Former NBA star Vlade Divac, left, sits with Sasa Doncic, father of the Lakers' Luka Doncic, during the team's game against the Golden State Warriors on April 3 at Crypto.com Arena. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Basketball Hall of Famer and former Lakers fan favorite Vlade Divac broke his hip Thursday when he fell from his motorcycle while riding near the Adriatic Sea coast in Montenegro.
On Friday, a spokesperson for a hospital in Risan said the 57-year-old Serbian basketball legend now has an artificial hip after emergency surgery.
“During the day, a surgical procedure was performed,” hospital spokesperson Ljubica Mitrovic said of Divac. “He is in a stable general and physical condition and is under a careful supervision of the medical staff.”
Divac, a 7-foot-1 center, was drafted by the Lakers in 1989 after leading the Yugoslavia men's basketball team to an Olympic silver medal the previous year. He became a full-time starter during his second season as a Laker and soon emerged as a fan favorite, with frequent appearances in commercials, sitcoms and late-night talk shows.
After seven seasons with the Lakers, Divac was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for the recently drafted Kobe Bryant on July 1, 1996. (The Lakers would sign another 7-1 center, Shaquille O'Neal, as a free agent later that month.)
Divac played two seasons with the Hornets and signed with the Sacramento Kings as a free agent in 1999. He spent six years there — a stint that included his only All-Star season, in 2000-01 — before returning to the Lakers for the last of his 16 NBA seasons in 2004-05.
After finishing his career with 13,398 points, 9,326 rebounds, 3,541 assists and 1,631 blocked shots, Divac had his No. 21 jersey retired by the Kings in 2009. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
The NHL Draft and free agency have yet to come, but the Ducks already have their preseason prepped and ready to go.
Anaheim will play seven preseason games, with three of those coming at home. Two of their preseason games will be played at neutral sites (Ontario, Calif. and Bakersfield) while the remaining two will be played on the road in San Jose and Los Angeles.
This is the first time that an NHL matchup will be played in Bakersfield since 2015, when the Kings played the Arizona Coyotes. The Ducks’ preseason game in Ontario last season against the Los Angeles Kings marked the fourth edition of the “Empire Classic”.
After playing the Utah Hockey Club during the preseason of their inaugural season, Anaheim will face them once again, but this time while known officially as the Utah Mammoth.
The Ducks’ preseason schedule looks like this (all times in PST:
Sunday, Sept. 21 @ Los Angeles - Toyota Center (Ontario, Calif.) @ 3 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Utah - Honda Center @ 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Los Angeles - Honda Center @ 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27 @ Los Angeles - Dignity Health Arena (Bakersfield, Calif.) @ 3 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 29 vs. San Jose - Honda Center @ 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 1 @ San Jose - SAP Center @ 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 4 @ Los Angeles - Crypto.com Arena (Staples Center) @ 1 p.m.
Tickets for the Ducks’ three preseason home games are included in season ticket holders’ (Orange Alliance) memberships.
Featured image caption: Apr 13, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Colorado Avalanche and Anaheim Ducks players skate across the Ducks logo at center ice in the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Former Dodgers Spanish language radio broadcaster Jarrín has spoken out in support of immigrants and those protesting ICE raids in Southern California. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Jaime Jarrín, the former Spanish-language voice of the Dodgers who captivated thousands of fans for decades and served as Fernando Valenzuela's translator during Fernandomania, posted a message on his Instagram account about the raids and protests in a city he adopted as his own in 1958.
“As an immigrant who came to this country 70 years ago, I know firsthand the hope, courage and determination it takes to build a new life in a new land,” Jarrín posted Tuesday. “I have always believed that immigration is not just part of the American story; it is the American story."
“Los Angeles is my home,” Jarrín added in his Instagram post. "This city is my family. And it breaks my heart to see the growing division in our community and across the country. We all deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and humanity."
