Sports
NHL trade board 7.0: The 4 Nations break is over, and things are about to get real
Just days remain for any NHL team sitting on the fence to determine which direction it’ll go before the March 7 trade deadline.
There are currently 10 teams on the wrong side of the playoff cut-line that are within six points of the final wild-card spot in their respective conferences, which adds an air of uncertainty to a trade market that remained dormant throughout the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Among that chase pack, who is prepared to buy, sell or stand pat?
As the clock ticks down toward clarity, here’s our latest Big Board. Players are listed by how closely they demand watching, based on their potential impact and the current amount of buzz around them.
Note: Net Ratings and market values are via Dom Luszczyszyn’s model and are projected for the full season based on statistics through Feb. 23. Goals saved above expected (GSAx) are via Evolving-Hockey, also through Feb. 23. Contract info is via PuckPedia.
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Not only have the Islanders cooled off a bit, they also appear no closer to an extension with the pending UFA. And Nelson arguably has the highest trade value of any “rental” player who might be moved at this deadline. The 33-year-old all-situations forward is a big, sturdy man with a strong track record of scoring goals. He can be slotted as a second-line center or slide into a wing spot on the top line. Basically, he’s exactly the kind of difference-maker that contending teams would be falling over themselves to get their hands on, which is why multiple contenders are monitoring this file closely.
Player type
Big veteran second-liner
Well on his way to topping 30 goals and 60 points this season, Rakell may be the most productive offensive player available ahead of this deadline. The right-shot winger is an above-average finisher who has a history of holding his own when playing alongside highly skilled linemates. With three years remaining on his contract after this one, the usual caveats apply: The Penguins do not have to move Rakell now, but they’d be willing to do it if the return helped them push along their organizational goal of getting younger. He’s signed to an extremely reasonable contract in a rising cap environment.
Player type
Proven offensive contributor
A big name who comes with a big ticket, Jones is a player of intrigue because of a skill set that is in short supply around the league. The right-shot defenseman can shoulder big minutes in all situations and handle a shutdown role. He’s so anxious for a move to a team closer to contention than the Blackhawks that he recently went public with his desire to be dealt. Moving his contract in-season won’t be easy, but Chicago is believed to be open to retaining some of the remaining money to help facilitate a trade. Jones and the team are working together on trying to find him a new home.
Player type
Major-minutes defenseman
The retooling Flyers are short on rental players to take to market in the lead-up to the deadline, but they could be compelled to part with the big, physical defenseman who has some term remaining. Ristolainen plays a rugged style best suited for third-pairing duty, and he’s taken meaningful steps forward over the past 18 months toward becoming a more reliable defender in his own zone. With a contract that stretches two seasons beyond this one, some salary retention might be needed to make a trade work.
Player type
Rugged veteran defenseman
A relentless high-motor player who is enjoying a career season in Chicago, Donato is attracting serious attention on the trade market. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he profiles as a rental who can add to a team’s depth while playing basically anywhere in the lineup. Donato appears to have made some strides with his skating this season and has the hands to bury offensive chances when he gets them. He’s one goal away from hitting 20 for the first time in his NHL career.
Player type
High-motor depth player
With the Sabres languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and in need of some kind of shakeup, two-thirds of NHL teams have at least checked in on Cozens’ availability. Even amid a down season, the 6-foot-3 center holds plenty of appeal. He’s got great speed and skill for a player his size and already has a 30-goal NHL campaign under his belt at age 23. Here’s the rub, though: It’s going to take a meaningful offer to pry him out of Buffalo — something built around an established player, not just prospects — and so far that hasn’t materialized.
Player type
Speedy young blue-chip asset
The Sabres certainly aren’t shopping the 23-year-old defenseman, but he may be the piece they have to put in play in order to make a significant shakeup. Byram is an elite skater who can log big minutes and should still have his best and most productive seasons ahead. He’s also due for a new contract after the season as a pending restricted free agent. The Sabres control his rights, but they’re a team with a lot of money and years already tied up in their blue line, so decisions are looming.
Player type
Blue-chip prospect
With Laughton signed for one season beyond this one and producing at a 40-point pace, the Flyers are under no pressure to trade him. But if a contender is willing to part with a first-round pick, they’ll probably be compelled to pull the trigger. Laughton would be a bottom-six upgrade for a lot of contending teams. He’s a glue guy who kills penalties and plays with an edge to his game.
