Kaplan: Jason Robertson’s superstar rise, trade targets and other rumblings around NHL
Welcome to December in the NHL, where parity reigns more than ever and no lead is safe. And while I’ve heard plenty of theories on why — defense taking a backseat, special teams mattering more, a rash of injuries, the rebuilding teams improving faster than expected — do we really care to figure out why? It’s been a thrilling season on the ice, and the game arguably has never been in a better place.
Off the ice, things have been a bit quieter for now. But storylines should ramp up by the end of the month following the holiday freeze. In the meantime, here’s the buzz I’m hearing about teams, trades, hot seats, injuries and more.
Let’s begin with one of the buzziest players in the league at the quarter mark:
Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill has long known Jason Robertson had star potential. But even the GM admits: He didn’t know the 23-year-old would be this dominant this soon. “We knew he was a good player, but what he’s doing right now is very special,” Nill told ESPN on Friday. “He’s taking it to the next level.”
Riding an 18-game point streak into Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu), Robertson is leading the league with 23 goals and has a legitimate shot at MVP. He’s turning into appointment television. As the hype train rolls on, Nill can pinpoint the exact reason for Robertson’s success.
“He’s so committed to getting himself better,” Nill said. “He has a special gift. He has great hockey sense, great hands, great puck skills. But he simply doesn’t stop working. He works all the time.”
Rewind to late August when I visited Robertson at his offseason home outside of Detroit to film a video feature, which airs on “The Point” on Tuesday (6 p.m ET, ESPN2). It was amid Robertson’s prolonged contract negotiations with the Stars, which bled into the preseason (he eventually signed a four-year, $31 million deal).
Robertson told us if we wanted to experience an authentic summer day with him, we’d have to show up early. He typically arrived at the rink before the sun came up, getting his first skating session in at 6 a.m. A week prior, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were playing at Comerica Park. As a rock fan, Robertson wanted to go — but decided against it. He knew if he stayed out late, it would mess up his skating session the next morning.
The work ethic was instilled by his family. Robertson’s mother, Mercedes, was born in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. when she was three. His father, Hugh, is a lawyer.
“My mom always told me, ‘Filipino culture is about hard work and family,'” Robertson said. “Growing up, that’s pretty much what our lifestyle was.”
The Robertsons built a synthetic rink in their backyard in California so the kids could get more ice time — until neighbors complained to the homeowner association, and they had to take it down. When Jason was 10, his family pulled him and his brother Nick (now a forward with the Maple Leafs) out of school and relocated them to Michigan, where there were more competitive hockey opportunities. They were homeschooled, which brought the brothers even closer.
The Stars saw Robertson’s work ethic come through as soon as he went pro. He slipped to the second round of the 2017 draft, mostly because of questions about his skating. He kept that work ethic in the AHL, working closely with Rich Peverley on the Stars development staff. And after Robertson went through the entire 2020 playoff bubble as a Black Ace — spending 66 days in Edmonton without getting a single minute of game action — Peverley found a team in Europe where Robertson could get some playing time. Robertson respectfully declined; he believed what was best for him was going to Michigan to work on getting faster and stronger. He returned to Dallas the next season, and was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy, with Kirill Kaprizov taking home the honor.
As for why it’s all clicked for him in the NHL? Robertson credits his teammates and the organization for giving him space to find his game.
“When you’re a skill player, and you do things that skill players do, and it doesn’t work, you can’t lose that confidence or ability to say, ‘OK I’m going to try again because it will work out in the end,'” Robertson said. “I’m fortunate that the coaching staff allowed me to do that, they were pretty open with me trying things, knowing the type of player I am. And my teammates are great at keeping me honest. That allowed me to keep trying things, and stay persistent, until I could find my own momentum.”
THE STARS HAVE exceeded expectations early, leading the competitive Central Division. Most importantly in the big picture: They successfully staved off a rebuild. There was a time it felt inevitable, given Dallas had nearly $20 million in salary cap space devoted to two players (Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin) who appeared to be regressing.
Instead, it’s been a retool on the fly.
