EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings and coach Kevin O'Connell agreed Tuesday on a multiyear contract extension, closing an unusual chapter and locking down one of the NFL's top young head coaches.

Terms were not immediately available.

ESPN's Adam Schefter also reported that the Vikings are working on an extension for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Like O'Connell, Adofo-Mensah signed a four-year contract when the Vikings hired him in 2022 and thus has one year remaining on his deal.

O'Connell was displeased after the 2023 season when owners Zygi and Mark Wilf opted against extending his contract, ESPN has reported, at a time when the franchise planned to start over at the quarterback position. Multiple teams were positioning themselves this month to make trade offers if the sides were not able to agree on an extension, as Fox Sports first reported and ESPN later confirmed, given the possibility that O'Connell could always choose to simply work through the expiration of his deal and become a coaching free agent in 2025.

But O'Connell said twice this month that he wanted to remain with the Vikings, and after meeting with the Wilfs last week, he added: "I love our ownership."

O'Connell was not made available for comment Tuesday. In a statement released by the team, he said in part: "It is an absolute honor to continue leading the Minnesota Vikings. Holding this prestigious position is something I never take for granted, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Wilf family for their unwavering belief in what we are building together."

O'Connell, 39, joined the Vikings after a two-year stint as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator. He has a record of 34-17 with two playoff appearances and is one of three coaches in NFL history to record multiple 13-win seasons in his first three seasons. The others are the Green Bay Packers' Matt LaFleur and the San Francisco 49ers' George Seifert.

But while LaFleur and Seifert both had the benefit of a Hall of Fame quarterback, O'Connell won 13 games with Kirk Cousins in 2022 and 14 games with Sam Darnold in 2024. The Vikings will entrust him to develop J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 pick of last year's draft, as their long-term starter.

"Kevin is exactly who we believed him to be when we named him as our head coach -- an innovative playcaller, an excellent communicator and a strong leader who motivates and connects with his players," Mark Wilf said in a statement. "He has helped establish a culture that positions us for sustained success, and he will continue to set the standard we need as we pursue a championship for Vikings fans."

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 draft, will sit out at least another week due to a strained left adductor, the team said Tuesday.

Risacher already has missed three games with the injury, and Atlanta said in a statement that he's "progressing in his rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week."

Risacher, 19, has averaged 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in 39 games (37 starts) this season. He has shot just 28.1 percent from 3-point range.

The Frenchman has had one game where he scored at least 20 points, a 33-point outburst Nov. 6 in a win over the New York Knicks.

Atlanta recently got back forward Jalen Johnson, its second-leading scorer (19.4 ppg), from a five-game absence due to shoulder inflammation.

LE CHESNAY, France -- Victor Wembanyama stood on the center stripe of a new outdoor court in his hometown, his arms outstretched to their full 8-foot wingspan as he posed for a slew of photographers.

He could not have seemed happier.

Wembanyama unveiled a gift of sorts to his hometown and the next generation on Tuesday, a pair of outdoor courts -- one for 5-on-5 play, the other for 3-on-3 play -- that were built to the specifications that he wanted and sketched out himself.

"For those of you that don't know, this started in a room with an idea," San Antonio general manager Brian Wright said, as about five dozen kids sat on the court in front of him and another 100 or so people watched from adjacent courtside seating. "And I remember watching Victor going on a whiteboard and literally drawing every single detail of the court that you see today and putting his heart and soul into designing this court for the children to play on. It speaks to how special you are and how special this is to you, so thank you, Victor."

Wembanyama and the Spurs are in France this week, playing a pair of games Thursday and Saturday in Paris against the Indiana Pacers. France is Wembanyama's homeland, as everyone knows. And it's often assumed that he's from Paris, but he's from Le Chesnay -- about 12 miles (20 kilometers) west of the city.

It was important to him to make this happen in time for the Spurs' visit there. Others did not think that was realistic.

"Impossible," said Le Chesnay's mayor, Richard Delepierre.

The challenges were many: There were old courts in that space to excavate, designs to be approved, it's not great weather for construction at this time of year and, if all that weren't enough, building anything so close to the Palace of Versailles seems to be a bit of a logistical headache, to say the least.

But it's what Wemby wanted. And that makes things happen, especially in his hometown.

"Beyond his immense basketball talents, it seems that Victor possesses great qualities of art and a certain capacity for persuasion," Delepierre said.

