By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Hawai’i’s Tough Tourney Road begins with 4-Seed Arkansas
The University of Hawaii is dancing in March for the first time since 2016.
And if they are to duplicate that team’s upset win over the four-seed in the first round, they will need to get past a very good Arkansas squad.
That will not be an easy task.
Here is my preview of the First-Round NCAA Tournament matchup between the Rainbow Warriors and the Razorbacks.
No. 13 Hawai’i vs No. 4 Arkansas
Thursday, March 19
1:25 pm PT, TBS
Portland, Oregon
Both Hawai’i and Arkansas are coming off conference tournament championships and enter the regional First-Round contest in Portland hot.
Arkansas plays fast and will score in bunches, as its 89.9 points per game are the fourth-most in the nation.
Despite the frantic pace, the Hogs are only turning the ball over on 12% of their possessions, the best mark in the nation. During their run to the SEC Tournament title last week, that figure fell to 11.7%.
The Warriors will present unique challenges for Arkansas’s high-octane offense. UH is one of the taller teams the Hogs have faced, and that length could make things difficult for the SEC outfit.
The ‘Bows have blocked 6.8% of opponents’ shots this season, ranking 79th in the nation, while rebounding at a rate of 54.1% to rank 24th in the nation.
Arkansas struggles to rebound efficiently, and Hawaii is especially adept on the defensive glass, ranking 10th nationally, collecting 77.2% of opponents’ missed shots.
When Arkansas misses shots, the Rainbow Warriors cannot allow second-chance opportunities.
The bugaboo for Hawaii this season has been turning the ball over. UH ranks 319th nationally, with a turnover on 18.5% of their possessions.
While the Arkansas defense has not been great this season, they have forced teams into errors at times. The Razorbacks are averaging 19.1 fast break points per outing, the second most in the country.
And with the offensive efficiency UA possesses, this is not a game Hawaii can compete in if they have too many empty possessions.
Collecting offensive boards will also be a key for Hawaii.
Isaac Johnson should be able to produce on both ends of the floor, but the big man is only averaging 21.1 minutes per game.
Will the Rainbow Warriors be able to get production against Arkansas when he is not on the floor?
This Hawaii team is good enough to make a run in the Tournament, but they got a tough draw in Arkansas.
Darius Acuff Jr. is the kind of electric player that can put a team on his back and shine in March.
If Hawaii can dominate the glass and limit the turnovers, they can keep this one tight.
I think Arkansas comes out of the west and plays in the Final Four, though, and that run starts with a win over Hawaii.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
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Sports
Blessing In Disguise: Coach Abhishek Nayar Hails Blessing Muzarabani Signing, Eyes KKR’s ‘Fourth Star’
Kolkata Knight Riders new head coach Abhishek Nayar on Wednesday termed the arrival of Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani as a “blessing in disguise”, as the franchise looks to regroup after a forgettable last season and aim for a fourth IPL title. Addressing the squad during their first training session at the Eden Gardens, Nayar made a pointed reference to the late replacement of Mustafizur Rahman, welcoming Muzarabani into the fold. “Blessing, you are a blessing in disguise for us,” the 42-year-old former India all-rounder, who has been a longtime part of KKR set up under Gautam Gambhir, said in his opening pep-talk.
Nayar was elevated to head coach ahead of IPL 2026 after KKR parted ways with Chandrakant Pandit following an eighth-place finish last season.
Nayar had also recently taken charge of Women’s Premier League side UP Warriorz, who finished last in the five-team 2026 season.
“I know so far we’ve sort of folded you in the bus, but it’s great to have you, the tallest member ever to be part of this KKR team. So welcome, I hope you have a great time with us and you enjoy the company of our boys,” Nayar said.
Muzarabani, who picked up 13 wickets in the T20 World Cup to finish joint second-highest, including a match-winning 4/17 against Australia, was the centre of attention at the session.
The Zimbabwe quick, who has more than 200 international wickets, is yet to make his IPL debut despite having a previous stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a replacement player in 2025 for Lungi Ngidi.
KKR had initially signed Mustafizur for Rs 9.2 crore as a backup overseas pacer to Rs 18 crore recruit Matheesha Pathirana, but the Bangladesh left-armer was released following BCCI directives earlier this year amid heightened India-Bangladesh tensions.
The issue escalated to the extent that Bangladesh pulled out of the T20 World Cup refusing to play in India, with Scotland coming in as replacement.
The Zimbabwean has since joined KKR on a Rs 75 lakh deal after opting out of the Pakistan Super League.
Nayar’s clear message: Fourth star
The Ajinkya Rahane-led side, which finished eighth last season, began its campaign under a revamped support staff with Nayar as head coach, Shane Watson as assistant and Tim Southee as bowling coach, while Dwayne Bravo continues as mentor.
Setting the tone for the season, Nayar stressed the importance of mindset over skill.
“We have had a lot of discussions, we have spoken a lot. For me, what happens here is how we tune what’s between our ears.
