Jun 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (22) celebrates after hitting a single against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Manager Matt Quatraro said Caglianone woke up Sunday with soreness and it didn’t improve when he got to the field after treatment. It also didn’t subside when he tried to get it to loosen up through some pregame work. His status off the bench was unclear, and the next steps will be determined based on how he feels throughout the day, when the Royals get back to Kansas City on Sunday night and throughout Monday’s team off-day.
“They’re going to reevaluate,” Quatraro said. “Obviously, we’re going home tonight. We’ll see how it feels and see if we have to do any further testing or anything.”
“It means a lot, for sure,” Jensen said of his hit streak. “I think it’s a testament to hard work from me, hitting coaches, a bunch of people who have helped me along the way. It definitely means a lot to me. But I think just trying to get some wins across is the most important thing for me, honestly.”
After determining last week that Cole Ragans needs elbow surgery, the left-hander has a date set and will undergo the procedure this coming Wednesday, July 1, but we won’t know the full extent and severity of the surgery until the doctors begin to operate.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery on Ragans next week.
“They’ve read the MRI, but I think they’re not going to be clear on the extent of [the surgery] until they get in there and understand what they see,” manager Matt Quatraro said.
The Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza. Former Padres manager Andy Green will take over on an interim basis for the rest of the season. And yes, getting swept by the Cubs was the last straw for management. Or maybe making six errors in one game against the Cubs was the final straw.
Tyler Kepner profiles Cardinals catcher Riley O’Brien and how he’s building on the legacy of his grandfather and great-uncle (The Athletic sub. req.), both major league pitchers. His great-uncle is in Ball Four, which makes him a legend in my mind.
This door behind the visitor’s dugout here at The Trop has seen its share of frustration from players over the years. pic.twitter.com/dA3T6kGcPv
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 27: Hunter Goodman #15 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates his solo home run against the Minnesota Twins with teammates in the first inning at Target Field on June 27, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In mid-May, I made an All-Star case for Mickey Moniak. On June 1, I made an All-Star case for Antonio Senzatela. With All-Star voting closing on Thursday, it’s time to make the case for Hunter Goodman making his second-straight All-Star game.
Goodman took 2025 by the horns and never looked back.
He made his MLB debut in August 2023, and then bounced around the diamond in 2023 and 2024. Ahead of the 2025 season, he was informed that he would be catching full time, and he made the most of his opportunity. Not only was he named to the Opening Day roster, but he was also named the Opening Day catcher ahead of veteran Jacob Stallings (who was eventually DFA’d in June).
In 144 games in 2025, Goodman set career highs in just about every statistical category. But he also led the Rockies in numerous categories, leading to him being selected to the All-Star game and winning a Silver Slugger. He also ranked first in our Ranking the Rockies series.
In 2026, it’s quite possible he will break his own records from 2025 (if he hasn’t already), and he could be the Rockies’ first back-to-back All-Star since Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story all went in 2018 and 2019.
Here’s how he ranks among qualified NL and MLB leaders so far in 2026 (all stats current through the June 27):
Stat
Number
NL Rank
MLB Rank
NL C Rank
Rockies Rank
Runs Scored
52
T-5th
T-5th
1st
1st
Home Runs
25
2nd
2nd
1st
1st
RBI
47
11th
T-10th
3rd
1st
SLG
.537
4th
5th
1st
1st
Total Bases
159
T-5th
T-5th
1st
1st
AB/HR
11.84
2nd
2nd
1st
1st
In addition to the above stats, Goodman logged his first three-homer game on Saturday night. For those calling “Coors,” 18 of his 25 homers have come on the road, which is the most pre-All-Star break by a Rockie all time. The player who most closely trails him? Hall of Famer Larry Walker, who recorded 16 home runs in his MVP 1997 season. He is also the first Rockie to hit 25 homers before the All-Star Break since Carlos González did it in 2013, but Walker holds the record of 27 in 2001.
While Goodman sits in good Rockies company, he also sits in good baseball company.
With his three homers on Saturday night, he became the fourth primary catcher to log at least 25 homers before the All-Star Break (since 1933). He joined Cal Raleigh (38, 2025), Iván Rodríguez (26, 2000) and Johnny Bench (28, 1970). All three went on to be All-Stars that year. Could that bode well for Goodman?