Construction really got going just a couple months ago. But on Tuesday, on a chilly afternoon, it was finished. The new nets were in place, the fibers still tight together as if to show not a single shot had gone through them yet. The kids peeled back a black drape to show off the center court design -- a nod to both the Spurs' logo and the Le Chesnay clock tower -- and Wembanyama caught a lob for the ceremonial first dunk.

"It was my dream also to have these kind of courts when I was living here," Wembanyama said.

Le Chesnay is a small city of about 30,000, a little west of downtown Paris. From town hall there's a view of the Palace of Versailles, the home King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette shared in the late 18th century before he was beheaded during the French Revolution. Local legend suggests Napoleon roamed the area at times, even ordering that trees be planted to line the streets a certain way.

It is also where Wembanyama's basketball life began to grow.

Local officials say the majority of residents there -- the Chesnaycourtois and Chesnaycourtoise -- take part in some sort of sporting activity. Wembanyama created a bit of a stir in town when he brought friends in for an impromptu pickup soccer match last year, some of them roaming the same field that they did as little kids. Handball is extremely popular there, as are auto racing and equestrian. There even was a filly named Le Chesnay that raced at the famed Saratoga Race Course in 2009.

But, officially or unofficially, it's a basketball town now. Kids are playing the game all the time in Le Chesnay, most of them -- as one would guess -- wearing Spurs jerseys or T-shirts. Wembanyama's 6-foot-3 mother, Elodie de Fautereau, was a standout player and became a coach.

"The Spurs' 'Play Paris' initiative isn't just about building a court, it's about creating a vibrant hub for the community that honors Victor's journey and his commitment to giving back," said RC Buford, CEO of Spurs Sports and Entertainment. "This renovated space will hopefully inspire the next generation and showcase the power of sports to bring people together."

The Spurs haven't said what they spent on the project, but it was a "significant" part of the estimated $500,000 budget, Delepierre said. It's also important to note that the courts aren't some Wembanyama tribute; the city logo and the Spurs logo are present, but nothing that screams the 2023-24 NBA rookie of the year's name.

He didn't want them to be about him. And they got done just in time.

"Impossible," Delepierre said, taking back his previous declaration, "is not French."

MIAMI -- Guard Tyler Herro will be sidelined for the Miami Heat, as they take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night because of groin tightness.

Herro, who turned 25 on Monday, will miss his first game of the season. He is averaging a team-best 24 points.

The Heat said Herro woke up with tightness on Tuesday. He was originally listed him as questionable for the game and downgraded to out about an hour before tipoff.

In his fifth NBA season, Herro has assumed a heavier offensive role, especially with the uncertainty of star forward Jimmy Butler's future with the club. Butler recently returned from a seven-game suspension for what the Heat considered "conduct detrimental to the team."

The Phoenix Suns are trading their 2031 first-rounder to the Utah Jazz for three first-round picks, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

The trade triples the Suns' allotted first-round draft capital as the franchise pursues upgrades to its roster -- such as Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. Butler, who requested a trade from the Heat earlier this month, has the Suns among his preferred trade destinations, sources said.

The Suns are acquiring the least favorable firsts in 2025 of Cleveland and Minnesota; in 2027 of Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah; and in 2029 of Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah, sources said.

The aggressive approach by the Suns unlocks their next six drafts and breaks up their lone tradable first in 2031 into three firsts. For 2025, the Suns are likely to have Cleveland's first-round pick. The Cavaliers entered Tuesday with the best record in the NBA.

The Jazz are consolidating their first-round picks acquired in the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades in 2022. Including the 2031 unprotected first from Phoenix, Utah will have 11 first-round picks in the next seven years.

An 11-year-old collector in Los Angeles has scooped up a one-of-a-kind baseball card featuring National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes.

Topps announced Tuesday that the card, which features the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher's autograph and a patch from a game-worn jersey, had been found.

Now comes the fun part: seeing what it is worth on the open market.

The collector could get a massive haul if willing to trade it to the Pirates, who have put together a package that includes 30 years' worth of season tickets behind home plate at PNC Park in exchange for the card.

Skenes' girlfriend, LSU gymnast and influencer Livvy Dunne, is offering the card's owner the opportunity to take in a game with her in a luxury suite at the ballpark during one of Skenes' starts.

