Following a hard-fought win, Nick Sirianni offered an explanation of his exchange with Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield.
Grading the Mets' 2025 season: Players, Carlos Mendoza, and the front office
In going through the numbers for this grade-the-Mets piece, what jumped out most was how many players had bad-to-horrendous Septembers, both position players and pitchers.
So while it’s true the Mets’ failed season was in some ways a slow death, 17 games under .500 from June 13, it’s also fair to call it a late-season collapse, as this team played its worst baseball -- both statistically and fundamentally -- with everything on the line, making way too many mental and physical mistakes.
That has to be part of the evaluation for David Stearns and the front office, as to just how widespread changes to the ballclub should be going forward.
But one thing for sure: it makes for a messy report card, even with some strong overall seasons from their stars.
Here are the grades...
DAVID STEARNS
It wasn’t all his fault, but Stearns, the president of baseball operations, has to take the majority of the blame for this calamitous season, just as he received so much credit for 2024.
Injuries and underperformance from Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson were at the root of the second-half swoon, but Stearns has to take the hit for the Frankie Montas signing, which drew plenty of criticism at the time.
He also chose to make room for his young, homegrown players over bringing back high-intensity sparkplug Jose Iglesias, and, as I wrote Sunday, a lack of intangibles may have been a factor this season -- especially if you put stock in the Mets’ 0-70 record when trailing after eight innings. His trade deadline deals failed badly, though he received high marks at the time from all corners it seemed, including me.
Finally, perhaps my biggest issue with Stearns was waiting too long to call up Nolan McLean, as the Mets were giving away games starting the likes of Brandon Waddell, Justin Hagenman, and Chris Devenski, due to injuries in the starting rotation.
GRADE: D
CARLOS MENDOZA
Mendoza definitely deserves to come back, in my opinion, but he’s got a lot to prove after he didn’t seem to demonstrate the same feel for making in-game decisions that he had in 2024.
Some of that was being stuck with a weak bullpen, which can make any manager look bad. But even so, at times he seemed to have a lot more faith in that 'pen than most fans or analysts, pulling starters more quickly than he should have and trusting the likes of Ryne Stanek and Gregory Soto in big spots.
To cite a couple of specific decisions, not bringing back Edwin Diaz after a seven-pitch inning in that crucial loss in late September to the Nationals, and not pinch-running Tyrone Taylor for Starling Marte in a game in Milwaukee, both proved costly. Also, Mendoza seemed to be more obsessed with righty-lefty matchups, for hitters and pitchers, than he had been the previous season.
I still think he has a good feel for communicating and managing his players, which is essential to the job, and I don’t believe he lost the clubhouse, as it becomes fashionable to say when a team underperforms. But he has to find a way to help recreate that 2024 vibe that was missing this season.
FRANCISCO LINDOR
Another 30-30 season but disappeared for a long stretch in the second half when the Mets were struggling, perhaps because of the broken toe. Got hot in September and while his defense overall was good again, Lindor made more misplays than usual, some that were costly.
GRADE: B+
PETE ALONSO
He delivered with the bat and was the Mets’ most consistent and clutch hitter from start to finish. But the defense was a problem. Every throw became an adventure. His high throw that led to Kodai Senga’s hamstring pull changed the season.
Mets need to re-sign him also need a plan to ease him out of being the everyday first baseman.
GRADE: B+
JUAN SOTO
For his first year dealing with the huge expectations of his contract, Soto had a very good season offensively. He just didn’t have those huge, difference-making moments that he had in the past for other teams, including the Yankees.
And with the season on the line in late September, when the Mets needed him most, his bat was relatively quiet. He had two extra-base hits over the final eight games, one of them a meaningless home run in a big loss.
GRADE: B+
BRANDON NIMMO
Solid season for Nimmo but at age 32, it’s starting to look like his best years are behind him as he posted a second straight sub-.800 OPS.
He was one of the Mets’ better hitters in the clutch, hitting .310 with runners in scoring position, but he had a quiet September in the heat of the Wild Card race, with a .278 on-base percentage and three extra-base hits, all home runs.
GRADE: B
BRETT BATY
All in all Baty was a pleasant surprise, blossoming into a very good third baseman, and athletic enough to play a solid second base as well, while seeming to finally get over the hump with the bat. Hit .280 in August/September with above-average on-base and slugging numbers.
GRADE: B+
FRANCISCO ALVAREZ
Turned his season around both offensively and defensively after his demotion to Triple-A. From there he put up a .921 OPS with a .360 on-base percentage and a .561 slugging percentage. With eight second half home runs in 35 games, Alvarez showed signs of regaining the power that’s expected from him, while playing through injuries to his hands.
GRADE: B+
TYRONE TAYLOR
Outstanding defensive season in center field made Taylor a valuable player who was missed in September when he was out with a hamstring injury. Didn’t hit much overall but did deliver in clutch, hitting .328 with runners in scoring position.
GRADE: B
JEFF MCNEIL
Was having a solid season but disappeared in September, hitting .187 with a .240 slugging percentage and a .514 OPS. Finished the season going 4-for-44 in final two weeks. Did provide important value with his defensive versatility, including playing an adequate center field.
GRADE: C
STARLING MARTE
The veteran outfielder had his moments as a part-time DH, but like many of his teammates, did little in September, hitting .228 with no walks, so, yes, a .228 on-base percentage as well, and a .544 OPS.
