“His time with the Giants is over. Dexter Lawrence no longer wants a new deal from the Giants,” as reported by New York Post’s Paul Schwartz and Ryan Dunleavy.

As no teams called New York to ask about the nose tackle, the Giants learned a tough reality about the trade market for Lawrence. It seemed New York was left with no choice, but to reach an agreement with his camp. That might’ve been thrown out the window, too.

Lawrence may no longer want NY Giants’ money

The nose tackle demands better pay, but the Giants remain wary of signing him to a new contract—mostly because Lawrence is still under contract through the 2027 NFL season, carrying roughly a $27 million cap hit each year. Now, it seems not even a raise will be enough for Lawrence. Simply put, he wants out.

Harbaugh and the Giants may have been caught by surprise after getting such an unexpected update that Lawrence wants to leave. Money may no longer be a factor. Lawrence (will turn 29 midway through the 2026 NFL season) wants to play for a Super Bowl, and it seems he doesn’t see the Giants competing for the Vince Lombardi trophy any time soon.

Will Lawrence want new contract if traded?

If Lawrence is indeed traded, though, it’d be interesting to see if he demands a new contract with his next team as well. Maybe his contractual demands are exclusive to the Giants—a tax for sticking around during the franchise’s darkest years, so to speak.

Perhaps Lawrence picks his spots, and Bergen County is one where he chooses to be vocal. Lawrence’s camp can smell blood, and Schoen and the front office are on thin ice. If there ever was a moment to put them against the ropes and come away with a bigger paycheck, now’s the time.

The Giants know Lawrence’s contract is outdated

New York knows Lawrence’s average annual value of $22.5 million trails the top-of-the-market deals for defensive tackles. For example, Chris Jones, who averages $31.7 million per year and is guaranteed $101 million with the Kansas City Chiefs. Still, the Giants moved fast to lock up Lawrence on a four-year deal back in 2023. They don’t feel they owe him anything.

In many ways, the Giants are in the clear. Lawrence happily signed the contract back then. He might have outplayed his deal, but there’s nothing the Giants are legally obligated to do now because of it. Meanwhile, Lawrence does have contractual obligations.

He can request a trade and miss voluntary offseason workouts, but in June, New York’s mandatory offseason program begins. If Lawrence isn’t there, he can be penalized. Moreover, the Giants can match the nose tackle’s stance. If he doesn’t attend mandatory team events, they can sit him out.

Lawrence vs Giants: Who has more to lose?

Needless to say, the Giants are a much bigger threat with Lawrence in the lineup. They have no use for being without their best interior defensive lineman. The organization wants him to stay. That was made clear by both head coach John Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen.

Regardless, the biggest loser in such a scenario would still be Lawrence. If he isn’t on the field, he can’t showcase himself. As a result, his trade value decreases, and setting such a contentious precedent wouldn’t win him any friends around the NFL.

All in all, neither side could declare itself victorious if Lawrence were to sit out a season. Common sense would suggest the two parties must figure out a way to move past this bottleneck. However, in the NFL, common sense isn’t always so common.

Although Bedard could put up some resistance to the Blackhawks’ ideal contract, all signs indicate the two parties should agree on a new deal without any hiccups. However, Bedard wants to see progress in Chicago. As he cleared out his locker at the United Center, Bedard dropped a bold statement for the organization and his teammates to listen.

“This has to be the last year of not playing until the end of the year, not playing for something in the playoff standings,” Bedard said, via Ben Pope of Chicago Sun-Times. “That’s on us as individuals. I take a lot of responsibility for that. I feel like we can all just pull with the same rope.”

While putting everybody in Chicago on notice, Bedard didn’t distance himself from the root of the problem for the Blackhawks. The 20-year-old center made sure to own up to his responsibility. Chicago is in need of a captain, and even after yet another disheartening NHL season, Bedard is showing he has the qualities of one.

Bedard is set for an extension

The Blackhawks are heading for a long offseason after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight NHL season. This time around there’s an elephant in the room in Chi-city. Bedard’s entry-level contract (three years, $2.85 million) will come to an end, and the 20-year-old will become a restricted free agent (RFA).

With absolutely no risk of losing him, the Hawks can take their time to find a deal that hits the sweet spot for both the franchise and Bedard’s camp. After spending his first three seasons on a $950,000 AAV contract, Bedard’s net worth will finally take off.

Bedard on contract talks

Negotiations shouldn’t drag on too long, but even if they do, Bedard is showing he couldn’t be bothered to stress about it. That aspect of the business has him carefree. The future captain of the Blackhawks has enough on his plate trying to help the on-ice product improve.

“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it once this year. I know I want to be here. We’ll get it done soon. I don’t think, if it’s not done in a month, there’s any worry,” Bedard admitted, via Ben Pope.

Bedard’s numbers

With a 75-point (30 G, 45 A) season in 2025–26, Bedard reached the 200-point mark in his career. He accomplished the feat in just his third season in the league. Betting on himself in a contract year, Bedard proved his talent once again. He did go through a slump in his sophomore year, but the team did him little to no favors.

Bedard won’t ever call out his teammates, but it goes without saying in the Windy City. The Blackhawks must spend in free agency to surround Bedard with talent. If not, it will be yet another long year for fans in Chicago, with Bedard being left out to dry and asked to carry an entire organization on his back.

When it comes to Bedard, the talent has always been there, and now it’s out there for everybody in the league to see. It’s up to the Hawks to help their franchise savior out for once.

Matthews is under contract through the 2027-28 campaign, but he still shied away from voicing a convincing answer on his future. This past season took its toll on Matthews—figuratively and literally, as he underwent surgery for a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion in his left leg. As the Maple Leafs stare down at a long offseason, Matthews kept his answer short and vague when asked if he’d stay in town in the event of a rebuild.

“I can’t really predict the future,” Matthews admitted, as reported by Sportsnet’s Anna Dua. The captain’s answer was much more cryptic than Berube’s. According to Dua, Berube stated he believes he’ll be Toronto’s head coach in 2026–27 and hasn’t heard anything from the front office to make him think otherwise.

Maple Leafs must hire a GM

Before the 2025–26 NHL season came to an end, the Maple Leafs fired general manager Brad Treliving—who will manage Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Championships. Thus, that job is now vacant in Toronto. For Berube, it only adds to the suspense. His future as head coach of the Maple Leafs lies in the hands of whoever is named the next GM.

Until then, Berube can speculate about the future, but it may all be in vain. Moreover, the new general manager will have to get to work with Matthews. In the past, Matthews has been very welcoming to new executives in The Six. He signed a five-year extension in February 2019—less than a year after Kyle Dubas took over as GM—and another four-year deal in August 2023—only months after Treliving was hired.

This time around, Matthews isn’t eligible for an extension until the summer of 2027, but he could still choose to cooperate with the new GM and commit long term to the Maple Leafs. Or perhaps the third time will be different, and Matthews has learned his lesson.

Matthews wants the Cup

After all, Matthews wants to win. He’d love to snap the Maple Leafs’ Stanley Cup drought, but if the organization trends in a different direction, he might lose his patience and ask out. If that day comes, the phone won’t stop ringing inside Scotiabank Arena, and whoever is the GM at that time may be left with no choice but to trade the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer. It’d be a dark day in Toronto, and a move that not many executives in the NHL may ever be able to live down.

The fact that Matthews isn’t trying to predict the future nor commit long term to the Maple Leafs may signal the Buds’ captain is thinking about it. It may not be today, tomorrow, or next month, but the prospect of Matthews requesting a trade is always looming over the building.

For the first time in his career, Matthews missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2025–26 NHL season. He had grown accustomed to long offseasons filled with drama after early playoff exits, but this is an entirely new feeling—one he didn’t sign up for, and one he may not stand much longer.

As reported by insider Shams Charania, Doncic and Cunningham are still in contention for awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) and All-NBA selections despite playing in less than 65 games this season—the minimum required to be eligible for annual awards.

However, Doncic and Cunningham appealed under the Extraordinary Circumstances provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the NBA and Players Association (NBAPA) ruled in their favor. Edwards, who appeared in 60 games this campaign, also filed a challenge, but he didn’t have the same luck as the Lakers and Pistons point guards. After all, four games may make a huge difference.

NBA sends out official statement

“The NBA and NBAPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Doncic, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA,” the NBA’s statement read.

“Edwards, who played in 60 qualified games, filed an extraordinary circumstances challenge seeking award eligibility before an independent arbitrator. Edwards’ challenge was denied and, as a result, he is not eligible for annual awards in the 2025-26 NBA regular season.”

Why Doncic’s challenge was successful

Though they still put up very strong numbers, Doncic, Cunningham, and Edwards fought setbacks and injuries all season long. The Slovenian star has been dealing with a hamstring Grade 2 strain recently. Doncic flew to Spain to undergo special treatment.

As he returned to the City of Angels, the Lakers learned Doncic may not return before Game 3 of the first round series against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Playoffs. However, the league explained his challenge was successful not because of the injuries, but because he appeared in 64 qualified games, and missed two games when he attended the birth of his daughter in Slovenia.

Cunningham and Edwards’ cases

As for Cunningham, he missed a large portion of the 2025–26 schedule due to a collapsed left lung. Thus, as he appeared in 63 qualified games, per the NBA’s statement, the league took into account the rarity of his setback, which caused him to fall short of the 65-game criteria.

Edwards has dealt with knee issues, and that largely explains his games total being below 65. However, the NBA believes that isn’t quite an “extraordinary circumstance.” As a result, Edwards, who finished the year with an average of 28.8 points (third-best in the league), is now out of the race for MVP and All-NBA teams. Doncic (33.5 PPG average, best in the league) and Cunningham are still in contention for awards.

“(My emotions) are mixed right now,” Sullivan said after the Rangers’ 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, via NHL.com. “Obviously, we’re not in the position that we had hoped to be or where we want to be. From that standpoint, we’re all disappointed and we all have to take ownership for it, myself included.”

The Rangers have few silver linings to find. If there even is one, it might be Mika Zibanejad’s performance. The Swede closed out his strong NHL season with a two-point night against the Lightning. Zibanejad earned double honors as the Rangers’ best player, but it might still not be enough for Sullivan to take anything positive away from this disheartening campaign. Perhaps the beacon of hope lies in the up-and-coming youth on Broadway.

Rangers finish last for the first time

The Rangers went through ups and downs—mostly downs—in the 2025–26 NHL campaign. As a result, the Blueshirts finished last in the Eastern Conference during Sullivan’s first year in Manhattan.

Since the NHL adopted a conference system, the Rangers had never finished at the bottom. There’s always a first for everything, and Sullivan learned that quickly in The Big Apple.

Sullivan’s worst season

Sullivan may have been spoiled to start his head coaching career. In his first two seasons as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, he won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Since then, his teams have been on a downward trend. With the Rangers, Sullivan just recorded the worst record of his career in a single season.

Sullivan’s Penguins finished 34–36–12 (80 points) in 2024–25, just barely surpassing New York’s 34–39–9 (77 points) mark in 2025–26. Needless to say, coming off consecutive rough years, Sullivan knows he has much work to do.

The Rangers must help him out, but he also has to take a look in the mirror. As Sullivan admitted in his final postgame availability of the season, he isn’t shying away from the responsibility.

“Yes, I think we all should be [embarrassed],” McLellan admitted, dropping a truth bomb in his final postgame availability of the season, via reporter Helene St. James. “Both teams came in with nothing on the line, and you could see the [Panthers’] championship pedigree. I’m going to compliment them, it runs through the organization. They played and it meant something to them.“

Hadn’t McLellan held back, he would’ve gone ballistic on the Red Wings. Detroit missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th straight season. The Red Wings now hold the longest active playoff drought in the NHL. What was once a promising-looking campaign ended with the Wings losing eight of their last 10 games of the season.

Red Wings spiraled out of control

Down the stretch, Detroit went 8–12–4 since the Olympic break, erasing all the progress and success it had enjoyed prior to the hiatus. Needless to say, McLellan was livid to see his team throw everything away.

What stung the most was the fact that they showed little to no urgency in their final games. Allowing eight goals against Florida‘s B-squad is a terrible note for Detroit to end the season on.

Florida played with AHL-filled squad

Conceding eight goals is never fun nor justified in the NHL. However, the fact that the Panthers played an alternative lineup—due to injuries depleting their roster—makes the Red Wings’ 8–1 defeat in Sunrise unfathomable.

Florida had 15 different skaters record points. Aside from Matthew Tkachuk and Eetu Luostarinen, none of the point-scorers had played in last season’s Stanley Cup Final. Thus, the Cats steamrolled the Red Wings with a squad that is nowhere near their standard.

This was a fluke year for Florida, but it will be back next season. The question is: will Detroit? Will McLellan make it through the summer in the Motor City? Or will he be the first casualty of the Detroit Spring?

