In the summer of 2020, Australia's National Rugby League sounded the alarm about a tackle that wa...

In the summer of 2020, Australia's National Rugby League sounded the alarm about a tackle that was ending players' seasons and jeopardizing careers.A memo to NRL teams pinpointed the problem:<blockquote>"The concern arises when a defending player heavily impacts the lower legs and feet of attacking players by dropping their body weight on the exposed limbs using their hips, legs, and/or buttocks. This action traps, twists, and contorts muscles, tendons, and joints in an unnatural way."</blockquote>The hip-drop tackle surfaced in rugby league as a convenient, hazardous way for trailing defenders to floor a speeding ball carrier, whose bones and ligaments buckled under the tackler's dead weight. The NRL classified the play as "dangerous contact" punishable during matches by a penalty kick, a 10-minute trip to the "sin bin," or an ejection, plus a possible suspension or hefty fine.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We had a pretty steely determination to eliminate it from the game as much as humanly possible," Graham Annesley, the NRL's head of football operations and author of the 2020 memo, told theScore in a recent phone interview.The NFL, dealing with similar injuries from these tackles, sought guidance from half a world away. League officials consulted with the NRL about how to define and scrap the hip-drop when it started endangering playmakers in the open field.Over the past two years, hip-drop tackles dinged up Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes, and Geno Smith and broke the fibulas of Mark Andrews and Tony Pollard, who was carted off the field during a Cowboys playoff loss. Jets rookie quarterback Jordan Travis is still recovering from a reckless takedown that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLw4wNTD4bQ">cut short</a> his college tenure at Florida State and helped wreck the Seminoles' perfect season and national championship hopes.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The play on which Ravens’ TE Mark Andrews went down and then limped off: <a href="https://t.co/UQfYDmZXTT">pic.twitter.com/UQfYDmZXTT</a>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1725324319629222125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hip drop tackles are an unacceptable risk to player health and safety. More than 20K tackles were reviewed from the past two seasons to identify the type of play this rule addresses, below are examples ⬇️🎥 <a href="https://t.co/ihEwWbR516">pic.twitter.com/ihEwWbR516</a>— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLFootballOps/status/1773345523728289990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Deciding the risks were excessive, and with rugby league's example in mind, NFL clubs outlawed the hip-drop by unanimous vote in March. A defender who throws his weight at a runner's lower legs can be flagged for 15 yards and an automatic first down, the standard penalty for a personal foul. How the league polices the new rule and how defenses adapt to it is one of the 2024 season's big storylines.The ban fanned fierce debate, and it split opinion within teams.Supporters of a hip-drop crackdown, like John Harbaugh, Andrews' head coach in Baltimore, argued that tacklers shouldn't use such a risky technique. Former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen joined a chorus of critics who think it overly constrains the defense and will hasten the NFL's metamorphosis into a no-contact game."I hate that Mark is hurt. Prayers for him. But at the end of the day, we play football," Queen said after Andrews was injured last season, per <a href="https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/hip-drop-tackle-mark-andrews-logan-wilson-injury-lamar-jackson-under-microscope">Ravens team reporter Ryan Mink</a>. "I don't think a hip-drop tackle is that bad of a thing. How else do you want us to tackle? Just let the guy run past you?"<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
2 hand touch gone be next lmao— 🦈 (@Patrickqueen_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Patrickqueen_/status/1772290459710194134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them… <a href="https://t.co/yToh5XKVMS">https://t.co/yToh5XKVMS</a>— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) <a href="https://twitter.com/JJWatt/status/1772280695156625417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Breaking news: Tackling Banned— Jev (@quickdrawjev) <a href="https://twitter.com/quickdrawjev/status/1772280257187311844?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Competition committee doesn’t care about defense. Every year they make it harder for us to succeed 🤦🏾‍♂️— Joshua Metellus (@NoExcuses_23) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoExcuses_23/status/1772276587389702232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The view in Australia is that the NRL product didn't suffer. Serious injuries declined as tacklers continued to grip the ball carrier and swivel their weight toward his body but adjusted to hit the grass first before contacting the opponent's legs. The NRL's three-part definition of a hip-drop tackle - a grab, a twist, and a drop - singled out the third element as the threat to player safety."It became apparent to us that there were certain attributes of these tackles that could be prevented," Annesley said. "What we're trying to avoid is the bulk of the body weight falling directly onto the leg as the first point of contact. If the body weight hits the ground before the leg, it means the ground absorbs most of the weight."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5KJ9mCbS3rU?si=bxdGLwVR_TY9vzQX" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Trends in football and rugby league - the 13-player game resembles but is distinct from rugby union - made hip-drop tackles useful. It helped NFL defenders avoid penalties for helmet hits, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5367020/2024/03/25/nfl-hip-drop-tackle-ban/">The Athletic's Mike Jones</a> pointed out. Increases in size and strength throughout rugby mean even fleet-footed wingers are massive nowadays and hard to haul down, said Brien Seeney, an independent NRL injury analyst and musculoskeletal sports physiotherapist in Brisbane.The outcry about the NFL ban was understandable. Defenders don't want to lose access to a tactic that stops a runner in his tracks."But that's true for every dangerous tackle," said Seeney, who breaks down rugby injuries on his popular @nrlphysio social media accounts. "In rugby, we have high tackle bans where you can't hit a player in the head. Sometimes, the easy option to stop a player from scoring a try, or a touchdown in the NFL, would be to hit them in the head or do a horse-collar tackle. Just because it's the easiest way doesn't mean it's the only way."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jye Gray ruled out at half time after succumbing to an ankle injury. Hip drop tackle mechanism - contact causes foot to turn out bringing concern for a syndesmosis injury. Moderate to high grade sprain would be at least 3-4 weeks recovery so hopefully not as bad as it looks. <a href="https://t.co/OoFuRJl1W0">pic.twitter.com/OoFuRJl1W0</a>— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) <a href="https://twitter.com/nrlphysio/status/1785988746653155338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Hip-drops cause awkward, painful pileups. The NFL's analysis of tens of thousands of plays from the past two seasons showed they injure lower extremities "at a rate 20 times higher than other tackles," the league <a href="https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-rules/nfl-clubs-approve-rule-to-remove-hip-drop-tackle-from-the-game/">noted</a> when approving the ban. The review found 15 players, or close to one a week, missed time in 2023 with a hip-drop injury.Before removing the hip-drop, the NFL contacted Annesley to ask questions about rugby league's process, rules, and results.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743933/cropped_GettyImages-2149049561.jpg?ts=1725633811" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743933/w220xh124_GettyImages-2149049561.jpg?ts=1725633811 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743933/w320xh180_GettyImages-2149049561.jpg?ts=1725633811 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743933/w640xh360_GettyImages-2149049561.jpg?ts=1725633811 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743933/w768xh432_GettyImages-2149049561.jpg?ts=1725633811 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743933/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2149049561.jpg?ts=1725633811 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">NRL executive Graham Annesley. Albert Perez / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The NRL described the hip-drop's three simple steps - the grab, twist, and drop - in all communications with clubs and fans to hammer home how it could be avoided. To change tackling habits, some coaches emphasized leading with a shoulder and driving through the ball carrier's body.Seeney said hip-drops in Australia were widely considered worth banning because of a rash of long-term injuries, though skeptics initially wondered how the NRL would distinguish and define the tackle. Detractors, including ex-players in the media, framed those injuries as an acceptable consequence of play."There were people who felt - and maybe still do, in some cases, probably in the minority - that this was just an unfortunate aspect of playing the game, and when you're trying to tackle players and stop their forward progress, there are things that can go wrong that are nothing more than accidents," Annesley said.In response, he added, "We can't eliminate all injuries because it is a tough, physical game. But we as administrators have a responsibility to make the game as safe as possible."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>The NRL's oldest teams were founded in Sydney more than a century ago when rugby league, a British creation, was introduced to Australia, where it's now the most-watched sport on TV. The ongoing NRL season kicked off in March with a first-of-its-kind doubleheader at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Next season will open in Vegas, too.Football and rugby league are both ferocious, share a common goal (elude tackles to reach the end zone), and sporadically inspire career changes.Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata was an NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs youth prospect before he switched sports at age 20 through the NFL international pathway program. Two-time NRL MVP Jarryd Hayne, who played on offense and special teams for the 49ers in 2015, infamously <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r7pSBccAB0">muffed</a> his first punt return.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743931/cropped_GettyImages-1942392988.jpg?ts=1725633072" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743931/w220xh124_GettyImages-1942392988.jpg?ts=1725633072 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743931/w320xh180_GettyImages-1942392988.jpg?ts=1725633072 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743931/w640xh360_GettyImages-1942392988.jpg?ts=1725633072 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743931/w768xh432_GettyImages-1942392988.jpg?ts=1725633072 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743931/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1942392988.jpg?ts=1725633072 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Jordan Mailata. Perry Knotts / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743932/cropped_GettyImages-2054540362.jpg?ts=1725633559" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743932/w220xh124_GettyImages-2054540362.jpg?ts=1725633559 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743932/w320xh180_GettyImages-2054540362.jpg?ts=1725633559 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743932/w640xh360_GettyImages-2054540362.jpg?ts=1725633559 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743932/w768xh432_GettyImages-2054540362.jpg?ts=1725633559 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743932/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2054540362.jpg?ts=1725633559 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">The South Sydney Rabbitohs (scoring try) and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles clashed in Las Vegas in March. Ezra Shaw / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The differences between the games are obvious: Rugby doesn't have helmets, pads, forward passes, timeouts, or constant lengthy pauses. Rugby league players attack and defend with duties changing as possession does, which happens when the defensive team records six tackles or the offense punts the ball to swing field position.After a completed tackle, all but two defenders must retreat 10 meters (11 yards) before pursuing the ball again. Stopping the offense's progress is key to victories. One effect of the hip-drop ban, which NFL tacklers will hate, is that runners gain a little extra distance when they're wrapped up cleanly and fall forward."I don't think anyone who pays attention to this denies that it'll make life harder for the defending player. It will," said Seeney, an NFL fan who follows along as closely as possible from Brisbane. "(But) it hasn't killed the game over here. They're two very different games in terms of the way players tackle, but the (NRL) game still exists. It hasn't resulted in the game being wholly different, and I doubt it will for the NFL."The NFLPA objected to a hip-drop ban based on concerns ranging from a lack of player input to a distaste for fines to the fear that it would confuse everyone in the stadium, including officiating crews.Falcons CEO Rich McKay, the NFL competition committee co-chairman, acknowledged it'd be difficult to spot and flag the tackle accurately in real time.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Rich McKay: “Do we have a problem? The answer was yes.” “This will be a hard one to call on the field, you have to see every element of it. We want to make it a rule so we can deal on the discipline during the week.” <a href="https://t.co/84Ny0FEq8s">https://t.co/84Ny0FEq8s</a>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1772284458885947818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Rugby referees benefit from a second set of eyes. Off-site match officials at the NRL's "<a href="https://www.nrl.com/operations/the-officials/bunker/">bunker</a>," a centralized office in Sydney, review tackles from all angles in high definition and speak to referees during game stoppages to flag overlooked offenses. Like most penalties, hip-drop calls in the NFL aren't subject to challenges or instant replay.Annesley said he'd keenly observe the start of the NFL season to see how the crackdown plays out, conceding controversies will be inevitable. He thinks his league swayed the opinion of wary Australians over the past few years, and he was pleased to share takeaways from the experience."I'd be happy if we played some small role in making the game of the NFL safer," Annesley said. "Hopefully, the players are the beneficiaries of that. That's the sole intent: try to keep the players on the field, able to perform for the fans, and not have them sitting on the sideline recovering from injuries."Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore

