Posts

Posted on

Sabres Need Star Forward To Break The Ice Before It's Too Late

The Buffalo Sabres lost to the Montreal Canadiens by a 6-3 final score in Game 5. With this, the Sabres are now down 3-2 in their series and are one loss away from their post-season being over.

If the Sabres hope to avoid being eliminated by the Canadiens, they are going to need all of their top players to be on their A-game from here. This undoubtedly includes star winger Alex Tuch, as he has been struggling immensely so far against the Canadiens. 

After posting four goals and three assists in the Sabres' first-round series against the Boston Bruins, Tuch has yet to record a point in five games against the Canadiens. Tuch's lack of offensive production has certainly not been doing the Sabres any favors, and they need him to heat back up immediately with their season on the line. 

When looking at how well Tuch has played over the last several years, he certainly has the potential to bounce back for the Sabres. Keep in mind, this is a forward who had 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games this season and had 36-goal seasons in 2022-23 and 2024-25. With this, the Sabres need the big winger to find his scoring touch again as they prepare for Game 6 against the Habs. 

Posted on

PWHL Detroit Names Manon Rhéaume As General Manager

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Last week, the Professional Women's Hockey League officially announced that Detroit would become the ninth city to host a team, with games to be played at Little Caesars Arena.

This week, they've selected their new general manager, and it happens to be one of the icons of women's hockey.

Manon Rhéaume, the first woman ever to appear in an NHL game, is the new GM of the PWHL women's club. 

“Manon is a pioneer whose impact on the game extends far beyond the ice,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. “She brings an unmatched hockey resume, a championship mindset. (She) has a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game. Her experience at every level of hockey, combined with her leadership and vision, makes her the perfect person to lead PWHL Detroit.”

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Image

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rhéaume said. “This city has such a deep hockey tradition. The passion for hockey here is truly special. The growth of women’s hockey has been incredible to watch. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of the sport alongside the PWHL. I can’t wait to get started and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud of.”

Major Praise for Little Caesars Arena Emerges During PWHL Detroit Expansion AnnouncementMajor Praise for Little Caesars Arena Emerges During PWHL Detroit Expansion AnnouncementLittle Caesars Arena, which will be the new home of the PWHL's latest expansion franchise in the fall, earned high praise from League executives following the historic announcement on Wednesday.

Rhéaume has spent the last four years with the Los Angeles Kings in their hockey operations department and was also a former analyst on Bally Sports Detroit. She's also spent 11 years with the Little Caesars AAA (LCAAA) Hockey Club.

A former goaltender, she made history with not one but two appearances in NHL preseason action with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992 and 1993. 

The 2026 PWHL Draft will be held four blocks away from Little Ceasars Arena at the Fox Theater. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Canadiens Named Potential Suitor For Flames Young Center

The Montreal Canadiens are currently playing their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres. While this is the case, trade speculation over what kind of moves the Habs could make this summer are already starting to come up.

In a recent article for Daily Faceoff, Anthony Di Marco mentioned the Canadiens as a team that could target center Connor Zary this off-season if the Calgary Flames shop him this summer. 

"Zary’s disappointing 27-point season could make him a trade candidate for Conroy, and Zary and would surely be an intriguing piece for a team looking to take a flyer on a young talent in need of a change of scenery," Di Marco wrote. "If he’s moved, the Montreal Canadiens seem like the type of team that would explore this option, much like they have done with Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach and Zachary Bolduc in the past."

With the Canadiens needing help at center, it would make a lot of sense if they took a chance on a former first-round pick like Zary. The 24-year-old forward is still young enough that could he hit a new level, and he has already shown promise at the NHL level in the past.

While Zary is coming off a down 2025-26 season with Calgary, he had 13 goals and 14 assists in just 54 games for Calgary in 2024-25. He also had 14 goals and 34 points in 63 games with the Flames as a rookie in 2023-24. With numbers like these, he has already shown that he can be a solid middle-six forward when playing at his best. With this, he could be a good young player for the Canadiens to take a chance on. 

It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens end up making a push for Zary during this summer. He could be a nice fit on their second or third line, and this is especially so when noting that he can play down the middle and on the wing.

Posted on

Orioles news: Jordan Westburg reportedly out for season

Aug 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Orioles third base Jordan Westburg (11) against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Orioles have still not yet gotten one of the key parts of their Plan A on the infield in the 2026 season. Now, we know that they never will. The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka reported on Friday afternoon that Westburg has decided to undergo surgery to repair the partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, ending his hopes of coming back this season. The news is not official as of this writing as the team has not confirmed the decision.

This was the outcome that always seemed obvious from the moment that we started hearing about elbow pain for Westburg. Lest it be forgotten, elbow pain wasn’t even his original problem: He had oblique soreness at the beginning of spring training and it was only when he was rehabbing that other injury that the severity of the ongoing elbow pain became known.

Westburg and the Orioles chose a path involving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, rest, and rehab, rather than going for the surgery immediately. The path does not have a high percentage chance of success in avoiding surgery for MLB players. It’s all too easy to demand major surgery on someone else’s elbow, though. I don’t hold the caution against anyone who tries that. Still, no surprise here. As Westburg’s throwing progression was ramping up, the pain returned.

Only time will tell how much this two month delay in getting the surgery affects Westburg’s readiness for the 2027 season. If his recovery is on the smoother side, it’s possible he could be back to full readiness, or darn close to that point, by Opening Day 2027. If it’s not on the smoother side, the pessimistic timetable might involve Westburg not being able to man a position in the field until around Memorial Day of next season.

It is hard to say that they should build a roster plan for the start of the season that assumes Westburg will be in it. This would have been an easier fit if he had gotten the surgery in March. Instead, this will be an unknown until probably the start of spring training next year, when the GM’s standard first day of camp injury update will indicate where Westburg is in his recovery.

Things just aren’t going well without Westburg this year. He was going to be the regular third baseman. Orioles third basemen are hitting a combined .182/.264/.259 so far this season. That sucks. Third base defense rates as their worst position in Outs Above Average, contributing to the Orioles being a bottom 5 defensive team in the league. Westburg was the answer to both of these things. He can’t play. They’ll have to find a way to do better than this without him.

Posted on

Two-start pitchers: Jacob Misiorowski leads a plethora of terrific options as we pass the quarter pole

Hello and welcome to the eighth installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

It’s crazy that we’re already more than a quarter of the way through the 2026 season. It seems like we just started.

We now have actual actionable data that we can use to make decisions on these pitchers, as most of them have taken the mound five or six times already. A pitcher can get lucky and post quality results despite poor underlying numbers through a couple of starts, but it’s much more difficult to sustain that over a longer stretch of time.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

We know that Jose Quintana will make two starts for the Rockies this week. What we don’t know, is who else may join him for a two-step (vs. Rangers, at Diamondbacks). Chase Dollander is lined up to do so, but it seems far more likely that he’ll wind up on the injured list after exiting Thursday’s start due to tightness in his arm. It’s unclear whether they’ll summon someone from Triple-A to take his place in the rotation or roll with a bullpen game in that spot. Either way, no one that they could throw out there would be worthy of streaming in this spot.

Once again, we get a six-game week from the Dodgers, which means that each of their starters will take the mound once and no one will get a two-start week. We thought that we would get one from Yoshinobu Yamamoto last week, but with Blake Snell’s return to the rotation, it ended up being Roki Sasaki that got the ball twice.

