The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the NHL draft lottery to secure the number one overall pick, providing a major boost following a tumultuous season that saw them miss the playoffs.
The crucial victory comes just days after the Canadian franchise announced sweeping changes to their front office structure.
John Chayka has recently been appointed as general manager, while club legend Mats Sundin returned to serve as a hockey operations adviser.
A turning point for the franchise
Securing the top selection provides a vital lifeline for a team that failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 2016.
It also raises significant questions about the future of captain Auston Matthews, who has just experienced his first professional season without playoff hockey.
Ironically, the last time the Eastern Conference side won the lottery was exactly eight years ago, which they used to select their current talisman with the first overall pick.
“I’m extremely happy for the Toronto Maple Leafs fan base of course; it’s a great night, a great lottery,” Sundin told the television broadcast.
Beating the odds to retain the pick
The blue and white entered Tuesday’s draw with only the fifth-highest probability of winning at 8.5%.
The Vancouver Canucks held the highest statistical chance at 18.5% but ultimately missed out on claiming their first-ever top selection.
Retaining this year’s pick was essential for Toronto due to conditions attached to a previous trade for defenceman Brandon Carlo.
If the selection had fallen outside the top five, it would have automatically transferred to the Boston Bruins.
Consequently, Boston and the Philadelphia Flyers will now receive the Leafs’ first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028 instead.
Top prospects await
The new management team will now have their choice of the finest young talent available in world ice hockey.
Penn State standout Gavin McKenna is currently rated as the premier North American prospect by NHL Central Scouting.
Meanwhile, highly-touted Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg tops the European developmental rankings.
The San Jose Sharks will pick second overall after winning the subsequent lottery draw.
The UK government has entered preliminary discussions to support potential bids for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the 2040s.
Ministers confirmed that initial work is under way to examine whether the nation could stage the global sporting spectacle for the first time since London 2012.
“Initial work examining whether the UK could host the Games… will assess key factors such as potential cost, socio-economic benefit and the chance of success,” the government stated.
Alongside the multi-sport event, lawmakers are also considering whether to back proposals to stage golf’s prestigious Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup during the 2030s.
Momentum builds for regional hosts
Recent months have seen growing momentum behind a possible attempt to bring the summer showpiece back to British soil for a fourth time.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his desire last year for the capital city to launch a campaign for the 2040 edition.
However, the chair of funding agency UK Sport recently suggested that northern cities such as Liverpool and Manchester could serve as more suitable co-hosts.
A coalition of political leaders urged Westminster in February to ensure any future proposals are anchored in the north of England to maximise regional investment.
Future Olympic landscape and golf aspirations
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already awarded the 2028 and 2032 Games to Los Angeles and Brisbane respectively, but the 2036 slot remains officially undecided.
Meanwhile, the push for top-tier golf tournaments continues with Bolton launching a campaign to host the biennial Ryder Cup in 2035.
If the Lancashire town is successful, it would mark the first time in over three decades that the trans-Atlantic men’s matchplay competition is held in England.
England Golf has similarly urged ministers to underwrite an attempt to bring the Solheim Cup, featuring the premier female golfers from Europe and the United States, to the country.
Cracking down on ticket touts
To strengthen these prospective campaigns, a new sporting events framework will seek to make the unauthorised resale of tickets a criminal offence.
Officials claim this legislative update will make it significantly easier to secure and deliver major spectacles like the upcoming Euro 2028 tournament.
The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are currently preparing to co-host the European Championship, while the UK is also the sole remaining bidder for the 2035 Women’s World Cup.
Arsenal have reached their first Champions League final in two decades after Bukayo Saka’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 second-leg victory over Atletico Madrid at Emirates Stadium.
The result seals a 2-1 aggregate win for Mikel Arteta’s side, setting up a showpiece clash against either Bayern Munich or Paris St-Germain.
It marks the end of a 20-year wait for the north London club on Europe’s biggest stage.
Their last appearance ended in heartbreak following a 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in the 2006 final in Paris.
Teenager stars in midfield
While the England winger provided the decisive goal, it was the standout performance of an academy graduate that captured the attention of supporters.
Making only his 17th appearance of the campaign, Myles Lewis-Skelly delivered a masterful display in the heart of the pitch.
The versatile teenager started alongside Declan Rice, providing the energy and composure needed to give his senior partner the freedom to dictate play.
“Lewis Skelly and Ricardo Calafiori are actually giving Declan Rice that freedom to move forward deep,” noted one supporter on social media.