“In this business, we’re all greedy,” Nill said. “I don’t want to go through the highs and lows. But we’re fortunate here, I think we got through our dip. We were able to be patient, not overreact to things, and right now we feel like we’re in good shape.”
The Stars wouldn’t be this well-positioned if they didn’t hit on so many draft picks over the last several years. They’ve seamlessly transitioned to a new core, including 2015 second-rounder Roope Hintz (who just signed an eight-year, $67.6 million extension last week) plus Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettinger and Robertson, all drafted in 2017. Nill is also giddy about their AHL depth, citing a handful of players “on the cusp” of breaking through in the NHL.
Nill cautions you never know how long a player’s development path will take, adding that the pandemic messed up some timelines. So what we’re seeing now is a confluence of good drafting, good development and good timing.
But the 2022-23 Stars would not be seeing this success without the resurgence of their highest paid veterans, specifically Benn, who has nearly doubled his point-per-game pace from last season, with 26 points and 10 goals in his first 25 games.
“He’s rejuvenated,” Nill said. “He changed his training last summer. He lost some weight. He was on the ice all summer, less weight, more speed training. He knew his game needed to get quicker and faster.”
Nill said Benn is enjoying the assignment of playing with younger players like Wyatt Johnson and Ty Dellandrea.
“He’s still the old Jamie Benn,” Nill said. “He plays a physical game, and the way he plays he’s fighting his way the whole time. There’s not a lot of players like that in today’s game.”
Seguin is also looking better — which Nill credits to time and patience following the 30-year-old’s double hip surgery following the 2020 bubble.
“I don’t think people understand how hard it can be on the player,” Nill said. “People think, you have surgery, you’re better now. But it really takes a year, year and a half to get you back to where you are. So right now, we’re reaping the rewards.”
Latest on coaches
There haven’t been any coaching changes this season, but there are a few situations to monitor.
It’s an important few games coming up for the New York Rangers, who find themselves at a pressure point. Monday night was a key come from behind win against the Blues, and if the Rangers keep it up, all will be well. But I’ve been told that Rangers owner Jim Dolan has been paying close attention to Gerard Gallant recently. According to sources, Dolan wants Gallant to take more accountability for the team’s recent swoon. While it seems crazy to fire a coach this soon after a trip to the conference finals, such is life in professional sports and specifically the New York market.
The Vancouver Canucks had explored options to replace Bruce Boudreau last month, then the team started to win again. But his tenure in Vancouver is hanging on by a thread. Boudreau is in the last year of the deal and the expectation is that there will be a new coach in Vancouver next season, no matter how this one shakes out.
And while the Ottawa Senators under D.J. Smith have underachieved so far, it would be surprising to see a change before the new ownership group takes over.
Trade market slow to pick up
Things have been relatively slow on the trade front; typically we get at least one or two transactions by Thanksgiving. Talks are expected to heat up around the league after the holiday freeze around Christmas, though we are starting to get a clearer picture of what teams and players could be in play.
Defenseman Jakob Chychrun is the big name, but the Arizona Coyotes have maintained a high asking price; it’s greater than the first-round pick, two second-round picks and two players that the Anaheim Ducks received for Hampus Lindholm last season ahead of the trade deadline.
The Los Angeles Kings are believed to be in the mix for Chychrun. At the same time, they are trying to clear a log jam on the right side of their defense. The Maple Leafs are looking to add and the priority is defense given how banged up their blue line is. The Calgary Flames could aggressively add, and always keep an eye on the Tampa Bay Lightning for making a sneaky splash.
The Florida Panthers have been so pressed for cap space they’ve been unable most nights to dress a full 23-man roster. While it was initially pressing to clear space for Anthony Duclair, who could return as soon as this month, Patric Hornqvist going on long-term injured reserve buys them some time.
THE TEAMS EXPECTED to unload multiple players with expiring contracts at the deadline include the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. All of those teams, plus the Coyotes, could also act as third-party brokers as retaining salary is expected to be a big trend once again this season.
