In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Adam Gretz discussed one move that each team in the NHL should make. When it came to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Gretz argued that they should look to add a young defenseman with good upside.
Gretz then named Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring, Boston Bruins blueliner Mason Lohrei, and New Jersey Devils defender Simon Nemec as three potential trade targets for the Penguins to consider.
With the Sabres having limited cap space and Kesselring struggling during his first season in Buffalo, he has come up in the rumor mill often now that their season is over. While Kesselring had a quiet 2025-26 season with Buffalo (two assists in 34 games), he has shown in the past that he can be an impactful top-four defenseman. Just back in 2024-25 with Utah, he had seven goals and 29 points in 82 games. Perhaps he could bounce back in a more significant role in Pittsburgh.
We here at The Hockey News Penguins recently discussed Lohrei as a potential fit for Pittsburgh, and it would make sense if they targeted him. The 6-foot-5 defenseman has shown promise early on in his career with Boston and could break out if given a fresh start on a team like the Penguins. In 73 games this season, he scored a career-high seven goals and recorded 26 points.
As for Nemec, he would be the biggest pickup out of the three. The 22-year-old defenseman was the second-overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has the potential to emerge as a legitimate star. He took a notable step forward in his development this season with New Jersey, posting new career highs with 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games.
The 2025-26 season was a tough year for Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring. He had trouble finding his fit with the Sabres, and questions about his future in Buffalo have been coming up because of it.
Now, Kesselring is only continuing to be the subject of trade speculation with June just about here.
"Michael Kesselring was acquired in last year’s J.J. Peterka trade but managed to play just 34 games. He is also an arbitration eligible RFA this summer and the Sabres might be in tough to even live with his qualifying offer, putting the possibility of a trade on the table," Kypreos wrote.
Given how this season went for Kesselring and the Sabres having some notable players due for new contracts, it would be understandable if they moved the right-shot defenseman during the off-season. He would have the potential to get the Sabres a decent return, too, as NHL clubs are always on the hunt for big right-shot defenseman like him.
In 34 games this season with the Sabres, Kesselring had zero goals, two assists, and 50 penalty minutes. This is after he set career highs with seven goals, 22 assists, and 29 points in 82 games during the 2024-25 season with the Utah Mammoth.
The Colorado Avalanche’s 2025–26 campaign, despite finishing atop the NHL standings with a Presidents’ Trophy, concluded in disappointment after a postseason exit that has placed several roster decisions and pending free agents under scrutiny heading into the offseason.
Zakhar Bardakov (Forward)
Bardakov appeared in 60 games for Colorado during the 2025–26 regular season, contributing one goal and nine assists while operating primarily in a depth role. He averaged 7:12 of ice time per game and registered 35 shots on goal. In the faceoff circle, Bardakov recorded a 42.4% win rate, which is less than ideal. However, he's still young and developing. His usage increased during stretches when injuries affected the Avalanche lineup.
Nick Blankenburg (Defenseman)
Blankenburg joined the Avalanche via a mid-season acquisition from the Nashville Predators and went on to play 12 regular season games with Colorado. He produced two goals and one assist in that span. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds, Blankenburg was deployed in a depth defensive role while contributing offensively in limited minutes.
Brent Burns (Defenseman) (UFA)
Burns played the 2025–26 season on a one-year contract with Colorado, appearing in all 82 regular season games. He recorded 12 goals and 23 assists while continuing a consecutive games streak that has reached 328 appearances since last missing time in the 2020–21 season with the San Jose Sharks. Over the course of the season, he also accumulated more than 100 turnovers. Burns’ role included regular minutes on the blue line, and he provided veteran presence throughout the campaign.
Will he return? There is belief within the organization that Brent Burns could return for the 2026–27 season, potentially continuing his pursuit of Phil Kessel’s iron-man streak of 1,064 consecutive games. Beyond durability, his value to the Avalanche is also tied to his presence in the locker room and the energy he brings to the team on and off the ice. Prior to the start of the Western Conference Final, Nathan MacKinnon explained to reporters why the 41-year-old is such a great asset to the team and also had a funny explanation for his longevity.
"He sleeps a lot. More than anybody. He's like a big bear."
"He'll nap from 3-6 pm and then go to sleep for another 10 hours. It's crazy."
“He sleeps a lot. More than anybody—he’s like a big bear. He’ll nap from like 3 PM to 6 PM and go to sleep for another ten hours. It’s crazy. I think that’s a big reason why he’s played so long. And also, he’s got such a great attitude. He’s like—everyone says it—he’s like a little kid. With three kids, himself. He’s a special guy, super positive, just super great to be around. He comes to the rink with a smile on his face, and I think that’s the biggest reason why he’s played so long."
Jack Drury (Forward)
Drury was utilized across multiple forward roles during the season and finished the year with 10 goals and 17 assists in 82 games, both representing or approaching career-high production marks. He logged 969 faceoffs and posted a 58.1% win rate, ranking 12th among NHL players with at least 200 faceoffs taken. Drury’s role shifted during the season following roster adjustments that included the addition of Nic Roy, after which he moved into a fourth-line center position.
