Paris-Roubaix is a bike race which rewards guile and experience, one for the battle-hardened pro rather than the wide-eyed youngster. Zoe Backstedt in some ways is both. At 21 she is among the peloton’s younger contingent – but she has an additional weapon in her arsenal: a family history of Paris-Roubaix going back more than 20 years.
Her father, Magnus Backstedt, took the biggest win of his career in the famous Roubaix velodrome in 2004; Zoe and older sister and fellow cyclist Elynor grew up re-watching, analysing and celebrating his race.
“It’s in the family to enjoy this race and to have a special connection to it,” the younger Backstedt tells The Independentover video call,a few days before the 2026 edition. “For me part of it is following what he’s done, and one day I would also like to have a cobblestone to go next to his.”
Magnus’ iconic cobblestone prize lives on a bookshelf in the Backstedt family living room, and his success means that Zoe not only knows the ins and outs of the race – it means she’s aware of what it feels like to lift the trophy, too. “I tell you, if you try and lift it above your head after a race, I don’t think I could do it,” she grins. “[The shelf] now has a dip in it, because it’s just that heavy.”
Magnus raced Paris-Roubaix eight times over the course of his career and has been imparting his wisdom ever since. “He’s told me every single story there is to tell about this race, about every single edition that he’s done, that it was dry, wet, different changes in the course, he knows everything. He knows where every single pothole is on the course, he could tell you literally to a T. So we’ve grown up learning this course as well, watching his race back because as a family, it makes us so proud of his achievement.”
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When we speak Backstedt is fresh from a team recon of five of the 20 cobbled sectors, which make up just over 33km of the 143km women’s race. Her Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto team rode the first three sectors, which are new to the course this year, and the infamous Carrefour de l’Arbre: the fourth-last sector and one of two rated five stars, the most gruelling of all.
“It’s like a two-parter, you have a really awful, aggressive part to start with, and then it goes across the road, you’ve got a nice” – she checks her wording – “nice, I don’t know, less aggressive sector with a bit of gravel on the side. I made the most of that today, saved myself from the cobblestones, and I’m going to go full in for those on Sunday.”
Paris-Roubaix is one of the most gruelling races on the cycling calendar (AFP via Getty Images)
The race sees the riders swap the cobbles of Flanders in the previous Monument for the harsher pavé of northern France (Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
Many riders speak about Paris-Roubaix with a mix of respect and dread – there’s an element of masochism to the race – but Backstedt relishes it. “Just out there having a bit of fun, and the sun was shining in France – not Belgium,” she says, with the air of someone who has made that mix-up before. “It was super nice to see a bit of the course again.”
Backstedt has ridden Paris-Roubaix three times, finishing 46th on her debut at age 18 and upgrading that to 16th in 2024 and 15th last year. And the Red Bull athlete has every reason to hope she can crack the top 10, or go a step further this time round.
She will be one of the in-form riders on the start line in Denain and impressed in the hilly Tour of Flanders – the only other cobbled Monument – last Sunday. She finished fifth, her best-ever result in the race, backing up a fourth place in Dwars door Vlaanderen a few days prior.
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The Welshwoman was part of an elite group including three-time Flanders winner Lotte Kopecky, eventual winner Demi Vollering and defending Paris-Roubaix champion champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot over the infamous Koppenberg hill, and later said she had “goosebumps” being in such elite company.
Backstedt has multiple junior and under-23 world titles to her name and is one of the in-form riders of the peloton heading to Paris-Roubaix (Kristof Ramon / Red Bull Content Pool)
She said: “I was really proud of myself. I really didn’t expect to go into the day with the legs that I had and to be able to go over all of these iconic climbs, going over the Koppenberg in the front group of ten, with Kopecky, [Elisa] Longo Borghini, those kinds of riders, and be almost fighting for a podium – that was not on my bingo card for the day!”
Even so, she isn’t satisfied, adding: “It was a shame that I missed those front three that went [Vollering, Ferrand-Prevot and Puck Pieterse, who completed the podium], but what can you do?”
That result means she is full of confidence ahead of Paris-Roubaix, and with good reason: as a former world junior and under-23 cyclo-cross champion, she is well suited to difficult terrain.
