Midseason additions of Misiorowski, Vaughn have played big role in getting Brewers to NLCS

MILWAUKEE — Andrew Vaughn and Jacob Misiorowski were both in the minor leagues with separate organizations at the start of June, one on the way up and the other on the way down.

Four months later, they played key roles in helping the Milwaukee Brewers reach the National League Championship Series.

Vaughn hit a tiebreaking homer in the fourth inning that put Milwaukee ahead for good Saturday night in its 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the decisive Game 5 of their NL Division Series. Misiorowski earned his second win of the series by allowing just one run over four innings in relief.

“It’s insane,” Misiorowski said during the Brewers’ clubhouse celebration. “It’s everything I’ve worked for, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Their arrivals in Milwaukee were indirectly connected.

When Misiorowski was promoted from the minor leagues in June, he took Aaron Civale’s spot in Milwaukee’s rotation. Civale reacted to the bullpen assignment by saying he wouldn’t mind getting traded to a team that would allow him to continue starting.

The Brewers then sent Civale to the Chicago White Sox in a deal that brought them Vaughn. Civale ended up finishing the season with the Cubs, and he pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings in this series.

At the time of the trade, there was little reason to believe Vaughn would become a major factor for Milwaukee this season. He had batted .189 with a .218 on-base percentage and .314 slugging percentage in 48 games with the White Sox, who eventually sent him to the minor leagues. The Brewers initially kept him in the minors after acquiring him.

But he got called back up to the majors July 7 after Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins went on the injured list with a sprained left thumb. Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy greeted Vaughn by letting him know he would probably get sent right back to the minors if he continued chasing pitches outside the strike zone.

Vaughn homered off Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in his first at-bat with the Brewers and improved his chase rate in making a remarkable transformation. He batted .308 with a .375 on-base percentage and .493 slugging percentage in 64 games with Milwaukee.

“This guy’s a gamer,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. “He’s been through a lot, and he’s failed, just like all of us. We’ve all failed in this sport. If you haven’t, you haven’t been doing it long enough. So we’ve all failed. For that guy to come in here and be himself and put the team on his back at times this year is really awesome.”

Vaughn offered simple reasons for his dramatic improvement.

“Change of scenery, being around some different coaches, different stuff and just playing free,” he said.

Vaughn put the Brewers ahead Saturday by connecting on a 3-2 pitch from Colin Rea and hitting a 383-foot drive over the left-field wall with two outs in the fourth. That cleared the way for Misiorowski to earn the Game 5 win.

Misiorowski had his own ups and downs this season.

The flamethrowing right-hander burst onto the scene and made such an impact that he earned an All-Star Game selection after making just five starts, a stretch that included winning head-to-head pitching matchups with Cy Young Award favorite Paul Skenes and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

Then the rookie went on the injured lift with a left tibia bruise. He returned in mid-August but allowed 22 runs over 32 2/3 innings the rest of the season, a slump that led to concern about how much the Brewers could trust the excitable right-hander in a postseason setting.

“We weren’t easy on him,” Murphy said. “I didn’t spend a lot of time trying to pump him up. I wanted to find out what he had, because I knew with that kind of stuff, he could really help us.”

He helped them tremendously.

Misiorowski threw three shutout innings in a Game 2 victory while reaching a peak velocity of 104.3 mph and hitting at least 100 mph on 31 of his 57 pitches. Misiorowski entered in the second inning of Game 5 and immediately gave up a tying homer to Seiya Suzuki, but the 23-year-old silenced the Cubs from there.

He struck out three while allowing three hits and just the one run. He averaged 100.3 mph on his 17 fastballs, with 10 of them reaching at least 100 mph.

And for the first time in his brief major league career, Misiorowski didn’t walk a single batter.

Misiorowski’s stellar NLDS performance virtually assures he will play a vital role when the Brewers face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series beginning Monday.

“You see how much Miz cares,” Arnold said. “That’s what it’s about. In a game like tonight, you can see he’s bleeding blue and gold.”

Stars Align; Dallas Stars Begin Season With Consecutive Wins Under New Coach Glen Gulutzan

For nearly a year, Gulutzan has been making plans to make a return to Texas.

Grace Gulutzan, that is. The teenager is a first-year softball pitcher and utility player who will be taking her talents to Hill College, about an hour south of Dallas. It’s a bit of a homecoming. Grace spent four pre-school years in the Lone Star State while her father, Glen Gulutzan, was coaching the AHL’s Texas Stars and then the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

“She went to kindergarten in Dallas, so she didn’t remember much about it,” Glen said. “But she’s excited to go and play softball.”

Months after Grace’s commitment, another spin of the NHL’s coaching carousel will have parents Glen and Nicole landing close at hand. One day after the Boston Bruins filled the last of this spring’s eight other off-season coaching vacancies in early June, three-time reigning GM of the Year Jim Nill made the difficult decision to open another. Nill fired then-coach Peter DeBoer June 6, despite the Stars coming off a 106-point season and their third trip to the Western Conference final in as many years.

When the announcement came down, Gulutzan was a bit too preoccupied to give the opening a second thought. At the time, he was busy running the vaunted Edmonton Oilers power play as one of Kris Knoblauch’s assistants behind the bench. But once the Florida Panthers eliminated the Oilers June 17, the interview process unfolded at warp speed.

