The Chicago Blackhawks prospects took the ice at USG Arena against the St. Louis Blues prospects on Monday night. This was the first of two meetings in the 2026 Prospect Showcase that the two organizations are participating in.
For the Blackhawks, marquee prospects like Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker, AJ Spellacy, Adam Gajan, and Ryan Roobroeck all took part. The leadership group was led by captain Taige Harding and alternate captains Paul Ludwinski and Jake Furlong.
There were some notable spectators taking in the game. For one, Kyle Davidson, Jeff Blashill, and multiple executives/coaches were on hand to get a glimpse of the future. A handful of players within the organization were also in attendance, including Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov.
The Blackhawks started with as good a top line as they could put out at this event: Sacha Boisvert, centering AJ Spellacy and Ryan Roobroeck. Adam Gajan started in goal.
After the top line created some good chances off the jump, they were forced into a penalty-kill situation. Martin Misiak, however, scored a shorthanded goal to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead.
The Blackhawks continued to march to the penalty box after that, and eventually, one of them caught up with them. In the latter half of the first period, Jakub Stancl scored for the St. Louis Blues to tie the game at 1. That score held through the first intermission.
It was a physical first period, and that continued into the second. Just about halfway through the middle frame, AJ Spellacy got into a little bit of a skirmish behind the St. Louis net after missing a chance. To his defense came Ashton Cumby, who fought Blues prospect Colin Ralph. He will bring another layer of physical hockey to Rockford this year.
Not long after that, the Blackhawks went to the penalty kill. It led to another Blues power play goal. Shortly (10 seconds) later, they found another to make it 3-1. At that point in the game, the Blues were in a groove.
After two periods, the Blues hung onto that two-goal lead. With under a minute remaining in the middle frame, AJ Spellacy rang one off the pipe after bursting into the offensive zone, but it wouldn't go in.
In the third period, the ice was a lot more level, but no goals were scored. The final score of 3-1 held in favor of the Blues. It was a physical battle from the opening whistle onward, but the Blackhawks took the bulk of the penalties which put them in trouble.
One more match between these two groups of prospects will take place at 4 PM on Tuesday evening at USG Arena.
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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
Over the last few days, RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey, has been filled with high energy, the sound of whistles, and the unmistakable soundtrack of hockey.
The New Jersey Devils invited 25 players to their 2026 Rookie Camp, which opened Friday, Sept. 11. The group has completed two practices and one scrimmage against the New York Islanders, falling 5-4 in overtime.
Ahead of the team’s final scrimmage, which will take place in Long Island on Tuesday, Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News emptied her notebook with some news and notes she has collected this past weekend.
Odds and Ends From Rookie Camp
— Shane Lachance referred to his first season in the pro league as a rollercoaster: “I think the beginning of the year was tough because we didn't win many games. Then I got called up, I was up for a week and then sent back down, and we started winning more. It is a long year, and I think that is the biggest change. So much happens over the course of the year that, mentally, you have to try to keep your head on straight. Coming from college into the pros, that is probably the biggest thing for me - just how long the season is.”
Lachance shared that he tries not to overthink things, but it is something he occasionally struggles with.
“I think in our job, you are always thinking, what can I do better? Did I do the right thing? Sometimes I have to tell myself to just go out there, have fun, and play the game because I am here for a reason.”
Photo credit: Kristy Flannery
— While some players have their eyes set on making the NHL rosters, other players at the Devils rookie camp hope to play in the American Hockey League full time. That is the case for 22-year-old defenseman Charles Leddy, whom New Jersey drafted in the fourth round in 2022. He spent last season at Quinnipiac University before signing an AHL contract through the 2027-28 season in March. He began his collegiate career at Boston College as a political science major, but ultimately earned his degree in international business.
— JakubMálek’s excitement for the 2026-27 season is palpable. Sitting at his stall next to Jeremy Brodeur, he smiled from ear to ear, talking about the upcoming job ahead of him: “This is the first time I [can] say that I'm excited for a season this much. I am always excited, but this is something I never felt before. I'm so excited to go to work.”
