Less than two weeks ago, the New York Rangers placed Dylan Garand on waivers as the young goaltender’s future in the organization was completely up in the air.
Now, with Igor Shesterkin out for the remainder of the 2026-27 season, Garand has suddenly been thrust into the starting goaltending role.
From being placed on waivers to becoming the Rangers’ starter in less than two weeks, how did we get to this point?
Since the Rangers selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Garand has spent most of his time with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, appearing in 150 AHL games.
He finally got his NHL opportunity toward the tail end of the 2025-26 season, starting three games and posting a 2-0-1 record, a 1.62 goals-against average, and a .948 save percentage.
Things were looking promising for Garand, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Rangers at the beginning of the offseason and was in line to replace the retired Jonathan Quick as Igor Shesterkin’s backup.
However, the Rangers acquired veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins on July 1, and he ultimately beat out Garand for the backup spot.
The 24-year-old was placed on waivers before the regular season began. After clearing waivers and being assigned to the Wolf Pack, Garand was prepared to settle back into Hartford, where he had even bought himself an apartment.
Things changed quickly when Garand was recalled by the Rangers on October 1 after Korpisalo was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
Shesterkin’s season-ending injury has now opened the door for Garand to take over as the Rangers’ starter for the foreseeable future, with Korpisalo expected to remain sidelined for another month.
“You never want to see guys get injured, especially your best player in Igor,” Garand said on Saturday. “He means a lot to the guys in this room and a lot to me personally. At the same time, it’s just next man up, and that’s kind of my approach here. I’m excited for the opportunity, I’m gonna put my heart and soul on the line for these guys and this city every night.”
Garand recorded a shutout in the Rangers’ 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings last week. He also entered Friday night’s game against the Washington Capitals in relief of Shesterkin, stopping 11 of 12 shots in a 2-1 loss.
The Rangers are expected to call up goaltender Spencer Martin from the AHL, but Mike Sullivan confirmed that Garand will likely handle the bulk of the workload until Korpisalo returns.
“Dylan is a great kid,” Sullivan said. “He’s another fierce competitor, he loves hockey, and he has aspirations to play in the NHL. He’s a good goalie. Everytime we’ve put him in the net, certainly since I've been here, he's made timely saves. He's given our team a chance to win each and every time he's been in the net. We think he's very capable, and he's going to get an opportunity here.”
Although Garand has limited NHL experience, he has spent the past several seasons as Hartford’s starting goaltender, starting more than 35 games in each of the past three seasons.
“Very ready,” Garand said when asked whether he’s ready to take on the Rangers’ starting role. “I think I have a chip on my shoulder for how my past has been. I’m really excited for this opportunity and ready to battle for these guys.”
While expressing their empathy for Shesterkin during this difficult time, Rangers players have emphasized their belief in Garand and their readiness to “rally” around him.
New York has started the season strong, posting a 4-2 record, but Garand’s performance could play a significant role in determining the team’s trajectory.
After going from the waiver wire to the starting crease in less than two weeks, Garand has a unique opportunity to establish himself in the NHL and become a hero in New York.
“I'm excited,” Garand said. “Obviously it's a dream to play in the NHL. I'm just trying to embrace that mentality and have a lot of gratitude for this opportunity. I love being part of this group and I love the guys in this room. So I really just want to work my nuts off and battle for these guys and help the team keep winning.”
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 10: Pavel Zacha #18 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his first-period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 10, 2026, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Bruins got points from 11 different skaters on Saturday afternoon, extending Philly’s season-opening misery with a 5-1 win at TD Garden.
Fraser Minten led the way for the B’s, with the youngster recording a goal and two assists.
Casey Mittelstadt, Pavel Zacha, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Mason Lohrei recorded the other Bruin goals.
Jeremy Swayman didn’t have a ton to do in this one, as he made just 14 saves in the win.
In spite of outshooting the Flyers 22-8 through two periods, the B’s kind of let Philly hang around at just 2-0 down; however, they outscored the Flyers 3-1 in the third period to salt this one away.
The loss extended the Flyers’ season-opening losing streak to six games, giving Rick Tocchet one of the hotter seats in the hockey world at the moment.
Zacha’s goal, his first of the season, kind of epitomized Philly’s start to the season: the play only came about because Owen Tippett knocked the puck back into his own zone, directly to David Pastrnak.
Zacha’s shot somehow trickled past Dan Vladar, and it was 1-0 Bruins early in the first.
The score would remain the same until the final three minutes of the second period, when Lohrei cashed in on a well-executed 4-on-2 rush to make it 2-0 Bruins.
Porter Martone got one back for Philly five minutes later, as the B’s gave the young forward too much space on the power play, and he didn’t miss. 3-1 Bruins.
However, Mittelstadt would reestablish the three-goal lead just three minutes later, tucking home a great pass from Elias Lindholm to make it 4-1 Bruins.
After an afternoon spent dishing the puck out, Minten got a goal of his own late in the third, speeding past multiple Flyers before getting a bit of a fortuitous bounce to beat Vladar five-hole and make it 5-1 Bruins.
By my count, Minten has had three three-point games as a Bruin, and two of them have been against the Flyers. Along with today’s effort, Minten had a 1G-2A game against Philly on January 29; his other three-pointer was a 2G-1A outing in the B’s 10-2 blowout win over the Rangers on January 10.
On a day when the scoring was spread around, the only other Bruin with a multi-point day was JJ Peterka. The forward was credited with primary assists on both Lohrei’s and Minten’s goals.
Speaking of the Minten goal, that one will not be going on the Noel Acciari Highlight Reel. The former Bruin got caught getting back on defense in the neutral zone, and he barely got a sight of Minten as he sped past. Adios.
