Marcus Harris’ third County Championship century for Lancashire has given Australian selectors plenty to ponder ahead of next month’s World Test Championship final.
Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year?
Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Dallas basketball has the potential to be set up for the foreseeable future.
The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery delivered a twist, predictable or not, that saw the three worst teams in the league — the Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards — not rewarded for their failures.
Instead, the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks surpassed them to form the top three. In the end, Dallas landed the first pick and the chance to take Duke star prospect Cooper Flagg, a versatile forward who can change any team for the better.
The Mavericks’ luck — conspiracy theories and all — timed well with its WNBA counterpart. The Dallas Wings had also won the draft lottery earlier in the year, putting them in pole position to take UConn star Paige Bueckers, which they did.
Following the NBA and WNBA lotteries, Dallas is set to be the second city to draft first overall in the same year. Of course, the Mavericks could still trade the pick, but that won’t be known until late June when the draft is held.
In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Rockers became the first. The Cavs infamously took LeBron James, while the Rockers selected LaToya Thomas before folding operations the season after due to ownership issues.
The Mavericks endured a turbulent year full of injuries, but the main story involved Luka Doncic. Before the February trade deadline, Doncic was stunningly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.
Dallas fans understandably had all sorts of feelings — sadness, anger, anguish and insert any other emotion here. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison held multiple press conferences — publicly and privately — to attempt to justify his decision.
Mavericks fans rightfully didn’t want to hear it after losing a drafted star they fell in love with, off the heels of an NBA Finals run, among other memories.
But Harrison now has the opportunity to take Flagg and form an intriguing trio with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and more if the rest of the roster is filled out properly and health isn’t as unfavorable.
Whether Harrison is ever vindicated for the trade is unknown. Perhaps it could be if he’s still in the front office and Flagg helps deliver a championship.
Bueckers has the same opportunity on the women’s side, as the Wings are seeking a fourth championship having been on a drought since 2008. Their other two wins include 2003 and 2006.
Not many cities have the luxury of a young men’s and women’s basketball star embarking on parallel journeys. But after the seasons both the Wings and Mavericks had, at least the future is bright.
Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year?
Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Dallas basketball has the potential to be set up for the foreseeable future.
The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery delivered a twist, predictable or not, that saw the three worst teams in the league — the Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards — not rewarded for their failures.
Instead, the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks surpassed them to form the top three. In the end, Dallas landed the first pick and the chance to take Duke star prospect Cooper Flagg, a versatile forward who can change any team for the better.
The Mavericks’ luck — conspiracy theories and all — timed well with its WNBA counterpart. The Dallas Wings had also won the draft lottery earlier in the year, putting them in pole position to take UConn star Paige Bueckers, which they did.
Following the NBA and WNBA lotteries, Dallas is set to be the second city to draft first overall in the same year. Of course, the Mavericks could still trade the pick, but that won’t be known until late June when the draft is held.
In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Rockers became the first. The Cavs infamously took LeBron James, while the Rockers selected LaToya Thomas before folding operations the season after due to ownership issues.
The Mavericks endured a turbulent year full of injuries, but the main story involved Luka Doncic. Before the February trade deadline, Doncic was stunningly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.
Dallas fans understandably had all sorts of feelings — sadness, anger, anguish and insert any other emotion here. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison held multiple press conferences — publicly and privately — to attempt to justify his decision.
Mavericks fans rightfully didn’t want to hear it after losing a drafted star they fell in love with, off the heels of an NBA Finals run, among other memories.
But Harrison now has the opportunity to take Flagg and form an intriguing trio with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and more if the rest of the roster is filled out properly and health isn’t as unfavorable.
Whether Harrison is ever vindicated for the trade is unknown. Perhaps it could be if he’s still in the front office and Flagg helps deliver a championship.
Bueckers has the same opportunity on the women’s side, as the Wings are seeking a fourth championship having been on a drought since 2008. Their other two wins include 2003 and 2006.
Not many cities have the luxury of a young men’s and women’s basketball star embarking on parallel journeys. But after the seasons both the Wings and Mavericks had, at least the future is bright.
What we learned as Jimmy Butler a non-factor in Warriors' Game 4 loss to Wolves
What we learned as Jimmy Butler a non-factor in Warriors' Game 4 loss to Wolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – With an injured Steph Curry watching from the sidelines, the Warriors now are one loss away from their season coming to a close after a 117-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night at Chase Center.
