Former Devils Defender Signs With New Team

Will Butcher (© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

The Columbus Blue Jackets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, have announced that they have signed former New Jersey Devils defenseman Will Butcher to an AHL deal for the 2025-26 season.

Butcher signing with the Monsters comes after he split the 2024-25 season between Barys Astana of the KHL and EHC Red Bull Munchen of the DEL. In 15 games with Barys Astana this past campaign, the 5-foot-10 blueliner recorded three assists and a minus-7 rating. He then had three goals, eight assists, 11 points, and a plus-7 rating in 32 games with EHC Munchen. 

Butcher kicked off his NHL career with the Devils after the Metropolitan Division club signed him during the 2017 NHL off-season. From there, he played four seasons with the Devils from 2017-18 to 2020-21, where he recorded 14 goals, 92 assists, 106 points, 239 blocks, and a minus-27 rating in 238 games. This included him posting career highs with five goals, 39 assists, and 44 points in 81 games with the Devils during his rookie year. This was good enough for him to make the 2017-18 NHL All-Rookie Team. 

Butcher's time with the Devils ended when he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the 2021-22 season. 

Cristopher Sanchez more than a willing participant for Game 4 of NLDS

Cristopher Sanchez more than a willing participant for Game 4 of NLDS originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LOS ANGELES – The look on the face of Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez was of a child opening their coveted birthday present.

It was just after the Phillies had beaten the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-2 Wednesday in Game Three of the Divisional Series. His team had just forced a fourth game at Dodger Stadium, and it is Sanchez’s turn to take the mound. He’ll be opposing Los Angeles right hander Tyler Glasnow in another must-win game for the Phillies.

The newly appointed ace, due to the season-ending surgery on Zack Wheeler, wore the burden of his duties for Thursday proudly as his 6-6 frame exuded confidence as he talked to the media in front of his locker.

“I’m going to compete as always and do the best job that I can as I always try to do so I can give us a chance to win a ball game,” he said. And that’s just what he did in Game One of this series when he allowed four hits and two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of what eventually became a 5-3 Dodgers win.

Not knowing if there was going to be another start for him this season before his team took the field for Game Three, Sanchez did the only thing he knows how to do, and that’s stick to his normal routine.

“It’s the same preparation for me,” he said. “I prepare myself in the same way as I always do. It didn’t matter if we were up or down in the game, I was going to prepare myself to pitch (Thursday).”

And now he’ll have that chance as the Phillies offense exploded on Wednesday after Kyle Schwarber ignited them with a 455-foot home run in the fourth inning.

“I was actually getting treatment in the training room,” at the time of the home run, said Sanchez. “I just jumped out of excitement. I mean he hit it 117 off the bat and it cleared all the stadium.”

His demeanor is always the same, like that of a person able to do the profession he loves and excels at. While the offense came through with a big day, Sanchez will also be able to make another start this season due to the performance of fellow pitchers Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez. In an unconventional move, manager Rob Thomson had Nola go two innings in his start, only to be replaced by Suarez in the third. Suarez pitched five efficient innings and the Phillies lived to see another day.

“It’s incredible. It’s amazing,” said Sanchez. “I mean it’s not a coincidence. They are two of the best pitchers that we have. They got the job done.”

And now it’s his turn. Having cemented himself as a true No. 1 on this team, another good outing on Thursday will certainly thrust him more into the minds of an ace to those around the baseball world who may be a little late to the revelation.

Wait, what?

Thomson said in the days leading up to Game Three that he would be doing the piggyback thing with Nola starting and Suarez coming in for relief. What he didn’t reveal, even to all of his players, was that his goal was to get Nola through the Los Angeles lineup just once before changing to his left-hander. It all worked, but he surprised many in doing it.

“I’m looking around and Noles is doing his thing and you see him start giving handshakes,” said Schwarber. “We’ve got our game plan and we’re going to stick to our guns and we’re going to go with our game plan. I’m like, this man is throwing the ball so well.”

He was and he did. And now Nola is another weapon for Thomson should the team prolong their playoff run.

“I didn’t know the game plan was to go two innings,” said Trea Turner. “When he came out I was like, ‘What are we doing?’ Because he looked really good. That’s the Nola I faced for years. I’ve seen him pitch a lot of good postseason games for us. When I saw 95 (MPH) in that first inning and he was throwing strikes and spotting up, I felt like he was back to his old self. And then Ranger picked up right where he left off. He gave up that early homer but he settled in. That’s exactly what we needed from both of them.”

Notes: Schwarber’s first home run went over the right field pavilion at Dodger Stadium. He becomes just the second player to ever do that, joining former Pirate great Willie Stargell, who did it in 1969 and again in 1973. Schwarber’s 23 postseason homers are the third most all-time and the most ever by a lefthander. He also has eight home runs in the powder blue uniforms this season … Should the Phillies force a Game Five, that will be at 8:08 on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

Red October coverage on NBC Sports Philadelphia is sponsored by Toyota.

Morning skate: What you need to know for Nashville Predators season opener versus Blue Jackets

The day has finally arrived! After nearly six months, the Nashville Predators will return to the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST. 

The new season gives the Predators a fresh start after a disappointing campaign last season. This year's roster will face multiple new additions, including the Predators 2025 fifth overall pick, Brady Martin. 

With puck drop upon us, here is everything you need to know ahead of the Predators' season opener. 

Inactive players 

- Nashville defenseman Nicolas Hague is out with an upper-body injury until at least Oct. 23. 

- Nashville forward Matthew Wood is out with a lower-body injury until at least Oct. 11. 

- Nashville forward Luke Evangelista is still figuring out details with his newly signed contract and was listed as "non-roster" on the Predators' opening night roster announcement on Monday. 

- Columbus defenseman Luca Marrelli is out until at least Dec. 16 with a shoulder injury. 

- Columbus forward Jordan Dumais is out until at least Oct. 18 with a hip injury. 

Brady Martin to make NHL debut 

© Nashville Predators

The Predators highest pick since 2013, Martin, is set to make his NHL debut on Thursday. Head coach Andrew Brunette confirmed on Wednesday that the center would play. 

Martin said he has around 30 family members in town to watch him play. He is expected to center the Predators top line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly on the wings.

It's a big moment that's received some criticism, but the Predators feel confident in Martin's capabilities. 

Nashville Predators confident with Brady Martin centering Forsberg, O'Reilly line ahead of opening nightNashville Predators confident with Brady Martin centering Forsberg, O'Reilly line ahead of opening nightBrady Martin may have the biggest role of any rookie in the NHL on opening night. 

Predators eyeing a strong start to season 

A lot of the Predators hype from the 2024 offseason was derailed in October as they went 5-9-1 and lost their first five games. In wanting to have a chance to make the playoffs this season, the Predators will need to have a strong start out of the gate.

Nashville earned between both of its matchups against the Blue Jackets last season.

Its first meeting was one of the few games the Predators won in October, taking a 4-3 overtime win on Oct. 26. 

The second meeting was an 8-4 blowout victory in favor of the Blue Jackets on April 1. That loss was in the middle of a six-game Predators losing streak at the end of last season. 