James Hagens, who ended up with an assist on the goal as well, made a great play at his own blue line prior to Mittelstadt’s goal. He was able to cleanly corral an outlet pass with his skate, then immediately turn the puck up ice and hit a teammate in stride. That started the clean zone entry, and the rest was history.
Unfortunately, the B’s did not, in fact, maintain power play momentum from the Utah game in this one, going 0-for-2 on the afternoon.
If you’re a Flyers fan, this game probably epitomizes your season thus far. The Flyers turn it over at the blue line and Zacha’s shot somehow trickles in, a blocked shot leads to a 4-on-2 the other way, Minten’s shot ends up banking five-hole and in instead of getting stuck, etc. One of those stretches for Philly, I guess.
Minten actually ended his afternoon shortly after his goal, as he was given 2-and-10 for tangling with Martone after a hit on Hampus Lindholm that Minten didn’t like. I’m not sure he was actively angling for the Gordie Howe Hat Trick, but he came pretty close.
The B’s will now make their annual sojourn out to California, as they’ll play the Sharks, Ducks, and Kings on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, respectively.
When Simon Katich walked into Kingsmead Stadium on Friday, he was swift to pull his mobile phone out to capture a monument to one of his fondest memories as a cricketer.
The bad news is that the Rangers current backup goaltender is 31-year-old Spencer Martin, who has a career 87.5 percent save percentage through 72 games played in the NHL, and was only recently cleared from a lower-body injury of his own.
Behind Martin is emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) Remmington Keopple, a 24-year-old who played 19 NCAA games across four seasons at Cornell between 2022 and 2026.
With this in mind -- assuming that the Blueshirts can't convince Jonathan Quick or Connor Ingram to come out of retirement, and don't have the leverage to swing a trade for an established NHL goaltender such as Connor Hellebuyck -- let's take a look at three realistic options the Rangers could bring in to serve as Garand's backup, including two third-string goalies under one-year contracts with other NHL teams and one current free agent.
Matt Murray
32-year-old Canadian Matt Murray is very familiar with Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan. As a rookie with Sully's Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16, he replaced legendary veteran Marc-André Fleury in the first round of the playoffs, posting a .923 save percentage and 2.08 GAA across 15 games as the Pens emerged as 2016 Stanley Cup Champions.
Murray spent five years in Pittsburgh, two seasons in Ottawa, and three seasons in Toronto, which included a 21-month absence due to bilateral hip surgery. Last season, he started four games for the Seattle Kraken as the third-choice goaltender behind Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer. A small sample size, yes, but Murray recorded strong marks in both save percentage (.922) and goals against average (2.21).
That serious hip injury could be the reason why Murray remains an unrestricted free agent, but with proven NHL experience and familiarity with the Rangers' head honcho, he could be worth a flier.
Remi Poirier
25-year-old Remi Poirier has yet to make his NHL debut, but in my opinion, that's no fault of his own. A sixth-round pick in 2020 by the Dallas Stars, Poirier was unsurprisingly unable to dislodge either of the members of a premier goaltender tandem in the form of Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith, who have been the team's unquestioned starter and backup for three seasons running. Last season with the AHL's Texas Stars, Poirier was something of a bell cow, starting 52 games and recoding a .912 save percentage alongside a 2.61 GAA.
Similar in many ways to Garand, Poirier was waived by the Stars in late September, but unlike Garand, Poirier was claimed by another team. Now the third-choice for the New Jersey Devils behind Jake Allen and Nico Daws, Poirier's $850,000 contract expires at season's end, when he's set to become a restricted free agent.
With Poirier yet to make a start for the Devils, a crosstown trade to the Rangers could give him the chance to prove he's got what it takes to be a full-time NHL backup.
Brandon Halverson
Drafted by the Rangers at the tail end of the 2014 NHL Draft's second round, 6'5" American netminder Brandon Halverson has made just two NHL starts since. And yet, the 30-year-old's stock is seemingly on the rise.
Halverson struggled mightily during his time in the Rangers organization following the draft, bouncing around from the OHL to the AHL and even the ECHL (one tier below the AHL). After a brief stint in Germany's second-tier, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning and dominated the AHL during the last three seasons, saving 91 percent of the 2421 shots on goal he faced with the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
A free agent this past offseason, Halverson earned the third-choice gig in Dallas with the AHL's Texas Stars, and as I mentioned earlier, Dallas's AHL starter is merely an insurance policy for Oettinger and DeSmith.
On a one-year, $850,000 contract, trading for Halverson to serve as Garand's backup could be a low-risk, high-reward reclamation project for the Rangers.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 10: Jake Allen #34 of the New Jersey Devils is congratulated by teammate Jack Hughes #86 after the win over the Vancouver Canucks at Prudential Center on October 10, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. This game was Allen's 500th NHL game. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Period
After putting together four good shifts to start the game, the New Jersey Devils took a bad penalty when Anthony Mantha went to the box for hooking in the neutral zone four and a half minutes in. Cody Glass won the first draw on the penalty kill, allowing the Devils to clear the puck. The forwards did well early on, but Dougie Hamilton was screening Jake Allen a bit when Linus Karlsson took a shot from the side of the high slot near halfway into the kill, as the Canucks went up 1-0.
The Devils went to the power play when Jonathan Lekkerimaki was called for high sticking Brett Pesce a couple minutes later. Hischier won the draw, but Bratt’s weak pass to the point was immediately picked off and cleared. The Devils took three turns to get full possession back in the offensive zone, wasting most of the first unit’s time. But when they did get back in, completing passes, Nico Hischier took a pass in the bumper and scored his 200th NHL goal to tie the game!
After a hard Luke Hughes slap shot, Kevin Lankinen had to replace Leevi Merliainen due to Merlialinen’s skate blade being broken. With the equipment crew unable to fix the skate, Lankinen was forced to enter. This would prove costly to the Canucks. Filip Hronek was skating backwards with the puck in their defensive zone and fanned on a pass, allowing Amadeus Lombardi to shoot on Lankinen. Lankinen allowed the shot to leak through, and Jesper Boqvist smacked the puck into the net! The Devils went up 2-1 as Lombardi picked up his first career point.
