While it has been known for some time that the Astros had planned to activate SP Hunter Brown for Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, it turns out that the Astros also intend to activate C Yainer Diaz as well according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart:
This would give the Astros back their Opening Day battery and 2 more key contributors to the team in their ace starter and number one catcher.
Astros would reduce the number of players on their IL list from 12 to 10.
The red-hot postseason for sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez continued on Monday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha as the No. 6 Texas Longhorns extended their stay in the College World Series with a convincing 14-2 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
In the seventh postseason game for Rodriguez, the Flower Mound product recorded his seventh straight multi-hit performance, going 5-for-5 with seven RBI in hitting for just the third cycle in CWS history after a scoring decision review turned a second-inning double into a triple.
Rodriguez combined with the two batters in front of him — freshman left fielder Anthony Pack Jr. and junior designated hitter Ethan Mendoza — to go 11-for-14 (.786) with six runs and 13 of the 14 RBI recorded by the Longhorns. In recording 13 hits overall, Texas went 8-for-17 (.471) with runners in scoring position and 9-for-21 (.429) with runners on base, evidence of the extent to which the Horns improved their mental process at the plate after getting sped up in Saturday’s loss to the Diamond Dogs.
Texas also got a quality start from senior right-hander Ruger Riojas, the third straight from the 6’0, 195-pounder after battling shoulder tendinitis last month. Riojas threw 105 pitches over six innings, allowing two runs on six walks with seven strikeouts and two walks, putting the Horns in a positive to win without extending the bullpen after the offense gifted him three runs in the first inning and four runs in the second inning.
To open the game, Riojas worked off his lively fastball at 95 to 96 miles per hour, mixing in two different breaking balls to keep Alabama hitters off balance. Shortstop Justin Lebron did record a one-out single up the middle and a two-out stolen base, but the depth on a 1-2 breaking ball from Riojas induced the third strikeout in the frame.
Texas quickly looked threatening in the first as junior right fielder Aiden Robbins bounced back from his 0-for-4 performance against Georgia by smashing a 1-0 breaking ball down the left-field line for a leadoff double. Junior catcher Carson Tinney worked a full-count walk and Pack got to 3-2, too, but flew out to left field. Battling through a right shoulder injury and elevated to the four spot in the lineup, Mendoza took advantage of an elevated breaking ball to shoot a double through the left side and drive in Robbins.
So with only one out in the first inning, the Horns had already scored more runs against Adams than they did in the Texas product’s scoreless, six-inning outing in Austin two months ago. Rodriguez quickly added another double, pulling a 1-0 pitch down the right-field line to drive in two runs.
Adams recovered to strand Rodriguez on third by retiring redshirt senior second baseman Temo Becerra on a groundout to third and striking out junior first baseman Ashton Larson.
Despite getting ahead 0-2 against designated hitter Josh Lemm, Riojas issued a leadoff walk in the 11-pitch at bat as the Texas starter lost some velocity on his fastball and started to get some arm-side run on it, losing the strike zone entirely on an ensuing four-pitch walk. Trying to bunt, diminutive second baseman Brennan Holt got down 0-2 and suffered some bad luck on a hard-hit liner to first base that turned into a double play.
Dropping down for an 0-1 breaking ball, Riojas gave up a bloop single to left field that got one run back for Bama and extended the inning, but only for one more batter as Riojas recovered his command enough to get ahead and force a groundout to shortstop.
Junior third baseman Casey Borba opened the second inning with a leadoff single into the left-center gap, setting up a bunt situation for redshirt senior center fielder Dariyan Pendergrass, who finally got it down with two strikes to advance Borba into scoring position and turn the lineup over for Robbins. A strikeout on three pitches brought Tinney to the plate. Borba advanced to third on a wild pitch as Tinney drew his second walk.
Down 1-2, Pack slapped his own bloop single to left to score Borba before Mendoza pushed the lead to four runs on an opposite-field single through the right side.
Rodriguez blew the game open, hitting a ball into the left-center gap that was misplayed by the Tide outfielders as the ball rolled to the warning track, allowing Rodriguez to advance to third on the two-run double eventually reclassified as a triple for a 7-1 lead as the Horns keyed in on Adams tipping his pitches, negating the effectiveness of his high-level changeup.