— Speaking of Málek, he finally received his goalie mask. Its delivery may have been a season too late, but he was thrilled to showcase it and share some personal touches, including nods to two of his closest friends.
#NJDevils Jakub Málek finally received the goalie mask he was supposed to wear for the 2025-26 season. It has some awesome touches, including nods to his best friends and the movie Cool Runnings. pic.twitter.com/FCdcWdWfUK
— For a second consecutive season, Málek will be living with forward Matyas Melovsky. The two are best friends and say they are always together.
— Melovskyplayed with Lenni Hämeenaho last season in Utica, and during camp, The Hockey News asked Melovsky if that chemistry instantly came back this week. He laughed and said, “Yeah, the Euro chemistry.”
Photo Credit: Kristy Flannery
— Newcomer Ben Steeves has been skating with Melovsky and Hämeenaho. After Monday’s practice, The Hockey News spoke to the 24-year-old.
THN: Coaches always say that they usually keep pairs together on a line, and the third player they may insert in and out. If you're that guy who's playing with people who already have chemistry together are there any attributes or characteristics you need as the third player coming onto a line?
Steeves: Yeah, absolutely. You hit the nail on the head. It is simplifying and being predictable for your teammates. Throughout my entire career, I have tried to be a player like that. An easy player to play with. Especially playing with these guys, it is holding on to pucks and making good flat passes. Making it easier on each other is a big thing.
THN: What was the first thing you noticed about Melovsky and Hämeenaho?
Steeves: They are smart. When they have the puck, they are always looking for the next play. There's no real time on the ice where they can't do anything with it. They always make stuff happen, so it is really cool to watch that.
Photo Credit: Kristy Flannery
— Speaking of Steeves, he was on a golf course when he received a call from Devils general manager Sunny Mehta to alert him that he was traded to New Jersey: “That was a cool moment. (Mehta) was obviously in Florida with me and brought me with him. Definitely happy to get a new opportunity here.”
— Seamus Casey has been impressed with his new D-partner, Anton Silaev: “I think he is doing incredible. He is super involved with the team. It is easy to shy away and kind of shut down, only talk to people who you can understand, that kind of thing. He is not doing any of that. I have a lot of respect for that. Obviously, we are trying to help out too, and make it easy for him.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
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.
England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum says he hopes to Kevin Pietersen will “challenge” him, as the former English great begins his role as a batting consultant.
Kawhi Leonard walks off the court at the Intuit Dome for the last time as a Clipper following the team's season-ending loss to the Golden State Warriors on April 15. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Along with Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers should send the Toronto Raptors a fruit basket and a thank you card.
Because what was already a steal when the teams first agreed to the trade in June now looks like an absolute lifesaver. Paddles for the life raft so the Clippers can change directions and make better decisions — hopefully with better decision-makers.
First, the Clippers had to move on from Leonard, who reportedly will go back to Toronto for a package that includes Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round selections.
It’s a defibrillator of a deal. One that could keep the Clippers afloat after the NBA hammered them for all the salary-cap-circumventing they apparently did for Leonard, an oft-injured, 35-year-old who flopped even before the NBA blew the whistle on millions of dollars in off-the-books, no-show endorsements.
With the trade finally completed after the Raptors paused it on July 9 as they awaited the results of the NBA’s investigation, and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer announcing Sunday he will accept the league’s historically steep punishment without further protest, Clippers fans can finally exhale.
Forget the fines and suspensions, most hurtful to fans is the league stripping the Clippers of five first-round draft picks, from 2029 through 2033.
A death sentence? Darn near would be, if not for the Raptors, those suckers — er, that one team whose fans still associate positive feelings with Kawhi.
Remember, Leonard won an NBA title with Toronto in 2019. That was the season before he seemingly started milking the Clippers, who also traded five first-round picks and future league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Paul George — to meet the demands of a guy who wouldn’t lead the Clippers to even one NBA Finals appearance.
