NHL Power Rankings: Olympic gold hopefuls on every team

The NHL is headed for a break, but hockey most certainly is not.

After an incredibly (and unexpectedly) delicious appetizer last February with the 4 Nations Face-Off, best-on-best men’s hockey returns in full bloom with the first Olympics to feature players from the world’s top league since 2014.

Following Thursday night’s games, the NHLers talented and fortunate enough to represent their countries will head to Italy to prepare for a tournament that begins on Wednesday with a tilt between Finland and Slovakia at 10:40 a.m. ET.

Ten other countries — Canada, the U.S., Sweden, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany, France, Latvia, Denmark and host Italy — will be part of the draw to decide who wins the gold medal Finland claimed in 2022 and Canada won the last time there was a best-on-best Olympics in 2014.

Naturally, NHL clubs will have a lot of skin in the game. First and foremost, they’ll be hoping none of their star players sustains an injury while on international sabbatical. On the positive side, even if it means bones are wearier upon their return, the experience of playing with and against the world’s best on the Olympic stage can provide tangible lessons that benefit a player for the rest of his NHL days.

The five-ringed fun is almost here. With that in mind, we’ll use the final power ranking before the NHL hiatus to highlight the players from all 32 squads who are set to live out an Olympic dream.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (36-14-4) Winger Brandon Hagel will be there for Canada. We’re still assuming injured forward Brayden Point will join him, but Anthony Cirelli is a last-minute scratch for the Canadians due to injury. Victor Hedman will anchor Sweden’s blueline, and he’ll be joined by winger Pontus Holmberg. J.J. Moser, who’s having an incredible year, will be a huge piece on the back end for Switzerland; fellow defenceman Erik Cernak is set to represent Slovakia; forwards Zemgus Girgensons (Latvia) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (Denmark) will be in Italy, and Team USA will be looking to winger Jake Guentzel for a huge goal or two.

2. Colorado Avalanche (37-9-9) Centre Nathan MacKinnon and defenceman Cale Makar are two of the most important Canadians in the tournament. Canada is hoping defenceman Devon Toews will be there, but he has stated he’ll be staying home if his pregnant wife has not given birth before the tourney. Wingers Gabriel Landeskog (Sweden) and Martin Necas (Czechia) are dinged up, but expected to play. Winger Artturi Lehkonen could be a big-game player for Finland and he’ll be joined by fellow winger Joel Kiviranta. Meanwhile, Brock Nelson will extend his family’s incredible Olympic legacy with Team USA. Nelson’s uncle, Dave Christian, was on the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ team, and both his grandfather (Bill Christian) and great uncle (Roger Christian) played on the U.S. team that won gold on home ice in Squaw Valley in 1960.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (35-15-6) Carolina is sending two Danes who could have a huge say in how the club fares in the form of goalie Frederik Andersen and winger Nikolaj Ehlers. Jaccob Slavin will be Team USA’s shutdown guy on the blueline and centre Sebastian Aho will be a lead horse for Finland.

4. Dallas Stars (34-14-9) Four Stars — defencemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindel, winger Mikko Rantanen and centre Roope Hintz — will be enormous parts of Team Finland. Jake Oettinger dons the pads for the Stars and Stripes, Radek Faksa will be up the middle for Czechia and Thomas Harley is a Canadian blue-liner.

5. Minnesota Wild (34-14-10) One year after being forced to miss the 4 Nations due to injury, defenceman Quinn Hughes will be there for the Americans. He’ll be joined by his usual partner, Brock Faber, and scoring winger Matt Boldy. Minnesota’s Swedish goalie battery of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt is headed to Italy, along with winger Marcus Johansson and big centre Joel Eriksson Ek. Defenceman David Spacek — who’s played two NHL games this year — will line up for Czechia, while centre Nico Sturm will represent Germany.

6. Buffalo Sabres (32-18-8) American forward Tage Thompson and Swedish rearguard Rasmus Dahlin will represent Buffalo abroad.

7. Detroit Red Wings (33-19-6) Moritz Seider gets all kinds of ice time in Detroit and you can bet the German blue-liner will be playing close to 30 minutes per game at the Olympics. Forward Dylan Larkin will be there for Team USA and winger Lucas Raymond will be counted on to help drive the Swedish offence.