Nashville has also not won on a traditional opening-night since 2019. It's win over Columbus to open the 2020-21 season was in January in an abbreviated 56-game season. The Predators win over the San Jose Sharks to start the 2022-23 season was part of a double-header played in Prague, Czechia. 

Nashville Predators Hope To Reverse Recent Opening Night StrugglesNashville Predators Hope To Reverse Recent Opening Night StrugglesApr 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) blocks the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Projected Predators lineup 

Nashville 

Forwards 

Forsberg-Martin-O'Reilly

Kemell-Svechkov-Stamkos (potentially Evangelista at LW) 

Bunting-Haula-Marchessault 

Jost/Wiesblatt-McCarron-Smith

Defensemen

Wilsby-Josi

Skjei-Perbix

Stastney-Barron

Blankenburg 

Goaltender 

Juuse Saros 

How to follow along 

Game time: vs. Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. CST 

Where: Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn. 

Line (via MGM): Nashville -1.5, Columbus +1.5. Over/under 6 

TV/streaming: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.6 The Game

Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster starting at $37.50

 

NHL Rumor Roundup: Update On 2025 UFA Market And The Latest On Lane Hutson

A day into the 2025-26 NHL regular season, the depth of star talent potentially available in next summer's UFA market shrank considerably.

It began on Sept. 30, when the Minnesota Wild signed left winger Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year extension. Six days later, center Connor McDavid signed a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers.

Two more notable names came off the list on Wednesday, as the Winnipeg Jets re-upped Kyle Connor on an eight-year deal, followed by Jack Eichel agreeing to an eight-year extension with the Vegas Golden Knights.

That leaves New York Rangers left winger Artemi Panarin and Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky as the most noteworthy remaining talent.

Panarin turns 34 on Oct. 30 and is in the final season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $11.642 million. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky is also finishing a seven-year deal, with an average annual value of $10 million.

Panarin reportedly turned down a team-friendly offer during the summer. As this season begins, he and Rangers management have kept mum about his contract status.

Despite Bobrovsky's age, the defending champion Panthers could re-sign him if he keeps them in the Stanley Cup hunt. George Richards of Florida Hockey Now speculated in August that he could get between $6.5 million and $7 million annually from the Panthers on a five- or six-year deal, or $8 million annually for four years.

Other UFA-eligible notables include Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas and Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch.

Reports: Golden Knights' Jack Eichel Signs Fifth-Richest Contract In NHL HistoryReports: Golden Knights' Jack Eichel Signs Fifth-Richest Contract In NHL HistoryThe Vegas Golden Knights reportedly re-signed Jack Eichel to an eight-year contract extension.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Canadiens recently made an eight-year contract extension offer to Lane Hutson. The 21-year-old defenseman won the Calder Trophy last season and is in the final year of his entry-level contract.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman cited sources claiming that the Canadiens' offer was “slightly below 8 by $9 million,” adding that he believed Hutson wanted to sign a new deal before the start of this season.

The two reporters believed the Canadiens' offer had some salary deferral in it. At the same time, Friedman noted recent reports out of Montreal claimed they also pitched Hutson's camp on a Canadian retirement compensation arrangement (RCA) that many players used to soften the tax burden. However, neither option was of interest to the blueliner's representatives.

Both sides are reportedly pausing talks to let things cool down a bit. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes remains optimistic that an extension will be done at some point, reminding nervous Habs fans that Hutson isn't UFA-eligible until 2031.

The Canadiens hold most of the leverage in these negotiations. PuckPedia indicates that Hutson not only lacks arbitration rights coming off his entry-level deal but is also ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club next summer.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: Top three-point targets include Payton Pritchard, Norman Powell

The NBA preseason is well underway, and we're a little over a week away from the regular season tipping off. That means we've got plenty of fantasy basketball draft content up on the site.

Whether it's dynasty sleepers or players to avoid at ADP or just straight rankings, we've got it all up there. Today, I'm going to add to that collection by looking at players who can help you in drafts if you're looking for three-point value.

In a standard 9-category fantasy basketball league, you pile up stats in Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks, Field Goal Percentage (FG%), Free Throw Percentage (FT%), 3-Pointers Made, and Turnovers. That means, when we're looking for three-point help, we are looking for accumulators, players who will make a lot of threes, but also players who shoot at a high enough percent that they won't tank our field goal percentage.

In this article, I looked at some of my favorite targets, specifically for three-point value, spread throughout the draft. I separated the article into two sections: early round picks (guys in the top 100 in ADP, which is approximately the first eight rounds) and then everybody outside of that. So flag some of these guys in your draft prep, and good luck assembling your teams.

2024-25 NBA Three-Point Leaders

TOP 10 IN THREE-POINTERS MADE PER GAME

RankNameTeamPos3pt/g
1Stephen CurryGSWPG/SG4.4
2Anthony EdwardsMINSG/SF4.1
3Malik BeasleyDETSG/SF3.9
4Brandon MillerCHASG/SF/PF3.9
5LaMelo BallCHAPG/SG3.8
6Luka DoncicLALPG/SG3.5
7Derrick WhiteBOSPG/SG3.5
8Jayson TatumBOSSF/PF3.5
9Jordan PooleWASPG/SG3.5
10Damian LillardMILPG3.4

TOP 10 IN THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (QUALIFIED)

RankNameTeamPOS3pt%
1Seth CurryGSSG45.6
2Zach LaVineSACSG44.6
3Taurean PriceMILPF43.9
4Ty JeromeMEMSG43.9
5Vit KrejciATLPG/SG43.7
6Nic BatumLACPF43.3
7Harrison BarnesSASSF43.3
8Keon EllisSACPG/SG43.3
9Luke KennardATLSG/SF43.3
10Aaron NesmithINDSG/SF43.1

Fantasy Basketball Draft Targets: Three-Pointers

It's obvious that, if you want three-point value, you're going to want to draft the best three-point shooters in the league, so I'm not going to include guys like Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Derrick White, Zach LaVine, Klay Thompson, etc. We're going to focus on guys going in the early rounds (inside the top 100 picks) and guys going in the later rounds (post top 100 picks) who can provide you with 3-point value if your team is lagging there at various points in the draft.

EARLY ROUNDS

Jordan Poole - PG/SG, NOR

(ADP: 66)

It's fun to clown on Jordan Poole on social media because he's made some boneheaded plays, and he also got punched in the face by his own teammate once, but he can shoot. Poole had a bit of a mini-breakout with Washington last season, and put up 9.1 three-pointers per game, ninth-most in the league, while making 37.8% of them. His 3.5 made threes per game was 9th-best in basketball. Poole now heads to the Pelicans, where only Zion Williamson is a really high-usage player in the starting lineup. Trey Murphy III is a talented player, but Poole didn't have a 30% usage rate in Washington just to cede tons of opportunities to Murphy. Zion also only played 30 games last year and has a checked injury past, so when he is inevitably out for a bit, who do you think it's going to be putting up shots?