Former Dodgers Spanish language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín posted a message in support of immigrants and protestors following to weeks of ICE raids. (Fernando Llano / Associated Press)
Jarrín is originally from Quito, Ecuador, and his first job in this country was in a factory in East Los Angeles. Over time, Jarrín became the sports director for KWKW and a Dodgers broadcaster for more than six decades. Jarrín worked alongside Valenzuela when he was a rookie in Major League Baseball in 1981, serving as his translator during Fernandomania in the 1980s. They later shared microphones in the radio booth broadcasting Dodger games in Spanish.
"In the face of the injustices and suffering we have witnessed, I am deeply proud of the thousands who have peacefully taken to the streets; raising their voices, refusing to be silenced. Their courage matters. Your presence matters. Do not be afraid. Stand strong. Stay present. Let your voice be heard," added Jarrín.
President Donald Trump's massive deportation orders have affected the professional sports atmosphere in Los Angeles. The games typically draw Latinos and immigrants from a wide range of countries. Tournaments such as the Gold Cup and the Club World Cup lost fans as some stayed away from stadiums because they feared potential raids or preferred to show solidarity with the demonstrations.
Of Los Angeles' 12 professional sports teams, as of Friday morning, only two have issued public statements about the raids. Angel City FC and LAFC have shown their support for the community since the protests began, while the Dodgers and Galaxy, with a heavily Latino and immigrant fan bases, have remained silent.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has responded to some questions from reporters, but he has limited his remarks to saying he understood that the community is “heartbroken” and said the situation was somewhat “unsettling for everyone."
Fan favorite Kiké Hernández took to his social networks to say he was “sad and enraged” at how immigrants were treated, noting the city of Los Angeles had opened its arms to him.
The Puerto Rican player, who helped the Dodgers win the World Series last season, wrote: "Maybe I wasn't born and raised here, but this city adopted me as if I was one of them. I am too sad and infuriated with everything that is going on in the country and in our city. Los Angeles and Dodger fans have opened their arms to me, supported me and shown me a lot of kindness and most of all a lot of LOVE! This is my second home," posted Hernandez, who was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is in his second stint with the Dodgers after playing in L.A. from 2015-20 and returning from 2023 to the present.
"I cannot tolerate watching our community continue to be violated, attacked, abused and separated. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and their human rights. I stand with you!!! #CiudadDeImigrantes," the Dodger wrote on Sunday, using a hashtag referring to L.A. as a city of immigrants in Spanish.
Meanwhile, Maria Valenzuela, the daughter of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, spoke out against the ICE raids.
"I am a proud daughter of immigrant parents. They came to this country with dreams bigger than borders. My mother followed her heart, and my father not only pitched for the Dodgers, but for all immigrants who believed they belonged in this country," Maria Valenzuela posted on Instagram. "He helped shape a city and inspired generations of Mexicans to dream big. Behind the fame was the same immigrant story: sacrifice, struggle and endless work for a better future."
Henry flew to Kansas City because Devers called out chief baseball officer Craig Breslow the previous day for asking him to replace the injured Triston Casas at first base. Despite Breslow and manager Alex Cora calling the session “productive,” Devers still wouldn’t acquiesce. As Breslow and team CEO/president Sam Kennedy put it, Devers and the Red Sox couldn’t “find alignment” on what was best for the organization, resulting in the homegrown star’s departure.
So, why couldn’t Devers and the Red Sox find common ground during the meeting with Henry?
“They wanted me to play first base” Devers said, according to Pete Abraham, of The Boston Globe. “I told [Henry] they eventually, yes. I could play first base but maybe next year. It was not my fault that players get hurt. I felt like if another player got hurt, they would move me again.”
Devers had already reluctantly moved from third base to designated hitter following the club’s offseason acquisition of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman. The 28-year-old grew frustrated with what he deemed poor communication from the front office, and he gradually became more disconnected from the team that signed him as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic.
“As a trade was being discussed, Devers steadily withdrew from the day-to-day culture of the Red Sox, typically arriving at the ballpark just before the start of team activities for the day,” Abraham wrote. “Devers would dress while keeping his AirPods in, a silent message that he wasn’t interested in speaking to anybody. Once the game ended, he would dress quickly and leave.”