There could be a second Yankees’ starter making two starts this week (vs. Blue Jays, vs. Rays), but as of now we aren’t sure who that will be. Max Fried is tentatively lined up to do so, but he’s getting additional testing done after exiting Wednesday’s start due to soreness in his elbow. A trip to the injured list seems likely there. It’s possible that Elmer Rodriguez could return and take his place in the Yankees’ rotation, which would make him an interesting streaming option. We’ll update here if we get any additional clarification through the weekend.

Someone will also make two starts for the Phillies next week (vs. Reds, vs. Guardians), but it’s not entirely clear who that will be yet either. Andrew Painter is scheduled to take the ball on Monday and he would be lined up to do so, but there’s growing speculation that the Phillies could use Thursday’s off-day to skip the struggling right-hander in order to give him a breather. If that’s the case, it would be Jesus Luzardo winding up with the two-start week for the Phillies. It’s pretty simple for planning purposes. Painter should be avoided whether it’s one start or two, while Luzardo is an easy start regardless of how many starts he makes.

Things could change for the Mariners, but as of now it looks like they’re going to move to a six-man rotation, at least temporarily, to accommodate the return of Bryce Miller. That means that Luis Castillo will stick around instead of heading to the bullpen and makes it so none of their hurlers will get the ball twice in a six-game week. If anything changes, and Castillo is bumped or Miller suffers a setback, it would be Bryan Woo getting the two-start week as he’s lined up to pitch on Monday.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of May 15 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Parker Messick, Guardians, LHP (at Tigers, at Phillies)

The 25-year-old southpaw has exceeded every possible expectation through his first nine starts on the season, going 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 58/14 K/BB ratio over 53 2/3 innings. He has been an absolute stud for fantasy purposes. Both the Tigers and Phillies struggle against southpaws, which sets him up very nicely to continue his dominant run in this two-start week. He should be locked into lineups in all formats and represents one of the stronger overall plays on the board for this week.

Will Warren, Yankees, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, vs. Rays)

Warren has really taken the next step this season and become a reliable weekly fantasy option. He sits at 5-1 with a 3.42 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 59/12 K/BB ratio across 47 1/3 innings on the season and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. With the Yankees’ offense backing him, he’s a threat to win every time he takes the mound and he should easily be able to eclipse double digit strikeouts in a two-start week. He should be an easy start in fantasy leagues of all sizes.

Dylan Cease, Blue Jays, RHP (at Yankees, vs. Pirates)

Cease has been outstanding through his first nine starts for the Blue Jays, checking in with a 2.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a league-leading 75 strikeouts over 52 1/3 innings. What has been especially impressive from Cease this season is the reduced walk rate which has led to a much more palatable WHIP than we’re used to seeing from the right-hander. The battle against the Yankees in the Bronx is tricky for sure, but it’s not close to being enough for me to sit Cease for a two-start week, especially when he’s rolling like this.

J.T. Ginn, Athletics, RHP (at Angels, at Padres)

Ginn has been very impressive in the early going for the A’s this season, compiling a 3.12 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 34/16 K/BB ratio over 43 1/3 innings through his first 10 appearances (seven starts). The fact that he gets to make both of these starts on the road in pitcher’s parks instead of at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento is a major benefit as well. I know that he’s difficult to trust, but Ginn looks like a very strong option this week. I’d be starting him everywhere that I could.

▶ Decent Plays

Shane McClanahan, Rays, LHP (vs. Orioles, at Yankees)

This is a tough one for me to place this week as McClanahan has been so good through his first eight starts for the Rays, exceeding even the loftiest of expectations. I’m not convinced that he can stay healthy and continue at that level, but he’s absolutely pitching like an ace right now and should be started until further notice. My trepidation this week comes from the matchup against the Yankees in New York on Sunday. The Bombers have been punishing left-handed pitching all season and I could see that one going south for McClanahan in a hurry. It’s not enough to dissuade me from using him, but it’s the reason I have him listed as a decent play instead of a strong option for this week.

Framber Valdez, Tigers, LHP (vs. Guardians, at Orioles)

Valdez was supposed to come in and provide an elite 1-2 punch at the top of the Tigers’ rotation this season. Now with Tarik Skubal (elbow) shelved, he’s being counted on to shoulder a much bigger load for their pitching staff. The problem is that he hasn’t been as reliable as we have come to expect over the years. He holds a disappointing 4.32 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across his first 50 innings with the Tigers. The Guardians are one of the better offenses in the league against southpaws, so it’s not going to get any easier for him this week. Even if the results aren’t quite as good as you had hoped, I think you still have to continue trusting Valdez and rolling him out there each week – especially when he makes two starts.

Trevor Rogers, Orioles, LHP (at Rays, vs. Tigers)

Rogers predictably showed a bit of rust in his return from the injured list after missing time due to illness. It should be acknowledged that the start came in a difficult matchup against the Yankees though. The opposition gets a bit easier this week, getting to battle the Rays in Tampa Bay and the suddenly hapless Tigers at home. I know the overall results haven’t been great, but I have seen enough from Rogers during his time with the O’s that I’m willing to trust him against these opponents. I’ll be starting him with confidence in all leagues.

Reid Detmers, Angels, LHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Rangers)

The transition back to the Angels’ rotation for Detmers this season has gone pretty seamless so far, with the left-hander compiling a 4.38 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 53/17 K/BB ratio over his first 49 1/3 innings of work. The Athletics are a much less scary team away from home though and the Rangers have been the worst team in baseball against opposing left-handers this season. That makes Detmers a very attractive streaming target in all league sizes this week.

Noah Schultz, White Sox, LHP (at Mariners, at Giants)

Aside from one brutal start against the Angels in Los Angeles, Schultz has pitched very well in his first six starts at the big league level. The matchups this week are very favorable for him and the way that the White Sox’ offense has come to life, there’s actually a chance that he can earn victories when he pitches well. He needs to cut back on the walks in order to have sustained success at this level, but he’s still a strong start in this two-start week with his massive strikeout upside and the terrific matchups. I’d be comfortable starting him in all league sizes.

Walbert Ureña, Angels, RHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Rangers)

The 22-year-old rookie right-hander has performed admirably through his first seven appearances (five starts) for the Halos, registering a 3.29 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 26/17 K/BB ratio. If he can start to cut back on the free passes, the sky is the limit here. I like him much better with both of these matchups coming at home than I would if he had to go to a tough environment on the road. I think his strikeout upside makes him worth a look as a streaming play in all leagues.

Keider Montero, Tigers, RHP (vs. Guardians, at Orioles)

Montero has done a nice job stepping up and trying to stabilize a Tigers’ rotation that has been decimated by injuries this season. He holds a strong 3.65 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 31/10 K/BB ratio over 44 1/3 innings through his first eight starts. The elite WHIP is really what’s driving his fantasy value and is something that should continue even if the strikeouts aren’t quite where fantasy managers would like them to be. The added volume of the two-start week more than offsets that. I’d be rolling with Montero in all leagues.

Seth Lugo, Royals, RHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Mariners)

After starting the season strong, Lugo has come crashing back to Earth over his last four starts where he has surrendered 18 runs over 21 1/3 innings. Both of his starts this week will come in Kansas City, which should help his cause, though the Royals’ offense has been struggling to provide support, leaving Lugo with just one victory to his name this season. He’s fine to use as a streaming option, just understand that the overall ceiling here is quite limited.