8. Montreal Canadiens (32-17-8) Winger Alexandre Texier is France’s lone NHLer, rookie centre Oliver Kapanen is on Finland and Nick Suzuki could conceivably play on any one of Canada’s four forward lines. Meanwhile, winger Juraj Slafkovsky — who became a national hero four years ago at age 17 by leading Slovakia to a bronze medal that represented the country’s first Olympic hockey medal — is back gunning for more glory.

9. Boston Bruins (32-20-5) Charlie McAvoy was crushed to leave the 4 Nations last February with an injury. He’ll be back on Team USA’s blueline in Italy, with Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman alongside him. Expect winger David Pastrnak to have a huge smile when he carries the Czechia flag at the opening ceremonies, while Pavel Zacha will join him at the top of Czechia’s forward crew. The no-relation Lindholms — Hampus on defence, Elias up front — will be there for Sweden, while defenceman Henri Jokiharju is on Finland with goalie Joonas Korpisalo, the latter being a last-minute replacement for injured Sabre Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

10. Columbus Blue Jackets (29-20-7) Elvis Merzlikins is a Latvian goalie and Zach Werenski will be a huge presence on the American blueline.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-12) Sixteen years after scoring the golden goal in Vancouver, forward Sidney Crosby is still a key cog on Team Canada. Goalie Arturs Silovs will wear Latvia’s colours, while defenceman Erik Karlsson and winger Rickard Rakell will rep Sweden.

12. New York Islanders (31-21-5) Forward Bo Horvat got the nod for Canada, while new Islander Ondrej Palat will be up front for Czechia.

13. Anaheim Ducks (30-23-3) Could Lukas Dostal steal an important game in the Czech crease? He’ll be joined by defenceman Radko Gudas. Sadly, an injury will prevent Leo Carlsson from lining up for Sweden, but American defenceman Jackson Lacombe will be there as a replacement for the dinged-up Seth Jones. Veteran forward Mikael Granlund will once again represent Finland.

14. Utah Mammoth (30-23-4) Four Mammoth players will represent four different counties in Italy. They are American winger Clayton Keller, German winger JJ Peterka, Czech goalie Karel Vejmelka and Finnish D-man Olli Maatta.

15. Vegas Golden Knights (26-16-14) Centre Jack Eichel and defenceman Noah Hanifin will wear the Stars and Stripes, while wingers Mitch Marner and Mark Stone will suit up for Canada. Defenceman Shea Theodore — who sustained an injury at the 4 Nations that ended his tournament — is back on the Canadian blueline. Big forward Tomas Hertl is on Czechia, new Knight Rasmus Andersson is a Swedish D-man and goalie Akira Schmid is on Switzerland.

16. Seattle Kraken (27-20-9) Philipp Grubauer’s performance in the German crease will be key to that country trying to pull off any kind of big upset. Forwards Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen are Finnish Lions. Forward Oscar Fisker-Molgaard — a second-rounder in 2023 who’s played three NHL games this year — is part of Team Denmark.

17. Los Angeles Kings (23-18-14) Drew Doughty had just turned 20 years old when he won gold with Canada in Vancouver. Now, at 36, he’s back on the Canuck blueline, with goalie Darcy Kuemper wearing the same sweater. Offensive wingers Kevin Fiala (Switzerland) and Adrian Kempe (Sweden) are headed to Italy, as is Finnish winger Joel Armia.

18. Toronto Maple Leafs (27-21-9) Auston Matthews had his chances to win the 4 Nations for Team USA in overtime of the final versus Canada. He’s back, trying to lead America to Olympic glory. Winger William Nylander will be a front-line Swede, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson will be part of the Swedish ‘D’ crew.

19. Edmonton Oilers (28-22-8) Connor McDavid finally got his incredible international moment when he ended the 4 Nations final in overtime versus Team USA. Can he take it up a notch with Olympic gold for Canada? Forward Leon Draisaitl will be Germany’s flag-bearer in Italy.

20. Ottawa Senators (27-22-7) Forward Tim Stutzle, along with Leon Draisaitl, will be responsible for driving the German offence. Winger Brady Tkachuk is a signature American, while Jake Sanderson will be on the Team USA blueline. Veteran Danish centre Lars Eller is headed to Italy, as is Finnish rearguard Nikolas Matinpalo.

21. Washington Capitals (28-23-7) It sure looks like Logan Thompson will be Canada’s starter, while winger Tom Wilson gets his chance to bang and score up front. Martin Fehervary is a Slovakian defenceman.

