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It might be a new NHL season, but New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin has picked up right where he left off at the end of 2023-24.
He and the Rangers strive to continue a solid start when they visit the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
Last season, Panarin dominated offensively, leading New York with a career-high 49 goals and 120 points in 82 regular-season games, while his 71 assists were just three shy of his personal best. His point total ranked fourth in the NHL while his goals placed him fifth.
Three weeks into the current campaign, Panarin, who turns 33 on Wednesday, leads the Rangers with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) and has yet to be held off the scoresheet through eight games. He has nearly twice as many points as his nearest pursuant teammates, Alexis Lafreniere and Adam Fox, each of whom have eight.
"He was elite for us last year," coach Peter Laviolette said. "Just going to the last game (against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday), it seemed like the puck was on his stick constantly. I think he works hard to create those opportunities; he works hard to create those battles where possession comes his way. And then once he does get possession, the puck's on his stick and he can hang on to it and he can find the next play, make the next play, create the next scoring chance. ...
"He's got an elite skill level. To me, it showed last year and it's showing again this year."
The Rangers as a team have also extended last season's success into the early goings of this campaign. They're 6-1-1 heading into the tilt against the Capitals and were handed their first regulation loss on Oct. 24 in a 3-1 setback against the Florida Panthers.
They had scored at least four goals in each game before falling to the Panthers, and they followed that with a 2-1 win against the Ducks. After finishing seventh in the NHL last season in goals with 278, they entered Monday's schedule tied for fourth with 34, putting them on pace for nearly 350.
Though placing among the top teams in the league was expected for New York, it was less so for the Capitals. Washington is a surprising 5-2-0 out of the gate and had won five straight before being blanked 3-0 by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
"The past few years, they've been a good benchmark team for the league, for the East and for our division," forward Tom Wilson said of New York. "And we know that it's going to be a tough game. ... So we've got to be sharp, and we've got to be good with our game plan. We want to show that we match up well with some of the best teams around the league."
Wilson is off to a hot start when it comes to putting the puck in the net, leading the Capitals with five through seven games. It's a pace that, if he were to keep it up, would obliterate the 30-year-old's current career-high of 24, set in 2021-22.
Dylan Strome leads the team in overall scoring with nine points (three goals, six assists), one ahead of Connor McMichael (three goals, five assists).
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How the Canadiens’ Patience Turned a Rebuild Into a Playoff Push
The Montreal Canadiens aren’t just turning a corner—they’re already halfway down the street. After years of laying the groundwork, they’ve reached a point where a playoff spot isn’t a pipe dream; it’s an expectation. Heading into the 2025–26 season, there’s a new energy around the team. This is no longer a franchise in the patient, quiet phase of a rebuild. They’re entering the competitive stage, ready to challenge the Atlantic Division’s heavyweights. With a core of homegrown talent, shrewd trades, and a few well-timed veteran additions, Montreal has shifted from “up-and-coming” to “a problem for opponents.” Plenty of teams talk about taking the next step. The difference is that the Canadiens have already begun their climb. The Canadiens Are an Example of Patience to Progress The Canadiens’ surprise playoff berth last season came just three years into their rebuild—a much faster turnaround than most predicted. That kind of leap doesn’t happen by luck. It comes from a deliberate plan, executed with discipline, and a willingness to adapt when circumstances change. General manager Kent Hughes has been the architect of this transformation since assuming the role. Every move, whether bold or subtle, has served a purpose. Montreal’s ahead of schedule, and that’s not a coincidence—it’s a testament to a clear, consistent vision. Kent Hughes’ Blueprint: Bold but Calculated When Hughes arrived, he didn’t promise miracles. He promised a proper build—no shortcuts, no “win-now-at-all-costs” gambles. But that didn’t mean moving slowly. Instead, he’s found ways to accelerate the process without undermining long-term stability. His philosophy is simple: build through the draft, but be ready to strike when the right player becomes available. The Noah Dobson trade is the perfect example. Hughes sent two first-round picks to the New York Islanders for a 25-year-old, right-shot defenseman who can quarterback a power play and eat big minutes. That’s not just a win-now gamble—it’s a move for a player who aligns with the team’s age curve and identity. The Logan Mailloux-for-Zachary Bolduc swap fits the same pattern. These weren’t random transactions. They were calculated upgrades made with the belief that Montreal’s young core was ready for meaningful reinforcements. And when the Canadiens went on their late-season surge last year, Hughes made another key decision—he stood pat at the