The dog days of the season are upon us and it's time for the first edition of the 2025 NHL draft rankings. Like last season, the first edition of the rankings are solely based on outputs from the draft model. There are no adjustments made for scouting, inputs from NHL scouts or executives and any other anecdotal information.

There were some changes made to the model from last season, as the model strives to consistently improve. The model weighs scoring statistics from the current season and the past season, league strength, team strength relative to league, tracking statistics (defensive, physical and transition play), age, size and injuries. The model weights changed, with less weight on the players' size and more weight on their tracking statistics, league strength and scoring statistics. The model factors for injuries, only in the number of games played as a function of the projection volatility. Matthew Schaefer and Roger McQueen have more volatile projections than Michael Misa and Porter Martone because they have missed significant time, leading to a smaller sample size.

Each player is projected in a category, with a confidence factor of how likely they are to reach that category. The most likely outcome becomes the category, which is combined with the confidence factor for a rating. Players are ranked based on their rating, which is the first edition of this year's rankings.

The forward categories are: elite player, top-line forward, top-six forward, impact forward, middle-six forward, bottom-six forward and NHL player.

The defensemen categories are: top-pair defenseman, top-four defenseman, impact defenseman and NHL defenseman.

The goaltender categories are: starting goaltender, platoon starter, backup goaltender and NHL goaltender.

Embattled Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has said that it is "really easy" for people to "stick their boots" into his misfiring team after the north London club drew heavy criticism following their 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semifinal second leg on Thursday.

Postecoglou's side took a slender 1-0 lead to Anfield from the first leg but were outclassed by Liverpool, failing to register a single shot on target in the match. Former Spurs captain and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said the scoreline made for "horrendous" reading.

"I get the pile-on at the moment, it's really easy for people to stick their boots in. And question the players and all that kind of stuff. That's not something I question," Posteclgou told a news conference on Friday.

"We were disappointed last night didn't go the way we wanted to, didn't really perform at the levels we wanted to. That's doesn't define this group of players by any stretch, in my eyes."

Richarlison is the latest addition to the north London side's lengthy injury list ahead of Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Aston Villa.

The 27-year-old, who has been plagued with calf, groin, knee and hamstring problems since his move from Everton in 2022, went off injured in first-half stoppage time of Thursday's defeat.

"It's disappointing for him and he was emotional last night because he worked really hard to get himself back," Postecoglou said.

"It's another setback that he's going to have to deal with, we're going to have to deal with. Hopefully get him back as soon as possible."

Postecoglou's squad have been hit hard by injuries amid a run of poor results but the 59-year-old is optimistic about the return of key players for their Premier League game against Manchester United later this month.

Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Radu Dragusin, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner and Dominic Solanke are all sidelined with injuries.

"We're still hopeful we'll get at least two or maybe three back for the Man United game," Postecoglou said.

"We've got two full weeks of training, which I think over these two weeks we'll get the majority of the players back with a bit of luck, provided we don't lose anyone else like we lost Richy last night."

Reflecting on the heavy defeat to Liverpool, Postecoglou said it was a tough loss but his focus was now on Sunday's FA Cup tie.

"We'll go out there on Sunday and put out more of a performance that reflects where we're at," Postecoglou said. "I have a great deal of belief in these players and what they're going through and how they're dealing with it."

Spurs have not won a trophy since their Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2008 and now, only the FA Cup and the Europa League are potential routes to ending their silverware drought.

Savinho has said Manchester City's FA Cup tie against League One side Leyton Orient is a chance to put the heavy defeat to Arsenal behind them.

City lost 5-1 in the Premier League on Sunday after conceding four times in 37 minutes during a chaotic second half at the Emirates Stadium. It was another significant set-back in a season which has become increasingly difficult for Pep Guardiola's team.

Brazil winger Savinho has claimed that Guardiola and the players have had time to "reflect" on the Arsenal game during a rare free week in the schedule and insists they can get back on track when they head to Leyton Orient in the FA cup fourth round on Saturday.

"It's been good to have that free week without a game," Savinho told ESPN. "Obviously it's been a full week, we've all had things to do. It has given us a great opportunity to think about the game last Sunday, to reflect on it.

"Of course, [the FA Cup] comes quickly. We're travelling down to London [on Friday] and it's another final for us."

Out of the Carabao Cup, adrift in the Premier League title race and facing a tough Champions League playoff against Real Madrid, the FA Cup represents a chance for City to end the season with some silverware.

