I Dig Sports
If it is uncharacteristic for this coach, it is not in keeping with the fixture either.
The vision of 18-year-old Mathew Tait being slung under Gavin Henson's arm in 2005 lingers. The Principality has rarely been the place for England to experiment or christen new talent.
But, while the usual city-centre storm will brew up for England's arrival, this trip to Cardiff is unique.
Victory is everything, but also not quite enough.
The Six Nations title permutations are complex. Given France's vast points difference advantage, England need France to fail to win against Scotland in Saturday's final game.
If they do, an England victory of any kind over Wales would likely take them ahead of Fabien Galthie's men.
A four-try bonus point is more likely to be needed however to stay ahead of Ireland, who lurk in third and play Italy earlier in the day.
So, England, with a mobile back row of Earl and Tom and Ben Curry, feel the need for speed if they are to finish as Six Nations top guns.
"The thing you are seeing around the park is speed wins," said Earl in the week. "We are talking a lot about moving the ball, being aggressive, outworking teams. Our players buy into that."
With Pollock, Chandler Cunningham-South and Tom Willis on the bench, a complete recharge of the back row maybe possible to keep the needle high and the scoreboard ticking over in the second half.
However, Wales will relish the chance to stick a spanner in the spokes and puncture such title pretensions.
In Jac Morgan, they might have the player of the championship.
As Wales have racked up the losses 16 straight and counting he has raged bright.
He has made 73 tackles so far in the Championship six more than any other player and only 12 short of Justin Tipuric's 2007 record for a Welshman in a Six Nations campaign.
SEBRING, Fla. There was no time to waste in Motul Pole Award qualifying for the Grand Touring Prototype class at the 73rd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
When the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R stalled on track to bring out the red flag in the early moments of the 15-minute session, it left the dozen other runners with barely enough green flag time to complete two flying laps of Sebring Intl Raceway.
If that time crunch created pressure, it didnt affect Dries Vanthoor, who guided the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 to the GTP class and overall pole for the second consecutive race.
Vanthoor, a 26-year-old Belgian who is embarking on his first full season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, was also the fastest qualifier at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.
On Friday, Vanthoor lapped the 3.74-mile Sebring circuit in 1 minute, 47.091 seconds (125.724 mph), beating Tom Blomqvist in the No. 60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06 by just 25 thousandths of a second (1:47.116). Hell share the polesitting entry with Philipp Eng and Kevin Magnussen.
The result continued BMWs recent streak of impressive form, which includes a 1-2 finish at the 2024 TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the pole at Daytona, and a front-row start in the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship in Qatar.
Vanthoors older brother Laurens is part of the driver lineup for the championship-leading No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Penske 963, the Rolex 24 winner, along with Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, who is in pursuit of his first Sebring overall win. Nasr qualified the No. 7 Porsche third for Saturdays 12-hour race.
The red flag didnt cause any issues, Dries Vanthoor remarked. We had a plan, so at the end, it didnt change much. In a normal qualifying session, you maybe get two chances. Now you only had one. It makes a bit more pressure to get that lap together. It makes it a bit more difficult. But yeah, it also makes me a bit, how I would say, nervous or fired up at the same time. Looks like its working.
Vanthoor is a BMW factory driver who is one of the marques core group competing full-time in both the IMSA and WEC championships in 2025. This is his first visit to Sebring, one of the most unique sports car racing venues in the world.
Its a long race, and its a difficult race, apparently, he said. I dont know its going to be my first time tomorrow, so Im going to have to see how things go because apparently, its not easy. Its definitely different from what I am used to, especially the bumps. We just have to survive and be there at the end.
So far, everything is going very well and Im enjoying it a lot.
Steven Thomas and PJ Hyett waged an entertaining two-man battle for the Motul Pole Award in the Le Mans Prototype 2 class at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, swapping the top spot several times. Hyett and Thomas were the only two of 12 LMP2 drivers to break the 1-minute, 52-second barrier around Sebring International Raceways 17 corner layout.
Thomas finally clinched the top starting spot with a lap of 1 minute, 51.804 seconds (120.424 mph) in the No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA LMP2 07. That gave him a 0.115-second cushion over Hyett, whose best lap was 1:51.919 (120.300 mph).
The No. 11 had shown strong form throughout practice, with Mikkel Jensen leading two of the three sessions, including the fastest LMP2 lap of the weekend in the cooler conditions of Thursdays night practice.
