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“Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks” to Debut Thursday, October 29 at 5 p.m. AZ time

3 Nov 2001: Luis Gonzalez #20 of the Arizona Diamondbacks swings at a pitch during game 6 of the World Series against the New York Yankees at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks beat the Yankees 15-2 to force a game 7. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross/ALLSPORT | Getty Images

With the 25th anniversary of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Series title approaching, MLB Network Presents will debut Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, October 29th at 5 p.m. Arizona time. Marking the 50th film in the MLB Network Presents series since its launch in 2015, the 90-minute documentary recounts the remarkable rise of the Diamondbacks from expansion franchise to World Series Champions in four seasons, culminating in their unforgettable seven-game victory over the three-time defending champion New York Yankees in 2001.

Among those interviewed are World Series co-MVPs Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, former Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr., 2001 manager Bob Brenly, and championship players Jay Bell, Steve Finley, Luis Gonzalez, Mark Grace, Damian Miller, Reggie Sanders, Matt Williams and Tony Womack. Together, they provide firsthand perspectives on the organization’s beginnings, the construction of the championship roster and the experiences that defined the 2001 season.

“When you put the right people in the right room, there is no unachievable goal. …I think the 2001 season was the perfect baseball season for that team … everything about it was perfect,” said Schilling during the film. 

MLB Network Presents – Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks features past-and-present-day interviews, along with extensive archival footage from the Diamondbacks’ historic 2001 season. The film revisits the decisions, personalities and performances that shaped one of the fastest championship ascents in MLB history, from the organization’s creation to the arrival of Johnson and the credibility he brought to the franchise. 

Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks details Gonzalez’s leadership and career year as well as big-game pitcher Schilling joining forces with Johnson to form a historic combination atop Arizona’s starting rotation. Featured in the film, Schilling shares original notes he took with him to the dugout during his playing career, offering a look at the preparation and attention to detail behind his performance during Arizona’s championship run.

The film also explores how Brenly proved to be the right manager for a veteran roster largely united by a common goal: winning the first World Series championship in franchise history. Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks reflects on the 2001 World Series against the backdrop of the September 11th attacks, including the emotional return of World Series baseball to New York, a series of dramatic late-inning finishes and Arizona’s comeback against Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, capped by Gonzalez’s championship-winning hit. 

The film features new footage and exclusive access captured during the Diamondbacks’ 25th anniversary ceremony for the 2001 championship team this past September, as former teammates reunited to commemorate their historic season.

Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks marks the 50th film in the series and will re-air following its premiere at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on MLB Network.

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Suzuki out as Angels manager

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Kurt Suzuki #8 of the Los Angeles Angels watches the game in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Anaheim Angels have announced that manager Kurt Suzuki will not return as the team’s manager in 2027.

In my much younger days, I regularly watched the HBO stand up comedy specials. One that I watched probably dozens of times was the 13th Annual Young Comedians Special, which came out in 1989. Dennis Miller hosted the special, and the young comedians were Jann Karam, Drake Sather, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Fred Stoller, and Warren Thomas. Stoller, now a character and voice-over actor, wrote a book about the experience, and how each of their lives and careers progressed afterwards, which is a really good read.

Sather had a particular line that stuck with me:

People get so weird when celebrities die. I was watching this documentary on Fred Astaire. They said “Friends and family were shocked at the death of the 88-year-old.” Yeah, I was shocked, too: I thought he died 10 years ago.

Similarly, my first reaction was, damn, I thought the Angels canned Suzuki well before now.

Actually, my first reaction to reading this was, “Wait, isn’t Ron Washington the Angels’ manager?” before remembering that he was fired in the middle of the 2025 season. But then after that it was, oh yeah, they hired Suzuki, and I thought he was cut loose already. That’s probably because general manager Perry Minasian — who, like Suzuki, was under contract only through the end of the 2026 season — was fired four months ago, and while I knew Suzuki was not fired at the same time as Minasian was, I think in my mind I had just already consigned Suzuki to the ranks of former managers.

Suzuki appeared to be brought in as a caretaker manager. He was hired as the manager exactly one year ago after the Angels failed to convince Albert Pujols to take the job. Suzuki had been in the front office as a special assistant to the general manager since 2023, after spending the previous two seasons as part of the Angels’ active roster. The announcement today indicated Suzuki had been offered the opportunity to return to his previous role.

