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Bernal Is Third Matt Wood Entry To Lock In In Tulsa
TULSA, Okla. Ryan Bernal became the third Matt Wood Racing driver to lock into Saturday nights Chili Bowl main event when he finished second on Thursday at Tulsa Expo Raceway.
Bernal got a break when two cars in front of him tangled late in the race, setting up a two-lap shootout to the checkered flag, which placed him third behind leaders Tanner Thorson and Christopher Bell.
Honestly, a little bit of luck. There those two in front of me tangling, kind of put me in position, Bernal said. Green-white-checkered anything can happen. We saw that with Shanes (Golobic) race. I wanted to be on the other side of that. I got to the bottom and I stuck it and I thought, Oh, man, I have a shot. Then, of course, I went down into three and miss the bottom and give it back to Tanner. If I stick the bottom there, I think we win.
Bernal joins teammates Landon Brooks, who won his preliminary feature, and Shane Golobic, who finished second on his qualifying night, in Saturdays $20,000-to-win feature.
We come here to race on Saturday, so a lock in is extremely good and I am extremely proud of this team, Bernal said. You get to race with Chris. These guys are making history. Christopher Bell and Tanner Thorson are as good as it gets in this building, so I am just happy to be here.
Hes also proud of the entire Matt Wood Racing organization.
Matt Wood and NOS Energy Drink give us this opportunity to come out here, Bernal said. A couple of California winged drivers that have locked in the last couple of days. I cant say enough how excited I am to be here. I worked really hard on myself to put myself in position to be here.
Its a team effort.
We are all here as a group at 8:30 in the morning, Bernal noted. Landon after he wins, hes down in the lobby waiting for us. He works on the car. We have a good time, and the results are showing that.
Seavey Begins Quest For Threepeat On Tulsa Friday Night
TULSA, Okla. Logan Seaveys quest for a threepeat begins on Hard Rock Casino Qualifying Night, the fifth of five preliminary nights for the 39th running of the Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink.
Seavey, who has won the last two runnings of the Chili Bowl Nationals, returns to the No. 39 Kevin & Jordan Swindell-Mike Curb-Bertrand Motorsports
Machine with which hes dominated the past Chili Bowls.
Seavey also won the USAC national sprint car title last season and has won all three (midget, Silver Crown, sprint car) USAC national titles during his career.
Seaveys biggest rival on Friday may be winged sprint car racer Tyler Courtney, who returns to midget competition as a teammate to Kyle Larson in a second Silva Motorsports machine.
Courtneys brother, Taylor, will also be in action on Friday night.
Veteran open-wheel racer Justin Grant will continue to chase an elusive Chili Bowl main event victory, moving to Chad Boats CBI team this season. Grant is a five-time preliminary night winner.
Ryan Timms returns to his familiar Keith Kunz Motorsports Curb Agajanian machine, while Gavin Miller and Michael Pickens will also wheel KKM machines.
World of Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman wheels his own No. 21 midget, while Chase McDermand, Jason McDougal and Cale Coons are also expected to contend on the final night of preliminary action.
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will drive his own No. 51 in his Chili Bowl debut, while Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. returns to his midget roots in a CBI entry as a teammate to Grant.
Finally, IndyCar regular Santino Ferrucci makes another attempt at the Chili Bowl, driving for Abacus Racing.
Winger To Return To World Of Outlaws Late Model Fold
CONCORD, N.C. Ashton Winger wont be a rookie when he returns to the World of Outlaws Late Models full time in 2025, but he said itll still feel like his first year.
His maiden voyage with the series came in 2020, which saw the schedule marred by the pandemic. Now, with a nearly 60-race schedule ahead, Winger said hes excited to finally experience a complete season with the series.
I ran it back in 2020, but it was such a weird year. We went to Florida and then Smoky Mountain and then literally sat around for two months, Winger said. Ive always been a believer in just getting out and racing. That year, we really didnt get to do that. So, I know I did it in 2020, but this really feels like the first year that Im actually going to do it.
In the years since, Winger has stuck to his motto of racing as much as possible by making stops at several Midwest and Southeast events and running two full seasons on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals trail. His 2023 Hell Tour campaign culminated with the series championship.
Winger said hes hoping that experience will translate into more successful nights in those regions with the World of Outlaws.
As far as the Outlaws go, they go to a few more places around home like Swainsboro, Needmore, Talladega. I mean, I was probably going to be at those races anyway, Winger said. They go to a fair amount in the Midwest too, and thats kind of where Ive made it a point to go try and race. Its probably my favorite part of the country to go race.
The schedule isnt Wingers only reason to be optimistic heading into the season though theres a night and day difference in his level of preparedness compared to his last World of Outlaws effort.
In 2020, Winger ran the second half of the season with a pickup truck for a hauler and one chassis, yet he still managed to win a feature and earn rookie-of-the-year honors.
With more funding, more parts and more experience at his disposal, Winger sees no reason why he cant be a nightly contender in 2025.