She says: “I think it’s a super useful skill to have, just knowing how to handle uneven surfaces and conditions that are very unpredictable, especially if there’s rain at some point, if the cobblestones become super slippery.”
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She was among an elite group of ten at the business end of last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, won by Demi Vollering (Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
Her success against the clock – she has won both junior and under-23 world titles in time trials too – may also come in handy. “Time trialling is very much an individual pain, an individual effort. Cyclocross is the same: one hour, you’re not riding with any teammates, with tactics, you’re purely riding, constantly with a high heart rate, constantly thinking under pressure. And your whole body is completely dead at the end, the same feeling that I’d have at the end of a time trial.”
And the same as at the end of Paris-Roubaix. “It’s definitely one of those races that you hate in the moment,” she smiles. “And then once you cross the finish line, and you know that you can relax, it’s one of the nicest and most rewarding races. Even to finish, to finish first or last, is such a rewarding thing.
“Going across kilometres of cobblestones that you’re not naturally meant to do, it’s aggressive on your hands, on your legs, on your arms, on your body, all of your muscles are just so tense for four hours. I think that’s also what makes it one of my favourite races, it brings out the strongest riders. The ones that are the front are the ones that can handle all of the pain, that can handle everything that your body is going to go through.”
Backstedt’s cyclo-cross background could give her the edge on Sunday (Kristof Ramon / Red Bull Content Pool)
Unsurprisingly, she has high hopes for Sunday. “It’s my favourite race of the whole season, so I’m hoping that the team will give me the chance to be the leader,” she says frankly. “Of course the whole race is a little bit based on luck, you can have a puncture one kilometre before the most important sector, and then your whole race is done, or someone can crash in front of you. There’s so many unknowns that you can’t really go in with too much expectation.
“But for sure, I want to be better than last year. I mean, I would love to do a top five like I did on the weekend, but I know that’s also going to be hard, so no expectation, no pressure for myself. It’s just going and having fun, racing the bike, and see what I can do.”
And if the 21-year-old can come away with a slab of French rock it will be not just a triumph for her and the team, but for a family bound up in the history of this race, a triumph 22 years in the making.
Two UFC fighters can thank President Donald Trump for getting onto the card for the White House event two months from now.
Trump was at UFC 327 in Miami on Saturday night as a special guest of UFC president Dana White, marking his first appearance at a pro sporting event since the beginning of the Iran war.
During the event, UFC added a bout between Derrick Lewis and Josh Hokit for UFC Freedom 250, and Dana White said the bout was prompted by Trump.
President Donald Trump attends the UFC 327 event with Dana White at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 11, 2026.(Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)
“About an hour ago, the president leans over to me and says, ‘Why is Derrick Lewis not on the White House card?’ and I said, ‘Hold on, Mr. President.’ I stepped away and called Derrick Lewis and said, ‘Derrick, the president just asked why you’re not on the card. Do you want to fight on the White House card?’ He said, ‘Of course,’” White told reporters.
Hokit was fresh off a victory against Curtis Blaydes on Saturday when he found out he’d be on the card.
President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White speak with guests during UFC 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 11, 2026.(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool/Getty Images)
Saturday’s event was Trump’s first appearance at a major sporting event since he attended the college football national championship in January, in which Indiana defeated Miami.
Since his second term began, Trump has attended several UFC events, last year’s Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, the NCAA wrestling championships, the FIFA Club World Cup final, the U.S. Open, a New York Yankees game, the Ryder Cup, and the Army-Navy game.
Dana White and President Donald Trump during UFC 327 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 11, 2026.(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The event will take place on the South Lawn as part of the America250 celebration on June 14, Trump’s 80th birthday, and will be headlined by Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria in a lightweight championship unification bout.
Mumbai Indians (MI) and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face off tonight, April 12, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium for Match 20 of the IPL. A high-voltage IPL clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Wankhede is set to be headlined by the iconic rivalry between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan believes RCB may have momentum on their side heading into their IPL 2026 clash against Mumbai Indians, but the latter edge ahead in terms of overall personnel. Both teams are coming off defeats to Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, raising questions ahead of this high-stakes encounter.
