England wing Joe Cokanasiga has been named on a three-man shortlist for World Rugby's award honouring the 'breakthrough' player of 2019.

The 21-year-old has scored seven tries in nine Test appearances since making his debut against Japan last November.

France fly-half Romain Ntamack and South Africa scrum-half Herschel Jantjies are also nominated.

Previous winners include England second row Maro Itoje and New Zealand wings Rieko Ioane and Nehe Milner-Skudder.

Cokanasiga is part of the England squad who have advanced to Saturday's final at the Rugby World Cup but his involvement has been limited to a start in the pool-stage victory over the United States. The Fiji-born back scored two tries in a 45-7 win.

The award will be announced as part of the World Rugby Awards on Sunday, 3 November in Tokyo.

You walk out in a Springbok jersey as a player and you feel history on your back and by your side.

You stand as South Africa's captain in a World Cup final and the weight is greater across your shoulders and the ghosts crowd in all around.

Francois Pienaar hoisting the Webb Ellis Cup at Ellis Park in 1995, Nelson Mandela alongside him in his own green number six jersey, happy like a kid who has just scored his first try. John Smit at the Stade de France in Paris 12 years on, left hand around the old gold pot, right hand linked with Mandela's successor Thabo Mbeki.

Twelve years more have passed. Now it is the turn of Siya Kolisi to walk that path. The first black man to captain the Springboks, a kid from nowhere who hopes to go where none have gone before.

Rugby matters in many places around the world, but only in South Africa can it change the nation around it. Captains and presidents, politics and power, new dreams and old scars.

"It was iconic when Francois lifted the World Cup with Madiba, and it was amazing to be able to do it myself with Thabo," says Smit.

"But if Siya touches that trophy on Saturday... I tell you, it will be a far greater moment than 1995. Far greater. It would change the trajectory of our country."

That Kolisi has made it this far is a story of stoicism and self-belief. Born to teenage parents in the poor township of Zwide, just outside Port Elizabeth on the Eastern Cape, he was brought up by his grandmother, who cleaned kitchens to make ends meet.

Bed was a pile of cushions on the living-room floor. Rugby was on dirt fields. When he went to his first provincial trials he played in boxer shorts, because he had no other kit.

His father Fezakel was a centre, his grandfather a player of pace too. Aged 12, the young Kolisi was spotted by Andrew Hayidakis, a coach at the exclusive private school Grey, and offered a full scholarship.

When you are from Zwide you step into this other world when the chance comes, but you never leave your old life behind. Kolisi's mother died when he was 15, his grandmother shortly afterwards. When Smit's team was beating England in that World Cup final of 2007, the 16-year-old Kolisi was watching it in a township tavern because there was no television at home.

"His story is unique," Hanyani Shimange, former Springboks prop, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

"Previous generations of black rugby players were not given the same opportunities, purely because of South Africa's laws. He's living the dream of people who weren't given the same opportunities as him.

"He's grabbed those opportunities. He's a good man, a humble individual.

"He's got a lot of time for people, probably too much time in some instances. But he's the same Siya he was six years ago. He loves rugby, and the team loves him."

Kolisi began at school as a small but mobile flanker, good with the ball in hand, learning to be smarter than the stronger kids around him. When a growth spurt kicked in and he got big there was power to go with the finesse.

As a loose forward he is a significant asset to a Springbok team that at this World Cup has battled through to the final rather than dazzled. Saturday will bring his 50th cap, and his 20th as captain. His impact is far greater than simply what he does on the pitch because of all that has come before.

"I do not care how the Springboks team does. It is not a reflection of the nation. It is not our team. I support the All Blacks instead. We don't support the national team, because it is a white South African team. It is not a true South African team."

That was Zola Ntlokoma, secretary of Soweto Rugby Club, talking to me before England played South Africa at Twickenham five years ago. It was not an uncommon view, because for all the iconography and sweet symmetry of 1995, its wider effect quickly leached away.

Integration of black players crawled along rather than accelerated. The World Cup win gave the impression that little more needed doing, and so little was.

When the Springboks triumphed in Johannesburg 24 years ago there was just one black player, Chester Williams, in the starting XV. By the time of their second World Cup win in 2007, there were still only two.

In some corners of South African life, the story of 1995 feels old and frayed. When Williams wrote his autobiography he accused fellow winger James Small of using racially abusive language towards him in a domestic cup match after that World Cup win. Small, who said he had "no independent recollection of the incident", in turn felt an outsider even in victory because his native tongue was English rather than Afrikaans.

