Lastest Sport News One: January 2020

Friday, January 31, 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

The Lakers will honor the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant tonight (10 p.m. ET on ESPN)

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Cam Newton 'absolutely' believes he'll be a Carolina Panther next season

Cam Newton sounds confident in staying in Carolina after meeting with team management.

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NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport: Look for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins to possibly be traded or released this offseason

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport thinks it's time to look for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins to possibly be traded or released this offseason.

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James Palmer: Kansas City Chiefs may use both Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill on punt returns vs. 49ers

NFL Network's James Palmer reports the Kansas City Chiefs may use both wide receivers Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill on punt returns vs. 49ers.

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Tiki and Tierney: Tua Tagovailoa talks recovery and NFL Draft

NFL Draft quarterback prospect Tua Tagovailoa joins Tiki and Tierney to discuss his timeline to get back for on the field.

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Thursday, January 30, 2020

Lost in the argument about a 17-game season, the NFL’s drug-testing policy is about to get more player-friendly

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith didn't address the league's marijuana policy Thursday, a sign that he's happy with the NFL's progress toward less punitive measures.

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Willie McGinest: Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown deserves Offensive Rookie of the Year at 2020 NFL Honors

NFL Network's Willie McGinest explains why Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown deserves to be named the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the 2019 NFL season at NFL Honors.

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Katie Sowers trailblazer as 1st woman coach at Super Bowl

Katie Sowers answered questions on topics ranging from whether it hurt getting her ears pierced (no) to if she wants to be an NFL head coach one day (yes). For the full 60 minutes of the San Francisco 49ers' portion of media night on Monday, Sowers talked with reporters from around the world on

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Tyrann Mathieu says confidence and leadership of Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes "gives us great hope."

SHOWS: AVENTURA, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES. (JANUARY 30, 2020)(REUTERS-SEE RESTRICTIONS ABOVE) 1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PLAYER TYRANN MATHIEU WALKING TO MICROPHONE. 2. (SOUNDBITE)(English) CHIEFS PLAYER TYRANN MATHIEU SAYING: "We've got a lot of personalities

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson reveals secrets to extending plays in the pocket

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson tells NFL Network's David Carr how he's able to extend plays so effectively as a quarterback.

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Paul, Lowry among the All-Star reserves, with 6 first-timers

The All-Star Game is going to have plenty of new faces.

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Nets look to continue dominance over Bulls

Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyrie Irving found some normalcy while coping with Kobe Bryant's death when they led the Brooklyn Nets to a 10-point win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. On Friday, the Nets will attempt to get consecutive wins for the second time this month when they host the Chicago

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Slam by P.J. Washington in the first quarter

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Lakers GM Rob Pelinka on Kobe: “I lost my best friend and my sweet goddaughter”

Rob Pelinka was, for many years, Kobe Bryant's agent and confidant. Then, he came in (initially with Magic Johnson) to take over running the Lakers for Jeanie Buss. He was as close as anyone to Kobe, outside the star's immediate family. Kobe's death, along with Bryant's daughter Gianna

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Despite impending free agency, Jason Witten hopes to return to Cowboys next season

While he knows he may have to look elsewhere, Dallas tight end Jason Witten said he hopes to return to the Cowboys next fall.

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NFL Podcast: Super Bowl LIV final predictions: Andy Reid's legacy, SF's run game and will a TE be MVP?

With only a few short days left before Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, Terez Paylor & Charles Robinson are joined on Radio Row in Miami by Dan Wetzel.

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Super Bowl LIV watch guide: Everything to know about 49ers vs. Chiefs

All the key details for Super Bowl Sunday.

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Greg Olsen's playing days with Panthers over after 9 seasons

Greg Olsen's playing days with the Carolina Panthers are over. Olsen has one year remaining on his contract and is due to cost $11.675 million against the salary cap in 2020. If the Panthers release him, they would be on the hook for $3.7 million in dead cap money.

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Paul, Westbrook top All-Star Game reserves

Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook headline the All-Star Game reserves chosen by the league's coaches. Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, Bam Adebayo, Jayson Tatum and Domantas Sabonis were first-time selections.

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NBA shot chart trivia: Can you guess that All-Star?

Here we go: 15 multiple-choice questions on the All-Stars and snubs. Shoot your shot.

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New on Sports Illustrated: WWE Co-Presidents Forced Out in Company Shakeup, Stock Plunges

There has been a shakeup toward the top of WWE.

WWE has replaced its two top executives as George Barrios and Michelle Wilson have been forced out of their roles as co-presidents after 2019 earnings came in at the low end of estimates,

the company announced Thursday. The two will also no longer serve on the company's board of directors effective immediately.