Second Period
The Canucks gained Leevi Merliainen back in their net to start the second period. Yet again, the Devils looked like they were outclassing the Canucks at five-on-five to start this period. Thankfully, they didn’t take a back-breaking penalty. But Brock Boeser would take a hooking penalty for Vancouver, sending the Devils back to the power play a few minutes into the period.
Nico Hischier won the draw, but the Devils were forced back. When they regained possession, Jesper Bratt cut across for a backhand, but Merliainen made the save. The Devils were forced back again, but the first unit stayed on. Jack Hughes made a nice feed to Nico Hischier, but Merliainen blocked it with his pad. Nico poked at it, and Jesper Bratt came in from behind to shoot the puck through Filip Hronek to give the Devils a 3-1 lead!
This power play did not look very good early on, but the last minute of the period featured a lot of in-zone time for them. Here, they broke the Canucks down as Dougie Hamilton was quarterbacking the power play. With 9.6 seconds to play, Nico Hischier scored at the side of the net when Jack Hughes feathered a pass across the crease after Bratt drew defenders to the slot and sent the puck down low.
After the goal, at center ice, Evan Rodrigues knocked Marco Rossi down with his stick when Rossi hit him with his glove. Rodrigues was reviewed for a spearing major. He was gifted a four-minute double minor instead of the major, but it looked to me like he deserved a game misconduct.
Evan Rodrigues has been assessed a double-minor for "high-sticking" on Marco Rossi 😬 pic.twitter.com/r8RzBZ0Khv
The Devils set out to kill the remaining 3:51 of the Rodrigues penalty to start the second period, sending out Cody Glass, Dawson Mercer, Brett Pesce, and Brenden Dillon. Glass won the draw, and Dillon cleared down to Vancouver. Glass was strong on Vancouver’s entry, allowing Mercer to force them back to center. After another entry, Glass cleared down the ice and went off for Hischier and Bratt. Siegenthaler and Hamilton came on for Dillon and Pesce. Hamilton got the next clear to allow the Devils more breathing room before disrupting Vancouver’s next entry, allowing Hischier to clear the puck and change. Gritsyuk and Meier went on with Dillon and Pesce as the Devils ramped the pressure up on Vancouver, drawing a penalty to negate the remaining 1:51 of the Canucks penalty. Brock Boeser went off for hooking Timo Meier.
At four-on-four, Luke Hughes stripped the puck on the wall and sent his brother Jack ahead. He did not get his best shot on goal, but it still went forced Merliainen to smother it under his arm. Declan Chisholm later picked off a pass to Filip Hronek right in front of Allen on the other end. A couple shifts after the penalties expired, Paul Cotter threw a big hit on Evan Rodrigues, but the two did not fight despite exchanging words at several points.
The Canucks fittingly showed little fight throughout the rest of the game, as the Devils just missed on several chances to extend their lead as Jake Allen’s workload calmed down over the last 20.
Giving up just one screened goal in his 500th NHL game, Jake Allen faced just over 2 expected goals from the Vancouver Canucks this afternoon and came up big with some strong saves and steady positional play in the crease. Allen goes up to 2-1-0 this season, 38-40-4 as a Devil, and 227-206-45 in his total career with today’s win. Through the first four games of the season, Allen has been stronger than not in his three appearances, though I suspect that things are going to slow down for him a bit from here. The Devils have been able to play him in these three out of four because of how many rest days they’ve had, as he had four and then three rest days between starts. He will have to settle for just one or two to the next game, as the Devils play four games in six days from Monday to next Saturday.
Nico 200
Jake Allen turned out to be only one of the Devils to reach a career milestone today, as Nico Hischier scored his 200th and 201st career goals in a three-point game. In Devils franchise history, Hischier ranks fifth on the all-time scoring list, though he will tie Bobby Holik and Travis Zajac for tied-third all-time with his next goal. Meanwhile, with a secondary assist on Nico’s second goal, Jesper Bratt passed Travis Zajac to take sole possession of fifth place all-time on the Devils’ assist leaderboard at 349.
The Devils have needed Nico to get going with the goal scoring, as he was held scoreless through the team’s first three games. Two of those goals helped the Devils go three-for-four on the power play today, though it was practically a three-for-three considering their last power play spanned 11 seconds. So, after the power play started 1-for-14 (7.14%), they are now officially 4-for-18 (22.22%). That’s a world of difference.
Better Penalty Kill?
The Devils went two-for-three on the penalty kill today. Technically, that isn’t great, but it is better than their 62.5% kill rate over the first three games. What I found encouraging, though, was how well they approached the penalty kill after the Rodrigues penalty. They were able to pressure the puck on entries and along the wall, forcing the Canucks to try and make good passes. The frustration they inflicted on Vancouver led to Brock Boeser’s second penalty of the game, and they did it by rolling three forward units on the kill who were able to change frequently due to the number of times they cleared the defensive zone. More of that in the future will lead to better results.
Two Games, Two Goals for Boqvist
While I am still not convinced that the right players are centering the third and fourth lines, I am really encouraged by the chemistry that Amadeus Lombardi and Jesper Boqvist have built over two games together so far. Boqvist had four shots on goal today, including the game-winning goal, while Lombardi and Rodrigues had a shot each. Lombardi’s, of course, led to Boqvist’s goal in the first period as Lombardi got his first career point. But just like that, this is already the hottest start to a season Boqvist has ever had. He’s never scored two goals in the first five games played of a season, and his career-best was two assists in the first three games he played for Florida in 2024-25. In the two seasons Boqvist had 10 goals for the Devils, it took him 17 and nine games to get on the scoresheet for the team. Hopefully, by getting on the board early and often, Boqvist can get going on a big year, as he has historically been a high-percentage shooter when he actually gets shots on goal.
