World No.10 Marwan ElShorbagy delivered a superb performance to defeat older brother Mohamed in straight games and book his spot in the semi-finals of the Silicon Valley Open 2024 presented by Oracle NetSuite.

Marwan, who arrived in San Francisco on the back of a title victory at the Open Squash Classic, looked a player full of confidence as came through the stop-start encounter by an 11-9, 11-7, 12-10 scoreline.

Despite having won just six of their 23 meetings on the PSA Tour, Marwan largely controlled proceedings on the all-glass court at Squash Zone, displaying impressive ball control and winning the length battle throughout the 46-minute encounter. 

In a match that saw regular interference in the middle of the court, Marwan impressively fought through a nip-and-tuck opening game before saving a game ball in the third on his way to victory. 

After the match, he said: Its mixed emotions really. My brother is the person I looked up to when I was young. I was very lucky to have him because everything that he has achieved is amazing.

I dont know how many times Im going to be playing my brother again on the big stage, so I just wanted to enjoy it. Thats why I tend to enjoy these matches more as I get older and mature more. One day, me and my brother will sit down and look back at these battles.

No.6 seed ElShorbagy will face Welsh No.1 Joel Makin for a spot in the title decider of the PSA Squash Tour Gold-level event after the No.5 seed ground down the dangerous Abdulla Al-Tamimi in three games. 

After fighting off an early barrage of winners from the Qatari No.1 in the first game, Makin grew in confidence as the match progressed, taking the entertaining duel by a 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 scoreline. 

Meanwhile, in the womens draw, American No.1 Olivia Weaver and Malaysian No.1 Sivasangari Subramaniam were the two players to advance to the last four, coming through their respective matches in contrasting styles. 

Sivasangari avoided a seeding scare by holding off the attacking threats of No.8 seed Zeina Mickawy in a see-saw five-game encounter, sealing an 11-9, 9-11, 13-11, 11-13, 11-3 win after 55 minutes of breathless action. 

Despite seeing two match balls slip through her grasp at the end of the fourth game, No.3 seed Sivasangari recovered well in the decider to move through to her first World Tour semi-final since her London Classic victory in March. 

I think the last time we played was in the British Junior Open back in the U17s, where she beat me 3-2 and 12-10 in the fifth, Sivasangari said after the match. I remember she won the match on a cross-court slotted nick, so I definitely remembered the dangers that she has in her game. 

I just tried to reset mentally after every rally today. Its hard when youre not quite playing your best squash, and I just tried to reset as often as possible and play my own game.

Meanwhile, top seed Weaver continued her faultless progression through the Silicon Valley Open draw with a battling victory over No.7 seed Farida Mohamed. 

Egypts Mohamed, who won the Open Squash Classic title last week, struggled to match the consistent accuracy and composure of the World No.4 during their 34 minutes on court, with Weaver eventually taking the match by an 11-8, 11-8, 12-10 scoreline.

Results: Mens Quarter Finals Silicon Valley Open 2024

[5] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 (45m)

[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 12-10 (46m)

Results: Womens Quarter Finals Silicon Valley Open 2024

[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [7] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 12-10 (34m)

[3] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [8] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 9-11, 13-11, 11-13, 11-3 (55m)

Draw: Mens Quarter Finals (Bottom Half: To Be Played October 14)

Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) v [7] Victor Crouin (FRA)

[8] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)

Draw: Womens Quarter Finals (Bottom Half: To Be Played October 14)

[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN)

[5] Amina Orfi (EGY) v [2] Georgina Kennedy (ENG)

England have rarely looked troubled under Mitchell, with Canada offering by far their most difficult test.

The WXV1 hosts, whose players are still part-time, backed up their pre-game claims that they can win the World Cup.

They were made to rue missed opportunities when leading in the second half but demonstrated why they are considered the side most likely to stop England lifting the World Cup at the Allianz Stadium on 27 September.

"It is a big year next year and we will come out on top when it matters," Canada captain Alex Tessier said.

"The goal is still the World Cup but we are still growing, we are definitely there but there is a lot of stuff to learn."

Canada have also beaten New Zealand in 2024, but the Black Ferns have a history of peaking at World Cups and should not be written off.

France seem to have stalled but Ireland, under former England women's attack coach Scott Bemand, are making significant progress.

They shocked the world champions in their WXV1 opener to continue their rapid rise after winning WXV3 last year and finishing third in the Women's Six Nations.

Australia, now coached by former England captain Jo Yapp, overcame Scotland to win the WXV2 title and are starting to show promise.

"The gap might not be closing mathematically, but it is closing in terms of the way people are playing and being coached," Mitchell said.

"All the other teams have really good coaching groups, they are all getting better. For us our challenge is to get better.

"It is also about how special it is going to be to play a World Cup at home, something that we can impact on other people for the rest of our lives."

He added: "We are keen to move forward with a deal which sees us having more money and gives us an opportunity to be more competitive with the rest of the league.

"There's a lot to happen over the next few months and hopefully we will get an agreement that gives us a solid footing to progress in terms of budget over the coming years."

The Welsh government provided an 18m loan to the WRU in 2022, which it passed on to the four professional sides.

But on her first day in the job in January, WRU chief executive Abi Tierney received a letter from the Joint Supporters Group (JSG) Cymru urging the governing body to ease that financial pressure on the clubs.