The Warriors now are in a three-games-to-one series deficit, and have lost three straight playoff games for the second time under Steve Kerr, and the first since blowing a 3-1 series lead in the 2016 NBA Finals
The score didn’t tell the real story, especially with how bad the third quarter was for the Warriors, who had a two-point lead at halftime, and then trailed by 20 points at the end of the third quarter.
Timberwolves stars Anthony Edwards (30 points) and Julius Randle (31 points) were too much to handle. The duo combined to score 61 points on 22-of-42 shooting and were 10 of 19 on 3-pointers. Pure dominance.
It was unfair to expect Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga to repeat their performances from Game 3 when they combined to score 63 points, which amounted to 65 percent of the Warriors’ overall points. Kuminga scored a team-high 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting in Game 4, but Butler only had 14 points and was a game-worst minus-30.
The two didn’t receive much help from their teammates elsewhere.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ Game 4
Butler Goes Quiet
The 33 points Butler scored in Game 3 were his most in a playoff game since dropping 35 on the Boston Celtics to open the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. He played 43 minutes, and Butler looked gassed down the stretch. The Warriors’ offense crumbled, and Butler was just 1 of 7 in the fourth quarter.
Jaden McDaniels made sure Butler didn’t get comfortable early, and the Warriors’ star never got going. Butler took one shot in the first quarter and had one point. At halftime, he had seven points on five shots. Yet the Warriors still led by two points, 60-58.
Then the third quarter happened. Butler couldn’t find any extra juice, and McDaniels only made his life worse. The long and rangy but still twitchy all-world defender stuck to Butler’s every move. He manipulated screens and made the game as difficult as possible for Butler.
As the Warriors were outscored 39-17 in the third quarter, Butler played all but eight seconds. Somehow, he was their leading scorer for the quarter with eight points. It was that bad.
Butler only took nine shots all game, 17 fewer than Game 3.
Can’t Stop Kuminga
Even with several top defenders, the Timberwolves don’t have an answer for Kuminga. He isn’t aimlessly putting his head down and attacking the basket. Kuminga is assessing, and in a blink, he finds another gear that the Timberwolves can’t match.
Kuminga shook the Timberwolves’ defense in each of his two first-half stints. Through 13 minutes, Kuminga already was up to 16 points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting and made all eight of his free throws. The only player on his level going into halftime was Julius Randle, who already had 19 points and five rebounds for the Timberwolves.
His eight free throws in the first half were Kuminga’s most for an entire game since Dec. 30, 2024, when he made 10.
Kuminga got to 20 points entering the fourth quarter, but the Warriors were trailing by 20 points. The 11 free throws he made, missing just once, tied a career high.
Trouble From Downtown
The 3-point line always looks a little different when Curry isn’t on the court. Once again, it became a major problem for the Warriors.
A game after going 0 of 5 in the first half but finishing 10 of 23 on threes, the Warriors looked like the three-ball could be a strength. Draymond Green made his first two attempts, and the Warriors in these playoffs were 3-1 when he made multiple threes. They’re now 3-2, as Green missed his final four threes.
Buddy Hield, who scored just 13 points in 35 minutes, was the only other Warrior to make multiple threes. He was 2 of 6 from 3-point range and 4-of-11 shooting overall.
Brandin Podziemski took four threes and missed all four. He’s now 3 of 17 on threes this series. Butler missed his lone attempt, and Kuminga missed both of his two tries. At least Moses Moody and Quinten Post, two players now out of the rotation, made threes in garbage time.
The Warriors as a team were outscored by 24 points behind the 3-point line. The Timberwolves had four players make multiple threes and went 16 of 34 (47.1 percent), a stark contrast to the Warriors’ 8 of 27 (29.6 percent). While the Warriors couldn’t make shots, they often didn’t seem to want to take shots either.
Latest on Tatum's scary leg injury late in Celtics' Game 4 loss to Knicks
Latest on Tatum's scary leg injury late in Celtics' Game 4 loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jayson Tatum’s brilliant performance at Madison Square Garden on Monday had a nightmare ending for the Boston Celtics.
Tatum suffered a painful right lower leg injury with 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter of Boston’s Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks. The injury was non-contact, as Tatum went down on his own while diving for a loose ball.
