LeBron James' injury and an impressive stretch by the Brooklyn Nets without Kevin Durant have upended the NBA betting market.

The Nets have surpassed the Los Angeles Lakers at multiple sportsbooks and are now the consensus favorites to win the NBA title. Brooklyn has won 15 of its past 17 games and moved into second place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the Philadelphia 76ers. Durant has missed the past 15 games with a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him a few more games.

James suffered a high ankle sprain Saturday in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks, an injury that could cause him to miss multiple weeks. The Lakers are already without Anthony Davis, who has been out with a calf strain and tendinosis in his right leg for over a month and is expected to miss at least another week.

The Lakers lost their second straight game Sunday at Phoenix and have dropped into third place in the Western Conference. They are only five games ahead of the eighth-place Dallas Mavericks.

"You're going to see the Lakers as a large underdog on the road and a small underdog at home," Jeff Sherman, vice president of risk at the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, said. "You take those two guys [James and Davis] off the team and it's going to be a fight for a playoff spot."

Sherman moved the Nets to 2-1 to win the NBA title after James' injury and dropped the Lakers to 4-1, their longest odds of the season.

Other sportsbooks were being more cautious with the Lakers' odds in anticipation of James and Davis returning for the playoffs. In New Jersey, at Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, the Lakers remained the title favorites at +260, slightly ahead of the Nets at +280.

"I've nudged the Lakers' odds up a little and lowered some of the other Western Conference teams," Adam Pullen, assistant director of trading for William Hill, told ESPN. "But can't go too crazy as [James] has got plenty of time to get healthy before the playoffs, if he needs it. If it comes out that that injury is a lot worse, then we'll have to make some major adjustments."

DraftKings' sportsbook also was keeping the Lakers as the favorites as of Monday morning, but the majority of books had the Nets with the best odds.

With James and 76ers star Joel Embiid sidelined with injuries, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has emerged as the favorite to win the regular-season MVP. Jokic is +110 at William Hill, followed by James (+450) and Embiid (+600).

The Nets' James Harden, who was as long as 100-1 to win MVP at one point, is now 10-1.

NEW YORK -- Kyrie Irving will not travel with the Brooklyn Nets on their upcoming three-game road trip while he deals with a family matter, the team announced Monday morning.

Irving will miss Brooklyn's games against the Trail Blazers, Jazz and Pistons.

The Nets are already short-handed. Kevin Durant has been sidelined since Feb. 13 with a hamstring strain but is getting closer to returning, coach Steve Nash said. They will also be without Landry Shamet, who has emerged as a key player off the bench. Shamet sprained his right ankle against the Wizards on Sunday and will not travel with the team on Monday, although his MRI did not show significant damage, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Irving has been in and out of the Nets' lineup this season, having played in 31 of their 43 games. He missed two weeks in January for a personal absence. During that time away from the team, Irving broke the league's COVID-19 protocols, which further delayed his return to the court. Irving was fined for not following the league's coronavirus safety guidelines. Upon his return, Irving told reporters that he "just needed a pause."

Since then, Irving has missed four games for injury maintenance.

Irving is averaging 28.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season.

Hall of Fame forward Elgin Baylor, who followed his illustrious playing career with a decades-long tenure as LA Clippers general manager, has died at the age of 86.

Baylor died of natural causes Monday and was surrounded by his wife, Elaine, and his daughter, Krystal, the Los Angeles Lakers said in a statement.

"Elgin was the love of my life and my best friend," Elaine said in the statement. "And like everyone else, I was in awe of his immense courage, dignity and the time he gave to all fans. At this time we ask that I and our family be allowed to mourn his passing in privacy."

Considered one of basketball's greatest players, Baylor was an 11-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA selection during his 14 seasons with the Lakers from 1958 to 1971. He was the 1958-59 Rookie of the Year as well as the All-Star Game MVP that year. He averaged a double-double for his career, posting 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.

With the Lakers, who moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960, Baylor made eight NBA Finals appearances but never won a title, losing seven-game series to the Boston Celtics on three occasions. He holds the single-game Finals scoring record with 61 points against the Celtics in 1962.

"Elgin was THE superstar of his era -- his many accolades speak to that," Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "He was one of the few Lakers players whose career spanned from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. But more importantly he was a man of great integrity, even serving his country as a U.S. Army reservist, often playing for the Lakers only during his weekend pass. He is one of the all-time Lakers greats with his No. 22 jersey retired in the rafters and his statue standing guard in front of STAPLES Center. He will always be part of the Lakers legacy. On behalf of the entire Lakers family, I'd like to send my thoughts, prayers and condolences to Elaine and the Baylor family."

