The Carolina Hurricanes are fresh off becoming Stanley Cup champions, yet the work to improve stops for no one.
The Canes have just three players left currently on expiring deals and one such player is rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
Nikishin had a strong rookie season from an offensive standpoint, putting up 11 goals and 33 points in 81 regular season games, but had his struggles, especially in his first NHL postseason.
The young defenseman had difficulties with defending, often getting tunnel visioned on one threat and either being too aggressive in the neutral zone or losing a player in a dangerous position.
Rod Brind'Amour also talked multiple times about Nikishin's struggles with keeping a consistent intensity throughout his shifts and that was something that came up throughout the year.
But again, he's got one of the best shots on the team and has a really good feel for the offensive side of the game.
It was his first year playing in North America and I think there's still a ton of talent there to bet on, especially being that the Hurricanes don't have a defenseman like him in the system.
The 24-year-old Russian blueliner, who is an upcoming RFA, is supposedly looking for a big payday though from his first true contract according to Darren Dreger and the Canes are reportedly not too ecstatic to pay his asking price.
Dreger also stated that Nikishin wasn't happy with his role on the team, being a third pairing defenseman and being in and out of the power play rotation.
While price may be a sticking point for a deal in Carolina, the Hurricanes have been taking calls on Nikishin and reportedly offered him as part of a package for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck according to Frank Seravalli.
The U.S. gold medalist has five years remaining on his deal and has long been considered one of the NHL's best goaltenders with three Vezina Trophies and even a Hart.
The NHL draft kicks off on Friday and we all know that's the time when deals get done, so time will tell where these negotiations go.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 05: Steven Cruz #64 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Minnesota Twins on June 5, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Normally, I like to get the game preview started relatively early. Usually, we know the pitching matchups well ahead of time, and I can start at least writing about the pitchers and get most of the preview done. Then I can add the lineups and a couple of sentences about those closer to game time. Unfortunately, when I went to start on this preview, both teams had TBD for their pitchers.
Ordinarily, this would be Stephen Kolek’s turn in the Royals’ rotation, but he’s about to become a father for the first time, and he is understandably away from the team. So the Royals are going to have to come up with a Plan B. I’m sure they know what their plan is. They probably even know what their three backup plans after that are. But they didn’t bother to tell me.
The White Sox, I think, were hoping to recall Noah Schultz from his rehab assignment. But when he last pitched on Sunday, it didn’t exactly go well, as he allowed two hits, a walk, and two hit-by-pitch in only 2.2 innings of work. I did some digging and managed to figure out that with Schultz not quite ready, the White Sox plan to turn to former Royals’ farm hand, David Sandlin.
Sandlin has made three appearances for the White Sox this year, including two starts, and the 6’4″ righty has struck out more than a batter per inning, but has also walked more than half as many. His 52.2% Left-On-Base percentage figures to climb, but the 12.1% K-BB% doesn’t leave room for a ton of improvement. Sandlin has a six-pitch mix, but he leads with a four-seamer that averages 97 and grades out as one of the best fastballs in the sport. After that, he mostly throws curveballs with a decent smattering of cutters. The sinker, sweeper, and changeup are all thrown less than 10% of the time, and he struggles to get them in the strike zone.
Sandlin succeeds by getting hitters to chase, but he doesn’t get a ton of whiffs. The Royals will need to be patient with him, or they could end up hitting his pitches, which often lead to groundballs. As those of us who watched Eric Hosmer know, groundballs are outs far too often, even when they’re hit hard.
Steven Cruz will be the opener for the Royals, Mitch Spence got called up to take Stephen Kolek’s roster spot while he’s on paternity leave and will be the bulk reliever. I think we’re all more familiar with both of them than we’d like to be at this point. Spence has a negative K-BB%, so there’s not a lot of hope he’ll even improve. He had been a serviceable pitcher for the Athletics, I wish I understood what happened there. The Cruz Missile, on the other hand, had been enjoying a bit of a renaissance until the three-run bomb against the Cardinals. Even with that bomb given up, he has a 2.70 ERA with a 20% K-BB% over his last 8 appearances spanning 10 innings. Hopefully he can show some juice, today and get us off on the right foot.
Lineups
As you can see, Kyle Teel has made his triumphant return to the White Sox lineup after missing a large chunk of the season following an injury during the World Baseball Classic. Honestly, I’d rather face Munetaka Murakami but I guess I don’t get to choose.
The Royals finally got Bobby Witt Jr. back into the lineup. He will be the Designated Hitter tonight, batting second. Hopefully, they aren’t risking further aggravating his injury by getting him back in the lineup so soon. Unfortunately, with Bobby DHing the Royals have chosen to keep Salvador Perez in the lineup, so he will play first, and both John Rave and Kameron Misner will ride the pine despite both being much more interesting to watch than Sal right now.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies inspects a baseball during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
The Rockies head to Minnesota tonight to begin the actual second half of the season — Game 82, not the post-All-Star-break version — still buried in the NL West at 32-49 with a -90 run differential. They are 11.5 games out of the final National League playoff spot, and the fan conversation has already moved fully into trade deadline mode. That feels appropriate. The Rockies should be active at the deadline, and for several players on the roster, playing well over the next month will make them more likely to be moved, not less.
That does not mean the first half was empty. The Rockies have made some measurable progress from last year’s 119-loss disaster.
