Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Celtics trading Kristaps Porzingis to Hawks in three-team deal: Report

Celtics trading Kristaps Porzingis to Hawks in three-team deal: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Boston Celtics have made another significant roster move in what should be an exciting offseason for the NBA.

The Celtics are trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday. Porzingis and a second-round draft pick will head to Atlanta in exchange for Georges Niang and a second-rounder. The Hawks sent Terance Mann and their No. 22 overall pick to the Brooklyn Nets.

The C’s entered the offseason as a second apron team. They needed to shed salary, so this trade involving Porzingis isn’t surprising. Porzingis is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $30.7 million salary cap hit, per Spotrac. As a result of this deal and the Jrue Holiday trade, the Celtics are now $4.5 million under the second apron.

🔊 Celtics Talk – Emergency Pod, Part 2: Celtics trade Kristaps Porzingis, and which domino falls next? | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Porzingis averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from 3-point range this past season.

Porzingis’ tenure in Boston lasted just two seasons, but it did produce some memorable moments.

His apex with the Celtics was a 60-second stretch in the first quarter of Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks when he made a huge impact at both ends of the court. Porzingis was making his return to the lineup after missing the previous 10 games due to injury.

Porzingis was unable to stay healthy for a good chunk of his career in Boston. He missed 25 games in 2023-24 and 40 games in 2024-25. He played in all 11 of Boston’s 2025 playoff games but was limited in some of them due to a mystery illness. He provided an undeniable spark when on the court, however, and was a fan favorite at TD Garden.

Niang, 32, averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season with the Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Massachusetts native has also had stints with the Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, and Philadelphia 76ers.

Posted on

Fenway Park Workers Fret Over Aramark’s AI-Powered Concessions

It’s been more than a week since Unite Here Local 26, a local chapter of the hospitality union that represents employees at Fenway Park, authorized a strike against Aramark. The Boston Red Sox are set to begin a six-game homestand on Friday, and neither side has reported movement in negotiations, meaning unionized employees can walk away at any point.

During the lull in labor talks, chapter members are thinking about their collective value to the famed Fenway experience—specifically how automation could reduce job security. They are concerned with the use of self-checkout machines in the ballpark introduced ahead of the 2023 season.

Two years ago, Aramark installed two AI-powered self-checkout units created by Mashgin that handle beer, and four self-dispensing popcorn stations. Mashgin has machines in over 3,000 convenience stores, more than 150 sports venues, 100 hospitals and dozens of airports, colleges and resorts across the U.S., Europe and Australia.

“It reduces the amount you make,” Charbel Salameh, a 28-year employee at Fenway who has worked the beer stands for 23 of those seasons, said in a phone interview. “‘Oh, who am I tipping? This is a self-service stand, I don’t have to tip anyone.’ People still did the work, people still filled the fridge, people still made your hot dog, people still filled your soda. I think because they don’t interact with someone doing that, people look at it differently.

“The more these stands are put in, the more jobs that are taken away. That’s the hard part because in five years if they convert every one of these stands [to self-checkout], there are going to be so many lost jobs.”

In response to a request for comment, Aramark referred to the June 15 statement it sent Sportico. “We intend to keep working with the union toward a settlement that works for everyone,” the statement said. “In the event of a strike, we have contingency plans in place to ensure that services are not interrupted.”

Including Fenway, Mashgin’s machines are deployed at 20 of the 30 MLB ballparks. In an April report it conducted about the fan experience, the company said it has “delivered a median transaction time of under 15 seconds across over 3.6 million transactions and $88 million in concession sales,” during the 2024 season.

Local 26 president Carlos Aramayo said in a phone interview that he understands technology will be a part of Fenway’s future. Still, he hopes union members aren’t taken for granted.

“A lot of folks who started working there, but they were in high school even, and have been working there for 20, 30 years,” Aramayo said. “The Red Sox sell the historic baseball experience. A lot of our members see themselves as part of that. They’re Boston folks and they take a lot of pride in the work they do.”