deadline. Instead of flipping expiring contracts for picks, he backed the group he had. That sent a clear message to the locker room: management believes in you. Culture Is More Than a Buzzword in Montreal One of Hughes’ quieter successes has been building a team culture that feels genuine. It’s easy for executives to talk about “values” and “identity,” but the Canadiens have made it real. Players notice when they’re respected, supported, and trusted to play their game. That matters—especially in Montreal, where media pressure and fan expectations can be intense. Creating an environment where players want to stay is a competitive advantage, and it’s starting to show in free agency. In a league with a hard salary cap, where you can’t just buy your way out of mistakes, culture helps bridge the gap. It’s the thing that keeps players invested and committed to the team’s long-term vision. Martin St. Louis’ Modern Hockey Has Reshaped the Canadiens’ Style Behind the bench, head coach Martin St. Louis has reshaped Montreal’s style of play into something fast, skilled, and dangerous. Since taking over in 2022, he’s transformed a raw, developing roster into one of the league’s more exciting teams to watch. Forget dump-and-chase—this is a puck-possession team. St. Louis wants speed through the middle, quick transitions, and creativity in the offensive zone. Mistakes aren’t punished with benchings—they’re treated as learning moments. This approach has allowed players such as Nick Suzuki to flourish. The addition of Ivan Demidov and Bolduc adds even more offensive depth, while Dobson and Lane Hutson give the Canadiens the puck-moving blueliners needed to push the pace from the back end. It’s a style of hockey designed not only to win games, but also to develop skills and confidence over time. And it’s paying off. The most striking part of Montreal’s current rise is the unity between the front office, coaching staff, and players. Hughes is building for sustained success. St. Louis is coaching to win now, without mortgaging the future. And the players are buying in fully. This kind of alignment is rare in pro sports. It means every decision—from a draft pick to a midseason call-up—serves the same overall purpose. That’s how you build something that lasts. What Comes Next for the Canadiens? The Canadiens aren’t a finished product. They’ll need to navigate the tricky balance between developing their young stars and adding the right veterans to support them. The Atlantic Division is loaded, and staying competitive won’t be easy. But for the first time in years, Montreal isn’t just trying to claw its way into the conversation. They’re part of it. And if they can keep building without losing their identity, this group could be a legitimate contender sooner than anyone expected. For fans in Montreal, this is the payoff for the patience shown through the lean years. The journey isn’t over, but the days of hoping for lottery luck are gone. The Canadiens are in the fight again—and this time, they look ready to stay there. [Note: I’d like to thank Brent Bradford (PhD) for his help co-authoring this post. His profile can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bradford-phd-3a10022a9]
Browns' Shedeur Sanders could be losing valuable opportunity after injury update
Just when it seemed everything was going right for Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback caught an unlucky break on Wednesday. The 23-year-old QB was sidelined during Wednesday's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering an oblique injury. Per Kelsey Russo of the team website, the 2025 fifth-round pick won't practice Thursday and is considered day-to-day. He is deemed unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against Philadelphia, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Before Wednesday's practice, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed rookie QB Dillon Gabriel will start against Philadelphia as long as he's healthy enough to play. The 2025 third-rounder missed Cleveland's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers because of a hamstring issue. However, Stefanski previously said Sanders would get more reps this week after a solid preseason debut. The former Colorado Buffaloes star received the start in the 30-10 win over Carolina, going 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdown passes. Not playing against Philadelphia could disrupt Sanders' momentum. More importantly, it may eliminate another opportunity for him to overtake Gabriel in Cleveland's four-way QB competition. Sanders is listed as the Browns QB4 behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco on the team's unofficial depth chart. Despite questions about Gabriel's size (5-foot-11, 205 pounds), the coaching staff seems to favor him over Sanders. Earlier this offseason, Gabriel's processing speed reportedly impressed Browns coaches, giving him an edge over Sanders. The former Oregon Ducks star also received reps with the first-team offense during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, while his fellow rookie didn't. If Gabriel plays well against the Eagles, that would continue to affirm the coaching staff's confidence in the 24-year-old QB. Neither Sanders nor Gabriel is expected to be the Week 1 starter for the Browns. It's likely going to be Flacco, who helped Cleveland make the playoffs in 2023 when he went 4-1 during a late-season stretch. Still, another solid preseason showing could help Sanders position himself to replace 40-year-old Flacco in the future. With the setback, it may take more time to climb the depth chart.
