Moving to an 84-game regular season from 82 is one of the topics that has been discussed in collective bargaining talks between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, according to a person familiar with negotiations.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the subjects involved in CBA discussions are not being revealed publicly by either side.

The potential change that could go into effect as soon as 2026-27 would reduce the preseason to four games per team. It is among the several tweaks the league and union are talking about, a list that is believed to also include contract terms and long-term injury rules.

Going to 84 games could also even out scheduling with the league at 32 teams playing each division opponent four times, three against the other division in the same conference and two against those in the other conference. It could alternatively lead to more rivalry games.

Commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters in Los Angeles that the Board of Governors received a substantial update on the state of negotiations. Bettman said any agreement would be subject to ratification by the board.

Bettman and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said at the Stanley Cup Final voiced optimism about the situation. Bettman said they were “in really good shape, having really good discussions.” Walsh said: “It’s moving forward and I feel good with where we are and we’ll see what happens.”

The current CBA expires in September 2026.

The back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers acquired goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, sending a fifth-round draft pick in exchange for Sergei Bobrovsky’s new backup and potential future successor.

Tarasov, 26, is a restricted free agent who is 10 years younger than Bobrovsky, who has backstopped the Panthers to consecutive championships. They come from the same Siberian town of Novokuznetsk, and Tarasov’s father, Vadim, was Bobrovsky’s idol.

The Blue Jackets are getting the 160th pick in this weekend’s draft.

Among other moves around the NHL, the Minnesota Wild traded veteran center Freddy Gaudreau to the Seattle Kraken for a fourth-round pick.

Gaudreau, 32, has three years remaining on his contract with an annual average value of $2.1 million. He had 18 goals and 19 assists while playing in all 82 regular-season games in 2024-25 before going without a point in six playoff games for Minnesota.

The pick from the Kraken is the 102nd in the draft and gives the Wild five selections this weekend.

Utah acquired two-time 25-goal scorer JJ Peterka from Buffalo for forward Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring.

COLLEGES

The NCAA has rejected a waiver request from Sacramento State that would have allowed it to play in the Football Bowl Subdivision as an independent next year.

Sacramento State last week said it will leave the Big Sky and join the Big West Conference as a full member starting with the 2026-27 academic year. The Big West doesn’t sponsor football so Sacramento State’s program will be an independent in that sport in the Championship Subdivision.

Lacking an invitation from an FBS conference, the university filed the NCAA petition in April and the D-I Council turned it down this week. School president Luke Wood said he disagreed with the decision.

“Sacramento State has met every meaningful benchmark for FBS membership, and we believe our university, our students, and the entire Sacramento region deserve major college football,” Wood wrote in a statement posted to X. “We’re full steam ahead and we still plan to be playing FBS football in 2026.”

Wood did not provide details of potential next steps. Boise State law professor Sam Ehrlich said on X that legal action could be an option.

“This will lead to litigation. Forcing a school to rely on the whims of conferences (to) let them compete for the economic benefits of a higher division is just the sort of arbitrary gatekeeping that draws harsh antitrust scrutiny,” Ehrlich wrote.

Southern Utah and Utah Tech will join the Big Sky Conference as full members starting with the 2026-27 academic year.

The additions announced Wednesday will give the conference 11 full members following Sacramento State’s departure for the Big West in all sports except football.

The losses of Southern Utah and Utah Tech leaves the Western Athletic Conference with five members following the departures of Seattle, Grand Canyon and Utah Valley. Both schools will remains in the WAC until moving to the Big Sky.

The Big Sky also has two football affiliate members, Cal Poly and UC Davis, along with men’s golf affiliate Francis Marion, which joins the league on July 1.

WNBA

Caitlin Clark is battling a groin injury and missed Thursday’s game between the Fever and Sparks in Indianapolis.

It’s unlcear if Clark will be available for tonight’s game against the Wings in Dallas.

Clark, who previously missed five games with a quad injury, returned June 14 and helped the Fever to a 102-88 victory against over the New York Liberty with an explosive 32-point performance.

Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds on the season for the Fever (7-7).

Aces 85, Sun 59: A’ja Wilson scored 22 points and became the fastest player in WNBA history to 5,000 points for host Las Vegas on Wednesday night.

Wilson made a driving left-hand layup with about four minutes left in the first quarter to top the 5,000-point plateau in just 238 games. She has 5,015 career points. Breanna Stewart needed 242 games to score 5,000.

Marina Mabrey (knee) missed her second consecutive game for Connecticut (2-13), which has lost seven in a row.

Jackie Young scored 20 points for the Aces (7-7).

Liberty 81, Valkyries 78: Sabrina Ionescu converted seven free throws in the final two minutes and made a key steal with 26 seconds left, and Breanna Stewart had 23 points and 10 rebounds for New York on Wednesday night in San Francisco.

Kate Martin’s 3-pointer with 12 seconds to go made it a one-point game but Martin, who had a career-high 21 points, and Kayla Thornton missed two late 3s for the Valkyries (7-7).

GOLF

Cassie Porter drove the green on a reachable par 4 and chipped in to start a streak of three straight birdies Thursday, teaming with Gemma Dryburgh in foursomes for a 4-under 66 to lead the Dow Championship in Midland, Mich.

The duo dropped only one shot in the LPGA Tour’s only team event and finished with six straight pars. They have a one-shot lead over six teams, including Lexi Thompson and Meghan Kang, and Leona Maguire and Jennifer Kupcho.

Kevin Roy and Aldrich Potgieter each shot 10-under 62 on Thursday to break the Rocket Classic record and share the first-round lead.

Detroit Golf Club has been one of the easiest courses since the PGA Tour made it an annual stop in 2019. A pair of Korn Ferry graduates took full advantage each with an eagle and eight birdies in bogey-free rounds. Potgieter started at No. 10 and set a tournament record with a 7-under 29 on the back nine.

MISCELLANY

The NFL suspended former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for the first 10 weeks next season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The league announced the punishment Thursday. It takes effect on Aug. 26, roster cutdown day, and Tucker is eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11.

Tucker is a free agent after the Ravens released him last month in the aftermath of reports that he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by massage therapists.

David Singleton, who played five seasons for UCLA, is returning to Westwood as an assistant coach under Mick Cronin.

Singleton spent the last two years playing in the NBA G League with the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate in Georgia.