Brandon Miller - SG/SF/PF, CHA

(ADP: 71)

Miller put up the third-most three-point field goals per game at 10.9 attempts and also made a solid 35.5% of them. That's not shooting the lights out, but that's a pretty good clip given the amount of shooting he's doing. The 22-year-old played only 27 games last season, but he had a 28% usage rate, and I see no reason why that wouldn't continue. I think you're getting a bit of a discount based on his injury, but I will take a 36.6% career three-point shooter who has put up nearly eight threes per game in his young career.

Payton Pritchard - PG, BOS (ADP: 78)

Anfernee Simons - PG/SG, BOS (ADP: 82)

Yes, it's possible that we've pushed Pritchard's draft cost up too high in this new-look Celtics offense that tried hard to rid themselves of big salaries after the Jayson Tatum injury, so they could get under the second apron. We know Pritchard is going to start and see big minutes, but a top-80 pick is certainly a decent investment. Still, if you need three-point value, it's hard to pass up on a guy who shot 40.7% from behind the arc and whose 3.2 made threes per game was 14th-best in basketball. The Celtics as a team love to shoot threes. Now, that philosophy might change a bit with the new personnel, but I can't see them simply becoming a grind-it-out team like the Marc Gasol Grizzlies, so there will be three-point shots taken, and both Pritchard and Simons are likely to take them. I'm shocked the Celtics were able to get Simons this offseason, but it's a nice add for the team, and his 3.1 made threes per game last year with Portland was 17th-best in basketball. Simons is not as efficient a shooter as Pritchard is, but I like his all-around game better, so I'd rather take him since both are going in the same range.

Cam Thomas - PG/SG/SF, BKN

(ADP: 79)

Thomas is another guywho didn't play a full season last year, playing only 25 games due to hamstring injuries. When he was on the court, he was a 32% usage player who took 7.8 three-point attempts per game, which was 24th-most in basketball. His 2.7 made three-pointers per game last year ranked 33rd in the NBA, and while he shot them at just 34.9%, which is slightly below a few players on this list, it's not really a mark that's going to hurt your overall field goal percentage. Since you want to focus more on the made three-pointers when targeting three-point value in the draft, I like Thomas because who else is going to shoot on Brooklyn? Thomas is also playing on a qualifying offer, which means he's going to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and you know he's going to try and earn a big payday.

Norman Powell - SG/SF, MIA

(ADP: 84)

His 3.0 made threes per game was 19th-best in basketball. While that was with the Clippers, he finds himself in a pretty good situation in Miami with Tyler Herro out. Andrew Wiggins posted just a 25.5% usage rate last year and is not a three-point shooter. Davion Mitchell is not a huge usage player and averaged just 2.9 three-point attempts per game in his career. The Heat are going to need Powell to space the floor and create space in the post for Bam Adebayo and slashing lanes for Wiggins. I think the three-point value will be here again.

Matas Buzelis - SF/PF, CHI

(ADP: 88)

A little over a week ago, I had Buzelis as a sleeper based on his ADP of 110 at the time. That ADP has since been slowly creeping up, and then he went out on Tuesday night and scored 19 points in 18 minutes in the first preseason game. Buzelis shot 36.1% from deep last season, but he played only 19 minutes per game and took only 6.9 total shots per game. However, he joined the Bulls starting lineup in February and took 4.9 three-pointers per game in 22 games between March and April. He also shot 39% from deep over those 22 games. I think this kid is going to be special, and I could see him being a high usage player on this Bulls team.

Cameron Johnson - SF/PF, DEN

(ADP: 92)

Look, Cam Johnson is not going to head to Denver and be a high-usage player, but the good news is that he wasn't one in Brooklyn either. Johnson had just a 22.5% usage rate in Brooklyn last season, but still took 7.2 three-point attempts per game with the Nets, which was 33rd-most in basketball. His 2.8 made three-pointers per game ranked 31st in the NBA, and he shot them at 39%. Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, and Aaron Gordon are not three-point shooters. This is what Johnson was brought to Denver to do, and now he gets to do it on a significantly better team.

NBA: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves
Nikola Jokić headlines Rotoworld’s Preseason Top 200, but key injuries across the league make this one of the most unpredictable fantasy seasons in years.

LATE ROUNDS

De’Andre Hunter - SF/PF, CLE

(ADP: 152)

Hunter was pretty good in Cleveland after coming over in the middle of the season from Atlanta, but a lot of his totals dipped a bit in a bench role. Still, on the season, his 2.5 made three-pointers per game last year ranked 44th in the NBA, and he shot them at a 40.5% clip. With Max Strus hurt and Isaac Okoro no longer in Cleveland, there's a decent chance that Hunter will begin the season as the starting small forward for the Cavs. If that's the case, he should put up something closer to his 6.7 three-point attempts per game with the Hawks, and, considering he's a career 37.3% shooter from deep, that you could be looking at around 2.5 made three-pointers per game while also posting stats across the board on one of the best teams he's ever been on.

Jerami Grant - SF/PF, POR

(ADP: 188)

Last year in Portland, Grant had just a 19.5% usage rate, but he still put up 6.3 three-point attempts per game, which was 49th-best in basketball. He shot them at a 36.5% mark, so he didn't hurt your field goal percentage, and hit 2.3 per game, which made him a value in that category. With Anfernee Simons now in Boston, opportunities are there for the taking. Jrue Holiday was brought in, but he's more of a facilitator than a guard who looks for his own shot. I like Deni Avdija, and Shaedon Sharpe could take a big step forward this year, but he's a career 33% shooter from three, so I don't think he's going to threaten Grant's ability to space the floor. Plus, at this ADP, the risk is so minimal.

Royce O’Neale - SF/PF, PHO

(ADP: 196)

I don't know what O'Neale's role is going to be on this team with Durant gone, but Jalen Green in town. Still, his 2.4 made three-pointers per game last year ranked tied for 46th in the NBA, and he shot them at a career-high 40.6%. There is a chance that Green and Devin Booker will simply shoot so much that O'Neale doesn't get enough opportunities, and that also goes for Grayson Allen - PG/SG/SF, PHO (ADP: 219), but both of these guys are willing to launch from deep and can hit at a high clip, so if we start to see one getting more opportunities this pre-season, it's time to pounce.

Gary Trent - SG/SF, MIL

(ADP: 242)

I mentioned Trent Jr. on Twitter/X as one of my sleepers for this season because I think he has a good chance to start on this Milwaukee team. There are a lot of high usage players in this lineup, but there are also a lot of players who command defensive attention, so Trent is going to be used to space the floor, and he's likely going to get plenty of open looks. His 2.4 made three-pointers per game last year ranked 46th in the NBA, and he shot them at 41.6%, which was the second-best mark of his career. If you need three-point value with one of your last picks, he's perhaps my favorite.

Novak Djokovic battles into Shanghai semis as Vacherot’s dream run continues

  • Serbian made to work in straight-sets win over Bergs

  • World No 204 takes out Rune to reach the last four

Novak Djokovic battled past a spirited Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals for a 10th time, setting up a clash with surprise package and the world No 204, Valentin Vacherot.

