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Should Edmonton Oilers fans prepare for another slow start? Potential pitfalls to watch

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Historically, the Edmonton Oilers get out of the gate slowly, like the sleepy Chihuahua in the famous GIF. The most famous recent example cost coach Jay Woodcroft his job. In 2023-24, the year Edmonton made the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 18 years, Woodcroft’s crew began the year 3-9-1, leading then-general manager Ken Holland to fire him. Kris Knoblauch replaced Woodcroft, and the team romped to Game 7 of the final against the Florida Panthers.

Will this season see a slow start? There are reasons to be concerned, and the solutions could rock the team in the short term.

The Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl deployment

At his introductory media availability, Babcock was frank about what will happen on the ice in Edmonton. He talked about his conversation with the team’s leadership group (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman) and told the media, “I was very clear to them: unless you’re 100 percent all in on Mike Babcock, I have no interest in being the coach.” There’s not much room for misunderstanding with that starting point.

Babcock also said, “I went through in detail the changes that would have to be made for us to have success when it mattered,” and that will mean some adjustment for the players.

The biggest adjustment this fall? Some fans will say McDavid. He is an exceptional outscorer, with a massive goal percentage edge at five-on-five. Those who criticize the captain for not backchecking or missing assignments overlook the enormous advantage he represents every shift.

McDavid exceeded a 60 percent goal share in 2016-17 and 2023-24, an outstanding total. In addition, his line scored 4.38 goals per 60 in 2023-24, the highest in McDavid’s career via Natural Stat Trick. His most common linemates were Zach Hyman (919 minutes) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (532 minutes). When McDavid plays with elite talent, the top line goes supernova, giving Edmonton a five-on-five line with outscoring results normally expected from a power play.

Draisaitl and McDavid have delivered magic for years together. Babcock is looking for an extreme edge with the idea of placing McDavid and Draisaitl together. However, the two men were not as productive together in 2025-26.

Year Mins Goals-60 Goal Pct

2022-23

469

4.09

57

2023-24

466

4.89

64

2024-25

406

4.57

63

2025-26

318

3.4

53

All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick

If the chemistry is there, and one would be wise to bet on it, Babcock might plan to run Nugent-Hopkins as the second-line centre. That said, the numbers last season were poor with Nugent-Hopkins in that role. His line had a 37 percent goal share and scored 1.6 goals per 60 when playing away from McDavid and Draisaitl.

Many fans think Babcock will fade the idea of McDavid-Draisaitl together, but every coach since Todd McLellan has found it impossible to resist. Though it’s possible, though unlikely, that Nugent-Hopkins will enjoy a renaissance on the second line, the worry is Babcock might take an extended period to conclude the team is without an above-average second-line centre if the two big talents play together. That could cost some early-season games. If that scenario becomes reality, Babcock would probably agitate for an upgrade, engaging general manager Stan Bowman to acquire a veteran second-line centre.

Should fans worry about early-season losses because of Babcock’s lack of experience in this area? The team would indeed be vulnerable if McDavid-Draisaitl play too much on the same line and Nugent-Hopkins continues to erode as a centre facing top-level opposition. A slow start is more likely if Babcock pursues the plan vigorously without regard to what happens when McDavid-Draisaitl are at rest five-on-five.

Evaluating Josh Brown

Bob Stauffer suggested on “Oilers Now” earlier this summer that rugged defenceman Josh Brown will get the chance to make the big club, despite real concerns about his ability in coverage. In his last two full NHL seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24, with the Arizona Coyotes), Brown posted a 45 percent goal share (42 percent expected) in 1,493 minutes. When he was off the ice, the rest of the Coyotes defencemen performed at a higher level with a 48 percent real and expected goal share, via Natural Stat Trick.

The numbers suggest adding Brown and his rugged edge will make the team less efficient defensively. It’s an idea brought to life via a previous professional relationship and is unlikely to succeed.

Should fans be worried? In this case, likely not. Brown’s making the team as one of the Oilers’ top seven defencemen would mean losing a productive NHL player on waivers. A good guess has the defensive group for opening night as Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Jake Walman, Connor Murphy, Ryan Shea, Ty Emberson and Shakir Mukhamadullin.