Will Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews be traded at the deadline? Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz has made it clear to both players that their numbers will be retired one day and has promised them that the organization would treat them with respect through the process. So the ball is in their court. GM Kyle Davidson is waiting for Kane and Toews, who both hold no-movement clauses, to come to him with whatever direction they’d like to go; he’s not going to push them either way.
On Kane specifically, I’ve been told he’s not looking to move, but as the wheels are expected to come off even more for Chicago on the ice over the next month, he’s keeping his options open.
Many in the league are curious how aggressive the New Jersey Devils will be considering their blazing hot start. When I saw GM Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey on Monday, he reiterated what he told me earlier in the year: He’s always looking for ways to improve, but philosophically believes a team is built during the summer, not during the season. So he’s looking for “hockey trades” with the long-term vision in mind.
The Washington Capitals must remain flexible to clear room for when Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom return, which means they’re limited in how much they’ll be able to add. The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to make some moves. With the news that Jakub Voracek is taking time away to deal with concussions — and could potentially be done playing — it’s a strong possibility he goes on LTIR.
Kraken a second season surprise
One of the biggest surprises is how improved the Seattle Kraken have been in their second season. With a seven-game winning streak before losing Saturday, they’re second in the Pacific Division and top five in goals scored per game. Not bad for a team that finished with the NHL’s third worst record last season.
“We believed our play was better than our record said last season,” GM Ron Francis told ESPN on Friday. “At the end of the day, your record is what it is. But it’s no secret we struggled with our goaltending. We didn’t feel we were giving up as much as the goals were going in. That’s changed this year. And of course, scoring also helps. We’re not a team that can rely on a superstar or a guy that can carry us night in and night out. But the beauty is we’re getting contributions all over the lineup.”
Matty Beniers, Seattle’s first draft pick (No. 2 overall in 2021), is maybe better than advertised with 10 goals and 21 points in 24 games — including a breakaway overtime winner against the Capitals last week. And it helps to have a healthy Jaden Schwartz (limited to 37 games last season) and Brandon Tanev (30).
The Kraken aren’t looking for pity for why last season derailed, but there are legitimate reasons. A false positive COVID scare before the season opener was hardly ideal. As the players and families adjusted to the new city, the team had a hard time galvanizing.
“We had several team-building things planned last year, to try to get to know each other,” Francis said. “We had to cancel all of them. Every single one [because of COVID]. This year we had a normal training camp. We were able to get a few golf trips and team dinners in, and that certainly helped us feel more like a team.”
FRANCIS SAID THE team will decide over the next month what direction they’ll go at the trade deadline. But after unloading six players at last year’s deadline, including captain Mark Giordano, the Kraken may be able to pivot this time around if they keep winning. Francis feels great about how many draft picks the Kraken have in the coming years, and will have to weigh how many assets they’re willing to give up to make a playoff push this year.
Max Pacioretty could be Canes’ biggest addition
The Carolina Hurricanes are in decent shape despite a string of early injuries — though they’d be more comfortable if they could consistently score more. It’s one of the biggest reasons they traded for Pacioretty this offseason, who is still rehabbing from Achilles tendon surgery in August.
There’s no timetable for Pacioretty’s debut, but he’s been ramping up his training. Over the last two weeks, the winger has had a cadence of skating for two days, then taking a day off. Pacioretty is anxious to play. He hasn’t had any setbacks and has been feeling good skating. But those around him are preaching patience. Red Wings defenseman Mark Pysyk also underwent Achilles tendon surgery in July. In one of his first practices back in late November, Pysyk reinjured the tendon — a reminder that no matter how good the athlete feels, there’s a natural healing process that needs to take place.
The Canes return from a long road trip Dec. 15. Around that time, Pacioretty will undergo more X-rays and MRIs, which should provide clarity on his timeline.
The Hurricanes are viewing Pacioretty as their “trade deadline add,” but that doesn’t mean they aren’t exploring other options too. When I asked GM Don Waddell if his team could be a third party broker at this year’s deadline, he said, “We’d rather use the cap space with LTI to see if we could help our team.” Scoring is the team’s biggest need.
An underreported story of the Canes is the emergence of 23-year-old goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, who agreed to a four-year, $8 million extension last month.