Goodman vs. The Field
The catching field is not nearly as crowded as some of the other positions, but Goodman was ranked fifth after the latest voting update was released on Monday. He sits behind Drake Baldwin (ATL), Will Smith (LAD), J.T. Realmuto (PHI), and William Contreras (MIL).
Baldwin leads all catchers, but Smith was also named a finalist despite currently being on the 10-day IL with neck inflammation. Goodman is in the mix with mostly Contreras and Baldwin, but has a sizable lead over Smith in games played (78 to Smith’s 52), runs scored (52 to 23), home runs (25 to 6), RBI (47 to 23), SLG (.535 to .382), total bases (159 to 66) and at-bats per home run (11.84 to 28.83).
Here is how Goodman stacks up against the NL catching field:
Stat
Number
NL C Rank
Next Number
Player
Runs Scored
52
1st
46
William Contreras (MIL)
Home Runs
25
1st
14
Drake Baldwin (ATL)
RBI
47
3rd
50
William Contreras (MIL)
SLG
.537
1st
.472
Liam Hicks (MIA)
Total Bases
159
1st
128
William Contreras (MIL)
AB/HR
11.84
1st
16.21
Drake Baldwin (ATL)
Goodman vs. The Rockies
When Mickey Moniak went on the 10-day IL with ankle tendinitis, Goodman was able to overtake him in many statistical categories. And not only does he lead the team in numerous categories now, but he leads by a wide margin in many cases:
Stat
Number
Rockies Rank
Next Number
Player
Runs Scored
52
1st
37
Willi Castro
Home Runs
25
1st
12
TJ Rumfield, Mickey Moniak
RBI
47
1st
45
TJ Rumfield
SLG
.537
1st
.493
TJ Rumfield
Total Bases
159
1st
142
TJ Rumfield
AB/HR
11.84
1st
24.00
TJ Rumfield
Goodman (2026) vs. Goodman (2025)
All stats through the last Saturday in June in both 2025 and 2026.
Interestingly, Goodman is on pace for what he did in 2025 in a lot of categories. He took a dip in doubles and triples, but has made up for it in home runs. In 2025, he had 34 extra-base hits through June 28th; so far in 2026, he has 37 (and counting). His average has also dipped, but he didn’t really turn things on until June. 12 of Goodman’s 25 home runs have come in the month of June, and his June OPS is 1.035 – ranking him third in the National League behind Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani.
The strikeouts have decreased, the power has increased, and Goodman is making an All-Star case at the right time.
Stat
2026
2025
Games
77
75
Doubles
12
17
Triples
0
3
Home Runs
25
14
Runs Scored
52
40
RBI
47
48
AVG
.246
.287
OPS
.854
.844
wRC+
114
119
Final Thoughts
The obvious choice for the Rockies’ All-Star representative at this point is Hunter Goodman. He is peaking at the right time and is on pace to shatter many of the records he set in 2025. If Moniak or Senzatela could join him, that would be a bonus. But at this point, all signs point to Hunter Goodman as the 2026 Rockies All-Star.
(And if there’s any justice in the universe, he should be the National League’s starting catcher.)
It was homer-palooza in Albuquerque against the Salt Lake Bees (Angels). The Isotopes scored in five of the first six innings, and put up multiple runs in five of them. Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) swatted his 13th homer of the season to get things going in the first. Not to be outdone, Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) swatted a solo homer of his own in the second. He hit a three-run homer in his next at-bat one inning later, racking up the score 6-2.
Nic Kent joined the homer party in the fifth to score Condon, and then Chad Stevens homered in the sixth to finalize the Topes’ scoring at 11. They gave up two more runs in the ninth, but stopped the Bees at 5. In total, the Isotopes had five homers on the evening.
The Yard Goats were baffled by the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox). They mustered just two hits en route to a shutout loss. Jack Mahoney gave up three runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. One of the runs was a solo homer in the first by Sea Dogs’ right fielder Miguel Bleis. The other two came on a wild pitch in the third and an RBI single by shortstop Franklin Arias in the fifth.
The majority of the damage came in the ninth, when Sam Weatherly gave up three more runs on back-to-back home runs — a two-run shot to third baseman Jack Winnay and a solo shot to left fielder Matt Fraizer.