22. Florida Panthers (29-24-3) Centre Sam Bennett is headed to the Olympics after all as a replacement for Anthony Cirelli on Canada. He’ll be joined by fellow forwards Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand. Florida is also sending three Finns; D-man Niko Mikkola and forwards Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. Shutdown Swedish D-man Gus Forsling and Latvian rearguard Uvis Balinskis are both headed to Italy. And, of course, winger Matthew Tkachuk is more or less the face of Team USA. In all, Florida, Tampa and Minny will all send a league-high nine players to Italy.

23. San Jose Sharks (27-24-4) Let’s just take a minute to zoom out and marvel at the fact 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini actually cracked Team Canada and could play a major role for the club at the Games. Three other Sharks forwards are part of the fun; Alexander Wennberg (Sweden), Philipp Kurashev (Switzerland) and Pavol Regenda (Slovakia).

24. Philadelphia Flyers (25-20-10) Dan Vladar is in the Czech goalie mix, while two large defencemen — Canadian Travis Sanheim and Finn Risto Ristolainen — are Italy-bound.

25. Nashville Predators (26-23-7) Defenceman Roman Josi is the man for Switzerland, winger Filip Forsberg will be counted on for Swedish goals, while goalie Juuse Saros and forward Erik Haula are repping Finland.

26. New Jersey Devils (28-26-2) The expectation is injured forward Jack Hughes will still lineup with brother Quinn on Team USA. The Devils are providing three key Swiss players in centre Nico Hischier, winger Timo Meier and D-man Jonas Siegenthaler. Goalie Jacob Markstrom and winger Jesper Bratt are on Team Sweden, while defenceman Simon Nemec is there for Slovakia.

27. Winnipeg Jets (22-26-8) It’s still probably Connor Hellebuyck’s net to lose for Team USA, while winger Kyle Connor will be hoping for a bigger role than he got at the 4 Nations. Canada will be counting on Josh Morrissey’s cerebral game on the back end, while Nino Niederreiter will have to score some goals for the Swiss.

28. Calgary Flames (23-27-6) With Rasmus Andersson now a Golden Knight, the lone Flame representative is Slovakian forward Martin Pospisil.

29. Chicago Blackhawks (22-26-9) With Connor Bedard not quite cracking Canada, the only Blackhawk headed to Italy is Finnish forward Teuvo Teravainen.

30. St. Louis Blues (20-28-9) Will Jordan Binnington get a chance to play hero again for Canada in goal? Defenceman Colton Parayko is also suiting up for Canada. Philip Broberg will wear Sweden’s beautiful colours, while forwards Pius Suter and Dalibor Dvorsky will draw in for Switzerland and Slovakia, respectively.

31. New York Rangers (22-28-6) Forwards J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck are part of the Stars and Stripes. Another forward, Mika Zibanejad, is on Sweden.

32. Vancouver Canucks (18-33-6) Two Czechs — defenceman Filip Hronek and centre David Kampf — are headed to Italy, as is Latvian forward Teddy Blueger. Kevin Lankinen is a Finnish goalie, while centre Elias Pettersson will try to spark Sweden’s chances.

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Rasmus Andersson tells all about his emotional departure from Flames

CALGARY – The beginning of the end didn’t happen in a rink, a meeting room, or a contract negotiation.

It happened at a wedding.

Four days away from last summer’s NHL Draft, Rasmus Andersson was celebrating his best friend’s big moment when his phone buzzed with the call that cemented the notion his days with the Flames were numbered.

A trade was lined up, the Los Angeles Kings wanted him, and the Flames were ready to move him. But Andersson, still recovering from a difficult season and unsure where, or if, he wanted to commit long‑term, wasn’t ready to sign.

“I told Connie (Flames GM Craig Conroy), ‘I understand the business side of it, and you have a great offer for me, but at this moment if you really want to trade me I’ll give you a list of seven teams that I would re-sign with,’” said Andersson of the sobering news that his ten-year ride with the Flames organization would be coming to an end.

“I was close with a couple teams after that, but they couldn’t figure out next year. It went into July and every time my phone rang I thought, ‘is it time?’ After July 15, I didn’t hear anything, so when I went back to Calgary, I just wanted to focus on what I could control.”

Speaking for the first time about the seven-month saga that led to a 4-for-1 trade to Vegas two weeks ago, the ever-candid defenceman detailed in an hour-long phone interview an emotional journey filled with patience, professionalism and a level of transparency rarely seen from a player in his position.