Keep Your Stick Down
I was incensed by Evan Rodrigues’s spearing penalty on Marco Rossi at the end of the second period. I was sure it was going to be called a five-minute major, as Rodrigues made direct contact with Rossi during the incident. I was angry for three reasons. First and foremost, Evan Rodrigues is 33 years old. He should know better. Second, the Devils had just gone up three goals. Putting his team at risk of having to kill a five-minute major penalty was incredibly thoughtless of Rodrigues. Third, I would hate to see a team take runs at the Devils’ stars because a bottom six player made a really bad decision.
Thankfully, for the Devils, the Canucks looked like they wanted no part of making the Devils pay for what Rodrigues did. And for that matter, the only Canuck who really gave it to Rodrigues was Paul Cotter, who threw a big check on him and seemed ready to get going with a fight. If this incident were flipped, where a Devils player was speared and the team did not fight afterwards for him, I could not imagine how upset this board would be at the lack of toughness on display by the team. So, I am not sure how Canucks fans are feeling right now, but I was shocked that nobody even tried to drop the gloves on Rodrigues or really rough him up after a whistle. He got away with it this time, but I would hope that this never repeats as long as he’s a Devil.
Your Thoughts
But what did you think of this afternoon’s game? Did you think the Devils missed some opportunities? What did you think of the late-second period lull before the power play? What did you think of the spearing penalty? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and thanks for reading.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 5: Jordan Goodwin #23, Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns and John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons look to rebound the ball during the NBA preseason on October 5, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons were able to showcase their depth in a preseason debut win over the Phoenix Suns, but their starters had their fair share of struggles. Ausar Thompson was attempting to handle the ball much more than usual, John Collins was trying to integrate himself into the lineup while also trying not to murder Dillon Brooks, and Paul Reed was stepping in for Jalen Duren. Then some key bench players were also a little erratic — plenty of shots for Ron Holland, and plenty of fouls and turnovers for… everyone. It’s fine. It’s the preseason. That’s what it’s for. But now the Pistons have a chance to sharpen up against the Washington Wizards. Jalen Duren might suit up today, and we will get a better sense of what a lot of these new ingredients and further simmering talents are able to do for the Pistons.
GAME VITALS
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC Watch: TV: TV20 Detroit | Streaming: DAZN-DET Odds: Pistons -4.5
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren
Washington Wizards
Trae Young, Kyshawn George, AJ Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis
The Vancouver Canucks’ penalty killing woes continued in their 4–1 loss to the New Jersey Devils today. All but one of the Devils’ goals today came while Vancouver was on the penalty kill. Linus Karlsson scored the lone goal for the Canucks while on the power play, while Leevi Meriläinen made 31 stops on 34 shots faced in today’s effort.
Vancouver opted to make some changes to their lineup after Thursday’s loss, taking Aatu Räty and Victor Mancini out of the lineup in exchange for Brendan Gallagher and Luke Schenn respectively. With Räty being taken out of the lineup, Vancouver was down to three natural centres. Drew O’Connor skated down the middle on Vancouver’s third line as a result.
The biggest component to today’s game was Vancouver’s struggling penalty kill. The Canucks allowed a goal on almost every single penalty they took today (3), bringing their season’s PK total down to 52.2%.
A couple of minutes after Vancouver opened the game’s scoring with Karlsson’s power-play goal, Jonathan Lekkerimäki took a high-sticking penalty that put the Canucks on the penalty-kill. Still appearing to be experimenting with their penalty-killing units, a duo of Brock Boeser and Liam Öhgren came onto the ice for Vancouver on the Devils’ first goal.
Later, during the second period, Vancouver surrendered yet another power-play goal on a hooking penalty taken by Boeser, this time with a unit of Gallagher and Max Sasson on the ice for the goal-against. This was followed-up by a third power-play goal-against scored by Nico Hischier after a dominant, possession-filled power play for New Jersey.
Today’s game also featured an odd occurrence that resulted in both Canucks goaltenders being in net for the second-consecutive game. While Meriläinen started today, with around five minutes left in the first period, a shot from Luke Hughes hit the Canucks goaltender’s skate and knocked the blade out. After a TV time-out, Kevin Lankinen came into the game in Meriläinen’s place. Despite his skate blade coming out yet another time, Meriläinen came out for the second period and played out the remainder of the game.
New Jersey’s lone even-strength goal came at the end of the first period. Filip Hronek boggled the puck while attempting to re-set, allowing Jesper Boqvist and Amadeus Lombardi to pounce on the opportunity. While Lankinen made the initial stop, Boqvist was able to jump on the rebound to give his team the lead.
Because of the fact that Lankinen allowed the goal that ultimately won New Jersey the game, today’s loss is credited to him instead of Meriläinen, despite Meriläinen starting the game and playing in nearly the entire matchup. Lankinen played in a total of 5:27 minutes today.
Towards the end of the second period, Marco Rossi made a move to push Devils forward Evan Rodrigues out of the faceoff dot, prompting Rodrigues to spear the Canucks centre in the throat. Vancouver was given a four-minute power play for the sequence. While they had a little more than two minutes on the man-advantage to start the third period, another hooking call taken by Boeser cancelled out the power play. Because of the slight overlap at the end of Rodrigues’ double-minor, the Canucks spent nine seconds on the penalty kill. This technically gave Vancouver their first successful penalty kill of the game.
As a whole, Vancouver wasn’t quite able to establish genuine offence in today’s game. New Jersey played the Canucks well, jumping on their opportunities and smothering Vancouver when they could. On the flip side, however, Vancouver gave the Devils ample opportunities to seize the puck by giving it away or turning it over.