GRADE: C
RONNY MAURICIO
Showed flashes of high-ceiling potential with the bat but remained true to his reputation for poor plate discipline. Vulnerability to breaking/offspeed stuff kept him from earning consistent playing time. Played well defensively at third base. Hard to tell about his Mets future.
GRADE: C
MARK VIENTOS
Hugely disappointing season after his breakout 2024 that included postseason heroics. Finally looked like he was figuring it out in the second half but then went cold in September, hitting .184 with two home runs.
I don’t cite WAR numbers often, but his -0.2 WAR speaks to his poor defense and lack of foot speed, in addition to his poor offense. In short, he’s a DH.
GRADE: D
CEDRIC MULLINS
Mets were desperate for a center field upgrade at the trade deadline, hoping for the best with Mullins, who wasn’t having a very good season in Baltimore. Still, nobody expected him to be a disaster in New York, hitting .182 with no pop, while playing poorly in center field -- getting slow jumps and bad reads.
That play in final week against the Nationals where he stopped running the bases while the ball was in plain sight on the ground, assuming it had been caught, summed up his Mets tenure.
GRADE: F
EDWIN DIAZ
Superb season as Diaz regained his 2022 excellence, closing games with dominance from start to finish. Pitched to a 1.63 ERA over 66.1 innings, his most as a Met.
GRADE: A+
NOLAN MCLEAN
The great hope for next year and beyond. Was dazzling in eight starts after August call-up, featuring elite stuff and uncommon poise. Should have been called up sooner, which could have at least gotten the Mets into the postseason.
GRADE: A
CLAY HOLMES
His conversion from reliever to starter proved a success, as he pitched to a 3.53 ERA over 165 innings, nearly 100 more than his previous high. Seemed to hit a wall in the second half but wound up finishing strong, throwing six shutout innings in game No. 161 with the season on the line.
GRADE: B
DAVID PETERSON
What happened? At age 29, Peterson went from being an All-Star in July to unpitchable by season’s end, as Mendoza wouldn’t let his fully-rested lefty anywhere near the mound in a do-or-die final game of the season.
Was it the workload, as Peterson’s 168 innings pitched were 46 more than his highest previous total? Whatever it was, his 9.72 ERA in four September starts spelled doom for the Mets.
GRADE: C–
SEAN MANAEA
A lost season for the lefty, after his change in delivery and his 2024 dominance earned him a three-year, $75 million contract. Mets better hope his woes were mostly the result of his oblique injury and then the loose bodies in his elbow. Was so untrustworthy by season’s end that Mendoza pulled him after two walks in the second inning of a scoreless game in the season finale.
GRADE: D
KODAI SENGA
He was having an A season before the hamstring injury on June 12, then a D performance in eight starts after his return that led to a minor league demotion. His inability to pitch when he’s in less than perfect health has become an issue.
GRADE: INCOMPLETE
BRANDON SPROAT
Showed high-ceiling potential, with feel as well as stuff, in his four starts.
GRADE: INCOMPLETE
JONAH TONG
At age 22, Tong wasn’t quite ready to be tossed into the deep end after only two Triple-A starts. But he too showed high-ceiling potential.
GRADE: INCOMPLETE
BROOKS RALEY
By season’s end Raley was the second-most dependable reliever, pitching to a 2.45 ERA in 30 appearances after his return from Tommy John surgery.
GRADE: A–
TYLER ROGERS
The numbers were OK, as Rogers pitched to a 2.30 ERA after coming over in a trade from San Francisco, but his pitch-to-contact style resulted in too many key hits in big spots down the stretch.
GRADE: C
HUASCAR BRAZOBAN
The right-hander had his moments. He was dominant early in the season but very inconsistent overall.
GRADE: C
REED GARRETT
Strong early, inconsistent overall and eventually injured, headed for Tommy John surgery.
GRADE: C-
RYNE STANEK
Seemed to be a DFA candidate for much of the second half, which made it hard to understand why Mendoza used him as often as he did in high-leverage spots, especially in the season finale.
GRADE: D
RYAN HELSLEY
There were ominous signs even when Mets traded for him, as the opposition had been pounding his fastball with the Cardinals. But nobody expected him to be a such a bust.
GRADE: F
2025-26 Fantasy Hockey Preview: Vegas Golden Knights Outlook
I shudder to think what the Knights may do with a top-five offense that added Mitch Marner, a perennial 100-point threat with excellent playmaking and defensive ability that you can play in any situation.
It does make a lot of logical sense to play Marner and Jack Eichel, a worthy MVP candidate last season, on separate lines given their ability to drive play themselves. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, at least early in the season, with the Knights toying with the idea of stacking their top line. It’s not something they’ve ever had the luxury to do; while they’ve gone after some big names, an Eichel-Marner combo would be the best they ever had, and arguably a top-five duo in the league.
That Marner cost them nothing but cap space should push the Knights offense to an even higher level. To date, only one team in the cap era, the 2021-22 Panthers with Jonathan Huberdeau (115 points), Aleksander Barkov (88 points) and Sam Reinhart (82), has ever averaged more than four goals per game. Can the Knights do this? On paper, I think it’s totally possible. THN Yearbook & Fantasy Guide projects Eichel and Marner to combine for 199 points this season.