Small - often angry at the world, brilliant at his best, the man who helped keep Jonah Lomu tryless in that final - died of a heart attack aged 50 in June this year. Williams went the same way last month aged 49, the fourth player from that storied team - after flanker Ruben Kruger and virtuoso scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen - to go at an untimely age.

Kolisi stands as a critical link between the past and future. He was born on 16 June 1991, one day before the repeal of apartheid - brutal laws that enforced discrimination against black people in every aspect of their lives. Separate land. Separate public transport. Separate schools.

Kolisi was there at Small's funeral. Williams' image was on the shirts his team wore for their World Cup opener against the All Blacks. In Kolisi's team, the legacy of that old generation is tangible.

In the starting XV that beat Wales in Sunday's semi-final there were six black players: wingers S'busiso Nkosi and Makazole Mapimpi, centre Lukhanyo Am, prop Tendai Mtawarira, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, and Kolisi. Of Rassie Erasmus's squad of 31, 11 are black.

The lesson of 1995 was that transformation is more complicated than a single iconic image. The challenge that lies for the next group of players and administrators will be to create a wider pathway from undernourished grassroots to the elite.

Picking up occasional gems has worked. Kolisi made the jump. Mapimpi is also from the Eastern Cape, and did not go through the private school system. He still made it. There are other black kids, those who don't get the scholarships or find the eyes of a roving talent scout, who are still slipping through the net.

"If Mapimpi hadn't been in an area where rugby is strong and he was given the chance to play and be signed by other teams, the chances are we would never have seen him," says Shimange.

"It would have taken someone to go and scout him and spot the talent in him and then give him the chance to perform at the highest level.

"But we had generations of people who couldn't play for the Springboks, who weren't allowed to watch the Springboks, and now you have Siya running out there with his 15 men.

"Even the thought is incredible. It's why the most important person for the country for those 80 minutes on Saturday is going to be Siya Kolisi."

Back in Zwide, preparations are ongoing for a weekend of World Cup parties. The tavern where the teenage Kolisi watched his first final will be open once again. The skipper is only 28, but already he is changing his old home forever.

"During the apartheid time, we could never look forward to a moment like this, because of our colour," says Freddie Makoki, president of Zwide United rugby club, who played with Kolisi's father and grandfather and watched the young Siya grow.

"We had so many players who could have captained the Springboks, but because of their colour they couldn't.

"Sport can bring people together in this country. There are places you can't walk at night, because of criminals. Sport is the only vehicle that can change that. If you take those boys and put them in sport it can change them and it can change our society.

"Siya has been an incredible role model for children here. Whenever he comes to visit you'll see the youngsters coming out to see him. Everyone in the townships wants to be closer to him.

"He is a son of our soil. If you could have seen how full the taverns were for the semi-final you would not believe it. All of these people are now supporting the Springboks.

"It makes me so proud to see him in the Springbok jersey, to see the crowds at the game, calling out 'Siya! Siya!'

"You can see it in the faces of the people of this country how much it meant to have Siya as captain. He is a true hero of modern South Africa."

Kolisi's father is flying out to Japan to watch the biggest game of his son's life. It is his first trip overseas.

So too is the country's president. Cyril Ramaphosa called Kolisi on FaceTime after the win over Wales. Now he is coming in person. Captains and presidents, politics and power.

"Siya has more responsibility than I did or Francois did because he represents more people," says Smit, who will also be in the Yokohama stadium, this time for SuperSport TV.

"Thanks to Madiba, Springbok rugby has been used almost in the opposite way to how it was used in the apartheid era. It's a team that has been able to bring people together. It's grown the country through its ability to win.

"That's the hard thing to explain to people outside South Africa - what a Springbok win in a World Cup has done in the past for unification, and us continuing on this road to democracy and a new pathway.

"That's how important this is. Siya's story about where he's come from shows how far the country has come."

And so Kolisi carries that weight on his shoulders. Dreams and messy pasts, old heroes and deep-rooted struggles.

Only a game, but so much more too. Ghosts all around him, a new future ahead.

"I will be wearing my Springbok jersey," says 68-year-old Makoki, whose own career in the game was stunted by apartheid, who watched local heroes rise and fall short, who continues to nurse the sport in Zwide township.

