March 2025

There were 1,679 posts published in March 2025 (this is page 40 of 168).

If The NHL Expands, So Should The Playoffs – Here’s How

More NHL expansion could be on the way. If it happens, the playoffs should expand as well.

American billionaire Dan Friedkin of The Friedkin Group, which owns soccer clubs AS Roma and a majority share of Everton, reportedly met with the NHL multiple times about a potential Houston franchise, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. This comes after past news about the interest in bringing a team back to the Atlanta area as well. That could bring the NHL up to 34 teams, with 17 in each conference, if interested owners in each city get their wish.

An offshoot of potential NHL expansion should be the Stanley Cup playoff format.

As it stands, half the NHL’s 32 teams make the playoffs. But if the NHL kept its 16-team structure after bringing on another expansion squad or two, that number would drop below the 50-percent mark. 

So, how could the league address its post-season in a 34-team setup?

From our perspective, there are a couple of options. The first would be along the lines of what the NBA does, which is assuring the top six teams in each conference of a playoff spot, with the top four teams in the wild-card race squaring off in a play-in tournament to decide the final two spots in the Eastern and Western Conferences. Another option could be a best-of-three series between the second- and third-place teams in the wild-card race for the second wild-card berth.

With the best-of-three-series option, 18 teams advance to the post-season – just over half – but only two teams in the East and West battle for the final spot in each conference’s quarterfinals. You’d have four teams fighting for two playoff spots in each conference with the NBA system. From this writer’s preference, an expanded NHL playoffs using the NBA format would be the right way to go, as there’s the potential for more upsets while keeping a thrilling end to the regular season.

The first and second teams in the wild-card race get two chances to advance anyway. They would face off, with the winner clinching the first wild-card spot. The loser takes on whoever wins in the No. 3 vs. No. 4 game for the second wild-card place.

If this wild-card play-in format happened this season, the potential matchups could have been full of drama. Ahead of Monday night’s games, the standings would have had the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens facing off in the East’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 game and the New York Rangers taking on the New York Islanders in the No. 3 vs. No. 4 match. In the West, the Minnesota Wild would battle the St. Louis Blues for the first wild-card spot, while the loser would take on the winner of a Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks contest for the second wild-card spot.

The NHL only introduced wild-card berths in 2013-14 as the league continued to evolve. If the league grows, it makes sense to continue to grow the playoff pool like what happened 45 years ago.

The NHL expanded to a 16-team playoff format in the 1979-80 season, when there were only 21 teams in the league. So this notion that there can’t be a majority of the league’s teams involved in the post-season flies in the face of the NHL’s history.

It’s Clear NHL Expansion Isn’t Ending Anytime Soon: ‘I Don’t Think We’re Necessarily At That Ceiling’Unexplored markets — not a return to Canada — remain a focus when considering NHL expansion after Vegas and Seattle’s successes spurred interest in other cities.

Ultimately, an expanded NHL playoffs is all about increasing the value of regular-season games, which would be true if the NHL adopted an NBA-style play-in system. In fact, all the teams that were in the wild-card race for most of the season but are running out of time would still have everything to fight for.

As of March 24, four teams trail the 10th-place Islanders by fewer than five points. In the West, the Utah Hockey Club is only one point behind the 10th-place Canucks, and the Minnesota Wild are only four points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the third spot in the Central Division – which would hypothetically make them safe from a play-in round. That means more teams are playing important games deeper into the regular season, and that’s what it’s all about.

If more NHL expansion ever happens, which would come with sky-high expansion fees, a revamped playoff system should come with it. Teams with the most regular-season success wouldn’t be affected by an increased playoff field, but games would matter more for more teams, and any way you look at it, that would be a success.

Get the
latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by
subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below
the article on THN.com.

Cam Ward sends draft message to Tennessee Titans at pro day: ‘I’m solidifying it’

Cam Ward appeared to yell something toward the Tennessee Titans brass during his pro day workout on Monday.

The Miami quarterback revealed what he said during a post-session interview with NFL Network.

“I said, ‘I’m solidifying it today,'” Ward said with a smile, referencing his potential status as the No. 1 overall pick. “I made sure they heard me.”

The Titans own the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft and Ward is the odds on favorite to be the top selection. He is the consensus top quarterback in the class and has already met with Tennessee in advance of the draft.

The Titans are one of several teams still in need of help at quarterback. They currently have Will Levis and Brandon Allen on their 90-man roster, but are seeking a player with more upside after Levis’ rocky second season.

CAM WARD’S PRO DAY: Grading performance of No. 1 QB prospect in 2025 NFL draft

NFL MOCK DRAFT: Giants, Steelers take QBs in first round amid Aaron Rodgers saga

Despite this, Tennessee hasn’t yet committed to making Ward the top selection.

As such, the 22-year-old wanted to make a strong impression on them, and the other quarterback-needy teams, who were in attendance for his pro day. He particularly wanted to showcase his abilities playing under center, which he didn’t do as much at Miami, while throwing plenty of catchable balls to his receivers.

Overall, Ward seemed pleased with his performance but acknowledged he had room for improvement.

“At the end of the day, you ain’t gonna be perfect,” Ward said. “You’ve always got stuff to get better at.”

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cam Ward had pro day draft message for Tennessee Titans

Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood awaits scan results after suffering hip injury

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood was awaiting the results of scans on a right hip injury which forced him from the field Monday in New Zealand’s World Cup qualifying victory over New Caledonia.