It also included three of the toughest days of his career leading up to last month’s swap.

The emotional wall he hit came mid‑January when an apparent deal, complete with the framework for what Elliotte Friedman reported was a seven-year extension worth $63 million in Boston, muddied his mind during a Flames road trip through Chicago.

“The offer came in with a few parts adjusted I didn’t like with trade protection, and then there was another three days of hearing nothing,” said Andersson, who then suited up against the Islanders for what he, and many others, assumed was his final home game as a Flame, as he high-fived every teammate and saluted the crowd afterwards.

“It was a mental grind for me for three days. You keep checking your phone, and wondering when it’s going to happen, and then I woke up Sunday and I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore, I have to focus on myself and not everything around me.’ I was still pretty proud of the way I played those two games, but on Sunday (Jan. 18) we told them, ‘let’s hold off on all extension talks right now.’”

Four hours later, he was traded.

While visiting with a neighbour, Andersson’s phone buzzed six times in succession. Each text he scrolled through included the word Vegas.

He checked X, which confirmed he was a Golden Knight.  

“Half an hour later, Connie called, and I answered the phone saying, ‘Really? You trade me without even calling?’” he joked, as he knew trade confirmation was being held up by the league.

“Me and Connie have that relationship, so we chirp each other all the time. I said, ‘I hope you got something good for me,’ and he said, ‘we’re happy with the package.’ All I hope is that it works out for both teams.”

The playful barbs between Andersson and his GM about his future played out in front of teammates all season long, as the Swedish blue liner continually made light of the Flames’ early contract offer he chose not to counter. He knew that with MacKenzie Weegar signed long term, and prospects Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz tagged as building blocks on the right side, there was no point pretending there’d be room at the Inn for a 29-year-old in search of his rightful payday.      

Out of an abundance of respect for the organization that drafted and developed him, Andersson felt strongly about being a good soldier throughout the process, upping his value with his play, while being honest with Conroy as he opened the possibility of signing extensions with seven teams.

One of the biggest influences on how he handled the uncertainty was Chris Tanev.

“I remember with Tanny, we were out of the playoffs and he told me, ‘they’re going to trade me now,’” said Andersson, who only had a six-team no-trade clause.

“I really appreciated him telling me that. So I came into the season saying I’m going to keep it honest with these guys, and I did the whole way. I told them everything that was happening.”

Ongoing speculation on his future never became a distraction, which is a credit to him.

Still, as always seems to be the case with Andersson, there were bound to be critics.

As a mass consumer of social media, Andersson saw suggestions he handcuffed the Flames by not signing an extension to up the trade return.  

“How?” he said, rejecting the notion outright.

“They got a first-round pick, a second-rounder that could be a first if we win the Cup, plus they got a prospect and a good player in this league for many years who won the Cup with (Zach) Whitecloud. I think it’s a really good return for the Flames, and hopefully I can make it a really good return for Vegas.”

Then came the mock apology, which is pure Andersson.

“I’m sorry I’m no Quinn Hughes, where you get eight first-round picks,” he chuckled.

“I’m not that player. I think I’m one of the most realistic guys there is. I don’t know how much these people want for me.”

Although thrilled to be looking ahead, he hopes when looking back, fans remember the effort.

“I hope the fans know I gave my all every game, even though last year I had a s— year,” said Andersson, who has bounced back to have the best year of his career.  

“I broke my leg and I still tried to battle through it so we could make the playoffs. I hope they can remember me for leaving it all on the ice.”

He loves Calgary. He loves the fans. He loved being a Flame.

“I hope everyone knows how much I love and respect the organization and all my time there,” said Andersson, who started listing names of on and off-ice folks he misses already.

“I’m really grateful for my time there. The organization has done so much for me. I’ve been with them for so long, and I’m so grateful to have gotten a chance to call pretty much everyone in the organization a really good friend.

“At the same time, hockey-wise, they are moving in a different direction from my age, so I think it was time for me to move on and time for Calgary to try something different. I think everyone agrees with that. That’s the business side of it.

“All I hope is my teammates can say I was honest the whole way, which I think they would. I was honest with the organization with the extension stuff.”

“Hopefully I won’t get booed when I come back.”

He won’t.

At least, he shouldn’t.

Unless, of course, he finds a way to punctuate a goal at the Dome next year with his patented stare-down of a fan. 

“It’s kind of my signature,” he laughed when asked if his steely goal celebration will continue.