“The skill is there, that’s not going to change in the next 10 days.
“But what changes is our mentality. So every moment that we spend on this ground, every moment we spend with each other, with the coaches, amongst ourselves, there’s one goal. We have to do one thing, we have to win, we have to get that fourth star.” “And we do everything to prepare our minds before our body actually arrives the first game on the March 29 (against Mumbai Indians in Wankhede).
“We prepare here, we use this time to talk to each other, communicate, get stronger as a group. So we’re ready for everything,” he added.
Nayar also welcomed Shane Watson, highlighting the value of his experience to the group.
“i’ve known him as someone who has played under him as a player, really happy Watto to have you with us. tap into his experience, you will learn a lot. We’ve had a lot of good coaches but I’m pretty sure Shane Watson is going to add a lot of value to us.” KKR will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Nov 30, 2024; Toronto, ON, CANADA; Boston Fleet forward Hannah Bilka (19) collides with Toronto Sceptres defender Allie Munroe (12) in the second period at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images The PWHL announced its first-ever nationwide U.S. television deal for the Walter Cup Finals on Wednesday.
Partnering with Scripps Sports, the best-of-five championship series this May will be carried on ION and accessible to 126 million U.S. households.
“Coming off the electric energy of the Winter Olympics, where we watched Team USA capture gold in an unforgettable overtime thriller, Americans are hungry for more world-class women’s hockey,” Scripps president and CEO Adam Symson said. “Fans shouldn’t have to wait another four years to experience this level of passion, skill and drama, so we’re keeping the momentum going by bringing the PWHL Walter Cup Finals to ION’s massive distribution platform.
“At Scripps, we believe women’s sports deserve a national stage, and together with our league partners, we’re building one. We’re proud to add the Professional Women’s Hockey League to the Scripps Sports lineup.” The Minnesota Frost won the Walter Cup championship in each of the league’s first two seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
–Field Level Media
Miks is the newest Controller in Valorant, set to arrive with Season 2026 Act 2, and his toolkit is already turning heads. Built around sound-based mechanics, he plays differently from any of the other characters in the Controller pool, bringing smokes, a concussion/healing hybrid device, a combat stim, and a sonic ult to the table.
Lotus, with its three-site layout and tight rotational corridors, is one of the maps where understanding how to deploy each ability in the right spot makes the biggest difference. This guide covers the best Miks setups and lineups for attacking and defending on Lotus in Valorant.
Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer’s opinions.
Best Miks setups and lineups for attacking on Lotus in Valorant
Best Miks attacking smokes (Waveform) on A-Site Lotus
When attacking A-Site on Lotus, Miks’ Waveform helps cover two important spots that make it much safer to enter. The first smoke lands in the right-side corridor just before the A-Site entrance, blocking the main sightline from A-Main near Rubble and Root.
After the team gets onto the site, placing a second smoke on A-Drop, the raised platform above A-Site, blocks the Heaven angle that defenders often use to challenge the push and the plant.
Combination
Tactical map view
How the smokes look in-game
Also read: Valorant Lotus map guide: Tips and tricks, layout, callouts, and more
Best Miks attacking smokes (Waveform) on B-Site Lotus
The most reliable smoke setup for a B-Site push covers B-Main and parts of the A-Link and C-Link connectors simultaneously. The marker sits in the B-Main corridor just before the site entry, with the radius bleeding into the default and pillar area.
This neutralises the defender strongholds at either side of the site, giving the attacking team a clear run through the main lane in Valorant.
Tactical view map
How the smokes look in-game
Best Miks attacking smokes (Waveform) on C-Site Lotus
Attacking C-Site calls for smokes on C-Hall and C-Waterfall. C-Hall runs behind the site and gives defenders a protected anchor position. Smoking it off removes that refuge. C-Waterfall, connecting C-Site to B/C-Link, is the secondary rotation path that enables crossfire during a push. Covering both at once makes entry from C-Main considerably more manageable.
Tactical map view
How the smokes look in-game
Best Miks M-Pulse attacking lineups for Lotus in Valorant
M-Pulse is most effective when paired with teammates who can follow up immediately. Toggle it to Concuss before throwing, and let the duelists push in behind it.
Note: The healing output heals enemies just as effectively as allies. It should only be used in very controlled, close-range situations where the enemy positions are known.
A-Site (M-Pulse from A ‘rotating’ Door)
A-Site (A Tree just past the choke)
M-Pulse placement from inside A-Site, thrown toward A-Drop
B-Site (M-Pulse into A Link)
After the B-Main smokes are down, throw the M-Pulse from inside the site toward A-Link, which is the arched connector hallway running toward A-Site.
C-Site (M-Pulse from C Door)
Best Miks Bassquake (Ultimate) attacking positions on Lotus in Valorant
Bassquake is a directional ultimate, and it fires Sonic Radiance forward, knocking back, deafening, and slowing anyone in the cone. Positioning before firing matters just as much as the marker placement itself.