It won’t cost the Knights a balanced lineup, either, considering Tomas Hertl and William Karlsson are as good as you can get with your No. 2 and 3 centers. Mark Stone is still a fantastic Selke-level winger when healthy, and Pavel Dorofeyev (35 goals in 82 games), Ivan Barbashev (21 even-strength goals) and Brett Howden (22 even-strength goals) can provide scoring from the other lines. The Knights can throw out three scoring lines on a nightly basis no matter how they configure their players.
There are no shortage of quality fantasy options here with Eichel and Marner both worth first-round picks in standard 12- or 14-team leagues, and then having a minimum of three others – Dorofeyev, Hertl, Theodore – worth rostering even in the shallowest of leagues.
Where the Knights will certainly feel a hit, however, is the absence of Alex Pietrangelo due to injury. There’s no replacing a player of his caliber and it puts a lot of emphasis on their current top trio, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb and Noah Hanifin, to pick up the slack. Zach Whitecloud joins the top four, but the jury’s still out on a defensemen entering his age-29 season who has never averaged more than 18 minutes per game. Jeremy Lauzon, who will likely anchor their third pairing, is worth noting due to his significant potential for hits, who played himself into banger league relevance after leading the league with 386 hits in 2023-24.
Goaltending is somewhat dicey if only because the Knights have zero depth behind Adin Hill. At one point they had a parade of capable backups, but Akira Schmid played in just five games last season and through four seasons has started just 36 games. Hill is coming off the first season in which he appeared in at least 50 games, and his play held up a lot better than I thought, but there’s little margin for error. At least with Ilya Samsonov last season, he brought plenty of experience and still had stretches where he was very reliable, including a perfect 4-0-0 in December last season with a .948 SP and 1.25 GAA.
Prediction:
Even with some question marks regarding their depth on defense and in net, the Knights win their third division banner in four seasons with an outstanding offense. Even with a new team, Marner acclimates himself well with the Knights in the Western Conference, where he can live with relative anonymity compared to being the hometown franchise savior in Toronto.
A looming free agency for Eichel has very little cause for concern given how well he’s fit on the Knights. With plenty of deals expiring this season and the next – Karlsson, Stone, Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Jeremy Lauzon among them – the Knights have the cap space and plenty of proof they can be a contender for season to come, making it easy to convince Eichel to stay.
As the Central Division teams beat each other into oblivion with the divisional playoff format, the Knights will have a clear path to the conference final and beyond. Their main rival remains the Oilers, who don’t offer as much depth as the Knights and have even bigger questions in goal.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.
Alcaraz wraps up seventh title from nine finals with Japan Open win over Fritz
Sublime Spaniard beats world No 4 in straight sets
But he pulls out of Shanghai Masters to ‘rest and recover’
After consoling his opponent and embracing his team at the end of another successful week on the tour, Carlos Alcaraz had just one thought on his mind. He immediately sought out a pair of scissors to finally remove the extensive bandage wrapped tightly around his left ankle.
Having started his week in Tokyo by rolling his ankle and being unsure about whether he would continue, Alcaraz ended it with his eighth title of the season as he overcame a spirited fight from a physically hampered Taylor Fritz to triumph at the Japan Open with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Continue reading...Forsberg: Tatum's injury recovery has potential to be ‘unprecedented'
Forsberg: Tatum's injury recovery has potential to be ‘unprecedented' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics have taken a “no ceilings” approach to Jayson Tatum’s recovery, and it’s easy to see why.
Tatum has aggressively attacked his rehab from the very beginning. He underwent surgery in New York less than 12 hours after rupturing his Achilles tendon at Madison Square Garden in Game 4 of the Celtics’ second-round playoff series with the New York Knicks. He spent essentially his entire offseason in Boston, working out regularly at the Celtics’ training facility under the guise of trainers and medical staff. And about four months after his initial injury, he’s already participating in basketball drills, which he documented in an eye-opening YouTube video over the weekend.
Tatum’s recovery has impressed his Celtics teammates, several of whom admitted to Insider Chris Forsberg at Monday’s Media Day that they were surprised to see the All-Star forward going through a basketball workout this soon after a surgery that keeps many players sidelined for a full year.
While Tatum is the latest in a long line of NBA players who suffered Achilles injuries — most notably Dejounte Murray, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton this past season — Forsberg believes Tatum could set a new standard with how swiftly he recovers.
“I think we’re watching something potentially unprecedented in terms of how quickly he can get back to a high level,” Forsberg said Monday on Arbella Early Edition. “There are still a lot of hurdles to go. It’s still a long time. I don’t think they’re going to rush this at all. But you can’t watch that video and then say, ‘Oh, a 200-day season and he’s not going to be back.'”
Tatum’s surgery was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley, a renowned surgeon who reportedly has performed a special type of Achilles surgery called the “SpeedBridge” repair that can lead to a faster recovery time. It’s still unclear whether Tatum had that specific procedure, but nonetheless, he seems to be on the cutting edge of his rehab in several respects.
“You have to understand, they got him into surgery at an unprecedented rate,” Forsberg added. “No one has ever torn their Achilles and then been into surgery less than 12 hours before. Nobody who has (had) this injury in the NBA has gotten this Speedbridge procedure in that situation and then been back to rehabbing on this aggressive timeline.
“This might set a precedent for how we view this injury, and I know that’s daunting, because you never want to be the first one … but every indication is, he is progressing at a rate where we at least have to think about these conversations.”
