Browsing: U.S

GOLF’s latest ranking of Top 100 Courses in the World features plenty of familiar names, from Augusta National and Pine Valley to Cypress Point and Pebble Beach. But tucked amid those icons are lesser-known layouts with compelling designs and rich histories of their own. In this ongoing series, we’ll introduce you to them.

In 1930, English architect Charles Alison stepped ashore in Tokyo from the steamer Asama Maru for a three-month visit. In that brief time, he ignited Japan’s golfing soul. Alison left his signature on four prominent courses around Tokyo — Tokyo Golf Club, Hirono, Naruo, and Kasumigaseki.

But his true masterpiece unfurls two hours south of the capital: the Fuji Course at Kawana, draped across storm-sculpted cliffs that mirror Big Sur’s savage beauty, with sacred Mount Fuji itself rising above the clouds and visible throughout the course.

Of the many fine holes, two stand out for their mix of natural beauty and strategy.

The 7th, a mere 393-yard par 4, tumbles toward a pulpit green kissed by dappled light reflected off the ocean. From the tee, the hole seduces with the promise of driving the putting surface, yet Alison’s deep bunkers slash the fairway in two, demanding a decision: the generous right side grants a straightforward approach, albeit from a severely sloped lie; the more daring angle up the left rewards with a level lie but a delicate pitch over flashed bunkers.

The 15th, a 480-yard par-5, plunges from a sky-high tee to a fairway that abuts towering bluffs along the Pacific. Wind and slope make eagle a possibility, but bunkers right push play left toward the cliffs. The rippled fairway climbs to a narrow, two-tiered green, where par is a strong score.

Kawana must be played to be fully appreciated. And that’s the thing: anyone can. Unlike most of Japan’s top courses, Kawana is accessible to the public. It’s part of a resort. Its sibling Oshima Course (measuring a modest 5,711 yards) shares similar strategic demands on a smaller scale and serves as an ideal warm-up or twilight companion to the Fuji, making for an all world 36-hole adventure.

Noel Freeman is a course rater for GOLF and Golf.com.

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  Ryan S. ClarkDec 10, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  Ryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.

On Dec. 31 — or thereabouts — we are going to learn which NHL players are going to spend at least two weeks in Italy representing their nations at the Olympic Games, along with knowing who will be on a beach watching those Olympics from afar.

Every nation that’s competing at the Milan-Cortina Games is expected to have its roster finalized by the Dec. 31 deadline. It’s what makes the time between now and then quite crucial, and it could play a role in the difference between potentially challenging for an Olympic medal or thinking about what that would be like.

Canada, Czechia, Finland, Sweden and the United States each have a unique set of decisions to make in the coming weeks. ESPN did its first round of projections in November for those five teams. Now comes one final set of predictions about what those five nations could do with their respective rosters.

Jump to a roster:
United States
Canada
Sweden
Finland
Czechia

United States

United States of America

Note: Players in bold were the first six selected.

Team USA is facing many uncertainties entering the Dec. 31 roster deadline, which is reflected in my roster projection.

It’s a rather lengthy conversation that starts with how much injuries could impact what Team USA does with its final roster. Adam Fox (upper body) is out for an indefinite period, and Charlie McAvoy (puck to the face) could return later this week. There is also a quartet of players recovering from long-term injuries:

• Matthew Tkachuk (sports hernia and torn adductor) resumed skating in November with the idea that he could potentially return in December.

• Jaccob Slavin (lower body) began practicing on Dec. 2 in a noncontact sweater but has not played since Oct. 11.

• Jack Hughes (finger surgery) is expected to return to the lineup around the second week of January.

• Connor Hellebuyck (knee surgery) is on a path to return by early to mid-January.

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My projection takes those injuries into account, with the idea that those five players should be available for the Olympics. But there are other selection discussions that go beyond these five players.

Enter Jason Robertson.

Will he make the final cut if Team USA has a full complement of players, or is he in the mix only if there’s an injury at forward?

Robertson and his potential addition (or omission) has become a talking point because of what he has done since Nov. 5 (the date of my earlier roster projections). No player has scored more goals in that time than Robertson, and Nathan MacKinnon is the only player who has more points than Robertson within that window.

That has intensified the conversation about why Robertson should make the final roster, though there is an opposing side to the debate:

• Proponents will point out how he gives Team USA another scorer who can create for others. They’ll also note that Robertson provides the U.S. with a 6-3, 207-pound option for a tournament in which physically imposing players could play a role.

• Opponents will argue that there could be two-way players who provide more continuity in the defensive zone than Robertson. They’ll also likely present the case that Robertson is not the fastest or most technical of skaters — a detail that became one of the themes of the 4 Nations Face-Off, when it was superstar vs. superstar each shift.

Team USA general manager Bill Guerin told The Athletic in late November that Robertson is doing all he can to make a compelling case. Guerin also acknowledged that there are only so many roster spots. “And when you look at it, there’s so many guys that are close in the way they’re performing, in their statistics, in their body of work,” Guerin said then. “It could come down to fit. What do we need?”

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Jason Robertson scores on the power play for Dallas Stars

Jason Robertson capitalizes on the power play

Targeting defensibly responsible forwards was part of the blueprint Team USA used for the 4 Nations Face-Off. That approach is why there has been so much attention paid to Vincent Trocheck. He sustained an early-season upper-body injury that created questions about his place within the Team USA setup. Since returning on Nov. 10, he’s averaging 0.93 points per game. That’s the sort of production that reinforces his value as a two-way center who can anchor the fourth line and be used in numerous defensive situations.

Trocheck’s play is a contrast to his New York Rangers teammate J.T. Miller. There’s still a chance Miller could make the final roster given he is another two-way presence that can be used on the wing or down the middle. But his selection has been complicated by the fact that he’s averaging 0.62 points this season, despite having a 0.81 points-per-game career average.

That also highlights another reality facing Team USA: There is no shortage of forwards that Guerin and his staff could use to fill out those final spots:

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Tage Thompson tallies goal for Buffalo Sabres on the power play

Tage Thompson scores power-play goal vs. Flames

Having three defensemen who are injured or recovering from injuries means that the U.S. will need to stay nimble right until Dec. 31. They have some options on the blue line, too:

• Has John Carlson done enough to be in the discussion? His potential addition would give the U.S. another veteran. He has also been sixth in points among defensemen since Nov. 5.

• There are young player options, such as Lane Hutson, Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe, who have been logging heavy minutes over the past month. Veterans like Shayne Gostisbehere or Seth Jones could also be in play.

One area in which it appears Team USA could find continuity is goaltending. As I see it, the U.S. will retain the three goaltenders it used at the 4 Nations Face-Off: Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman and Hellebuyck, in the event he’s healthy. Joey Daccord and Spencer Knight have created compelling cases for why they could pose a selection discussion (particularly if Hellebuyck’s availability is in question).

Swayman, Oettinger and Knight are fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, in GSAA among goalies in 5-on-5 play (min. 300 minutes), per Natural Stat Trick. Daccord is 13th, and Hellebuyck, who last played Nov. 15, is 19th.

Canada

Canada

Note: Players in bold were the first six selected.

Creating the strongest and most strategic lineup possible is the objective for every front office. This particular projection is reflective of what Canada’s front office believes it can achieve, by creating a roster that allows coach Jon Cooper to have as many options as possible at his disposal based on his game-by-game strategy.

Many of Canada’s forwards have shown they can fit within that structure: They can score, create for themselves, create for others around them and defend in ways that allow them to be trusted in any scenario.

Determining how forwards like Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, Anthony Cirelli, Seth Jarvis, Wyatt Johnston, Mark Stone and Tom Wilson fit into those plans appears to be the primary challenge facing Canada’s front office ahead of the roster deadline.

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Why? Because it’s essentially choosing between having the additional personnel that fits within a proven plan, versus having players who can fit in to an altered strategy should circumstances change on the ground in Italy.

Cirelli, Jarvis and Stone are two-way players who can both score and create for teammates, but their defensive zone impact is just as crucial. Bedard and Johnston can provide instant offense, and Celebrini is a blend of both; he has shown he can perform highly in every area of the ice.