“I’m calling him and getting permission from Edmonton to interview him, and I need to get him down ASAP,” Nill said. “He agrees to come down, and we had an interview.”

Two weeks later, Gulutzan was being introduced to the media as Dallas’ new coach, in the same market where he’d started his NHL coaching career 14 years earlier.

Gulutzan, 54, was born in The Pas, Man., and grew up in Hudson Bay, Sask. He’s now tasked with getting the perennially contending Stars to take that final step. “For a guy that was devastated after you lose (the Stanley Cup), I was so impressed with how he conducted himself and how he spoke about situations,” Nill said.

“Character matters with your team and, most importantly, your head coach. Your head coach is your leader. I look at Glen, and, ultimately, what brought me back to him was his leadership and his ability to have a team-first mentality. You win and lose as a team.”

Glen Gulutzan (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Today’s Stars are one of the NHL’s model franchises, and they are built to win now. That was decidedly not the case during Gulutzan’s first go around in Texas. When he was hired to coach the organization’s brand-new AHL club in Austin in 2009, a bumpy transition was underway from then-owner Tom Hicks to current steward Tom Gaglardi.

But when opportunity knocked after six years at the helm of the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers, a then-38-year-old Gulutzan made the leap. He and Nicole – along with the couple’s four young children – moved to the Austin suburb of Cedar Park. “It was a very exciting time in my life because I was coming from the ECHL,” Gulutzan said.

The Texas Stars aimed to enhance hockey’s footprint in the state after the organization’s affiliation in Iowa fizzled out. And the Austin startups were an instant success. In his first season, Gulutzan took the new fan base on a ride all the way to the Calder Cup final. During that post-season, the team was led by a 20-year-old Jamie Benn, who had been assigned to the AHL after a 22-goal NHL rookie campaign in Dallas. Benn then led Texas with 26 points in 24 playoff games.

For a guy that was devastated after you lose (the Stanley Cup), I was so impressed with how he conducted himself- Stars GM Jim Nill
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This fall, Gulutzan will reunite with Benn as the latter returns to Dallas for his 17th season – and his 13th as captain. After logging 49 points in 2024-25, the 36-year-old Benn needs another 44 to join Mike Modano as the only other player in franchise history to reach 1,000 points.

“I’ve kept in touch with Jamie over the years,” Gulutzan said. “That relationship has maintained because I certainly respect Jamie and everything he’s done. I loved him as a player.”

Benn and Gulutzan got within two games of the Calder Cup in 2010. And while each has also now reached the Stanley Cup final during their respective NHL career, neither has won it all.

“For me, the biggest thing with Jamie, going right back to Austin, is ‘Let’s finish this thing off,’ ” Gulutzan said.

Gulutzan spent two seasons in Austin before the Stars promoted him to the NHL bench, where he spent two more working with Benn and one of the league’s lowest-paid rosters. Gulutzan’s Stars put up a record of 64-57-9, with the 2012-13 owners’ lockout limiting his second year behind the bench to just 48 games.

Once Gaglardi was comfortably settled into his owner’s chair in the spring of 2013, he lured Nill and his four Stanley Cup rings away from Ken Holland’s management group in Detroit. Nill elected to start fresh with his own veteran coach, Lindy Ruff, triggering an odyssey for Gulutzan that would see him work with some of the most storied names in the coaching fraternity.

“Twelve years ago, Jim actually sent me on a reconnaissance mission,” Gulutzan joked at his opening presser. “That was up through Western Canada – Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. He didn’t tell me until about a week ago that he was bringing me back, and the mission was over.”

First stop: three seasons with the Canucks. Running the penalty kill, Gulutzan assisted John Tortorella and worked with fellow assistant Mike Sullivan for a year, then spent two seasons under his own former assistant coach from the Stars, Willie Desjardins.

“When I got let go in Dallas, the chance to work for a veteran coach was very appealing,” he said. “It was a real good learning experience for me to be with John and to see a veteran guy who had won a Stanley Cup. And, obviously, Mike Sullivan was there as well – two Cups himself. That year was a real growth year for me.”

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Tortorella lasted just one season in Vancouver, and Sullivan left with him. But when new team president Trevor Linden tapped Desjardins as his first coaching hire, Gulutzan was kept on by his former colleague.

In 2016, the Calgary Flames came knocking with another head job. But again, the environment was challenging. In a period of transition, the Flames had missed the playoffs in six of the previous seven seasons. In Bob Hartley’s final year, they sank to 77 points.

When Gulutzan arrived, a strong, young nucleus was forming around Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Rasmus Andersson and freshly minted sixth-overall pick Matthew Tkachuk. That group returned to the post-season in 2017, but a miss one year later spelled the end of the road for Gulutzan again. He left Calgary with a record of 82-68-14.

Next stop, Edmonton. Todd McLellan brought Gulutzan in to help improve a power play that was coming off a last-place finish (14.8 percent) in 2017-18 despite having heavy hitters Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. By November, the Oilers fired McLellan and replaced him with Ken Hitchcock. After that, Dave Tippett, Jay Woodcroft and Kris Knoblauch were, in turn, each handed the keys to Oil Country. But even though most bench bosses are eager to bring in their own people when they start a new job, Gulutzan stayed on through those four regime changes, watching each new hire put their unique stamp on the Oilers as he continued to finesse the team’s superstars into one of the league’s most consistently lethal power-play units.