▶ At Your Own Risk

MacKenzie Gore, Rangers, LHP (at Rockies, at Angels)

Gore is such a frustrating player to roster for fantasy purposes due to his inconsistency. He’ll go out and throw a gem against one of the best lineups in the league only to get knocked around by subpar competition the next time out. The overall line looks alright though, which is all you’re really looking for at the end of the day. That being said, I’m not sure I want to trust him going to Coors Field this week, especially since the Angels loom as a tough matchup for a left-hander at the end of the week as well. My initial gut reaction was to start him in 15-teamers, but the more I dig in here, the more skeptical I’m becoming.

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (at Tigers, at Phillies)

Cecconi has been a major disappointment for the Guardians this season, posting an uninspiring 5.60 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 45 innings in his first nine starts. It almost feels like his spot in the club’s rotation could be teetering on the ledge at the moment. Fortunately, he gets to battle a struggling Tigers’ squad at home to start the week which should be a get-right spot for him. The matchup against the Phillies on the road to finish the week isn’t as ideal, which leaves him in a tough spot this week. I’d consider using him in 15-teamers if I needed the volume, otherwise I’d probably leave him on the shelf.

Jacob Lopez, Athletics, LHP (at Angels, at Padres)

After a breakout 2025 season in which he gained fantasy relevance, Lopez has come crashing back to Earth in 2026 with a miserable 5.80 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 40 1/3 innings through his first nine outings. If you’re looking for a glimmer of hope, he has pitched better of late – giving up just two runs in each of his last two starts. He also gets the benefit of both starts coming on the road as opposed to the bandbox that is Sutter Health Park. I can’t see going there in 12-teamers, but if you’re looking to make up volume in wins and strikeouts, I could see rolling the dice in 15-team formats.

Brayan Bello, Red Sox, RHP (at Royals, vs. Twins)

It seems like every time Bello takes the mound these days, he’s pitching to keep his spot in the Red Sox’ rotation. His last two times out, that has worked well for him, delivering back-to-back gems against the Tigers and Phillies – allowing just two runs over 13 1/3 innings with a 12/2 K/BB ratio. He has shown flashes like this before and gone back to being an extreme ratio destroyer, so the confidence level is low here, but the matchups against the Royals and Twins aren’t anything to shy away from. I think it comes down to whether you’re looking to attack wins and strikeouts or protect ratios. In 15-teamers I think he’s an easy start this week, in 12’s it would really depend on how badly I needed that volume.

Lance McCullers Jr., Astros, RHP (at Twins, at Cubs)

McCullers continues to look like a shell of his former self whenever he takes the mound for the Astros. He holds a horrifying 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 39 1/3 innings on the season, though he has at least punched out 43 batters to provide some substance for fantasy managers that have streamed him. The matchups aren’t ideal this week and he’s likely to continue to inflict damage on your ratios, but if you want to throw caution to the wind to chase wins and strikeouts, go right ahead.

Patrick Corbin, Blue Jays, LHP (at Yankees, vs. Pirates)

We have all been sucked into this trap before. Corbin looks like a viable mixed league option to start the season, only to have one major blow up where he gives back any and all ratio gains that he may have provided up until that point. I’m not saying explicitly that it’s going to happen on Monday, but that matchup against the Yankees in the Bronx is screaming for a ratio correction. I’d be staying away from Corbin in all formats just due to that spot.

Simeon Woods Richardson, Twins, RHP (vs. Astros, at Red Sox)

To say that things have not gone well for Woods Richardson this season would be a massive understatement. Through his first nine starts he sits at 0-6 with a cringe-inducing 7.71 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and a 20/20 K/BB ratio while giving up a league-leading 36 earned runs in 42 innings. That’s about as bad as you can possibly get. It’s not going to get any easier this week, having to battle the Astros and then the Red Sox at Fenway. Don’t even think about getting cute here, this should be an easy avoid.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers, RHP (at Cubs, vs. Dodgers)

This right here is the definition of an unstoppable force meeting an immoveable object. Misiorowski has been phenomenal this season, posting a ridiculous 2.12 ERA and 0.90 WHIP while punching out 80 batters in just 51 innings of work. He’s doing so on the strength of velocity that we have never seen before, averaging 100.6 mph on his fastball his last time out in a victory over the Padres. I’m not sure how long he can hold up pitching like this, but he absolutely needs to be started in all fantasy leagues every time that he takes the mound. The matchups are about as scary as they can get, but if anyone can navigate that gauntlet right now, it’s Misiorowski.

Nolan McLean, Mets, RHP (at Nationals, at Marlins)

McLean has been very impressive through his first nine starts on the year, checking in with a 2.92 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 64/15 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start all season and has struck out six or more batters in eight of his nine outings. That’s about as consistent as you can get. He should be locked into fantasy lineups every week regardless of matchups, but this week lines up particularly well for him. McLean is easily one of the top overall options on the board for this week.

Shota Imanaga, Cubs, LHP (vs. Brewers, vs. Astros)

Imanaga has been exceptional through his first nine starts for the Cubs this season, registering a 2.32 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 59/13 K/BB ratio across 54 1/3 innings. The matchups aren’t ideal, but he has earned the right to be an every-week start in all formats regardless of matchups. Even if the ratios don’t wind up quite as sparkling this week, you’ll get double the strikeouts and a great shot at a victory with the added volume from the two starts. He’s a must play in all formats.

Max Meyer, Marlins, RHP (vs. Braves, vs. Mets)

Meyer has looked electric through his first nine starts on the 2026 campaign, posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 54/17 K/BB ratio across 47 2/3 innings. He has been remarkably consistent as well, allowing four runs or fewer every time out and recording at least four strikeouts in every start this season. The Braves are a tough lineup to navigate, but that’s offset by a softer matchup against the Mets to finish the week – and he gets to make both starts at home. He’s an excellent all-around option this week.

Michael King, Padres, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Athletics)

King never seems to get the respect that he deserves from the fantasy community at large despite the fact that he absolutely shoves every time he’s healthy enough to take the mound. In nine starts this season he holds a scintillating 2.63 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 50/22 K/BB ratio in 51 1/3 innings of work. Sure, a matchup against the Dodgers can seem scary, but he gets to make both starts this week at Petco Park which helps to mitigate that risk. He should be an easy start in all leagues this week, and every week as long as he isn’t on the injured list.

Mitch Keller, Pirates, RHP (at Cardinals, at Blue Jays)

Is everything finally coming together for Keller in his age-30 season? He has been terrific thus far, compiling a 3.59 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 38/15 K/BB ratio over 52 2/3 innings for the surprisingly competent Pirates this season. The Blue Jays and Cardinals both rank in the bottom half of the league against opposing right-handers, setting Keller up for continued success this week. He’s probably already being utilized on a weekly basis in most mixed leagues, so simply sit back and enjoy the added production from the extra start this time around.

Robbie Ray, Giants, LHP (at Diamondbacks, vs. White Sox)

So far, so good for the 34-year-old southpaw through his first nine starts, registering a 3.04 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 49/20 K/BB ratio over his 50 1/3 innings. The Diamondbacks and White Sox have both hit opposing left-handers very well this season, adding some ratio risk to that would otherwise set up as a strong two-start week for Ray. He should still be started in both 15 and 12-team formats, just understand that there’s a greater risk of a blowup here than we normally see from Ray.