The Celtics star appeared to be in significant pain and couldn’t put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the floor. ESPN’s cameras showed Tatum being transported through the MSG tunnel in a wheelchair.
Tatum will get an MRI on his right leg Tuesday, according to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who called Tatum’s ailment a “lower body injury” after the game.
“Obviously you’re always worried about someone’s health, so the fact that he had to be carried off — he’s the type of guy that gets right up,” Mazzulla told reporters. “He didn’t, and we’ll know tomorrow exactly what it is, but it’s tough to watch a guy like him get carried off like that.”
The injury put a damper on a terrific night for Tatum, who contributed 42 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in nearly 40 minutes of play.
In the short term, the Celtics face a 3-1 series deficit and will have to win Game 5 at TD Garden on Wednesday without their best player to keep their season alive. But Tatum’s injury, if it’s as severe as it looked, could have significant long-term ramifications for a Celtics team that’s already deep in the luxury tax.
Wednesday’s Game 5 is set for 7 p.m. ET, and in the meantime, all eyes will be on Tatum as the team awaits the results of his MRI on Tuesday.
Latest on Tatum's scary leg injury late in Celtics' Game 4 loss to Knicks
Latest on Tatum's scary leg injury late in Celtics' Game 4 loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Jayson Tatum’s brilliant performance at Madison Square Garden on Monday had a nightmare ending for the Boston Celtics.
Tatum suffered a painful right lower leg injury with 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter of Boston’s Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks. The injury was non-contact, as Tatum went down on his own while diving for a loose ball.
The Celtics star appeared to be in significant pain and couldn’t put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the floor. ESPN’s cameras showed Tatum being transported through the MSG tunnel in a wheelchair.
Tatum will get an MRI on his right leg Tuesday, according to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who called Tatum’s ailment a “lower body injury” after the game.
“Obviously you’re always worried about someone’s health, so the fact that he had to be carried off — he’s the type of guy that gets right up,” Mazzulla told reporters. “He didn’t, and we’ll know tomorrow exactly what it is, but it’s tough to watch a guy like him get carried off like that.”
The injury put a damper on a terrific night for Tatum, who contributed 42 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in nearly 40 minutes of play.
In the short term, the Celtics face a 3-1 series deficit and will have to win Game 5 at TD Garden on Wednesday without their best player to keep their season alive. But Tatum’s injury, if it’s as severe as it looked, could have significant long-term ramifications for a Celtics team that’s already deep in the luxury tax.
Wednesday’s Game 5 is set for 7 p.m. ET, and in the meantime, all eyes will be on Tatum as the team awaits the results of his MRI on Tuesday.
Diamondbacks promote top prospect Jordan Lawlar after hot start in Triple-A
SAN FRANCISCO — The Arizona Diamondbacks called up top prospect Jordan Lawlar on Monday as they fight for position in the National League West division.
The D-backs also reinstated reliever Kendall Graveman to the active roster. The veteran right-hander hasn’t pitched this season because of a strained right lumbar.
The 22-year-old Lawlar likely will play a variety of positions for Arizona, including second base, shortstop and third. He was hitting .336 with six homers, 31 RBIs and 13 stolen bases at Triple-A Reno.
The Diamondbacks had a 21-20 record entering Monday’s game in San Francisco, which was fourth in NL West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Giants.
Lawlar played in the big leagues briefly in 2023, helping the Diamondbacks in a limited role during their surprise run to the World Series. He hit .129 in 31 at-bats.
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft missed much of last season with injuries.
To make room on the roster, the D-backs designated infielder Garrett Hampson and reliever José Castillo for assignment.
Florida Panthers Provide New Update On Important Forward
During the Florida Panthers' Game 4 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, forward Evan Rodrigues exited in the third period with an undisclosed injury. This was after former teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson hit Rodrigues when he did not have the puck. Following the game, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice shared that Rodrigues would need to undergo further evaluation.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson is handed a 2 minute minor for interference on Evan Rodrigues 🫣 pic.twitter.com/U7Xa9Ux8IH
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 12, 2025
While speaking to reporters on May 12, including NHL.com's Jameson Olive, Maurice provided the latest on Rodrigues.
"He's not ruled out [for Game 5], but not cleared to play," Maurice said about Rodrigues. "He's still being looked at."