Shares of WWE plunged as much as 14% to $53.30 in extended trading after the company announced its high-level personnel decisions.

Frank A. Riddick III, a longtime WWE board member will be the interim Chief Financial Officer and will report to WWE chairman & CEO Vince McMahon.

"I would like to thank George and Michelle for their 10+ years of service and contributions to the organization,”McMahon said in an official release. “I am grateful for all that was accomplished during their tenure, but the Board and I decided a change was necessary as we have different views on how best to achieve our strategic priorities moving forward.

“We have a deep team of talented, experienced and committed executives across the organization, and the Board and I have great confidence in our collective abilities to create compelling content, engage our global fanbase across platforms, increase revenues, and drive shareholder value.”

Variety reported in July 2019 that ratings for WWE's two main shows, "Monday Night Raw" and "SmackDown Live," had fallen around 20% each compared to the beginning of 2018. "SmackDown" moved to FOX in Oct. 2019, the beginning of a five-year deal with the network.

Okung on 17th game: 'Health, safety a priority'

Russell Okung, the players union rep for the Chargers, expressed skepticism over a proposed expansion of the current 16-game format.

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Tom Brady posts cryptic message to Twitter

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady posted a cryptic message to his Twitter account on Thursday night in the form of a grainy black-and-white photograph. The photo showed a silhouette of Brady walking in the tunnel of a stadium with the football field in the distance. It's tough to tell if

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Who Wins Super Bowl 54? (Madden 20 Simulation Breakdown)

The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl matchup had some crazy results in Madden 20, but how realistic are the game's predictions? David Ahmadi breaks down the surprising results were and contrasts the simulation with what we can expect on the field in Super Bowl 54.

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Rotoworld's Super Bowl 54 Radio Row Interviews

Josh Norris and John Daigle take to Miami as the Rotoworld Football Podcast conducts interviews from Radio Row at the Super Bowl! (Getty Images)

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Grieving Pelinka: Bryants' legacies will live on

Rob Pelinka said the legacies of his 'best friend' Kobe Bryant and 'sweet goddaughter' Gianna "will live on -- and gain even more power and influence."

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New on Sports Illustrated: Lakers GM Rob Pelinka Releases Statement on Kobe Bryant's Death

Rob Pelinka released a statement on his longtime client Kobe Bryant on Thursday.

On Thursday, Lakers GM and Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka released a statement regarding the death of Lakers legend, and Pelinka's former client, Kobe Bryant.

"On Sunday, I lost my best friend and my sweet goddaughter. With that, there has been an amputation of part of my soul," Pelinka said in a statement. "Kobe was a force of nature, deep and obsessed with excellence. He was wise, determined, passionate. A visionary beyond measure. A dedicated and loving husband, and a "girl-dade" like no other. When he walked into a room, the energy ignited. He was high voltage, with a motor that had no limits. His mind had an infinite capacity to learn. He was, simply put, the most inspirational athlete of our time. What the world may not know, is that he was also the best friend anyone could ever imagine...

"Their lives have shown me that death has no victory. Last Sunday is not the end of the story. It's just a new beginning. Kobe and Gigi's legacies will live on — and gain even more power and influence. All of us touched by them will now try to become torch carriers of their legacies. And, while we do that, we can be certain of this: Kobe and Gigi will continue on, forever, playing a joy-filled game of basketball in heaven above."

Pelinka was Bryant's longtime agent, negotiating his final two-year, $48.5 million contract under which Bryant finished his two-decade career.

The Lakers released their team statement on Wednesday, hours after Kobe's wife Vanessa released her first public comments.

Lakers executives, including Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis, gathered at the team's facility on Sunday following the news of Bryant's death, according to the LA Times. Pelinka reportedly also spent time on Sunday with Bryant’s widow, Vanessa.

An 18-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA first-teamer, Bryant led the Lakers to five NBA championships and scored 33,643 points in his 20-year NBA career. He retired after the 2015-16 season, having spent his entire career with the Lakers. The franchise retired his No. 8 and No. 24 jersey numbers in December 2017.

Bryant, his daughter and seven other people died suddenly in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa and wife Keri were also killed, along with Sarah and Payton Chester, assistant coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan.

Pelinka was promoted to VP of Basketball Operations in early January.

More Coverage of Kobe Bryant's Death:

Mavs' All-Star starter Doncic sprains right ankle again

DALLAS (AP) -- Dallas Mavericks standout guard Luka Doncic has hurt his right ankle again just more than two weeks before he is set to start the All-Star Game.

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Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Vanessa Bryant comments on death of husband Kobe, daughter Gianna

She offers ways to contribute and help the other families caught up in the tragedy.

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The Bounce - Remember when Kobe was at the gym before you? Q-Rich does.