We really wanted to do it last year but didnt really feel like we had all of our ducks in a row to go do it, Winger said. The problem is, if you dont go in guns blazing, ready to go every night, you get yourself in a hole. Even if we do leave Florida in a hole, it would feel better to me to be prepared to actually do it rather than going halfway. I just felt like it was the right time. Honestly, I felt like the best Im ever going to be is racing the best guys every night, so thats what I probably look forward to the most.
Wingers first test as a full-time Outlaw will come as soon as the green flag waves next week at Volusia Speedway Park.
I know I won there two years ago, but it was kind of rough and wide open and the racetrack usually isnt like that, Winger said. I really think its more me than anything. Ive been in all types of car brands and all kinds of stuff there and I really dont think Ive grasped a hold of that place. Just not really ever comfortable there. But either way, Im excited for it. Really just ready to get to racing.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Veteran Bowman Gray Stadium modified racer Burt Myers will drive the No. 50 Citrusafe Chevrolet for Team AmeriVet in the Feb. 2 CookOut Clash at the legendary quarter-mile race track.
Myers is no stranger to the hallowed grounds of Bowman Gray. His exceptional record includes track modified championships in 1999, 2001, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2024. Myers also boasts titles as the 2010 and 2016 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Champion and the 2002, 2021 and 2023 SMART Modified Tour Champion.
Im very excited to be a part of such a monumental event, said Myers. Every short-track driver dreams of an opportunity like this. For mine to happen at my home track, and to be able to continue my NASCAR family legacy means the world to me.
Continuing to call the shots as crew chief for the No. 50 in this event is another name enriched in NASCAR history, Tony Eury Jr.
Im looking forward to going to the stadium with Burt. We have won a lot of races together in our FURY modified over the years, and to be a part of this historic event with a driver like Burt, its hard not to be excited, said Eury.
Team Owner Rebecca Auchmoody shared her enthusiasm for the event.
I couldnt be more excited to kick off the racing season at The Clash with Burt Myers. This event will help us grow as a team with Burts experience and Tony Jr. as crew chief, it will contribute toward improving team performance, Aauchoody said. Its also an incredible opportunity for us to continue our mission of supporting veterans through our 50 Vets a Week program. Last season, we were proud to relieve $125,000 in veteran debt after the race in Phoenix, and our goal this time is to exceed that amount. Each race gives us a platform to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who have served, and we cant wait to see what we can achieve together at The Clash.
The Allegheny County (Pa.) Police Department said Thursday night that Evgeni Malkin's three Stanley Cup rings, which had gone missing following a burglary at his home last weekend, were located in the Pittsburgh Penguins star's residence.
An investigation into the burglary remains ongoing, according to police, who did not say whether any suspects had been identified.
"I would like to express my gratitude to the Allegheny County Police, the Sewickley Heights Police and the entire Penguins organization," Malkin said in a statement put out by the team Thursday night. "The outpouring of support and concern from my teammates and fans over the past few days means so much to my family and I."
The burglary at Malkin's residence in the Pittsburgh suburb of Sewickley took place Saturday, the same day the Penguins hosted the Ottawa Senators -- with a 911 call coming in a few hours after the 4 p.m. puck drop. Malkin sat out the 5-0 loss because of an upper-body injury.
KDKA-TV reported at the time of the burglary, Malkin's home security system was down and his safe was left open.
The incident was the latest in a series of burglaries at the residences of professional athletes, with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow and Luka Doncic among those affected.
The FBI has warned sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes, it said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News late last month. The NFL and NBA also issued security alerts to their players after the break-ins, some of which occurred when players were away with their teams for road games.
NHL Power Rankings: Capitals take over No. 1 spot, plus each team's fantasy MVP
The midway point of the 2024-25 NHL occurred recently, which led to a slew of content this week: Midseason grades for all 32 teams, the Panic Meter, and the Wyshynski Awards at midseason.
But which fantasy players have been the MVP at this juncture?
In this week's edition of the Power Rankings, we have identified that player for each club. And a reminder, it's not too late to sign up for a team!
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Jan. 10. Points percentages and paces are through Thursday's games.
1. Washington Capitals
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 72.22%
Tom Wilson, RW. It's honestly hard to pick one Capital for this fantasy MVP award, as it's been such a great season. Logan Thompson, Connor McMichael, Dylan Strome, Jakob Chychrun ... even an injury-shortened run from Alex Ovechkin has been epic so far. But Wilson is the team's fantasy leader as of Wednesday, with one more fantasy point than Thompson, so let's acknowledge the effort.
Next eight days: vs. PIT (Jan. 18), @ EDM (Jan. 21), @ SEA (Jan. 23)
2. Winnipeg Jets
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 70.65%
Connor Hellebuyck, G. He's not just the Jets' fantasy MVP, he's easily the NHL fantasy MVP this season! Hellebuyck has a 35-point lead on Nathan MacKinnon for the most overall fantasy points and is pushing into territory we haven't seen in the modern NHL. Carey Price has the 15-year water mark at 313.6 fantasy points in 2014-15 and Hellebuyck is on pace to beat it.