According to DNVR's AJ Haefele, Drury turned down multiple offers this season to remain with the Avalanche, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. Drury is one of the best 4C's in the NHL, and his faceoff win percentage was well over 60% during the postseason. Can they afford to let him walk?
Joel Kiviranta (Forward) (UFA)
Kiviranta appeared in 51 games during the 2025–26 season, recording three goals and six assists. Across his previous seasons with Colorado, he had produced 56 games played with three goals and six assists in 2023–24, followed by a career-high 16 goals and seven assists in 79 games during the 2024–25 campaign. In 2025–26, he also posted a 62.5% goals-for percentage and a 59% Corsi For rate, both representing career-best marks.
From our perspective, it's very unlikely we see #94 back in Colorado next season.
Brett Kulak (Defenseman) (RFA)
Kulak was acquired during the season in a trade involving Samuel Girard and appeared in 27 games for Colorado. He registered three assists while averaging just over 19 minutes of ice time per game. During his time with the Avalanche, Kulak skated with multiple defensive partners across six different pairings. He also scored the series-clinching goal in Colorado’s playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, contributing to the team’s advancement in the postseason.
Who do you think the Avalanche will retain? Who do you think will get traded and/or released?
The Edmonton Oilers’ coaching search is heating up, and with the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl window a major factor in who is ultimately hired, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
After parting ways with Kris Knoblauch following another early playoff exit and an interview request that blew up in their face, Edmonton is aggressively pursuing a proven, battle-tested bench boss who can finally push this star-studded roster over the top.
Bruce Cassidy is the known frontrunner, but new names like Jared Bednar have suddenly surged into the conversation, while veterans such as Peter Laviolette, Craig Berube, and Patrick Roy might all be receiving serious consideration. The Oilers are expected to ramp up their efforts in the coming weeks, hoping to land a respected coach who can command attention and install structure while extracting maximum performance from a talented but underachieving group.
Let's take a look at the list of names being linked to the Oilers' search.
1. Bruce Cassidy (Clear Frontrunner)
By now, everyone knows that Bruce Cassidy is on Edmonton's radar. Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon confirmed it and said the Oilers leaked the denial of the request to speak to their former coach. Cassidy has also confirmed it, saying people have now heard that two teams requested access to him.
The Oilers have aggressively pursued him, and many insiders view him as the top choice due to his pedigree as a coach, the fact that he's won a Stanley Cup, and the fact that he takes a no-nonsense approach.
Pros: While his style has a shelf life, he gets the most out of high-skill rosters, and he's a proven winner. Vegas obviously still thinks he's a top coach because they're willing to pay him millions not to join a division rival. Cassidy would bring immediate credibility.
Cons: Vegas is still blocking permission, and it's possible the Oilers are never granted an interview this summer. If that's the case, they'll have no choice but to move on if they're not prepared to hire an interim coach until Cassidy's contract expires. They likely aren't prepared to do that, given how critical every year is in their current window.
Bednar's name exploded into the conversation after Colorado’s disappointing playoff exit. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Oilers (along with Toronto and LA) are “very curious” about his situation. As a Saskatchewan native, the Alberta connection adds appeal.
If the Avalanche move on from Bednar, many will see it as an overreaction. He remains one of the NHL's best coaches and he'll be out of work only as long as he wants to be.
Pros: Stanley Cup winner (2022 with Avs); excellent at developing young talent while also managing elite stars. He can manage a fast, modern system that would fit McDavid/Draisaitl perfectly. He's well respected, and the Oilers' stars wouldn't question his style and instruction.
Cons: He's not been fired. Even if he is, Bednar is still under contract in Colorado for one more year and they would have to grant permission to speak with other teams. His availability is all speculative.
3. Peter Laviolette
According to Jason Gregor of Sports 1440, the Oilers have already reached out to Laviolette (or intend to). He’s a veteran coach available after sitting out 2025-26 season and known for quick turnarounds with star-heavy teams.
Of the big names in coaching, he's on the Plan A list, or at worst, he's a solid Plan B.
Pros: Stanley Cup experience; aggressive, offensive-minded style that suits Edmonton’s roster. He's unafraid of big personalities and the pressure of coaching in Edmonton won't bother him.
Cons: He hasn’t coached recently, and for as much success as he's had (took the Rangers to Round 3 in 2023-24), he's also coached teams that didn't perform well. With the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, and Nashville Predators, his teams either didn't make the playoffs or were eliminated quickly.
4. Craig Berube
The Oilers have interviewed the recently fired Toronto coach. That took place almost immediately after the Bruce Cassidy drama became public. Berube is said to be extremely interested in the job, but it's unclear if the Oilers see him as one of their top candidates.
Pros: Berube is a tough, gritty personality who has won before. He led the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup and he likes his team to play a physical game with a focus on two-way hockey.