Devers’ attitude flipped upon his arrival in San Francisco. During his introductory Giants press conference, Devers said he would be open to playing anywhere he’s asked to play, including first base. In fact, he has already worked out at first base multiple times in preparation to play the position for his new club.
While it would’ve been poetic for Devers to play first base against his former team, that won’t happen when the Red Sox begin their three-game series in San Francisco on Friday night.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen this weekend,” Giants manager Bob Melvin told KNBR’s “Murph and Markus”. “We haven’t gotten there. … It’s going to take a little bit more time than having him at first base during the Red Sox series.”
First pitch for Friday’s much-anticipated matchup at Oracle Park is set for 10:15 p.m. ET.
Francisco Alvarez’s rather puzzling failure to live up to predictions of stardom seemingly has reached the crisis stage.
After a recent stretch of futility, his seventh-inning at-bat against the Braves in Atlanta on Thursday night, in fact, looked like something of a rock-bottom moment for the Mets’ struggling young catcher.
Alvarez struck out for the second time in the game, but it was the way he did it that was especially alarming. First losing his grip on the bat and sending it flying when he was fooled badly on a slider. And then, after fouling off a couple of very hittable fastballs, chasing another heater above the strike zone for the K.
“It felt like a low point for him,” was the way one major league scout put it Friday, speaking of that at-bat. “He’s not squaring up pitches he should hammer and he’s chasing pitches he should take. He looks completely lost.
“I like the way he plays the game. So in one sense I hate to say it, but I think he’s in his own head so much that the Mets need to try something drastic and send him down [to the minors]. Give him a chance to figure some things out away from the spotlight."
The scout’s suggestion is not an outlier at this point. On social media, it actually seems to be the prevailing opinion, which isn’t stunning -- Alvarez’s poor play still resonates as somewhat remarkable, considering how beloved he was by Mets fans as the can’t-miss kid, the high-energy, power-hitting catcher of their dreams.
Such was the hype for Alvarez just a couple of years ago. For example: In the spring of 2023, The Athletic’s prospect analyst, Keith Law, went so far as to write, "He could be as mobile as a statue and still be an above-average regular for a catcher with -- dare I say it -- a Mike Piazza-like upside if his bat keeps improving."
That same spring, MLB Pipeline ranked Alvarez as the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball, behind only Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll. And such projections looked on-point when Alvarez hit 25 home runs in 123 games his rookie season.
Yet here he is, two years later, hitting .229 as of Friday with a shockingly low .305 slugging percentage, with two home runs in 34 games since returning from a broken hamate bone in his hand -- and just one home run since April 26. This after hitting only 11 homers in 100 games in 2024, missing time due to a torn thumb ligament.
So, what’s happened to his power? Is it the injuries? Is it his relative youth, at age 23? Or is it due more to his largely undisciplined approach at the plate that major league pitchers have exploited since his rookie year?
Law thinks it’s a combination of all of that, and still believes there’s a good chance Alvarez reaches the ceiling he once predicted for him.
“When you look at some of the numbers, he’s hitting the ball as hard as he ever has,” Law said. “He’s just not doing it consistently. Pitchers are attacking him on the outer third of the plate and he’s having trouble laying off them.
“He’s going to have to make the adjustment and he’s still young, especially when you factor in those two injuries to his hands. But it’s also a fact that some guys never make the adjustment in terms of pitch recognition at the big league level, so that remains to be seen. Also sometimes, it just takes longer for young catchers because of their defensive responsibilities.
New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) talks to catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) against the Atlanta Braves after the first inning at Truist Park / Brett Davis - Imagn Images
“I certainly wouldn’t give up on Alvarez and I don’t think sending him to the minors and facing Triple-A pitching would really accomplish anything, unless the Mets believe he simply needs a mental break. In that case, maybe it would help him get a reset.”
So, opinions differ, obviously, on how to fix Alvarez. And in a sense, the biggest question may be whether his problems are more mental than mechanical.
Todd Zeile, SNY's analyst for the Mets' pregame and postgame shows, thinks the mental could be causing the mechanical, due to the sky-high expectations that have hovered over Alvarez since his days as that uber-prospect.