At present, the Clippers will have Ingram, Darius Garland, Rui Hachimura and No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler on a Tyronn Lue-coached team. They’ll be a competitive regular-season team, as usual.
And the Clippers could have cap room going into the 2027 or 2028 offseasons — not that big stars avail themselves in free agency anymore. These days, the goal is to get traded, retain Bird rights and maximize earnings. If not for Toronto’s first-round picks, the Clippers would have little draft capital to use in trades for impact players.
Now they have some, even if it’s only enough to pursue trades for the disgruntled, the redundant, the overpaid.
The Clippers could offer to take those sorts of players off teams’ hands — if they include future draft assets as sweeteners. Even if it takes the Clippers holding their nose and restocking, there are ways forward, and having the Raptors’ two first-rounders in their pocket will help.
It’s all so Clippers, to have lined up this move that will keep them afloat, just treading water.
Fifteen consecutive seasons of .500 or better ball, y’all! Someone, raise a banner.
The Clippers still don’t have an actual championship banner to decorate the Intuit Dome — and pursuing a title will be harder now, of course.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' president of business operations, speaks during a news conference in July 2019. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / Associated Press)
But it will be impossible if the Clippers don’t reset in a meaningful way, if they don’t replace Lawrence Frank, their president of basketball operations, who was among the Clippers’ executives punished by the NBA, with someone with better taste in stars.
Frank is a master of the margins, but the Clippers need a lead executive who can spot it — greatness, not just on the court, but in the locker room, in the community. Someone who will steer Ballmer toward not only elite basketball talent, but players who offer the whole package: leadership, competitiveness, desire, rootability.
The New York Knicks recognized all that in Jalen Brunson. They didn’t care that Becky Hammon and many more of us were skeptical about the prospects of a team that decided to build around a 6-foot-2 guard. And now, look. Brunson just led the Knicks to a championship.
The Clippers were so desperate for a star to pick them, they didn’t pick up on the fact that they already had a budding superstar in their midst. Gilgeous-Alexander played his rookie season with the Clippers and checked all the boxes Leonard wouldn’t. After they traded him to OKC, he worked and blossomed, becoming one of the NBA’s coolest competitors, a two-time league MVP, the undisputed leader of a championship team.
Well, ideally, the professionals being paid to make personnel decisions.
Leonard hadn’t been the leader of either of his San Antonio Spurs or Raptors championship teams. He’d had an angsty breakup with the Spurs. He had a flashing-red injury history. He certainly did not have the personality to siphon any fans from a LeBron James-led Lakers team. And he came apparently asking for way too much!
The Clippers went all-in anyway, and they’ve had nothing but grief to show for it.
Grief and, now, Toronto’s two first-round picks. The question is who will use them, and how?
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With a seven-game losing streak and having gone 5-20 in their last 25 games, the Rockies are struggling to close out the 2026 season on any kind of positive note. At 55-94, Colorado is also running out of time to avoid 100 losses as it would need to win eight of its remaining 13 games to do so.
After being swept by the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers on the road, the good news is that the Rockies start a 10-game homestand, their final one of the year, tonight. The bad news is that the first series is against the San Diego Padres, who have beaten the Rockies in eight out of nine matchups this season.
The Rockies lone win against San Diego came at Coors Field on April 22 when Colorado won 8-3. Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) earned the win after giving up one run on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 5.2 innings. Luckily for the Rockies, Sugano (12-9, 5.30 ERA) will be on the mound tonight in game one of the four-game series.
Sugano has struggled in his last seven games, going 1-5 with a 7.71 ERA. His last victory came against Arizona on Aug. 11 when he gave up two solo homers as the only runs in a six-inning performance.
Casey Mize (5-9, 3.70 ERA) will be on the mound for San Diego (81-68), which is currently holding onto the final Wild Card spot in the National League. Opposite of the Rockies, the Padres enter the series riding a seven-game winning streak, including back-t0-back sweeps of the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants.