Brown will get a chance to compete, but an organization already poised to risk Spencer Stastney and Alec Regula to waivers is extremely unlikely to further cut into an established NHL defensive crew.

Weighing inexperience

Fans are curious about Ike Howard’s role on the big team this season. Many wonder whether the club can afford to have two smaller wingers with little experience, Howard and Matt Savoie, playing big minutes every night. Some believe the team would be better off cashing Howard for a veteran forward.

In this case, however, Howard represents a wise investment. Young players make mistakes, and those errors sometimes cost games. However, the alternative is stagnation and watching the roster grow old. Bowman liked Howard enough to trade for him, and Howard is a strong bet to emerge as a 20-goal scorer in the near future. Time for the Oilers to give him a full audition in 2026-27.

Bottom line

Two of these issues are easy calls. Brown’s resume doesn’t suggest he will be able to make the grade this fall, so stating he’ll get a chance to make the team costs nothing. If Brown arrives at camp and impresses, the club will send him out and keep his name in mind for recall. Howard is a smart bet to make the team, but even if he doesn’t, the club would be risking a major asset by waiting another year for him to play 50-plus games as an NHL regular. His time is now.

The plot thickens with McDavid-Draisaitl on the top line and Nugent-Hopkins as second-line centre. Babcock hasn’t coached in a decade, and his view of Nugent-Hopkins might not include dozens of recent viewings while the veteran is playing centre. Babcock and his staff could run full steam ahead with Nugent-Hopkins playing tough opponents on an Edmonton second line.

If the coach gets stubborn, and coaches do get stubborn, the team could get outscored badly on the second line. A 64 percent goal share on the top line is exceptional, but a team can’t give it all back when the second unit jumps over the boards. In this small sliver of roster minutiae, Oilers fans might know something Babcock has yet to discover for himself, which could affect the early portion of the season negatively.

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Arsenal are interested in Jarrel Quansah – what would he bring to Mikel Arteta’s side?

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When Jarell Quansah left the Premier League champions in July 2025, he could hardly have imagined their successors would be knocking on his door just 13 months later.

The decision to exit Liverpool on the back of a title under Arne Slot was difficult for the centre-half, according to those with knowledge of the situation, who, like all of those spoken to for this article, asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships. He had been at the club since he was a young boy and progressed rapidly in Jurgen Klopp’s final year in charge before losing momentum under Slot. The Dutchman used him largely as cover when other favoured centre-backs were unavailable or needed a rest.

A move to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany was appealing because it represented a new challenge, in a different environment and at a club renowned for giving young players a platform.

Quansah hoped a season in the Bundesliga would reignite his career, perhaps even putting him in a position where Liverpool might activate their €70million (£59m; $80m) buy-back clause. His former club may not have rated him highly enough to keep him around, but if they had written off Quansah entirely, there would have been little reason to include the clause.

Attracting interest from the 2025-26 title winners, Arsenal, would not have been in his immediate thoughts, though. Not so soon, anyway.

Granted, he will know why they are calling. Cover is needed for the injured William Saliba, but it will still feel like a big deal as the Champions League finalists look to go a step further next season and, according to manager Mikel Arteta, “attack every trophy” with vigour.

William Saliba goes down injured against Spain at the World Cup (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)

Perhaps a move for Quansah should come as no surprise, given that the 23-year-old’s development story is varied and unique. He had spent the back end of the 2022-23 season on loan at League One side Bristol Rovers before impressing during the following pre-season at Liverpool and then breaking into the first team.

He was the captain of the under-18s, a side that made it to the FA Youth Cup final in 2021, but rarely was he identified as a standout star among the academy kids. Some of those that The Athletic spoke to even privately questioned whether he’d ever represent Liverpool at senior level, so his subsequent success is a story of inspiration.

Quansah played alongside Virgil van Dijk (and occasionally covered for him) for Liverpool and didn’t look out of place. He was a threat from attacking set pieces and learned the importance of patience in build-up play, as well as developing his line-breaking passes to creative players.

How does Bruno Guimaraes fit in at Arsenal?