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How rugby's hip-drop ban became a model for the NFL

Ahead of Thursday's season opener, we identify 32 NFL players and club personnel who'll make news...

Ahead of Thursday's season opener, we identify 32 NFL players and club personnel who'll make news, dazzle or disappoint fans, and influence each team's fate in 2024. Names are sorted alphabetically.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743595/cropped_GettyImages-1915432333.jpg?ts=1725370106" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743595/w220xh124_GettyImages-1915432333.jpg?ts=1725370106 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743595/w320xh180_GettyImages-1915432333.jpg?ts=1725370106 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743595/w640xh360_GettyImages-1915432333.jpg?ts=1725370106 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743595/w768xh432_GettyImages-1915432333.jpg?ts=1725370106 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743595/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1915432333.jpg?ts=1725370106 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Robin Alam / ISI Photos / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers WR: The extension agreement that ended Aiyuk's contract stalemate and silenced months of trade chatter was huge for the 49ers, who face an arduous road to rule the NFC again. Only one Super Bowl loser in the past 30 years managed to return to the game the following season (2017 Patriots). Brock Purdy's No. 1 receiver needs to hit the ground running.Joe Brady, Bills OC: Reducing turnovers during Brady's stint as interim offensive coordinator helped the 2023 Bills, a .500 team in mid-November, surge to the top of the AFC East. His promotion to permanent OC comes with more adversity. Buffalo's offseason cap crunch eroded Josh Allen's support on both sides of the ball and will force unproven playmakers to step up.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Joe Burrow, Bengals QB: The pain of injury or crushing defeat, be it in the Super Bowl or AFC title game, brought each of Burrow's first four seasons to an abrupt end. He once said the Bengals' championship window would span "my whole career." Suddenly, he's running out of chances to win with star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, a pending free agent.Jadeveon Clowney, Panthers DE: The 2014 No. 1 draft pick out of South Carolina grew up about 25 miles south of Bank of America Stadium, where he'll suit up for Carolina after tying his career high in sacks (9.5) last season with the Ravens. While the Panthers still face a long trek in their rebuild, Clowney should bolster a defense that finished last in the NFL in sacks (27).<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742888/cropped_GettyImages-2168881386.jpg?ts=1724873528" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742888/w220xh124_GettyImages-2168881386.jpg?ts=1724873528 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742888/w320xh180_GettyImages-2168881386.jpg?ts=1724873528 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742888/w640xh360_GettyImages-2168881386.jpg?ts=1724873528 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742888/w768xh432_GettyImages-2168881386.jpg?ts=1724873528 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742888/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2168881386.jpg?ts=1724873528 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Todd Kirkland / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Kirk Cousins, Falcons QB: Tired of relying on shaky quarterbacks, the Falcons paid big bucks to sign Cousins for four years, then wasted no time drafting his future replacement, first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. The awkward sequence didn't dim their rosy outlook. If his Achilles holds up, Cousins' accuracy and veteran know-how will aid the growth of Atlanta's young talent.Maxx Crosby, Raiders DE: Crosby led the NFL in tackles for loss over the past two seasons (45), ranked second in QB hits (67), and was fourth in sacks (27). He was about as destructive as Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett, the last two Defensive Players of the Year. Partnering him with Christian Wilkins, a top defensive tackle, seems unfair.Stefon Diggs, Texans WR: Houston's quickly evolved from laughingstock to borderline contender largely thanks to second-year QB C.J. Stroud. Diggs, who turns 31 in November, is playing on a restructured one-year, $22.52-million deal. He’ll seek another payday next offseason, and the connection he establishes with Stroud could determine how much Diggs eventually makes. It's also worth remembering the Bills were comfortable eating $31.096 million in 2024 dead money to trade Diggs, along with a 2024 fourth-round and 2025 fifth-round pick, to the Texans.Brian Flores, Vikings DC: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa recently railed against Flores, his former head coach. Flores' struggles handling and navigating interpersonal relationships ultimately contributed to his Miami firing, but he remains respected by league decision-makers. Flores enters his second season leading the Vikings defense, but many wonder: Will he ever be a NFL head coach again?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742889/cropped_GettyImages-2166484307.jpg?ts=1724873680" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742889/w220xh124_GettyImages-2166484307.jpg?ts=1724873680 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742889/w320xh180_GettyImages-2166484307.jpg?ts=1724873680 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742889/w640xh360_GettyImages-2166484307.jpg?ts=1724873680 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742889/w768xh432_GettyImages-2166484307.jpg?ts=1724873680 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742889/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2166484307.jpg?ts=1724873680 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ric Tapia / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Jim Harbaugh, Chargers head coach: He's back. Fresh off winning a national championship with Michigan, the former Bears QB and 49ers head coach will now attempt to establish and cultivate a new culture with the Chargers. The team's offensive personnel lacks experience, but Harbaugh has a long history of bringing teams together.Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals WR: The son of Colts Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison will look to establish his own legacy for a Cardinals offense longing for more firepower and production. Arizona, which was without QB Kyler Murray for nine games last season, finished 26th in passing yards per game (184.9).Derrick Henry, Ravens RB: The Ravens outgained every team on the ground over the past five years despite fielding one lone 1,000-yard running back in the span (Mark Ingram in 2019). Lamar Jackson's keepers magnetize the defense's attention. That may allow Henry, whose workload with the Titans was immense, to rush efficiently and age gracefully in Baltimore's backfield.Tyreek Hill, Dolphins WR: Between Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa, and Hill, the Dolphins are a blistering offensive machine, and Hill serves as the wheels that keep on churning. Rightfully nicknamed "Cheetah," Hill's the first player in NFL history to have multiple seasons with at least 1,700 receiving yards. After posting 1,799 last season, it won't be shocking if Hill becomes the first receiver to reach 2,000 yards.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742890/cropped_GettyImages-1806869019.jpg?ts=1724873866" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742890/w220xh124_GettyImages-1806869019.jpg?ts=1724873866 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742890/w320xh180_GettyImages-1806869019.jpg?ts=1724873866 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742890/w640xh360_GettyImages-1806869019.jpg?ts=1724873866 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742890/w768xh432_GettyImages-1806869019.jpg?ts=1724873866 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742890/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1806869019.jpg?ts=1724873866 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Perry Knotts / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Josh Hines-Allen, Jaguars LB: An offseason name change and increasingly big stats (24.5 sacks, six forced fumbles across 2022 and 2023) distinguish the Jaguars edge rusher from Buffalo's star passer. Hines-Allen's new nine-figure megadeal reflects his importance to Jacksonville. With another career year, he could unseat T.J. Watt as the NFL sack king.Ben Johnson, Lions OC: Unfinished business led Johnson to reject coaching overtures and return to run Detroit's powerhouse offense. Last year's 12-win Lions got closer to a Super Bowl trip - they were one score away - than any predecessor. If these Lions consistently drop 30 points, they'll be tough to beat.Travis Kelce, Chiefs TE: Between his three Super Bowl titles, dating Taylor Swift, and off-field ventures with his older brother Jason, Travis Kelce has plenty to juggle. The Chiefs are looking to win a third straight Super Bowl, which has never been done. As Patrick Mahomes attempts to incorporate new faces into the offense, his old reliable Kelce is always but a quick, no-look pass away.Will Levis, Titans QB: The Titans have long been known as a run-it-down-your-throat franchise. But with Henry gone, Levis will have clearance to air it out to top receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley. In his second season, Levis could dazzle or crack in the competitive AFC South.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742892/cropped_GettyImages-2167827970.jpg?ts=1724874143" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742892/w220xh124_GettyImages-2167827970.jpg?ts=1724874143 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742892/w320xh180_GettyImages-2167827970.jpg?ts=1724874143 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742892/w640xh360_GettyImages-2167827970.jpg?ts=1724874143 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742892/w768xh432_GettyImages-2167827970.jpg?ts=1724874143 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742892/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2167827970.jpg?ts=1724874143 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Jordan Love, Packers QB: Green Bay hopes to solidify itself as a true contender with Love leading the way. The QB, 26 in November, maximized his first season as the team's full-time starter, passing for 4,159 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. With his new four-year, $220-million deal in place, it's time for Love to take off.Julian Love, Seahawks S: He thrived in former coach Pete Carroll's defensive scheme - 123 tackles, 10 passes defended, and four interceptions - so it was telling that Seattle brought Love back on a three-year deal under new coach Mike Macdonald. As an established veteran, Love, 26, could blossom further for a franchise that targeted him to again serve as the defense's backbone.Jerod Mayo, Patriots head coach: New England's new era began when Mayo succeeded Bill Belichick. The retired linebacker was in high school when Belichick piloted the Patriots to the first of six championships. Mayo's Pats will either lose constantly and draft first overall next spring or take a step toward competing someday with QB Drake Maye.Adam Peters, Commanders GM: Since being hired at the beginning of the year, Peters already has hired head coach Dan Quinn; selected 2023 Heisman winner and quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick; and added a handful of veteran free agents, including running back Austin Ekeler, tight end Zach Ertz, and linebacker Bobby Wagner.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742897/cropped_GettyImages-1900156551.jpg?ts=1724874478" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742897/w220xh124_GettyImages-1900156551.jpg?ts=1724874478 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742897/w320xh180_GettyImages-1900156551.jpg?ts=1724874478 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742897/w640xh360_GettyImages-1900156551.jpg?ts=1724874478 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742897/w768xh432_GettyImages-1900156551.jpg?ts=1724874478 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742897/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1900156551.jpg?ts=1724874478 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Cooper Neill / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Dak Prescott, Cowboys QB: Signs point to the Cowboys being extremely competitive again. Prescott, the 2023 MVP runner-up, gets to throw darts to a cheerful CeeDee Lamb, the recipient of a new massive contract. Eventually, the Prescott-Lamb-Micah Parsons star trio needs to solve Dallas' chronic, farcical inability to move past the divisional round.Anthony Richardson, Colts QB: Richardson throws caution to the wind in the open field. His dynamism, speed, and physicality produced four rushing touchdowns in four games but led to head and shoulder injuries that shortened his rookie season. Knowing when to slide or pass instead of powering through contact is a top priority in Year 2.Aaron Rodgers, Jets QB: He's back in the spotlight following last season's abrupt exit in the season opener. Can he play savior for a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2010? That same year, Rodgers won his only Super Bowl with the Packers.Jim Schwartz, Browns DC: Cleveland's defensive mastermind is the reigning NFL Assistant Coach of the Year. Schwartz's unit led the way to 11 wins by allowing the fewest yards per game (270.2) league-wide since 2014. But the Browns collapsed against the Texans in the playoffs and are set to play the NFL's toughest schedule, facing 12 opponents coming off winning seasons.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742899/cropped_GettyImages-1807873915.jpg?ts=1724874724" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742899/w220xh124_GettyImages-1807873915.jpg?ts=1724874724 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742899/w320xh180_GettyImages-1807873915.jpg?ts=1724874724 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742899/w640xh360_GettyImages-1807873915.jpg?ts=1724874724 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742899/w768xh432_GettyImages-1807873915.jpg?ts=1724874724 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742899/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1807873915.jpg?ts=1724874724 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kyle Ross / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Nick Sirianni, Eagles head coach: There's perhaps no one with more pressure to succeed in 2024 than Sirianni. He barely survived the offseason after the Eagles sputtered to a 1-6 finish, and he now takes a clear back seat with new OC Kellen Moore calling the shots. Will the influx of front office-inspired coaching changes - and quality personnel additions like running back Saquon Barkley - help the Eagles reach their lofty goals?Pat Surtain II, Broncos CB: The NFL's new <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3067412" href="https://thescore.com/news/3067412">highest-paid</a> defensive back hopes to help revive the Broncos defense. Denver plunged from third in points allowed in 2021, Surtain's rookie season, to 27th in 2023, when Sean Payton debuted as head coach. Until that trajectory reverses, Denver's eight-year postseason drought won't end.Andrew Thomas, Giants LT: The embattled Giants offensive line gave up more sacks last season (85, or five per game) than any team since 1986. Thomas' long absence with a hamstring strain debilitated the unit. The 2022 All-Pro left tackle must protect the blind side so Daniel Jones can target, and hopefully not overthrow, prized rookie Malik Nabers.Caleb Williams, Bears QB: This year's No. 1 pick joins a franchise beyond desperate for quality QB play. Williams, already voted by teammates as a team captain, will look to elevate the Bears with his arm talent and ability to make unscripted throws. He joins a cozy offensive personnel group in Chicago that features wide receivers Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and fellow rookie Rome Odunze.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742902/cropped_GettyImages-1880602504.jpg?ts=1724874867" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742902/w220xh124_GettyImages-1880602504.jpg?ts=1724874867 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742902/w320xh180_GettyImages-1880602504.jpg?ts=1724874867 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742902/w640xh360_GettyImages-1880602504.jpg?ts=1724874867 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742902/w768xh432_GettyImages-1880602504.jpg?ts=1724874867 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/742902/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1880602504.jpg?ts=1724874867 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Cooper Neill / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Kyren Williams, Rams RB: The '23 Rams were the only team with multiple playmakers - Williams and Puka Nacua - who ranked in the top 15 in scrimmage yards. Dominating efficiently, Williams averaged a league-best 95.3 rushing yards per game and housed 15 TDs in 12 games. Stardom awaits if he can stay healthy and sustain that output.Russell Wilson, Steelers QB: The former Seahawks great has a cloud over his legacy because of his ugly Broncos breakup. A fresh start may be exactly what the aging Wilson needs at this point of his career, as he seeks to solidify his Hall of Fame credentials.Antoine Winfield Jr., Buccaneers S: The heartbeat of a strong defense, Winfield helped seal the Buccaneers' latest NFC South title with a forced fumble at the goal line in a season-ending shutout win. Game-changing plays are his specialty. Duels with Cousins in Weeks 5 and 8 could decide the champion of another close division race.Chase Young, Saints DE: Young stormed onto the NFL scene in 2020, when he was selected No. 2 overall by the Commanders and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. But injuries have affected his trajectory since, although the Saints are hopeful the former Ohio State standout will add some juice to their pass rush. Over four seasons, Young has 16.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.Josh Tolentino and Nick Faris cover the NFL for theScore.