“I think he wants so badly to be that guy that everybody said he was,” Zeile said by phone recently. “And that’s made it hard for him.”
Zeile’s perspective is unique. He too broke into the big leagues as a catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, before eventually transitioning to third base. He was sent down to the minors in his third year there, due to offensive struggles, and it proved to be exactly what he needed, returning in three weeks and going on to have a 16-year career.
And, finally, Zeile has seen nearly all of Alvarez’s at-bats in the majors. When I spoke to him, he prefaced his thoughts by saying he’s a big fan of Alvarez, noting how hard the young catcher has worked to improve defensively and how much he invests himself in game plans and pitch-calling to do right by his pitchers and his ballclub.
“He really cares,” Zeile said. “I think that’s what everybody loves about him.”
Yet, Zeile was also candid in expressing concerns about Alvarez’s diminishing returns with the bat, starting with being affected by the prospect hype.
“I think the expectations of being such a huge power-hitting prospect have ended up hurting him,” Zeile said. “It’s hard to say exactly why the power hasn’t been there, but at some point he began searching for the power, rather than just trying to hit the ball hard and let it come organically.
“Trying to create power is a recipe for a lot of frustration at this level because it leads to a poor approach.”
Zeile breaks it down into different stages. He said when the power wasn’t there after the thumb injury in 2024, Alvarez first began trying to force the issue.
“He tried to pull more,” Zeile recalled. “In doing so, he created holes in his swing because he was trying to get the ball out front, and he started pulling off the baseball. That made him more vulnerable to offspeed stuff, breaking balls on the outer part of the plate.
“Occasionally he’d still hit one 450 feet and you’d say, ‘OK, the power is still there, why isn’t he doing it more consistently?’ It was because pitchers recognized that he was selling out on the pull side, and they weren’t throwing those middle-in fastballs, or rarely, anyway. They exposed those holes in his swing.
“This year he tried to make adjustments to hit the ball the other way, but I think he got to the point where again, he was frustrated by the lack of power. And so at times, he goes back to trying to create a launch angle, which has led to some wild swings and made him vulnerable to chasing.
“The other night in Atlanta, he swung at a pitch and almost fell down going away from the plate. That was telling to me. If you lose balance in any direction, it should be toward home plate if you’re staying on the ball. So to see him fall away, that’s where it becomes obvious that he’s still so pull-conscious.”
Two scouts, including the one quoted earlier, offered similar observations.
“Chasing power could be the root of his problems,” said one scout. “It looks like it sometimes. But at some point you also have to ask if he just has a hard time recognizing spin, and that leads to chasing and looking bad. Even going back to his rookie year, pitchers stopped challenging him as much with the fastball in the second half and he struggled.”
The numbers back that up. In the second half of 2023, Alvarez hit just .174 with a .343 slugging percentage and only eight home runs. That after slugging .514 with 17 homers in the first half.
“He really hasn’t looked like that guy since the first half of his rookie year,” said the scout. “But I also wouldn’t discount the injuries being a factor in his development. He needs more time before anyone can judge him with any real certainty.”
As for the question of whether sending him down to the minors is worthwhile, Zeile draws on his experience in seeing the possibility that it could help Alvarez.
“I was ticked off when I was sent down but I went down for 21 days and raked,” Zeile recalls. “Part of that was working with my old minor league hitting coach and getting back to my old swing, after guys at the big league level had been trying to change my swing.
“That’s where it could be valuable for Alvarez -- get out of the fishbowl for a minute, get your confidence back without the scrutiny at that level. It worked for me. But everybody reacts differently to something like that.”
Finally, touching on Zeile’s experience, it’s hard to know if Alvarez has been affected at all by any changes the organization has tried to make with his swing or approach. But Law does add that factor into the equation.
“With the Mets, you’re not seeing the development with some of their young hitters,” Law said. “[Brett] Baty is an example for me. If Alvarez were a Dodger, for example, you might be seeing a different result because I think they do a really good job of developing guys as far as swing decisions and plate discipline.
“I’m not saying it’s on the organization. Sometimes it’s just the player. One thing for sure is the power is very real with Alvarez. It’s just a matter of whether he can get to a place where that power plays for him in a big way. He’s still got time.”
