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One of the most highly-anticipated trades of the 2025-26 NHL season got over the finish line on Sunday, with Rasmus Andersson being shipped to the first place he was ever linked to — the Vegas Golden Knights. The Swedish defenseman has been a heart and soul player for the Calgary Flames since being selected by the franchise in the second round back in 2015, but over a decade later, he’s headed to the strip. The Knights certainly gave up a lot in their quest to create one of the most dominant blue lines in professional hockey. That includes Zach Whitecloud, who has spent his entire career in Nevada, along with prospect Abram Weibe, a first-round draft pick in 2027, and a second — that becomes a first if Vegas wins the Stanley Cup this season. It’s a swap that at first glance looks like it will benefit both organizations. Andersson will get an opportunity to chase a championship, and it’s expected that he’ll sign a long-term extension with his new team. Meanwhile, Flames GM Craig Conroy recouped some serious draft capital as he looks to build a contender in the near future. For those keeping track, that’s the third legitimate blockbuster trade of the campaign. Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner changed squads in early December, and Quinn Hughes got sent to the Minnesota Wild on that same Friday. Now, exactly 37 days later, Rasmus Andersson is a Golden Knight. Heading into Week 16 — beginning with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday in the United States — it’s the week of 1,000 games in the National. A full three players are set to reach the impressive milestone over the next seven days, including Alex Killorn, Charlie Coyle and Roman Josi. It’s also going to be a week of homecomings, with Mitch Marner and Jonathan Toews playing their first career games as an opponent at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and the United Center in Chicago, respectively. It goes without saying that it’s another busy stretch in our great National Hockey League. Speaking of that, the stretch run continues in earnest; every single point is crucial for teams with playoff aspirations — and there are still plenty of them with under three months left. As usual, the movement in ClutchPoints’ NHL Power Rankings is momentous nearly two thirds of the way through January. Scroll down for the updated list. Previous 2025-26 NHL Power Rankings: Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 1. Colorado Avalanche (no change) Here’s an outrageous stat: it took the Avalanche 46 games before they lost in regulation at home in 2025-26. That’s over half the season! There’s the good news; the bad news is, Colorado has lost two games in a row twice over the last two weeks, and for those doing the math, that’s four losses in six tries overall. A 33-5-8 record is still incredible, but it’s been a challenging stretch in Denver nonetheless. After winning two and losing two in the first four of a seven-game homestand, the Avs will play three more tilts at Ball Arena, starting with a visit from the Capitals on Monday afternoon — a contest that got underway shortly before the latest NHL Power Rankings was published. 2. Tampa Bay Lightning (no change) If there’s any team that has any chance of dethroning the Avalanche at the top of the NHL Power Rankings in 2025-26, it’s the Lightning. Colorado and Tampa Bay have emerged into the two best teams in the league, just like they did en route to one of the most exciting Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory back in June of 2022. After a slow start, the Bolts have been unbeatable in regulation since Dec. 18, and the only loss in that span was a tight shootout L to the Blues, in a game that could have went either way. The Lightning have still won 12 of 13 and are showing no signs at all of slowing down. We all know how good this core can be at its best, and we’re seeing that level in real time, even without Victor Hedman in the lineup. Next up is a visit…

The Kansas City Chiefs are offensive coordinator hunting, sparking Eric Bieniemy rumors again. Head coach Andy Reid has the ball in his court on “EB.” One ex-Chiefs Super Bowl winner, though, strongly endorses Bieniemy’s return. Retired offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz took to the social media website X, formerly Twitter, to share why “EB” deserves another chance. “Getting EB back is the best outcome given that the HC is the OC (one of the best of all time) and has offensive control,” Schwartz began. “EB brings the same traits that made him successful before: works his ass off and holds people accountable.” Matt Nagy moved on from his OC duties with the Chiefs. He wasn’t the only coaching move, though, as Kansas City fired wide receivers coach Connor Embree. Schwartz wasn’t through with the endorsement of Bieniemy, though. How Eric Bieniemy can impact the Chiefs this time Brett Davis-Imagn Images Schwartz won Super Bowl LIV with Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and Bieniemy as the OC. Now he believes Bieniemy reenters refreshed following being around another notable offensive genius. “This time, he comes back with intimate knowledge of Ben Johnson’s system. Which is as stylistically opposite of KC as just about anyone right now,” Schwartz said. “You’re not going to get much more from a hire than that combination.” Reid and the Chiefs are aiming to shed the memories of a 6-11 season that ended on a six-game slide. Schwartz dove into why “EB” can fit one more time in K.C. “He’s exactly what the team needs: a guy to coach everyone hard, a guy with new ideas and concepts from one of the best, and possibly the best RB coach in the league to groom [Brashard] Smith (and whoever else the team brings in),” Schwartz said. Schwartz admits he liked former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel — who’s interviewing for OC and head coaching openings. “But that’s not realistic when your HC is Andy Reid. And for good reason,” he said. “So get the guy back who knows the previous system and can bring fresh and new ideas (see what I did there) from a top offense.” The 56-year-old Bieniemy was the running backs coach for the Chicago Bears this past season. The post Ex-Chiefs Super Bowl winner endorses Eric Bieniemy’s return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Chicago Bears and their fans are forced to confront familiar feelings following Sunday’s 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round. The franchise’s once incomprehensible Super Bowl dream was much clearer in the final minutes of this bitterly cold playoffs clash, but a Caleb Williams interception and subsequent LA scoring drive ended an exhilarating season. The team is not wallowing in self-pity, though. The theme of the day is growth. Chicago has plenty to appreciate after a terrific run that included an NFC North title and its first postseason win in 15 years. The Bears also know there is much they can improve on before the 2026-27 campaign begins. Rome Odunze is one such individual whose continued development will be crucial. The 23-year-old wide receiver was painfully honest while reflecting on his uneven season. Despite battling loads of injury adversity, Odunze knows he fell short of meeting expectations. “At the end of the day, we all play with different injuries and different things that we go through, so I gotta step through and proceed to be a catalyst to this team’s success, and I don’t feel like I did that well enough this season,” he told reporters on Monday, via the CHGO Bears X account, after recording two receptions for 44 yards versus the Rams. “It’s going back to the drawing board {and} trying to look at some of the things with my routine or maybe my preparation that I can change, so I can be the player I need to be for this team.” “I gotta step through and proceed to be a catalyst to this team’s success and I don’t feel like I did that well enough this season.” Rome Odunze reflects on ups and downs of 2025 season: pic.twitter.com/lDIQIIseuW — CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) January 19, 2026 Odunze was living up to the lofty standards that were set when the organization selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, scoring five touchdowns in the first four games of the campaign. He could not sustain the high level of production, however, and his health only made matters worse. The 6-foot-3 wideout endured ankle and heel issues before suffering a stress fracture in his foot. He missed the final five games of the regular season but pushed through the pain for the playoffs. Although fans appreciated Odunze’s perseverance, he did not make a consistent impact on the field. The 2023 All-American finished his second NFL season with 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns. Rome Odunze significantly progressed from a statistical standpoint, but he still has to prove he can regularly be a primary option in the Bears’ passing attack. Based on his comments, the young talent is ready to hit the offseason hard. The post Bears’ Rome Odunze gives harsh review of his disappointing 2025 season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The San Francisco 49ers got humbled during the Divisional Round of the playoffs. San Francisco was crushed 41-6 by Seattle in a game where the 49ers were completely outmatched. The 49ers deserve credit for making it so far into the playoffs despite a mountain of injuries. Now San Francisco enters the offseason and should be feeling the urge to upgrade the roster this spring. One area where they could take a big step forward is the 2026 NFL Draft. The 49ers will have eight selections during the draft, including three fourth-round picks. Which players should the 49esr target during the draft this spring? And could one more solid draft class be enough to get the 49ers back to the Super Bowl? Below we will explore a three-round 2026 mock draft for the 49ers from the PFF mock