Wilson is an outlier, in that he might be the most unique forward of this group. He provides Canada with one more tall and heavy presence up front at 6-4 and 225 pounds, and also gives the team another forward who can create problems at the net front.

My projection goes with Bedard, Celebrini, Stone and Wilson to make the final roster because it is a way of getting all those items. Morgan Geekie and Bo Horvat, who could each finish with more than 50 goals this season, may give the Canadian front office some sleepless nights before the deadline.

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Macklin Celebrini’s hat trick wins it for Sharks in OT

Macklin Celebrini scores on the power play for San Jose Sharks

On defense, the emphasis is on players who can possess the puck, create for others and score goals. They must be able to be used in numerous situations while logging heavy minutes.

Experience and size are two of the assets they lost with Alex Pietrangelo, who is out recovering from a long-term hip injury. My projection gives Canada five defensemen who are each taller than 6-2, with the idea that there are other options to consider, like Evan Bouchard, Jakob Chychrun, Mike Matheson and Matthew Schaefer. Canada also has 6-0 Brandon Montour to consider.

Continuity and game strategy could be the hallmark for how Canada assembles its roster. That is also what makes the situation around goaltending difficult, because there’s been a lack of continuity (and long-term strategy).

The three goalies Canada brought to the 4 Nations Face-Off — Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault — have had challenging 2025-26 seasons. A lower-body injury sent Hill to injured reserve in October, and he is possibly weeks away from returning. Montembeault has the worst GSAA of any goalie in the NHL in 5-on-5 play (min. 300 minutes) as of Dec. 8.

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The discussion around Binnington has become a rather complicated endeavor. The St. Louis Blues struggled in the first quarter of the season, but entered Dec. 9 just two points out of a playoff spot. Part of what has made the discourse around Binnington complex is that the Blues were one of the strongest teams in the NHL in allowing the fewest scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in the first quarter. But Binnington is 53rd in save percentage — of the 57 goalies who qualify in the NHL. He has the fourth-lowest GSAA in all scenarios, and the sixth-lowest GSAA in 5-on-5 play entering Dec. 9, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Of course, one of the counters to those questions is that Binnington has a history of overcoming his inconsistencies to win important games. He had a combined .895 save percentage in December and January last season before backstopping Canada to a 4 Nations Face-Off title. He also led the Blues to a Stanley Cup win in 2019, including a clinching victory on the road in Game 7.

Binnington recently told The Canadian Press that he was “aware of what’s going on, and you want to put yourself in the best position to make that team and make it easy for the people making the decision.” He added, “At the same time, I feel like I’ve been around the league for a decent amount of time, and I know that if I control my inner world and what I need to do to feel at my best, then the rest will take care of itself.”

He made the cut (and the starting nod) in my projection, but the other two spots bring new faces. Logan Thompson entered Dec. 8 ranked first in GSAA among those with more than 10 games, and Scott Wedgewood was third, per Natural Stat Trick. Those two round out the goalie battery for Canada.

Could others like Jake Allen, Mackenzie Blackwood, Tristan Jarry and Darcy Kuemper present a case before New Year’s Eve?

Sweden

Sweden

Note: Players in bold were the first six selected.

Sweden has quite a few moving parts it must manage. The need for consistency is even more crucial upon knowing that the Dec. 31 roster deadline is quickly approaching.

Elias Pettersson is one of the players at the heart of this conversation. He faced questions at the start of the season about whether he would be a better fit at center or on the wing, considering his offensive struggles along with Sweden’s additional options down the middle. Pettersson came into Dec. 8 averaging 0.79 points per game, while on a team that is in the bottom third of the NHL in goals per game. He also missed the Canucks’ past two games with a lower-body injury.

It has all led to a discussion about who makes the most sense at second-line center between Elias Lindholm, Mika Zibanejad and Pettersson. Lindholm returned from a lower-body injury and scored eight points in his first eight games back, averaging 0.85 points per game for the season. Zibanejad averaged 0.78 points per game through his first 31 games and came into Dec. 8 as the second-highest scoring center in terms of points among Swedes.

I’ve got Zibanejad centering the second line, with Lindholm in the middle of the third and Pettersson on the wing.

Deliberating between those three — with the idea that Joel Eriksson Ek can anchor the fourth line — also comes as Sweden awaits news on William Karlsson. He sustained a lower-body injury in mid-November that led to him being moved to long-term injured reserve on Dec. 6. Karlsson makes the final roster in this projection, with the idea he could be an extra forward who can play down the middle or on the wing.

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Elias Pettersson scores while falling down for Canucks

Elias Pettersson nets an impressive goal while falling onto the ice to give the Canucks a 2-1 lead over the Sharks.

Sweden has seen progress in other areas of the lineup. Gabriel Landeskog went from three points in his first 12 games to having nine points in 13 games in November. Two-way veteran forward Marcus Johansson is averaging 0.69 points per game, one of the strongest offensive campaigns of any Sweden player.

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This could result in Sweden’s front office having a difficult decision to make when it comes to finalizing its forward group. Among those left off my roster, Andre Burakovsky, William Eklund and Emil Heineman have each made cases, and Rickard Rakell could also be under consideration despite the fact that he broke his hand in mid-November and is expected to return around mid-January.

The only injury concern facing Sweden’s blue line was Victor Hedman, who returned on Dec. 6 after a nearly monthlong absence. And in fact, my projected roster here has Sweden taking the same D group it used at the 4 Nations Face-Off, plus Hampus Lindholm.

Who’s making a late push? Oliver Ekman-Larsson had the most points of any Swedish defenseman this season entering Dec. 8, and Philip Broberg was fourth in average minutes played among Swedish defensemen. Simon Edvinsson and Adam Larsson could also be in the mix.

Now comes the most interesting question facing Sweden: Is Minnesota Wild rookie Jesper Wallstedt going to Milan-Cortina?

As of Dec. 8, Wallstedt is in the top three in the NHL in GSAA, goals-against average and save percentage among goalies with more than 10 games played. He has worked in tandem with fellow Swede Filip Gustavsson to create one of the best duos in the NHL. I’m sending both Gustavsson and Wallstedt to Italy.

Jacob Markstrom and Linus Ullmark have not fared up to expectation this season. Both entered Dec. 8 carrying save percentages below .880. Ullmark’s performance is particularly puzzling; the Ottawa Senators are among the top five teams in the NHL in fewest scoring chances allowed per 60, fewest high-danger chances allowed per 60 and fewest shots allowed per 60, and the former Vezina Trophy winner’s save percentage is a career-low .877.

Finland

Finland

Note: Players in bold were the first six selected.

Finland continues to encounter an extra degree of difficulty when building its roster, because there seems to be some sort of new injury on a near-weekly basis.

It started with Aleksander Barkov tearing his ACL and MCL in training camp. That was followed by Kaapo Kakko, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Rasmus Ristolainen all missing the start of the regular season with injuries.

Kakko returned on Nov. 1, got injured on Nov. 13 and returned again on Nov. 29. Luukkonen has remained mostly healthy, and Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet provided a timeline on Dec. 3 for Ristolainen’s potential return, saying, “It’s not a month and it’s not a week.” There’s also the fact that Juuso Valimaki, who was on Finland’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster but didn’t play, sustained a knee injury that required surgery last season and has yet to play this season.

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Adding on to that list, Patrik Laine underwent core surgery in late October. He’ll miss three to four months, with his earliest return being Jan. 25. That would give him a five-game window to get ready for the Olympics if he’s named to the final roster. Mikael Granlund (lower body), Eetu Luostarinen (burns from a grilling accident) and Jesperi Kotkaniemi (ankle) were each on IR at various points this season and returned during the first weekend of December. Olli Maatta (upper body) has been out of the lineup since mid-November.

My roster projection takes those injuries into account, with the premise that everyone except Barkov and potentially Laine should be fully healthy when Finland’s front office submits its final roster on Dec. 31. It’s possible Finland could select Laine, but that puts a lot of faith in a five-game window after a major surgery being enough preparation for the Olympics.

Juggling that many injury concerns — with the reality that there could be even more in the coming weeks — has made depth even more imperative. Finland has forwards like Matias Maccelli and Aatu Raty who didn’t make the cut in my projection, but either could make the final cut or be called upon should another injury arise.

Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that 13 of the 28 Finnish forwards who have played a game in the NHL this season had five points or fewer entering Dec. 9. It’s the sort of dynamic that could prompt Finland’s front office to consider Finnish players who aren’t in the NHL, such as Jesse Puljujarvi.

It’s a similar situation with Finland’s defense. Finland has had only seven defensemen who have played a game in the NHL this season.

Czechia

Czechia

Note: Players in bold were the first six selected.

Like its Finnish counterparts, Czechia’s front office is trying to figure out how it can piece together its best possible roster while navigating injuries. And as noted above with Puljujarvi, Czechia may also rely upon quite a few personnel currently playing in Europe.

Filip Chytil, who has had his career interrupted by injuries, sustained an upper-body injury this season that has kept him on IR since Oct. 20. He resumed skating in mid-November but a timeline has not been given for his return. Jiri Kulich remains out indefinitely with blood clots, while Tomas Nosek continues to recover from a knee injury with the expectation he will miss the Olympics. Czechia’s front office is also monitoring Michal Kempny’s status after he sustained an injury on Nov. 27 while playing in Sweden, with no reported timetable for his return.

Chytil and Kempny are included on my roster because there appears to be enough of a runway for them to prepare for the Olympics. If not, that would leave Czechia seeking another forward to fill its top nine while also losing one of its top six defensemen.

Certain portions of Czechia’s projected roster is in flux. Czechia has seen players like Adam Klapka get more playing time this season, while others like Ondrej Palat are playing every game but struggling. Palat is projected to finish with a career-low 14 points in an 82-game season.

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Another player who has struggled this season is David Tomasek. He averaged 1.21 points per game playing in Sweden last season, but his transition to the NHL has been difficult, with five points through his first 19 games. There’s also the possibility that David Kampf could factor into the discussion now that he’s consistently playing games in the NHL again.

All of the above is what has made the performances of those playing in Europe even more important toward creating the strongest Czechia roster. There are forwards like Ondrej Beranek, Filip Chlapik, Ondrej Kase, Michael Spacek and Matej Stransky who are having strong seasons. Jan Kostalek and Libor Zabransky provide another set of options on defense. Kostalek has 27 points in 28 games. Zabransky had 11 goals and 21 points and is second in average ice time through his first 29 games in the Extraliga this season.

Czechia also has some deliberating to do with its goalies beyond Lukas Dostal. The conversation started gaining momentum when rookie Jakub Dobes won his first six starts this season while posting a .930 save percentage. However, he has gone 4-4-2 in 10 games since, with a save percentage below .900 in six of those contests.

Dostal and Dan Vladar are both in the top 22 of GSAA among goalies with 300 minutes or more played this season. Karel Vejmelka is 42nd and Dobes is 44th entering Dec. 9, according to Natural Stat Trick. So I give the slight edge to Vejmelka in this final projection.

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The run-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup began in earnest Friday, with the group-by-group draw for the 48-team field revealed. (Eventually. After musical performances, the typical FIFA- and Kennedy Center-style bombast and, for some reason, Kevin Hart.)

The complete schedule won’t be revealed until Saturday — why rush, right? — but we know who, where and when the tournament’s hosts will play. Let’s break down what the U.S. men’s national team will face and make some immediate, ironclad and infallible predictions.

Game-by-game breakdown

There’s a chance that the U.S. will end up in a group with three teams it has already played in 2025. The Americans beat Australia in an October friendly and Paraguay in November; meanwhile, they lost to Türkiye in June. Türkiye will be the favorite to advance from UEFA’s Path C playoff, one that also involves Kosovo, Slovakia and Romania.

Paraguay

June 12 | Inglewood, California
FIFA ranking: 39
Elo ranking: 21

When the U.S. beat Paraguay 2-1 in Philadelphia last month, it was seen as a sign of solid progress — Paraguay finished only one point outside of second in CONMEBOL qualification, beating Brazil (1-0), Argentina (2-1) and Uruguay (2-0) at home and finishing with more qualification wins than losses for the first time since 2010.

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Paraguay boast some familiar faces for American fans: Veteran winger Miguel Almirón plays for Atlanta United again after a long stint at Newcastle United, and 22-year-old midfielder Diego Gómez has been a breakout performer for Brighton & Hove Albion this season in the Premier League. Strasbourg’s 21-year-old Julio Enciso is quickly making a name for himself as well. But the meat of this squad plays in South America — captain Gustavo Gómez, with his 86 caps, plays for Palmeiras, as does midfielder Ramón Sosa, and a majority of the 26-man roster will likely hail from clubs in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

After Gio Reyna‘s early strike gave the U.S. the lead in Philly, Almirón assisted on an Alex Arce goal to make it 1-1 before Folarin Balogun scored in the 71st minute to give the U.S. the win in a cagey match that featured 50% more fouls (24) than shot attempts (16). Expect similar physicality at SoFi Stadium.

Australia

June 19 | Seattle
FIFA ranking: 26
Elo ranking: 30

A full week after the Paraguay match, the U.S. will head to Seattle to face another recent foe. Australia made easy work of World Cup qualification, losing only once in 16 matches and outscoring outmanned opponents by a combined 52-3. They began 2025 with seven straight wins before their 2-1 defeat to the U.S., and in the past two years they’ve played 10 teams in this World Cup field, losing to only the U.S. and, in February 2024, South Korea.

This is a strong, cohesive team, but it lacks a bit when it comes to major-club talent. Among recent call-ups, only midfielders Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe (both St. Pauli), defenders Kasey Bos (Mainz) and Alessandro Circati (Parma) and veteran goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (Levante) play for teams in Europe’s Big Five leagues. (Bos has yet to make an official national team appearance.)

Feyenoord’s Jordan Bos put Australia ahead of the U.S. in October’s friendly before two Haji Wright goals, both assisted by Cristian Roldan, gave the Americans the win. Australia allowed the U.S. to dominate possession (63%) but gave up just 11 shot attempts, three from within 14 meters. That was normal: They are natural and willing underdogs, happy to cede the ball and create counterattacking opportunities — even while rolling through qualification; in fact, they enjoyed only 53% possession.

UEFA Path C playoff winner: Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo

June 25 | Inglewood, California
FIFA rankings: Türkiye (25), Slovakia (45), Romania (47), Kosovo (80)
Elo rankings: Türkiye (15), Kosovo (42), Slovakia (48), Romania (53)

The U.S. beat Australia in an October friendly, and the two sides will meet in their second group stage game at next summer’s World Cup. Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images

It’s hard to preview four teams at once, but let’s give it a try. On March 26, Slovakia will host Kosovo in one playoff semifinal while Türkiye and Romania meet in the other. The winners will face off five days later with a spot in Group D — and a June 25 date with the U.S. in Southern California — on the line.

As you can see from the rankings above, Türkiye have to be considered the favorites to advance, although the prospect of winning a pair of single-elimination matches means that no one can be heavy favorites. Türkiye indeed defeated the U.S. in East Hartford in June: Jack McGlynn scored in the first minute for the hosts, but goals from Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Fenerbahce’s Kerem Aktürkoglu gave Türkiye an advantage they wouldn’t cede. In Güler, Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Can Uzun — all 20 years old — the team boasts some of the brightest young attacking talent in the world, although defense let it down at times in World Cup qualification: Türkiye gave up eight goals in two matches against Spain.

If Türkiye don’t advance, Slovakia might be considered the second favorites. They have reached the knockout rounds of two of the past three World Cups, and their squad could feature veterans such as midfielder Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli) and defenders Milan Skriniar (Fenerbahce) and Dávid Hancko (Atlético Madrid). They beat Germany to begin qualification play, but a lack of scoring (six goals in six matches) rendered them the group runners-up.

Meanwhile, Romania placed third in their qualification group, behind Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina, but advanced to the playoff thanks to a strong Nations League performance. It would bring an experienced squad to the U.S. — and there would be symmetry of sorts, with the Americans and Romanians sharing a group just as they did in 1994 — but there isn’t a lot of major-club talent on the squad. Kosovo are playing for their first major tournament berth since declaring independence 15 years ago and boast quite a few players in Serie A (including captain Amir Rrahmani, of Napoli) and the Bundesliga (including 23-year-old TSG Hoffenheim star Fisnik Asllani). — Bill Connelly

How far will the U.S. go?