Tatum admitted he has a date circled on his calendar for when he wants to be “100 percent,” and that he plans to make his return at a home game. So, what might that date be? It’s all speculation for now, but Forsberg is revising his initial prediction of March 4.
“I’m gonna move it up. I’m into February now, and maybe I’ll be in January at some point,” Forsberg said. “I can’t watch that tape and not think to myself he’s going to be back on a basketball court sooner than later, as long as everyone is confident he cannot re-aggravate this injury, and he is at a point where the strength is enough.”
With Abu Dhabi games on deck, 5 things to watch for Sixers in 2025 preseason
With Abu Dhabi games on deck, 5 things to watch for Sixers in 2025 preseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers’ 2025 preseason will start Thursday at 12 p.m. ET with the first of two preseason games against the Knicks in Abu Dhabi.
Here are five things to watch for the Sixers in the preseason:
What’s different about the offense?
Joel Embiid said on Day 1 of training camp that the Sixers have changed their offense “quite a bit.”
“I’m in the dunker (spot),” he said with a smile. “Let me just chill in the dunker and everybody else does whatever they want.”
We imagine Embiid will still be a major piece of the Sixers’ offense and not a mere spectator when he’s available. It also does sound like the Sixers intend to play a more guard-centric, up-tempo style.
“It’s certainly something we want to do as far as just creating more of a passing, ball movement type of situation,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Sunday. “There has been a lot of drill work leading up into (training camp) and it’s starting to take shape pretty good. … Again, I keep saying we’ve got a little bit more speed, we’ve got a little bit more perimeter play, we’ve got a little bit more guys that can get involved in actions. So we want them touching the ball.”
Edgecombe’s game and jumper
VJ Edgecombe has drawn glowing praise from all corners of the Sixers’ practice gym.
“VJ’s a special talent,” Tyrese Maxey said Friday of the No. 3 pick. “One of his talents that a lot of people don’t really use is how hard he plays on both ends of the floor, whether that’s offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding, guarding the ball, playing in transition.
“Those are little things that a lot of people don’t do, so I think he’s going to be really good at that. He likes to learn, he wants to get better. The sky is the limit for him.”
Though the preseason results won’t matter, it will be interesting to see Edgecombe’s jump shot (on top of his sensational athleticism and all the tools Maxey named). Nurse mentioned at media day that Edgecombe made “great strides” with his shooting during the offseason. The 20-year-old said Saturday he’s improved his arc and consistency.
The backup bigs
Andre Drummond said at media day that he’s “100 percent to go” after struggling with a left big toe injury last season.
Nurse has also noted Drummond’s fitness level.
“I think he’s at least 20 or so pounds lighter than he was a year ago at this stage, so that’s a good start,” Nurse said Sunday. “He can probably keep going on that just a little bit more, but it’s helping him and his toe feels better. That’s obviously helping him. He’s moving a little bit better and he’s been playing very good.”
Drummond and second-year big man Adem Bona appear to be the main names behind Embiid at center. Bona’s coming off of an excellent end to his rookie season and won a EuroBasket silver medal this summer with Turkey.
According to Drummond, Bona is “jumping two inches higher than he did last year.” According to Nurse, the 22-year-old is “breaking all the weight room records.”
“It’s competitive,” Nurse said of the Sixers’ backup center outlook. “There’s three, four, five of them, depending on how far you want to go with it. … It’s Bona, it’s Drum, it’s (Johni) Broome, it’s (Jabari) Walker. (Dominick) Barlow maybe a little bit, too. … I think they know they’re in a battle. If you came to watch practice and you were watching that position, you’d see a lot of competition going on between that whole group.”
Walker, Barlow ‘in a very similar situation’
Both Barlow and Walker seem to have plausible routes to earning a larger role than the typical two-way contract player. Each could boost their case with strong showings in the preseason.
“They’re in a very similar situation, very similar positions,” Nurse said after Day 2 of training camp. “Barlow’s constantly on the glass, keeping the basketball alive, etc. I did talk to Jabari about that. Jabari can really rebound the ball. … He’s one of those guys that emphatically snatches rebounds out of there and he’s really good on the defensive glass especially.
“I just kind of reminded him yesterday that I didn’t quite see that, but I did see it today. … He was a lot more active kind of open-floor attacking, which we’re trying to get him to work on. He does have a handle enough and the size in the open floor to take guys on with some shoulder hits and some things. It’s a work in progress, there’s a ways to go on that with him, but he was very good today.”
The 22-year-old Barlow is 6-foot-9 with a 7-3 wingspan. He hasn’t been an outside shooter in the NBA (10 for 40 from three-point range across 96 games), but Barlow’s a good athlete who views his versatility as a strength.
“When I was at Overtime Elite, I think I played every position — two, three, four, five,” he said following Sunday’s practice. “The game is changing so much. You see a team like Houston run double-big lineups. You see Golden State run Draymond (Green) at the five and he’s traditionally undersized. I think the game is just evolving.
“On a night-to-night basis, you see different matchups and different positions, so I don’t worry so much about position. It’s just continuing to play a role and find ways to help our team be as effective as possible.”
How healthy can Sixers be on opening night?
The Sixers would love to minimize the injury woes that overwhelmed them from the very start of last year. It’s not a massive stretch to say injury-free preseason games would be successful preseason games.