The card could hold pretty high value elsewhere considering the potentially bright future ahead for the 22-year-old Skenes, who also finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting following an outstanding rookie season in 2024.

The first overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft made his major league debut in May and put together one of the most impressive rookie seasons in recent memory. Skenes was selected as the NL's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game after just 11 starts and finished the season 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 games.

Skenes said over the weekend he hasn't thought about the potential of signing a long-term contract to remain in Pittsburgh, saying instead that his focus is on helping the Pirates take a step toward contending in 2025.

Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese-born player elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous selection, and he'll be joined in the Class of 2025 by starting pitcher CC Sabathia and closer Billy Wagner.

Suzuki, who got 393 of 394 votes in balloting of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, would have joined Yankees great Mariano Rivera (2019) as the only unanimous selections. Instead, Suzuki's 99.746% of the vote is second only to Derek Jeter's 99.748% (396 of 397 ballots cast in 2020) as the highest plurality for a position player in Hall of Fame voting, per the BBWAA.

"I don't think anybody in this whole world thought that I'd be a Hall of Famer," Suzuki said. "As a baseball player, this is the highest honor you can achieve."

Suzuki collected 2,542 of his 3,089 career hits as a member of the Seattle Mariners. Before that, he collected 1,278 hits in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan, giving him more overall hits (4,367) than Pete Rose, MLB's all-time leader.

Suzuki did not debut in MLB until he was 27 years old, but he exploded on the scene in 2001 by winning Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in his first season, leading Seattle to a record-tying 116 regular-season wins.

"Ichiro is truly one of a kind," Mariners president Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. "His commitment, legendary work ethic, physical endurance, mental toughness, attention to detail and passion for the game are all on a different level."

He was a two-time American League batting champion and 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder, hitting .311 with 117 homers, 780 RBIs and 509 stolen bases with the Mariners, Yankees and Marlins.

An exacting player with a legendary workout routine -- one he still follows five years after his retirement -- the apex of Suzuki's career was 2004, when he hit a career-high .372 in winning one of his two American League batting titles. In the process, he had an MLB-record 262 hits, breaking the single-season mark set by George Sisler in 1920.

While Suzuki wasn't the first player to successfully move from Japan to the majors, his impact presaged baseball's current era with Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani -- some of the game's biggest stars -- following in his path.

"There was a time when I didn't even get a chance to play in the MLB," Suzuki told MLB Network. "So what an honor it is to be for me to be here and be a Hall of Famer."

Suzuki and Sabathia finished first and second in 2001 voting for AL Rookie of the year and later were teammates for two seasons with the Yankees.

"It's pretty cool to be a rookie that same year in 2001, battle [Ichiro] for so many years, eventually be a teammate of his," Sabathia said. "It's exciting. When you're around him, you know you're in the presence of a Hall of Famer."

Sabathia, who was 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA, also was on the ballot for the first time and he earned 86.8% of the vote. He was the 2007 AL Cy Young winner while with Cleveland, won a World Series title with the Yankees in 2009 and was a six-time All-Star selection over 19 seasons that included a stop with Milwaukee.

His 3,093 career strikeouts make him one of 19 members of the 3,000-strikeout club, and he ranks third among left-handers on that list behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton.

Perhaps one of the last true workhorse starters headed for Cooperstown, Sabathia prided himself on taking the ball. Never was that more evident than in 2008, when during his stint with Milwaukee, he frequently threw on three days' rest while going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in helping the Brewers snap a 26-year postseason drought.

That stretch run preceded Sabathia's first foray into free agency. He signed with the Yankees and donned the pinstripes for his last 11 seasons -- a stretch that included a World Series title in 2009.

He has said that his Hall plaque will feature a Yankees cap.

"The first time I walked into the plaque room, I almost cried," Sabathia said about the first time he entered the Cooperstown corridor in which his image will now be permanently enshrined. "I had no idea. I think current players should got to the Hall of Fame. It's so inspiring."

Wagner's 422 career saves -- 225 of which came with the Houston Astros -- are the eighth most in big league history. His selection comes in his 10th and final appearance on the BBWAA ballot, earning 82.5% for the seven-time All-Star.

He became the ninth pitcher in the Hall who was primarily a reliever -- the first left-hander among them -- after Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith and Rivera.