Connelly: Though Türkiye could end up being a high-end obstacle, this is about as favorable of a group as the U.S. could have hoped for. Paraguay and Australia are talented, but neither is in the top 20 of either the current FIFA or Elo rankings, and if Türkiye don’t advance, there will be no top-20 teams.

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We’ll keep these predictions simple and, well, predictable. Home teams usually fare rather well in the World Cup, and with even stronger and more partisan crowds in its favor than it saw in late-2025 friendlies, we’ll say that the U.S. is able to back up those friendly wins with victories in its first two matches. The Americans will survive a physical test from Paraguay by a 1-0 margin, then beat Australia 3-1 with a late counterattacking score. That will take the pressure off for the final match, and while it would be pretty easy to predict a loss or draw against Türkiye and a win over any of the other playoff winners, we’ll split the difference and call for a 1-1 draw. That will put the U.S. at seven points, which would have won any of the groups in the 2022 World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team will advance to play the third-place squad in Group B, E, F, I or J, and a win would potentially put the Americans up against Group G’s winner (probably Belgium) in the round of 16. Again: It’s hard to ask for a draw much more favorable than this, even if a quarterfinal berth likely means a matchup with Spain, England, Portugal or Colombia.

Jeff Carlisle:I think for the U.S., Group D has some tricky aspects to it, especially if Türkiye emerge from the playoff. If that happens, the average FIFA rank in Group D will make it the most competitive in the tournament. My sense, however, is it could have been far worse. The U.S. avoided Norway from Pot 3 and Italy (probably) from Pot 4, and Australia is one of the lower-ranked teams from Pot 2. The U.S. has also beaten two out of the three likely teams in its group in the past two months, those being Australia and Paraguay.

For that reason, as well as the fact that the Americans will enjoy the support of the home crowd, the U.S. should expect to win the group. And in many respects, it needs to win the group. Doing that would see it play one of the third-place teams in the round of 32 before potentially facing the winner of Group G in the round of 16, with Belgium the favorite to emerge from that group.

But make no mistake, this will not by any means be easy. Though the U.S. defeated Australia and Paraguay, the matches weren’t pushovers. Türkiye beat the U.S. quite easily in June, but that seems like a lifetime ago for this U.S. squad. In the meantime, the goal for the U.S. over the next six months will be to continue to improve.

Cesar Hernandez: Sure, Australia and Paraguay won’t be easy and the U.S. just narrowly defeated both of them 2-1 in the fall, but Pochettino should feel confident about his team’s chances in its first two matches of the group stage. Assuming the Americans get the job done and avoid a loss, they seem likely to collect three more points against the European playoff winner: Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo.

Subsequently, as the leader of Group D, it would then have the benefit of facing a third-place side in the round of 32. Once through there, though, the odds are likely that the Americans would face a team such as Belgium in the round of 16. Even with a home-field advantage that’ll boost its chances, it’s difficult to predict a successful result against the highly talented European side.

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‘That’s my house alarm!’ Frank Leboeuf interrupts World Cup draw watchalong

Frank Leboeuf is left red-faced as his mobile phone alarm goes off during the ESPN FC Live World Cup draw watchalong.

It might not be a dream run for the Americans, but they’ll at least have one knockout round win in hand.

All that said, the group stage won’t be simple either, especially if Türkiye earn that final ticket into Group D. Their introduction could make this more of a free-for-all in the chase for knockout round invitations.

Lizzy Becherano: The U.S. can and should dream about reaching way beyond the group stage of the tournament.

The Americans’ opener against Paraguay will be a difficult but fair matchup. Although just a friendly, the U.S. just beat Paraguay 2-1 in the November international window. The stakes will be much higher next summer, but at least Pochettino saw a glimpse of success against the future opponents.

As for the game against Australia, the U.S. enters as favorite with the comfort of playing at home. Although Pochettino & Co. can’t truly start planning until a winner from March’s playoff is confirmed, any of the four options can be considered beatable. Türkiye would pose the greatest threat, but dreaming of a first-place group stage finish is possible.

Realistically, the U.S. can advance as winner of Group D, giving the Americans better odds of less stressful route in the knockouts. On home turf, the U.S. has a decent chance of impressing at the 2026 World Cup.

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Justin Thomas is currently recovering from back surgery he underwent earlier this month. But a tournament from September is still stuck in Thomas’ craw: the disastrous 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

Thomas might not be able to play golf right now, but he can still talk. And in an appearance on the No Laying Up podcast, the two-time major champion opined about the U.S.’s devastating loss at the Ryder Cup.

And in the most interesting moment, Thomas confirmed a suspicion about a contributing factor in the Americans’ lopsided defeat: that the greens were far slower than captain Keegan Bradley wanted them to be. But he went even further, revealing that the U.S. team “fought with” the tournament greens crew to make the greens faster.

Slow Bethpage greens factor into U.S. Ryder Cup loss

Among the many variables that went into the European Ryder Cup team’s total dominance on Friday and Saturday at Bethpage Black was the course setup.

First, Bethpage Black’s notorious rough was cut short, shocking many people on the grounds that week. The rough was Captain Bradley’s choice. He and his team determined shorter rough would benefit the long-hitting American team.

‘Made a mistake’: Keegan Bradley shares first Ryder Cup regret

By:

Josh Berhow

The opposite turned out to be true, and in the aftermath Bradley admitted it was a mistake.

The green speeds at Bethpage Black that week are another story. Bradley and the U.S. team wanted the greens to be PGA Tour-level fast, which would have given the experienced Americans a distinct putting advantage.

But when play began on Friday at Bethpage, Bradley and everyone else realized the greens were nowhere near as fast as they wanted them to be.

The U.S. captain revealed as much Saturday night of Ryder Cup week after the Europeans trounced the U.S. team for a second-straight day.

“I’ve never seen Bethpage greens play this soft ever,” Bradley said that night. “Even when we’ve played here and it’s rained, this is something that I’ve never seen. Chip shots are spinning backwards.”

On Sunday, the maintenance crew finally got the greens running quick, and the U.S. team flipped the script on the course, dominating play and nearly coming all the way back to win.

Thanks to Thomas’ appearance on No Laying Up, we now have insight into what exactly was going on with the putting surfaces during the Ryder Cup.

Thomas: U.S. Ryder Cup team feuded with Bethpage staff over green speeds

About an hour into his interview with No Laying Up, Thomas was asked about the slow-green controversy at the Ryder Cup, and he didn’t hold back.

The 16-time PGA Tour winner first expressed his confusion and frustration with the situation.

“I don’t really understand that. I don’t know why [the greens] weren’t at all what Keegan [Bradley] had asked for. I mean, he had been pretty clear of asking for a certain speed and wanting them fast enough,” Thomas began.

‘This effing event’: Keegan Bradley questions Ryder Cup future in first comments since Bethpage

By:

Kevin Cunningham

According to Thomas’ comments, the issue wasn’t that the Bethpage crew members were unable to speed up the greens, but that they were in denial that the greens were playing slow.

That led to backroom squabbling as the U.S. team begged them to speed up the putting surfaces.

“I watched them argue with us that they were 13s [on the Stimpmeter]. It’s like, ‘Guys, we play golf every week, like, look on TV at how many guys are leaving putts short. Nobody is getting … You can’t have a putt, roll, three feet, four feet past the hole. Like these greens are slow, speed them up.”

He continued by explaining the real impact of the dust-up over the greens: it turned a distinct advantage for the home team into a disadvantage.

“It was just bizarre because that’s not something you would expect at a home Ryder Cup. And again, that’s not an excuse, [the European players] had to adjust to them just as much as we did. That’s kind of a fun advantage you generally have [as a home Ryder Cup team] is being able to do that a little bit, and it was just so frustrating that we were being fought with and argued with on the speed of the greens that we asked for. So that was bizarre,” Thomas told No Laying Up.

Thomas confirmed the greens were faster on Sunday. But that was one day too late. The Americans’ furious charge in Sunday singles couldn’t make up for the first two days, and the Europeans reclaimed the Ryder Cup 15-13.

