The Vancouver Canucks rocked the NHL with another Friday night blockbuster, trading forward J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers for forward Filip Chytil, defenseman Victor Mancini and a 2025 first-round draft pick.

Defensemen Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington were also part of the package with Miller to New York. The Rangers' draft selection is top-13 protected; it becomes an unprotected 2026 first-round pick should the choice be that high.

Miller also waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal, which the Canucks and Rangers had been working on for weeks. The Canucks nearly held Miller out of a game against Edmonton earlier this month with a trade percolating between the two sides, but it fell through.

Now Miller is headed back to the Rangers, who drafted him 15th overall in 2011. He suited up for New York from 2012-18 before they traded him to Tampa. Miller joined the Canucks ahead of their 2019-20 season and inked a seven-year, $56 million extension with Vancouver that began in 2023-24. He leaves the Canucks as their second-leading scorer on the season with nine goals and 35 points.

It won't be long now before fans see Miller back with the Blueshirts -- he's expected to be in the lineup when they face Boston on Saturday afternoon, and New York could use the help. The Rangers shockingly slipped out of playoff contention in the season's first half but are now just five points back of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

The trade had to be a relief for Miller, who had been the subject of trade talks well before the rumor mill heated up earlier this month about him potentially landing back with the Rangers. The previous extension seemed to quell some of that momentum, but recently it felt increasingly inevitable Miller would be headed out of town.

The trade materialized just days after Canucks president Jim Rutherford confirmed reports that Miller clashed with Vancouver's star center, Elias Pettersson. Miller and Pettersson had repeatedly denied rumors of strife, but Rutherford told The Globe and Mail on Tuesday that the tension between two of the Canucks most important players was real and hinted changes were imminent.

"I felt like for a long time that there was a solution here because everybody has worked on it, including the parties involved," Rutherford told the outlet. "But it only gets resolved for a short period of time and then it festers again, and so it certainly appears like there's no good solution that would keep this group together."

Rutherford's decision to corroborate those reports went against what Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said during his midseason media availability, that it was "unfortunate" how those types of rumors had been impacting his team.

"I'm proud of the guys they're capable of blocking a lot of noise out and just go out and play," Allvin said then. "We want to create an environment where they feel safe and trusted. The players have galvanized and played extremely well under the circumstances."

Chytil, a promising former first-round pick, has been slowed by injuries throughout his career and has 11 goals and 20 points in 41 games this season. The 25-year-old is likely to benefit from a fresh start -- when healthy, he can be a reliable middle-six forward in Vancouver's offense. The Canucks have struggled of late and sit one point back of a wild card spot in the Western Conference.

In the next big domino to fall in WNBA free agency, 2020 No. 2 overall pick Satou Sabally is headed to the Phoenix Mercury from the Dallas Wings in a three-team trade, sources told ESPN on Friday.

The Wings are set to receive point guard Ty Harris and the rights to Kiki Herbert Harrigan from Phoenix, as well as 2022 No. 2 overall pick NaLyssa Smith and the 2025 No. 8 pick from the Indiana Fever. Indiana will acquire guard Sophie Cunningham and the 2025 No. 19 pick from Phoenix, which will also receive center Kalani Brown and the rights to point guard Sevgi Uzun from Dallas.

Because Dallas gave her the core player designation, Sabally's exit had to be via a trade. As it involves a sign-and-trade, the transaction can't become official until Feb. 1, when contracts are first allowed to be executed.

One of the biggest free agents on the market, Sabally made her desire to leave Dallas known ahead of free agency, telling reporters during a news conference for Unviralved that she had played her last game in a Wings uniform.

Sources told ESPN that Sabally's biggest criteria for a new team was "great organization infrastructure" with top-tier practice facilities and resources.

Sabally didn't hide this desire.

"What type of resources do they have? How important is their team to the owner? If you have an owner of a team that doesn't prioritize the women's team...That's a place where I will be less likely to go," Sabally said before the launch of Unrivaled.

The Mercury have doubled down on player resources under new owner Mat Ishbia, last summer unveiling a dedicated $100 million practice facility for the team in downtown Phoenix.