Colorado has also been more competitive lately. The Rockies have won their last two series, taking two of three from Pittsburgh behind a tight win in Kyle Freeland’s gem and a pitchers’ duel win from Sugano, then following it with a series win over Boston that included a walk-off win and a late comeback. They are 6-4 over their last 10 games.
The Twins enter the series at 38-44, third in the AL Central and 4.5 games back in a division that remains available. The larger state of things in Minnesota is still uneven: the Twins are 6-4 over their last 10, but they were just swept by the Dodgers, ending with a one-run loss full of stranded chances. They carry a -29 run differential, and their expected record is also 38-44, so this is not a team being misrepresented by its overall record.
The interleague split is worth noting, too. Minnesota is just 9-18 against National League teams this season, while Colorado is 12-9 against the American League. That might not mean much on the whole, but it is an interesting wrinkle in a series between one team trying to hang around and another already looking toward the deadline.
Taking the ball for the Rox is Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之). The 36-year-old right-hander enters at 8-4 with a 4.31 ERA, 46 strikeouts, and 79.1 innings pitched across 15 starts. Sugano has become one of the more enjoyable players on the roster thanks to his calm mound presence and the extra layer of mystique that comes with his work through an interpreter. He has also been effective enough to make his future in Colorado a legitimate question as the deadline approaches.
He was sharp his last time out, allowing four hits and one run across six innings against the Pirates while striking out five. Sugano threw seven different pitch types in that start, led by his splitter, slider, and four-seam fastball, and generated 11 whiffs on 50 swings. The splitter has been the most useful pitch in the mix overall, while the four-seamer remains the pitch most likely to get him into trouble. Sugano is a pitcher, not a thrower, and he has been very effective — just maybe do not stare at his Baseball Savant page for too long. His path is built around mixing shapes, limiting walks, and keeping hitters from sitting on one speed. When that is working, he can deliver what he has all year long: a competitive start.
Opposite Sugano is Taj Bradley, a 25-year-old right-hander who enters at 6-3 with a 4.11 ERA, 84 strikeouts, and 76.2 innings pitched across 14 starts. The contrast is pretty clear. Sugano is trying to survive with mix, command, and sequencing. Bradley is trying to beat hitters with power.
Bradley allowed two runs over five innings against Arizona his last time out, striking out four in a short but effective start. He leans on a four-seam fastball nearly half the time, and it is his best pitch by run value. The fastball averages 96.8 mph, and he pairs it with a cutter, splitter, and curveball. The cutter and splitter have been closer to neutral, while the curveball has generated whiffs but has also been hit hard enough to show up as a clear run-value weakness.
Bradley can miss bats, but the contact quality against him is the opening for Colorado. He has allowed a 46.9% hard-hit rate and a 10.3% barrel rate.
The Rockies lineup has a few bats worth tracking, too. Hunter Goodman enters the night fifth in MLB in home runs, TJ Rumfield has been especially hot over his last 15 games with a .345/.415/.724 line, five homers, and 14 RBI, and Mickey Moniak is back in the starting lineup for the second time in four games since returning from his IL/rehab stint.
For a rebuilding team, a 6-4 stretch is worth enjoying. The Rockies still have plenty of warts, and the deadline picture is only going to get louder, but this version of the roster has been more watchable, more competitive, and a lot more fun. Against an under .500 Twins team that has struggled in interleague play, Colorado has a chance to keep that going.
First Pitch: 6:10 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network; KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)
Tonight’s Rockies starter is Tomoyuki Sugano, who, as you can guess from the name, is not Swedish. A six-time All-Star with the Yomiuri Giants, he was eligible to play for an American team in 2020, but none wanted him. So Sugano re-signed with the Giants for a few more years, before playing for the Orioles last season and having a so-so 4.64 ERA (it’s at 4.31 this year). He throws a low-90s fastball and sinker/shuuto, plus a cutter, slider and split. It’s his offspeed stuff that’s best.
I’ve always thought of the Rockies as one of our sister teams, like the Mets. With the Mets, it’s because they came into the league one year after the Twins came here, and while they’ve had some stirring championship seasons, they’re generally overshadowed by their Bronx neighbors. (I mean, they spend a ton of money now, so that might change, but historically, the Mets were usually underdogs.)
With the Rockies, it’s because Coors Field is a popular road trip / short(ish) flight destination for visiting Twins fans, and a number of well-liked Twins have played for the Rockies. Take this bunch, from 2014: Jason Pridie, Matt Belisle, and Wilin Rosario.
OK, Pridie only played for the Twins in 11 games from 2008-2009, Matt Belisle managed to have a 9.13 ERA for the Twins in 2018, and Rosario (no relation to Eddie) never played with the Twins at all. But, for some reason, his BRef page has him in a Twins cap. He did play for Rochester in 2019, so presumably he was an invite to spring training that year. But why not have him in a Rockies hat? He was with the team for five seasons. Got fourth place in ROY voting in 2012. Huh. He was actually quite solid his one year in Rochester, too, with a .843 OPS. But, if you’ll remember, that year, the Twins were actually pretty good, and maybe didn’t have room on the roster for a gritty backup September guy. Who knows?
Anyways, I kid, I kid, the ex-Twins Rockies we all love are Michael Cuddyer, LaTroy Hawkins, and Justin Morneau, all of who were with the team in 2014. And all of whom had decent seasons. It didn’t help the Rockies any; they went 66-96 (while the Twins went 70-92). But they still drew the fifth-biggest crowd in the National League. (We were eighth-biggest in the AL.)
