Sharks on the Rise: Building a Stanley Cup Contender in San Jose

As the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic break begins, the San Jose Sharks are enjoying a season that even their most optimistic fans might not have anticipated. Sitting just five points outside the Western Conference Wild Card playoff spots after 55 games, the Sharks are quietly positioning themselves for a potential return to the Stanley Cup postseason.

While the front office will turn its attention to cheering on Macklin Celebrini and the other Sharks representing their countries, the looming NHL Trade Deadline is also on the horizon. The question now is how GM Mike Grier will navigate it. Will he lean toward adding veteran depth to give the team a playoff boost, or will he hold back, conserving assets for the future?

Just an amazing display of sportsmanship by Macklin Celebrini! 👏 pic.twitter.com/6Oiw8TqU5b
— NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2026

Sharks Will Buy at the Deadline, But...

This season has already been a massive success for the Sharks. Now that's not to say that they can't improve any further before the playoffs begin, but when you think back to the last handful of seasons and how the Sharks were literally in last place in just about all of those years, to come back this year and be considered a fringe playoff contender is a huge improvement.

The Sharks of today remind me a bit of the Colorado Avalanche in the early 2010s. That Avalanche team built its core through the draft, selecting players like Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and others. But beyond their young stars, they also focused on strengthening their defensive corps, acquiring Erik Johnson from the St. Louis Blues and drafting Bowen Byram, while adding key pieces like Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky. Over the years, they steadily worked to improve their goaltending and overall depth.

Credit: Walter Tychnowicz. Mikko Rantanen was a huge factor in the Avalanche Stanley Cup run in 2022, but he was drafted and developed, much like what the Sharks are attempting to duplicate.

It was a long, deliberate process—it didn’t happen overnight. After the 48-point season in 2016–17, the organization faced tough decisions and difficult conversations, and not everyone was willing to stick around. The bottom line, though, is that they persevered and stayed the course together.

The Sharks might reach that level faster than the Avalanche did. They have a generational talent in Celebrini, a dynamic playmaker in Will Smith, and recently added Kiefer Sherwood to bolster the roster. With the team’s recent success, some have argued that GM Mike Grier should be serious buyers at the trade deadline in hopes of making a deep playoff run. However, there’s a significant risk-reward calculus involved in pursuing that approach.

Perhaps it was just the word usage, but when I hear serious buyers, I'm thinking the go for broke mentality, which I don't think is necessarily a good strategy. We're very early into the Sharks rebuild. You have a very solid foundation. Now you just need to add pieces that can steadily build this team into a Stanley Cup contender. I think the Sharks are already playoff contenders. Yes, they've lost their last four games; the Olympic break is upon us, and now the team can sit down and evaluate to see where they need the most help.

Defense

The Sharks have allowed 193 goals this season, the sixth-most in the Western Conference—and you can’t place all the blame on the goaltenders. Yaroslav Askarov has been brilliant at times, but he’s also had his share of forgettable moments. More often, though, the problem lies elsewhere: when a team consistently turns over the puck in its own zone, it inevitably leads to scoring chances against. At some point, goals are going to happen—that’s the law of averages in a nutshell.

The next step for the Sharks to improve their chances of becoming true playoff contenders isn't offense, it's adding a shutdown defenseman. For instance, Ryan Shea, a Pittsburgh Penguin, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He has emerged as a dependable, steady, and physical force on the Penguins’ blue line, frequently paired with Kris Letang in a shutdown role tasked with containing opposing top-six forwards.

Credit: Timothy J. Ludwig. Ryan Shea would be a great add for the Sharks if they're able to snag him.

Letang, who's won three Stanley Cups as a Penguin, is one of the best offensive defensemen of his era, is currently week-to-week with a fractured foot and has a significant injury history, but his accomplishments are written in stone. And Shea is having a career-best season right now. Through 56 games, he's posted three goals and 19 assists for 22 points with a plus/minus rating of +21. The Penguins are a rebuilding team. It wouldn't hurt to try to float a trade idea and offer a 2026 second round pick to sweeten the deal, but these are just ideas.

The bottom line is that the Sharks aren't going to make a deep playoff run one way or another this year, but the foundation to becoming a Stanley Cup champion down the line is here. It's just about adding the right pieces and getting the juicy flavors and the chemistry flowing. The Sharks are easily the most improved team in the NHL. What happens next is up to them. The puck is in their court.

February 6, 2026

Insider: Canadiens 'Like' Predators Star Trade Target

The Montreal Canadiens will be a team to watch once the NHL Olympic trade freeze passes. With the Canadiens currently being second in the Atlantic Division standings, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they look to add to their roster ahead of the trade deadline.