You can watch Thomas’ full appearance on the No Laying Up podcast here.

As we barrel further into the NHLâ€s 2025-26 campaign, the leagueâ€s potential post-season picture is coming into focus.

Itâ€s still early — absurdly early. Most clubs head into this weekend with roughly 60 games left to play. Still, history suggests this early stretch can be oddly indicative of how the standings might shake out by the yearâ€s end.

More specifically, by this point in the season — about 20-25 games in, which tends to fall around U.S. Thanksgiving — the standings start to separate into contenders and pretenders. Each year, the majority of clubs that sit outside a post-season spot by this point in the campaign end up stuck there by the time Game 82 rolls around.

Case in point: Of the 16 teams that sat outside a post-season spot at this point last year, only four made it back into the mix by the end of the campaign (the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and St. Louis Blues). One year earlier, only three clubs thatâ€d sat outside the playoffs in late November found a way back in by the yearâ€s end (the New York Islanders, Nashville Predators and Oilers). A year before that, it was the same story, with only three clubs getting back (the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and, once again, the Oilers).

There are simply too many teams around the league who can earn a win on any given night, who can throw a wet blanket on a momentum-building win streak. For clubs who dig themselves a hefty hole in October and November, the chances of closing the gap from December on, of stringing together a run that launches them back up the standings, seem slim.

And yet, 2025-26 has served up a bit of a plot twist. While the Western Conference seems to be following the same type of pattern weâ€ve seen in years past, the East seems far more difficult to predict, given that much of the conference sits mashed together with roughly the same number of points. That being the case, letâ€s check in on each conferenceâ€s playoff bubble at the U.S. Thanksgiving benchmark to get a sense of who might still be there come April.

As it currently stands, Los Angeles and Utah hold the Westâ€s two wild-card spots, with 28 and 27 points, respectively. Behind them, four clubs sit within a handful of points: Chicago, San Jose and Edmonton, all at 25 points; and Winnipeg, a hair behind with 24.

All four of those bubble clubs find themselves in an interesting moment this season. Chicago and San Jose seem to finally be building towards post-season relevancy, thriving on the back of breakout efforts from young talismans Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini. The Oilers, coming off back-to-back Cup Final appearances, have stumbled out of the gates, but surely expect another deep run. And the Jets are similarly navigating a slow start, fresh off a Presidents†Trophy-winning 2024-25 season.

History suggests all four making it back into the mix is unlikely. So, who wins out and claws their way up the ladder — the young up-and-comers or the proven vets?

The difficulty of the path ahead figures to have some impact on how it all shakes out. San Jose, for example, has the most favourable remaining schedule of any club in the league, according to Tankathon, which calculates each clubâ€s strength of schedule by combining the points percentage of their remaining opponents.

Edmontonâ€s not far behind the Sharks in terms of a favourable path forward, and Chicago ranks in the middle of the pack. On the other hand, Winnipeg’s remaining schedule is among the toughest of any club in in the West.

For the two clubs above that group, the pair currently sitting in wild-card slots, the path ahead seems to favour the vets. The Kings, whoâ€ve earned a playoff spot in each of the past four years and seem a good bet to wind up there again, have one of the most favourable paths forward in terms of the strength of their remaining schedule. While Utah, aiming to earn its first playoff berth in its new city, are up among the Western clubs with the toughest schedules to trudge through.

Rounding out the Western standings, the four basement-dwellers â€” Vancouver (22 points), St. Louis (21), Nashville (19) and Calgary (18) — seem to be in tough to find a path back. The gap thatâ€s already opened up above them seems hefty, the clubs between them and a playoff spot have plenty of talent spread among their rosters, and none of these four enter December with the kind of momentum that suggests a surge is coming.

Itâ€s a different story out East. While four clubs in the West sit within a handful of a wild-card spot, in the East, the majority of the conference is arguably still in the mix.

The New York Islanders sit in the first wild-card spot with 28 points, while the Pittsburgh Penguins are holding down the second with 27. Behind the Pens, three other clubs sit with 27 points as well (the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings), two more sit just one point back (the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers). And behind them? The two-time Cup champs, at 25 points, are just a pair off the wild-card clubs.

Zoom out further and, in all, 11 of the 16 teams in the East sit between 25-28 points. A couple of wins here and a couple of losses there could turn the whole thing upside down. So, who among those clubs currently on the outside — Montreal, Philadelphia, Detroit, Columbus, the Rangers, and Florida — have the best shot at upending the current setup and getting back in?

In terms of pure talent and pedigree, Montreal and Florida appear the favourites. Injuries have derailed both teams†seasons — the Cats are navigating life without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, while Montreal has waded through a slew of its own injuries. Still, another deep run from the Panthers seems inevitable, and the Habs†young core entered this season with plenty of promise.

Meanwhile, Philly, Detroit and Columbus are all mired in playoff droughts of various lengths, but none of them have made it to the dance in the past half-decade. And the Rangers, fresh off crashing out last season and turning over much of their roster, still seem out of sorts in 2025-26.

In terms of the path ahead for each among that group, the Panthers have the most favourable schedule moving forward, and one of the most favourable remaining schedules of any Eastern club. The Jackets, Red Wings and Rangers, on the other hand, all rank among the leagueâ€s top five in terms of the difficulty of their remaining schedule, making their paths back even tougher, while Montreal and Philly are both closer to the middle of the pack.

The Penguins seem far from a sure thing when it comes to that wild-card race, too. Pittsburgh started the campaign on fire in October, with new head coach Dan Muse, a slew of new faces, and improved play from their veterans all pointing to a black-and-gold revival. But theyâ€ve fallen back to earth somewhat in November, going 3-4-3 through their past 10 games. And looking ahead, while the fellow wild-card Islanders have one of the most favourable remaining paths, the Pens rank right around the top of the league in terms of the difficulty of their remaining schedule, so the pressure will be on.Â

Still, thereâ€s no question who heads into December under the most scrutiny. Toronto and Buffalo round out the group as the bottom two clubs in the East. And while the Sabres have missed the playoffs for the past 14 years, the Maple Leafs havenâ€t been on the outside in a decade — theyâ€ve earned a spot every year since Auston Matthews debuted in blue and white — and theyâ€re coming off a season that saw them finish as division champs, saw them get to Game 7 of Round 2 against the eventual champions.

Maybe thatâ€s a sign that theyâ€ll rally. With how tight the conference has been to this point, the Maple Leafs rank second-last in the East yet sit only four points behind Pittsburgh. But given how out of sorts the club has looked, and how many quality teams sit between them and a playoff spot, it wonâ€t be an easy climb. Making matters worse: Of all the clubs on the bubble, Toronto has one of the most challenging paths forward, passing U.S. Thanksgiving with the third-toughest remaining schedule of any club in the East.

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The NCAA started allowing CHL players to play in the U.S. college ranks this season, after a rule change in 2024.

Commitments continue to come in each week.

Here’s a look at players from the WHL, OHL and QMJHL who have made NCAA commitments for the 2026-27 season and beyond. NHL Draft information is in brackets.