The pole was the sixth in IMSA competition for Thomas, but his first since the 2022 WeatherTech Championship Motul Petit Le Mans season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Thomas also earned the LMP2 pole at Sebring in 2021.
When they changed the LMP2 cars when the GTP formula started in 2023, the balance of the cars changed and I struggled that first year, Thomas said. I thought I was driving as fast as I ever had, but there are so many fast Bronze-rated drivers and every week it seems like its someone else.
This feels really good for an old man to get a pole.
Thomas paid tribute to his co-drivers Platinum-rated Jensen and Silver-rated Hunter McElrea.
The great thing about qualifying as a Bronze driver is we are all on our limit, said Thomas, who will chase his sixth career win in the WeatherTech Championship. Here at Sebring with the bumps, its very challenging to stay on your limit every corner the whole way round. Hunter and Mikkel coached my up and helped me get this pole, which I really enjoy.
To be able to qualify the car means so much because it feels like youre really contributing to the win at the end of the day, he added. We also start the race, and that gives you a chance to put your team in a good position. I think qualifying means a lot to all the Bronze drivers because it makes us a factor in the race, which is what we really want.
SEBRING, Fla. It was all Ferrari in qualifying for the two GT classes at Sebring Intl Raceway Friday morning the famed manufacturers cars turning rapido laps in both Grand Touring Daytona Pro and Grand Touring Daytona classifications to lead the lineup for Saturdays 73rd running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Spains Albert Costa earned the Motul Pole Award in the GTD PRO Class. He recorded his first career IMSA pole position after turning in a quick lap of 1 minute, 59.225 seconds (112.929 mph) around the famous 3.74-mile course in the No. 81 DragonSpeed Ferrari 296 GT3.
While Costas time was marginally slower than GTD polesitter Alessandro Pier Guidi in a second Ferrari, hell start at the head of the combined 31-car GT field 11 GTD PRO entries, then the 20 GTD cars. Costa will share his car, which also features a partnership with Risi Competizione, with Giacomo Altoe and Davide Rigon.
Costas Ferrari will line up alongside No 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) whose lap by German Laurin Heinrich was second fastest in class by only 0.172 of a second. Heinrich set his best lap with less than two minutes remaining in the session run under sunny skies with Central Florida temperatures comfortably in the mid-70s.
We are in pole position for Ferrari, so we are happy, said a smiling Costa, whose fast time proved substantial enough it held up for the final eight minutes of the 15-minute session.
For us, the car was very strong, and we must keep focused on the end of the day. We are on pole position but the race is very long and we must survive the first 10 hours of it because last year was a big war in GTD and I learned a lot.
First pole position is always nice, he added, I think everything was together today and it was very nice to close on pole position. Tomorrow, I want to be on the podium.
American Neil Verhagen turned the third fastest GTD PRO lap in the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
Last years GTD PRO class winner, the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3, was only seventh fastest in class. The No. 65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3, which earned the models first global GT3 victory in Januarys Rolex 24 At Daytona, was 10th fastest in class.
Italian Alessandro Pier Guidi in the No. 21 Af Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 led all production-based GT class cars in qualifying, as his best lap was 0.094 of a second faster than Costas at 1 minute, 59.131 seconds (113.018 mph).
Pier Guidi deftly put his Ferrari 296 GT3 on pole position fairly early in the session and then had to wait to see if it held up. It did for his second career Motul Pole Award and his first since the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona, also in GTD. Hell share his car with Lilou Wadoux and Simon Mann.
I think it was a great session for Ferrari with us both scoring the pole, and a great comeback from Daytona, said Pier Guidi, whose car retired early in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.
I always prefer to start in the front, though.
His fast lap around the storied circuit bettered American Kenton Koch in the No. 32 Korthoff Competition Motors Mercedes-AMG GT3 by a slight 0.382 of a second. Great Britains Jack Hawksworth was third quickest in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3 only 0.387 off Pier Guidis time.
The top four GTD class cars also including the defending Sebring winning No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG were separated by just over half a second and will feature six makes among the top-10 gridded cars.
Of note, the Rolex 24 At Daytona-winning No. 13 AWA Corvette Z06 GT3.R a new chassis this race qualified by Orey Fidani was 17th among the 20 cars in GTD class.