“Goaltenders are always risky, but we saw enough from him in the KHL, last year in the playoffs and saw there was an opportunity to sign him to a long-term deal,” Waddell said. “It could fizzle out from our end. If he keeps up his play on his end, he may have left money on the table. But at the time, both parties were really happy. He’s making an NHL salary now, which allows him to take care of his family.”
A few shoutouts
In making calls this week, many sources wanted to share kudos for players and coaches having great seasons.
Let’s begin with a team: the Detroit Red Wings. One veteran player in the Eastern Conference could not stop gushing about Detroit to me after playing them last month.
“That team is going to be so legit so soon,” the player said. “They have the talent, they also have the swag. Watch out for them.”
I asked one assistant coach in the Eastern Conference to identify a breakout player for the 2022-23 season. He focused on Buffalo.
“The Sabres also impress me, they’re never out of games, they compete hard,” the coach said. “Tage Thompson is a player that came out of nowhere for me — not a guy I knew a lot about, and all of the sudden he looks like a dominant guy in this league. He’s showing a lot of versatility and creativity. Works hard on every shift. More than just a big body.”
The Sharks have the best penalty kill in the league right now. Give credit to assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky, who runs San Jose’s penalty kill and defense. At age 35, he is a rising star in the coaching industry. He led the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup last season and should get head-coaching looks over the next few years.
After a longer than expected wait, Shedeur Sanders is finally an NFL player after the Cleveland Browns traded up with the Seattle Seahawks to select him with the 144th pick in the fifth round in the 2025 NFL draft.
Sanders, whose father is Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, played two seasons each with Jackson State and Colorado before declaring for the draft. He threw for 14,327 yards and 134 touchdowns during that span. Deion famously played nine MLB seasons while being an eight-time NFL Pro Bowler. Shedeur will suit up for the Browns, topping a long list of father-son combos across professional and collegiate sports.
Here is a look at other successful father-son combos in sports history.
Multiple sports
Deion Sanders/Deion Sanders Jr./Shilo Sanders/Shedeur Sanders
Father’s accomplishments: Deion played 14 seasons in the NFL. He was drafted No. 5 overall in 1989 by the Atlanta Falcons after being named a two-time All-American at Florida State. Sanders was named a Pro Bowler eight times with 53 interceptions throughout his career and two Super Bowl wins. He also played nine seasons of professional baseball for the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. He famously played in a game for the Falcons against the Miami Dolphins, then immediately flew to Pittsburgh to dress for his baseball game with the Braves against the Pirates in the NLCS. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
How his sons followed: Deion Sanders Jr. was a two-star athlete in the 2012 class, signing with SMU as a wide receiver and kick returner. As a sophomore kick returner, Sanders was named a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection. Shilo was the No. 287-ranked prospect in the 2019 class and signed as a cornerback with South Carolina.
Shilo and Shedeur were coached by their father during their college football seasons with the Jackson State Tigers and Colorado Buffaloes. The Browns selected Shedeur with the No. 144 pick in Round 5 in the 2025 NFL draft.
MLB
Ken Griffey Sr./Ken Griffey Jr.
Father’s accomplishments: Ken Griffey Sr. played 19 seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds. He was part of the Big Red Machine that won World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. Griffey Sr. was a three-time All-Star and finished his career with a .296 batting average, 152 home runs and 859 RBIs. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1980 All-Star Game and has been inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame.
How his son followed: Ken Griffey Jr. also had a long career, playing 22 seasons in the big leagues, including 13 with the Seattle Mariners and nine with Cincinnati. Griffey Jr. was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. He is seventh all time with 630 career home runs, was a 13-time All-Star and won 10 Gold Gloves for his play in center field. He was the American League MVP in 1997 and led the AL in home runs four times during his career.
In 1990, Griffey Sr. and Griffey Jr., both playing for the Mariners, made history when they became the first father-son duo to hit back-to-back home runs in a game.
Bobby Bonds/Barry Bonds
Father’s accomplishments: Bobby Bonds played the majority of his 14 seasons with the San Francisco Giants and became just the second player to hit 300 career home runs and steal 300 bases, joining Willie Mays. He set records for most times leading off a game with a home run in a season (11) and in a career (35) — both of which have since been broken. Bonds was a three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner.