Next eight days: vs. CGY (Jan. 18), @ UTA (Jan. 20), @ COL (Jan. 22)
3. Vegas Golden Knights
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 69.32%
Jack Eichel, C. Health has been a big reason why, but it's still a shock to think that Eichel hasn't scored more than 82 points in a season. Well, he's going to blow the doors off that career mark this campaign as he's well on his way to triple digits!
Next eight days: @ CAR (Jan. 17), @ CHI (Jan. 18), vs. STL (Jan. 20), @ STL (Jan. 23)
4. Edmonton Oilers
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 67.78%
Leon Draisaitl, C. Chicken or egg, we may never know, but Draisaitl is the easy pick from the Oilers even though he's on a team with the consensus best player on the planet. His fantasy returns are through the roof and he's dominating in the offensive categories at a per-game rate only eclipsed by two other players. No one is sad even if he was picked first overall at the draft -- which he probably wasn't.
Next eight days: @ VAN (Jan. 18), vs. WSH (Jan. 21), vs. VAN (Jan. 23)
5. Dallas Stars
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 64.77%
Jake Oettinger, G. It hasn't been a straight line to get there, but here at the halfway mark, Oettinger is the top-five goaltender we drafted. That's worthy of fantasy MVP on a team with most of the other personnel putting up totals that lag behind last season.
Next eight days: @ COL (Jan. 18), vs. DET (Jan. 19), vs. CAR (Jan. 21)
6. Minnesota Wild
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 64.44%
Kirill Kaprizov, LW. He's missed 10 games and still has the lead in fantasy points for the Wild, though Filip Gustavsson might catch him). Actually, if Kaprizov wasn't so extremely dialed in, Gustavsson may have been worthy of the nod here for answering the bell as the unquestioned starter after a down season in 2023-24.
Next eight days: @ NSH (Jan. 18), @ COL (Jan. 20), vs. UTA (Jan. 23)
7. New Jersey Devils
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 61.70%
Jacob Markstrom, G. Forget fantasy MVP, maybe just plain MVP. The Devils knew they needed a reliable goalie to change their fortunes in the standings, and Markstrom has more than filled that void. It's a bonus for us in the fantasy game that the results have translated well and he's (distant, admittedly) second to Connor Hellebuyck among all goalies.
Next eight days: vs. PHI (Jan. 18), vs. OTT (Jan. 19), vs. BOS (Jan. 22)
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 63.04%
Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, G. Maybe the fantasy MVP should be coach Craig Berube, who brought his defensive stylings to a team that seemed to have had an appetite for it all along. Both Stolarz and Woll have proven to be worthy of fantasy rosters -- especially in leagues that allow daily lineup changes to pick the actual starter. They rank fourth and 13th respectively for fantasy points per game.
Next eight days: @ MTL (Jan. 18), vs. TB (Jan. 20), vs. CBJ (Jan. 22)
9. Carolina Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 61.11%
Shayne Gostisbehere, D. Averaging half a point per game with the man advantage, Gostisbehere is just what the Hurricanes needed to elevate their special teams this season. He's not just a great fantasy starter, but he's lifted all boats for the Hurricanes by making the power play more dangerous. That's true fantasy MVP status.
Next eight days: vs. VGK (Jan. 17), @ CHI (Jan. 20), @ DAL (Jan. 21), vs. CBJ (Jan. 23)
10. Los Angeles Kings
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 65.48%
Brandt Clarke, D. Though the sun is setting on his time in the spotlight and one could argue it's been fading since his early season returns, Clarke did a stand-up job of filling in for Drew Doughty as the Kings power-play quarterback until the veteran returns, which for the record, is expected to be soon.
Next eight days: @ SEA (Jan. 18), vs. PIT (Jan. 20), vs. FLA (Jan. 22)
11. Colorado Avalanche
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 59.78%
Nathan MacKinnon, C. One of only two skaters averaging 3.0 fantasy points per game, MacKinnon is a fantasy MVP even relative to his starting value, which couldn't possibly have been any higher for the top player drafted in most leagues. There are no complaints if you want to give this to Mikko Rantanen or Cale Makar, who are right there with him.
Next eight days: vs. DAL (Jan. 18), vs. MIN (Jan. 20), vs. WPG (Jan. 22)
12. Florida Panthers
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 59.78%
Sam Reinhart, RW. Leon Draisaitl, Alex Ovechkin, Dany Heatley ... Reinhart? If he keeps up his current pace, he'll join an exclusive group of players with consecutive 50-goal seasons in the post-lockout era. How's that for an answer as to whether he can repeat his fantasy value from his contract season?
Next eight days: vs. ANA (Jan. 18), @ ANA (Jan. 21), @ LA (Jan. 22)
13. Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 59.30%
Nikita Kucherov, RW. Life without Steven Stamkos has been just fine for Kucherov, as Jake Guentzel has filled the void on the power play. He joins only Nathan MacKinnon in the rarified air of earning 3.0 fantasy points per game as a skater. Brandon Hagel emerging as a fantasy lock would be another consideration here, but Kucherov is too good to pass on.