Embiid (left knee) practiced on Saturday and had a planned day off Sunday. George (left knee) has progressed to doing individual on-court work. Jared McCain (right thumb) is out indefinitely.
Trendon Watford has been dealing with right hamstring tightness, which the Sixers have called a “day-to-day” injury.
“We are getting closer,” Nurse said of Watford’s status. “I would hope and I think that we’re going to see him in the practices at some point (in Abu Dhabi). … That’s what the hope is, I believe.”
Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to record-breaking $136 million extension
Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to record-breaking $136 million extension originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Kirill Kaprizov can skate to the bank.
The Russian forward signed a record-breaking contract extension with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday worth $136 million across eight years.
The deal is the richest in NHL history in total money and average annual value ($17 million). Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin held the previous record for total money ($124 million) and Edmonton Oilers All-Star Leon Draisaitl held the previous record for AAV ($14 million).
Kaprizov will play the 2025-26 season on the final year of the five-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Wild in 2021. His new extension will kick in with the 2026-27 season.
The eight-year deal will be one of the last in the NHL, as the league’s new collective bargaining agreement will limit players re-signing with their own teams to seven-year maximums. Free agents joining new teams can sign for a maximum of six years.
The Wild selected Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in January 2021 and went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. In 2021-22, he set team records in single-season goals (47) and points (108) and earned the first of three straight All-Star appearances.
Kaprizov notched 25 goals and 31 assists across 41 games in 2024-25 before a lower-body injury cut his season short.
The Wild open the 2025-26 regular season against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Oct. 9, as they look to win their first playoff series since 2014-15.
Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to record-breaking $136 million extension
Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to record-breaking $136 million extension originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Kirill Kaprizov can skate to the bank.
The Russian forward signed a record-breaking contract extension with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday worth $136 million across eight years.
The deal is the richest in NHL history in total money and average annual value ($17 million). Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin held the previous record for total money ($124 million) and Edmonton Oilers All-Star Leon Draisaitl held the previous record for AAV ($14 million).
Kaprizov will play the 2025-26 season on the final year of the five-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Wild in 2021. His new extension will kick in with the 2026-27 season.
The eight-year deal will be one of the last in the NHL, as the league’s new collective bargaining agreement will limit players re-signing with their own teams to seven-year maximums. Free agents joining new teams can sign for a maximum of six years.
The Wild selected Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in January 2021 and went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. In 2021-22, he set team records in single-season goals (47) and points (108) and earned the first of three straight All-Star appearances.
Kaprizov notched 25 goals and 31 assists across 41 games in 2024-25 before a lower-body injury cut his season short.
The Wild open the 2025-26 regular season against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Oct. 9, as they look to win their first playoff series since 2014-15.
The Best Sabres, By The Numbers – #1
The Buffalo Sabres are embarking on their 56th season and have a storied history, but that proud record has been sullied recently by a 14-year playoff drought. The club has 15 players who have been inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and many others that deserve recognition. Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at players in Sabres history by their jersey number, ranking the top three players to wear that particular number.
#1 - Eight players have worn this number in the history of the Sabres
Third: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - The Sabres current starter was selected 54th overall in 2017, won the OHL’s Most Valuable Player award and a World Junior Championship with Finland in 2019, and has posted a 71-65-15 record in three-plus seasons with Buffalo.
Other Sabres Stories
Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse
Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere
Second: Don Edwards - Edwards began his Sabres career at age 21, replacing veteran Al Smith as the backup for Gerry Desjardins in 1976-77. He became the full-time starter the next season after Desjardins was injured and led the NHL with 38 victories. The bulk of his career was as a tandem partner with Bob Sauve, who won the Vezina Trophy in 1980. Edwards is third on the Sabres all-time victories list with 156, behind only Ryan Miller and Dominik Hasek.
First: Roger Crozier - Crozier won the Calder Trophy and was the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing Stanley Cup Final effort with Detroit in 1966. Bouts of chronic pancreatitis kept him out for long stretches with the Red Wings, and in 1970, he was traded to the expansion Sabres.
In spite of continuing health issues, he played 107 games in the club’s first two seasons, but Crozier led the Sabres to their first playoff appearance in 1973, and in Buffalo’s run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1975, he went 17-2-1, with a 2.62 GAA. He finished his Sabres career with a 74-76-29 record.
Projecting Blackhawks Lines & Defense Pairs At Halfway Point Of Training Camp
The Chicago Blackhawks are at the halfway point of training camp. One week from today, they will be in Sunrise to take on the Florida Panthers in their first game of the season. Florida will raise their second straight Stanley Cup banner while the Blackhawks continue to try and build to become a team like that again.
Halfway through preseason, there are a lot of things to be figured out. Who is going to fill out the lineup at forward and defense? Who will earn what role? There are three more games, all at home, and a handful of practices to go before things will be truly set.
The truth is also that the decisions made for opening night can be changed for every game after. A lot of young players are going to be in and out of the lineup throughout the season.
When the Hawks do reach opening night, however, you can expect the lineup to look something like this:
Andre Burakovsky - Connor Bedard - Ryan Donato
Teuvo Teravainen - Frank Nazar - Tyler Bertuzzi
Colton Dach - Jason Dickinson - Ilya Mikheyev
Nick Foligno - Lukas Reichel - Landon Slaggert
Extra - Sam Lafferty, Oliver Moore
This would mean that the Blackhawks start Ryan Greene in the AHL and that Landon Slaggert is healthy enough to go on opening night. Oliver Moore could draw in, but it is hard to place where he'd fit in with these lines over guys who clearly earned spots.