Added Salameh: “You can’t go to ‘America’s most beloved ballpark’ and not have human interaction. A machine’s not going to love you back.”

Neither Local 26 nor Aramark have publicized when their next talks were going to be. Discussions are likely to include debate over the automation issue in addition to the union’s push for wage increases and scheduling based on seniority.

Fenway is still busy while the Red Sox are away. Irish singer-songwriter Hozier performed his first of two concerts at the ballpark on Monday, with the second scheduled for Tuesday night. The Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays to start a three-game series on Friday night. It remains to be seen if those will be the last working nights for unionized employees before a possible strike.

Aramayo said the 95% vote to authorize a walkout was motivated by advances made by other unionized workers throughout Boston. He expressed frustration at the Fenway situation since his union and Aramark were able to come to the table for employees in Boston-area schools and hotels.

“At Boston University, we just negotiated a first contract with them,” Aramayo said. “Nobody heard about it, right? Because we did it. We had good bargaining; we figured out a deal to get it done. We didn’t get ourselves into this situation.”

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Posted on

Pittsburgh Stanley Cup Champion Changes KHL Teams

Canadian left winger Scott Wilson, 33, has signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday. It will be Wilson’s fifth KHL team in five seasons.

Originally from Oakville, Ont., Wilson played junior hockey for the Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL before playing three years of college hockey at Umass-Lowell. He was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011 and signed with Pittsburgh in the spring of 2014 after his junior season.

Between 2014 and 2020, Wilson played 193 NHL regular-season games for the Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, recording 51 points and 58 penalty minutes. He also played 26 playoff games, all with Pittsburgh, recording 10 points and 11 penalty minutes.

His only complete NHL season was 2016-17, and he was part of Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup championship team that year, playing in 78 regular-season games and 20 playoff games.

RUMOR: Jesse Puljujärvi Headed To Switzerland After AHL FinalsRUMOR: Jesse Puljujärvi Headed To Switzerland After AHL FinalsJesse Puljujärvi is currently playing in the AHL’s Calder Cup finals. On Sunday, he scored an overtime goal in Game 5 keep his Charlotte Checkers alive against the Abbotsford Canucks.

After two more AHL seasons in the Florida Panthers organization, Wilson first went to the KHL in 2022. In four seasons with Vityaz Moscow Oblast, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Wilson has 117 points in 188 regular-season and playoff games.

Wilson joins a Sibir team that finished seventh in the KHL’s Eastern Conference last season and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The team also includes former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikita Soshnikov and Toronto prospect Vladislav Kara.

Photo © Brad Penner-Imagn Images: Scott Wilson playing for the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019-20 season. 

Former NHL Goalie Chris Driedger Signs In KHLFormer NHL Goalie Chris Driedger Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Chris Driedger, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.
Posted on

Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff and Nestor Cortes move a step closer to returning from lengthy stays on IL

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitchers Brandon Woodruff and Nestor Cortes finally are getting closer to returning after lengthy recoveries from their respective injuries.

Woodruff and Cortes both pitched in simulated games. Woodruff, who hasn’t pitched in a major league game since September 2023, threw 60 pitches. Cortes, who made just two starts this year before going on the injured list in early April, threw 22-23 pitches in the simulated game and about 25-30 more in a bullpen session.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said the staff would work together to determine the next steps for Woodruff, who is hopeful he might need only one more rehabilitation outing before making his long-awaited return from postseason shoulder surgery in 2023.

“I’ve always been a guy, when I’m ready, I’m ready,” Woodruff said. “I kind of know that. I’m not saying that’s going to lead to results, but I know that I’m ready to go pitch and compete. I think I’m to that point now.”

Cortes says he’s aiming to start a rehabilitation appearance in early July before rejoining the Brewers just after the All-Star break as the 30-year-old left-hander recovers from a flexor strain in his throwing elbow.

“That’s when we believe is the safest — and I guess the safest and quickest way to get back — combination of both,” Cortes said.