At this point, however, with Luis Torrens looming as perhaps a better option to be the No. 1 catcher right now, the more pressing question is how much time the Mets are willing to give Alvarez.
Federal agents stage outside Gate E of Dodger Stadium on Thursday. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
More than 50 community and religious leaders from around Los Angeles signed a petition Friday that called on the Dodgers “to take a public stand against the indiscriminate ICE raids which are causing immense terror in our communities, hurting businesses, and separating families.”
“This is the moment for the Dodgers to stand with the families whom masked agents are tearing apart,” read the letter, which was signed by religious officials, labor leaders and immigrant-rights activists, and addressed to Dodgers owner Mark Walter.
“If these truly are OUR beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, we need you, more than ever, to stand with us, immigrants and non-immigrants alike. Stand with all of us.”
The petition, which was organized by faith-based community organizing network PICO California, came a day after the Dodgers postponed what was scheduled to be their first public comment regarding the immigration raids that have swept through the city over the last two weeks.
On Thursday, the club had been preparing to announce their plans for assistance to immigrant communities affected by the recent events in the city, a team spokesperson told The Times this week.
But then, federal immigration agents showed up at Dodger Stadium on Thursday morning, attempting to access the ballpark’s parking lots in an apparent effort to use them as a processing site for people who had been arrested in a nearby immigration raid.
The Dodgers denied the agents entry to the grounds, according to the team, but the resulting fallout prompted their planned announcement to be delayed.
“Because of the events earlier today, we continue to work with groups that were involved with our programs,” team president Stan Kasten said. “But we are going to have to delay today’s announcement while we firm up some more details. We’ll get back to you soon with the timing.”
Friday’s petition implored the club to not wait any longer, asking the team to:
Issue a public statement affirming that families are sacred, and that the ICE raids must stop
Stand with and support community organizations that are welcoming, protecting, and integrating immigrants into the fabric of our great region
As when you asked ICE to leave the property yesterday, continue to ensure that no Dodgers’ property or assets will be used to aid or abet immigration enforcement operations
A news release announcing the letter also promoted a public petition campaign for fans to sign.
Many of the signatories of Friday’s petition were local church leaders, including the bishops of the Methodist California-Pacific Conference and Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
“For generations, Angelenos have prayed their Dodgers on through good times and bad,” John Harvey Taylor, the Episcopal bishop, said in a statement. “Dodgers security were champions this weekend. We pray that the Dodgers will stand with their fans, and their friends and family, who are at risk from these cruel workplace raids.”
The petition was also signed by representatives from more than 20 community advocacy groups, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and National Day Laborer Organizing Network; as well as labor leaders from local teacher unions and the Service Employees International Union, among others.
“We love the Dodgers not only because they are champions, but even more because they are the team of Jackie Robinson, of Fernando Valenzuela, of Kiké Hernandez — baseball players who have helped bend the moral arc of the universe towards justice,” Joseph Tomás McKellar, executive director of the PICO California organization that organized the petition, said in a statement. “This is a moment when the Dodgers, a beloved family and cultural institution for 67 years, can take a moral stand and make an impact on the lives of vulnerable families in our region. Families are sacred.”
The Dodgers — which, the petition notes, has a roughly 40% Latino fan base — had been under increased public pressure in recent days to address the immigration raids happening around the city.
Last weekend, they received backlash when singer and social media personality Nezza performed a Spanish-language version of the national anthem at a game, in an act of protest against the raids, despite being asked by a club employee to sing it in English. Stadium security officials have also been seen cracking down on anti-ICE signage that some fans have tried to display around the ballpark recently. And this week, some fans on social media began to call for a protest against the team on Saturday.
The Dodgers are still expected to unveil their plans to assist local immigrant communities in the near future. If not for Thursday’s unexpected encounter with federal immigration agents, it might have already happened by now.
But instead, they have yet to break their silence on the issue.
And on Friday, community leaders turned up the public pressure to do so.
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand went on his social media on Thursday night and decided to troll some teams for letting specific players go that ended up winning the Stanley Cup with the Panthers.