draft simulator. Round 1, Pick 27: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images San Francisco should be thrilled if Concepcion is still on the board at pick 27. The junior wide receiver made some huge strides during the 2025 season that should make him attractive to NFL teams. Concepcion has always been an explosive offensive weapon who excels at making defenders miss. But he added a few tools in 2025 and now profiles as a legitimate high-upside prospect who does everything scouts want a receiver to do. He logged 61 receptions for 919 receiving yards and nine touchdowns at Texas A&M this fall. He averaged a whopping 15.1 yards per reception. Concepcion declared for the 2026 NFL Draft back in December following Texas A&M’s tough loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff. I love the fit of Concepcion with San Francisco for a few reasons. First, the 49ers desperately need to add more playmakers. Brandon Aiyuk never suited up in 2025, so he’s a big question mark for 2026 even if he is healthy. Meanwhile, George Kittle’s Achilles injury means he’ll likely miss some time to start the 2026 season. Concepcion would add a much-needed speed option to go along with Kittle, Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, and Ricky Pearsall. I also like this fit because I am confident Kyle Shanahan could cook up some interesting plays for Concepcion. PFF loved this pick too, giving it an A grade. Round 2, Pick 58: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo The 49ers would be wise to continue adding to their secondary. Safety may not be the biggest position of need, but San Francisco should not pass up a player like McNeil-Warren. The veteran safety logged 36 solo tackles with six passes defensed, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles during the 2025 season with the Rockets. McNeil-Warren projects as a versatile safety who is best used as a hybrid player in the box. But he has flashed enough skills that he could be used at any safety position in the NFL. He is at his best when playing closer to the line of scrimmage where he can fly downhill against the run and deliver huge hits over the middle. McNeil-Warren also has the athleticism and instincts needed to go up against tight ends with bigger size. McNeil-Warren does have an injury history, which will make his medical evaluations at the NFL Scouting Combine quite important. Where he lands in the draft could depend on those medical evaluations. But McNeil-Warren has plenty of upside that could make him a steal at the end of the second round. PFF thought this was an okay pick, giving it a B grade. Round 3, Pick 92: EDGE Mikail Kamara, Indiana Robert Goddin-Imagn Images Finally, the 49ers take a shot on a defensive lineman with in Kamara. Kamara had a great 2024 season, logging 47 total tackles with 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. However, he took a step back in 2025 due to a number of factors. One reason was nagging injuries, but another was his shift to a hybrid role in Indiana’s offense. Scouts love Kamara’s football instincts and how he uses his hands to shed blocks. Kamara may not physically dominate the competition, but coaches could fall in love with him as a player who is fundamentally…

As the Oklahoma City Thunder took on the Cleveland Cavaliers in a potential preview of the 2026 NBA Finals, disaster struck when Jaylin Williams and Alex Caruso both exited the game after less than 10 minutes of action each. With NBA fans openly wondering the statuses of the two key contributors to Mark Daigneault’s squad, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel broke the bad news, noting on social media that Caruso and Williams would be out of action with groin soreness and a lower back contusion, respectively. “The Thunder say Alex Caruso (right groin soreness) and Jaylin Williams (low back contusion) will not return to today’s game against Cleveland,” Siegel wrote. With Jalen Williams already out of action for the game with a hamstring injury, the Thunder gave the other J. Williams his fourth start of the season, only for the fourth-year big man to exit the game after just eight minutes of action. Caruso, too, was largely expected to take on a bigger role with Williams out as the team’s premier two-way guard off the bench, only for his night to end after only seven minutes with just one point on the board for his trouble. Fortunately for the Thunder, even shorthanded, the team had little trouble taking on the Cavs early on, with the team outscoring Cleveland in each of the first two quarters of the game for a combined score of 66-51. After ending a five-game winning streak with a surprising loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday, the Cavs are in good shape to get back in the winning column against a potential NBA Finals team. The post Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams both exit Thunder game vs Cavs with injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.