A-Site Bassquake
B-Site Bassquake
B-Site offers the most Bassquake flexibility on Lotus, with four viable placements depending on the situation:
Postion #1
Position #2
Postion #3
Position #4
C-Site Bassquake
Best Miks setups and lineups for defending on Lotus in Valorant
Best Miks defending smokes (Waveform) on A-Site Lotus
Defending A-Site, the smoke goes on A-Tree, the compact connector between A-Site and the A-Main/Door side. It severs the sightline between the two areas, letting the defenders reposition inside the site without being visible to attackers advancing from A-Main. Controlling this particular sightline is the foundation of any sustainable A defense.
Tactical map view
How the smokes look in-game
Read more: Valorant patch 12.05 notes: Introduces Miks, map updates, bug fixes, and more
Best Miks defending smokes (Waveform) on B-Site Lotus
On B-Site, the defensive smoke sits at the doorway leading from B-Upper out onto the site. B-Upper is one of the map’s most dominant angles, denying attackers clean access to it from the start makes holding the rest of the site significantly more manageable.
Tactical map view
How the smokes look in-game
Best Miks defending smokes (Waveform) on C-Site Lotus
The defensive smoke on C covers the C-Main entrance, which is the primary choke point into the site. Blocking it at the furthest point from the site gives defenders time to hold close angles inside without the pressure of an immediate entry, and forces attackers to either wait out the smoke or push blindly through it.
Tactical map view
How the smokes look in-game
Best Miks M-Pulse defending lineups for Lotus in Valorant
To hold your ground on Lotus, you need more than just good aim. The map has three sites and many connected corridors, so one wrong rotation can ruin your entire defense.
A-Site (M-Pulse at A-Root)
B-Site (M-Pulse from B-Upper)
C-Site (M-Pulse from C-Link)
Best Miks Bassquake (Ultimate) defending positions on Lotus in Valorant
A-Site Bassquake
Place the marker inside A-Site near the A-Main choke, with the cone facing the direction of the incoming attack. This works best when the enemy is already pushing in, as it can slow them down or force them back before they gain control of the site.
B-Site Bassquake
Postion #1
Position #2
C-Site Bassquake
Check out: Valorant Masters Santiago: 5 best players who stole the show
Best Miks one-way smokes on Lotus in Valorant
Waveform’s map-targeted placement allows for some subtle one-way setups on Lotus. These smokes create asymmetric vision (one side sees feet while the other is obscured) and can generate unexpected kills or post-plant advantages.
They are situational by nature, and using them at the wrong moment hands the information advantage to the other team in Valorant.
Smoke #1 – A-Drop (post-plant)
Tactical map view
How the smoke looks in-game
Smoke #2 – B-Upper (post-plant)
Tactical map view
How the smoke looks in-game
Smoke #3 – C-Lobby (aggressive defence)
Tactical map view
How the smoke looks in-game
Having these Miks setups and lineups ready makes Lotus a map where your audio-based toolkit works well at every site. The main idea is to understand why each placement works, so that you can adjust quickly as each round changes.
If you practice regularly and stay flexible, the rotating doors and corridors on Lotus can become an advantage instead of a challenge for any Miks player in Valorant.
For more articles and guides on Valorant, check out the following:
Edited by Niladri Roy
Sports
Parramatta Eels vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Tips, Odds, Teams & Predictions – NRL Round 3 2026
CommBank Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 3 NRL game between Parramatta Eels and
St. George Illawarra Dragons. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Parramatta Eels heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Parramatta Eels vs.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Sunday March 22, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Where: CommBank Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Parramatta Eels vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Odds
Parramatta Eels vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview
Parramatta head into Round 3 looking to stabilise their season after a challenging start across the opening rounds. The Eels have shown glimpses of attacking quality but have struggled defensively at times. The Dragons, meanwhile, have been competitive and continue to show effort under Shane Flanagan, particularly through their forward pack. St George Illawarra’s ability to stay in the contest through physical defence could make life difficult for Parramatta if the Eels fail to control possession. Parramatta’s attacking talent still gives them a high ceiling when their halves combination clicks. Betting-wise this shapes as a tighter contest than many expect, with the Dragons potentially value with a start.
Parramatta Eels vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Tip
Sports
NCAA Tournament 2026 bracket: Simulation predicts surprising upsets, optimal sleepers, March Madness picks
The 87th NCAA Tournament has arrived, with the first national champion crowned back in 1939. There have been 37 schools that have won a national title, including 15 capturing multiple championships entering the 2026 March Madness bracket. Six programs have claimed 17 of the last 21 titles, and they are blue bloods of the sport. UConn (5 titles), UNC (3), Florida (3), Duke (2), Kansas (2) and Villanova (2) have had dynastic runs over this span and will be favored by many in 2026 NCAA Tournament picks.