Now the WRU could respond by taking on the remaining balance of that Welsh government debt, believed to be about 14m.

But that would almost certainly come at a price which is likely to take the shape of handing over part ownership of the regions and potentially control of when, where and how often players play.

Richard Wigglesworth has been promoted to head coach Steve Borthwick's number two in the latest change to England's coaching set-up.

Former England scrum-half Wigglesworth, 41, remains in charge of the team's attack, but now will collaborate with Borthwick on England's overall gameplan and managing the rest of the coaching group.

"Richard's deep knowledge of the game and his excellent tactical understanding means he has become a key figure in our coaching team," said Borthwick.

"He shares our emotional commitment to English rugby, and I am certain he will play a crucial role in driving the standards of this England team."

Wigglesworth said: "This is an exciting time for England rugby. Steve has created a coaching environment based on collaboration and hard work, and we are constantly evolving and growing and striving for success."

Wigglesworth, who played 33 times for England, was brought into the England camp by Borthwick after the pair worked together when Leicester Tigers won the Premiership in 2022.

England hired Oyonnax's Joe El-Abd as defence coach in September after Felix Jones resigned from the post after seven months.

Kevin Sinfield, who was set to leave earlier this year, has agreed to remain on reduced hours in a role overseeing skills, kicking and the mentoring of players.

Irishman Jones is working remotely to provide tactical analysis while being held to his 12-month notice period.

England take on New Zealand on 2 November before continuing their autumn campaign against Australia, South Africa and Japan.

England's coaching staff:

Steve Borthwick - head coach

Richard Wigglesworth - senior assistant coach (attack)

Joe El-Abd - assistant coach (defence)

Tom Harrison - assistant coach (scrum)

Kevin Sinfield - assistant coach (skills & kicking)

Andrew Strawbridge - assistant coach & coaching advisor

The French Rugby Federation, National Rugby League and Provale have expressed "firm opposition" to the proposed 20-minute red card, saying it is an "unacceptable step backwards" by World Rugby.

In 2024, the Rugby Championship and World Rugby's Under-20 Championship in South Africa trialled the new law for the first time, external, meaning a team is able to replace a red-carded player after 20 minutes in the sin-bin.

This month World Ruby announced "successful initial trials", external were passed, leading to support for further elite-game trialling.

In a joint statement, the three French governing bodies say the "data collected remains insufficient" to go through with the proposal.

"Statistics provided by the FFR [French Rugby Federation] to World Rugby show that a red card does not systematically mean defeat for the penalised team," the statement said.

"Indeed, the analysis based on 480 Top 14 matches and Tier 1 international matches shows that only 60% of the teams receiving a red card lost at the end of the match."

Last year more than 300 former football, rugby league and rugby union players in the United Kingdom took legal action over brain injuries they claim to have sustained during their playing careers.

The statement adds that the current red card is "a crucial tool" to deter "unsportsmanlike behaviour", without it the sport faces an "unacceptable step backwards on the measures put in place over the last few years to reduce head impacts".

Furthermore, the law would "encourage more aggressive play", which would negatively impact "the image of the game".

The last men's and women's Rugby World Cup finals ended with one team having 14 players on the field for the majority of the game.

On the decision to trail the 20-minute red card, World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said in May that rugby's disciplinary process needed "streamlining to be simpler for players and fans to understand".

"This is a trial, and it is important to remember that the ability to replace a red-carded player after 20 minutes is coupled with sanctions that are strong, clear and will not be mitigated down," Beaumont added.

The FFR says it will speak out against the law's entry at the meeting of the World Rugby Council on 14 November.

If approved, World Rugby will work with member unions, competition owners and key stakeholders to finalise the timeline and processes for trial adoption, with implementation from 1 January.

"We call on World Rugby to reconsider this experiment, ensuring that any decision is based on concrete and convincing data, which is not the case today," vice-president of the FFR Jean-Marc Lhermet added.

BBC Sport contacted World Rugby for comment.

Gabriel Ibitoye's rugby pathway has taken the road less travelled.

In 2018, Eddie Jones called him up to an England senior squad as a teenage apprentice, but a little more than three years later he had signed up to Tel Aviv Heat, a globe-trotting mix of out-of-favour overseas stars and local Israeli players.

Finally at Bristol Bears, the Londoner seems to be nearing the destination his promise indicated.

For three-quarters of their game at Exeter, the 26-year-old had been overshadowed by his opposing wings. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe, the Chiefs' double-barrelled dual threat, had scored two tries apiece and given the hosts a 20-point lead after an hour.

But Ibitoye's dizzying nine-minute hat-trick all red-line, top-end speed to finish off openings created by AJ MacGinty, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Harry Randall flipped the match on its head.

Last season Ibitoye made more metres (1,432), threw more offloads (30) and beat more defenders (75) than any other player in the Premiership's regular season. He topped all those categories by a distance.

He was also joint top for line breaks with Northampton's Tommy Freeman - all while playing for a team that finished fifth.

Ugo Monye, speaking on Rugby Union Weekly last week, suggested international rugby might rein in what makes Ibitoye special.

Bristol boss Pat Lam, though, backed his man to finally make the step up.

"I believe he's good enough to play at the next level," he said.

"His fundamentals as a winger are great, and then on top of that, we get the Gabriel Ibitoye who's brilliant. He's one of the fittest guys, he's electric, but it's about him staying in the game and he's done that very well."