Twelve years ago, Jim actually sent me on a reconnaissance mission. He didn’t tell me until about a week ago- Glen Gulutzan
-

Gulutzan’s success came from teaching his players how to combine X’s and O’s with natural impulses. It’s a coaching style he plans to replicate in Dallas.

“The biggest thing for me is putting together a system to make the players the most instinctual they can be,” he said. “When they’re playing on instinct, playing a little bit of road hockey, that’s when you get the best performance.”

While many new coaches look to turn around underperforming rosters, Gulutzan is now taking over a Stars squad full of thoroughbreds, including Jake Oettinger in net, Miro Heiskanen and rising star Thomas Harley on the blueline and a high-IQ forward group made up of savvy vets like Benn, Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen and a younger wave led by Wyatt Johnston.

Gulutzan doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel. And in a league where parity predominates even while the Panthers reign as today’s big cats, he’s happy to leave the ‘Cup or Bust’ mantra back in Edmonton. After getting a first-hand look at Florida’s bruising style in the past two Cup finals, Gulutzan believes the Stars’ best path to success isn’t a copycat approach.

“I don’t think every team can play that way,” he said. “And I don’t know if that style would suit us the best.”

Still, every winner serves up takeaways that can be applied.

“If we’re going to make the next step, I’d love to use that hockey IQ we have,” Gulutzan said. “But I also know there’s one degree of heavier-grinding, finishing-your-check, holding-onto-the-puck hockey that needs to come into play. Because every round ramps up a bit. I think you have to build that into 82 games. You can’t just turn it on at the end.”


This article appeared in our 2025 Meet the New Guys issue. The cover story for this issue features the newest Vegas Golden Knight, Mitch Marner, as he looks to shine in the desert. We also include features on new Jets forward Jonathan Toews, Canadiens D-man Noah Dobson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top 'new guys' from each NHL division.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The Hockey News Sunday Recap: Columbus Blue Jackets

From Ex-players to current players and everything in between, we've got you covered. 

Did you miss anything from the past week at The Hockey News - Columbus Blue Jackets? If you did, we have you covered with the Sunday Recap. Click on each card below to read the stories from the past week. 

Geoff Sanderson - 2001-2006 - Drafted by Hartford in 1990. 

Sanderson played 268 games as a Jacket and had 168 points. In the franchise's first season, he dazzled the NWA crowds when he scored 30 goals and had 56 points. Sanderson was a very good player for the Blue Jackets and brought some excitement to a fledgling franchise desperate to win some games. He's the only player in CBJ history to score 4 goals in a single game and was the first player in franchise history to have 5 points in a game. 

He retired in 2008 after playing 1100 games and totaling 700 points. Last season, he was a pro scout for the New Jersey Devils. 

His son Jake is now a star defenseman for the Ottawa Senators.  

8 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #88 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #8The Columbus Blue Jackets have 8 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #8.  Blue Jackets Should Consider Taking Advantage Of WaiversBlue Jackets Should Consider Taking Advantage Of WaiversAs we get closer to the start of the NHL season, waiver activity is picking up as teams finalize their opening night rosters.

John Moore - 2011 - Drafted by Columbus in 2009. 

Moore only played 86 games in Columbus and had 8 points. On April 3, 2013, Moore was included in the Derick Brassard deal with the New York Rangers that brought Marián Gáborík to Columbus. 

He last played for the Anaheim Ducks.

On March 19, 2022, Moore was involved in a trade that sent him to the Anaheim Ducks along with Urho Vaakanainen in exchange for Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks then attempted to trade both Moore and the rest of Ryan Kesler's contract to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Evgenii Dadonov and a conditional second-round pick at the NHL trade deadline on March 21, 2022. However, the deal was disputed due to a no-trade clause in Dadonov's contract. On March 23, the NHL officially cancelled the trade; therefore, Moore remained in the Ducks' organization.  

7 Days Left Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #77 Days Left Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #7The Columbus Blue Jackets have 7 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #7. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they loaned goalie Ivan Fedotov to the Cleveland Monsters. He is with the Monsters and practicing today.

This clears the way for an Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves goalie tandem, at least for now. 

Columbus Loans Ivan Fedotov To ClevelandColumbus Loans Ivan Fedotov To ClevelandThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they loaned goalie Ivan Fedotov to the Cleveland Monsters. He is with the Monsters and practicing today. Blue Jackets Could Target Penguins' Bryan Rust In Potential TradeBlue Jackets Could Target Penguins' Bryan Rust In Potential TradeWith the 2025-26 NHL season just around the corner, teams are preparing for opening night and getting their rosters set for the 5:00 p.m. deadline.

With the news today that Don Waddell didn't make any waiver claims, and Ivan Fedotov has been loaned to the Monsters, the opening night roster for the Columbus Blue Jackets is set. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets Opening Night Roster Is SetThe Columbus Blue Jackets Opening Night Roster Is SetSay hello to the 2025-26 edition of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Nolan Lalonde, the unsigned free agent from Kingston, Ontario, will be making his pro debut in the ECHL. Per Mark Monroe, sportswriter for the Toledo Blade, Lalonde will be assigned to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.  