In challenging conditions, Djokovic was made to work harder than the scoreline suggests by his Belgian opponent, who registered more winners than the four-time champion but was undone by unforced errors.

Continue reading...

Mr Hull KR: real-life hero of Post Office IT scandal bankrolls club to verge of treble glory

Owner Neil Hudgell is as proud of his players’ connection to the community as he is of the club’s success as they face Wigan in Saturday’s Grand Final

Neil Hudgell has witnessed highs this summer he and a generation of Hull KR supporters perhaps thought they would never get to experience, but even in these most euphoric of times the low moments are never far from the forefront of his mind.

There have been plenty of those during his 20 years as owner of his boyhood club. Flirtations with administration, relegation from Super League in the most dramatic of circumstances in 2016 courtesy of an extra-time defeat to Salford and a 50-0 loss to Leeds in the 2015 Challenge Cup final that Hudgell ranks as his lowest ebb.

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Maple Leafs' Coach Says Morgan Rielly Is Looking 'More Like Morgan Rielly Again'

It was midway through the third period of a tied game against the Montreal Canadiens, when Morgan Rielly decided to do something that didn’t do nearly enough last season.

He joined the rush. 

Following a turnover in the Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive end, Matthew Knies was sprung loose. The Canadiens gave chase. But so did Rielly, who sprinted up the ice and headed to the front of the Canadiens' net, where he then buried a pass in front for his first goal of the 2025-26 season.

“Everyone in here wants to play well the first game,” Rielly, who had a goal and an assist, said following Toronto’s 5-2 win against Montreal on opening night. “You work hard all summer and you just want to get off on the right foot.”

For Rielly, getting off on the right foot ultimately means using his feet. It's no secret that he's one of  Toronto’s best skaters. Only you wouldn't know it, because he rarely used that asset to his advantage last season.

But now that Mitch Marner is gone to Vegas, the Leafs are looking for offensive help wherever they can find it — even if that means relying on Rielly to be a sort of fourth forward.

“I thought he had a really good game,” said Leafs coach Craig Berube. “Skated well, moved the puck well, had good reads … he was solid tonight. It was great to see.”

'He Did Everything For Us': Morgan Rielly Renaissance Kicks Off As Maple Leafs Down Canadiens In Season Opener 'He Did Everything For Us': Morgan Rielly Renaissance Kicks Off As Maple Leafs Down Canadiens In Season Opener The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't have any turnover on their defense from last season to this one , but they still wanted to see improvement from their highest-paid and longest-tenured defenseman.

The Leafs will need to see more of it this season if they are going to build off of last year’s division-leading 108-point regular season. It can’t just be Auston Matthews and William Nylander carrying the offense, although those two did combine for a pair of goals and four points against the Canadiens.

Last year, the Leafs ranked last in the NHL in goals from their defense. Rielly, who led Toronto defensemen with seven goals and had 41 points, was tied for 39th. A lot of that had to do with Rielly losing his spot on the power play, as Toronto went with five forwards on the top unit.

But even so, in a league where Colorado's Cale Makar had 30 goals, Rielly's contributions weren't nearly enough. And he knows it. 

"I think I’ve been open and honest about all those conversations," said Rielly. "You train all summer and do what you can to be healthy as you can, you want to play hard, you want to play a team game. And so, here and now, our vibes here are good because we won. But we have a lot to work on."

In 2018-19, Rielly finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting after scoring a career-best 20 goals and 72 points. But in the six years since then, he’s combined for 29 goals and has never really been part of the conversation for best defenseman in the NHL.

'I Heard Them Early In My Career In A Negative Way': Maple Leafs React To Blue Jays-Fueled Fans At Scotiabank Arena'I Heard Them Early In My Career In A Negative Way': Maple Leafs React To Blue Jays-Fueled Fans At Scotiabank ArenaWhen Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman struck out New York Yankees left-fielder Cody Bellinger to win the ALDS, Maple Leafs fans — who were still inside Scotiabank Arena — let out a huge roar. So did whoever was controlling the Toronto Maple Leafs' goal horn.

Over the summer, Rielly and Berube had conversations about changing that and getting Rielly to get back to what made him so successful early on in his career. One game in, it appears to be working.

"I think that coming in, we tried to change the style of team — not so much run-and-gun, more controlling then game, good defense — and I think he took that to heart about trying to play good defense," Berube said of Rielly's play last season. "Sometimes when you do that, you’re not aggressive enough and you’re not jumping into the play because you don’t want to take chances as much. That may have been part of it.

"I thought he got better in the second half of the year and the playoffs, and he looked more like Morgan Rielly again."

It helps, added Berube, that Rielly is playing regularly with Brandon Carlo. Ever since the team acquired the stay-at-home defenseman from Boston at the trade deadline last year, Rielly no longer has to look over his shoulder to make sure someone else is manning the fort. In other words, Rielly has the green light to go.

“And that was one of the reasons to put Brandon Carlo with him," said Berube. "He’s really good at protecting his partner and doing all that stuff, so I think Mo’s got a lot more freedom and quite frankly when he came over here I thought Mo’s game changed.”

Tick Tock: A New Doomsday Clock Has McDavid And Matthews Heading To Free Agency In 2028Tick Tock: A New Doomsday Clock Has McDavid And Matthews Heading To Free Agency In 2028Tick… tick… tick…

Part of the change has to do with the system that Berube is now preaching. He wants his defense to be more aggressive in the offensive zone. Of course, you can only be aggressive when you're feeling good about your game. And one game in, it's fair to say that Rielly is feeling pretty good.

“He’s confident with the puck, he’s making plays at both ends of the ice,” said goalie Anthony Stolarz. “I think he did a great job with his gaps and getting sticks on pucks and moving guys from in front… I think we can all see that the offensive talent is there and when he feels confident he can fly up the ice and join the rush like that. For him to get that goal, I think it’s huge for him and huge for us as a team.”

Now that big question: can it continue?

“We’re all trying to do it," said Rielly. "It’s a great first win, but lots to work on.”

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft 2025-26: Paolo Banchero leads team built from 12th pick

Fantasy basketball season is here, and the best way to prep for your drafts is to mock, mock again and mock some more!

Drafting out of the No. 12 spot in a 12-team, 9-cat league offers the benefit of back-to-back picks to start your build, but it comes with its own set of challenges. The top-tier players have been selected, and your two picks will be the only ones you have until your next two picks nearly two full rounds later.

I completed a mock drafting from this spot to show how it might play out. Here are the results and brief analysis.

Round 1

1. Nikola Jokić (DEN - C)

2. Victor Wembanyama (SAS - C)

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL - PF,C)

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC - PG)

5. Luka Dončić (LAL - PG,SG)

6. Cade Cunningham (DET - PG,SG)

7. Anthony Davis (DAL - PF,C)

8. Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK - PF,C)

9. Anthony Edwards (MIN - PG,SG)

10. Devin Booker (PHX - PG,SG)

11. Trae Young (ATL - PG)

12. Amen Thompson (HOU - PG,SG,SF)

Round 2

13. Jalen Williams (OKC - SF,PF)

14. James Harden (LAC - PG,SG)

15. Domantas Sabonis (SAC - C)

16. Kevin Durant (HOU - SF,PF)

17. Donovan Mitchell (CLE - PG,SG)

18. Stephen Curry (GSW - PG)

19. Evan Mobley (CLE - PF,C)

20. Tyrese Maxey (PHI - PG)

21. Jalen Brunson (NYK - PG)

22. Alperen Sengun (HOU - C)

23. Chet Holmgren (OKC - PF,C)

24. Jalen Johnson (ATL - SF,PF)

Drafting from the 12 spot with back-to-back picks, my options are wide open, but there is some strategy involved here.