England announce their squad for the autumn internationals on Wednesday.

The Florida Panthers will be without forward Matthew Tkachuk for about a week due to illness, the team announced Monday.

The team is targeting Oct. 22 as the return date for the 26-year-old veteran.

Tkachuk, who did not play in Saturday's loss to the Buffalo Sabres, has recorded two assists in two games this season.

The Panthers have games this week against the Bruins, Blue Jackets, Canucks and Golden Knights before hosting the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 22.

The two-time All-Star and 2024 Stanley Cup winner has 581 points (218 goals, 363 assists) in 592 games with the Calgary Flames (2016-22) and Panthers.

Hockey is the ultimate team sport, and just because a team has the greatest player in the world doesn't guarantee it will win a championship. Of course, if a team has two of the top players in the world, it can come awfully close, as the Edmonton Oilers showed last season in getting to one win short of a Stanley Cup.

Spoiler alert: Connor McDavid topped our ranking of the top 100 NHL players for 2024-25, just as he did for 2023-24 and 2022-22 and 2021-22 and ... you get it. But where does Leon Draisaitl rank? And what about Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk from the Florida Panthers squad that beat the Oilers in the Cup Final?

We asked a panel of more than 50 ESPN broadcasters, analysts, reporters and editors to rate players based on how good they will be in the 2024-25 season compared with their peers. Emphasis was placed on their value for this coming season, which explains why players who are currently out injured (but are expected to return) might be lower than if they were completely healthy.

Write-ups are courtesy of ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton, Greg Wyshynski and editorial staff.

Subscribe to ESPN+ | Stream the NHL on ESPN
ESPN broadcast schedule

100. Tyler Toffoli, RW, San Jose Sharks

2023-24 rank: 65
Age: 32

One of the veterans brought in to help the rebuild along, Toffoli finished 2023-24 with 33 goals split between the Devils and Jets. -- ESPN staff

99. Ryan O'Reilly, C, Nashville Predators

2023-24 rank: 99
Age: 33

While the Predators' additions of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault got all the attention this summer, O'Reilly might be even more vital to their climb to a higher echelon of Cup contenders. An elite two-way center. -- ESPN staff

98. Seth Jones, D, Chicago Blackhawks

2023-24 rank: 52
Age: 30

Connor Bedard's rookie season was a tough one for the Blackhawks in the standings, but Jones' underlying numbers weren't horrible in a relative sense. Will the 30-year-old remain on the roster during the rebuild, or be traded for picks and prospects at the deadline? -- ESPN staff

97. Hampus Lindholm, D, Boston Bruins

2023-24 rank: 43
Age: 30

Lindholm's breakout 53-point campaign in 2022-23 was followed by a step back in 2023-24 (26 points). Which direction will the 30-year-old Swede head this season? -- ESPN staff

96. Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

2023-24 rank: 79
Age: 30

One of the NHL's premier defensive defensemen -- and literally its "most gentlemanly" in 2023-24, as he was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy. His play will be even more critical this season, as the Hurricanes lost multiple blueliners to free agency this summer. -- ESPN staff

95. Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues

2023-24 rank: 89
Age: 25

The 25-year-old's ascendancy continued in 2023-24, eclipsing a point-per-game pace for the first time (86 in 82). Thomas will continue to be vital as the Blues push for a playoff return. -- ESPN staff

94. Vince Dunn, D, Seattle Kraken

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28

Dunn missed a chunk of the 2023-24 season -- perhaps part of the reason the Kraken missed the playoffs. The 28-year-old is still improving and will continue to play a key role on even strength and on the power play. -- ESPN staff

93. Mikhail Sergachev, D, Utah Hockey Club

2023-24 rank: 53
Age: 26

A devastating leg injury kept Sergachev out for months last season, but an offseason trade to Utah was perhaps more jarring. He'll be a critical component of how far the UHC goes in its inaugural campaign. -- ESPN staff

92. Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 21

After a rookie campaign for which he was a Calder Trophy finalist, Hughes made the cover of EA Sports NHL 25 with brothers Quinn and Jack. He'll play a key role in the Devils' short- and long-term aspirations. -- ESPN staff

91. Alex Pietrangelo, D, Vegas Golden Knights

2023-24 rank: 84
Age: 34

One of the more reliable blueliners in the Western Conference, the 34-year-old continues to play at a high level, scoring 33 points and averaging 23:33 of ice time per game last season. -- ESPN staff

90. Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28

If the Panthers made a poster of their "bad boys" from the 2024 playoff run, Bennett would be prominently featured -- and might be Public Enemy No. 1 in Boston. -- ESPN staff

89. Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 38

As his 19th NHL season begins, Malkin is just a bit off his dominant production pace of earlier in his career. But he remains a force at even strength and on the power play for a Penguins team that is hoping for one last epic playoff run with the current core of veterans. -- ESPN staff

88. Alex DeBrincat, LW, Detroit Red Wings

2023-24 rank: 66
Age: 26

DeBrincat is a dynamic, scoring winger, the author of two-straight 27-goal campaigns. Can he get back to the 40-goal level he reached twice earlier in his career? -- ESPN staff

87. Connor Ingram, G, Utah Hockey Club

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 27

A late bloomer, Ingram backstopped a scrappy Coyotes team last season. As with the rest of the team, Ingram's stats took a hit after rumors of their relocation circulated. Now in Utah, expect him to serve as a solid backstop for UHC's playoff contention this season. -- ESPN staff

