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Former Liverpool and Chelsea forward Yossi Benayoun's home in Israel was the subject of a grenade attack.

The 44-year-old confirmed there had been an explosion at his house to Israeli news outlet Ynet.

"We were convinced it was a gas balloon that exploded, there was a strong smell," he told Ynet.

"The police are investigating, it's clear this was a mistake, luckily no one was hurt."

Ynet said witness testimony indicated that a motor cyclist had thrown a grenade at Benayoun's gate and then fled.

Reuters have a request in with the police for a comment.

The former Israel captain spent nine years in the Premier League, with stints at West Ham United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

A FaceTime call came in last Monday morning to Freddie Vargas, CEO of Tater Baseball.

On the other end: New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte. Like everyone around baseball, Marte had seen the New York Yankees score 36 runs and bash 15 home runs in a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, with five of the Yankees' regulars using bats shaped like bowling pins that immediately caught the attention of fans, announcers and other players.

Marte, who has used Tater bats since 2018, was one of many MLB players who inquired about the bat -- now known as a torpedo bat -- as the craze took baseball by storm. He wanted to place an order with Tater for some new torpedo bats to use (at least initially) in batting practice.

"Well, they're trending right now," Marte said this weekend. "Let's see what happens when I use it. I have to give it a try."

Freddie and his younger brother Jeremiah, who started Tater Baseball in 2015 along with their father, Fred Sr., had Marte text them a data plot of his contact points on his barrel. They design the specifications for a new torpedo bat that would best suit Marte -- a process similar to creating a traditional bat. By the end of the day, four new bats were ready to be shipped to Citi Field, awaiting Marte when the Mets returned home from their series in Miami.

Torpedo-shaped bats are not new for Tater Baseball, a small family business operating out of an industrial park in Cheshire, Connecticut. The brothers played baseball growing up and eventually both played in college, but Jeremiah was still a senior in high school when the family had the idea to develop a training bat. Freddie became CEO/Founder with Jeremiah as Co-Founder and COO.

Training bats are usually a little lighter, helping a player develop bat speed while focusing on the sweet spot of the barrel, and can be used for tee work, soft toss or batting practice. Fred Sr. had an engineering background -- he still works for a plastics molding company, helping at Tater mostly on weekends -- but none had woodworking experience. They ventured into business anyway.

"I told them, 'We're not going to do it half-ass,'" Fred Sr. said. "What's going to differentiate us?"

They started with four models, making premium bats by hand in a shed in their backyard and focusing on the training bats. One of their early models in 2015 was a torpedo-shaped game bat -- but it was for softball, not baseball. Three months later, they purchased their first CNC lathe, a sophisticated machine that uses computer-controlled automation to create the desired shape of the bat (the company is now on its second one).

Operations soon moved to the garage and eventually the shop in Cheshire -- and Tater is up to 800 or 900 models. The front is a retail store, selling not just the various training bats and game models for baseball and softball, but other equipment with the Tater logo -- batting gloves, sliding mitts, fielding gloves, apparel and foam balls also used for training.

Jeremiah laid out a bunch of bats on a table. He pointed to one.

"We make what we call an underload trainer that is shaped like a torpedo. It's really for sweet-spot training, but also to train underload for bat speed," he said. "It mimics the torpedo shape, so we enlarge the sweet spot here, taper it off at the end so players have a visual representation of where to hit the ball. Players wanted a sweet spot where they typically impact it, and that's what we kind of came up with."

Tater made its first underload trainer in 2018 and started shifting to the torpedo style around 2021 -- and it has become the company staple since it was introduced. Jeremiah said 22 of the 30 major league teams use their training bats at the major league level and several others use them across their minor league organizations, with the company working with players or minor league hitting coordinators and major league hitting coaches.

The world of major league game bats is a competitive field to break into -- Freddie referred to it as "cutthroat." MLB must approve any bat-making company and though 41 companies have been approved, Marucci and Victus dominate the market with an estimated 60% of the bats used in the majors -- and Marucci owns Victus. Only a handful of companies sell even more than a few dozen bats to major leaguers, according to Freddie. Tater broke into the majors in 2018.