Wagner was 47-40 with a 2.31 ERA for the Astros (1995-2003), Phillies (2004-05), the Mets (2006-09), Red Sox (2009) and Braves (2010). His 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings are the most among pitchers with at least 900 innings, though his 903 career innings are the fewest among Hall of Famers.

A native of Virginia, the emotional Wagner broke down several times during his post-announcement television interview as marveled over his journey from humble beginnings. A hard-throwing southpaw, Wagner famously only began throwing with his left hand because his right arm was broken while playing football.

Now he's a Hall of Famer.

The three electees will join Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were selected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee in December, in being honored at the induction ceremony on July 27 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.

Just falling short in the balloting was outfielder Carlos Beltran, who was named on 70.3% of ballots, shy of the 75% threshold necessary for election.

Beltran won 1999 AL Rookie of the Year honors while with Kansas City. He went on to make nine All-Star teams and become one of five players in history with at least 400 homers and 300 stolen bases.

A key member and clubhouse leader of the controversial 2017 World Series champion Astros, whose legacy was tainted by a sign-stealing scandal, Beltran's selection would have bode well for other members of that squad who will be under consideration in the years to come.

Also coming up short was 10-time Gold Glove outfielder Andruw Jones, who was named on 66.2% of the ballots. Jones saw an uptick from last year's total (61.6%) and still has two more years of ballot eligibility remaining.

PED-associated players on the ballot didn't make much headway in the balloting. Alex Rodriguez finished with 37.1%, while Manny Ramirez was at 34.3%.

Players comprise 278 of 351 elected Hall of Famers, including 142 on the BBWAA ballot, of which 62 were elected in their first year of eligibility.

Carlos González, Curtis Granderson, Adam Jones, Ian Kinsler, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Hanley Ramírez, Fernando Rodney, Troy Tulowitzki and Ben Zobrist will be dropped from future ballots after receiving less than 5%.

Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp join the ballot next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The 2025 Baseball Writers' Association of America vote is in -- and Ichiro Suzuki (one vote shy of being a unanimous selection), CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner are the newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Carlos Beltran fell 19 votes short of the 75% threshold for enshrinement. The new Hall of Famers will join Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were elected in December by the classic baseball era committee, in Cooperstown in July.

ESPN MLB experts Buster Olney, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers and Jorge Castillo break down what the 2025 vote means and look ahead to what the future holds for this year's candidates -- and those joining the ballot in 2026.

Let's get into it.

Besides those elected, who is the biggest winner on this year's ballot?

Olney: The case for a lot of starting pitchers was strengthened by the first-ballot election of CC Sabathia, following his excellent career. In the past, 300 wins was a benchmark that seemed to be important to Hall voters, but that is shifting; Sabathia, with 251 wins, gets in on his first try, overwhelmingly. Sabathia has a career WAR of 61.8, and think about some of the starters who are in the same neighborhood: Zack Greinke (72.8), Luis Tiant (65.6), Tommy John (62.1), David Cone (61.6), Andy Pettitte (60.7) and Mark Buehrle (60.0). There should be a whole lot of starting pitchers making speeches on the Cooperstown stage in the years ahead.

Rogers: Andruw Jones is inching closer and closer to being elected. That's good news considering he has only two years left on the ballot. At this rate, it'll be a surprise if he doesn't get in next year -- or at the very least by the time his 10th year of eligibility comes around.

Castillo: I agree with Buster and Jesse on future starting pitchers on the ballot and Andruw Jones. But what about closers? Namely Francisco Rodriguez, who was on for the third time, and Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel, who both remain active. It took Billy Wagner all 10 years on the ballot, but he's a Hall of Famer. He ranks eighth all time in saves. Jansen and Kimbrel rank fourth and fifth, respectively, with more perhaps coming. Rodriguez is sixth. He polled at just 10.2% this year, but Wagner polled at just 10% in his first two years. Wagner was more dominant over the course of his career than them and posted a higher career WAR but, given the increased importance of relievers in the sport, Wagner's induction is good news for closers in the future.

Doolittle: Even though he came up short, Carlos Beltran getting to 70.3% in his third year makes him a good bet to get in next year. Guess he's got one more year of penance to serve in the mind of some of the voters. He's a no-brainer.

Who is the biggest loser from this year's voting results?