"I'll be thinking about going to OR Tambo airport when they come back with that trophy. If I can be one of those people there to welcome them back I will be truly happy.

"When the Springboks won that World Cup in 1995, it brought South Africa together. But this would be more, because we have a lot of players who are knocking at the Springbok door. We'd have a lot more black players playing rugby again.

"I'm telling you! It will be more, it will be more.

"A black president and black captain, from a small town on the Eastern Cape. I'm telling you - that can save our country."

PATASKALA, Ohio – Mario Farnbacher and Matthew McMurry will share the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 EVO next year during the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season for Meyer Shank Racing.

The championship winning squad will look to continue its strong record of success with Acura, Acura Motorsports and Honda Performance Development as the team focuses on earning podium winning results in the Acura NSX GT3 EVO.

Reigning IMSA WeatherTech GT Daytona champion Farnbacher will rejoin the Ohio-based team for the third straight season. Farnbacher’s first year at MSR (2018) saw him take on endurance duties in the No. 93 Acura NSX GT3. The German ace was also recruited to make two starts in the team’s sister No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 at Detroit and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca which saw him and Katherine Legge respectively take a victory and third place finish.

Farnbacher’s role expanded this year with a full season drive alongside Trent Hindman. The pair won the Sahlen’s Six Hours of Watkins Glen and claimed four additional podium finishes on the way to clinching the IMSA GTD Team and Driver Championships at the season finale Motul Petit Le Mans. The Championship was the first full season professional championship victory for Meyer Shank Racing and Farnbacher.

A familiar face will return to MSR alongside Farnbacher as McMurry steps into the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 EVO. The youngest driver to start and finish the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans at 16 years old, McMurry had two Prototype starts with MSR in 2015 at Daytona and the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

McMurry’s talent expands across the sports car racing field, competing in everything from Prototypes, to Prototype Challenge machines, to GT cars. The 2019 season saw McMurry claim six wins in IMSA LPM2 competition on the way to winning the LMP2 championship. In addition to competing stateside, McMurry drove an Acura NSX GT3 EVO in the European Blancpain Endurance series in 2019 with race outings at Circuit de Barcelona, 24 Hours of Spa, Circuit Paul Ricard, Silverstone and Monza.

McMurry’s work with HPD extends beyond the competition on track, having just completed a successful 10 week engineering internship with HPD.

“I’m really happy with the lineup that we have in the 86 Acura for next year and am looking forward to building on what we accomplished this season,” said team co-owner Michael Shank. “Mario has done a stellar job and he has been a big asset to this team and getting the championship. Having Matthew come back onboard is also very exciting. He’s had plenty of seat time in the NSX over in Europe this year and he should be able to find his feet quickly over here. As always its an honor to continue our work with Acura Motorsports and HPD. It’s going on four years now and they have been great to work with and we hope that we can continue to deliver results for them next year.”

CONCORD, N.C. – Oscar Mayer will return as the primary partner on the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang driven by Ryan Newman for multiple races during the next two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series seasons.

Oscar Mayer will make its 2020 debut on the No. 6 entry March 8 at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.

“After a strong 2019 season, we at Oscar Mayer couldn’t be prouder to continue our season-long sponsorship of driver Ryan Newman and Roush Fenway Racing,” said Matt Riezman, associate director for Oscar Mayer. “Through our sponsorship, we’re able to connect with fans in a whole new way from our paint schemes to pre-race celebrations. We look forward to supporting the sport and No. 6 over the next two seasons and feeding people’s love of meat, both on and off the track.”

To celebrate the two-year extension, Oscar Mayer is giving fans the chance to design a 2020 paint scheme for the No. 6 Oscar Mayer Ford Mustang. Starting Wednesday, fans can head to Oscar Mayer’s social channels to download a car template and design their own paint scheme. The winning design will race at the TicketGuardian 500 in Phoenix on March 8. Interested fans can keep an eye on Oscar Mayer’s social channels for more details on how to submit their designs and when the window for submission will close.

“We’re obviously excited to continue our relationship with such a great brand in Oscar Mayer and the Kraft-Heinz Company,” said Newman. “The Oscar Mayer team and everyone at Roush Fenway has done a great job on collaborating on various innovative ideas throughout this season, and we’re looking forward to more creative excitement both on and off the track in the future.”

