Patrick Kane wore the Chicago Blackhawks jersey Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues. This road game was his one opportunity to get some preseason work in before the real games begin. The Blackhawks want to save his home debut for the regular season, so he isn't expected to play Saturday night's preseason finale at the United Center.
When the season does start, Kane and the Hawks will play in the first three games on the road before returning home to play the Blues on October 6th. Kane coming back has plenty of hockey implications, but the organization also recognizes the magnitude of his cultural importance in town.
Whenever Patrick Kane speaks now, you can hear the genuine excitement for him to be representing the Chicago Blackhawks on the ice again.
“Nice to wear the Blackhawks sweater again and wear the jersey and be back out there as a Chicago Blackhawk again, so that was a good feeling,” Kane said with a happy face.
On the ice, he showed glimpses of his former self. He may not be a 90-point player anymore, but his ability to create time and space for himself and others in the offensive zone is still incredibly noticeable.
Kane played on a line with Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov, and they each had multiple chances set up by Kane. None of them were buried, but those floodgates are sure to open soon. More than anyone, 38-year-old Patrick Kane seems to be in mid-season form already.
"I thought we had some chances, some looks," Kane said of his line. "Maybe a little sloppy with the puck at times, but I didn't think we gave up much. Maybe trying too many plays at times instead of making the simple play to keep possession. We could have capitalized on some chances."
When Connor Bedard comes back, that may be his spot instead of Frank Nazar, but the line is going to be strong in the offensive zone all year long regardless. Patrick Kane has the hockey IQ to make those around him better, even now, and it is already showing in the chances that were created in St. Louis.
Kane recognized that they were a bit rusty, but he also admitted that game action, albeit preseason, is much different than practice. It was good for him to get into this game.
"When [Patrick Kane] got the opportunity to be out there, I thought he did a good job," head coach Jeff Blashill said. "He competes, he reloads hard, he's doing all the things we're asking him to do. I thought he and Roman [Kantserov] showed good chemistry again. It was a good first step."
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In Elliotte Friedman's latest episode of his podcast, 32 Thoughts, the NHL insider revealed that Dylan Larkin has expanded his trade list as he continues to pursue a move away from the Detroit Red Wings.
The list is reportedly up to seven teams, and the Minnesota Wild are still among them.
''One of the things I heard about Larkin is that there are more teams that he's willing to go to than what have been reported," said Friedman.
"I think some of the other teams there are Colorado, Washington, and I suspect, in case people didn't know them already, Dallas and Tampa.''
Of those seven teams, a deal is unlikely with the Panthers and Golden Knights, as they don't have the future assets to make it work and likely don't want to part with many of their NHL veterans.
The Stars and Avalanche are in the same boat: fairly happy with their rosters and lacking tradeable assets, but they could still find a way to make a deal work.
The Capitals and the Wild are the most interesting teams that could make it work with the Red Wings.
So, with all of this, does Larkin expanding his trade list make configuring a deal for Larkin more difficult? The simple answer is yes, because they now have two more teams to compete with, but outside of Washington, their competition likely couldn't match what the Wild have at their disposal.
It also raises the asking price for Larkin. With more teams able to discuss trades, the Red Wings gained a bit of leverage and could demand more, or better assets, in a deal.
That's where the Wild will be most affected by the expanded list.
It doesn't end their chances of acquiring Larkin, but it does add to the difficulty.
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Mercedes teammate takes pole by 0.837 from Leclerc
Kimi Antonelli was left ruing an uncharacteristic error in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix which eliminated the championship leader in the first session after he hit a wall in Baku. His Mercedes teammate George Russell claimed pole with a fine lap and will be in a strong position to make up ground in the title chase in Saturday’s race.
Antonelli leads Russell by 81 points in the world championship and has won the last two races but sat disconsolately trackside after only 11 minutes of running on Friday in Baku, when he was a little too eager into the 90-degree left-handed turn one and clipped the barrier.
The Toronto Maple Leafs made many roster moves on Thursday, now that their NHL pre-season has concluded. Ahead of their trip to Arizona for some off-ice bonding, the team sent down several players, rounding out the roster for opening night on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Among that bunch was Maple Leafs prospect and 19-year-old center Tinus Luc Koblar. Koblar was returned to the SHL and will be with Rogle for the 2026-27 season. The SHL regular season has already kicked off, with Rogle off to a 1-2-0 start after the first three outings.