Cons: His underlying numbers in Toronto were abysmal and his style reportedly clashed with the pure skill players on the Maple Leafs. That might be a problem in Edmonton is personalities clash.
5. Patrick Roy
This one feels more like a long shot, but local media have floated Roy as a high-upside “shake-up” candidate. He proved he can win and he's got a reptuation as a players coach.
Pros: Roy is a Hall of Famer with an intense, competitive personality. He's the polar opposite of what Knoblauch brought to the Oilers. He brings energy and passion, which might be what this Oilers team needs.
Cons: Fire is good, but too much is problematic. His polarizing personality and shorter NHL coaching track record make him somewhat of a risk behind the bench.
The Vegas coach is leading his team into the Stanley Cup Final, but he doesn't have a contract for next season. The fact Vegas is playing as well as they are, Tortorella has shown he's still got gas left in the tank as an NHL head coach. Elliotte Friedman noted that if Vegas doesn't re-sign him, someone will scoop him up.
Pros: In a short run, Tortorella may be able to get more out of the Oilers than any other coach. His modus operandi is to win immediately, even if he's not a great fit in most places long term.
Cons: Tortorella is not everyone's cup of tea. He's combative with media and he's unafraid to call out his players and ruin his relationships with them.
Bonus Mentions Getting Traction
Jay Woodcroft — Familiar internal option (former Oilers coach), low-risk comfort pick. His name has popped up of late, but it's unclear how seriously he's being considered by other teams. He's currently an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks.
Gerard Gallant / Dean Evason — Veteran “tough love” alternatives if the big names fall through.
Bruce Cassidy remains the dream hire if Vegas softens their stance and Jared Bednar has suddenly become a very realistic Plan B (or even A) depending on how quickly Colorado moves.
The Oilers want a proven Cup winner with playoff experience to maximize the McDavid/Draisaitl window.
In the Ottawa Senators' lucrative Erik Karlsson trade from 2018, Rudolfs Balcers is one of the names from that deal that's often overlooked. Balcers played parts of two seasons in Ottawa, playing in a total of 51 games, and putting up 17 points (six goals, 11 assists).
But in January of 2021, when the Sens tried to send him to Belleville, he was claimed off waivers by the Sharks. He knew the way to San Jose, the team that drafted him, but by that point, with Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris playing so well in Ottawa, it was already clear the Sharks had lost the Karlsson trade quite badly.
It was almost as if Sharks GM Doug Wilson was vainly trying to mitigate the damage.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss whether free agent Viktor Arvidsson would be good free agent target for the Senators.
Balcers' NHL days are now behind him. For the past three years, he's played for Zurich SC in Switzerland, but at the well-scouted 2026 World Hockey Championships, which wrap up on Sunday, it's possible the 29-year-old may find himself back on NHL radars.
Balcers finished the tournament with a Latvian record 7 goals in the tournament, and heading into the gold medal game, no one in the tournament had more. He's tied with Noah Steen, who was Norway's overtime hero in the bronze medal game against Canada.
Balcers was named captain of Latvia for the first time, replacing Kaspars Daugavins, another former Senator who held that role for a long time, including the 2026 Olympics in Milan.
OKLAHOMA CITY — With the financial hammer of the NBA's tax aprons swinging their direction, the Thunder have some hard decisions to make this summer.
Whatever moves Oklahoma City's front office makes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does not plan on consulting with them.
"I will give zero input," Gilgeous-Alexander said after a crushing Game 7 loss. "I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job."
With or without SGA's counsel, Presti has some tough calls to make. The Thunder need to get better — because the young Spurs are only going to get better — yet the Thunder's payroll is about to skyrocket as the max extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams kick in. It's a fine line to walk.
Go after Antetokounmpo? Mobley?
That need to get better has led to speculation that the Thunder might look at a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. While there's a lot of random speculation online, even the well-connected and respected Sam Amick at The Athletic floated it as something for the Thunder to consider. The idea is that OKC needs someone to match up better with Victor Wembanyama, and the Thunder do have good young players and a stockpile of picks, including two in this year's first round (Nos. 12 and 17), which is what Milwaukee wants in an offer. Amick also noted league sources told him the Thunder aren't interested.
Don't expect this — it's completely out of character for OKC and a questionable (at best) basketball fit.
Bringing in Antetokounmpo means "let's take the ball out of the two-time MVP's hands" and bring in a guy famous for not working well off the ball, considerably older than the core (31) coming off an injury-riddled season and wanting a max extension, who also would dramatically alter one of the best locker room chemistries in the league. Does that seem wise?
What everyone seems to be missing: The Thunder are not way behind the Spurs. Game 7 did feel like a passing of the torch, but this was a tight series, and if the Thunder had one (or both) of Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell healthy, or they got the win in Game 1, this article might be about what the Spurs need to do in the offseason. Also, Isaiah Hartenstein did a good job on Wembanyama this series and it's not like Antetokounmpo or anyone else would have done dramatically better.