After walking Becerra on a full count, Adams departed with two outs in the second inning and runners on the corners, but Alabama escaped without further damage as left-hander Matt Heiberger recorded the final out to strand both runners.
Riojas appeared to settle in with a 1-2-3 third inning and a strikeout to start the fourth before spinning a breaking ball onto Lemm’s barrel for a solo home run and then giving up two straight singles. On a hard-hit ball into right-center, Pendergrass was able to track it down with a good jump for a big second out. Reaching 81 pitches, Riojas left two runners on base with a swinging strikeout to get out of the fourth.
As assistant coach Troy Tulowitzki implored his hitters to work deeper in counts in the wake of a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 third inning, Tinney drew his third straight walk, but Pack grounded into a double play on the second pitch he saw from Heiberger. Mendoza was able to work a longer at bat before his own groundout that ended with his favoring his injured shoulder on the way back to the dugout.
Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle was able to get some length with Riojas out for the fifth and sixth innings, which went quickly as the Texas starter extended his streak of consecutive batters retired to eight to finish his outing.
In the bottom of the sixth, two home runs turned the game into a blowout as Pack sent a two-run shot into the bullpen in left field, his fifth postseason homer, but his first since the Austin Regional, and a two-run bomb by Rodriguez at 106 miles per hour off the bat that traveled 418 feet.
It was only the fifth home run of the season for Rodriguez, who hasn’t had his typical power since breaking his right hand almost 16 months ago.
On in relief for Riojas, freshman right-hander Brody Walls helped preserve the Texas bullpen, which only threw 31 pitches on Saturday, striking out two and allowing only a single base runner over two innings.
In a heartening development for Schlossnagle and Tulowitzki, the Horns kept the pressure on the Tide at the plate, taking advantage of a fielding error by Lebron in the eighth when Tinney drew his fourth walk and Pack recorded his third RBI with an opposite-field single. After redshirt sophomore pinch hitter Blake Peterson notched his first career RBI, Rodriguez added another run on his second double of the game.
Redshirt junior left-hander Ethan Walker came on to retire the first batter of the inning before giving way to redshirt senior right-hander Cody Howard, who only needed seven pitches to get the final two outs.
Texas advances to face another elimination game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Central on ESPN against the loser of Georgia and Oklahoma, Monday’s late game at Charles Schwab Field.
The Athletic released its latest 2026 NHL Mock Draft. Several of their writers predicted the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
When it came to the Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick, Arpon Basu predicted that the Habs would select forward Nikita Klepov this year.
Klepov would be a very fascinating prospect for the Canadiens to add to their system. The 17-year-old winger just had a dominant season in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit, posting 37 goals, 60 assists, and 97 points in 67 games. His 97 points were the most in the entire OHL this season, so it is clear that the young winger has a ton of offensive potential.
Klepov would have the potential to be an outstanding fit on a Canadiens club that is full of skilled players. He has the potential to emerge as an impactful NHL forward later down the road, so he could be worth taking a gamble on if he is available when the Habs are on the clock.
However, given how strong of a season Klepov just had, it would also not be surprising in the slightest if he is already selected when it is time for the Canadiens to pick. It will be interesting to see what happens on that front, but if Klepov is available, the Canadiens should strongly consider picking him.
When the Carolina Hurricanes celebrated with the Stanley Cup, did you notice that somewhere between the hugs, the champagne and the endless shots of Rod Brind'Amour hoisting the most prized trophy in sports, Carolina had something Edmonton didn't?
Besides the cup, oobviously.
Carolina had just climbed to the top of the totem pole without possessing the kind of individual talent that usually dominates social media posts, magazine covers and debates over who the best player in the world happens to be.
They didn't have Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, or anyone as close to that level of talent.
And yet there they were, the last team standing.
That fact is both encouraging and instructive for the Edmonton Oilers.
Fans in Edmonton are fortunate enough to watch two generational talents every night, but here has always been something a little unfair about the expectations that accompany them, as though McDavid and Draisaitl are supposed to drag every weakness, bad line and defensive breakdown across the finish line by themselves.