Player type
Veteran glue guy
A high-energy player who brings it on the forecheck and recklessly throws himself in front of pucks on the penalty kill, Tanev has a lot of the qualities contenders are looking for. Known for playing a grindy game that wears on opponents, he leads all Seattle forwards in short-handed ice time. He certainly doesn’t back down when faced with a contested piece of ice. As a bonus, he also comes with 46 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience.
Player type
Grindy penalty-killing forward
Rantanen lands this high on the Big Board because 1) he’s a massive name and 2) he’s embroiled in an uncertain situation leading up to the deadline. The Hurricanes shocked the hockey world by acquiring him in late January and have since put their best foot forward to try to get him signed to an extension. So far, no dice. If Rantanen tells the Hurricanes he’s going to hit the open market on July 1 rather than negotiating with them, do they still want to keep him around as a rental? Keep in mind that Carolina has the ability to get his cap hit under $3 million if they flip him somewhere else with retention.
Market value
$10.4 million
Player type
Superstar scorer
It has been an up-and-down campaign in St. Louis, with a coaching change and a few notable moves made already made with an eye toward shaking up the group. It also didn’t go without notice recently when general manager Doug Armstrong spoke publicly about the possibility of making changes to his core. Enter Schenn, the Blues captain, who the team is believed to at least be gauging interest on. That doesn’t guarantee a move, especially with Schenn in possession of a full no-trade clause, but it’s enough to land him on the Big Board. The veteran center is having a good season and brings value at both ends of the ice, plus all kinds of playoff experience.
Player type
Two-way vet with Cup experience
The veteran right-shot winger remains a serious scoring threat into his 15th NHL season. He hit 30 goals in 2023-24 and is on pace to comfortably cruise past 20 this season. As a pending unrestricted free agent, Palmieri is an attractive rental option, especially with his willingness to battle his way to the hard areas of the ice. Not unlike the situation with teammate Brock Nelson, the only real question is if general manager Lou Lamoriello will willingly part with a valued member of his team while it’s still hanging around the playoff race.
Player type
Veteran scorer
After acquiring Marcus Pettersson and signing him to a six-year extension, the Canucks have made the 6-foot-5 Soucy available on the trade market. Minutes are going to be tougher for him to come by now. Soucy is a prototypical shutdown defender who has performed well in the playoffs for the Canucks and during his previous stop in Seattle. As a bonus, the left shot is comfortable playing on either side of the ice. Soucy will have a lot of say in where he lands because of a no-trade clause that runs through the end of the season.
Player type
Shutdown defender
An effective skater for a man of his size, Armia is known for his defensive instincts and consistent 200-foot play. He’s also a solid penalty killer who has chipped in with three short-handed goals for Montreal this season — third most among all NHL players through early February. A pending unrestricted free agent, he’s available as a bottom-six rental.
Player type
Bottom-six defensive help
Evans is a high-end penalty killer in tandem with Joel Armia, who is also featured on the Big Board. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see those players moved as a package deal by the Canadiens. Evans has gone cold offensively after a red-hot start but brings a fair amount of value as a right-shot center who is well above average on faceoffs. He isn’t overly big, but he’s a quick skater who is an affordable rental option playing on an expiring contract.
Player type
Quality fourth-line option
Mittelstadt’s name started surfacing in trade discussions after the Avalanche dealt away Mikko Rantanen in a late-January blockbuster. Colorado is willing to get creative in an effort to upgrade its top-six forward group. Mittelstadt has good hands and is known as a puck distributor and playmaker rather than a goal scorer. While still young enough at age 26 to carry some upside, his play on the defensive side of the puck can leave something to be desired.
Player type
Playmaker with upside
Nyquist has found a nice home in Nashville and might prefer to stay, but it has been a rough ride for the Predators this season and he is the most marketable rental asset currently in their stable. One year removed from an unexpected 75-point season, Nyquist’s production has dipped significantly. But the 35-year-old remains a strong skater and talented playmaker, and he could be had for a reasonable price.
Player type
Veteran playmaker
While Frederic has seen a decline after posting career bests with an 18-goal, 40-point campaign last season, he still brings intangibles teams appreciate. He’s a big man who skates well and can effectively be deployed as a checker. With senior leadership in Boston acknowledging publicly that the organization is considering becoming a seller ahead of the deadline, Frederic is a hot commodity.