SEBRING, Fla. In a milestone race for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, on a milestone weekend for BMW M Motorsport, Jeff Westphal and Sean McAlister delivered.
McAlister and Westphal combined to drive the No. 39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO to a commanding 15.951-second victory over Jan Heylen and Luca Mars (No. 28 RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS) in the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 at Sebring Intl Raceway. The two-hour contest was the 250th race of the Grand Sport (GS) class.
Francis Selldorff and Dillon Machavern capped a memorable day for BMW by claiming third place in the No. 95 BMW M4 GT4 EVO fielded by Turner Motorsport.
This week, BMW is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its victory in the 1975 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. It also marked the first worldwide victory for the new-for-2025 EVO version of the BMW M4 GT4.
Three of Westphals five Michelin Pilot Challenge race wins have come at Sebring.
McAlister qualified the winning BMW on the outside of the front row and slotted into third place at the start as an entertaining four-car fight for the lead unfolded.
After the first round of pit stops which included a driver change, Westphal engaged in a furious scrap with Heylen for what was effectively the race lead as they pulled away from the rest of the field.
With 47 minutes remaining, the two protagonists pitted for the final time, and the BMW emerged with a narrow lead. Once in front, Westphal was able to build a gap over Heylen, who found his mirrors filled by the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT GT4 driven by Daniel Morad. But the charging Mercedes suffered a punctured right front tire in the final 10 minutes and dropped from contention.
Westphal continued to pull away until the checkered flag in one of the most dominant Michelin Pilot Challenge wins in recent memory. The last Michelin Pilot Challenge race to run caution-free was at Lime Rock Park in 2023.
We got lucky with the traffic the entire day, said Westphal. I was able to put a couple lapped cars between us and the No. 28, and while they were fighting, I was able to stretch the gap.
It feels fantastic, not just for BMW but for CarBahn and all the hard-working crew. Weve really created a good group and have a good young driver in Sean.
The win was the second in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition for McAlister, who added: That was a very hectic race and going into Turn 1 was crazy. I just kind of ran it from there and could hand the car off to Jeff in a good position. Then the guys just killed it on the pit stop and solidified the win.
The No. 28 Porsche never led a lap but ran in second place for most of the race. Following the misfortune of the No. 57 Mercedes, it was the last car in the hunt for the win.
They were just too strong for us today, said Heylen. We knew coming in this was going to be a tough race for us, and I think our second place was probably better than we could have done on paper. We have to be super happy with it.
Bryan Herta Autosport has done it again matching its season-opening win at Daytona International Speedway with a victory Friday afternoon in the Touring Car (TCR) class of the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at Sebring Intal Raceway.
The No. 98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR co-driven by the duo of Harry Gottsacker and Mason Filippi were ruled race winners following post-race technical insepction when apparent winners their teammates Mark Wilkins and Bryson Morris were sent to the rear of the finishing order in the No. 33 BHA Hyundai for having a refueling time less than the permitted minimum of 52 seconds.
The BHA team dominated qualifying and ran front of the field in Saturdays two-hour race with the Wilkins-Morris No. 33 outpacing the 15-car TCR field. However, the Gottsacker-Filippi car consistently ran among the top three for the last hour of competition holding off LP Montour and Karl Wittmer in the No. 93 MMG Honda Civic FL5 TCR that was ultimately scored runner-up 6.226 seconds behind the Gottsacker-Filippi car.
HARTs Chad Gilsinger and Tyler Chambers rounded out the podium in the No. 89 Honda Civic FL5 TCR.
It marks the first time in BHAs decorated 16-year history that it has won the opening two races of a season, coming at two of the sports most iconic venues Daytona International Speedway in January (Preston Brown and Denis Dupont) then at the historic Sebring track this weekend.
Weve never started a season this well ever, so thats really exciting, said Herta, a former star driver in his own right in both sports cars and Indy cars. It was a really good race, really competitive, especially early on with the Honda, Audi, Hyundai all right there and thats what you want to see.
The victory was the seventh for Gottsacker, 25, and third at Sebring after the Texan swept both series wins at the historic Central Florida track during the 2020 season.
Friday marked the first win for Filippi, 26, at Sebring his ninth career class victory and first since claiming the trophy in the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta season finale last year.