World Cup selection debate begins
Spanish international Martin Zubimendi has predominantly partnered Rice this season, but the homegrown prospect has now complicated the manager’s selection plans.
The youngster’s commanding form follows an equally impressive showing during a recent 3-0 domestic victory over Fulham.
“Lewis Skelly has taken that shirt from Zubimendi,” wrote another fan. “I hope he gets into the England team for the World Cup.”
Breaking into the senior international setup in central midfield presents a significant challenge for the natural left-back.
He faces fierce competition from established talents including Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo and Elliot Anderson.
However, if the defender continues this rapid trajectory into the European final, full international recognition could soon become a genuine possibility.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have accused officials of missing multiple goaltending calls during Victor Wembanyama’s record-breaking 12-block performance in their 104-102 playoff victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Head coach Chris Finch insists that at least one-third of the swats delivered by the 7-foot-6 prodigy during Monday’s series opener should not have counted.
The French sensation set a new NBA post-season record for rejections, despite his team ultimately falling short in a closely contested second-round matchup.
Finch highlights officiating concerns
Reviewing the game footage on Tuesday morning, the visiting staff identified several defensive plays they believe were illegal.
“At least four of them were goaltending,” said Finch.
“Maybe even a fifth. To me, it’s a little alarming that none of them were called.”
The Minnesota boss specifically pointed to a first-quarter transition drive by Terrence Shannon Jr, where replays appeared to show the ball hitting the backboard before being swatted away.
Veteran compatriot echoes the frustration
Other contested moments included a second-quarter hook shot from Naz Reid and a close-range attempt by Rudy Gobert.
Gobert, who mentors the rising star on the French national team, found himself locked in a fierce battle against his younger compatriot.
“He fouled me on the first one,” the veteran rim protector noted.
“But if you look at them, probably three or four [were goaltends].”
Ranking 24th on the league’s all-time blocks list, the 7-foot-1 center managed just one rejection himself during the intense encounter.
“I wish I had that type of treatment, too,” Gobert added, referencing the perceived leniency shown towards the San Antonio standout.
Crucial points in a tight playoff series
The controversy adds an extra layer of tension to what is already proving to be a fiercely contested Western Conference clash.
Finch emphasised the mathematical impact of the missed calls, noting that four unpenalised goaltends equate to an eight-point swing in a game decided by just two points.
“You know the value of eight points in an NBA game? It’s massive,” the coach concluded.
Both franchises will now prepare for Game 2, which tips off in Texas on Wednesday night.
Chelsea’s players are facing wage reductions of up to £2m each after a 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest left their Champions League qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
The west London side slumped to their sixth consecutive Premier League defeat on Monday, leaving them stranded in ninth place on 48 points.
With just three fixtures remaining this season, the two-time European champions are four points adrift of sixth-placed Bournemouth.
Financial implications of missing Europe
Contractual clauses dictate that weekly salaries will be slashed by between £30,000 and £40,000 if Europe’s elite club competition is not secured.
Given the size of the current squad, these individual pay cuts could result in total savings exceeding £50m for the Stamford Bridge outfit.
The club has earned approximately £100m from competing in the tournament this season through prize money, matchday income and sponsor bonuses.
Club captain Reece James is among those affected, having signed a contract extension in March that aligned him with the incentive-based wage structure introduced by the BlueCo ownership.
Forest defeat exposes defensive frailties
The hosts were comprehensively outplayed during large spells of Monday’s crucial domestic encounter against the relegation-threatened visitors.
Taiwo Awoniyi netted a brace and Igor Jesus converted a penalty to put the Reds 3-0 ahead, before Joao Pedro scored a stoppage-time consolation goal.
Interim manager Calum McFarlane was left furious by the sluggish start that ultimately condemned his side to another damaging loss.
“The first 15 minutes were unacceptable,” said McFarlane.
“The manner of the two goals conceded really set us back and gave us a mountain to climb.”
“It’s a ruthless game, it’s a really high level, and we cannot start like that.”
Budapest will host the 2026 Champions League final at the Puskas Arena on Saturday, 30 May, with UEFA introducing an earlier kick-off time to benefit fans.
The showpiece event will feature a revised schedule, starting at 17:00 local time (16:00 BST) rather than the traditional evening slot.
This adjustment marks a significant shift away from the 20:00 local time kick-off typically reserved for European football’s ultimate prize.
The decision to move away from the original kick-off is to enhance the matchday experience and benefit fans, teams and host cities.