Oct 10, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) takes a shot against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images
Stats and Facts:
• Vancouver allows a power-play goal-against in six consecutive penalty kills
• None of the Canucks’ four centres recorded a faceoff win rate higher than 50%
• Leevi Meriläinen plays in his first career game against the New Jersey Devils
• Brock Boeser ties Andre Boudrias for 16th all-time in Canucks history in power-play assists (89)
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
5:27 - VAN: Linus Karlsson (1) from Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk (PPG)
8:03 - NJD: Nico Hischier (1) from Arseny Gritsyuk and Luke Hughes
16:24 - NJD: Jesper Boqvist (2) from Amadeus Lombardi
2nd Period:
4:36 - NJD: Jesper Bratt (1) from Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes (PPG)
19:50 - NJD: Nico Hischier (2) from Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt (PPG)
3rd Period:
No Scoring.
Up Next:
Vancouver Canucks @ New York Rangers, October 11, 3:30 pm PT
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Lakers center Walker Kessler (14) and guard Collin Sexton, shown during media day, have yet to play in any preseason games because of injuries. When they might return is still unclear. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Entering the final week of preseason games, Lakers coach JJ Redick still is unsure when he’ll get a full look at his new-look team.
Lingering injuries to center Walker Kessler (finger) and guard Collin Sexton (lower leg) are casting doubt on their availability for the Lakers’ fourth preseason game Tuesday in Las Vegas against the Golden State Warriors.
Both offseason additions have yet to make their preseason debuts. While Kessler participated in practice Saturday after hitting his finger on the backboard, he was not in live drills. Redick said he was “not committed” to having Kessler available Tuesday against the Warriors.
The Lakers invested four first-round picks and a four-year, $130-million contract to get the star center from the Utah Jazz. They’re relying on him to anchor their defense and add a much-desired lob threat for guard Luka Doncic. For now, the Lakers are getting a preview of what their team would look like in the minutes without Kessler.
“It’s important to have two of the bigger wings out there for rebounding purposes,” said Redick, who said Kessler’s finger injury is minor enough for him to play through if this was the regular season. “That was a concern, I think, coming into the year ... trying to be a good defensive rebounding team. What does that look like with Walker not on the court? And I think in film, it’s pretty apparent that we need to do a better job of boxing out. Just like simple stuff and gang rebounding.”
The Lakers are 28th in the preseason with 37.7 rebounds per game and gave up 20 offensive rebounds to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday in their third game of the preseason.
Wings Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams started the Lakers’ preseason opener and the defensive-minded players flashed their potential by hounding opponents the full length of the court. After starring in the opener with 13 points and a steal against the Warriors, Williams missed the last two games because of a foot contusion.
Second-year forward Adou Thiero started instead and has a team-high 11 defensive rebounds in three games. The high-flying wing’s growth this offseason caught the attention of his teammates, who are eager to throw him lobs for dunks and see him sky for rebounds.
Doncic has been high on him since the Lakers star hosted a five-day minicamp for the team in his home country of Slovenia in August.
“I told him that the second pickup game in Slovenia, what I saw from him, just understanding the game better, reading the game, I think he improved a lot in the summer,” Doncic said.
With Kessler sidelined, the Lakers have alternated Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili at center. Looney leads the team with 17 rebounds in the preseason. Mamukelashvili, who plays both power forward and center, has 11 assists in the preseason, showing the type of versatility that has Redick excited to install the team’s “Mamu package” of plays and after-timeout sets.
The lack of depth at center could be a concern during the season, but they’re confident in their perimeter players to set the tone on defense.
“It makes my job a lot easier,” Looney said of the Lakers’ rotation of wings. “As long as I talk early, they’re going to get over the screen. I don’t have to be caught playing two. Those guys are able to recover, they’re able to block shots, they’re able to pop back and get rebounds. As a big, when your guards and wings are hustling like that, it makes your job a lot easier.”
Lakers center Kevon Looney tries to score inside against the Kings' Dylan Cardwell and Nique Clifford during a preseason game on Monday in Sacramento. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
Sexton is “probably a little bit further behind” when it comes to returning compared to Kessler, Redick said. The Lakers signed the 27-year-old guard for extra scoring punch and have missed him as a third ballhandling option to supplement Doncic and Austin Reaves. With the way teams pressure, Redick said he is aiming to have multiple ballhandlers on the court at all times.
With coaches still tinkering with lineups in the preseason, turnovers became a problem when the ballhandling options dwindled. The Lakers average the fourth-most turnovers per game (23.7) in the preseason.
Although the Lakers have yet to have all their players available, they aren’t lacking confidence. Doncic said he knew the team, which welcomed nine new players during a busy offseason, had championship potential well before training camp started.
“Since the first day,” Doncic said. “That simple. Since the first day everybody came together in Slovenia … I believed that we can win a championship.”
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 8: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards and AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards high five during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Detroit Pistons tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Watch on Monumental Sports Network. Read the preview here. Let’s get to 2-0 in this young preseason!
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 25: Brock Nelson #11 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on January 25, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After coming home with a split on the road, the Colorado Avalanche are back on home ice for another Saturday night showdown!
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs make their only regular season visit to Denver, with a few new faces in their lineup!
Colorado Avalanche (3-1-0)
The Opponent: Toronto Maple Leafs (2-2-1)
Time: 5:00 P.M. MDT/7:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), NHL Network, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+ (Canadian National Broadcast)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs return home after splitting their first pair of back-to-back road games. They lost 3-2 on a (literal) last minute goal this past Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, but rebounded with a strong showing against the Calgary Flames in a 7-3 victory this past Thursday. The loss in Winnipeg was the first for Mackenzie Blackwood this season, while Scott Wedgewood earned his first win in his season debut against Calgary.
