Earlier this week, NHL.com released its Top 26 prospects list, and the Montreal Canadiens have three players on the list: forward Michael Hage, defenseman David Reinbacher and goaltender Jacob Fowler. Hage is ranked at number eight, while Reinbacher lands at number 20 and Fowler gets the 24th spot. Hage and Reinbacher weren’t on the list last season, while the netminder was 24th back then as well.
Hage gets the eighth spot thanks to his stellar performances in the NCAA last season (52 points in 39 games) and his part in Canada’s bronze medal World Junior Championship finish (15 points in seven games, leading all scorers in the tournament). The article highlights the fact that he could be the answer to the Canadiens’ long-running search for a second-line center. The hype around the 21st overall pick in the 2024 draft is very real in Montreal, and his performance at development camp did nothing to temper expectations.
It sure feels like the front office believes that, especially since their reported targets in the trade market have been top-six wingers rather than centers. While it was a disappointment for the fans to hear that Hage decided to go back to Michigan for his junior year, ultimately it should help get him ready to make the steep jump between the NCAA and the professional level, likely at the tail end of this season, once the NCAA season and the Frozen Four Tournament are over.
Knowing the Canadiens, they’ll likely break him in slowly and not throw him into the deep end right away, a bit like they started Lane Hutson on the second power play in his first season rather than make him quarterback the first unit right away. Even Demidov, when he made his debut at the tail end of the 2024-25 season, wasn’t thrown on the second line right away. Still, the Habs brass will hope Hage takes to the pro level like a fish to water and his ready to step into a top-six role quickly.
As for Reinbacher, who was the fifth overall pick at the 2023 draft, NHL.com has him in 20th place and projects him as “a reliable second-pair defenseman who can kill penalties, retrieve pucks and make efficient outlet passes. His best fit would be alongside an aggressive, puck-moving, left-shot partner.” In other words, a partner for Lane Hutson.
Clearly, that’s what the Canadiens are hoping for when they drafted him, but three years later, one has to wonder if he will live up to his potential. He’s had a plethora of injuries over the years that have hindered his development. If he can get one fully healthy season, we may finally see exactly what Reinbacher is about. Montreal already has another defenseman whose health is hit-and-miss, and they don't need another defenseman who struggles with the same thing.
As mentioned recently in another article, if Guhle cannot start the season, Reinbacher should get an extended look at camp and could very well make the opening night roster.
Finally, the article calls Fowler “one of hockey's premier young goaltenders” and praises his composure and positioning, adding that his success at all previous levels suggests above-average starting potential. The netminder will hope to make the team out of camp, but the fact that Samuel Montembeault is still with the Canadiens might make it hard to do.
Fowler doesn’t have to clear waivers before being sent down to Laval, which makes assigning him to the Rocket the easy answer. However, his performance last season suggests he is ready for the NHL, and while he’s only 21 years old (22 in November) and needs to see plenty of ice time, being sent down to the AHL may not be great for motivation. Still, it’s hard to imagine a world in which he outduels Montembeault at camp and the Canadiens decide to waive their former starter.
Kent Hughes is not the type of GM who enjoys losing assets for nothing through waivers. When he couldn’t send Cayden Primeau down without going through waivers anymore, the GM elected to keep three netminders on the roster rather than biting the bullet. Despite Montembeault’s disastrous last season, he still holds more value than Primeau ever did, and it would be an absolute shock if Hughes decided to gamble that he would go unclaimed.
Still, even if Fowler is sent down to start the season, if Montembeault falters, he won’t have as long a leash as he had last season, and the Canadiens won’t wait until December to try to address the issue.
While fans will likely have to wait until the end of the season to get their first taste of Hage, they should see plenty of Reinbacher and perhaps even Fowler unless Montembeault finds a way to get back to his former self.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 05: Nick Blankenburg #37, Zakhar Bardakov #93, Parker Kelly #17 and Logan O'Connor #25 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate after a goal against the St Louis Blues during the first period at Ball Arena on April 05, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
After an early July whirlwind of activity with transactions and trades around the league things have now settled down as NHL rosters are mostly set heading into training camps next week. Though Colorado said goodbye to most of their former players via trade such as Val Nichushkin, Jack Drury and Ross Colton, there’s always a few that slip away during free agency. Here is where several former Colorado Avalanche players landed once unrestricted free agency opened on the 2026-27 league year.
Defenseman Nick Blankenburg sat on the market until September but ultimately couldn’t find a firm contract offer, thus he’s expected to land a try-out with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Depth forward Joel Kiviranta didn’t return for a third season with the Avalanche. Instead, he returned to his other former team in the Dallas Stars on a one-year contract worth $1 million.
Victor Olofsson was sent to the Calgary Flames in the Nazem Kadri trade but as a free agent the 28-year-old Swede made his way back to the Vegas Golden Knights on a one-year deal.
With so many Eagles free agents hitting the market, there was bound to be some turnover on the AHL club. Chris MacFarland brought another familiar face with him to the Nashville Predators organization with the signing of minor league depth defenseman Jack Ahcan who received 11 regular season and three playoff games with the Avalanche.
Howdy boys 🤠
We've signed defenseman Jack Ahcan to a two-year, two-way contract and defenseman Hunter Skinner to a one-year, two-way contract.