Oscar Mayer made its return to Roush Fenway in 2018 at Darlington Raceway and served as the primary sponsor for seven races during Newman’s run to the NASCAR Playoffs this year.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Announced Wednesday inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Our Motorsports will expand into the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a full-time entry in 2020.

Owned by Massachusetts businessman Chris Our, the organization is based in North Carolina and managed by Andy Seuss, a two-time champion of the now-defunct NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.

Our Motorsports will campaign the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro in its initial foray into NASCAR’s national-series landscape, beginning with the season-opening NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona Int’l Speedway in February.

“We’re excited to be expanding to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020. NASCAR’s marketing platform offers an opportunity like no other for both our existing partners and potential new partners,” said Our. “We have a great group of employees at Our Motorsports, who continue to work hard to grow the team. I am looking forward to getting to Daytona in February and seeing the No. 02 on the track.”

The team has competed in both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and ARCA Menards Series in the past, with high hopes going into its initial season at the Xfinity level.

A more-detailed driver lineup will be revealed in January, but Seuss is expected to drive in selected races during the season, though which races those will be have yet to be determined. The team will utilize a rotating cast throughout the year.

“Chris Our has been a huge influence and supporter of helping to continue the dream of competing at the highest level in NASCAR,” noted Seuss. “He is a great guy, whose passion for motorsports has helped countless drivers over the years live their dreams to compete for wins every weekend. I’m excited to be a part of this journey with him.”

Our’s outfit has purchased four cars from GMS Racing, including a speedway car and two downforce cars. The team will utilize Hendrick Motorsports chassis and engines prepared by Jeff Collins of Collins Engine Works, who spent nearly a decade as a mechanic in the Hendrick engine shop.

“The cars are pretty much new; they’re not very old at all,” Our noted. “Collins’ motors are basically Hendrick motors, just Gen 2 instead of Gen 1, so we have the equipment. We’ll lean on GMS a little bit and use their facility for some setup work and chassis work, but we’re excited. We believe we can really come out of the gate strong in February.”

Though Seuss’ main focus to start is going to be on managing the team and making sure everything is running smoothly, he put his driver’s hat on to discuss some of the team’s hopes and goals for its maiden Xfinity Series season, as well as the future.

“The short-term goal is just to be competitive and not to make mistakes,” Seuss said. “If you can blend in with the JR Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racings of the Xfinity Series world, then you’ll usually do great. Long-term, we just want to build on that. We always say that you want to make your heroes your competition, and we believe that we can do that.

“I don’t think there’s anything that we want to do that’s too big or unattainable,” he added. “We want to eventually outgrow the shop we have down here; that would be a great problem to have, but we’re just taking it one step at a time and this is the next step.”

Our Motorsports will also continue to field a part-time ARCA Menards Series entry in 2020, with Seuss confirming that he’ll handle driving duties in the ARCA season opener at Daytona on Feb. 8.

A full display of the Our Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series program will be featured at CONEXPO, North America’s largest construction trade show, in Las Vegas in March.

INDIANAPOLIS – Canadian Indy car competitor James Hinchcliffe won’t be a part of Arrow McLaren SP when the NTT IndyCar Series begins March 15 in St Petersburg, Fla.

The team, previously known as Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports prior to announcing a partnership with McLaren earlier this year, revealed Wednesday that Hinchcliffe wouldn’t return to the team next season.

Hinchcliffe joined the team in 2015, scoring three wins as well as the 2016 Indianapolis 500 pole during his tenure with the team. He remains under contract with Arrow McLaren SP, but is free to seek other driving opportunities.

Arrow McLaren SP also confirmed Wednesday that Oliver Askew and Pato O’Ward would drive for the team full-time next year.

“James has been a great ambassador for our team, and for the sport, over the last five years,” said Arrow McLaren SP co-owner, Sam Schmidt. “Our history dates back to his early days in Indy Lights and we’ve been on a tremendous journey together. Most impressive was James’s determination to come back after his accident in 2015. I have the utmost respect for James and would like to thank him for his hard work and accomplishments during that period and wish him well in his future endeavors.

“We recognize that James is a fiercely motivated and determined competitor, and we won’t hesitate to release him unconditionally to secure another drive, whether in IndyCar or another series.”

“James’ passion for the team has been crucial in our development since he joined us in 2015,” noted Arrow McLaren SP co-owner, Ric Peterson. “His perseverance and teamwork led us to three wins and an Indianapolis 500 pole position. James has been a big part of our growth over the last five years and I’d like to personally thank him for everything. On behalf of the entire team, we wish him all the best moving forward.”