LAS VEGAS JR Motorsports Chevrolets swept the top three spots during qualifying for Saturdays The LiUNA NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during qualifying on Friday afternoon.
Sammy Smith led the way with a best lap 20.435 seconds at 183.455 mph on the 1.5-mile superspeedway.
Smith was followed closely by his rookie teammates Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch.
Taylor Gray was fourth for Joe Gibbs Racing in a Toyota, while Samy Mayer was the fastest Ford in fifth.
LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights have signed goaltender Adin Hill to a six-year contract extension worth $37.5 million, rewarding him for backstopping them to the Stanley Cup in 2023 and excelling in the starting job since.
Hill will count $6.25 million against the salary cap from when the deal kicks in next NHL season through 2031. General manager Kelly McCrimmon announced the extension Friday.
This season, at age 28, Hill has played in a career-high 39 games and has a 2.53 goals-against average and .906 save percentage, helping Vegas vault to the top of the Pacific Division. That included a 27-save shutout Thursday night at Columbus.
Hill was a journeyman on his third organization with no playoff experience when he was thrust in net during the second round two years ago after injuries to Logan Thompson and Laurent Brossoit. He went 11-4 in the playoffs with a 2.17 GAA and a league-best .932 save percentage to deliver the first championship in franchise history.
Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the team announced Friday.
The 35-year-old forward has appeared in all 64 games this season, totaling 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists).
Backlund was injured during the first period of Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the visiting Vancouver Canucks.
He delivered a hit to Canucks defenseman Victor Mancini and appeared to be in discomfort. Backlund did not return.
Backlund has 555 points (211 goals, 344 assists) in 1,054 games since making his debut with Calgary in 2009.
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk is considered week-to-week because of a lower-body injury, coach Scott Arniel announced Friday.
Pionk logged 16:18 of ice time in Winnipeg's 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday before exiting with the injury.
"[He] tried to get through it," Arniel said. "We do need him for the long run here, so as much as he wants to play, this is the right decision. ... If you have plans to play into June, you're going to need your roster. It's proven. There's injuries that happen, situations that happen, you're going to have to go deep [in the playoffs]."
Defenseman Luke Schenn, who was acquired at the NHL trade deadline on March 7, is expected to assume more responsibility in Pionk's absence.
Pionk, 29, has 37 points (9 goals, 28 assists) and a plus-21 rating in 66 games this season. He averages 22:09 of ice time per game.
He has totaled 254 points (43 goals, 211 assists) in 533 career regular-season games with the Rangers (2017-19) and Jets.
As has been the case for the past few campaigns, the Central Division includes multiple top-tier Stanley Cup contenders this season. Going simply by points percentage, the Central boasts the second- (Winnipeg Jets) and third-best (Dallas Stars) teams in the league, as well as the eighth (Colorado Avalanche).
Those first two clubs face off Friday night (8 p.m. ET, NHL Network), with one additional matchup on the schedule (April 10 in Dallas). The Jets and Stars have split the season series thus far, and Winnipeg holds the No. 1 spot in the division, with 94 points and 37 regulation wins in 66 games. Dallas is not out of range to make a run at that spot, with 86 points and 35 RW in 64 games.
Neither team wants to match up against Colorado in the first round, as the Avs loaded up (again) at the trade deadline, including deals for Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle. Colorado is at 81 points and 34 RW through 66 games and theoretically could catch the other two teams, but it would need losing streaks out of its opponents to make much of a dent. The Avs visit the Calgary Flames on Friday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
How do the projections see this playing out for the rest of the season -- and beyond? Stathletes projects the three teams to finish in the exact same order: Jets (115.2 points), Stars (106.7) and Avalanche (103.0). But, of those three clubs, the Avs have the highest chance of winning it all (15.3%), followed by the Jets (8.8%) and Stars (2.4%).