Jeremiah estimated that Tater ranked about seventh or eighth last season, with Marte and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez their most prominent players. Others using Tater bats include Chicago White Sox infielder Brooks Baldwin, plus Travis Bazzana, the top pick in the 2024 MLB draft, and Nick Kurtz, the Athletics' first-round pick last summer. Freddie said about 150 professional players are using Tater game bats at least part of the time.

Marte holds a special place for the Vargas family, however. He was their first major league client, coming to Tater via a stroke of good fortune. A family friend named Ruben Sosa, who used Tater bats, was a teammate of Marte's in the Dominican Winter League in December 2017. Jeremiah tells the story: "Marte was in a little bit of a slump, picked up Sosa's bat, got a couple hits, and then here we are." Marte has been using Tater bats ever since.

Gregory Polanco, Yan Gomes and Carlos Correa joined Marte as early clients.

"Really, it was just bootstrapped word of mouth and making a good product and providing a good service," Jeremiah said. "We like to say we have a relentless pursuit on making the best bat in the game."

The brothers are friendly and clearly love talking baseball and baseball bats -- everything from grain deviation and max barrel diameter to discussing what kind of bat to use in specific situations.

"I love seeing the evolution of baseball bats," Jeremiah said. "It's great to see it being used in games and see the transition to help hitters be a little more competitive at the plate or give them a little bit more of an edge."

The process of making a torpedo bat is no different from a regular bat.

After Marte sent in his contact data, an analysis was made on a shape best suited for him. This is the most time-consuming part of the process. The overlay of Marte's traditional bat compared with his new torpedo bat showed the traditional bat had a sweet spot 22.4 inches from the knob, while the torpedo bat had a sweet spot 21.8 inches from it.

"A small difference, but a big difference," Fred Sr. said.

With the sweet spot closer to the hitter's hands, the bat will have less flex -- which means it will lead to a little better contact on balls hit closer to the hands. This was the reason some of the Yankees players, like Anthony Volpe, made the change to the torpedo shape, with data showing his sweet spot was closer to his hands.

"We recommend players to use a little bit of a heavier game bat weight for their torpedo compared to the regular bat," Jeremiah said. "The reason being, when you do fatten out the barrel slightly at the sweet spot, it changes the density a little bit. The easiest way to describe it is more density, more pop; less density, less pop."

Marte typically uses a 33.5-inch, 30.5-ounce bat. After a conversion to lock in the specifics, it was decided that his torpedo bat would be an ounce heavier at 31.5 ounces and the process of physically making the bat began.

The wood -- birch or maple -- is sourced from Canada, where the colder weather makes the wood fibers harder. And, yes, the new tariffs will increase costs.

"Tariff-based wood is a tricky game right now that we're navigating," Jeremiah said, adding that they're seeing a 25% increase in raw material costs, not including freight costs to ship it across the border.

The wood is delivered in precut, rectangular slabs that are about the length of a bat. Each slab is weighed and marked (the more dense, the more performance on impact). Then, it goes to the lathe. You might envision a craftsman with decades of experience at work, but Kyle Green, who works the machine, is 20 years old and has been working at Tater since he was 16.

After the bat is cut on the lathe, it is hand-sanded, which takes about two minutes, and then cupped, the end hollowed out (a maximum of an inch and a quarter). The process takes about six minutes -- on a busy day, Tater might make around 150 bats. Finally, the bats are painted with a special lacquer. There are rules here as well, Jeremiah explained, as MLB approves only certain colors for game bats.

Players, of course, love to show off a little swag whenever they can, so Tater has designed unique colors to use in batting practice. They created a glacier-colored bat for Marte and also made a special design for Hernandez to use in last year's Home Run Derby.

Hernandez's nickname is "Mr. Seeds," so they replicated the David sunflower seeds logo, but replaced David with Tater, and instead of saying America's favorite seed brand, it said Teoscar's favorite seed brand. Because the Tater name appeared twice on the bat, however, an MLB official prevented Hernandez from using it.

When Hernandez used the bat in the All-Star Game, Freddie said MLB fined the company "a couple hundred dollars."

For now, the Tater Baseball crew will continue to work 12- and 13-hour days, as Freddie and Jeremiah field calls about torpedo bats and churn them out for all their clients, just like they did for Marte.

"My gut tells me that there will be a place for torpedo bats and there will still be a place for regular game bats," Jeremiah said. "But I think there's going to be a significant uptick in the guys using the torpedo bats."