Maybe the Rockies’ ability to consistently draw huge crowds (partly because they’re the only MLB team in their geographical vicinity) makes them virtually the one American professional sports team that isn’t constantly gouging taxpayers for more money by threatening to leave. Their stadium lease runs until 2047. In 2017, the Rockies got a land deal to develop some property next to the stadium. In return, they re-upped the lease. So far, so customary. (Neil deMause, as always, has the details.)
But here’s the weird part; the Rockies didn’t ask to be given the land for cheap/free, or to pay no property taxes on it — that’s how these things usually go. They’re actually paying fair market value for the property, and they do pay property taxes on it. What the heck?
It’s possible the Rockies owners, the Monfort brothers (who inherited their dad’s meatpacking fortune) are simply happy to have ENOUGH money, and don’t feel the need to play “who’s got the biggest, hairiest luxury boxes” with all the other sports owners. I mean, it is possible that non-horrible rich people might, in theory, conceivably exist.
But, nah. I’m just guessing their business people went into negotiations in an Altered State and weren’t exactly thinking clearly. They were, shall we say…
Also, since 2017, they have mostly hovered around the middle of MLB in spending (although payroll dropped some in 2025 and dropped a ton this year). So, for the most part, the team hasn’t reacted to their “aah we coulda got so much more free money if we’d played hardball” situation by totally dumping on salaries. Maybe they are, now? I duuno.
Of course, the team’s also mostly stunk for the majority of its existence, and hasn’t won a real playoff game since 2009 (if you don’t count the expanded wild-card rounds as real playoff games, and I don’t). But the Twins have only won one such game since 2004, so we’re mostly in the same boat.
Finally, a story about a Willful Hound…
We do a fair amount of dogsitting. Mrs. James loves dogs, and I don’t mind ’em. She’d prefer to own one, and I wouldn’t, so the compromise is we do monthly (or so) dogsitting.
As dog owners/lovers know, each dog has its own personality and own challenges. The dog we were sitting last week is extremely friendly to humans, and tolerates other dogs, so those aren’t problems.
The only problems are with what it likes to eat (a common challenge with dogs). This one likes to eat under-ripe fruits, like the raspberries and apples we currently have in the backyard. If she gets to eat a ton of these, she will have bad doggarrhea, so we don’t let her do it.
Sometimes, when she indicates she wants to go outside, it’s to tinkle or poop. Sometimes, it’s just to eat unripe fruit. You have to keep an eye on this.
By the end of this last 10-day stay, she’d fallen into a nice pattern. After dark, when Mrs. James is asleep and I’m winding my night down by watching a movie in the basement or reading and having some beers, the dog stays upstairs. When I go upstairs to use the restroom, I ask the dog if it wants to go outside. And if it does, it tinkles/poops and comes right back in. No problems!
But, things got weird Saturday night. I was downstairs watching a movie, and the dog actually came downstairs. Huh. That’s new. If it wanted to sit on a chair or something in the same room, that’s fine.
Nope, it was whining at me. So I went upstairs and let it outside. It went straight for the unripe fruit. I brought it inside, and went back downstairs.
Ten minutes later — same thing. It came downstairs, whined, I let it out, it tried to eat fruit. Ten minutes again — same thing.
Then, ten minutes after that, it came downstairs and just stared silently at me. “What?”, I asked.
Still staring at me, it squatted down and took a big ol’ giant dump on the basement floor.
I was thinking how to respond, kinda taken aback by surprise, when the dog then promptly turned around and gobbled up all the poop. Slurp slurp slurp! Then took one more look at me, then went upstairs, and that was that. No more contact for the rest of that night.
Now, some dog training experts like Steve Mann will tell you how a dog always/only reacts to stimuli and impulse. How, as this The Guardian article says, “‘Your dog is never “ignoring” you or “doing it on purpose.”‘
I dunno. It felt very much like this dog was sending me a pretty direct message.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Gavin McKenna arrives for Day One of the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center on June 26, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The 2026 NHL Draft comes to us from Buffalo on Friday night for one of the biggest nights in hockey. It’s an opportunity for teams to find their stars of the future, and always rewards the organizations who have invested resources into their scouting departments, while identifying the most-talented scouts along the way.
Unlike any other major sport, the NHL Draft boasts selections across five-plus nations, two continents, and trying to mesh all that together with being able to successfully project who can transition to the NHL after playing under different rules. All we know about this draft is that LW Gavin McKenna will likely be the No. 1 overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and from there it could be anarchy.
One thing to watch is how many veteran players could be dealt tonight. Mammoth names like Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, and Zach Werenski are potentially finding new homes — and that adds a lot of intrigue to a class that is already deep on talent.
We’re following the first round live to grade this year’s picks.
No. 1: Toronto Maple Leafs — Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
Grade: A
The Leafs didn’t overthink this process and got the most dynamic skater in this class. A selfless wing, McKenna has an incredible eye for passing and a gift for setting his teammates up for success. A fluid skater who is light on his feet, McKenna does need to add some muscle to his frame to be more of a force against agressive defenders, and there’s work on the forecheck to be done — but the stage is set for McKenna to be an impact player as soon as he arrives in the NHL.
No. 2: San Jose Sharks — Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frölunda HC
Grade: A
I had the best player in this draft as a total toss-up between McKenna and Stenberg. An exacting, heady player — Stenberg is an elite skater with a ludicrous change-of-pace and an array of moves on the breakaway. While Stenberg might not have the upside of McKenna, his floor is much, much higher.