Wood was substituted in the 53rd minute of the Oceania qualifying final with the score 0-0. New Zealand won the match 3-0 to become the second team after Japan to qualify to the 2026 World Cup.

Wood was to undergo scans on Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury.

“That’s where the pain is at the moment,” he said. “I felt it on that side so I’ll get it checked over and hopefully it is nothing too major and hopefully it’s just impact.”

Once the scans are completed Wood will return to England to rejoin Nottingham Forest, who face Brighton in an FA Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

Wood currently is fourth in EPL scoring with 18 goals this season.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Eagles schedule top-30 visit with versatile defensive lineman

Following the departure of Milton Williams, the Philadephia Eagles will look to the NFL Draft to replenish their defensive line.

Philadelphia has historically built through the trenches and they will maintain that philosophy during this year’s draft process. According to Billy Embody of On3Sports, SMU DL Elijah Roberts has top-30 visits scheduled with the Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Roberts, a projected Day 3 pick, spent his first three years at Miami (FL) before transferring to SMU and having two productive seasons as a starter. He appeared in 27 games over that span, recording 24 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.

Here is Elijah Roberts’ scouting report via The Draft Network:

Elijah Roberts is a rugged, versatile edge defender whose impact on all three downs was impressive to study as such a large yet nimble athlete.

While Roberts is a strong and uber-productive pass-rusher during his time in college, his ceiling as a pass rusher is somewhat capped at this point in time unless he can develop more counters and secondary moves against stronger, more athletic NFL linemen that he’ll face. Additionally, while he plays with great effort, there are times when his change-of-direction skills and closing burst prevent him from finishing plays against more agile quarterbacks and ball-carriers.

Overall, Roberts projects as a rotational defensive lineman with starting potential in a system that values heavier, edge-setting defenders that can offer push on passing downs. Additionally, his combination of pass rushing prowess and athleticism to the fringe areas showcase a highly intriguing and mature prospect at the position that can win up and down the line of scrimmage.

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio values versatility in his defense and Roberts can line up anywhere from the interior to the edge. Young players like Jalyx Hunt and Moro Ojomo have shown flashes of stellar player under Fangio’s tutelage, perhaps Roberts could be next.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles schedule top-30 visit with SMU DL Elijah Roberts

USF taps Arkansas State coach Bryan Hodgson as new MBB coach

Hodgson will aim to build on the momentum of USF basketball
Getty Images

New USF men’s basketball coach Bryan Hodgson won 45 games in his first two seasons as a college head coach at Arkansas State including a Sun Belt first-place finish this year. He will aim for just as quick of a turnaround leading the Bulls men’s basketball program after being announced as head coach on Monday evening.

Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly announced the hiring on Monday.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bryan Hodgson as the next head coach of USF men’s basketball,” Kelly said in a release. “Bryan has been a part of winning programs at every level, demonstrating a remarkable ability to recruit top talent, develop players, and build championship-caliber teams. His passion, energy, and vision for USF basketball align perfectly with our commitment to excellence. We believe he is the right leader to take this program to new heights, and we can’t wait to see his impact on our student-athletes and the Tampa Bay community.”

The Bulls edged out UNLV and several other interested schools to land Hodgson per our sources. He was a hot commodity on the coaching market after a 25-11 season in year two in Jonesboro. The former Nate Oats assistant brought some of that magic to the Sun Belt from Alabama and Buffalo turning around a program that went 13-20 in 2022-23 winning 20 games in year one.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to be the head coach at the University of South Florida,” Hodgson said in a USF release. “From my first conversations with Michael Kelly and the USF leadership, it was clear that this place is strongly committed to building a winning culture. We are Tampa Bay’s Home for Hoops, and I can’t wait to work with our student-athletes, staff, and the passionate Bulls fan base, including the SoFlo Rodeo! We will play with energy, toughness, and a relentless drive to compete at the highest level. I can’t wait to get started!”

Our Alabama insiders tell Bulls Insider that Hodgson was a tremendous recruiter and a top assistant for Oats during his time in Tuscaloosa and will be poised to help elevate the USF men’s basketball program.

The hiring comes at a crucial time for the Bulls men’s basketball program after the tragic death of head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim last October. Lead assistant Ben Fletcher did an admirable job as the interim coach and Hodgson will now be tasked with inventing his own version of USF basketball.

Anthony Davis set to make his return to Mavericks’ lineup Monday night vs. Nets

Anthony Davis has pushed to play again and Monday night he gets his wish.

Davis will return to the Mavericks lineup Monday night when Dallas takes on Brooklyn in New York, something Mavericks coach Jason Kidd confirmed pregame, adding Davis was on a minutes restriction (28). Davis has been out since Feb. 8, when he strained his adductor during his one game as a Maverick since the stunning trade that sent him to Texas for Luka Doncic.

Davis had pushed for this return despite Kyrie Irving being out for the season with a torn ACL and Dallas being in danger of sliding out of even the play-in (the Mavericks and Suns are currently tied for the tenth seed in the West and the final play-in spot). All the talk about how Dallas made a mistake with the Doncic trade likely plays into that (even though the frustration of Mavericks fans is not aimed at Davis).

Davis is averaging 25.7 points and 12 rebounds a game while shooting 52.8% from the floor and playing elite defense this season — he was on his way to an All-NBA spot before the latest injury.

If the Mavericks slide further out of the playoff picture over their final 11 games, even with Davis, he could get pulled to avoid risking further injury (some in the organization argued that should have happened anyway).

But starting Monday night, Davis is back. It’s what he wanted.