Rublev has yet to win a Grand Slam, having lost 10 times in the quarter-finals.

His first tournament with Safin will be the Monte Carlo Masters, where he faces Gael Monfils on Wednesday.

"Marat is someone that inspired me since I was a kid," Rublev added.

"I'm just trying to listen and to try new things. We'll see how it will work, or what it will bring, or what's going to happen.

"I hope for a really long partnership, but it depends if he enjoys working with me or if he will suffer.

"Because if he feels I'm not listening, I don't think he will waste his time."

The hockey world had a tremendous moment over the weekend when Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record. And now, it's time to hone in on the remaining playoff races.

Ten games populate the NHL calendar on Tuesday, all of which will have some impact on either playoff positioning or the draft lottery standings.

Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Hurricanes appear all but completely locked in as the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division (and a first-round matchup against the Devils). Meanwhile, the Sabres' recent heater -- they've gone 7-3-0 in the past 10 -- has pushed them down to No. 9 in the draft lottery order, at the bottom end of a group of six teams in the 71- to 74-point range.

Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Red Wings lost a few too many games in the month of March, and their playoff hopes are dim but flickering. A win here against the team they're chasing would go a long way. The Habs are six points ahead of Detroit, though the Wings have one game in hand.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers
7 p.m. (ESPN)

Although these two teams were tight in the standings in recent weeks, a skid by the Panthers coupled by an 8-1-1 span by the Leafs have yielded the possibility that they could match up in the first round -- as division title winner vs. wild-card team. So this game could have meaning long beyond the final horn on Tuesday night, should they meet again in the postseason. As far as the standings, Toronto carries a four-point lead on Tampa Bay atop the Atlantic into this matchup, and they are six ahead of Florida. The Panthers have a two-point cushion on the current first wild-card team, the Senators.

Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Bruins were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention in the last week and sit fifth in the draft lottery order, among the bunched group of six between 71 and 74 points. The Devils are likely to finish in the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division, and face the Hurricanes in Round 1 but could theoretically still pass them to earn the No. 2 seed (and home-ice advantage in the series).

Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Ottawa is one of the NHL's hottest teams, and it allowed zero goals in two victories over the weekend. The gap between the Senators and third-place Florida is down to two points, though they are two behind in the regulation wins column. As for the Blue Jackets, they begin this game eight points behind Montreal for the final wild-card position, and they will need this W along with a lot of help to surpass the Canadiens.

Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Blackhawks are four points behind San Jose for the top spot in the draft lottery, and have five additional regulation wins if the two teams finish tied after 82 games. The Penguins -- mathematically eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend -- sit eighth in the draft order right now.

New York Islanders at Nashville Predators
8 p.m. (ESPN+)

While Ovechkin scored historic goal No. 895 on Sunday, it was the Islanders who won the game, maintaining a shred of hope that they can rally into a playoff spot. They enter this game seven points behind the Canadiens. Nashville is headed for a top-3 spot in the draft lottery order, although likely no higher than No. 3 given the gap between them and the Blackhawks at No. 2.

Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars
8 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Canucks' playoff hopes have faded precipitously of late, and every game is essentially a must-win at this point -- they enter this game eight points back of the Minnesota Wild for the final spot, with five games remaining. Dallas has its sights set on the Winnipeg Jets for the No. 1 seed in the Central, as the team in that position earns a first-round matchup against the Wild (as opposed to the Avalanche).

Seattle Kraken at Utah Hockey Club
9 p.m. (ESPN+)

The NHL's two youngest franchises square off in this one. Seattle enters the game in the No. 6 position in the draft lottery order, but that spot can fluctuate down the stretch as they are in the 71- to 74-point club with six other teams. The Hockey Club's playoff chances have taken a nosedive, and it officially needs to run the table (and have Minnesota lose the rest of its games) to qualify for the playoffs.

Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche
9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

For those willing to stay up late on a school night, the NHL saved the best game for last on Tuesday's slate! The Golden Knights are well on their way to another Pacific Division title, and the Avalanche seem pretty well locked in as the Central's No. 3 seed. But, this is certainly a potential preview of the 2025 Western Conference finals, given the star power on both of these rosters -- and their recent postseason successes.