Immediately, he will slot in with Macklin Celebrini and really push this team to the next level, but there’s also real potential that Stenberg can develop into a center at the NHL level. If that happens, it really could give San Jose a center pairing like the Oilers have with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
No. 3: Vancouver Canucks — Caleb Malholtra, C, Brantford Bulldogs
Grade: B-
I don’t hate the pick, but this is going to raise so many questions about whether this was a nepo pick. He’s a grinding center who works well in short spaces, very good at getting tip-ins, as well as controlling rebounds. The biggest issue here is that I think Chase Reid is a far superior prospect, and I can’t help but question if the Canucks had the blinders on to lock in the coach’s son. The either locked in too much on getting a center, or locked in too much on Malhotra. I think he’s going to be a very good NHL player, but Reid’s NHL career could come back to haunt them.
No. 4: Buffalo Sabres — Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders
Grade: C
Nah. I don’t like this choice at all. I understand that this was essentially a free pick after the Bowen Byram trade, I understand that Chase Reid’s player comp was too much like Rasmus Dahlin — but I don’t care. Rudolph was a mammoth late-riser in the draft, which scares me. This is less about the player Rudolph is, because it’s going to be a solid offensive defenseman, but the Sabres decided to miss out on some elite, elite talents to roll the dice.
No. 5: New York Rangers — Albert Smits, D, Jukurit
Grade: C-
ANOTHER defensive reach in a row. This was a trait-based pick from a team wanting size and physicality over skill. Smits is a stay-at-home defenseman who won’t add much on offense, doesn’t do anything elite, and the best you can say is that “he’s tough.” They had the best defenseman sitting in their laps, and decided to go in another direction. I just do not understand the decision-making here.
No. 6: Calgary Flames — Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars
Grade: B-
Carels was a player the Flames had targeted this draft, and they got their guy. He’s a good player, he isn’t being taken too high — and that’s more or less where the praise ends. At some point you need to be able to pivot as a front office is there’s just too much value on the board, and Reid was right there for them. It’s clear they invested a lot in scouting Carels, which caused this pick to happen, but again we have a team too locked in on their own decision to see the forest for the trees.
No. 7: Seattle Kraken — Chase Reid, D, Soo Greyhounds
Grade: A+
Easiest pick in this draft, and kudos to the Kraken for taking advantage of the idiots in front of them. Reid is the best defender in this draft by a significant margin, with offensive skills that could make him Cale Makar-esque when he reaches the next level. Reid has shown elite stick skills, a gift for clogging lanes, and a player who can essentially become an extension of the offense when crossing into the zone. This is a franchise moment for the Kraken, and they needed a break. Pinch yourselves, Kraken fans, because this is somehow real.
No. 8: Winnipeg Jets — Viggo Björck, C, Djurgårdens IF
Grade: A
Really, really like this pick for the Jets with what they’re trying to do on offense. Björck is a little honey badger who loves out-working people on the ice and using his high IQ to make big plays around the net. He has the ability to play some pretty hockey, but also an absolute grinder who would have been a Top 3 pick if he was taller and built larger. The Hurricanes and Logan Stankoven showed that the only size that matters is heart, and Björck has that.
No. 9: San Jose Sharks — Keaton Verhoff, D, North Dakota
Grade: A+
I had Verhoff at No. 5 on my big board, so landing him here is stellar work to address the Sharks’ need on defense. At this point he’s ready to step into the NHL right now, or the Sharks could have him return to North Dakota for a season until they feel like the team is more prepared to take advantage of his skills. I really love this fit, along with the offensive talent San Jose has taken recently. Verhoff has a heavy shot that creates rebounds, and could make him a power-play quarterback as well. There’s some work to do on him defensively, but I think the skill is there.
I like Wyatt Cullen, but there’s a lot of banking on his development and pedigree here. I didn’t have Cullen going this highly in the draft, and at age 17 it’s going to be years before we see this pick come about. The vision is clear that Cullen will be ready to go as the Predators commence a rebuild, which isn’t a bad plan — but I don’t love gambling this much on upside. Cullen could be special with his skating and hockey IQ, or he could flame out.
No. 11: St. Louis Blues — Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
Grade: B+
Really like this pick by the Blues. I had Lawrence going earlier than this, making the pick for serious value. Lawrence is very young, and growing into his frame — but he showed a knack at Boston for weaving through defenders and making great plays on the net. An underrated passer who is still growing into his game, this is a good setup move for the future.
No. 12: New Jersey Devils — Alexander Command, C, Örebro HK U20
Grade: C
This is … a choice. Command is an intriguing player who makes an impact in every zone, but I really dislike the value here. I saw him going much later in the draft, and I think if you wanted an impact center then Mathis Preston or Oliver Suranto were on the board. This is a move that has more of an eye on the future, because we won’t see him for some time.
No. 13: New York Islanders — Malte Gustafsson, C, HV71 U20
Grade: B+
The Islanders are continuing to focus on the defense, and they got a good one here. Gustafsson is extremely tall and gifted at using his stick to clog the lanes and disrupt offense. He won’t bring much to the offensive side, but that’s fine with Matthew Schaefer being on the roster. Gustafsson is ready to come over and play right now, which is the right move where he can season in the NHL and get used to the game.