Colton Dach brings something to this group that they don't have much of, which is grit, tenacity, and toughness. He is not afraid to get in someone's face if he feels it necessary.
Sam Lafferty, in his third tenure on the team, will probably make the team, but he won't be in the lineup regularly. He'll for sure play, but keeping younger players out in his favor every night would not be wise for the development plan.
Although he has been in trade rumors, Lukas Reichel should be in (at minimum) a bottom-six role as long as he's in the organization. He has looked good in recent preseason games, and he has a huge final week of camp ahead of him to cement that role.
If this ended up being the top six, it wouldn't be all that surprising to anyone. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, although young, deserve the opportunity to work as a two-headed monster down the middle. There are some good wings on each of their lines to help them.
Alex Vlasic - Sam Rinzel
Wyatt Kaiser - Artyom Levhunov
Nolan Allan - Connor Murphy
Extra: Louis Crevier
There are five defensemen on the Chicago Blackhawks who are locks to make the team if healthy. Some of them came in feeling like they needed to prove themselves, but there is no doubt that Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel, Wyatt Kaiser, Artyom Levshunov, and Connor Murphy are the five most NHL-ready players in the organization on the blue line.
Matt Grzelcyk is in camp on a PTO. There is no need for him to make the team over any of the younger players that the Blackhawks have competing for spots. They have Connor Murphy there to be the veteran on the unit, and they don't need a second.
Jeff Blashill said that Grzelcyk will only make the team if he feels that there isn't a younger player who deserves the spot. Well, there are about three guys who have a case.
Based on the way he's played through the first half of camp, Nolan Allan deserves that job. Right behind him is Kevin Korchinski, followed by Ethan Del Mastro. Allan's physical presence in their most recent game against the Minnesota Wild serves as a reminder of what he can do when he's out there.
Kevin Korchinski will get his chances this season. He is mostly relied on to be a puck-mover, but the rest of his game is still coming together. As for Del Mastro, it's been a tough go for him in the games he's played, mostly in a larger role, which may see him get some more seasoning in the AHL to start. If any of these three on the outside looking in have a strong end to the preseason, however, we may be singing a new tune come next week.
Spencer Knight
Arvid Soderblom
Spencer Knight is going to be the team's number one goalie. This is the first time in his young career that he will enter a season as a true top guy for a team. The prize in the Seth Jones trade for Chicago was Knight, and he's ready to show why. So far in the preseason and camp, he's been brilliant.
As for the backup spot, Arvid Soderblom came into camp with the edge because he was good in his role last year, but Drew Commesso is coming up fast. Although both played very well up to this point, the Blackhawks ultimately decided to get Commesso down to the Rockford IceHogs to continue in his development. Soderblom will serve as Knight's primary backup.
Can anything change here?
Anything can change with these projected lineups before opening night next Tuesday. Ryan Greene could force the Blackhawks to take him over Oliver Moore or Lukas Reichel. One of the three defenseman left off could force Nolan Allan to begin his season in Rockford. There could be an unforeseen injury that changes everything.
There are still three preseason games (all at home) to go against the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues. That stretch begins on Tuesday against the Wings, which will feature a combination of players fighting for the final spots and roster locks.
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'Angry' Deandre Ayton not taking his 'last chance' for granted with Lakers
Deandre Ayton spent the last two years fading away from the national spotlight on a team that was closer to getting the first overall pick than getting to the first round of the playoffs. On Monday, the 7-foot center stood in front of flashing lights, answered questions in a packed news conference and glanced up at a shiny line of 17 championship trophies.
Ayton, whose inconsistent career hit a new low in Portland, where he was bought out of his contract and criticized for a poor work ethic, smiled at what he called “the biggest stage.” The former No. 1 overall pick is ready to launch his revenge tour with the Lakers.
"It's the biggest opportunity, I can say, of my career,” Ayton said Monday at Lakers media day. “Some people say it's my last leg, some people say it's my last chance. Well, it's the opportunity I can say I'm truly not going to take for granted.”
Read more:Plaschke: LeBron James is 'maybe' retiring? This is going to be fun
Marcus Smart knows the feeling. The 2022 defensive player of the year is coming off a contract buyout in Washington. After nine years and three all-defensive team honors with the Boston Celtics, Smart has played in just 54 games over two injury-plagued years with Memphis and Washington. The 31-year-old recognizes some may have forgotten the “Celtics' Marcus Smart" — the player who guarded all five positions, knocked down timely threes and brought contagious, tone-setting toughness.
The Lakers still remember.
“I know what he brings to the game,” LeBron James said. “I know that team is first, second, third, fourth, fifth, when it comes to Marcus Smart.”
Despite his resume and standing in the league, Smart doesn’t expect automatic entry to the Lakers' starting lineup.
“Whether I start or come off the bench,” Smart said, “my presence will be made.”
Smart’s defensive prowess could be a significant boost to a starting group that figures to include James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Rui Hachimura, who started in 57 of his 59 regular-season appearances last season, is in the final year of his contract after averaging 13.1 points and five rebounds per game last season.