With the regular season ending April 17, we'll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's schedule
Yesterday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Tuesday's games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Utah Hockey Club, 9 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday's scoreboard

Tampa Bay Lightning 5, New York Rangers 1
Winnipeg Jets 3, St. Louis Blues 1
Anaheim Ducks 3, Edmonton Oilers 2
Seattle Kraken 2, Los Angeles Kings 1
Calgary Flames 3, San Jose Sharks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105.7
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 102.2
Next game: vs. TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 98.0
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 95.8
Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 90.5
Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 79.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 85.2
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 5.4%
Tragic number: 6

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 79.8
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 1

e - Boston Bruins

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 74.6
Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metro Division

x - Washington Capitals

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 114.0
Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 103.6
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 94.8
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. PHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 8.5%
Tragic number: 5

New York Islanders

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 84.2
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 2.5%
Tragic number: 5

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 4.5%
Tragic number: 4

e - Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 77.8
Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 115.6
Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 111.8
Next game: vs. VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 103.0
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 96.5
Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 95.7
Next game: vs. SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 86.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 87.3
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 1

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 66.0
Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 57.5
Next game: @ PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 108.6
Next game: @ COL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Los Angeles Kings

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 103.3
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99.0
Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 92.7
Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 12.6%
Tragic number: 6

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88.4
Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1.4%
Tragic number: 2

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 80.9
Next game: vs. CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 77.8
Next game: @ UTA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 53.2
Next game: @ MIN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23

4. Boston Bruins

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20

6. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 27

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21

8. Seattle Kraken

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28

9. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24

10. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24

11. New York Islanders

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27

12. New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32

13. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 28

Eternal optimism is a job requirement in professional sports. So is balancing expectations with reality.

It's a fine line, and one that hockey veterans like Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell walk regularly. And while a positive attitude alone won't win championships, there's always that chance a team -- or player -- will surpass an executive's loftiest preseason ambitions.

Waddell can admit that's the case for Columbus now. The formerly beleaguered Blue Jackets are (shockingly) still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the final days of the NHL regular season -- thanks in large part to their bus-driving, ice-tilting, game-changing defenseman Zach Werenski.

Even Waddell didn't see all of that coming.

"I'd be lying if I said I thought Werenski would be having this good of a year," Waddell told ESPN last month. "We were hoping he could. Now it's happening. The way he's playing and carrying our team, without him, I don't know where we'd be."

Werenski can forgive Waddell his previous doubts. The blueliner didn't exactly predict such a triumphant season, either. But like Waddell, he had faith something like this was within him, a campaign so undeniably strong it captured the entire league's attention and put Werenski firmly in the discussion as a Norris Trophy contender; in a recent poll of PHWA voters by ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Werenski earned 48% of the first-place votes.

It's no pipe dream now. Werenski is the real deal.

"I feel like in years past, that's kind of slipped for me, the idea of being in that Norris conversation," Werenski told ESPN this week. "And now I'm getting back to a level where people can talk about me in that space, right?

"I just want to help this team win. I feel like, if that's happening, then you're going to be talked about with the [Cale] Makars and the [Quinn] Hughes and the [Rasmus] Dahlins. I want to be in that conversation where people look at me as a number one defenseman, and I feel like I'm starting to accomplish that."

It's a classic chicken-or-the-egg argument. Are the Blue Jackets unexpectedly thriving because of Werenski? Or is Werenski flourishing because of Columbus' overall commitment to this surprising Cinderella-esque season?

Right now, the answer is irrelevant. The Blue Jackets have a handful of games left to secure the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot and make their first postseason appearance since 2019-20. Werenski -- with a team-leading 74 points in 75 tilts -- will do whatever it takes to get there. And if that push winds up capturing him a few more Norris votes, that's a happy byproduct of this memorable run.

"It feels good," Werenski said. "You don't go into the season thinking that's going to happen. But it's been a special year here, and it's a spot that we haven't been in here in Columbus for a number of years. Like, if you told us, 72 or 73 games ago, that we'd be playing meaningful hockey right now? We'd be pretty happy about it. I feel like our team has really taken a step forward."

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TALK about Columbus without mentioning Johnny Gaudreau.

The late Blue Jackets forward and his brother Matthew were killed by an alleged drunk driver while riding bikes in their home state of New Jersey last August. That tragic loss has defined this season for the Blue Jackets, on and off the ice. Players are united in grief and have proudly carried Gaudreau's memory with them throughout the season.