Woodruff, 32, already has been on two separate rehabilitation stints this year.

The two-time All-Star right-hander left the first one with tendinitis in his right ankle. He was pitching for Triple-A Nashville again on June 3 when a 108-mph line drive struck him in the right elbow, leaving a bruise that delayed his return.

“It’s been the hardest thing,” Woodruff said. “If you don’t stay positive with it, it makes coming to the field miserable, to be honest. When the team’s on the road and I’m here, me and Nestor are here by ourselves, it’s a pretty lonely place.”

Woodruff said his family has helped him stay positive. That’s also worked for Cortes.

Woodruff and his wife, Jonie, have a daughter named Kyler who turns 5 in August and a son named Bowen who was born last July. Cortes’ wife, Alondra, gave birth to Nestor Cortes III in April.

“That’s been the biggest help for me,” Woodruff said. “I was thinking about it last night. Getting to feed my little boy a bottle at night before he goes to bed, you don’t get that when the team’s on the road. All these experiences, and getting to see him about to start walking, getting to see that day to day, family’s been the biggest thing for sure. That’s filled the time up until the game starts and I’m watching the games. Having two kids has definitely kept me busy.”

While Woodruff and Cortes move closer to a return, the Brewers await word on the severity of a minor league prospect’s injury.

Third baseman Brock Wilken, the 18th overall pick out of Wake Forest in the 2023 draft, hurt his knee during Double-A Biloxi’s celebration of its Southern League South Division first-half title. Murphy said Wilken had a dislocated patellar tendon and was awaiting a second opinion regarding the injury.

Wilken, 23, was hitting .230 with a .392 on-base percentage, 18 homers, 41 RBIs and 57 walks in 65 games with Biloxi.

Posted on

REPORT: 'Smoke' Surrounding Possible Golden Knights and Hurricanes Trade Involving Tomas Hertl

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) warms up before game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly working on a trade that would send Tomas Hertl to the Hurricanes. 

The report was shared by EliteProspects' Cam Robinson, who took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share what he's heard. Robinson said, "There's some smoke out there that Carolina could be bringing in Tomas Hertl. I'd like to reiterate. Smoke. Have yet to confirm anything, but the noise is loud enough and from enough places for me to try and really dig into it."

Marco D'Amico of RGmedia also shared a report that he's heard "reports he may be on his way out of Vegas this morning to the Eastern Conference."

The Golden Knights have been linked to Mitch Marner since last summer, when there were rumors that he could be made available in trades. This offseason, Marner is the prized unrestricted free agent with several insiders claiming the Golden Knights are among the favorites, if not leading the race. 

Hertl has a modified no-trade list, which states that he can approve three teams he'd be willing to be traded to. The 31-year-old scored 32 goals and 61 points in 72 games in his first full season with the Golden Knights, proving to be a valued second-line center behind Jack Eichel and in front of William Karlsson.

It was also Hertl's most productive season on the power play, scoring 14 goals and 23 points, both of which were career highs.

The Golden Knights acquired Hertl at the 2023-24 trade deadline, shocking the hockey world. Hertl was injured at the time and thought to be unavailable due to both his injury and the fact that he was in the second year of an eight-year, $8,137,500 contract he signed with the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Knights sent David Edstrom and a 2025 first-round pick to the Sharks in exchange for Hertl, at 17 percent retained, and a pair of third-round picks. 

Golden Knights Veteran Center Could Be Available In Trades; No Indications Quite YetGolden Knights Veteran Center Could Be Available In Trades; No Indications Quite YetWilliam Karlsson's name has been floated out by many insiders, and although no concrete reports have come from the Vegas Golden Knights, a trusted insider revealed fresh information.