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32 people who'll headline the 2024 NFL season

By the time Yaroslav Askarov asked for a trade in August, demands of the sort had become familiar...

By the time Yaroslav Askarov asked for a trade in August, demands of the sort had become familiar.The former Predators farmhand, one of hockey's best prospect goaltenders, was impatient and peeved about his lot in the sport. Juuse Saros' grip on the No. 1 role in Nashville - solidified by a rich eight-year extension - blocked Askarov's path to NHL starts.Askarov, 22, didn't want to be trapped in the minors for a third season. He was swapped to the Sharks and negotiated an additional two years to his contract to enthusiastically commit to the league's worst team - and the prospect of playing time.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In some summers, top talent headlines the NHL's biggest trades. Erik Karlsson joined the Penguins in 2023 following his third Norris Trophy win. The 2022 Matthew Tkachuk-Jonathan Huberdeau blockbuster unlocked the Panthers' championship potential.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743128/cropped_GettyImages-1456243115.jpg?ts=1725029245" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743128/w220xh124_GettyImages-1456243115.jpg?ts=1725029245 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743128/w320xh180_GettyImages-1456243115.jpg?ts=1725029245 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743128/w640xh360_GettyImages-1456243115.jpg?ts=1725029245 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743128/w768xh432_GettyImages-1456243115.jpg?ts=1725029245 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743128/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1456243115.jpg?ts=1725029245 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Yaroslav Askarov. Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>This year, the centerpieces of most splashes were recent high-draft selections. Askarov's trade capped months of rampant prospect movement. These players changed teams at whirlwind speed for a range of reasons, including the exertion of leverage by three disgruntled prospects: Askarov and college forwards Rutger McGroarty and Cutter Gauthier.Ten players who were drafted in the top 15 between 2019-23 have been traded since January. The flurry broke down like this:<ul><li>The Sharks acquired Askarov for prospect forward David Edstrom and a future first-round pick, plus goalie Magnus Chrona.</li></ul><ul><li>McGroarty's refusal to sign with the Jets, who shipped him to Pittsburgh for Brayden Yager, echoed Gauthier's earlier rejection of the Flyers, who recouped Jamie Drysdale from the Ducks.</li></ul><ul><li>Utah dealt Conor Geekie and the Sabres ditched Matthew Savoie for immediate upgrades, while other teams dumped apparent whiffs (Devils with Alexander Holtz; Canucks with Vasili Podkolzin).</li></ul><ul><li>Bowen Byram headed to the Sabres at the 2023-24 deadline as the Avalanche filled an urgent need, grabbing second-line center Casey Mittelstadt.</li></ul><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743132/cropped_GettyImages-2038418532.jpg?ts=1725030236" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743132/w220xh124_GettyImages-2038418532.jpg?ts=1725030236 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743132/w320xh180_GettyImages-2038418532.jpg?ts=1725030236 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743132/w640xh360_GettyImages-2038418532.jpg?ts=1725030236 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743132/w768xh432_GettyImages-2038418532.jpg?ts=1725030236 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743132/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2038418532.jpg?ts=1725030236 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Alexander Holtz. Bruce Bennett / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Also, the Blues weaponized offer sheets to relieve the cap-strapped Oilers of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.These transactions remade supporting casts - McGroarty might ride shotgun as a rookie with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin - and involved a total of 15 teams, or almost half the league.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="↔️ Fresh faces, fresh places" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-8Mv4q" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/8Mv4q/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="550" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>The moves stemmed from two causes: players forcing their way out and teams reassessing their priorities.Like Gauthier last winter, McGroarty decided he wouldn't turn pro with his drafting franchise after two accomplished college seasons. At the risk of alienating all of Winnipeg, he applied the power available to NCAA stars who can keep developing at that level before inking a rookie contract, which ties a player to a team through his RFA years.Teams that don't trade an unsigned player risk losing him outright when his draft rights expire. Since McGroarty and Gauthier instantly got what they wanted, it's possible more NCAA first-rounders will copy their tactics.Young pros who felt stifled or lowballed this summer found ways to gain control. Askarov's high trade value convinced the Predators to fulfill his demand. Profiting from the Blues' <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3057316" href="https://thescore.com/news/3057316">creativity</a>, Broberg and Holloway signed deals with a combined cap hit of $6.87 million, which would've broken Edmonton's budget.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743129/cropped_GettyImages-2158092116.jpg?ts=1725030047" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743129/w220xh124_GettyImages-2158092116.jpg?ts=1725030047 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743129/w320xh180_GettyImages-2158092116.jpg?ts=1725030047 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743129/w640xh360_GettyImages-2158092116.jpg?ts=1725030047 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743129/w768xh432_GettyImages-2158092116.jpg?ts=1725030047 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743129/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2158092116.jpg?ts=1725030047 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Philip Broberg (86). Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Some prized prospects were jettisoned opportunistically. Pittsburgh sacrificed Yager because McGroarty is closer to NHL-ready. Utah used Geekie as a chip to land impact defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and cap casualty with the Lightning. Stuck in an endless playoff drought, Buffalo punted on Savoie's potential to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2936236" href="https://thescore.com/news/2936236">boost</a> the bottom six with center Ryan McLeod, a finished product and surer thing who can score a bit and defend.Most of the trades reflected shifting team needs.Backed into a corner, the Jets and Flyers managed to land prospects with similar upside to McGroarty and Gauthier. The Avalanche's glut of skilled defensemen let them swap Byram for support up front for Nathan MacKinnon. The Devils sold low on Holtz to bring in Paul Cotter from the Golden Knights, hoping his checking and speed will translate to the postseason. The Oilers let go of a fourth-round pick to audition Podkolzin as Holloway's possible replacement.Franchise cornerstones who were drafted in the same range have already signed major contracts. As part of a new trend, they opted for the security of term and a big salary that'll ultimately be an underpayment if they tear up the league.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="💰 Young cornerstones" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-zgPzm" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/zgPzm/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="535" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>If a young NHLer isn't indispensable, he might be expendable. Front offices have quickened their decisions lately. They're acting fast to lock up certain players and split with others, whether that happens by choice or under pressure.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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Why top NHL prospects are changing teams at rapid speed