Mize, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, was traded to San Diego from Detroit on Aug. 3. In his first seven games with the Padres, the righty has gone 1-3 with a 6.34 ERA.
First Pitch: 6:40 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KHOW 630 AM and 103.5 HD2 KOA Sister Station for Rockies Radio Network (Denver Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs in Monday Night Football on 850/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Ethan Salas #8 of the San Diego Padres hits a triple in the top of the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 13, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (81-68) at Colorado Rockies (55-94), September 14, 2026, 5:40 p.m. PST
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our thread
Some experts suggest Clippers owner Steve Ballmer began building goodwill by apologizing to fans and accepting NBA sanctions on Sunday night. (Jerod Harris / Getty Images )
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his staff had spent the last 12 months loudly insisting they’d done nothing wrong.
The podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” first raised questions about payments star forward Kawhi Leonard received from Aspiration Partners without doing any endorsement work to benefit the company on Sept. 3, 2025. The NBA responded by starting an investigation.
In its findings — released Sept. 2 — an independent law firm reported “a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations” that benefited Leonard, who received $66 million in cash and equity from four companies through agreements facilitated by Ballmer and team executives at the request of Leonard’s uncle and then-agent. Those deals violated the league salary cap, which limits how much teams can pay players. The cap is $164.961 million for the coming season.
The Clippers released two statements that same day, protesting the finding and the stiffest sanctions in NBA history, including a $30-million fine and the loss of five future first-round draft picks. In addition, Ballmer, 69, was banned from all league activities for the next year.
After immediately calling the NBA’s investigation “biased” and vowing to “vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us,” the Clippers were silent for 11 days.
“I accept responsibility as principal owner,” Ballmer said in a three-paragraph, 172-word statement released by the team. “We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward.”
Mark Francis, an associate teaching professor in sports business at the University of Oregon, said Ballmer’s decision to change course was a smart one — since fighting the penalties would only serve to prolong the scandal in the media, damaging the goodwill Ballmer has built up since buying the team in 2014.
“It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “We’re living in times where people don’t take accountability any more and I was actually impressed that he came out with that.
“Once they acknowledge fault, show some remorse, those kinds of things, then sometimes the penalties will be reduced.”
Daniel Durbin, director of the USC Annenberg Institute of Sports Media and Society, agreed, saying the original pushback “was all lawyer speak” while the decision to accept the penalties was prudent.
“It is a pretty stiff penalty. You’ve got a problem, just pay it off and get rid of it,” Durbin said. “And in a certain respect, Ballmer can pay this and move on. So it may well be for him … it’s not worth it to keep fighting, keep wasting money on that.”
Bloomberg estimates Ballmer’s net worth at $173 billion, making the former Microsoft chief executive the world’s ninth-richest person. He earns $1.2 billion annually from his Microsoft stock dividends alone.
In addition to the loss of draft picks and the fine and suspension levied on Ballmer, the NBA suspended Gillian Zucker, the Clippers president of business operations, for one year without pay and suspended Lawrence Frank, the team’s president of basketball operations, for six months without pay.
Leonard, a seven-time all-star forward and Southern California native, was traded back to the Toronto Raptors this summer. He agreed to pay a $700,000 fine for his role in the Clippers saga and did not contest the sanctions leveled against him but issued a statement of his own in which he placed the blame squarely on the Clippers.
“I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” the statement read. “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap.”
The Raptors temporarily froze the Leonard trade after the NBA announced Toronto would inherit any penalties assessed to Leonard following its investigation. With Ballmer accepting the NBA penalties, the trade is now moving forward and the Clippers will receive All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, shooting guard Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, a pick swap and two second-round picks, building blocks that could help the franchise move forward amid the penalties.
Ballmer’s capitulation may actually be seen as a positive to some Clippers fans, Durbin suggested.