The rumor shared by Robinson is still very fresh, so no possible returns or additional information has been given. Robinson claims that "there's some out of Carolina," which also informs us that the two teams likely haven't even begun to consider what else they would involve in the deal. What is known is that if the Golden Knights want to acquire Marner, they need to shed off cap space, and moving Hertl's $6.75-million cap hit would do just that. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Ilya Samsonov Won't Return To The Golden Knights; Testing Free AgencyIlya Samsonov Won't Return To The Golden Knights; Testing Free AgencyGoaltender Ilya Samsonov will not return to the Vegas Golden Knights and will test the free agency waters, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. 
Posted on

Cubs select contract of Michael Fulmer from Triple-A Iowa

ST. LOUIS — The Chicago Cubs selected the contract of right-hander Michael Fulmer from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-hander Nate Pearson to Iowa ahead of a four-game series against the Cardinals.

Fulmer, 32, returns to the Cubs after going 3-5 with two saves and a 4.42 ERA in 58 appearances for Chicago in 2023.

Fulmer missed the 2024 season after undergoing UCL revision surgery on his right elbow on Oct. 18, 2023.

Fulmer, who was the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year with Detroit, had Tommy John surgery on March 27, 2019, and returned to the major leagues on July 27, 2020, just after the start of the pandemic-shortened season.

“It took me a few months to get stuff and velo back,” Fulmer said about his first Tommy John surgery. “Once I got all the game reps I needed, my stuff came back. So, I think we’re getting on that timeline now where I’m feeling good, body’s feeling great, no complaints, stuff’s starting to come back a little bit and I’m really just excited.”

Fulmer signed a minor league deal with Boston on Feb. 2, 2024, but did not play for the rest of the season. He allowed three runs on four hits in his lone appearance with Boston in April at Tampa Bay before the Red Sox designated him for assignment four days later.

Fulmer inked a minor league contract with the Cubs on April 22 and went 1-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 24 1/3 innings over 15 games with Iowa.

“You know he’s went through a lot, you know he’s sticking with it,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s a sign of what you’re made of, I think. It really is. I know moments like getting back to the big leagues are important, and they validate a lot of the hard work and a lot of the rehabs and a lot of the things like that. You’re happy for guys like Michael who get a shot again.”

Pearson was recalled from Iowa and allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in two innings on versus Seattle.

Chicago (46-31) enters play with a 3 1/2 game lead over Milwaukee and a 4 1/2 game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central Division.

Posted on

Dominican prosecutors in Wander Franco trial seek 5-year prison sentence

Wander Franco

Tampa Bay Rays Dominican baseball shortstop Wander Franco, who faces an accusation of molesting an underage girl, arrives in court under heavy escort in Puerto Plata, in Dominican Republic, on January 5, 2024. The hearing was being held behind closed doors and Franco, 22, who is eligible for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in the 2023 season, did not make a statement before entering. The baseball player and the mother of the 15-year-old girl were charged with “the crimes of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering.” (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

STR/AFP via Getty Images

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — Dominican prosecutors requested that suspended Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco, who faces charges of sexual abuse involving a girl who was 14 years old at the time of the alleged crimes, be sentenced to five years in prison.

The prosecutors said in court there is sufficient evidence to prove Franco had a relationship with the minor for four months and that he transferred large sums of money to the minor’s mother to consent to the illegal relationship.

During raids on the house of the minor’s mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco.

“We are requesting a five-year prison sentence for the proven crime of sexual abuse against a minor,” said prosecutor José Martínez.

The prosecutors also requested that Wander be sentenced to prison in Puerto Plata and that the minor’s mother be sentenced to 10 years in prison, arguing she sexually trafficked her daughter.

In a previous hearing, prosecutors described the evidence presented as “convincing” and “compelling.”

“What is Wander? Is he an accomplice of Vanessa or is he the material author of the criminal conspiracy offense?” said Irina Ventura, one of Franco’s lawyers arguing ambiguities on the part of the prosecutors.

Franco’s lawyers also asked the court to clear Franco of the charges and to dismiss the case.

After the closing arguments from both, the collegiate court of Puerto Plata, in northern Dominican Republic, where Wander Franco’s trial is being held, announced that they are going to issue the final decision on the case.

Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge last year and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos ($17,000) to the mother of the minor on Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to purported abuse.

Franco was in his third major league season when his career was halted in August 2023. He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. He is currently on Major League Baseball’s restricted list after initially being placed on administrative leave.

Posted on

Former Bruins captains Chara, Thornton elected to 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame class

Former Bruins captains Chara, Thornton elected to 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame class originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Two former captains of the Boston Bruins — Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton — have been voted to the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2025.

“Across his exceptional 24-year career, Zdeno put forth an unparalleled combination of size, strength, and ability each time he took the ice,” Bruins president Cam Neely said in a statement released Tuesday. “He kept opponents on notice with his commanding physicality and set the tone for his teammates with a stout defensive acumen, all while having the power at any given time to unleash one of the hardest shots ever recorded.

“His legendary leadership qualities were also continually on display, particularly when it came to his renowned off-ice conditioning which set a standard for all our players to follow. To put it simply, Zdeno’s skill set stands among the most unique in the century-plus history of the National Hockey League, making him enormously worthy of enshrinement into the Hockey Hall of Fame where he will be remembered forever as one of the very best to play our sport.”

This was the first year both players appeared on the ballot, and their inclusion in this class is no surprise. They are joined in the 2025 class by Jennifer Botterill, Brianna Decker, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny, Jack Parker (builder) and Danièle Sauvageau (builder).

The Bruins drafted Thornton with the No. 1 overall pick in 1997. He lived up to the hype as a No. 1 center and elite offensive player. He tallied 454 points (169 goals, 285 assists) in 532 career games with the Bruins.

Success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs eluded Thornton as the Bruins advanced past the first round only once in his seven-plus seasons in Boston. The B’s traded him to the San Jose Sharks during the 2005-06 season for an underwhelming return.

It was a low point for the Bruins, but the trade did free up valuable salary cap space, and in the summer of 2006 they used that cap flexibility to sign Chara as a free agent.

Chara, the tallest player in league history at 6-foot-9, immediately transformed the culture of the franchise. He was a legit No. 1 defenseman — a top-five player at the position for a long time — and a tremendous leader. He won the Norris Trophy in 2008-09 and probably deserved to win it another two or three times.

Chara’s legacy is transforming Bruins back into Stanley Cup-caliber franchise

Chara helped the Bruins win the 2011 Stanley Cup over the Vancouver Canucks — ending the team’s 39-year championship drought.

He played a total of 14 seasons with the Bruins from 2006-07 through 2019-20. The Bruins reached the playoffs 11 times over that span, including three trips to the Stanley Cup Final.

Chara is the first longtime Bruins star from the last 15 years to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Patrice Bergeron, who isn’t eligible for a few more years, could be next. Brad Marchand deserves to go in at some point, too, but he’s still playing.

Posted on

Diamondbacks sign James McCann to 1-year deal

Arizona signed James McCann to a major league contract following his release from the Atlanta Braves, and the 35-year-old catcher joined the Diamondbacks for their game against the Chicago White Sox.

Arizona also designated catcher Aramis Garcia for assignment.

McCann agreed to a one-year contract for the $760,000 minimum while in the major leagues and $180,000 while in the minors. With 99 days remaining in the season, McCann would receive $404,516 should he remain in the majors the rest of the way.

He signed a minor league deal with the Braves on April 8 and was released, which allowed him to sign with Arizona. Over 41 games with Triple-A Gwinnett, he hit .297 with six homers and 30 RBIs.

A second-round draft pick in 2011 by Detroit, McCann has played 11 seasons in the majors with the Tigers (2014-18), White Sox (2019-20), Mets (2021-22) and Orioles (2023-24). He has batted .241 over his career with 92 homers and 373 RBIs.

McCann was selected to the 2019 All-Star Game. That season with the White Sox, he set career highs in hits (120), homers (18) and RBIs (60).