UEFA
Ticket allocation and premium pricing
Supporters of the two successful finalists will each receive an estimated allocation of 17,200 tickets to distribute.
General admission seats were previously sold via a public lottery system on the official tournament website.
Prices for the Hungarian finale range from £60 for ‘Fans First’ categories up to £823 for premium Category 1 seating.
Semi-finalists battle for Budapest
Four elite clubs are currently fighting for the right to lift the famous trophy.
Paris Saint-Germain carry a slender 5-4 advantage over Bayern Munich into their decisive second-leg encounter.
Meanwhile, Arsenal welcome Atletico Madrid to north London on Tuesday with their tie finely poised at 1-1.
The Gunners have received a timely double fitness boost ahead of that crucial home fixture, according to manager Mikel Arteta.
Global broadcast and streaming details
UK viewers can watch the climax of the European campaign exclusively live on TNT Sports.
Pre-match coverage is expected to begin one hour before the action commences on the pitch.
Streaming options include the HBO app for compatible devices, while the spectacle is usually broadcast for free on YouTube.
Fans based in the United States have comprehensive viewing choices across CBS, Paramount+, Univision and TUDN.
Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior has completed a permanent transfer to Portuguese champions Porto for an initial fee of £14.6m following a successful season-long loan.
The 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the Primeira Liga side.
The newly-crowned Portuguese champions will pay a fixed fee of €17m (£14.6m), alongside a potential €5m (£4.3m) in performance-related add-ons.
The Premier League club have also secured a €2m (£1.7m) sell-on clause, while the player’s new contract contains a €70m (£60m) release clause.
Title success in Portugal
The Poland international’s permanent departure follows an impressive campaign under head coach Francesco Farioli.
Porto recently secured the Primeira Liga title for the first time since 2022 with two games to spare.
Forming a formidable defensive partnership alongside former Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva and compatriot Jan Bednarek, the versatile defender helped restrict domestic opponents to just 15 league goals.
Despite quarter-final elimination in the Europa League against Nottingham Forest, Porto’s domestic triumph guarantees a return to the Champions League next season.
Struggles for game time in London
The former Spezia man originally arrived in north London in January 2023 for a fee of £21m.
He made 68 appearances across two-and-a-half years, primarily serving as backup to the established central defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
His most notable performances in an Arsenal shirt came during last season’s Champions League quarter-final encounters against Real Madrid.
After initially seeing potential moves blocked last summer, the Polish defender approached Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during pre-season to formally request an exit.
Arteta praised for handling of exit
Speaking to Polish outlet Laczy Nas Pilka, the defender admitted that initiating the departure process was challenging.
“The earlier conversation, when I asked for the loan, was more difficult. I’d never done this before, but I felt the time had come to speak with him face-to-face. He understood me and supported me.”
Once the initial loan agreement was struck, relations between the player and his Spanish manager remained highly positive.
“We already knew then that I would go on loan to Porto. The coach emphasised how big the club was and wished me luck.”
The Minnesota Wild will start goaltender Filip Gustavsson in Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday after Jesper Wallstedt conceded eight goals in their series opener.
Head coach John Hynes confirmed the goaltending switch hours before puck drop in Denver.
Wallstedt struggled against a formidable Colorado offence, allowing eight goals on 42 shots during a chaotic 9-6 defeat in Game 1.
The young netminder had previously impressed by surrendering just 14 goals across six games during the first-round series victory over the Dallas Stars.
Gustavsson ready for post-season return
Gustavsson has not featured since conceding five goals to the St Louis Blues on 13 April.
The 27-year-old posted a 28-15-6 record with a 2.69 goals-against average during the regular season.
He and his Swedish compatriot split starting duties evenly throughout the campaign.
“We have confidence in both of our goalies. They’re both excellent,” Hynes said.
“We believe either one of them can win us a game. It’s a good opportunity to get Gus in the net. He’s hungry to get in.”
Praise for top-shelf attitude
Gustavsson boasts 11 games of playoff experience for Minnesota, recording a .917 save percentage and a 2.54 goals-against average.
Hynes praised the veteran goaltender for his professionalism and support following the Game 1 disappointment.
“He wants to play. He wants to get in the net. He was working for it,” the coach added.
“His attitude toward the team and toward Wally [Wallstedt] was top shelf.”
Injuries test Minnesota depth
The Wild remain without crucial forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenceman Jonas Brodin due to lower-body injuries.
Further lineup adjustments remain possible ahead of face-off as the medical staff evaluate several game-time decisions.