Koblar being sent back to the SHL leads to some questions about how he performed at training camp, especially considering he was eligible to be assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies for this season.
There is a rule that prevents 19-year-olds from playing in the American League unless they are a first-round pick. Koblar was selected in the second round of the 2025 draft. However, that ruling only applies to players who were drafted by major junior teams, and Koblar has only played in Europe to this point in his young hockey career.
At any rate, that decision should echo the type of training camp the youngster had in Toronto.
In terms of the pre-season action that anyone could see him in, he played in two of the two possible games.
His first game was at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday against the Canadiens. He had a minus-one rating and played 11:29 of ice time in that contest, playing the role of the fourth-line center and getting time on the second power-play unit.
In the second game, against the Ottawa Senators, at the Canadian Tire Centre, he had a minus-one rating again and logged 15:39 of ice time.
In other words, his performance in the pre-season wasn't anything to write home about, but nothing concerning either. But with that in mind, it's also not the full picture of NHL training camp.
What could carry more weight in the ultimate decision to send him back to Sweden is how he practised with the team, and in my eyes, there's definitely room for improvement. And that's the case with any young player, but this is what I gathered from the sessions in between the pre-season appearances.
Koblar skated with Group 2 throughout training camp. He was given an opportunity to play alongside some solid players, including Brendan Brisson and Vinni Lettieri, as well as power-play reps. The coaching staff made an effort to put him in a comfortable situation.
But from my perspective, and seeing every day of training camp, something was missing from the Norwegian.
At times, he stuck out like a sore thumb, either because of his still-developing skating ability or because he hadn't played much hockey in North America before this training camp. Whatever it was, it was evident in certain drills.
There was one part of a drill where Koblar was supposed to skate behind the net to pick up a puck from head coach Jim Hiller, but he had gotten a little lost for a split second, enough for the coach to tell him where to go in the middle of the action.
Once he got to the right spot behind the net, he couldn't fully control the puck, adding a few more seconds to his rep. He then grabbed whatever puck was nearby and went through the motion of the drill, finding a teammate waiting in front of the net to receive a pass from him.
It was just one niche moment of training camp and pre-season, a time to shake off the rust, but it was an awkward instance that Hiller had a premium view of.
There was a sense of Koblar being uncomfortable or not fitting in. Make no mistake, he competed and worked hard all training camp. But that altercation - as well as being a newcomer to the group, a 19-year-old, and not having much experience playing in North America - resulted in a camp that Koblar probably believes he could've done better.
Between the uncommon moments, Koblar showed signs of growth and potential to be a great player. Though his skating isn't the final form that it needs to be, it has improved from years prior. He also has a powerful shot and does utilize his 6-foot-3 frame to his advantage, especially along the walls.
Ultimately, Koblar is still a young, developing player, and there isn't immediate pressure for him to be an automatic difference-maker in the Maple Leafs' system.
He'll almost certainly get at least a spot on the Marlies next season when he's 20, and maybe an opportunity to challenge for an NHL roster spot in 2027-28, but who knows what the organization will look like then, or if Koblar is even still a member of the Maple Leafs.
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The union-bound winger runs in two tries at Suncorp
Returning Sam Walker orchestrates 36-20 win
Sydney Roosters are through to their first NRL grand final in seven years after Mark Nawaqanitawase’s genius and a miracle Sam Walker injury comeback inspired a 36-20 demolition of the Dolphins.
The Roosters shot out to a 16-0 lead inside 27 minutes in front of a sold-out preliminary final crowd of 52,286 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Four years in France have refreshed scrum-half’s outlook and he thinks his club can make their mark this season
Most players returning home from the French Top 14 have had a life-enhancing experience and Dan Robson is the latest example. The former England scrum-half spent four seasons in the shadow of the Pyrenees with Pau, mixing it with the likes of Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu, before rejoining his first Prem employers, Gloucester, this summer. “No more croissants for breakfast,” he sighs, slightly wistfully. “But it’s good to be back. My waistline is thanking me.”