▶ Decent Plays

Ryne Nelson, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Giants, vs. Rockies)

While he has an inflated ERA (5.40), Nelson hasn’t actually pitched that poorly this season, as evidenced by his 1.16 WHIP and 43/14 K/BB ratio across 45 innings. He now gets the benefit of two premium matchups at home this week, which should be just the prescription that he needs to get his ratios back in order. I’d expect double digit strikeouts this week and a good shot at earning a victory, making him an easy start for me in leagues of all sizes.

Christian Scott, Mets, RHP (at Nationals, at Marlins)

After struggling through his first start for the Mets this season, we have seen a much better version of Scott his last three times out. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all four starts and has struck out 20 batters over his first 15 2/3 innings. The only problem is that he’s having a hard time making it through five innings. Getting to battle the Nationals and Marlins this week sets him up well to earn his first victory of the season, provided he can get through 15 outs. The 26-year-old hurler looks like a very nice play in all formats this week.

Martin Perez, Braves, LHP (at Marlins, vs. Nationals)

It sounds like the Braves are shifting back to a six-man rotation with Grant Holmes slotting in on Sunday and Perez scheduled to take the ball on Monday. It seems like he’ll stick around and make two starts but it’s also possible that he could go back to the bullpen after Monday’s start and either JR Ritchie or Chris Sale could wind up with the juicy two-start week. Ritchie and Sale should be started regardless, so there’s no actionable takeaway there. If it does seem like Perez is going to start twice, then he makes for a very strong streaming option in all league sizes. Even if he only does get the one, a single against the Marlins in Miami isn’t a bad spot either.

Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Giants, vs. Rockies)

Gallen has not pitched well this season. He has been even worse as of late, giving up 17 runs over 14 1/3 innings over his last three starts. So why would he still be considered a decent play for his upcoming two start week? Matchups. It literally doesn’t get any better than taking on the Giants and Rockies with both starts coming at home. If you can’t find a way to use Gallen this week, then you should never use him. I’m not saying it will be an enjoyable watch and there’s still a possibility that he gives you more ratio damage at some point during these two starts. I just think there’s enough meat on the bone here to use him in both 15 and 12-team formats this week.

Foster Griffin, Nationals, LHP (vs. Mets, at Braves)

Griffin had looked like one of the unexpected breakout pitching stars of the 2026 season until he was clobbered for nine runs over 4 1/3 innings against the Reds in Cincinnati on Thursday. Even so, he still sports a strong 3.53 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 49/18 K/BB ratio over 51 innings, so we’ll give him a pass on Thursday’s disaster. It may be tough for some fantasy managers to roll him back out there after that type of outing, but he looks like a solid enough option that I would make sure to use him once again in both 15 and 12-team formats.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Matthew Liberatore, Cardinals, LHP (vs. Pirates, at Reds)

Liberatore has been extremely underwhelming so far this season, with a 4.40 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and a 34/18 K/BB ratio over 47 frames. He has proven to be a useful fantasy option in the past when the matchups have lined up for him, I’m just not sure that they do this week. The Pirates and Reds both rank in the middle of the pack against left-handers and with the way the ball has been flying out of the park in Cincinnati, that seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Whether you ultimately decide to roll the dice here depends on your risk tolerance. I could see myself taking the plunge in 15-teamers if I really needed the extra start.

Jake Irvin, Nationals, RHP (vs. Mets, at Braves)

Like most pitchers in the Nationals’ rotation, it has been a rough season for Irvin so far. He holds an uninspiring 5.91 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over his first 42 2/3 innings while tallying just one victory. I like that he’s striking out more than a batter per inning, which makes him a viable streaming target if you’re looking for volume there. The matchup against the Mets doesn’t hurt either. I could see trying to use him as a deeper league option and hoping for the best.

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (at Phillies vs. Cardinals)

Lodolo simply hasn’t looked right as he has battled through injuries this season, posting a ghastly 8.68 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over 9 1/3 innings through his first two starts. You’d like to trust his track record here, as the matchups aren’t overly imposing, but a larger part of me would like to see him get back on track before trusting him not to destroy my ratios. My gut tells me to sit this one out and wait until he looks right before deploying him for fantasy purposes.

Jose Quintana, Rockies, LHP (vs. Rangers, at Diamondbacks)

Going to stick with the usual mantra of “Never Rockies” again this week. Quintana has actually been somewhat serviceable through his first seven starts on the season, but we don’t want to be using him at home against anyone and the Diamondbacks on the road is a brutal spot to finish up a tough week. If he had some strikeout upside, maybe I could be talked into it in deeper leagues. I just don’t see him providing enough to be worth the ratio risk. Pass in all leagues.

Braxton Garrett, Marlins, LHP (vs. Braves, vs. Mets)

Let me start out by saying that I like Braxton Garrett and think that at some point this season he’ll be a viable mixed league option. That being said, we need to expect inconsistency in his return from Tommy John surgery. He struggled with his command during his time at Triple-A and walked five batters over 1 1/3 innings in his season debut against the Twins. The Braves are a patient lineup and that start could spiral into a disaster if he doesn’t command the strike zone there. It’s possible he skates through here with a pair of strong starts, but I’m not risking my ratios on Garrett until I see some consistency at the highest level.

Posted on

What should the Royals do with a struggling Salvador Perez?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 02: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals reacts after striking out during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images

No one wants to watch a legend fade, and yet that’s often what happens when it comes to larger-than-life figures in the world of entertainment.

Marlon Brando stars in The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Willie Mays stumbles in a Mets uniform.

Michael Jordan lags for the Wizards.

Johnny Unitas lumbers for the Chargers.

Gordie Howe finishes his career a Whaler.

Pelé retires with the Cosmos.

Those are just a few examples.

One happening in front of Kansas City’s very eyes, on a nightly basis, is the end of Salvador Perez. Entering play on Friday, Salvy is hitting just .200/.239/.339. Out of 171 qualified Major League hitters, he ranks 164th in wRC+. And the underlying metrics are…not good.

What makes this even tougher is that Perez has only played for the Royals, and it seems the two cannot break apart. Salvy’s not going anywhere on his own, and the Royals aren’t pushing him out.

It brings to mind Stan Musial hitting only .255 in his last year with the Cardinals.

And Mickey Mantle cratering to a .237 in 1968, his last season, to bring his career average under .300.

And Ozzie Smith butting heads with new manager Tony La Russa, appearing in only 82 games in the 1996 season, his last.

It’s a startling image, watching a once feared batter, the leader of the team, struggle, and struggle badly. To make the situation even tougher: the Royals are trying to win. After making the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons back in 2024, the team took a step back last year but still managed to finish with a winning record. This year was supposed to be a step forward, toward getting back to the postseason, even competing for the division title.

This year has not gone according to plan, and in the middle of it all is the aging legend, the last link between the 2014-2015 teams and this new era.

How should the Royals handle Salvador Perez going forward? There are four ways.

Bench him

This seems like the least likely option. Manager Matt Quatraro gave Perez an off day earlier this year, calling it a mental breather, a comment with which Perez took umbrage.

It only lasted one game. The Royals could approach Perez before benching him, of course, as he is the elder statesman on the team and deserves to not be blindsided by such a momentous decision.

But this won’t happen, for several reasons. One is that Perez feels like he can still produce, so he wouldn’t remain shy about his feelings. He went to X with the mental breather situation, but there are more public ways to express his displeasure.