Quentin Richardson shares a story of the time Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant was drenched in sweat by the time he arrived to Staples Center.

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Kawhi Leonard uncertain on future helicopter use after Kobe Bryant crash

Though he frequently used the same pilot as Kobe Bryant, Kawhi Leonard isn’t sure if he’ll keep flying in the wake of Bryant’s death.

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NFL's Goodell says league plans tribute to Kobe Bryant at Super Bowl

SHOWS: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES. (JANUARY 29, 2020) (REUTERS-SEE RESTRICTIONS ABOVE) 1. SUPER BOWL TROPHY WITH HELMETS OF SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AND KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT ANNUAL STATE OF THE LEAGUE NEWS CONFERENCE 2. VARIOUS CLOSEUPS OF SUPER BOWL TROPHY

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NFL Throwback: The San Francisco 49ers-Kansas City Chiefs quarterback pipeline

Find out which five San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks would go on to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to the playoffs.

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Call of Duty League coaches poll: Atlanta FaZe still first after 2-0 start

Four teams are 2-0 after the Call of Duty League's opening weekend -- the Atlanta FaZe, Chicago Huntsmen, Minnesota RØKKR and Paris Legion -- and coaches from around the league have selected the Atlanta FaZe No. 1 again this week.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Is It Fair To Ask the Lakers to Grieve Publicly?

It may help grieving fans of Kobe Bryant to hear players like LeBron James talk about losing an icon. But is that asking too much of those who knew him?

El Segundo, Calif. — The last time the Lakers’ practice facility was close to being as crowded as it was Wednesday—the team’s first public practice since

Kobe Bryant’s death—was Media Day, when the organization was filled with excitement and promise before the start of what’s become, in terms of the on-court product, a wildly successful season. The emotions were a little different this time, as a horde of media from around the world waited for the Lakers’ first public comments since Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash.

The mood was somewhere between somber and angsty. Reporters and camerapeople piled on top of each other in preparation for what was a tightly packed scrum around a small backdrop where Frank Vogel, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis were all expected to speak publicly for the first time. In the end, only Vogel addressed the media, describing the Lakers’ predicament as “extremely emotional.”

“We want to represent what Kobe was about more than anything,” Vogel said. “We’ve always wanted to make him proud. And that’s not going to be any different here.”

The decision for LeBron and AD not to speak was confusing—or even frustrating—to some. They’re inarguably the faces of the franchise. And James is even bigger, a globally respected NBA icon who had a personal connection to Bryant. But the decisions of James, Davis and every other player not to speak make sense in the wake of the massive void Kobe’s death has left in Los Angeles.

You can’t escape Kobe right now. There are memorials all over the city. The area around Staples Center is constantly filled with fans leaving messages and flowers even days later. Some city buses even flash “RIP KOBE” across the front in between the route number. That’s simply the impact Bryant has had on the people who didn’t know him—so what are the people who were actually his peers or teammates going through?

We’ve seen people like Jerry West and Shaquille O’Neal grieve publicly for Bryant. Their teary-eyed stories about Kobe during TNT’s tribute show from inside Staples were raw, compelling and heart-wrenching. But just because it was great television doesn’t necessarily mean anyone was owed that level of emotion.

I honestly don’t know when it will feel appropriate for the Lakers’ players to answer questions about Bryant. It was obviously difficult enough for Vogel, and he only ever coached against Kobe. The strangeness of the death of a widely loved public figure means not only an outpouring of support, but an expectation that the public figures who knew him help put everything into perspective.

I cringe a little bit at the thought of the questions we would have asked LeBron on Wednesday. Are we entitled to know exactly what he was doing the moment he found out about Kobe? Is it fair to ask how he felt in the moments, hours, and days following? It may help fans of Bryant or the Lakers move to the other side of grief to hear one symbol speak up after the loss of another, but it’s only human for players not to be ready to discuss a personal tragedy with a massive audience while they’re still processing it.

Of course, James, Davis and everyone else will eventually speak about their connection to Bryant. That’s the nature of the beast. The Lakers’ next practice is scheduled for Thursday. The crowd will be immense and the mood will be strange. Los Angeles and Kobe Bryant will be intertwined for the foreseeable future. For better or worse, no one will be able to escape Kobe’s presence, especially the people who actually knew him.

More From AllLakers:

Kobe and Gianna Shared a Special Bond

Frank Vogel Says Kobe Bryant's Death Has Been 'Extremely Emotional' For The Lakers

Carmelo Anthony on Portland: “I feel like this is the place for me to end my career”

"Now, where I'm at in my life and my career — this is where I want to retire."