With the clear-cut top options off the board, I turned my attention to the slew of quality second-rounders. Having the 12th pick means I get two players and don’t get to draft again for 23 more picks. Taking Thompson and J-Dub here may look like a slight reach, but I value them more highly than any of the other players taken in the same range, and neither would have gotten back to me at Pick 36.

My first two picks lean into a build that’s punting three-pointers, but I try to make up some ground in that category later in the draft. I’m already off to a solid start with rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and FG%. I’m not too shabby in the scoring department with this duo, but points won’t be at a premium after my selections in Rounds 3-4.

Round 3

25. LeBron James (LAL - SF,PF)

26. LaMelo Ball (CHA - PG,SG)

27. Scottie Barnes (TOR - SG,SF,PF)

28. Jaylen Brown (BOS - SG,SF)

29. Josh Giddey (CHI - PG,SG)

30. Pascal Siakam (IND - PF,C)

31. Jamal Murray (DEN - PG,SG)

32. Bam Adebayo (MIA - PF,C)

33. Derrick White (BOS - PG,SG)

34. Franz Wagner (ORL - SF,PF)

35. Ivica Zubac (LAC - C)

36. Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF,C)

Round 4

37. Cooper Flagg (DAL - SF)

38. De'Aaron Fox (SAS - PG,SG)

39. Desmond Bane (ORL - SG,SF)

40. Trey Murphy III (NOP - SF,PF)

41. Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM - PF,C)

42. Kawhi Leonard (LAC - SF,PF)

43. Dyson Daniels (ATL - PG,SG,SF)

44. Deni Avdija (POR - SF,PF)

45. Jimmy Butler III (GSW - SF,PF)

46. Ja Morant (MEM - PG)

47. Zion Williamson (NOP - SF,PF)

48. Myles Turner (MIL - C)

Banchero is expected to take another step forward in Year 4 after a tremendous 2024-25 campaign in which he averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocked shots and 1.9 three-pointers. His shooting percentages weren’t elite (45.2 FG%, 72.7 FT%), but Banchero offered a ton of value as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator. His dual eligibility as a PF and C makes him an excellent and versatile selection, but he will need to improve his percentages and defensive contributions to pay off his Round 3-4 ADP.

The first rookie comes off the board at 37, and he goes to me. Flagg is expected to take on a sizeable role in Year 1, and he could be utilized even more on offense while Kyrie Irving is out. Flagg represents an elite, two-way talent who can rack up points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. Taking him at 37 is a bit of a reach, and I’m probably grabbing him at his ceiling. Nevertheless, I want to get him on my team for the tremendous upside, and he won’t be available when it’s my turn to pick at the 5-6 turn.

Round 5

49. Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL - PF,C)

50. Joel Embiid (PHI - C)

51. Brandon Miller (CHA - SF,PF)

52. Austin Reaves (LAL - PG,SG)

53. Lauri Markkanen (UTA - SF,PF)

54. Miles Bridges (CHA - SF,PF)

55. Nikola Vučević (CHI - C)

56. DeMar DeRozan (SAC - SF)

57. Josh Hart (NYK - SG,SF,PF)

58. Jalen Duren (DET - C)

59. Walker Kessler (UTA - C)

60. Deandre Ayton (LAL - C)

Round 6

61. Ausar Thompson (DET - SF,PF)

62. Jarrett Allen (CLE - C)

63. Zach LaVine (SAC - PG,SG)

64. Darius Garland (CLE - PG)

65. Coby White (CHI - PG,SG)

66. Paul George (PHI - SG,SF,PF)

67. Payton Pritchard (BOS - PG)

68. OG Anunoby (NYK - SF,PF)

69. Brandon Ingram (TOR - SG,SF,PF)

70. Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC - C)

71. Rudy Gobert (MIN - C)

72. Immanuel Quickley (TOR - PG,SG)

The purpose of mock drafts is to learn. Trial-and-error is the name of the game, and admittedly, this is a bit of an error. While there is nothing inherently wrong with selecting Ayton at 60, I didn’t need to grab him. Paolo Banchero is eligible at Center, meaning I could have pivoted to a player with PG eligibility - a position with which this team is scarce on depth. I addressed Center depth later in the draft with Jakob Poeltl, who is a fine pick a couple rounds later. Live and learn.

I’m happy to grab Thompson at 61, but he is far riskier than his “breakout” moniker implies. Like his brother, Detroit’s Thompson is an athletic phenom, capable of scoring in transition and elevating at the rim on offense and adept at disrupting opponents on the defensive end. He doesn’t have an outside shot, and playing time is still questionable given how many minutes he’s played in his first two seasons. A bump in court time and additional usage as a playmaker would do wonders for his fantasy value.

Round 7

73. Andrew Nembhard (IND - PG,SG)

74. Jordan Poole (NOP - PG,SG)

75. Tyler Herro (MIA - PG,SG)

76. Julius Randle (MIN - PF,C)

77. Michael Porter Jr. (BKN - SF,PF)

78. Norman Powell (MIA - SG,SF)

79. Anfernee Simons (BOS - PG,SG)

80. Bradley Beal (LAC - SG,SF)

81. Jrue Holiday (POR - PG,SG)

82. Jalen Suggs (ORL - PG)

83. Jalen Green (PHX - PG,SG)

84. Cam Thomas (BKN - SG,SF)

Round 8

85. Jakob Poeltl (TOR - C)

86. Christian Braun (DEN - SG,SF)

87. Donovan Clingan (POR - C)

88. Matas Buzelis (CHI - SF,PF)

89. Mark Williams (PHX - C)

90. Bennedict Mathurin (IND - SG,SF)

91. Cameron Johnson (DEN - SF,PF)

92. John Collins (LAC - PF,C)

93. RJ Barrett (TOR - SF,PF)

94. Kel'el Ware (MIA - PF,C)

95. Onyeka Okongwu (ATL - C)

96. Shaedon Sharpe (POR - SG,SF)

Thomas is my favorite player in fantasy basketball this season. He’s a certified bucket coming off the best statistical season of his career. Thomas’ would-be breakout campaign was hampered by injuries, and he’ll surely be hungry to get back on the court in 2025-26. Thomas should also have some additional motivation after going through lengthy contract negotiations with Brooklyn that ultimately led to him accepting a qualifying offer. He’ll be playing for pride and for a new contract. Watch out.