“What did he confess to? Trying to kind of work around the rules to make the Clippers a championship team,” he said. “There’s a certain sense in which to Clippers fans the entire brouhaha is proof that he’s trying really hard. So while yes, he did break the rules … saying that you broke some rules to try to make your team a championship team is not in and of itself something that’s going to drive away the fan base.”
“It’s not a good thing,” Durbin added. “It’s an admission that maybe he went too far. … And he was willing to pay to try to make the team better.”
Francis isn’t so sure.
“I think that’s a stretch,” he said. “To violate the payroll system they have, it’s a serious offense. The owners are the ones that have pushed for these cost controls and they have to live up to them.”
The question now becomes can the Clippers actually become better as they deal with the penalties.
L.A.’s No. 2 NBA team, well behind the Lakers in popularity and success, the Clippers have finished higher than fourth in the Pacific Division standings just once since Ballmer’s first season as owner in 2014-15 and have reached the conference finals only once. The team finished 10th in the division last season, missing the postseason, and it hasn’t advanced beyond the first round of the NBA playoffs since 2021.
But the Lakers are in transition under new ownership and are without LeBron James for the first time since 2018, leaving the Clippers with a narrow window to win over new fans.
“They have to be able to threaten to be a championship team before you can say that they can take advantage of this moment,” Durbin said. “There’s the opportunity theoretically, but it’s really more about how smart they are on the draft picks, how smart they are on building the team.”
Times Sports Editor Iliana Limón Romero and staff writer Mirjam Swanson contributed to this report.
While the fate of some Philadelphia Flyers prospects is already sealed in terms of where they'll play in the 2026-27 season, many of the top dogs will have plenty of opportunities to earn themselves an NHL roster spot. Training camp hasn't officially started yet, but for them it has.
Not every young Flyers prospect with something to prove is at rookie camp this week. For example, players like Hunter McDonald and David Jiricek, who aren't established NHLers, were left off the rookie camp roster.
Conversely, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, and Porter Martone are all on the ice having to prove themselves, with each player dressing for at least one of the two Rookie Series games against the New York Rangers over the weekend.
But, even when we remove McDonald, Jiricek, Barkey, Bump, and Martone from the equation, the Flyers still have a healthy amount of competition.
On defense, Oliver Bonk and Ty Murchison will be working to make their argument for an NHL roster spot, having to compete with the likes of McDonald, Jiricek, and veteran newcomer Simon Benoit for a place on the Flyers.
By the time training camp starts on Thursday, their strong work in rookie camp this week could be a feather in their caps; the process of making a strong impression is already in motion.
"We were pretty direct in the first meeting that we had for rookie camp, is that their camp is starting now. So with the new makeup of how the training camps are now in the NHL, there's not a whole lot of time to make an impression. So, for the rookies and the guys that are coming into main camp, they got to be ready to go right from the start of this camp," Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden said after practice Monday with an exclamatory two-hand tap at the podium.
Bump, Barkey, Martone, Noah Powell, Cole Knuble, Devin Kaplan, Riley Thompson, Jett Luchanko, Maksim Sokolovskii, Spencer Gill, Jackson Edward, Bonk, and Murchison are the skaters participating in rookie camp who are also listed on the main training camp roster.
On Tuesday morning, they'll take the ice for their last rookie camp session. Wednesday is a team day off, and Thursday is go time.
In the eyes of Snowden and the Flyers, everything those players have done in the building over the last week can work against them or in their favor when it's time to make the important decisions.
"The message [Riley Armstrong] started our rookie camp with, and I've reiterated throughout the whole camp and our staff has reiterated throughout the whole camp, is like, you don't have time to wait around right now. You gotta go, and you gotta hit the ground running. You can't ease your way into these rookie games," Snowden continued.
"Like I said, this is their training camp. It started now. You just got to keep pushing them to make sure they understand that every single time you touch the ice, every single time you walk into the building, it's going to matter. So, make sure you carry yourself the right way, you train the right way, you practice the right way, you play the right way every single time, because everything you do when you walk into this building, it's gonna matter."