All signs indicate both sides are favoring a quick resolution to the contract negotiations. However, Bedard’s camp may complicate things if they are only willing to accept a certain term on the next contract. The money side of the deal seems to be the one that will be agreed to more easily and quickly.

“The Hawks would love to secure Bedard for eight years. That probably is the most likely outcome, but [Bedard’s] camp could push for a five-year deal,” as reported on Chicago Sun-Times. “That would give him an opportunity for an even bigger payday as an unrestricted 26-year-old, for example.“

Time is of the essence

If the Blackhawks want to re-sign Bedard to a league-max eight-year contract, they must move fast. The NHL‘s new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the league and the Players’ Association (NHLPA) will be in effect starting Sept. 16. From that date onwards, the maximum term on a contract will go down to seven years.

Based on Bedard and the Blackhawks’ comments on the situation, it’d be surprising if his extension took that long. However, anything can happen. If the Blackhawks lowball Bedard’s camp, negotiations may dry up, and it could take until the start of training camp for both sides to reach an agreement. If that’s the case, Chicago’s ideal eight-year extension could be off the table.

Regardless of the exact term and salary details, there is little to no chance that Bedard doesn’t sign a long-term contract with the Hawks prior to the start of the 2026-27 NHL season. Bedard will become a restricted free agent (RFA) and he isn’t eligible for arbitration, so there’s really no fear in Chicago that a deal will be agreed to.

Bedard’s value went up

Bedard bet on himself. The former first overall pick in 2023 was eligible to sign an extension starting July 1, 2025. However, he opted to kick the can on negotiations and play on a contract year in the 2025–26 campaign. The move paid off, as Bedard recorded career highs in goals, assists, and points (30, 45, and 75, respectively).

Bedard’s rise was the main item on a very short list of positive takeaways for the Hawks in a season that saw them finish second-to-last in the league. As a result, Bedard’s value has only increased. Reports suggest his next contract’s average annual value (AAV) will be in the $13.5–15 million range, earning him a seat at the table of the best-paid players in the league—deservedly so.

Connor Bedard: In his captain era

With his next contract in Chi-City, Bedard will likely also receive another distinction. The Blackhawks saw the captaincy vacated after Nick Foligno was traded to the Minnesota Wild, and there’s little doubt that Bedard will become the 37th captain in franchise history.

That’s how Livingstone wanted it, as he transferred from the University of Texas in Austin to the University of Oklahoma ahead of the 2026 college football season. For the first time since the transfer to the Longhorns’ foes, Manning broke his silence.

Though they shared a dorm in Austin, the heir to football’s royal quarterback family distanced himself from Livingstone’s decision. Manning made it clear this was all Livingstone, that he would have done things differently, and that even he was taken aback by the news of his transfer to Oklahoma. After all, he may not have known his roommate as well as he thought he did.

“I was a little surprised, but Parker’s a good guy. He’s got a good family. Can’t say I would have done the same thing,” Manning admitted during a press conference. “Obviously, we were roommates, so I wish him all the best. Except when we play the [Sooners].”

Manning and Livingstone’s chemistry

Livingstone redshirted his freshman year in 2024, when Arch Manning spent most of the college football season behind Quinn Ewers on the Longhorns’ depth chart. Thus, both roommates entered 2025 thirsty to showcase themselves. From the get-go, the chemistry between Manning and Livingstone was impossible to miss.

Settling into the pressure of being Texas’ No. 1 quarterback, Manning always looked for Livingstone in crucial stages of games. The Longhorns’ most explosive plays were seemingly always the ones in which the ‘roomies’ connected. Livingstone finished the 2025 NCAA campaign third in receiving yards (516 yards on 29 catches), but with the highest average (17.8 yards per catch) and the second-most touchdown grabs (six).

Whenever Livingstone and Manning shared the gridiron, a big play was waiting to happen. Though Livingstone took a detour, Manning holds no grudge against him. Manning admitted he called Livingstone shortly after the transfer, and they remain in good terms.

New weapons for Manning

In 2026, Manning’s receiving corps will look quite different. Two-thirds of his main receivers (DeAndre Moore Jr. and Parker Livingstone) have transferred out of Texas. However, the arrival of Auburn transfer Cam Coleman may make it all worth it.

The Longhorns landed the No. 1 wideout in the transfer portal, and the junior wide receiver could be all Manning needs to take his game to new heights. With the 2027 NFL Draft looming on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be any better for Manning and Coleman to complement each other and skyrocket their stock.

First things first, though. Fans on the Forty Acres demand a championship, and this year may be the best chance Texas has at capturing its first national title since 2005. Arch Manning was less than two years old back then. Needless to say, it’s been a long time coming for the burnt orange.

According to a report from New York Post‘s Paul Schwartz, the Giants haven’t received a single call for Lawrence in the past five days. Perhaps, the G-Men predicted the market around Lawrence to move slowly, but this might be too much.

Fortunately for New York, senior vice president and general manager Joe Schoen has revealed the Giants remain in good terms with Lawrence despite his trade request. If not, patience will run low in Bergen County. Moreover, New York is still prioritizing a peaceful solution.

Giants want Lawrence to stay

The Giants want Lawrence to stay on the roster—Schoen admitted that in his pre-draft press conference. In order to reach an agreement, however, they must fulfill his camp’s desires. Meeting them halfway may not be enough. Lawrence wants his contract to be aligned with the market for interior D-linemen in the NFL.

The Giants had their fun having him signed to a team-friendly deal (in terms of production and total value), but Lawrence wants his cut now. Nay—he demands it. Learning the trade market for Lawrence is dull at the moment is far from encouraging.

NY Giants down to two choices

It essentially means the Giants are down to two viable options: re-sign Lawrence to a new contract or head down a road of legal disputes and endless drama. The choice should be simple, but nothing can be taken for granted in the NFL.

The G-Men must find a solution to the drifting relationship. Or else, the Giants could face locker room controversy before John Harbaugh even gets to work in the 2026 NFL campaign. Star players like Brian Burns spoke up, sending a clear message to the organization.

Schoen and the front office can’t afford yet another offseason blunder. Giants fans remain wary of Schoen, with many publicly calling for his firing. If that sentiment carries over from the stands at MetLife Stadium into the locker room, it might as well be the end of Schoen’s time in Jersey.

Giants seek similar return to that of Quinnen Williams trade

One reason why phone line bills aren’t through the roof in New York may be the asking price the Giants have set. The Giants are taking a page out of their closest neighbors’ book. More specifically, they are trying to replicate the return package the New York Jets received in the Quinnen Williams trade to the Dallas Cowboys.

Back in November 2025, Dallas sent a 2026 second-rounder, a 2027 first-rounder, and DT Mazi Smith to New York. The rumor mill around the league suggests the Giants are after a similar haul. However, there’s a key difference. It all comes down to timing. With the 2026 NFL Draft looming on the horizon, the Giants may be urged to trade for more picks (they own just two top-100 selections), but no team is in need of moving on from theirs.

Obviously, Lawrence draws leaguewide interest, but there’s no urgency for teams to complete a trade for him before the draft. If anything, it’s New York that has that urgency. Thus, the leverage isn’t on the Giants’ side. When the Cowboys traded for Williams, they were nine games into the season and desperate to turn their 3-5-1 record around. That desperation made such a move possible, and it’s why a similar package for Lawrence likely won’t be offered in April or May.

NY Giants cling on to a prayer

Perhaps a team that misses out on a promising nose tackle in the draft is pushed to go off script and offer a king’s ransom for Lawrence. But if that happens, it will be after the NFL Draft takes place from April 23–25 in Pittsburgh. Trading for draft capital when the event is a year away on the league calendar is not a feat fans will pop champagne bottles for.

Long story short, it seems all but inevitable the Giants will keep Lawrence under contract in New York—one way or another, allocating more or less money. It just looks like the trade route is under a blockade, and the flagging front office in East Rutherford can’t afford such a risky venture.

Whether analytics approve or not, the easy choice is to re-sign Lawrence. Not many will judge Schoen and company if they put out this fire with Lawrence. Actually, fans in New York will judge their every move, but that comes with the job.

Holding the fifth overall pick, the Giants have a plethora of options—including trading down and improving their draft capital. According to reports, New York has narrowed its draft decision down to Jeremiyah Love and Sonny Styles. However, the Cowboys could rain on their parade if they effectively move up the board. The Giants must have eyes on their back when it comes to the Cowboys, but the front office in East Rutherford is reportedly set on not cutting a deal with the team in Arlington.

According to NFL draft insider Robinson Wittmore, the Cowboys have had trade talks with the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns (who own the third, fourth, and sixth overall picks in 2026, respectively). However, they haven’t been able to reach the Giants, who want nothing to do with them.

Why Giants won’t trade picks with Cowboys

New York and Dallas could be coveting the same prospects in the upcoming draft class, and it’s highly unlikely the Giants will serve as an entry point for the Cowboys. If Jones and company want to sneak into the top five, they will have to sway a front office other than the one in the Big Apple.

Trading with the Cowboys is a no-go for the G-Men. Senior vice president and general manager Joe Schoen is walking on thin ice; making such a risky trade with Dallas could be the final nail in his coffin as an executive in East Rutherford. Schoen has enough on his plate already.

If Schoen doesn’t find a solution to Dexter Lawrence’s trade request, the Giants could face tension and locker room controversy. Thus, Schoen can’t afford to make his life any harder by switching places with the Cowboys in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Cowboys should focus on other teams’ picks

For the Cowboys, Jones and his front office could go ahead and scratch the area codes 201 and 551. There’s a better chance that hell freezes over than anyone in East Rutherford picking up one of their phone calls.

As for Arizona, Tennessee, and Cleveland, the odds are much better with those franchises. The Cowboys own the 12th and 20th overall picks, which could be very appealing to an organization in the top five looking to move down.

Not even the fact Mbappe played with a plaster on his face due to a gruesome cut above his right eyebrow prevented him from making his presence felt against Bayern Munich. Mbappe scored in the first half to put Real Madrid temporarily ahead 3-2 on the scoreboard (and temporarily 4-4 on aggregate), and he achieved what Messi and Ronaldo never could.

Mbappe has scored 10 times away from Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, cementing his status as a road killer. Mbappe has registered 15 goals in 11 games in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. That means he has scored twice as many away from home, as he has five tallies in home games. However, it wasn’t enough as Real Madrid were knocked out of the tournament by Bayern Munich.

Bigger sample size for Mbappe in 2025-26

Though it takes nothing away from Mbappe’s incredible milestone, there is a factor that can’t be overlooked. Under the current Champions League format, teams can play up to seven away games from the league phase through the grand final.

Neither Ronaldo nor Messi played under this format in their careers, so their away games were limited to six. It’s only one more game, but when it comes to players like Mbappe, Messi, and Ronaldo—who can score multiple goals night in and night out—it makes a big difference. Most likely, Ronaldo or Messi would have reached the 10-goal mark in away games in a single Champions League edition had they played under the current league format.

It’s all counterfactual, but it’s still relevant to fully comprehend Mbappe’s accomplishment. Regardless, Mbappe has made Champions League history in 2025–26, and the record books will reflect just that.

All-time leading goal scorers in UEFA Champions League

With his goal against Real Madrid, Mbappe netted his 70th career goal in the UEFA Champions League. Now, he stands exactly at the halfway line to reach Cristiano Ronaldo at the top. The best player in Portugal history has scored 140 goals (with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus) in Europe’s most prestigious clubs competition. However, as Real Madrid were eliminated, Mbappe will have to wait for the 2026-27 edition to resume his chase.

As for Messi, the Argentinian magician is second in all-time scoring with 129 tallies for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Robert Lewandowski closes out the podium with 109 goals (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona).

Arda Guler got the better of Neuer once again. With an amazing curled shot from a free kick, the Turkish golden boy found the back of the net for his brace against Bayern Munich. Though it takes nothing away from his great shot, Neuer’s reaction wasn’t what fans have come to expect from him.

This, in addition to Neuer’s costly mistake on Guler’s early goal just seconds into the game, is putting the German goalkeeper in the eye of the storm. In an evenly matched two-legged series between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, both goalkeepers have made mistakes that have cost their respective teams.

Unusual game for Neuer

Widely recognized as one of the best goalkeepers in soccer history, Neuer’s rough night against Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals is unlike any outing he’s ever been a part of. It’s not often he concedes a goal due to a blatant mistake, and twice is even rarer.

Thus, this game against Real Madrid might be remembered for a long time as one of the worst of Neuer’s career. Guler took advantage of Neuer’s mistakes and scored a brace. It’s the Turkish star’s first two-goal game of the season.

Neuer concedes 3 goals in one half

The last time Neuer conceded three goals in one game was on Feb. 1, 2025, when Bayern Munich defeated Holstein Kiel by a score of 4–3 in the 2024–25 Bundesliga season. That time around, Neuer also conceded all three goals in one half, though it was in the second half—including two late goals in stoppage time. Against Real Madrid in the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League, Neuer conceded three in the first 45 minutes, including a blunder less than a minute into the match.