Pathan pointed out that while RCB started strongly at home, their form dipped once they hit the road.
“RCB are travelling now. When they played their first two games at home, they won comfortably, but the moment they went on the road, they lost in Guwahati against Rajasthan Royals, so, there will be a few questions in the camp. I feel the game might be decided by which team bowls better in the end overs, and the toss will be an important factor too. RCB have the form, but in a man-to-man comparison, I feel Mumbai are slightly ahead,” Pathan said on JioHotstar, as the league enters its ‘Rivalry Week’.
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Death overs and toss could be decisive
Pathan emphasised that execution in the final overs could ultimately determine the outcome, especially in conditions where chasing teams often hold an advantage. While RCB’s recent performances give them confidence, he believes MI’s squad depth provides a slight advantage in a direct comparison.
Golf’s biggest tournament has increased its overall purse once again. Augusta National Golf Club announced on Saturday the total 2026 Masters purse will be $22.5 million, up $1.5 million from last year’s $21 million.
The Masters winner’s prize has also increased, from $4.2 million last year to $4.5 million this year. That makes the Masters payout the biggest in major championship history.
The top-four finishers all take home over a million dollars, with the runner-up receiving $2.43 million, third place $1.53 million and fourth $1.08 million.
McIlroy, the defending champion, led by six after 36 holes but shot 73 on Friday. Young, who won the Players Championship last month, shot 65 on Friday.
“I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer [Sunday] and I’ll play, you know, like I’ve already got a green jacket, which I do,” McIlroy said. “Sometimes I maybe just have to remind myself of that, but I think as well that the stakes in terms of, like, the pairing will be just a little bit easier. You know, the atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier. I’m not worried about that at all. I wish I was a few shots better off, but I’m comfortable. I played with Cam the first two days. Playing with him again [Sunday]. I think it’s a comfortable group for both of us.”
Sam Burns is alone at 10 under, Shane Lowry at nine under and Jason Day and Justin Rose both eight under. Finally, at seven under and four back is World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
You can find the 2026 Masters payout breakdown below. The remaining professionals who made the cut will receive payouts ranging downward from $55,350, and all professionals who missed the cut receive $25,000.
Star filly Tempted has teed up a possible The Everest repeat battle with Hong Kong sensation Ka Ying Rising courtesy of a breathtaking success in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick, where she lowered the class record.
The three-year-old stopped the clock at 1:08.00 over 1200m on Saturday, improving on Cosmic Force’s 1:08.14 from 2019 and trailing Yes Yes Yes’s track record by merely half a second.
Since Godolphin switched to a public trainer arrangement this season, Ciaron Maher has taken charge of Tempted from James Cummings, and he highlighted her relentless progress.
“It was pretty thrilling to watch. She’s just got a brilliant turn of foot, doesn’t she?” Maher said.
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“She came into our stable in super order, and she just keeps going to another level each time she runs as she furnishes and develops.
“Her run in the Everest (1200m) last year was huge, her prep to break (through for) a Group One. I’m just so thrilled to be able to train for Godolphin, and thrilled for my team.”
Tempted was runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in The Everest (1200m) last spring, and Maher is open to testing her against the sprint king again.
Her next moves hinge on talks with Godolphin’s Andy Makiv and Jason Walsh, yet Maher suggested aiming for the Everest provides a solid framework.
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“Most likely. She hasn’t had a taxing prep this time around, but I’ll sit down with Andy and Jason and the Godolphin team and they’re good discussions to have,” he said.
“She is going to be competitive in whatever you want to race her in.
“She keeps getting better each prep. Her manners keep improving each time she goes to the races. She’s going to be a lot of fun.”
As the $1.60 favourite, Tempted exploded past leader Devil Night ($14) at the 200m, prevailing by 1-1/4 lengths over Grafterburners ($8), who was three-quarters adrift.
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Maher labelled Chad Schofield’s steer a “cool, calm, collected ride”, while the jockey noted Tempted’s versatility made it straightforward.
“She can be wherever you want her to be,” Schofield said.
“She can be forward, back, relax and then access that turn of foot. It’s really breathtaking and feels amazing to be on top of, and good to get the job done.”