“It’s fun for everyone around it. A lot of people seem to hate it too, which makes me want to do it even more.”

Vegas was indeed one of the seven teams he told Calgary he’d sign with last summer, and he’s ecstatic to join a team hellbent on challenging for another Stanley Cup. He’s open to the possibility of extending his stay. 

He’s still living out of a hotel, his family is back in Calgary, and his life is in transition as he prepares to join Team Sweden at the Olympics.

“Honestly, it’s been a crazy couple weeks,” said Andersson, making good on promises to tell his side of the story.

“And I’ve got lots to look forward to.”

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Report: Bulls trading Ayo Dosunmu to Timberwolves

The fire sale in Chicago continues.

The Bulls have traded Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday.

Dosunmu had been with the Bulls for his entire five-year career and now moves on to Minnesota.

The 26-year-old is averaging 15 points, three rebounds and 3.6 assists over 45 games this season.

Dosunmu has also been very efficient, shooting 51.4 per cent from the field and a career-best 45.1 per cent from three.

He should slot nicely into the Timberwolves’ bench and be a good replacement for Mike Conley, who was traded away earlier this week.

Dillingham, 21, and Miller, 22, have both struggled to find consistent playing time in Minnesota, but should see expanded roles with the Bulls.

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14 players to watch ahead of NBA trade deadline

On Feb. 2, 2025, arguably the biggest trade in NBA history took place: the Dallas Mavericks shocked the world by sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, reshaping the league in ways we’ve still yet to fully grasp.

While it’s unlikely a trade as perplexing as the Doncic deal occurs in these final few days ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, the names on the market feel bigger than those in years past, and it’s hard not to look at Doncic as the inflection point.

Already, we’ve seen Trae Young — a four-time all-star and the crown jewel of the Atlanta Hawks — get sent to the Wizards for a package of whatever the Washington front office had in its pocket. Rumours have swirled for months about fellow centrepieces like LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant and Domantas Sabonis. That’s not even to mention the prize of the deadline, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While there appears to be a separation between contenders and pretenders, when game-changing stars are on the trade block, how the final playoff picture shakes out in these next few months is anyone’s guess. The NBA can change at a moment’s notice.

All this has set the stage for what could be one of the most intriguing deadlines in recent memory, with a few multi-time all-stars possibly on the move and a handful of teams looking to break into the upper tiers of the league. Here’s a look at some of the biggest names to keep an eye on ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks
28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists

Has there ever been a prize this big knowingly available on the mid-season marketplace? Antetokounmpo is one of the most transformative players in the NBA, capable of spinning straw into gold. Any team that can acquire his services immediately turns into a contender, but at 31 years old with a mounting injury history and an impending contract extension following the 2026-27 season, it’s not as though the move doesn’t come with risk. Any team that acquires him will have to pay a king’s ransom and hope that the return package doesn’t gut the roster to the point of no return, setting them up for failure and a potential departure in free agency in a couple summers. But fortune favours the bold, and it’s hard to envision an opportunity like this coming around again.

2. Anthony Davis, C/PF, Dallas Mavericks
20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists

The Doncic trade looks worse by the day for Dallas, as the decision to build a team around Davis always felt flawed based on his inability to stay on the court. With only 29 games under his belt since the deal, Davis is out yet again after suffering a hand injury in early January. While still effective when he does suit up, as his accolades and defensive aptitude speak for themselves, any team swinging for Davis incurs the risk of yet another injury and a steep $58 million salary for next season. But if he can stay healthy for a stretch, he should vault any squad into contender status.

3. Domantas Sabonis, C, Sacramento Kings
15.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists

A cure-all to any team suffering from rebounding woes, Sabonis is the NBA’s reigning rebounding champ three years running. One of the smartest big men in the league, Sabonis has made his money in the high post, conducting offences with deft passing and screening and operating as a hub inside the arc. But while his strengths are apparent, as are his deficiencies — a lacking three-pointer (18.5 per cent this season) and porous rim protection make his fit iffy among contenders. Any team going after him will also have to swallow an average of $46 million per year until 2028.

4. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, New York Knicks
20.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists

While Towns’ three-point percentage has dipped to 36.1 per cent this season, the floor-spacing five remains perhaps the best shooting big man the NBA has ever seen. However, his spot on this list is more indicative of the Knicks’ understanding that what they have may not be enough. It’s unlikely he gets dealt in anything other than a deal for a superstar, but any team looking to rebuild wouldn’t be adding a bad piece in Towns to hit the ground running on a new era — they’ll just have to bite the bullet on a $57 million salary next season.