Villanova is the lowest seed among those teams at No. 8 in the West Region, and the Wildcats are 0-5 versus ranked teams this season. This is Nova’s first NCAA bracket appearance since Jay Wright’s retirement, so it will be intriguing to see if the program prestige he established can carry over. Before you make your 2026 NCAA Tournament predictions, see the 2026 March Madness bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Two years ago, SportsLine’s computer simulation nailed massive upsets, including huge wins by No. 11 Oregon over No. 6 South Carolina, No. 11 NC State over No. 6 Texas Tech, No. 10 Colorado over No. 7 Florida. Last year, SportsLine’s computer simulation nailed massive upsets, including calling both 9-seeds that advanced in the first round, No. 12 Colorado State over No. 5 Memphis, and No. 6 BYU advancing to the Sweet 16. The model has beaten over 91 percent of all CBS Sports bracket players in four of the past seven tournaments.
This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016 and nailed UConn’s championship run in 2024. It nailed 12 teams in the Sweet 16 and correctly predicted all four Final Four teams a year ago.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered conference tournament week on a sizzling 14-2 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-21 run on top-rated CBB side picks. You shouldn’t even think about making a pick without seeing what their model has to say.
Top 2026 March Madness bracket upset picks
One South Region surprise the model has identified: No. 11 VCU upsets six-time national champion and No. 6-seeded North Carolina. The Tar Heels lost star freshman Caleb Wilson to a season-ending hand injury at the end of the regular season, and they lost to Clemson in their first game of the ACC Tournament. They went just 5-3 without Wilson this season, as his 19.8 points per game were the most by a freshman in school history.
VCU has lost only one game in the last two months and is averaging its most points per game (81.6) in the last 50 years. The Rams are a deep team, ranked seventh in Division I in bench points per game (34.0) this season. Head coach Phil Martelli Jr. led the team to 27 wins in his first season, tied for the second-most ever behind Anthony Grant.
Another South Region surprise the model has identified: No. 5 Vanderbilt gets past No. 4 Nebraska to advance to the Sweet 16. The Cornhuskers had a magical 20-0 start to the year but have gone just 6-6 since then. They are a high-volume 3P shooting team, ranking 14th in the country in attempts per game but aren’t a high-efficiency unit, ranking just 106th in 3P percentage. With no rotation players taller than 6-foot-9, Nebraska also struggles protecting the paint, ranking 306th in the country in blocks.
That makes this potential second-round matchup versus Vanderbilt highly undesirable for NU as Vandy has the second-best FG% in the paint among the 365 Division I teams. The Commodores also convert from the charity stripe, ranking fourth in the country in FT%. Vanderbilt just knocked off 1-seed Florida by 17 points in the SEC Tournament as the model projects it to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in 19 years. See which other 2026 March Madness upsets and matchups to target here.
How to make 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions
Who wins every tournament-defining matchup? And which teams will make surprising runs through the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it’s calling this year before locking in any 2026 NCAA bracket picks.
So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2026 bracket? And which NCAA Tournament Cinderella teams will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which region features two mammoth upsets in the first round, including one by a No. 14 seed, and see which 6-seed makes the Sweet 16, all from the model that’s nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds.
Sports
“Never Crossed In School”: Suryakumar Yadav’s Hilarious Take On 80% Win-Rate As India T20I Captain
File image of Suryakumar Yadav.© BCCI
It eluded him in academics but on the cricket field, Suryakumar Yadav has finally got his 80 per cent score. Basking in the glory of leading India to a historic defence of the T20 World Cup title just a few days ago, Suryakumar has an 80 per cent winning rate as national captain in the format. The Mumbaikar was expectedly chuffed about the numbers that he he just could not manage academically. “I feel that the percentage I tried to achieve in school and college by studying, I’m getting that today in cricket here,” he quipped when asked to reflect on the success rate since taking over as T20 captain in 2024.
Out of 52 games played in that period, the two-time T20 world champions have won 42 matches.
“There (in school or college), I could never cross (50-60 per cent). But definitely, it feels good to hear this (80 per cent winning rate) here. Although, I don’t pay much attention to stats. But nobody likes to lose in any game. I also love winning all the games,” he said.
Suryakumar’s father Ashok Kumar Yadav was an electrical engineer at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
But Suryakumar never felt inclined towards academics and his family was supportive enough to back his cricketing ambitions.
“…my family tried a lot to educate me first….(but) in a short time they got the idea that this boy is not interested in studies. Ye ladka haath mein nahi aayega (this boy can’t be controlled),” he remembered.
“But their support was always there in sports because they could see that I was enjoying it, I liked playing. So they said, ‘Okay, go play. If nothing happens later, then we are here to take care of it’,” he said.
But the ever-smiling big-hitter from Chembur made sure that he never had to fall back on that ‘Plan B’.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
We won’t sugarcoat it, folks.
The NHL’s 2026 free agent class has taken a Marty Supreme–like public beating since training camp opened.