It was a back-and-forth affair for the Indians against the Dust Devils (Angels), but they were able to walk it off for the victory. Lebarron Johnson Jr. pitched six innings and allowed just one run on one hit (a solo homer) while recording one walk and six strikeouts. Nathan Blasick gave up one run on three hits over three innings, which ended up blowing his fifth save. However, Hunter Mann put up a scoreless/hitless 10th to record the win.
Jack O’Dowd recorded the Indians’ first two runs with an RBI single in the first and an RBI double in the third, scoring Tommy Hopfe both times. Roynier Hernandez was the hero of the night, though, with his single in the 10th to score Kelvin Hidalgo and secure the victory.
The Grizzlies got off to a hot 4-0 start in the first over the Storm (Padres), thanks to Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP), Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP) and Matt Klein. Brito doubled to score Cam Nelson; Dalis doubled to score Brito and Ashly Andujar (No. 26 PuRP); and Klein doubled to score Dalis. Unfortunately, though, the pitching could not hold Brady Parker’s incredible start.
Parker threw six innings, allowing just one hit while walking two and striking out eight. Yanzel Correa allowed three runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts to put the Storm within a run. And then things really unraveled for Dylan Crooke, who gave up three more runs on five hits in just one third of an inning. He didn’t walk anyone, but also didn’t strike out anyone. Seth Clausen recorded the final two outs without giving up a hit, a run or a walk (he struck out two), but the damage was done.
Hunter Goodman may be the Rockies best hitter right now, but TJ Rumfield is not far behind him. He’s also making a case for NL Rookie of the Year. In Minnesota, he reconnected with his Triple-A hitting coach, Trevor Amicone, who is now the Twins assistant hitting coach.
Earlier this year, Renee Dechert wrote about RJ Petit’s journey back from Tommy John surgery in spring training. Kevin Henry followed up with Jeff Criswell and Jaden Hill, as well as the Rockies’ training staff, to discuss what the entire process is like from diagnosis through rehab to returning to the mound.
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
The Sharks have signed Michael Kesselring.
San Jose signed the 26-year-old defenseman to a three-year, $13.5 million contract ($4.5 million AAV), buying up two of his UFA seasons. There were no trade protections. Kesselring was a pending RFA.
The #SJSharks signed recently acquired 26 y/o RFA RD Michael Kesselring to 3 year $4.5M Cap Hit Deal.
Kesselring is an RFA. The deal covers 1 RFA & 2 UFA seasons.
Contract is $4.5M salary each season and does not include trade protection.
Kesselring was coming off a tough season with the Sabres, posting two assists in 34 games. He was a frequent healthy scratch and also dealt with injuries.
But Kesselring broke out with the Utah Mammoth in 2024-25, notching seven goals and 29 points, skating 17:41 per game. He also was used on the second-unit power play.
The Sharks are hoping for at least that type of return to form from Kesselring.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning at Oracle Park on June 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
June cannot end soon enough for the Atlanta Braves.
It was another miserable week for the Braves, as Sunday was just the latest disappointing performance despite another awesome effort from ace Chris Sale. It truly has been an entire month of struggles for the Braves, who know see that the NL East division lead is down to three games over the Phillies. However, neither Walt Weiss or the Braves seem to concerned about anyone else but themselves. The focus remains on righting the ship as the calendar turns to July.
I’m going to attempt to jog your memory. A few years back there was a guy who made a few notable plays for the Cardinals during his collegiate career. While his legs were often the focus or talk of the town, his arm was equally impressive, and he slung the ball around the field with ease more times than I can even recall. While most are aware of his accomplishments, there may be a few fans here and there that have since forgotten about the records of the young man who took the field from 2015 to 2017. I believe his name was….Jackson. Lamar Jackson.
The Heisman trophy winning QB from Florida certainly made a mark on the program, and in doing so hung 69 career passing touchdowns on the record books, a Top 10 ranking in program history even though it was only three seasons long, and included another 50 touchdowns on the ground. It would be cool to watch all 119 touchdowns wouldn’t it? Well, here is a video I’ve watched more times than I care to publicly announce. Enjoy.
The Buffalo Sabres are keeping one of their pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) around.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Sabres are signing forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year contract extension with an average annual value around $3 million.
It was known that the Sabres were working hard to keep Malenstyn in Buffalo. Now, once this deal comes to fruition, the big winger will be a long-term part of the Sabres' roster.
Malenstyn's grit and speed make him a valuable asset to the Sabres' bottom six, and they are rewarding him for it with this six-year deal.