INDIANAPOLIS – The two most recent Indy Lights champions, reigning champion Oliver Askew and 2018 champion Pato O’Ward, have joined Arrow McLaren SP for the upcoming NTT IndyCar Series season.

“It’s a dream come true to be joining Arrow McLaren SP for my first year in IndyCar,” commented Oliver Askew, who won seven races en route to the 2019 Indy Lights title. “The new team brings together three great partners and it’s an honor to be representing them in this new chapter for the team and for my career. This is an exciting new challenge for me and the next natural step after winning the Indy Lights title this year. I can’t wait to get started.”

The team, formerly known as Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, are the winningest Indy Lights team in history with seven championships and have given Indy car opportunities to rising stars such as Simon Pagenaud and Robert Wickens in recent years.

“I couldn’t be happier to be with Arrow McLaren SP for my first full season in IndyCar,” said Pato O’Ward, who clinched the 2018 Indy Lights title with nine wins to his name. “I’ve had some great opportunities over the last year, but this is by far the greatest thing that could possibly happen for my career. I had a taste of IndyCar earlier this year and cannot wait to represent Arrow McLaren SP in the best way possible for a full season in 2020.”

With both Askew and O’Ward winning the Indy Lights titles in their rookie seasons, the duo has shown a great ability at adapting to new machinery and competition as they’ve climbed the ladder.

“With our background in Indy Lights, I’ve followed Oliver and Pato closely over the last few years on the Road to Indy,” said Arrow McLaren SP co-owner, Sam Schmidt. “I couldn’t think of a better pairing as we write the first chapter in Arrow McLaren SP’s story. They’ve proven their skills on the Road to Indy and with an Indy Lights championship each, they are ready and deserving of full-time seats in IndyCar. I have no doubt that Oliver and Pato are the right drivers to move Arrow McLaren SP forward.”

“As we look to establish Arrow McLaren SP and re-establish McLaren in the world of IndyCar, I’m delighted to be welcoming these two young, homegrown talents to the team,” said Gil De Ferran, Sporting Director of McLaren Racing. “Oliver and Pato represent the new generation of IndyCar drivers. Proven winners and exciting prospects, I have no doubt that they will form an excellent pairing as we take on the 2020 season.

“Both drivers were super-impressive in Indy Lights, racking up 16 wins between them over the last two seasons. We have taken time and care to make a driver selection that we believe is in the best long-term interests of Arrow McLaren SP.”

The signing of O’Ward and Askew means the departure of team stalwart James Hinchcliffe, who team officials confirmed Wednesday would be departing the team.

Hockey Hall of Famer and popular longtime NHL executive Jim Gregory, best known for being one of the first to start bringing European players to North America, has died at the age of 83.

The league said Gregory died Wednesday at his home in Toronto. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Gregory spent a decade as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs from the late 1960s until the late 1970s and was one of the first to import European players, most notably Swede Borje Salming. He spent almost 40 years with the NHL as director of central scouting, executive director of hockey operations and senior vice president of hockey operations and supervision.

"It is impossible to express the extent to which the National Hockey League family adored Jim Gregory and the loss we feel as a result of his passing," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "Jim Gregory wasn't just a great 'hockey man,' though he certainly was that. He was a great man -- a devoted husband to Rosalie, his wife of 60 years; father to Andrea, Valerie, Maureen and David; grandfather of 13; and mentor and friend to too many to number."

Known around the sport as "Mr. Gregory," he served as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee from 1998-2014 and was a fixture at the NHL draft and other league events. He'd hand out silver sticks to players for reaching 1,000 games played, present new Hall of Famers with their rings and call names on the second day of the draft.

"There's no better man and no better ambassador that represented the NHL so honorably," retired defenseman Aaron Ward said on Twitter. "He was everywhere, at every event, and he'd immediately make you smile just seeing him. That says enough about the man."

Gregory was elected to the Hall of Fame as a builder in 2007. Beyond his years running the Maple Leafs, he was central to the NHL's use of video to review goals and the expansion of the league's Central Scouting system.

After seven games, Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick -- a two-time Stanley Cup champion and former All-Star -- has a 2-5 record with a 4.48 goals-against average and .849 save percentage. Only Winnipeg's Laurent Brossoit has worse numbers among goalies with at least four starts. Yes, it is early, but Quick's numbers have only built on his save percentage of .888 in 46 games last season.