Player type
Checker who can score
A rough-and-tumble winger who boasts an impressive fight card, Olivier has caught the attention of at least a couple of teams currently eyeing potential depth forward options. The 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent has even managed to chip in more than his share of expected goals this season. But what makes him most attractive is his size, strength and willingness to embrace an energy role. Olivier is built for playoff hockey.
Player type
Rough-and-tumble energy winger
One of the largest men in the league at 6-foot-7 and nearly 260 pounds, Oleksiak represents the kind of depth contenders crave. While he’s seen a small decline in his minutes this season in Seattle, he’s shown he can handle second-pairing deployment at even strength while logging big minutes on the penalty kill. He can also line up on either side of the ice. The Kraken have a decision here since Oleksiak is signed through next season, but they may be able to maximize his value by trading him now.
Player type
Huge depth defenseman
Contract talks haven’t produced any traction, which leaves the Canucks facing a decision while trying to hang tough in the playoff race: keep Boeser as an own rental or cash in on him as an asset? The sniper has experienced a decline following a 40-goal campaign — not only in production, but also in the number of shots and shot attempts he’s generating. Still, he’s got good puck skills and a strong history as a power-play contributor.
Marchand says he wants to spend his entire career in Boston, and the Bruins say they’re trying to sign their captain to an extension. But … talk is cheap. Marchand remains a pending UFA. Can a retooling franchise risk walking him to free agency? Fresh off helping Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off, Marchand remains a high-end winger who can contribute offensively, kill penalties and, yes, get under an opponent’s skin. His slow start following multiple offseason surgeries appears to be in the rear-view mirror.
Player type
Veteran leader, scorer and agitator
It’s not clear how deep the Bruins are prepared to cut, but they could certainly attract a nice return of futures by moving Carlo now. He’s still under contract for two more seasons, which could help an acquiring team justify paying a big price to get him. Carlo is a 6-foot-5, right-shot defenseman who is a trusted defender and penalty killer. He’s got plenty of big-game experience, too.
Player type
Defensive defenseman
With Murphy having recently returned to Chicago’s lineup after a recurring groin injury, teams will want some assurances about his medical file before proceeding with a trade. Still, a 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman is a pretty appealing asset. Murphy has also posted strong defensive results under less-than-favorable conditions with a Blackhawks team on its way to yet another lottery pick.
Player type
Big defensive stalwart
Gourde isn’t expected to return to the Kraken’s lineup before the trade deadline after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia in January. However, he should be ready to play games again at some point in March. So while his health situation may slightly diminish his trade value, it hasn’t completely submarined it. Gourde is a strong skater and two-way player who owns a couple of Stanley Cup rings from his time in Tampa — which means that he’s exactly the kind of player a team gearing up for the playoffs will be looking at closely.
Player type
Feisty playoff performer
Reliable right-shot centers who can fill a depth role always have currency come deadline time. Bjugstad has shown that before — getting traded in 2022 from Arizona to Edmonton in a deal that brought back a third-round pick and defenseman Michael Kesselring — and he’s trending toward being that kind of asset again for Utah HC. He’s a reliable play-driver who profiles as an ideal bottom-six utility man. Of course, Utah may elect to hang on to him depending on how the next few games go.
Player type
Bottom-six utility man
A huge winger at 6-foot-6 and 230-plus pounds, Greenway is on the radar for contenders seeking a bottom-six upgrade. As a pending unrestricted free agent, he can be acquired as a rental ahead of the deadline and the cost shouldn’t be too prohibitive given his limited offensive output this season. Consistency is a bit of a question mark here.
Player type
Huge depth winger
The Blue Jackets will have a difficult decision on their hands if someone offers a first-round pick for Provorov. The team has overachieved this season, and the minute-munching defenseman has expressed a desire to sign an extension in Columbus, but the smarter move may be cashing in on his value as a trade asset now. We’ll see. Although there have been some contract talks with the pending unrestricted free agent on an extension, a gap exists between how the two sides see things. Provorov is an all-situations defender who can play either side of the ice and tends to help his team keep the puck moving in the right direction.
Player type
All-situations defender
A minute-munching, shot-blocking defenseman who has drawn trade interest in the past, Ferraro is a valuable commodity. Signed through the end of next season at a $3.25 million cap hit, the 26-year-old is a strong puck mover and penalty killer with a competitive streak to match.