Jaden Schwartz scored three goals across both contests. Fedor Svechkov scored his first goal in an Avalanche sweater against Winnipeg. Zachary L’Heureux, acquired with Svechkov from Nashville in the offseason, made his Avalanche debut against Winnipeg and recorded his first assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s eventual game-winning goal in Calgary. L’Heureux also had his first fight for the Avs in a short bout with Calgary’s Matt Coronato.
Devon Toews, who had a career-low three goals last season, scored a pair of goals against Calgary. His defensive partner in Cale Makar also scored a pair of goals against his hometown team.
T.J. Hughes also recorded his first point of his NHL career, assisting on Schwartz’s first goal on against Calgary.
While the Avs remain perfect on the penalty kill, the power play has gone three games without a goal since going 4/5 in the season opener against Los Angeles on September 30.
MacKinnon leads all skaters in points (8) and assists (5), while also sharing the team lead in penalty minutes (5) with L’Heureux. He also leads the team in goals (3), along with Makar, Schwartz, and Artturi Lehkonen.
The Avs have split every season series against Toronto going back to the 2017-2018 season. Their last victory on home ice came against Toronto was in a 7-3 victory on March 05, 2025.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J. Hughes Parker Kelly – Nicolas Roy – Zachary L’Heureux
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Toronto Maple Leafs
The lottery balls finally bounced Toronto’s way this offseason, giving them the first overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft. At the draft in June, they selected left-wing Gavin McKenna, whom many projected to be the top pick of the draft.
The move was one of many offseason transactions for Toronto. They sent a fifth round pick in this year’s draft to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Darren Raddysh on June 19; Raddysh signed an eight-year, $68 million dollar contract with Toronto as part of the transaction. Toronto also acquired center Nick Paul from Tampa in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby and a pair of draft picks in 2027 & 2028 on July 01.
Free agent goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed a three-year, $21 million dollar contract (more on him later). That same day, noted Avalanche killer Colton Sissons also signed to a two-year, $8.5 million dollar contract, and former Avalanche forward Brandon Duhaime also signed a three-year $7.8 million dollar contract.
Shortly before the start of the season, Toronto made their biggest move: they acquired right-wing Kirill Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, and former Avalanche forward Miles Wood from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for left-wings Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrei, and a 2027 second round pick.
Toronto 2-2-1 to start the season, and are coming into tonight’s game off a 4-3 defeat against the Vegas Golden Knights this past Thursday. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, Toronto did the Leafiest thing possible in allowing Vegas to score three unanswered goals to tie the game and lose in the shootout round.
Hiller also mentioned that he does not expect John Tavares to play against Colorado tonight due to the birth of his son Tucker on Friday.
Toronto’s last victory over Colorado came on January 12th, a 4-3 overtime victory at Ball Arena last season.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Kirill Marchenko – Auston Matthews – Jack Roslovic Easton Cowan – Nick Paul – William Nylander Gavin McKenna – Teddy Blueger – Colton Sissons Brandon Duhaime – Zack MacEwen – Bo Groulx
Defense: Jake McCabe – Chris Tanev Morgan Reilly – Darren Raddysh Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Troy Stecher
Between the Pipes: Sergei Bobrovsky Anthony Stolarz
NOTE: Don’t forget to download the new SB Nation app for a more mobile-friendly way to follow tonight’s action and engage with Mile High Hockey’s match threads. Commenting and interacting with your communities is easier than ever before with the Game Chat feature. The app is currently available in the U.S. and Canada on iOS and Android devices.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 08: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts during the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game four of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 08, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers, Brewers, and Rays are all into the league championship round. On Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on TBS, the final team will be decided in Cleveland in an AL Central matchup as the White Sox square off with the Guardians in a decisive Game 5.
Like any Game 5 scenario, this is a real toss-up as RHP Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76 ERA) takes on the White Sox’s RHP Sean Burke (11-7, 3.34 ERA). Williams boasts one of the highest strikeout rates of any starter in the game, but he is a little more home run prone than Burke. Things aren’t as flashy on Burke’s side of the equation, but he had a really good season as well and has tended to keep the ball in the park more effectively. Like most games, there’s a good chance this comes down to who gives up homers and who doesn’t.
The White Sox offense is theoretically much better, as the Guardians were one of the worst scoring teams in baseball this season. However, with Jose Ramirez perking up after a rough season in which he dealt with a hook hamate fracture and surgery at mid-season, the Guardians lineup is probably better than it looks on paper.
Everyone is getting gassed this time of year, but the White Sox have also had to lean really hard on their bullpen in this series, and it hasn’t gone well for them after taking a 2-0 series lead. They’ll need to build a lead and keep it, as coming back in the late innings against the Guardians bullpen is no easy task.
The NLCS will get underway on Sunday with a heck of a pitching matchup as Tarik Skubal squares off against Jacob Misiorowski and the Brewers.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Didier Fuentes #72 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just because the Atlanta Braves are done for the year here in 2026, that doesn’t mean that the rumor mill needs to stop. In fact, apparently we’re still learning new details about trades that didn’t happen all the way back in August around the Trade Deadline.
We learned a while back that the Braves were reportedly willing to send Spencer Strider out to Texas in exchange for Jacob deGrom and now we’re learning about a player who they were willing to keep when trying to swing a deal for the biggest name of the deadline, Tarik Skubal.
According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, the Braves refused to include Didier Fuentes in any trade talks with the Tigers for Skubal. The words that Abraham used is that the Braves “wouldn’t part” with Fuentes. I’d imagine that if Alex Anthopoulos is unwilling to move the 21-year-old hurler for a pitcher the caliber of Skubal then that means that Fuentes is likely set to be here for the long haul and could be an important part of the team going forward.
The good news for the Braves is that it’s not like pitching was the issue for them – especially during their Postseason run. Sure, Fuentes had an up-and-down experience in October, himself, but that’s to be expected from someone as young as he was. Plus, the “up” was a massive flash of brilliance in Game 2 of the NLDS which is when Fuentes retired 11 batters in a row during a crucial part of the contest. Walt Weiss repeatedly contended that Fuentes was his “best” reliever and the faith that was placed in him during the playoffs was proof of that belief.