The Panthers will certainly be hoping that Rodrigues is given the green light to play in Game 5, as he is a very important part of their forward group. This is also a crucial game for the Cats, as a win would give them a 3-2 series lead over the Maple Leafs.
Rodrigues, 31, has played in nine post-season games this spring for the Panthers, where he has three assists and a minus-2 rating. In 82 games this regular-season for the Atlantic Division club, he posted 15 goals, 32 points, and a career-high 128 hits.
Recent Panthers News
Max Domi fined maximum allowable by NHL for boarding Sasha Barkov at end of Game 4The physicality and nastiness of the second-round series between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs has been steadily increasing.
Panthers' Paul Maurice Responds To Max Domi's Dirty HitThe Florida Panthers secured a massive 2-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4. With this, the Panthers have now tied the series back up at 2-2 after losing each of the first two games.
Sam Bennett Makes Perfect Comment After Panthers' Game 4 WinGame 4 was a massive matchup for the Florida Panthers, and they stepped up big time. The Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 2-0 final score in the contest and have now tied the series back up at 2-2 after losing both Games 1 and 2.
Three takeaways: Panthers back to playing their kind of hockey, second line looking familiar in best of waysIt’s amazing how much a playoff series can change in just a few days.
What we learned as Justin Verlander solid again in Giants' tough loss to D-backs
What we learned as Justin Verlander solid again in Giants' tough loss to D-backs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — The only thing colder than a summer night at Oracle Park is the Giants’ offense right now.
Manager Bob Melvin made some noticeable adjustments to his starting lineup on Tuesday in an effort to jumpstart San Francisco’s struggling offense, but the result was more of the same, as the Giants lost 2-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Giants sent Justin Verlander to the mound against Diamondbacks righty Merrill Kelly (W, 7 IP, 8 H, ER, 0 BB, 8 K) as they looked to snap a three-game losing streak. Spoiler alert: They did not.
Here are three takeaways from the Giants’ fourth consecutive loss that drops them to 24-18:
Doing Everything He Can
Verlander (L, 6 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 K), who continues on his unlikely journey to 300 career wins, has pitched well enough to earn at least three wins so far this season, but the Giants have continued to find creative ways to spoil each one.
He toed the rubber against a Diamondbacks team that he historically has pitched well against throughout his career.
Verlander was 5-2 with a 3.14 ERA with 58 strikeouts and a 1.13 WHIP in 48 2/3 career innings pitched against Arizona, and that trend continued on Monday.
Outside of two solo home runs off the bat of Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll in the third and fifth innings, Verlander, as he has been over his last five starts, was excellent.
Different City, Different Team, Same Ramos
Heliot Ramos has been just about the only bright spot on offense for the Giants lately. He has been on fire since April 26, batting .419 with 11 runs, three doubles, four homers, nine RBI, five walks and a 1.267 OPS over his last 13 games.
He showed no signs of slowing down in the series opener on Monday, recording three hits in his first three at-bats against Kelly. He very easily could have had four hits in the game if not for an absurdly acrobatic catch by Arizona left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the bottom of the eighth.
Not only has he been on fire offensively, but Ramos has been excellent defensively after making minor adjustments to his approach in left field. After making two impressive diving catches in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Twins, Ramos made perhaps his best catch of the season in the top of the eighth.
Unfortunately for the Giants, one player only can do so much.
They Tried, It Didn’t Work
Melvin strayed from his and the team’s consistently harped-on theme of roster continuity this season.
Matt Chapman, who primarily has hit fourth, moved up into the second spot in the lineup, previously held by Willy Adames, who moved down to the six hole. Ramos, usually in the fifth or sixth spot, moved up to third in the order, while Jung Hoo Lee, usually third in the lineup, moved down to cleanup.
Meanwhile, utility man Wilmer Flores started at first base in place of the struggling LaMonte Wade Jr., who, according to Melvin, just received a day off.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying, but Melvin’s adjustments didn’t result in much offense.
Phillies done in by late homer in one-run loss to Cardinals
Phillies done in by late homer in one-run loss to Cardinals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
There was a two-week period in March when it looked like Matt Strahm might not be ready for Opening Day. He was dealing with an impingement and bone bruise in his left shoulder which explained why his fastball velocity was down from a 93.6 mph average last season to just above 91 early in the spring.