86. Lucas Raymond, RW, Detroit Red Wings

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 22

The fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Raymond has proved up to that pedigree, playing an increasingly important role for Detroit. And he'll be doing it for a while longer, having signed an eight-year, $64.6 million contract this offseason. -- ESPN staff

85. Adrian Kempe, C, Los Angeles Kings

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28

Kempe's rise has been a slow and steady one, and the 28-year-old was close to a point-per-game pace in 2023-24 (75 in 77 games). He's a key player as the Kings push to get beyond the first round of the playoffs this season. -- ESPN staff

84. MacKenzie Weegar, D, Calgary Flames

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 30

The "other guy" in the trade that swapped Matthew Tkachuk for Jonathan Huberdeau in 2022, Weegar has emerged as a dynamic player in his own right. That includes a 52-point 2023-24 season for a Calgary team in flux. -- ESPN staff

83. Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers

2023-24 rank: 97
Age: 36

Bobrovsky might be off of his Vezina Trophy-winning peak, but the veteran proved that he can still come up clutch in the playoffs. Now with his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, the legend of "Playoff Bob" continues to grow. -- ESPN staff

82. Devon Toews, D, Colorado Avalanche

2023-24 rank: 75
Age: 30

Much more than just Cale Makar's sidekick, Toews has proved to be a critical part of the Avs' success in recent seasons, playing both special teams along with his considerable even-strength minutes. -- ESPN staff

81. John Tavares, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

2023-24 rank: 93
Age: 34

He's not the point-per-game player he once was, but the veteran center remains a key contributor on even strength and the power play for Toronto. -- ESPN staff

80. Alexis Lafreniere, LW, New York Rangers

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 23

Last season -- and particularly the playoffs -- put the NHL on notice that the No. 1 pick from 2020 is everything the Rangers saw in him at that draft position. Watch out. -- ESPN staff

79. Jesper Bratt, LW, New Jersey Devils

2023-24 rank: 81
Age: 26

Although the Devils as a team took a significant step back last season, Bratt continued to produce: His 83 points were a career high, and the 26-year-old's ascension to the next level of stardom may be just getting started. -- ESPN staff

78. Zach Hyman, LW, Edmonton Oilers

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 32

Hyman exploded for 54 goals in 2023-24, skating on a line with Connor McDavid and playing a key role on the Oilers' power play as well. Does he hit the 50-goal mark again this season? -- ESPN staff

77. Tomas Hertl, C, Vegas Golden Knights

2023-24 rank: 100
Age: 30

Hertl being traded from San Jose to Vegas on deadline day last season was one of the most shocking swaps in recent history. How high can he climb now that he's back on a contender? -- ESPN staff

76. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers

2023-24 rank: 68
Age: 31

Ranking 19th in the NHL in scoring the past three seasons in total, Nugent-Hopkins is the longest-tenured member of an Oilers team that many believe is the best bet to win the Stanley Cup this spring. -- ESPN staff

75. Brandon Montour, D, Seattle Kraken

2023-24 rank: 87
Age: 30

After bouncing around a few teams earlier in his career, Montour broke out the past two seasons with the Panthers. The 30-year-old parlayed that into a seven-year, $50 million deal with the Kraken, a team that hopes he can get them back into the playoff mix. -- ESPN staff

74. Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets

2023-24 rank: 64
Age: 27

If it's possible for a defenseman to score a quiet 57 points in 70 games, that's precisely what Werenski did in 2023-24. The No. 8 pick from 2015 continues to be one of the more reliable defensemen in the league when healthy. -- ESPN staff

73. Linus Ullmark, G, Ottawa Senators

2023-24 rank: 47
Age: 31

Ullmark is in a very different place than one year ago at this time, no longer part of a goaltending battery with Jeremy Swayman in Boston. Can he shine in a new situation? -- ESPN staff

72. Jacob Markstrom, G, New Jersey Devils

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 34

After a long-rumored trade finally came to fruition in June, Markstrom takes over a dangerous Devils team that needed a significant goaltending boost. Can he recapture his past Vezina Trophy-caliber form? -- ESPN staff

71. Tim Stutzle, LW, Ottawa Senators

2023-24 rank: 21
Age: 22

After 90 points in 2022-23, Stutzle looked poised for superstardom. Unfortunately, a 17.1% shooting percentage proved unsustainable, and the goals dried up, going from 39 to 18 last season. In which direction will he go in 2024-25? -- ESPN staff

70. Jonathan Marchessault, LW, Nashville Predators

2023-24 rank: 59
Age: 33

The Golden Knights walked away from Marchessault, who had starred with the team since it entered the league. The feisty forward takes his talents to Nashville, who hopes that his 42-goal season wasn't a contract year aberration. -- Wyshynski

69. Mika Zibanejad, C, New York Rangers

2023-24 rank: 42
Age: 31

Zibanejad has helped power the Rangers' potent power play, with 32 goals and 38 assists on the man advantage over the past two seasons. -- Wyshynski

68. Timo Meier, RW, New Jersey Devils

2023-24 rank: 58
Age: 28

A big body with a ton of skill, Meier is expected to play a critical role in the Devils' turnaround this season. -- Wyshynski

67. Chris Kreider, LW, New York Rangers

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 33

Kreider is a rare talent in the NHL: a power forward with blazing speed who is extremely good around the opponents' net while also being an excellent penalty killer. -- Wyshynski

66. Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 21

The Stars keep developing homegrown talent. That includes Johnston, who has been a crucial contributor as they seek a third straight conference finals appearance. -- Clark

65. Carter Verhaeghe, C, Florida Panthers

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 29

Verhaeghe is one of the NHL's most productive forwards in the regular season who becomes one of league's most clutch performers in the postseason, to the tune of 53 points in 61 career playoff games with the Panthers. -- Wyshynski

64. Tage Thompson, C, Buffalo Sabres

2023-24 rank: 44
Age: 26

Don't let the injury-impacted 2023-24 season fool you: Thompson is still that guy who popped for 47 goals and 47 assists two years ago for the Sabres. -- Wyshynski

63. Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils

2023-24 rank: 31
Age: 25

Hischier has established himself as one of the league's best defensive centers, and he has plenty of offensive upside in the middle for the Devils. -- Wyshynski

62. Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

2023-24 rank: 37
Age: 39

Ovechkin needs 42 goals to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time scoring record. He has lost a step and didn't look like himself at all in the postseason, but give him the puck and space to shoot, and watch the "Russian Machine" operate. -- Wyshynski

61. Elias Lindholm, C, Boston Bruins

2023-24 rank: 62
Age: 29

Considered one of the better two-way centers in the NHL, Lindholm should thrive playing alongside David Pastrnak after signing with the Bruins in the offseason. -- Wyshynski

60. Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders

2023-24 rank: 30
Age: 29

Sorokin had his worst season statistically in 2023-24, which still put him well above league average in save percentage (.908). When he's on, few goaltenders can match his ability to take over games. -- Wyshynski

59. Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings

2023-24 rank: 78
Age: 23

Detroit handed Seider a rich contract extension after having emerged as their next franchise defenseman in his first three NHL seasons. -- Wyshynski

58. Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets

2023-24 rank: 69
Age: 27

Connor is never going to contend for the Selke Trophy, but so what? The guy fills the net every season, including having the 12th highest goals per game rate in the NHL last season (min. 60 games). -- Wyshynski

57. Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets

2023-24 rank: 72
Age: 31

While his goal-scoring took a tumble last season, Scheifele has been a consistent top-line offensive force for the Jets over the past 14 seasons. -- Wyshynski

56. Gustav Forsling, D, Florida Panthers

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28

Forsling's fellow NHLers are apt to call him the league's most underrated player, and for good reason. It's hard to fully appreciate everything Forsling brings to Florida's top pairing, from his 5-on-5 execution to penalty killing excellence. -- Shilton

55. Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings

2023-24 rank: 45
Age: 37

A two-time Selke Trophy winner, Kopitar continues to be a two-way metronome for a Kings roster that's looking to get out of the first round for the first time in a decade. -- Clark

54. Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils

2023-24 rank: 49
Age: 31

Hamilton's value was underscored by how much the Devils missed him last season due to injury, as the smooth-skating and deft-passing defenseman is a calming presence. -- Wyshynski

53. Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 22

Faber played like he was a 10-year veteran during his rookie NHL season, posting 47 points and acting as a steadying presence for the Wild defense corps. -- Wyshynski

52. Thatcher Demko, G, Vancouver Canucks

2023-24 rank: 80
Age: 28

Before the injury last season, Demko was one of the serious favorites for the Vezina Trophy as his performances led the Canucks to finishing with more than 100 points. -- Clark

51. Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks

2023-24 rank: 82
Age: 27

It was never a question of if Boeser could score, but what it would look like if he was healthy for a full season. The result was his first 40-goal campaign. -- Clark

50. Clayton Keller, C, Utah Hockey Club

2023-24 rank: 55
Age: 26

Now that Keller & Co. have swapped Tempe for Salt Lake City, there's a thought that they could possibly challenge for a playoff spot in their first season. -- Clark

49. Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings

2023-24 rank: 54
Age: 28

Larkin tallied three straight 30-goal seasons as the Red Wings' top center, including 33 goals in 68 games last season. -- Wyshynski

48. Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins

2023-24 rank: 35
Age: 36

Marchand's first season playing without Patrice Bergeron saw him wear the "C" with pride, and continue to post big offensive numbers for the Bruins. -- Wyshynski

47. Jeremy Swayman, G, Boston Bruins

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 25

Another new face in the Top 100, Swayman's performances last season showed he could be a No. 1 goaltender who could also get paid like one, too. -- Clark

46. Noah Dobson, D, New York Islanders

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 24

Dobson is no longer the best offensive defenseman no one's talking about, as his 70-point season caught the attention of the rest of the NHL. -- Wyshynski

45. Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks

2023-24 rank: 88
Age: 19

Labeled as the NHL's next great superstar, Bedard used his rookie year to lead the Blackhawks in goals, assists and points while winning the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. -- Clark

44. Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 24

Everything he did during his breakout last season -- finishing with 82 regular-season points and 32 playoff points -- drove Bouchard to make his Top 100 debut. -- Clark

43. Josh Morrissey, D, Winnipeg Jets

2023-24 rank: 63
Age: 29

Morrissey showed that his offensive breakthrough in 2022-23 wasn't an aberration, tallying 69 points in 81 games last season with the Jets. -- Wyshynski