Oilers Should Hope the Hellebuyck "Noise" Gets LouderAs trade rumors swirl around Winnipeg’s elite netminder, Edmonton must aggressively pursue Connor Hellebuyck to solidify their crease and maximize the McDavid-Draisaitl championship window.That's not how teams win the Stanley Cup.
And, frankly, it shouldn't be.
Carolina's stars are excellent players. Sebastian Aho is one of the league's most underrated centres. Seth Jarvis has blossomed into a terrific winger. Jaccob Slavin remains one of the finest defensive defencemen in hockey. Frederik Andersen gave them quality goaltending when it mattered most.
But let's be honest, nobody is confusing that group with the sheer star power Edmonton possesses.
The Hurricanes didn't win because one player put the franchise on his back.
Worth the Wait: Ex-Oilers Star Taylor Hall Wins a Stanley Cup With the HurricanesSixteen seasons after his debut with the Oilers, the former top pick hoisted the Stanley Cup, netting the championship-winning goal to cap a dominant playoff run with Carolina.They won because there were no passengers. Their stars had helped. Their third line mattered. Their defence contributed. Their penalty kill mattered. Their fourth line mattered.
Everybody pushed in the same direction.
Which is why some of the conversations that surface after every disappointing season in Edmonton have always felt a little strange.
Somewhere along the way, Oil Country began treating Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl less like stars and more like solutions.
Are The Oilers One Goalie Away? Or Is That Too Simple?Every summer in <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton</a> fans demand a goalie.
Power play struggling? They'll fix it.
Goaltending becoming shaky? They'll outscore the problem.
Third line disappearing? They'll play 25 minutes.
Defence making life difficult? They'll generate enough offence to overcome it.
Those are wonderful players.
They're not miracle workers.
The Goalie Edmonton Wanted Is Available… AgainAs New Jersey gauges trade interest in Jacob Markstrom, the Oilers face a familiar crossroads with the elite netminder who once slipped through their fingers in free agency.Wayne Gretzky had Mark Messier and Paul Coffey. Sidney Crosby had Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. Nathan MacKinnon has Cale Makar.
Nobody wins alone. And that's the lesson Stan Bowman should take from what Carolina just accomplished.
Not that Edmonton needs fewer stars. Quite the opposite. The Oilers should wake up every morning thankful they employ McDavid and Draisaitl because players like that simply don't come around very often.
The challenge isn't finding another Connor McDavid.
Good luck with that.
Forget the Superstars, Edmonton's Next Star Might Come With Questions AttachedEvery summer, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Oilers</a> fans dream big.
The challenge is finding Edmonton's version of Seth Jarvis. Or Jordan Martinook. Or Jaccob Slavin. Or the players who quietly turn good teams into great ones without attracting much attention along the way.
Carolina's Stanley Cup run wasn't powered by superstars overwhelming other teams every night.
It was powered by depth, and structure, and everyone understanding their role and doing it exceptionally well.
That should be the most comforting part for Edmonton fans.
The Oilers don't need Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to become something more.
Insider Believes Babcock Likely To Be Cleared To Coach By NHLAs investigators look into Mike Babcock's past, one NHL insider suggests the veteran bench boss may soon return to the bench, potentially clearing a path to join the Edmonton Oilers.How much better could they realistically be?
What they need is a roster that asks less of them. Less pressure with fewer minutes and more support. More nights where two points from McDavid and Draisaitl feel like a luxury instead of a necessity.
Because as Carolina proved last night, Stanley Cups aren't necessarily won by the team with the biggest names.
If Mike Babcock Falls Through, Where Do The Oilers Go From Here?Should the latest investigation into Mike Babcock ultimately prevent him from becoming the next head coach of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a>, the organization could find itself in a remarkably awkward position, one that would leave people searching for answers while trying to explain how a process that began with such urgency became so messy.
Sometimes they're won by the team that asks the least from them.
That's the lesson worth remembering in Edmonton.