Next eight days: vs. DET (Jan. 18), @ TOR (Jan. 20), @ MTL (Jan. 21)
14. Calgary Flames
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 55.68%
Jonathan Huberdeau, LW. Cast aside after the terrible fantasy showing last season, Huberdeau was widely available for fantasy teams when it became clear he was having a bounce-back campaign. Rookie Dustin Wolf was an equally eligible choice here as he continues his takeover of the crease.
Next eight days: @ WPG (Jan. 18), vs. BUF (Jan. 23)
15. Vancouver Canucks
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 54.55%
Kevin Lankinen, G. Although the fantasy value is starting to fade as Thatcher Demko creeps back into the picture, Lankinen was a boon to rosters for months as his replacement. And it was a very late replacement, as he wasn't even on the Canucks roster until after some fantasy drafts. But with Demko still not seemingly 100 percent, maybe the ride isn't over.
Next eight days: vs. EDM (Jan. 18), vs. BUF (Jan. 21), @ EDM (Jan. 23)
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 55.56%
Zach Werenski, D. Mike Green's 31 goals in 2008-09 still stands as the 21st century mark to beat for a defender. Werenski picked up two on Tuesday to put him on pace for 28. The results are only made better by the fact that he was a typically an 11th round draft pick in most leagues.
Next eight days: @ NYR (Jan. 18), @ NYI (Jan. 20), @ TOR (Jan. 22), @ CAR (Jan. 23)
17. Ottawa Senators
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 54.55%
Brady Tkachuk, LW. Five-category forwards are a rare commodity, but Tkachuk checks all the boxes for fantasy production. But he's not just checking them, he's filling the boxes in with a permanent Sharpie and signing them. He's top 10 in both shots on goal and hits!
Next eight days: vs. BOS (Jan. 18), @ NJ (Jan. 19), @ NYR (Jan. 21), @ BOS (Jan. 23)
18. Boston Bruins
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 53.26%
David Pastrnak, RW. Like ... who else are we going to pick? Jeremy Swayman and Elias Lindholm are falling way short of high hopes, Charlie McAvoy -- just placed on the IR -- and Brad Marchand are treading water for value. Pasta hasn't been as dominant as his recent seasons, but you probably aren't mad you picked him for your team, which is going to have to be good enough for fantasy MVP here.
Next eight days: @ OTT (Jan. 18), vs. SJ (Jan. 20), @ NJ (Jan. 22), vs. OTT (Jan. 23)
19. Montreal Canadiens
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 54.55%
Lane Hutson, D. It took him a little bit of time, but Hutson climbed the depth chart to the top of the blue line and is reaping the rewards. He has been a top-10 fantasy defenseman for the past month with 2.3 fantasy points per game and leads all Habs in fantasy points over that span.
Next eight days: vs. TOR (Jan. 18), vs. NYR (Jan. 19), vs. TB (Jan. 21), @ DET (Jan. 23)
20. Detroit Red Wings
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 52.27%
Moritz Seider, D. With the way the offense has turned around after the coaching change, this answer might be different in a couple of weeks (Patrick Kane?), but for now, Seider returning the top-five defenseman value we hoped for is fantasy MVP-worthy.
Next eight days: @ TB (Jan. 18), @ DAL (Jan. 19), @ PHI (Jan. 21), vs. MTL (Jan. 23)
21. St. Louis Blues
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 52.17%
Dylan Holloway, C. After getting modest chances in Edmonton with the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, it was far from expected that Holloway would start producing once he escaped them. Holloway ranks third on the Blues in total fantasy points and has only been improving his output as the season progresses -- as in, this might not even be the ceiling yet.
Next eight days: @ UTA (Jan. 18), @ VGK (Jan. 20), vs. VGK (Jan. 23)
22. New York Rangers
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 51.14%
Will Cuylle, LW. Frankly, Cuylle shouldn't be on fantasy rosters anymore since his early-season hot streak inevitably petered out, but giving him the fantasy MVP nod here is a message to the rest of the Rangers. No one has met, let alone exceeded fantasy hopes on this roster this season. Vincent Trocheck is just starting to get to a good place, but it's thumbs down all around after him.
Next eight days: vs. CBJ (Jan. 18), @ MTL (Jan. 19), vs. OTT (Jan. 21), vs. PHI (Jan. 23)
23. Philadelphia Flyers
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 50.00%
Travis Sanheim, D. While Travis Konecny is the team leader for fantasy, he was also a popular pick at drafts. Sanheim was a bench addition defenseman in most leagues -- if he was even drafted at all. Well, here he is, sandwiched between Quinn Hughes and Roman Josi for total fantasy points from the blue line at the halfway mark.
Next eight days: @ NJ (Jan. 18), vs. DET (Jan. 21), @ NYR (Jan. 23)
24. Utah Hockey Club
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 48.86%
Ian Cole, D. Cole is easily having the quietest fantasy campaign in the league. He ranks 19th in fantasy points among all defensemen, yet remains available in 60% of leagues. The fuel for his performance are his 124 blocked shots, which rank second overall to Jacob Trouba. Cole even has more fantasy points than any forward on Utah's roster.