JJ Bull

When he needed a right-back, England head coach Thomas Tuchel turned to Quansah on three occasions during the World Cup. Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out of the squad.

His calm and composed style would have appealed to Tuchel, who clearly felt confident enough to trust the defender in high-pressure games and during testing moments.

Playing out from the back is a key strength, as he can pick out progressive passes or keep it simple. He rarely looks flustered or agitated during games but does have an aggressive edge that he turns to while largely remaining in control. The sending-off in England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup was a blot on his card, but it was a rash, out-of-character challenge. It was far from the norm.

Calm and measured on the pitch, Quansah is also relatively quiet off the pitch. The Athletic has been told by sources that, in his younger years, coaches within the England setup began to wonder why he didn’t show much emotion either after a victory or in defeat.

He’s taken on more responsibility in recent years and has come out of his shell, especially since leaving Liverpool to start a new adventure in Germany. Last season at Bayer Leverkusen, he played mainly as a right-sided centre-back across a three-man defence (illustrated below) and performed well.

To understand where he makes the most impact on the pitch, take a look at where he won most of his ball recoveries last season and how he’s comfortable winning possession higher up the pitch.

His versatility also appeals to Arsenal. The champions need reinforcements to cover for Saliba, who finally succumbed to a long-term back problem during the World Cup, and Quansah fits the bill.

Whether he’s as defensively sound as the other target for the right-sided defender role, Ezri Konsa, is questionable. Also an England international, Konsa has been a consistent and reliable performer for Aston Villa during their recent journey to the higher reaches of the Premier League. The 28-year-old reads the game well, has brilliant recovery pace and is also a threat at set pieces.

Sources say Villa value him at around £60million ($81m). People with knowledge of Arsenal’s position say they are hesitant to pay that much for a defender with little resale value, considering Quansah as a younger alternative.

With experience of playing for a Premier League team where the expectation is to win every week, Quansah will be well prepared. There’s a lot to like about his profile, and the potential to get even better is the biggest pull.

If Arsenal’s plan is to continue building the tallest team in history, then it’s no surprise the 6ft 3in (190cm) defender is on their radar.

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Malik Willis, Romeo Doubs among top post-120 ADP targets for fantasy football 2026

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Every year, it’s the same thing. In a display of unadulterated home-league madness, your faithful narrator attempts the impossible — to win a championship after trading my first 10 picks for the overall 1.01. Do I possess an irrational love for Jahmyr Gibbs? Am I slightly off my rocker? Perhaps an eclectic combination of both? The answer to this question, along with many more like it, is a resounding, “Yes!” So, using all my fantasy prowess, along with whatever enlightenment I can find in the deep recesses of my spreadsheets, comes my All-120+ ADP team for fantasy football 2026. Sounds cooler than sleepers, right?

QB: Malik Willis, MIA — ADP 158

Forever fascinated with market machinations and shifts in player pricing, sometimes it’s the moves that don’t happen that interest me most. Enter Willis, Miami’s newest shot caller. Recently receiving a pretty heavy bag from the Dolphins (three years, $67.5 million), he’s still getting treated as if there’s some sort of QB competition or elevated bench risk. There isn’t.

In years past, there’s no telling how high a supremely talented, dual-threat QB like Willis could rise. Don’t believe me? Look no further than Justin Fields’ or Anthony Richardson’s ADP rises in the recent past as proof. If I’m not mistaken, each has gone in the top-50 overall at some point in the past few years. And how different is Malik Willis archetypally? Not much, if at all.

I’d argue the way Willis differentiates is in a positive manner, only adding to my confusion surrounding the price. What do I mean? I actually trust him to throw for a first down on a drive or over 200 yards in a game! Granted, while the environment is different and the sample is small, I’d contend all of that and more is baked into the low, low price. During a two-week stretch as a starter last year in Green Bay, Willis ranked as the QB6 … and it wasn’t on the back of running alone. Again, the data set is tiny, but it’s all we have. That also doesn’t take away from the fact that Willis finished top 3 in expected points added (EPA) per attempt (+0.85), completion rate (84.4%), yards per attempt (12.8), off-target rate (3.4%) and first down rate (53.1%). Not too shabby.