Message sent, message received for the Flyers, who have seen players like Powell, Barkey, Knuble, and Bonk crank up the intensity and speed of their play this weekend.
Powell, in particular, played with ferocity against the Rangers, standing out in a different way from the scorer types like Bump and Martone.
And he'll be one of many players with their eyes on the NHL prize when training camp kicks off in a few days.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 28: Quinn Mathews #60 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning at Busch Stadium on August 28, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals begin a 3-game series against the San Francisco Giants Monday night at Busch Stadium. Quinn Mathews takes the mound for the Cardinals while the Giants will start RHP Landen Roupp. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
While Australia has a massive year of Test cricket ahead, in just over a year the Aussies will also be tasked with defending the World Cup title they won in stunning fashion in India in 2023.
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 26: An exterior view of the ballpark prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants head to Missouri today to begin a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Landen Roupp, who enters today’s game with a 4.00 ERA, 3.74 FIP, with 139 strikeouts to 72 walks in 150.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 2-1 win over the Cardinals last Tuesday, in which he allowed just two hits with two strikeouts and four walks in six innings.
He’ll be facing off against Cardinals left-hander Quinn Mathews, who enters today’s game with a 4.11 ERA, 4.02 FIP, with 28 strikeouts to 14 walks in 30.2 innings pitched. His last start was also in last Tuesday’s game against the Giants, in which he allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks in six innings.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 14: Chicago center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts during the MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves on May 14th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Will the balls fly out at Wrigley? Or just the Cubs’ balls as they have all year?
Also, apparently the game thread experience is better in the app (I have no firsthand experience)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium on September 9, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Having taken two out of three in the Subway Series against the Mets, it’s now time for the Yankees to head out on the road. Starting tonight, the Yankees will be in Minnesota to take on the Twins. Over the years, the Yankees have regularly gotten the better of the Twins, in the playoffs on several occasions. If the Yankees want any hope of tracking down the Rays in the AL East race, they’re going to have to do so again over the next few days.
For tonight’s series opener, the Yankees will send Will Warren to the mound. While he’s had his ups and downs for the season on the whole, Warren has been very good lately. He’s still likely to head to the bullpen once the postseason comes around, but he’s been a more than solid fifth starter, and the Yankees will hope that continues tonight.
The rest of the lineup is fairly normal, although José Caballero is in at second base after Anthony Volpe had gotten some run there after returning to the bigs.
For the Twins, Dean Kremer will get the ball. The Yankees shared a division with Kremer for several years, as he was on the Orioles before an early-August trade to the Twin Cities. He hasn’t been particularly great this year, both before and after the trade.
Here’s all the information you need to know to catch tonight’s game, and we hope you’ll come join us in the game thread!
How to watch
Location: Target Field — Minneapolis, MN
First pitch: 7:40 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES (NYY) | Twins.TV Presented by Progressive (MIN)
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy App (MIN)
The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers faced off in a Rookie Series featuring their top prospects this weekend. The two games were at the PPL Center, the home of the Flyers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and it was a great way to get the rookies ready for the season while bringing hockey back to the fans.
Saturday’s game felt like a back-to-school day, not just for the players, but also for the staff, scouts, media, and the fans, who were excited to finally see hockey for the first time in months. The Flyers and Rangers aren’t the only teams having these scrimmages either.
The Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets had a prospect challenge in Gatineau, Quebec. The San Jose Sharks hosted a Rookie Faceoff at Tech CU Arena, the home of their AHL affiliate, and it featured six of the Western Conference teams.
The New Jersey Devils had their version as well, hosting the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon at their practice facility, the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House. It’s something they can and should build on, as many teams around the league have done.
The Devils Home & Home Against The Islanders
The Devils' practice facilities are connected to Prudential Center in Newark, and there isn’t a lot of seating available for fans. The intention of their exhibition game against the Islanders prospects was to get the players ready for the season; the fans in attendance were a plus.