Ask him how much he would recommend a spell abroad to others, though, and the word “amazing” swiftly follows. Not only were his two young sons, Laker and Roux, born in Pau – “It’s always going to have a special place in our hearts as a family” – but he also much enjoyed his regular meetups with Jack Willis, a close mate at Wasps before the club’s financial collapse forced both to start afresh across the Channel.
The appointment of England white-ball teams’ specialist mentor has divided opinion but the man himself says he is loving being back in the dressing room
Kevin Pietersen insisted he is a “completely different” person these days as he sat down at Headingley – the ground where he declared “it’s tough being me in this dressing room” 14 years earlier – and spoke at length about his role as the new “specialist mentor” to England’s white-ball teams.
In the aftermath of a 16-run loss to Sri Lanka that sends this late summer one-day series into an Oval decider on Sunday, Pietersen also revealed that while not full-time – “I’ll be in and out” – his input may not be restricted to the challenge of winning the 50-over World Cup in South Africa next year. A home Ashes comes before that, the series that launched his career back in 2005, and discussions with Stephen Fleming, the incoming Test coach, and Joe Root have already taken place.
The rising salary cap and an offer sheet have skewed the top of the NHL's salary list toward younger players.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli's signing on Thursday, Sept. 24, to a six-year, $82.5 million contract ($13.75 million average) means that three of the top five cap hits this season belong to the top three draft picks of 2023.
In the past, teams could keep down the salaries of players coming out of their entry-level deals because they lacked arbitration rights. But the Philadelphia Flyers changed that with a five-year, $90 million offer sheet ($18 million cap hit) to Leo Carlsson.
Washington's Ryan Leonard received an eight-year, $92 million extension after playing one full season with 45 points.
"I'll definitely be giving (Carlsson) a tap on the shins this year, maybe," Leonard told reporters. "It's fun to see the market and it's nice to see the NHL is slowly creeping up on some other sports."
Here's a look at the highest-paid NHL players by cap hit, salary and position (figures from puckpedia.com):
Highest-paid NHL players in 2026-27 by cap hit
Note: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will average $20.4 million and Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will average $18.8 million, starting in 2027-28.
▶ Top 50 plus ties
C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $18,000,000
LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $17,000,000
C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $15,000,000
C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $14,000,000
C Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets, $13,750,000
C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $13,500,000
LW Cutter Gauthier, Ducks, $13,500,000
C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $13,250,000
C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,604,000
C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $12,500,000
LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $12,000,000
RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $12,000,000
LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $12,000000
C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,600,000
G Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $11,567,857
C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $11,500,000
C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $11,500,000
D Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $11,000,000
LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $11,000,000
C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $10,625,000
D Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $10,500,000
LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames, $10,500,000
C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $10,000,000
C Tyler Seguin, Stars, $9,850,0000
C Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes, $9,750,000
D Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
D Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
RW Nikita Kucherov, Lightning, $9,500,000
C Brayden Point, Lightning, $9,500,000
D Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
RW Mark Stone, Golden Knights, $9,500,000
D Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
LW Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers, $9,500,000
D Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
C Mathew Barzal, Islanders, $9,150,000
C Trevor Zegras, Flyers, $9,125,000
D Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
LW Jake Guentzel, Lightning, $9,000,000
D Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
D Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
D Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
D Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
D Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
Highest-paid players in 2026-27 by salary
▶ Top 30 plus ties
C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $20,800,000
LW Cutter Gauthier, Ducks, $19,501,405
LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $19,100,000
C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $17,700,000
C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $17,000,000
C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $16,500,000
C Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets, $16,000,000
G Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $15,850,000
RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $15,700,000
LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $15,000,000
C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $14,250,000
C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $14,000,000
RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $14,000,000
LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $14,000,000
C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $13,000,000
D Thomas Harley, Stars, $13,000,000
C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $12,500,000
C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,150,000
D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $12,000,000
C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $12,000,000
LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $12,000,000
D Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $11,250,000
C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $11,080,000
D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
D Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $11,000,000
C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,000,000
D Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $11,000,000
Highest-paid defensemen in 2026-27 by cap hit
Note: Makar will average $20.4 million and Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram will have a $12.5 million cap hit, starting in 2027-28.