Seven days of competition remain on the schedule at the Paris Olympics. With scores of medals sti...

Seven days of competition remain on the schedule at the Paris Olympics. With scores of medals still to be awarded, these athletes will play starring roles in the drama.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, basketball: The crafty NBA floor general leads two up-and-coming teams - the Oklahoma City Thunder and Canada - eager to actualize their huge potential. Should Canada medal at the Olympics, it would be a first for the men's program since 1936. Several Canadians can shoot, slash, and defend, but everything flows through Gilgeous-Alexander, an All-NBA first-team fixture. Canada will count on him to get or create buckets if any game in the knockout round, beginning with Tuesday's quarterfinal against France, is close in crunch time.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739533/cropped_GettyImages-2164225367.jpg?ts=1722633000" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739533/w220xh124_GettyImages-2164225367.jpg?ts=1722633000 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739533/w320xh180_GettyImages-2164225367.jpg?ts=1722633000 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739533/w640xh360_GettyImages-2164225367.jpg?ts=1722633000 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739533/w768xh432_GettyImages-2164225367.jpg?ts=1722633000 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739533/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2164225367.jpg?ts=1722633000 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>A'ja Wilson, basketball: The inevitability of the U.S. women clinching an eighth straight hoops title - their last Olympic loss was in the 1992 semifinals - shifts the focus to other questions, like who'll be the MVP. Wilson, the do-it-all Las Vegas Aces center, led the Americans in scoring and blocks at the Tokyo Games but was one-upped for the award by friendly combatant Breanna Stewart. Both bigs bullied Japan and Belgium in decisive wins last week. Wilson and Stewart play major minutes, rarely sitting before garbage time, because no nation can match the U.S.'s interior dominance.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739648/cropped_GettyImages-2165110812.jpg?ts=1722715785" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739648/w220xh124_GettyImages-2165110812.jpg?ts=1722715785 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739648/w320xh180_GettyImages-2165110812.jpg?ts=1722715785 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739648/w640xh360_GettyImages-2165110812.jpg?ts=1722715785 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739648/w768xh432_GettyImages-2165110812.jpg?ts=1722715785 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739648/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2165110812.jpg?ts=1722715785 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brad Smith / ISI / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Trinity Rodman, soccer: Illicit drone use and breathtaking late goals amped up the entertainment in the women's tournament. Forced to win every match to get to knockout play, beleaguered Canada overcame a six-point sanction but ran out of gas as Germany became the USWNT's semifinal opponent. Rodman's effort could dictate who triumphs Tuesday. The young American forward scored first against Zambia, Australia, and Japan in extra time with pinpoint, occasionally spectacular finishes. The Germans can't give her open lanes to shoot.Lydia Ko, golf: She didn't grab gold at either tournament, but scores of 11-under in Rio and 16-under in Tokyo catapulted Ko to consecutive Olympic podiums. The New Zealander became a 20-time LPGA Tour winner in the 2024 season opener. Uneven results in recent months lessened viewers' confidence in Ko, who slipped to No. 21 in the world rankings ahead of Wednesday's first round at Le Golf National. Still, no challenger to Tokyo champion Nelly Korda's supremacy is as decorated or proven on the Olympic stage.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739338/cropped_GettyImages-1619649186.jpg?ts=1722543443" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739338/w220xh124_GettyImages-1619649186.jpg?ts=1722543443 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739338/w320xh180_GettyImages-1619649186.jpg?ts=1722543443 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739338/w640xh360_GettyImages-1619649186.jpg?ts=1722543443 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739338/w768xh432_GettyImages-1619649186.jpg?ts=1722543443 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739338/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1619649186.jpg?ts=1722543443 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Rai Benjamin, 400m hurdles: Benjamin and two fierce rivals (Norway's Karsten Warholm and Brazil's Alison dos Santos) submitted 19 of this race's 20 all-time fastest runs over the past few years. Proving iron sharpens iron, the U.S. hurdler and Warholm destroyed the previous world record during the turbocharged Tokyo Olympic final, which Warholm won in 45.94 seconds. Dos Santos and Warholm split the '22 and '23 world titles. If Benjamin beats them for gold Friday, the triumph would be monumental.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739716/cropped_GettyImages-2165193486.jpg?ts=1722781411" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739716/w220xh124_GettyImages-2165193486.jpg?ts=1722781411 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739716/w320xh180_GettyImages-2165193486.jpg?ts=1722781411 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739716/w640xh360_GettyImages-2165193486.jpg?ts=1722781411 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739716/w768xh432_GettyImages-2165193486.jpg?ts=1722781411 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/739716/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2165193486.jpg?ts=1722781411 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Voigt / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Julien Alfred, 200m: Shericka Jackson's withdrawal from a potential 100m duel with Alfred and Sha'Carri Richardson seemed like it would free the Jamaican sprinter, who owns five of the eight fastest times in 200m history, to concentrate on her main event. Then Jackson quit the 200m, too. Alfred, the newly crowned Saint Lucian sprint queen, coasted to 100m glory in 10.72 seconds and won her 200m opening heat the next morning on minimal sleep. Reigning world runner-up Gabby Thomas will probably be favored in Tuesday's final, but Alfred's confidence should be sky-high.Dominika Banevic, breaking: Banevic is a 17-year-old Lithuanian and the budding breakout star of the newest Olympic sport. At the Place de la Concorde urban park Friday, 16 B-Girls will dance in a series of head-to-head battles as judges rate their artistry, originality, musicality (timing moves to the DJ's beat), and technique. Known in breaking circles as "B-Girl Nicka," Banevic is the reigning world and European gold medalist. She'll try to become her country's first Olympic champion in any discipline since 2012.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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7 key Olympians to watch in the final week in Paris

Usain Bolt fittingly led off the latest chapter of theScore's Eras project, which overviewed the ...