Mbappe took an elbow hit to the face during Real Madrid‘s 1–1 draw against Girona in Matchweek 31 of the 2025–26 La Liga season. Mbappe received stitches after losing blood following the heavy contact with Girona’s Vitor Reis.

Although it draws attention, Mbappe is fully healthy to compete and help his team as Real Madrid vies for a comeback on German soil. However, the plaster he is wearing above his eyebrow is something to keep an eye on, as it might limit his play against Bayern Munich.

No mask required for Mbappe

Mbappe is no stranger to wearing medical equipment on his face. After suffering a nose fracture at UEFA Euro 2024, Mbappe wore a mask in several matches for Real Madrid and France. This time, however, such a measure wasn’t necessary. Real Madrid’s medical staff gave Mbappe three stitches, and that was enough.

After the game, the star posted a picture of his injured eyebrow on social media, calling out the referee for not awarding a penalty to Real Madrid. La Casa Blanca are now nine points behind Barcelona for the lead in the standings. With Barcelona having only domestic competition to focus on, the race for the championship may be well over.

Following his gruesome injury, Mbappe missed Sunday morning’s practice in Madrid, but he was back with his teammates on Monday ahead of the visit to Munich.

What’s next for Real Madrid or Bayern?

Los Merengues hope to complete yet another memorable comeback and advance to the semifinals of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League. Whoever prevails will go on to face PSG in the penultimate stage before the grand final in Budapest.

Zibanejad’s effort didn’t go unnoticed in Manhattan—not by his teammates, nor by the media around the Blueshirts. As a result, Zibanejad was named the team’s best player of the 2025-26 NHL campaign. It may not feel like much after New York fell short of the 80-point mark on the season, but it’s still a relevant honor for Zibanejad, who has been through a lot in recent years.

“Mika Zibanejad is this year’s team MVP (media voted) and named the 2026 Players’ Player, as voted on by his fellow teammates,” via Mollie Walker of New York Post. The news came shortly after captain J.T. Miller salvaged his individual performance despite the Rangers’ rough season. Zibanejad didn’t have to publicly make his case for his production because it was already impossible to miss.

Zibanejad’s stats in 2025-26

Coming off a 62-point season (20 goals and 42 assists) in 2024-25, when the Rangers missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, Zibanejad was in the eye of the storm in Manhattan. Still, he kept his cool and bounced back in 2025-26.

With Artemi Panarin out of the picture and Adam Fox missing a large chunk of the season, Zibanejad was the main character. He was the veteran lighthouse for a team filled with several players still wet behind the ears. He led by example and—with one game left on the schedule—has put up 76 points (33 goals and 43 assists) in 80 games.

His 33-goal tally is the third-highest of his career in a single season. Even in one of the worst campaigns in Rangers history, the Swedish star managed to put up solid numbers.

Zibanejad was always available for NY Rangers

Zibanejad also stayed healthy all season long, proving his durability once more. Since the 2020-21 campaign (shortened to 56 games), Zibanejad has only missed three games. This season, his lone absence was a healthy scratch due to him being late to a team meeting.

The Bruins may not have steamrolled through the 2025–26 NHL season like the Sabres did, but they are a force to be reckoned with. The Spoked B has several players with a lengthy playoff history; Buffalo doesn’t. Most importantly, the Bruins are hungry.

“We’re hungry enough to beat them. We’re ready, so it should be a good one,” Sturm commented on the first-round matchup, via NHL.com. “People like to watch the Bruins. People like to watch Buffalo. It’s great for the league.”

Sabres eye deep postseason run

With first place in the Atlantic Division secured, the Sabres will take on the Dallas Stars in a virtually meaningless regular-season finale. Instead, the attention in the City of Good Neighbors has shifted to the Boston Bruins. The NHL has yet to announce the schedule for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but fans can hardly wait for the puck to drop. It was a long time coming for them.

Now that Buffalo has finally snapped its 14-season playoff drought (the longest in NHL history), they want more. A first-round exit is a goal no team has ever vied for, and the Sabres are no exception. The first goal was met, but they must go on a deep run.

Sabres vs Bruins: Head-to-head record

Being divisional opponents means the Sabres and Bruins have faced-off four times in the 2025-26 NHL campaign. As much success as Buffalo has had against its division and the rest of the league, Boston was its kryptonite.

The Sabres finished 1-3 against the Spoked B this season. Sturm’s team was the only side in the Atlantic that had a winning record against Lindy Ruff’s squad. Thus, the Sabres may have come away with a nightmare matchup in their first postseason appearance since 2011.

If there’s a silver lining for the Sabres, it’s the fact two of their three defeats to the Bruins were overtime losses. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the story could be very different when the two sides clash in a best-of-seven series.

Special teams could decide Sabres-Bruins series

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the rink seems to shrink. The action is tighter, and players must fight for every inch of the ice. However, they can’t afford to commit silly penalties, because that could well be the difference between winning and being eliminated. When the Sabres and Bruins collide, it’ll be no different. As it’s often the case in the postseason, special teams may play a big role.

Boston boasts the ninth-best power play in the league (operating at 23.4%). Meanwhile, the Sabres have the fourth-best penalty kill unit in the NHL (82.1 PK%). Buffalo can be dangerous even when outnumbered. The Sabres’ 10 shorthanded goals (SHG) rank third in the 2025–26 campaign. As for the Bruins, they are much more conservative when on the kill, having just two SHG to show for it.

In an evenly matched series, special teams could prove the difference. However, when it comes to the Sabres and Bruins, both have offsetting strengths. In the end, only one will prevail and move on to face the winner of the Tampa Bay Lightning–Montreal Canadiens series.

As reported by Connor Hughes of SNY, the belief around the NFL is that the Giants will gladly select Love or Styles if either one of them is still on the board when New York makes its first-round selection on Thursday, April 23. However, the odds of either one of them making it to the fifth overall pick are slim.

On paper, addressing the running back position isn’t an urgent need for New York. However, the Giants explained why Love is still an option despite having the likes of Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary on the roster. As for Styles, the glaring need for an interior linebacker is easy to see in East Rutherford. If Styles is still there at five, then it might be a no-brainer for the G-Men.

However, nothing can be taken for granted by New York’s front office. It must stay alert for any potential trade that changes the draft order. That includes NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, who could trade up and ruin the Giants’ plans. The Cowboys might trade with the Arizona Cardinals to move up and select Styles third overall.

The Giants eye Ohio State’s prospects

“A lot of people around the league think that the Giants’ first pick could come out of Columbus, Ohio,” NFL insider Adam Schefter hinted on the Giants’ selection with the No. 5 pick.

There is no shortage of potential future stars coming out of Ohio State in the 2026 NFL Draft, and New York is doing its due diligence on every single one of them. Four names stand out, though: LB Arvell Reese, LB Sonny Styles, WR Carnell Tate, and S Caleb Downs.

Could the Giants draft Styles or Love at 5?

Many mock drafts project Reese to be gone before the Giants can even take a closer look at him. However, anything can happen. The same applies to Styles, who could be available just as easily as he may not be at five. As for Tate and Downs, both should be on the board when New York is on the clock, but selecting them then might be seen as a stretch.

If Styles, Reese, and Love are out of the picture, the Giants’ best option might be to trade down. That way, the Big Blue could improve its draft capital and still be in contention to select Downs or Tate. If the Giants move down too much, though, they risk falling out of the sweepstakes for the elite Buckeyes alumni. It’s a risky game, and one that may determine Joe Schoen’s future as senior vice president and general manager of the Giants..

According to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, the Jets will select their quarterback of the future in the 2027 NFL Draft. Such a report puts New York out of the race for Simpson, who could be drafted in the first round of the upcoming draft.

There’s a chance Simpson falls to the second round, giving the Jets another opportunity to draft him, but it feels unlikely on both counts. First, that Simpson—whose stock has only been on the rise since the NFL Combine—makes it out of the first round. Second, that the Jets would take him with their 33rd or 44th overall pick in the second round.

Anything can happen, but with Smith on a one-year contract and a stacked quarterback class coming up in 2027, the Jets could kick the can down the road. Fans in New York have waited this long to see a franchise quarterback, they can surely wait one more season.

Jets’ draft picks in 2026

The New York Jets own nine selections in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Barring a trade, the Jets will pick twice on Day 1. Gang Green holds the No. 2 and No. 16 overall selections. Moreover, the Jets’ draft capital includes two Day 2 picks (No. 33 and 44) and five Day 3 selections: 103rd, 140th, 179th, 228th, and 242nd.

QBs in 2027 class

It’s still early to tell, and much can change throughout the 2026 college football season, but the 2027 quarterback class could feature some franchise-saving candidates for the Jets and several other NFL organizations. Every struggling team in the league is already setting high expectations for future draft prospects, and there are several names that have fans excited.

Talents such as Arch Manning, Julian Sayin, Dante Moore, Trinidad Chambliss, LaNorris Sellers, Sam Leavitt, and others are among the standout names expected to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft. Thus, the Jets may be fine with waiting one more season while rolling with Geno Smith as QB1 in 2026.

“[Love is] an offensive weapon. He’s not just a running back,” Schoen said during his pre draft press conference on Tuesday. Schoen also hinted the Giants could use Love as a receiver on certain plays, too.

Based on Schoen’s comments, it’s easy to see why the Giants may seriously consider drafting Love. The rookie brings a whole new skill set to the table and can be useful to New York in different areas of the field. As talented and well-rounded as the current running back depth is with Skattebo, Tracy, and Singletary, none has the versatility Love does.

NY Giants face questions

Although Malik Nabers’ recovery brings up a dilemma for the Giants regarding drafting Love, there is still uncertainty around Skattebo’s rehab from his multiple injuries, which include a dislocated ankle, fractured fibula, and ruptured ligament in his right leg.

No one knows for certain how Skattebo will return from such a setback, or whether he’ll be back at the level he had fans accustomed to during his rookie campaign. Moreover, even if Skattebo is fully healthy and firing on all cylinders, Love is different. New York could have a true unicorn in Love, and the Giants may not be able to resist if he’s still available at fifth overall.

Could the NY Giants draft Love in 2026?

That will depend largely on what route the Tennessee Titans decide to go down. Reports also suggest the Dallas Cowboys may trade up and ruin the Giants’ plans, but the Titans look like the bigger threat right now.

The Titans hold the No. 4 selection and are considered a strong suitor for Love. Tennessee made its intentions clear by hosting Love on a visit. Unless the Titans trade down, they could very well select him. Just like the Giants see Love as an offensive weapon, and not simply a running back, the Titans do as well.

If New York needs to find talent to help out sophomore quarterback Jaxson Dart, Tennessee is in no different position. Former first overall pick Cam Ward has barely had any help in his rookie year, and the Titans aim to change that. Their first-rounder in 2026 could be the best shot they get at finding a franchise-saving talent.

Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, Schoen addressed the media in a press conference. As the Giants send out mixed signals about trading Lawrence or keeping him around, the senior vice president and general manager didn’t beat around the bush with his comment on the situation.

As Schoen admitted during his media availability, the Giants have had “productive” conversations with Lawrence and his camp. “We’d like for Dexter to be here and at some point we’ll come to a resolution here, whatever that may be. We’ll see,” Schoen stated, per Mike Garafolo.

Lawrence’s trade request puts NY Giants against the ropes

Lawrence and his camp know what they’re doing. As they look for a contract extension in New York, the trade request puts the Giants in a race against the clock. Just days away from the 2026 NFL Draft, New York can sense the clock ticking.

The G-Men could trade Lawrence for a draft pick that would come in handy, as they only own two selections in the top 100. If the Giants want to keep Lawrence in town—which Schoen and Harbaugh have both admitted they do—they must reach an agreement with the star nose tackle. As crucial as nailing this decision is, Schoen has pushed back on the narrative that the Giants may be rushed into a decision.

Giants are keeping their composure

Schoen made it clear Lawrence is under contract in East Rutherford through the 2027 NFL campaign. Thus, New York has no need to set a deadline whatsoever. They mean to mend bridges, but they are in no hurry. Still, the Draft (April 23–25) does put some added pressure. Whether Schoen likes to admit it or not, that’s a different question.

Though surprising, considering the fact that Liverpool need their best goal scorers, it’s not all too shocking to learn Slot isn’t starting Salah. The two have had their disputes all season long, and Salah has been left out of the team several times over the last campaign. Although he scored over the weekend in Premier League action, Salah hasn’t been playing his best football as of late, and the manager is trusting Alexander Isak—who makes his first start since December 9—instead.