The 28-year-old appeared in 81 games last season for the Sabres, where he recorded seven goals, seven assists, 14 points, and a franchise-record 282 hits.
The Sabres acquired Malenstyn from the Washington Capitals during the 2024 NHL off-season. In 157 games over two seasons with the Sabres since then, the 6-foot-3 winger has posted 11 goals, 13 assists, 24 points, and 473 hits. It will be interesting to see how he builds upon these stats after landing this long-term deal from Buffalo from here.
With Malenstyn staying in Buffalo, the Sabres' most notable pending UFAs remaining are Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, Joshua Dunne, and David Kampf, who was recently acquired from the Washington Capitals in the Alex Tuch trade.
The duo played together on the Los Angeles Lakers and won an NBA championship in 2020. Adding Davis and James to the Warriors will bring championship experience and a veteran presence, but will add to an aging roster led by Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
In order to acquire Davis, the Warriors would have to work on a trade that would include sending an injured Jimmy Butler to Washington. James would have to buy in on the reunion and the Warriors’ vision and sign as a free agent.
James was paid $52.6 million this past season on the final year of his contract.
Butler suffered a torn ACL injury this past season and enters the final year of his contract. He will make $56.8 million.
The Wizards, who continue to rebuild, would likely receive a package of future first-round picks and swaps in the deal. Washington recently re-signed Trae Young to a four-year deal and drafted BYU's AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.
The reunion goes much deeper than James and Davis, as the duo also won an Olympic gold medal for Team USA with Curry and coach Steve Kerr, who decided to return to Golden State as head coach.
One potential hurdle that O'Connor points out in his report is that Davis is on track for a four-year extension worth $275 million on Aug. 6.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, if Davis is traded, his extension clock would be reset and he wouldn't be ineligible to sign a full max deal until six months after the potential trade becomes official.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 11: NBA draft prospect, Braden Smith poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA Draft was largely a success for the Purdue men’s basketball team with two players getting drafted and two players signing deals after the draft meaning that their journeys are just beginning. Ryan and I discuss the landing spots for the four Boilermaker men’s basketball players in this episode of the Boiler Alert podcast. Ryan laments the fact that his Chicago Bulls held the rights to Braden Smith for all of a couple minutes before sending him to the Pacers. Ah what might have been…
Then, we take a look at incoming Purdue men’s basketball freshman Rivers Knight and what he will bring to the Boilermakers next season. He’s got a lot of upside especially with his size. He also spent a season playing with fellow incoming freshman Jacob Webber. That could result in some instant chemistry for the Boilermakers. With the forward position having a lot of opportunity how will the young man respond? All that and more in today’s Boiler Alert podcast.
Despite disappointments we remain indebted to an all-round talent for transforming the way in which Test cricket is played
Last year I completed a book on England’s cricket captains since Mike Brearley and the final chapter was devoted to Ben Stokes. It began with the observation: “There is jeopardy here”; it ended with the conclusion: “I would be hard pressed to name anyone in the last few decades who has done more than Ben Stokes to keep a format [Test cricket], still beloved by so many, alive.”
Jeopardy and Stokes have often been frequent bedfellows, on the field and off it. My jeopardy came in having to assess Stokes the captain before last winter’s Ashes series given that there is a long tradition of deciding the merit of England captains based upon their results against Australia. We know now it did not go so well; we also have an idea of how much torment it brought him. Yet I’m still content with those pre-Ashes observations. Of course there is always jeopardy with Stokes. We have never known what he would do next (which now includes his sudden decision to retire from international cricket). Moreover despite the recent disappointments, I think he remains one of the best captains England have had – to the amazement of most of us.
In two days, the Philadelphia Flyers will lock down their starting goalie for another five years, finally finding some security between the pipes.
On Sunday, TSN NHL insider Pierre Lebrun reported that the Flyers and Dan Vladar have agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $27.5 million ($5.5 million AAV), with some final details, likely to be pay structure or trade protection, still to be ironed out.
The Flyers, Vladar, and his camp have plenty of time to work that out, as the extension cannot officially be signed, sealed, and delivered until Wednesday, July 1, anyway.
Vladar's new contract was consistent with my reporting from last month, when the expectation was a five-year deal worth somewhere between $5- and $5.5 million annually.
Of note, Vladar still has one year remaining on his current contract at a $3.35 million cap hit, and his new contract extension will officially begin next July 1.