The Mercury have undergone dramatic changes on the court, even before the Sabally trade was finalized. Phoenix traded for Alyssa Thomas, sending to Connecticut Natasha Cloud and Bec Allen, while seeing 10-time All-Star and franchise stalwart Brittney Griner depart for Atlanta as a free agent. Mercury legend Diana Taurasi could also be gone in 2025 should she choose to retire.

The Mercury compiled a new-look super team last season with the acquisitions of Kahleah Copper, Cloud and Allen, but were hampered by injuries and were swept in the first round of the playoffs.

Sabally joins the organization two years removed from earning 2023 Most Improved Player and her first all-WNBA first team nod. She missed most of the 2024 season for the Wings due to a shoulder injury, but did suit up for the German national team to help them to a quarterfinal finish in the Paris Olympics. She averaged 17.9 points, 5.0 assists and 6.4 rebounds per contest in 15 games across 2024.

Sabally, who also considered the New York Liberty as her next team, had played her entire career with the Wings after being drafted in the 2020 lottery out of Oregon.

Smith spent her first three seasons in the league in Indiana, averaging 13.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Cunningham was a 2019 second-round draft pick for the Mercury who averaged 7.7 points per game during her time in Phoenix.

ESPN's Josh Weinfuss contributed to this report.

FRISCO, Texas -- While Brian Schottenheimer will call plays in his first year as the Dallas Cowboys' coach, he has hired his offensive coordinator in former Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams.

Adams, 41, spent the past two seasons in that role for the Cardinals and is well regarded across the league for his run game. The Cardinals had the seventh-ranked run game in the NFL last year (144.2 yards per game) and were second in yards per carry (5.3).

James Conner had 1,094 yards and eight rushing touchdowns for Arizona in 2024. The Cowboys were led by Rico Dowdle, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent, with 1,079 yards and just two touchdowns. The Cowboys had only six rushing touchdowns on the season.

The Cowboys are expected to hire an offensive line coach in addition to having Adams.

Before joining Arizona, Adams spent four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, working with the tight ends and serving as an assistant offensive line coach.

In addition to Adams, the Cowboys also interviewed Detroit Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery and Atlanta Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger. They also had talks with former Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey.

Schottenheimer has filled all of his coordinator slots with Adams, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen. In addition to offensive line, the Cowboys have openings at running back and wide receiver.

The team interviewed New Orleans running backs coach Derrick Foster on Thursday, according to a source.

NEW YORK -- Free agent pitcher Jeison Pena was suspended for 80 games on Friday under baseball's minor league drug program and Colorado Rockies pitcher Ulises Reyes for 56 games under the program for minor leaguers assigned outside of the United States and Canada.

Both tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol, the commissioner's office said Friday.

Pena, a 22-year-old right-hander, signed with Milwaukee in 2020 and spent the last two seasons at Class A Carolina. He was 3-1 with a 5.02 ERA in 30 relief appearances last year and was released on Oct. 8.

Reyes, a 19-year-old right-hander, signed with Colorado in December 2023 for a $15,000 bonus and went 1-0 with a 7.00 ERA in 15 relief appearances last year for the Dominican Summer League Rockies.

The pair were the first minor leaguers suspended this year for positive drug tests. Twenty players were suspended last year for positive drug tests, including nine under the minor league program and nine under the program for minor league players assigned outside the U.S. and Canada.

Two players were suspended last year under the major league drug program. Noelvi Marté, a 22-year-old infielder who was considered Cincinnati's top prospect, missed the first 80 games following a positive test for boldenone. Toronto infielder Orelvis Martínez was suspended for 80 games on June 23 following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug clomiphene, an announcement made two days after his major league debut.

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras agreed Friday to a one-year contract guaranteeing $6.1 million, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

A two-time All-Star, Contreras had asked for $6.5 million and had been offered $5.6 million when proposed figures were exchanged.

His deal with the reigning NL Central champions includes a team option for 2026.

Contreras, 27, batted .281 with a .365 on-base percentage, 23 homers and 92 RBIs in 155 games last season and was an All-Star for the second time in three seasons. He hit .289 in 2023 with a .367 on-base percentage, 17 homers and 78 RBIs in 141 games.

The Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America selected Contreras as the Brewers' most valuable player in each of the past two seasons. The Brewers acquired him from the Atlanta Braves after a 2022 season.

Watch highlights as France start the Six Nations with a 43-0 victory against Wales, with home captain Antoine Dupont providing three assists on his return at the Stade de France.

