Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog is taking his first strides toward a potential NHL comeback.

The Avalanche announced Wednesday that Landeskog has been assigned to a conditioning stint with the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles. That puts Landeskog in line to play his first professional hockey game since Colorado hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Landeskog has been sidelined by a knee injury for the past two seasons. He sat out all of the 2022-23 campaign with the ailment and underwent knee cartilage replacement surgery in May 2023. The procedure is often characterized as career-ending, but Landeskog has managed to participate sporadically in Avalanche practices this year. He has ramped up those appearances in recent months, which allowed coach Jared Bednar to hint earlier this week that while Landeskog is likely to remain on long-term injured reserve through the end of this regular season, a conditioning loan wasn't out of the question.

How Landeskog does with the Eagles could determine whether he steps back into the Avalanche's lineup for their upcoming playoff run. The AHL club has five regular-season games remaining, and Landeskog would be eligible to play in up to three of them as part of his assignment. Landeskog was slated to practice with the Eagles on Wednesday before they decided on his ability to get in a game.

The Avalanche would welcome Landeskog back to boost their scoring depth on another postseason push. Colorado is top-five in league scoring already -- averaging 3.34 goals -- and Landeskog could help boost the offensive further even after a long layoff. Before his injury, Landeskog was a perennial 20-goal scorer. And beyond just what he'd provide on the ice, Landeskog's NHL return would be an emotional high for Colorado in a season where franchise stalwart Mikko Rantanen was traded to Carolina in January.

Colorado is currently slated to play Dallas in a potential first-round playoff series. The NHL postseason begins April 19.

Ray Shero, a longtime NHL executive and son of a Hockey Hall of Fame coach, has died, the NHL announced in a statement Wednesday. He was 62.

Shero started out as a sports agent before launching an NHL front office career that spanned three decades. He served as GM for the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins, turning the latter from a franchise that hadn't made the playoffs in five seasons into a Stanley Cup winner in 2009 with the first championship of the Sidney Crosby era. Shero held his post with the Penguins from 2006 to 2014, guiding Pittsburgh to the postseason in every year of his tenure.

After leaving the Penguins, Shero landed in New Jersey and went to work rebuilding the Devils' core. From 2015 to 2020, he added the likes of Taylor Hall (who was the NHL's MVP in 2018), Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier.

"On behalf of the ownership, management, staff, and players of the New Jersey Devils, we are all stunned and deeply saddened by the passing of former General Manager Ray Shero," Tom Fitzgerald, Devils president and GM said in a statement. "Ray was a highly-respected executive, enthusiastic mentor, and most importantly, tremendous friend to many during his time in New Jersey. Ray came from a family that dedicated themselves to the game, and he continued to pass that commitment on. The organization is extremely grateful for the impact Ray had during his tenure in New Jersey, and it is without question that his fingerprints are on the current group we see today both on and off the ice. We send our sincere condolences to his family, and countless friends throughout the hockey world."

The year after being fired in New Jersey, Shero joined the Minnesota Wild as a senior adviser and held that position until his death.

Hockey was always in Shero's blood, although he never played the game professionally. His father was famed coach Fred Shero, who won back-to-back Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974 and 1975 and was the NHL's Jack Adams winner as coach of the year in 1974.

Fred Shero was a pioneer behind the bench, becoming the first head coach to hire assistants and adopting morning skates. He was inducted posthumously to the Hall of Fame's builder category in 2013.

Like his father before him, Ray was able to leave his own lasting impression on the NHL.

"Ray Shero's smile and personality lit up every room he walked into and brightened the day of everyone he met," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "Widely respected throughout hockey for his team-building acumen and eye for talent, he was even more beloved for how he treated everyone fortunate enough to have known him ... it was clear he loved what he was doing and I always marveled at his infectious enthusiasm. The entire National Hockey League family mourns his passing and sends our deepest condolences to the Shero family and Ray's many friends throughout the hockey world."

Following a busy 10-game Tuesday night in the NHL, it's a relatively quiet five-game evening Wednesday.

Nevertheless, there are playoff and draft lottery ramifications aplenty, so let's hit all five matchups rapid-fire:

Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

While the Leafs appear destined for a top-two spot in the Atlantic, the Lightning can still catch them for the No. 1 seed. If the Lightning are going to do it, a game like this is a prime opportunity to make up ground with a regulation win.

Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers
7:30 p.m. (TNT)

The Rangers lost their two most recent games by a combined score of 9-1, and their playoff hopes are dwindling quickly. A win over the Flyers would be a good step toward potentially climbing back into the playoffs. Philly is fourth in the draft lottery order heading into this matchup -- and bear in mind the Flyers also own the first-round picks of the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers.

San Jose Sharks at Minnesota Wild
8 p.m. (ESPN+)

Speaking of occupying a great place in the draft lottery order, the Sharks are No. 1, and they are four points clear of the Chicago Blackhawks for that spot. The Wild are holding on to the second Western wild-card spot, and they enter the evening four points up on the Flames.

St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers
10 p.m. (TNT)

The Blues' 12-game winning streak came to a halt Monday at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets, and they'll be looking to start another one here against the Oilers. St. Louis is in the first wild-card position, two points ahead of the Wild. The Oilers appear to be a lock for the No. 3 spot in the Pacific, bringing on a first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Kings for the fourth straight postseason.

Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks
10 p.m. (ESPN+)

Calgary's chances to jump into wild-card position have faded recently, so getting two points out of this game is crucial. As noted above, they are four points back of the Wild for that final spot. The Ducks enter the contest in the No. 8 spot in the lottery order, right in a jumble of teams between 73 and 76 points, so they can move up pretty easily based on their performance in the final five games.

With the regular season ending April 17, we'll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's schedule
Yesterday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Wednesday's games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
San Jose Sharks at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.

Tuesday's scoreboard

Buffalo Sabres 3, Carolina Hurricanes 0
Montreal Canadiens 4, Detroit Red Wings 1
Florida Panthers 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 1
Boston Bruins 7, New Jersey Devils 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Ottawa Senators 2
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Chicago Blackhawks 0
Nashville Predators 7, New York Islanders 6 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks 6, Dallas Stars 5 (OT)
Utah Hockey Club 7, Seattle Kraken 1
Colorado Avalanche 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2 (SO)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 104.4
Next game: @ TB (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 102.2
Next game: vs. TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 98.8
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Ottawa Senators

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 94.6
Next game: vs. MTL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 91.5
Next game: @ OTT (Friday)
Playoff chances: 89.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 5.5%
Tragic number: 2

e - Buffalo Sabres

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 80.9
Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: E

e - Boston Bruins

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 75.8
Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metro Division

y - Washington Capitals

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 114.0
Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 102.2
Next game: @ WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 93.6
Next game: vs. PIT (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. PHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 1.9%
Tragic number: 3

New York Islanders

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 3%
Tragic number: 2

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 2

e - Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 78.9
Next game: @ NJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 115.6
Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 111.4
Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 103.8
Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 96.5
Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 97.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 95.7
Next game: vs. SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 92.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 88.3
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 1

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 67.3
Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 56.8
Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 103
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 108.3
Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Los Angeles Kings

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 103.3
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99.0
Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 92.7
Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 10.9%
Tragic number: 6

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 89.4
Next game: @ COL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 2

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 80.9
Next game: vs. CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 76.8
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 53.3
Next game: @ MIN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: A "y" means that the team has clinched the division title. An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23

4. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20

5. Boston Bruins

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 22

8. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24

9. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28

10. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25

11. New York Islanders

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27

12. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28

13. New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 28

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 28

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has said his relationship with former teammate Lionel Messi experienced ups and downs, but that he always appreciated having the Inter Miami forward on his team.

Ter Stegen joined Barça in 2014 and played alongside Messi for seven years until the Argentina international departed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

The pair won numerous trophies together on the pitch, including the Champions League in 2015 and four LaLiga titles, but they did not always see eye to eye.

"The good or the bad moments?" Ter Stegen told Bild when asked to recount his best memories playing with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"We had them both [laughs]. Leo is a special character, who is at this [high] level because he's motivated by a lot of things that we don't see.

"There were moments when things didn't work between us because he was annoyed with me and I was annoyed with him.

"I think Leo's probably the only player that, if he wants to shoot right at your face, he can shoot right at your face.

"Other players would probably shoot somewhere else, but he's got the ability to hit [the target] accurately."

Asked if he had ever experienced Messi's ire, Ter Stegen added: "Several times [smiles], but not in a bad way in the sense that it dragged on or anything.

"We never had an argument in the sense that you say we don't get on at all. But we had moments, and that's fine.

"Leo is simply a super impressive character on the pitch and he plays with an ease that you won't see again, I'm 100% sure of that.