Baylor's scoring highlights also included becoming the first player to score 70 points in a game and going for 71 against the New York Knicks in November 1960. That stood as the Lakers' single-game record until Kobe Bryant scored 81 against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.

Baylor retired early in the 1971-72 season because of knee issues. He just missed winning an NBA title, as the Lakers would go on to defeat the Knicks in five games in the Finals that season.

After his playing career, Baylor coached the New Orleans Jazz for three seasons (1976-79) without a playoff appearance before stepping down.

He then found a long-term home in the Clippers' front office, serving as general manager from 1986 to 2009, though the team made only two playoff appearances during his tenure. He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2005-06, when the Clippers won 47 games and made the Western Conference semifinals.

Baylor said he was forced out of his job because of age and racial discrimination, though he dropped racial discrimination claims against the Clippers as part of a lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed entirely in 2011.

Baylor served as GM under owner Donald Sterling, who was banned from the NBA for life in 2014 after private recordings of him making racist comments were made public. Baylor said that he worked for Sterling because of limited job opportunities for former Black players and the need to provide for his family.

Baylor's college career included leading Seattle to its only Final Four appearance in 1958, when the team lost to Kentucky in the title game and Baylor was named Most Outstanding Player. After the season, the Lakers picked Baylor first in the NBA draft.

It was actually the second time the Lakers had chosen Baylor in a draft. They picked him in the 14th round in 1956, but Baylor chose to continue playing in college at the time.

Baylor, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, became the sixth person to be honored by the Lakers with a statue, which was unveiled in April 2018. The team previously retired his No. 22 jersey in 1983.

The Kansas City Royals reassigned four of their top prospects to their minor league camp Monday, including touted shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., whose brilliant spring training nearly caused the club to put him on the Opening Day roster.

The Royals also sent outfielder Kyle Isbel and pitchers Jackson Kowar and Daniel Lynch to the minor league camp.

The 20-year-old Witt is universally considered the Royals' top prospect, but he's blocked at his natural position by young shortstop Adalberto Mondesi. Witt has spent time at second base during spring training, where light-hitting defensive standout Nicky Lopez is the incumbent, but the Royals prefer he get more experience at that position by playing every day.

That should happen once the minor league season begins. Witt has only played 37 professional games, all at the rookie level, and missed out on crucial experience when COVID-19 forced the cancellation of last year's minor league season.

"We all know he's earned the respect," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said recently. "A young, talented player with a lot of hype around him who's earned the respect of his teammates."

All four players reassigned to minor league camp Monday are among the top 10 in the Royals system, and keeping them off the big league roster also keeps their service time from starting, potentially giving the club an extra year of control.

The second overall pick in the 2019 amateur draft, Witt hit .289 with three homers during exhibition play, one homer estimated at 484 feet. He also made a few dazzling plays in the field, even at a relatively new position.

"He could be an elite defender really anywhere on the diamond," Moore said. "We could put him in center field and he could cover Kauffman Stadium. Of course, we've got a terrific young shortstop in Adalberto Mondesi. But he definitely would be able to perform very well there. He's just a special talent, and it's been a joy watching him compete this spring."

The 24-year-old Isbel hit .333 with two homers and three RBIs in 17 games this spring, but his reassignment amounted to a numbers game -- the Royals are content with Andrew Benintendi in left field, Michael Taylor in center and Whit Merrifield in right. And while he could have been the fourth outfielder, much like Witt, the Royals want him to get regular work.

Kowar and Lynch were both longshots to make the Opening Day roster, but they figure to be linchpins of the pitching staff for years to come. Kowar was 2-1 with a 6.97 ERA while Lynch was 1-2 with an 8.38 ERA.

Both were first-round picks in 2018, when the Royals also drafted right-hander Brady Singer and left-hander Kris Bubic -- who made their big league debuts last season -- within the first 40 selections overall.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Texas Rangers are expecting to be without one-time closer Jose Leclerc for an extended time because of right elbow soreness, the latest setback for a bullpen already missing another key late-inning arm for at least two months.

General manager Chris Young said Monday that Leclerc reported soreness after a recent outing, and the right-hander has returned to Texas to be evaluated by team physician Dr. Keith Meister. Young said the length of Leclerc's absence will depend on the diagnosis.

Leclerc missed all but the first week of the 2020 season because of a shoulder injury that limited him to two outings. His latest setback occurred with the Rangers already planning to put Jonathan Hernandez on the 60-day injured list when the season starts. The right-hander was diagnosed during spring training with an elbow ligament sprain.