The Phillies backed off Strahm and he didn’t pitch in Grapefruit League games after March 5. Surprisingly, though, he was ready for the March 27 opener in Washington D.C. and pitched that evening, closing out a win with a scoreless 10th inning.
Strahm wasn’t charged with a run until his eighth appearance of the season but hasn’t pitched well over the last month, allowing six earned runs (eight total) in 9⅓ innings with a .341 opponents’ batting average. That is not the Matt Strahm the Phillies have come to know since 2023. He excelled in multiple roles his first year with the Phils then was one of the best late-inning relievers in baseball last season, earning an All-Star nod along the way.
The Phillies turned to Strahm in the seventh inning of a tie game Monday night in their series opener against the surging Cardinals. Strahm retired the first two hitters he faced with a strikeout and lineout but missed a spot belt-high and over the middle to Masyn Winn, who homered on an 0-1 count for the game’s deciding run. The pitch was a 91 mph fastball. Strahm pounded his glove immediately, knowing it was gone.
The Phillies lost, 3-2, to a Cardinals team that has won nine in a row.
Strahm was behind the eight-ball to start the year and acknowledged last week in Tampa that he hasn’t felt quite like himself.
“Still working through things,” he said Thursday night. “It was obviously a weird spring for me but it’s getting too late to make excuses.”
It’s not like the overall performance has been poor — Strahm has a 3.24 ERA on the year and has allowed two of five inherited runners to score. He’s been able to record outs even without his best stuff. But the difference in reliability has stood out when combined with the early-season shakiness of Orion Kerkering (seven runs in his last nine innings) and Jordan Romano, who has ripped off five straight scoreless appearances after having four blow-up outings in his first nine.
“Velocity’s down a little bit and he left that pitch Winn hit out up and over the plate so he missed a spot,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Velocity’s down a little bit but I thought overall, his stuff and his execution was better other than that one pitch.”
The Phillies are 24-17 and brought five straight series wins into a homestand against the Cardinals and Pirates, but there have been times this season when they’ve been too dependent on their starting pitchers and Jose Alvarado. They need the other relievers to be effective for more than a few games in a row, especially if they want to keep their most important arms as fresh as possible for October.
Long-term, the Phillies need to get the bullpen right, though Monday’s loss was more about the offense. The Phils had nine hits and scored only twice, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Their only extra-base hit was a one-out double in the fourth inning from J.T. Realmuto, who scored the Phils’ first run and drove in their second with a groundout with runners on the corners in the sixth.
Former Phillies reliever JoJo Romero picked up one of the game’s most important outs, popping up Bryson Stott on two pitches to end the eighth inning with the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Romero was traded to the Cardinals for Edmundo Sosa at the 2022 deadline. Ryan Helsley closed it out. He’s been a popular trade candidate connected to the Phillies but St. Louis might be playing too well to deal him this summer.
The Phils are 1-3 against the Cardinals this season. They’ve hit .177, scored six runs total, haven’t homered and averaged under two walks per game. They face St. Louis’ top arm, Sonny Gray, on Tuesday night. Asked postgame if the Cards are attacking the Phillies any differently than other teams have, Kyle Schwarber referenced the depth of their pitchers’ arsenals and penchant for being around the zone. Thomson agreed.
“They’ve pitched well,” Thomson said. “They have a group of guys that keep you off balance, they’ve got good secondary pitches and that’s what they do, they throw strikes. They’re not going to give you free passes, so we have to make the adjustment.”
O’Hare lands last blow on Bristol City as Sheffield United barrel into playoff final
For a side with such a horrendous record in the EFL playoffs, the way Sheffield United coasted through their semi-final’s two legs into the Championship’s showpiece game at Wembley did little to suggest they are a team with a hoodoo hanging over their heads.
In many ways, history is stacked against the Blades: nine previous attempts at the playoffs, five semi-final defeats and four heartbreaking final losses. But if there was one crumb of comfort for manager Chris Wilder and his side in missing out on automatic promotion with a couple of games to spare, it was the fact that they had time to regather themselves and prepare for the playoffs.
Continue reading...10 Former Ottawa Senators Still Alive In Stanley Cup Playoffs
With Ottawa Senators fans now neutral observers in these playoffs, it's always a fun exercise to find non-financial reasons to cheer for certain teams. If you're looking to support players who used to play for the Senators, look no further than the Dallas Stars, who have an NHL-leading three ex-Sens playing regularly.