Suzuki is now the second A.L. West manager who is a former major league catcher to be fired this month, with the Mariners’ having terminated Dan Wilson already. Another A.L. West team, the Astros, fired their manager, Joe Espada, though he was never a major league catcher. I don’t think the Rangers’ other divisional rival, the Sacramento A’s, have fired their manager this year, though honestly, I’m not really sure they have a manager. They may just pick a random fan from the stands every game to fill out the lineup card and make pitching changes.

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Luke Holman back on prospect radar after excelling in Arizona Fall League

TALKING STICK, AZ - OCTOBER 05: Luke Holman #29 of the Peoria Javelinas pitches during the game between the Peoria Javelinas and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Monday, October 5, 2026 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

There have been ample foibles foisted in the laps of Cincinnati Reds fans from the seemingly bulletproof front office over the last few decades of copious losing. We need not rehash them all here, of course, as this is simply put out to highlight that perhaps the lone reason why the powers that be are still the powers that be is due to their ability to draft rather well each and every year.

It’s looking more and more like the front office nailed the 2024 draft, for instance.

Chase Burns cracked the big leagues within his first full season as a professional and during the 2025 season established himself as a bona fide ace who was in NL Cy Young Award talk before the Reds chose to curtail the innings on his prized young arm. He also landed a nine-figure contract, and rightfully so.

Tyson Lewis was who the Reds selected with their next pick in 2024. He rocketed into Top 100 overall prospect lists on the backs of a 2025 season that featured incredible exit velocities, the SS/3B now firmly on the national radar.

Lewis isn’t even the top rated prospect drafted by the Reds in this class, though. That honor goes to Mike Sirota, who eschewed concerns about his college production coming up north from tiny Northeastern University to surge all the way into many Top 20 overall prospect lists by late 2026. The only problem there is, though, that the front office saw fit to deal him away for a single awful season of Gavin Lux, so Sirota is doing this within the system of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Leading a draft class with that trio would be impressive enough, but the Reds actually took someone else in between Lewis and Sirota in 2024. That honor belongs to former LSU righty Luke Holman, who we’ve seen for a grand total of 15.2 IP across two years after being drafted.

Holman, now 23, needed Tommy John surgery early in 2025 in his first year as a pro, and that paired with a groin problem in 2026 cost him almost two full seasons of rehab with only 6 games on the mound in any form. That was before this month’s Arizona Fall League, however, and like many of the recent players the Reds have sent to the AFL, Holman’s job there wasn’t simply to soak up the spotlight in a great environment for future experience, it was to use it as a bridge after injury-plagued seasons so that he can hit the ground running again in 2027.

So far, that’s precisely what he’s done. David Laurila of FanGraphs caught up with Holman after his most recent outing left him having fired 9.0 IP in AFL play and having allowed just a lone earned run – with a brilliant 15 strikeouts against just a lone walk in that time. Holman talks shop about his bevy of pitches and how his arm feels as good as ever at the moment, and it’s enough to give hope that the arm FanGraphs rates as the #17 prospect in the system (he ranks 23rd at MLB Pipeline) may well be back and 100% within a Reds farm system that’s seriously devoid of solid starting pitching prospects at the upper levels.

‘Upper levels’ may sound like a stretch when talking about a guy who’s thrown just 15.2 IP in two years across rookie ball and Low-A Daytona, but at 23 with a trio of years spent in the SEC with LSU it wouldn’t shock me at all to see him climb quickly this season if he can simply stay on the mound and prove he’s healthy.

And if he does, the Reds have some long-awaited depth in their pitching ranks again.

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Angels fire manager Kurt Suzuki after losing 100 games in only season

Kurt Suzuki never really had a chance as manager of the Los Angeles Angels. Signed to a one-year contract by a lame-duck owner with an industry lockout looming, Suzuki might have needed to win the World Series to save his job.

Suffice to say he didn’t do either.

The Angels announced Wednesday, Oct. 21 that they have fired Suzuki after one season as their manager, during which he presided over the first 100-loss season in franchise history.

Suzuki, 42, served as a special assistant in former general manager Perry Minasian’s front office. After Ron Washington’s managerial tenure ended after last season, Minasian appointed Suzuki to run the club, although the former catcher was granted just a one-year contract to do so. He had a club option for 2027 and the club announced he will be offered a position as a special assistant with the organization, which he held from 2023-2025.

Minasian was fired midway through the season and interim GM John Mozeliak traded away veterans more aggressively than his predecessor, signaling at least a shift toward rebuilding.