42. Mathew Barzal, C, New York Islanders

2023-24 rank: 91
Age: 27

Barzal's dynamic offensive game produced his first point-per-game season since winning rookie of the year in 2017-18. -- Wyshynski

41. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins

2023-24 rank: 25
Age: 26

McAvoy is another example of why teams continue to seek defensemen who can do everything -- with the reality that a strong offensive season in 2024-25 could give him a good shot at his first Norris Trophy. -- Clark

40. Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators

2023-24 rank: 33
Age: 34

Few players have more to prove than Stamkos, whom the Lightning didn't re-sign despite a 40-goal season and his place as a franchise icon. -- Wyshynski

39. Roope Hintz, C, Dallas Stars

2023-24 rank: 36
Age: 27

Hintz is one of those two-way centers who has shown over the past few years that he can create and score goals just as effectively as he can prevent them. -- Clark

38. Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers

2023-24 rank: 13
Age: 26

Fox won the Norris Trophy in 2020-21 and has finished in the top five for the award in four of his five compete NHL seasons. -- Wyshynski

37. Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres

2023-24 rank: 26
Age: 24

A 20-goal scorer last season, the new Sabres captain is looking to take his individual success and parlay it into the Sabres ending a 13-year playoff drought. -- Clark

36. Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators

2023-24 rank: 51
Age: 29

Saros was rewarded with a new eight-year contract as the Predators' franchise goalie, having led the NHL in games played for three straight seasons. -- Wyshynski

35. Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars

2023-24 rank: 12
Age: 25

Creativity and confidence are what drives Robertson's scoring attack -- and it's a successful one. The Stars' playmaker is a threat all over the ice and constantly finds new ways to pump in pucks. -- Shilton

34. Filip Forsberg, LW, Nashville Predators

2023-24 rank: 50
Age: 30

As if having the best mustache in the NHL weren't enough, Forsberg is coming off his best offensive season, with a career-high 48 goals. -- Wyshynski

33. Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars

2023-24 rank: 34
Age: 25

At 6-5, Oettinger is the prototypical size for an NHL goaltender. He has 30 or more wins in three straight seasons, continuing to make the Stars a legitimate Stanley Cup challenger. -- Clark

32. William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

2023-24 rank: 40
Age: 28

There's versatility to Nylander's game -- it's what drives his dynamic scoring prowess and why the Leafs are determined to see the always-exciting winger succeed at center, too. -- Shilton

31. Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets

2023-24 rank: 14
Age: 31

The reigning two-time Vezina Trophy winner entered the 2024-25 season just 25 wins shy of becoming just the seventh American goalie to reach 300 career victories. -- Clark

30. Sam Reinhart, C, Florida Panthers

2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28

Reinhart's days flying under the radar are long gone after a 57-goal season that catapulted him to upper-echelon status among NHL scorers -- and he's not looking to go anywhere. -- Shilton

29. Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights

2023-24 rank: 38
Age: 32

Stone is as steady as they come, and that's a real superpower. Dependable scorer, responsible defensively and not afraid to go in the corners. Basically, the total package. -- Shilton

28. J.T. Miller, C, Vancouver Canucks

2023-24 rank: 95
Age: 31

Coming to Vancouver has seen Miller go from a top-nine option to a trusted forward in a leading role. He's coming off the first 100-point season in his career as the Canucks look to build on last season's division title. -- Clark

27. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning

2023-24 rank: 57
Age: 30

As more teams shift to using goaltending tandems, the seven-time 30-game winner continues to be one of the few netminders who can be trusted to play more than 60 games in a season. -- Clark

26. Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers

2023-24 rank: 28
Age: 28

The Rangers' unequivocal backbone is their Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender, whose elite performances -- particularly in the postseason -- showcase the best of his quick instincts and exceptional lateral movement in the crease. -- Shilton

25. Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ottawa Senators

2023-24 rank: 19
Age: 25

There's a brilliant balance of physicality and skill in Tkachuk's repertoire, not to mention a passion that's revealed nightly in his energetic -- and sometimes crushing -- interactions with opponents. -- Shilton

24. Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks

2023-24 rank: 16
Age: 25

A wizard with the puck and solid in his own end, Pettersson is looking to get back to the 100-point mark he broke through two seasons ago for the Canucks. -- Wyshynski

23. Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

2023-24 rank: 18
Age: 33

A six-time Norris Trophy finalist, the hulking generational defenseman takes over as captain of a Lightning roster that's now entering a new era with Steven Stamkos in Nashville. -- Clark

22. Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars

2023-24 rank: 29
Age: 25

Heiskanen's profile continues to ascend, with two straight seasons of more than 50 points for a Stars team that will mount as serious a Stanley Cup challenge as any in the West. -- Clark

21. Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay Lightning

2023-24 rank: 24
Age: 28

It is said that hanging with high-end talent is a talent in itself. Point has thrived next to Nikita Kucherov in Tampa Bay, and now he has Jake Guentzel on his wing this season. -- Wyshynski

20. Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators

2023-24 rank: 27
Age: 34

Being a No. 1 defensemen in the NHL means being adaptable to any situation. Josi is just that as the 2020 Norris Trophy winner has consistently proved he can be asked to play a crucial part in 5-on-5, power-play and short-handed situations. -- Clark

19. Sebastian Aho, C, Carolina Hurricanes

2023-24 rank: 22
Age: 27

Aho's nickname has evolved over the years, going from "Sea Bass" to just "Fishy" these days. What hasn't changed is Aho as one of the best two-way centers in the NHL, with three straight 30-goal campaigns. -- Wyshynski