It also seems to indicate that the Braves have bigger plans for Fuentes. After all, he did initially start life as a big leaguer in 2025 as a starter and this appears to be an indication that Fuentes could return to that role in some point. I don’t think they’d be willing to hold on to him if they figured that he was simply going to be a high-leverage reliever going forward.
There’s also no telling as to who all else was involved in the trade talks – though MLB Trade Rumors did name JR Ritchie and AJ Smith-Shawver as prospects who were deemed to be available. We’re likely not going to hear Anthopoulos lay out the whole trade discussion between the Braves and the Tigers unless he decides to randomly drop a bombshell during some random appearance on the radio (similarly to how he sort of randomly revealed earlier this Summer that the Braves were close to acquiring Kyle Schwarber a few years ago) so we likely won’t get to know whether or not Fuentes was the difference between Skubal wearing navy blue-and-red instead of Dodger blue any time soon.
Either way, it seems like everyone involved got their way. The Braves held on to a very talented hurler with a bright future, the Dodgers added to their constellation of stars and the Tigers got a return that they’re happy with. It’s a very interesting story and all we can do is wait to see how the long-term situation plays out.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 9: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets jumps the opening tip against Morez Johnson Jr. #14 of the Dallas Mavericks during the 2026 Macao Games on October 9, 2026 at The Venetian Arena in Macao, China. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston looked pretty good on Friday morning in their 135-117 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Fred VanVleet’s return to the lineup was triumphant and Alperen Sengun snagged a triple double in just 22 minutes. Were the Rockets perfect? Of course not. 21 turnovers leap off the stat sheet and defense was optional in the second half, but in a preseason overseas, you have to expect some issues.
For Dallas, Dusty May has stated that he expects Kyrie Irving to play one of the two games. Since Irving didn’t play on Friday, well the process of elimination sort of does the work for us. Kevin Durant is also listed as a game-time decision. Again, the league wants the stars to play and the teams know that, so we’ll see how May and Ime Udoka play this.
Houston’s next (and final) preseason game is on Thursday in Houston against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then there’s no basketball until the following Wednesday (October 21) when Houston takes on these same Dallas Mavericks to open the season.
Tip-off
5am CT
How To Watch
NBA TV and Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
Kevin Durant: GTD
Mavericks
Do you really care?
The Line (as of this post)
I can’t find one and honestly, if you really need this line, please get some help.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 3: Joel Embiid #21 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during practice on October 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in their home preseason opener. The 76ers have played 2 games so far, winning the first and losing the second. They sat their starters in the first game and won and played all of their starters in the second game and lost. Philly has one preseason game left after this one, at home against the Celtics. The Celtics have 2 more preseason games, one at home against Charlotte and the final game on the road at Philadelphia.
Jaylen Brown’s play with the 76ers will be a point of interest for Celtics fans all season. He was the only regular starter to play in both games. Nick Nurse has said that he will play his starters in one of the 2 games against Boston and it will likely be their home game. Since the Celtics starters sat out the first game. I expect them to play at least the first half in this one. But, with Joe, you never know.
The 76ers made one of the biggest moves of the off season, trading Paul George to get Jaylen Brown. They also signed LeBron James, Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti and Anfernee Simons as free agents. They drafted Labaron Philon, Jr with the 22nd pick in the draft. Along with Paul George, they lost Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Jr and Andre Drummond.
I’m not going to post possible starters for this game. Both coaches are unpredictable and I’m sure whatever lineups I pick, the coaches will start someone else. Philadelphia started Caldwell-Pope, Edgecombe, Brown, Wade and Hukporti in their first game. They started Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid in their second game. The Celtics started Conley, Scheierman, Walsh, Gonzalez and Garza. He may go with the starters in this game or possibly even all the end of the bench guys.
The Celtics have just one player on the injury list and that is Ron Harper, Jr who is a game time decision with a shoulder injury. The 76ers have 5 players listed as out including Taco Fall (hip), Dminick Barlow (back), Adem Bona (foot), Ariel Hukporti (Achilles), and Anfernee Simons (hamstring). I’m sure there will be at least a few players out for rest as well. With Hukporti out for the season and Bona nursing a sore foot, they are weak at the center.
Boston Celtics Roster Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley Luka Garza Paul George Hugo Gonzalez Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Neemias Queta Mitchell Robinson Baylor Scheierman Jayson Tatum Jordan Walsh Derrick White
2-Way Players Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Exhibit 10 Players Devin Carter Tucker DeVries Hayden Gray Gabe MccGlothan Milos Uzan Injuries Ron Harper, Jr (shoulder) game time decision
Players to Watch
Jayson Tatum and Paul George
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Philadelphia 76ers Roster Jaylen Brown Kentavious Caldwell-Pope VJ Edgecombe Justin Edwards Joel Embiid LeBron James Tyrese Maxey Labaron Philon, Jr Dean Wade Jabari Walker
2-Way Players Caleb Love Rayan Rupert
Exhibit 10 Players Taco Fall Dillon Jones Duke Miles Jameer Nelson, Jr Saint Thomas
Injuries Taco Fall (hip) out Dominick Barlow (back) out Adem Bona (foot) out Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) out Anfernee Simons (hamstring) out
Players to Watch
VJ Edgecombe and Jabari Walker
Head Coach Nick Nurse
What to Watch How Jayson Tatum Plays – Jayson Tatum played in just 16 games last season, plus 6 playoff games. He looked good and averaged almost 22 points and 10 rebounds, however, he didn’t seem to have the same explosion that he did before the injury. He also played along side of Jaylen Brown for the past 10 years and will be playing as the Alpha without him for the first time in his career. We didn’t get to see him in the first game, so hopefully he will play in this game. How About the New Guys– Conley looked good in the start on Thursday and may or may not play in this one. How will Paul George’s game fit with Jayson Tatum and how will he play in the Celtics’ system. Does he still have a lot in the tank and can he still play at a high level? Will Mitchell Robinson start or come off the bench and how will his game fit with Mazzulla Ball? Can he hit his free throws? Chris Cenac, Jr, Dillon Mitchell and Devin Carter all impressed in game 1. Can they do it again in this game?