Usain Bolt fittingly led off the latest chapter of theScore's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2940162" href="https://thescore.com/news/2940162">Eras project</a>, which overviewed the mammoth achievements of 25 star Olympians of the current century.The list of 25 wasn't ranked, but if it was, Bolt might have owned the top spot. The Jamaican sprinter's clean sweep of three major races from 2008 through 2016 - the men's 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay - netted him eight Olympic gold medals, with a ninth stripped due to a teammate's doping.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738452/GettyImages-592602082.jpg?ts=1722024942" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738452/GettyImages-592602082.jpg?ts=1722024942 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738452/GettyImages-592602082.jpg?ts=1722024942 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738452/GettyImages-592602082.jpg?ts=1722024942 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738452/GettyImages-592602082.jpg?ts=1722024942 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738452/GettyImages-592602082.jpg?ts=1722024942 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">AFP / STF / Getty Images </figcaption></figure>Bolt's swagger charmed the masses. His conquests were inevitable, and his dominance on the track remains untouched. World records in the 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.19 seconds) that Bolt set 15 years ago haven't been threatened. Until memories of him fade, successors will compete to be second-best.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>That designation - the era's next most decorated sprinter - is up for grabs in Paris. Myriad medal contenders, headlined by an American and a Canadian, are about to battle for post-Bolt supremacy. They could lessen the vast distance between Bolt and the world by performing historic acts at the Stade de France.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="⏰ Men's sprint schedule" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-h8wSF" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/h8wSF/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="414" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>U.S. fans expect Noah Lyles to become the fourth man since the 1960s - following Bolt, Carl Lewis, and Valeriy Borzov - to win the rare 100m-200m double. He dominated those races and added gold in the relay at last year's world championships in Budapest. Collecting that haul at the Olympics would make Lyles the face of the Games.Blunt and loudly confident, Lyles <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZRVEX2OG10">promised</a> Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show" that the late-night host could "make a lot of money" by backing him in Paris. Lyles is a 200m whiz, having triumphed at three straight world championships, and raised his 100m personal best to 9.81 seconds in his final Olympic tuneup.Canada's Andre De Grasse, the reigning Olympic 200m champion, is a multi-time medalist in all three sprints. Should De Grasse snare another individual medal in France, he'll move into sole possession of second place on the career leaderboard.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏅 Decorated dashers" aria-label="Stacked Bars" id="datawrapper-chart-XwNpT" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/XwNpT/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="627" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738820/cropped_GettyImages-1625693609.jpg?ts=1722277741" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738820/w220xh124_GettyImages-1625693609.jpg?ts=1722277741 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738820/w320xh180_GettyImages-1625693609.jpg?ts=1722277741 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738820/w640xh360_GettyImages-1625693609.jpg?ts=1722277741 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738820/w768xh432_GettyImages-1625693609.jpg?ts=1722277741 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/738820/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1625693609.jpg?ts=1722277741 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Xinhua News Agency / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Lithe and clutch, the 29-year-old De Grasse has dealt with frequent injuries yet consistently peaks in Olympic years, running his fastest when the lights brighten. He's medaled in every Olympic race he's entered by gaining enough steam to slingshot into the top three. No sprinter in Paris is as accomplished, but De Grasse slipped to 17th place in the world 100m rankings and fifth in the 200m rankings following his glorious Tokyo Games.Other contenders to watch include the stars of the Tokyo 100m. The victorious Italian, Marcell Jacobs, and American runner-up Fred Kerley can enhance their legacies by returning to the podium. Another Tokyo medallist, Kenny Bednarek, pushed Lyles at June's U.S. trials with personal bests in the 100m (9.87 seconds) and 200m (19.59).Rising challengers from around the globe also seek their Olympic breakthrough. Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, a double threat, won 100m silver and 200m bronze at the 2023 worlds. The U.S.'s Erriyon Knighton was the Budapest meet's 200m runner-up. Two Jamaicans (Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville) and a Kenyan (Ferdinand Omanyala) recently laid down some of this season's fastest 100m times, proving they can match Lyles' burst.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏆 2024 season's top times" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-GRL1Y" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/GRL1Y/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="408" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>The tenacity of veteran Olympians will be put to the test. South Africa's Akani Simbine missed the last two 100m podiums by tiny margins: 0.03 and 0.04 seconds. Zharnel Hughes, the British 100m and 200m record holder, hopes for better luck than he experienced in 2016 (sidelined with knee injury) and 2021 (false start and a relay mate's doping disqualified him from multiple finals).Bolt stands alone, but someone in Paris will inch closer to his echelon. The question is who.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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The Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins briefly upstaged the riveting conclusion to the Stanley Cup Final with the announcement that Linus Ullmark was changing teams.The Senators <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2931138" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2931138">acquired</a> the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner on Monday night in exchange for goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, fourth-line center Mark Kastelic, and this year's No. 25 draft pick, which the Bruins originally owned. Ottawa retains 25% of Korpisalo's $4-million cap hit over the next four seasons.Here's what the trade means for both sides.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Senators</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634315/cropped_GettyImages-2147877498.jpg?ts=1719287903" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634315/w220xh124_GettyImages-2147877498.jpg?ts=1719287903 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634315/w320xh180_GettyImages-2147877498.jpg?ts=1719287903 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634315/w640xh360_GettyImages-2147877498.jpg?ts=1719287903 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634315/w768xh432_GettyImages-2147877498.jpg?ts=1719287903 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634315/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2147877498.jpg?ts=1719287903 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Boston Globe / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The defensemen in front of them were prone to slipups last season, but Korpisalo and goalie partner Anton Forsberg sapped Ottawa's confidence.Senators netminders let in the opponent's first or second shot in 22 games. Korpisalo's deflating .890 save percentage condemned the team to a seventh straight missed postseason and 26th-place finish.The Ullmark trade is doubly satisfying for Steve Staios, Ottawa's rookie GM. He adds a legitimate starter with a .918 career denial rate who ranked fifth in the NHL over the past five seasons in goals saved above expected, per <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/goalie_standard/?_inputs_&amp;std_gl_table=%22On-Ice%22&amp;std_gl_team=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_str=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_adj=%22Score%20%26%20Venue%22&amp;std_gl_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;std_gl_span=%22Regular%22&amp;std_gl_group=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_age1=%2217%22&amp;std_gl_age2=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_status=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_info=%22No%22&amp;std_gl_players=null&amp;std_gl_fa=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_season=%5B%2220232024%22%2C%2220222023%22%2C%2220212022%22%2C%2220202021%22%2C%2220192020%22%5D">Evolving-Hockey</a>. In the process, Staios undid one of predecessor Pierre Dorion's glaring, expensive mistakes.A Korpisalo buyout would've cost the Senators $10.7 million through 2032, per <a href="https://www.capfriendly.com/buyout-calculator/joonas-korpisalo">CapFriendly</a>. They're paying less dead money over a shorter span, now get to ice an accomplished goalie, and still possess the No. 7 pick in Friday's draft.The cool and collected Ullmark, who's never made 50 starts in a season, won't necessarily dominate in the Canadian capital. Ottawa's reputation as a goalie graveyard preceded Korpisalo's cursed stint. Staios also hasn't extended Ullmark, who's on track to reach free agency next summer, though contract talks could heat up this week.Staios didn't need to swap Jakob Chychrun, Erik Brannstrom, or another decent player to land his desired goalie. More moves will follow as he attempts to reshape and upgrade the Ottawa defense corps.Grade: A- (could be A if Ullmark extends)<h3>Bruins</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634316/cropped_GettyImages-2149034224.jpg?ts=1719287988" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634316/w220xh124_GettyImages-2149034224.jpg?ts=1719287988 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634316/w320xh180_GettyImages-2149034224.jpg?ts=1719287988 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634316/w640xh360_GettyImages-2149034224.jpg?ts=1719287988 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634316/w768xh432_GettyImages-2149034224.jpg?ts=1719287988 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/634316/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2149034224.jpg?ts=1719287988 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Richard T. Gagnon / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The No. 25 pick comes late in the first round, Kastelic is a physical but pedestrian depth center, and Korpisalo's lighter cap charge will still sting if he performs like he did in Ottawa.Despite the meager return, the trade contains silver linings for the Bruins, notably that they'll get to draft in Round 1 for just the second time in five years. Renting Tyler Bertuzzi for one playoff round in 2023 cost Boston this selection before the Detroit Red Wings flipped it to Ottawa for Alex DeBrincat.Moving Ullmark creates current and future cap space for Boston and signals belief, faint as it may be, that Korpisalo can be better. The strength of the Bruins' defensive structure helped Jeremy Swayman, the new undisputed starter, record a .950 save percentage in the series win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Head coach Jim Montgomery can shelter Korpisalo, a luxury Ottawa didn't enjoy, and deploy him strategically against worse teams.Market forces weakened Boston's bargaining power. Potential Ullmark suitors <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2928874" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2928874">disappeared</a> when the New Jersey Devils traded for Jacob Markstrom, a proven workhorse, and the Los Angeles Kings picked up veteran stopgap Darcy Kuemper. Bruins GM Don Sweeney recouped a draft asset but wound up with the shakiest goalie of the bunch.Grade: C-Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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Ten years have passed since Alec Martinez, a depth defenseman with the clutch gene, scored the last overtime clincher in a Stanley Cup Final.Martinez struck in double OT against the Rangers to seal the Kings' second Cup triumph of the 2010s. He carried the puck out of the defensive zone, helped move it to Tyler Toffoli, and pumped the brakes at the bottom of the left faceoff circle, where he had space to pot a juicy rebound.Martinez flung his stick and gloves as the horn blared in Los Angeles. Teammates raced to join the celebratory pile.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C4SVih8Rn5Y?si=Lna_KczhR-GmUEwl" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>In the trophy's lifespan, OT winners have enlivened the end of 17 Cup Finals. These dramatic goals daze or anger the losing side while immortalizing the moment of conquest. In the famous tableaus they've produced, Bobby Orr took flight, Brett Hull's skate breached the blue paint, and Patrick Kane's low wrist shot vanished inside the net.From the 1930s to the 2010s, at least one final per decade was settled in overtime. Some championship clinchers, like the spate scored in the '50s, touched twine in fast flurries. Others were separated by waits of 10-plus years.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏆 Stanley Cup's OT clinchers" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-ljPrC" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ljPrC/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="696" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Martinez's feat is bound to be replicated soon. Some glue guy or superstar will fulfill the classic childhood dream of netting the Stanley Cup winner when the stakes are highest.Two early OT heroes were Hall of Fame forwards who refused to be fazed by a scheduling quirk. The staging of the famed Ringling Brothers circus at Madison Square Garden deprived the Rangers of home games in the 1933 and 1940 finals. Those series ended in Toronto on goals by New York's Bill Cook, who scored on a five-on-three power play, and Bryan Hextall - grandfather of Ron, the pugnacious goaltender, and Leah, the ESPN broadcaster.In the Original Six era, a couple of Red Wings grinders stepped up in Game 7. A backhand flipped through traffic by Pete Babando, scorer of six regular-season goals, proved decisive in the 1950 playoff finale. The '54 Red Wings almost blew a 3-1 series lead, but Tony Leswick's shot from long distance fooled Gerry McNeil, the only goalie to lose multiple Cup Finals after regulation.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 OT clinchers by franchise" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-SkieM" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/SkieM/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="470" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>McNeil also allowed Bill Barilko's last goal. The 24-year-old Maple Leafs defensive stalwart pinched from the point and dove into a scramble to shovel in the backhand that won the 1951 final, which produced five straight OT classics. Barilko died that summer in a floatplane crash in the Northern Ontario bush, where his body lay until the wreckage was found in 1962.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pJZDXnFo_Pw?si=GRdxSklOYpiEWHJL&amp;start=73" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Parallels connect certain OT clinchers, like those netted by defensemen to seal sweeps.Orr - winner of the Hart, Norris, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe trophies in 1970 - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZpSv9fy0QM&amp;t=28s">finished</a> a give-and-go to beat the Blues in the instant before he was tripped while raising his arms in glee. In 1996, Uwe Krupp's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk6iTIo98aA">slapper</a> in the sixth period of a scoreless dogfight with the Panthers capped the Avalanche's storybook first year in Colorado. Krupp tore up his knee in the season opener but rehabbed intensively to be part of the playoff run.Other goals of this kind cemented dynasties. The Canadiens won the second of four straight Cups in the 1970s when Jacques Lemaire, the target of a netfront pass following a battle along the wall, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eLtbexrrEI&amp;t=183s">snapped</a> it past the outstretched leg of Bruins goalie Gerry Cheevers. In 1980, Bob Nystrom dashed behind a Flyers defender to redirect John Tonelli's feed inside the left post, completing the Islanders' first trip to the mountaintop.