Now, the Canadiens are being connected to one of the NHL's top trade candidates.

During his most recent 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman wrote that he believes the Canadiens "like" Nashville Predators star center Ryan O'Reilly.

"Eric Engels dropped a really good interview with Jeff Gorton. My theory is they like Ryan O’Reilly," Friedman wrote.

The Canadiens being viewed as a possible suitor for O'Reilly is not surprising in the slightest. The 34-year-old would be a great addition to the Canadiens' top six if they acquired him, as he is a very good two-way center who produces well offensively, kills penalties, and is a well-respected leader. With this, he would be a big-time pickup for a Canadiens club on the rise.

O'Reilly would also be more than a rental for the Canadiens if acquired, as he has a bargain $4.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season. Thus, he would help the Canadiens beyond this season, which adds to his appeal.

In 57 games this season with the Predators, O'Reilly has recorded 20 goals, 36 assists, 56 points, and a plus-8 rating.

February 6, 2026

A’s Claim Andy Ibáñez, Add Scott Barlow in Busy Roster Shuffle

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 07: Andy Ibanez #77 of the Detroit Tigers hits an RBI single during the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners in game three of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on October 07, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Athletics made two minor roster moves today as they continue shaping their 2026 club.

First, the A’s claimed 32-year-old Cuban infielder Andy Ibáñez off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. With their 40-man roster full, the club designated fellow infielder MaxSchuemann for assignment to make room for Ibáñez.

Last month, the Dodgers signed Ibáñez to a one-year, $1.2 million contract, only to release him earlier this week when they reclaimed outfielder Mike Siani. They hoped to keep the out-of-options player in their organization, yet the A’s claimed him.

Ibáñez spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Tigers, carving out a role as a platoon utility player thanks to his .280 career batting average against left-handed pitching. In 2025, he accumulated four home runs and 21 RBIs in 91 games.

After trading for second baseman Jeff McNeil earlier this winter, the A’s acquired Ibáñez to compete with youngsters Darrell Hernaiz, MaxMuncy and Brett Harris this spring for playing time at third base this year. All four candidates bat right handed, ruling out a third base platoon. Ibáñez also brings the defensive versatility the A’s value, with MLB experience at second base, first base, shortstop, and both corner outfield spots.

Unfortunately, Schuemann’s time with the franchise could be over unless he sneaks through waivers and returns as non-roster depth. Ibáñez’s arrival made Schuemann’s presence redundant as the club does not need that many offensively-challenged utility players.

Schuemann debuted in April 2024 and took over as the team’s starting shortstop for most of that season. However, Jacob Wilson’s emergence and Schuemann’s offensive struggles pushed him back into a part-time utility role last year. Given his defensive versatility and minor-league options remaining, another team will likely claim Schuemann on waivers unless they all bypass him due to his tepid offense.

In addition, the team reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with free-agent right handed relief pitcher Scott Barlow. Entering his ninth season, Barlow brings vast experience pitching in late-game situations to what is otherwise an inexperienced A’s bullpen. Last year, he appeared in 75 games with the Cincinnati Reds, going 6-3 with a 4.21 ERA. This is a low-cost move that fills a need, although Barlow will have to limit the free passes and get over allowing Nick Kurtz’s monster 493 ft grand slam at Sutter Health Park in September. At the very least, he cannot be worse than José Leclerc.

What do you think of these two moves A’s fans? Are you sad to see Schuemann go or is it the right call to jettison him from the 40-man? Who should the A’s sign next?

A’s were looking for a versatile infielder with experience and Ibañez fits the bill with plenty of time at 3B and 2B while also playing some 1B and OF.

Decision to DFA Max Schuemann was no doubt a tough one. Would expect him to join A’s in spring as a NRI if he clears waivers. https://t.co/KUny27ga55
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 6, 2026

February 6, 2026

Athletics claim Andy Ibáñez off waivers from Dodgers

Sep 20, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Andy Ibanez (77) hits a run-scoring single in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Andy Ibáñez experience with the Dodgers lasted all of 24 days. The A’s claimed the veteran infielder off waivers on Friday, just three days after Ibáñez was bumped off the 40-man roster in Los Angeles.

Ibáñez was designated for assignment on Tuesday when the Dodgers claimed outfielder Michael Siani in one of his many waiver transactions this winter.

The Dodgers signed Ibáñez to a one-year, $1.2 million contract on January 13, more than a week before they landed Kyle Tucker. While that might not seem as relevant considering Tucker is an outfielder and Ibáñez is an infielder, adding Tucker essentially gives the Dodgers three mostly-everyday outfielders, which probably means utility man Tommy Edman spending more time on the infield instead of going back and forth between second base and center field.