Player type
Minute-munching shot-blocker
The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has two more seasons remaining on his contract and has already indicated a desire to stay in Nashville. However, it might not ultimately be his call. The organization wants to do right by O’Reilly, but general manager Barry Trotz will be forced to make a decision if he gets a strong trade offer amid a disappointing season for the team. O’Reilly is an excellent two-way center who can be counted on to chip in offensively and has the ability to be a true difference-maker for a contender. As an added bonus, he’s a menace in the faceoff circle, too.
Player type
Top two-way center
A mountain of a man at 6-foot-6 and 232 pounds, McCarron may find himself in demand since he’s playing on an affordable cap hit for one more season. He’s a right shot who can kill penalties and win some draws. Even if he’s limited offensively, there’s value to be found in a fourth-liner who plays his style of game.
Player type
Mountainous depth forward
The writing has been on the wall since Montreal acquired Alexandre Carrier in December. At a minimum, it made the veteran defenseman on an expiring contract much more expendable. Savard should have suitors as a depth option and penalty killer, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he carries the experience of a Stanley Cup win with Tampa Bay in 2021 after being acquired midway through that season. He’s also a right shot who routinely sacrifices his body to block shots, both of which are attributes good teams can always use more of.
Player type
Veteran defensive defenseman
A veteran left-shot defenseman with two Stanley Cup championships on his resume, Dumoulin profiles as a nice depth addition for a contender. Big and mobile, he can be trusted to move the puck effectively while handling a steady workload. He’s not known for being overly physical, but he won’t be pushed around. The 33-year-old is on an expiring contract and should be an easy piece for the Ducks to ship out before the deadline.
Player type
Depth defenseman with Cup rings
Lindgren is poised to potentially walk as a free agent on July 1 and also has had a hand in some of the Rangers’ defensive struggles this season. That’s not a great combination. A frequent partner of former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox, Lindgren has still seen his team take on water during his five-on-five minutes. However, he’s still considered a high-character player who doesn’t shy away from physical play and is at an age where he likely hasn’t yet hit his ceiling.
Player type
Struggling veteran
A Big Board mainstay, this may finally be the season Gibson finds his way back to a competitive team. He’s lost the No. 1 job in Anaheim to Lukáš Dostál and is inching ever closer to the end of his contract with two years remaining on it after this one. That’s been the biggest impediment to finding him a new home. While Gibson’s numbers in recent seasons don’t jump off the page in a positive way, they should be viewed with the understanding that he’s played behind some horrific defensive teams. He’s also had a major bounce-back performance so far this season. In a trade market with very few goaltending options available, Gibson has the highest ceiling.
Player type
Former ace in need of a fresh start
Injuries have kept Zegras from building any positive momentum the past two seasons. A fresh start could help that along. The Ducks are demanding more attention to detail from the offensive specialist, and getting it, but Zegras is still searching for a way to hang on to the parts of his game that once separated him. Remember that he already has two 60-point campaigns under his belt at age 23. The production has dried up, as has some of the player’s enthusiasm.
Player type
Distressed asset
Another giant depth forward at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Brazeau traveled the long road to the NHL and has earned a raise on his league-minimum $775,000 contract. He’s already hit the 10-goal mark for the first time in his career this season. Brazeau is a hard-working player who doesn’t hesitate to finish his checks.
Player type
Late-blooming power forward
Robertson has bit his lip since a summer trade request went unfulfilled by the Leafs, but the situation could still come to a head before the deadline. He has at least helped his trade value with some more productive outings since a brief string of scratches in December. However, in the big picture, Robertson hasn’t gained much traction under new head coach Craig Berube, and he may still get his desired fresh start once the Leafs begin looking at other acquisitions.
Player type
Diminutive winger who can score
A bottom-six forward option who plays hard at both ends of the ice, what you see is what you get from Kunin. He can chip in a bit offensively and has plenty of experience as a penalty killer. The right shot has made strides in the faceoff dot this season as well.
A pending unrestricted free agent in Pittsburgh who has contributed some offense this season, Beauvillier could be on the move yet again. He’s bounced from Long Island to Vancouver to Chicago to Nashville to the Penguins in the past three seasons. Still, Beauvillier is a skilled winger with decent puck-handling skills. He’s a pretty good skater, too.