Having superstars is a gift, but expecting them to be the team is asking far too much.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
Texas baseball's offense did not slow down in Monday's College World Series elimination game against No. 7 Alabama, and neither did Adrian Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, who has been on the Longhorns' hottest bats this postseason, went 5-for-5 at the plate in the Longhorns' 14-2 win over the Crimson Tide to extend their stay in Omaha by at least one additional game.
In the process of his multi-hit performance, the Longhorns' shortstop made history by becoming the third player to hit for the cycle on college baseball's grandest stage — and he got some help from the official scorer to reach that mark.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, ESPN announced that Rodriguez's hit in the second inning had been rescored to a triple by the official scorer after it was scored as a double with the ball falling between Alabama's Eric Hines and Bryce Fowler in left center field.
Rodriguez's third triple of the game brought in two of his seven runs driven in on the day — two more RBI than his former season-high of five RBIs against Oregon in Game 1 of the Austin Super Regional.
Rodriguez began the day with a two-RBI double down the right field line in a three-run bottom of the first inning for the Longhorns. He'd tack on two more RBIs in the sixth inning when he got hold of a 91 mph pitch from Haegan Banks that sneaked into the corner of the Longhorns' bullpen in left field. His single came in the fifth inning.
He capped off his day with a double down the right field line to push his RBI count up to seven, matching a College World Series record.
Here's what to know on Rodriguez's big day:
Rodriguez joins the University of Minnesota's Jerry Kindall and Tennessee's Christian Moore as the three hitters to have hit for the cycle in the history of the College World Series. His cycle comes two years and a day from when Moore hit the cycle against Florida State in what was one of the craziest CWS games played in recent memory.
Kindall first reached the feat back in the 1956 CWS in a 13-5 victory against Ole Miss during the Golden Gophers run to their first College World Series title.
ESPN’s Mike Monaco noted on the broadcast that the scoring change came after the official scorer reviewed the footage of Rodriguez’s triple. According to the scorer’s explanation, Rodriguez briefly eased up after rounding first base before then accelerating again and maintaining that momentum all the way to third.
Here's a look at the now triple:
perfectly placed 🎯#HookEm | @arod_2024pic.twitter.com/WyezL8PBcF
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) June 15, 2026
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College World Series cycles: Texas' Adrian Rodriguez joins list with 7-RBI day
The Cincinnati Reds are back in action on Monday night in Great American Ball Park after dropping Sunday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That loss canned the series for them, and they’ve now dropped five straight series overall as their precipitous fall down the NL Central standings continues.
They’ll look to get back on the winning side of things with Chase Burns on the mound, as he’ll fire the first pitch of tonight’s series opener against the New York Mets. Righty Tobias Myers – a reliever by trade – will be the nominal starter for the Mets this evening, though given he’s only topped 36 pitches once all season it will undoubtedly be an early bullpen game for New York.
The Mets come to town fresh off a series victory over the Atlanta Braves, so that’s fun.
First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET this time around, and the game will be televised on Reds.TV and MLB.tv.
Lineups for both clubs are listed below. Go Reds!
The Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years had a local flavor.
Traded deadline acquisition Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, offered his Christ the King in Middle Village, Queens coach a moment of reflection nearly a decade after the freshly minted champ played for him.
“I wasn’t thinking in this picture that Alvarado would one day win an NBA Championship. I was probably telling him to stop sneaking into the corner and get back on defense,” Joe Arbitello wrote on Instagram. “Proud is an understatement. This kid is a product of doing things the right way.”
Arbitello described some of the characteristics that make Alvarado such a successful player, noting his loyalty was notable, as he stayed at Christ the King and played for just one AAU team throughout his amateur career in what is a rarity, especially in this era.
The loyalty extended to his college decision, as he picked and stuck with Georgia Tech for his entire college career.
Another trait described by Arbitello was that whenever he was on the bench, Alvardo was always engaged in the game and never moped.
The coach recalled the young point guard telling him from the bench that he was “getting paid to have the best seat in the house.”
That quote proved somewhat prophetic as Alvarado became one of the Knicks’ first bench options after coming over from the Pelicans on Feb. 5.
His addition proved critical to the team’s championship run as he drained critical three-pointers during comebacks in Games 4 and 5 and gave star Jalen Brunson crucial rest by playing quality minutes.