That meant fewer opportunities for Ibáñez, who has played mostly second and third base throughout his career.

There might be more opportunities for playing time in Sacramento, though the A’s this winter also traded for Jeff McNeil and have an infield that already includes first baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson, along with Zack Gelof, who is coming off surgery late last season.

Ibáñez in parts of five seasons with the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers is a .254/.305/.389 hitter with a 92 wRC+, including .280/.327/.452 with a 115 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. He turns 33 in April.

February 6, 2026

While Red Wings Missed Out On Rasmus Andersson, The Door Is Open For A Trade With His Former Team

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While the Detroit Red Wings were listed as a potential landing spot for Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, he was ultimately dealt within the Western Conference to the Vegas Golden Knights.

However, that doesn't mean that the door is closed for a potential deal with Andersson's former team.

As part of the package to acquire Andersson, the Golden Knights sent defenseman Zach Whitecloud (along with defenseman prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 second-round pick).

Not only does Whitecloud fit the bill of a right-shot defenseman with top-four potential, but he's also signed through 2028 with a reasonable $2.75 million cap hit.

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

While Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is known for keeping his cards close to the vest, NHL insider Darren Dreger recently suggested that Detroit, positioned as a buyer at the NHL Trade Deadline, is not interested in rentals and would prefer players with term.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Whitecloud, a native of Brandon, Manitoba, was named a 2017–18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete and earned WCHA All-Academic Team honors while playing for Bemidji State University.

He began his NHL career with the Golden Knights, who signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in 2018.

He gained his first extended taste of NHL action during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, appearing in 20 games for Vegas, and followed that by playing in 51 of 56 regular-season games of the COVID-shortened 2020–21 campaign.

Former Red Wings GM Ken Holland Pulls Off Major Artemi Panarin TradeArtemi Panarin is now with the Los Angeles Kings, where former Red Wings GM Ken Holland signed him to a two-year extension.

In October 2021, he signed a six-year, $16.5 million extension with Vegas, whom he'd eventually help win the Stanley Cup in 2023. While appearing in 22 postseason games, Whitecloud scored two goals and added six assists.

Since his acquisition by the Flames, Whitecloud has routinely seen time on Calgary's second defensive pairing and is a regular on their first penalty-killing unit.

At 29, Whitecloud is still in the prime of his career and would be a sensible option for the Red Wings to consider from the rebuilding Flames.

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February 6, 2026

Surging Sabres Slowed At Break By Penguins

is Rasmus Dahlin A Norris Contender?

The Buffalo Sabres finished out their pre-Olympic schedule with a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. While the Sabres have been a juggernaut since the beginning of December, the club has come down to earth just prior to the break, losing three of their last four games to Montreal, Tampa Bay, and the Penguins.

The Sabres hold the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, with 70 points (32-19-6), one point ahead of the Boston Bruins, and five points in front of the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke to the media following the loss:

What were the reasons for the loss?

You look at the couple of goals that we gave them, We gave them a breakaway off of an offensive zone face off, we give them another goal off, an o-zone face off that we won, odd numbered rush. Our passing definitely wasn't crisp. I think you look at our power play entries, they struggled. I think we missed the net on five of our first six real good opportunities, another sign that you're not quite on your game.

This type of performance has been rare over the last two months.

We we're still knocking on the door. We came out, we got the power play goal at the start of the third, we had a couple of good looks. I think the opportunity was there to claw our way back in, and then we took a late penalty. hitting the goaltender, which penalty you don't really want to take. Giving up that fourth goal, we had possession in the corner, made an errant pass, and they made us pay. We didn't make them pay for some of their mistakes, but they made us pay on the big mistakes we made.

Rays acquire OF Victor Mesa Jr. from Miami Marlins

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 28: Victor Mesa Jr. #10 of the Miami Marlins in the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 28, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. from the Miami Marlins, adding a left handed fourth outfielder to the Spring Training mix. He has an option remaining, and will be competing with Chandler Simpson and Richie Palacios for an outfield slated to already include two left handed hitters in Jake Fraley and Cedric Mullins.

Signed in 2018 for $1 million, alongside his more heralded brother who signed for more than $5 million but is already out of baseball, Mesa Jr. has been on the fringe of Miami’s top-thirty prospects with a reputation for some swing and miss that was cleaned up in 2025, cutting his strikeout rate from 22% in 2024 to 15% last season. He has generally shown an ability to tighten up his swing mechanics and hitf/x at every level.