▶ Top 30 plus ties
Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $8,850,000
Moritz Seider, Red Wings, $8,550,000
John Carlson, Lightning, $8,500,000
Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $8,500,000
Ivan Provorov, Blue Jackets, $8,500,000
Rasmus Andersson, Golden Knights, $8,500,000
Mikhail Sergachev, Mammoth, $8,500,000
Brock Faber, Wild, $8,500,000
Miro Heiskanen, Stars, $8,450,000
Owen Power, Sabres, $8,350,000
Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $8,250,000
Jake Sanderson, Senators, $8,050,000
Victor Hedman, Lightning, $8,000,000
Thomas Chabot, Senators, $8,000,000
Philip Broberg, Blues, $8,000,000
Highest-paid goaltenders in 2026-27 by cap hit
▶ Top 30
Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $11,567,857
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning, $9,500,000
Thatcher Demko, Canucks, $8,500,000
Connor Hellebuyck, Jets, $8,500,000
Jake Oettinger, Stars, $8,250,000
Jeremy Swayman, Bruins, $8,250,000
Linus Ullmark, Senators, $8,250,000
Ilya Sorokin, Islanders, $8,250,000
Juuse Saros, Predators, $7,740,000
Dustin Wolf, Flames, $7,500,000
Sergei Bobrovsky, Maple Leafs, $7,000,000
Filip Gustavsson, Wild, $6,800,000
Lukas Dostal, Ducks, $6,500,000
John Gibson, Red Wings, $6,400,000
Adin Hill, Golden Knights, $6,250,000
Jordan Binnington, Blues, $6,000,000
Jacob Markstrom, Panthers, $6,000,000
Philipp Grubauer, Kraken, $5,900,000
Logan Thompson, Capitals, $5,850,000
Spencer Knight, Blackhawks, $5,833,333
Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets, $5,400,000
Tristan Jarry, Oilers, $5,375,000
MacKenzie Blackwood, Avalanche, $5,250,000
Darcy Kuemper, Kings, $5,250,000
Jet Greaves, Blue Jackets, $5,000,000
Joey Daccord, Kraken, $5,000,000
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres, $4,750,000
Karel Vejmelka, Mammoth, $4,750,000
Kevin Lankinen, Canucks, $4,500,000
Joonas Korpisalo, Rangers, $4,000,000
How high is the NHL salary cap?
The upper limit for this season is $104 million and it will rise to $113.5 million in 2027-28. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that it is estimated to jump by $14 million in 2028-29 to $127.5 million.
It was
scrimmage day in Brossard, so the Montreal Canadiens once again shuffled their
practice groups to keep an NHL group from playing an AHL group. For those who
were hoping to see Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher paired up, it was a
disappointing day, as the two blueliners were in different groups. There was
worse news than that, though: Ivan Demidov was once again nowhere to be seen,
making it two therapy days in a row for the Russian wonder, although since the
Habs were off on Tuesday, that might have been three days without ice time for
him, which doesn’t necessarily bode well. However, during the post-scrimmage
presser, Chantal Machabee said there was nothing to it and that they expected
Demidov to skate on Friday.
Who was
taking Demidov’s spot on the second line? Kirby Dach. While the big forward has
the tools to be a top-six forward on paper, he rarely displays them on the ice,
and based on the training camp so far, that was a surprising choice. Perhaps
it’s an attempt to get solid effort from him; one has to wonder what Alex
Newhook thought of that move, as he was put in Dach’s place between Alexandre
Texier and Zachary Bolduc. After all, Newhook did very well last season playing
alongside Demidov and Kapanen.
Before the scrimmage,
though, they had a regular practice, and Martin St-Louis wasn’t pleased with
what he saw on the ice, so he made his players skate a few laps. At 11:30, the
puck dropped on the Red vs. White game. The Red Team featured the Cole
Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Chris Kreider line; the Josh Anderson, Phillip
Danault, and Jake Evans line up front; and the Lane Hutson and Alexandre
Carrier and Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj pairings on defense. As for the
White squad, it included the other two NHL lines, meaning Dach, Oliver Kapanen, and Juraj Slafkovsky with the Zach Bolduc, Alex Newhook, and Alexandre Texier
lines up front; on the back end, the Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson duo was
intact, while Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher were reunited.