Now, Christ the King, which boasts the likes of Lamar Odom, Jayson Williams, Speedy Claxton, Sue Bird, Chamique Holdsclaw and Tina Charles among its alumni, has another NBA champion among its graduates.
The Athletic released their latest 2026 NHL Mock Draft, where several of their writers predicted the first round. When it came to the Philadelphia Flyers' first-round pick, Kevin Kurz predicted that the Flyers would select center Maddox Dagenais.
Dagenais would be a fascinating prospect for the Flyers to add to their system. The 6-foot-4 center has the potential to become an impactful player in the NHL and would give the Flyers another promising center prospect, which is a need.
Dagenais just had a strong season in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts. In 62 games with the QMJHL club, the Montreal native posted 30 goals, 32 assists, and 62 points. This is after he had 12 goals and 26 points in 43 games with the Remparts during the 2024-25 season.
Overall, Dagenais has shown promise at the junior level and could be some consideration if he is available when the Flyers are on the clock. However, when noting that he is a big center with good upside, it is certainly possible that another club could take him before it is the Flyers' turn to select.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Flyers end up making Dagenais their first-round pick at the draft this year. The fit looks strong on paper.
The New York Knicks waited 53 years to raise another championship banner. When the moment finally arrived Saturday night, Jalen Brunson delivered the type of performance that cements legacies.
Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, left many talking about something entirely different.
Following New York’s five-game NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, longtime broadcaster Dan Patrick offered a blunt assessment of how the two superstars handled the spotlight.
“I think Wemby got exposed in a variety of ways here,” Patrick said. “I think he came off as petty. I think he came off occasionally as a guy who would give a cheap shot. I didn’t like sort of how he ended the series. Go find Jalen Brunson. I mean, Jalen Brunson was all class.”
Patrick’s criticism stems less from Wembanyama’s performance and more from how he carried himself during the series.
The Spurs star faced scrutiny for several heated exchanges with Knicks players, including Mitchell Robinson, a controversial shove on Jalen Brunson and criticism after leaving the floor without the same visible postgame sportsmanship that Brunson displayed.
While many viewed those moments as the frustration of a 22-year-old superstar learning on the biggest stage, Patrick saw them as signs that Wembanyama’s maturity and leadership still have room to grow.
To Patrick, the contrast with Brunson could not have been sharper.
As the final seconds ticked away in New York’s 94-90 championship-clinching victory, Brunson first sought out Spurs coach Mitch Johnson for a handshake before joining his teammates in celebration. It was a small gesture, but one that reinforced the reputation Brunson has built throughout his rise from overlooked free agent signing to Finals MVP.
The Knicks star backed up that sportsmanship with one of the greatest championship performances in franchise history. Brunson scored 45 points in Game 5, tying Michael Jordan for the most points ever scored on the road in a Finals-clinching victory. He finished the series averaging 32.6 points and earned a unanimous Finals MVP vote.
Wembanyama’s production was impressive as well. The 22-year-old averaged 27.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks during the series while leading San Antonio to the Finals in just his third NBA season.
But several analysts pointed to flaws in his offensive game that became apparent late in the series. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor noted Wembanyama’s struggles creating his own shot, his tendency to settle for jumpers and moments where veteran Knicks center Mitchell Robinson physically overwhelmed him around the basket.
None of that changes Wembanyama’s enormous long-term potential. He finished third in MVP voting and helped guide the Spurs to 62 wins and a Western Conference title.
Still, as Patrick noted, the Finals became a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough.
Brunson left the series with a championship, a Finals MVP trophy and praise for his leadership.
Wembanyama left with valuable lessons and a long offseason to answer the criticism.
To his credit, Wemby recognizes this as a time of learning, despite not currently understanding what lessons he is learning;
“This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment, Wembanyama said during the post-game press conference. “I can’t tell you exactly what the lesson is. But we’re learning from that. I’m learning more than any other time in my life.”
Knicks owner James Dolan’s joke about giving up sex during the NBA playoffs has been revealed.