Hernandez led the Rangers with 27 appearances last season, going 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA. While the Rangers haven't specified how long Hernandez will be out, president of baseball operations Jon Daniels has said the club planned to put him on the 60-day injured list when the season starts.

Leclerc began the 2019 season as the closer before getting demoted after a rough first month. He had 14 saves in 2019 after recording 12 the previous season.

World Athletics starts a ‘global conversation’ so that athletes, coaches, officials and fans can help shape the global governing body’s plans

World Athletics has invited everyone to take part in a ‘global conversation’ which it hopes will help shape the development of the sport in coming years.

People can contribute their views over a six-week period via an online survey that is available in 12 languages.

It is largely in the format of a questionnaire and takes about five minutes to fill in, although there is a section at the end where people can give additional views, with a word count limit of 600. Many of the questions are related to improving the popularity of the sport and how new innovative ideas can help. However, the survey is also tailored to what your role in the sport is and where you live.

The global governing body says it is the first time it has conducted a survey on such a scale and the body’s president, Seb Coe, says it is “an unprecedented Global Conversation with all those who love our sport and want to have a say in its future”.

Coe adds: “The global pandemic has highlighted the need and desire of governments and communities to keep fit and healthy.  Athletics, as the most accessible and participated sport on the planet has a key role in helping to achieve this.  Through this global engagement phase, I want to hear from everyone who cares about athletics and about health and fitness.

“Our strength as a sport lies in the diversity of our community and we need to hear the voices of our key stakeholders in all of our 214 countries and territories in order to develop a plan that fully represents our global aspirations for athletics to grow and thrive over the coming years.’’

It is linked to the governing body’s creation of a World Plan for Athletics 2022-2030. The responses from the survey will help World Athletics understand the challenges ahead. “Through this open stakeholder-centric project,” they say, “World Athletics wants to drive a fruitful conversation by asking its people to embrace the chance to speak up and help to bring further significant and necessary changes and developments to the number one Olympic sport.”

When all the contributions have been submitted a draft plan will be presented to the World Athletics Council and then a final plan given to member federations for approval at the World Athletics Congress in November.

The process is being overseen by the World Plan Working Group, which is chaired by former triple jump world record-holder Willie Banks and assisted by the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

To join the global conversation and have your say, CLICK HERE

Joe Pavelski is having one of the best seasons of his 15-year NHL career. Though the Dallas Stars are off to a slower-than-expected start after making it to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, Pavelski is carrying the load -- especially as the team weathers early injury-related absences of Tyler Seguin, Ben Bishop and Alexander Radulov. Through 28 games, Pavelski has scored 14 goals -- six more than any other teammate -- and is averaging a point per game, his best pace ever and double his regular-season rate from 2019-20.

Off the ice, Pavelski has been positioning himself for even more success: heading a sports media company.

In 2017, Pavelski launched Kompany 39, a digital platform that helps athletes share their stories, grow their brands and better connect with fans. Last week, the company rebranded as TorchPro -- fueled by a round of funding -- and also announced the purchase of the Morning Blitz, a daily sports newsletter. TorchPro has 12 full-time employees, a pool of 12-14 interns, and eight "founding athletes," including Charlie McAvoy, Riley Sheahan and Mike Green. Kacey Bellamy, a stalwart defenseman on the U.S. women's national team, was the first athlete to sign on.

The website's initial offerings include several produced videos: Pavelski explaining his path to becoming a pro, McAvoy dishing on his road-trip essentials, Sheahan talking about his passion for guitar, and Bellamy sharing her workouts.

"Our goal is to get this thing going and grow it as big as we can," Pavelski said. "As we talk to players, there's excitement for it. They can take control of their brand, and grow it in an authentic way. The culture has changed where people feel more comfortable sharing their stories, and we think we have a chance to create something really meaningful."

TorchPro is a story of a professional athlete starting to think about what his life will look like after retiring. It's also a story about hockey culture, and a veteran player who wants to help it adapt and leave it better for the next generation. At its heart, TorchPro is a buddy story, beginning with a friendship forged at the rink.

Pavelski met Matt Fornataro in 2002, in Iowa, as teammates on the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL. "We were just two teenagers chasing dreams," Fornataro said. They won a championship in 2004, and went on their separate paths. Fornataro played at the University of New Hampshire, then carved a 10-year pro career, mostly in the AHL, and a little in Europe. Pavelski went to Wisconsin, then made it big time, earning the nickname "Captain America" while playing for the San Jose Sharks and Team USA in two Olympics. They remained friends throughout.