Amick at The Athletic also mentions that the Thunder front office has long liked the Cavaliers Evan Mobley, but at his end-of-season press conference, Cleveland president Koby Altman made it clear his team had no intention of trading the former Defensive Player of the Year.
Decisions Thunder face
With the Holmgren and Williams rookie extensions starting, plus Gilgeous-Alexander already making $40.8 million (and his supermax extension kicks in for the 2027-28 season), Oklahoma City is about to jump up to being the most expensive team in the NBA — a team $28.6 million into the second apron next season as currently constructed (based on Spotac).
They also have three players on team options where they could save money.
• Isaiah Hartenstein, a $28.5 million team option. With how valuable he proved in the playoffs and going up against Wembanyama, Oklahoma City will want to keep him around. The smart move may be to negotiate with him, not pick up the option but then sign him to an extension for less per year but more total money (three years, $70-$75 million?).
• Lu Dort, $17.7 million team option. This will sting for Thunder fans, but is it time to move on? Not just because he struggled against the Spurs, but also because with Alex Caruso already locked up on an extension, with Williams healthy next season and Cason Wallace returning, there wouldn't be much pain in trading him. Or, just let him walk.
• Kenrich Williams, $7.1 million team option. Another case where if the Thunder decide they want to bring him back is the move to waive him and negotiate a contract for closer to the minimum?
Those are rather straightforward, but Presti is incredibly creative — just ask Gilgeous-Alexander. Which means he will think of something, but the tax aprons are coming for the Thunder the next few years, and it's going to be difficult to keep this team together as is.
The New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals, for the first time since 1999. It's a reminder that the Jets haven't played in the Super Bowl since 1999.
Jets receiver Garrett Wilson is nevertheless happy for the Knicks and the New York fans. And the situation makes him even more determined to deliver a similar experience for Jets fans.
"The city deserves it, right?" Wilson told reporters recently. "And then when you see the way they receive it, it's just like, 'Oh, yeah, I mean, we wish it could happen every year, man.' Seeing the people, the way they get behind their team.
"I know Jet fans are, you know, like frothing at the mouth to cheer like that, and we want to give it to them. I personally want to give it to them, you know, the most. . . . Yeah, man, it's cool to see, and I'm glad I'm up here for it. I'm rooting the Knicks on like hell. And yeah, man, you know, that gives us a taste of what it might look like when we figure this thing out, which, you know, we're excited for the opportunity."
So will Wilson be going to one of the games? He laughed before saying, "Them jawn's expensive. So, not yet. I'm gonna be watching."
For Game 3 on Monday, June 8, against the Spurs, the cheapest ticket to Madison Square Garden on a popular reselling site that we won't mention (because they don't pay us to do that) is $4,486. Which Garrett could easily afford, given his average salary of $32.5 million.
The best seats for Game 3 are currently more than $28,000 each. Which he could still easily afford.
But here's the reality. If they lose, he'll wish he hadn't spent the money. And, if they win, that $28,000 will be gone forever. Even at $32.5 million per year, it's smart to not spend foolishly.
When Rangers defenseman Adam Fox's 99-year-old grandfather visited The Maven last Tuesday in Israel with other family members, Mel Fox said something meaningful that I had forgotten to mention in previous stories.
Naturally, our conversation had drifted to the subject of his grandson Adam, the Norris Trophy-winning Blueshirt blueliner.
Adam learned his hockey on Long Island rinks and has had a meaningful influence on young kids who want to play an "Adam Fox Kind Of Hockey."
With that in mind, Grandpa Fox offered this thought: "Adam should be a role model for Jewish kids playing hockey."
In fact there were two previous Jewish defensemen who manned the New York blue line and were, in fact, role models but of a different kind and distant era.
The first was Alex "Kingfish" Levinsky, who Rangers boss Lester Patrick obtained from Toronto in 1934. Levinsky played only one season for the Blueshirts and then was traded to Chicago where Kingfish completed a successful ten-year NHL career.
The genuine Jewish role model for a defenseman was Hy Buller. Born in Montreal but raised in Saskatoon, Buller was discovered by a Ranger scout in 1950 as a raw teenager.
By the fall of 1952 the Rangers figured that their Eastern Amateur Hockey League farm team, the New York Rovers, could use Hy as well as his two Saskatoon teammates, Vic Lynn and Dave Livingstone.
Playing for the Rovers at the old Madison Square Garden on Eighth Avenue between West 49th and West 50th Streets, Buller, Lynn and Livingstone excelled.
As a regular at Rover games, I watched the three Saskatoon prospects develop into solid pros. Lynn wound up skating for three Toronto Maple Leaf Cup-winners while Buller was signed by the Detroit Red Wings but failed in the Motor City.
Hy had two cups of coffee with the Wings in 1943-44 and 1944-45 before his demotion to the Hershey (AHL) Bears.