As mentioned earlier, I didn’t need to reach for Ayton at the end of the fifth round. I had Banchero, and Poeltl was available three rounds later as a strong, later-round center option. He’s coming off the best season of his career and just inked a big extension with the Raptors. Toronto’s center depth is bare, so fantasy managers should expect big minutes and solid production with a discount price tag on draft day.

Round 9

97. Mikal Bridges (NYK - SF,PF)

98. Devin Vassell (SAS - SG,SF)

99. Santi Aldama (MEM - PF,C)

100. D'Angelo Russell (DAL - PG)

101. Tobias Harris (DET - PF)

102. Herbert Jones (NOP - SF,PF)

103. Andrew Wiggins (MIA - SG,SF)

104. Nic Claxton (BKN - C)

105. Alex Sarr (WAS - C)

106. Naz Reid (MIN - PF,C)

107. Draymond Green (GSW - PF,C)

108. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL - PG,SG)

Round 10

109. Kyshawn George (WAS - SG,SF)

110. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL - SG,SF)

111. Keegan Murray (SAC - SF,PF)

112. Dereck Lively II (DAL - C)

113. CJ McCollum (WAS - PG,SG)

114. Zach Edey (MEM - C)

115. Aaron Gordon (DEN - PF,C)

116. Wendell Carter Jr. (ORL - C)

117. Jeremy Sochan (SAS - PF,C)

118. Jaden Ivey (DET - PG,SG)

119. Jaden McDaniels (MIN - SF,PF)

120. Bobby Portis (MIL - PF,C)

KPJ is penciled in as Milwaukee’s starting PG, and we’ve seen his tremendous upside in flashes throughout his career. Porter Jr. had some good moments in Cleveland before moving to Houston and breaking out at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Injuries and off-court issues have prevented him from being on the court more during his NBA tenure, but if he can stay healthy and out of trouble in 2025-26, he should be able to post respectable numbers. KPJ averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals across five starts between the Clippers and Bucks last season.

George is one of the players I highlighted in Rotoworld’s Staff Favorites article. The young and athletic George is a versatile wing with the ability to get hot from downtown and make a major impact on defense. He played solid minutes for Washington a season ago, but his playing time could increase in Year 2 as the team continues its rebuild. Bilal Coulibaly is dealing with a thumb injury and will miss time early in the season. That opens the door for George to be a starter on opening night. If he can build momentum from the jump, he could parlay early-season success into a quality campaign.

Round 11

121. Donte DiVincenzo (MIN - PG,SG)

122. Dennis Schröder (SAC - PG,SG)

123. Keyonte George (UTA - PG,SG)

124. Jaylen Wells (MEM - SG,SF)

125. Lonzo Ball (CLE - PG,SG)

126. Quentin Grimes (PHI - SG,SF)

127. Brandin Podziemski (GSW - PG,SG)

128. Reed Sheppard (HOU - PG,SG)

129. Toumani Camara (POR - SF,PF)

130. Klay Thompson (DAL - SG,SF)

131. Malik Monk (SAC - SG)

132. Kon Knueppel (CHA - SF)

Round 12

133. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW - SF,PF)

134. Cason Wallace (OKC - PG,SG)

135. Stephon Castle (SAS - PG,SG)

136. Chris Paul (LAC - PG)

137. Aaron Nesmith (IND - SF)

138. Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU - PF,C)

139. Davion Mitchell (MIA - PG)

140. Ty Jerome (MEM - SG)

141. Yves Missi (NOP - C)

142. Tari Eason (HOU - SF,PF)

143. Kyle Kuzma (MIL - SF,PF)

144. Brook Lopez (LAC - C)

Another rookie comes off the board as I grab Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel. The Summer League MVP is poised to see big minutes for the Hornets in Year 1. Elite, long-range shooting is his calling card, but he’s a hound on defense and a guy able to get teammates involved with his quality, playmaking abilities.

No player had a more tumultuous offseason than Kuminga. After a bizarre 2024-25 season in which he was taken in and out of Golden State’s lineups for reasons that still aren’t inherently clear, Kuminga dealt with trade rumors and contract disputes with the team for months. He finally agreed on a two-year deal, but the prevailing thought is that the Warriors will use him as a trade piece after he’s eligible to be traded in early 2026. He’s playing for his next deal, and the Dubs may look to give him ample playing time as an audition. He’s a risky pickup here, but there is plenty of upside.

Round 13

145. Daniel Gafford (DAL - C)

146. P.J. Washington (DAL - SF,PF)

147. Kyle Filipowski (UTA - PF,C)

148. Isaiah Collier (UTA - PG,SG)

149. Zaccharie Risacher (ATL - SF,PF)

150. T.J. McConnell (IND - PG)

151. Scoot Henderson (POR - PG)

152. Ace Bailey (UTA - SF)

153. VJ Edgecombe (PHI - SG)

154. Dejounte Murray (NOP - PG,SG)

155. Jay Huff (IND - C)

156. Dylan Harper (SAS - SG)

I debated grabbing Kyrie Irving here but opted to go for a player who could be an immediate contributor. Harper’s path to meaningful minutes isn’t clear given the competition for playing time at guard with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, but the No. 2 pick surely won’t spend the entirety of his rookie season on the bench. There’s upside here, and that’s what the final round of fantasy drafts is all about. If Ace Bailey hadn’t been taken four picks earlier, he would have been my selection. Given how good he’s looked in the preseason, I highly doubt he’ll be available this late again.

My team

1. Amen Thompson (HOU - PG,SG,SF)

2. Jalen Williams (OKC - SF,PF)

3. Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF,C)

4. Cooper Flagg (DAL - SF)

5. Deandre Ayton (LAL - C)

6. Ausar Thompson (DET - SF,PF)

7. Cam Thomas (BKN - SG,SF)

8. Jakob Poeltl (TOR - C)

9. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL - PG,SG)

10. Kyshawn George (WAS - SG,SF)

11. Kon Knueppel (CHA - SF)

12. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW - SF,PF)

13. Dylan Harper (SAS - SG)

Strengths: Defense, rebounding, FG%

Weaknesses: Three-pointers

I grabbed several quality defenders here, so my team is good to go with steals, blocks, rebounds and FG%. Three-pointers have been punted, though we may have a few surprisingly competitive weeks in that category if Cam Thomas, Kyshawn George and Kon Knueppel go off.

Ultimately, this is a risk/reward build. Jalen Williams is a safe selection, but there are question marks everywhere across this roster. Will the Thompson twins break out? Will Paolo Banchero improve his percentages and defensive numbers enough to make his early-round selection worth the cost? Rookies are always an unknown, and despite the buzz around Cooper Flagg, his early success is far from a guarantee.

Picks 7-13 are full of big swings, but they could all be home run selections. Safe picks have never been my forte, so this final roster is certainly indicative of my draft style.

Blackhawks Vs Bruins: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 2

The Chicago Blackhawks played their first game of the season on Tuesday. Although they didn't have their best, they kept it close against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. 

Their next opponent is the Boston Bruins, who will have their home-opener in the second half of a back-to-back. On Wednesday night, they beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 in D.C., and now they are looking to build on that in their own barn. 

In an effort to get their first win of the season, the Blackhawks have made some changes to their lineup, which they will use against the Bruins. 