Despite a slow start to the year due to a hamstring injury in Spring Training, Mesa Jr. boasted a 136 wRC+ in Triple-A in 42 games before earned his major league promotion in 2025, picking up 34 days of service time over 16 games in his age-23 season, showing some surprising pop in the bat, hitting his first career homerun to the second deck on his birthday:

The return for Mesa Jr. was prospect Angel Brachi, an 18 year old infielder who put up a 142 wRC+ in 228 PA in the DSL. He ranked in the top-50 prospects at FanGraphs last season with a utility infielder projection, which is about the same value Mesa Jr. offers the Rays now.

To make room on the 40-man roster, left handed INF Brett Wisely has been designated for assignment, an expected outcome after he had previously been bumped down the depth chart by the acquisition of Gavin Lux.

February 6, 2026

The Hockey Show: Panarin Wanted Florida, Stadium Series Fun, Latest Panthers-Bolts Brawl, Greg Wyshynski

The NHL is taking a break while the Winter Olympics are happening in Italy, but the Hockey Show isn’t going anywhere.

This week, co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski to chat about a plethora of topcs.

The boys got into the trade of Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings and the arrest of top prospect Gavin McKenna.

They also discussed Team USA’s chances in the Olympic hockey tournament and how the team’s roster was constructed, as well as the NHL Draft lottery and how the Pittsburgh Penguins will somehow win the lottery despite making the playoffs, just to piss off Roy.

Both with Greg and without, Roy and Dave discussed their weekend at the 2026 Stadium Series in Tampa, which included an unforgivable amount of penalties, according to Roy.

This week’s wins and fails included an incredible start by the US women’s hockey team at the Olympics, an upcoming inclusive matchup between the US and Canada, an NHL defenseman who doesn’t understand why goalies don’t serve their own penalties and another mistake by Tony DeAngelo that Roy couldn’t wait to shine the spotlight on.

You can check out the full show and interview in the videos below:

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February 6, 2026

Top 10 Chicago Blackhawks Prospects Entering Olympic Break

The Chicago Blackhawks and the rest of the NHL are officially at the Olympic break. The rosters are frozen, vacations are planned, and the players representing their countries are on their way to Milano Cortina. For the Chicago Blackhawks, Teuvo Tervainen is their only NHL player headed to the games.

The trade deadline is not long after the games in Italy end (March 6th), so some big decisions have to be made about some of the pending free agents. Anyone moving out will create roster space not only for the rest of this season but also for next season.

The Blackhawks have a loaded prospect pool filled with players trying to make their way to the NHL as soon as possible. It will take some longer than others, and some may never. There are even a handful that may be used as trade bait to get NHL-ready guys in the lineup.

As we hit the big break, these are the top-ten prospects (non-full-time NHL players or under 50 games played) in Chicago’s system right now:

1. Anton Frondell

With guys like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore no longer appearing on lists like this, Anton Frondell is the top forward prospect in the organization.

After becoming the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, his season with Djurgårdens of the SHL is going very well. In a league that’s incredibly hard to score in, he has 15 goals and 6 assists for 21 points in 33 games played. That’s extra special coming from a teenager with up and down ice time.

Frondell was Sweden’s best player en route to a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championships this year, which is another achievement on his resume. Frondell will likely either draw into Chicago’s lineup at the end of this season or the start of next.

2. Sam Rinzel

Sam Rinzel is very close to graduating from this list. He is one of Chicago’s most talented defensemen in the organization, but he’s needed some time to develop in the AHL this season as well. For being a rookie playing the hardest position in the game, he’s handled it so well.

Rinzel has been working on his defensive game, which is always the last thing to truly click at the NHL level. Since coming back up before the break, he’s played much better. His puck-moving skills are at another level, which has allowed him to be a power-play quarterback quickly. It won’t be long before he’s considered a true top-pair guy.

3. Roman Kantserov

Few players have raised their stock in the last 12 months more than Roman Kantserov. He has dominated the KHL offensively this season. He is 21 years old and has declared that he’d like to come to North America at some point. His KHL contract is up at the end of this season.

4. Nick Lardis

Speaking of reasoning their stock, Nick Lardis has been on a tear since the beginning of 2024-25. Scoring 71 goals in the OHL will do that for anyone.

Lardis didn't stop there, though. Up to this point, he is a point-per-game player in the AHL and had a good stint in the NHL while the Blackhawks dealt with injuries.

Next time Lardis suits up in the NHL, it may be for good. His ability to shoot the puck is up there with any young player in the organization, but he never looks out of place in other areas of the game, either. For being a former 3rd round pick in the draft, the Blackhawks found great value in Lardis.

5. Marek Vanacker

The Chicago Blackhawks traded up to get Marek Vanacker in the 2024 NHL Draft at the end of the first round. He dealt with some injuries and inconsistencies during 2024-25, but has bounced back nicely this year.