Eventually, Moreno agreed to sell the team to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who has collected a very successful sports portfolio. If the one-year deal and Minasian’s firing didn’t seal Suzuki’s fate, the agreement to sell the team certainly did.

A new owner will surely want to select his dugout boss, and the impending Dec. 1 lockout means Kroenke might not need to hire a manager until after the sale of the club is finalized early in 2027. The club announced that "in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, will search for a new manager and coaching staff for the 2027 season."

Suzuki played 16 seasons in the major leagues, winning a World Series with the 2019 Washington Nationals before finishing his catching career with the Angels in 2021 and 2022. He joins Brad Ausmus – who managed the club in 2019 – as an Angels skipper for just one season.  

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angels fire manager Kurt Suzuki after losing 100 games in only season

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Injuries, Colorado’s Restored Power Play Approach Should Lengthen T.J. Hughes’ Stay

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 16: Gabriel Landeskog #92 splashed T.J. Hughes #13 of the Colorado Avalanche in celebration after Hughes scored his first NHL goal in the second period of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ball Arena on October 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Colorado’s latest rookie and college free-agent signing showed up on the scoresheet over the weekend and again on Monday night, which has me thinking about T.J. Hughes’ near future with the Colorado Avalanche. Hughes’ first NHL goal came from Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, scored just after a power play ended.

Usually, guys on the first power-play unit aren’t worried about being reassigned to the AHL, but in this case, Logan O’Connor’s inevitable return to the lineup and the ne-way contract structure for others in the bottom six likely mean T.J. will be the odd man out when the forward group is fully intact.

However, as we saw with LOC’s necessary absence and Zachary L’Heureux’s late injury status this weekend, Hughes could get enough NHL time to make himself indispensable. Add a more straightforward path to power-play success, and I see a recipe for T.J. to become an NHL mainstay right now. Let me elaborate.

The Role Requires Familiarity

Now I’m not saying that the Avalanche don’t have a player who could take over Hughes’ role on the power play. Still, familiarity is paramount to power-play success. Colorado’s decision to put Hughes on the top power play unit from the start of training camp means they see him as a real scoring threat.

His net-front goal is exactly the type of goal we’ve heard players and coaches mention when talking about T.J. on the unit. For me, the big factor is seeing the unit as a whole reintroduce the left-shot threat at the dot opposite Nathan MacKinnon.

We saw the Avalanche move Martin Necas to the second unit after Brett McLean took on the assistant and power play role in Colorado. At first glance, it feels like a brazen move to take someone as skilled as Necas off the ice with a man advantage, but a closer look shows that having Necas and MacKinnon on the ice at the same time undermines the power-play approach due to their shot orientation. It looks like Colorado is getting back to the basics.

With Jaden Schwartz on the opposite flank to MacKinnon’s cross-ice saucer passes, the Avalanche have reestablished balance, as his one-timer is dangerous enough to require more attention positionally. As a result, the slot has more space for both the net-front player and bumper to work on loose pucks and find openings closer to the net.

In my opinion, the lack of a real left shot on that side of the ice has been the catalyst for Colorado’s lack of power-play success.

Meghan Angley quickly reminded me that the power play was struggling just before Mikko Rantanen left Colorado on last week’s Mile High Hockey Lab, but we also know the Moose scored a ton of power-play goals with one-timers or back-door shots. There’s also a difference between struggling as a top 10 unit and struggling as a unit which finished bottom six last season.

You can’t just set and forget a guy to replace what Mikko Rantanen can do on his first touch, but you can get close, and I think that’s the thought process behind Shwartz taking the role. That was also the thought process behind the Viktor Olofsson experiment, but Shwartz has been finishing his chances, and that’s the key.

Now, back to Hughes, we’ve seen guys in the net-front/bumper role on the successful Avalanche power play amass a ton of goals and points. The Avalanche have experimented with guys like Jonathan Drouin, Valeri Nichushkin, and Nic Roy in that spot, and now it’s T.J. Hughes. I think the kid from Michigan has the finishing ability to cash in.

Winning Matters Most

We know Logan O’Connor has a spot on this roster once he’s done dealing with more important matters, plus Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov’s contract structure means sending them down would risk losing either to waivers. That makes it easy to see Hughes getting considerable time with the Colorado Eagles in Loveland unless he shows hard-to-ignore production.

What production would make Colorado comfortable keeping Hughes around and risking the waiver wire with L’Heureux or Svechkov?