Classique Legend secured the Arrowfield in 2019 and followed up with The Everest victory the next spring.
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Visit betting sites for the latest racing betting markets on The Everest.
Derek Chisora has seemingly made a U-turn on his retirement promise, revealing his interest in one last fight before finally hanging up the gloves.
The 42-year-old insisted he would retire after reaching a total of 50 professional outings, which he managed to achieve against Deontay Wilder last week.
Their showdown delivered an action-packed but largely untidy spectacle, with neither veteran proving to be capable of competing at the top level.
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Not only that, but the two heavyweights were guilty of multiple infringements, to which referee Mark Bates responded by deducting just one point from Wilder.
As for Chisora, it would appear that he, too, is sniffing around for at least one last dance, hoping to secure a rematch with his American counterpart.
Speaking with talkSPORT, the Londoner claimed this is the only fight for which he is willing to hang around, while also expressing his frustration with how their first encounter unfolded.
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More specifically, Chisora believes the two knockdowns given against him were mightily unfair, but also feels he deserved to have his hand raised either way.
“I’m very upset with the scoring. The two knockdowns that [were] given were pushes.
“I’ll be honest with you: the whole thing was a shambles, on my side and his side as well. But I wanna get a rematch.”
Many would agree that referee Bates failed to take control of the fight, though there was perhaps less of an uproar about Wilder claiming a victory on points.
Either way, fight fans are hardly clamouring for a rematch between the pair, despite both of them engaging in an enthralling but technically-limited battle.
But before Young goes to battle with McIlroy for the green jacket Sunday afternoon, he has a unique plan for Sunday morning. And it’s one that worked perfectly for Young at this year’s Players Championship.
He’s going to mass with the whole family.
Cameron Young says Masters Sunday won’t get in the way of church
Early in Masters week, Young expounded on a common practice he and his family go through most Sundays out on the PGA Tour: finding a local Catholic church to attend Sunday morning mass.
Contending at the “fifth major” might not be enough to get Young to skip mass, but what about leading the Masters?
Not a chance. Young revealed he plans to take his family to mass in Augusta before teeing it up in the final round, just like any other week.
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Although as of Saturday night, he wasn’t quite sure which local church they’d find themselves in Sunday morning.
“I don’t know where we’re going to go yet, but we’ll find somewhere and take the kids. We’ll be out in full force just like usual,” Young confirmed Saturday evening at Augusta.
As to whether it will be hard to attend mass in anonymity since he’s co-leading the Masters, Young said, “It might, but it’s not going to stop us.”
We’ll have to wait to see if the Young family’s prayers can help their patriarch survive Amen Corner unscathed on Sunday.
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Young on Sunday Masters crowds: ‘I don’t get the sense I’ll be the fan favorite’
Maintaining composure down the stretch on Masters Sunday is no easy feat, but Young thinks his recent experience winning the Players Championship will help.
“I said it, I think in my press conference afterward [at the 2026 Players], that really what I was trying to do was get ready to be playing late on Sunday at Augusta. Now I’m here with what will be a late tee time on Sunday at Augusta, and that’s the best prep I could have asked for.”
So Young’s plan is to copy his “process” from Sunday at TPC Sawgrass and try and stay calm with the knowledge that all the contenders will have good and bad stretches in the final round.
“I’ll try to run much the same process, same mindset as I did that day [at the Players]. I remember I did a great job of just staying where I was, knowing that everybody’s going to do some different things throughout the day. At some point most people are going to go on a run and most people are going to make a bogey or two.”
He continued: “There’s no saying when that will be for me, but at the end of the day, you just have to stay kind of in your lane and play the best golf you can and see where you are with a couple holes to go. There’s not really much you can change before then.”
As for the Masters patrons on Sunday at Augusta, Young has a strong feeling McIlroy, the defending champion and “world favorite,” will have a lot more support from outside the ropes.
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“I don’t get the sense I’ll be the fan favorite, but yeah, I feel like the support, some fans that cheer for me have gotten louder over the last year. It will still be lopsided, I think. Rory’s kind of a world favorite in the golf world,” Young said. “A year ago, if I’d been in the same situation, there would have been very little, and now there’s probably a little more. So I’ll take what I can get, and I’ll be happy with that.”