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Fun-loving TEs Kelce, Kittle the life of Super Bowl party

Kansas City's Travis Kelce and San Francisco's George Kittle are talkative tight ends at this year's Super Bowl and among the most entertaining personalities in the NFL - Rob Gronkowski-types who could play big roles in who wins the big game Sunday. “I just love to live life, man,” Kelce

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Fantasy Football Podcast: Chiefs vs 49ers: Taking a longer look at both backfields and Deebo vs. Mecole in 2020

Liz Loza and Matt Harmon give their final thoughts on the Super Bowl in the latest fantasy football podcast — straight from Miami!

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Tiki and Tierney: Shannon Sharpe talks Jimmy Garoppolo

Hall Of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe joins Tiki and Tierney to discuss Bill Belichick trading Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers.

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Kawhi uncertain on future helicopter commutes

Kawhi Leonard has a Los Angeles residence but has stayed at his San Diego home when he can, using the same helicopter and pilot as Kobe Bryant had for the commute. He said he hasn't been able to think about whether Bryant's crash had now given him pause.

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Man United can take little pleasure in derby win

Man United's win didn't feel like a win, and Man City's loss didn't feel like a loss.

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Victor Oladipo first bucket in return in the first quarter

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Victor Oladipo checks in for the first time this season

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Alex Ovechkin honors late Kobe Bryant with No. 24 jersey

Alex Ovechkin honored Kobe Bryant by wearing number No. 24 during warm-ups prior to the game against the Nashville Predators

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Ovechkin salutes Kobe, wears No. 24 jersey

During warm-ups before Wednesday's game against the Predators, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin wore Kobe Bryant's No. 24 on his jersey to honor the late NBA star.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts to Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones saying Chiefs need to put the game on QB's shoulders

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reacts to Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones saying the Chiefs need to put the game on the QB's shoulders.

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Miami street artists to feature works during Super Bowl

Some of the most popular street artists in Miami's trendy Wynwood district will get a boost from the Super Bowl. The NFL partnered with the curators of the renowned Wynwood Walls and commissioned five artists to create large scale murals, sculptures, and building wraps into the Super Bowl LIV experience

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NFL Network's Steve Smith Sr. reveals his top two picks for Offensive Rookie of the Year

NFL Network's Steve Smith Sr. reveals his top two picks for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

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Lakers' Vogel: Tragedy has 'brought us closer'

Coach Frank Vogel says the Lakers have been brought "closer together" following the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and eight others Sunday and that getting back to basketball will be "therapeutic."

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Celtics return home to honor Bryant, face Warriors

TD Garden gets set to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant as the Boston Celtics host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night. The game is the first in Boston since a helicopter crash claimed the life of Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others Sunday. The Celtics have played twice since,

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Kobe on Clippers' minds as they return to practice

The Los Angeles Clippers returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since Kobe Bryant's death, many still numb and struggling to comprehend his sudden loss. The scoreboard at their training facility posted Bryant's jersey numbers with the rival Lakers - 8 and 24. ''It doesn'

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Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Suspect turns himself in after stealing Allen Iverson’s backpack with $500K of jewelry

A suspect has turned himself into police after Allen Iverson's backpack with $500K in jewelry went missing.

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Emotional Shaq: Never could have imagined this

As part of an emotional pregame show on TNT, Shaquille O'Neal called the death of former teammate Kobe Bryant something he "never could have imagined." Said Shaq: 'This is going to be hard for me."

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76ers honor Philly native Kobe with tributes

Before Tuesday's home game, the 76ers honored the memory of Kobe Bryant, who went to nearby Lower Merion High School, with a video tribute and a moment of silence. Worldwide, fans continued to honor the former NBA great.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Six 'Swing Teams' Who Could Shape the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline

The tight Pacific Division standings, and a couple other high-pressure markets, will force some GMs to make agonizing decisions in the weeks to come: buy or sell?

The St. Louis Blues almost blew it up. Seriously. Their amazing run to the Stanley Cup last season was a worst-to-first story, lest we forget, and they opened the 2019 calendar year 31 overall in the league standings, so it was only natural that GM Doug Armstrong considered cashing out. Whether that meant Alex Pietrangelo or Vladimir Tarasenko or someone else was close to changing addresses, we’ll never know, but Armstrong explained to my colleague Ken Campbell in a recent issue of The Hockey News magazine that the Blues were pushed to the brink of nuking the roster.

They didn’t, of course. We’ve heard the rest of their incredible story over and over since last June. An interesting and overlooked element of their run last year, however, was their time leading up to the trade deadline, when they were in the midst of their rise but not yet guaranteed to make the big dance. I identified them at the time as the league’s No. 1 swing team, capable of loading up other contenders in a selling scenario yet equipped with enough talent to make a run of their own.