The 28-year-old Czech netminder will turn 29 on Aug. 20, which means that, next year, Vladar will play his first game on the new extension at the age of 30.
That will invariably carry some risk for the Flyers, who now have Vladar signed until he's 34 years old.
But, so long as Joseph Woll lives up to expectations, plays to his potential, and stays healthy, the Flyers will be able to preserve Vladar and run an efficient platoon in goal.
It helps, too, that the Flyers just drafted Martin Psohlavec and Marek Sklenicka in the 2026 NHL Draft, adding two more promising prospects to a goalie prospect group that also features Carson Bjarnason, Aleksei Kolosov, and Egor Zavragin.
Vladar figures to be the first of many re-signings in Philadelphia in the coming days and weeks, as the Flyers also need to extend forward Trevor Zegras, defenseman Jamie Drysdale, and winger Nikita Grebenkin, among other players.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been a team involved in all sorts of NHL conversations over the last couple of weeks.
That has to do with a big transaction that they made, along with some of the selections that they made in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Originally, the Chicago Blackhawks held the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, but they traded it to the Buffalo Sabres in a deal that acquired them defenseman Bowen Byram.
At first, the move was met with criticism. They also had to give up pick 45 and Louis Crevier to acquire Byram. After some reflection and seeing what the Sabres did in the draft, it is clear that the Blackhawks made a move that will help their organization more than it hurts it.
With the 4th overall pick in the draft, Buffalo selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph. That was a shock, as he was expected to be the fifth blue-liner taken.
The Blackhawks believe that Byram will be a more impactful player over the next 8 years than whoever they would have gotten at four, and they feel the need to take a step in 2026-27. Byram will help them do that more than any prospect at the same position.
The Blackhawks then made two selections in the second round. First, they took Xavier Villeneuve with the 34th overall pick. This prospect had first-round grades for some scouts, and the Blackhawks made a great choice with him early in the second.
Villenueve is a slightly undersized defenseman, but he skates incredibly well and has undeniable puck-handling skills. It's trendy to compare defenders with his overall type to Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens, especially since he's going to Boston University next year, but the profiles are similar.
Obviously, a lot of development will be required for him to reach that ceiling, but the tools are there. If he were two inches taller, which isn't much in the grand scheme of things, he would have been taken much higher.
One selection later, the Chicago Blackhawks traded up from 37 to 35 to make back-to-back selections. With the pick, they took forward Ryan Roobroeck, who was once a top-ten prospect in an issue of The Hockey News.
Kyle Davidson confirmed that there was no intel that Roobroeck would have been off the board by his original pick of 37, but he felt that giving up pick 119 was worth it to make sure he got the player he wanted in Roobroeck.
This is a power forward who moves well for a big kid, has a physical element to his game, and can score goals. His compete level has been questioned in the past, but good coaching and hungry players around him should allow that to be a non-issue.
In the 3rd round, 66th overall, the Blackhawks selected defenseman Samu Alalauri. This is a player who leaves a lot to be desired offensively with his production, but his defensive game has a lot of promise.
Alalauri is always in the right spot, and he makes great breakout passes to exit his zone. These skills make it seem like there is a chance that he can develop some offense in his game, but it will never come at the expense of his defense.
After this third pick of the second day, over three hours of real time passed before the Blackhawks got back on the clock. They made two seventh-round picks in defenseman Alexander Ivanov and forward William Sorbrand.
When the draft concluded, Director of Amateur Scouting Mike Doneghey said that skating was the most important attribute they look for when they make selections this late in the draft. Everyone is a lottery ticket at this stage, so they look for the ones who are good at skating, which is the most important component for a hockey player.
Draft Grade: A
The Chicago Blackhawks get a solid A for this draft class, including the Bowen Byram trade. Instead of using an early selection in a weak draft for a player who might be good, they landed Byram, who is absolutely great.
In the second round, they took two players with high ceilings and low floors. If one or both of them hit, this draft will already be a win. There is great upside to Alalauri, who would fit in well as a third-pair guy in a few years.
The seventh round picks can't really be truly judged just days after the draft, because the odds are that every player in that round doesn't make it. However, a gem comes out now and again, just ask Louis Crevier.
The team gets an A for making a bold trade that is likely to add a number one defenseman for years to come, and volume in potential when it comes to prospects post-first round.