Posted on

Rangers Transfer 12th Overall Pick To Penguins, Deciding To Keep 2026 First-Round Pick

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers will give up the 12 overall pick in this year’s draft as part of the J.T. Miller trade and they’ve decided to keep their 2026 first-round pick. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury had to decide whether to keep his 2025 or 2026 first-round pick, per the conditions of their trade with the Vancouver Canucks that involved Miller.

Originally, the Rangers’ pick was supposed to go to the Canucks, but Vancouver traded the conditional pick to the Penguins in a deal that included Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. 

According to TSN’s Pierre Lebrun, part of the thinking for the Rangers in moving this year's pick is to potentially be able to use their 2026 first-rounder for a move at the trade deadline if they are in a position to contend. 

The Rangers do not hold a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. However, the Blueshirts still have eight picks in the draft. 

Posted on

Canadiens: Guhle Higher In NHL 2020 Redraft

In the run-up to the draft, which is scheduled for Friday night and Saturday, there are plenty of draft-centric articles in every outlet and plenty of content posted on social media as well. Yesterday, on one of the NHL social media accounts, there was a post about a 2020 redraft, and the Canadiens’ pick that year did very well.

In 2020, the Montreal Canadiens had the 16th overall pick, and they selected blueliner Kaiden Guhle. Now, five years later, they’ve locked Guhle up to a six-year contract with a $5.55 AAV. He’s the only defenseman Kent Hughes has identified as part of his young core so far, or at least the only one he has signed long term. There is no doubt that the Canadiens’ GM will try to sign Lane Hutson long term, and there are also rumblings about a potential contract extension for Mike Matheson.

The Canadiens Had Moved On From Zegras
Canadiens: Bob McKenzie Final Draft Ranking Is In…
Canadiens: Hage Is Committed To Getting Bigger

In 169 NHL games, Guhle has put up 58 points and 130 penalty minutes, but the defensive side of his game has made a difference for the Habs. This season, in 55 games, he has recorded 104 hits for a 1.89 hits-per-game average (seventh on the team) and blocked 124 shots for a 2.25 hits-per-game average (third on the team). If he played a full season, he would have been much higher.

In it’s redraft, the NHL puts Tim Stutzle as the first overall pick (he was initially picked third), Lucas Raymond as the second (fourth at the draft), Jake Sanderson as the third (fifth overall in 2020), Seth Jarvis in fourth (selected initially at number 13), Brock Faber in fifth place (he was picked at 45th), Quinton Byfield in sixth place (he was initially second), Anton Lundell in seventh place (picked 12th overall), Alexis Lafreniere in eight place (original first-overall pick), JJ Peterka in ninth place (selected initially 34th overall), and Kaiden Guhle in 10th place (he was originally selected at 16th overall).

Guhle’s selection that year was a homerun for the Canadiens, but the fact that some of these guys fell in the second round goes to show how hard it is to evaluate young talents and project yourself into the future.

Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Posted on

Penguins Receive Rangers' 2025 First-Round Pick

The Pittsburgh Penguins will now officially have two first-round picks for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

According to the New York Post's Larry Brooks, the Rangers are sending the 12th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Penguins instead of their 2026 first-round pick. 

The Rangers owed the Penguins a first-round pick due to multiple trades. The Rangers first traded a conditional first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks to acquire J.T. Miller. From there, the Canucks quickly traded the Rangers' first-round pick to the Penguins in the deal that sent Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor to Vancouver.

Now, the Penguins know that they will be receiving the Rangers' 2025 first-round pick instead of next year's. With this, the Penguins now have both the 11th overall and 12th overall picks for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

While next year's draft class is deeper than this year's, the Penguins should be happy about landing another good first-round pick in the top 15. It will be intriguing to see what they end up doing with it from here. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Posted on

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett And Marco Rossi

Recent speculations suggest Mitch Marner might consider signing a short-term contract instead of a long-term deal. 

The 28-year-old right winger has completed a six-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and is expected to test the UFA market on July 1.