For me, it’s any production that successfully extinguishes Colorado’s infamous power-play woes. If T.J. Hughes suddenly becomes a major factor in an otherwise struggling power play, I can’t imagine Jared Bednar turning his back on that, as it would point toward winning a lot of games.

The Avalanche lead the league in xGF% vs. xGA% at five-on-five, so adding a power play that scores rather than gives up goals should help them put games away sooner and protect their superstars’ TOI.

Jared Bednar has shown us time and time again that he wants the lineup that gives him the best chance to win, and if Hughes’ impact on the advantage becomes a major factor, I don’t think he’s gonna move Hughes.

Let us know what you think in the comments!

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Islanders General Manager Mathieu Darche Praises Rookie Victor Eklund: 'We Hope He's On The Islanders For A Long Time"

ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders rookie Victor Eklund has turned heads this season, and not just his teammates or the club's upper management. 

"He's done really, really well. Honestly, we've played some teams, and some of the GMs go, 'Oh, you know what? I noticed Eklund," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said. "He's not the biggest guy, but even in the third yesterday, he's one against three on the forecheck, he comes out from behind the net with the puck. He's relentless. He's got a dog-on-a-bone mentality.

"So he's been great. I was happy he got rewarded yesterday because he could have had a few more goals, and he's going to the net. He almost scored another one in the third."

Islanders General Manager Mathieu Darche Provides Update On Mathew BarzalIslanders General Manager Mathieu Darche Provides Update On Mathew BarzalThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> have started the 2026-27 season off well, posting a 5-3-1 record through their first 9 games of the season.

Darche continued: "And if you go back to that play, it started with him bumping a guy on the wall, and then we kept the puck in. Schenn gave him a great pass, and he went on the breakaway. And every time he cycles the puck, instead of going wide on the outside, he comes right back inside. He plays on the inside. So even if he's not big, when you see him win a bunch of board battles, which is great to see."

Eklund, who after scoring in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, is about to play in his ninth NHL game of the season. If he reaches 10, the Islanders will burn this first year of his entry-level deal.

The Hockey News asked Darche how important Eklund has been to this team's success from the outset. 

"He's earned a spot on the team, and we hope he's on the Island for a long time," Darche said. "There's still going to be a lot of improvement. He'll get stronger, he'll get faster."

Eklund now has two goals and one assist in nine games averaging 13:21 minutes per night. 

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Juuso Valimaki Puts On Strong Performance In First NHL Game After Nearly Two Year Absence

Juuso Valimaki hadn't played in an NHL game in nearly two years.

The Finnish defenseman last suited up at the top level of professional hockey on Jan. 26, 2025, then a member of the Utah Mammoth, and over the next 632 days, he had to battle through an ACL tear, a trade and had to fight his way up a brand new depth chart to get back to the NHL.

But all the work paid off for him Tuesday night as Valimaki made his Carolina Hurricanes debut, suiting up on the third pair alongside Shayne Gostisbehere.

"Just happy to be out there playing the game again," Valimaki told Hurricanes Hockey Network during the first intermission. "My mindset was just to be grateful for the opportunity. Happy to be here, so I'm just trying to have a positive mindset. It's been a long road, but I'm just happy to be here."

Valimaki had a rather strong showing too, even picking up an assist in less than five minutes of ice time, moving the puck up for Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven to work some magic.

"Pretty simple play [by me]," Valimaki said. "Obviously Stanks and Blaker did all the work, so thanks to them. Nice play by those two."

For the game, Valimaki also had a shot on goal, a hit, two blocks, a 13-9 edge in 5v5 chance share and a 73.22 expected goals for percentage.

"He played really well for not having played since training camp," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "That was a worry with throwing him into the lineup, but I thought he had his hands on the first goal, a quick-up pass. Then I thought he played well. Good on him to step in and contribute."

The 28-year-old blueliner really put his head down and worked hard to get to this point. 

Despite being a first-round pick (2017) and veteran of 271 NHL games, Valimaki had to do his time in the AHL coming off of the ACL tear and especially so after getting traded to a team as deep as Carolina.

Valimaki never complained once though, and had a really strong showing with the Chicago Wolves last year after coming in midseason, producing 11 goals and 34 points in 45 games between both the regular season and playoffs.