"The NHL was a six-team league at the time," said Rangers press agent Herb Goren. "And Buller wasn't considered quite good enough at the time. He eventually wound up with the
AHL Cleveland Barons where he was considered the best defenseman not in the NHL."
The Rangers signed Buller in 1951 and he became an instant hit. A huge BULLER banner -- adorned with the Jewish Star of David was hung over the end balcony.
"In no time at all," added Goren. "He became one of the best offensive defensemen in the league; but he also was good in his own end of the rink."
Buller played three seasons with the Blueshirts, through the 1953-54 season before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens. But Hy nixed the deal and retired from hockey then and there. Stricken with cancer, Buller died in 1968.
Not until the arrival of Adam Fox had the Rangers carried another Jewish defenseman. His grand-day remembers when Adam and Boston Bruins ace blueliner Charlie McAvoy teamed up on young Long Island teams.
"Adam and Charlie were inseparable," said Grandpa Mel. "I was hoping that they both would wind up on the Rangers, but it didn't work out."
Mel Fox, all 99 years of him, will celebrate his 100th birthday in August. Date, time and place are still undecided but it would be neat if Adam and Charlie McAvoy showed up. Grandpa Mel would love that – two excellent role models if ever there was a pair.
Mel's birthday wishes: 1. Another Blueshirt Stanley Cup in his lifetime and 2. Another Jewish Ranger like grandson Adam.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Knicks fans celebrate winning the eastern conference championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 25, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks last reached the NBA Finals in 1999, falling to the Spurs, and are seeking their first championship since defeating the Lakers in 1973. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Sunday once more, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! Ever since Aaron Judge dropped a home run into the short porch against the Tampa Bay Rays last Sunday, the Yankees have been on a roll — and yet, they are currently the second biggest sports story in the Big Apple. How have they responded on social media? Let’s find out!
I wanna party like it’s 1973
This past Monday, the New York Knicks completed a sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers, punching their ticket to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. YES Network researcher/statistician James Smyth took advantage of the fact that ESPN had the Monday broadcast in Kansas City and made sure he was in attendance for the historic moment.
While there, he commented on the fact that the Cavs played “Sweet Caroline” down by…well, down by a lot.
CC Sabathia, meanwhile, took to Facebook to share his excitement.
Behind the NY
The Yankees released episode nine of Behind the NY this week, focusing on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s charity fashion show.
Game Belts
Thanks to a few wins, the Yankees passed the game belt around quite a bit this week — but not as much as they should have, according to some reports. Online speculation originally suggested that the team left the belt in New York, and did not get it back until Wednesday. That, however, seems a tad outdated, because they’ve only shared the game belt a couple times this week.
DJ LeMahieu had his debut as the manager of the Royal Oak Leprechauns, and guess who threw out the ceremonial first pitch? Former teammate Gleyber Torres! Now with the Tigers, he’s rehabbing from an oblique strain but had time to pop over to support his fellow erstwhile Yankees infielder.
Rikuu Nishida is looking for another clutch RBI this afternoon | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
I’m still looking at 31-27 with some level of disbelief. I have typically been on the sunnier side than many of colleagues in prognosticating the future of the White Sox. It took until August 2024 for me to think that they really, truly had a chance at reaching 121 in the loss column. In 2025, I remained confident that they would keep it together enough to be an ordinarily bad 100-loss team, rather than maintaining the 2024-esque pace they played with for the first two months of that season. This year, I predicted they’d reach the 70-win mark for the first time in four seasons. Maybe they could make a second-half push for .500 ball if the midseason call-ups were just as effective as last season.
This, though? Even for my eternally hopeful brain, the idea that they would be better than .500 with a hold on a Wild Card slot as late as June felt ludicrous.
Perhaps the most surprising part is that while a LOT of important things have gone more right than I ever imagined — Murakami setting records, Colson Montgomery maintaining his 2025 pace, Miguel Vargas adding 3 mpg of bat speed and turning into a bona fide middle-of-the-order hitter, Randal Grichuk finding the fountain of youth, Davis Martin finally fulfilling my long-held fantasy of competing for a spot on an All-Star roster — there have still been plenty of duds that they’ve nonetheless overcome. The Opening Day starter was back in Triple-A after three games. The primary trade return for Luis Robert Jr. isn’t a major league-caliber player. Injuries have led to far more plate appearances from Jarred Kelenic, Derek Hill and Tristan Peters than anyone would have thought ideal. Erick Fedde remains completely washed, Noah Schultz struggled in his first action with the big club. Kyle Teel has yet to play and Edgar Quero has spent much of the last month seemingly on the verge of being demoted. Seranthony Domínguez has avoided many meltdowns but has already lost a secure grip on the closer job despite being signed for that exact purpose.