With the salary cap expected to rise significantly in the coming years, James Mirtle of The Athletic suggested stars like Marner and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid could prefer short-term contracts, enabling them to cash in again under a higher salary cap while still in their playing prime. 

Mirtle's colleague Pierre LeBrun reported the “rumor de jour” had Marner signing a two-year contract between $12 million and $13 million. However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported he'd received pushback on his suggestion that soon-to-be former Maple Leaf might accept a short-term deal.

As for potential suitors, Friedman recently observed recent conjecture suggesting the Vegas Golden Knightscould be the team to beat for Marner's services.

Mitch Marner (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)

Speaking of UFA forwards, Sam Bennett raised a stir last week when he told Florida partygoers that he's not leaving the Panthers. His remarks gave the impression that the 29-year-old Conn Smythe Trophy winner had a contract extension in place. 

Bennett has completed a four-year contract with an average annual value of $4.425 million. His gritty two-way style played a significant role in the Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, which would make him the top center available if he goes to market on July 1. 

However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that sources say the brakes are being pumped on the extension talk. While he thinks Bennett wouldn't have made that announcement if he didn't know how negotiations are going, there has been no agreement. As of this writing, that remains the case. 

Meanwhile, the ongoing contract stalemate between the Minnesota Wild and Marco Rossi has made the 23-year-old center a fixture of late in the NHL rumor mill. 

The Hockey News’ Dylan Loucks recently cited The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reporting the Vancouver Canucks were among the clubs interested in Rossi. On June 19, LeBrun's colleague Michael Russo and Joe Smith indicated the Canucks may have offered up their first-round pick (15th overall) in the upcoming NHL draft.

Patrick Johnston of The Province cited a source confirming the Canucks pitched their first-rounder along with a player, though it's uncertain if it was a roster player or prospect. 

The Canucks must do better than that to land the Minnesota center. Russo and Smith claim Wild GM Bill Guerin wants a player who can replace Rossi's production, saying he'd prefer a center but would also accept a scoring winger. They noted the Wild have been linked to JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres. 

Guerin downplayed the speculation, telling a local network that his club isn't dying to trade Rossi. He praised the youngster, but added that the Wild are trying to sign him to a deal that fits their price range.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Posted on

MLB insiders list Bregman, Duran as top trade deadline candidates

MLB insiders list Bregman, Duran as top trade deadline candidates originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Trade season is fast approaching, and according to ESPN’s MLB insiders, the Boston Red Sox have some of the league’s most valuable trade chips.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel unveiled their top 50 MLB trade deadline candidates. The players on the list were ranked by their value for their new team if traded, not by their likelihood of being dealt.

Four Red Sox players were listed, including third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Jarren Duran in the top two spots. Left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman (No. 18) and right-handed starter Walker Buehler (No. 28) also made the cut.

ESPN gave Bregman a 10 percent chance of being traded. The two-time All-Star, who was playing at an MVP level before suffering a quad injury last month, can opt out of his contract after this season. He would be a massive addition for a contending club, especially given his experience playing in October. The Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets were named the best fits for Bregman in a potential deal.

There’s a 25 percent chance of Duran being moved, according to Passan and McDaniel. With top prospect Roman Anthony in the mix, the Red Sox have a surplus of left-handed-hitting outfielders. Trading Duran would help Boston’s outfield logjam and likely yield a sizable return after his breakout campaign. ESPN lists the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies as the best fits for the 2024 All-Star Game MVP.

Both Chapman and Buehler have a 35 percent chance of being dealt, per ESPN. The 37-year-old Chapman is in the midst of an All-Star-caliber season, but Buehler has been a major disappointment since joining Boston’s rotation. Still, there could be a market for a veteran arm with a strong postseason track record.

As of Tuesday, it’s still unclear whether the Red Sox will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. They’re currently six games back in the American League East standings and 1.5 games back in the Wild Card race with a 40-40 record.

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for July 31 at 6 p.m. ET.