Waddell saw how that shared experience bonded his players and opted not to disrupt their chemistry with any significant trades before March's deadline.

"With what we've been through this year, the way the guys have hung together and played, I thought it was important not to trade anyone off the island or bring too many guys on the island," Waddell said. "This is a different year. I probably would have handled it differently if the circumstances weren't what they are. But we also felt, with the way we played all year, that we had a pretty good team, so we didn't want to change the group too much. We're having a phenomenal year under the circumstances."

By Waddell's own admission, Werenski warrants a lion's share of the credit for Columbus' ascension. He's been a beacon of consistency for the Blue Jackets as they've navigated another season with challenging health issues: captain Boone Jenner missed 56 games with a freak shoulder injury suffered in training camp; Erik Gudbranson was sidelined 66 games following a shoulder injury in Columbus' season opener; Sean Monahan missed two months with a sprained wrist; and Kirill Marchenko was out for a month with a broken jaw.

Who knows how Columbus' season would have played out had they been fully healthy? The good thing is that Werenski has been mostly healthy -- and that in itself is a rarity. The 27-year-old has dealt with his own onslaught of injury problems over the years, including a season-ending sports hernia in 2021 and shoulder issue that cost him all but 13 games in 2022-23.

Werenski is convinced that the litany of past troubles he's had to overcome affected how he's viewed on the outside. And that simply couldn't continue.

So, Werenski dug in. Some of his previous injuries were unavoidable, but Werenski became newly determined to get proactive after going through that last shoulder surgery. His new offseason regime zeroed in on more soft tissue work, with stretching and hip mobility activities. He leaned into a yoga routine, dialed in his diet and focused on sleep quality. Call it a back-to-basics approach -- one that paid off.

These last two seasons are the first since 2018-19 that Werenski has appeared in at least 70 games. That has included consecutive offseasons where he could train properly and prepare accordingly. He learned plenty about himself in the process.

"I've definitely realized that since I'm turning 28 this summer, it takes a lot more work to be ready for seasons than it did when I was 19, 20, or 21," he said. "I feel like I'm more focused in certain areas because of that. It's not drastic changes, but you're trying to help yourself. If something happens in the game that I can't prevent, I can live with that. But it's the groins or the hip flexors, if those start to get injured, those are things I'm a little frustrated with because those are preventable."

The shift in his workflow speaks for itself as Werenski was typically relentless in achieving -- and preserving -- optimal health. He relied on short, intense sessions with the sports-specific yoga team at Joga in conjunction with trainer Brian Galivan of GVN Performance in Michigan (where other NHLers including Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat work out) to start moving the needle. Their plans worked. Werenski emerged with a career-high 57 points in 70 games in 2023-24, and he has eclipsed that during what's unfurling rapidly as the most productive season of his professional life.

Right now, he trails only Makar in overall points (74) among league blueliners, is third in even-strength goals (14) and leads all blueliners in scoring per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 (42). He has been rewriting Columbus' record books, too; Werenski collected his 260th career assist earlier this season to pass Columbus legend Rick Nash for the franchise lead in helpers.

If Werenski always knew what he was capable of, then revealing it just took longer than he thought.

"A lot of the question marks about me have been health-related. But I feel like I've always believed in myself," he said. "I feel like last year I had a pretty good year offensively. I was healthy this past summer as well. Injury troubles in the offseason have hurt my training and hurt my preparation. And I feel like part of that has gone into maybe reasons why I haven't had that success I'm having this year. But also last year isn't where we wanted to be as a group."

COLUMBUS FINISHED 2023-24 losing five of its final seven games, finishing 29th overall with a 27-43-12 record. Werenski felt he had a good season and took a step forward. So, he licked his wounds playing for Team USA at the IIHF World Championships and set renewed sights on making this NHL season a big one -- for the Blue Jackets and for himself.

Werenski's vision board contained two things: push his way into Norris Trophy talks and be named to the USA's roster for last February's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Both aspirations have come to fruition.