If Liverpool are still in need of goals and help in attack, Salah could be subbed into the game. If the Reds need a hero in the second leg of the quarterfinals against PSG, they can always rely on “The Pharaoh”, who has come up clutch time and again at Anfield.

Salah was a substitute in the first leg, too, but he wasn’t brought on despite Liverpool putting in an abysmal performance at the Parc des Princes. Many fans expected Slot to change things up after such a rough outing, but Salah was still not promoted to the starting XI.

Salah’s stats in 2025-26 season

This will be the last season Salah plays in Liverpool. Thus, as the Reds host the Parisians at Anfield, the Egyptian ace could make his last Champions League appearance for Liverpool. Despite that emotional factor, Slot is leaving Salah on the substitutes’ bench.

So far this season, Salah has played 2,852 minutes through 36 appearances. Liverpool’s winger has recorded 11 goals and 9 assists, combining for 20 goal contributions. It’s the lowest total for Salah since his arrival in Merseyside back in 2017.

Good omen for Liverpool

Fans are still split on Slot’s decision to bench Salah. Those who are against it point to Salah’s clutch factor and the fact no one on the team has a bigger résumé than him. Those who back Slot’s decision say Salah’s performances have been disheartening recently.

However, if there’s a silver lining for Liverpool in leaving Salah on the bench, it’s the precedent of the most iconic Champions League comeback at home. When Liverpool defeated Barcelona 4–0 in the second leg of the 2018–19 UCL semifinal, Salah was out for the game due to a head injury. Perhaps benching him is the price to pay for the Reds to complete yet another memorable comeback under the lights at Anfield.

If Liverpool are eliminated, though, the decision may come back to bite Slot, and it could very well be all she wrote for his time as manager of the six-time Champions League winners.

According to a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz, there’s a strong belief that the Cowboys are looking for ways to trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft. Dallas currently owns two first-round selections, but none in the top 10. Thus, it makes sense why the Cowboys could be eyeing the higher picks in the draft.

Schultz also reported that the Cowboys are interested in a player high on the Giants’ draft board. Thus, if Dallas indeed moves up, it will look to get ahead of New York (fifth overall). The Giants were reportedly interested in trading down, but learning the Cowboys’ plans could now change things.

Cowboys complicate things for NY Giants

Dallas’ interest could put New York between a rock and a hard place. If the G-Men move down, they clear the way for the Cowboys to come in and snag their coveted prospect. If they stay put, they run the same risk and could come away empty-handed. The last option is to move up and block out the Cowboys, but it’s far from a good look for the Giants if they are bullied by their divisional counterparts into such a decision.

The silver lining for New York is that the 2026 draft class is quite stacked, and regardless of where it selects in the first round, it should come away with a promising talent. If not, then the problem may not lie with the Cowboys, but rather within the Giants’ facilities.

Who are the Giants and Cowboys both interested in?

Needless to say, the front office in East Rutherford is facing crucial decisions. In addition to this conflict of interests, reports hint Malik Nabers’ injury rehab brings up a dilemma for the Giants, who many link to Jeremiyah Love. Perhaps it’s Love whom Dallas is after, too.

However, the buzz across the league favors a defensive player being in the crosshairs of Jerry Jones and his Cowboys. Based on projections, it could very well be Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles whom the G-Men and “Dem Boys” are after.

Others point at fellow alum of the Ohio State University, safety Caleb Downs. At this point in time, there aren’t any wrong guesses as to which prospect New York and Dallas could be set to compete for.

Can Dallas trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft?

With reports suggesting teams in the top five—like the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants—are looking to move down, the Cowboys might be in prime position to move up. Dallas has appealing draft capital, including the 12th and 20th overall selections in 2026. One of those—if not both—could come in handy for Jones to work his way into the top five and ahead of the Giants in the draft order.

If Dallas pulls it off at a reasonable price, it could well be a draft-day decision fans remember for a long time. As much scrutiny as Jones and the front office have been under, there might be nothing fans in the American Dream City love more than getting one over divisional opponents. If the Cowboys can do so while securing a franchise player for the future, it might be the biggest win in a very long time for Dallas.

Joe Schoen’s job security in East Rutherford may not survive such a tough blow, so the Giants must strive to avoid this scenario playing out at all costs. The Cowboys–Giants rivalry is alive and well in the NFL, and it might be in for an early battle before a single snap is played in 2026.

New York has become a hotbed of drama for the Rangers in the 2025–26 NHL season. It seems every day there’s a new issue on deck. Recently, GM Chris Drury and the Rangers’ front office were put on notice by top players’ agents, who ranked them as the second-worst-run franchise in the league. Now, another face of the Blueshirts’ leadership is under the microscope, and Miller’s comments on his performance weren’t exactly well received by the fanbase.

“I’m not unhappy with how my season’s gone. There’s been a lot going on around our organization, and it’s been overwhelming. But for my play, I don’t look at it as a step back,” Miller stated, via The Athletic. “I kind of like the way I’ve played and kind of tried to press forward with a lot of things going on.”

NY Rangers fans beg to differ

Through 67 games played in the 2025–26 NHL season, Miller has put up 17 goals and 34 assists (51 points) for the Rangers. His production puts him sixth among New York’s point leaders. The stats may tell one side of the story, but they’re not complete.

Fans in New York have been vocal all year long about Miller’s play, and that has nothing to do with his numbers night in and night out. One of the most frequent criticisms of Miller has been his style of play, with many calling him out for looking a step off and not giving his best effort.

Miller was never the fastest skater, but it often looked like he took it too far. In today’s world, where many strive to look nonchalant, Miller sometimes went too far and looked lackadaisical instead.

Miller might be sending the wrong message

Thus, as the Blueshirts’ captain expressed satisfaction with his performance, it’s easy to see why it might upset some fans in the Big Apple. Moreover, as the team captain of a Rangers squad that finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, it’s not a good look for him to be highlighting his own performance when the numbers don’t jump off the page, and New York’s overall struggles didn’t exclude him. New York really can’t escape the drama.

Some might say that regardless of what Miller said, fans would find a way to be upset about it. But the truth is, now is not the time for anybody to hang medals around their necks, and if the captain sends that message, it could only mean trouble for the culture the Rangers are building—or hoping to build. Miller may have set a bad example for the youth coming up through New York’s prospect pipeline.

“The [Giants] need some weapons on the perimeter for Jaxson Dart. That’s why I think Carnell Tate is going to be in the discussion,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah stated. “This is looking more and more like a real need, an urgency for the Giants at the wide receiver position. And when Nabers is back—and if he’s back—healthy, that would be a fun one-two punch.”

As it stands, the Giants‘ wide receiver room features: Malik Nabers (coming off ACL and meniscus tear), Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, and Calvin Austin III. Considering the fact Nabers is expected back on a football field closer to training camp, the Giants could be entering the 2026 NFL season without a clear cut number one target for Dart. Tate, though only a rookie, could change that.

NY Giants face complex draft decision

Two things can be true: the Giants may have a true unicorn in Love, but they also have an already strong running back room with the likes of Cam Skattebo, Devin Singletary, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Similar to Nabers, there are questions around Skattebo’s health, too.

Indeed, there are positions in more dire need of reinforcements than the wideouts and half backs, but the Giants may not be able to resist the temptation if Tate or Love are available at No. 5, which they very well could be. If it comes down to Love or Tate, New York’s GM Joe Schoen may be faced with one of the biggest draft decisions of his time in East Rutherford.

Bolstering the offensive line is another must for New York, and if Miami’s Francis Mauigoa is available, the G-Men may be left with no choice but to take him. It all comes down to what’s more important to the Giants: protecting Dart (who suffered multiple injuries during his rookie year) or surrounding him with game-changing athletes. Dart is urged to stay healthy as the Giants depend on their QB’s success, but he also needs some help across the roster.

Giants may have another preference over Mauigoa

While Mauigoa is widely considered the best offensive lineman in the 2026 class, the Giants may be favoring another prospect. New York hosted offensive tackle Caleb Lomu out of Utah on a visit ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. As hyped as Mauigoa is, the talent out of the University of Miami hasn’t been invited on a top-30 visit by the Giants. This may indicate New York rates Lomu higher than Mauigoa.

Whether they would draft Lomu with the fifth overall selection, though, is another question. It’s worth noting, however, that since he took over in East Rutherford, Joe Schoen has always used his first-round picks on players who previously visited the Giants. Mauigoa hasn’t yet, and that might be an indicator that his future isn’t at MetLife Stadium—at least not with the G-Men.

Harbaugh’s tendencies go against Schoen, Giants’

Regardless, there’s always a first time for everything. Moreover, John Harbaugh’s draft tendencies aren’t aligned with Schoen’s, with him rarely drafting a player who visited his team in the first round. It’s worth addressing the fact that Harbaugh has only had a top-10 pick once in his career as a head coach in the NFL (sixth overall in 2016, when he selected OT Ronnie Stanley).

In 2026, something has to give for the Giants. Anything can happen, and until the pick is in, there aren’t really any wrong guesses as to who the G-Men will select.

As commented by an NFL insider, Harbaugh could have big plans for Lawrence in his first year on the job in East Rutherford. Moreover, due to his style of football on the defensive side of the ball, it’s easy to imagine why Harbaugh could ask the front office to go above and beyond to retain Lawrence. Perhaps, the Giants can keep Lawrence happy without being forced to hand him a new contract.

“I think Dexter Lawrence II will remain a Giant,” Albert Breer stated on Sports Illustrated. “Looking back at the history of John Harbaugh and how he and his teams have valued big men on both sides of the ball over the years, it would seem likely that he, Joe Schoen and his staff will find a way to keep Lawrence.”

Harbaugh’s system needs Lawrence

Harbaugh’s defense tends to favor powerful defensive tackles who can disrupt the opponent’s running game, just like they can make a quarterback pay if not double-teamed at the line of scrimmage. Throughout his years in Baltimore, there are countless examples. Most recently, players like Calais Campbell, Michael Pierce, John Jenkins, and Travis Jones met that criteria on the Ravens.

As Harbaugh arrives in The City That Never Sleeps, he understands how crucial Lawrence is to his system. Losing the best nose tackle in the NFL before he even gets to see him take a rep in offseason workouts would be a deflating loss, as well as a terrible omen, for Harbaugh’s time in The Big Apple.

Giants are still making up their mind

While all that remains true, the Giants have sent out mixed signals about Lawrence and a potential trade. That was the case as New York hosted veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader on a visit. It could mean the G-Men want to bolster the interior of the defensive line around Lawrence, just as it might signal they are willing to part ways with him.

As it stands, it’s all up in the air. However, it won’t be long before New York is forced to make a decision. The 2026 NFL Draft is looming, and it may give the Giants the best opportunity to trade Lawrence for a high price. If not, the market for Lawrence will be limited to those organizations that missed out on nose tackles in the draft, but the price won’t be as high, and it will likely turn into a buyer’s market.

If the Giants don’t deal Lawrence before the Draft, they virtually confirm he will stay in town. The only way for Lawrence to stay—not against his will—is through an economic incentive. A restructured contract, a new extension—you name it—but the Giants likely won’t change Lawrence’s mind with a magic trick. It will come at a cost.

The Giants know they must make a decision soon on Lawrence. However, they don’t necessarily have their hands tied. A report suggests New York could keep Lawrence even without signing him to a contract extension, meaning there are alternative solutions for the two sides to settle their disagreement.

Still, the Giants have to add depth at the defensive tackle position, as Lawrence is the only certainty in the interior of the defensive front heading to the 2026 NFL season. On that note, hosting Reader on a visit could signal the Giants want to bolster the defense and even surround Lawrence with a solid veteran who can make his life easier in the trenches.

That’s one way to interpret the situation in East Rutherford. New York may be doing Lawrence a solid by showing interest in Reader. However, it can also be flipped the other way around.

Giants may be putting Lawrence on notice

The other perspective on Reader’s visit to New York could imply the Giants are showing their teeth to Lawrence and his agents, Joel Segal and Geoff Garmhausen. Make no mistake, the G-Men want to keep Lawrence around.

However, they wish not to be bullied into handing the nose tackle a new contract. If that’s the route Lawrence’s camp wants to go down, then the Giants could search for a replacement. And they might have found just the right candidate in someone like Reader.

Could Reader truly replace Lawrence?

Obviously, Reader would have huge shoes to fill—and would probably not quite fit in them—but New York could choose to pull off that move if it wanted to. Sometimes, it’s not rationality that speaks, but a team and front office’s pride. That might be the case and what drives such a stance for the Giants should they actually move on from Lawrence and bring in Reader. It seems unlikely, but ego often outweighs clarity in the NFL.

If it came down entirely to common sense, the third-highest-valued franchise in the league (with a $10.1 billion valuation, per Forbes) would waste no time on such a dispute with Lawrence. Instead, it would simply improve his contract rather than offer cents on the dollar to the player that’s been the only beacon of hope for many years through dark times in East Rutherford.