“I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” Dolan told the Knicks before the playoffs on Apr. 3. “You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks, but like Spartans — do you know what Spartans are? — they denied themselves to gain an edge. Get the edge.”
The joke was part of a 15-minute surprise speech Dolan gave to the Knicks about making sacrifices to end the Knicks’ 53-year title drought.
Dolan, who oversaw the Knicks in 1999, told players to tell their significant others and family members about the commitment they would bring to the NBA Finals and that they, too, would need to make sacrifices to win.
“Go home, talk to your wives. Don’t tell them you’re not going to have sex, and don’t tell them it was my idea,” Dolan said. “But let them know what this is going to be like, what your commitment is going to be like.”
According to SNY, the players “were a little surprised, but the words hit.”
They were certainly memorable to at least some of them as Mikal Bridges referenced the no-sex joke during an Instagram live on Monday, calling Dolan a “savage” for the gag.
Two months removed from the speech, the sacrifices the Knicks made paid off, as they won their first NBA Finals since 1953.
“Hey, New York, I’m sorry it took so long, but here we are, and hopefully it won’t take that long again,” Dolan said.
Today is a much-needed off day for the Braves, who are back in Atlanta and hoping to get things back on track with a win tomorrow against the Giants. They got some, well, mixed news with Spencer Strider’s evaluation, as he’s been shut down for a month and will be reevaluated further. We did get some good news about Drake Baldwin so things may be looking up much sooner rather than later for the first-place Braves.
I’m not going to lie (and you probably guessed this from the featured image): I will be watching the World Cup this evening. If you’re insistent on watching baseball, though, there’s a good hate-watch opportunity going on this evening as the Marlins and Phillies will be locking horns. For the sake of the standings I think we all wouldn’t mind a Marlins win but either way, we all win when an NL East team loses so if that’s your choice then enjoy the hate-watch.
There are some intriguing matchups going on out West, though. It’s pretty interesting to see the Pirates and the A’s both being not-terrible this deep into the season and it’ll be very interesting to see how OaklandSacramentoLasVegas the A’s bounce back after getting walloped for 23 runs on Sunday against the Rockies.
Meanwhile, the Rays and the Dodgers will be locking horns on ESPN so that oughta be interesting off of the records alone. Can the Rays go into Dodger Stadium and lay down a marker of intent? Will the Dodgers bring back memories of 2020 with their performance tonight? We’ll see what happens.
For now, I hope everybody enjoys their evening, no matter if you’re watching baseball, soccer, or some show you’ve watched 3850 times already.
Apparently, Jalen Brunson, the Knicks, and New York fans were not done with Victor Wembanyama.
Less than 24 hours after they beat Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs for their first NBA Championship in 53 years, they were celebrating at Fishfly, a private Manhattan club, Page Six reported. Video from @SMHighlights1 shows The NBA Finals MVP with teammates, family, friends and fans raising a glass with the salute of "(Expletive) Wemby!"
Knicks fans had been saying it for a week.
They started in Game 3 on June 8 after Wembanyama shoved Brunson in the back of the head and pushed him toward the floor with no whistle. Late in the second quarter, when Karl-Anthony Towns was at the line, "(Expletive) you Wemby" rolled down from the Madison Square Garden upper decks and onto the broadcast. The league looked at the shove later and called it a foul, not a flagrant.
Game 5 gave New Yorkers even more fuel to the fire.
Brunson rose for a 3-pointer in the third quarter. Wembanyama closed in, stuck a foot under him, and Brunson came down on top of it. No call. The Knicks bench came unglued at the officials. Had it gone down as a flagrant, however, Wembanyama would have been hit with an automatic suspension and would have missed a possible Game 6.
It didn't matter in the final score. Knicks won 94-90 in San Antonio. Brunson dropped 45, and the Knicks were celebrating their first title since 1973.
Wembanyama didn't hang around to see it. He walked straight off the floor and into the tunnel, looking to forget the Spurs' collapse.
The Knicks and New York will not let him forget.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Brunson, Knicks and fans crush Wemby at party
For the second time in their careers, former San Jose Sharks forwards Tomas Hertl and Joel Ward were defeated in the Stanley Cup Final while members of the same organization.