"I wanted to get back in the top echelon of defensemen conversation," he said. "It's hard to say, 'Oh, I want to win a Norris,' right? Everyone wants to win a Norris, and I know it might not ever happen for me, and I'm okay with that. I don't really have personal goals in terms of goals and points or assists or any of that stuff. I think that all just kind of happens, I guess. But then my other goal was making the 4 Nations team, and that happened, too."

It was on that international stage Werenski showed off his evolution into a No. 1 defenseman. When the USA lost Charlie McAvoy to an upper-body injury, it was Werenski who stepped up to fill the void. He paced the entire tournament field among defensemen with six points in four games while urging the USA to a championship final (where they lost to Canada, 3-2, in overtime).

That experience was a precursor to the upcoming 2026 Olympics. The NHL hasn't sent players to the Games since 2014, and after how Werenski performed at 4 Nations, he seems quite likely to secure a roster spot for Milan.

Werenski is cautious about expressing excitement over the Olympics just yet -- "there's a lot of hockey before that" -- but the 4 Nations Face-Off offered him something greater for now than the promise of other best-on-best invitations in the future.

"It gave me more confidence to tell myself I can play [at this high level] and I can make an impact," he said. "I feel like you always have, maybe not question marks as a player, but there's always a little bit of doubt at certain points. You ask yourself, 'is this season a fluke? Should I be on this team? Can I play my game?'

"I left there and I was like, alright, I can do this, I can hang in this, and I can play. And I feel like that was pretty rewarding for all the hard work that's been put in over the years."

That conviction came across to Werenski's tournament teammates. By the eve of the final, there were few superlatives he wasn't earning from guys relying on Werenski to anchor the U.S. back end.

"It's his confidence with the puck," Matthew Tkachuk said of Werenski. "He's all over the ice, and that's a good thing. He's never out of position. He's always leading the rush. And that's as a defenseman, which you never see.

"He's their engine for their team in Columbus, and he's doing an unbelievable job this year. I love watching him play. I know we play nothing alike and two different positions, but he's definitely turned himself into one of the most fun players to watch."

Werenski appreciates the accolades without letting them inflate his ego. He has a healthy skepticism about this pinnacle and how it will influence opinions -- and expectations -- in years ahead. Werenski won't downplay his position either, though. He's Columbus' highest-paid player, in the third season of a six-year, $57.5 million contract. The Blue Jackets have bet on these being his best years, and Werenski has no plans to disappoint.

"At the end of the day, I am in my prime. I have been in the league nine years," Werenski said. "I put the work in. I don't think this success is a fluke. The [level] of play that I'm at now, this is my standard now in terms of how I have to impact the game for Columbus."

His frequent defensive partner Ivan Provorov isn't worried. He has watched Werenski dominate this season in a way that suggests it's just the beginning of further breakout performances.

"I don't think a lot of people are underestimating him now," Provorov said, with a laugh. "He's a great player in all aspects of the game; he can move the puck, skate, make plays. He's a big part of this team. I think his stats speak for themselves. Just his overall ability to skate all over the ice and be everywhere is very important and why he's a big part of this team and why we trust him to take over again and again."

WATCHING THE SCOREBOARD is a nightly ritual for Werenski and his teammates.

Columbus had been neck and neck with the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers to grab the East's final playoff berth. It was deflating to see the Canadiens' overtime win against Florida a few nights ago. Equally uplifting was, on that same night, the New York Islanders' loss to Tampa Bay that gave Columbus some breathing room in the chase.

Then the Blue Jackets fell to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, while Montreal beat up on the Boston Bruins. The Canadiens were pulling away -- but still not entirely out of Columbus' reach. Two losses over the weekend made their climb more challenging.

That's the roller coaster of emotions Werenski is expecting as the Blue Jackets speed towards the finish line of this regular season, hoping they don't run out of runway.

It's possible that Columbus won't punch that elusive playoff ticket this season, and it's another too-early offseason waiting in the wings. Disappointing, sure. But that fate doesn't feel so daunting now. The Blue Jackets are, after all, just getting started.

"Our mindset changes after this season, right? We're so close," Werenski said. "I think we came into this year seeing what was going to happen, what team we were going to be. Let's say we don't make the playoffs, though. Well next year, we are coming to camp and it's realistic, like we're going to make the playoffs. That's our next step."