In the end,
the big guns didn't get on the board, though. Team Red signed a 3-0 win, thanks
to a Struble breakaway goal, a Tyler Thorpe one-timer and an Aderson empty-netter.
Samuel Montembeault was the only goaltender who gave up goals, surrendering the
first two.
Speaking
after the scrimmage, the coach refused to say that the die was cast when it
came to his lines:
Honestly, I
don’t know, and I’m not preoccupied with finding all the answers for the first
game. That does not preoccupy me. We have a season to play, and we’ll be guided
in a certain direction. The camp may take us down one path, and then two or
three games later, we may be taken in another direction. I know I have good
options, and we’ll work to solve the puzzle. That puzzle often changes.
- St-Louis on his lines
After
seeing Dach on the second line, there were again quite a few questions about
him and what he needed to do to stand out and grab a role in the lineup.
St-Louis eventually said:
It’s just
day-to-day stuff, you know: evaluate in drill, evaluate in scrimmage, evaluate
in a game. I’m not looking for one specific thing. I expect him to push and
find his place, like everybody else- like Flo, same thing, like Beck. Then
we’re going to try to make the best decision we can when it’s all said and
done. We’re trying to move along in this camp and be organized, with some
purpose for each and every day. Sometimes we get the group in certain
situations just so we can have good rhythm and flow, not necessarily, like, you
know, demotion, promotion, whatever it is; we’re just trying to be organized. […]
Production doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re playing well, you know, so
we’re evaluating how they play the game, not necessarily production.
- St-Louis on what he needs to see from Dach
While what
St-Louis said is understandable, generally speaking, the average fan will look
for top-six players to bring lots of production and for the bottom-six players
to contribute in other ways. Looking at Dach this camp, it’s hard to see how he
does contribute. He’s not getting on the scoreboard, but he’s not winning
battles by the boards either; he’s not making the opponent’s life harder with
physicality, and he’s not quick on the forecheck; it’s almost as if he sees
himself as a top-six player whose job is to provide offense and he won’t try to
contribute in other ways. When asked if he believes he can play a top-six role
on the team, Dach explained:
Yeah, I
feel confident in whatever role the coaching staff deems fit for me. I feel
like I can adapt and play in any kind of position or role up front. I think
there’s urgency every year. I think as a group we’re striving to achieve a goal
of winning a Stanley Cup; you win one by being urgent. You can’t win one
without being urgent.
- Dach on his role
When
prompted to explain how he approaches the balance he has to find between the
desire to stand out and the need to take care of the little details and play
his game, he answered:
I think you
just kind of focus on what’s being asked of you by the coaching staff, and,
like you said, the details of the game, playing the game the right way. You get
rewarded down the line if you keep doing the right things away from the puck,
stay responsible defensively, and have good details all over the ice.
- Dach about what he tries to do on the ice.
Dach evaluated
his camp in the following words when asked:
I feel good; I feel like I’ve
played well in the games. I’ve tried to make sure I’m doing the little things
right, the details correctly, and what the coaching staff has asked of us, and
to continue to just take a step forward each and every day.
- Dach on his camp
In Brossard
on Thursday, playing on the second line with Slafkovsky and Kapanen, he didn’t
get on the scoreboard, but he at least looked more combative on the ice,
winning some puck battles rather than being dispossessed. Reading between the
lines, though, Dach’s presence on the second line today shouldn’t necessarily
be seen as a promotion; it might have been the Habs trying “to be organized.” Maybe
they wanted to see how Bolduc and Texier would do without Dach and with
Newhook? It might also mean Dach is now the 13th forward and becomes the odd
man out when Demidov returns. Who
knows…One thing’s for certain, though: soon enough, St-Louis will need at least
some temporary answers about who to ice when the Canadiens kick off their
season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: Craig Porter Jr. #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 7, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Point guard is the deepest position in the league, and it’s the hardest position to make a career out of as a role player.
The talent pool for bench guards is incredibly vast. The gap between the third point guard in the NBA and a good G League guard is thin — much thinner than any other position. Just thinking about this for a few seconds explains why.