Facing the possibility of coming off the bench ahead of a contract year, Hachimura said he would defer to coaches to decide what was best. Coach JJ Redick said the team has seven or eight starting-caliber players, and the starting lineup doesn’t weigh heavily on his mind entering his second season at the helm.
But Ayton's starting position feels solidified.
Read more:‘I don’t know’: Lakers’ LeBron James unsure when it comes to future
The center was the Lakers’ most significant offseason addition after the blockbuster trade that brought Doncic to L.A. also left the team without a starting center. Jaxson Hayes, who was thrust into the starting role out of necessity but fell out of the rotation during the playoffs, will be a valuable one-two punch with Ayton at center, James said. Forward Maxi Kleber, who played only five minutes after joining the team during the midseason trade with Dallas, said he is fully healthy after a lengthy foot injury.
Kleber, 33, knows firsthand the impact Doncic can have on a post player’s career. Kleber has played with Doncic since the Slovenian superstar was drafted in 2018 and marveled at Doncic’s ability to get easy shots for his teammates. Lob chances will start falling from the sky like never before for Ayton.
After practicing together in the offseason, Kleber commended Ayton for getting stronger and adding to his physical presence on the court. Redick has challenged the entire roster to arrive in “championship shape.”
Ayton didn’t need the additional motivation.
“You guys have an Angry Ayton,” the 27-year-old said, “where I've been disrespected most of my career and just been doubted. And I'm here where all [that is] behind me and I can add all that fuel into winning and playing alongside Luka."
Doncic, out for his own redemption after last year’s trade and conversations about his weight and work ethic, was eager to begin his first training camp with the Lakers. Coming off a quarterfinals appearance at EuroBasket with the Slovenian national team, Doncic said he felt stronger and quicker on the court after his offseason physical transformation. One of the league’s pick-and-roll savants, Doncic should help Ayton rediscover the dominance he flashed while helping the Phoenix Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021 and post a franchise-record 64 wins in 2022.
Finally back in the NBA spotlight with a new team, Ayton relishes the chance to chase more meaningful records.
“You can feel the pressure through the door,” Ayton said. “This team wants to win a championship."
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Islanders GM Mathieu Darche On No. 1 Overall Pick Matthew Schaefer So Far
ELMONT, NY -- At the start of the third period of Monday night's New York Islanders preseason game against the New York Rangers, general manager Mathieu Darche joined the MSGSN broadcast.
Brendan Burke asked Darche about what he's thought of Matthew Schaefer so far, the No. 1 pick who was in the midst of his third preseason game.
"He's been really good," Darche told Burke. "His scoring ability just stands out. When you watch him, one aspect that has actually impressed me, which a lot of times with younger players, it takes longer, is his defending. Because at the end of the day, you can be great on offense. If you don't defend, you can't play in this league, so he's been very good.
"Talk about another guy that's making a push to be here on October 9. So again, there's a game tonight, there's a game on Thursday, we'll make those final decisions, but he's been as advertised.
— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) September 30, 2025
Through three preseason games, Schaefer has played a total of 69:12 minutes, recording two assists, with eight shots on goal, six individual scoring chances, five rebounds created, three hits, 11 hits taken, with four penalty minutes -- both coming in his first preseason game.
When the puck drops against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arean on Oct. 9, opening night, Schaefer will (very, very likely) make his NHL debut, skating alongside Scott Mayfield, who has proven to be a rather strong partner for the rookie.
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Canadiens: Crave’s Toujours Canadiens – Stephane Richer
This year, Crave’s offering of Montreal Canadiens’ content is not limited solely to The Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens Season 2. No, there’s a new show on the streaming service that’s definitely worth a look for Canadiens’ fans. The three-part series called Toujours Canadiens dedicates one episode to each of the three Canadiens’ players involved in the project: Stéphane Richer, Chris Nilan, and Claude Lemieux.
The first episode, which focuses on Richer, was released on September 23 and takes us through the Ripon-born athlete’s career. For those who grew up in the 80s, watching the Tricolore and Richer score goal after goal, it will bring back some fond memories, while also giving a glimpse of what was happening behind the scenes.
Canadiens: St-Louis Shakes Up His Lines
Canadiens: The Big Battle For The Third Pairing
Canadiens: The Remaining Question Mark
Richer candidly speaks about the highs and lows of his career, including the fame that came with scoring 50 goals, as well as the hate and jealousy that accompanied it. The coverage in the paper got a little bit much: the allegations of alcohol and drug abuse, about his sexual orientation, and everything else.
Back then, an athlete could hardly go to the GM and ask for help because he was having mental health issues. The NHL and NHLPA player assistance program was only established in 1996, and Richer could have used it long before then.
He doesn’t just detail his struggles though, he happily recalls meeting Maurice Richard after scoring 50 goals, the legend was brought to the dressing room to congratulate him, he also speaks of his junior days in the QMJHL with the Granby Bison, training alongside Patrick Roy who used to tell him they’d make the NHL, play for the Sainte-Flanelle and win the Stanley Cup. A prophecy that did eventually come true.
It's interesting to hear how it felt for Richer to be traded and how landing in New Jersey was a rude awakening, far away from the circus that surrounds the Canadiens. He also won a Cup there before being sent back to Montreal, which didn’t turn out very well for him. We gain a comprehensive overview of his career and the emotional rollercoaster it was.