Next eight days: vs. STL (Jan. 18), vs. WPG (Jan. 20), @ MIN (Jan. 23)
25. Pittsburgh Penguins
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 47.83%
Rickard Rakell, RW. He was on radars at the start of the season, but he may not have even been in many top-five lists for Penguins with the most fantasy potential. So to have Rakell not only doing well, but leading the entire team in fantasy points -- by a healthy margin -- is fantastic news for those that picked him up in the early going. Heck, Rakell is 11th among all skaters in fantasy scoring!
Next eight days: @ BUF (Jan. 17), @ WSH (Jan. 18), @ LA (Jan. 20), @ ANA (Jan. 23)
26. New York Islanders
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 46.59%
Anders Lee, LW. With only Lee and Noah Dobson approaching 2.0 fantasy points per game -- and barely -- across the Islanders' entire roster, we don't really have a choice but to go with Lee for the fantasy MVP, as we expected more from Dobson. But long story short, if Ilya Sorokin isn't the fantasy MVP in an Isles season, we know things aren't going to plan.
Next eight days: vs. SJ (Jan. 18), vs. CBJ (Jan. 20)
27. Seattle Kraken
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 44.57%
Joey Daccord, G. Look, the Kraken are an example of playing above the sum of its parts, but it means there are no superstars here. No player averages more than 1.7 fantasy points per game, which means some shallow leagues might be better off with no Kraken on any rosters. That said, Daccord has been an above average secondary fantasy goaltender when deployed with focus.
Next eight days: vs. LA (Jan. 18), vs. BUF (Jan. 20), vs. WSH (Jan. 23)
28. Anaheim Ducks
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 46.67%
Jackson LaCombe, D. Before the season, if you had to guess the young defender that would the Ducks' fantasy MVP at the halfway mark, LaCombe might have been your third guess. He's playing top-pair minutes with Radko Gudas and patrolling the blue line on the power play to the tune of 1.9 fantasy points per game.
Next eight days: @ FLA (Jan. 18), vs. FLA (Jan. 21), vs. PIT (Jan. 23)
29. Buffalo Sabres
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 44.32%
Jason Zucker, LW. A prime choice in deep-league fantasy games, Zucker has a lot going for him amongst a disappointing showing from his teammates in fantasy. A freebie pickup with 1.7 fantasy points per game? Nice. Gets most of his points on the power play? Excellent. Eligible at both LW and RW for leagues that use those? Beauty!
Next eight days: vs. PIT (Jan. 17), @ SEA (Jan. 20), @ VAN (Jan. 21), @ CGY (Jan. 23)
30. Nashville Predators
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 42.05%
Roman Josi, D. Even though he ranks ninth among blueliners for fantasy points and is behind his pace from last season, Josi is as close to a fantasy MVP as we'll get with this club. Maybe better days are ahead, but the Predators are a lesson in not betting too strongly on fantasy returns based on offseason moves.
Next eight days: vs. MIN (Jan. 18), vs. SJ (Jan. 21), @ SJ (Jan. 23)
31. San Jose Sharks
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 36.17%
Jake Walman, D. An extraordinarily pleasant surprise on the Sharks' blue line, Walman is running the power play, firing shots, scoring goals and blocking shots. He wasn't on any preseason shortlists as a sleeper, so to be getting quality production out of him as a free-agent addition has been helpful to those who jumped on board.
Next eight days: @ NYI (Jan. 18), @ BOS (Jan. 20), @ NSH (Jan. 21), vs. NSH (Jan. 23)
32. Chicago Blackhawks
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 34.44%
Alex Vlasic, D. The results are dipping of late, but Vlasic was a solid play overall this season, especially when Seth Jones was out of the lineup. Vlasic ranks second on the team in fantasy points and was even tied with Connor Bedard for the lead as recently as Dec. 27.
Next eight days: vs. VGK (Jan. 18), vs. CAR (Jan. 20)
Barcelona have confirmed they will not return to Spotify Camp Nou before May as renovation work on the club's stadium drags on.
It means they will potentially finish this season at the Olympic Stadium, where they have been playing since the Camp Nou revamp began in the summer of 2023, although sources have told ESPN hosting a match in May has not been completely ruled out.
Barça end the LaLiga campaign with matches against Real Madrid (May 11) and Villarreal (May 18).
Friday's announcement that they will continue at the Olympic Stadium until at least April 23, when they host Mallorca, means they are committed to playing all their remaining Champions League games at the Olympic Stadium.
UEFA rules do allow a change of stadiums after the group stage, but teams are not allowed to use multiple venues during the knockout phase.
Barça had originally hoped to be back playing matches at Camp Nou last November, coinciding with the club's 125th anniversary, as part of a phased return.
The Catalan club revealed in November a delay until at least January, with sources then telling ESPN in December the club were working internally on the possibility they will not be back at Camp Nou until next season.
Progress in redeveloping and modernising the ground has been slowed due to the fact more work was required on the second tier than initially planned.
The pitch, meanwhile, will require up to three months to be properly installed to ensure it is at the level required to host elite football, with sources telling ESPN that process is due to begin in February.
When Barça finally return to Camp Nou, the attendance will initially be capped at around 60,000 as work continues.