There is a lot of runway left until April 17, the final day of the regular season, and we'll help you keep track of 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 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Columbus Blue Jackets
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Calgary Flames
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Friday's games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Detroit Red Wings at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m. (NHLN)
Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Utah Hockey Club at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Thursday's scoreboard
Florida Panthers 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Ottawa Senators 6, Boston Bruins 3
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (SO)
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, St. Louis Blues 3
Vegas Golden Knights 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
New Jersey Devils 3, Edmonton Oilers 2
New York Rangers 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 3, Washington Capitals 0
San Jose Sharks 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 105.6
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 17
Points pace: 102.2
Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 17
Points pace: 99.7
Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Ottawa Senators
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 17
Points pace: 94.6
Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 97.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 10.9%
Tragic number: 34
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 85.8
Next game: @ CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 12%
Tragic number: 33
Boston Bruins
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 83.2
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 13.7%
Tragic number: 29
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 71.8
Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 23
Metro Division
Washington Capitals
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 116.8
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 17
Points pace: 103.5
Next game: vs. DET (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
New Jersey Devils
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 95.5
Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 17
Points pace: 88.3
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 32.8%
Tragic number: N/A
New York Rangers
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 87.0
Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 23.9%
Tragic number: 33
New York Islanders
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 83.3
Next game: vs. EDM (Friday)
Playoff chances: 12.4%
Tragic number: 32
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 78.3
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 1.0%
Tragic number: 25
Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 77.2
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 23
Central Division
Winnipeg Jets
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 116.8
Next game: vs. DAL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Dallas Stars
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 110.2
Next game: @ WPG (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Colorado Avalanche
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 100.6
Next game: @ CGY (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Minnesota Wild
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 98.2
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 94.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Utah Hockey Club
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: @ SEA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 26.6%
Tragic number: 33
St. Louis Blues
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 85.7
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 29.2%
Tragic number: 31
Nashville Predators
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 73.0
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 23
Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 60.9
Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 11
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 17
Points pace: 107.2
Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 101.2
Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton Oilers
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 17
Points pace: 98.4
Next game: @ NYI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Calgary Flames
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 91.0
Next game: vs. COL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 29.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Vancouver Canucks
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 89.6
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 22.1%
Tragic number: 35
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 79.5
Next game: vs. NSH (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 27
Seattle Kraken
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 74.6
Next game: vs. UTA (Friday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 22
San Jose Sharks
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 55.1
Next game: vs. WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 5
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: 45
Regulation wins: 13
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
3. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 21
4. Nashville Predators
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
5. Seattle Kraken
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 22
6. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 20
7. Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17
8. Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 18
9. New York Islanders
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 23
10. Boston Bruins
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
11. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
12. Utah Hockey Club
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 21
13. Montreal Canadiens
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
14. St. Louis Blues
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
15. New York Rangers
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 29
16. Vancouver Canucks
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Inside the Sabres' never-ending rebuild -- and how they get back to the playoffs
The Buffalo Sabres' last trip to the playoffs was in 2011. The NHL has since added franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, and both expansion teams have made the playoffs.
The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023.
Meanwhile, multiple former Sabres have found success elsewhere -- winning major individual awards (Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark) or the Stanley Cup (Ryan O'Reilly, Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Brandon Montour, among others). Dylan Cozens, who was traded to the Ottawa Senators on March 7 and could suit up for them this postseason, is the latest example of this trend.
How is it that the rest of the NHL can benefit from the Buffalo Sabres -- but the Buffalo Sabres can't benefit themselves?
The lack of success is set against a backdrop of the Buffalo Bills -- also owned by Terry Pegula -- being perennial Super Bowl contenders.
From losing players to better teams, to a lack of continuity in the front office, to difficulties in luring big free agents to a cold climate with a high state income tax, the challenges are myriad. ESPN spoke with a dozen people -- including current and former Sabres -- about what it will take to turn the franchise around.
"I always tell people if you can figure out a way to win in Buffalo, it's a pretty damn good place to play," Montour said. "You see the Bills and the passion they have there. Sabres fans are just waiting for a season or something to turn there."
TIED WITH THE New York Jets for the longest playoff drought among MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL teams, the Sabres haven't struggled to acquire talent; it's making the most of that talent through proper development that's been the issue.
The Sabres' average first-round draft position since their most recent playoff appearance is 10th overall. Their first rebuild attempt saw them draft Eichel and Reinhart in the first round, and use later-round selections on J.T. Compher, Brandon Hagel, Victor Olofsson and Ullmark, among others. They also signed undrafted college free agents such as Evan Rodrigues, who played with Eichel at Boston University.
Some players, like Compher, were moved in trades. Others, like Hagel, never signed with the team. But the Sabres also made deals, like acquiring Montour ahead of the trade deadline back in 2018-19.
Eichel was a three-time All-Star with the Sabres before he was traded following a disagreement with the team about his preferred method of care for a neck injury.