With the 2020 trade deadline less than a month away, who are the key swing teams? For the sake of this exercise, the teams to consider (a) are floating around the playoff bubble and could go either way, (b) have some tradable assets should they slump in the coming weeks and enter a seller role and/or (c) face enough pressure that they could be all-in buyers if they’re close enough to a playoff spot by Feb. 24.

Stick tap to the jammed Pacific Division for providing 67 percent of the entries for this article.

ARIZONA COYOTES

After flirting with a playoff berth last spring, the Coyotes got aggressive this summer with the Phil Kessel trade, and they followed that move by going full buyer to land Taylor Hall from the New Jersey Devils at a reasonable price. Today, however, while the Coyotes sit three points out of first place in the Pacific Division, their hold on a Western Conference wildcard spot is also just three points. They were 19-12-4 the day they acquired Hall. They’re 7-8-1 since, having lost five of their past six games, and their team MVP, goalie Darcy Kuemper, isn’t quite ready to return from his lower-body injury yet.

What happens if the Desert Dogs continue to slump and sit outside the playoff picture in a few weeks? Suddenly, GM John Chayka would find himself sitting on the trade market’s No. 1 UFA rental option: Hall. It would surely be a painful move to make, but what if a team offered far more than what Chayka paid to get Hall? Arizona also has an appealing UFA bottom-six center option to dangle in Carl Soderberg, not to mention several veterans with a year left on their deals: defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson, Jason Demers, Alex Goligoski and Jordan Oesterle and goalie Antti Raanta. It would be a crushing disappointment if the Coyotes had to become sellers, and they’re still in a prime spot now, but Chayka has quite the safety net if this team nosedives. The Coyotes could be a power seller.

CALGARY FLAMES

The Flames finished with the Western Conference’s best record and scored the second-most goals in the NHL last season. From the Bill Peters firing to the team’s drastic decline in scoring, it’s been a grind for Calgary this season. The Flames are an impressive 14-7-1 since Geoff Ward took over behind the bench, but they’re stuck in a logjam of 57-point teams eating up the No. 2 and 3 Pacific seeds and both wildcard spots. That puts them, like the Coyotes, close to first place but equally close to missing the playoffs.

General manager Brad Treliving is probably under more pressure than Chayka given the expectations set by Calgary’s 2018-19 result, so it would be an even chalkier pill to swallow should Treliving have to sell. But, hey, he’ll have to explore it if Calgary doesn’t go on a run. In puck-mover T.J. Brodie and defensive defenseman Travis Hamonic, the Flames would get bushels of offers if they put one or both on the block as UFA rentals. Backup goaltending means more now than it ever has in league history with starter load management becoming so common, and that means UFA Cam Talbot would have trade value in his resurgent season.

What makes Calgary a true swing team, however, is that Treliving, currently in a playoff spot, is just as likely if not more likely to throttle up and chase major upgrades than he is to sell. This team sits in its win-now window and needs a scoring boost. The Flames thus could make serious plays for some of the potentially available right-shot forward options, from Kyle Palmieri to Tyler Toffoli.

EDMONTON OILERS

The Oilers’ first season under new GM Ken Holland is undoubtedly a success, and it’s exciting to see this team positioned as a buyer, not a seller, potentially chasing a veteran forward rental to take some pressure off Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But the Oilers are yet another Pacific team sitting three points out of first and three points away from out of the playoffs.

If things sour in the weeks to come, Holland at least has options. Zack Kassian, a UFA, is reportedly close to a contract extension, but if negotiations stall, he’d be an extremely attractive rental to be some team’s Tom Wilson. In Kris Russell and Adam Larsson, the Oilers boast two blueliners with a year left on their contracts who could fill out a contender’s depth. The Oilers could truly break either way. Holland has some runway in Year 1 as GM, so he can wait until the last possible week to make a decision if he wants to.

As Holland told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun earlier this month, the standings will determine whether the Oilers buy or sell. It’s just that close.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Leafs face as much pressure as any market to make the playoffs this season. After the gut punch of three straight first-round playoff exits culminating in coach Mike Babcock’s November firing, a step backward would be utterly disastrous, especially for GM Kyle Dubas. Like Treliving, Dubas is actively chasing upgrades, most likely a top-four defenseman and backup goaltender.

But, hey, as noble as his efforts may be, Toronto sits out of a playoff spot right now. And if it can’t climb back in by mid-February, it will have to consider cutting its losses, as it has two of the best potential UFA rental options to advertise: defensemen Tyson Barrie and Jake Muzzin. Both would command packages that start with a first-round pick and probably include another asset. Top-four D-men don’t come along at every trade deadline, and the Leafs could dangle two of them. Barrie has endured a down year, sure, but he’s been better since Sheldon Keefe took over as coach.