Projected Lineup:

Dach - Bedard - Burakovsky 

Teravainen - Nazar - Bertuzzi 

Donato - Dickinson - Mikheyev

Foligno - Greene - Lafferty 

Vlasic - Rinzel

Kaiser - Levshunov

Grzelcyk - Murphy

Soderblom

Arvid Soderblom is going to be the man in the net for the Blackhawks against the Bruins. Alex Vlasic will make his season debut, coming back from a lower-body injury, and he will take the place of Ethan Del Mastro. Up front, Colton Dach and Ryan Donato are switching spots. 

Blackhawks Already Preparing For Lineup Changes After One GameBlackhawks Already Preparing For Lineup Changes After One GameAfter one game, a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the Chicago Blackhawks are preparing for lineup changes already. 

Feel Good Story

In between Chicago's first two games of the season, New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer revealed a wonderful gesture by Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno. The two, despite their age difference, share a tragic commonality, and the elder Foligno demonstrated his class by reaching out to the young prospect. Included is the full story below. 

Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer Reveals Incredible Gesture Made By Blackhawks Captain Nick FolignoIslanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer Reveals Incredible Gesture Made By Blackhawks Captain Nick FolignoThe Chicago Blackhawks are a young team trying to find its footing in the National Hockey League. With that in mind, they are not short of veteran leadership always around to help them do the right thing. 

How To Watch & Listen

Those looking for the game in the Chicago area can find it on CHSN. Out-of-market viewings can be found on ESPN+. The puck will drop at the TD Garden just after 6:00 PM CT.

After this game, the Blackhawks will return home to prepare for the home schedule of their centennial season in Chicago. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Brewers at Cubs – NLDS Game 4 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats

The Chicago Cubs rode a four run first inning to a 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers to stay alive and force a Game 4 today. Pete Crow-Armstrong's two-run single was the big blow in that first inning as the Cubs jumped on Quinn Priester who was sent to the showers before the inning ended. Kyle Tucker and Nico Hoerner each had two hits for the Cubs. Jake Bauers went yard for Milwaukee to provide the final difference.

Neither team has announced who will start Game 4 for them later today.

It is logical for the Brewers to tap their ace, Freddy Peralta. He went 5.1 innings in Game 1 and was good, but he'd be starting on just four days rest, something he did 12 times this season. The other option is a bullpen game. The reason that is appealing is that other than a Nico Hoerner home run in the Brewers' Game 1 blowout, the Milwaukee pen has not allowed a run in this series.

The Cubs also seem to have two options. They could hand the ball to Matthew Boyd who, like Peralta, would be starting on four days' rest OR they could go with a bullpen game and start someone like Aaron Civale or Ben Brown. Boyd did not make it out of the first inning of Game 1. Civale went 4.1 innings in relief that afternoon without allowing a run. Brown also pitched in the series opener throwing two shutout innings.

By the time you read this each side may have announced who will step to the mound to start Game 4, but those are your obvious options with a little recent history on all.

Lets dive a little further into Game 4 and look at the numbers produced in this series.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the 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 Brewers at Cubs - NLDS Game 4

  • Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
  • Time: 9:08PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: TBS, truTV

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 NLDS Game 4 - Brewers at Cubs

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Milwaukee Brewers (-127), Chicago Cubs (+104)
  • Spread: Brewers -1.5 (+139)
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for October 9, 2025: TBD vs. TBD

Rotoworld 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!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Cubs - NLDS Game 4

  • If Matthew Boyd gets the nod, know that William Contreras is hitting .500 (5-10) with 1 HR against him in his career
  • Know that Andrew Vaughn and Christian Yelich have also each gone yard against Boyd in their careers
  • Michael Busch has 3 hits in 19 career ABs against Freddy Peralta...and each of the 3 has been a home run
  • As a team over the course of their careers, the Cubs are hitting a collective .161 (32-199) against Peralta
  • Ian Happ is 3-35 (.086) against Peralta, but 2 of the 3 hits have been HRs
  • Kyle Tucker is 5-13 (.385) in his career against Peralta

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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s Game 4 between the Brewers and the Cubs

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 Thursday’s game between the Brewers and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

Fearless forecast for the Flyers' 2025-26 season

Fearless forecast for the Flyers' 2025-26 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Rick Tocchet era officially begins Thursday night for the Flyers down in Sunrise, Florida.

Tocchet takes over a rebuilding team that hasn’t made the playoffs in five straight seasons, matching the franchise’s longest drought. But the Flyers Hall of Famer isn’t setting the postseason as his expectations.

“It’s the development of players,” the head coach said Monday. “We call it maximizing the player. Are players improving? That’s a big part of it. If players are improving, you’ve got a better chance at winning hockey games.

“I understand people want to talk playoffs and all these variables. I don’t know. But for me and my staff, we’re going to be judged, for me, on we’ve got to get guys to maximize their talent. I think that’s really what it comes down to. We have guys that I really believe we can make them really good hockey players.”

Before the club opens the season against the Panthers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP), let’s get into our Flyers Fearless Forecast, featuring projections for how the team will finish and a random assortment of bold predictions from NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jordan Hall and Joe Fordyce.

Hall

Flyers prediction/Cup prediction

The Flyers have a reasonable chance at improving this season, especially when you consider just how poorly they finished last season. They dropped 15 of their final 21 games (6-13-2) to end the season tied with the Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s worst record (33-39-10).

The additions of Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak give the Flyers a good lift down the middle, an area in which they’ve needed help. Zegras provides a high-end skill level and Dvorak offers intriguing versatility.

But will the Flyers have enough depth on defense? And, more critically, will they get the all-important answers in net?

The new coaching staff wants to give the goaltenders a cleaner opportunity at seeing the puck, meaning fewer blocked shots. It also wants the Flyers to be a better possession team, potentially cutting down on the odd-man rushes the other way. It’ll be interesting to see if the Flyers can follow through on those changes.

“I expect the goaltending to be better, no doubt about it,” Danny Briere said last month. “I think also the system might protect them a little better, that Rick Tocchet and his staff are going to put forth.”

The Flyers had 76 points last season, so an eight-point jump to 84 seems realistic in Year 1 under Tocchet. We’ll go with a 38-36-8 finish, which won’t get the Flyers into the playoffs. But it could be a promising step heading into a big offseason.

As for the Stanley Cup Final, the Stars will benefit from a full season of Mikko Rantanen and take down the Lightning in six games.

Dvorak breaks out

The Flyers traded for Zegras and signed goaltender Dan Vladar, arguably the team’s two biggest offseason moves considering the positions. But, sneakily, Dvorak might be the Flyers’ most impactful acquisition.

The 29-year-old had his best NHL season under Tocchet with the Coyotes. The familiarity will pay off this season as he puts up 40 or more points for a new career high. And it’ll lead to the Flyers re-signing him.

Changing of the guard

The Flyers could look a lot different on defense when the season is all said and done. They just lack stability outside of their top three or four blueliners, which could lead to moving parts. Injuries could also factor into things.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Flyers are constantly looking at different options down at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley or even pursue a trade now that they have some added cap space.