Consider the long list of star talent who had the option of going to the highest bidder on Canada Day but instead elected to re-up with their current team. Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Martin Necas, Artemi Panarin, Nick Schmaltz and Adrian Kempe all extended their stays. Same goes for reliable veteran defencemen like Matias Ekholm, Mike Matheson, Ryan McDonagh and Cam Fowler. While starting goalies Filip Gustavsson, Anthony Stolarz, Jacob Markstrom, Brandon Bussi and Scott Wedgewood all chose not to stray from their crease.
Yet, even with most of the best players off the board, a bunch of established and emerging talent is still trending toward joblessness on July 1. Stanley Cup champions, team captains, starting goalies, top-four blueliners, and game-breaking scorers may all be available to eager GMs.
And with the salary cap projected to rise by at least another $8.5 million — to $104 million in 2026-27 — those spendthrift general managers should have even more budget to splash the pot on the next all-star to tread in open waters.
Here’s a rundown and ranking of hockey’s best impending unrestricted free agents now that the threat of a midseason trade has passed, plus the latest buzz circulating about their future.
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32 Thoughts: The Podcast
Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.
Age on July 1: 30
Position: Right wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $4.75 million
The latest: The Buffalo Sabres find themselves in a fascinating predicament with one of Western New York’s own.
By waiting to commit to his hometown squad, the heart-on-sleeve Tuch has done himself a great service financially, as several clubs are seeking dependable scorers capable of 36 goals and 70-plus points.
The Sabres have cap space and can ill afford to let talent walk out the door. Not to mention Tuch’s intangible value to the dressing room, culture, and community. (He’s also held up as proof that the Eichel trade wasn’t entirely a waste.)
And yet, Tuch’s most productive seasons may well be in the rearview and his next deal is going to be a whopper.
The player’s asking price should begin with eight digits, but Buffalo’s initial offer reportedly began with an 8 on an AAV. The Sabres aren’t willing to go that far yet. Talks have cooled for now, but there is open communication and mutual interest on a long-term commitment.
That interest should only intensify as the Sabres snap their 14-year playoff drought and play into spring.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen said on March 6 that he’s “not concerned at all” and is hopeful to lock in an extension before July 1.
As the best forward standing, Tuch might fetch more than, say, Kempe’s $10.625 million if his sole objective is to maximize his money. But something special is brewing in Buffalo these days.
Another wrinkle here is that Buffalo, like Winnipeg, has been reluctant to incentivize with juicy signing bonuses. If they want to keep the player, the Sabres may have to bend that policy. The Jets did for Connor.
Age on July 1: 29
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $4.55 million
The latest: In the trade everyone saw coming, Andersson was dealt from rebuilding Calgary to go-for-it Vegas in January. Curiously, though, the move did not come with a contract extension in place.
Talented, minute-munching, edgy, right-shot defencemen with leadership skills are too rare in this league, so Andersson’s value is high.
The suspected holdup here is that the spendy Golden Knights are very much challenged by cap space. GM Kelly McCrimmon has less than $4 million in cap space for 2026-27, and that’s without Andersson on the books.
Most believe Vegas and Andersson intend to extend at some point, but some roster surgery will be necessary to accommodate. Looming over this situation is the uncertainty of fellow right-shot Alex Pietrangelo’s future.
The blueline stalwart is on LTIR this season but has one more year on his deal at $8.8 million.
“You look at this lineup, and this is a real contender,” Andersson said after settling in Vegas. “And that’s what I wanted to go to.”
Should something go sideways here, Andersson would have suitors aplenty on July 1. The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs are just two teams that were poking around for a trade earlier.
Age on July 1: 30
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $975,000
The latest: The timing of the Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman’s offensive breakout couldn’t be better, what with the salary cap spiking and right-shot blueliners at a premium.
By mid-March, the undrafted Raddysh was the most productive of all the 2026 UFAs still unsigned, racking up 58 points through 58 games from the back end, with a plus-20 rating and five game-winning goals to boot.
The Toronto native’s career year has been bolstered by increased usage on the power play and five-on-five, as he is averaging more than 22 minutes per night.
“He’s just playing with a lot of confidence, a lot of swag, and it’s paying off,” coach Jon Cooper told reporters. “His shot, it’s lethal.”
The Lightning will explore extending Raddysh, who has never earned so much as a $1 million salary and could be looking for a deal nearing that of partner J.J. Moser’s four-year pact at $6.75 million.
Tampa has a projected $15.2 million in 2026-27 cap space and must make decisions on UFA forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry, keeping in mind that MVP Nikita Kucherov (UFA 2027) is eligible to sign a monster extension as early as July 1.
Age on July 1: 36
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $8 million
The latest: We’re wading into tricky territory here, because there is a chance some of the aging but effective stars on this list could opt for retirement instead of another contract.
“No, that’s not a thought,” said John Carlson, who is still logging excellent, top-pair minutes.
While it was difficult to imagine the Stanley Cup champ and one of the best D-men of his era in anything but a Capitals sweater, Washington didn’t rush to re-sign Carlson and then shipped him to Anaheim in a trade deadline stunner.