Brandon Wheat Kings
C Nicholas Johnson, Ferris State

Calgary Hitmen
C Brandon Gorzynski, Arizona State (Dallas Stars, fourth round, 2025)
C Kale Dach, Penn State (Pittsburgh Penguins, seventh round, 2025)
LW Ethan Merner, Merrimack

Edmonton Oil Kings
D Ethan MacKenzie, North Dakota
RW Andrew O’Neill, North Dakota
LW Lukas Sawchyn, Arizona State

Everett Silvertips
LW Shea Busch, Penn State (Florida Panthers, fourth round, 2025)

Kamloops Blazers
RW Nathan Behm, Arizona State (Chicago Blackhawks, third round, 2025)
RW Cooper Moore, Augustana
F JP Hurlbert, Michigan
D Carson Olsen, UMass Lowell

Kelowna Rockets
RW Kalder Varga, Denver for 2027-28
G Harrison Boettiger, Denver

Lethbridge Hurricanes
C Logan Wormold, Nebraska-Omaha

Medicine Hat Tigers
G Carter Casey, Minnesota for 2027-28

Moose Jaw Warriors
D Aiden Ziprick, Bemidji State
G Kyle Jones, UMass Lowell

Penticton Vees
RW Diego Johnson, UConn
D Nolan Stevenson, St. Cloud State
LW Brady Birnie, Bemidji State

Portland Winterhawks
C Ryan Miller, Denver (Pittsburgh Penguins, fifth round, 2025)
RW Nathan Free, Penn State

Prince Albert Raiders
D Justice Christensen, Nebraska-Omaha
LW Ty Meunier, Nebraska-Omaha
D Linden Burrett, Alaska-Fairbanks
C Evan Smith, Alaska-Fairbanks

Prince George Cougars
F Brock Souch, St. Cloud State

Regina Pats
D Matt Paranych, Bowling Green State

Saskatoon Blades
C Tyler Parr, Union College
C Cooper Williams, North Dakota
C Hayden Harsanyi, Colorado College
C Zachery Olsen, Colorado College for 2027-28

Seattle Thunderbirds
C Cameron Kuzma, Lake Superior State
C Maddux Martin, Merrimack

Swift Current Broncos
C Otto Hansen, Western Michigan

Tri-City Americans
RW Savin Virk, Michigan State

Vancouver Giants
RW Ty Halaburda, Colorado College

Victoria Royals
LW Heath Nelson, Augustana

Wenatchee Wild
D Josh Toll, St. Thomas
F Sam Elliott, Merrimack
RW Caelan Joudrey, Quinnipiac for 2027-28

Brantford Bulldogs
LW Sam McCue, Bowling Green State (Toronto Maple Leafs, seventh round, 2024)
C Caleb Malhotra, Boston

Erie Otters
LW Ritter Coombs, Providence College
D Tristen Trevino, Robert Morris
C Callum Hughes, Boston

Flint Firebirds
C Jimmy Lombardi, Michigan (Los Angeles Kings, fourth round, 2025)
D George Komadoski, Notre Dame for 2027-28

Guelph Storm
D Eric Frossard, Notre Dame

Kingston Frontenacs
RW Nolan Snyder, Penn State for 2028-29

Kitchener Rangers
G Christian Kirsch, UMass Amherst (San Jose Sharks, fourth round, 2024)
D Carson Campbell, Bowling Green State
D Jacob Xu, Harvard for 2027-28

London Knights
LW Evan Van Gorp, Maine
LW Rene Van Bommel, Lake Superior State
F Ben Wilmott, Ohio State
C Braidy Wassilyn, Boston University

Niagara IceDogs
LW Cole Cooksey, Merrimack
D Hayden Reid, Clarkson

North Bay Battalion
D Brandt Harper, Michigan
D Jonathan Kapageridis, Vermont
D Alexander Karmanov, Penn State for 2027-28

Oshawa Generals
C Brooks Rogowski, Michigan State for 2027-28

Ottawa 67’s
D Connor Bewick, Penn State
RW Jaxon Williams, Wisconsin for 2027-28
LW Shaan Kingwell, Princeton
C Thomas Vandenburg, Providence College for 2027-28

Owen Sound Attack
C Masen Wray, Holy Cross for 2027-28
LW Pierce Mbuyi, Penn State, start date TBD
LW Nicholas Sykora, Qunnipiac
C Landon Jackman, Qunnipiac for 2027-28
LW Jake Crawford, Bowling Green State
D Noah Roberts, Sacred Hart

Peterborough Petes
D Genc Ula, Vermont for 2027-28
C Gerry DiCunzolo, Penn State for 2027-28

Saginaw Spirit
D Drew Roscoe, Michigan for 2027-28
F Egor Barabanov, Penn State
LW Sebastian Gervais, Clarkson
D James Guo, RPI
RW Nikita Klepov, Michigan State for 2027-28

Sarnia Sting
F Matthew Manza, Ohio State for 2027-28
C Beckham Edwards, Notre Dame for 2027-28

Soo Greyhounds
RW Jordan Charron, St. Lawrence (Pittsburgh Penguins, fifth round, 2025)
D Chase Reid, Michigan State for 2027-28
D Callum Croskery, Boston College for 2027-28

Windsor Spitfires
D Carter Hicks, UConn for 2027-28
LW Cole Davis, UConn

Blainville-Boisbriand Armanda
C Vincent Desjardins, Nebraska-Omaha
LW Rafael Cloutier, Clarkson

Charlottetown Islanders
C Jude Herron, Maine for 2026-27
D Marcus Kearsey, Northeastern
RW Ross Campbell, Maine for 2027-28
D Nathan Leek, Ferris State

Chicoutimi Sagueneens
D Alex Huang, Harvard (Nashville Predators, fourth round, 2025)
LW Gryphon Bucci, Merrimack
C Nathan Lecompte, Northeastern

Drummondville Voltigeurs
LW Jesse Allecia, New Hampshire

Halifax Mooseheads
RW William Bent, Providence College for 2027-28
D Mathieu Taillefer, UMass Amherst
C Liam Kilfoil, Northeastern

Moncton Wildcats
G Rudy Guimond, Harvard (Detroit Red Wings, sixth round, 2023)
C Teddy Mutryn, Boston College (San Jose Sharks, third round, 2025)
F Niko Tournas, New Hampshire
LW Spencer Thornborough, Maine for 2027-28
D Carl-Otto Magnusson, UConn
RW Rian Chudzinski, Boston

Newfoundland Regiment
C Maddex Marmulak, Cornell
LW Dominic Pilote, UMass Amherst
LW Justin Larose, Michigan

Quebec Remparts
C Nathan Quinn, Northeastern for 2027-28 (Philadelphia Flyers, sixth round, 2025)

Rimouski Oceanic
F Thomas Belzil, UMass Amherst
D Jack Martin, Holy Cross

Saint John Sea Dogs
D Cameron Chartrand, Boston College for 2027-28

Shawinigan Cataractes
C Cole Chandler, Northeastern (Boston Bruins, fifth round, 2025)
D Brogan McNeil, Alaska-Fairbanks
C Vince Elie, Clarkson

Victoriaville Tigres
D Simon-Pier Brunet, Merrimack (Buffalo Sabres, fourth round, 2024)
C Egor Shilov, 17, Boston for 2027-28

Sources for commitment information: College Hockey Inc., WHL, OHL, QMJHL

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It’s American Thanksgiving, so any NHL team in a playoff spot by this point should be grateful.

Historically, about three-quarters of NHL teams that are currently in a Stanley Cup playoff spot end up making the post-season. As for the other quarter, they blew their opportunity.

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Last American Thanksgiving, the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks were in a playoff spot. They all fell out, and the Rangers, Flyers and Canucks even changed coaches in the off-season.

Also on the last U.S. Thanksgiving, the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens were the bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference. They made the playoffs. And in the West, the Colorado Avalanche bounced back from an ugly start, while the St. Louis Blues went on a late-season surge to make the first round.

With that said, let’s examine teams currently out of a playoff spot that could climb in and who they could replace in the standings.

Edmonton Oilers

Why they’re out of a playoff spot right now: Keeping the puck out of the net is the Oilers†Achilles Heel at the moment. Edmonton ranks 31st with a goals-against average of 3.72. Starter Stuart Skinner has a 3.18 goals-against average and a save percentage of .878, but the defense in front of them hasn’t been excellent.

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Why they could climb in: With Skinner and backup Calvin Pickard struggling, the chances of acquiring a new goalie is rising significantly. And with a bump in effectiveness between the pipes, Edmontonâ€s offense could power them into a post-season berth in the comparatively weak Pacific Division.

Who they could replace: Seattle Kraken

The Kraken have surprised many this season, posting an 11-6-6 record to put them in third place in the Pacific. But there could be some regression for Seattle, as its sub-standard offense (currently ranked 29th in the league at 2.57 goals-for per game) can only be bailed out by the defense for so long.

Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Nov. 26. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Winnipeg Jets

Why they’re out of a playoff spot right now: The Jets started the year strongly, with a 9-3-0 record out of the gate. But theyâ€ve since gone 3-7-0, and theyâ€ve been outscored 33-25 in that 10-game span, dropping them down to 12th in the Western Conference.