Reinhart and Ullmark became All-Stars after leaving the Sabres. Montour departed and emerged into a top-pairing defenseman, while O'Reilly left and further cemented his status as one of the game's best two-way forwards.
Four of those five players have also won a Stanley Cup and were instrumental in their teams capturing those championships.
Deciphering why players' careers take off after they leave Buffalo is a complex exercise.
"There's a lot of different variables. There's also a lot of different people," a former Sabres player said. "Some people thrive in different environments. I played with a lot of great players during my time in Buffalo. At that point, did I feel we didn't unlock our true potential? Yeah, I really think that we had a team that could go far into the playoffs."
Eichel, Reinhart and Ullmark each had varying degrees of success before they left Buffalo. Eichel had five straight 20-goal seasons and scored 36 in his final full season. Reinhart was a five-time 20-goal scorer, while Ullmark won 41 games with a .916 save percentage over three seasons as a full-time NHL goalie.
Compare that to what they did when they left:
Eichel, who averaged 0.95 points per game with the Sabres, is averaging more than a point per game with the Golden Knights, with whom he won the Cup in 2023.
Reinhart is a four-time 30-goal scorer who scored 57 for the Panthers last season when they won the Cup.
Ullmark joined the Boston Bruins, where he won 88 games and had a .924 save percentage in three seasons before being traded to Ottawa. Ullmark would win the Vezina Trophy for the NHL's best goaltender in his second season with the Bruins.
"That's where I ask, 'Did some of those guys really get better when they left or were they already on that [trajectory] and another team saw the benefit?'" the former team employee asked. "Jack was an All-Star, while we knew Sam was already really, really good."
But what about those non-homegrown players?
Montour had 13 goals and 0.38 points per game in 112 games for the Sabres. He joined the Panthers and nearly had more points in his first season in Florida than he did during his entire time with the Sabres, while also being on the Cup-winning team in 2024.
O'Reilly was an All-Star in Buffalo who finished 11th in consecutive seasons for the Selke Trophy, which goes to the NHL's best two-way forward. He was a three-time 20-goal scorer who averaged 0.79 points per game for the Sabres. He was traded to the Blues and would become a two-time All-Star who won the Selke, averaging 0.82 points during his five seasons in St. Louis while -- you guessed it -- winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs.
"When I went to Florida, I was more of a depth piece and then when [coach Paul Maurice] came in, he let me run free and play my game," Montour said. "You have to find the right opportunity and a situation that fits. In Buffalo, when I was there, you win a couple games and then you lose a couple games, it was like an automatic change.
"I wasn't there long, but there's change all the time."
DO THE SABRES have the infrastructure in place for their young talent to succeed?
The former Sabres player and former team employee suggest part of the reason Eichel, Reinhart and Ullmark thrived elsewhere is the teams they joined had established winning cultures.
"People get so caught up in looking at how it's going for [the Sabres] and then looking at other players that might have been there," the former player said. "They think, 'Oh, he's playing better hockey.' Well, he's part of a team that's playing really good hockey."
When Eichel joined the Knights, they had a strong culture in place with players like Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Shea Theodore and Reilly Smith. Stars from other teams, like Alex Pietrangelo and Mark Stone, had succeeded after they joined the Golden Knights.
The same applied to Reinhart joining a Panthers team that provided opportunities to newcomers, while Ullmark joined a Bruins team that had a strong culture thanks to Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
Losing top talent has only added to Buffalo's struggle for continuity and culture-building. The Sabres have also had seven coaching changes and four GMs since their last playoff appearance 14 seasons ago.
The former team employee said those constant changes were part of a larger issue that was facing the franchise, that they were trying to rush their rebuild, only to hit the reset button more than once.
"When I was there, and I wasn't there long, they fired their coaches right away," said Montour, who played for three different coaches in Buffalo. "[Former Sabres GM Jason Botterill] had maybe three years. Was that enough time for a rebuild? You're firing a guy, bringing a new guy in. It feels like every two or three years, you're bringing a new guy in."
The closest the Sabres have come to reaching the playoffs came in 2022-23 when they finished a point out of the final wild-card spot.
One agent said the Sabres entered the ensuing offseason needing more experience on defense and in goal. The 2022-23 season saw them regularly play five defenseman who were younger than 25, while goalie Craig Anderson was retiring.