18. Jake Guentzel, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning

2023-24 rank: 71
Age: 30

Guentzel's three consecutive 30-plus goal seasons are no fluke, coming from one of the most preeminent net-front scorers in the league. It's little wonder Tampa Bay went all-in on adding that potency to their lineup. -- Shilton

17. Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild

2023-24 rank: 17
Age: 27

"Kirill the Thrill" has the sixth-most goals in the NHL since 2021-22 (133), topping the 40-goal mark in three straight seasons for the Wild. -- Wyshynski

16. Jack Eichel, C, Vegas Golden Knights

2023-24 rank: 9
Age: 28

Vegas' top-line center can put on a playmaking masterclass for the Golden Knights while wielding a sharply evolved two-way game. And Eichel elevates everyone around him in the process, too. -- Shilton

15. Jack Hughes, C, New Jersey Devils

2023-24 rank: 4
Age: 23

Long considered to be one of the game's next great superstars, the middle brother of the Hughes trio has shown he's more than capable of being a top-line center. An injury-riddled 2023-24 campaign saw him finish with 27 goals and 74 points in 62 games. A healthy Hughes could get the Devils back into the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. -- Clark

14. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

2023-24 rank: 20
Age: 27

Marner's reputation as one of the NHL's premier playmakers has been well earned. But the Leafs' top-line winger is a powerful goal-scoring threat, too, with four consecutive 20-plus goal campaigns under his belt. -- Shilton

13. Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

2023-24 rank: 23
Age: 37

At 37 years old, Crosby is still a dominant offensive force, with 42 goals last season, doing all he can to pry open the Penguins' Cup contention window. -- Wyshynski

12. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks

2023-24 rank: 60
Age: 25

The past 12 months saw Hughes command more attention, and with good reason. He went from being named captain of the Canucks to helping them come within a win of reaching the Western Conference finals. And for all his contributions, Hughes won the Norris Trophy. This was a big summer for him personally, as he and his two brothers, Luke and Jack, are the NHL 25 cover athletes. -- Clark

11. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins

2023-24 rank: 10
Age: 28

When Pasta cooks, goals happen. The Bruins winger is second in the NHL in goals over the past four seasons, including 47 goals and 110 points last season. -- Wyshynski

10. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers

2023-24 rank: 15
Age: 29

For years, Barkov was the easy answer to the question of "Who is the NHL's most underrated player?" As the Panthers have risen to national prominence, it's allowed more people to see what makes the two-way center one of the game's most complete players, one who captained the team to the Stanley Cup in 2024. -- Clark

9. Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers

2023-24 rank: 6
Age: 29

Draisaitl is constantly finding ways to elevate his own game -- and that lifts everyone around him. Equal parts playmaker (with five 100-plus-point efforts in the past six seasons) and goal scorer (he's good for 40-plus most seasons), Draisaitl is a uniquely elite talent. -- Shilton

8. Mikko Rantanen, RW, Colorado Avalanche

2023-24 rank: 7
Age: 28

Having Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar simply isn't enough for the Avs. Rantanen is a 6-4 winger who has authored five seasons of more than 30 goals, and as many seasons of more than 50 assists. As of now, he's also the clear top player on the 2025 NHL free agency list. -- Clark

7. Artemi Panarin, LW, New York Rangers

2023-24 rank: 32
Age: 32

It's one thing to hit career highs in goals (49) and points (120) like Panarin did last season. But to reach those milestones at 32 -- and in his ninth NHL season? Panarin seems to be getting better with age. -- Shilton

6. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

2023-24 rank: 5
Age: 27

Matthews is already a three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the league's top goal scorer, and continues to improve as one of the league's dominant two-way centers. He has long been setting a high standard in Toronto on multiple levels -- and now there's a "C" on his sweater to prove it -- Shilton

5. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers

2023-24 rank: 11
Age: 26

The talented, tenacious and always entertaining Tkachuk is a true individual. He's an elite-level pest for the Panthers, balancing hard-nosed hockey with prolific offensive ability -- Shilton

4. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

2023-24 rank: 2
Age: 25

Young, puck-moving defensemen have become a necessity in today's NHL. Players such as Makar, who won the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman in 2022, are why. His ability to control a game in 5-on-5 situations and the power play have become pivotal to the Avs' ability to control games since he made his debut back in 2018. -- Clark

3. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

2023-24 rank: 3
Age: 29

The reigning Hart Trophy winner as the league's most valuable player is looking to build on what was his strongest individual campaign. MacKinnon's ability to use his size, speed and strength not only makes him one of the NHL's biggest threats, but one that could help his team win its second Stanley Cup since 2022. -- Clark

2. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

2023-24 rank: 8
Age: 31

Kucherov rewrote the Lightning record book last season with a career-best 144 points, becoming the fifth player in NHL history to tally 100 assists in a season. From a point-production standpoint over the past decade, only one player has done it better than Kucherov. -- Wyshynski

1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

2023-24 rank: 1
Age: 27

The best hockey player in the world was one win away from a singular achievement in sports history as he carried the Oilers back from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final. Statistically, no one can touch him: McDavid is more than 120 points clear of the next-highest scorer over the past 10 seasons. It's just a matter of time before that mastery manifests into a championship. -- Wyshynski

Nigeria have pulled out of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya on Monday, according to their captain William Troost-Ekong and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in protest at their flight to the country being diverted before players and staff were abandoned for hours in an airport far from the match venue.