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While they have plenty of room to chase after UFAs, Leafs GM John Chayka has some internal business to take care of, because Toronto has four players on the roster who will be RFAs as of July 1.
Forwards Jacob Quillan, Nick Robertson, and Matias Maccelli are all pending RFAs, as is defenseman Emil Andrae, who was acquired this off-season.
Of those four players, who are all eligible for salary arbitration, here's a ranking on who is most likely to receive a qualifying offer and to be extended by the Maple Leafs ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
4. Matias Maccelli, LW
Maccelli is coming off his first season with the Maple Leafs. Last off-season, he came in a trade from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2027 draft.
In 2025-26, the Finnish left winger scored 14 goals and 39 points in 71 appearances. That was an improvement on his previous campaign in Utah, when he put up just eight goals and 18 points in 55 games.
The 25-year-old is yet to reach the numbers he set in his second and third years in the NHL. Specifically in his third NHL season, in 2023-24 with the Arizona Coyotes, Maccelli set a career-high with 17 goals and 57 points, showing signs of a top-six forward.
Though last year was an improvement for him from the season prior, there's certainly room to improve for the playmaker.
There was a nine-game span in which Maccelli did not feature for the Maple Leafs, as he was a healthy scratch for a portion of the campaign.
Before that time in the press box, Maccelli played 22 games and had four goals and nine points. Since being reintroduced into Toronto's lineup on Dec. 20, his scoring consistency improved as he registered 10 goals and 30 points in his final 50 games of the year.
It's time for the Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson to go through another contract negotiation. Last season, he filed for salary arbitration. As a result, he earned a one-year deal at $1.825 million.
The 24-year-old will likely find himself signing another short-term deal when the time comes, considering the limited opportunity he's seen in the Leafs' lineup. Luckily, he's in another position to prove himself again with a new front office and head coach behind the bench.
Despite his limited role this past year, Robertson set career-highs in nearly all major categories. The 5-foot-9 left winger recorded 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 75 appearances and averaged 12:40 of ice time, all of which are personal bests.
Even with steady improvement in terms of his production and numbers each season, it's been a challenge for Robertson to find a regular spot in the lineup. Even with left winger Bobby McMann out the door and to the Seattle Kraken, Easton Cowan and 2026 first overall pick Gavin McKenna are expected to have roles on the NHL roster next season.
And that's without mentioning Matthew Knies, William Nylander, Dakota Joshua and Maccelli (if re-signed) as wingers on Toronto's depth chart. If Chayka goes out and acquires another winger in free agency, that's another player to add to that list, creating a tougher path for Robertson.
Nonetheless, Robertson is a player who is capable of scoring 20 goals in the NHL.
A qualifying offer for Robertson would cost $1.825 million.
Quillan, 24, featured in about a quarter of the Maple Leafs' games this past regular season. He finished the year with one goal and three points in 23 contests for Toronto, with two of his points coming in the final two outings of the campaign, including his first NHL goal in Game 81.
Considering Quillan doesn't have much NHL experience - playing just 24 career games in the league - it wouldn't be very challenging, expensive or inconvenient for the Leafs to re-sign him. After all, he's filled in as a bottom-six center who can take shifts on the penalty kill and is relatively responsible behind the puck.
Most of his time was in the minors this past year. He contributed 14 goals and 36 points in 40 regular-season games, followed by three goals and nine points in 19 post-season affairs.
The Maple Leafs signed Quillan to a two-year contract in April 2024 after he went undrafted. That contract came after his third season with Quinnipiac University, when he provided 17 goals and 46 points in 39 NCAA games.
That deal saw the 6-foot-1 center earn $875,000 against the salary cap each year. With that, it would cost the Maple Leafs $850,000 to qualify Quillan.
1. Emil Andrae, D
Andrae seems like the most likely pending RFA to sign a contract with the Maple Leafs. He hasn't played a minute for Toronto, but the Maple Leafs acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers, along with Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit.
In that trade, along with Andrae and a 2026 third-rounder (which was used to select goaltender Juuso Ainasto), was also goalie Samuel Ersson, who was also a pending RFA. Ersson ended up getting moved to the Ottawa Senators for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Nonetheless, because Andrae was practically the main piece of that return from the Flyers, Chayka must have plans to sign the Swedish defenseman to a contract this summer.