Here's a list of ten ex-Senators who still have a chance at getting their hands on The Precious.
Connor Brown, Edmonton Oilers, 6 points
The Oilers briefly thought that maybe The Connors could rekindle their Erie Otter magic of a decade ago when Brown had 128 points in a season, and McDavid had 99. Instead, Brown gave them a 55-game goalless drought to start the season. But Brown has turned it around this season, posting 30 points in 82 games, and so far in 9 playoff games, has 4 goals and 6 points.
Josh Brown, Edmonton Oilers, 0 points
We'll also tip our cap to former Senator defenceman Josh Brown, who's only played in one playoff game for the Oilers so far. Brown was dealt to Boston for Zachary Senyshyn and a 2022 fifth-round pick, which turned into promising Swedish goalie Kevin Reidler.
Memories of Connor and Josh remind us of the various grim seasons of the Ottawa rebuild when, along with Logan Brown and Patrick Brown, the Sens kept themselves distracted from the darkness by trying to set a record for having the most guys named Brown.
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Cody Ceci, Dallas Stars, 3 points
Ceci has had his detractors, but he's gotten north of 20 minutes of ice time everywhere he's been, and since leaving Ottawa in 2019, he's played in the playoffs every year – first with Toronto, then Pittsburgh, Edmonton, and now Dallas. His streak was ready to end this year until San Jose traded him to the Stars at the deadline. Ceci is something of an iron man, rarely spending time on the injured list. In fact, he had the rare 85-game regular season this year. He has three points in 10 playoff games for Dallas.
Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals, 3 points
When Chychrun arrived at the 2023 trade deadline, it made for exciting headlines in Ottawa, where another top-four defenceman had been on the wish list for a long time. But as a left-shot, offence-first defenceman, Chychrun wasn't the kind of defenceman they lacked.
It's been a better fit in Washington, where Chychrun posted a 20-goal season, third-best among NHL defencemen. He also had a remarkable capital gains in the plus-minus department, going from -30 in Ottawa to +17 in Washington. He has 3 points in his first 8 playoff games.
Evgeny Dadonov, Dallas Stars, 4 points
This season, Dadonov's stat line read 20-20 for 40 points on the year. Hindsight is also 20-20. And if Pierre Dorion had some right now, he'd certainly have handled the Dadonov trade differently. Dadonov will forever be known to Senator fans for his connection to Dorion getting fired in Ottawa.
When the Sens traded Dadonov to Vegas, they didn't accurately report the details of his limited no-trade clause. The league punished the Sens by taking away a first-round draft pick. Barring a change of heart from the NHL, it looks like the pick will be surrendered in the 2026 Draft. Dadonov has 4 points in 10 playoff games.
Dylan DeMelo, Winnipeg Jets, 4 points
DeMelo has already hit a career high with 4 points in his first 9 playoff games. He's been rock solid for the Jets, on and off the ice, and when the Sens traded him away in 2020, there wasn't much vision there either. DeMelo was about to become a free agent, so the Sens dealt him to Winnipeg for a third-rounder. The Jets signed him to a four-year deal worth $12 million. And when that deal ended last summer, they signed him again to another four-year deal worth almost $20 million. Not bad for a guy who only cost the Jets a third-rounder.
The silver lining? The Sens used that third-rounder to select goalie Leevi Merilainen. But getting lucky with a mid-round pick doesn't excuse the mishandling of that asset. They finally filled that void by acquiring Nick Jensen last summer.
The Next Big Thing? A Glance At How Top Senators Prospect Carter Yakemchuk Fared This SeasonFor Ottawa Senators fans, the sting of their team’s first-round elimination is starting to fade. Soon, that disappointment will give way to excitement for the future, and much of that excitement centers around young NHL prospects.
Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars, 4 points
With 30 goals (Patrick Roy is scowling somewhere) and 82 points in 82 games, Duchene had the second-best season of his career. He has 4 assists but remains goalless in 10 playoff games so far.