Yet here we are. The last time the Sox reached five games above the break-even mark was September 2022. Here’s the getaway day lineup we’re getting as they try to set themselves up to reach their highest water mark since the halcyon days of 2020-21. I can only presume that you, like me, are quite invested in Jacob Gonzalez’s first look on the South Side, given the absurd 19 homers he’s already cranked in Triple-A. If he can keep up anything close to like that, it’ll certainly go down as one of the more remarkable bust-to-boom prospect stories in recent memory.
The Tigers, meanwhile, have treaded the opposite path and undergone an utter shitshow of a season in which they were division favorites and World Series contenders, and are instead racing towards a very early draft pick in 2027. At the moment, they are the worst team in the American League and tied with the Rockies for worst in all of baseball.
The Sox last swept the Tigers in 2023, which is not what I expected to find. That series was also in late May, and after winning the second game in walk-off fashion, they secured the sweep with a Jake Burger grand slam to end it. It may have legitimately been the high point of the 2023 season.
Here’s the lineup that the moribund Tigers will trot out today, in hopes of salvaging some pride:
Wheeling is out of the Kelly Cup playoffs. Pittsburgh’s ECHL affiliate bowed out in five games to the Florida Everblades. The Nailers had two players in this playoff run on NHL contracts, Emil Pieniniemi played first pair minutes and produced eight points (1G+7A) in the 15 games, goalie Taylor Gauthier ran out of gas this round but acquitted himself well with a 9-6-2 record, .922 save percentage and 2.23 GAA. Gauthier was signed late in the year to an NHL contract, he’s scheduled to be a free agent again after playing parts of the last four seasons in the Wheel. The Penguins might have some upward mobility next year for an AHL goalie spot if one of those goalies goes up and Maxim Pavelenko becomes a free agent. Rookie Gabriel D’Aigle is in the picture too, with his entry level contract starting next season that will likely see him get a heavy workload in the ECHL.
— xy-Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) May 31, 2026
Up one rung on the ladder, it wasn’t good news for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs. The Toronto Marlies took a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven with a Friday night Game 2 OT win. The game-winning goal wasn’t without controversy.
It took a post-play review, where AHL officials cannot make goaltender interference determinations, to end up crediting former Penguin Marc Johnstone with the goal. Weird play for Sergei Murashov to lunge for the puck and come up empty. The odd notion was Johnstone was credited with the goal from in front, and how it was determined that he didn’t contact the puck above the crossbar is probably an even bigger question.
The next three games in the series shift to Toronto, putting WBS in a big hole.
ICYMI: #WBSPens HC Kirk MacDonald didn't agree with the game-deciding call in OT last night, but as the old saying goes "nothing we can do about it now".
The Penguins have been dealing with difficulties, Owen Pickering has missed the last few games with injury (and isn’t expected back any time soon) and now Alex Alexeyev was out for Game 2, dropping the two most important left shot defenseman from the lineup.
The offensive output has struggled so far, Wilkes only scored one goal on 34 shots in Game 2 – after scoring only twice on goalie Artur Akhtyamov in Game 1. The Marlies are a veteran team, 28-year olds Alex Nylander and Michael Pezzetta were the goal scorers in Game 2 for Toronto, WBS will have to dig deep starting in Monday’s Game 3 to overcome their biggest challenge so far in the playoffs.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 30: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers reacts after scoring the winning run against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on May 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Carson Benge – RF Bo Bichette – SS Juan Soto – LF Jared Young – DH Mark Vientos – 1B A.J. Ewing – CF Brett Baty – 3B Marcus Semien – 2B Luis Torrens – C
SP: Nolan McLean – RHP
Marlins lineup
Xavier Edwards – 2B Liam Hicks – C Otto Lopez – SS Kyle Stowers – DH Jakob Marsee – CF Connor Norby – 1B Owen Caissie – RF Esteury Ruiz – LF Javier Sanoja – 3B
SP: John King – LHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:40 PM ET TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
On this day 103 years ago, Ernie Johnson headed from the South Side to the Bronx. | (American Caramel)
1914 Joe “The Butcher Boy” Benz, (so named because he worked as a butcher in the offseason) fired a no-hitter, beating Cleveland 6-1 at Comiskey Park. The lone Naps run, scored in the fourth inning, came out of three consecutive White Sox errors. Benz walked two and struck out three on the day.
It was the second time in 17 days a White Sox pitcher had thrown nine no-hit innings. On May 14, Jim Scott went nine frames without a hit, then lost his no-hitter (and the game, 1-0) on two hits in the 10th at Washington.
1923 After a stirring reclamation of his MLB career two seasons earlier, Ernie Johnson’s poor play at shortstop saw him waived by the White Sox. Johnson had signed with Chicago in 1921 after two years out of the majors, playing for the Double-A Salt Lake City Bees. He played well enough on the South Side (1.8 WAR and extremely good defense) in 1921, but saw his value winnow to glove-only in the two subsequent seasons.
The Yankees, dominating the American League at 29-10, claimed Johnson on waivers and employed him as a bench player for the rest of the season. Thus while Johnson’s career was on the wane, he did earn himself a World Series ring as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner that October.