Canada snubbed him from their World Junior Championships roster, despite him being one of the best players in the OHL. That is fuel to his fire, and it has helped him stay dominant playing for his club in Brantford.

Will we see Vanacker make his NHL debut this year? How about in the AHL? It is possible, but with him being signed, he is sure to be a pro hockey player by the start of 2026-27.

6. Kevin Korchinski

Kevin Korchinski is still an incredible skater. He has a full season of NHL experience (his rookie year pro) under his belt, but he has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL player. He has mostly played for the Rockford IceHogs since that year in the NHL.

While in the AHL, Korchinski has been an All-Star twice. The first time, he won MVP of the event after showing off his incredible skills as a former first-round pick. Now, he's trying to work his way back to the NHL.

Will there be room for him after the trade deadline? His biggest problem is that the one thing he does best, offense, is not much better than Sam Rinzel's or Artyom Levshunov, so he must round out his game a lot more.

7. Vaclav Nestrasil

The Chicago Blackhawks somewhat shocked the world when they took Czech forward Vaclav Nestrasil 25th overall in 2025. He wasn't on the radar, but his play since being drafted proved why their scouts were so high on him.

In addition to playing a key role on Czechia's Silver Medal-winning team, he's been a high-end producing freshman at UMass. It is unclear when he'll turn pro, but there is little doubt that the organization believes in his talents.

8. Nathan Behm

Nathan Behm is a high-end offensive player in the WHL, currently playing for the Kamloops Blazers. Size, skill, and speed have been a theme for the Blackhawks in recent drafts, and Behm provides all of that to their system. Arizona State is where he will play college hockey next season before attempting to turn pro at some point.

9. Jack Pridham

Jack Pridham decided to stay with the Kitchener Rangers in 2025-26 in favor of going to Boston University, where he committed to play college hockey. Now, he could still go back there after another dominant year in the OHL, or he could become a pro hockey player in Chicago's organization. Either way, Kyle Davidson has to like what he's seeing from their 2024 third-round pick.

10. Sacha Boisvert

Sacha Boisvert had an incredible year at North Dakota last year as a freshman. After transferring to Boston University ahead of 2025-26, things haven’t gone quite as well. He is still having a productive year, but injuries have kept him from taking the step that many thought he would. Will this keep him at BU for one extra season? It may. He may also still turn pro. Even with his slightly lowered stock, he still projected to be a solid NHL contributor.

Honorable Mentions:

Mason West

Mason West is a football quarterback and a hockey player. After leading Edina High School to a State Championship, he is skating with Fargo of the USHL. He will play for Michigan State in 2026-27 as he continues to develop.

AJ Spellacy

AJ Spellacy is a strong, speedy, energetic guy. He showed some of what he can do playing for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. Winning teams need depth forwards with Spellacy's potential in their prospect pool.

Drew Commesso

Spencer Knight is the starting goalie of the future in Chicago. However, with the way Drew Commesso has developed at Boston University and with the Rockford IceHogs, Commesso will eventually get a chance to be the backup.

He could also get an opportunity to start somewhere else if the Blackhawks ever trade him to help acquire players at different positions. The talent is there for Commesso to do great things in the NHL.

John Mustard

Providance College is a great team, and John Mustard plays a big role in that success as one of their top offensive players. He can score goals, create chaos with his speed, and knows what to do with the puck when it's on his stick. Will his speed and skill translate to pro hockey? We will find out shortly.

Adam Gajan

Playing for Minnesota Duluth, Adam Gajan has been one of the best goalies in college hockey. This level of play has earned him the opportunity to represent Slovakia at the 2026 Olympic Games. For a college goalie to get that type of honor, you know he's great. As far as his future with Chicago, it will depend on how his development continues, along with those around him who play the same position.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

February 6, 2026

Yankees Mailbag: Comparing risk in prospects and championship odds

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees speaks to the media before game four of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our bi-weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

ReadingYankee asks:Given the injury history of these two pitchers who are potential front line starters, which one has the best possible outcome in the next couple years: Chase Hampton or Bryce Cunningham? Obviously, this would be assuming they do not get injured again.

On the surface it’s a difficult call: MLB’s prospect rankings listed Cunningham above Hampton at the end of last year, but Hampton was listed as much closer to the majors, which is a major factor in determining if pitching prospects are going to pan out or not. However, given Hampton’s two extra years in the minors amounting to just a 71 inning difference in experience between the two, I’d give the edge to Cunningham having the easier path to the majors and thus contributing quicker. Because the truth is, we simply can’t assume that neither one gets injured again during their development — there’s nothing more volatile than a pitching prospect, and this is the risk they run. Cunningham’s first year being disrupted isn’t too much of a surprise, but Hampton’s now tossed just 18.2 innings in the last two years, 5.2 of which came in Double-A, and it’s hard to see a world where he can rise to the majors quickly even if he has a stellar 2026 to turn things around.