The idea of selling is likely something Leaf Nation doesn’t want to entertain – the idea of becoming ‘This year’s Blues’ is far sexier – but expectations must be recalibrated if Toronto can’t dig out of its hole in the next three weeks.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Like the Leafs, the Golden Knights fired their coach because they have high expectations and can’t fathom the idea of missing the playoffs. Vegas, having replaced coach Gerard Gallant with Pete DeBoer, join the Coyotes, Flames and Oilers in that 57-point tie. Vegas has every intention of winning that race and reportedly wants to acquire a defenseman. If the next few weeks bring a losing record, however, GM Kelly McCrimmon could pull the chute. He’s got expiring bottom-six forwards to offer in Cody Eakin and Ryan Reaves, plus depth blueliners in Jon Merrill, Nick Holden and Deryk Engelland. Even center Paul Stastny could attract nibbles with just a year left on his contract, though he has a 10-team no-trade list.

It’s hard to picture Vegas selling, and the shocking Gallant firing tells us this team does not fashion itself a seller, but the league is so compact this year that one bad slump at the wrong time could put a team on the ropes.

WINNIPEG JETS

The 54-point team chasing that 57-point quartet, hoping to snatch away a playoff spot: the Jets. The Blackhawks are tired with them but, having missed the post-season the past couple years and entered rebuild mode, don’t face anywhere near the pressure the Jets do. A playoff miss won’t cut it for a team that reached the conference final two years ago and lost to the Cup champs last season.

The Jets have been chasing it on defense all season after losing four of their six starters from last year’s lineup (two by free agency, one by trade, one by injury), and if they’re positioned to be deadline buyers, they could pursue one of the available rentals out there – such as Sami Vatanen.

It’s equally possible that Winnipeg can’t find the consistency needed to rejoin the playoff picture. If that happens, it’ll be time for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to shop left winger Mathieu Perreault. He has a year left on his deal at a $4.125-million AAV, and numbers are down this season, but he remains a positive possession player who could bolster a contender’s bottom six. His no-trade clause includes only five teams, so it’s not too prohibitive. The big wildcard is pending UFA Dustin Byfuglien. If he were to get healthy and rejoin the team by Feb. 24, he could singlehandedly turn the Jets back into Cup contenders or, with one year left on his deal, become a league-winning super-rental for a contender. ‘Big Buff’ is the definition as a swing piece on the definition of a trade-deadline swing team. He could save the Jets’ season or net them a monster return.

More From The Hockey News
* Ken Campbell: Will the Battle of Alberta Turn Into Bertuzzi vs. Moore? Let's Hope Not
* Jared Clinton: If This Season Goes Sideways, the Predators Will Have to Ask Themselves Some Tough Questions

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New on Sports Illustrated: If This Season Goes Sideways, the Predators Will Have to Ask Themselves Some Tough Questions

Nashville has a chance to make up ground in the Western Conference, but a tough schedule and underwhelming results has made them look like a fringe playoff team.

One loss coming out of the all-star break isn’t going to send the Nashville Predators scrambling to press the panic button. This team and its management is old enough, wise enough, has seen enough that they know there’s still plenty of hockey to be played, still plenty of ground that can be made up and that the games in hand they possess – anywhere from two to four on the handful of teams sitting between the Predators and a wild-card spot – are enough to claw back into the post-season picture by the end of the regular season.

None of that, however, changes that the Predators are fighting an uphill battle and that each and every loss from here on out will result in dwindling playoff hopes.

While it’s hardly a perfect science, consider what Monday’s defeat at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs did to Nashville’s post-season potential.

According to SportsClubStats, the Predators entered the contest with a 53.2 percent chance of punching their ticket to the dance. By the time they left Bridgestone Arena ice on the wrong side of a 5-2 scoreline, SportsClubStats estimated Nashville’s probability of making a post-season appearance dipped by a whopping 11.9 percent to 41.3 percent. That puts the Predators a full 12 percent behind the eighth-place Vegas Golden Knights and isn’t all that much better than the Chicago Blackhawks’ 36.1 percent post-season chance.

As we outlined yesterday, too, the upcoming schedule is going to do the Predators no favors, particularly not in the weeks leading up to the Feb. 24 trade deadline. To wit, nine of Nashville’s next dozen games are against teams in a playoff position as of Tuesday morning. Included among those is a meeting with the Washington Capitals, a home-and-home set against the St. Louis Blues and a four-game Western Canadian road swing in which the Predators will face the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks – currently third, second and first in the Pacific Division, respectively – in a span of five nights.

In the immediate, Nashville’s upcoming schedule and declining playoff potential raises two questions: how will the Predators respond and when, if ever, will they begin making up ground?