"He has the ability that if he wants to make you look bad [on the pitch], then he does it with such ease and with a pass or a shot that you say afterwards: 'That was impossible!'

"I've experienced that more than once. And that's why I'm glad I've always had him with me in games and not on the other side."

Messi, Barça's leading appearance maker (778) and goal scorer (672) of all time, became the club captain in the years leading to his departure, a role now held by Ter Stegen.

"We were in the dressing room together for a long time and it was definitely interesting to have him in the team and to see how he leads," Ter Stegen continued.

"Whether it's my style or not, it was interesting to see. Leo is not a loudspeaker, he works a lot with presence and he doesn't need to say much, actually.

"When he does say something, everyone listens. And that's what you actually want to achieve as a captain, that people listen to you and follow you."

Jürgen Klopp is set to return to Liverpool next month for the first time since he ended his infamous nine-year reign last summer.

Klopp enjoyed a glittering stint at Anfield, winning seven major honours, before stepping down at the end of last season.

He will return to Merseyside in May to feature as a guest speaker at the LFC Foundation's Gala Ball at the city's Anglican Cathedral.

Klopp was appointed the LFC Foundation's first ever honorary ambassador last summer and will be the marquee name at the black-tie event on May 23.

The gala coincides with the final weekend of the Premier League season, meaning Klopp could be in attendance when Liverpool are potentially crowned Premier League champions at home to Crystal Palace on May 25.

Liverpool have excelled under new head coach Arne Slot and are 11 points clear at the top of the table.

They need a maximum of 11 points from their final seven games to guarantee what would be just the club's second league title since 1990.

Looking ahead to his Liverpool return, Klopp -- who now has a new role as Red Bull's global head of soccer -- said: "Everyone knows how much I love the work of the LFC Foundation and I can't wait to join them to celebrate that work and help to raise important funds for them to continue the incredible things they are doing."

Funds raised through next month's event will support the work of the LFC Foundation, who helped over 127,000 people last season and aims to tackle social inequalities.

Some of the funds raised will also go towards Forever Reds, the club's official former players association.

Matt Parish, chief executive of LFC Foundation, said: "We are looking forward to this year's Gala Ball and we are delighted that Jürgen will be joining us to support the event.

"Jürgen was a fantastic advocate for our work during his time at the club and we appreciate his ongoing support and hope as many people as possible can join us on what is sure to be a memorable night and an opportunity to raise funds to allow us to continue to grow and support even more people in our communities as well as supporting Forever Reds."

Nemanja Matić has blasted André Onana's claim that Manchester United are "way better" than Lyon by branding the Cameroon international as "one of the worst goalkeepers in United's history."

Onana responded later on Wednesday by throwing shade at Matić, saying "not everyone" can say they have lifted a trophy at United -- Matić played in a series of finals during his five years at Old Trafford but left without winning any silverware.

Onana had been bullish about United's chances in their Europa League quarterfinal first leg in France on Thursday, saying ahead of the game that "I think we are way better than them."

Matić, who is now playing for Lyon, was asked about the comments at a pre-match news conference on Wednesday.

The Serbian midfielder hit back by savaging the form Onana has shown since joining United.

"You need to have cover to say something like that," said Matić, who made 189 appearances for United between 2017 and 2022.

"I respect everyone but to say that then you need to get an answer.

"If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United's history, you need to take care about what you are talking about."

Andre Onana has responded to Nemanja Matic calling him 'one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United history' pic.twitter.com/Up13ticuTZ

ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) April 9, 2025

Onana replaced David De Gea -- a former teammate of Matić -- as United's No.1 when he joined from Inter Milan in a deal worth more than 40 million ($51m).

The 29-year-old has been heavily criticised after making a series of mistakes since arriving in 2023.

United travel to Lyon on Wednesday sitting 13th in the Premier League and on the back of a run of just four wins from their last 12 games in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Lyon are fifth in Ligue 1 and have six of their last seven games.

"If David De Gea, Peter Schmeichel or [Edwin] van der Sar said that, then I would question myself," Matić said.

"But if you are statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United's modern history, he needs to show that before he says. We will see."

In response, Onana posted a picture on X of himself lifting last season's FA Cup and wrote: "I would never be disrespectful to another club. We know that tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent.

"We focus on preparing a performance to make our fans proud. At least I've lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can't say the same."

Man United manager Ruben Amorim said that Matić has misconstrued Onana's comments.