They have a good record in the competition under Guardiola, reaching at least the semifinals in each of the last six years. They've lifted the trophy twice under Guardiola -- in 2019 and 2023 -- and were beaten in last season's final by Manchester United.

"Every tournament is a target for me," Savinho said. "Unfortunately, we are out of the Carabao Cup, Spurs knocked us out of that, but we've got to look at every trophy as an objective and this is a great opportunity to progress.

"It's a great opportunity for us, but it's one we have to take because if we don't [beat Leyton Orient] we're out. It's as simple as that. So it's going to be like a final for us. We lose, we have to go home, so hopefully we can put in a good performance, get our confidence back [after the defeat to Arsenal] and go first to the next round."

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has insisted that new loan signing Marcus Rashford has trained "fantastically" and has "big potential" despite Manchester United's willingness to part ways with the forward.

Following weeks of speculation after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim, Rashford joined Villa on loan at the end of January, signing with the Midlands club until the end of the season.

Amorim had exiled Rashford from his squad and said on Thursday that he didn't "play football and train the way I see it" -- the latest in a long line of hints that the United manager didn't appreciate the England international's aptitude.

But Emery said on Friday that Rashford has trained well at Villa and that he is excited to watch the 27-year-old in action, which could happen as early as Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round clash against Tottenham.

"I'm very happy with him, he has trained fantastically today [Friday]," the Spanish coach said. "The conversation we had was very normal, speaking about football and what I want of him.

"I think his potential is still big. I don't want to know the reason he is leaving Manchester United.

"But I am very happy to have him here, to try to help him to recover his performances.

"My challenge with him is a huge challenge. His challenge as well with us is a very exciting challenge. I am very happy."

Sources told ESPN the deal to sign Rashford includes an option to make the transfer permanent.

Villa have agreed to cover a substantial part of Rashford's wage, and other performance-related bonuses have also been built into the deal.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has said he hopes to continue working with captain Virgil van Dijk "for a long time" amid continued uncertainty over the defender's long-term future.

Van Dijk, alongside teammates Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is out of contract at the end of the season and is now free to speak to clubs overseas about penning a pre-contract agreement to join on a free transfer in the summer.

However, there remains an expectation at Anfield that the 33-year-old will commit his future to the Premier League leaders, with his impressive form showing no signs of waning.

"Virgil deserves every compliment he gets," Slot told a news conference on Friday. "He's been outstanding for this club for so many years and, since I've been here, he's been outstanding for me as well.

"Yesterday [in the 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur] was an example of that. He was, in a good way, aggressive, led the team with and without the ball, he was sharp and ready. It was no coincidence it took 80 mins for Tottenham's first shot on target. Virgil, just like many others, has had a good season but he wants to make it a great season.

Asked what he hopes the future holds for his captain, Slot added: "Good health is the first thing I wish him, and I hope to continue working with him for a long time, although I don't think that will surprise you."

Having seen off Tottenham on Thursday night to reach the Carabao Cup final, Liverpool will now turn their attention to the FA Cup, and will take on Championship side Plymouth Argyle in this weekend's fourth round.

However, Slot's side will be without the injured Alexander-Arnold for the trip to Home Park, with the defender facing a race against time to be fit for next week's Merseyside derby.

"[Plymouth] is going to be too early for him," Slot said. "Difficult to say for Everton. It won't take months or even weeks, but it is only three days after Plymouth so let's wait and see if he's available. We also look long term, and we don't want to take any risks, but if he is fit then of course we will use him."

Manchester City have included injured midfielder Rodri in their updated Champions League squad for the knockout phase while there are also places for new signings Omar Marmoush, Nico González and Abdukodir Khusanov.

Vitor Reis, who also arrived in January in a 35 million ($36.2m) deal from Palmeiras, has been omitted.

Marmoush, González and Khusanov will all be eligible for the playoff tie against Real Madrid, which begins next week.

City, who finished 22nd in the league phase table, face the LaLiga giants in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. The second leg will take place at the Bernabéu on Feb. 19.

Rodri will miss both games as he continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered in September. However, his inclusion in the Champions League squad raises the possibility that he could play again before the season is over.

The Ballon d'Or winner has said he hopes to be back in time to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins in the U.S. in June.

City boss Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has urged caution with Rodri's comeback and warned the 28-year-old not to rush back.

Under UEFA rules, City were able to make three changes to their squad ahead of the Champions League knockout rounds.

Having made four new signings in January, the club decided to omit Reis from their list. The 19-year-old defender is yet to make his debut following his move from Brazil but was named on the bench for both the 3-1 win over Chelsea and the 5-1 defeat to Arsenal.