Chip23 asks:So, if we take Cashman’s statements at face value, that he has put together a “Champion-caliber roster” then should we also assume that a failure to win a championship is a reflection of the manager and that he will be held accountable?

Not necessarily, because there’s a bit of word-play from Cashman going on whenever the topic of being championship-caliber gets discussed. Because the organization views championships and the postseason at large as being a crapshoot (whether that’s correct or not is a a different discussion, one we’ll talk about in a second!), so long as the team is in the running and plays in October baseball, it’s not a failure to miss out on outright winning a title. If that wasn’t the case, then Cashman and Boone would be in extremely hot water by now having only gone to and lost a single World Series during their tenure — but as we know, the organization is quite comfortable with both of them running the ship. Perhaps things would change if they flamed out in the Wild Card Series a couple years in a row, but even with the relative disappointment of losing convincingly in the ALDS the team can point to the fact that they were tied for the most wins in the division and competed with the team that went to the World Series.

The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks:Can we change the terminology from “running it back” to “walking it back”?One implies a little more urgency than the other. I don’t see any urgency from this organization to be worthy of “running it back.”

So, let’s get into the thought process of the offseason overall, shall we? There’s no denial that the team didn’t display much urgency this offseason: they locked in fairly early on bringing back Cody Bellinger without showing much interest in the top of the market with Kyle Tucker, called his bluff when he was adamant about pushing for extra years and were willing to let someone else sign him, and then mostly fixated on minute bullpen moves to flesh out the roster while bringing back bench pieces. However, where they stand at the end of the day is still a top three team by FanGraphs’ projections, and outside of the Dodgers’ horde of talent they’re firmly in the mix to be the second-best team in baseball.

On the one hand, they weren’t pushing to improve themselves very much this offseason, which has it’s frustrations (which I share). On the other, they correctly assessed that they had a top team in 2025 that ran into another top team, and reasoned that they can get back to the Fall Classic with the roster they have now. Is it how I personally wish they operated this winter? No, I wanted them to be much more aggressive, but at the end of the day I’m not upset with the result either. I just wish it could’ve been settled about a month or two ago so we could’ve avoided the endless cycle of questioning whether they’d do something interesting.

OLDY MOLDY asks:Do the Yankees avoid another Boone June Swoon in 2026?

Here’s a case where I’d argue Boone could and should be held accountable for his record — because while the team has gotten into the dance every year barring one, they sure have looked highly inconsistent at the very consistent rate. Their almost penciled-in summer of poor play each year has been one of my major gripes with the team, and it lines up with their level of preparation that got put on display for the world when the Dodgers took them to task in 2024. Their fundamentals have been, in my opinion, highly suspect throughout this championship window, though mainly from 2020 on. Finding a way not to nosedive and potentially cost themselves the division with a terrible two-month stretch would go a long way towards building more faith in what they’ve constructed, so here’s hoping Boone and company can avoid it this year.

February 6, 2026

Islanders' Radio Voice Alan Fuehring On The Call For 2026 AHL All-Star Classic

New York Islanders radio broadcaster Alan Fuehring will be behind the mic for the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois, for the Skills Competition on Tuesday at 8 ET and the All-Star Challenge on Wednesday at 8 PM ET.

I was really hoping my phone would ring for this one. @TheAHL means a lot to me and I’m excited to work with this incredible crew to showcase its talent. @CHSN__https://t.co/Tr0z2Ifcep
— Alan Fuehring (@AlanFuehring) February 6, 2026

Fuerhing, who spent eight seasons as the Bridgeport Islanders' Director of Broadcasting, was promoted to the Islanders' radio broadcaster ahead of this season.

He also continues to fill in for Brendan Burke on MSGSN broadcasts.

You can catch Fuehring and the AHL events on TSN, NHL Network, AHL.TV and CHSN.

February 6, 2026

Kyle Farmer added to Braves Non-Roster Invitee list for spring training

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 4: Kyle Farmer #6 of the Colorado Rockies throws to first for an out in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Coors Field on August 4, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Earlier this week, we got the much-anticipated Non-Roster Invitee list from the Braves for this season’s spring training camp. That list initially consisted of 24 names. Now, there are 25 names on that list after the Braves made an addition to it here on Friday afternoon. Mark Bowman of MLB.com is reporting that the Braves are going to be bringing in Kyle Farmer as an NRI for spring training.