No. 14: Columbus Blue Jackets — Oscar Hemming, F, Boston College
Grade: B-
A tall, rangy wing that appeals to old-school hockey heads. This is a rare case where I think Hemming might be almost too tall for the NHL at 6-4 on the wing in a league that is embracing his smaller size. If this kid can return to Boston College, add to his frame more, and turn into more of a forechecking expert he can be a really nice piece for them, but I don’t know if Hemming projects to be a Top 6 forward.
The Ducks decided to move on from Mason McTavish and sent him to the Blues for this pick, which is a choice. Perhaps a change of scenery will be good for him, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Really like this pick for the Ducks. Anaheim has enough offensive talent that they don’t need a guy in the mix immediately, meaning he can head to Michigan State where he’s committed and get some time in the NCAA. Klepov is a really smart skater off the puck with a knack for finding himself in the right place at the right time. I think this could be a very good long-term pick for them.
No. 16: St. Louis Blues — Maddon Dagenais, C, Québec Ramparts
Grade: C
Too early for Dagenais. The Blues seemingly wanted a young guy they could spend a long time developing, but they forced this process a little bit. I like his ability to deliver lightning wristers from the circle, but he’s a little slow-footed around the net. If he can get stick on puck it’s good, but against skilled defensemen I think he’s going to struggle.
The Los Angeles Kings decided to move back in the draft picking up the No. 19 pick, and the No. 83rd pick from Utah for this selection.
Big, powerful forward that likes to set the tone. I had Belchertz going to the Capitals at No. 18, considering how much he plays like Tom Wilson, and that makes the Mammoth trade up above them unsurprising. Really like the potential of this kid to get into the dirty parts of the ice, grind out the puck on the corners, and make plays in the slot with a quick shot. Think this is a really nice piece to their puzzle.
No. 18: Washington Capitals — Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara
Grade: A
Love this kid. There is no planet where he should have been on the board at this point, which largely shows how far behind scouting remains in Finland for some organizations. Suvanto is only 17 years old and already towers at 6-3, 217 pounds. He’s NHL-ready immediately but could also spend another year or two overseas to season up his game and become very high-level player. There are folk stories about Survanto playing against current NHL players and giving them hell in Finland.
No. 19: Los Angeles Kings (via Mammoth) — Elton Hermansson, LW/RW MoDo Hockey
Grade: B+
A puck-dominant forward who loves to make plays. Hermansson’s game has the room to take another step if he can be developed as a passer, but at the very least he has the potential to step up and be an impact player. There are some questions about his development overseas and not making quite as a large a jump as people expected this past season, but there’s a lot to like here.
No. 20: Buffalo Sabres — Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (OH)
Grade: B+
Playing beyond his years, Morozov was the youngest player in NCAA hockey last season by playing at age 17. This pick is all about upside, but also the fact that Morozov never seemed out of place as he took on the challenge of playing a big role on a college team. He’s a really nice defensive forward who has work to do on his offensive game, but the floor is high enough that he could be a third line grinder at worst.
No. 21: San Jose Sharks (via Flyers) — Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL)
The Flyers traded three picks in this year’s draft to move up. They send No. 27, No. 62, and No. 120
Grade: A+
Absolute steal. I had Lin in the same defensive tier as Albert Smits and Daxon Rudolph, who both went in the top 5 in stunners. Too much is made of the fact that Lin is 5-11, 180 and he’ll make size-obsessed scouts regret their miss. A really unselfish player with fantastic vision, this is another stellar pick from the Sharks who are absolutely killing this draft. San Jose is going to be a force, and soon.
No. 22: Pittsburgh Penguins — Liam Ruck, F, Medicine Hat Tigers
Grade: A-
Going to be really interesting to see if the Penguins have plans to try and land both the Ruck brothers, because they more or less work as a package deal. Liam is a fantastic passer, finishing with 104 points this season in the WHL. The big question is whether or not these brothers can play separately, but I think this is part of a larger plan.
No. 23: Detroit Red Wings (via Mammoth) — J.P. Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops
Grade: B+
The Utah Mammoth traded this pick to Detroit for Sebastian Cossa
I like Hurlbert here. He’s an ideal-sized left wing with a balanced game and a knack for scoring. The Wings won’t need him to come up immediately after committing to Michigan next season, and I think he has a lot of potential to become a high-end forward. A very natural player who dominates without much exertion, he could become an even more special player if he becomes a grinder.
No. 24: Vancouver Canucks — Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough
Grade: A+
Incredible value and an amazing pick for the Canucks. A fantastic forward who can get his shot off and has enough gravity to command attention and pass the puck off, Novotny can be a legitimate Top 6 forward and a culture builder in for the Canucks. Not only does Novotny do the big things well, but all the little things as well.
No. 25: Ottawa Senators — Jonas Lagerber Hoen, RW, Leksands
Grade: D
I have absolutely no idea what this team sees in this pick. There’s skill, sure — but the Senators acted like Langerber Hoen would have been a Top 3 pick who got injured and fell. Instead, he was a second-round prospect, got hurt, and was projected to the third round. There are definite puck skills, but the Sens weren’t in a position to take a risky swing like this when they need established, reliable talent.
