Le Journal

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…

After another gut-wrenching playoff loss, the Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott. Buffalo was tremendously successful in McDermott’s nine-year run as head coach. The Bills made the playoffs eight times and won five division titles. However, the team wasn’t able to reach its ultimate goal of a Super Bowl championship. Now the Bills are on the hunt for a new head coach. And Mike Tomlin is unattached to a team for the first time in 19 years following his departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers. This has some fans floating the veteran coach as a potential replacement for McDermott. But there are a number of obstacles to Tomlin taking over in Buffalo. “Question one is, would the Rooneys even trade Mike Tomlin to Buffalo,” Tom Pelissero noted on The Rich Eisen Show. “That is very close geographically and it’s one of your AFC rivals. They’d have to be willing to do it. Even if they were, do the Bills want to go into the defensive-minded, 50-something-year-old coach bucket for a guy who, quite frankly… he’s not had as much success over the last nine years as Sean McDermott has.” Mike Tomlin unlikely to coach Bills in 2026 Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Pelissero acknowledged that, unlike McDermott, Tomlin has reached the Super Bowl twice and won a championship. But his recent track record is actually outshined by the former Bills coach. ‘[Tomlin] hasn’t won a playoff game in nine years. The nine years that Sean McDermott won eight playoff games and got fired for it, is the nine-year stretch in which Mike Tomlin has not won a single playoff game. “The third part of it is whether Tomlin is willing to listen. Yes, you would think if there were a place that he could contend right away that has the quarterback, that’s the type of job that would be interesting to Mike Tomlin,” Pelissero said. While the Bills job is attractive, the long-time head coach has indicated that he plans to take a break from the NFL grind. “At this point, I don’t believe that Mike Tomlin is in a mental space where he wants to coach in 2026. If that changes this week, next week, a month from now, there’s all kinds of different things that could happen. But… these coaching searches right now are full steam ahead. They’re going to be moving relatively rapidly over the next week or two,” Pelissero added. The post Bills rumors: Tom Pelissero outlines obstacles for Mike Tomlin hiring in Buffalo appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As rumors swirl that the Kansas City Chiefs could soon lose offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to the Tennessee Titans, Andy Reid has reportedly tabbed his successor in the form of a regular blast from the past. Taking to social media to inform fans of the team that “all signs are pointing towards,” NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero shared that the Chiefs are in contact with ex-offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to return to his former role after spending time with the Washington Commanders, UCLA Bruins, and Chicago Bears. “Reunion: All signs are pointing towards Eric Bieniemy returning to the Chiefs as their offensive coordinator, sources say,” Pelissero wrote. “With Matt Nagy out of contract and in the head coaching mix, Kansas City plans to bring back Bieniemy, a valued member of Andy Reid’s staff from 2013-22.” Initially playing for Reid as a running back all the way back in 1999 with the Philadelphia Eagles, Bieniemy reunited with his former coach in 2013, serving as a running backs coach from 2013-17 before being elevated to offensive coordinator from 2018-22. From there, Bieniemy was hired as an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the Commanders in 2023 before taking the same role at UCLA in 2024. Bieniemy returned to the NFL in 2025, coaching the Bears’ elite running backs unit on the way to the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFL Playoffs. While only time will tell what the future holds for Nagy, be that a head coaching gig in Tennessee or another offensive coordinatorship elsewhere, the Chiefs appear interested in bringing back a fixture of their Super Bowl rosters in the hopes of getting back to the promised land in 2027. The post All signs pointing to Eric Bieniemy-Chiefs reunion, per reports appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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 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…