"Tomorrow it will not matter," he told a news conference later on Wednesday. "If you see the full quote of Andre Onana it's quite different. The first sentence is that we know it's a very, very good team. Sometimes the players or coaches don't listen to the full quote and sometimes it's a misunderstanding. I know Matic, he's a great guy.

"It's really hard to deal with that [for Onana], that is for sure. If you go through all the quotes, you cannot see any disrespect there. Just respect but trying to give confidence and show confidence in his team. Especially this year.

"Everybody can talk bad things about Manchester United. Sometimes our group -- players, coaches, staff -- has to show some confidence in our team. I think that's all. I think he [Matic] hears some things by half. Not the whole story. For me that's clear in this situation."

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is edging closer to signing a new deal at Anfield, a source confirmed.

Salah, alongside teammates Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is out of contract at the end of the season. While a source has told ESPN Real Madrid are "very optimistic" of landing Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer, there has been optimism on Merseyside that Van Dijk and Salah will extend their stays at Anfield.

Van Dijk confirmed Sunday that "progress" has been made in his own negotiations, and a source told ESPN that Liverpool are growing increasingly confident that Salah will also sign a new deal.

Salah has won eight major trophies during his eight years at Liverpool, playing a key part in the team's Champions League triumph under Jürgen Klopp in 2018-19 and their runaway Premier League success in 2019-20.

As well as being level with Sergio Agüero in fifth place on the Premier League's all-time top scorers list, the Egypt international has also won a host of individual honors, including three Golden Boots (2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22) and two African Footballer of the Year awards (2017, 2018).

He is currently enjoying a fine individual season, registering 32 goals and 22 assists in all competitions this term to help Liverpool build up an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Salah's 44 goal contributions in the Premier League this season are tied for the most in a 38-game campaign. He is four away from surpassing the Premier League record of 47, which is jointly held by Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers, 1994-5) and Andrew Cole (Newcastle United, 1993-94).

Salah, 32, is understood to be very happy on Merseyside and has repeatedly voiced his love for the club.

Speaking back in December, Salah said: "You know now I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. ... I love the fans. The fans love me."

Information from ESPN's Global Sports Research contributed to this report.

"I am not here to win the Champions League. I am here to build a team."

These were the words of Luis Enrique, eight months ago at the start of the 2024-25 season. It was the beginning of Year 1 of his Paris Saint-Germain project: a post-Kylian Mbappé era, a policy of no big egos and no big stars, and a new journey with a young, talented and malleable squad.

His words sounded like revolution for a club created by superstars, made for superstars and run by superstars. It felt like one, too, and heading into Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal against Aston Villa, it's fair to say that the evolution of the revolution is much ahead of schedule.

In private last summer, the 54-year-old Spaniard was honest and transparent about the amount of time he felt such a revamp would take, predicting two years of work before reaching the level he wanted and seeing a team on which everyone would play hard, fight and work for each other. On Saturday, as PSG celebrated the 13th French title in their history, coming during a season in which they're still unbeaten with six games to go, Alexandre Dujeux, the beaten Angers manager, didn't hold back in his praise.

"I think they make a very beautiful champion. Everyone attacks; everyone defends. I enjoy when I see this. I find it fantastic," he admitted after his team's 1-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes that confirmed the Parisians' coronation.

In only his second season at the club, Luis Enrique has already in a sense lived through three different eras with PSG. Last season, with Mbappé and the constraints that his status represented, the team was built around the France captain. Despite Luis Enrique doing his best to try to make the striker change, work harder and be more of a team player, the coach didn't like the team, which was not his and not built like he wanted.

Then from August 2024 to the start of 2025, it was about planting the seeds of this new team and moving ahead with his plans. The priorities for Luis Enrique: Finding the right No. 9, teaching the movement with and without the ball, passing on instruction for their team press and counter-press, improving players individually (namely Vitinha, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Willian Pacho) and instilling a fighting, collective mentality.

It was not easy, in particular the intense criticism he and the team faced after their league phase stutters in the Champions League -- it took them until Matchday 7 to actually confirm their place in the knockout stages -- and a few surprising draws (including back-to-back ones against Auxerre and Nantes) in Ligue 1. Yet while the former Barcelona boss kept changing his line ups in search of the right formula, he never deviated from his idea of constructing a team.

"If I fail, it will be with my ideas. I will continue to follow them. I am getting there," he said in November.