Secondly, there’s not a great replacement on the roster. I always come back to this: If not him, who? The Royals carry two other catchers in Carter Jensen and Elias Diaz. Jensen has recently struggled and Diaz is 35 and without a hit in the month of May. Neither scream upgrade.

Third, the backlash. As much as readers of Royals Review may want to see Perez ride the pine for a bit, there are even more fans who would become incensed if the organization benched him, with or without his knowledge.

Drop him in the lineup

This is the best option: move him out of the cleanup spot. Sure, he had four hits in the series against the White Sox, but three of them were singles. He homered in his first at-bat Tuesday night, which was great, but there have been more at-bats where he’s swinging at damn near everything, either missing the pitches for ugly strikeouts or grounding into sure double-plays. He has no speed. He never has, but he’s slowed down from that. It looks like he’s standing in quicksand out there.

Again, though: If not him, who?

Dropping him in the lineup would only the be first step. Quatraro would have to revamp the entire lineup because swapping Perez with someone beneath him won’t fix things. Outside of Bobby Witt Jr. and, to a lesser extent, Maikel Garcia, no one is producing. Nick Loftin is playing well, but that’s mainly against lefties.

Stay the course

The most likely scenario: Q keeps Perez in the cleanup spot on a daily basis while sometimes putting him behind home plate and sometimes slotting him in the lineup as the DH.

Opting for this seems like madness. Salvy’s clearly slowing down, needs more time off, and to be put in a less stressful role. Running him into the ground isn’t going to solve this problem.

I’m loathe to write this, but Perez’s poor reaction to getting a mental breather shows he isn’t quite the leader we fans make him out to be. He needs to accept reality, put his team first, and insist on not staying the course.

Only Salvador Perez can prevent this option from happening.

A trip to the injury list

He looks kinda banged up, right? Joel Goldberg mentioned on the Tuesday night television broadcast that Perez has been battling a host of maladies to his hips and groin. That doesn’t sound ideal for anyone let alone a starting Major League catcher.

Maybe he doesn’t need a mental breather but a physical one. Throw him on the IL and see if he heals up.

It at least buys some time.

Posted on

Pistons vs Cavaliers Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 6

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Detroit Pistons saw their season flash right before their eyes after squandering Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where our NBA player prop projections have identified several strong value opportunities.

By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.

These Pistons vs. Cavaliers predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, May 15.

Pistons vs Cavaliers computer picks for Game 6

Celtics PistonsWarriors Cavaliers
Cunningham u27.5 points
-120		Harden o19.5 points
-110
Duren o8.5 rebounds
+105		Mobley o8.5 rebounds
+120
Robinson o2.5 3-pointers 
-112		Mitchell o3.5 assists
+100

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!

Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!

Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Pistons Game 6 computer picks

Cade Cunningham Under 27.5 points (-120)

Projection: 26.47 points

Cade Cunningham erupted for 39 points in Game 5, but the big question heading into a do-or-die Game 6 on the Cleveland Cavaliers home floor is whether he has enough left in the tank.

The Detroit Pistons have been in this spot before, with Cunningham often stepping up under elimination pressure to keep them alive. But if he can’t replicate that production — and falls short of this points prop projection — it could mark the end of Detroit’s season in Cleveland.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet cunningham Now at bet365!/span

Jalen Duren Over 8.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 9.66 rebounds

The Pistons need Jalen Duren to step up on the glass, especially after he’s fallen well short of his rebounds prop in three straight losses. With desperation setting in, Detroit will be leaning on him to reclaim his usual dominance on the boards and help keep their season alive.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet duren Now at bet365!/span

Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 3-pointers (-112)

Projection: 2.95 3-pointers

The Pistons will need Duncan Robinson’s shooting badly in Game 6, especially from beyond the arc. After sitting out Game 5 with back soreness, the veteran sharpshooter appears on track to return following participation in shootaround.

The injury clearly limited his impact in Game 4, where he finished with just four points and one made three. If he’s not restricted tonight, expect Robinson to find his rhythm again and push past this prop line from deep.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet robinson Now at bet365!/span

Cavaliers Game 6 computer picks

James Harden Over 19.5 points (-110)

Projection: 22.65 points

The math is simple: when James Harden is rolling offensively, the Cavaliers usually benefit. The pattern has held throughout the series — his aggressiveness and scoring tend to translate into wins. This points line feels a bit light compared to his ceiling, and it’ll be on Harden to prove it again.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet harden Now at bet365!/span

Evan Mobley Over 8.5 rebounds (+120)

Projection: 9.54 rebounds

The Cavaliers have ranked seventh in offensive rebounding over their last 10 games, and Evan Mobley steps back into focus after a steady, impactful Game 5.

He’s narrowly missed this prop in three straight outings, but with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line, expect him to bring added urgency on the glass and fight for every rebound against the Pistons.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet mobley Now at bet365!/span

Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 assists (+100)

Projection: 4.65 assists

After shouldering a major scoring load all series, it’s unrealistic to expect Donovan Mitchell to keep living off tough buckets alone.

He’s consistently hovered around this assists line throughout the matchup, and there’s no better spot to break through than a pivotal Game 6 at home with a chance to advance.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet mitchell Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 6

LocationRocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
DateFriday, May 15, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVPrime

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

MORE NBA PICKS

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

Report: Blues Turned Away Trade Offer For Robert Thomas From Wild

A long-time rival of the St. Louis Blues, the Minnesota Wild, reportedly made a strong offer to acquire the Blues’ top player and No. 1 center, Robert Thomas. 

It was no secret that at the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Blues were willing to listen to offers on most players, including Thomas.

Thomas would have been the major move for the Blues, as no player on their roster would have brought in a better return. While Thomas’ first half of the season was riddled with underwhelming play and injuries, following the trade deadline, Thomas was a different player.

The 26-year-old finished the season with a team-high 25 goals and 64 points in 64 games, but his final 20 games saw him post 12 goals and 27 points. 

If an NHL team were able to pull off a trade for Thomas, they would have reaped the benefits. 

According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Wild reportedly offered a package that included goaltender Jesper Wallstedt and center Danila Yurov, but the Blues declined the offer. Russo also believes the Wild could revisit those discussions when Alexander Steen takes over as GM on July 1. 

Why Trading Robert Thomas For Brady Tkachuk Doesn't Make Sense For The BluesWhy Trading Robert Thomas For Brady Tkachuk Doesn't Make Sense For The BluesBrady Tkachuk hasn’t officially hit the trade market, but he has entered the rumor mill. Due to his ties to the St. Louis Blues and earlier reports about Robert Thomas’ availability, fan-made trade proposals have begun circulating. However, trading Thomas for Tkachuk would be a mistake.

Throughout the season, it was noted that the Utah Mammoth, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings were all interested in acquiring Thomas. Now that the season has concluded, it has been reported that the Ottawa Senators, and now the Wild, were in play for the former 20th overall pick of the 2017 NHL draft. 

In the end, it appears that Thomas will remain with the Blues, at least for now. Thomas still has five seasons on his current eight-year, $8.125-million contract, and he is still the focal point of the Blues’ offense.

He formed a strong trio with Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway down the stretch, and the Blues don’t really have a player who can match Thomas’ production and fill in his role. 

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Aston Villa v Liverpool: Premier League – live

⚽ Premier League updates from the 8pm BST kick-off
⚽ Live scores | Table | Who should be player of the year?