When Fornataro retired in 2016, he began helping Pavelski run his social media accounts. He also helped with summer camps in Wisconsin. Pavelski loved the opportunity to share knowledge with young hockey players. "Growing up, there was never social media to see what other guys were doing, other drills, see what they're like, you just watched the games," Pavelski said. "One of my favorite players was Brett Hull. Looking back, it would have been so cool to get closer to those guys, see if you're doing something right, try to emulate them, or really just feel closer."

Pavelski wondered, how could they take what he was teaching to 100-plus kids in person, and share it with the masses?

They formed Kompany 39, thanks to an initial investment from Pavelski.

"There's great people and great stories in the game of hockey, and they haven't been shared in the way we think they should be," Fornataro said. "The humble gene in a lot of ways has held the game back. Hockey is a humble game, it's all about 'team, team, team.' There's sometimes a breakdown, though, in the sense that a player sharing their personality or outside interest somehow made them a bad person, or a 'me, me, me' person, and that's not the case."

Pavelski, 36, is recruiting younger players in the league. His pitch: "If you could add a little piece [of your life] every year over the next 10, 15 years, imagine how cool it would be for a kid coming up, to really experience your journey?"

McAvoy, 23, the No. 1 defenseman on the Boston Bruins, was excited to be part of it.

"We had a call last week with a bunch of guys talking about it, and we shared a lot of the same feelings about how the people who came before us, and everyone in hockey, the culture is a little reluctant to step outside of that team setting and have a brand, because nobody really feels comfortable saying, 'hey, check me out,'" McAvoy said. "The humble hockey player -- which you see with pretty much every guy on every team -- is the mold that everyone falls into. I think it's great; you meet some of the nicest people, some real gentlemen in the game of hockey. But I also think there are people who are interested in our stories, who are interested in seeing athletes for more than just hockey players, and this allows for that."

Pavelski is under contract with the Stars through the 2021-22 season. Though he's not sure what life after hockey will look like for him, he's proud to be laying the foundations now.

"There's a lot of guys that just don't really start [thinking about it] until they're done, they have one or two years left in their career and they think, 'OK what should i do?'" Pavelski said. "That transition, from everything we know and from what I've seen, it's not easy for everybody. For me, it's not one foot in the door and one foot out the door, it's just learning as you go, establishing who you are as a person and what you like, and hopefully it does help when your playing days are over and you can fall into that next phase of your life."

As for why he's seen so much success on the ice this season? Pavelski has some theories.

"Last year was really interesting, in terms of the first time being away from San Jose," he said. "And I think some of the injuries I dealt with coming back, I didn't think they would affect me in certain ways. It was a lot of little things -- with the move, all new teammates, feeling comfortable. Part of my game, I believe, is reading off players, understanding tendencies. I think the game well, I think around the game, versus flying down the wing, beating guys one on one. But I definitely feel more comfortable around these guys, having a great time around them, and I've reestablished certain things of how I've wanted to play, I think it's all helped out."

The condensed schedule doesn't seem to be affecting him much -- in fact, he might be thriving because of it.

"I was talking to 'Jumbo' Joe Thornton the other day and I was like, 'we play four games a week for the next month!'" Pavelski said. "He's like, 'You know how it is, you me and a lot of these guys, we like to play games.' We like to practice, too, but once the games are rolling, it's fun. You play a game, you rest and recover the next day, and you get ready to play again. It's why we love this game: to compete, to perform. You show up every night, you might be a little tired, but by the time warmups come, there's a lot of excitement to just play."

Jump ahead:
Three stars of the week
What we liked this week
What we didn't like
Best games on tap
Social post of the week

Emptying the notebook

1. The Boston Bruins are the latest team to hit a pause, with two games postponed this week after four players landed on the COVID protocol list. The team is hopeful to open its practice facilities on Wednesday.

The Bruins are in fourth place in the East Division, and based on GM Don Sweeney's midseason press availability, it sounds as if the team is interested in some offensive help to address the scoring issues (through 28 games, Boston has the fourth fewest 5-on-5 goals in the league). Though the Bruins could still be looking to add a defenseman ahead of the trade deadline, it's not as dire. That's largely because McAvoy has inherited the No. 1 job seamlessly, and other young blueliners have stepped into bigger roles. It's all the more impressive considering the blue line is battling some with injuries.

