Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson has been traded to the Anaheim Ducks in a surprise move just hours before the NHL trade deadline.
The Capitals have acquired a conditional first-round pick in 2026 or 2027, along with a 2027 third-round selection, in exchange for the veteran blueliner.
This deal brings an end to the 36-year-old’s 19-year association with the franchise, leaving the only NHL team he has ever known.
End of an era in Washington
Carlson is the second established player to depart the capital this week, following forward Nic Dowd’s move to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
His exit leaves just two players – captain Alex Ovechkin and winger Tom Wilson – remaining from the roster that lifted the Stanley Cup in 2018.
The trade signals a significant shift for Washington, who currently sit four points adrift of the Boston Bruins in the race for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
Despite being within striking distance, the Capitals have played more games than the Bruins and fellow chasers the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators, prompting management to look toward the future.
Carlson leaves as one of the most impactful players in the organisation’s history, ranking inside the top 10 for assists, points, and games played.
The American defenseman has remained productive this season, recording 10 goals and 46 points in 55 games.
Ducks bolster playoff push
While Washington looks to retool, the Ducks have acquired a high-calibre veteran to aid their pursuit of a first playoff berth since the 2017-18 campaign.
Anaheim are currently locked in a battle for the Pacific Division title, sitting just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
The addition of the former All-Star provides immediate experience to a young core led by talents such as Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish.
Carlson is expected to slot into the Ducks’ top two defensive pairings and quarterback their first-team power play unit.
With PuckPedia projecting over $44m (£34m) in deadline cap space, Anaheim may yet look to add further reinforcements before the window closes.
Capitals plan for life after Ovechkin
The draft capital acquired for Carlson provides Washington with significant assets as they navigate the twilight of the Ovechkin era.
Management now holds two first-round picks for 2026 and four selections in the opening three rounds of the 2027 draft.
These assets will be crucial as the franchise attempts to build a new identity, with their 40-year-old captain currently in the final season of his five-year contract.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has defended the club’s transfer strategy following a shock defeat by Wolves, while Glen Johnson has tipped Trent Alexander-Arnold for a sensational return.
The Reds face Wolves again on Friday in the FA Cup fifth round seeking immediate redemption.
Slot’s side suffered a damaging 2-1 loss at Molineux on Tuesday, marking their ninth league defeat of a turbulent campaign.
That result has intensified scrutiny on the manager’s squad building ahead of the return trip to the Black Country.
Right-back crisis sparks transfer talk
Defensive issues have plagued the Anfield club, specifically on the right side of the backline.
Summer signing Jeremie Frimpong has struggled for fitness, while Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the remainder of the season following knee surgery.
This shortage has prompted former defender Glen Johnson to champion a move for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who departed for Real Madrid last year.
The England international has endured a difficult start to life in La Liga, limited to just seven starts amid his own injury problems.
Johnson backs unlikely reunion
Johnson believes the 27-year-old represents the ideal solution to Liverpool’s current defensive void.
While a return seems improbable, the former full-back insists the quality of the Real Madrid star is exactly what the Reds require.
“Who would be my choice to be Liverpool’s starting right-back next season? You’d love to see Trent back, of course you would.”
Glen Johnson, speaking to Boyle Sport
Slot stands by record spending
Despite the team’s struggles, Slot remains convinced that the club’s unprecedented £450m investment was necessary.
High-profile arrivals such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have yet to hit top gear on Merseyside.
However, the Dutch coach insists patience is required for the new recruits to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League.
“I’m so happy with what we did last summer. We signed such great players but some of them needed some time to adapt and some of them have mainly been injured.”
Arne Slot
LeBron James has become the NBA’s all-time leader for field goals made, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing record during the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets.
The 39-year-old converted a turnaround baseline jump shot over forward Zeke Nnaji late in the first quarter to reach the historic milestone.
That basket was the 15,838th of his illustrious career, moving him one clear of fellow Lakers legend Abdul-Jabbar.
A relentless scoring machine
James had already overtaken the Hall of Fame centre as the league’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023.
Since breaking that record with a step-back jumper two seasons ago, the forward has pushed his career total beyond 43,000 points.
Earlier in the current campaign, he also became only the second player in franchise history, alongside Kobe Bryant, to record 1,000 three-pointers for the team.
He also recently passed Michael Cooper to move into fifth place on the club’s all-time assists list.
‘His greatest hits are insane’
Speaking before the game in Denver, Lakers head coach JJ Redick compared the longevity and output of his star player to rock icon Bruce Springsteen.
“I’m a big Bruce Springsteen fan… LeBron’s greatest hits, he just keeps adding to them,” said Redick.
“He just plays and plays and plays. And the greatest hits are just… he’s got a hell of a catalogue.”