No matter what happens on Sunday, Young is comforted by the fact that when it’s all over he’ll return to his wife and kids, as he does every week, and life will move on.
“I love having [his wife and kids] out and being able to have a more normal job. Instead of saying goodbye for three weeks or four weeks, whatever it is, I go work a long day, but I was with them this morning, and I will see them tonight. It’s nice doing that,” Young said.
Make no mistake about it, this has been the year of the defenceman.
Sure, Nathan MacKinnon has put together a dazzling season, Connor McDavid continues to wow, Nikita Kucherov is scoring at a torrid pace and Macklin Celebrini is mesmerizing, but it’s been an incredible campaign for blueliners.
Six defencemen have already scored 20 goals, and Rasmus Dahlin could still make it seven. That’s the most in any season since 1992-93.
One of those players with 20 tucks is Evan Bouchard, who is having an excellent season. Unquestionably his best ever. But it’s almost happened quietly and even a little under the radar. With someone like Matthew Schaefer bursting on the scene to transform the New York Islanders or Quinn Hughes heading to the Minnesota Wild and instantly making them a major contender, Bouchard has been lost in the shuffle somewhat in 2025-26.
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That could be in part because most people have already made up their mind about Bouchard. He’s an immensely talented offensive player who is flawed defensively, critics might say. Someone who will never quite be looked at in the same way as Cale Makar and Hughes are, some might add. Bouchard, of course, was even passed over for Team Canada’s roster at the Olympics, they would point out.
However, this season, Bouchard is doing his best to rewrite his narrative. He leads all defenders in points, and momentum is building around him regarding the Norris conversation.
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With only a couple of games to go, Bouchard has 91 points, 10 more than Zach Werenski among blueliners. Bouchard became just the fifth defenceman since 1995 to score 90 points and it’s certainly not uncommon for the Norris winner to be the leader in points among defenders. That, combined with slightly down years from Hughes and Makar, could really open the door for Bouchard.
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While offence is always a big part of the award, most will point out that other factors besides points should be considered for the Norris. There are a number of strong candidates this season that don’t lean on just points for their resume. Werenski has posted his second straight 80-point season and has carried the Columbus Blue Jackets at times, while averaging more than 26 minutes per game. That’s the second most in the NHL, next to Hughes. Moritz Seider might be the most complete defenceman in the league and is a stalwart defensively with 178 blocked shots. And where would the Buffalo Sabres be without Rasmus Dahlin? He does a little bit of everything for Buffalo and has helped them finally end a lengthy playoff drought. There are probably as many as half a dozen candidates worthy of consideration for the Norris this season, but it does feel like Bouchard may be separating himself from the pack.
One of the things that really stands out from Bouchard this season is that he isn’t just an elite point producer among defencemen. From Jan. 17 onwards, only Nick Suzuki, McDavid and Kucherov have more points than Bouchard. He’s even outscored Nathan MacKinnon over that stretch. Not only that, but Bouchard has really stepped up his game since the Oilers lost Leon Draisaitl. Bouchard has 14 points in 12 games since Draisaitl went down and is plus-4, while playing over 24 minutes a night.
The Oilers have really needed Bouchard’s offence more than ever before this season, as they’ve struggled to get a save all year. Edmonton has the league’s 30th-ranked save percentage and has allowed at least four goals in almost half its games. Without a career year from Bouchard, there’s no way the Oilers are still in the mix to win the Pacific Division and would likely be on the playoff bubble instead.
If you put all the defencemen in the NHL right now in a draft, I’m not sure Bouchard would even be a top-five selection. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that in 2025-26, he’s having the best season among all his peers and is worthy of claiming the Norris Trophy.
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Not landing Quinn Hughes was the beginning of the end for Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey
Tom Fitzgerald became the second general manager to lose his job in the span of a week, after he and the New Jersey Devils parted ways last Monday. The Devils will miss the playoffs this season, making it four times in six years during Fitzgerald’s tenure. That’s far too many for a team as talented as New Jersey. When you have Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and others, the Devils needed to have a much better campaign than they delivered this year.