How his son followed: Barry Bonds played 22 seasons, mostly with the Giants, and was a seven-time National League MVP. Bonds holds the records for most career home runs, with 762, and most home runs in a season, with 73. He was a 14-time All-Star, 12-time Silver Slugger Award winner and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner. Bonds tied his father for the most seasons with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, with five. He also holds the MLB records for walks (2,558) and intentional walks (688) in a career.
Sandy Alomar/Roberto Alomar/Sandy Alomar Jr.
Father’s accomplishments: Sandy Alomar Sr. competed in 15 seasons and could play all infield and outfield positions. He was an All-Star in 1970 and played a full 162-game season that year and in 1971. Alomar Sr. was a talented bunter and aggressive on the base paths, totaling 227 stolen bases in his career, including 39 in 1971.
How his sons followed: Twelve-time All-Star Roberto Alomar was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. He won World Series championships with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993. He won more Gold Gloves (10) than any other second baseman and finished his 17-year career with a .300 batting average, 2,724 hits and 210 home runs. Sandy Alomar Jr. was the first rookie catcher to start an All-Star Game, and he won Rookie of the Year and a Gold Glove Award in 1990. Alomar Jr. was named an All-Star six times during his 20-year career and had a 30-game hitting streak in 1997.
Cecil Fielder/Prince Fielder
Father’s accomplishments: Cecil Fielder was a three-time All-Star and won a World Series title with the New York Yankees in 1996. In 1990, he was the first player since George Foster in 1977 to hit at least 50 home runs in a season. Fielder led the American League in home runs in 1990 and 1991 and in RBIs from 1990 to ’92. He hit 319 career home runs, recorded 1,008 RBIs and was a two-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award.
How his son followed: Fielder was the youngest player (23) to hit 50 home runs in a season. Prince Fielder was a six-time All-Star and won the Home Run Derby twice — once as an NL All-Star and once as an AL All-Star. He totaled 319 career home runs, the same number as his father, and drove in 1,028 runs. Fielder was a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner and the AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2015.
Cecil and Prince Fielder are the only father-son duo to each hit 50 home runs in a season.
Vladimir Guerrero/Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Father’s accomplishments: Guerrero spent 16 seasons playing in the MLB for the Montreal Expos, Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles. He was a nine-time All-Star, the 2004 American League MVP and an eight-time winner of the Silver Slugger award. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018 and finished his career with 2,590 hits.
How his son followed: Guerrero Jr. signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015 and made his major league debut in 2019. He hit 48 home runs in the 2021 season and became the second father-son duo to hit 40 home runs in a season, joining Prince and Cecil Fielder in accomplishing that feat. Guerrero has since been a four-time All-Star and a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner for the Blue Jays.
NBA
LeBron James/Bronny James/Bryce James
Father’s accomplishments: LeBron James is still going strong in his 22nd NBA season. He’s the league’s all-time scoring leader and eclipsed 40,000 points last season. LeBron has won four NBA championships and made an NBA-record 20 straight All-Star appearances.
How his sons followed: The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, pairing him with his dad, LeBron, in the NBA. The two appeared in a game together in October 2024, becoming the first father-son duo to do so in NBA history. Bronny is expected to split time between the Lakers and their G-League affiliate. Bryce, LeBron’s youngest son, committed to Arizona in January as part of the Wildcats’ 2025 class.
Dell Curry/Stephen Curry/Seth Curry
Father’s accomplishments: Dell Curry retired as the Charlotte Hornets‘ career scoring leader (9,839 points) and ranked first in 3-pointers made (929). Curry was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1994 and averaged 11.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in his 16-year career.
How his sons followed: Stephen Curry has led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships and been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player twice. Curry is a 10-time All-Star and was the NBA scoring champion in 2016 and 2021. He holds the NBA record for most made 3-pointers in a regular season, with 402, and most consecutive regular-season games with a made 3-pointer, with 268. Seth Curry was a two-time NBA D-League All-Star and has spent time with several NBA teams. He averaged 12.8 points over 70 games in 2016-17 with the Dallas Mavericks.