That said, it was a surprise to see the venue was full. It shouldn’t be a surprise considering this is the first glimpse of hockey in months but for a game that has zero implications on the standings, there was still an intrigue that brought a crowd on a Sunday afternoon in early September.
There was a feeling in the building that had the fans engaged. It’s the unknown of the prospects. The Devils don’t have a top prospect pool, but there’s a curiosity surrounding the few names who might crack the NHL roster. How good is the rookie defenseman Anton Silaev? Is there a depth forward poised to impress during training camp? Which prospects are under-the-radar and can turn the Devils into a playoff team? Does the skill in this game translate at the NHL level?
It’s why the PPL Center drew a strong crowd over the weekend for the Flyers and Rangers prospects. Sure, both teams have a handful of young names ready to make an impact in the NHL. However, catching the future in person before everyone else is what will attract fans to the arena, and the Devils must take note.
It Makes Sense For The Devils To Play At Their Practice Facilities
It’s easy to look around the league at all of the showcases and wonder why the Devils and Islanders aren’t doing something bigger. Both teams can host in an AHL market or a region that doesn’t see prospects up close often and give them a chance in a competitive atmosphere.
For the Devils, their practice facilities are in Newark, and it makes sense to have a game there as well. That’s why the Islanders are doing the same on Tuesday night at the Northwell Health Ice Center on Long Island.
For both teams, it’s a trip for the prospects to head to one of their AHL markets to play a few games, especially exhibitions. The Flyers, for example, have their practice facilities in Voorhees, New Jersey, a short drive away from Philadelphia, but Allentown is 63 miles away, making it an easy commute for a game. Utica is 228 miles away from Newark.
The bottom line is that if the Devils want to do something similar to what the Flyers do, or what the Sharks are hosting, they must find an arena near both their practice facilities and the Islanders. Likewise, the arena shouldn’t be the size of Prudential Center but big enough for a gameday atmosphere, like an AHL or ECHL arena.
So, Where Could The Devils host A Prospect Showcase?
The Devils can bring their prospects to a college arena, whether it’s the Hobey Baker Memorial Rink in Princeton or ProSkate Ice Arena, which hosts the Rutgers Scarlett Knights. However, both arenas have small capacities, not enough to make them major draws for the Devils.
There are a few arenas in Upstate New York that would eagerly host an exhibition game, including Albany and Binghamton, two markets that hosted Devils AHL teams in the past. However, like Utica, both are a decent commute.
The good news is that Trenton now has an ECHL team and can host a rookie series. The bad news is that the ECHL team isn’t affiliated with the Devils, and if the Islanders are hosting, they would likely choose a place that’s closer to them.
An arena that hosted AHL games in the past but won’t this season is Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It’s a great place for the Devils, but the question is whether the Islanders, who moved their team from Bridgeport to Hamilton, would be on board.
Another option is for the Devils and Islanders to join the Flyers and Rangers in Allentown. In one weekend, fans can watch prospects from all four teams up close.
Do you think the Devils should host a bigger prospect showcase? If so, where do you think they should host one? Feel free to comment below!
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 13: Max Clark #15 of the Detroit Tigers catches a fly ball during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Zack Belsky/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Detroit Tigers (70-79) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (75-75)
Time/Place: 7:07 p.m., Rogers Centre SB Nation Site:Bluebird Banter Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (8-4, 2.42 ERA) vs. RHP José Soriano (12-7, 3.48 ERA)
Player
G
IP
K%
BB%
GB%
FIP
fWAR
Melton
18
108.0
20.0
6.9
41.9
4.06
1.6
Soriano
29
163.0
22.6
10.4
53.0
3.93
2.4
Colt Keith has been scratched tonight due to left thumb soreness.
Updated lineup:
McGonigle 6 Torres 4 Greene DH Dingler 2 Callahan 7 Clark 8 Torkelson 3 McKinstry 9 Lee 5 https://t.co/w2IygofczG