The stadium should then be completely finished by the summer of 2026, with the capacity increased to around 105,000, the highest in Europe.
United States national team defender John Tolkin said he has regrets over his past activity on social media after joining Holstein Kiel in Germany.
Kiel said Friday it was responding to controversy over posts Tolkin had "liked" in the past on social media concerning gender identity, the coronavirus pandemic and conspiracy theories.
"I regret that things I have done in the past in my social media activities may have hurt, irritated or offended people," Tolkin said in a statement issued by Kiel. "This was never my intention. I want to take this opportunity to assure you 100% that I respect all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
Tolkin added that he doesn't "harbor any homophobic or discriminatory thoughts."
Kiel said it had spoken with Tolkin about the posts and that he had "credibly explained" that he did not intend to cause offense.
"John stands behind the club's philosophy and this explicitly includes a commitment to diversity, tolerance and against all forms of discrimination and racism," the club said. "We are therefore firmly convinced that with the signing of John, we can welcome a player to Holstein Kiel who fits in with us as a club, not only from a sporting point of view, but also from a human point of view."
The statement came a day after the 22-year-old defender signed for relegation-threatened Bundesliga club Kiel in a transfer from the New York Red Bulls. He has played four games for the U.S. national team since 2023 and is considered a depth option at left back as the U.S. prepares for the World Cup next year.
Tolkin started all four U.S. matches at last year's Paris Olympics, a tournament mostly limited to under-23 players.
During his time with the Olympic team in July, Tolkin apologized in a CBS interview "to anybody who I did offend" with regard to his social media activity. "I understand the platform I have and liking those posts on Twitter is probably not the best thing to do," he said at the time.
In related news, Minnesota United will host Holstein Kiel for an international friendly at Allianz Field on July 7 as part of their preseason training in the United States.
Manchester United will deliver a decision on whether it intends to redevelop Old Trafford or build a new 100,000-seater stadium by the summer, the club have announced.
United had been expected to have made that decision by the end of 2024, but the club said on Friday that a final verdict will come before the end of the season.
In a statement, the club said the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force has completed its feasibility work, deciding that Old Trafford can only be increased to 87,000 capacity through redevelopment, whereas a new-build arena could be substiantally larger.
"The vision is for Manchester United to develop a world-class stadium, acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration of a re-energised Trafford Park, which initial findings suggest could deliver an extra 7.3 billion gross value added to the UK economy and more than 90,000 employment opportunities," the club said.
"The Task Force determined that a redeveloped Old Trafford could increase the capacity of the existing stadium to 87,000, whereas a new-build stadium would allow capacity to reach 100,000. Both options remain under consideration, with the club set to decide on the preferred approach ahead of the summer."
The club also repeated its claim that a majority (52%) of fans supported the option of a newly built stadium when surveyed.
What we're hearing in the transfer window: Arsenal's striker search, Liverpool to let Núñez go?
The transfer window is open across Europe as clubs look to do some midseason business. But what are ESPN's reporters hearing about some of the deals that could be done, and which clubs are hoping to make moves?
Every Friday during January we'll bring you the latest updates and insights on the biggest transfer news around.
Arsenal look set to sign a midfielder in the summer, but do they need a forward this month?
Sources have told ESPN that Arsenal have moved ahead of Liverpool in the 60 million race to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi in the summer. But injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus have left them short up front this month, raising the question of whether they need to sign a forward.
Jesus was in decent form before his ACL injury, but although he would not start for Arsenal if everybody was fit, Kai Havertz is now the only option up front. This is an issue that dates back further -- specifically to last summer, when the Gunners decided against signing a striker partly because they had just scored a club-record 91 goals in the Premier League. They were keen on 21-year-old Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, but he chose to sign a new contract with the Bundesliga side.
The Gunners have been disciplined in the market in recent years, willing to remain patient if their preferred targets are not available, and after assessing the alternatives, they didn't aggressively pursue another forward. Now there is a belief that Sesko could be prised away from Leipzig at the end of this season, but do Arsenal try to make something happen in January? Or do they pivot to an alternative? This is the judgement call they have to make in the next fortnight before deadline day on Feb. 3.
Newcastle United will fight to keep Alexander Isak; Manchester United look like the logical destination for Sporting CP's Viktor Gyökeres; Brentford boss Thomas Frank has ruled out Bryan Mbeumo leaving the club this month. The injuries to Jesus, Saka and Ethan Nwaneri, coupled with Gabriel Martinelli's loss of form, make signing a winger another option. Athletic Club's Nico Williams is a long-term target, but he has also attracted interest from Barcelona. -- James Olley
Are we expecting Chelsea to sign a striker? Maybe Tel? And would he want to leave Bayern?
The short answer: They will sign one if the right option emerges. The club worked hard to try to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the summer and might look to revive that deal if he ends his loan with Galatasaray, while they have scouted Ipswich Town's Liam Delap and Brighton & Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson previously.