Olney: Manny Ramirez, who now has just one more year left on the ballot with his percentage of voter support barely moving. In 2020, the Baseball Writers' Association of America removed Kenesaw Mountain Landis' name from the MVP award that it bestows because of his long history of racism, and yet a huge portion of voters continue to apply Landis' character clause for steroid-era candidates. As far as the ballot is concerned, Ramirez is in good standing just like anyone else, but a lot of writers won't let him into the Hall despite some evidence that PED users have already been inducted.

Rogers: There doesn't seem to be a ton of softening for known PED users as Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez are making very little progress toward the 75% threshold. Ramirez, in particular, is a huge long shot to make the Hall of Fame with just one year left on the ballot. A-Rod still has plenty of time, but minds will have to change significantly for him to get in.

Castillo: Anybody known to have used PEDs. Whether you agree with it or not, the likes of Ramirez and Rodriguez will probably need the Eras Committees to be more lenient for induction.

Doolittle: Fans of historic achievements and a coherent Hall of Fame. I just don't see Ramirez and A-Rod getting over the line, not if Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens didn't. Nothing in this year's number indicated any kind of a shift. To me, it's absurd.

What is one thing that stands out to you from this year's voting totals?

Olney: Advanced metrics help the case for some players who don't have gaudy counting stats, and after two years of voting, it's pretty clear that Chase Utley is going to be one of those guys. After getting 28.8% in his first year of eligibility, Utley took a significant step forward, advancing to 39.8%. That's also good news for Buster Posey, another star player who was dominant at his position for a chunk of years but also didn't necessarily compile gaudy counting stats.

Rogers: Well, that Ichiro did not get in unanimously. Some players simply deserve to be on everyone's ballot. We really can't agree on the few that come along every so often that are among the very best of all-time - not just their generation? In a sport that creates debate on a daily basis, sometimes debate isn't needed.

Castillo: While most voters have taken an unyielding tough stance against PED users, they have not viewed Beltran's transgressions nearly as negatively. That doesn't mean he hasn't faced a penalty. Beltran was suspended for a year for his role in the Astros' sign-stealing scheme and was accordingly fired as manager of the Mets before managing a game. Without that, he's a Hall of Famer by now. Instead, he polled at 70.3% this year, his third on the ballot. He should reach the 75% threshold next year, which bodes well for other players connected to the Astros' scandal on future ballots.

Doolittle: Russell Martin and Brian McCann both had supporters. For both of them, it seems like those who voted for them must have bought in fully to the FanGraphs' version of WAR, which goes all-in with pitch-framing metrics. That's especially true in Martin's case, but both of them had fWAR totals heavily tilted toward the defensive side of the ball. Obviously most voters aren't there yet. For me, I remain uncertain about the measures of that skill, at least the scale of credit that is doled out for it. And "uncertain" isn't a euphemism but a precise description, as I may yet be convinced in the future. For now, I don't think we have a full grasp on how to rate 21st-century catchers, and I hate for anyone at that position who *might* be worthy to drop off the ballot.

Which one player's vote total is most surprising to you?

Olney: Early in Andruw Jones's candidacy, when he was barely clearing 7% of the vote, he looked like a long shot for election; the question was whether he would remain on the ballot. But now he's positioned to get in next year, and if not, he'll definitely get in the following year.

Rogers: Brian McCann. The fact that he and Russell Martin have similar totals just isn't right -- and the fact that he's falling off the ballot is downright wrong. He's eighth all time in home runs by catchers, and six of the seven players ahead of him are in the Hall of Fame. And he has a career .262 batting average and was considered good behind the plate. He deserved more than one year of consideration.

Castillo: Ichiro getting all but one vote. Not because he doesn't deserve all of those votes but because he should've been unanimous -- like so many other players in the past. For now, Mariano Rivera remains the only player inducted unanimously.

Doolittle: Chase Utley's numbers tumbled between the last publicly tracked numbers and the release of the final results. I don't get it. He's only gone around twice now and should be fine eventually but until I saw the final count, I would have thought he was a good bet to get in next time. Now I doubt it. Guess his supporters have some stumping to do.

Based on this year's results, who do you think will get in on next year's ballot?

Olney: Andruw Jones, and Carlos Beltran (as some voters stop applying the sign-stealing demerit). And Utley will be in play. Ramirez will have too far to go in his last year on the ballot, and it's clear that PED-related suspensions are worthy of a lifetime ban for a lot of voters.

Rogers: Jones, Beltran, who both seem like near-locks, and perhaps Utley -- who is in line to make a big leap close to the 75% requirement.