“Right Rob, let’s get down to brass tacks – Slot, should he be shown the door or given another year?” asks Peadar de Burca. “On the evidence of, let’s say, the last ten games, you’d have to say that the Liverpool manager has been found wanting. That extra little bit of innovation or rough magic hasn’t been there. A lot of talent at the top end of the team and you get the feeling a good manager could have shaped those players into something sharper, as opposed to the butter knife attack we’ve mostly seen. So, give him the boot?

“Well, this is a Liverpool team in transition. I suspect the owners, no mugs, had this in mind back in July after Diogo Jota’s tragic death and saw this as a year to acquire some serious talent, let them bed in with the real aim being the 2026-27 season. You’d hope Jeremy Jacquet will be joined by one or two more defensively minded players and the team will have more balance. The team will have had time to become a team. Let’s not judge Slot now, but in eight months’ time when Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz and Ngumoha are able to read each other’s minds.

Today we are without nine players. The good news is that Florian and Mo are on the bench, but Alex [Isak] is out with a minor injury.

I have to compliment Mo on how hard he has worked to be back. It’s not always straightforward with the type of injury he had.

Continue reading...
Posted on

NL West odds: Padres payout would be huge in close division race with Dodgers

MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 13: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres runs to first after hitting a single in the third inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t win the NL West Division was 2021, the year after winning the World Series. The Dodgers have now won the last two World Series, and they’ve backfilled their roster churn by upgrading to star players through free agency and their own stellar farm system.

The lengthy MLB season provides a sample size that’s meant to favor averages over abnormalities. Hot- and cold-streaks blend together as weeks become months. But the weight of those games can also fall victim to entropy as months become years. The long summers are tests of endurance and commitment as much as talent. The San Diego Padres finished just three games behind the Dodgers in the 2025 division race, and the Toronto Blue Jays pushed them to seven games and extra innings last November. 

The thin line between dynasty and disappointment will be carved out over the next 120 games. FanDuel has odds on the NL West Division winner, which is an opportunity to prognosticate on the predictive ability of the first 40 games, and which performances will propel their team to a division title.

The Dodgers (-900) are heavy favorites to remain atop the division, with a deep roster that’s built to weather a long season. But their offense is still struggling midway through May. Shohei Ohtani is enduring his first cold streak, going hitless between starting pitching assignments for the first time in his career. Andy Pages (9 HRs, 35 RBI) and Max Muncy (11 HRs, .917 OPS) have been pacing an offense that’s welcoming back Mookie Betts this week. They’ve been able to afford patience with their bats because Ohtani, Justin Wrobleski, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are anchoring an elite starting rotation.

The Padres (+800) have caught the Dodgers in the standings despite a slow start from their offense, ranking 25th in wRC+. Michael King (2.76 ERA) and Randy Vasquez (3.05 ERA) have held together a starting rotation that suffered key injuries early, including to projected Opening Day starter Nick Pivetti. Xander Bogaerts has kept the offense afloat while Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill are working back to their expected averages. 

The Diamondbacks (+3000) have had a slow start, but the betting lines still see potential in their young talent that made a run to the World Series in 2023. Corbin Carroll is building back up to his all-world production after a broken hand, and they recently promoted top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt. It’s not any of the young guys but 34-year-old Ildemaro Vargas who’s been leading the offense thus far, posting a .331 average with 7 HRs and 28 RBI.

The Giants (+5000) have a top-10 payroll and a brand new manager getting his first taste of the MLB. Rafael Devers has been a disappointment, but Luis Arraez has been a bright spot, along with Landen Roupp and Logan Webb on the mound.

The Rockies (+30000) are just 9 games back from first place now, but the lines expect that number to grow closer toward last season’s line, when they finished 50 games back.

Posted on

Underdogs Chelsea have shot at glory at end of season of disruption

A defiant performance against Manchester City could deliver silverware in a year in which the club has already sacked two head coaches

Chelsea fared well as underdogs in their most recent outing in a final. They surprised Paris Saint-Germain in last summer’s Club World Cup, racing into an unassailable 3-0 lead by half-time and disrupting the European champions thanks to a clever tactical approach from Enzo Maresca.

Perhaps there will be more of the same at Wembley. Chelsea have form when it comes to upsetting the odds in a big game, although the one problem with bringing up the PSG win before Saturday afternoon’s FA Cup final against Manchester City is that the challenge of coming up with a plan smart enough to beat Pep Guardiola is no longer Maresca’s responsibility.

Continue reading...
Posted on

The 'Klim Reaper' Is Here: Abbotsford Canucks Winger Danila Klimovich's Journey From Belarus To BC

When Danila Klimovich took to the ice on October 16, 2021, he was making history along with his Abbotsford Canucks teammates in a new era of the Canucks’ AHL affiliate. Klimovich scored his first North American professional goal that night at the 8:09 mark of the second period, in an eventual 5-3 loss to Stuart Skinner and the Bakersfield Condors.

Just months earlier, with 93 seconds left in a pivotal game five, Klimovich had scored the championship-clinching goal for the Minsk Zubry (Minsk Bison) in the Belarusian Vysshaya Liga, the second league in the Belarus hockey system. Five years later, Klimovich would be known for his clutch goal-scoring on another continent, with Abbotsford fans declaring him the “Klim Reaper,” a nickname the young winger loves.

“When it came out, I was like, 'Oh my God, it’s pretty cool,” Klimovich told The Hockey News earlier this season. “People call me like that ‘cause it means something. It means that I did something like, well, I do something good.”

Klimovich is one of three players left on the roster from the inaugural Abbotsford season, along with Canucks captain Chase Wouters and defenseman Guillame Brisebois. The 2025-26 campaign was a stark drop off for the club, missing the playoffs despite their 2025 Calder Cup win the previous season. Still, Klimovich, now 23, had 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists) in 63 games, just four points shy of his career high (38) set last season.

He was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, their first pick of that year’s draft due to the earlier Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland trade, which sent the Canucks’ first-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes. Expecting to go later in the draft, Klimovich was at a summer training session when he found out about the Canucks’ selection.

“It was exciting, I got drafted and I didn’t expect me to draft that high in the second round,” Klimovich said, “I was looking at [the draft rankings], and they were like third round. I was practising that summer and I was waiting in the locker room for the third round, and the guys were just yelling at me, like, you got in the second round.

“I was so happy, and then just ran to the cafe, where my father was sitting, and we celebrate together.”

Klimovich hails from the southern Belarusian city of Pinsk and grew up playing in their youth system, playing briefly in the southwestern city of Brest as well before moving north to the capital city of Minsk, joining the national under-17 team. Belarus has had 23 players appear in NHL games, including Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo, though less than half of these players have played over 50 games, meaning a lot of attention also turns to players from their hockey superpower neighbour, Russia.

“I mostly looked at Russian players, like Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Datsyuk, and trying to be more like them,” Klimovich said of his idols growing up, “In Belarus, we had a couple of players, like [Mikhail] Grabovski, who played in Toronto. He was really good.”

Grabovski scored 296 points in 534 NHL games over 10 seasons, appearing with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders. After retiring from playing, Grabovski went on to coach Dinamo Minsk in the KHL, which was affiliated with the Minsk Zubry, where Klimovich had played, as well as the Belarusian national team program.

The 2019-20 season was for making waves for the teenage Klimovich, as he moved up through the junior national system, playing at the under-17, -18, and -20 levels. Across the pond, heads were turning towards the young forward, as he was picked by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL in the 2020 CHL Import Draft. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Klimovich was not able to come to North America at that point, instead staying in Minsk.