Nolan Lalonde Assigned To ECHLNolan Lalonde Assigned To ECHLNolan Lalonde, the unsigned free agent from Kingston, Ontario, will be making his pro debut in the ECHL. 

Who will win the Hart Trophy?

  • Jason - Auston Matthews has a comeback year and scores 70 goals. 
  • Spencer - Connor McDavid wins it.

Who will win the Art Ross?

  • Jason - Connor McDavid will take his top spot back as the league's top point getter.
  • Spencer - Connor McDavid, it’s hard to bet against him.
THN Columbus: 32 Predictions For The 25-26 NHL SeasonTHN Columbus: 32 Predictions For The 25-26 NHL SeasonWith the 24-25 season starting today, The Hockey News Columbus is going to take a shot at some predictions. Spencer Lazary and I are going to do our best.  

Ron Hainsey - 2006-2008 - Drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in 2000.

Hainsey played 213 games with the Jackets and totaled 83 points.

After retiring in 2021 and playing 1,132 games, he now works for the NHLPA where he is the Assistant Executive Director. 

Hainsey is Actor Michael Madsen's doppelgänger.

6 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #66 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #6The Columbus Blue Jackets have 6 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #6. There haven't been too many players donning the 6 in Union Blue. Former Blue Jackets Suiting Up For Other Teams In 2025-26Former Blue Jackets Suiting Up For Other Teams In 2025-26The 2025-26 season is here. 

Aaron Johnson - 2012 - Drafted by Columbus in the 3rd round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Johnson played 172 games for the Jackets over two stints. Scouts said of Johnson was "A puck-moving defenseman, Johnson is a very good skater. Has good offensive instincts and can quarterback the power play. Can play a tough and physical game. Needs to improve his play in his own end."

During his time with Columbus, he also spent three years with the AHL Syracuse Crunch, where he had 73 points in those three seasons. 

In 2016, he left North America and signed on with Adler Mannheim of the DEL in Germany. He then left for England, where he played for the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL. In 2021, he became a Player-Asst. Coach for a season. He came back home to Columbus in 2021 and joined the Jackets as a Team Consultant. Last season, he was the Team Relations Specialist for the Jackets.

5 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #55 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #5The Columbus Blue Jackets have 5 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at everyone's favorite number - Jersey #5.

Former Blue Jacket forward Kevin Labanc has signed with the Shanghai Dragons the club has announced. Former Blue Jacket Adam Clendening is on the team, and it's coached by former CBJ HC Gerard Gallant. 

Former Blue Jackets Forward Kevin Labanc Signing In RussiaFormer Blue Jackets Forward Kevin Labanc Signing In RussiaFormer Blue Jacket Kevin Labanc seems to have found a new team.

Personally, I think the Hurricanes do what Washington did last year and run away and hide in the Metro. The Capitals rode the Ovechkin wave last year, but this year, I feel like they will take a slight step back. As long as they have Ovi, he will push that team to be as good as they can. 

2025-26 Metro Division Standings Predictions2025-26 Metro Division Standings PredictionsWell, it's here. The 2025-26 season has officially kicked off. This year's version of the Metropolitan Division has people all over wondering how it will shake out. Some people think the Metro is the weakest it's ever been, while some people think it'll be ultra-competitive despite the apparent weaknesses. 

Evason told reporters that forward Yegor Chinakhov will be a healthy scratch on Thursday. He mentioned that he met with Chinakhov to go over everything and make sure they’re on the same page.

Blue Jackets’ Chinakhov Expected To Be A Healthy Scratch On Opening NightBlue Jackets’ Chinakhov Expected To Be A Healthy Scratch On Opening NightThe Columbus Blue Jackets are gearing up for their first game of the 2025-26 season tomorrow against the Nashville Predators. Today, head coach Dean Evason met with the media and shared some insight on what the opening night lineup will look like.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Cam Atkinson have formally announced that the forward will retire from the NHL on Thursday, October 16. He will sign a one-day contract with Columbus and thus end his NHL career. 

Cam Atkinson To Officially Retire As A Blue JacketCam Atkinson To Officially Retire As A Blue JacketThe Columbus Blue Jackets and Cam Atkinson have formally announced that the forward will retire from the NHL on Thursday, October 16. He will sign a one-day contract with Columbus and thus end his NHL career. 

The Monsters have named Brendan Gaunce, who served as the captain during the 2023-24 season, as team captain once again.

They have also named forwards Hudson Fasching and Owen Sillinger as well as defensemen Dysin Mayo as the team's assistant captain. 

Cleveland Monster's 2025-26 Leadership Group NamedCleveland Monster's 2025-26 Leadership Group NamedThe Cleveland Monster's have announced their leadership group for 2025-26 AHL season.

The Edmonton Oilers announced that they have signed former CBJ forward Jack Roslovic to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. The deal comes virtually at the last second before the season starts. 

Former Blue Jacket Forward Jack Roslovic Signs With EdmontonFormer Blue Jacket Forward Jack Roslovic Signs With EdmontonLate last night, the Edmonton Oilers announced that they have signed former CBJ forward Jack Roslovic to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. The deal comes virtually at the last second before the season starts. 