The more important question, however, pertains to the Predators’ direction at the conclusion of this campaign. Though there remains a chance Nashville sneaks into the playoffs and manufactures a Los Angeles Kings-esque low-seed Stanley Cup victory, those chances appear about as slim as Mary Swanson ending up with Lloyd Christmas. And whether this season ends after Game 82 or at the conclusion of whatever brief post-season run the Predators are able to piece together, it will almost assuredly be the case that this campaign is either a step backward or nothing more than a lateral move. And that could, and probably should, mean some changes are on the horizon.

Chief among those changes, of course, is finding a solution to the Kyle Turris situation. Though the 30-year-old center has played a regular role since spending seven consecutive games as a healthy scratch in November, he’s remained a bottom-six fixture earning top-six dollars – he has another four years remaining at a $6-million cap hit after this season. And while his contract isn’t necessarily a drag on the Predators’ cap situation with Nashville projected to have upwards of $11 million with which to work come the off-season, it’s the additional flexibility that Turris’ contract doesn’t provide that’s the great issue.

But that’s not the Predators’ only concern.

The perception of this roster, and the spirit in which it has been built, is that it’s a defense-first club that carves its path to success by way of quality goaltending and strong defending. To a degree, the latter is true. When it comes to suppressing shots, shot attempts, scoring chances and high-danger chances against, the Predators find themselves above average or among the most limiting teams in the NHL at five-a-side this season. The core of the blueline, with Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and (the presently injured) Ryan Ellis, is also one of the strongest in the league. Even up-and-comer Dante Fabbro has slotted in nicely.

But Nashville will have to consider its options this summer when veterans Dan Hamhuis, Yannick Weber and Matt Irwin can all walk. Is there a cost-effective third-pairing option to be had? Or will the Predators spend to reestablish some version of a Big Four? That’s what Nashville had when P.K. Subban, who was shipped to the New Jersey Devils in the summer, was part of the core.

As for the crease, perception has not at all been reality. In fact, the Predators’ 5-on-5 goaltending has average at the best of times and their all-strengths save percentage ranks better than only the lottery-bound Devils and Detroit Red Wings. Maybe that can be chalked up to the sometimes impossible-to-predict nature of goaltending. Maybe it’s that the Predators’ goaltending tandem is a past-his-prime Pekka Rinne and the relatively untested Juuse Saros, who only recently played his 100th big-league game. Whatever the case, two things hold true: Rinne isn’t getting any younger and Saros’ performance this season – he has an .895 save percentage in 23 appearances – has done nothing to instill confidence in his ability to take the reins.

Given that’s the case, would the Predators consider changing course and strengthening the position instead of passing the torch to Saros, as many expected would be the case? There will be veteran backup options available, some of whom have posted strong numbers in recent years, including Anton Khudobin, Thomas Greiss and Jaroslav Halak. With the money available, a one-year pact with any of those goaltenders might provide good value, but it also puts in place a roadblock for Saros, who needs the reps if he’s going to take over for Rinne at some point.

There is also the matter of age. In a young man’s league, the Predators are steadily aging, and the pattern that’s emerging is troubling. Four seasons ago, Nashville was a Stanley Cup finalist. Three seasons ago, they were ousted in the second round. Two seasons ago, it was a first-round exit. And if the season ends with the Predators on the outside looking in, GM David Poile will have to seriously consider if his roster has what it takes to get the job done or if the window has closed far enough that the current group must be shaken up and some new life must be injected into a club that presently has the fourth-highest average age in the NHL.

For the time being, the Predators won’t need to answer these questions. There are greater concerns, a trade deadline to worry about and runway left to make up the points between themselves and the post-season. But come the summer, one way or another, Nashville will need to do some reflecting on a season that thus far has given no reason to believe they can simply stay the course.

More From The Hockey News
* Ken Campbell: Will the Battle of Alberta Turn Into Bertuzzi vs. Moore? Let's Hope Not
* Matt Larkin: Six 'Swing Teams' Who Could Shape the NHL Trade Deadline

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New on Sports Illustrated: Joel Embiid Honors Kobe Bryant, Wears No. 24 as 76ers Host Warriors

Joel Embiid reportedly received permission to wear No. 24 from Sixers legend Bobby Jones.

The tributes for Kobe Bryant continued on Tuesday, two days after the Lakers legend's

tragic death in Calabasas, Calif. Sixers center Joel Embiid was the latest to honor Bryant as game action kicked off, donning the Mamba's No. 24 in a matchup with the Warriors.

No. 24 was previously retired in Philadelphia in honor of Hall of Fame forward Bobby Jones. The 11-time All-Defense member played eight years in Philadelphia from 1978-86, winning the Finals in 1983.

Jones gave permission to Embiid to wear his number pregame.