In his draft year, Klimovich scored 52 points (28 goals, 24 assists) in 37 regular-season games with Minsk Zubry, along with 14 points (9 goals, 5 assists) in 12 playoff games. Klimovich also appeared with the Belarusian national team, leading the team in scoring with six goals during the under-18 World Junior Championships, including a hat trick against Switzerland, and played three games in the senior World Championships.

Klimovich made the jump to North America a year later, debuting on the continent at the same time as the franchise he joined. He signed an entry-level contract with the Canucks just days after the draft, moving to a new country to pursue his dream at 18.

“I just wanted to play in North America, it’s my dream to play here and stay here, and make my dream come true to be an NHL player.”

Not only was Klimovich entering a new environment, but so was the Canucks organization, with Abbotsford’s inaugural AHL season. It came a decade after the organization’s AHL-affiliated team moved south of the border, after the newly resurrected Winnipeg Jets took over the Manitoba Moose franchise in 2011.

“When I came here at first, people were like so helpful, and like it’s the same stuff now,” Klimovich commented on his first impressions of the new team. “It was bumpy sometimes, but everybody tried their best, and now we’re a great organization.”

Still, there were certain roadblocks for Klimovich entering professional hockey in another country, especially at such a young age. His first season was not as offensively productive as was likely hoped, with 18 points through 62 games, which he improved upon the following year, reaching 29 points in 67 games in his sophomore season. His third year was a further dip, though, appearing in only 24 games due to injury and healthy scratches, earning just four points over the 2023-24 campaign.

“I would say I put more pressure on myself,” Klimovich said of playing up to higher pick expectations. “It’s good to be drafted that high and of course, like everybody expects something from you, like people, fans, and organizations, especially. But you just need to be the player you are and try to develop from that.”

On the transition to playing in North America, he said, “It was hard. Like the first two years, hard with the English barrier, and now I just only start to get into it more like the last two years. I’m getting better in these things, like, I can understand now, and it’s so much easier for me because back then it was just like, all alone.

“And then, yeah, hockey is different. It’s faster, and it’s more physical than Europe. Europe is more like, I’d say, hold this puck, like control more. Here, it’s like physical dump, like go forecheck, backcheck, like more energetic.”

Despite the language barrier, the Canucks forward has grown to fit into the environment in Abbotsford, saying, “I just get this culture pretty quickly, like all the jokes and all the holidays. It’s amazing. I like Canadian everything, pretty much.”

Klimovich also credited his now-wife, Nastassia, with helping him adjust to Canada and stay grounded during the move to North America.

“My girlfriend came, like, six months later, and we got married here, so she helped me a lot. We’re both trying to like, get into the culture together, it’s really helped me.”

The 2024-25 campaign was good for both the player and the team, as Klimovich hit a career high in points with 38, leading the team in goals with 25 during the regular season. In the run to Abbotsford’s run to the Calder Cup last postseason, Klimovich scored four goals, and all were incredibly consequential; the first was the game-winning goal in game one of Pacific Division semifinals against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the second was in double overtime of game four of the Western Conference final against the Texas Stars which gave the Canucks a 3-1 series lead, the third was again in double overtime in game one of the finals against the Charlotte Checkers, and the fourth was the tying goal in the second period of the Calder Cup-winning game.

“We won the [Calder] Cup last year, and to be like the first Canucks team to win anything, it’s big. I’m really proud of what we done last year, and now we just need to build that culture for NHL too,” Klimovich commented on the Calder Cup win with Abbotsford, calling it his highlight with the organization. “It was the greatest team. For me just I think all these goals in the Calder Cup finals are really helpful for the team, and were really proud of what we all done. And then like, I scored in the game six in the finals, I think it’s the biggest highlight and we won after [Linus] Karlsson’s goal.”

Danila Klimovich of the Abbotsford Canucks (Photo Credit: Kaja Antic/The Hockey News)
Danila Klimovich of the Abbotsford Canucks (Photo Credit: Kaja Antic/The Hockey News)

Klimovich has spent much of his professional and adult life within the Canucks organization and has grown into the player he is now over the last five seasons, leading the Abbotsford franchise in game-winning goals with 15. The 23-year-old right-shot winger is a restricted free agent heading into the offseason, with a qualifying offer of $874,125, as his entry-level contract signed in July 2021 has carried over, and he has yet to appear on Vancouver's ice. Dependent on free agency, preseason outcomes, and impending contract decisions, if the yet-to-be-determined coaching staff wants to promote from within as the organization did for their recent management changes, Klimovich could be an option for a depth forward who is able to score in big moments.

“The Sedins’ work and coaching staff from last year and this year. Like Manny [Malhotra], Harry [Mahesh], Jordan Smith, they’ve been really helpful.” Klimovich said of his influences during his time growing within the organization. “They’ve helped so much to improve my game and improve me as a person. […] I love this culture in Abbotsford, in the Canucks.”

As for what he’s learned over the last five seasons, Klimovich said, “I am still learning to let things go, just better, like quicker. And be more positive, kinda thing. That’s for me is the most because I’m putting, like, pressure on myself and it’s not helping me, so now it’s better.”

And as for advice for his younger self?

“Just stick with it, be positive and have fun. Enjoy the hockey, enjoy the life.”

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

5 Former Canucks Taking Part In The 2026 IIHF World Championship

Canucks New Management Group Is Focused On Doing A Rebuild The Right Way

Former Canucks In The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Tortorella, Dowd, Hutton & Vegas Advance To The Conference Finals

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Hockey News
The Hockey News
Posted on

NCAA bans ex-Abilene Christian basketball player Airion Simmons for alleged role in throwing games

A former Abilene Christian men's basketball player was permanently banned by the NCAA on Friday for allegedly helping rig basketball games for sports bettors.

According to the NCAA's Division I Committee on Infractions, Airion Simmons — who played at Abilene Christian from 2019-2024— colluded with a teammate and agreed with a bettor to throw a March 2024 game for money. In a December 2025 interview, Simmons told NCAA investigators he was also contacted by a second bettor about losing the game for money.

In January, Simmons and the two bettors were included in a sprawling indictment by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania on various charges, including bribery, fraud and conspiracy.

The point-shaving scheme generally revolved around gamblers who placed bets and recruited players with the promise of a big payment in exchange for purposefully underperforming during a game, prosecutors said. Those fixers would then bet against the players’ teams in those games, defrauding sportsbooks and other bettors, authorities said.

Players often recruited teammates to cooperate by playing badly, sitting out or keeping the ball away from players who weren’t in on the scheme to prevent them from scoring. Sometimes the attempted fix failed, meaning the fixers lost their bets.

In September 2025, a former Abilene Christian men’s basketball student-athlete transferred to the program and reported that in March 2024, Simmons, along with another teammate, tried to convince him to join them in purposely losing a game for money.

Later, the student-athlete who reported the violations received a FaceTime call with Simmons, the teammate and a bettor, who told the group to throw the game for money. The student-athlete who reported the violations indicated that by the time he entered the game, the final outcome was already determined, and his performance had no impact on the outcome.

Simmons told NCAA investigators he told the bettors he had a hand injury and his status for the game was unclear, and he shared that another teammate would not be playing in the game. Simmons was offered $3,500 to “play bad” in the game. He left the game with a hand injury after playing 11 minutes.