Marchand posted a photo of Sam Bennett and tagged the Calgary Flames saying "thanks for the MVP @CalgaryFlames."
Kulikov played one season for the Wild before he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. He was eventually dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins before he ended up in Florida.
But Marchand didn't seem to care. He tagged the Minnesota Wild instead.
With the season being officially over, the NHL franchises’ attention turns to the draft, free agency, and roster composition. The Dallas Stars announced yesterday that they had signed pending UFA Matt Duchene to a four-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million.
Reigning GM of the year Jim Nill is wasting no time since he also traded Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken for a third-round pick at the 2026 draft and a fourth-round pick at the 2025 draft, clearing some cap space in the process. Even with that deal, however, the Stars only have $4,955,084 million in projected cap space and have yet to sign Jamie Benn, the longest-tenured captain in team history.
It could be a struggle for the Stars to fit everyone under the cap, as they’ve only 16 players on their active roster for the upcoming season. Benn, Evgeny Dadonov, Mikael Granlund, Colin Blackwell, Brendan Smith, and Cody Ceci are all UFAs, and, more interestingly for the Montreal Canadiens, Mavrik Bourque is an RFA.
A Plessisville, Quebec native, Bourque was drafted 30th overall at the 2020 draft and is a 23-year-old right-shot center. The 5-foot-11 and 181-pound forward has been trending up since his draft year. He played two full seasons with the Texas Stars in the AHL, scoring 47 points in 70 games in his initial season and then increasing to 77 points in 71 games the following year.
He spent the last season with the Stars in Dallas in a limited role on a deep team. He averaged just 12:41 of ice time skating in the bottom-six. Dobber’s prospect report described him as quick and slippery, and he’s indeed shown to be that so far, but his small frame could be prohibitive for the Canadiens.
The talent is there, and he’s the kind of player who could benefit significantly from working with Martin St-Louis, and he’s the right age to fit with the Canadiens’ window of opportunity. It’s no secret that the Canadiens need to do something about their depth down the middle, with Kirby Dach having failed to pan out as a second-line center so far and Alex Newhook being perhaps best suited to a winger role.
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.
The Jonathan Toews sweepstakes are over, as it has been confirmed that the three-time Stanley Cup champion will be joining the Winnipeg Jets for this upcoming season. First reports came from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, who added that Toews will be joining his hometown team on a one-year contract.
The 37-year-old won’t register as a Jets player until July 1 when free agency officially opens, but the agreement is there, and the stage for an NHL comeback is set.
In a statement, Toews said, "I’m grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. It’s very special to come home and play in front of my family and friends in Manitoba. The Jets have been on the rise over the last few seasons and I’m eager to join the group and help however I can."
Toews' contract with the Jets will have an average annual value of $2 million with $5 million in performance bonuses. Certainly a decrease from his previous eight-year deal with Chicago, which paid him $10.5-million per season, but it makes sense given his age and time away from the league.
Next year will mark three seasons that Toews has been away from the game. He announced that he would be stepping away from the Chicago Blackhawks after his contract expired at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. He played 53 games, scoring 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points in that season.
He was forced to step away after suffering from long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome. However, he spent his time off searching for recovery strategies in India and other countries around the world.
Now, with the certainty that he is coming back to the NHL, he’ll be looking to add what is already an incredible career.
Toews has accomplished several feats and milestones in his 15-year career. He’s won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks and even took home the Conn Smythe Trophy in their 2010 Cup win.
In addition to all the team success he’s had as the captain of Chicago, he has some individual hardware, too. Toews was awarded the Selke Trophy for his defensive efforts during the 2012-13 campaign and was also presented with the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2014-15.
Toews could have a chance to be a part of the team to break Canada’s 32-year Stanley Cup drought. The Jets have proven to be a top team in the league this past season, and winning the Cup with Winnipeg may end up at the top of Toews’ list of achievements.
SAN FRANCISCO — When a few Boston questions were mixed in during Tuesday’s press conference at Oracle Park, Rafael Devers deflected them, saying he didn’t want to talk about the past. At one point, Buster Posey smiled and said he liked the way his new superstar answers questions.