Closing in on games record
With the scoring and field goal records now secured, the four-time MVP is approaching another significant durability milestone.
James is currently second on the all-time list for games played with 1,606 appearances.
He trails Robert Parish’s record of 1,611 and is on pace to surpass the former Boston Celtics centre on 16 March against the Houston Rockets.
Charles Leclerc led team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari one-two during opening practice at the Australian Grand Prix as the new Formula 1 era began in Melbourne.
The Monegasque driver replaced Hamilton in top spot with a late lap that moved him 0.469 seconds clear of the seven-time world champion.
Until that flying effort, less than 0.1 seconds had separated the Ferrari pair and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Rookies impress in season opener
Verstappen’s new team-mate Isack Hadjar was fourth fastest, finishing 0.820 seconds off the ultimate pace.
Behind him, 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad produced an eye-catching performance to take fifth on his debut for the Racing Bulls team.
Mercedes had arrived in Melbourne as favourites following pre-season testing but endured a relatively low-key start to the campaign.
George Russell ended the hour seventh fastest, trailing the pace-setters by over a second and finishing behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Aston Martin’s engine nightmare
While Ferrari flourished, Aston Martin suffered a predictably difficult session amid severe technical concerns regarding their Honda power units.
Fernando Alonso was unable to complete a single lap due to a significant problem with his car’s engine.
His team-mate Lance Stroll fared little better, managing just three laps before a similar issue forced him back to the garage.
Team principal Adrian Newey had previously revealed that vibrations from the power unit were so severe they risked causing permanent nerve damage to Alonso’s hands.
This latest setback appears to confirm the engine is currently falling well below the required Formula 1 reliability standards.
Champion Norris hits trouble
It was a difficult start to the season for McLaren, whose session was heavily afflicted by gearbox problems.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris finished down in 18th place after limited running.
Elsewhere, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was eighth fastest, finishing just ahead of the Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto.
Bortoleto’s team-mate Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10 for the German manufacturer.
Further back, the new Cadillac team avoided finishing last, with Sergio Perez setting the 19th fastest time ahead of Valtteri Bottas.
As always, practice times come with the caveat that fuel loads and engine modes remain unknown and can significantly skew performance data.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin faces a potential suspension after being ejected for slashing Buffalo Sabres defender Rasmus Dahlin in the head on Thursday.
The incident occurred during the second period of the game, resulting in a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the Russian veteran.
Dahlin had cross-checked Malkin near the Sabres’ net immediately prior to the retaliation.
Malkin responded by swinging his stick directly into the Swede’s face before attempting to engage in a fight.
Officials intervened quickly to separate the players and removed the Penguins star from the ice.
History of discipline
This latest infraction could warrant supplementary discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
The 39-year-old has a history of suspensions which the league may take into account when determining a punishment.
He served a four-game ban for cross-checking in 2022 and received a one-game suspension for roughing in 2009.
Dahlin received a minor penalty for his initial cross-check on the play.
Playoff race implications
Losing Malkin for any significant period would represent a major setback for Pittsburgh’s post-season ambitions.
The centre has been in exceptional form this campaign, recording 13 goals and 47 points in 45 games.
His offensive production has helped keep the team in the number two seed in the Metropolitan Division.
However, the race remains tight, with the New York Islanders currently tied on points with Pittsburgh, though the Penguins hold two games in hand.
Squad depth concerns
The timing of a potential suspension is particularly problematic given the team’s current injury list.
Pittsburgh are already without captain Sidney Crosby, who is rehabilitating a lower-body injury sustained while representing Canada at the Winter Olympics.
Initial reports suggested Crosby would be sidelined for four weeks following the incident in Milan.
With the NHL trade deadline approaching on Friday, General Manager Kyle Dubas may feel compelled to acquire forward reinforcements.
Tottenham’s Premier League survival hopes suffered a devastating blow as a chaotic home defeat by Crystal Palace sparked a mass exodus of supporters before half-time.
Igor Tudor’s side capitulated after taking an early lead, conceding three goals in a frantic 12-minute spell.
The collapse was precipitated by a red card for defender Micky van de Ven, who conceded a penalty to turn the tide against the hosts.
Historic lows for North London club
Spurs remain the only top-flight team yet to register a victory in 2026.
Their current 11-match winless streak is the club’s most barren run in the league since 1935.
With just nine fixtures remaining, the struggling side sit a mere point above the relegation zone.
The threat of losing their Premier League status for the first time is now a genuine reality.
Tudor questions player commitment
The Croatian interim boss has now lost all three of his matches since taking charge last month.
Despite previously insisting the club was safe from the drop, Tudor struck a darker tone following the final whistle.