Doc Rivers/Austin Rivers
Father’s accomplishments: As a player, Doc Rivers was known for his defense, but he averaged a double-double during the 1986-87 season, with 12.8 points and 10.0 assists per game. He was an NBA All-Star in 1988 and played with four teams during his 13-year career. Rivers was named Coach of the Year in 2000 with the Orlando Magic and led the Boston Celtics to an NBA title as their coach in 2008. He was the head coach of the LA Clippers from 2013-2020 and Philadelphia 76ers from 2020-2023. He was announced as the Milwaukee Bucks head coach in January 2024.
How his son followed: In 2015, Austin Rivers was traded to the Clippers and became the first NBA player to play for his father. Rivers has averaged 9.2 points per game in his seven-year career, including 15.1 PPG in 2017-18 with the Clippers. He then played for the Wizards, Rockets, Knicks, Nuggets and the Timberwolves.
Mychal Thompson/Klay Thompson
Father’s accomplishments: Mychal Thompson, the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NBA draft, won back-to-back NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987 and ’88. Thompson was on the All-Rookie team in 1979 and went on to average 13.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his career. He averaged a double-double in 1981-82, with 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
How his son followed: Klay Thompson won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors. Mychal and Klay Thompson became just the fourth father-son duo to each win an NBA title as a player and the first to each win back-to-back championships. Klay is a five-time All-Star, was named to the All-Rookie team in 2012 and won the 3-point contest in 2016. He holds the NBA playoff record for most 3-pointers made in a game, with 11.
Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant/Kobe Bryant
Father’s accomplishments: Joe “Jellybean” Bryant played eight seasons in the NBA before heading to Europe and playing seven seasons with teams in Italy. He scored 53 points in a game twice during the 1987-88 season with Pistoia. Bryant played into his 50s, suiting up for the American Basketball Association.
How his son followed: Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant is fourth in career scoring, with 33,643 points. He played 20 seasons for the Lakers and was named an All-Star 18 times. Bryant was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and the Finals MVP in 2009 and ’10. He was the NBA scoring champion in 2006 and ’07 and was named to the All-NBA first team 11 times and the All-Defensive first team nine times. Kobe had both his No. 8 and his No. 24 retired by the Lakers.
NFL
Archie Manning/Peyton Manning/Eli Manning
Father’s accomplishments: Archie Manning was a quarterback in the NFL for 13 seasons, mostly with the New Orleans Saints. Despite never leading a team to a winning record, Manning made the Pro Bowl in 1978 and ’79. He threw for 125 touchdowns and rushed for 18 during his career. He has been inducted into the Saints’ Ring of Honor and the Saints’ Hall of Fame.
How his sons followed: Peyton Manning was the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft and holds the NFL records for career passing yards (71,940) and passing touchdowns (539). He is the only starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl for two franchises. A 14-time Pro Bowler, Manning was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player five times and a first-team All-Pro seven times.
Eli Manning was the first pick in the 2004 NFL draft and led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles, earning Super Bowl MVP honors both times. He is a four-time Pro Bowler, ranks sixth in passing yards in NFL history and started 210 consecutive games from 2004 to 2017, the second-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history.
Howie Long/Chris Long/Kyle Long
Father’s accomplishments: Eight-time Pro Bowl selection Howie Long played his entire 13-year career with the Raiders organization. The defensive end helped the Raiders win the Super Bowl in 1984, and he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1985. Long finished his career with 84 sacks and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He also made 10 fumble recoveries and two interceptions during his time in the NFL.
How his sons followed: Chris Long was the No. 2 pick in the 2008 NFL draft and won back-to-back Super Bowls — with the New England Patriots in 2017 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. The defensive end recorded 70 sacks in his 11-year career.
Kyle Long, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was a guard for the Chicago Bears. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2014 and made the All-Rookie team in 2013.
He returned from his 2019 retirement with a one-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2021 season but did not play due to injuries.