The height and athleticism prerequisites aren’t as stringent for point guards as they are for centers. There’s only so many coordinated and athletic people in the world who are 6’10” or taller. That’s why older players who are well past their primes, like De’Andre Jordan, Mason Plumlee, and Bismack Biyombo, all spent time on rosters last season. The center depth just isn’t there, especially not at the G League level, where you typically have either severely undersized bigs trying to get by on toughness or appropriately sized bigs that don’t have the coordination or athleticism to make it onto an NBA roster.
Those same issues just aren’t there for point guards. Far more people meet the prerequisites to play point guard, meaning there’s far more people capable and qualified to take your spot. That’s worrying for someone like Craig Porter Jr., who is entering the final year of his four-year deal. Additionally, a prospect coming up from the G League to be the third point guard wouldn’t be making as much as Porter in what would be his fifth season, which is meaningful in a salary cap league.
Porter is certainly qualified to be the third point guard in the NBA. He’s shown this repeatedly throughout his three-year career when he’s been asked to enter the rotation due to injuries. While they aren’t typical point guard skills, his ability to accumulate an exceptionally high steal, block, and rebound percentage for a guard is helpful. That, combined with his ability to finish and create for others in the open court, has made him a quality end-of-the-bench player.
However, if Porter is going to continue collecting an NBA paycheck for multiple more seasons, he will need to prove that he’s more than just an adequate third guard. Ideally, he would show that he can be a solid backup guard that belongs in the rotation on a nightly basis.
There’s a few things keeping Porter from being a quality backup guard. We’ll start first with the offense.
Right now, Porter isn’t an efficient scorer despite having numbers that you would expect from someone who was. Last season, Porter finished 70% of his looks at the rim (86th percentile) and 37% from three (61st percentile). Those are both good numbers for a guard — even though you’d like to see Porter be less hesitant to take threes. The problems come when he drives and doesn’t get all the way to the rim.
Porter isn’t a physically imposing player, which is why he went undrafted out of Wichita State. When he gets cut off from the rim, he doesn’t have many options as a scorer. Last season, Porter took 29% of his shots between the restricted area and the free-throw line (87th percentile) and completed a dismal 32% of them (13th percentile). The floater and in-between game aren’t there. If you cut Porter off from the rim, you’re forcing him into a shot he’s missing two-thirds of the time.
The problems in the short midrange are why Porter finished last season in the 39th percentile for points per shot attempt (1.07). This is an issue when you consider that Porter isn’t a lockdown defender despite accumulating blocks, steals, and rebounds.
Porter struggles to stay with his opponent in the half-court. He doesn’t have the lateral quickness to be a good man-to-man defender and isn’t an adept screen navigator. The coaching staff has tried to compensate for this by having Porter pick up his opponent full court more often. This has led to mixed results, although this was something he became better at later last season.
Porter has been a quality third guard the last three seasons. This year, he’ll possibly have his final chance with the Cleveland Cavaliers to show that he can be more than that. And the stage will be set for him to do so.
The Cavs enter the season with Porter being the most accomplished point guard off the bench. Tyrese Proctor didn’t get many opportunities in his rookie season, and Meleek Thomas — even if he does play — projects more as a two than a one. This leaves the stage open for Porter to show that he can step into this role right now.
Porter will start the year in the rotation since Kenny Atkinson often plays 10 or more at the start of the season. Whether or not he stays there as the year progresses will depend on whether he can improve some of the issues that have plagued him in the past.
Back up point guard is one of the bigger concerns for this group coming into this season. It’s the position they’re most likely to address with a midseason trade. A step up from Porter could change that.
Every season is make-or-break for players at the end of NBA rosters. There’s always someone coming up behind you, willing to take your spot while demanding less money to do so. Porter has some intriguing tools. He just hasn’t put them together for an extended enough time to prove that he can be a legitimate backup point guard and rotation player on a contender. We’ll see if that changes this year.