The episode also includes interviews with Serge Savard, Larry Robinson, Patrice Brisebois, and former New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello. Overall, it’s a good hour of television and one you won’t regret watching.
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
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Here's how little Anaheim's share of Angels ticket revenue was worth this year
The city of Anaheim faces an annual deficit projected at $64 million, so every little bit helps. And, because of the Angels’ poor play, that is exactly what the city got in ticket revenue from its hometown baseball team this year: just a little bit.
Until Sunday, in fact, the city did not know for certain that it would get even a penny in ticket revenue.
As part of their lease to play in the city-owned stadium, the Angels are required to pay the city $2 for every ticket sold beyond 2.6 million. On Sunday, the final day of the regular season, the last-place Angels topped that threshold by 15,506. The payment to Anaheim: $31,012.
In better times — amid a run of six postseason appearances in eight years — the city received more than $1 million annually in ticket revenue. The high point: $1,613,580 in 2006, when the team sold a record 3,406,790 tickets.
Read more:Shaikin: The Angels finished in last place again. How does owner Arte Moreno plan to fix it?
Although major league teams do not disclose their financial data, Forbes estimated the Angels generated $120 million in ticket revenue last year. The Angels sold 2.58 million tickets last year, so the city received none of that revenue.
When the city and the Walt Disney Co. — then the owner of the Angels — agreed on that stadium lease in 1996, the 2.6 million figure was largely aspirational. The Angels sold 1.8 million tickets that year. In the previous 30 seasons playing in the stadium, the Angels’ attendance had topped 2.6 million only four times.
In 2003, however, Arte Moreno bought the Angels from Disney, inheriting a Cinderella World Series championship team and fortifying it with premier free agents, including Hall of Famer outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and star pitcher Bartolo Colon.
The city first received ticket revenue that year, when the Angels’ attendance shot past 2.6 million and topped 3 million. Under Moreno’s ownership, the Angels won five division championships in the next six years and sold more than 3 million tickets every year from 2003-2019.
The Angels have not made a postseason appearance in 11 years — the longest drought in the major leagues — and have not posted a winning record in 10 years. Attendance dropped sharply after the pandemic, and Anaheim has received a share of the Angels’ ticket revenue only twice in the past six years: this year, and $81,150 in 2023.
The city does receive revenue from parking and other stadium events, but only after certain thresholds have been reached. Under the lease, ticket sales are the primary driver of city revenue.
The Angels pay no rent under their lease, since Disney paid all but $20 million of a $117-million stadium renovation. The city said it would make its money back from development of the parking lots around the stadium, which has not happened in the three decades since the lease took effect.
Read more:A gondola to Dodger Stadium? How about a gondola to the Big A?
Moreno twice has agreed to deals in which he would own the stadium and develop the land around it, but the city backed away both times: in 2014, after then-mayor Tom Tait objected to leasing the land to Moreno for $1 per year; and in 2022, after the FBI taped then-mayor Harry Sidhu saying he would ram a deal through and ask the Angels for a million-dollar contribution in return. (Sidhu was sentenced to prison last March, after signing a plea agreement that specified he had leaked confidential negotiating information to the Angels. The government has not alleged the Angels did anything wrong.)
In April, current mayor Ashleigh Aitken invited Moreno for a new round of discussions. He made no commitment, and the city subsequently decided to put any talks on hold until the completion of a property assessment designed to determine how many hundreds of millions of dollars would be needed to keep the 1966 stadium viable for decades to come. That study is expected to be concluded next year.
In January, the Angels exercised an option to extend their stadium lease through 2032. They have two other options to extend the lease if they wish: one through 2035, the other through 2038.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
"Heck Of A Player": Todd McLellan Predicts Bright Future For Red Wings' Carter Bear
The Detroit Red Wings hope that 2025 1st round selection Carter Bear is able to live up to his name. He's only 18 years old and has been getting his first taste of experience in the NHL in Detroit's pre-season.
So far, so good.
Despite the listless 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena on Monday night, Bear was right in the thick of things.
He mixed it up with Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves during what were a series of frank disagreements on the ice between the two teams, demonstrating some of the tenacity that head coach Todd McLellan believes will not only improve over time but will lead to his being, as he described afterward, a "heck of a player".
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"He's involved in the game consistenyly, night after night," McLellan said of Bear. "As he grows and matures, he's going to get stronger and stronger, and those battles for him are going to be - not that he didn't win his battles tonight, but they'll be even more winnable becuase he'll be stronger. A very smart player. Mother Nature will help him, and he's going to work hard and he'll be a heck of a player."
"I Wasn't Impressed": Todd McLellan Speaks Bluntly After Red Wings Play Flat In 2-1 Loss To Penguins The good news for the Detroit Red Wings is that their 2-1 setback at Little Caesars Arena against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins is that it won't count against them in the standings, as it was the fifth pre-season game of their schedule.
Not only did Bear rank second overall last season with the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips in total penalty minutes with 77, he also showed his clear scoring touch by lighting the lamp 40 times.
For his efforts, he was appropriately named to the WHL’s Western Conference Second All-Star Team.
Bear explained that he hasn't been intimidated by the physical nature of the NHL, and that he's going to continue his playing style regardless of who the opponent is.
"I'm just trying to play my game," Bear said. "I don't care who I'm against, I'm just gonna try to play my game against them."
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