As with Mark Stone, Ottawa traded Duchene at the 2019 deadline, and the deal was supposed to yield some key pieces for the Senators' rebuild. After Lassi Thomson left to sign in Sweden last spring, there's nothing left. The Senators effectively traded Duchene for three non-NHL players – the pick they used on Thomson, and forwards Jonathan Davidsson and Vitaly Abramov.
Matt Murray, Toronto Maple Leafs
Still only 30, it's hard to believe this is a goalie who won back-to-back Cups. The Sens got him in 2020, just in time for his career meltdown, a run of injuries and eventual double hip surgery. But until Anthony Stolarz returns in Toronto, Murray is wearing the backup's ballcap on the Leafs' bench. Unless he doesn't feel good.
Vladislav Namestnikov, Winnipeg Jets, 4 points
A year after the Jets took DeMelo off Ottawa's hands for a third-rounder, they acquired Namestnikov from the Sens for a fourth-round pick. Again, the Sens made something of it, sending the pick to Nashville, straight up for Austin Watson.
Namestnikov isn't what you'd call an elite NHL player, but he manages to have an impact on whatever line the Jets need him to play on. Three months ago, they rewarded him with a two-year, $6 million extension. He has 4 points in 10 games so far.
Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights, 8 points
We've saved the best for last (also an alphabetical coincidence). When the Sens traded away Mark Stone, it ended up being one of the worst trades in Sens history. They traded him with Tobias Lindberg to Vegas in exchange for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round pick, which became Egor Sokolov, who became Jan Jenik, who's now an RFA. If the Sens fail to qualify Jenik, that will be the end of the Stone trade tree. But let's be honest, the Ottawa branch on that tree began to wither the day it was planted. Unless you consider it a win to upgrade your Lindberg.
When Stone signed his long-term contract in Vegas, many pundits warned that the back half of that deal would eventually look terrible. Seven years into his eight-year deal, we're still waiting. The Vegas captain has 8 points in 9 playoff games.
So, there's the Big 10, still in hot pursuit of a Cup this year. While the hockey itself has been the star, it's still exciting to follow players like these and see the direction their careers have taken after their time in Ottawa.
Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa
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The Wraparound: Will The Edmonton Oilers Overcome Their Goaltending Struggles Again?
Welcome to a new set of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics with The Hockey News Wraparound.
Will The Edmonton Oilers Overcome Their Goaltending Struggles Again? by The WraparoundundefinedHere's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:
0:00: What’s been the most concerning part of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ performance in Games 3 and 4 against the Florida Panthers?
8:18: Will the Winnipeg Jets be able to shut down Mikko Rantanen?
12:15: Can the Edmonton Oilers overcome their goaltending struggles after a heartbreaking loss in Game 3 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights?
15:35: Has Frederik Andersen been the best goaltender of the Stanley Cup playoffs?
20:09: What to make of Connor Bedard’s decision not to join Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship
23:48: Could Joel Quenneville help the Anaheim Ducks potentially be competitive as soon as next season?
26:48: Will David Carle ever leave the NCAA to coach in the NHL?
29:06: Could Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom be the most sought-after prospect for NCAA teams this summer?
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$16b tournament to resume this week as tensions ease between nuclear-armed rivals
The remainder of the Indian Premier League will be played between May 17 and June 3 across six venues, the country’s cricket board announced Monday.
Mets' Sean Manaea takes huge step toward return from injury
Mets left-hander Sean Manaea continues to progress well from his right oblique strain after experiencing discomfort while ramping up his throwing that caused him to be shut down for two weeks.
Manaea threw off the mound for the first time in his recovery process, getting up to 15 pitches, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters before Monday's game between the Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates.
It's a huge step toward a return to the big league club for Manaea, who signed a three-year, $75 million deal to return to New York during the offseason.
Meanwhile, Paul Blackburn is also nearing a return to the Mets as the right-hander will pitch again on Friday for Triple-A Syracuse, per Mendoza.
"I think he was four [innings], 65 [pitches]," Mendoza said. "I’m not sure what’s the pitch count, we’re waiting to check with him when he gets in here today and tomorrow. But the plan is for him to make another rehab [start] on Friday."
Blackburn is coming off his second rehab start for Triple-A on Sunday where he allowed three earned runs on four hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out two.
When asked if Friday's start will be the last one before Blackburn returns to the majors, Mendoza said "we'll see."
"We gotta see how he’s feeling today and the next couple of days and then we’ll go from there," the skipper added.