"Can’t explain how happy I am and proud of Juice for making his Canes debut tonight!," wrote Chicago Wolves coach Spiros Anastas. "A Chicago Wolves favourite, ultimate pro, and terrific leader and person. The resilience and perseverance he’s shown to make his return to the NHL is inspiring!"

Valimaki may not be a lineup regular moving forward, but it's a testament to the work he's put in that he was able to make it back to this level regardless.

"There's been a lot of ups and downs in my career with injuries and kind of a lot of other things going on, but I think last year was finally where I felt like myself again and I was in a really good head space," Valimaki said back during training camp. "Just trying to play hockey, enjoy it. There's been times where you kind of forget the fun part and for me, at least, when you're having fun and enjoying what you're doing, I think that's when you play your best."

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Australia collapse in chaotic fashion to leave South Africa in sight of victory

  • Tourists all out for 99 and forced to follow on

  • Batters left to conduct desperate rearguard on last day

There it was, another entry in Australia’s hall of infamy against South Africa. There was 47 all out, in the innocent days when the 2011 Test was the worst humiliation in Cape Town. There was 85 all out in Hobart, 2016, that led to half the side being sacked. Now there is 99 all out in Gqeberha, one day after the home team blew past 400, only for the visitors to follow on halfway through day four. At 156 for four, still 170 behind, Australia could yet save the second Test on its final day, but another batting failure has left the door wide open to defeat, and the table laden with defeat’s favourite snacks.

When Nic Maddinson’s first innings lasted four balls on the third evening, nobody would have predicted that his second innings would be done an hour after lunch the next day. Between times, nine other Australian wickets fell in 38.3 overs. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada bowled spells of ferocity, cranking up the speed gun while beating edges with the ball pitched up, and peppering batters when it wasn’t.

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Matvei Michkov Makes Perfect Sense For Blackhawks To Consider

The Chicago Blackhawks are always looking for ways to improve the team outlook. They could make moves that help them now and years down the line. They are not close to making any “win-now” moves by mortgaging the future, but they can look into young players who fit the current mold. 

One of those players is Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov. He is a young player who has had an up-and-down start to his career, and the Flyers may be looking to move him so both sides can get a fresh start. There are no guarantees that Michkov is traded, but there are whispers. 

Philadelphia, one year removed from making the playoffs and winning a round over their arch rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, has had a disaster of a start. They are currently 2-6-3 after winning two straight. When they were 0-6-3, it was clear that changes could be coming one way or another, despite it being so early in the year. 

If they are looking to shake things up, moving on from Michkov may not be the wisest decision, but it's a rumor that keeps coming up. He is off to a good start this season, despite his team's performance. 

In 11 games played, Michkov has 6 goals and 1 assist for 7 points. Two of those goals came in their most recent win. He is finding the back of the net, but it's hard to say that every other aspect of his game has been up to par. There have been questions about his motivation and love for the game, but he has come into this year in shape and ready to play. 

Why would the Blackhawks want to trade for a risky player like this? Well, if they did, the answer is simple: he is incredibly talented. Michkov was the 7th overall pick by the Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft. The only reason he fell to 7 was his contract situation in the KHL. Eventually, he found his way to North America, making some teams worry that they made a mistake by passing on him. 

The Blackhawks were actually one of the teams that technically passed on him when they selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. For a while, Michkov was expected to rival Bedard at the top of the draft, but his situation pushed him down the board. That, and the evolution of other prospects like Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Will Smith. 

Chicago, with Bedard and a plethora of other young talent, could afford to give Michkov a great opportunity. He has a knack for scoring goals and making plays, but he needs a fresh start. He is at the proper age in terms of fitting in with the current group, and he has a skill set that would play well with what they have in place. 

There is no shortage of playmakers in Chicago. Michkov knows how to find the back of the net, and the Blackhawks could use more of that skill to play with their setup men. Would it solve any of their defensive issues as a team? No, but it would help them be more lethal when they do have the puck. 

The Blackhawks also have Roman Kantserov in the mix who, like Michkov, has experience coming over from the KHL. They would be able to help each other, as they are both supremely talented Russian players trying to make an impact at the highest level. 

What would it take to get Michkov? Well, you'd think that multiple draft picks or prospects would be involved. Could a late first-round pick get it done? The Blackhawks have a lot of draft capital, and they are unlikely to just use it all on selections.

Sometimes, a risky trade like this could be what gets the rebuild to the next step. If Michkov came in and found instant chemistry with Connor Bedard or Anton Frondell, showed incredible commitment to getting better, and put up big numbers, it would make acquiring him look like genius. Other GMs are going to be involved if he's available, but only time will tell. 