Personal vendetta for Harbaugh

Moreover, there might be an added factor for John Harbaugh to show interest in Reader. The 31-year-old defensive tackle recently visited the Baltimore Ravens as well. If the Super Bowl-winning head coach wants to send a message to his former team, he could go after Reader to hurt Baltimore. Once again, everyone has their own agenda in the NFL, and those often intertwine with a franchise’s needs—for better or worse.

Lawrence vs Reader: Career stats

Drury and the rest of the front office have enough on their plates. New York fans didn’t love learning that the Rangers saved $80,000 by healthy scratching rookie Drew Fortescue, and the fact that the Rangers will finish with a miserable record in the 2025–26 NHL season means the timing couldn’t be any worse for the front office to be put on notice by agents across the league.

According to a recent poll by The Athletic, 23 player agents voted on which was the worst-run franchise in the NHL, and Drury’s Rangers earned four votes—second most—only trailing the Vancouver Canucks’ seven. It seems the Blueshirts and ‘Nucks have been in a competition all year long to determine which organization drives its fans crazier. Perhaps it’s fitting they agreed to the J.T. Miller trade not so long ago—a move that to this day has shown no clear winner.

Drury and Rangers may overlook human side

“Deep down, they forget everybody’s a human being. They’re too forceful,” an anonymous agent commented on Drury and the Rangers’ front office, via The Athletic. When it’s all said and done, Drury’s “it’s all business” approach is seemingly making him no friends—not in the Big Apple, and not in the bigger picture, either.

The league-wide memorandum to the league stating New York was open for business, the handling of Artemi Panarin on an expiring contract, and the decision to give up on Kaapo Kakko, Brennan Othmann, and other youngsters—it’s all added up. Perhaps a visit to the Bronx to watch a baseball game reminds Drury that it’s one, two, three strikes and you’re out. The Rangers’ president and general manager may have struck out a while ago.

NY Rangers and Canucks are in a tough spot

Being put on the Canucks’ level should be one of the worst comparisons available for the Rangers, and one Drury must strive to overturn. Vancouver has been spiraling out of control for a while now. It has lost its face of the franchise, Quinn Hughes, and has red flags hanging over its organization ahead of free agency.

Needless to say, if top players’ agents think so poorly of the Canucks and Rangers, then it means they will have a very hard time convincing players to sign with them in the upcoming free agency period in the NHL.

NY Rangers will have tough time signing free agents

There’s a difference between the two organizations, though. Vancouver fully accepts its reality and is heading toward a complete rebuild. Meanwhile, Drury firmly believes New York is only a retool away from becoming a contender again. It’ll be tough to sell that pitch if agents don’t rate Drury and his antics.

If he can’t sway them, the Rangers are ultimately left to the luck factor of the Draft Lottery to come away with a top selection and find their franchise savior through the draft process. New York can’t place all of its eggs in the free agency basket, because there’s a good chance it will come away empty-handed.

New York might have another alternative to solve the dispute with Lawrence, who firmly believes his level of play quickly surpassed his deal with the Giants. Lawrence is contractually bound to the G-Men for the next two seasons in the NFL. However, New York knows it’s no use having Lawrence under contract if he won’t even attend team events and is flirting with missing the mandatory offseason program in June.

Thus, the Giants must find a solution—and they may have found one that isn’t in the shape of an extension, but rather a restructured contract. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Giants could guarantee a portion of Lawrence’s pay while adding large incentives and bonuses, all the while keeping him under his current deal that runs through the 2027 NFL season.

As it stands, Lawrence is due $20 million in the 2026 NFL season, with another $22 million set for 2027. Out of his $20 million paycheck, $18.5 million corresponds to his base salary. The extra $1.5 million is amounted by a $500,000 workout bonus and a $1 million in per-game roster bonuses. If the dispute continues, a percentage of those bonuses might be at stake. New York could change up some details to assure Lawrence is guaranteed more money.

New York could opt to wait before extension

Lawrence will be 30 by the time he’s up for a new contract in the league, and then the G-Men can make another decision on him—if he wants to stay in New York by then. As it stands, Lawrence’s trade request seems to be a last-ditch effort on his part to secure a better deal. In reality, Lawrence is content in East Rutherford and knows the Giants could be in for a massive leap under new head coach John Harbaugh.

Moreover, the organization has several areas to address, but the defensive front may be one of its brightest beacons of hope moving forward. Unless another team comes forward with an offer too good to resist, the Giants will look for ways to settle any differences with Lawrence and keep him on board. If that occurs, the G-Men—and their fanbase—will have zero regrets.

Lawrence is coming off a down season

Lawrence’s production did go down in 2025, but he still contributed. It may be lost in analytics, but Lawrence is a force to be reckoned with for opposing teams. His presence takes up a lot of time in game plans and preparation for the rest of the league, as well as requiring constant attention in the trenches. It all adds up to make life easier for other pass rushers and run stoppers like Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and many others to take center stage.

Lawrence may be coming off a rough year based on his personal stats, but if he’s taken out of the equation, it could be much worse for the rest of the team. The Giants are well aware of that; they may choose not to publicly admit it in order to make their case for not signing him to a new contract, but they do appreciate Lawrence.

Deep down, the New York Giants may have the sense that his cap hit is not quite aligned with his value to the team’s functioning. Whether New York and Lawrence will swallow their pride or let this quarrel extend is a different question.

Although the Rangers signaled they had seen enough from rookie Dylan Garand this season, the young goalie had earned his spot on the lineup and was set to compete for the backup role in 2026-27. With Quick out of the picture, Garand could be set to run away with that job in the upcoming training camp and preseason.

However, the Rangers could still shock the NHL—and the world. After all, they’ve grown their fans accustomed to such eyebrow-raising decisions, especially when it comes to rookies or young players, as the Rangers recently saved $80,000 by pulling a controversial move involving Drew Fortescue.

Perhaps the front office has another trick up its sleeve, and Garand’s spot behind Igor Shesterkin in the 2026–27 season is not as certain as it seems after Quick announced his retirement. As it stands, it feels unlikely. But who knows? Maybe the Rangers sign a backup in free agency, and continue to put Garand under evaluation.

Quick confirms he made his decision a while ago

While he didn’t make his intentions public until now, there was a loud buzz around Quick’s future in the NHL. The 40-year-old goalie admitted he made his decision some time ago. As the Rangers struggled dearly to find their footing all season long, he chose not to make it public so as to avoid adding another layer to an already drama-filled year in Manhattan.

New York played its cards close to the chest, and even though Quick’s retirement announcement didn’t shock anybody, it was still news when released rather than the confirmation of an open secret.

“As we kind of got towards the end of the season here, I let Chris [Drury] and [Mike Sullivan] know,” Quick stated, via Mollie Walker of New York Post. “Just so they can plan accordingly. I’m grateful for them. They’ve helped me out through this process. They let me know which games I’m going to start so I can make sure to get the family there and stuff like that.”

Quick’s accolades

As he gears up for his last dance in the NHL, Quick walks away with one of the best goaltending careers in league history. It’s obviously a subjective question, but Quick is considered the best American goalie of all time by many fans. Against the Panthers, he gets one last chance to add another win to his career total.

So far, Quick has won 410 games—second most by an active goalie, behind Sergei Bobrovsky, and 12th most in league history. Unfortunately for the cinematic effect, Daniil Tarasov will be in net for Florida tonight. That means there won’t be a final showdown between the two leading active goalies in wins in the NHL.

Quick hangs up the trapper and blocker with three Stanley Cup championships, two William M. Jennings, and a Conn Smythe Trophy on his resume. Fans in Sunrise will be treated to Quick’s last act in the NHL, in a game that would otherwise only have Draft Lottery implications for the two sides involved.

“It’s still there, maybe not to the extent that it was,” Crosby stated on his rivalry with Ovechkin and the Capitals, via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Hopefully people have been entertained. As competitors, as athletes, it’s been pretty cool to be able to be a part of some big games and that rivalry.”

The cooldown in the rivalry was made clear before puck drop and after the final horn in Washington’s 3-0 victory over Pittsburgh in the 2025–26 NHL season. Crosby and Ovechkin shared a moment before the game and were also together afterwards, when Crosby and Evgeni Malkin signed Ovi’s jersey and gifted him some memorabilia from the game. Moreover, Ovechkin thanked Crosby after the potential last matchup in the league.

Crosby vs Ovechkin: A rivalry built on respect

As fierce competitors as they are, and as much as both want to win against the other, Crosby and Ovechkin have built a bond over the years. As Crosby noted, the rivalry shifted a long time ago. The Penguins and Capitals haven’t been as competitive in recent years, and neither star has had it out for the other.

Instead, it seems both have become more aware of the other’s greatness. Despite being pitted against one another for their entire careers, both Crosby and Ovechkin have the utmost respect for one another, and their rivalry is far from an animated one nowadays.

Playoff matchups between Crosby and Ovi

Much can change if the Capitals end up coming away with a postseason berth. If Washington secures the third spot in the Metro Division, it will go up against second-seeded Pittsburgh in the first round. Perhaps that’s exactly what the rivalry needs to reignite its competitive flame.

Crosby’s Penguins and Ovechkin’s Capitals have met four times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the former holding a 3-1 series advantage. Moreover, the Pens are 9-2 all-time against the Caps in playoff series.

Washington is by far the team Pittsburgh has knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs the most. Maybe Ovechkin will get the last laugh. Or perhaps Crosby will send him into retirement with yet another playoff elimination.

As it stands, that might be a best-case scenario for the Capitals, who are in need of somewhat of a miracle to even make the postseason. As it stands, the Philadelphia Flyers are in full control of their destiny as the third seed in the Metro.

That would make for a vintage playoff showdown between the Flyers and Crosby’s Penguins. Contrary to his rivalry with Ovechkin and the Caps, that matchup will be filled with vitriol, as Crosby has lost none of his dislike for the Pens’ cross-state rivals.

As the Canadiens announced on their social media, Dobson has sustained an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Montreal had no further comment on Dobson’s injury, nor details on what exactly happened to him. The injury was sustained during the Habs’ 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 11, when Dobson had just 12:57 minutes of ice time (averages 22:29 on the season).

As a result, Dobson was left out of the lineup for the Canadiens’ matchup against his former team, the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Dobson has now missed games for the seventh-straight NHL season. Since he made his league debut, Dobson has never played a full 82-game campaign.

Through 80 games with the Canadiens, Dobson has recorded 47 points, thanks to his 12 goals and 35 assists. In his first season with the Habs, Dobson has quickly made an impact and emerged as a top scoring option on the blue line. Dobson is the sixth-leading point scorer in Montreal, and second among defensemen behind Lane Hutson.

Will Dobson miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

As it stands, Dobson is scheduled for a re-evaluation by the Canadiens’ medical team in two weeks. The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs will drop the puck on April 18th, meaning Dobson will miss—at least—the first half of the opening round of the postseason. The Habs are keeping their cards close to the chest when it comes to Dobson’s situation, thus nothing can be entirely ruled out.

Dobson could end up missing much more time just like he could be back for Game 4-7 of the First Round. Regardless, the Canadiens have some big skates to fill on the defensive side of the puck with Dobson out of the lineup. A youngster with sky-high expectations could now be asked to blossom into a big role.

Canadiens call up David Reinbacher

The Habs announced the call-up of David Reinbacher shortly after confirming Dobson’s injury. Reinbacher, the former fifth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, made his career debut against the Islanders. It’s the first of many, and the Habs definitely hope Reinbacher can become a staple of their blue line.

Perhaps he takes over early in his career and helps the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s a next-man-up mentality, and there may not be a better replacement for Dobson than Reinbacher across the league.

“Me and Sid have a battle. We have lots of history. Obviously, it’s a special night for me, and for him, as well,” Ovechkin commented on facing Crosby on what might’ve been his last home game at Capital One Arena in Washington.

Ovechkin might have had the last laugh over Crosby in their historic rivalry, which was fueled by the utmost respect between the two best players of their generation, and two of the greatest in NHL history. Although Pittsburgh is headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Washington could miss them, the Caps defeated the Pens by a score of 3-0 in what could’ve been the last “Ovechkin vs. Crosby” matchup.

The feeling that this might’ve been Ovi’s last dance was strong all game long. However, Ovechkin left the door open on a return to the Capitals next season. As the Russian goal machine admitted himself, fans will have to wait until the summer to learn his decision.

100th all-time showdown between Ovechkin and Crosby

Fans in Pittsburgh didn’t love the fact Crosby sat out the potential last game against Ovechkin at PPG Paints Arena. However, the Pens’ captain made sure to participate when his team traveled to the nation’s capital. As Crosby missed the Capitals’ 6-3 win over the Penguins on Saturday, Sunday’s matchup was the 100th time the two stars faced off in NHL history (including Stanley Cup Playoffs games).

