack for playmaking, particularly with regard to pocket passes. To improve his efficiency, he should cut down on his off-the-dribble attempts due to his tendency to take tough jumpers. All the same, while Boston waits for Tatum to return, the 22-year-old could play an important role.
Brewers righty deserves consideration as dark-horse Cy Young candidate
The Milwaukee Brewers' trade with the Boston Red Sox early in the season flew under the radar. The Brewers acquired former top prospect Quinn Priester from the Red Sox, sending outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez to Boston on April 7. Pitching prospect John Holobetz was sent to the Red Sox on May 5 to complete the trade. Priester had been expected to be a top-of-the-rotation arm, lauded for his athleticism and plus fastball and curve. However, he struggled during his time in the majors in 2023 and 2024, posting a combined 6.23 ERA and a 1.555 WHiP over 99.2 innings, striking out 69 batters with 41 walks while serving up 19 home runs. Despite a solid outing in his only appearance for the Red Sox, Priester remained in Triple-A as nothing more than pitching depth. That changed with his arrival in Milwaukee. He has exceeded expectations, either as a traditional starter or following an opener. Priester has posted a 3.15 ERA and a 1.190 WHiP over his 114.1 innings for the Brewers, striking out 93 batters with 38 walks. Opponents have mustered a meager .228/.294/.382 batting line in 471 plate appearances with just 13 homers. The Brewers' 64-48 record entering Tuesday is the best in the majors despite a nondescript rotation. While Freddy Peralta is a top-of-the-rotation arm in his own right, staff ace Brandon Woodruff missed all of 2024 and most of the first half of 2025. Pitchers such as Chad Patrick, Tobias Myers and Jose Quintana are back-of-the-rotation arms at this point. The Brewers needed someone to step up with Priester being the unlikely hero. Pitchers Paul Skenes and Zack Wheeler are the prohibitive favorites to win the National League Cy Young Award. BetMGM does not have Priester listed as one of the 10 most likely candidates to take home the hardware. However, Priester's performance, coupled with the Brewers' success this season, is worthy of attention. If he can continue to perform at this level, Priester deserves at least some consideration on the ballot.
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