Chelsea want a fee of 65 million for Christopher Nkunku, who is ready to leave and join Bayern Munich this month. The Blues are continuing their policy of scouring Europe for the best young talent and their analytics threw up Bayern's Mathys Tel as a signing that would fit their recruitment model some time ago. But Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said this week that the German club wants to keep Tel, so if Chelsea persist, it won't be cheap. -- Olley
Chelsea will only move to sign a striker if Nkunku leaves. He is not happy with how little game time he is getting in the Premier League this season (only three starts and 414 minutes) and Tel is in a similar situation in Germany. However, unlike Nkunku, the 19-year-old Tel is keen to remain where he is right now and Bayern see him as the perfect replacement long-term for Harry Kane, who will be 32 in July, so they won't listen to offers. -- Laurens
Julien Laurens explains why he doesn't see a fit with Christopher Nkunku and Bayern Munich amid transfer rumors.
Would they rather sign a centre-back or another position instead?
Chelsea's decision to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Crystal Palace reduces the likelihood the club will sign a centre-back this month. There is interest in Crystal Palace's Marc Guéhi but the south London club are reportedly reluctant to let him go for less than 70m, even though he only has 18 months left on his contract. However, some doubt exists over the future of Axel Disasi, so if Chelsea could secure a healthy fee for the 26-year-old's transfer, then it would generate funds and create a place in the squad for another defender. -- Olley
Chelsea are keen on a deal for Deportivo La Coruña star Yeremay "Peke" Hernández, but the Spanish club are holding out for someone to meet the winger's 20m release clause. Yeremay, 22, has been the outstanding player in Spain's second division this season -- with eight goals in 18 games -- and that has attracted interested from Real Sociedad and Villarreal, as well as top clubs in Serie A, a source told ESPN. But it's Chelsea who've offered a deal worth a total of around 15m: 10m fixed, plus add-ons. For now, Depor aren't budging. "The club's position is clear," CEO Massimo Benassi said this week. So it's the release clause, or nothing.
Chelsea would consider either bringing Yeremay in now, or sending him on loan to sister club Strasbourg. -- Alex Kirkland and Rodri Faez
Will Rashford or Antony leave Manchester United on loan? And will the club sign replacements?
The expectation is that Marcus Rashford will leave, although staying beyond the deadline has not been entirely ruled out. Plenty of clubs have shown interest; the issue is agreeing a deal that's financially viable for all parties. Borussia Dortmund have spoken to Rashford's representatives, but the numbers don't work for them. It's likely that the closer it gets to the deadline, the more flexible United will become, and that could bring more clubs to the table.
Antony is in a different situation because unlike Rashford, he's still being named in matchday squads by manager Ruben Amorim. However, he's not playing regularly and United are willing to listen to offers.
Ultimately, Amorim will have to decide how big he wants his squad to be for the second half of the season. Beating Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday was unexpected, and Amorim can't afford to lose too many senior players in January with games to come in the Premier League and Europa League. United showed interest in signing Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain on loan as a possible replacement for Rashford, but lost out to Juventus. In terms of incomings, United sources are indicating they think the next two weeks could be very quiet. -- Rob Dawson
Will Liverpool listen to offers for Núñez?
It feels like Darwin Núñez's Liverpool career is at a crossroads. The striker is now in his third season at the club, following an initial 75m move from Benfica in summer 2022, and his influence within Arne Slot's side appears to be waning rather than increasing. He has managed just two goals in 15 Premier League appearances this term and is behind Diogo Jota in the pecking order, with Slot even preferring to start winger Luis Díaz in a central "false No. 9" role in big games.
It would not be a surprise to see the 25-year-old depart in the summer, but with his contract running until 2028, Liverpool will have a task on their hands to recoup anywhere near the fee they paid. It's for that reason the rumours of interest from Saudi Arabia this month have really taken flight, with clubs from the Gulf state having forked out huge sums of money to land players from the Premier League. But reports of a 70m offer from Al Hilal are wide of the mark. With Slot's side in the midst of a title race, it is far more likely Núñez will leave in the summer. -- Beth Lindop
Why are PSG signing Kvaratskhelia for 60m, and will they land anyone else?
PSG manager Luis Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos wanted to sign a left winger in the summer and also tried to land a few players (Kvaratskhelia, Nico Williams and Jadon Sancho to name three). Even though the club already have Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Lee Kang-in, they wanted more competition for first-team places.
So when Napoli opened the door for the Georgia international to leave this month, PSG didn't hesitate. They see "Kvara" as a game changer who will bring more control, pace and wizardry to their attack. There is also hope that he will be more efficient in front of goal, too, because the club's lack of goal-scoring ability this season has been a hindrance.
As a result, they are also looking to sign a No. 9 striker after the departure of Kolo Muani to Juventus on loan. According to sources, Aston Villa's Jhon Durán is on their shortlist, and while PSG thought about making an official approach to sign him this month, they decided against it. However, he will be a priority in the summer. -- Laurens
Can Barcelona sign anyone this month?
After confirming the sale of 475 VIP seats at Spotify Camp Nou for up to 30 years, Barcelona are once again operating within LaLiga's financial regulations. Therefore, they can spend anything they save or raise on new signings, and they are exploring January additions. They would like to add depth at right-back, and they maintain an interest in Almería full-back Marc Pubill. They were keen last summer, but would not have been able to register him with the club wanting upwards of 15m, a fee that could also be a sticking point this month. Another forward would also be considered if the right opportunity presented itself.