A contract throw-in as part of the Flames-Flyers deal at the end of January, it would not be a surprise to see Kuzmenko flipped. The talented scorer has seen the goals disappear entirely this season and is on an expiring contract. But he remains a threat on the power play and could be due for a bounce-back.
For a few days at the 4 Nations Face-Off at least, Karlsson looked like he’d found the fountain of youth. He played extremely well for Team Sweden. Things have been much more up and down this season with the Penguins, and it’s only natural to wonder if he might benefit from a more competitive environment. His contract remains the biggest barrier to a trade since it covers two more years at a $10 million cap hit and the Penguins aren’t believed to be warm to the idea of salary retention.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic, with photos of Seth Jones, Mikko Rantanen and Brayden Schenn by Patrick Smith, Ellen Schmidt and Jamie Sabau / Getty Images)
Sports
Giants valued at $10.8B as Tisch family seeks equity transfer with Epstein investigation looming: report
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As New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch and his siblings look to transfer an equity stake to a children’s trust, the overall value of the franchise has been revealed.
An NFL memo obtained by ESPN earlier this month found the Tisch family — Steve, Jonathan and Laurie — are seeking a transfer of their collective equity stake in the franchise to their children. The proposed stake was 23.1% of the team.
The proposed transfer of equity values the team at $10.8 billion, according to Sports Business Journal, which would put a 23.1% stake at roughly $2.5 billion.
New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch arrives for NFL owners meetings in New York City, New York on Oct. 21, 2025. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)
For comparison, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross sold 1% of his team to billionaire entrepreneur Lin Bin with the valuation at a record $12.5 billion.
Julia Koch, a board member with Koch Industries, also bought a 10% stake in the Giants with a valuation at $10.3 billion in October 2025.
GIANTS CO-OWNER STEVE TISCH, SIBLINGS LOOK TO TRANSFER EQUITY STAKE TO CHILDREN’S TRUSTS, NFL MEMO SHOWS
It’s also worth noting that the NFL memo stated, “Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club.”
It is unknown if the transfer requests have anything to do with Steve Tisch’s name appearing in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January. His name appeared more than 400 times in the files, and while he said at the time he knew of Epstein, he denied visiting Epstein’s infamous island.
Steve Tisch executive vice president of the New York Giants looks on before pre-season football game against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 18, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
“We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments,” Steve Tisch said in a statement on Jan. 31. “I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.”
The U.S. Justice Department released more than 3 million documents related to the Epstein investigation, which included email exchanges from April 2013 and June 2013 between Tisch and Epstein. Some of those exchanges appear to show conversations about women.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in February the league would look into Steve Tisch’s association with Epstein.
“Absolutely we will look at all the facts,” Goodell said at a news conference in San Jose, California, during Super Bowl week. “We’ll look at the context of those and try to understand that. We’ll look at how that falls under the (league personal conduct) policy. I think we’ll take one step at a time. Let’s get the facts first.”
New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch during warms up prior to the National Football League game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants on Oct. 28, 2018 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Tisch family has been involved in Giants ownership since 1991 alongside the Mara family, which founded the franchise in 1925.
Fox News’ Chantz Martin and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
Ohtani. Yamamoto. Sasaki. A 12-story ‘cultural bridge’ between L.A. and Japan to debut in Torrance
Robert Vargas is in a bit of a time crunch.
The Los Angeles-based artist has embarked on one of his most ambitious murals. Titled “Samurai of the Diamond,” it features the Dodgers’ trio of Japanese stars — two-way player Shohei Ohtani and pitchers Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — in larger-than-life fashion on a 12-story wall of the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance.
Artist Robert Vargas takes a break from painting Saturday to show his progress on his newest mural.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
As of early Saturday afternoon, Vargas still had a lot of painting to do in order to have the mural finished by the official unveiling at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Anyone familiar with Vargas and how he works, however, knows he will get it done.
“It may be finished at 9:59, but at 10 o’clock we will unveil this,” Vargas said
Koreatown resident Diego Guerrero is one of those who knows Vargas’ style. After witnessing the artist working on his massive Fernando Valenzuela mural in Boyle Heights during the fall of 2024, Guerrero said he had “full faith” Vargas would meet his deadline this time around.
“I know he’s got this,” Guerrero said while visiting the DoubleTree site Saturday. “Last time he was doing this, it was raining and even that time he pulled it off. So I have no doubt he’ll finish it.”