The Cleveland Monsters have announced that they've signed defenseman Will Butcher to a one-year AHL contract. Butcher has played 275 career NHL games. 

Cleveland Monsters Sign Defenseman Will Butcher Cleveland Monsters Sign Defenseman Will Butcher The Cleveland Monsters have announced that they've signed defenseman Will Butcher to a one-year AHL contract. Butcher has played 275 career NHL games. 

Lyle Odelein - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Montreal in 1986. 

The first-ever Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Odelein played 146 games and had 33 points. He retired in 2006 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

4 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #44 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #4The Columbus Blue Jackets have 4 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Jersey #4 is one of the more popular numbers to be worn.

Jordan Leopold - 2015 - Drafted by Anaheim in 1999. 

Leopold played 18 games for Columbus after being traded from the St. Louis Blues on November 15, 2014. On March 2, 2015, he was dealt again, this time to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Justin Falk. He retired after the 2015 season. 

He has been an assistant coach for Andover High in Minnesota for the past couple of years. 

3 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #33 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #3The Columbus Blue Jackets have 3 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Jersey #3 is one of the more popular numbers to be worn.

Kris Russell - 2008 - Drafted by Columbus in 2005.

Russell played 288 games in Columbus and had 79 points. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on November 11, 2011, in exchange for Nikita Nikitin. 

He went on to play 912 NHL games and total 254 points. After playing 6 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Russell retired in 2022. 

2 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #22 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #2The Columbus Blue Jackets have 2 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena.  Blue Jackets Honouring Moments In Franchise History Through Puck SculpturesBlue Jackets Honouring Moments In Franchise History Through Puck SculpturesThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they are honouring memorable moments in franchise history through puck sculptures.

Up Next: The Blue Jackets welcome the New Jersey Devils into Nationwide Arena on Monday night. 

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

Nets owner Joe Tsai confirms team's strategy for this season: 'We hope to get a good pick'

It wasn't exactly a secret what the Brooklyn Nets' goal was for this season: They used all five of their first-round picks last June, then this summer they traded or let walk Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dennis Schroder and D'Angelo Russell. Brooklyn is going to lean into Cam Thomas — playing for his next contract on the qualifying offer — and Michael Porter Jr. to drive their offense.

But if you had any doubts about the plan, here is what team owner Joe Tsai said while on the All-In podcast (hat tip RealGM).

"I have to say we're in a rebuilding year. We spent all of our pick (in the 2025 NBA Draft). We had five first-round draft picks this past summer ...

"We have one [first-round] pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick. So, you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season. But we have a very young team."

This upcoming NBA Draft is considered a strong draft at the top with Darryn Peterson (Kansas), A.J. Dybantsa (BYU) and Cameron Boozer (Duke) all in the mix for the No. 1 pick, with some other real talent such as Nate Ament (Tennessee), Mikel Brown (Louisville) and Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor) worth keeping an eye on.

Brooklyn isn't the only team starting this season with an eye toward the draft, the same idea is playing out in Utah and Washington, and you can be sure a few other teams with long-shot postseason hopes will be pivoting to the strategy early.

Will Cale Makar Be The Next NHL 'Nuclear Explosion' Contract?

With Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, and Kirill Kaprizov now off the open market, the NHL is turning its attention to the next player poised to redefine the league’s salary landscape.

It likely won’t be Adrian Kempe, Alex Tuch, and/or Artemi Panarin, who will all get hefty contracts on their next deals. No, according to Elliotte Friedman, that player is Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.

Makar, 26, has already established himself as one of the league’s premier talents. He boasts a Norris Trophy, a Conn Smythe, and a Stanley Cup, and the Avalanche are fully aware that retaining him will come at a significant cost. The question becomes, how much?

Friedman reports that Colorado has been preparing for months, anticipating that Makar’s next deal could reach a new stratosphere of NHL salaries — potentially $20-$25 million per season, eclipsing even the monster Kaprizov deal by $30 million. 

The NHL insider suggested that eight-figure contracts will become normal in the NHL. The league is trending that way as Eichel signed for $108 million, Kaprizov signed for $138 million, and Connor got close, with a $96 million deal last week. All three players are good. Frankly, they’re great. Makar is on another level in terms of importance to a hockey team. 

Averaging just under 25 minutes per game, he is a generational talent who not only plays one of the most critical positions on the team, but he also generates a ton of the team’s offense. If there were one player on the roster the Avs might feel comfortable giving the bag to, it’s Makar. And, if for one second, the Avs hesitate, several teams will line up for the opportunity to pitch him in free agency. 

He has this season and next remaining on his current contract. The team will have $59 million and change in cap space in 2027-28, according to PuckPedia, but only eight main roster players under contract. 

Cale Makar (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

If Not Makar, Then Who?

If it’s not Makar that becomes the new high bar in terms of contract value (both dollar and term), Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes should get consideration. The Canucks won’t want him to leave and will be prepared to roll the Brinks truck up to retain him. 

Another defenseman who is critically important to his team’s success, when Hughes is on the ice, the Canucks become a dangerous team. When he’s not, the team struggles. He is their captain and best player. Losing him could trigger a rebuild. Hughes becomes a free agent in 2026-27, when he'll be 27 years old.