5 wide receiver trades Commanders must consider as depth continues to unravel
The Washington Commanders have a problem quietly brewing in their wide receiver room. If the same trend continues, it could provoke general manager Adam Peters into drastic action before Week 1 against the New York Giants arrives. Second-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin's contract battle remains at the forefront. The wide receiver and Washington haven't found any middle ground on an extension as yet. Not even his trade request moved the needle, although the wideout and Peters remain on speaking terms based on their recent conversation at practice. Washington's pass-catchers have found life difficult over the last two weeks. The dynamic has changed without McLaurin, and the lack of consistency during joint practice and the preseason game against the New England Patriots brought this firmly under the microscope. Ideally, McLaurin will get back onto the field sooner rather than later. He is the franchise cornerstone — the alpha who makes everyone better. But make no mistake, Peters is going to be watching how others perform closely in the coming weeks. Scouring the waiver wire for reinforcements is possible. The Commanders have maxed out their tradable assets throughout the offseason, but Peters is in win-now mode. If he can strike a deal for a pick swap or late-rounder, that changes the landscape considerably. With this in mind, here are five wide receiver trades the Commanders must consider as their depth continues to unravel. Wide receiver trades Commanders must consider as depth continues to unravel Commanders could trade for Kendrick Bourne This would have to be the right trade at the right price. Adam Peters hasn't dismissed anything, but acquiring Marshon Lattimore, Deebo Samuel Sr., and five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil makes it much more difficult. That doesn't mean Peters won't try if the correct opportunity presents itself. And the front-office leader might turn to someone he knows well from a previous stop. According to reports, Kendrick Bourne is being phased out of the New England Patriots' offense. Injuries have stunted his production over the last two seasons, and it seems like new head coach Mike Vrabel prefers others. Peters was part of the brain trust that identified the wideout as an undrafted free agent target with the San Francisco 49ers. Therefore, he could decide to get involved if the AFC East club makes him available. This will cost almost nothing. But if Bourne can stay healthy, he could be another useful, experienced addition to the Commanders' passing attack. Commanders could trade for Tim Patrick The Washington Commanders have had plenty of success with veteran players a little down on their luck who manage to galvanize their careers under head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. General manager Adam Peters won't hesitate to roll the dice once again if he believes it can benefit the franchise. Although he's had some devastating injury problems in recent years, Tim Patrick represents an intriguing option who could reportedly be available. He put together a full campaign with the Detroit Lions last season as a rotational piece who logged 59 percent of offensive snaps. But considering he missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons with a torn ACL and torn Achilles, respectively, staying injury-free was a major positive. Patrick will have gained tremendous confidence from this experience. At 6-foot-5, he represents a matchup nightmare when fit and firing on all cylinders. While asking him to be a WR 1 or WR2 is a stretch, the Commanders wouldn't need that from him in this scenario. What they'd want is for Patrick to be a red-zone asset and take away attention from others in key down and distances. That seems like an attainable objective, but whether the Lions would want to move him to an NFC rival is highly debatable. Commanders could trade for John Metchie III The fact that John Metchie III is playing in the league represents an achievement in itself. A prolific wide receiver at Alabama, he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia shortly after being selected No. 44 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. But after successful treatment, he finally got to fulfill his dream during the 2023 campaign. Metchie's brought in 40 receptions from 67 targets for 412 receiving yards and one touchdown over his two active seasons. It was always going to be a slow burn back to his old self, but the Texans don't have the luxury of waiting around. This is a business, after all. Metchie made the team last summer when trade speculation was rife. The same rumors are swirling this time around, and the Texans might be more receptive depending on the compensation package. It would be a low-risk, high-reward pickup by the Commanders. Metchie is incredibly talented. Building back momentum gradually was always the primary objective for the pass-catcher. What Peters needs to figure out is whether he could bring something different to Washington's receiver unit if he decides another