Clay Matthews Jr./Clay Matthews III/Casey Matthews
Father’s accomplishments: Clay Matthews Jr. played 19 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Cleveland Browns. He appeared in 278 games, the most by a linebacker, and recorded 1,561 tackles, 69.5 sacks and 16 interceptions in his career. Matthews was a four-time Pro Bowler and was first-team All-Pro in 1984, recording 12 sacks that season.
How his sons followed: Clay Matthews III, a six-time Pro Bowler, helped the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl title after the 2010 season. The linebacker was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and totaled 91.5 sacks, 17 forced fumbles and six interceptions in his 11-year career.
Linebacker Casey Matthews played from 2011 to ’14 for the Philadelphia Eagles and recorded 2.5 sacks.
Christian McCaffrey/Ed McCaffrey
Father’s accomplishments: Ed McCaffrey’s 13-year NFL career included three Super Bowl wins and one Pro Bowl appearance. He earned 7,422 receiving yards and notched 55 receiving touchdowns, a majority of which came with the Denver Broncos. Ed McCaffrey played a key role in the Broncos winning back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998.
How his son followed: A highly touted recruit out of Stanford, Christian McCaffrey has lived up to the hype in the NFL. In his eighth season, the running back has rushed for 6,224 career yards and 52 touchdowns, including a league-leading 1,459 yards in 2023, when he earned Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr./Jeremiah Trotter
Father’s accomplishments: Drafted by the Eagles in the third round, Jeremiah Trotter suited up for the franchise in eight of his 11 NFL seasons, starting at middle linebacker for the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and member of the All-Pro team once. Trotter recorded 723 solo tackles and nine interceptions during his career.
How his son followed: The Eagles also selected Trotter Jr., this time in the fifth round. Hailing from the Clemson Tigers, Trotter had 25 combined tackles in his first season. He appeared in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LIX victory, recording one tackle.
NHL
Bobby Hull/Brett Hull
Father’s accomplishments: Bobby Hull received the Hart Memorial Trophy twice as the NHL’s most valuable player and earned the Art Ross Trophy three times as the NHL’s leading points scorer. The left wing won the Stanley Cup in 1961 with the Chicago Blackhawks and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. Hull led the NHL in goals seven times and was the second-leading goal scorer in NHL history, with 610, when he retired. Hull won back-to-back All-Star Game MVP awards in 1970 and ’71.
How his son followed: Brett Hull scored 741 goals in his career, the fourth-highest total in NHL history. The right wing won Stanley Cups in 1999 with the Dallas Stars (including scoring the championship-winning goal) and in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings. Hull scored at least 50 goals in five consecutive seasons, and his 86 goals in 1990-91 are the third most in a season in NHL history. He was named the NHL’s MVP that season and received the Hart Memorial Trophy. Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, joining his father to become the first father-son duo in the Hall.
Keith Tkachuk/Matthew Tkachuk/Brady Tkachuk
Father’s accomplishments: Keith was selected 19th overall in the 1990 NHL draft and played for 18 years with four different teams. He finished his career with 527 goals and 1,065 points. At the time that he scored his 500th goal, he was just the fourth American-born player to achieve that milestone and was the sixth American-born player with 1,000 points.
How his sons followed: Matthew was selected sixth in the 2016 NHL draft by the Calgary Flames but has since been traded to the Florida Panthers, where he helped lead the team to a 2024 Stanley Cup title.
Brady was taken with the fourth pick in the 2018 draft by the Ottawa Senators. He was named the team’s captain in 2021 and has scored 171 regular-season goals in his career.
Auto racing
Dale Earnhardt/Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Father’s accomplishments: Dale Earnhardt won 76 Winston Cup races, including the 1998 Daytona 500. Earnhardt claimed seven NASCAR Winston Cup championships, tying Richard Petty for the most all time. It was 22 years before Jimmie Johnson matched the accomplishment in 2016. Earnhardt died as a result of a collision on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 and was posthumously inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame inaugural class in 2010.