Offensive Rebounding – The Celtics dominated the boards on Thursday against the Cavaliers. They had 21 offensive rebounds to just 6 for the Cavs. Can the starters do just as well? Rebounding will be a key for the Celtics this season. The 76ers had 10 offensive rebounds in their first game and 6 in their second. The Celtics need to once again dominate the boards in this game.
3 Point Shooting – The Celtics picked up where they left off last season, shooting 47 three pointers and hitting 36.2% of them The 76ers reserves shot 46 threes in the first game against New York and hit 34.8% of them. In their second game against Brooklynwith the starters in, they shot just 27 threes and hit just 29.6% of them.
X-Factor It’s the Preseason – The preseason is a time for the coaches to get a look at players who may or may not make the team, to experiment with lineups and different plays. Wins and losses are not as important as learning things about the players and the team. We certainly won’t see the regular rotation for either team and that’s ok.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks during a press conference at Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No word yet on whether Mikel Brown Jr. will make his preseason debut Monday night in Washington vs. the Wizards and overall No. 1 pick, A.J. Dybantsa. A lot presumably will depend on how he does during practice on Sunday afternoon at HSS Training Center.
Last we heard from Brian Lewis at the Nets Fan Fest last Sunday, the No. 6 pick had been undergoing contact drills with the team’s coaching staff, having rolled his left ankle during workouts prior to the start of training camp. If he doesn’t play Monday, then it’s likely he and fans will have to wait till the final preseason game Wednesday in Miami vs. the new-look Heat.
The wait has been excruciating for fans anxious to see how the 20-year-old will perform, particularly when paired next to Egor Demin. In his first two preseason contests — both wins — Demin has looked like a different player and he didn’t look bad either during last season or Summer League. Fans see the two, the highest Nets back-to- back picks in 30 years, as the backcourt of the future. Brown Jr. and Demin do, too, each calling the other his “brother.”
In the meantime, fans have had rely on what others are saying about MBJ, starting with the man who picked him back in June, GM Sean Marks. Marks told Sirius/XM recently Brown Jr. has been acting more like a veteran rather than a rookie, organizing team dinners, taking teammates under his wing and emerging as a vocal leader on and off the court:
“He doesn’t act like a rookie. He has a presence about him that you’d say, he’s kind of been there, done that before. Took guys to dinner, took guys under his wing. He’s a vocal leader,” said Mark describing his “swagger“
”He shares the ball, very encouraging teammate… He wanted the best for others, and that really resonated within the locker room.”
Julius Randle, the team’s veteran leader with 13 years experience and it’s most accomplished player, agrees. He also thinks the Louisville product is the real deal.
“Usually when you’re a young player, you want to try to get a basket every single time, but he’s coming off a pick and roll and really understands how to read and play the game,” Randle said.
None of this is that much of a surprise to two people who have mentored him, his father Chris Brown Sr. and Bootsy Thornton, a shooting guard who played for St. John’s and coached Brown Jr. in Orlando. C.J. Holmes of the Daily News spoke to both in recent days.
Dad told Holmes what Mikel’s day entails.
The days have filled up quickly. Since Summer League, Chris said, Mikel’s alarm has gone off at 6:30 a.m. He reaches the facility around 7:30 and works with the team through early afternoon. Then comes the lifting, recovery and a massage. Most evenings, he returns to shoot around 7 p.m. and finishes close to 10 p.m.
Some of the work is learning the people who will share the court with him. Chris said his son studies his teammates’ tendencies and the shots they are trying to add. Mikel watches film with the coaches every day, sometimes going through the same material several times so he can carry it into the next practice.
“It’s one thing to make the NBA, it’s another thing to stick in the NBA,” Chris Brown Sr. said.
Thornton thinks that in the Nets system, with its emphasis on versatility and quick decision-making, Brown Jr. is a point guard but one who doesn’t shy away from the big shot.
“I envision him as a point guard, to be honest with you,” Thornton told Holmes. “He’s a point guard who can score.”
Thornton also said that he expects Brown Jr. will help the Nets immediately with his scoring and passing, adding that he’ll rack up so-called hockey assists, making the pass that leads to the pass that sets up the score.
One issue that the team and Brown Jr.’s recognize is that Brown’s slight frame is likely to make him a target for opponents. Indeed, Chris Brown Sr. told Holmes said the Nets have focused on Mikel’s base and core, building the foundation that will help him absorb contact and keep his balance through a drive.
Personally, Brown Jr. admits he has to be more patient, as he told Holmes.
At Louisville, defenders could sit in the paint and crowd his drives. The space in Summer League caught his attention. So did the touches he spoiled by rushing into it. Brown recalled getting stuck on drives, playing off one foot and making the wrong decision. He’s since worked on finding his spots and stopping on two feet, bringing his body under control before deciding where the ball should go.
“I just got to really slow down,” Brown added. That won’t affect his mindset, Brown Jr. advised.
“That swagger is going to stay regardless. And I’m a high-risk, high-reward guy. Obviously I know sometimes it’s better to hit the single and that’s what I’ve been talking to my coaches about, and I’ve gotten better at that.”
The Nets, as an organization, have embraced that swagger, producing a six-minute video of him at Media Day.
“I ain’t no model. I am a basketball player,” he’s quoted as saying. “I take the orange ball and put it in the orange hoop.”