"I feel like going into the season, that was all anyone could talk about -- it was like you lose Z [Zdeno Chara], you lose Torey [Krug], like we're not going to be able to keep the puck out of our net," McAvoy says. "And you've just seen everyone step up by committee. I'm so proud to be a part of it. To see the guys we've brought into the fold, to see everyone really flourish, especially with the injuries we've had to battle on the back end. The other night Jack Ahcan plays his first NHL game, we're calling on everybody right now. It's just been a next-man-up type of mindset. Everyone is just coming in and doing their job.

"It's been part of the culture here -- regardless of who is in the lineup, we've always been deep, we've always felt like we have everything we need within to win. It's been so embodied this season."

2. I asked an NHL pro scout which available goalie he would be most excited about getting, if his team were in the market (they're not). He didn't hesitate: Jonathan Bernier. The 29-year-old has battled hard for the Detroit Red Wings, with a .918 save percentage for a not-very-good team. However, he was injured in Thursday's win over the Stars, and the team isn't sure of the severity. Goalie-hungry teams are monitoring the situation.

"I would just say it's one of those injuries that could heal quickly, or could take longer," coach Jeff Blashill said. "We're just not sure."

3. I'll have more on the Carolina Hurricanes in a story later this week, but first a positive development: goalie Petr Mrazek is back at practice, and his return is imminent. Mrazek, 29, had been sidelined since Jan. 30, and he underwent surgery on his right thumb. He recently had the pins removed, and once he's comfortable, he will return to the lineup.

Mrazek had only four starts this season, but he was outstanding, posting a .955 save percentage while allowing just three goals. Carolina soldiered on quite well without him -- thanks in part to the emergence of 25-year-old Alex Nedeljkovic -- but will be happy to welcome back their No. 1. The Canes have lost three straight for the first time this season, dropping them to third in the competitive Central Division. Carolina is still within three points of division-leader Tampa Bay, and has a comfortable 10-point lead over fourth place.

But injuries are starting to mount. Leading scorer Vincent Trocheck (upper body) has been sidelined since March 11 and first-liner Teuvo Teravainen (concussion) has been out since March 4.

"I think most teams can recover from short-term injuries, but when you have long-term injuries, that's tough," coach Rod Brind'Amour told me on Friday. "We've had a few now this year. With Petr out, somebody had to step up. Nedeljkovic did a really good job. We've been fortunate guys have been able to step up, because these are three really big shoes to fill."

Three stars of the week

Mika Zibanejad, C, New York Rangers

First, Zibanejad became the only player besides Islanders legend Bryan Trottier to record six points in a single period; he was the offensive star of New York's wild 9-0 blowout of Philly on Wednesday. (Trottier had been the sole holder of that record for 42 years). Then, he followed that performance by scoring the game winner against the Capitals with a terrific individual effort:

Mika Zibanejad shoves the defender off the puck to gain possession, scores to break the tie late in the third #NYR pic.twitter.com/zmyvr3vzNx

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 21, 2021

The 27-year-old, who slumped to begin the season, is definitely taking a turn. In his own words: "I've been feeling pretty good the last few weeks, l feel like myself again."

Philipp Grubauer, G, Colorado Avalanche

There is no goalie in the league right now as hot as Grubauer, who picked up three wins (including his league-leading fifth shoutout), posting a .985 save percentage along the way. He also scored an assist, because, well, why not? During Colorado's six-game winning streak, he has allowed only three goals on 136 shots, a .977 save percentage.

One of Grubauer's appearances this week came in relief of Hunter Miska (who allowed four goals on seven shots), reinforcing that Colorado is very much looking for a dependable backup, even beyond their deal to land Jonas Johansson.

Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

Another week, another dominant performance from the Oilers captain (four goals, including two game winners and four assists) in four games. He's now the fastest player to reach 60 points since Mario Lemieux in 2002-03 (who also did it in 34 team games).

A good time to re-up this story I did a few years ago to remind you that despite outworldly efforts on the ice, McDavid is in fact human.

What we liked this week

1. It had been 716 days since Thomas Hickey last played in a regular-season NHL game. The 31-year-old defenseman had been sidelined as the Islanders needed lineup spots for their young blueliners. When the opportunity was there for Hickey, he was injured.

But on Saturday, everything aligned for Hickey to get back in an NHL game for the first time since May 3, 2019. He notched two assists in a 6-1 Islanders win over the Flyers, and called it "the best feeling I've had in a long time."