The 5-foot-9 blueliner played 64 NHL games last season for Philadelphia. In that span, he scored two goals and 13 points while averaging 15:20 of ice time. Andrae had the second-best plus-minus rating with a plus-15, only behind left winger Noah Cates' plus-26.
He also featured in four playoff games out of the Flyers' 10 post-season contests, providing one assist and averaging 11:05 of ice time per game.
Andrae, 24, is set to hang around the bottom pair or a seventh-defenseman role with the Leafs next season, as Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Darren Raddysh, Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe all sit ahead of him on the depth chart.
Regardless, it's expected that Toronto inks Andrae eventually. He's coming off his three-year entry-level contract, which paid him $903,333 against the salary cap. It would cost the Maple Leafs $874,125 to give Andrae a qualifying offer.
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Julian Champagnie has been a gem. After going undrafted in in 2022, he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers where he played 2 games as well as a handful of games with their G-League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats. He was waived on Valentine’s Day 2023 so the 76ers could allow Mac McClung to participate in the All-Star Dunk Contest.
The 76ers loss was the Spurs gain. He signed on for the remainder of the season and impressed the organization enough to earn a $12M/4-year contract. Since then, Champagnie has gone on to be an essential component of the Spurs success. He now holds franchise record for postseason three-pointers after this season’s Finals run.
On a personal note, my life has been touched by Julian. Last January, my daughter was the Spurs Ball Kid for the MLK Day game between the Spurs and Utah Jazz. When they announced that her favorite player was Champagnie, he heard his name. After the game, he sent Elizabeth the game worn jersey and signed it for her, thanking her for the support.
A couple of nights later I ran into Champagnie at a Spurs event and he shared that he’d never heard his name as a fan favorite. He was touched and his delight was perceptible. He’s approachable, kind, and friendly. That is who Julian is. He engages with folks, and he is genuine. He’s even gone so far as to include the young fans is part of his warm up. You can see him encouraging young fans to shoot and connect in a way uncommon for most star athletes.
Over the season, Champagnie’s press conferences revealed a refreshing level of honesty. From his feelings on going undrafted to the moments after being waived, Champagnie is open about his journey. He’s taken negative moments and persevered. His worldview inspires as he has fused his positive energy and manifested an amazing career and a life of gratitude.
This year he started in 68 regular season games and all 23 playoff games. He continues to shine on the court and his three-point shooting earned him all kinds of accolades and comparisons. The next step will be receiving the payday he deserves.
Perhaps we should cease using the term “undrafted” and just refer to Champagnie’s pre-Spurs days as “undiscovered.” The Spurs and Champagnie are a great match. He’s really had an opportunity to shine in San Antonio. And his fit is undeniable.
Happy birthday, Jules! Here’s to many more celebrations in San Antonio.
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Happy birthday to Frank Schwindel, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 2004 – At Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks’ 40-year-old fireballer Randy Johnson records his 4,000th career strikeout to become the fourth player in major league history to reach the plateau. The “Big Unit” needs fewer innings (3,237.1) than Nolan Ryan (3,844.2), Roger Clemens (4,151) or Steve Carlton (4,991.1) to accomplish the feat, and other stories as well.
Today in baseball history:
1905 – At Brooklyn, the Giants tally seven runs in the first three innings off Mal Eason to coast to an 11-1 victory. Christy Mathewson leaves after five innings of shutout ball. Dan McGann paces the offense with a triple and homer, while Moonlight Graham, in his only game in the majors, takes over in right field as a late-inning replacement. Graham will have no at-bats. bat, but he will be immortalized by W.P. Kinsella‘s book Shoeless Joe and the movie based on the book, Field of Dreams.
1968 – In the first game of a doubleheader, Mickey Mantle ties the score with a two-run homer in the sixth, but rookie Reggie Jackson breaks the tie in the 8th with his ninth homer of the year.
1969 – Tony Oliva collects eight straight hits in the Twins’ twinbill split with the Royals. Kansas City takes the opener, 7-2, behind homers by Mike Fiore and Bob Oliver. Oliva flies out his first time up, then strokes three singles. In the Twins’ 12-2 win in the second game, Oliva hits two homers, a double and two singles, driving in five runs.
1984 – In Los Angeles, Steve Sax hits a first-inning triple, then swipes home, and Orel Hershiser scatters nine hits to lead the Dodgers past the Cubs and Rick Sutcliffe, 7-1. Sutcliffe will not lose again in the regular season.