Should neither player sign a long-term deal, the conversation could pivot back to Connor McDavid. He passed over a long-term extension when he signed a two-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers ahead of the 2025-26 season. He’s unlikely to go short-term again. At the age of 31, McDavid will look to cash in when he can grab 20% of the salary cap, which by then could equate to around $23 million per season over eight years. That’s about $184 million.

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Kings Fall to the Jets Despite a Strong Effort

The Kings went into a rare Saturday morning game coming off a gutsy 6-5 shootout victory over a division rival in the Vegas Golden Knights. 

They entered Saturday's game trying to win back-to-back games to give themselves some momentum after a brutal season opener against the Avalanche. 

However, LA got off to a slow start on Saturday as the Jets controlled the play in the first period. The Kings came alive in the second period and continued their strong effort into the final frame. However, Mark Scheifele and the Jets proved to be too much to handle.

First Period: Inability to Stay out of the Penalty Box 

The Kings got off to a nightmare-ish start as Quinton Byfield was called for hooking just 3:25 into the opening frame. Alex Iafallo made his former team pay, scoring on the ensuing power play, which gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead just 4:48 into the game.

Jeff Malott continues to make the most with the ice time he's been given. After Jets blue-liner Logan Stanley laid a massive hit on Alex Turcotte, Malott stepped to avenge his teammate. Stanley wasn't interested in squaring off with LA's enforcer, so Luke Schenn stepped in and the two squared off in a short bout.

The penalty trouble didn't end after Byfield's minor earlier in the first. Brian Dumoulin and Alex Laferriere were each sent to the box with two-minute minors in the last half of the period. Luckily, the Kings' penalty-kill stepped up to keep it a one-score game after 20 minutes.

Discipline is essential if you want to succeed in this league. Giving your opponent the man advantage for six minutes a period is a recipe for disaster, especially against the reigning Presidents'  Trophy winners.

Darcy Kuemper stayed strong in the crease, stopping 13 of Winnipeg's 14 first-period shots.

Second Period: Strong Effort is Rewarded

Los Angeles came out firing in the second period, and they were rewarded almost instantly. Mikey Anderson beat Connor Hellebuyck with a blistering shot from the point to get the Kings on the board just 50 seconds into the middle frame.

The Kings continued to push, which led to Adrian Kempe scoring his first goal of the season. Kempe buried a tap-in after a beautiful passing play by Andrei Kuzmenko and Anze Kopitar. The Kings had the lead for the first time. 

That lead was short-lived however, as Mark Scheifele beat Darcy Kuemper with just over a minute remaining to tie the game at 2-2.

Although they no longer had the lead, the Kings second-period effort was very promising.

Third Period: Lack of Execution

After a terrific middle period, the Kings carried that effort over into the final frame. This time, they weren't rewarded for several reasons.

LA was awarded three different man advantages throughout the third period, and five in the game overall. They scored on zero of said power plays. It is extremely difficult to win in the NHL when you fail to execute on crucial chances. It wasn't for a lack of effort. Los Angeles outshot Winnipeg 11-5 in the final 20 minutes, but last season's MVP, Connor Hellebuyck was on his A-game.

With just over eight minutes remaining in regulation, Scheifle scored his second of the game, which would end up being the decider. 

The Jets deserve a ton of credit as well as they blocked 28 shots to the Kings 11. 

Los Angeles falls to 1-2-0 while Winnipeg improves to 1-1-0. Despite the loss, the Kings should use this game as a building block moving forward. They played well and should use that as a way to improve their execution moving forward. 

The Kings will look to bounce back once again as they travel to Minnesota to take on the Wild (1-1-0) on Monday, October 13th at 8:00 PM ET / 11:00 PM PT.

Senators Prospect Carter Yakemchuk Reflects On Playing First Pro Regular Season Game

Carter Yakemchuk, the Ottawa Senators' seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, made his professional hockey debut on Saturday night, playing his first regular-season game with the American Hockey League's Belleville Senators. Yakemchuk quarterbacked the power play, didn't get on the scoreboard, had one shot, and was a minus-3 in a 5-2 loss to Lehigh Valley.

In some ways, the game resembled the parent club's 6-2 loss Saturday to the Florida Panthers. The B-Sens fell behind early and certainly didn't get much of a goaltending performance. Mads Sogaard allowed 4 goals on the Phantoms' first 9 shots. At least Sogaard stopped the bleeding after that, but too much damage had already been done.

In a conversation with David Foot from the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network, Yakemchuk – always a young man of few words – says overall, he felt pretty comfortable in his first game.

Yakemchuk is regarded as the Senators' top prospect and hopes to get his scoring swagger back in the AHL this season. He was drafted as an offensive defenceman, scoring 30 goals and 71 points in his draft year, but since then, the organization has been asking him to focus more on the defensive side of the game.

He is a defenseman after all, so it's not an unreasonable request. But it's impossible to ignore that his big numbers – the ones that made him such a high NHL Draft pick to begin with – have tailed off.

The Senators aren't concerned about it, though. And why would they be? It's way too early for that.

"Carter's continued to grow and develop," Sens GM Steve Staios said on the first day of training camp. "I think you can look at his season last year in the WHL and be a little bit misled by the point totals, but there are certain areas of his games that he started to round out and pay more attention to.