Maybe it’s the surrounding contextual environment in Miami, the departure of Mike McDaniel, or the perception of QB positional depth (none of which are untrue); I still can’t wrap my mind around the price. I can’t remember another time in my fantasy career that we’re being afforded such a clear shot at a repeatable top-eight weekly finish from the QB21. Twenty quarterbacks are better?!? No way. Give me Willis’ rushing upside with some maturity baked in for my favorite fantasy shot caller of the double-digit rounds.

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 21, 2025

RB: Chris Rodriguez, JAX — ADP 136

Thank goodness I already swung a deal for Jahmyr Gibbs, since it’s borderline impossible to build a viable fantasy squad without a running back in the top-120 picks. I’d go so far as to argue it’s never been tougher without an RB in the first four rounds, but that’s another story for a different day. Nevertheless, once pickings get slim, I shift sole focus to high-value touches. Again, in this exercise there’s no waiting for handcuffs or injury-related opportunities — we need production right out of the box.

There’s been lots of back-and-forth this summer in analytical circles trying to hash out Jacksonville’s backfield situation. My answer’s been consistent and simple. Why not both? If you’re buying the Liam Coen uberkind hype (like I am) and believe there’s a huge step forward coming for an already exciting offense (like I do), it’s easy as pie. Rodriguez could and should have standalone value right out of the gate, with potential to hang a David Montgomery-esque RB2 finish even as a complement in his own backfield.

The Jaguars’ acquisition of Rodriguez was no happenstance — he played under Liam Coen at the University of Kentucky in what was incidentally his best season at any level (225 rushes, 1,379 yards, 9 touchdowns). At 6-foot-0, 217 lbs, Rodriguez archetypes perfectly as a short-yardage runner, with well above-average career metrics for the role, especially when considering he faced heavy boxes in three-quarters of snaps (4.6 yards/attempt, +0.04 EPA/carry, 50% success, 12.6% ≤0 yd rush rate). If you’re bullish on the Jags’ offense in 2026, Rodriguez is holding down the pole position for a lion’s share of goal-to-go carries.


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WR: Romeo Doubs, NE — ADP 122

What if I told you that after pick 120 there’s an every-down wide receiver available on a top-10 scoring offense from 2025, with the highest EPA/dropback and yards per pass attempt? That’s precisely the case with brand new Patriot Doubs, coming off a productive season with Green Bay as the WR36. For reference, he’s currently being drafted as the WR48. Why? Beats me. Keep in mind, all that output happened on just 410 routes amidst a massive target logjam. Now he’s off to New England to serve as the Pats’ clear-cut WR2, running intermediate routes underneath A.J. Brown, who’s getting the majority of any defense’s attention. Sounds good.

For starters, even in somewhat of a shared role, Doubs posted strong efficiency stats in 2025 (20.7% target/route, 1.77 yards/route, 10.0 routes/1st Down). Admittedly, the odds for a WR1 breakout are slim to none, but that’s all figured into draft cost. Doubs can do a little bit of everything — succeed against man or zone coverage, plus earn deep looks as well as represent a legitimate end zone threat. And as I mentioned before, it’s not like he’s headed to a bad situation either. I’m struggling to wrap my mind around the current price tag, but I’m also not letting that stop me from drafting Doubs aggressively.

WR: Matthew Golden, GB — ADP 135

Another player set to benefit from the aforementioned Doubs signing is Green Bay’s 2025 first-round selection, Golden. Maybe it was the zero regular season TDs scored, but I’m frankly unsure if there’s another player whose narrative represents such disparity from the spreadsheets. Obviously, last year’s output isn’t what drafters signed up for, but we’ve jumped the ADP shark on a projected every-down player in a good situation.

The Packers’ 23rd overall pick in 2025 played most frequently in the first seven weeks of the season before Christian Watson returned, posting decent rookie WR efficiency numbers (16.0% target/route, 1.73 yards/route). It’s especially encouraging given the steep NFL learning curve, plus five different wideouts simultaneously earning double-digit route participation rates. Green Bay has been vocal this offseason about consolidating their offensive scheme, which could, of course, be a lie. However, there’s only honesty found in roster moves, and the runway is clearing 30 routes a game for one of the league’s fastest players.