No. 26: Montreal Canadiens (via Golden Knights) — Gleb Pugachov,RW, Nizhny Novgorod
Grade: C
The Golden Knights trade this pick to Montreal for the No. 28 pick, and a 3rd round pick in 2027
Interesting player who was projected as a high second-round pick. The Canadiens must have a clear vision, and the obvious one is that he will spend a long time in the KHL honing his game before making the jump, at which point Montreal will need an injection of talent. A smooth skater, with quick feet around the net, Pugachov works well as a complementary piece on a team, rather than a focal point.
No. 27: Philadelphia Flyers — Maxsim Sokolovskii, D, London
Grade: B-
You can’t teach size. Sokolovskii is a mammoth 6-7, 240 pounds who stays at home and eats a lot of space. He’s rangy with the stick and loves using his frame, but doesn’t always make the best decisions on the angles he takes to the puck, which sometimes causes him not to be able to use all of his power. That can be coached up, and I think he could become a menace.
No. 28: Anaheim Ducks (via Golden Knights) — Marcus Nordmark, LW, Djurgårdens IF U20
The Vegas Golden Knights trades No. 29, and No. 117 to move up to No. 28
Grade: A
The best player on the board, and I don’t hate that the Ducks moved up to get him. Nordmark is a sensible, skilled player who can be a really solid glue guy on a line. I don’t project him to be a superstar in his own right, but the Ducks have enough players to fill that role — meaning the connective tissue is what needed work. Really solid pick here with a chance to be a fan-favorite.
No. 29: Vegas Golden Knights — Juho Piiparinen, D. Tappara
Grade: A
A hard-checking, physical defenseman who really likes throwing his weight around. The NHL game is going to be much tougher, and that leads to some questions — but I do think he can step into the league in the next year or two, work from the third line, and become a contributor. There is also a big chance this player is part of a later deal, as Vegas is want to do.
No. 30: Calgary Flames — Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown
Grade: A
Really nice value here for the Flames. He’s a bruising center who loves to get physical on the forecheck with room to be able to add to his frame and hone his faceoff skills. Committed to Michigan State next season, Hextall has tremendous patience with the puck on his blade and often makes the right decision. Considering he still hasn’t been in an elite coaching environment, there’s a lot of room to grow.
The Nashville Predators sent the No. 42, and No. 57 picks to Carolina for No. 31
An extremely fast defenseman with a high IQ, he’s on the smaller side, but can be a guy who loves to put himself on an offensive player’s hip and be an absolute nuisance. I also love that Bleyl has some passing skills to back up his skating, which gives him even more value moving forward. At Michigan State he’ll hone his game and become NHL-ready.
No. 32: Ottawa Senators — Jaxon Cover, LW, London
Grade: B+
The best story in the draft, Cover is a roller hockey player who didn’t put on ice skates until a few years ago. The first player to be drafted with a Caribbean background, he is absolutely raw — but incredibly athletic with unparalleled upside. A heavy shot, light on his feet, and still developing. This is the kind of pick you make in the late first and see if you can find a gem.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: Zach Thornton #49 of the New York Mets pitches during the first inning of his Major League debut against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets Lineup
Carson Benge – RF
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – DH
Francisco Lindor – SS
Jared Young – 1B
A.J. Ewing – CF
Ronny Mauricio – 2B
Brett Baty – 3B
Luis Torrens – C
Zach Thornton – LHP
Phillies Lineup
Trea Turner – SS
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Bryce Harper – 1B
Alec Bohm – 3B
Brandon Marsh – RF
Derek Hill – CF
J.T. Realmuto – C
Bryson Stott – 2B
Edmundo Sosa – LF
Zack Wheeler – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:10pm EDT TV: WPIX Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App 92.3 HD2
Jun 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement (22) congratulates third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) on his two run home run against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
It’s been a dispiriting three game losing streak, although yesterday’s near comeback at least raises some hopes. They get a chance to break out of their funk against Nathan Eovaldi today. Patrick Corbin will go for the Jays, trying to improve after a few weaker outings. Here are the lineups:
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 12, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ireland stunned T20 world champions India with a landmark 34-run win in their series opener in Belfast on Friday after the tourists opted against giving an international debut to teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Flyers opened their 2026 NHL draft work Friday night by trading back in the first round and taking Maksim Sokolovskii at No. 27 overall.
They sent the 21st selection to the Sharks for pick Nos. 27, 62 and 120.
The 17-year-old Sokolovskii is a 6-foot-7, 240-pound defenseman who played for the London Knights. The lefty shot had eight points (two goals, six assists) and a plus-10 rating in 44 games this season. He had 23 shots and 49 penalty minutes.
The Flyers drafted two London products in 2023 with Oliver Bonk (first-rounder) and Denver Barkey (third-rounder). The Flyers have a lot of connections to the OHL club.
But good players can be found in the 20s. Claude Giroux, Simon Gagne, Travis Konecny and Tyson Foerster are some Flyers examples. With time and patience, the club will hope Sokolovskii becomes a hit.
Sokolovskii was the 22nd-best player in the draft on EliteProspects.com, but he was ranked down at No. 60 by TSN’s Craig Button. He was at No. 40 among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting. He made a serious climb from his midterm mark of No. 132.
Sokolovskii has roots in Kazakhstan and Russia.
By taking Sokolovskii, the Flyers went with size and the long game. He’s a project of sorts. The Flyers ended up passing on defensemen Ryan Lin, Juho Piiparinen and Tommy Bleyl. Lin and Bleyl are smaller, point-producing guys, while Piiparinen is a mature, defense-first type.