Vargas said the new piece was conceived as a follow-up to the massive mural of Ohtani he painted on the side of the Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo soon after the former Angels pitcher signed with the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season. In two seasons with L.A., Ohtani has won two National League MVP awards and helped the Dodgers win two World Series championships.
The Dodgers signed Yamamoto during the same offseason and Sasaki a year later. Both pitchers played key roles in the team’s 2025 postseason run. Yamamoto went 7-1 with two complete games and pitched for the final out in Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Sasaki moved to the bullpen for the playoffs and recorded three saves and two holds.
“If [the Ohtani] mural was about ushering in a new era and a new face here in Los Angeles, this mural is about building a cultural bridge from Los Angeles to Japan and really emphasizing the greatness that these foreign-born Japanese players are contributing not only to the team, but to this community’s identity,” Vargas said. “And also inspiring to kids who can look up and see heroes that look like them from this community.”
Robert Vargas paints an image of Shohei Ohtani as part of the local artist’s ‘Samurai of the Diamond’ mural Saturday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Known for its large Japanese American population and concentration of Japanese businesses, Torrance signed friendship city agreements with Bizen (Yamamoto’s hometown) in August 2024 and Oshu (Ohtani’s hometown) in October 2024.
Vargas, who has a home in Japan because of the frequent mural work he does there, came up with the idea of a Torrance mural honoring the Dodgers’ Japanese stars around that time.
“I feel that they are examples of how to do things right on and off the field,” Vargas said of the three players. “Their work ethic is really reflected in the culture. That’s why Ohtani is so respected out there on the field, not just for what he’s doing with the bat or with the baseball but just how he conducts himself. It’s refreshing.”
His idea received support from local leaders, such as Mayor George Chen and city council member Jon Kaji.
“Ever since the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani in December, 2023, the community has rallied around Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki giving us all a sense of pride,” Kaji said in an email to The Times. “…’Samurai of the Diamond’ exemplifies the unifying power of sports that transcends borders and nationalities.”
Chen wrote in a separate email: “There are many Dodgers fans in the City of Torrance and the greatness of these 3 players have been great role models to young and old. They are performing at the highest levels in MLB, yet they have shown us that even great athletes and celebrities can maintain a certain level of maturity, respectful to others, picking up trash, not retaliating when attacked, and always showing great sportsmanship.”
The wall will include an interactive feature: When visitors scan a QR code, they will see each player come to life and throw a strike, with animation provided by the AR Firm. Also, lights are being installed in the parking lot to illuminate the mural at night.
“It’s going to be a destination,” Vargas said.
DoubleTree general manager Linda Amato, who is also the executive chairperson of the Discover Torrance visitors bureau, said the hotel plans to create “opportunities for guests to gather outdoors, enjoying [Dodgers] games under the stars alongside the interactive mural.”
“The response from the community has been incredible,” Amato said in an email. “There’s a real sense of excitement — people are stopping by daily to watch the progress and engage with the project. It’s brought a new energy to the city. Robert Vargas has been amazing throughout the process, often speaking with visitors about his vision and techniques, which adds to the overall experience.”
Vargas hand-picked the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance as the location for his latest mural, despite the wall’s deep ridges, which make it difficult to paint.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Vargas hand-picked the DoubleTree as the site, even though he said the hotel’s exterior “presents the most difficult surface challenge” he has faced. The wall is lined with thick, vertical grooves, described by Vargas as “almost like a lattice surface because the corrugation is so deep.”
Because of that, Vargas — who always works freehand and does not use spray paints — has to carefully paint each section with a brush, as even a roller will not work on that surface. He calls the process “very exciting.”
Actor Edward James Olmos, who was visiting Vargas at the site Thursday morning, thinks his longtime friend is nuts.
“That’s the worst f— texture I’ve seen in my life,” the 79-year-old “Stand and Deliver” actor said of the wall’s surface. “Not one artist I’ve ever known would even want to try to do this. He chose it. I told him he’s off his a—. Have you ever seen that texture before? Never.”
Vargas he said he’s not thinking about that or any other challenges when he’s several stories in the air working on a project he knows will mean a lot to many people.