"It's always difficult for an offensive guy, that talented of an offensive player at that level, because that's really what you gravitate to, because you can dominate the game at that level. But we were pleased with his progression."

For the second straight season, Yakemchuk was caught up in last week's final wave of NHL roster cuts. But unlike last year's camp, when he led all Senators in preseason scoring with 7 points in 4 games, he failed to get on the scoreboard in 4 games this season.

The Sens seem to be using the 'better to be overripe than underdeveloped' tactic they decided on with Tyler Kleven. Staios admitted that Kleven could have played in the NHL before last season when he became a full-time player. But the Sens had Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, and Jakob Chychrun, so there was absolutely no rush.

The same is true now for Yakemchuk, who's blocked by the new blue line surplus on the right side. At the moment, through two games, Jordan Spence can't even get into the lineup – and that's a young guy with 180 NHL games under his belt. He was a regular on the LA Kings the past two years, a team that finished last season with the second-best goals against in the NHL. So there's zero need to rush Yakemchuk either.

Spence and Nick Jensen are both free agents next summer, and so the kid's path could clear up quickly if the Sens decide he's ready.

In the meantime, with Yakemchuk's pro career officially nunderway, he'll be a fascinating player to monitor as he continues to try to assimilate the defensive level required at the NHL level without fully sacrificing the swashbuckler offensive style that got Sens amateur scouts so excited in the first place.

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Jordan Spence: A Healthy Scratch For Ottawa Senators Season Opener
Travis Green Says Senators Are 'Headed In the Right Direction'
Senators Send Yakemchuk To The Minors, Place Batherson And Kleven On IR
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Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer scores first NHL goal in 4-2 loss to Capitals

NEW YORK — Matthew Schaefer won’t soon forget his first NHL goal.

The 18-year-old defenseman and top overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft dove headfirst into the moment, literally.

Schaefer found a loose puck after a scramble in front of the net and lunged forward, poking it past Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson at 4:28 of the third period in the Islanders’ 4-2 loss Saturday night.

“It’s crazy, I love these fans,” Schaefer said of the reaction inside UBS Arena during New York’s home opener. “Getting your name chanted out there. It’s awesome, feels like home for sure. ... We want to win for the fans and we want to be there every night for them. They come out every night for us.

“We wish we could have gotten the win for them and for the team in here. We are going to keep working, keep working toward that.”

The goal cut Washington’s lead to two, but the Islanders couldn’t rally while falling to 0-2 on the season.

Still, it was a milestone for the rookie, who made the team out of training camp just months after hearing his name called first in Los Angeles at the draft.

“He kind of took the game over to be honest with you,” Islanders alternate captain Bo Horvat said. “He was our best player tonight. He was moving, he was obviously contributing. He is just so effective out there. He is just getting more and more comfortable every single game. He is a special player, we are lucky to have him.”

NHL: Washington Capitals at New York Islanders

Oct 11, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at UBS Arena. The goal was the first of his NHL career. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Brad Penner/Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Schaefer’s play has already earned the coaching staff’s full trust. After getting an assist for his first NHL point while logging 17:15 of ice time in the Islanders’ 4-3 season-opening loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday, he had a game-high 26:04 of ice time in this one. That was more than four minutes ahead of Mathew Barzal’s 21:28.

“I’m not balancing anything right now with the way he’s playing,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said of Schaefer’s workload. “He forced me to play him — he forced us to play him — so we’re going to give it to him.”

Few players have entered the draft with less recent game experience. Schaefer played just 17 games for Erie of the Ontario Hockey League in 2024-25, missing time with mononucleosis and later a broken clavicle sustained while representing Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. He still managed 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) and a plus-21 rating.

The Ontario native also captained Canada to gold medals at the 2024 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge and the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Now, just 18 and already on NHL ice, his first goal offered a glimpse of why the Islanders are looking for big things from the youngster for years to come.

Bichette left off Blue Jays’ ALCS roster; Scherzer, Bassitt active; Woo returns for Mariners

TORONTO — Injured Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is not on the roster for the AL Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners that begins Sunday night in Toronto, but three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and right-hander Chris Bassitt are both active after missing the Division Series win over the Yankees.

Seattle made two changes to the roster that beat Detroit in the Division Series round, with ace right-hander Bryan Woo returning.

A first-time All-Star this season, the 25-year-old Woo hasn’t pitched since Sept. 19 because of pectoral inflammation. He went 15-7 with a 2.94 ERA and 198 strikeouts across 186 2/3 regular-season innings.

Bichette ran the bases Saturday, the first time he’s done that since spraining his left knee last month. The two-time AL hits leader and two-time All-Star grimaced while rounding second base, pulled up and walked off the field while shaking his head.

Bichette finished second in the major leagues to New York’s Aaron Judge with a .311 batting average. Bichette was injured in a Sept. 6 collision with Yankees catcher Austin Wells and hasn’t played since.

Toronto’s 13 position players for the ALCS are the same group that scored 34 runs in 34 innings against the Yankees.

An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer was 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts after agreeing to a one-year, $15.5 million contract. He didn’t pitch between March 29 and June 25 because of right thumb inflammation.

Scherzer was 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in his final six starts.

Bassitt went 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 32 appearances, all but one of them starts.