The idea of Carlson circling back and re-upping in D.C. has been floated, but Ducks GM Pat Verbeek gave up a first- and third-round pick for the stud right shot. He’d rather Carlson not be a pure rental.
“Exciting time for me. I think we got a great team. There’s a lot of top-end talent on this team, and I’m looking forward to playing with them,” Carlson told reporters this week, ahead of his Ducks debut.
“I think I’ve got a lot left in the tank. Mentally, I’m better than ever. Obviously I’ve been out a few games here, and that kind of stinks, but this season, I felt like I played some of my best hockey. My body has felt some of the best it’s felt in four or five years.
“I’m not near done.”
The way he’s performing, we don’t see a pay cut coming just yet.
Does a two-year deal, perhaps with performance bonuses, keep him in Orange County?
Age on July 1: 39
Position: Centre
2025-26 salary cap hit: $6.1 million
The latest: Watched Malkin play hockey lately?
The man looks as engaged in Year 20 as he was in his prime, even if that means going overboard. And as the Pittsburgh Penguins look to quench their playoff drought and shock the hockey world, they’re leaning on him.
But will the no-brainer Hall of Famer be back in 2026-27?
“It depends on how the season is going,” Malkin told reporters at camp. “If we play great, and I play great, and I feel confident and show my game — why not one more year? The season is huge for me, my team, myself.
“I’m still hungry.”
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is in an interesting spot with vets like Malkin, and the two sides have met multiple times to discuss the player’s expiring deal.
“I don’t think it benefits Geno or really benefits the Pittsburgh Penguins for us to lay all that out publicly, as much as the public may have an interest in it,” Dubas told reporters at the deadline.
Dubas is keeping discussions with Malkin’s agent, J.P. Barry, close to the vest. In March, the executive described Malkin’s future with the club as a “private matter.”
Malkin told reporters in March that the plan is to delay talks until after the season is over, but has often reminded that he’d prefer to retire a Penguin. A one-year contract would keep him on the team through Sidney Crosby’s deal.
“I’m just playing,” Malkin said. “It’s not my job to talk to Kyle or somebody. I just play my game and just wait.”
Age on July 1: 34
Position: Centre / Right wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $5.25 million
The latest: Traded from Boston to Colorado in 2024-25, Coyle endured a downturn in production, falling from career highs of 25 goals and 60 points to 17 and 35.
Well, good news for both Coyle’s bankroll and the Columbus Blue Jackets: The centre has rebounded nicely in his contract campaign, already surpassing the 50-point plateau and becoming one of new coach Rick Bowness’s more dependable assets in a late playoff push.
Not only did Don Waddell resist trading Coyle at a deadline hungry for centremen, but the GM is also willing to see if there is a path to keep Coyle and fellow pending UFA Mason Marchment in Ohio beyond July 1.
“They have the right to go unrestricted. So, we haven’t gotten into any real negotiations with anybody,” Waddell told RG on Feb. 1.
“If players want to be here and we want ’em here, we’ll find a way to get it done. We did it last year, and we’ll do it again this year. So, it’s a two-way street. Obviously, money and terms are always the big things, but if a player says they want to be a Blue Jacket, usually we find a way to get a deal done.”
Cap space isn’t a huge concern for Columbus, but decisions must be made on veterans Bonne Jenner and Erik Gudbranson as well.
Coyle has been a fine fit here. Is that enough to commit to his fourth team? Or does he try to parlay his bounce-back into a bigging war?
2025-26 salary cap hit: $8 million
The latest: Outside of the recently locked-in Jackson LaCombe, the future of the Anaheim Ducks’ blueline is wide open.
Trouba joins Carlson and captain Radko Gudas in the category of rugged, mid-30s, right-shot defencemen without a deal in place for 2026-27. GM Verbeek also has three pending RFAs — righty Ian Moore and lefties Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger — at the position.
Trouba has fit in nicely in Orange County since his messy December 2024 divorce from the Rangers and is logging big minutes.
Ever patient, Verbeek describes Trouba as a “quality” player but notes the Ducks have “a lot of quality players in our system.”
The executive told reporters he will watch Trouba and “take in the whole course of the season to decide where we go.”
How the Ducks’ D-men, young and old, perform in this long-awaited return to the postseason could impact his decisions.
Age on July 1: 27
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 salary cap hit: $2.5 million
The latest: The 2026 UFA goaltending market is like Charlie Bucket’s Grandpa Joe: thin and old.
The best option under age 30, far and away, is Skinner, whose inconsistencies have been well documented.
Still, workhorse goalies with a career save percentage safely above league average and back-to-back Cup Final appearances are hard to find.
Much like the Oilers, Skinner got off to a rough start. The Edmonton native was packaged and dealt to Pittsburgh in what most believe was a lateral move, at best, for the Oil.
Skinner had been rumoured as a flip candidate at the deadline but remains a Penguin and has registered a fourth consecutive season of 50-plus appearances and 20-plus wins.
Skinner already has 103 games of playoff experience under his belt, and he should add to that total in Pennsylvania.