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Why they could climb in: As soon as star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck returns from injury – projected to be sometime in January at the soonest – the Jets are going to receive a major boost. So long as the Jets’ offense is a top-10 offense in the NHL – and theyâ€re currently ninth-best, averaging 3.14 goals-for per game – the Jets should rise in the Central Division standings and unseat a less-talented, less-experienced rival.

Who they could replace: Utah Mammoth

The Mammoth were this writerâ€s pick to be a playoff team this season – but their 5-6-2 road record is indicative of their lack of consistency. Utah has to fix its defense (currently ranked 17th in the NHL at 3.00 goals against per game) because the team is playing in the leagueâ€s toughest division.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Why they’re out of a playoff spot right now: Despite their slew of injuries, the Maple Leafs havenâ€t had issues with their offense, as theyâ€re ranked seventh in the league at 3.30 goals-for per game. The clear problem is their turnstile defense, which is fourth-worst in the NHL at 3.61 goals against per game – and their 2-6-0 road record is one of the worst in the league.

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Why they could climb in: The Leafs have started to get healthy in recent days, with forwards Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy all returning to action in a 2-1 Leafs win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday. If goalie Anthony Stolarz and defenseman Chris Tanev get healthy soon, the Buds will look much like the team that won the Atlantic Division last season.

Who they could replace: Boston Bruins

Few pegged the Bruins as a playoff team this season. Although theyâ€ve produced a 14-11-0 record, they lack the depth to help them if the injury bug bites them harder than it already has, with Charlie McAvoy, Casey Mittelstadt, Viktor Arvidsson, Jordan Harris and Matej Blumel out of the lineup. The Bruins had a brutal six-game losing streak near the start of the season, and theyâ€ve got a 3-4-0 record in their past seven games.

Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand speaks to right wing Mackie Samoskevich against the Philadelphia Flyers at Amerant Bank Arena on Nov. 26. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Florida Panthers

Why they’re out of a playoff spot right now: While many predicted there would be a post-Cup-winning hangover for the Panthers, few thought theyâ€d be sixth in the Atlantic and 14th place in the East with a 12-10-1 record. But the absence of star forwards Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk has decimated Floridaâ€s offense and defense.

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Why they could climb in: After the resilience Florida has shown in the past two seasons, is anybody prepared to count this team out of the playoff race? This isnâ€t to say they can flip a switch and turn into a world-beater team, but the Panthers still have enough talent to emerge from this funk and go on a tear. Theyâ€ll need to improve their 19th-overall defense first and foremost, but once Tkachuk returns, theyâ€ll be a much tougher team to play against at both ends of the ice.

Who they could replace: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins stormed out to a 6-2-0 record, but since then, theyâ€ve gone 5-4-5 and have slid down to the second wild-card spot in the East. It’s tough to believe their defense – third best at 2.59 goals-against per game – will stay as good as it has been. When they do regress in that department, teams like Florida, Montreal and Toronto will leapfrog them in the Eastâ€s standings.

Montreal Canadiens

Why they’re out of a playoff spot right now: Few teams began the season as strongly as the Canadiens, which went 9-3-0 out of the gate. Since then, theyâ€ve gone 3-4-3, suffering a five-game winless streak in November, and they now sit ninth in the East. Theyâ€ve been outscored 38-17 in their seven losses.

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Why they could climb in: The Canadiens’ offense has been ferocious this season, ranking third in goals-for per game, with 3.45. If they can corral their defense, which currently ranks 27th at 3.50 goals against per game, the Habs should be able to move up the Atlantic standings and get back into the playoffs for the second straight season.

Who they could replace: New York Islanders

The Islanders have the leagueâ€s 10th-best defense at 2.79 goals against per game, but the reason they could slide out of a playoff berth is their mediocre goals-for average of 2.96 per game. You canâ€t teach offense, and as the Islanders continue transitioning from one era to a new era centered around youngsters like budding star defenseman Matthew Schaefer, their issues on offense make them likely to falter more frequently and wind up on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

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In a regular NHL season, there are both scheduled and unscheduled deadlines. One of these unscheduled deadlines is the U.S. Thanksgiving playoff bar deadline — a date often used as a measuring stick to determine which teams are most likely to make the post-season that year.

This year, it appears that the Vancouver Canucks (10–12–2), like many years prior, will not be making the playoffs according to how theyâ€re looking heading into U.S. Thanksgiving in 2025. However, there have been past years in which the Canucks were in a playoff spot by this deadline but ultimately didnâ€t qualify for the post-season — so maybe the opposite is true (though highly unlikely).

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2024–25 Season

On November 28, 2024, the Canucks were in sole possession of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference — though not by much. Below them were the Edmonton Oilers, who ultimately returned to the Stanley Cup Final only to be bested by the Florida Panthers yet again, as well as the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues. The point margin between these four teams was only two. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Kings held onto the third spot in the Pacific Division with only a two point lead, while the Calgary Flames, who ultimately didnâ€t make the post-season, held onto second with 28 points.

By the end of the 2024–25 season, Vancouver had amassed a total of 90 points, placing them only six points out of a playoff spot. Only Calgary (eliminated) and St. Louis (qualified) were ahead of the Canucks in the race for the final Western Conference wild card spot at this point.

2023–24 Season

November 23, 2023, is a bit of an outlier for a Canucks team that held tightly onto first place in the entire NHL by Christmas Day. At the U.S. Thanksgiving deadline, the Canucks were second in the Pacific Division with 27 points in 20 games played — only three away from the first-in-the-division Vegas Golden Knights. Even more impressive is the fact that they were tied with the New York Rangers for third in the NHL in points. The point margin between themselves and the teams below them was much wider than 2024–25, as the Los Angeles Kings had the third spot in the division with 25 points (but three games in hand), while the Kraken came after that with 21. Seattle, who had the second wild card spot, failed to make the post-season that year, while the Oilers, who placed seventh in the division at that point, made the playoffs and ultimately defeated the Canucks in the Division Finals.

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At the end of the 2023–24 regular season, Vancouver had a steady hold on first in the Pacific Division with 109 points. In this case, they actually finished the year in a higher position than the one they were in at the U.S. Thanksgiving deadline, though they were still in a playoff position during both occasions.

2022–23 Season

By the time November 24, 2022 rolled around for the 2022–23 Canucks, Vancouver fit into the bottom-half of the division in points with 17 collected over 20 games. Even so, they were still on the outskirts of a battle for the wild card spots: the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, and Oilers, and St. Louis Blues all had 20 points, though it was the latter who snagged the final wild card spot with the highest points-percentage and regulation win count. Calgary held sole possession of the first wild card spot with 21 points. While the point margin between these teams was close, the Canucks were on the outside looking in.

While Vancouver did only come for teams away from snagging the second wild card spot, points wise, they werenâ€t very close. They finished the 2022–23 regular season with 83 points, while the Winnipeg Jets, who grabbed the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, had 95. The Flames, who were the closest to overtaking the Jets for this position, had 93 points.

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2021–22 Season

Once again, by November 25, 2021, the Canucks were out of a playoff spot and did not end up making the post-season. The playoff picture was more interesting this time around, however, as the Anaheim Ducks held the first wild card spot in the Western Conference at this time with 23 points. From there on, it was a three-way tie for the second, with the Colorado Avalanche snagging it over the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators due to their advantage in points-percentage. Also in the playoff picture were the Golden Knights, who held onto the third spot in the division. Vancouver, on the other hand, was far away from this battle with only 14 points, tying them with the Dallas Stars.

The standings at the end of the regular season were quite different from the U.S. Thanksgiving deadline. Anaheim and Vegas, who both held playoff spots on November 25, finished the year without qualifying for the post-season, though the latter came only three points away. On the other hand, Dallas and Nashville, who were out of the playoff picture in November, managed to snag the first and second wild card spots respectively. The Canucks were semi-embroiled in this playoff push as well, as six extra points added to their final total of 92 on the season would have put them within the playoff bar.

Nov 11, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (44) and defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) celebrate Sherwoodâ€s goal against the Winnipeg Jets in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

After their 5–4 win against the Anaheim Ducks last night, the Canucks remain out of a playoff spot but are five points back of grabbing one. Ahead of them in the standings are the Kings (WC1, 28 points), Utah Mammoth (WC2, 27 points), Chicago Blackhawks (25 points), the Sharks (25 points), the Oilers (25 points), and the Jets (24 points).