1950 White Sox GM Frank Lane made a six-player deal with the Senators that included former All- Star second baseman Cass Michaels (real name Casimir Kwietniewski). The move was important, because it cleared the way for a youngster named Nellie Fox to take over full-time at the position; that year, Fox would play in 130 games and register 497 at-bats.
1970 The torpid White Sox, on their way to the worst single season in franchise history, annihilated the Red Sox in Boston, 22-13. The South Siders banged out 24 hits, with Luis Aparicio and Walt Williams collecting five apiece. Williams scored five times, and Bill Melton knocked in four runs. Chicago had innings where they scored seven, six, four and three runs.
The victim that afternoon? None other than former White Sox star pitcher Gary Peters, who was knocked out of the box in the first inning. It was the second-most runs ever scored in a single game by the White Sox.
1971 In the nightcap of a doubleheader with the Orioles at Comiskey Park, former White Sox infielder Don Buford charged pitcher BartJohnson with his bat after Johnson drilled him with a pitch that hit him in his behind in the eighth inning. When Bufordwent out to left field in the last of the eighth inning, Sox fans pelted him with garbage and vocally let him know what they thought of his actions.
Cooler heads prevailed, but in the ninth inning while standing in the on-deck circle lecturing a fan, Buford was attacked from behind by a second fan, who escaped … onto the field! Buford was alerted by White Sox players yelling from the field, because they could see what was unfolding. Buford knocked the fan out with one punch, then his Oriole teammates charged out of the dugout and did a bloody number on the trespasser before security could lead him away.
Bufordwas ejected from the game by umpire Nestor Chylak for going to the screen to warn fan in the first place, antagonizing the situation.
The teams split the doubleheader that afternoon.
1973 It was an inauspicious debut for a player who’d make himself into a fine big-league hitter. In a game at Chicago that the Sox won, 10-2, BrianDowning entered the game in the seventh inning to make his big-league debut at third base.
On his first play in the big leagues, in fact on the first pitch, Downing caught a foul pop off the bat of Detroit’s Dick McAuliffe, diving to make the catch. On the play, though, Downing ripped up his knee and was placed on the injured list.
Downing would collect his first big league hit in August, an inside-the-park home run off of Mickey Lolich in Detroit.
1978 The White Sox trounced California, 17-2, with a 22-hit attack.
The game turned into a rout in the fifth inning, when the Sox turned a 1-1 game on its head and exploded for 11 runs. Fifteen White Sox came to the plate, with Greg Pryor singling and doubling, Jorge Orta singling twice — and Lamar Johnson making two of the inning’s outs. Three Angels pitchers were victimized by the ex-Hit Men, none worse than recent White Sox hurler Ken Brett, who relieved in the frame but was knocked out of the box having retired just one Chicagoan. The hurlers were done no favors by two errors in the inning.
On the White Sox side, Steve Stone somehow weathered that endless fifth to complete the game and improve to 4-3 on the year.
That run output ties for 38th-most ever by the White Sox, and the 22 hits rank tied for 24th.
The rout zeroed out a 5-2 homestand and marked a fifth straight win. The South Siders would win two more on the road, stretching the win streak to seven, before losing again. However, the White Sox were floundering, stuck in sixth place even after the win streak and improving to just 17-28 with this romp.
2000 The White Sox swapped relief pitcher Tanyon Sturtze to Tampa Bay for infielder Tony Graffanino, in the very first trade Chicago ever made with the Rays. Graffanino was excellent in 2000 and over the next three seasons, increasing his WAR each year and serving as a superb utilityman covering shortstop, second base and third. Sturtze was having a horrific (-0.8 WAR) season in Chicago but recovered for a 1.6 WAR and 2.56 ERA as a swingman in Florida; in the next season (2001), Sturtze was outstanding, garnering 3.3 WAR primarily as a starter, pitching almost 200 innings to a 4.42 ERA.
Graffanino even gave the White Sox assist later in his career, committing a key error for the Red Sox in Game 2 of the ALDS in Chicago.
2007 Mark Buehrle lost to Toronto, 2-0, giving up solo home runs to Aaron Hill and Frank Thomas. That’s it: No other hits, walks, or Sox errors in the game. Thus the Blue Jays became the first team ever to win a game without a single baserunner.
The White Sox only twice even had runners reach third base, with one, Rob Mackowiak, thrown out at home.
Despite the loss, Buehrle also became the first White Sox pitcher since Joe Horlen in 1967 to throw a no-hitter and a complete game of only two hits or less in the same season.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 30: Christian Walker #8 of the Houston Astros hits a three-run home run in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Daikin Park on May 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (27-33), who are 8-3 in their last 11 games, will play the rubber game of their three-game series today opposite the NL Central division leading Milwaukee Brewers (34-21).
RHP Tatsuya Imai (2-2, 6.17 ERA), who started the Astros combined no-hitter on Monday at TEX, will start for the Astros today opposite the Brewers and hard-throwing RHP Jacob Misiorowski (5-2, 1.83 ERA).