The Braves added Marist and UGA product Kyle Farmer to their list of NRIs . Seems to be a good fit for an Opening Day roster spot. Dubon will move from SS to LF on nights when Yaz is pinch hit for against LHPs. Mateo and Farmer would be backup INF options
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 6, 2026

Farmer spent the 2025 season with the Colorado Rockies, where he put up some underwhelming plate numbers with a .227/.280/.365 slash line to go along with eight home runs, a .285 wOBA and 65 wRC+ over the course of 97 games played and 300 plate appearances. That ended up being good for an fWAR number of -1.0, which ain’t ideal! Farmer has never really been a real threat with the bat, as even in his best season in 2021, he was good for just 91 wRC+ over 529 plate appearances with the Cincinnati Reds.

I’d imagine that he’ll be used strictly as a defensive substitute but even then, he had a rough year last season in that department as well. He recorded -5 Outs Above Average in 2025 (good for the 11th percentile in all of baseball, according to Statcast) and his arm strength didn’t fare much better, either. With that being said, that’s likely the outlier because Farmer has had some good-to-great seasons with the glove. Again, 2021 comes to mind which is when he recorded 5 OAA (grading him out to the 92nd percentile) and he repeated that feat as recently as 2024, which is when he put up another 5 OAA as a member of the Twins.

So my guess is that the Braves are banking on a change of scenery (or simply getting away from the Rockies) should help him return to the form. If he does end up making the roster then he should serve as a very solid option as a defensive substitute in some games. For now, he’s another player to keep an eye on as spring training gets underway in the very near future.

February 6, 2026

Artemi Panarin Details Reasoning Behind Departure From Rangers

Artemi Panarin got to tell his side of the story just about 24 hours after being traded from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

Going into the 2025 offseason, the growing sentiment was that the Rangers would sign Panarin to a contract extension before he hit the open market in 2026.

However, as multiple other marquee players signed contract extensions with their respective teams, including Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, and Jack Eichel, Panarin was left as the odd man out, unsigned past the 2025-26 campaign by the Rangers.

With the Rangers struggling through the first months of the season, speculation about the team trading Panarin grew.

Once Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter on Jan. 16 outlining the franchises' intentions to retool the roster, it also came out that the team did not intend to re-sign Panarin and would look to trade him before the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline.

Upon being traded to Los Angeles, Panarin quickly signed a two-year $22 million contract with the Kings.

Panarin revealed that the Rangers were reluctant to sign him over the summer and that there wasn't a whole lot of dialogue between his camp and the Rangers regarding a contract extension over the course of the season.

“We talked about contract a little bit, but I feel like this offer said ‘we’re not sure we want you or not.’ That’s why I’m not signed,” Panarin emphasized.

It was when the Rangers went through their dreadful stretch in January that Panarin knew that his time in New York may be coming to an end.

The Rangers Enter Olympic Break Hitting Rock Bottom If there is a rock bottom, it’s safe to say the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> reached it after their 2-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. 

“I feel like maybe 15 games ago when we started losing everything [I realized] it was possible [to get traded],” Panarin said. “And then when we lost to Boston like 10-1 or something like that, I would say that I already understood that even if Chris wanted to give me a deal, he probably can’t now because we’re kind of struggling here the whole team and we probably need some changes.”

The Panarin sweepstakes truly began to pick up steam when he was held out of the lineup due to roster management on Jan. 28.

Multiple teams were reportedly interested in acquiring the 34-year-old forward, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and Seattle Kraken.

Ultimately, Panarin pinpointed the Kings as his preferred destination, and with the power of his no-move clause, Drury was only given the green light to trade him to Los Angeles.

It was through conversations with Vladislav Gavrikov that helped guide Panarin toward Los Angeles.

“I was not ready to pick a team where I didn’t want to go,” Panarin said. “I probably (would have gone) to Russia if L.A. didn’t give me anything… I just want to play for these guys.”

The Rangers’ signing of Panarin in 2019 to a seven-year, $81 million contract is widely considered to be the franchise's greatest free-agent signing.

In seven seasons with the Blueshirts, Panarin recorded 205 goals, 402 assists, and 607 points. In a city full of stars and celebrities, the Russian superstar was able to stand out and etch his mark in The Big Apple.

Panarin embraced the New York spotlight, and he’ll now take center stage in Hollywood, but not before reminiscing on his time with the Rangers organization.

“It’s a lot of good memories,” Panarin said. “We always had a great group of guys here, too. Pretty good atmosphere. … Find a lot of friends here. Obviously that’s a great organization, too. New York Rangers, Original Six team, huge history. I was pretty proud to play for these guys, for this jersey. Thank you very much to the fans.”