The Super Eagles were due to play hosts Libya in the city of Benghazi, where they hoped to seal a qualification berth for the finals in Morocco late next year.

But after being stranded for more than 16 hours at an airport 250 km (155 miles) away from their intended destination, the Nigeria players said they will not fulfil the fixture and the NFF issued a statement.

"The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday's 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya," the statement said.

"The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport.

"Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.

"Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home."

Troost-Ekong said on X: "As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly."

CAF said in a statement that they had been in contact with both countries' football federations and that the "matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations."

The Libyan Football Federation said the incident was not deliberate and urged Nigeria to be understanding.

"We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional," it said, adding that disruptions can occur from routine air traffic protocols, security checks or other logistical challenges.

"We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. We hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved with understanding and goodwill."

Nigeria striker Victor Boniface complained he had been stuck at the airport for almost 13 hours with no food, WiFi or place to sleep. "Africa, we can do better," he said on X.

It is unclear what will happen to the points from the game with the matter likely to be referred to CAF's Disciplinary Board.

Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 in the reverse fixture in Uyo on Friday thanks to a late goal from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, taking them to seven points from three games in their group.

Benin have six points, Rwanda two and Libya one. The top two teams in each group advance to the 24-team finals.

Information from ESPN's Colin Udoh contributed to this report.

BRUSSELS -- European football chiefs and the global players' union, FIFPRO, united on Monday to criticise FIFA over the global football calendar as they filed an antitrust complaint against the global football governing body.

FIFPRO and the European Leagues, which represents 37 domestic leagues, jointly filed the complaint at the European Commission in Brussels in which they argue global football's governing body FIFA is abusing its right as both tournament organiser and regulator.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas said Monday has been "one of the most important days in football" and compared the case to that against the failed European Super League, while Premier League boss Richard Masters said in a statement that football has reached a "tipping point."

LaLiga is not a member of the European Leagues but it is a part of Monday's complaint.

FIFA declined to comment at this stage when approached by ESPN.

FIFPRO, the worldwide representative organisation for professional footballers, said it has tried to negotiate the issue with FIFA but said the governing body has "consistently refused" to consult them. It has also described FIFA's intention to host its expanded Club World Cup competition in the United States this summer as a step too far.

However, a source told ESPN this summer's competition is unlikely to be impacted given the short amount of time before it takes place.

"Today is one of the most important days in football," Tebas said.

"For me, there's been two historical days in football. One in 2019 when we stopped a reform of the Super League and today we've given a very important step in what we believe is the path of changing the governance of football institutions and we're not going to let this opportunity get away."

Player workload been a hot topic in football over recent seasons, with players and coaches repeatedly urging organisers to condense the schedule and allow players more rest. Last month, Manchester City midfielder Rodri said players are "close" to going on strike over the issue.

"It is getting to a tipping point," Masters said in a statement.

"The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion. The Premier League hasn't changed shape. What has changed over the last few decades is the march of international and regional football competitions."

Serie A chief executive Luigi De Siervo said: "Serie A, like almost all other European Leagues, in the last 20 years hasn't increased the number of games.

"On the contrary FIFA and UEFA, cycle after cycle, have increased constantly the size of their competitions for both clubs and national teams and we have now reached a saturation point in the calendar."

FIFA argues that its most recent calendar, set through to 2030, was approved by its council which "included FIFPRO and league bodies."

It said in July, when the antitrust complaint was first announced: "FIFA's calendar is the only instrument ensuring that international football can continue to survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football."

A source told ESPN that FIFA believes the Club World Cup will have a minimal impact on the football calendar or on player welfare, given it will be held once every four years, featuring a maximum of seven games.

A recent analysis published by Opta shows that, while City played the most games last season (59), the majority of teams in Europe played fewer than 50 matches, with five Premier League sides playing 42 games last season -- just four more than the league season.

Another recent paper by CIES Football Observatory found there is only a minor difference in the number of games players play per season compared to previous decades.

However, FIFPRO said their research shows 72% of players are in support of reducing the calendar and ensuring a mandate rest period, as well as data that says 17% of players made over 55 appearances last season and 30% had a sequence of six "back-to-back" matches.

FIFPRO and the European Leagues argue that FIFA is abusing its status as a governing body and tournament organiser, saying the body favours its own competitions rather than looking out for player welfare.

"Enough is enough, we can't take it anymore," Mathieu Moreuil, Premier League director of international football relations and EU affairs, said.

"We have now an international match calendar which is beyond saturation... We've tried to engage with FIFA on that for years now without any positive response. So enough is enough."

The antitrust complaint is not the only case against FIFA regarding the international match calendar. Domestic players unions in England, France and Italy took legal action against the governing body at the Brussels Court of Commerce in June and they are attempting to have the case tried at the European Court of Justice.

That case centres on employment law and players' rights to holiday. One of their aims is to have a mandated rest period -- between three to four weeks per year -- for players to recuperate.

European governing body UEFA has also increased its schedule, notably with the new Champions League and Europa League formats, but has not been targeted in the complaint to regulators.

Moreuil said that was because FIFA was responsible for the international calendar and relations were different with UEFA thanks to dialogue.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report