Jets Projected To Replace Breece Hall With Star 23-TD RB
The New York Jets are in a tough spot with running back Breece Hall right now.
Hall was a trade chip at the trade deadline because of his expiring contract, but the Jets opted against moving him as it seems like they'll attempt to re-sign him in the offseason. But there's a chance the Jets lose him in free agency and would need to replace him in the upcoming offseason.
FOX Sports' Rob Rang recently put together a mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft. In this mock draft, Rang projected the Jets would use the No. 30 pick to select Miami running back Mark Fletcher. The Jets acquired the No. 30 pick from the Indianapolis Colts in the trade for Sauce Gardner.
Jets linked to RB Mark Fletcher in 2026 NFL Draft
"While the focus is understandably dedicated to the Jets’ looming decision at quarterback, it seems nearly as likely that the club will also be seeking a new running back, with Breece Hall in the midst of the final year of his rookie contract," Rang wrote. "Hall is a talented back — and is still just 24 years-old — but the Jets were likely expecting multiple 1,0000-yard rushing seasons from him when they selected him No. 36 overall four years ago, and he has failed to deliver even one of them thus far.
"The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Fletcher is a bigger, burlier back than Hall and might offer more of the grit between the tackles Glenn and Engstrand were accustomed to with the Detroit Lions."
The Jets will likely make a big effort to retain Hall this offseason. That's seemingly the reason they opted to hold onto him at the trade deadline.
But if they can't retain him, drafting a running back like Fletcher would make a lot of sense. Fletcher has a nose for the end zone, as he's scored 23 touchdowns over three seasons. He's scored nine times already this year.
He's averaging over five yards per carry this season. There's a chance he plays himself into the first round and the Jets could be the perfect fit with their second pick in the first round.
Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov matches Martin St. Louis in Tampa history with goal vs. Canucks
The Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Vancouver Canucks at home on Sunday, 6-2, but it was a game still worth remembering, particularly for veteran skater Nikita Kucherov. The 32-year-old Russian forward, who recently recorded his 1,000th assist in the NHL, kicked off the scoring in the contest with an even-strength goal with just under a minute left in the first period.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion was wide open for a snipe from the right side, with his shot getting past Vancouver netminder Kevin Lankinen. Darren Raddysh and Brayden Point were credited with assists for that lamp-lighter by Kucherov, who also moved up on the all-time goals list of Tampa Bay.
“Nikita Kucherov scored his 365th career goal and tied Martin St. Louis for the third most in Lightning history behind Steven Stamkos (555) and Vincent Lecavalier (383),” the graphic on the NHL Public Relations’ social media post on X, formerly Twitter, read.
A three-time Art Ross Trophy winner, Kucherov is easily one of the best playmakers of his generation and among the greatest players to ever don a Tampa Bay uniform. He is proving it again in the 2025-26 NHL season, where he’s already scored eight goals and notched eight assists for 16 points.
Steven Stamkos, who is now with the Nashville Predators, is the Lightning’s all-time goals leader, as Stammer found the back of the net 555 times during his stellar career with Tampa Bay. Vincent Lecavalier is No. 2 on the list with 383 goals.
Kucherov, who was a second-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2011, can break his tie with St. Louis and have solo ownership of the No. 3 spot as soon as this coming Tuesday, when the Lightning play host to the New Jersey Devils. The Bolts also have a date with the Edmonton Oilers at home on Thursday before an away game on Saturday versus the Washington Capitals.
The Lightning crumble as the Canucks score five third period goals
Nikita Kucherov got the Lightning’s offense started on Sunday with his eighth goal of the year. A slap shot assisted by Darren Raddysh and Brayden Point put Tampa on top of Vancouver 1-0.
Jake Guentzel kept the Lightning’s offense striking in the second period with his eighth goal of the year on a tip-in shot assisted by Erik Carnak and Brandon Hagel who was back on the ice.
But then the Canucks started cooking offensively as they began to quiet the Lightning. Jake DeBrusk made it a 2-1 match. He was assisted by Elias Petterson and Quinn Hughes.
The Lightning still held the lead into the third period, but after a Tampa penalty, the Canucks tied it up on a power play goal by Kiefer Sherwood 4:11 into the period. The shot that made it a 2-2 game was assisted by Brock Boeser and Hughes.
They then scored 40 seconds later and at the 5:51 mark as well to take and extend their lead over the Lightning. Their third goal and the one that put them on top 3-2 was by Linus Karlsson and assisted by Mackenzie MacEachern. Their fourth goal that followed was scored by Drew O’Connor and assisted by Hughes and Filip Hronek.
MacEachern then extended the Canuck’s lead to 5-2 over Tampa Bay on a goal assisted by Hronek and Hughes.
The sixth goal that put the nail in the coffin for Tampa Bay and led the Canucks to their ultimate victory was scored by Marcus Petterson. It was a wrist shot assisted by E. Pettersson and Tyler Myers.
The Lightning skate away from the weekend having split the weekend with one win and one loss.
They will return to action on Tuesday with a 7:00PM EST puck drop against the New Jersey Devils at Benchmark International Arena.