READ MORE: Dupont inspires France to win against woeful Wales

Watch highlights on Six Nations Rugby Special on BBC iPlayer.

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The way we view Italy has changed - or ought to have changed. Some, perhaps subconsciously, still see them as a nailed-on win with only the margin up for discussion. That was the case for a long time, but not anymore.

They have class and power all over their team, they have clever creators, deadly finishers with dynamism and belligerence.

Scotland have lost more Six Nations games to Italy (eight) than all the other nations combined, so the warning signs are there, flashing blue. Would it be a massive surprise if Italy won? Not in the minds of anybody who's been paying attention to them.

Townsend has injuries, but he's not wallowing. He has absolute faith in Stafford McDowall filling in for Tuipulotu and bringing some of his ball-carrying and defensive solidity to the party.

McDowall is not Tuipulotu but he's still a seriously accomplished footballer, a leader, a big presence who will relish a run in the team. Save for Cherry and the undercooked, but freakish unit, Gray, then this is an impressive Scotland team with an impactful bench.

And they'll most likely need it. A recurring theme throughout last season's championship was Scotland's fast starts and slow finishes, the opening day hair-raiser against Wales being the classic illustration of that.

In points scored across the four quarters of games they went from first, to third, to joint fifth to sixth in the final quarter. For points conceded they were again at their weakest in the final quarter.

Townsend has some terrific firepower on the bench. George Horne, Tom Jordan and Kyle Rowe can create things out of nothing. Gregor Brown, with his physicality and skill-set, could be a real breakout star. Jack Dempsey hasn't played a whole pile of rugby but his carrying and his intensity might be just the ticket to get Scotland over the line.

It could be nervous, it could be positively terrifying, but it's the Six Nations and it's back and it's a hell of a time to be alive.

France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio, Roumat, Meafou, Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt.

Red card: Ntamack 71

Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Colombe, Auradou, Guillard, Jegou, Le Garrec, Gailleton.

Wales: L Williams; Rogers, Watkin, Tompkins, Adams; B Thomas,-T Williams; G Thomas, Lloyd, H Thomas, Rowlands, Jenkins, Botham, Morgan (capt),Wainwright.

Replacements: Dee, Smith, Assiratti, F Thomas, Reffell, R. Williams, Edwards, Murray.

Sin-bin: Lloyd 32, F Thomas 76

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy) & Jordan Way (Australia) Brett Cronan (Australia)

Television match official: Brett Cronan (RA)

Miguel Almirón said he feels like he's "at home" now that he's returning to Atlanta United.

Almirón's $12.5 million move from Premier League side Newcastle United was officially announced on Thursday. He arrived to a hero's welcome at Hartsfield International Airport on Thursday night, signing autographs, taking pictures with fans, and listening to fans chant, "Miggy, Miggy."

"I feel at home," he said during a conference call with reporters with the help of a translator. "Especially last night, the welcome was really nice and it was great to see it and I feel like I'm home."

The move comes six years after he left the Five Stripes for the bright lights of the Premier League. After some early struggles, Almirón endeared himself to the Newcastle fans through his work rate and tenacity. His peak came during the 2022-23 season when he scored 11 goals in 41 games across all competitions.

"I think the fans in Newcastle also treated me really well," he said. "I think it's the same level of affection that I've received from both fan bases. I'm always going to be grateful to the Newcastle fans for that, for my time during my six years there. But that's the same kind of respect and affection that I feel from the fans here in Atlanta."

When Almirón departed in 2018, the Paraguay international's dynamic runs down the wing were what caught the eye. Now 30, Almirón feels that Atlanta is getting an even more rounded player than when he left.

"I think in the six years that I was in England, that experience helped," he said. "I think I've matured and I think I'll try to use that experience. I'll try to bring that to the group here to try to help the group in the ways that I can. And I think for those reasons, they also brought me back."

While Almirón spoke of how not much had changed with Atlanta United, one difference is that the forward with whom he connected so often, Josef Martínez, has long since departed, and is now with the San Jose Earthquakes. Almirón said the two are still close.

"I always speak with him. He's one of my best friends in football, so I've shared a lot of things with him and we talk," he said. "These things happen in football. We take different paths as players. So when I left I was taking a different path to go to Newcastle ... God willing, maybe we will find a way to meet again."