If Dubas lets the veteran walk and goes with the young tandem of Arturs Silvos and Sergei Murashov next season, Skinner will have no problem finding employment elsewhere.
There is simply not enough supply for the demand for saves.
Age on July 1: 31
Position: Right wing / Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $2.5 million
The latest: If you can make sense of Mantha’s goal totals over the past eight seasons — 24, 25, 16, 15, 9, 11, 23, 4, 25 and counting — perhaps you should be the one negotiating his next contract.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas bought low on the power forward and has been rewarded with a healthy contributor in the throes of his first 50-point campaign.
He’s hired a mental coach, avoided injury, and taken advantage of a more prominent role under coach Dan Muse.
“It’s confidence, the trust level from the team, teammates, coaches, my work I put in mentally, physically,” Mantha said (via NHL.com). “Good things are happening.”
Considering the player’s history of injury and inconsistency, we may hesitate to give Mantha a long-term deal, but he’s positioned himself to be a major attraction on July 1.
“For a guy his size, he’s been moving lately, you know?” Muse said. “He’s just able to be a real threat, whether it’s off the rush or in zone. He’s shown he can play either wing. He’s a guy who’s shown that he can kind of move in and play with some different guys and adapt pretty quickly. And so, that’s a credit to him.”
Age on July 1: 29
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $1.5 million
The latest: The late-blooming McMann never had a burst of offence in Toronto like the one he enjoyed in his first foray as a member of the Seattle Kraken: four goals and six points in three games.
The speedy middle-six winger said he would be open to re-signing with the Leafs, but lottery-bound Toronto balked at the type of contract extension he could command. That would be something in the ballpark of the five-year, $28.75-million pact the San Jose Sharks gave to his nearest comparable, Keifer Sherwood.
Seattle gets a motivated winger for second- and fourth-round picks, and McMann gets a chance to return to the postseason and see if he enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest.
“Someone who can play in our top nine. We look at Bobby as a player that brings speed to our lineup, gets pucks to the net, gets to the net, and I think can complement the rest of our group very well,” Seattle GM Jason Botterill said.
“It’s a situation of seeing how he fits in with our group and making sure that he likes Seattle, he likes his role here, and then we’ll see where it goes in the off-season.”
Age on July 1: 34
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $5.5 million
The latest: The Seattle Kraken forward still has plenty of pop in his game and is one of the most dependable scorers on a roster desperate to return to the postseason, but he has also battled multiple injuries in this contract campaign.
None scarier than the skate he took to the face in early March that has him sidelined indefinitely.
Heading into the season, Schwartz was just one of Botterill’s important contributors on an expiring contract. Botterill is working down the list. He re-upped captain Jordan Eberle and traded Marchment away midseason.
Decisions still await on Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen, and Jamie Oleksiak.
Is McMann filling in for Schwartz temporarily or permanently?
File this one under wait-and-see.
Age on July 1: 40
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $9.5 million
The latest: The lone member of the 900 Goal Club may be playing out his final season in the National Hockey League and — having now fulfilled his duties and crushed his records — could well take his talents to Moscow.
But we’d be remiss not to include the game’s greatest goal scorer on the list, just in case he wants to re-up in D.C. and keep the ticker going to 1,000.
Ovechkin is a little banged-up and his production has dipped considerably compared to 2024-25’s chase year.
That he starts a ridiculous 91.3 per cent of his shifts in the O-zone and essentially plays the entirety of every Capitals power play is both hilarious and telling.
Ovechkin took the Carlson trade hard, and the retooling Caps are now in tough to make the playoffs.
Asked how the Carlson trade impacts his own future in Washington, Ovechkin said: “I don’t know. I’m still here, so we’ll see. We’ll see what’s going to happen. It’s a hard one.”
GM Chris Patrick hasn’t dived into extension talks with the face of his franchise just yet.
“We talked a little bit about where the team is and what he feels we need and what I feel we need, but it didn’t really get too much into his future outside of this year,” Patrick told reporters at the deadline.
“He seems very focused on just the short term here and this team trying to get into the playoffs and have another shot at winning the Stanley Cup. So, yeah, you guys are going to continue to have to wait on that.”
Our take: If Ovechkin wants to remain in the NHL, owner Ted Leonsis will make sure he remains a Capital. If not? Dynamo’s ticket sales are about to spike.
More notable UFAs in 2026: Mason Marchment, Victor Olofsson, Sergei Bobrovsky, Boone Jenner, Eeli Tolvanen, Patrick Kane, Patrik Laine, Anders Lee, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Claude Giroux, Mats Zuccarello, Jamie Benn, Reilly Smith, Corey Perry, Jack Roslovic, Michael Bunting, Ilya Mikheyev, Cam Talbot, Frederik Andersen, Evander Kane, Brent Burns, Erik Haula, Marcus Johansson, Mario Ferraro, A.J. Greer, Radko Gudas
Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders have on their radar former Chennai Super Kings pace duo Simarjeet Singh and KM Asif, along with veteran Sandeep Warrier, to fill the void left by the injured Harshit Rana in the upcoming Indian Premier League. KKR’s pace resources have been hit hard by Rana’s ligament strain in the right knee, sustained during India’s T20 World Cup warm-up against South Africa. The pacer has undergone surgery and is currently in rehabilitation with no fixed timeline for his return. Keeping Rana’s absence in mind, the KKR think tank is exploring other options.