"I got a call from Joel. He explained to me how growing up in Africa, Kobe was a guy that he looked to as the star of American basketball at that time, and he is what made him want to play basketball," Jones told Sixers.com's Brian Seltzer on Tuesday. "I shared with him that Kobe, in addition to doing all that scoring, was a 12-time All-Defensive player. I only made it 11 times, so there’s a lot of defense that goes into that No. 24, so I told Joel to play hard defense, because that what that number represents in my mind. I thanked him for the call, and I’m glad he and I had the chance to talk."

The Sixers also honored Bryant as a team on Tuesday. They held a moment of silence pregame for 33 seconds, matching Bryant's number when he played at Lower Merion high school in Philadelphia.

NFL tries to dispel mystery around sideline medical tent

The blue medical tent on each NFL sideline is a place no player ever wants to go, and everyone else would love to sneak inside for a peek. When a player is suspected of having a concussion or an injury where a little privacy is helpful, someone pulls the tent into place and people disappear inside,

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The Gold Rush: Will the Chiefs cover -1.5 vs the 49ers?

The big game is here! Who are you betting on?

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott reveals his prediction for Super Bowl LIV

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott explains why he's giving the San Francisco 49ers and edge over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV in Miami, Florida.

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Follow live: Heat, Celtics face off in Eastern Conference clash

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Shaq: 'Never could have imagined' anything like Kobe's death

“The fact that we lost probably the world’s greatest Laker, the world’s greatest basketball player is just - listen, people are going to say take your time and get better, but this is going to be hard for me," O'Neal said. TNT was supposed to televise a doubleheader, but the NBA canceled the

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Pacers' Oladipo set for 1st game after recovery from injury

Victor Oladipo spent 12 months working, wondering and watching. The All-Star guard expects to make his long-anticipated season debut Wednesday when the Indiana Pacers host Chicago. Oladipo probably knew that much the moment he couldn't get up after crashing to the floor late in the first half of

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Joel Embiid wears No. 24 at Wells Fargo Center

Joel Embiid honors Kobe with No. 24 jersey.

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Kobe's pilot was also Kawhi Leonard's

Yahoo Sports' Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes expands on the Kobe Bryant tragedy and how Kawhi Leonard shared the same pilot. Haynes also has updates for the postponed Lakers' game.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott explains why 'guys are gonna follow' head coach Mike McCarthy

NFL Network's Kurt Warner and James Jones catch up with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to talk about his 2019 season, new head coach Mike McCarthy, contract situation and more.

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Will 49ers or Chiefs have 'home-field advantage' in Super Bowl LIV?

Yahoo Sports' Michelle Gingras, Terez Paylor and Frank Schwab discuss which team will have a bigger fanbase in Miami at this year's Super Bowl.

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NFL Network's Willie McGinest reflects on offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia's legacy with the New England Patriots

NFL Network's Willie McGinest reflects on offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia's legacy with the New England Patriots.

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NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport explains factors that led to New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia's retirement

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport explains the factors that led to New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia's retirement.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade Honor Kobe Bryant in TNT Tribute

Dwyane Wade: "There was one person I wanted that respect from."

Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade paid tribute to Kobe Bryant on TNT's pregame show on Tuesday night, honoring their former teammate and opponent

two days after his death.

"We're not going to be able to joke at his Hall-of-Fame ceremony," O'Neal said to start the program. "We're not going to be able to say, 'I got five [championships], you got four.' ...We're not going to be able to stay 'if we had stayed together we would have gotten 10 [championships]. Those are the things you can't get back"

O'Neal shared that the last time he talked to Bryant was before his legendary 60-point night against the Jazz to end his career.

Wade discussed his drive to match Bryant on the floor. The three-time champion said he wanted Bryant to "look at me as an equal."

"There was one person I wanted that respect from," Wade said on TNT. "One person I wanted to look at me as an equal. And look at me eye to eye. And that was Kobe Bryant."

Tuesday marks the third day of games since Bryant's tragic death on Sunday morning. The 76ers hosted the Warriors in the first game of the night, honoring Bryant with 33 seconds of silence. Bryant wore No. 33 at Lower Merion high school in Philadelphia.

Bryant and O'Neal won three championships in a row together in Los Angeles from 2000-02. Wade went 11–9 against Bryant in his career, and the duo played together on the 2008 United States Olympic Team.

Kings clash with Thunder, seek third straight win

The Sacramento Kings will be looking to work their late-game magic once again on the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder when the Western Conference playoff hopefuls duel on Wednesday night. The Thunder will be making their second trip to the California capital this season. The comeback wasn't as dramatic

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76ers' All-Star C Embiid returns from torn ligament in hand

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers' lineup three weeks after surgery on a torn ligament in a finger in his left hand.

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