At even strength, his .855 save percentage is only a tick better than the overall number. And according to Corsica Hockey, Quick has a .636 save percentage in high-danger situations.

So what's wrong with the veteran backstopper, who posted a .921 save percentage just two seasons ago? From a distance, there are few simple answers.

The problem

Quick won those two championships and a Conn Smythe Trophy by being an aggressive and athletic goaltender. He's known throughout the NHL for his reaction speed. But in January, the Milford, Connecticut, native will be 34 years old, and it is easy to say Father Time has caught up to his style of play. And it surely doesn't help that he plays behind a team in salary cap hell as it pays for those past championships in an adjusted cap era. Los Angeles is stuck in the cellar of the Western Conference, and most around the league don't see the team escaping anytime soon.

I turned to my friends at Clear Sight Analytics, who consult and provide data to many teams around the NHL and the rest of the hockey world, and asked for a closer look at Quick's slow start to the campaign.

The first thing they looked at is a base stat for evaluating goaltenders. By their measurement, Quick should have given up 21 goals in his seven games this season. He has instead given up 31, and that minus-10 differential ranks dead last in the league.

That is eye-opening, but hope is not lost for Quick. Some of the issues that have led him here are fixable.

First, we are evaluating the goalie, but much of his performance is a product of the team in front of him. Are the Kings just giving up too many quality scoring opportunities?

According to Clear Sight Analytics, the Kings actually rank in the middle of the pack as a team in giving up high-quality shots, defined as those that go in the net more than 20% of the time. But the Kings rank last in the NHL in opponent shooting percentage in those chances, meaning teams are far too successful against the Kings in that department, given an average amount of high-quality chances.

The real problem is with medium-quality shots. On shots that go in between 9% and 19% of the time, the Kings allow the second-fewest opportunities but rank 30th in opponent shooting percentage. That screams goaltending problem.

Quick's signature move is a split across the ice to make the impossible save. We saw that against the Blues earlier this season. It's just one of the things that has made him so fun to watch for the past decade. He is aggressive moving out of the net and forcing the action. But this puts Quick in a bad position for second-chance shots or when the puck is moved across the slot.

The whole point of analytics is to put everyone in the best position to succeed. According to Clear Sight Analytics, passes across the front of the net increased by more than 1,100 last season. For a goalie like Quick, who challenges and overcommits to force the opponent to make a mistake, this trend will lead to a lot of goals against.

On the power play, teams moving the puck around with an extra skater can produce even more situations in which Quick might be caught out of position. So it's no surprise that he's given up nine power-play goals, the most in the NHL.

The style of play in the NHL has changed as well. It's now tougher for defensemen to clear players from the front of the net. Controlling the rebound and giving yourself time to track a puck through traffic are as important as ever. And if you're too far out of the net, you only decrease reaction time and increase rebound chances.

Looking forward

So what does Quick need to do to get back to being the goaltender we expect? In short, commit to finding a depth in his crease that gives him the best opportunity to make a save and be in position for a second-chance shot. He simply can't rely on athleticism and aggressiveness alone at this point in his career and in today's NHL.

In 2012, the Kings were the No. 8 seed in the West and somehow won the Stanley Cup on the back of Quick. While Cup dreams certainly seem a little far-fetched today, if the team in front of him maintains its start to this season and Quick raises his play to league average, there is no reason to believe the Kings cannot compete for a wild card. But to get there, the veteran has to alter his style.

Presidents Cup captains Tiger Woods and Ernie Els are scheduled to make their wild-card picks next week.

Both captains have four selections. Els, the International captain, is scheduled to announce his on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. ET. Woods, the U.S. captain, is scheduled to reveal his final four on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. ET.

Golf Channel will air live Woods' announcement.

The Presidents Cup will be contested Dec. 12-15 in Melbourne, Australia. Here's a look at the eight players who qualified for both teams.

United States Team

• Brooks Koepka
• Justin Thomas
• Dustin Johnson
• Patrick Cantlay
• Xander Schauffele
• Webb Simpson
• Matt Kuchar
• Bryson DeChambeau

International Team

• Marc Leishman
• Hideki Matsuyama
• Louis Oosthuizen
• Adam Scott
• Abraham Ancer
• Haotong Li
• C.T. Pan
• Cameron Smith