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lobBEhKOGAk?si=uupHA7dFxbPKfIfN&amp;start=80" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Two infamous OT clinchers stoked controversy. Canadiens icon Henri Richard ended the Red Wings in the 1966 final by deflecting a pass over the goal line while being upended. Debate about the play's legality pitted Richard, who claimed the puck glanced off his knee, against Detroit goalie Roger Crozier, who failed to convince the referee that it was swept in by hand.If video review existed, the grainy footage would have been inconclusive.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIRy0dMaWxo?si=JucFeVKdYdihTm4R&amp;start=55" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Hull, the former Stars sniper, enraged the Sabres in 1999 when he scored the latest Cup winner in any game. His goal at the 114-minute mark, which eluded a sprawling Dominik Hasek, was facilitated by the unmistakeable presence of Hull's left foot in the crease. The NHL's explanation - Hull entered it legally because he maintained possession of the puck - didn't satisfy Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, who screamed at Gary Bettman at ice level.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zwr4J25V_Os?si=2uAMIZd6pFSTPRyJ&amp;start=440" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Since 2000, the Cup's been up for grabs in nine games that required overtime. The trailing team in the matchup scored to prolong the final on six occasions.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="😰 Do-or-die games since 2000" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-0RMRZ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0RMRZ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="425" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Patrik Elias' masterful no-look feed <a href="https://youtu.be/qihpmiM4Ihw?si=dibYSWIX_EyGCaf8&amp;t=20">teed up</a> Jason Arnott's winner for the 2000 Devils. Arnott pinned a Stars forward's head to the ice earlier in overtime, but New Jersey killed the cross-checking minor to avoid being pushed to Game 7.In 2010, Chicago's Brian Campbell denied a Flyers clearance attempt and got the puck to Kane, who <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy4UZbtxxkY">snuck</a> it under Michael Leighton's legs. Three Blackhawks in the vicinity - Kane, Patrick Sharp, and Nick Boynton - instantly rejoiced, prompting their teammates to blindly follow suit. One deceptive shot ended a 49-year Cup drought, stunned the Philadelphia crowd, and exhilarated everyone else who saw it.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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Here are seven questions to ponder ahead of Saturday's Game 1 in Sunrise, Florida.<h3>Can McDavid escape Barkov, Forsling?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631456/cropped_GettyImages-1853394293.jpg?ts=1717519341" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631456/w220xh124_GettyImages-1853394293.jpg?ts=1717519341 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631456/w320xh180_GettyImages-1853394293.jpg?ts=1717519341 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631456/w640xh360_GettyImages-1853394293.jpg?ts=1717519341 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631456/w768xh432_GettyImages-1853394293.jpg?ts=1717519341 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631456/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1853394293.jpg?ts=1717519341 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Devlin / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Kings, Canucks, and Stars all attempted to slow down Connor McDavid, but the best player on the planet prevailed series after series. With 31 points in 18 games, he enters the Cup Final as the Conn Smythe Trophy favorite.Staring back at him starting Saturday is the shutdown duo of center Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Gustav Forsling, who have owned offensive dynamos throughout the playoffs.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Barkov and Forsling's most common opponents in the first three rounds were Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov, Boston's David Pastrnak, and New York's Mika Zibanejad. In other words, no easy shifts. Yet, in the 112 five-on-five minutes Barkov shared the ice with those players, Florida managed to outshoot the opposition 64-31 and tie 3-3 in goals. Forsling's 156 minutes against them yielded even better results: 95-54 in shots and 6-4 in goals.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631471/cropped_GettyImages-2154788267.jpg?ts=1717523963" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631471/w220xh124_GettyImages-2154788267.jpg?ts=1717523963 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631471/w320xh180_GettyImages-2154788267.jpg?ts=1717523963 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631471/w640xh360_GettyImages-2154788267.jpg?ts=1717523963 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631471/w768xh432_GettyImages-2154788267.jpg?ts=1717523963 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631471/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2154788267.jpg?ts=1717523963 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Those are eye-popping numbers considering the sample size and quality of opponents. That said, McDavid's line with Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins presents a more complex and taxing challenge. If Barkov and Forsling can tie the McDavid line on the scoreboard, Florida likely wins the Cup.Neither Panther will try to intimidate McDavid with brute physicality. However, Barkov and Forsling can keep up with the Oilers captain through strong skating and stick work. Barkov is elite at knocking pucks out of the air and off opponents' sticks, while Forsling is phenomenal at closing gaps with his feet.On the flip side, McDavid is capable of making anybody look human.<h3>Will Panthers showcase offensive versatility?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631497/cropped_GettyImages-2154758242.jpg?ts=1717532998" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631497/w220xh124_GettyImages-2154758242.jpg?ts=1717532998 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631497/w320xh180_GettyImages-2154758242.jpg?ts=1717532998 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631497/w640xh360_GettyImages-2154758242.jpg?ts=1717532998 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631497/w768xh432_GettyImages-2154758242.jpg?ts=1717532998 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631497/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2154758242.jpg?ts=1717532998 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Panthers scorers use many methods to burn teams. They were the only squad to rank in the top three this season in chances generated off forechecks, cycles, and rebounds, per Sportlogiq. Through Round 3, they led all conference finalists in rush chances, displaying yet another strength.Florida's best forwards are tenacious, rambunctious, and savvy. Smart passes that Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Anton Lundell slung toward the net set up big goals in the East final. Sam Reinhart buries all kinds of chances because he hounds the puck and stays ready to fire it.The Oilers' heightened defensive commitment has led to good results. Compared to the 2023 playoffs, they're surrendering fewer five-on-five goals (2.51 per 60 minutes, down from 2.67), shots on net (24, down from 29.2), and dangerous chances (10.2, down from 11.9), per <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamtable.php?fromseason=20232024&amp;thruseason=20232024&amp;stype=3&amp;sit=5v5&amp;score=all&amp;rate=y&amp;team=all&amp;loc=B&amp;gpf=410&amp;fd=&amp;td=">Natural Stat Trick</a>.Florida will aim to expose two weak links. Defensemen Cody Ceci and Darnell Nurse struggled mightily together and have been outplayed when paired with other partners.<h3>Can Edmonton overcome disadvantage in net? </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631620/cropped_GettyImages-2155215379.jpg?ts=1717606046" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631620/w220xh124_GettyImages-2155215379.jpg?ts=1717606046 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631620/w320xh180_GettyImages-2155215379.jpg?ts=1717606046 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631620/w640xh360_GettyImages-2155215379.jpg?ts=1717606046 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631620/w768xh432_GettyImages-2155215379.jpg?ts=1717606046 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631620/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2155215379.jpg?ts=1717606046 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Paul Swanson / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>If you were to poll 10 scouts about the two starting goalies, most would likely say they'd rather have Sergei Bobrovsky on their team.Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner with a .906 save percentage in 87 career playoff games. This is his second straight final appearance. Stuart Skinner has significantly less experience and a blah .891 save percentage in 28 playoff games.Nevertheless, there's a decent chance Skinner - who's fresh off an impressive third round - outshines Bobrovsky in this best-of-seven set. Bobrovsky will be facing an attack that could very well exploit his biggest weakness. The league-average save percentage on shots off the rush is .871. Bobrovsky's mark is .789, having allowed 12 goals off the rush. Edmonton's terrifying in transition.<h3>Will Oilers PP, PK both dominate?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631495/cropped_GettyImages-2155212255.jpg?ts=1717532733" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631495/w220xh124_GettyImages-2155212255.jpg?ts=1717532733 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631495/w320xh180_GettyImages-2155212255.jpg?ts=1717532733 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631495/w640xh360_GettyImages-2155212255.jpg?ts=1717532733 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631495/w768xh432_GettyImages-2155212255.jpg?ts=1717532733 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631495/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2155212255.jpg?ts=1717532733 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Curtis Comeau / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Oilers' special teams are unreal. Among clubs that won a round, crossing a minimum threshold for games played, they rank in the top five in both categories going back nearly 50 years.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Special units" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-ey7Lj" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ey7Lj/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="329" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>On the power play, Edmonton's preferred combination scores from every angle and distance. McDavid, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard are responsible for 18 of 19 Oilers PP goals. In Game 6 against Dallas, McDavid's dangling set up his own brilliant backhand tally and Hyman's snipe to the top shelf.Suddenly impenetrable, Edmonton's penalty kill is 46-for-49. It blanked the Kings and Stars and hasn't been beaten since Game 3 of the Canucks matchup. The Oilers are the third playoff team since the dawn of the Original Six era to compile a 10-game kill streak, per <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/OqY2F">Stathead</a>. Dallas was frazzled by the puck pressure Edmonton forwards applied.The Panthers have two reasons to be hopeful. Their own stellar PK has tied opponents 2-2 in Barkov's shifts (he scored shorthanded in Round 1 and assisted on another in Round 2). They're also adept at drawing penalties - Barkov, Tkachuk, and Lundell all rank in the top 10 league-wide - and could stockpile enough PP opportunities to finally beat Skinner.<h3>Will Verhaeghe come through again? </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631454/cropped_GettyImages-2155190472.jpg?ts=1717519199" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631454/w220xh124_GettyImages-2155190472.jpg?ts=1717519199 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631454/w320xh180_GettyImages-2155190472.jpg?ts=1717519199 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631454/w640xh360_GettyImages-2155190472.jpg?ts=1717519199 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631454/w768xh432_GettyImages-2155190472.jpg?ts=1717519199 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631454/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2155190472.jpg?ts=1717519199 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Carter Verhaeghe is one of the top stories of the final. A 2013 third-round pick of the Maple Leafs, he spent the first four seasons of his pro career in the ECHL and AHL. He found stability after signing a two-year, $2-million deal with Florida in 2020 - and he's been dynamite in the postseason ever since.Through 17 games this year, Verhaeghe leads the club with nine goals and is second with 17 points. He's third among all playoff skaters with 42 slot shots, according to Sportlogiq. A good chunk of those have featured the speedster unleashing his patented wrist shot from the left faceoff circle.Verhaeghe, 28, scored the overtime goal in Game 3 of last year's Cup Final. It was his lone goal in five games against Vegas and the Panthers' sole victory. Florida needs its not-so-secret weapon to lead the charge against the Oilers.<h3>Will Bouchard control games?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631492/cropped_GettyImages-2155230116.jpg?ts=1717531451" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631492/w220xh124_GettyImages-2155230116.jpg?ts=1717531451 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631492/w320xh180_GettyImages-2155230116.jpg?ts=1717531451 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631492/w640xh360_GettyImages-2155230116.jpg?ts=1717531451 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631492/w768xh432_GettyImages-2155230116.jpg?ts=1717531451 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631492/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2155230116.jpg?ts=1717531451 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Codie McLachlan / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Over four NHL seasons, Bouchard's evolved from frequent scratch to supplemental piece to scoring weapon to two-way force. The young defenseman's growth, stimulated by his partnership with Mattias Ekholm, differentiates these Oilers from versions of the squad that fell in earlier rounds.Bouchard and Ekholm have crushed stiff opposition all spring. Edmonton has outscored foes 18-9 and owned 63% of dangerous scoring chances in their 298 joint five-on-five minutes, the NHL high. No top pair spends more time buzzing in the offensive zone and less time chasing the puck.Bouchard's 30th point (he enters the final with 27) will set a new high for defensemen this century. He's no longer a power-play merchant, though his confident quarterbacking and heavy slap shot boost Edmonton's main unit. His even-strength output in these playoffs puts him in prime company.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🚨 Blue line, red light" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-pitmw" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/pitmw/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="403" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Is Florida's forward depth untouchable?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631491/cropped_GettyImages-2154746291.jpg?ts=1717531307" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631491/w220xh124_GettyImages-2154746291.jpg?ts=1717531307 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631491/w320xh180_GettyImages-2154746291.jpg?ts=1717531307 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631491/w640xh360_GettyImages-2154746291.jpg?ts=1717531307 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631491/w768xh432_GettyImages-2154746291.jpg?ts=1717531307 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/631491/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2154746291.jpg?ts=1717531307 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jared Silber / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Florida's talented third line, which combines grit, vision, and a killer finishing instinct, united against the Rangers to net the series clincher. Lundell's shot block led to a clearance, Eetu Luostarinen forechecked to force a giveaway, and Vladimir Tarasenko accelerated to the crease to bury Lundell's feed.Swapping two mid-round draft picks for Tarasenko enhanced Florida's depth. The veteran sniper was the seventh Panthers forward to score a postseason game-winner. Lower in the lineup, the Panthers have more stingy or energetic wingers - Steven Lorentz and Kyle Okposo displaced mainstays Nick Cousins and Ryan Lomberg - than can fit on the fourth line.Much of Edmonton's supporting cast (Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, Derek Ryan, Corey Perry) has been absent offensively in the playoffs. Only two depth forwards (Connor Brown and Adam Henrique) chipped in multiple points against the Stars. The murky injury status of Evander Kane, who's stuck in a seven-game goal drought, doesn't inspire confidence that he can solve this outage.