5. Trey Murphy III, SF, New Orleans Pelicans
21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists

While tanking doesn’t help the Pelicans, as they traded the right to swap 2026 firsts with the Atlanta Hawks, their place near the bottom of the Western Conference doesn’t inspire confidence in much else. That may open the door for a Murphy deal, who has blossomed into an impactful two-way wing and could fetch a handful of first-round picks for whatever team is willing to pay their steep asking price. However, the Pelicans did sign the 25-year-old to an extension in 2024, and he’s under contract through the 2028-29 season, so there’s no rush to trade him.

6. Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists

For a time, Morant was the most exciting player to watch in the NBA. His dunks broke the line between impossible and possible, and while the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, Morant looked like the first human to ever truly fly. A string of run-ins with the NBA’s disciplinary committee and a series of injuries have since hampered his trajectory, and his place in Memphis has felt less certain. While he might be more of a reclamation project than a sure thing at this point, it’s hard not to salivate at the prospect of Morant giving your team that must-see TV feeling. And if he can get back to who he was, the 26-year-old could be a steal.

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7. Michael Porter Jr., SF, Brooklyn Nets
25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists

Easily the most impactful shooter available at the deadline, Porter Jr. has taken a scoring leap since being dealt from Denver in the off-season. Though that can be attributed to a massive jump in usage, going from a 20.2 usage percentage last year to 30.6 now, his ability to get the ball through the hoop is undeniable. The 27-year-old is knocking down 39.8 per cent of his looks beyond the arc this season and has managed to find a touch of self-creation in the absence of Nikola Jokic. The Nets could cash in as they look to continue their tank.

8. Coby White, SG/PG, Chicago Bulls
18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists

Secondary scoring is the name of the game with White, as the seventh-year guard has remained a productive bucket-getter despite a changing Bulls roster. White can generally get a team 15-20 points a night on decent efficiency and threaten as a catch-and-shoot scorer, hitting 40.2 per cent of his quick-action looks from beyond the arc this season. His $12.8 million salary also helps, and is set to come off the books after this season.

9. RJ Barrett, SF/SG, Toronto Raptors
18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists

Though injuries and a step-back in production have hampered the Toronto forward, the Raptors’ 19-9 record with Barrett in the lineup speaks for itself. A solid complementary scorer, able to produce off quick cuts and actions, Barrett has turned into a solid plug-and-play wing, and a reasonable $29 million cap hit for next season has made him an oft-mentioned piece in any return for potential trades Toronto may look to make.

10. Bennedict Mathurin, SF/SG, Indiana Pacers
17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Set to become a restricted free agent this summer, the former No. 6 overall pick has been the subject of calls as the Pacers look to further their tank and dip under the luxury tax. Though his efficiency has left much to be desired, the Montreal native’s scoring chops remain intriguing for teams around the league as both a starter and microwave scorer off the bench. Any team that acquires him would also land his restricted free agency rights, giving them more control.

11. Herb Jones, SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans
9.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists

The other Pelicans wing that could get moved as the team dips further into asset-collection mode, Jones is a long defensive pest who has made his money guarding top assignments and disrupting passing lanes. Though he’s struggled with injuries of late and his offensive production has cratered, he has a favourable $13.9 million cap hit this year and is signed through the 2028-29 season. Plenty of teams could use a defender like him, even if his three-point shot doesn’t get back to the 41.8 per cent mark from 2023-24.

12. Jonathan Kuminga, PF/SF, Golden State Warriors
12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists

Kuminga remains a bizarre case, as it’s apparent neither he nor the Warriors really intends to keep this relationship afloat. They reluctantly agreed on a two-year $48.5 million contract with a team option just before the season, but it remained likely they were still headed towards a mid-season split. While he could be traded in the coming days, it appears as though the Warriors will use his contract in a potential trade for another star rather than whoever comes calling for Kuminga’s services.

13. DeMar DeRozan, SF/PF, Sacramento Kings
19.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists

The Chicago-Bulls-West experiment hasn’t gone as planned in Sacramento, as the trio of DeRozan, Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and a ragtag group has led the Kings to the worst record in the NBA at 12-39. DeRozan could be the easiest piece to ship off, as he’s only on the books for $24.5 million this season and has a non-guaranteed deal next year. And while his skillset isn’t the most desirable, a surging team like the Clippers could take a flyer on the 36-year-old L.A. native.