How his son followed: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won 26 Cup series races, including the Daytona 500 twice (2004, 2014). He had 260 top-10 finishes in Cup races in his career. Junior was a fan favorite, winning the Most Popular Driver award 15 times. He was the Busch Series champion in 1998 and ’99 before being named NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 2000. He is retired and a broadcaster now.
Next generation
Gilbert Arenas/Alijah Arenas
Alijah Arenas, a five-star, 6-foot-6 guard from Southern California, announced his commitment to USC in January 2025. He picked the Trojans over his father’s alma mater, the Arizona Wildcats, while also receiving offers from the Kansas Jayhawks, Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats. He reclassified in December from the class of 2026 to 2025.
Carmelo Anthony/Kiyan Anthony
A four-star shooting guard from New York, Kiyan Anthony announced his commitment to Syracuse in November 2024. Kiyan follows in the footsteps of his father, Carmelo, who averaged 22.5 points and 6.2 rebounds across a 19-season NBA career. Carmelo spent a season at Syracuse, leading the Orange to the 2003 national championship.
Dikembe Mutombo/Ryan Mutombo:
Ryan followed in his father’s footsteps and played for the Georgetown Hoyas as a 7-foot-2 center. He transferred to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets after three seasons with the Hoyas.
Penny Hardaway/Jayden Hardaway/Ashton Hardaway:
Both Jayden and Ashton played for their father with Memphis. Jayden is a guard who averaged 3.1 points per game in the 2023-24 season, while Ashton averaged 2.3.
Dajuan Wagner/D.J. Wagner:
D.J. spent the 2023-24 season with the Kentucky Wildcats, averaging 9.9 points and 3.3 assists per game. He transferred to the Arkansas Razorbacks after the season.
Dennis Rodman/DJ Rodman:
DJ was a 6-foot-6 forward for USC. He averaged 8.4 points per game and made 36.2% of his 3-point shots in the 2023-24 season for the Trojans. He went undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft.
Shaquille O’Neal/Shaqir O’Neal:
Shaqir is a 6-foot-8 forward at Florida A&M. He averaged 1.8 points per game in the 2023-24 season for Texas Southern.
Peja Stojakovic/Andrej Stojakovic:
Andrej was a McDonald’s All-American out of high school before committing to the Stanford Cardinal. He averaged 7.8 points per game as a freshman for the Cardinal. He transferred to UC Berkeley after the 2023-24 season.
Jerry Rice/Brenden Rice:
Brenden transferred to the USC Trojans from the Colorado Buffaloes prior to the 2022 season and led the Trojans with 12 touchdown receptions in 2023. He had 791 yards receiving on the year and was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2024 NFL draft.
Marvin Harrison/Marvin Harrison Jr.:
Harrison Jr. won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver and finished the 2023 season with 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was selected No. 4 by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2024 NFL draft as one of the best receiver prospects available.
Frank Gore Sr./Frank Gore Jr.:
Gore Jr. was No. 32 among all FBS running backs in rush yards in 2023 with 1,131. He had 10 rushing touchdowns and averaged 4.9 yards per rush. Gore Jr. went undrafted in 2024 but signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Emmitt Smith/E.J. Smith:
E.J. had a slow start to his collegiate career with just 587 rush yards and five touchdowns in four seasons with Stanford. He transferred to Texas A&M in 2024.
Honorable mentions
Ray Boone/Bob Boone/Bret Boone/Aaron Boone; Felipe Alou/Moises Alou; Tom Gordon/Dee Gordon/Nick Gordon; Rick Barry/Brent Barry/Jon Barry; Bill Walton/Luke Walton; Larry Nance/Larry Nance Jr.; Tim Hardaway/Tim Hardaway Jr.; Bruce Matthews/Jake Matthews/Kevin Matthews; Jackie Slater/Matthew Slater; Gordie Howe/Mark Howe; J.P. Parise/Zach Parise; Peter Stastny/Paul Stastny; Lee Petty/Richard Petty/Kyle Petty; Mario Andretti/Michael Andretti/Jeff Andretti/Marco Andretti; Ken Norton Sr./Ken Norton Jr.; Calvin Hill/Grant Hill; Peter Schmeichel/Kasper Schmeichel
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