The Flyers are now slated to make five picks on Day 2 of the draft Saturday. They have two second-rounders (Nos. 53 and 62), one fourth-rounder (No. 120), one fifth-rounder (No. 136) and one seventh-rounder (No. 213).
Some shots from the Flyers’ draft party at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. pic.twitter.com/Z4ZeRNv2nc
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
BUFFALO — The Sharks, no doubt, were big winners during the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday.
We’ll see if it leads to be being big winners on the ice.
What did an NHL scout, not with the Sharks, think of the picks?
None of these picks were used to address next year’s Sharks’ most glaring need, their blue line, but Stenberg, Verhoeff and Lin all are excellent prospects. Verhoeff and Lin were strong value choices, where they were selected.
And of course, the draft is not about today, it’s about tomorrow. But it’s worth noting that the widely held belief is that the Sharks acquired the No. 9 pick from the Ottawa Senators, in exchange for young winger William Eklund, to try to deal for a young-but-experienced, high-impact NHL defenseman.
That deal didn’t materialize, though Sharks general manager Mike Grier admitted that San Jose took one offer for No. 2, which included an established NHL player coming back to the Sharks, under “strong consideration”.
Anyway, 20-something, high-impact blueliners don’t grow on trees, so if you can’t find the right trade, drafting at Nos. 2 or 9 or 21 is no small consolation prize.
The scout raved about Stenberg, “He’s a complete player.”
To that point, while the 5-foot-11 winger is considered a future point-per-game scorer.
“You also appreciate his ability to work under pucks and play on both sides,” Sharks director of amateur scouting Chris Morehouse emphasized. “He’s a dynamic offensive player, but he’s got that hard competitive skill that you’re always looking for.”
Grier said Stenberg was the No. 1 player on the Sharks’ board, ahead of winger Gavin McKenna, who went No. 1 overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Celebrini and Stenberg are going to be a terror for many years to come,” the scout said. “Talking in a world where need isn’t considered for San Jose, he’s an awesome pick.”
Stenberg is thought by many to be NHL-ready, and maybe one reason why the Sharks deemed popular winger Eklund expendable.
There was a lot of thought that the Sharks would go for a defenseman at No. 2 — Daxon Rudolph was the surprise first defenseman off the board at No. 4 to the Buffalo Sabres, while Chase Reid was a betting favorite for a while — but the Sharks, as they always said they would, went with their “best player available.”
“We didn’t pay attention to all the writers saying we should take a D,” Morehouse said, joking but not joking.
San Jose did address its organizational need on defense, at least in the future, with their next two picks.
Six-foot-4 right-hander Verhoeff had a fascinating campaign, entering the season as consensus No. 1 defenseman in the draft and ending up as the fifth blueliner off the board — still a tremendous feat.
Grier said the Sharks were entertaining trade offers until No. 7, when it was clear to them that Verhoeff would drop to No. 9.
“All things go right, you’re looking at a first-pair defensive anchor and first PK,” the scout opined.
“He’ll be more defensive-leaning,” the scout added. “Maybe not as much of an offensive sense? That showed up in college with more structure and tighter checking.”
Of course, the University of North Dakota defenseman deserves a lot of credit for playing in the NCAA as a 17-year-old, testing himself against older-than-junior players.
Sharks director of player personnel Scott Fitzgerald said the plan at the moment is for Verhoeff to return for more seasoning with North Dakota.
The Sharks showed how much they liked right-hander Lin, trading Nos. 27, 62, and 120 picks to the Philadelphia Flyers for the No. 21 pick.
“That’s a great swing to take Lin there,” the scout said. “He’s an excellent all-around defenseman, who just happens to be small.”
It doesn’t sound like Lin is projected to run a first-unit power play at the highest level, but like Stenberg, he’s a highly competitive smaller player who’s expected to make a significant two-way impact.
In one night, Grier blew up the narrative that he’s a size-obsessed GM, which was the thought of some, despite premium picks used on smaller talents like Will Smith and Leo Sahlin-Wallenius in previous years.
“Hard competitive skill” is the buzz phrase for all three of the Sharks’ first-round picks, including the smaller Stenberg and Lin.
“It’s something when you watch Carolina, they have some smaller guys, but they’re all competitive,” Grier said of this year’s Stanley Cup winner. “It’s a trait that goes back through the years, and in this league, if you’re a smaller guy and you want to have success, you better be competitive, and both these kids are.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees pitches in the bottom of the second inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on May 31, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What do the Yankees have in store for us tonight after a sloppy effort in the opener at Fenway? Hopefully they have cleaned up their act after committing four errors leading to six unearned runs scoring. All units were to blame, not just the defense, with multiple HBPs and many runners stranded. It’ll take a cleaner brand of baseball to level the series heading into the weekend.
It becomes doubly important to play error-free baseball with Will Warren on the mound. He allowed four unearned runs to score in an inning following an error, that habit of unraveling cropping up multiple times this season. The trouble seems to stem from pitching out of the stretch with a lot of Warren’s misses coming in the strike zone when there are runners on – certainly something to monitor tonight. In 15 starts, Warren is 7-2 with a 3.45 ERA (121 ERA+), 3.36 FIP, and 84 strikeouts in 78.1 innings.
The Red Sox throw out back-to-back southpaws to open this series. Payton Tolle dominated the Yankees back on April 23rd, with 11 strikeouts as he allowed just one run on three hits in six innings. The 23-year-old rookie was particularly effective with his four-seamer that averages 96 and tops out at 99. In 11 starts, Tolle is 3-5 with a 3.08 ERA (133 ERA+), 3.32 FIP, and 62 strikeouts in 64.1 innings.