Hickey's journey hasn't been easy. He lost his older brother, Dan, to brain cancer a little over a year ago. Dan, who lived in Calgary, is survived by his wife and daughter, who is 2½. "We've had a really rough go," Hickey said on Saturday. "I've been thinking about my brother, always wanted to just do good things while he was battling and fighting, and to show him that you can play for him. I think that carries over, even though he's not with us, that's in the back of your mind. ... It's been a tough road, but I feel like it's worth it. It's worth that wait."

2. We're happy to see Devante Smith-Pelly back in North America, after signing a professional tryout contract with the Ontario Reign of the AHL. Smith-Pelly, 28, was a big part of the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup run. Smith-Pelly spent last season with the Kunlun Red Star of the KHL.

3. It's been a frustrating season for the Anaheim Ducks, and they're looking toward the future. The good news is that there are some bright spots among the young core about which fans should be excited. Jamie Drysdale (No. 6 pick of 2020 draft) and Trevor Zegras (No. 9 pick in 2019) both scored their first NHL goals in the same game, an overtime win against the Coyotes.

Trevor Zegras first NHL goal from Troy Terry pic.twitter.com/IVlz9hcfyN

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 19, 2021

What we didn't like this week

1. We never like to see a coach lose his job, but a divorce for the Sabres and Ralph Krueger became inevitable after Buffalo's tailspin (its losing streak is now at 13 games with a minus-33 goal differential).

The issues, of course, are not exclusive to coaching -- but the Sabres can't answer for why they've cycled through so many of them. Interim bench boss Don Granato is the Sabres' seventh coach this decade. "I mean, I can see why the decision was made," Rasmus Ristolainen, the eight-year veteran said. "It's business. I've been here. I've seen so many coaching changes, GM changes, but especially like most of the coaching changes we've had here, I feel like it's more about players. But you can't fire players, so then it's always the coach having to take the blame."

Owners Terry and Kim Pegula want to win, and hopefully this latest season of disappointment triggers some soul-searching. The Pegulas listened to league recommendations on hires during their first few years in the league, but when they didn't work out, they decided to go with people they knew (hence, why Kevyn Adams, the longtime Sabres employee, got the GM nod). But Adams needs help, and it appears his first order of business is hiring an assistant GM. As I wrote last week, the Sabres have serious challenges; their scouting department was ravaged by cuts during the pandemic. They have yet to fill a lot of those positions, and they plan to lean heavily on video scouting this draft cycle.

The Sabres could have $34.95 million in cap space this summer, according to Cap Friendly, with the contracts of Taylor Hall, Carter Hutton, Jake McCabe, Brandon Montour, Tobias Rieder, Riley Sheahan and Linus Ullmark all potentially coming off the books. The Sabres have tried throwing money at their problems in free agency in the past, and that hasn't worked. It's time for a total reboot.

2. The Philadelphia Flyers are struggling. They have been outscored by 13 goals over their past three games, which is their worst goal differential over a three-game span since November 2002. Of course, the 9-0 loss to the Rangers (and their replacement coaching staff) was an embarrassing clunker.

The uncomfortable thing to talk about in context of the Flyers season: They just haven't been the same team since a bout of COVID-19 hit the team and they were forced to go on pause in early February. Since then, they've been a bottom-five team in the NHL, going 7-8-1, allowing 3.94 goals per game -- second worst in the league (to Anaheim) -- in that span. Carter Hart hasn't been himself (and is now at a league-worst minus-17.61 goals saved above average, per Natural Stat Trick), but the defense in front of him has way too many breakdowns.

This week will be telling for GM Chuck Fletcher to assess whether his team can be buyers at this year's deadline, or would be better off standing pat, writing off this season as a developmental one. Don't forget: the Flyers were one of the most dominant teams in the second half of last season. From the 2020 All-Star break to the pause in March, Philly went 14-4-1 and led all teams averaging 3.89 goals per game. A similar turnaround is possible, and the playoffs are still very much within reach.

3. Timur Faizutdinov, the 19-year-old captain of Dynamo St. Petersburg, died last week in Russia after being hit in the head by a puck. The horrific accident sent shockwaves across the hockey community. It was nice to see Evgeni Malkin honor Faizutdinov with a decal on his helmet.

Evgeni Malkin is wearing a #77 sticker on his helmet in remembrance of Timur Faizutdinov, who tragically passed away after suffering a head injury in a recent hockey game. He was 19, and the captain of Dynamo St. Petersburg. Our hearts go out to Timur's family and teammates. pic.twitter.com/qIhSv1GXm5

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 16, 2021

Unfortunately Malkin -- who was just starting to find his stride this season -- is now listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Top games on tap this week

Note: All times Eastern.