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For one fabled night in the 1976 postseason, the Bruins couldn't stop Reggie Leach.The Flyers sharpshooter wheeled down both wings to snap five pucks past Boston's Gilles Gilbert, exploiting the stand-up goaltending method that ruled the era. The flurry of backhands and wristers rifled by Leach off the rush sent the Broad Street Bullies to a third straight Stanley Cup Final. He only needed three rounds - Philadelphia earned an earlier bye as one of the NHL's top teams - to net 19 goals in 16 games, an enduring playoff record.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ay1zvjUvJX0?si=9tarFM9PmE5hMpVI&amp;start=1003" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>One explosive series helped Jari Kurri match Leach. The Oilers' Finnish sensation got to 19 goals in 18 outings by humbling the Black Hawks, written as two words at the time, in the 1985 conference finals. Kurri's three hat tricks and 12 tallies over six feverish games - the goal count in the round favored Edmonton 44-25 - caused suffering for Murray Bannerman, Chicago's occasional All-Star netminder.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J26SIvHopew?si=plzQhiaXS6BSRAn-&amp;start=29" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Leach and Kurri set career highs in goals (61 and 71, respectively) in the years of their playoff outbursts. Swept in the Cup Final by the Canadiens' budding dynasty, Leach was the first and only skater to collect the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing effort. Kurri's Oilers won their Cup series in five games.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🚨 Playoff goals leaderboard" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-4rWOJ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/4rWOJ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="521" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Their durable record, held jointly for almost 40 years, is being pressured this spring. Zach Hyman, the pure finisher on Connor McDavid's wing, scored his 11th playoff goal in Edmonton's winner-take-all defeat of the Canucks. Hyman slipped behind fatigued defenders to tip Evan Bouchard's wrist shot and widen the lead that sealed an Oilers-Stars conference final.Different Oilers flirt with the goals record annually. In 2022 and 2023, a sniper's blazing start fueled series triumphs but fizzled against a powerhouse opponent, making the mark unattainable. If Dallas shackles Hyman, he'll join Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane as Edmonton forwards who've followed this trajectory.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629693/cropped_GettyImages-2153606701.jpg?ts=1716324284" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629693/w220xh124_GettyImages-2153606701.jpg?ts=1716324284 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629693/w320xh180_GettyImages-2153606701.jpg?ts=1716324284 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629693/w640xh360_GettyImages-2153606701.jpg?ts=1716324284 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629693/w768xh432_GettyImages-2153606701.jpg?ts=1716324284 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629693/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2153606701.jpg?ts=1716324284 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Derek Cain / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The road to 20 playoff goals is a sprint and a marathon. To threaten Leach and Kurri, a scorer's spree has to persist through to the Cup Final. Stumbling blocks crowd the route.Two snipers exited this postseason for surprising reasons right before their clubs lost in the Western semis. Colorado's Valeri Nichushkin (nine goals) reportedly failed a drug test and was suspended for six months under the terms of the players' assistance program. Vancouver's Brock Boeser (seven goals) developed a blood clot.Out east, the Rangers were teetering against the Hurricanes until Chris Kreider's natural hat trick in a nine-minute span set up New York's date with the Panthers in Round 3. He whacked in a rebound, redirected a point shot to the top corner, and freed up his stick to tap in a cross-crease feed.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629707/cropped_GettyImages-2151984924.jpg?ts=1716328626" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629707/w220xh124_GettyImages-2151984924.jpg?ts=1716328626 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629707/w320xh180_GettyImages-2151984924.jpg?ts=1716328626 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629707/w640xh360_GettyImages-2151984924.jpg?ts=1716328626 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629707/w768xh432_GettyImages-2151984924.jpg?ts=1716328626 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629707/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2151984924.jpg?ts=1716328626 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Josh Lavallee / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Kreider and Hyman both dominate near the net. All seven of Kreider's goals and eight of Hyman's 11 have been scored from the low slot or inside the blue paint, per NHL EDGE. Firing in high volume, Hyman leads the postseason in shots on target (50 or 4.2 per game). He buries them at five-on-five and on the power play by keeping his blade on the ice, ready to one-time, graze, or push the puck over the line when the defense fixates on McDavid or Draisaitl.Combined with some external twists of fate, Leach's relentlessness in 1976 - he scored in 10 straight games, with the ninth being the barrage against the Bruins - strengthened his hold on the record.A dangerous challenger, Joe Sakic, entered the 1996 Cup Final with 17 goals but added only one more as the Avalanche swept the Panthers. In 1919, the influenza outbreak that killed a teammate and cut short the championship series limited Canadiens legend Newsy Lalonde to 17 goals in 10 appearances.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629694/GettyImages-53129050.jpg?ts=1716324429" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629694/GettyImages-53129050.jpg?ts=1716324429 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629694/GettyImages-53129050.jpg?ts=1716324429 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629694/GettyImages-53129050.jpg?ts=1716324429 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629694/GettyImages-53129050.jpg?ts=1716324429 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/629694/GettyImages-53129050.jpg?ts=1716324429 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Bruce Bennett / Getty Images </figcaption></figure>Four fantastic starts to recent postseasons proved unsustainable.Draisaitl in 2023: Banked 13 goals through eight games, many with his lightning release from sharp angles. Draisaitl looked capable of surpassing Leach within a couple of rounds, only for the Golden Knights to blank him four straight times to hasten Edmonton's downfall.Kane in 2022: Tallied five multi-goal games, including two hat tricks, for 12 goals through two series before the Oilers were steamrolled by the Avalanche. Kane was suspended for the elimination game for boarding Nazem Kadri.Mark Scheifele in 2018: Bagged five multi-score games and 14 total goals before the expansion Golden Knights bounced the Jets in Round 3, which stopped him from equaling the high for goals in the salary-cap era (15) set by Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin during Cup runs.Johan Franzen in 2008: Netted nine goals in a four-game demolition of Colorado but was knocked out of the next round with concussion-like symptoms. He ultimately returned in time to finish with 13 as the Red Wings clinched the title.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><center>                    </center></figure>Another playoff scoring record - Wayne Gretzky's 47 points in 1985, when he dished 14 primary assists to Kurri - has been invincible for decades. Spurred by Gretzky's unstoppability, the Oilers averaged 5.44 goals in that postseason, and he became the last player to complete the Hart Trophy-Conn Smythe Trophy double.A target to track in the coming weeks is 36 points - the high for this era that Evgeni Malkin achieved in 2009. Almost half of his output came in a six-game span as the young, ascendant Penguins rallied to stun the Capitals and sweep the Hurricanes en route to a Cup breakthrough.Malkin's mark narrowly survived challenges from Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nikita Kucherov when their teams lifted the chalice.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="⭐️ Cap era's top scorers" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-fd39p" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fd39p/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="735" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Averaging 1.5 points over 24 games, as Malkin did in '09, makes his milestone matchable. Several stars - McDavid, Draisaitl, Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Nathan MacKinnon, and David Pastrnak - bested that pace in recent years for a couple of rounds before their teams bowed out of the bracket prematurely.Three Oilers top the current points leaderboard. Draisaitl (24 through 12 games), McDavid (21), and Bouchard (20) produced at ridiculous rates against the Kings and Canucks. If Edmonton beats Dallas to reach the final, they'll be in position to upstage Malkin's banner year.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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The elusive playoff goals record is under threat again