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Canadiens Fans Want Larkin But He Still Doesn't Want Them

The Montreal Canadiens' biggest need right now is an upgrade at their second-line center spot. Because of this, they have been viewed as a prime fit for disgruntled Detroit Red Wings star center Dylan Larkin.

Canadiens fans also recently made it clear that they want Montreal to acquire the Red Wings star, as they chanted "we want Larkin" during their recent matchup.

However, Larkin still does not want to join the Habs. 

According to The Athletic's Max Bultman and Pierre LeBrun, Larkin has now expanded his trade list to 10 teams, and the Canadiens are still not among the clubs he is willing to be traded to. 

Per Bultman and LeBrun, the teams on Larkin's updated trade list are the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche.

It is certainly disappointing news for the Canadiens that Larkin has expanded his trade list, and they are still not on it. He would be a perfect pickup for their second-line center spot and could the final piece that makes the Canadiens legitimate contenders. However, even with the Canadiens being one of the NHL's most exciting teams on the rise, Larkin still is not interested in joining them. 

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Who Are The Maple Leafs' 'Premium Assets' As GM John Chayka Looks To Upgrade The Defense?

It's been made clear that the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in adding a defenseman to upgrade their back end as they look to get back into the post-season this year.

On Sportsnet's broadcast on Saturday, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs have made it clear that they are willing to hear offers for their "premium assets" in exchange for a defenseman. And Toronto isn't looking for a quick fix on the blueline - they want someone who can help them in the long run.

The Maple Leafs aren't exactly loaded in future assets, and there are very few that can be labelled as premium or A-level. But that doesn't mean they don't exist in the organization.

Here are the premium assets that Leafs GM John Chayka could be looking at to move for a good NHL defenseman.

2027 First-Round Pick (Colorado)

The most expendable asset that has decent value in the Maple Leafs' organization would be the conditional 2027 first-round pick from the Colorado Avalanche. Toronto received this draft pick from Colorado around last year's trade deadline in exchange for center Nicolas Roy.

The pick, top-10 protected, likely won't be a high selection considering the state of the Avalanche and their status as a serious Stanley Cup contender. But it is still a first-round pick, and selling teams would certainly appreciate acquiring that asset for the right price.

In any move that Chayka wants to make that carries some significance, that draft pick is as good as gone.

Toronto also has its 2029 first-round pick, as well as a second-round pick in the next three drafts.

Maple Leafs NHL Prospect Roundup: Multiple Marlies Off To Hot Start In AHLMaple Leafs NHL Prospect Roundup: Multiple Marlies Off To Hot Start In AHLMultiple Toronto Marlies are off to a great start, and OHLers are scoring in bunches in this edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL prospect roundup.

Ben Danford

Ben Danford has made the jump to full-time professional hockey this season with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. The 20-year-old defenseman featured for the Marlies in the Calder Cup playoffs, making 16 appearances in that post-season. This year, he's played five games so far, providing two assists. He missed one game earlier in the month with a lower-body injury.

The organization is high on their 2024 first-round draft pick (31st overall). Many have said that Danford isn't far from becoming an NHLer, including Marlies head coach Steve Sullivan. In Monday's podcast episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman also added that "he's not far away" from a look in the NHL.

He'd likely be the most interesting prospect in the Leafs' system from the perspective of other NHL teams and GMs.

Less Likely To Be Dealt

Easton Cowan

Coming off another huge performance for the Maple Leafs in Tuesday's win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Easton Cowan is certainly a premium and A-tier asset at this point.

In what is his sophomore season, the 21-year-old had a three-point night, including his first career shorthanded goal, and now has four goals and 10 points in 11 games for Toronto, placing him fourth on the team in scoring.

Considering how effective he's been for his team to start the 2026-27 campaign, there isn't a strong desire for the front office to move off him.

"They don't seem that interested in trading Cowan," Friedman said on Monday's podcast. "They really seem to believe that he's the real deal."

'He's Exceeded My Expectations': How Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan Has Transcended Into A New Level In The NHL'He's Exceeded My Expectations': How Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan Has Transcended Into A New Level In The NHLEaston Cowan pulls out another big performance for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he's shown glimpses of the complete player he can be as the 21-year-old continues to blossom.

What Else Is On The Table?