14. Daniel Gafford, C, Dallas Mavericks
8.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists

One of the more intriguing bargain-bin centres on the market, Gafford is the sort of cheap solution down the middle that plenty of contending teams could use. The 27-year-old is on the books for $14.3 million this season and is extended through the 2028-29 season for an average of $18.1 million per year. While not a game-changer, Gafford’s a solid rim protector and play-finisher, who made his money throwing down lobs from Doncic.

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Raptors’ Barnes, Ingram co-star on Slam 260 cover

Despite only one of them being named an all-star, a couple of Toronto Raptors players still managed to land a major distinction.

Scottie Barnes, who was named as an all-star for the second time in his career, and Brandon Ingram, who wasn’t selected as an all-star despite leading the third-place Raptors in scoring, were given the honour of being co-cover stars of Slam 260.

The Raptors’ stars have led Toronto to a 30-21 record as the team has surprised most of the NBA thanks to strong play from the pair.

Toronto next plays the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

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NFLPA interim boss: Players have ‘no appetite’ for an 18-game season

SAN FRANCISCO — Don’t add to the NFL’s regular season as well as provide well-maintained natural grass surfaces for players.

That was a main message from the NFL Players Association to the league.

“Our members have no appetite for an 18th game in the regular season,” NFLPA interim executive director David White said Tuesday at the union’s annual news conference ahead of the Super Bowl. “You heard that last year when the executive committee was up here, and they were talking about what happens to their bodies when they’re with their families, when they’re with their kids. They were very open and candid about that. It’s punishing, and we can see that on the teams that have deep postseason runs.”

White pointed out that several teams had significant injuries in mid-December: Patrick Mahomes and Micah Parsons tore ACLs in Week 15.

“And if you look at wild-card weekend, which would be the 18th game, if you took that week, really significant injuries,” White said. “Some that were high profile, but a bunch that weren’t, but they happened. And those injuries, they cost players pay, they can shorten careers, they can diminish lifetime earnings. And when your average career is already three to four years, that becomes something that is existential. So the 18th game is not casual for us. It’s a very serious issue. It’s something that comes out of negotiations, and nothing will move forward until players have the opportunity to account for all of those factors, take that into consideration, and then, through negotiations, agree or not to the 18th game. But as it stands right now, players have been very clear. They don’t have any appetite for it.”

Last week, Patriots owner Robert Kraft made it seem inevitable that the league would eventually expand the regular season from 17 to 18 games.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pulled that back on Monday, saying it’s “not a given.”

The current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and its players’ union expires in 2030.

Playing surfaces

The NFLPA has long sought to make every team implement natural grass in its stadium. White said the union has made “meaningful progress” with the league on field safety.

“Our members have stated over 90% of them that they prefer grass,” White said. “The data that we do have access to shows that the energy return from a synthetic surface is significantly higher than it is on natural grass, which reinforces what players say just from their experience and from common sense. It’s just hard, it’s harder on their bodies. It almost doesn’t matter a synthetic surface. So we need this data if we’re gonna standardize fields and have them be at the level where our players are truly gonna be safe. The work isn’t finished, there’s a lot for us to do, but again, it’s progress, and we’re happy about that.”

Thursday games

NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin said the short turnaround for Thursday night games is an ongoing issue for players.

“I think it’s been obvious that players do not support that fast turnaround,” said Reeves-Maybin, a special teams ace with the Chicago Bears. “This game has been played on one day a week for decades, and there’s a reason for that. It’s what goes into playing a football game mentally, physically, emotionally. It’s not the NBA, it’s not the MLB. It’s very challenging on players now. Maybe there are some ways to circumvent that and to ensure that the players are being protected in those ways. I would say, I think guys like to have Friday, Saturday, Sunday off. That’s something I appreciate. But the turnaround Sunday to Thursday, especially for the team traveling, it’s a really tough thing.”

International games

The NFL is playing nine international games in 2026 and wants to expand to 16. White said players appreciate the league’s desire to make the NFL a global powerhouse, but expressed a desire to improve their working conditions.

“When players have a good experience, we’re happy to admit that they have a good experience. They speak positively about it,” White said. “Here’s the issue. They’ve got a lot of feedback about not having good experiences, because it’s inconsistent.”

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