It's not lip service, either. The Blue Jackets have a promising core in place headlined by Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and Marchenko, plus viable veterans in Monahan, Jenner and, of course, Werenski. Those players have pledged some of their best years to Columbus for a reason.

There are intangible factors as well.

Columbus' impact players are forever driven by losing Gaudreau, who was as motivated as they are to see the Blue Jackets' franchise take off again. His jersey hangs proudly in Columbus' dressing room. Werenski said multiple players per day come to the rink in the Gaudreau hoodies Columbus wore at the Stadium Series in March.

"We know how much he's impacted this organization and this team, and he's going to continue to impact it every day," Werenski said. "We just try to honor him as best we can, and that's by playing hard and enjoying the game, because that's what he did."

This is a tight-knit group. A family in its own right. And they're on a mission to prove the best is yet to come.

For Werenski, that belief has been a long time coming.

"We have to go into camp next year and not be like, 'Oh, we hope to make playoffs.' No. We're making it," he said. "We've wasted long enough here, missing the playoffs, and now we're in a spot where our younger guys are a year older and our veteran guys are also a year older, right? They're coming to a later stage in their careers, and there's not as much time left.

"I feel like our mindset changes that way. And I feel like this season has definitely given us more confidence, especially for next season to say we're going to make the playoffs."

Real Betis chief executive Ramon Alarcon has said he is "cautiously optimistic" that Antony will continue at the club beyond this summer.

Antony, 25, has been a big hit in Spain following his loan move from Manchester United, where he endured a difficult first half of the season.

However, the loan deal which took the Brazil winger to Betis in January did not include an option for the Spanish club to automatically make his stay permanent this summer.

However, Alarcon told Canal Sur: "When we spoke about the possibility to bring Antony in January, I saw it more distant than I see now him staying. It's because both Manchester United and the player have seen that Real Betis is a great place for the player to develop. Right now I'm more optimistic than in January."

Even so, Alarcon said he knows it will not be an easy operation to retain the player, who joined United in an 85 million ($108m) transfer from Ajax in 2022.

Antony has a contract with United until June 2027.

"It's going to be difficult because he is a player owned by Manchester with financial conditions that are what they are," Alarcon said of Antony. "I am cautiously optimistic."

Alarcon said that Antony staying at Betis next season in a loan capacity would benefit United.

"There is a World Cup in 2026, the player wants to play to go to the World Cup and Manchester [United] want the player's value to increase," he said.

At United, Antony scored only 12 goals in 96 appearances. He has scored four goals and set up four more in 13 appearances for Betis.

Antony has not played for the national team since 2023 and has just two goals in 16 appearances.

Meanwhile, Antony has adapted well to Betis and LaLiga, saying in February that he is "found himself" at the club.

Betis are sixth in LaLiga and host Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok in Thursday's Conference League quarterfinal first leg.

Manchester United's post-season tour of Asia is needed to "drive revenue," according to chief executive Omar Berrada, after the club announced two extra fixtures at the end of the 2024-25 season.

United will play matches in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong in May.

The first game against ASEAN All Stars in Kuala Lumpur is scheduled for May 28 -- just three days after United's final Premier League game against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on May 25.

The tour is set to earn around 10 million ($12.7m). United have recorded losses of more than 300m over the last three years and in March co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said the club would have run out of cash by Christmas without his injection of capital.

"Tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch," Berrada said.

"They also create unique opportunities for us to collaborate with our valued commercial partners, and to deepen relationships with our fans in regions such as Asia and the U.S."

United are set to travel to Asia immediately after the conclusion of the Premier League season.

The decision to play two additional fixtures will raise questions about player burn-out after a campaign which will include a minimum of 57 matches. The figure could rise to 60 if United reach the Europa League in Bilbao on May 21.

After completing the tour of Asia, some players will be required to join up with their national teams ahead of an international window from June 2 to June 10.

United's preparations for the 2025-26 season are set to kick-off less than a month later with a friendly against Leeds United in Stockholm on July 19.

The squad are then due to fly to Chicago on July 22 for a three-game tour of the U.S. The new Premier League season is set to start on Aug. 16.

"We appreciate the amazing level of support that Manchester United enjoys around the world and this summer we are delighted to deliver a schedule that provides our fans in Asia, Scandinavia and the United States the opportunity to connect with the club and watch the men's first team play live in local settings," Berrada said.