Playoff race

While speculation and retirement rumors have taken over around the City of Monuments, Ovechkin and the Capitals remain focused on making the postseason. They are in for a steep climb, but anything can happen. There is only one ticket up for grabs in the Eastern Conference, and that is the third-place seed in the Metropolitan Division.

That means that if Ovechkin and the Caps somehow make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they will face Crosby and the Pens in the first round. The more things change, the more they stay the same. It’d be the fifth time Ovi and Sid meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If that happens, the “Ovechkin vs. Crosby” rivalry will truly be the gift that keeps on giving in the NHL.

“Thank you very much, guys, I love you so much. You’ve been tremendous over the years. We’ll see what’s going to happen,” Ovechkin said in a message to fans during his postgame interview after being named the first star of the game by the Capitals.

Ovechkin has openly admitted he will make a decision on his future during the summer. As he is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the age of 40 (turning 41 on Sept. 17), Ovechkin is going to consider all his options. Those include retiring from the NHL to return to Russia, where he’d likely play for Dynamo Moscow in the KHL, running it back in Washington, or retiring entirely.

Ovechkin didn’t shake hands with Penguins

If Capitals fans hoped to see more signs that Ovi may return next season, there was another after the final horn went off. As Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and the Penguins waited on the ice to shake hands with Ovechkin after the game, the Russian star waved them off.

During his postgame press conference, Ovechkin made that clear with a concise statement. “[I waved them off] because I haven’t decided yet. Thanks to them for waiting out there,” Ovechkin, who also thanked Crosby after a potential final game, told reporters after the 3-0 win.

If Ovechkin ends up retiring after the 2025-26 NHL season, several players on the Penguins may regret they couldn’t share one last moment with Ovechkin on an NHL rink. However, Ovechkin revealed—to no one’s surprise—that he met privately with Crosby and Malkin after the game.

Ovechkin’s contract situation

Ovechkin signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Capitals back in July 2021. He is set to play his last NHL game under that contract when the Capitals take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 14. Not many expected Ovechkin to still be competing at the highest level by the age of 40. Still, the Russian goal machine is showing no signs of slowing down.

If it were up to the Capitals, they’d sign him to a new contract in a heartbeat. However, the ball is entirely in Ovi’s court. The decision is his—and his family’s—to make. His health is the main factor behind the speculation and retirement rumors, as well as the time he spends away from his family due to the busy schedule of an 82-game NHL season.

If Ovechkin decides to step away, no one will hold a grudge against his decision. Still, everybody in Washington—and across the league—hopes he stays for a while longer. That was made clear as fans inside Capital One Arena chanted for Ovi to play “one more year.” He’s clearly still got it.

Ovechkin stayed healthy

For the first time since the 2017–18 campaign, Ovechkin will appear in every single game of a season for the Capitals. It’ll be only the fifth time in his career he has managed to stay fully healthy throughout a season. Or perhaps he’s battled through injuries to help out his team in the playoff race and to make the most of his potential last dance.

The scenes inside the Caps’ home after the 3-0 victory over the Pens definitely had the feel of a farewell from Ovechkin. Regardless, anything can happen, and the Russian star won’t make any decision public until the offseason. At the moment, all he cares about is making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s a very steep climb, but if the Philadelphia Flyers happen to stumble, then the Caps could shock the world and snag a playoff ticket.

Dylan Larkin blamed himself after the Red Wings missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs once again, but the rest of the team is still grieving such a heartbreaking end to the season. Still, who’s to blame matters little to fans in Detroit. They want to see a winning team for once, and McLellan’s side has come up short on that promise. Now, the Red Wings must face the music and stand up for their actions. Even McLellan believes so.

“This is Detroit. This is Hockeytown. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the other side of it when they couldn’t stop cheering for this team, and they’re dying for that. They crave that. That’s what they want,” McLellan stated, via NHL.com.

“And I don’t even know if they want a Stanley Cup championship anymore. They just want a team that’s going to come and give them something to cheer about. [The boos are] what we earned.”

The bar is lower for the Red Wings

McLellan was an assistant coach back in the 2007–08 season when the Red Wings last hoisted a Stanley Cup. At the time, Detroit had made the Stanley Cup Playoffs every year since 1991 and would go on to make them every season until 2016. With 11 Stanley Cups in their trophy case and 25 straight postseason appearances, the Red Wings never saw this coming. They haven’t made the playoffs since and now hold the NHL‘s longest active playoff drought.

Back in the glory days, it was championship or bust for Detroit. Now, the expectation has gone down exponentially. Fans just want to see them make the postseason. Detroit can take it from there, but it must first snap its 10-year drought—the longest in franchise history. Even though the bar is set much lower for these Red Wings compared to other teams throughout the years, they can’t clear it.

The Red Wings must undergo changes

Simply put, Detroit comes up short time and again, and that only leads to more frustration. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the nadir of Red Wings history. Patience is running low in Hockeytown; the boos in the last homestand of the season prove just that, and changes must be made in Motor City. Detroit isn’t exactly known for its fashion sense. In the 313, everything old might not be new again after all.

Fortescue served as a healthy scratch during the Rangers’ 2-0 defeat against the Dallas Stars, and the move that seemed meaningless at first has now been confirmed to have a lot more meaning behind it. After all, it was all a maneuver for the Blueshirts to save up on what should be loose change for an NHL organization.

As reported by Mollie Walker of the New York Post, Fortescue’s absence during the visit to Dallas means he won’t reach 10 games played in the 2025–26 NHL campaign. Based on his contract bonuses, the rookie would’ve earned an $80,000 bonus had he played 10 games.

Fortescue has appeared in seven games so far this year, and with only two games left on New York’s schedule, he can only reach the nine-game total. For any player, $80,000 can make a big difference—especially to an NHL rookie signed to a $923,333 contract. For Fortescue, the bonus he’ll now miss out on would translate to roughly 8.6% of his total earnings for the year.

Bad look on the NY Rangers

With nothing left to play for, making such a decision is just a tough look for the Rangers, who have been in the eye of the storm all season long. Most times, fans are in favor of rebuilding teams making money-saving decisions. That is often the case when cutting, trading, or moving on from players signed to big contracts and cap hits. For an NHL organization, saving $80,000 really doesn’t move the needle.

According to Forbes, the Rangers are valued at $4 billion (December 2025)—the second-most in the league, behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. No other two clubs are above the $4 billion mark. Thus, $80,000 should be quite meaningless. Especially when it comes to rewarding a rookie on a struggling team that has made developing its prospects a priority.

If the Rangers are serious about giving their youngsters crucial learning opportunities on the ice, then why did they leave Fortescue out of the lineup with no injury designation whatsoever?

Rangers’ decision makes them no friends

Needless to say, fans didn’t love the decision. Once again, Chris Drury was put on the spot with harsh criticism of his antics, and Mike Sullivan didn’t escape the critics, either. There is a time and a place for everything, and the Blueshirts’ front office and coaching staff definitely didn’t read the room right before healthy scratching Fortescue.

Moreover, this might be a decision that Fortescue and his agent remember when—and if—the time comes for them to sit down and talk numbers on a contract extension. It looks like New York has done itself more harm than good yet again. Drury and company were penny wise, pound foolish. That mindset might be the one that could come back to haunt him in the long run.

“I’m as down as I could be right now,” Larkin admitted after the loss, via NHL.com. “We talked about it before the game – they are a transition team, and I needed to cover for (Simon Edvinsson) when he pinched in. Two guys jump by me, and it is in our net.”

Larkin made reference to Jesper Bratt’s game-winning goal for the Devils. Detroit was caught in transition after mishandling a puck in the offensive zone, and New Jersey was off to the races with a two-on-one. Moritz Seider was left all alone trying to contain Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, and Larkin could never get back to cover for Edvinsson in the backcheck. The Devils made no mistake, and that was all she wrote for the Red Wings.

Larkin made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his rookie campaign in the 2015-16 season. Ever since, though, he’s been treated to heartbreaks exclusively. It’s been a decade since Larkin and the Red Wings have had even the tiniest taste of success.

Red Wings did it to themselves

Back in January, the Red Wings were first in the Atlantic Division. It seemed all but certain that the playoff drought would come to an end. Finally, the “Yzerplan” would pay off, and Detroit would be back where it belongs. However, the Olympic break stopped NHL action, and the Red Wings came out of it a completely different team.

Since the league resumed, the Red Wings are 9-14-4. Detroit is 3-6-1 over its last 10 outings and lost 11 of its last 15 home games. That’s a recipe for disaster if the NHL has ever seen one. Competing in a jam-packed playoff race in the Eastern Conference, the Red Wings did it to themselves.

Dropping crucial points in heartbreaking fashion night in and night out made the Stanley Cup Playoffs always feel like an utopian goal for a team that crumbled when the pressure mounted.

Longest active playoff drought

The 2025–26 NHL season will turn out to be historic after all—but for the wrong reasons. The Red Wings now hold the longest active playoff drought in the league, and continue to extend the franchise’s worst postseason hex. A bigger question surfaces for them: Where do they go now? Will heads roll in Motor City, or will there be another life given to the “Yzerplan”?

There is something clearly wrong with Detroit. Until the organization figures out where the root of that is, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will continue to look like a distant memory, fading further back in time.

According to ESPN‘s Jordan Raanan, the common belief around the league is that the Giants prefer to move down a couple of spots in the upcoming draft and add to their draft capital. The Giants have seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but only two of them are in the top 50 and 100. If they aren’t fully convinced on who to draft with their fifth overall pick, the best choice might be to trade it for more picks. More picks, more problems, some might dare say.

The odds of Love falling into New York’s lap in the first round (fifth overall pick) are already low. If the Giants slide down the board, then the chances become even slimmer. New York is well aware of that. But it might have made its peace with that.

The Giants have other areas to address, and they may see them as more crucial than adding another running back. Such a mindset was made clear after Matt Nagy opened up on his thoughts. Nagy expressed how the Giants are listening to the Love rumors but remain excited about their current options with the likes of Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary.

Who could Giants target in NFL Draft?

According to Raanan, the Giants are serious candidates to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. The athletic defensive back has already visited the team ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft and has the skills a coach like John Harbaugh values.

His physical style makes him a good fit for Harbaugh’s system, and it brings a skill set that could be complementary to Greg Newsome II and Paulson Adebo (the top CB options in New York). The two main guys on the perimeter are mainly zone-coverage cornerbacks, and they excel thanks to their ball-hawking abilities.

Delane is the type of cornerback who can cancel out one side of the gridiron and force opposing quarterbacks to toss up a prayer by throwing into the range of Newsome II and Adebo. If it all goes according to plan, it could be a perfect storm at MetLife Stadium. With a speedy rookie who can shut down threats in the mix, the entire Giants defense can take a much-needed step forward in 2026.

Giants explore Plan B to Delane

Delane is hardly a hidden gem, though. Every scout around the league knows his potential is sky-high. Thus, if New York trades down, it could miss out on Delane, too. In order to prevent a worst-case scenario, the G-Men are also reportedly doing their due diligence on Jermod McCoy.

McCoy is far from a sure thing, though. The University of Tennessee alum is coming off an ACL injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season in college football. Drafting him with a top-10 pick would be a bold bet on the Giants’ part, and one that could come back to bite Joe Schoen in the long run.

Ovechkin and Crosby have marked a generation of hockey players, and will continue to do so for ages. It felt like their on-ice rivalry would go on forever, but the finish line is now closer than ever. The Penguins and Capitals will face-off in a home-and-home back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday in what could be the last time the two icons go head to head.

Sunday’s showdown will be even more special, as it might be the last time Ovechkin ever plays a game in Washington—the only city he’s ever called home in his 21-season career. As a result, everybody wants to have a seat at Capital One Arena, and prices are going through the roof.

According to Axios, the average get-in price on third-party resale platforms (such as TickPick) is set at $377. That is well above the $102 average price for home games in the Nation’s Capital City. As reported by this source, the price has surpassed the previous peak of $319, which was set on April 10, 2025—the first home game after Ovechkin seized the all-time goals record in the NHL. This time around, the occasion is even more special.

Is Ovechkin retiring?

Ovechkin recently admitted he will take his sweet time during the summer to make a decision on his future. The Capitals’ captain will turn 41 before the 2026–27 campaign. Since capturing the all-time goals record in the NHL, there isn’t really a clear goal for him to go after.

After all, he has accomplished everything any player could ever dream of. If he decides to call it a career, he can walk away from the rink with his chin held high. Fans in Washington wish he could play forever, though. Needless to say, whenever he retires, a statue in his honor will be erected in the City of Monuments.

Ovechkin’s stats against Crosby’s Penguins

So far in their careers, Ovechkin and Crosby have met 74 times. When the 2025–26 NHL season comes to an end, the total number of games will be at 76—unless either one of them misses one of their upcoming bouts. Ovechkin has scored 38 times against the Penguins when Crosby is in the lineup.