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 15: Christopher Sanchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies speaks during the 2024 National League Media Availability at Globe Life Field on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jessica Tobias/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
American basketball player Bob Pettit, #9 for St Louis Hawks (now known as Atlanta Hawks) free throws during a match, St Louis, Missouri, US, circa 1960. (Photo by Jack Zehrt/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NBA legend Bob Pettit died on Wednesday. He was 93.
Pettit was a blend of many things. Born in Louisiana during the Great Depression, Pettit attended LSU, and was one of the first great players in the NBA. Drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954, Pettit averaged 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game that season, and won Rookie of the Year. He also had to move from center to forward, a position he had never played.
In 1958, the Boston Celtics had Bill Russell, and were building the greatest dynasty in the history of American professional sports. The St. Louis Hawks (the team moved after Pettit’s rookie season) nipped the Celtics in Game 6, 110-109, to win the title. Russell played injured for much of the series, but no one could control Pettit, who scored 50 points in that game.
His game was surprisingly modern. He was a good enough ball handler to drive and score, or he could shoot from well outside. And, as noted above, he was an excellent rebounder. If he played today, he’d be called a Stretch 4.
He earned a lot of respect during his career, notably from Russell, who said that Pettit invented the concept of second effort, and praised his fierce play.
In a small, kind, but still crushing anecdote, Russell once brought his grandfather to an NBA game. When Russell introduced his grandfather, who was born not all that long after slavery ended, Pettit shook his hand and said “Nice to meet you, Mr. Russell.”
On the way home after the game, the elder Russell told his grandson that that was the first time a white man had ever called him Mr. Russell.
In a small twist, Boston traded Ed MacCauley to St. Louis in order to obtain Russell, who the Hawks took with the #2 pick of the 1956 NBA Draft. Odds are Russell wouldn’t have lasted long in St. Louis, with the racism woven into the city at that time, but it’s fun to wonder what the Hawks would have been like with Russell and Pettit.
COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Livanavage #4 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battle Valeri Nichushkin #43 of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the puck during the second period of the preseason game at Nationwide Arena on September 24, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins played the Columbus Blue Jackets in preseason game three of four on Thursday night. Pittsburgh iced what ultimately represented a B-squad and took home a 4-0 loss to the Blue Jackets. The final preseason game is set for Saturday. [Recap]
Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko is taking a leave of absence after his father, Alexander, died following a bear attack during a fishing trip in southern Siberia, according to Russian media reports. [PensBurgh]
Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones is back on the ice after missing nearly all of last season because of injuries and a 20-game suspension. Jones, who played seven games last season, is competing for a roster spot as he works to regain his form and return to the lineup. [Trib Live]
Pittsburgh assigned 10 players to their AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, on Thursday. [Trib Live]
Forward Ben Kindel has been downgraded from day-to-day to week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered in Monday’s preseason game. [PensBurgh]
News and notes from around the NHL…
The NHL and Winnipeg Jets announced Thursday that the franchise’s official statistical history will now combine both eras of the team, including its original Winnipeg run from 1979-96, the Atlanta Thrashers era and the current Jets. The change makes Dale Hawerchuk the franchise’s career leader in goals and points, while Thomas Steen leads in assists. [Sportsnet]
The Columbus Blue Jackets signed center Adam Fantilli to a six-year, $82.5 million contract on Thursday, ending a holdout that kept the restricted free agent out of training camp. Fantilli, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had a career-high 59 points last season. [NHL]
Cal and friends will skate for Bridgeport. | NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders are at home Friday night to host more of that hot preseason action, as the Rangers visit for the third of four preseason contests.
Islanders News
Day 8 of camp had quite the mix of lines and combos. [Isles]
Cal Ritchie feels a confidence boost and is ready to go. [Isles]
The food provider is happy to announce different offerings of food. [Isles | Newsday]
Our man Leboff says bet on a big season from our boy Schaefer. [Post]
Former Roy assistant Benoit Desrosiers has landed on his feet…by getting a pro scouting role with the Isles. [THN]
Elsewhere
This is actually a really interesting piece on why Tanner Adams and his family drew a line and forced that bit 17-picks-for-one-kid trade so he could stay in northern Ontario. [Athletic]
Trevor Zegras received a new penalty for…tucking his jersey? Wayne must be rolling over in his walking dead grave. [Sportsnet]