Posey really, really would have liked the way Devers handled his second large media availability of the week.
About two dozen reporters and six cameras — many of them from Boston — descended on the dugout Friday so Devers could offer answers to Red Sox reporters and his former fan base. He spoke for more than 10 minutes, and nearly every answer was some variation of “I don’t want to talk about the past, I’m focused on the future.” But when asked about his future in San Francisco, Devers lit up.
Devers was asked if he could remember the last time he had been this happy, and his answer surely pleased Posey and the Giants.
“It’s been a long time,” he said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I don’t know how to explain it. Yes, I feel happy. I feel relaxed now.”
"I feel very relaxed now."
Rafael Devers spoke to Bay Area and Boston reporters about the last time he was this happy professionally. pic.twitter.com/tb6DBnYG81
If all goes according to plan, that’ll be the last time Devers has to address a week that stunned Major League Baseball. He’s clearly ready to move on, but the timing of this weekend’s series — less than a week after the blockbuster deal — led to an interesting situation. He said he spent Thursday catching up with some former teammates after the Red Sox arrived from their series in Seattle, and on Friday, he spoke to reporters who once thought they might be covering him for the next eight and a half seasons.
Devers did not offer a lot of answers to the questions that persist across the country, although he did say that had the Red Sox asked him to play first base during the spring — instead of after Triston Casas got hurt in-season — he would have agreed. Asked for further details, he said all of that was in the past.
Devers said he did plan to catch up with former manager Alex Cora, although they haven’t spoken since the trade. If Cora watches closely this weekend, he’ll see Devers taking grounders at first during batting practice, something he refused to do for Cora and the Red Sox.
The Giants will continue to get Devers work there all weekend after two days of grounders earlier this week. He said he’s not ready to play first base against his former team, though. Devers isn’t sure when he’ll be ready for a new position, but he promised to inform his new manager, Bob Melvin, as soon as he feels comfortable.
In the meantime, the Giants will continue to start Devers at DH. He reiterated Friday that he’ll do anything his new bosses want, and said he’s confident that better days are ahead. The Giants scored just six runs in their first three games with Devers in the lineup, but he said he’s excited about the future.
“There’s a reason they brought me here,” he said. “Our offense is going to hit.”
Not long ago, Jonathan Toews made it clear that he intended to return to the National Hockey League in 2025-26. Toews last played with the Chicago Blackhawks in the final game of the 2022-23 season. Since then, he's been recovering and preparing his body for a potential return to action.
Before anybody knew he was going to take some time away, the Chicago Blackhawks had already declared that they would not bring Toews back. Everybody, including Toews, seemed to be at peace with that decision.
Once he became serious about signing, plenty of good teams started to line up. However, one team was deemed to be the favorite for a variety of reasons. That team is the Winnipeg Jets.
Of course, Winnipeg is one of the best teams in the NHL. They fell out during the second round to an excellent Dallas Stars team, but that doesn't take away from the President's Trophy-winning season that they had.
Signing with an elite team that needed center help up and down the lineup made the most sense for Toews. He would be able to play on any of the lines outside of the first, which is manned by Mark Scheifele.
The Jets are also the hometown NHL team for Toews. He is from St. Vital, so going back to Manitoba always made sense for him.
On Friday, that dream of playing in the NHL at home became a reality for Toews. He signed a one-year deal with the Jets, but the contract can't be registered until July 1st. The team already made it official on social media.
Getting over the hump in the playoffs has been an issue for the Jets in the past, including this year. A guy like Toews, who has had many deep runs in the postseason, will be a great help.
In addition to winning the Stanley Cup three times, Toews also has two Olympic Gold Medals and one World Cup of Hockey championship. The man has done a lot of winning. Character and leadership have been a big part of his game. Winnipeg could use some more of that after taking a nice step in 2024-25.
On a personal note, this is a win for Toews. He will finally return after being gone for so long. It is also great for the Jets, who need a proven winner with an elite mentality in the locker room.