ABOUT IMAI: RHP Tatsuya Imai is set to make his seventh career Major League start today and his fourth since returning from the IL after a bout with right arm fatigue.
He’s performed better since his return, particularly in his last two starts in which he’s gone 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA (3ER/10.2IP) and a 0.84 WHIP.
In January, the Astros signed Imai to a three-year deal.
In 2025, he was an All-Star for the Seibu Lions in the NPB in Japan, where he went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA (35ER/163.2IP) in 24 games.
ABOUT THE NO-NO: In the last start by RHP Tatsuya Imai, the Astros got back in the record books on Monday at TEX, tossing their 17th regular season no-hitter and their 18th no-hitter overall in club history.
A few notes on the no-no:
• Imai (6IP), LHP Steven Okert (1IP) and RHP Alimber Santa (2IP) produced the fifth combined no-hitter in club history and the first since Nov. 2, 2022 at PHI (World Series, Game 4).
• Per Elias, RHP Alimber Santa became the first pitcher since 1900 to pitch in a no-hitter in his ML debut. According to their records, it happened one other time, which was on Oct. 15, 1892, when RHP Bumpus Jones of Cincinnati hurled a 9.0-inning, complete game no-hitter in his Major League debut.
• The no-hitter was the Astros seventh since 2019, which is the most in the Majors in that span. Additionally, the Astros 18 no-hitters overall are the most in the Majors since the franchise was born in 1962.
CONGRATS JOE!: Manager Joe Espada is one of several individuals being inducted into the Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in Puerto Rico today. This Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches, and sports figures who have made profound contributions to local and international athletics. Roberto Clemente, who was born in Carolina, was their first inductee.
FOR STARTERS: Astros starters have a combined ERA of 3.35 (32ER/86IP) over the last 15 games (since May 15) with a 1.07 WHIP. In that span, they have allowed just 52 hits in 86.0 innings for a Major League-best .174 opponent average, while also ranking third in the AL in WHIP and fourth in ERA. Additionally, Astros starters have allowed one or fewer runs seven times in the last 15 games.
MAKING THE PLAYS: The Astros have committed just 21 errors on the season, the fewest in the AL and the third-fewest in the Majors. They also lead the AL in fielding percentage (.990).
MAY-KING HIS CASE:RHP Spencer Arrighetti has made a strong case for the AL Pitcher of the Month award for May, going 4-1 with a 0.93 ERA (3ER/29IP) and a .165 opponent average (16×97) in five starts in the month. In May, he has the lowest ERA and opponent average among AL starters, while ranking tied for first in wins.
HOMER HAPPY: The Astros have slugged 19 homers in their last nine games. Houston now ranks tied for second in the AL in homers with 79, trailing only the Yankees (86) in that category.
ON THE LEADER BOARD:DH Yordan Alvarez leads MLB in OPS (1.062) and total bases (137). In the AL, he ranks first in extra-base hits (32), tied for first in HR (20), second in SLG (.643), second in OBP (.419), second in hits (65), fifth in batting avg. (.305), sixth in RBI (39), tied for sixth in walks (39), and tied for eighth in runs (39).
HISTORIC HOMERS: DH Yordan Alvarez is off to one of the most prolific starts in franchise history. His 20 homers through the club’s first 60 games of the season match the franchise record, also reached by 1B Jeff Bagwell in the 1999 season.
YOR-GONE!: DH Yordan Alvarez has blasted 190 career regular season home runs, which ranks seventh in Astros history. He’s now one home run shy of matching 3B Alex Bregman for sixth all-time.
WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: 1B Christian Walker has five HR and 12 RBI in his last seven games.
For the season, he leads the AL in RBI (43) and ranks tied for fifth in XBH (26), tied for fifth in total bases (113), sixth in HR (16), and eighth in SLG (.521). Walker also has not committed an error in 59 games.
HIT PAREDES: 3B Isaac Paredes has 499 career hits and is looking to become just the 10th Mexican-born player in MLB history to reach 500 career hits. Two of those nine ahead of him played portions of their careers with the Astros in 3B Vinny Castilla (1,884 hits) and C Alex Treviño (604 hits).
HEATING UP: RF Cam Smith has a hit in nine of his last 10 games, batting .324 (12×37) with seven runs scored, two doubles, two homers, four RBI and three walks in that span.
OF Taylor Trammell is riding a career-high, nine-game hitting streak, batting .387 (12×31) with two doubles, one triple, three RBI and a .940 OPS within the streak.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1975 – The Astros set a club record with a 12-run inning, doing so in the 8th frame in a 15-3 win over the Phillies at Veterans Stadium. PH Cliff Johnson has a double, homer and three RBI in that 8th inning. Enos Cabell (HR, 3 RBI) and Milt May (3×5, 2 RBI) had big days offensively.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, May 31, 1:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