Scherzer and Bassitt take the spots of left-hander Justin Bruihl and right-hander Tommy Nance.

Besides Woo, the Mariners added utilityman Miles Mastrobuoni for the ALCS. They took the spots of outfielder Luke Raley and infielder Ben Williamson.

There are three catchers among Seattle’s 13 position players, including Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver and Harry Ford.

Maple Leafs Shuffle Lines After Steven Lorentz Injury As Easton Cowan Set For NHL Debut Against Red Wings

An injury to Steven Lorentz has opened the door wide open for Easton Cowan to make his NHL debut on Monday afternoon when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings.

The Maple Leafs resumed practice on Saturday following a 6-3 loss to the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Steven Lorentz missed the session after sustaining an upper-body injury. The player appeared to be caught up high by Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot in the first period and left the game. 

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said there was no update on the severity of Lorentz' injury other than he would not play on Monday.

Given both Lorentz out and some of the underpeformance on Saturday, Berube shuffled up his lines and have Cowan the top assignment on the top line with Matthew Knies and Auston Matthes.

Steven Lorentz Exits Maple Leafs Game Against Red Wings With Upper-Body InjurySteven Lorentz Exits Maple Leafs Game Against Red Wings With Upper-Body InjuryDETROIT — The Toronto Maple Leafs may be without the services of another one of their depth forwards in the near future.

Here are the new line combinations observed at practice:

  • First Line: Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews and Easton Cowan.
  • Second Line: Matias Maccelli (who moved down), John Tavares, William Nylander.
  • Third Line: Nick Robertson, Max Domi, and Bobby McMann, who moved up to skate with them.
  • Fourth Line: Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy and Calle Jarnkrok.
'We Beats Ourselves': Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Details Brutal Second Period In Loss Against Red Wings'We Beats Ourselves': Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Details Brutal Second Period In Loss Against Red WingsDETROIT — The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 at Little Caesar's Arena on Saturday night.

Joshua and Roy are reunited; the two skated on a line together for most of camp until a lower-body injury to Scott Laughton changed things.

There's been a lot of anticipation about when Cowan, Toronto's first-round pick (28th overall) in 2023, will make his NHL debut. That time has finally come.

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Michael McLeod Faced Evgeny Kuznetsov In KHL Season Debut

Just three days after signing a multi-year contract to return to Avangard Omsk, Michael McLeod suited up for the KHL club’s road game on Sunday against Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

In 15:53 of ice time, McLeod didn’t register any points, but had a shot on goal, three hits, and was 18-for-36 in the faceoff circle as Omsk won 5-1.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, playing in just his second game of the season for Magnitogorsk after signing with the team on Oct. 1, assisted on his team’s only goal – his second point in two games.

The game was a match-up between the top two teams in the KHL’s Eastern Conference. It was just Magnitogorsk’s third defeat in 14 games.

On Thursday, the Omsk club announced the signing of McLeod to a three-year contract. According to Avangard GM Alexei Sopin, the Canadian center was already in Omsk at the time and travelled with the team to start the road trip but was unable to play on Friday in Yekaterinburg due to unfinished paperwork. It was unclear whether he’d play on Sunday until the lineups were announced.

Ex-NHLers Swap Teams In KHL TradeEx-NHLers Swap Teams In KHL Trade In a trade announced Tuesday between KHL Eastern Conference teams Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Ak Bars Kazan, two ex-NHL players are changing addresses. American center Alexander Chmelevski, 26, is heading to Kazan and Canadian defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk, 28, is heading the other way.

It was not mentioned in the club’s announcement whether McLeod’s contract contains an escape clause in the event he receives an NHL offer, but such clauses are common. As per the terms of his NHL suspension, McLeod will become eligible to sign an NHL contract on Oct. 15, although he was allowed to negotiate with teams and agree to terms as early as Oct. 1.

McLeod and four teammates from the 2018 Canadian national junior team – Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart – were acquitted in July of sexual assault charges that stemmed from an incident that took place at a team event in 2018 in London, Ont.

McLeod is the second of the five players to sign with a European club since the acquittals. In September, Fomenton signed with HC Ambri-Piotta of Switzerland’s National League.

McLeod played in the KHL last season, first for Barys Astana and then for Omsk, recording 19 points in 35 regular-season games. He also had eight points in nine playoff games for Omsk before leaving the team in April to return to Canada for the start of the trial.

Michael McLeod Finds New KHL TeamMichael McLeod Finds New KHL TeamCanadian center Michael McLeod, 26, has signed a contract to play the remainder of the current season with Avangard Omsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.

Born in Mississauga, Ont., McLeod played junior hockey for his hometown Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL and was chosen in the first round, 12th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2018 and 2024, McLeod played 287 regular-season NHL games for the Devils, registering 29 goals, 56 assists, 85 points and 187 penalty minutes. His only NHL playoff action came in 2023, recording six points in 12 games as the Devils advanced to the second round.

In addition to McLeod, the Avangard roster includes ex-NHLers Nail Yakupov, Vyacheslav Voynov, Maxime Lajoie and Alexander Volkov. The team’s coach is former NHL head coach Guy Boucher.

Former Sen, Cane, Leaf Signs In KHLFormer Sen, Cane, Leaf Signs In KHLCanadian defenseman Maxime Lajoie, 27, has signed a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.