Again, in private, Luis Enrique was letting team officials know that he could feel the squad getting better and starting to really understand what he wanted. The players could feel it, too: Training was demanding -- in addition to working on precise tactical plans, the team spent hours on video analysis -- but it was paying off. Ousmane Dembélé had been moved to center-forward in December, and all the pieces were starting to fit around him.

On Dec. 15, the 2018 World Cup winner started as the No. 9 against Lyon in Paris. He had only scored once in the 11 matches prior, but it clicked for PSG that night. A goal for Dembélé, and a good win followed three days later at AS Monaco with two more goals for the Frenchman. The Parisians never looked back after that and kept playing better and better.

The third phase of Luis Enrique's tenure at PSG has come since the turn of the year, as 2025 has been exceptional. With Dembélé up front and the team molded around collective effort, the results include the demolitions of Manchester City (4-2) and VfB Stuttgart (4-1) in the Champions League league phase, the 10-0 aggregate win over Brest in the last 32, and huge wins in Ligue 1 over Brest (5-2), Monaco (4-1) and Lille (4-1).

It's a PSG team built in Luis Enrique's image, one that works hard together, with great cohesion, and in which every player is committed. The individual talent has done the rest.

Pacho has made the defence more solid. The first-choice midfield had question marks around it in terms of physicality and size, but Vitinha, João Neves and Fabián Ruiz (unbeaten in his last 50 league games with PSG) have shown that intelligence, movement and quality on the ball are more than adequate compensation. In attack, the arrival of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli in January has been a legitimate spark, with Dembélé (32 goals and 7 assists in all competitions), Barcola (18 and 15), Doué (11 and 11), Gonçalo Ramos (14 and 5), Kang-In Lee (6 and 5) and Kvara himself (3 and 4) all finding the net with regularity.

Of course, PSG's masterclass of the season so far were the two games against Liverpool in the Champions League last 16, in which they dismantled the best team in Europe thus far -- 4.41 Expected Goals (xG) vs. 1.86 in two games, with a 48-21 edge in shots on goal -- over both legs. Collectively, the two performances are among the best of the season all teams and competitions combined.

PSG reached new heights then, and have set the bar high for the rest of the season. With the French league title already secured, they will have to do it again against Villa this week. Luis Enrique has no doubt that his team will get it done.

Five-star guard Brayden Burries, the second-highest-ranked prospect available in the senior class, committed to Arizona on Wednesday.

Burries, who announced his decision on "SportsCenter," is Arizona's second top-15 addition in recent weeks after Koa Peat picked the Wildcats in late March.

"Arizona was the best fit for me and my family," Burries told ESPN. "Coach [Tommy] Lloyd is a great guy. They have been recruiting me for a while. He allows his players to play both up and down, but they also execute within a structured framework. Everyone is held accountable. Their style of play is smart and aggressive."

Burries chose the Wildcats over USC, although his final group also included Tennessee, Oregon and Alabama.

"I love the fan base," Burries said. "I've been to a few of their games. There is great energy in the McKale Center. It's a basketball school."

A 6-foot-4 combo guard from Eleanor Roosevelt High School (California), Burries was a McDonald's All-American and is ranked No. 11 in the ESPN 100 for the 2025 class.

Burries was one of the most consistently productive players on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer, averaging 20.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 15 games in April and May -- including three games of 34 or more points. He was even better at the Nike Peach Jam in July, putting up 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds in six games, shooting 41.7% from 3-point range.

He also led Roosevelt to the California state championship, scoring 44 points in the Open Division title game win over Archbishop Riordan.

Burries is considered one of the most gifted scoring guards in the class of 2025. He boasts an impressive shooting percentage thanks to his keen understanding of shot quality. Recently, he has made significant strides in his playmaking abilities and has combined his vision with an improved ability to read defenses. He has proven to be a strong natural scorer who excels from midrange, is capable from the 3-point line, and finishes well at the rim due to his size and sturdy frame. His mature game should translate well as a freshman.

Arizona now has two top-15 prospects in the fold for next season, with Burries and Peat both projected to slot straight into the starting lineup. They're joined in the Wildcats' 2025 class by top-50 prospect Dwayne Aristode and four-star wing Bryce James, son of LeBron James.

Lloyd loses star guard Caleb Love (17.2 PPG) and three other rotation players, but will bring back starters Jaden Bradley (12.1 PPG), Anthony Dell'Orso (7.2 PPG) and Tobe Awaka (8.0 PPG) and awaits the decision of potential first-round pick Carter Bryant (6.5 PPG).