Castillo: Andruw Jones, Carlos Beltran and Chase Utley. Next year's group of first-time candidates won't be nearly as strong, surely giving Jones and Beltran the bump they need for induction. Utley should be a close call.

Doolittle: Jones and Beltran. Hopefully Utley will get a fresh look and, among first-timers, Cole Hamels will have support. But it may be a long slog for the cases of both former Phillies.

Novak Djokovic produced yet another scarcely-believable comeback to stun Carlos Alcaraz in a thriller and reach the Australian Open semi-finals.

The 37-year-old Serb defied injury, age and ranking to win 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 against his 21-year-old opponent in Melbourne.

Djokovic, going for a record-extending 11th men's singles title, limped around Rod Laver Arena at the end of the first set after suffering what appeared to be a groin problem.

But, after going off court for treatment, he recovered impressively to continue his bid for a 25th Grand Slam triumph - which would be an all-time record.

Djokovic played aggressively until the pain wore off, allowing him to move more freely and take control of the match.

Spanish third seed Alcaraz became increasingly animated as he struggled to figure out how to turn an engrossing contest back in his favour.

When seventh seed Djokovic sealed victory - at 00:57 local time after a battle lasting three hours and 38 minutes - he roared towards coach Andy Murray.

Djokovic and Alcaraz shared a warm embrace at the net after a highly-anticipated match which lived up to the expectation.

The defeat ends Alcaraz's hopes - for now, at least - of becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.

Instead it is Djokovic who advances to the semi-finals, where he will face German second seed Alexander Zverev on Friday.

Every Monday, we'll mine the waiver wire for lesser-rostered performers who have the potential to help fantasy teams in a variety of leagues. We'll also present several strong streaming candidates for the immediate week ahead.

Resources: Goalie depth chart | Daily lines | Projections | Play for free | Player rater | Most added/dropped | Mock draft lobby | How to watch on ESPN+

Forwards

Adam Fantilli, F, Columbus Blue Jackets (1.5 FPPG, 81.2% available): The second-year center is doing a fine job filling in for Sean Monahan -- who suffered a wrist injury Jan. 7 -- on the Blue Jackets' top line, contributing three goals and three helpers in six contests (plus-five). Skating more than 20 minutes/game, the 20-year-old is also shooting more often. While it's possible Monahan might be ready to return before the Four Nations Face-Off in February, there's no hurry here. Before losing to the Rangers in OT on Saturday, Columbus had won six in a row.

Mathew Barzal, F, New York Islanders (1.7 FPPG, 48.1% available): A far more productive player since New Year's Eve, Barzal has three goals and six assists on 19 shots through eight games. Competing on a top line with Anders Lee and Bo Horvat, the winger is averaging almost 21 minutes/game and nearly a shot/contest. Despite contributing zilch on the power play, Barzal is still averaging 2.44 FPPG in 2025. Not too shabby at all.

Kaapo Kakko, F, Seattle Kraken (1.2 FPPG, 91.5% available): There's no question the second-overall draft pick (2019) is thoroughly enjoying the new lease on his career on the other side of the continent. After a handful of warmup games, the banished ex-Ranger has three goals and seven helpers in eight contests. Skating on a top line with Matty Beniers and Jaden Schwartz, he's also seeing quality minutes with the man-advantage. Some fresh starts prove more fruitful than others. Kakko won't be available in almost 92% of ESPN.com fantasy leagues for much longer.

Morgan Frost, F, Philadelphia Flyers (1.5 FPPG, 92.7.2% available): Skating on a scoring line and power play with Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett, Frost has four goals and two assists on 18 shots in six recent contests. Unlike his linemates, the 25-year-old remains resoundingly available in ESPN Fantasy leagues and merits rostering in deeper fantasy competition. At least for now.

Jordan Staal, F, Carolina Hurricanes (1.3 FPPG, 89.4% available): The veteran forward is on a productive roll, earning five goals and five assists since the launch of 2025. Skating on an effective unit with Jordan Martinook and, now, Seth Jarvis, he merits fantasy consideration in deeper leagues across the ESPN Fantasy board. Particularly in those that reward faceoff wins. Only six other skaters have more than Staal's current tally of 458.