Simarjeet, who has played for CSK (2022, 2024) and Sunrisers Hyderabad, has 11 wickets from 14 IPL games.
A tall quick capable of hitting 140kph-plus and delivering sharp yorkers, he impressed with nine wickets in 10 matches for CSK in 2022 but struggled last season for SRH, managing two wickets in four games.
Asif and Warrier were called up for trials during KKR’s first training session at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, while Simarjeet had impressed earlier in Mumbai during the first phase of the trials as head of scouting Biju George and deputy Manvinder Bisla oversaw the process.
Asif, who rattled Mumbai with a career-best 5/24 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, is known for his 140kph pace but has struggled with niggles.
The 32-year-old made his IPL debut for CSK in 2018 and has featured only sporadically since, with his last appearance coming for Rajasthan Royals in 2023. He has seven wickets from seven matches.
The 34-year-old Warrier debuted for KKR in 2019 and has since represented the franchise across three seasons apart from a stint with Gujarat Titans. He has eight wickets from 10 IPL matches.
Pathirana yet to get SLC clearance
There is also uncertainty over Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana’s availability as he is yet to receive clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket.
The slinger, bought for Rs 18 crore, is recovering from a calf strain suffered during the T20 World Cup against Australia, where he limped off after bowling four overs.
“They are yet to confirm about his joining. We are in constant touch and almost every day tickets are being booked and cancelled for him,” a team source said.
KKR are also without left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman after he was released following a BCCI directive earlier this year, with Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani brought in as replacement.
All eyes on Muzarabani
Muzarabani, who grabbed 13 wickets in the T20 World Cup to become the joint second-highest wicket-taker, had a stunning 4/17 against Australia in a famous upset that led to the ouster of the former champions from the tournament, was the cynosure of all eyes during their first training session of the season.
The Zimbabwe quick, who has over 200 international wickets, is yet to make his IPL debut despite being previously signed by RCB in 2025 as a replacement for Lungi Ngidi.
He had also served as a net bowler with Lucknow Super Giants during Andy Flower’s tenure.
KKR still have pace options in Vaibhav Arora, Akash Deep, Kartik Tyagi and a fit-again Umran Malik, who was seen working on his variations.
Nayar pep talk in revamped set-up
The Ajinkya Rahane-led side, which finished eighth last season, began training under a rejigged support staff with Abhishek Nayar as head coach, assisted by Shane Watson, while Tim Southee has taken over as bowling coach. Dwayne Bravo continues as team mentor.
The session began with a team huddle addressed by Nayar. The coaching set-up will also have another highlight with their explosive batter Andre Russell to be seen for the first time in a non-playing role (power coach).
Kiwi firepower joins Thursday
The squad will be bolstered by New Zealand trio Finn Allen (Rs 2 crore), Tim Seifert (Rs 1.5 crore) and Rachin Ravindra (Rs 2 crore), who are set to join on Thursday after their impressive T20 World Cup campaign.
Seifert was New Zealand’s leading run-getter with 326 runs at a strike rate of over 165, while Allen smashed 298 runs at a strike rate of 200, including the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, against South Africa at Eden Gardens.
India spinner Varun Chakravarthy will also join on Thursday, while their record signing Australian all-rounder Cameron Green (Rs 25.20 crore) is set to arrive on Friday.
The West Indies contingent — Sunil Narine, Rovman Powell and Russell — will link up on March 24 ahead of their departure to Mumbai.
KKR begin their campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29 and will play their first home match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 2, where team owner Shah Rukh Khan is expected to be present.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Despite that uncertainty, Davies is already laying the foundations for the club’s long-term direction, with a major emphasis on building a high-performance environment both on and off the field.
“A big part of what I’m doing is making sure we’re high-performance across the board,” he added.
“There’s a huge amount of work in aligning our style of play – our Scarlets DNA – with the processes that support that, the coaching roles, the player profiles, the conditioning programmes and the skill sets.
“It’s about putting the right processes and metrics in place so we can drive things forward, understand where we are and measure progress.”
Davies also confirmed he has yet to hold any discussions about extending his stay, although he is leading a significant structural reset behind the scenes.
“A lot of this is about evolving the environment,” he said.
“There will be robust processes and a clear structure in place for the future, whoever is involved.”
The review has already led to changes in the backroom team, and more could follow, with defence coach Jared Payne leaving at the end of the season.
Davies says further backroom adjustments are likely as the club looks to rebuild.
“In any organisation, if you want to move forward, you have to continually assess, re-evaluate and evolve,” he said.
“There will be changes.”
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