In that initial 'Saturday Headlines' report, Friedman added that the Maple Leafs have also made it clear that they're willing to move off one of their older defensemen in exchange for someone younger in the same position.

This is a scenario that could apply to a Stanley Cup contender as a potential trade partner for Toronto. And the only veteran blueliner who isn't completely protected from a trade is 35-year-old Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Report: Maple Leafs Willing To Move Off 'Premium Assets' For Help On Defense In Trade MarketReport: Maple Leafs Willing To Move Off 'Premium Assets' For Help On Defense In Trade MarketThe Toronto Maple Leafs need upgrades on defense if they want to be a playoff team this year, and GM John Chayka has been communicating to the rest of the league's GMs about what he's looking for. Here's what is on his wishlist.

Last season, Ekman-Larsson had a great year and exceeded expectations in several ways. In 78 appearances in 2025-26, the Swedish defenseman scored eight goals and 39 points, which is the most he's scored since the 2018-19 season with the Arizona Coyotes. 

He was even called to represent Sweden at the 2026 Olympics and captained his nation at the World Championship following the NHL regular season.

This year, however, Ekman-Larsson hasn't been nearly as impressive. 

He has just one assist in 11 games and is tied for the league lead in minor penalties taken with seven. That accumulates to 14 penalty minutes this season, the second-most on the team behind Zack MacEwen, who had 17 penalty minutes alone against the Blue Jackets.

Ekman-Larsson has two more years on his contract at $3.5 million per season and has a 16-team no-trade list for both years. In that case, he's probably not a premium asset, or at least not as valuable as he was last year.

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Canadiens’ Dobes Spoils A Good Effort With Big Mistake

Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis surprised many by giving Jakub Dobes the nod ahead of the game against the San Jose Sharks. Most thought that he would run the hot hand Jacob Fowler until he lost a game, but the bench boss didn’t want his goalie to be inactive for too long; the team wants them to have a certain rhythm, and that’s what led to Dobes getting another chance after a 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals the week before. Unlike in Washington, though, Dobes did well Tuesday night.

It wasn’t perfect; you could tell he was nervous. There were shots glove side that he normally would have caught and froze, but the early jitters prevented him from doing so. Still, when that happened, his defense was there to clean the front of the net. The glove hand improved as the game went on and he gained in confidence. His positioning was much better, too, and he didn’t look like he was breakdancing in his crease, meaning he was much more in control than he has been lately.

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His puck tracking was good, too, and he stayed square to the shots, which let him make a few saves through traffic even though he didn’t see the vulcanized piece of rubber. Overall, it was a good outing for Dobes. The first goal he allowed came from a Jake Evans turnover; granted, his stick was tapped as he tried to make a pass, but he had a safer option than throwing the puck toward the middle just inside the blueline. As luck would have it, Macklin Celebrini collected the errant pass and came at Dobes with speed, and there wasn’t much he could do against one of the league's best players coming in alone.

The Sharks scored their second goal on a perfectly executed two-on-one after they picked Lane Hutson’s pocket. Dobes was playing the shooter, expecting Kiefer Sherwood to shoot, but because Noah Dobson didn’t close the passing lane, he found Michael Misa for an easy goal. The defenseman isn't exactly off to a great start this season. Through nine games, he has two assists and is minus-4.

The third marker came on the power play after Xhekaj was baited into taking an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Celebrini fed Tyler Toffoli in the high slot for a one-timer; no one pressured the Sharks winger as he wound up and beat Dobes clean.

However, Dobes can be blamed for the fourth and final goal, as he took an awful penalty in overtime, inexplicably leaving his crease to get in Collin Graff’s way while the Canadiens had the puck in their own zone. Those calls aren't always made, but you can’t risk them being made, as St-Louis keeps repeating: you can’t give the ref the opportunity to call a penalty. Celebrini scored his second of the game off a one-timer from the faceoff circle on Dobes’ left. Four-on-three power plays are hard to defend and often a death sentence in overtime, as they were on Tuesday night.

Dobes surrendered four goals on 30 shots for an .867 save percentage, and had he not taken his inexplicable interference penalty in overtime, the result could have been different. Had the Habs won, this could have been a building block toward rebuilding Dobes’ confidence, but that possibility went out the window when he handed the Sharks the win on a golden platter. The press wasn’t told why Dobes was unavailable to meet the media despite being requested, but it could mean he was too rattled to face the music.