The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers are deadlocked at two wins apiece. The goal count in th...

The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers are deadlocked at two wins apiece. The goal count in the dramatic series is 14-14. The Round 2 matchup's now a best-of-three, and the squad that ticks these boxes in Game 5 and beyond will have the greater chance to advance.<h3>Score by committee</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628835/cropped_GettyImages-2152474032.jpg?ts=1715780075" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628835/w220xh124_GettyImages-2152474032.jpg?ts=1715780075 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628835/w320xh180_GettyImages-2152474032.jpg?ts=1715780075 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628835/w640xh360_GettyImages-2152474032.jpg?ts=1715780075 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628835/w768xh432_GettyImages-2152474032.jpg?ts=1715780075 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628835/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2152474032.jpg?ts=1715780075 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Curtis Comeau / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Oilers' reliance on six skaters has gotten extreme. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm are all playing more than 23 minutes a night. This quintet partnered with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to score the bulk of Edmonton's goals (13) and points (35 of 40) in the series.The Oilers' fifth through 12th forwards have three assists. Six passengers - Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway, Mattias Janmark, Corey Perry, and Connor Brown - went pointless through Game 4 while firing fewer shots on net together (14) than Hyman, Bouchard, and Draisaitl did individually. The nonexistence of help for Edmonton's stars has the potential to ruin the playoff run.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Vancouver's first and third lines - J.T. Miller between Brock Boeser and Pius Suter, Elias Lindholm between Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua - combine strong forechecking, playmaking, and sharpshooting. Defensemen notched points on 13 Canucks goals by moving the puck through the neutral zone, funnelling it into scoring areas, or, in Nikita Zadorov's case, joining the rush to bury it themselves.Both teams are icing replacement netminders - Vancouver due to injury, Edmonton because of performance. Can Elias Pettersson, who's been held to one power-play tally, test Oilers journeyman Calvin Pickard? Will Foegele or Evander Kane, who were both 20-goal scorers, trouble rookie marvel Arturs Silovs?<h3>Exploit secondary D pairs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628834/cropped_GettyImages-2152995010.jpg?ts=1715779811" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628834/w220xh124_GettyImages-2152995010.jpg?ts=1715779811 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628834/w320xh180_GettyImages-2152995010.jpg?ts=1715779811 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628834/w640xh360_GettyImages-2152995010.jpg?ts=1715779811 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628834/w768xh432_GettyImages-2152995010.jpg?ts=1715779811 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628834/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2152995010.jpg?ts=1715779811 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Codie McLachlan / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Edmonton's up 7-2 in goals and has generated 75% of dangerous chances during Bouchard and Ekholm's shared shifts, per <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20232024&amp;thruseason=20232024&amp;stype=3&amp;sit=ev&amp;score=all&amp;rate=n&amp;team=EDM&amp;loc=B&amp;toi=10&amp;gpfilt=gpteam&amp;fd=&amp;td=&amp;tgp=4">Natural Stat Trick</a>. Vancouver's Quinn Hughes-Filip Hronek duo hasn't been scored on in 62 minutes of play.While the top pairs deliver, others cling to the cliffside. The breakup of Cody Ceci and Darnell Nurse, witnesses to six Canucks goals through three games, strengthened the Oilers' defensive structure, but they were still responsible in Game 4 for a costly slipup (Nurse deflected a shot past Pickard) and regrettable missed tap-in (Ceci's misfire off the rush teed up a two-minute defensive shift for him and Brett Kulak).Tyler Myers was tentative and backed away from the puck before Hyman scored in the series opener. The Oilers bagged goals in transition when Myers' partner - Carson Soucy in Game 2, Noah Juulsen in Game 4 - pinched to throw a fruitless hit. Edmonton's taken 78.3% of the shot attempts in Soucy-Myers shifts, suggesting that pair could be barraged Thursday when Soucy returns from his cross-checking suspension.<h3>Pull away on special teams</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628833/cropped_GettyImages-2152990521.jpg?ts=1715779522" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628833/w220xh124_GettyImages-2152990521.jpg?ts=1715779522 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628833/w320xh180_GettyImages-2152990521.jpg?ts=1715779522 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628833/w640xh360_GettyImages-2152990521.jpg?ts=1715779522 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628833/w768xh432_GettyImages-2152990521.jpg?ts=1715779522 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628833/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2152990521.jpg?ts=1715779522 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Codie McLachlan / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Two factors have stopped the relentless Oilers power play (5-for-10 in the series, 14-for-30 in the postseason) from pushing Vancouver to the edge of elimination.One is the Canucks' own PP prowess. They scored in Game 2 when Miller fed Pettersson on the weak side and struck twice in Game 3 thanks to Lindholm's dirty work in the bumper role. Sputtering during a double minor in Game 4 - the Canucks gave up seven clearances and a breakaway before they recorded a shot - hampered Vancouver's comeback attempt.Some combination of disciplined defense and a shortfall of whistles has minimized Vancouver's time in the box. Edmonton's power-play opportunities are down from four per game in the first round to 2.5 in this matchup. For context, every NHL team averaged more than 2.5 man advantages this season.<h3>Decisively win final frame</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628836/cropped_GettyImages-2152476056.jpg?ts=1715780198" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628836/w220xh124_GettyImages-2152476056.jpg?ts=1715780198 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628836/w320xh180_GettyImages-2152476056.jpg?ts=1715780198 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628836/w640xh360_GettyImages-2152476056.jpg?ts=1715780198 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628836/w768xh432_GettyImages-2152476056.jpg?ts=1715780198 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628836/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2152476056.jpg?ts=1715780198 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The trailing team has dictated play in each third period. Both rallied to complete a comeback - Vancouver in the thrilling opener, Edmonton in overtime of Game 2. Silovs' late heroics in Game 3 and leakiness on Bouchard's Game 4 winner proved decisive.Cowing to the opponent's desperation, neither side has played confidently with the lead. Although Edmonton's shot advantage in third periods (49-21) is monumental, Vancouver's erased multiple two-goal cushions. Silovs' .939 save percentage in the stanza trumps the Oilers' ugly .762 team mark. That explains why Thatcher Demko has barely been missed.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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4 keys to victory as Canucks-Oilers goes down to the wire

The Vancouver Canucks can double the Edmonton Oilers' deficit Friday in Game 2 of their second-ro...

The Vancouver Canucks can double the Edmonton Oilers' deficit Friday in Game 2 of their second-round playoff clash. How these key players perform throughout the series will shape the final result.J.T. Miller: Vancouver's offensive and spiritual leader <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2897923" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2897923">said</a>, then proved, that he savors the intensity of the postseason. Several Canucks are dynamic talents, but Miller - a 100-point, rough-and-tumble, defensively attentive center - drives the bus. His sweet tip incited Edmonton's Game 1 <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2909310" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2909310">meltdown</a>. Vancouver has quieted the Predators' and Oilers' top forward lines when Miller has been on the ice to shadow them.Connor McDavid: The Hart Trophy finalist lacked burst in Game 1 and consistently failed to gain a step on Miller or Vancouver's tall, rangy, physical defensemen. McDavid didn't put a shot on net for just the 19th time in 700 NHL appearances (regular or postseason), per <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/8Xdyr">Stathead</a>. For McDavid to dominate without firing the puck, his stickhandling has to mesmerize the defense and open passing lanes.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Arturs Silovs: Thatcher Demko's injury didn't sink the Canucks in the Nashville matchup because Silovs and Casey DeSmith authored a joint .928 save percentage. It still feels precarious to deploy a fledgling rookie against McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. To help Silovs in Game 1, Vancouver battened the hatches, crowded the neutral and defensive zones, and held Edmonton to 18 shots, including none for 23 minutes as the lead changed hands.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628173/cropped_GettyImages-2151946530.jpg?ts=1715275050" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628173/w220xh124_GettyImages-2151946530.jpg?ts=1715275050 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628173/w320xh180_GettyImages-2151946530.jpg?ts=1715275050 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628173/w640xh360_GettyImages-2151946530.jpg?ts=1715275050 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628173/w768xh432_GettyImages-2151946530.jpg?ts=1715275050 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628173/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2151946530.jpg?ts=1715275050 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Vinnick / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628174/GettyImages-2150252820.jpg?ts=1715275118" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628174/GettyImages-2150252820.jpg?ts=1715275118 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628174/GettyImages-2150252820.jpg?ts=1715275118 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628174/GettyImages-2150252820.jpg?ts=1715275118 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628174/GettyImages-2150252820.jpg?ts=1715275118 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628174/GettyImages-2150252820.jpg?ts=1715275118 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Rob Curtis / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images </figcaption></figure>Evander Kane: The 15-year vet has shown he can score in bunches and pelt the net with shots. Kane recorded five multi-goal playoff games in 2022, and his 3.33 shots per night rank third on the Oilers this spring. His chips off the boards during zone entries have led to goals in Edmonton's last two games. He's quick, creative, and capable of sparking offense when it's sorely needed.Elias Lindholm: The disruptive Lindholm line - Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland flank him - netted three goals in both Canucks series openers. Lindholm made that possible by winning faceoffs, forechecking doggedly, and skating to the crease. The January acquisition has bought time for Elias Pettersson, who remains goalless on 11 shots through seven playoff games, to awake from his slumber.Evan Bouchard: The dismal series debut of the Cody Ceci-Darnell Nurse pairing - which was next to the puck on four Canucks goals - puts pressure on Bouchard to be steady. Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm have allowed half as many dangerous shot attempts in the playoffs as Ceci and Nurse, per <a href="https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20232024&amp;thruseason=20232024&amp;stype=3&amp;sit=5v5&amp;score=all&amp;rate=n&amp;team=EDM&amp;loc=B&amp;toi=10&amp;gpfilt=none&amp;fd=&amp;td=&amp;tgp=410">Natural Stat Trick</a>. On the power play, Bouchard's forceful slapper could begin to trouble Silovs if the Oilers can draw more than one penalty.Tyler Myers: The Canucks ask Myers and Carson Soucy to defend intimidating lines, be it Ryan O'Reilly's or McDavid's trio. Despite conceding good looks, they've only been scored on twice in the playoffs, including when Myers let Zach Hyman waltz to the faceoff dot to beat Silovs five-hole. Vancouver's defense hums when Myers douses more fires than he creates and Quinn Hughes and Nikita Zadorov race up ice to produce points.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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7 players to watch as Canucks aim to flummox Oilers

Narrow Game 7 wins by the Boston Bruins and Dallas Stars finalized the NHL's second-round playoff...

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