Simmons said he met someone in a Dallas parking lot to get cash for throwing the game. He received the cash and did not pay the other student-athletes he had conspired with, the NCAA said.

According to the NCAA, Simmons agreed to be interviewed by its investigators but declined to participate in the processing of the case.

Simmons is the latest student athlete to lose his eligibility as part of the point-shaving scheme. Two former Fordham basketball players were also permanently banned by the NCAA last month.

___

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Posted on

Updated MLB Pipeline Prospect Rankings: Jesús Made named baseball’s No. 1 prospect

Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers infielder Jesus Made against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

MLB Pipeline just released their first updated top 100 prospect rankings of the season, and several Brewers prospects have dramatically changed their stock. Let’s get into the risers and fallers, headlined by baseball’s new No. 1 overall prospect, Brewers prospect Jesús Made.

Risers:

SSJesús Made: No. 3 —> No. 1

INF Luis Peña: No. 26 —> No. 19

CF Luis Lara: Unranked —> No. 95

With the graduation of Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, Made is officially the No. 1 prospect in baseball. Made, a true five-tool player who throws 100-mph fastballs to first base and records exit velocities north of 110 mph, has certainly looked capable of becoming a star.

Made is the youngest player in Double-A and is currently tied for the Southern League lead in triples with three, third in hits with 36, and tied for fourth in stolen bases with 15. Despite slumping this month (.464 OPS), he’s still more than deserving of the title: “best prospect in baseball.”

Luis Peña, currently in High-A, had a scorching start to the season (.372/.462/.512), but he hasn’t played in over three weeks. Peña collapsed in the dugout during the eighth inning of a game on April 22, reportedly due to heatstroke. The Brewers organization announced that Peña was scheduled to see a neurologist last Monday, but no further updates have been provided.

Lara has broken out in a big way with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. He was never much of a power hitter before this season, totaling just eight home runs across three years in Single-A, High-A, and Double-A. Through 40 games with Nashville, he already has seven homers to go with a .338 batting average and .966 OPS — playing well enough that Brewers manager Pat Murphy is now fielding questions about when Lara might get a shot in Milwaukee.

Fallers:

INF/OFJett Williams: No. 39 —> No. 60

SSCooper Pratt: No. 48 —> No. 66

3B Andrew Fischer: No. 82 —> Unranked

Williams and Pratt, both in Triple-A, have struggled at the plate relative to expectations. Williams (.247/.371/.370) is starting to turn it on, hitting .317 with a .936 OPS over the last two weeks. Pratt (.217/.342/.326), who the Brewers signed to an eight-year extension last month, is not, hitting just .182 with a .603 OPS over that same span.

Williams looks very close to major league ready and would probably get the call if the Brewers needed an infielder, especially given the way he’s been playing lately. Pratt’s defense already looks polished enough for the big leagues, but he’ll likely need to hit a bit better over an extended stretch before earning a promotion.

Fischer, unlike Williams and Pratt, has been hitting well this season. The Brewers’ 2025 first-round pick entered the year as MLB Pipeline’s top third base prospect and is slashing .259/.368/.589 with a .957 OPS and nine home runs in his first full professional season.

On the surface, there’s nothing in that stat line to suggest he’d fall down prospect rankings. The concern is with the underlying numbers. Fischer has struck out 48 times in 136 plate appearances, good for a 35.3% strikeout rate, while his 63.7% overall contact rate would rank among the worst in the majors — and he’s not even in Double-A yet. Fischer can absolutely hit the cover off the ball, but he’ll need to cut down on the strikeouts if he wants to climb back up the rankings.

Posted on

Terry Stotts, Jerry Stackhouse will not return to Warriors’ coaching staff, per report

INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 15: Head Coach Steve Kerr, Assistant Coaches Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse looks on during the game against the LA Clippers of the Golden State Warriors during the SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In today’s Dub Hub:

The changes have begun for the Golden State Warriors this offseason, starting with the coaching staff. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors’ top two assistant coaches, Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse, will not return to the team after their contracts expired following the season.

Slater reported that both coaches are leaving on good terms, with Stotts informing head coach Steve Kerr late in the regular season that he did not plan on returning next season, while Stackhouse is expected to pursue head coaching opportunities elsewhere.

Via ESPN:

Stotts just finished his second year as Kerr’s lead assistant and offensive coordinator. His nearly three-decade coaching career includes a nine-season run as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Stotts informed Kerr late in the regular season that he didn’t intend to return and told ESPN he is leaving the Warriors on good terms and remains open to NBA head coaching opportunities.

“I enjoyed my time with Steve, the staff and players,” Stotts said. “My two years there were fulfilling. Nothing but well-wishes.”

The timing is notable, however, considering the news comes just days after Kerr agreed to a multi-year contract to remain with the Warriors. There have been reports that Kerr’s return was conditioned on some adjustments to his coaching staff being made in an effort to adapt to a more modern style of play. With Golden State having secured Kerr for the foreseeable future, he will now need to rebuild his staff with that in mind.

One name Slater mentioned as a potential candidate is former New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green, who previously served as an assistant under Kerr in 2016. Meanwhile, ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel floated another familiar name to Warriors fans: franchise legend Andre Iguodala.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, May 15th:

Warriors News:

Sources: Warriors assistants Stotts, Stackhouse won’t return | ESPN

The injury-riddled Warriors won only 37 games last season and failed to make the playoffs through the play-in bracket. Management voiced the need for changes in conversations with Kerr after the season.

In the next two months, during the NBA’s transaction season, the Warriors are expected to refresh the roster around Steph Curry, along with remaking the coaching staff under Kerr.

Drake drops epic reference about Steph Curry, Davidson on new ‘Iceman’ album | NBC Sports Bay Area

Grammy-winning rapper Drake dropped no shortage of bars when he released a whopping three albums Thursday night.

And of course, the Canadian musician had to shout out NBA superstar and family friend Steph Curry in his new song, “2 Hard 4 the Radio.”

“Ayy, first off, I make real town smacks

Boy, you know the motto, gotta push it to the mack

Back when they was askin’ ’bout where Davidson was at

Now everybody got a blue thirty on they back“

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy interview + Golden State & Steph Curry’s future | NBA Draft Combine

NBA News:

Myles Turner addresses lack of discipline under Doc Rivers | ESPN

“Guys were late all the time,” Turner told New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart on their “Game Recognize Game” podcast. “Guys were showing up to film whenever they wanted to show up. Guys were missing meetings. It was one of the craziest things I personally ever experienced.”

Asked by Stewart who was most likely to be late last season, Turner said it was an “easy” answer.

“Giannis. Giannis is going to show up whenever he wants, really,” Turner said. “I think that this kind of just came with the territory that — and once I saw what was going down, I was like, ‘Hey man, more power to you. They ain’t going to fine you. S—, do what you do.'”

Memphis Grizzlies pay tribute to Brandon Clarke who passed away on Tuesday at 29 years old

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Steve Kerr is still invested in the Warriors’ ‘dying dynasty’

That seems to be what’s keeping Kerr going. Realistically, it’s not about winning a fourth title. It’s about remaining competitive and having nights like the play-in win against the Los Angeles Clippers. And it seems to be about coaching Steph Curry for as long as he can and probably Draymond, too.

Given his comments about wanting to give the franchise a “clean start” after Curry is done, it sounds like Kerr is committed to being there for the messy ending. The dynasty might be dying, but Kerr is there to go down with the ship.

A post to end the week:

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.