When adding the games Crosby didn’t play in, Ovechkin has 42 goals against Pittsburgh. Over the weekend, he’ll hope to add to his total. Perhaps it will be the last time the two will meet. After all, Ovechkin only gets one chance to make a last impression.

“The common belief has been that Thibodeaux would be unlikely to fetch more than a fourth-round pick in return,” as reported by Big Blue View. According to this source, the Giants would deal Thibodeaux out of town in a heartbeat should another NFL organization offer a second-round pick. However, that isn’t looking too likely right now.

Thibodeaux puts New York in a tough spot. Although Lawrence’s trade request could turn out to be a false alarm, with him only looking to leverage his way into a new contract, having to deal with that drama while weighing their options around Thibodeaux is far from a comfortable situation for the Giants.

Giants’ options with Thibodeaux

The G-Men would like to give the former fifth overall pick some more time to develop, but also cannot commit to a long-term deal (like the player will likely demand) before witnessing him unfold his full potential. All that does is rush the Giants, who could now be looking to trade Thibodeaux.

Last season, New York made it clear to the rest of the NFL that Thibodeaux wasn’t on the trade market. Time passes fast, and it may all have changed in the Big Apple. The clock’s ticking, the 2026 NFL Draft is looming on the horizon, and the Giants must make their decision soon.

Thibodeaux’s contract with Giants

After the Giants picked up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option, the product out of Oregon is signed to a $14.7 million club option for the 2026 NFL season. Thibodeaux is set to enter a contract year, which means the stakes are at an all-time high for him to perform in New York. If he doesn’t re-sign with the Giants—or is traded and signs elsewhere—Thibodeaux will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2027.

“The timing of [Dexter] Lawrence’s request suggests he wants a raise more than a trade,” The Athletic’s Dan Duggan reported recently about the drama surrounding Lawrence and the Giants. That wouldn’t quite be the best-case scenario for New York, but it’s far from the worst, either.

New York has no interest in trading Lawrence, although the Giants could receive an offer too good to resist from teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals. Still, it seems Lawrence isn’t really asking to be traded. Perhaps the veteran nose tackle is only looking to draw attention to himself, improve his stock, and show New York that, if they aren’t careful, it could lose him.

Ideal scenario for NY Giants

The Giants were wise to hand Lawrence a four-year contract extension back in May 2023. In New York’s ideal world, Lawrence would have been happy to ride out the final two years of his contract in East Rutherford. That wasn’t the case, though. Thus, the Giants must face the music and make a decision.

They either hand Lawrence a better deal, or they trade him. Improving Lawrence’s contract may be frowned upon by fans, especially after Lawrence’s down year in 2025. However, if they trade him, the Giants risk the nose tackle finding his best football again somewhere else in the NFL. That’d be a very tough look for the G-Men.

There is another option: the in-between. That would imply staying put. Lawrence is under contract through the 2027 campaign, so New York isn’t legally obliged to move on from him. However, Lawrence can opt to hold out of mandatory team sessions—though it’d cost him several fines—and that would only lead to more drama in East Rutherford.

What will the NY Giants do?

If the Giants won’t restructure Lawrence’s contract, the safest bet is to trade him while his market is high and pray for the best, i.e., Lawrence not having a career year with his new team. Still, as the report suggests, it seems Lawrence prefers re-signing in New York rather than being traded, so he shouldn’t throw a wrench in the works if both sides sit down to negotiate.

“I thought we played a pretty good game tonight against a real good team,” Sullivan stated after the game, via NHL.com. “We didn’t get the result, but when you look at how the game was played, we felt really good about our overall team game. We had a lot of scoring opportunities. We passed up [a lot of opportunities] But I really like our team game.”

Although Sullivan recently explained the reasoning behind the recent boom of Rangers’ prospects in the 2025-26 NHL season, that young flame wasn’t enough to propel New York past Buffalo—currently first in the Atlantic Division. The Rangers put up a great fight, but in the end, the better team prevailed.

Disaster averted for Rangers

The Rangers know they lost to one strong candidate for the Stanley Cup. Still, the fact they couldn’t get one last win in their home closer may sting. Regardless, the tide has changed in New York. What was once on track to be the worst season in franchise history can finish on—somewhat of—a strong note. It won’t be enough to call it a good year—whatsoever—but it’s far from the disaster it could have been.

Just barely, the Blueshirts avoided setting a new franchise record for the fewest home wins in an 82-game season. New York’s 14-20-7 record on home ice in the 2025–26 campaign was just enough to surpass its 13-21-3-4 (W-L-T-OT) record in the 2003–04 season. Still, that record came before stalemates were eliminated in the NHL. Perhaps the win total would’ve been higher for that Rangers squad.

Rangers’ final games of the season

As their 7-game homestand came to an end with the defeat against the Sabres, the Rangers must hit the road for their last three games of the season. New York is headed south. First, it will take on the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

The Blueshirts will follow that up with a trip to The Sunshine State. On April 13, the Rangers will face the Florida Panthers, before waving the season goodbye in a tough matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Sturm wouldn’t commit to Hagens definitely playing Saturday, or what line he might be on,” Bruins reporter Scott McLaughlin stated on his X account after Boston’s optional skate on Thursday.

The Bruins will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden on Saturday before going on a short road trip to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Sunday. The Spoked B will return home for the regular season finale against the New Jersey Devils on April 14.

Playoff race for Bruins

The Bruins may be one point away from clinching a playoff spot by the time they play their next game on Saturday, April 11. If not, then Sturm might choose to roll with the lineup that got him to this point instead of sending Hagens out for his rookie lap in a crucial showdown against the Bolts. That’s the tough decision Sturm and his staff face in the home stretch of the campaign.

The Bruins are mired in a four-game losing streak with a 5-3-2 record in their last 10. Things are trending south, and the star rookie addition may be just what the team needs to find its footing. However, there’s a risk to doing so. Finding that sweet spot is paramount for Boston. If it doesn’t, it could wipe away all the progress and success it enjoyed under first-year head coach Sturm.

Hagens’ stats in 2025-26

Hagens most of the 2025-26 campaign in the NCAA, playing for the Boston College Eagles. Although Boston College had a rough year and missed the postseason, Hagens still put up solid numbers. Before being called up to the Providence Bruins in the AHL, Hagens had appeared in 34 games, registering 23 goals and 24 assists for a total of 47 points. That made for an average of 1.38 points per game in college.

In the AHL, Hagens appeared in 6 games, scoring once and recording three assists for Providence. His short stint in the affiliate was done to prevent Hagens being caught flat-footed in his NHL debut. Even Hagens agrees that was probably a good idea. “It taught me a lot. It was great to be around,” he said about his two-week stay in Providence. Now, he’s ready to take the next step.

“He’s going to be the face of the Pirates for a long time,” Skenes said about Griffin, via reporter Justin Guerriero on X. Just six games into his MLB career, Griffin put pen to paper on the biggest contract in franchise history.

Skenes’ comments set off the alarms in Pittsburgh. Many fans believe Skenes is the face of the franchise and will be that way for the remainder of his career, regardless of how great Griffin—the No. 1 prospect in MLB—turns out to be. However, the star starting pitcher’s statement has now left his future up in the air.

Either he believes Griffin is a better player than him, or he believes the Pirates won’t be good anytime soon and he won’t stay in town for long. Even if Skenes wanted out of Pittsburgh, though, his contract situation makes things more complicated. It’s not like a public comment in April 2026 will immediately set him free.

Skenes’ contract with Pirates

Back in July of 2023, Skenes was signed to a record-setting $9.2 million signing bonus. Since then, he’s been playing on pre-arbitration one-year contracts with a rising salary. Skenes will become eligible for arbitration for the first time ahead of the 2027 MLB season.

Pittsburgh has its ace signed to a extremely team-friendly deal, but Skenes will demand proper compensation soon. If the Pirates don’t offer him a deal he believes is aligned with his value, he might push to be traded. Moreover, Pittsburgh has set a precedent with Griffin’s contract, and it may have handed Skenes a blueprint for the starting pitcher to craft his ideal extension.

Can Skenes leave Pittsburgh?

The Louisiana State University alum will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2029 campaign. In the meantime, he could ask for a trade out of Pittsburgh. That’s about the only option he has to skip town.

The alternative route requires the Pirates to not tender Skenes and allow him to sign with another organization. The odds of that are slim, likely on par with the chances of an average human getting a hit off a fastball from Skenes.

Thus, even if his latest comment could be interpreted as a hint of his future exit, fans in the Burgh can remain calm that if Skenes leaves, it won’t be anytime soon. Now is not the time to hit the panic button. At least, not yet.

As reported by Ian Rapoport, the Giants have agreed to a one-year deal with Faalele, who is coming off a rocky year in Baltimore. Throughout the 2025 NFL season, the 6’8″ guard made a couple of plays that left fans scratching their heads.

His struggles in Baltimore raise concerns in New York, where Jaxson Dart is set to be the starting quarterback. After an injury-filled rookie year, the Giants must keep Dart safe. In only one NFL season, Dart’s has been in more concussion protocols than the G-Men would like for any player, especially at the most important position.

The Giants acknowledge just how crucial Dart is to their aspirations. That was made clear as new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy opened up on what he sees in the second-year quarterback. Nagy knows Dart has something special, and as a result, New York has something valuable in its hands. Still, Dart is of no use in the blue medical tent. There’s no other way around it, the Giants must keep him out of danger.

Faalele struggled on the Ravens in 2025

According to a report from Marshall Green, Jackson and the Ravens didn’t trust Faalele last season, and many inside the locker room blame him for the offensive inconsistencies in 2025. Whether that’s fair or not is a different story. The facts remain.

Jackson was pressured on 23.6% of his dropbacks—the ninth-most in the NFL last season. According to Pro Football Reference, Jackson was blitzed 125 times, hurried 28 times, hit 23 times, and sacked 36 times. Sometimes, Jackson gets himself into trouble due to his tendency to hold on to the football, and that may inflate his numbers.

However, his numbers could also be rougher—and as a result look worse on his offensive linemen—if it wasn’t for his elusiveness and ability to scramble out of trouble.

Harbaugh still believes in Faalele

Regardless of his stats in Baltimore, it sure looks like Harbaugh believes in Faalele. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be entering his first season with a new organization with him.

A lot is on the line for Harbaugh as he settles in at MetLife Stadium. If he wasn’t confident that Faalele can turn it around and find his footing, he wouldn’t be behind the offensive lineman’s one-year contract in East Rutherford. Still, the University of Minnesota alum must change the tune. He has all the tools to be successful in the league—it’s all about putting it together.

Harbaugh definitely thinks so. Far from giving up on him, the Super Bowl-winning head coach has brought Faalele with him to New York. After all, they will be just minutes away from the concrete jungle where dreams are made.

Fans in New York may frown upon some of Sullivan’s decisions. Mainly, the appointment of J.T. Miller as team captain is one that hasn’t made Sullivan many friends around town. Still, the head coach’s hits should be shouted out just as loudly as his mistakes—if naming Miller captain was even one of them. And thus, the two-time Stanley Cup champion deserves credit for the blooming of young players into key roles in Manhattan.

Obviously, the youngsters themselves deserve their flowers, but the head coach and the organization’s role can’t be taken for granted. As Sullivan voiced an honest comment on how he handles prospects, it becomes clear why the Rangers’ 2025–26 NHL campaign has been saved from being the worst in history by a group of guys in their early 20s.

“One of the things that we look for all the time is whether a player is being challenged versus whether a player is being overwhelmed,” Sullivan admitted in dialogue with The Athletic. “If they can’t have a certain level of success, then it affects their confidence, their self-esteem. We’re always trying to find that sweet spot.”

New York City waits for no one, not even the Rangers

New York City is the most cosmopolitan place in the USA. Still, as different and diverse as its inhabitants may be, there is a common trait shared by all of the 8 million citizens in the Big Apple: everybody lives a fast-paced life. The anxiety around town is felt everywhere, and it’s no different inside Madison Square Garden and around the Rangers.

Fans demand results, and they can hardly wait. That helps explain why the Rangers have struggled to develop high draft picks in recent years. The expectations are set so high they lack realism, and if the front office and coaching staff don’t handle them responsibly, it can lead to players feeling burnt out early in their careers. At the end of the day, it drives them out of town. Naming examples of this scenario could fill books by themselves.

New era of NY Rangers hockey

Still, with Sullivan behind the bench, something’s clicked in New York. The Rangers have shown patience in developing exciting prospects like Gabe Perreault, Drew Fortescue, and Adam Sykora. In the home stretch of the season, it paid off. Obviously, not even close to the extent of success the Blueshirts hope to achieve with their young core. But right now, small steps are all they care about.