Thursday, March 25: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Uh, the last time these teams played, the Rangers won 9-0. The rematch is essential viewing.

Thursday, March 25: Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m.

The Avs are heating, riding a six-game winning streak, and they're eyeing Vegas' top spot in the West. This also could pit two of the most dominant goalies in the league right now, Grubauer and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Coinciding with Colorado's resurgence: Cale Makar is back.

Cale Makar is just so effective. pic.twitter.com/TLhfY5fCCr

— NHL (@NHL) March 20, 2021

Saturday, March 27: Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Central Division is top-heavy, and maybe the most challenging in all of the NHL this season. The Canes have three more games against the Lightning (they are 2-3 so far), which could have a major impact on the standings.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Tampa Bay's .767 point percentage is tied for the fourth-highest through 30 games by a defending Stanley Cup champ, and highest since the 1985-86 Oilers.

Social media post of the week

With goal No. 718 last week, Alex Ovechkin surpassed Phil Esposito for No. 6 on the NHL's all-time goal-scoring list, and with 720, he now trails Wayne Gretzky by just 174. The tradition of players congratulating other players for breaking their records will never grow old to me. (Gordie Howe followed Gretzky on the road when Gretzky was poised to break his record, and Gretzky has vowed to do the same for Ovechkin).

And now a message from the great Phil Esposito for Alex Ovechkin on taking over sixth place on the all-time goals list!#ALLCAPS | #Gr8 pic.twitter.com/8NydChJFE8

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 17, 2021

Manchester United midfielder Fred has become the latest footballer to be subjected to racist abuse on social media following his side's FA Cup exit to Leicester City.

Fred was at fault for Leicester's opening goal during the 3-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium. After the game a number of racist messages were left on the Brazil international's Instagram account, some including a derogatory emoji.

Speaking after the final whistle, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to blame any of his players for the result and instead said his team lacked "spark."

"When we win, we win together and when we lose, we lose together," he said. "We're not pointing fingers and blaming."

Fred is the latest United player to face racist abuse after other incidents this season involving Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe.

Fred and teammate Jesse Lingard were also racially abused during a 2-1 win at Manchester City in December 2019. United have previously released statements condemning the abuse directed at their players and branded those responsible as "mindless idiots."

Sources have told ESPN the club remain keen for social media companies to assume the lead in helping to protect their players, including taking steps to ensure accounts are verified rather than anonymous.

In May 2018, Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward gave what he described as a "very simple and candid" response to a question about whether success on the pitch made a difference to the club's earning power off it: "Playing performance doesn't really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

Time will tell whether Woodward's assertion about United's commercial power, in the absence of success, holds true. United announced a new five-year shirt sponsorship deal with TeamViewer last week worth £47 million a year, according to club sources, but the agreement is £17m-a-year down on their expiring deal with Chevrolet and, according to a Bloomberg report at the weekend, TeamViewer appear to have accounted for a €35m (£30.02m) increase in marketing expenses for 2021, so only the eventual publication of the club accounts will reveal the exact figure paid to United.

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Still, let's get back to the football. After all, that is what Manchester United are about. Two days after Woodward's comments in 2018, Jose Mourinho's United lost the FA Cup final against Chelsea and the club hasn't come close to winning a trophy, or even reached a final, in the three years since, so we are certainly seeing the executive-vice chairman's claims being tested to the full.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team losing 3-1 against Leicester City in Sunday's FA Cup quarterfinal (stream the replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.), United's only remaining hope of silverware this season is the Europa League, in which they face Granada in the last eight next month before a potential semifinal against either Ajax or Roma. The Europa League -- the competition designed for those clubs not quite good enough to consider themselves as being among Europe's elite -- was the last trophy won by United, with Mourinho's team beating Ajax in Stockholm in 2017.

You have to go back to the 1980s for the last time United went so long without winning a trophy, when the club endured a barren period bookended by FA Cup wins in 1985 and 1990, but a failure to win the Europa League this season will ensure that five-year drought is equalled by Solskjaer's team, who would have to wait until 2022 to break the winless sequence.

But despite all of the above, Solskjaer claimed last week that winning cup competitions is not necessarily any sign of tangible progress.

"In the league position, you see if there's any progress. That's always the bread and butter of the season, that you see how capable you are of coping of ups and downs. Any cup competition can give you a trophy, but sometimes it's more of an ego thing from other managers and clubs to finally win something.

"But we need to see progress and if we perform well enough the trophies will end up at the club again. It's not like a trophy will say that we're back, no. Sometimes a cup competition can hide the fact you're still struggling a little bit."