The Vegas Golden Knights were defeated 3-0 on home ice by the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday night, which clinched the Hurricanes their second-ever Stanley Cup, winning the series 4-2.
Hertl gave everything he had in a bid to finally win the trophy that has eluded him throughout his entire career, but it wasn't enough. He scored two goals, including the game-winner in Game 1, and totaled four points in the six-game series against Carolina.
Meanwhile, Ward was doing the same behind the bench, serving as one of John Tortorella's assistant coaches.
Both players were members of the 2015-16 Sharks team that made it to the Stanley Cup Final, only to be defeated by Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sharks alumnus Adin Hill was also on the Golden Knights roster, but was sitting on the sideline as Tortorella stuck with Carter Hart despite his massive struggles during the series. Unlike the other two though, Hill has already won a Stanley Cup, getting to lift the trophy following the 2022-23 season when he went on a tremendous run during the playoffs.
Both Hertl and Ward will have to wait at least another season to lift the Cup. Hertl is running out of time to do so during his playing career, but Ward is just starting out as a coach, so he has plenty of time.
On Monday, the Winnipeg Jets locked up a key piece of their organizational depth, re-signing forward Walker Duehr to a two-year, two-way contract carrying a $875,000 cap hit.
The deal keeps the 28-year-old in the Jets system through the foreseeable future and rewards a player who has quietly carved out a reliable role as one of the more productive forwards on the Manitoba Moose roster.
Duehr did get a brief look at the NHL level this past season, suiting up for three games with the Jets without registering a point. The bulk of his year was spent where he has consistently proven his value, in the AHL, where he put together a solid campaign of 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points across 62 games with the Moose.
The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native has taken a well-travelled road to get to this point. After playing college hockey at Minnesota State Mankato, Duehr broke into professional hockey with the Calgary Flames organization, going on to appear in 84 NHL games across four seasons while recording 19 points.
DUEHR DOING DUEHR THINGS! pic.twitter.com/rpOIFLFa8x
— Manitoba Moose (@ManitobaMoose) November 16, 2025
He was a more consistent presence with the AHL Calgary Wranglers during that stretch before being dealt to the San Jose Sharks ahead of the 2024-25 season. With San Jose, he played eight games at the NHL level while spending the majority of his time with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda before eventually finding his way to Winnipeg.
His AHL resume now stands at 59 goals and 53 assists for 112 points over 205 contests, numbers that reflect a player who has found his level and thrived within it. Duehr profiles as a flexible, dependable depth forward who brings the kind of professionalism and versatility that AHL rosters are built around. While a regular NHL role may not be in the cards, he remains a legitimate call-up option should injuries create openings on the main club.
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.
It’s no secret that the Raptors’ roster has been a contentious topic since the rebuild began in 2024. Bringing on Brandon Ingram has just added more fuel to that fire, with his playoff woes and Toronto’s loss in Game 7 of the first round solidifying the idea that while the Raptors are on the right track, they don’t quite have it all together yet.
The position of RJ Barrett within the team has also been complicated. Taking over as the first option for a chunk of the 2024-25 season with Scottie Barnes out, Barrett was relegated to the third option this year with the arrival of ball-dominant scorer Ingram. However, his playoff rising and the shot heard around the world has caused fans to re-evaluate his position within the roster.
An SB Nation poll showed that above half of Raptors fans feel that RJ Barrett has finally won himself some stability in the Raptors’ organization. With only one more year left on his contract, Barrett’s flexibility had contributed to his position as an important piece in trade talks. But, it seems that the Toronto faithful feel that Barrett should remain on his hometown team as a part of the team’s core, gearing up for next season.
The upcoming campaign has also attracted attention for its high-profile draft class. While the Raptors have only the 19th pick in the draft, Toronto fans are split on whether to focus on acquiring a new big man, or to add more depth to the point guard position.
Jakob Poeltl’s struggles this year have caused a clamouring for the Raptors to bring in someone new at the 5, and SB Nation readers echo this sentiment with their poll responses.
While so much about next season is yet undetermined fans have made their voices heard ahead of the late June draft, where odds for who will get drafted where can be found on FanDuel.