New York’s five wins in its last six outings might be just that—or even better—and that’s the best-case scenario for Sullivan. Otherwise, the tune heading into the NHL offseason would’ve been unbearable, with some even calling for him to be fired.

The job’s not finished. It barely even started for the Rangers, but it seems the worst is over. Fans and critics may not salute them with a standing ovation as the closing act is done and the curtain closes, but it seems the Blueshirts won’t be pelted with rotten tomatoes on Broadway.

As Tom Pelissero reported, KC Concepcion has visited the Browns ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Concepcion continues to be one of the main names in the upcoming class, and one that has had several teams circling around him. Despite the injury concerns around him, the wide receiver out of Texas A&M is seen by many organizations as a suitable weapon for their systems.

The Giants hosted Concepcion in a visit earlier this year. New York showed interest in him despite the fact Concepcion was intervened for an arthroscopic surgery on his knee by Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys’ team doctor.

Browns could use Concepcion as they figure out QB1 battle

Cleveland will be doomed as long as it doesn’t find its starting quarterback for the season—and preferably for the long run. Still, the Browns must stay busy in the meantime, as Todd Monken evaluates who gets the nod under center between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. That decision will likely be made in training camp. Thus, the Browns may already have Concepcion on the roster by then—that is, of course, if they select him in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Whether it’s Sanders or Watson who’s throwing the pigskin at Huntington Bank Field, they could definitely use Concepcion’s athleticism, which led the Aggies with 919 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. Transferring from NC State to Texas A&M and putting up such numbers in his first year in College Station, Concepcion proved he doesn’t need much time to adapt to new environments.

Indeed, the NFL is a different monster, but the outlook is promising for the Browns, who could benefit from a fast-learning, immediate-impact rookie. Plus, as Monken takes over after Kevin Stefanski’s firing, the entire team will be learning a new system, so it’s not like any player is starting off with a head start.

With his absence at Spotify Camp Nou, Oblak will miss his fifth straight game for Atletico Madrid. Moreover, it will be the third time he misses a game in the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League. To date, this is Atleti’s biggest game of the season, as “Los Colchoneros” vie to come away with a positive result before returning to Madrid for the second leg of this quarterfinal matchup with Barcelona.

Oblak’s absence could be one of the biggest difference-makers in a tight matchup between the two Spanish sides. Barca and Atleti met over the past weekend in Matchweek 30 of La Liga, and it was the former who prevailed by a score of 2-1. However, that result is now worthless as the two sides meet in Europe’s biggest soccer club competition.

Barcelona have their fair share of adversity, too. Raphinha will miss the first leg matchup against Atletico Madrid, as well as Frenkie De Jong who is out for the game, too.

How has Atletico Madrid fared without Oblak?

Since Oblak sustained a muscle injury during a training session on March 13, Diego Simeone’s side has won just one of its last four outings. That was a 1-0 victory over Getafe. Since, Atletico Madrid lost 3-2 to Tottenham in the UCL (won 7-5 on aggregate), and suffered back-to-back defeats against Real Madrid and Barcelona, 3-2 and 2-1, respectively.

Needless to say, their fixture hasn’t been a walk in the park, but Atletico Madrid haven’t managed to come away with wins when they needed it the most. That must change as they visit the Comital City and take on a strong candidate to win the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.

Who will replace Oblak in goal?

As it’s been the case since Oblak went down with a muscle injury, Argentinian goalkeeper Juan Musso will stand between the three posts for Atletico Madrid. So far, Musso has appeared in two games in the 2025-26 UCL, allowing four goals, and recording no clean sheets. Perhaps, his third start is the charm.

Simeone’s team will have four Argentinians in its starting XI: with the likes of Musso, Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone, and Julian Alvarez. Moreover, fellow countrymen Nicolas Gonzalez and Thiago Almada will await for their turn on the substitues’ bench.

“I hope that’s not the one, and I hope the Minnesota one is not the one that’s the final nail in the coffin. That’s a letdown, in tough fashion again,” Larkin admitted after the defeat against the Blue Jackets, via 97.1 The Ticket. The 5-4 loss against the Wild was also extremely disheartening, and even though Patrick Kane owned up to his costly mistake, it still stings in Motor City.

Regardless, the Red Wings had an unsurpassable chance to turn the page and get back in the winning column against the Blue J’s. Detroit and Columbus entered the game tied in points (88) and games played (78) in the NHL campaign. Both sides knew what was on the line during the game at Little Caesars Arena, but only one could walk away triumphant. In the end, those were the Blue Jackets, who snapped their six-game losing streak

Soul-crushing ending in Detroit

With 18 seconds left in the game, it felt like the home team would finally snap its four-game losing streak on home ice. Unfortunately for the Red Wings, a lot can happen in one second. For instance, their playoff hopes came crashing down to pieces in the blink of an eye.

The Blue Jackets took home the extra point in the shootout—the Blue Jackets tied the game with an extra skater with 17 seconds left in regulation—and that may be the difference-maker that prevails until the end of the 2025–26 NHL regular season.

Red Wings are in trouble

The Red Wings no longer have a margin for error. Even more dramatically, even if they win from here on out, the odds are stacked against them to make the postseason. Essentially, Detroit is now praying on Columbus and Ottawa’s downfall.

The Blue Jackets will take on three playoff sides in their last four games, making the Red Wings’ path easier to envision. However, the Sens (currently sitting in WC2) have no playoff teams scheduled in their last four outings. Even if Ottawa stumbles and falls out of a playoff spot, Detroit must take care of its business, and that’s something that is far from guaranteed.

The Red Wings are 3-6-1 in their last 10, have lost five of their last six, and are winless at Little Caesars Arena (where they will play their next two) since March 19. Moreover, Detroit will close out the season in Florida with bouts against the Lightning and Panthers, two teams it hasn’t beaten on the road this season.

That was what new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy hinted in a message that could be interpreted in different ways. Perhaps, the Giants are trying to bamboozle the rest of the NFL, and hide their true intentions. Or, maybe, they are actually letting the league know their next move.

According to New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, Nagy opened up on what he sees in Love, admitting “what a great talent,” he is. Still the two-time Super Bowl champion assistant coach, commented the Giants are excited about the players they have right now at the running back position.

The Giants’ running back room currently includes Cam Skattebo, whom the NY Giants expect to be back from injury soon, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary.

One way to interpret Nagy’s comment on Love

On the one hand, Nagy’s message might be a way of keeping other organizations on their toes. Never let your opponents know your next move might be the mantra in New York, as the Giants face several key decisions. In typical New York City fashion, stress is off the charts inside the G-Men’s facilities.

Not only must the Giants call critical shots before the NFL Draft, but during it as well. Just like Harbaugh left the door open on a potential Dexter Lawrence trade, placing a “tradable” tag on every single player on the roster, Nagy could now leave every option on the table when it comes to Jeremiyah Love.

Another way to interpret Nagy’s answer

On the other hand, fans may see Nagy’s admission as the Giants waving goodbye to the prospect of drafting Love. This might be for various reasons. Maybe the G-Men believe Love won’t be available by the time they make their first-round selection (5th overall).

Or perhaps New York believes it could draft him but would rather spend that pick in another area of need. Indeed, Love is one of the best talents in his class, and although star halfbacks don’t grow on trees, efficient ball carriers are much easier to find (through the NFL Draft or free agency) than other positions.

NY Giants could repeat history

At the end of the day, running backs are seen as expendable around the league. For the Giants, rolling with a three-headed monster with Skattebo, Tracy, and Singletary may be a wiser decision than going all in on Love. Many believe Love might be the perfect heir to Saquon Barkley in the Big Apple.

However, Barkley’s example should also serve as a lesson for New York. The Giants drafted a running back in the top 5 of the draft but failed to surround him with talent. How did that go for New York? Saquon left in free agency to join a divisional rival.

Love may become a superstar in New York, but if he doesn’t see a winning future in town, he might opt to head elsewhere as soon as he becomes an unrestricted free agent. It’s hardly an easy decision for Joe Schoen and company to make, but it’s one that the Giants must nail. Otherwise, they might dig themselves their own grave—again.

College football rivalries are just different, and the feud between Kiffin and his former school, Ole Miss, is trending to be one of the nastiest in 2026. Kiffin has made it clear he still holds love for his time in Oxford, but the fact that he didn’t name Ole Miss nor Chambliss in a recent comment may signal he holds a grudge against the Rebels, just like they do against him.

“Look at the previous place we were at [the University of Mississippi]. The guy [Trinidad Chambliss] didn’t get there until the summer,” Kiffin said, via WGNO News, trying to keep LSU fans calm about the fact Leavitt has undergone surgery and is set to miss the rest of spring football.

Kiffin was recently hit with a subtle shot from Chambliss, who compared him to new Rebels head coach Pete Golding. It seems Kiffin has kept receipts, and fired right back. Knowing Kiffin’s personality, it wouldn’t be all too shocking nor hard to believe.

Why is Leavitt missing spring football?

After transferring from Arizona State to LSU, Sam Leavitt is expected to miss the rest of spring practices in Baton Rouge. As Kiffin stated, this is not news to LSU, as it’s all going according to its timeline for Leavitt. Leavitt suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot in 2025.

Recently, he posted a picture of his foot wrapped in bandages. As fans were quick to jump to conclusions about a re-aggravated injury, Leavitt clarified he had the screws from the initial surgery removed. Leavitt made it clear there were no setbacks and it’s all going according to plan.

The redshirt junior quarterback is set to take over under center in the 2026 NCAA season as Garrett Nussmeier departs for the NFL Draft. Leavitt is facing an early setback, but Kiffin remains confident this is nothing to stress about.

What happened to Chambliss last season?

Offseason drama around his eligibility wasn’t exclusive to this year for Trinidad Chambliss. Last season, the Ferris State transfer had to wait until the summer before he was officially declared academically eligible to enroll at Ole Miss. Thus, he missed crucial stages of the offseason with Kiffin and the Rebels.

Upon arrival, he proved he didn’t need a lot of time to adapt to the playbook. Chambliss hit the ground running in The Literary Center of the South and finished the season with 3,937 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and only three interceptions, as well as 527 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He also led the Rebels to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff before the Miami Hurricanes knocked them out in an instant classic.

Ole Miss vs LSU in 2026

In 2026, Kiffin, Leavitt, and LSU will travel to Oxford to take on Golding, Chambliss, and Ole Miss. It’s set to be a heated showdown in which Kiffin will go up against one of his best creations of his coaching career.

In a cinematic turn of events, the main figure behind Ole Miss’ growth will take on an anger-filled roster filled with players who feel betrayed by Kiffin and will vie to avenge last season’s dramatic chapter.

As is usually the case in college football, reality is stranger than fiction, and the stage is set for one memorable showdown at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in the Magnolia State.

Although the Giants want to keep Lawrence, Harbaugh has left the door open on potential Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux trades. That door that was left ajar may be flung wide open as Cincinnati could put together a trade package the Giants can’t resist.

According to New York Post reporter Adam Schein, the Bengals could offer their second and third-round selections (41st and 72nd overall) in the upcoming NFL Draft in exchange for Lawrence. “I would pay [Lawrence], but [the Giants] have to balance everything here. Including that Cincinnati [Bengals] package,” Schein commented.

Why such a trade package makes sense for Giants

Such a trade package from the Bengals would also be aligned with the Giants’ reported asking price for Lawrence. New York could be asking for a late first-rounder or a second-round selection. If the G-Men can get a second, as well as a third, it may be enough to convince them to pull the trigger on a Lawrence trade. As it stands, though, the Giants are far from sold on shipping their star nose tackle away.

Harbaugh stated he wants to keep Lawrence, and he believes Lawrence wants to stay in New York, as well. The 63-year-old knows his way around the NFL—this isn’t his first rodeo—and he knows how Lawrence may be using the trade request to gain leverage in contract negotiations. At the end of the day, words are like wind, and what Lawrence says in April can be easily forgotten come September if the two sides agree on a restructured deal..

Cincinnati’s perspective

If it comes down to it, then Cincinnati may have the best offer on the table for New York. Still, other reports also hint it may be the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears who have the advantage, because they have late first-round picks available to trade. Cincinnati, on the other hand, drafts 10th overall in the 2026 draft, and all signs indicate the Bengals aren’t sending that first-round selection anywhere.

The organization in the Queen City has enough areas to address that it can’t afford to miss out on such a high draft pick. Lawrence could provide the Bengals with the perfect player to aid their struggling defensive line, especially after Trey Hendrickson left for their rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Lawrence would become an instant staple for Cincinnati’s defense and the best interior D-lineman in the Queen City since Geno Atkins.

Still, if the Bengals look to simply trade for Lawrence—keeping him under the same contract he has with the New York Giants—they could only be setting themselves up for a headache in the long run, with the nose tackle likely to demand a new deal in Cincy, just as he did in the Big Apple.