In one respect, Solskjaer is correct. Arsenal won the FA Cup under Mikel Arteta last season, but the Gunners are now languishing in ninth position in the Premier League and remain light years away from matching the club's iconic former teams, including the "Invincibles" who won the 2003-04 Premier League title without losing a match.

But major clubs, such as United and Arsenal, ultimately measure themselves in terms of trophies and Arsenal lifted their 14th FA Cup by beating Chelsea in the final. It was the club's fourth FA Cup triumph in seven years and extended their record haul in the competition, so even at a time when Arsenal have struggled to compete in the league, they at least did what big clubs do by winning something.

For Arsenal, those cup wins did not act as a catalyst for greater success. Equally, United's Europa League and Carabao Cup wins in 2017 failed to trigger a return to competing for the title or Champions League, but they at least kept United in the conversation in terms of major clubs actually winning trophies.

Success gives players, managers and clubs the taste of winning, however, and that is what United are desperately lacking right now. Their two decades of glory under Sir Alex Ferguson began with an FA Cup win in 1990, while Mourinho's Chelsea's launched their own period of dominance with the League Cup in 2005. As for Manchester City, they have barely stopped winning since lifting the FA Cup in 2011.

Success has to start somewhere, but with the comments of Woodward and Solskjaer, it is difficult to know precisely where that start line is at United. Is it now acceptable for United to finish in the top four, and qualify for the Champions League, and enjoy runs into the latter stages of the cups? Comparing league positions, year on year, is an undoubted measure of progress, but it isn't going to fill a trophy room.

But if both the manager and executive vice-chairman suggest that the basic premise of winning trophies isn't the primary yardstick of success at Old Trafford, it should be no surprise if the message seeps through to the players and they go on to fall short in quarterfinals and semifinals, as they have made a habit of doing under Solskjaer.

United's Norwegian manager was a favourite of Ferguson's during his 11-year playing career at Old Trafford and Solskjaer has rarely hidden the fact that many of his principles were shaped by his old boss. But Ferguson was always about winning. Every trophy mattered.

"Winning one trophy is good, I tell you," Ferguson once said. "No matter what trophy it might be, you've got to take it."

Other clubs have taken that message on board, but it seems to have been lost at Manchester United.

Sharjeel Khan's return into Pakistan's playing XI on the tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe will be subject to clear improvements in his fitness. Khan has been given a three-week target to enhance his endurance levels as well as to improve his body fat counts ahead of the first T20I against South Africa on April 10. Khan will not play in the intra-squad matches taking place at Gaddafi stadium during the training camp as he works on his fitness on the sidelines.

Khan's return to the squad has become a point of contention between the team management and chief selector Mohammad Wasim. While announcing the squad, Wasim seemed to loosen the criteria somewhat for fitness standards, by suggesting they would become less stringent to make room for more skillful players. But the current management, led by head coach Misbah-ul-Haq, is unwilling to compromise and though the ways in which fitness is measured may be simplified, the parameters in terms of selection will remain the same.

Sharjeel's selection, though disputed, was ultimately resolved between the captain, selection committee and coaching staff amicably enough, but it has been made clear since his return to the playing XI is far from guaranteed. The left-hander will be given exclusive access to a trainer over the next three weeks as part of the ongoing training camp in Lahore as well as once the squad flies later this week to South Africa. The camp began on March 19 and Khan has been given an April 9 deadline, which is a day before Pakistan play their first T20 in Johannesburg following the three-match ODI series.

Babar Azam, the Pakistan captain, has backed the return of the opening batsman, though he acknowledged that his fitness levels were "not great". He insisted, however, that Khan remains a match-winner and that there is work being done on his fitness to make him a workable option going forward as his weight - said to be close to 110 kg - has come under scrutiny.

Khan returned to the domestic circuit last year after serving a 24-month ban for his role in the PSL spot-fixing scandal of 2017. His selection to the T20I side for the tour of Africa - South Africa and Zimbabwe - was largely based on his form in the PSL, which included a century against Islamabad United. He was the third-highest scorer in this year's unfinished PSL, behind Mohammad Rizwan and Azam, but at a strike rate of 170.94, which was well ahead of the other two.

He had been a promising opener for Pakistan before his ban. He played 25 ODIs, 15 T20Is, and one Test and in that time, and built a reputation as the modern, aggressive opener Pakistan needed. The current management is willing to work with him and expect him to return to at least the fitness levels that he was operating at in 2017. The task given to him involves a customised dietary plan, alongside personalised training drills with the trainer.