See also:

• Shane Pinto, F, Ottawa Senators (1.4 FPPG, 88.7% available)

• Jake Neighbours, F, St. Louis Blues (1.6 FPPG, 89.1% available)

• Marco Kasper, F, Detroit Red Wings (1.1 FPPG, 98.3% available)

Defensemen

Darren Raddysh, D, Tampa Bay Lightning (1.2 FPPG, 98.3% available): Rooted in Tampa's secondary power-play unit, the defender has a goal and five assists in his most recent seven games, including four with the extra skater. While the 28-year-old will inevitably cool off at some point, he serves as a nice fantasy addition to any imperfect defensive corps in the foreseeable future. Plus, after facing the Leafs in Toronto Monday, the Lightning visit Montreal, Chicago, and Detroit; three teams that give up more points than three quarters of the rest of the league.

John Klingberg, D, Edmonton Oilers (99.0% available): At least keep an eye on how he fits into the Oilers lineup, once ready to go. This is an offensive-defenseman who once potted 67 points with the Dallas Stars (2017-18), and 412 in 633 regular-season games altogether. Yes, his numbers shrunk once out of Dallas, he's been idle for over a year, and there are concerns about how well he'll move after hip surgery, but there's no harm in keeping an eye on matters. Still only 32 years old, Klingberg served as one of the league's more valuable blue-line performers when at his healthiest.

See also:

• Jackson LaCombe, D, Anaheim Ducks(1.9 FPPG, 71.1% available)

• Kaiden Guhle, D, Montreal Canadiens (1.8 FPPG, 44.2% available)

Goaltenders

Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes (4.8 FPPG, 43.1% available): He's back. After losing almost three months to a knee injury, Andersen served as insurance to Pyotr Kochetkov versus Vegas on Friday. Now the veteran goalie is expected to start either Monday in Chicago or against the Stars Tuesday. While injuries are a perennial concern, the 35-year-old is reliably valuable when healthy. For what it's worth, he says he feels great right now. If your netminding isn't up to par, Andersen certainly merits a roll of the fantasy dice.

Jakub Dobes, G, Montreal Canadiens (6.4 FPPG, 84.0% available): Back the winner until he loses, right? Despite facing tough opponents in Florida, Colorado, Washington, and Dallas, before hosting the Rangers, Montreal's young netminder has yet to suffer defeat in the NHL. That Dobes shut out the Panthers, and held the Avs and Stars to a single goal, further emphasizes his comfort in competing against the world's best players.

See also:

• Darcy Kuemper, G, Los Angeles Kings (3.4 FPPG, 48.6% available)

Short-term streamers

Pavel Dorofeyev, F, Vegas Golden Knights (1.7 FPPG, 73.6% available): At least give him a look when he's filling the net. Before failing to dent the scoresheet in Chicago Saturday, the second-line winger collected five goals and two assists in only three games, including a hat-trick in Nashville. Dorofeyev is also logging almost 19 minutes/game, including valuable ice-time with the extra skater. In fact, four of those aforementioned seven points were earned on the power play.

Mason Lohrei, F, Boston Bruins (1.4 FPPG, 93.7% available): Nursing an upper-body injury, Charlie McAvoy could be out a while. At least, there's no timetable for the defender's return at this point. Which means Lohrei should continue to enjoy turns on the Bruins' top power play with David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Elias Lindholm. The sophomore has a goal and four assists in his past four games, including three points with the extra skater. Boston faces the Sharks, Devils, Senators, and Avalanche this week.

Spencer Knight, G, Florida Panthers (2.2 FPPG, 96.1% available): Knight has been the much better netminder in Florida of late, stopping all but one of 27 shots in a win over the Devils, before earning a 34-save shutout victory against Anaheim. (The Panthers' No. 2 was also perfect in brief relief of Sergei Bobrovsky against the Red Wings last Thursday.) Consider putting your fantasy faith in Knight against the Ducks or Kings this Tuesday or Wednesday, and later this week versus the Sharks or Golden Knights. He's performing well.

Winnipeg Jets: The Jets visit Utah Monday before facing the Avs, Utah again, and the Flames Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, when the schedule is lightly peppered otherwise. If forward Gabriel Vilardi is available, as he is in a third of ESPN Fantasy leagues, now would be a fine occasion to wrangle the top-line forward onto your own roster. If not, Nino Niederreiter or center Adam Lowry could provide a little extra fantasy pop when most other league skaters are idle.

See also:

• Joey Daccord, G, Seattle Kraken (2.6 FPPG, 54.2% available)