Per a report from Pierre LeBrun, Jonathan Toews and the Winnipeg Jets are in agreement on a contract that cannot be signed until July. 1 when the free agency window opens.
Toews will be joining the second NHL team of his career after spending the first 15 years of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks. The 37-year-old scored 372 goals and 883 points in 1067 games during his Blackhawks tenure, taking home three Stanley Cups, a Selke Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Throughout his illustrious hockey career, Toews has proven that no matter the stage, his teams find a way to win. The Winnipeg native is a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won gold at the World Juniors, World Championship, and the Olympics.
At this point in his career, the Jets will likely use Toews in a shutdown role. Trusting him to drive a line offensively might be too tall an ask, but asking him to provide leadership, win faceoffs, and be potent defensively is exactly what he is capable of doing.
At the moment, no details about numbers have been shared, but LeBrun confirmed that the length of the contract will be one year.
"The three-time Stanley Cup champion is expected to ink a short-term contract, likely one-year, that may be painted with various goal-oriented bonuses, such as games played and points totals," said David Pagnotta in a report he shared earlier about Toews' situation.
Throughout the process, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning were pushing hard to sign Toews, but several reports indicated that his hometown team were always the favourite. In the end, the future Hall of Famer will receive the opportunity to play where he grew up.
Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
In a stunning twist to the NHL offseason, multiple reports confirm that Jonathan Toews is expected to sign with the Winnipeg Jets, signaling a long-anticipated return to the game and to his hometown.
The 36-year-old Toews, who hasn't played since the 2022–23 season due to health-related issues, has reportedly been training and feels ready to make a comeback. Now, the former Chicago Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion is on the verge of joining a Jets team looking to stay in the Western Conference playoff mix.
Toews was quoted as saying "I’m grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. It’s very special to come home and play in front of my family and friends in Manitoba. The Jets have been on the rise over the last few seasons and I’m eager to join the group and help however I can.”
Toews, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, played his entire 15-year NHL career with the Blackhawks, notching 883 points (372 goals, 511 assists) in 1,067 games, and earning a Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010. His leadership and two-way play were hallmarks of Chicago’s dynasty years, and his presence in Winnipeg could provide a significant locker room and on-ice boost.
While the contract details have yet to be made public, the expected deal is believed to be short-term and incentive-heavy, allowing Toews to ease back into the NHL pace while giving Winnipeg additional veteran depth at center.
Jets' Odds Could Shift with Toews' Return
Sportsbooks have begun to take notice. The Jets, previously listed around +3500 to win the Stanley Cup on most major platforms, could see their odds shorten slightly if Toews officially signs and is cleared to play. While his exact on-ice role remains to be seen, his playoff experience and championship pedigree add intangible value, particularly in a Western Conference wide open behind favorites like Edmonton and Dallas.
For futures bettors, this move may represent a low-risk, high-upside play. If Toews stays healthy and contributes on special teams or in key faceoff situations, Winnipeg's depth could give them a serious edge come spring.
Keep an eye on updated odds as the signing becomes official—sharper markets may react early.
It's Friday, June 20 and the White Sox (23-52) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (40-34). Davis Martin is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Spencer Turnbull for Toronto.
Chicago has lost eight straight games and are 1-9 over the last 10 games after being swept in two straight series. Toronto took the series against Arizona, 2-1, but are 2-4 over the previous six games. This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch White Sox at Blue Jays
Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
Time: 7:07PM EST
Site: Rogers Centre
City: Toronto, ON
Network/Streaming: CHSN, Sportsnet
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the White Sox at the Blue Jays
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: White Sox (+171), Blue Jays (-207)
Spread: Blue Jays -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Blue Jays
Pitching matchup for June 20, 2025: Davis Martin vs. Spencer Turnbull
White Sox: Davis Martin, (2-7, 3.79 ERA) Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
Blue Jays: Spencer Turnbull, (1-0, 2.08 ERA) Last outing: 2.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the White Sox and the Blue Jays
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the White Sox and the Blue Jays:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of White Sox at Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are 8-2 in their last 10 home games
The Blue Jays' last 4 games have gone over the Total
The Blue Jays have covered in their last 4 games against the White Sox
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