WR: Jayden Higgins, HOU — ADP 140

The further we get from Pick 120, the more faith-based our arguments get. Sticking with the running theme of post-hype rookie WRs, few players generated more positive camp buzz this summer than Higgins. The 34th overall pick in last year’s draft logged a full, healthy season for the Texans, which might be the nicest thing I have to say based purely on the data. Hold on, it gets better.

It’s no secret that Houston’s offense completely cratered in 2025 due to injuries and mismanagement of the offensive line, something presumedly addressed by signing Ed Ingram and Wyatt Teller in free agency. The Texans weren’t done making moves there, further bolstering the trenches with a first-round pick out of Georgia Tech, Keylan Rutledge. Ten pundits will give you 11 different answers on their O-line predictions because no one really knows, but I’m remaining optimistic on the rebuild. Adding an actual NFL-quality running back in David Montgomery won’t hurt either.

Not to zoom in too close on a small sample, but if you’re doing that, make sure it’s impactful. And nothing’s more high leverage than the NFL playoffs, where Houston turned to Higgins when they needed him most. During those two games, Higgins averaged 32 routes per contest, with healthy underlying efficiency metrics (21.9% target/route, 1.53 yards/route) and strong splits against man or zone. All we need is that small step forward from Houston as a whole to shoot Higgins into the backend WR3 conversation. Get that from the WR55, and you’re cooking with fantasy Crisco.

TE: Colby Parkinson, LAR — ADP 190

Tempted as I was to chase those chronically online narratives surrounding Terrance Ferguson’s ascent into the Rams’ primary slot receiver role, this squad needs bankable production now. And while I’m absolutely lending credence to valuing the Rams’ use of multiple tight end sets, the far safer profit for my money rests with Parkinson. Off to a slow start in 2025 due to injury, Parkinson’s numbers after Week 9 stand out against the field so starkly, it’s truly hard to imagine he’s going off the board as the TE31.

Don’t take my word for it — the numbers don’t lie. The longer I look at this stuff, the less I understand why Parkinson’s not going closer to T.J. Hockenson, somewhere in the 140s. Pretend exercise or not, Parkinson should be a must-circle type target, especially if you waited on the position. Los Angeles just led the league in scoring, offensive yards and passing touchdowns — honestly, I don’t get it.

Of 35 TEs with +25 targets after Week 9 (not some cherry-picked sample, mind you), Colby Parkinson ranked …

Metric Numbers Rank

Total PPR Points

119

6

PPR Per Game

11.9

7

PPR Points Per Target

0.59

2

PPR Points Per Route

2.58

1

Targets Per Route

23.90%

6

Yards Per Route

1.74

13

Yards After Catch Per Reception

6.7

5

Routes Per First Down

9.6

5

+20-yard TD

2

T-1

Red Zone Targets

17

2

Honorable Mentions — Best of the rest

QB: Tyler Shough, NO — ADP 147

RB: Dylan Sampson, CLE — ADP 158

WR: De’Zhaun Stribling, SF — ADP 140

WR: Adonai Mitchell, NYJ — ADP 165

TE: Terrance Ferguson, LAR — ADP 179

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Skip Bertman, architect of LSU baseball dynasty, dies at 88

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Skip Bertman being congratulated after winning the national championship in 2000.

Before Skip Bertman was hired in 1982, LSU had a winning SEC record only once in its previous eight baseball seasons. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Skip Bertman, the LSU baseball coach who led the Tigers to five College World Series titles before becoming the school’s athletic director, died at the age of 88, the university announced Friday morning.

Bertman was hired at LSU in 1982 and transformed the Tigers into the preeminent baseball program in the nation. He went 870-330-3 in 18 seasons and won national titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2000.

As an AD, he presided over two BCS National Championship football titles, first in 2003, led by coach Nick Saban, and then in 2007, coached by Les Miles, whom Bertman hired.

His record in SEC games was 328-159-2, and he had only one season without a winning league mark — his first, when he went 12-12. Before his arrival, LSU had a winning SEC record only once in its previous eight baseball seasons.

Bertman played collegiately at Miami and later served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for eight seasons before taking over at LSU.

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