“Of course I understand the fans leaving. It’s normal, they wanted more.”
Igor Tudor, Tottenham interim manager
The former Marseille coach suggested a clear-out may be necessary within the squad.
“I need to choose the right guys: Who is in the boat and who will leave the boat,” he added.
Tudor refused to comment on his own future, despite mounting speculation regarding his tenure.
‘Anxiety all through the stadium’
The final whistle was met with a chorus of jeers from the few supporters who remained inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Former England winger Joe Cole suggested the players looked devoid of belief and fight.
“Anxiety was all through the stadium. The whole performance was tepid.”
Joe Cole, TNT Sports pundit
Cole noted that the atmosphere had shifted from anger to resignation.
“It feels like they have given up,” he observed.
“It looks like the fans are disillusioned, disenchanted and not believing it.”
Supporters fear the worst
The mood among the fanbase has hit rock bottom following a season of instability.
Since moving to their new stadium in 2019, the club has cycled through six permanent managers and four interim appointments.
Fan Chris Cowlin told BBC Radio 5 Live that the situation was becoming unbearable for supporters.
“I’m lost for words over what I’ve seen tonight. You want fight, desire and most importantly points.”
Chris Cowlin, Tottenham supporter
Cowlin admitted the prospect of Championship football is looming large.
“It is too much for a lot of people and this is the reality that Spurs might get relegated,” he said.
Morocco have appointed Mohamed Ouahbi as their new head coach after parting company with Walid Regragui less than four months before the World Cup finals.
Ouahbi, 49, has been promoted from the under-23 setup to take immediate charge of the senior national team.
The appointment mirrors the arrival of his predecessor in August 2022, just three months prior to the tournament in Qatar.
“The objective is to ensure the continuous development of Moroccan football through a structured roadmap,” a federation statement read.
Regragui’s historic tenure ends
Regragui, 50, etched his name into sporting folklore by guiding the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
They became the first African nation in history to reach the last four on the global stage.
However, the former Wydad Casablanca boss had been under intense scrutiny following a heartbreaking defeat in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The North Africans lost a dramatic showpiece against Senegal on home soil, marred by a missed stoppage-time penalty from Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz.
‘A new lease of life’
“The team needs a fresh face, a different energy, and a new perspective with a new coach,” Regragui admitted upon his departure.
“I think the team needs a new lease of life before the World Cup, a new vision to continue progressing.”
Speculation regarding the manager’s future had been mounting within the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) for several weeks.
Captain Achraf Hakimi paid tribute on social media, stating the departing coach left an “unforgettable mark” on the country’s footballing history.
World Cup countdown
Ouahbi now faces a race against time to prepare his squad for a daunting Group C opener against five-time champions Brazil on 13 June.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will also see Morocco face Scotland and Haiti.
Preparations begin immediately with friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay scheduled for the upcoming international window.
Former Green Bay Packers president Bob Harlan, credited with revitalising the franchise and overseeing the renovation of Lambeau Field, has died at the age of 89.
Harlan passed away on Thursday, according to an announcement by his family.
The long-serving administrator served as the team’s chief executive from 1989 until his retirement in 2008.
He remains the only person in NFL history to hire two different general managers who won Super Bowls with entirely different rosters.
Restoring the glory years
Harlan took charge when the organisation was more than two decades removed from the success of the Vince Lombardi era.
In one of his first significant moves, the executive hired Ron Wolf as general manager in 1991.
That appointment paved the way for the arrival of head coach Mike Holmgren and the acquisition of legendary quarterback Brett Favre.
Under this new leadership, the team won Super Bowl 31, securing their first championship in nearly 30 years.
Tributes to a visionary
Current Packers president and CEO Ed Policy described Harlan as a “visionary leader” whose impact was “transformational”.
“From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless work to redevelop Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence,” said Policy.
“We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Madeline, and the entire Harlan family.”
Wolf, who was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, also paid tribute to his former boss.
“Bob Harlan gave me an opportunity, and I am deeply indebted to him for that,” said Wolf.
“His greatest trait, in my opinion, is that he was an honorable man, a man of his word, a man of character.”
A lasting legacy
Beyond on-field success, Harlan was instrumental in securing the franchise’s financial future through the redevelopment of their stadium.
He played a key role in convincing Brown County voters to approve the initial $295m renovation of Lambeau Field.
The project, completed in 2003, transformed the venue into a year-round destination and paved the way for the modern Titletown district.
Before retiring, Harlan hired Ted Thompson as general manager, a decision that eventually led to victory in Super Bowl 45 with Aaron Rodgers as quarterback.
Harlan was elected to the Packers Hall of Fame in 2004 and has a plaza named in his honour outside the stadium.