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CNN top brass is considering naming primetime anchor Kaitlan Collins to the role of chief White House correspondent as the left-leaning network grapples with how to cover the incoming Trump administration, according to a report.

Collins, who hosts “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” weekdays at 9 pm, would relocate with her New York-based show to Washington, D.C., at least part of the time, Semafor reported Sunday.

The move, which has not yet been finalized, is currently being discussed by CNN CEO Mark Thompson and his lieutenants in the hope that it would allow Collins to fully tap into her network of sourcing within Trump’s White House.

However, another veteran TV source who has worked at rival networks speculated that said CNN — which is cutting its own budget — will move Collins into the White House role and drop her as a primetime anchor. 

“Her viewership numbers are bad,” the source said, noting that Collins is paid a a reported $3 million a year. “They probably want to move her back to D.C. and get her out of the anchor chair.”

Collins’ show, which launched on July 10, 2023, averaged 629,00 total viewers its first year. But since the election earlier this month, the program’s ratings have hovered between 565,000 to 430,000 range, according to Nielsen data.

CNN has been looking for ways to keep costs down while Thompson looks to amp up the network’s digital presence and increase its ratings. In recent months, Chris Wallace, who was making a reported $7 million a year, was informed that his poorly-rated shows would be canceled.

Wallace opted to leave after his agent was told he could stay on as an analyst if he took a massive pay cut. 

The network also recently denied raises to Jake Tapper, who makes a reported $7 million, and to Wolf Blitzer, who is believed to make roughly $3 million

CNN did not return requests for comment.

The reporter covered Trump’s first administration for CNN, as well as for her previous employer, conservative news site the Daily Caller.

In recent weeks, Collins has been reporting from West Palm Beach, Fla., near the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago compound, hosting her show from a set up nearby and breaking news about the president’s transition efforts.

The 32-year-old star has climbed the ranks at the struggling news network, moving from the role of White House reporter to co-host of “CNN This Morning,” the ill-fated morning show co-hosted by Don Lemon and Poppy Harlow, both of whom were axed.

Collins managed to sidestep that disaster and find a plum gig, anchoring the network’s important 9 pm-hour, and cementing herself as CNN’s “It girl.”

Even with her Trump connections, Collins could find it hard to walk a tightrope at CNN, which has grappled with how to cover the incoming president.

Thompson said in an internal meeting with staffers earlier this month that he did not want the network to default to leaning into too much anti-Trump coverage ahead of another four years of Trump in power, the Status newsletter first reported.

He also stressed that there would be a plethora of important stories outside of the D.C. bubble that should not be pushed aside and that the network should strike a balance.

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Oilers forward Hyman injured in 1st, exits Game 4

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Oilers forward Hyman injured in 1st, exits Game 4

EDMONTON, Alberta — Edmonton Oilers‘ top-line forward Zach Hyman was ruled out for the rest of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday against the Dallas Stars after taking a hit from forward Mason Marchment, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported on the game broadcast.

The first-period collision appeared to immediately rattle Hyman, who dropped his stick and seemed to favor his right arm or wrist. Hyman went directly to the Oilers’ dressing room and did not return.

Hyman has been a key member of the Oilers’ postseason success, registering a league-leading 119 hits in 14 playoff games and scoring five goals and 11 points. He’s a fixture on the team’s top forward unit with Connor McDavid and is part of both the Oilers’ power play and penalty kill.

Edmonton was already down a forward going into Game 4 with Connor Brown sidelined after a hit from Dallas defenseman Alexander Petrovic in Sunday’s Game 3. Viktor Arvidsson returned to the lineup as Brown’s replacement on the fourth line.

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Referee Rooney returns, 11 days after high stick

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Referee Rooney returns, 11 days after high stick

EDMONTON, Alberta — NHL official Chris Rooney was back on the ice Tuesday night for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars.

It was the veteran referee’s conference finals debut, and a fitting return for Rooney given the circumstances. It was Rooney’s first game since he took a high stick to the face on May 17 during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference second-round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.

Rooney was injured 13 seconds into the second period when Panthers’ defenseman Niko Mikkola caught him with the end of his stick while fighting for a puck. Rooney fell to the ice and was tended to by trainers from both teams.

While bloodied, he was able to leave under his own power. Rooney sustained a black eye and received stitches for his injury but had no lasting damage. He was replaced at the time by Garrett Rank, in the building on standby in case on injury.

It was clear even the day after his injury that Rooney, 50, hoped to resume duties at some point in the playoffs. The Boston native was finally able to step in for Game 4 with fellow referee Dan O’Rourke.

The pair was joined by linesmen Ryan Gibbons and Matt MacPherson. Referee Graham Skilliter and linesman Ryan Daisy were in the building as alternates.

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Hintz (leg) back in action, joins Stars’ top line

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Hintz (leg) back in action, joins Stars' top line

EDMONTON, Alberta — Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz is back in the lineup for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday.

The club’s top skater, sidelined since Game 2, when he took a slash to the left leg from Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, was placed on the top line, alongside Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen after taking warmups and line rushes prior to puck drop.

Hintz also took part in warmups before Game 3 on Sunday but exited early and was ruled out. He was back on the ice for Dallas’ optional practice Monday and told reporters he was “feeling good” and “trying to do everything I can” to get back in for Game 4.

It was early in the third period of Game 2 when Hintz — parked in front of the Oilers’ net — shoved Nurse from behind, and the Oilers’ blueliner responded by swinging his stick at Hintz’s leg. Hintz went down to the ice for several minutes before being helped off by Lian Bichsel and Mikael Granlund.

Nurse received a two-minute penalty for the slash but no supplementary discipline from the league. The blueliner addressed the incident publicly for the first time Tuesday, saying it didn’t come with malicious intent.

“I was backing up to net and I got shot in the back. And I think it was just a natural reaction [to respond],” Nurse said. “It’s probably a play that everyone in this room, whether you’re a net-front guy or D man, probably happens a dozen, two dozen times in a year. It’s unfortunate that I must have got [Hintz] in a bad spot. You don’t want to go out there and hurt anyone. But it was just one of those plays that happens so often.”

Having Hintz unavailable hurt the Stars in Game 3, a 6-1 drubbing by the Oilers that put Dallas in a 2-1 hole in the best-of-seven series. Hintz is the Stars’ second-leading scorer in the postseason, with 11 goals and 15 points through 15 games. He was hopeful when taking warmups Sunday that he’d feel good enough to get back in, but a quick discussion with the training staff made it clear he wasn’t ready.

Before Tuesday night, coach Peter DeBoer had since classified Hintz’s status as day-to-day.

“Of course you want to go every night, but sometimes you just can’t,” Hintz said. “I don’t know how close I [was to playing]. But I have played many years [and I] know when it’s good and when it’s not. I should be good to know that [when] it comes to that decision.”

The Oilers will have some lineup changes of their own to sort through in Game 4. Connor Brown, who is out after taking a hit from Alexander Petrovic in Game 3, will be replaced by Viktor Arvidsson. Calvin Pickard, injured in Edmonton’s second-round series against Vegas, will return to back up Stuart Skinner. And Edmonton continues to wait on defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who is getting closer to returning from a lower-body injury.

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