Buffalo signed defensemen Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson. The Sabres didn't sign a veteran goalie, but chose to rely upon Eric Comrie, Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The trio had a combined 100 games of NHL experience.
Clifton was sixth in ice time among Sabres defensemen. Johnson played 50 games before he was traded. Their goaltending finished tied for 15th in team save percentage.
The Sabres finished seven points out of the playoffs -- and would go through another coaching change.
"[Clifton and Johnson] are fine players, but were those the moves you needed to take a team that missed by one game to a contender level?" the agent asked. "I've seen [Sabres GM Kevyn Adams] talk about taxes and palm trees. I'm sure it is not the same in Buffalo as it is in Florida, but this is also a team that has basically spent at the cap floor for the last couple years. When you are that close to making the playoffs, you can go out and overspend for the right person."
A second agent explained that Buffalo isn't a city players are openly avoiding. But that's not to say there aren't challenges.
The agent said there's the climate -- with an average annual temperature of 53 degrees that dips to an average of 42 degrees during the span of the NHL regular season. They also said New York has the third-highest income tax in the nation, at 10.9% (for individuals making over $1,077,550). And with the Sabres consistently missing the playoffs, that makes it difficult to sell a vision that the franchise is trending upward.
"It's one of those markets where you do need to develop your young stars to be the veterans in order to get over the hump," the second agent said. "As much as people want that to happen the right way, it's still going to take some time."
MOVING ON FROM Eichel, Reinhart & Co. allowed the Sabres to get the needed assets to build their current core.
The Sabres had the No. 1 pick in 2018 and again in 2021, using those picks on defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, respectively. They've used top-10 picks to draft forwards Zach Benson, Jack Quinn and Cozens, before he was traded. Trades have brought in former first-round picks such as Bowen Byram, Peyton Krebs, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch along with Josh Norris, who was part of the trade package involving Cozens.
That has allowed the Sabres to build a promising roster, with five top-five picks and 10 first-round picks who are younger than 25. They've seen Dahlin and Power become legitimate top-four options while Thompson, who arrived in the O'Reilly trade, has emerged as a top-line center.
But they still have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and the third-worst record in the entire NHL.
"You don't add veterans to what is still the youngest team, and it just never seems to get done," the first agent said. "Is it the guy behind the guy who walks behind the guy? I can't really tell you which of those people is to blame.
"The problem is everything seems to go wrong. Every time they take a step, you think, 'Hey, they're going to take a step' and then 16 other things go wrong."
The "TradeCentre" crew reacts to the news Dylan Cozens is being traded to the Ottawa Senators.
Byram and Thompson both said the Sabres' current roster has created more opportunities for younger players that might not have existed elsewhere. Byram is averaging more ice time in his first 62 games with the Sabres this season than what he had with the Colorado Avalanche in 51 games in 2023-24.
Thompson said the opportunity has led to individual success, while everyone is trying to figure out a way to parlay that into team success.
"We have a great group of guys, I don't think that's the issue," Byram said. "We've got a really young team. We're trying to grow together and build something together. That doesn't always happen overnight."
But how much will things change in order for the Sabres to get to their desired destination?
They have only two pending unrestricted free agents: defenseman Jacob Bryson and goaltender James Reimer. They have six players with contracts that have more than three years remaining, including Norris, Thompson, Dahlin, Power, Luukkonen and Mattias Samuelsson.
This summer could bring significant change, considering Byram is one of eight players who are pending restricted free agents this year or next.
There are also questions about Adams' future with the team. Adams has been Sabres GM for four seasons. That's one season longer than Botterill lasted, and a half-season more than Tim Murray, an in-season replacement for Darcy Regier in 2014.
The Sabres were 112-175-37 under Murray and 88-115-30 under Botterill. As of this week, the Sabres' record under Adams was 140-145-30. The Sabres have had three seasons of more than 75 points, which doesn't sound like much, but it makes Adams' tenure the most successful the club has had since its last playoff appearance.
This season, they are projected to finish with 76 points, a decline from Adams' second season when they had 91 points and last season's 84 points.
Adams declined to be interviewed for this story.
"I don't know for sure if it's ownership or if it's Kevyn," the first agent said. "But it seems if I was ownership -- given Mr. Pegula owns the Bills and has vast resources from his other businesses -- I'd be willing to spend rather than have an arena that's half full with people that's calling for me to sell the team."
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