February 6, 2026

Canadiens Will Spend Break In Second Place In Atlantic Division

While the Montreal Canadiens were not playing on Thursday night, 14 teams were in action, including direct divisional rivals Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

With a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sabres would have overtaken the Canadiens in second place in the Atlantic Division. Still, Lindy Ruff’s men were unable to pull it off against Sidney Crosby and company. The Pens won 5-2, which meant Buffalo stayed at 70 points in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens have a two-point lead on them and must manage to maintain a lead over the Buffalo outfit, since the Sabres would, in all likelihood, have the first tie-breaker at the end of the year; they have 26 regulation wins, while the Habs only have 21.

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As for the Senators, they currently trail the Bruins, who hold the second wildcard spot, by six points, thanks to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. While the Senators are not mathematically out of the playoff picture, a six-point deficit will be hard to make up with 25 games to go, given how strong the Atlantic Division has been this season.

Meanwhile, the two-time champions Panthers are trailing Boston by eight points after taking a 6-1 beating at the hands of the Lightning on Thursday night. The Cats’ frustration was evident as 147 penalty minutes were handed out to the Florida rivals. Matthew Tkachuk got a two-minute minor for abuse of officials and was looking for trouble all night, especially when he interfered with Nikita Kucherov, which led to a full-blown brawl in the third frame, when the Bolts were already up 4-0.

With the win, the Lightning now have a six-point lead over the Canadiens and have two games in hand. The Detroit Red Wings also have 72 points, like the Canadiens, but they have played one more game, which is why they find themselves in third place in the Atlantic.

If the Canadiens can keep the same pace, making the playoffs shouldn’t be a worry, but they’ll likely be jockeying for position right up till the end, and the first-round matchups won’t be clear until everyone has played 82 games. For now, though, the Habs can enjoy the break sitting in second place in the division and won’t have to worry about scoreboard watching until the end of February.

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February 6, 2026

Clase Alleged Pitch-Fixing Might Have Been Broader Than Federal Indictments Revealed

Emmanuel Clase scandal — IMAGN/Brant James illustration

Former Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who is to stand trial in May on federal sports corruption charges, allegedly conspired to rig far more pitches than originally revealed by federal prosecutors, according to a document filed on Thursday in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) and quoted by ESPN.

That’s part of the reason why his co-conspirator, former Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz, is attempting to have a separate trial.

The indictment unsealed in November against Clase and Ortiz alleges that Clase had conspired with bettors to manipulate prop bets by intentionally throwing pitches that were errant or at agreed-upon velocities in nine games from 2023-25. Ortiz allegedly began doing the same in June.

A filing by Ortiz attorney Christos N. Georgalis asked that his client’s case to be severed from Clase’s because of “markedly different levels of culpability,” and their expected conflicting defenses. Georgalis noted that Clase had been much more invested in the plot, specifically serving as the conduit to the alleged Dominican Republic gambling ring.

ESPN reported on Thursday that the court filing claimed that Clase had manipulate pitches in 48 games. That had been redacted from the docket entry on Friday.

Another court filing notes that at least 250 pitches are in question.

Clase, conflicts, contentiousness

Ortiz’s attorneys argue that a jury would be prejudiced against their client by association as it listens to “26 months of alleged criminal conduct” by Clase. They contend that because of the small scale of alleged misconduct against Ortiz, his trial could wrap in days. Sitting through Clase’s trial, they argue, incriminates him by association.

It also appears that Ortiz attorneys will stress how little time the pitcher was involved, and that he never communicated, they say, with gamblers. Prosecutors claim that each accepted bribes from two gamblers in the Dominican Republic, who won at least $460,000 wagering on their pitch outcomes.

“Given the defendants’ likely mutually antagonistic defenses,” the request continues, “severance is warranted because prejudice to Mr. Ortiz likely will arise.”

According to Ortiz’s attorneys, Clase lawyers Michael Ferrara, Michael Bronson, Lindsay Gerdes, and Riley Able of the law firm Dinsmore & Shohl participated in pre-indictment interviews with four potential government witnesses and would be called to testify in Ortiz’s trial.

Clase and Ortiz each pleaded not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery charges. They could face upward of 65 years in federal prison.

While Clase was originally charged with conspiring with bettors from 2023-2025, Ortiz was accused of rigging pitches in two games over a 12-day span in June. Both were placed on administrative leave in July through an agreement with MLB and the player union.

Clase led the American League in saves from 2022-24, and was third in Cy Young voting in 2024. He had 24 saves in 2025 when he was placed on leave.

A court filing from Jan. 16 described the federal investigation of Clase as “ongoing.” The EDNY must file its reply in opposition to Ortiz’s sever request by Feb. 17.