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Other teams have proven that they can make the playoffs without being past the bar by the U.S. Thanksgiving deadline. While the Canucks†season has looked bleak so far, in theory, theyâ€re not out of it quite yet.

Make sure you bookmark THN’s Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THNâ€s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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GOLF has released its latest ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the World, and nearly half of them are in the United States. (Great Britain and Ireland, with 29 courses, has the next-highest total.)

The last time we published this list two years ago, 49 courses were in the U.S.; this time around the number dropped to 48. Whistling Straits, Muirfield Village and Yeamans Hall all dropped off the list, while Childress Hall and CapRock Ranch climbed on it.

Of the U.S. courses, 11 of them are in New York, including two of the top six in Shinnecock Hills (5th) and National Golf Links of America (6th). And, of course, the long-standing top-ranked course on GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking, Pine Valley, is in New Jersey. Cypress Point, ranked second, is in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Scroll below to see the complete list of the 48 U.S. courses that made the list.

To hear our ratings experts break down our latest ranking, check out our travel podcastDestination GOLF. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:APPLE | SPOTIFY | IHEART | AMAZON

New York (11)

No. 5 Shinnecock Hills
Southampton, N.Y.
Toomey & Flynn, 1931

No. 6 National Golf Links of America
Southampton, N.Y.
C.B. Macdonald, 1911

No. 16 Fishers Island
Fishers Island, N.Y.
Seth Raynor, 1926

No. 23 Friar’s Head
Baiting Hollow, N.Y.
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2003

No. 33 Winged Foot (West)
Mamaroneck, N.Y.
A.W. Tillinghast, 1923

No. 49 Maidstone
East Hampton, N.Y.
John Park/Willie Park Jr., 1922

No. 52 Garden City
Garden City, N.Y.
Devereux Emmet, 1899/Walter Travis, 1906

No. 56 Bethpage (Black)
Farmingdale, N.Y.
A.W. Tillinghast, 1935

No. 60 Oak Hill (East)
Pittsford, N.Y.
Donald Ross, 1921/Andrew Green, 2020

No. 77 Sleepy Hollow
Scarborough, N.Y.
C.B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor, 1913/A.W. Tillinghast, 1929/Gil Hanse, 2017

No. 91 Winged Foot (East)
Mamaroneck, N.Y.
A.W. Tillinghast, 1923

California (6)

No. 2 Cypress Point
Pebble Beach, Calif.
Alister Mackenzie, 1928

No. 15 Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach, Calif.
Jack Neville/Douglas Grant, 1919

No. 21 Los Angeles (North)
Los Angeles
George C. Thomas Jr., 1927

No. 26 Riviera
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
George C. Thomas Jr./Billy Bell Sr., 1927

No. 40 San Francisco
San Francisco, Calif.
A.W. Tillinghast, 1918

No. 45 California Club Of San Francisco
So. San Francisco, Calif.
A.V. Macan, 1926/Alister Mackenzie, 1928/Kyle Phillips, 2007

New Jersey (3)

No. 1 Pine Valley
Pine Valley, N.J.
George Crump/H.S. Colt, 1918

No. 51 Somerset Hills
Bernardsville, N.J.
A.W. Tillinghast, 1918

No. 70 Baltusrol (Lower)
Springfield, N.J.
A.W. Tillinghast, 1922

Georgia (3)

No. 8 Augusta National
Augusta, Ga.
Alister Mackenzie/Bobby Jones, 1933

No. 75 Peachtree
Atlanta
Robert Trent Jones Sr./Bobby Jones, 1947

No. 99 Ohoopee Match Club
Cobbtown, Ga.
Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner, 2018

Oregon (3)

No. 35 Pacific Dunes
Bandon, Ore.
Tom Doak, 2001

No. 76 Bandon Trails
Bandon, Ore.
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2005

No. 85 Bandon Dunes
Bandon, Ore.
David McLay Kidd, 1999

Ohio (2)

No. 59 Camargo
Cincinnati
Seth Raynor, 1926

No. 67 Inverness
Toledo, Ohio
Donald Ross, 1919/Andrew Green, 2017

Massachusetts (2)

No. 37 The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel)
Brookline, Mass.
TCC Members/Willie Campbell, 1899

No. 86 Myopia Hunt Club
So. Hamilton, Mass.
H.C. Leeds, 1898

North Carolina (2)

No. 20 Pinehurst (No. 2)
Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Donald Ross, 1907

No. 80 Old Town
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Perry Maxwell, 1939

Michigan (2)

No. 31 Crystal Downs
Frankfort, Mich.
Alister Mackenzie/Perry Maxwell, 1932

No. 36 Oakland Hills (South)
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Donald Ross, 1917

Pennsylvania (2)

No. 9 Oakmont
Oakmont, Penn.
Henry Fownes, 1903

No. 13 Merion (East)
Ardmore, Penn.
Hugh Wilson, 1912

Illinois (2)

No. 17 Chicago
Wheaton, Ill.
C.B. Macdonald, 1895/Seth Raynor, 1923

No. 47 Shoreacres
Lake Bluff, Ill.
Seth Raynor, 1921

Nebraska (2)

No. 10 Sand Hills
Mullen, Neb.
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 1994

No. 84 CapRock Ranch
Valentine, Neb.
Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner, 2022

Wisconsin (1)

No. 48 The Lido
Rome, Wisc.
Tom Doak/Brian Schneider (C.B. Macdonald reincarnation), 2023

South Carolina (1)

No. 71 Kiawah Island (Ocean)
Kiawah Island, S.C.
Pete Dye, 1991

Colorado (1)

No. 63 Ballyneal
Holyoke, Colo.
Tom Doak, 2006

Florida (1)

No. 32 Seminole
Juno Beach, Fla.
Donald Ross, 1929

Kansas (1)

No. 27 Prairie Dunes
Hutchinson, Kan.
Perry Maxwell, 1937/Press Maxwell, 1957

Montana (1)

No. 88 Rock Creek Cattle Company
Deer Lodge, Mont.
Tom Doak, 2008

Oklahoma (1)

No. 43 Southern Hills
Tulsa, Okla.
Perry Maxwell, 1936

Texas (1)

No. 73 Childress Hall (Upper)
Childress, Texas
Tom Doak, 2025

Browse all of GOLF’s course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 in the U.K. and Ireland | Top 100 Short Courses in the World

The 2025 U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame Dinner at LATTA brought together generations of players, coaches, and supporters to celebrate the sportâ€s most dedicated contributors. The eveningâ€s themes—family, club roots, volunteerism, and lifelong commitment—echoed through every speech and story.

Major League Table Tennis served as the Title Sponsor, with Senoda Inc. providing the printed program and the Mark Matthews Award trophy. Butterfly and LATTA hosted the evening, helping create an atmosphere of warmth and respect for the gameâ€s history.

This yearâ€s inductees were Betty Henry (Player), David Del Vecchio (Contributor), and Stellan Bengtsson (Contributor), with Connie Sweeris receiving the Mark Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award. Each honoreeâ€s journey captured the spirit of dedication that continues to shape American table tennis.

Emceed by Derek May, the night featured heartfelt introductions and lively tributes. The Henry familyâ€s multigenerational passion, Del Vecchioâ€s decades of service, Bengtssonâ€s global coaching influence, and Sweerisâ€s unmatched legacy gave the audience a full view of how community, mentorship, and excellence intertwine.

Special thanks to Tawny and Kerri Banh, Brad Balmer, Christian Lillieroos, Joe Wells, and Donna Sakai for helping make the event memorable. And to the many Hall of Famers in attendance—Angie Bengtsson, Dell Sweeris, Insook & Shaker Bhushan, Patty and Jimmie Kahn, Wendy Hicks, Diego Schaaf, Wei Wang, Pete May and Larry Hodges —thank you for keeping the flame alive.

The night reminded everyone that table tennis is more than competition—itâ€s a lifelong connection built through shared values, effort, and love of the game.

Paddle Palace proudly supports the Hall of Fame and those who dedicate their lives to the sport we all cherish.

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