Fordyce

Flyers prediction/Cup prediction

It’s that time of year again, time for a fearless forecast of how this Flyers season will go. The way this has gone recently, however, I may be better off forecasting the weather.

I feel like this Flyers season, the first under Tocchet, will start slowly, but will pick up steam. In the end, I see the Flyers finishing with 83 points and just on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. With that said, I think the Flyers can capture one of the wild-card spots if they get better goaltending than expected.

Overall, I believe last season was the one to capitalize on — the Rangers had a down year and Jack Hughes missed a good portion of the season for the Devils with an injury. Those are not things that you can count on happening two straight seasons.

My Stanley Cup Final prediction is a heavyweight matchup between Craig Berube’s Maple Leafs and the Stars. Dallas has been a team flirting with a Stanley Cup ever since losing in the Final during COVID. I think this is the year the Stars get it done.

As I write this, I sit and wonder what would become of Toronto if it reaches the Final only to lose. Scary thought.

Power surge

As far as bold predictions for the Flyers, I see their offense being significantly better, and in particular on the power play. I predict the Flyers’ power play will finish right in the middle of the league, which might as well be the best PP in the league when you consider how bad it has been in recent years.

Konecny’s climb

My second bold prediction is that this is finally the year that Travis Konecny reaches the 40-goal mark. At different points during the last two seasons, Konecny has been on pace to reach that mark. But injuries and/or a slump have dashed those hopes. This year, he gets it done.

Phillies at Dodgers – NLDS Game 4 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats

All season, Kyle Schwarber has set the tone for the Philadelphia Phillies' offense. He had a monster regular season smashing a career-high 56 home runs in leading the team to a National League East title. The playoffs apparently are no different. After going hitless in the first two games of the series in Philly - both losses - the veteran crushed a fourth inning pitch from Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 3 almost out of Dodger Stadium. That tied the game at one and from there the Phillies rolled to an 8-2 win to claw back into their Best-of-5 series against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles still leads the series two games to one, but did that one mighty swing steal the momentum of the series? Expect an answer to that question tonight as the two teams take the field in Southern California for Game 4. Game 1 starter Cristopher Sánchez is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Game 1 reliever Tyler Glasnow of Los Angeles.

Lets dive into Game 4 and see what the numbers tell us.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the 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 Phillies at Dodgers - NLDS Game 4

  • Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
  • Time: 6:08PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: TBS / truTV

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 NLDS Game 4 - Phillies at Dodgers

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (+108), Los Angeles Dodgers (-131)
  • Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+158)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Dodgers - NLDS Game 4

  • Pitching matchup for October 9, 2025: Cristopher Sánchez vs. Tyler Glasnow
    • Phillies: Cristopher Sánchez
      Last outing: 10/4 vs. Dodgers - 5.2 IP, 2ER, 4H, 2 BB, 8Ks
      Sanchez has struck out a at least 6 in each of his last 5 starts
    • Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow
      Last outing: 10/4 at Philadelphia - 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 2H, 2BB, 2Ks
      Glasnow has appeared in 5 games since the start of September but pitched just 23.1 innings

Rotoworld 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!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Dodgers - Game 4

  • Teoscar Hernandez is hitting .333 (5-15) with 2 HRs in his career against Sanchez
  • Shohei Ohtani is hitting just .211 (4-19) in his career against Sanchez
  • Kyle Schwarber is 2-13 (.154) in his career against Glasnow
  • The only Philadelphia Phillies' player to have gone yard against Glasnow in their career is Max Kepler

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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s Game 4 between the Phillies and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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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 Thursday’s game between the Phillies and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia Phillies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.5.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page fromNBC

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'He Did Everything For Us': Morgan Rielly Renaissance Kicks Off As Maple Leafs Down Canadiens In Season Opener

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't have any turnover on their defense from last season to this one , but they still wanted to see improvement from their highest-paid and longest-tenured defenseman.

Morgan Rielly delivered immediately, scoring the game-winning goal in the third period. He jumped up into the play after Matthew Knies had a breakaway stopped and gave Toronto the lead for good in a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens in the season opener.

Rielly was Toronto’s best performer in all-around play, recording a team-best 1.24 expected goals at 5-on-5, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. This is particularly impressive since Toronto only had a 45 percent share of the puck. The Leafs want Rielly to be more aggressive with the puck, and it showed in his play, bringing back a similar offensive vintage to the defenseman who recorded 20 goals and 52 assists in 82 games during the 2018-19 season.

“He looked great. I feel like he did everything out there today for us,” Maple Leafs forward Calle Järnkrok said of Rielly.

Rielly was presented the team’s championship belt, given to the player of the game following a Leafs win, by Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.

A Summer of Commitment

At the beginning of training camp, Leafs GM Brad Treliving revealed he had a conversation with Morgan Rielly before the 2024-25 season that the player ‘took to heart’. Treliving mentioned that Rielly spent a lot of time in the gym this summer and took to heart the messages he had for him.

Forward Bobby McMann, who spent most of the summer with Rielly at the club’s workout facility, confirmed the defenseman's commitment:

'My Goal Was To Leave No Stone Unturned': How Morgan Rielly's Summer Could Set Him Up For Success With Maple Leafs'My Goal Was To Leave No Stone Unturned': How Morgan Rielly's Summer Could Set Him Up For Success With Maple LeafsShortly after the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in May, Morgan Rielly and general manager Brad Treliving sat down to review the year.

“It was kind of me and him going at it together in the summer. And he showed up every day, put the work in, continued to be a professional this far into his career,” McMann said. He’s still hungry. He still wants it. And he wants to win so bad, and he wants the best for himself. And you can see that”.

The Strategic Shift

When Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube took over the bench last season, there was a change in philosophy that was more focused on a collective defensive approach. Berube suggested that while Rielly committed to the new style, he felt that maybe it took out some of the aggressive attack in his game.

Since the acquisition of Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins in March, the team felt it’s only helped Rielly feel more secure about jumping into the play.

Bruins Trade Brandon Carlo To Maple Leafs In Surprising Deal Bruins Trade Brandon Carlo To Maple Leafs In Surprising Deal The Boston Bruins have traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Fraser Minten, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-round pick. The Bruins are also retaining 15% of Carlo's salary.

“He's really good at protecting his partner and doing all that stuff,” Berube said of Carlo. “So I think Mo has got a lot more freedom. And quite frankly, when he came over here, I thought Mo's game changed quite a bit”.

With the Leafs looking for offense wherever they can get it, improving from defense would help. Toronto finished last in the NHL in goals scored by defensemen last season. Even a modest improvement from Rielly goes a long way to changing things for the better.

Rielly's Reaction

Despite the big game, Rielly didn’t want to soak in the praise after the win, rather pointing out some of the mistakes and poor puck play the club displayed against a fast Montreal team.

“Lots of good things. I'm not trying to say we sucked. But, we're going to look to improve and build our game,” Rielly said. “We have high expectations for our group. And I think at times in the middle of the game, we didn't manage the puck that well. And then obviously in the third, we came out and played well. So we're happy with the result”.

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