That said, what could’ve been the last straw for Fitzgerald was not landing Quinn Hughes back in December, when the Vancouver Canucks dealt him to the Minnesota Wild. The Hughes brothers haven’t exactly been hiding the fact that they all want to play together and the Devils have two of them. New Jersey was rumoured to be in the mix for Hughes when the Canucks were shopping him but couldn’t close the deal. Given how Hughes has taken the Wild to another level since his arrival, you’d have to think he would’ve been able to change New Jersey’s trajectory this season as well.
The Eastern Conference is wide open this year and adding a player like Hughes would’ve made a massive difference for the Devils. Not only that, but it also felt like the air really went out of the team after they missed out on the superstar blue liner. New Jersey endured a stretch where it lost eight of 10 games, not long after the Wild acquired Hughes. There were rumblings that the reason the Devils couldn’t bring Hughes in was because of cap issues and they couldn’t clear out enough contracts in time, which could’ve been complicated because of no-move clauses.
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Obviously, other things ultimately led to it not working out for Fitzgerald, but it really seemed like the organization couldn’t get over the fact that they didn’t secure Hughes. Given the brothers’ desire to play together, there was obviously a good chance Quinn would’ve signed long-term in New Jersey, too. What could have been.
Alex Tuch is destined to hit the open market in free agency
After a slow start, it’s been mostly a dream season for the Sabres. A lengthy playoff drought is over and there is excitement about hockey once again in Western New York, but if there is one concern around the Sabres right now, it’s Alex Tuch’s contract. The 29-year-old is set to be a free agent this summer, and he’s one of Buffalo’s most important players. Tuch will no doubt be looking for a major raise on the $4.75-million AAV he’s currently earning and the two sides have yet to bridge the gap. The Sabres forward could be hoping for something in the neighbourhood of Adrian Kempe’s recent extension, which is going to pay the Los Angeles Kings forward $10.6-million per year.
In a thin free agent class and with a rising cap, Tuch very well could be the best player available if he makes it to July 1 and Buffalo would be at risk of losing him if he hits the market.
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Usually if a player makes it into the spring without an extension, they’ll often test free agency, but that isn’t always the case. The Florida Panthers are a recent example of retaining players like Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand on the eve of free agency and it happened with Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016 as well.
The key thing here for the Sabres is to keep a good thing going in the playoffs and go on a long run, which would ultimately make it harder for Tuch to leave. Buffalo looks like they are a good young team on the rise that’s going to have an excellent chance to compete for the foreseeable future, so that figures to be something Tuch would want to prioritize on a long-term deal. Keep in mind, Tuch is also from Western New York, which may give the Sabres an advantage in retaining him.
Ultimately, this feels like a situation that has been beneficial for both sides and there’s still plenty of time to reach an extension. It’s premature to think Tuch will definitely hit the market.
The Ducks are in danger of missing the playoffs
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Someone has to win the middling Pacific Division and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks appeared to be in control of their fate atop the division until a recent six-game slide opened the door for the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights to overtake them. That included some tough losses to teams like Toronto, Calgary and St. Louis, who are out of playoff contention. What’s worse? Anaheim could be at risk of missing the playoffs entirely. The Ducks are now just two points up on the final wild card spot and three up on the Nashville Predators, who are currently sitting in ninth in the West. It’s not inconceivable that Anaheim could end up on the outside looking in if this slump continues.
The Ducks are down to three games left with only one favourable matchup. They’ll take on the last-place Vancouver Canucks at home Sunday and then go on the road for contests against Minnesota and Nashville. The Predators are battling for the final spot in the West and the Ducks were recently embarrassed on home ice by a 5-0 score against Nashville.
Joel Quenneville’s team is really struggling defensively, as there are now only three teams in the league that have given up more high-danger chances than the Ducks. That led to Anaheim allowing at least four goals in every game during that aforementioned losing streak. If they don’t sort out their defensive woes soon, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Ducks miss out on the post-season once again.