fresh face is needed. Metchie deserves a bit of good luck. Landing in Washington would represent all that and more. Commanders could trade for Adam Thielen The Carolina Panthers suddenly have an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position. They boast a nice blend of youth and experience, led by first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan and Pro Bowl pass-catcher Adam Thielen. After contemplating retirement this offseason, Thielen decided to stick around. He thought something special was building in Carolina with resurgent quarterback Bryce Young. At the same time, there is a youth movement underway with McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and sixth-round rookie Jimmy Horn Jr. Thielen remains the team's most consistent receiver. He's an exceptional route-runner with assured hands in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. The former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State figures to play a key role for Carolina again in 2025, and general manager Dan Morgan also bumped his pay this offseason. That said, everyone has a price. Adam Peters won't push the boat out too much for someone who's probably a one-year rental. But if the Washington Commanders need to find more dependability in the passing attack, this is the exact sort of player they should be looking for. The Panthers would be extremely reluctant to part ways with Thielen. That might change if they're out of contention by the trade deadline, but not right now. Commanders could trade for Romeo Doubs This might be more on the expensive side, but it's starting to look like Romeo Doubs could be on the chopping block. And in this scenario, there would be a couple of legitimate suitors who'd believe there is still some untapped potential left. Doubs is a curious case. He's 6-foot-2 with a large wingspan. He has every athletic intangible imaginable to be dominant. No fewer than 15 touchdowns over his first three NFL seasons are encouraging, but the former Nevada standout also boasts 22 drops. That is far from ideal. It's also a reason why Doubs is being touted as potential trade bait at some stage this offseason. Nothing concrete has emerged as yet. Doubs fell hard during training camp practice this week, but it's reportedly too serious. But this does nothing to diminish the concerns that he might not even meet expectations in Green Bay after a promising start. It's also worth remembering that Doubs is entering the final year of his deal. The Packers could decide to cash in now rather than risk losing him for nothing next spring. If general manager Brian Gutekunst goes down this route, this could provide the Commanders with a boom-or-bust option who could make a real difference if he transitions smoothly. More Commanders news and analysis
Portland Trail Blazers to be sold to Hurricanes owner and pickleball enthusiast
A group led by billionaire Tom Dundon, the owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, has reached a tentative agreement to buy the Trail Blazers from Paul Allen‘s estate, sources tell Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico. Blue Owl Capital co-president Marc Zahr and co-CEO of Collective Global Sheel Tyle are among the other investors who are part of Dundon’s group, according to Soshnick and Novy-Williams, who say the buyers intend to keep the team in Portland. The Blazers will be valued at more than $4 billion in the sale, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. The Trail Blazers announced their plans to sell the franchise back in May. Allen, the longtime Blazers owner who purchased the franchise for $70M in 1988, died on Oct. 15, 2018, resulting in control of the team being transferred to his sister Jody Allen, the trustee and executor of his estate. The plan following Paul Allen’s death was for ownership of the Blazers to eventually change hands as part of an estate sale, which is the process that’s playing out now. The investment bank Allen Co. (no relation) and the law firm Hogan Lovells were selected to lead the sale of the team. As Soshnick and Novy-Williams note, while the valuation of the Blazers in this tentative deal isn’t yet known, a trust generally has a fiduciary duty in an estate sale to maximize the value of its assets and to sell to the highest qualified bidder. When Sportico last updated its NBA franchise valuations in December 2024, the site estimated the Blazers’ worth to be $3.6 billion. New owners have agreed to buy the Celtics ($6.1 billion valuation) and Lakers ($10 billion valuation) since then. All estate proceeds as a result of the Blazers sale will be directed toward philanthropy, per the late Allen’s wishes. In addition to owning the NHL’s Hurricanes, Dundon has invested heavily in pickleball — he’s the majority owner of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. Dundon, who is also the chairman and managing partner of the Dallas-based investment firm Dundon Capital Partners, will serve as the Blazers’ new governor if and when the sale is officially approved by the NBA, per Sportico’s report.
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