“When I’m up there and I think about the community that’s down here and how excited they are to see an image like this — not only because of what the content is, but that it’s happening here in Torrance and not just in Little Tokyo — they feel very, very proud,” Vargas said. “So the wind conditions, the heat conditions, the scaling, all of that becomes secondary when you think about why you’re creating it.”
On Saturday afternoon, East Los Angeles resident Edgar Reyes came out to see the super-sized artwork being created in real time.
“It’s just amazing to be able to witness it and see how people are coming together,” said Reyes, who described himself as a “big Robert Vargas fan.” “I think for Torrance this is a good thing because you see a lot of murals in the east side of L.A. because there’s a lot of graffiti artists and all that, compared to over here. So it’s something really huge for Torrance, I believe.”
Koreatown resident Diego Guerrero, who also visited the site on Saturday, said it is “mesmerizing” to watch Vargas work and called the mural “mind-blowing.”
“It’s so huge,” Guerrero said. “You could see it from miles away. And it’s like, hey, I know them — they’re part of the Dodgers. But not just that. They’re part of the minority. They’re Japanese players, we’re Hispanics, but we’re the same. We want to feel like we’re represented and we’re here. The world will see us, you know?”
Robert Vargas plans to finish his ‘Samurai of the Diamond’ mural in time for its official unveiling Tuesday at 10 a.m.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Around midday Saturday, Vargas faced another delay when high winds caused him to temporarily come down from the wall. He had already made arrangements to be able to work through the night on Saturday and said he was prepared to work nonstop, if necessary, to be finished in time for the unveiling two days before the Dodgers’ season opener Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“I’m going to get it done,” he said.
“My time frames are pretty ambitious, but I also know what I’m capable of when it comes to my speed,” Vargas added. “And also I think that my process is really charged by my intention of why I’m creating these pieces, and that is what fuels me to completion.”
Sports
World Cup teams finalize US base camps as host cities prepare for global crowds
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Kansas City, KS – With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just three months away, cities across the United States are racing to finalize training facilities that national teams will call home during the global tournament.
Among them is Kansas City, which will serve as the base camp for defending champion Argentina national football team, a major win for the region as it prepares to welcome both players and tens of thousands of international fans.
Base camps are critical to World Cup operations. They serve as home headquarters where teams live, train and recover while traveling between match sites throughout the competition.
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World Cup 2026 signage is displayed in Kansas City, one of the tournament’s host cities. (Olivianna Calmes)
“From private practice fields to player recovery rooms, these facilities are designed to support some of the biggest names in soccer,” said Alan Dietrich, who has worked closely with organizers.
Local leaders have spent more than a year pitching their cities to international teams, hoping to showcase not just athletic facilities but the broader community.
“We started actually over a year ago with countries beginning to visit,” Dietrich said.
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Tourism officials say the opportunity extends far beyond the sport itself. Hosting a base camp allows cities to introduce themselves to global audiences and build long-term international relationships.
To show support for Kansas City’s bid for the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, the KC2026 Bid Committee and Outfront media installed a 90×90-foot banner on Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“We knew that the World Cup was going to be kind of our first chance and probably our biggest chance to be engaging these international markets,” said Devin Aaron with Visit KC.
A locker room shows the “We are FIFA 2026 Kansas City” sign in Sporting KC training facility (Olivianna Calmes)
Early expectations had Argentina basing in Miami, but Kansas City ultimately stood out during the selection process.
“When Argentina visited, they really loved it here,” Dietrich said. “They loved our facilities, they loved our people.”
The team will train at Sporting Kansas City’s Compass Minerals National Performance Center, a state-of-the-art facility in Kansas City, Kansas that will serve as Argentina’s training home base during the tournament.
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The complex features multiple professional grade fields and elite level training amenities designed for international competition.
Inside, players will have access to private dining areas, meeting rooms and dedicated recovery spaces designed to help them rest between matches.
A resting room for World Cup players (Olivianna Calmes)
“If they’ve traveled a lot and they’re tired, they can come in here, turn the lights out and get a nice nap,” Dietrich added.
Up to 100,000 Argentine fans are expected to travel to Kansas City during the tournament, a preview of the global crowds set to flood World Cup host cities across the U.S.
Across the U.S., cities selected as host sites and base camps are preparing for similar surges, as teams finalize training locations and fans follow their national squads.
Cities across the US which are hosting World Cup games (Fox News)
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The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, expanding from 32 to 48 teams and spanning host cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with each location competing for global visibility and long-term economic impact.
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