James Hagens will make a major impact for the Bruins in the playoffs
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Boston Bruins fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of James Hagens and the timing couldn’t be better. The Bruins are a surprise playoff team this season and have now officially clinched their spot, so Hagens could be a big boost to the roster heading into the post-season. Hagens, the seventh-overall pick in the 2025 draft, notched 47 points earlier this year at Boston College and collected four more in six AHL contests in Providence. With the trade deadline long gone, the best way to add to your team at this time of year is often to bring in impactful college players to give your roster a jolt. Hagens would certainly fit the bill for the Bruins and could be a difference maker for Boston when the playoffs get underway.
Hagens is a tremendous talent and likely has a long NHL career ahead of him, but there are few things harder than jumping full speed into the NHL playoffs. Keep in mind, Hagens is just five-foot-11 and 177 pounds, so it’s a big ask for him to contribute meaningfully right away in the most physical hockey he’s ever played. My guess is the Bruins ease him in slowly and use him selectively in certain situations to highlight his skills and shelter him somewhat. Maybe he chips in some offence here and there on the power play, though it would be unfair to expect Hagens to do any heavy lifting this spring. Temper your expectations where Hagens is concerned.
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“I think the way wickets are nowadays, you know, the margin batting first or bowling first is not much, but you know, we’ve got a bowl first. I think for us it’s amazing. You know, every win is important and especially when you win like that, it shows the character of a team, you know. But we want to move on from it, you know, take one match at a time and just give our best. (Talks about head-to-head) See, definitely it’s a great boost for winning a match and coming into the next one. But at the same time, you know, you still have to give your best each and every match because wicket might play different, condition might be different. But at the same time, last match when we played, we talked about intent on the field. We always talk about that as a team and that was great to see when we were on the field, we were putting bodies on the line. We are playing with the same team,” said LSG skipper Rishabh Pant.
Manchester United have agreed a new deal with Harry Maguire to keep him at Old Trafford for a further 12 months
The Manchester United squad have gotten their way after Harry Maguire last week agreed a one-year extension to his contract.
The majority of the team believed it would’ve been “madness” if the veteran defender wasn’t handed a new contract. The 33-year-old is back in favour after experiencing difficulties under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
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The centre-half, who joined United from Leicester City for £80million, has been a great leader under Michael Carrick’s tenure. Maguire had led by example for his teammates and they were reportedly clamouring for a new contract for the England international.
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A source told The Sun earlier this year: “The players think it would be madness if he was not offered a new deal. Harry has endured plenty of ups and downs at United but has come through all that and is playing really well.
“He’s very well-respected in the dressing room and is passing on a lot of knowledge to some of the younger players like Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro. Everyone likes him and respects him and the majority of the players want the club to give him a deal.”
It was reported that AC Milan were interested in Maguire during the January transfer window. However, rumours about his future ultimately came to nothing as the experienced defender signed a new deal with United last week.
His previous deal was set to expire at the end of this season but he will now spend an eighth campaign at Old Trafford. Describing his joy at the new contract, Maguire said: “It’s amazing.
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“Obviously, it’s my seventh year. To be at this club, to play for this club for one game is really special. So, to be here seven years – it’s going to be eight – I’m really looking forward to it.
“A big, strong end to the season is the focus now, to put us in a strong position going into next year, and then we’ve got to make next year a lot better and a lot more positive and a lot more special. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Maguire’s new deal will please the senior squad, who are on their way to regaining a spot in Europe next season. United’s resurgence under Carrick has been nothing short of sensational for fans, with the club challenging for a Champions League spot.
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Maguire believes the team have turned a corner and will make the 2026/27 season a “special year” for the club. He added: “I feel like we’re in a good place at the moment. I believe we’re in a forward curve with the club, and I want to be part of that.
“I want to leave the club in a good place, when I do leave the club, and that’s the most important thing. It’s not about me, it’s not about individuals. It’s about the team and the club, and wanting to leave the club in a good place.
“I feel like next season could be a special year, if we carry on working hard, if we recruit well in the summer. It’s a big summer ahead, but like I said, focus on this year to make sure we’re in a good position for next year and then make next year a special year.”
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Here’s how the Premier League table looks ahead of kick-off, Manchester City just nine points behind league leaders Arsenal as they look to close the gap.
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