Ben Rice gets a rare day off, meaning Paul Goldschmidt gets the start at first. This allows Amed Rosario to DH after his costly error yesterday, moving José Caballero from left field to third. This also allows the Yankees to field a more defensively sound outfield, with Cody Bellinger in left, Spencer Jones in center, and Jasson Domínguez in right.
The Red Sox also make several changes to their lineup from last night. Mickey Gasper replaces Masataka Yoshida atop the batting order. Connor Wong replace Carlos Narváez behind the dish and Tsung-Che Cheng subs in for Marcelo Mayer at short.
How to watch
Location: Fenway Park – Boston, MA
First pitch: 7:10 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, NESN
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | WEEI 93.7, WESX 1230 AM, WCCM 1490 AM (BOS)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Gunnar Henderson #2 and Taylor Ward #3 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after winning a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 17, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Back to Baltimore march the Orioles, but we can’t say it’s with anything like momentum. The team went 4-5 in a nine-game road series against Seattle and both Los Angeles teams, at least several of those winnable games. The Birds probably should have swept the Dodgers, crazy as it sounds, but Ryan Helsley was fresh off the injured list, and blew a two-run lead in the ninth. They’ve blown six late-game leads, give or take, in the last three weeks. If this team is still buyers at the trade deadline, confessedly some relief help wouldn’t hurt.
Anyway, as the team well knows, this next stretch before the All-Star Break is critical. There are fourteen games left to play, and the Birds are two games out of a Wild Card spot. Their next chance to generate momentum comes tonight against their local rivals, the Nationals. The Nats come into this series at exactly .500, three games outside of an NL playoff spot.
Trevor Rogers gets the assignment tonight. For a time this season, he was making us wonder whether his ace-like 2025 was just a mirage, with a 10.31 ERA in May, but June saw quite a turnaround, as the lefty went 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts. That includes a seven-inning shutout at Dodger Stadium. The Nationals lineup is very good, although not quite the same challenge.
Rogers doesn’t have much history against these hitters. He’s faced catcher Keibert Ruiz ten times, holding him to a .200 average. Jacob Young is 1-for-7. CJ Abrams has hit him up, though, 4-for-7 with a home run.
On the opposing side of the bump, metaphorically speaking, is a 27-year-old lefty named Andrew Alvarez, making just his tenth career start, and his first against Baltimore. A twelfth-rounder for Washington in 2021, Alvarez debuted last year as a spot starter and pitched to a nice 2.31 ERA in five games. He’s 1-0 with a 3.34 earned run average and 37 strikeouts in 32 innings this season.
The lefty is known for his curveball and slider, a challenging formula for this Orioles lineup. That said, they’ve gone righty-heavy today, with Coby Mayo in at DH and Tyler O’Neill getting the start in right.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals congratulates Curtis Mead #45 after Mead hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on June 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We all know how the last three games have gone, but it is time to turn the page and move on to the Orioles series. As has been mentioned at length, this Nats team has been resilient this season. However, this upcoming stretch is the biggest test yet. It is tough to drop three games in such brutal fashion in a row, but they managed to do it.
With a lefty on the mound, Andres Chaparro is in the lineup again over Luis Garcia. He will play first base in this one. CJ Abrams is back in the lineup after not starting yesterday. That moves Nasim Nunez to second and Jorbit Vivas out of the lineup. Daylen Lile will be the DH, and James Wood will move to right field. Andrew Alvarez will start, and hopefully he gives some length so we get as little of the bullpen as possible.
The O’s are missing Adley Rutschman, but they have a lot of firepower in their lineup. Pete Alonso has been red hot lately. Jackson Holliday missed the series in DC, but he is in the lineup today up in Baltimore. Samuel Basallo will catch with Rutschman out. Trevor Rogers is on the bump tonight.
As mentioned up top, this is a big test for the Nats. I am pretty confident that the offense will be resilient, but will the bullpen have their backs? We will find out soon enough. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
The homegrown guard will decline his $4.5 million player option and sign a new three-year deal worth more than $14 million to stay with the world champion New York Knicks, according to several reports on Friday, June 26. Bringing him back was a priority for the Knicks this offseason.
For a kid from Brooklyn, the choice was not just about money.
Alvarado grew up in the city and played his high school basketball at Christ the King in Queens. He went undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2021, latched on with New Orleans on a two-way contract and turned himself into one of the league's peskiest defenders. They call him "Grand Theft Alvarado" for the way he robs ball handlers.
The Knicks traded for him at the February deadline for Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and cash. He averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds off the bench in 28 regular-season games with New York.
His fingerprints were all over the Knicks' title run. Down 81-52 in Game 4 of the Finals, Alvarado hit a layup and a 3-pointer to chip into the deficit that had looked hopeless. New York won 107-106, grabbed a 3-1 lead and closed out the San Antonio Spurs in five games for its first championship since 1973.
Staying probably cost him money. There were reports that he could command as much as $10 million a year on the open free agent market. He took less to come back and then posted on social media "I'm Home," with two hearts in Knicks orange and blue.
Free agency opens June 30. New York still has to sort out center Mitchell Robinson and other free agents, with owner Jim Dolan's eye on the luxury tax shaping every move.