However, while Barça can now invest 100% of any savings (previously it was as low as 25%), they still need to move players out to bring new players in. With defender Ronald Araújo now set to stay, that is not looking as simple as it was a week ago. Forward Ansu Fati is seen as one player who could leave as he has been left out of the squad for the past three games, and the feeling is the club are forcing him to reconsider his position on staying and fighting for his place. Barça could also pocket money if defender Óscar Mingueza leaves Celta Vigo this month as they are due 50% of any future transfer, with Aston Villa, RB Leipzig and Roma all interested. -- Sam Marsden
Are any teams interested in signing Osimhen?
Sources at Galatasaray have told ESPN that they are "99% certain" that Osimhen will stay with them this month to complete his loan from Napoli. There is a scenario in which Nkunku could move from Chelsea to Bayern and Chelsea sign Osimhen as a replacement, but it's unlikely at this stage. Bayern have also shown vague interest, but the Nigeria international has told Galatasaray that his preference is to stay in Turkey for now. Galatasaray know they can't afford to sign him permanently in the summer, with a reported 75m release clause coming into effect, and their belief is that he'll end up in the Premier League. -- Dawson
Alex Kirkland details the areas Real Madrid could look to improve their squad in the transfer window.
Any other interesting deals in the works?
- Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies is still assessing his options -- sign a new contract or join Real Madrid for free in the summer -- despite growing pressure from his club, a source told ESPN. Davies' future has been up in the air since last summer, when Madrid were first hopeful of doing a deal for the Canada international. Bayern have been pushing for Davies to stay, and have improved their contract renewal offer in recent months, although not as substantially as Davies' camp might have hoped. -- Faez
- Tottenham Hotspur are expected to be active in the final fortnight of the transfer window. Manager Ange Postecoglou was pretty scathing about his players following Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in the north London derby, and he has made no secret of his desire to add reinforcements. He wants more options in attack, but they also need depth in defence, especially on the left side. -- Olley
- Everton are looking for additional options to bolster their firepower up front. Armando Broja, on loan from Chelsea, is out for 10-12 weeks with an ankle injury, and both Everton and Chelsea are weighing up whether he'll stay at Goodison Park or return to his parent club. With Broja injured, and question marks over Dominic Calvert-Lewin's long-term future with his contract up in the summer, Everton -- under new ownership -- are in the market. They have scored the second-lowest number of goals in the Premier League this term and badly need to find a spark up front. -- Tom Hamilton
- AC Milan's interest in Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has been complicated by their ongoing interest in Rashford. Serie A regulations mean that only two non-EU players can be signed. On top of that, one British player may be signed without taking up one of the slots for non-EU players. Milan signed Strahinja Pavlovic and Emerson Royal last summer, meaning they could only sign one of Walker or Rashford in this window. -- Dawson
- City are closing on deals for young defenders Abdukodir Khusanov (48m) and Vitor Reis (35m). It's expected that both will immediately join Pep Guardiola's squad. Talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over a transfer for 25-year-old forward Omar Marmoush are ongoing. City were initially pessimistic that Frankfurt would even engage, but the fact that the two clubs are talking is being viewed internally as a good sign. Right now it's just about reaching a fee that is acceptable to both clubs. Once that happens, the deal will get done. -- Dawson
- Aston Villa are eyeing Sevilla centre-back Loïc Badé to bolster their defence after an injury to Pau Torres. Villa sporting director Monchi knows Badé well and signed for Sevilla in January 2023. The 24-year-old could move for around 25m to 30m. Meanwhile, Villa are open to offers to sign 31-year-old centre-back Diego Carlos. Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Juventus are keen after he fell out with manager Unai Emery. -- Laurens
- If Arsenal midfielder Jorginho returns to Brazil this month, or over the summer, there are only two clubs where he would like to play: Flamengo and Palmeiras. -- ESPN Brasil
- Celta Vigo and United States midfielder Luca de la Torre is set to move to his hometown club, San Diego FC, on loan. The deal could be done by the end of the week. -- Jeff Carlisle
- MLS side Inter Miami CF are interested in signing Colo Colo defender Maximiliano Falcón after the Chilean club's president Alfredo Stöhwing hinted at a potential departure -- Lizzy Becherano
- Cruz Azul will beat Liga MX rivals Chivas and América to the signing of Luka Romero from AC Milan. Chivas claimed that they had "almost" signed the Argentina under-20 international winger, but Cruz Azul have agreed a deal with Milan worth a reported 3.5m. -- Omar Flores, ESPN Deportes
- Cruz Azul are also looking to reinforce the squad with the signing of LAFC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz for the Clausura 2025. Sources close to the club have confirmed to ESPN that team are already in contact with the MLS team to bring in the 23-year-old. -- César Caballero, ESPN Deportes
- Meanwhile, a deal for San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Emmanuel Ochoa to move to Cruz Azul is back on. -- Carlisle
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