At this stage, it seems a given that Jacob Fowler will be back in net on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, and if he puts on a great performance, it wouldn’t be surprising if he also gets the net for the Heritage Classic against the Winnipeg Jets.

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Oilers Secure Overtime Winner, Sow Excitement Post Game

Seven wins into the season, it's gotten pretty easy to see how light this team is, emotionally that is, compared to recent seasons.

The Edmonton Oilers improved to 7-1-1 with a 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild, while Evan Bouchard scored the winner on his 27th birthday. Devon Levi was among the first to praise his teammate afterward, having made several important saves himself to get the Oilers into overtime.

“He can sling that thing,” Levi said. “A super special player. I'm so happy for him that he got the overtime winner on his birthday.”

The Oilers have been playing solid defensive hockey under Mike Babcock, their goaltending has improved, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are producing at a ridiculous rate. They've also been getting contributions from the rest of the lineup, which has allowed them to win games even when their top players aren't having good nights at even strength.

Tuesday was one of those games. Minnesota's top line of Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and, Matt Boldy scored twice at even strength, while the team. itself was all over McDavid's line.

“Every once in a while, you need to get fed your lunch,” Babcock said. “And when that happens to you, you say, ‘What are we going to do to fix it?’”

Babcock has been clear about what he expects from his team, especially on defence, puck protection, and winning battles. The Oilers have responded well to those expectations, and there's some evidence that the accountability they've been talking about is producing results.

Bouchard Scores OT Winner on 27th Birthday as Oilers Edge Wild 4-3Bouchard Scores OT Winner on 27th Birthday as Oilers Edge Wild 4-3Evan Bouchard celebrated his 27th birthday with a power-play OT winner, and Connor McDavid made NHL history, as Edmonton overcame a late Minnesota surge to secure a gritty special teams victory.

“When you play a good team that's organized, there's no room,” Babcock said. “And if you don't look after the puck, if you don't play right, you get frustrated. The great thing about the real good players that have done a lot of winning is, they don't get frustrated. They just keep coming and keep coming, and they know it's a patient game.”

Edmonton certainly had opportunities to get frustrated against Minnesota, however, the Oilers scored three times on the power play, and Draisaitl recording two goals before Bouchard ended the game in overtime. McDavid finished with three assists, becoming the fastest player in NHL history to reach 20 assists in a season.

He now has 26 points through nine games, which is an absurd amount of production even by McDavid's standards.

“Any type of shot that he gets off is extremely dangerous,” Draisaitl said of Bouchard. “Accurate, hard, whatever it is. You name it, he's got it. He's pretty elite.”

By other standards, Levi's has the best start of his NHL career here in Edmonton.

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The 24-year-old was traded from Buffalo after getting buried so deep in the Sabres depth chart that everyone forgot he was there. Originally, he was expected to sit behind Frederik Andersen and Tristan Jarry in Edmonton, but now he's getting most of the starts, and he's clearly earned them.

“I'm super grateful to be here,” Levi said. “This city is unbelievable, a true hockey city. I care a lot about these fans, they have welcomed me with open arms and the team here as well. I feel at home. I'm just super grateful for the way that everything kind of unfolded and I'm having a lot of fun every day.”

It's a refreshing attitude from a young goaltender who's finally getting a real chance to compete for a spot in the NHL.

He seems excited to show up to the rink, appreciates the opportunity he's been given, and has been playing up to the expectations placed on him.

The Oilers have been winning games in different ways, and Babcock's defensive system has been a significant part of that. The Oilers know when their offence needs to carry them, when their goaltenders need to make important saves, and when the team can comfortably protect a lead.

Oilers Face Another Important Test Against Wild With Both Teams Tied In StandingsOilers Face Another Important Test Against Wild With Both Teams Tied In StandingsThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> have had one of their best starts in recent years, and tonight's game against the Minnesota Wild will help determine where they rank among the Western Conference's best.

There has to be some additional motivation to make sure the same problems that followed the team last season don't continue.

Babcock has brought a different approach to Edmonton, one that the players seem willing to hold themselves accountable for when their performances aren't good enough.

Everybody knows winning cures all, and with seven victories in nine games, it's understandable why the mood around the dressing room has been so positive.

Still, there's something nice about hearing Levi talk about how grateful he is to be here, or watching him get excited about Bouchard scoring an overtime winner on his birthday.

The Oilers have been playing good hockey, they're getting results from the changes Babcock has introduced, and the players are happy for one another.

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