In other minor league news, former players who appeared in an Avalanche sweater and also moved on include Jason Polin who was signed for one-year by Pittsburgh, Jacob MacDonald received a one-year deal from Washington and Matt Stienburg was signed to a two-way contract by Vancouver.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 04: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 04, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s September and the Red Sox are heading to the playoffs. And yet a certain listlessness seems to have overtaken Fenway Park in recent days. With several players resting up with minor injuries while others work their way back into playing shape, it almost feels like a second spring training. The Sox aren’t charging into October so much as moseying in its general direction.
How much should this worry us? Maybe not all that much (see, e.g. tomorrow’s starting pitcher, Peyton “Momentum” Tolle). But it’s not a ton of fun.
They’ll get back to it this afternoon behind Ranger Suárez. With Ceddanne Rafaela still on the IL, Jarren Duran makes yet another start in centerfield, while Anthony Seigler gets his first start since being recalled to replace the injured Eli White.
ATLANTA — After the Phillies scratched Jesús Luzardo on Friday night from his scheduled Saturday start because of shoulder stiffness, their left-hander did not sound too concerned.
Luzardo underwent an MRI Friday night after the discomfort that had been bothering him worsened in the days following his complete game against the Braves.
“I don’t know exactly the medical terms, but it was a positive outcome,” Luzardo said before Saturday’s contest. “No structural damage, really. Nothing new.”
Instead, Luzardo said the issue is inflammation, which the Phillies believe is behind the stiffness and discomfort.
Don Mattingly came away encouraged, too.
“It was kind of what we thought,” Mattingly said. “We didn’t feel like there was anything truly going on.”
Luzardo had been scheduled to make his 30th start of the season Saturday, five days after throwing the first complete game of his career.
He held Atlanta scoreless on two hits with 12 strikeouts over nine innings Monday at Citizens Bank Park, needing 109 pitches in a 1-0 win.
The shoulder did not bother him during that start.
“During the game, I felt great,” Luzardo said. “Even at the end of the night, even the next day, I felt pretty good. And then it was just kind of the days after that that didn’t feel too good.”
Luzardo said he had been dealing with some soreness beforehand, but it became more noticeable as the week went on.
“It definitely got worse after this last start, just progressively throughout the five days,” he said.
Whether the nine-inning workload contributed is difficult to know.
“If you ask me, I think it’s a coincidence,” Luzardo said. “Especially because I felt good in the moment. I honestly don’t know. Maybe it didn’t help. But again, it’s September.”
Luzardo said he feels better than he did two days ago, although the shoulder has fluctuated from day to day. He has not received an injection and is taking anti-inflammatory medication.
For now, he plans to take a couple days off from throwing. With the Phillies also off Monday, there is no urgency to establish exactly when he’ll take the ball again.
“I think the next thing for us is just listen to his body,” Mattingly said. “It’s gonna tell us what to do.”
Mattingly said trying to determine now whether Luzardo will make his next turn or need additional time would be premature.
A return sometime next week remains possible.
Luzardo certainly wants it to be.
“If it was up to me, I would have pitched today,” he said. “[That] probably wouldn’t have been the smartest decision. So it’s always nice to have someone to kind of pull me back.”
That was essentially the conversation between Luzardo and the Phillies before they scratched him. He believed he could take the ball. The team preferred not to risk turning the issue into something that could linger into October.
Asked how differently he would approach it if the stakes were higher, Luzardo didn’t hesitate.
“If today was Game 7 of the World Series, I’m throwing no matter what,” he said. “But I think to get to that point, I’d probably better be smart now than it is to throw today and then see my body get worse throughout the next couple weeks.”
That’s where both sides seem to be.
There is optimism that this won’t become a long-term issue, but no reason to force Luzardo back onto the mound before his shoulder tells them he’s ready.
“I’m more frustrated that it’s happening at the time that it’s happening,” Luzardo said. “I know that it’s something that I’m not worried about, like, my future and my long term.”
For a Phillies team closing in on the postseason, that’s the important distinction.
Juan Soto didn’t hustle out of the box for the second straight at-bat, and Ron Darling didn’t let it pass.
A night after not sprinting to first while hitting a game-ending double-play ball, the Mets’ $765 million man followed Francisco Lindor’s leadoff home run with a grounder to second base on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
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Anthony Volpe, the converted shortstop still getting used to the position, bobbled the ball, causing Soto to speed up down the line. The Mets designated hitter was still narrowly thrown out at first after Volpe recovered to make the play.
Darling fell short of ripping Soto, but didn’t let him off the hook for not running hard right away.
“If you’re not going to run, things like that are going to happen,” Darling said on SNY. “Bobbled. If you don’t run out of the box, then you end up being embarrassed. DHing today because last night, I don’t know what his physical ailments are; he can’t play left field in this ballpark right now.”
Soto appeared to not make a full effort to snare a single to left by Ryan McMahon in the eighth inning Friday night, allowing a run to score and the Yankees to push their lead to 6-3 in a game that ended 6-4.
New York Mets legends Doc Gooden and Ron Darling walk onto the field as members of the 1986 New York Mets championship team are seen on the field after being honored before the start of a game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field in Queens, New York, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“He had two balls drop in front of him last night. If you do the math, it might have cost the Mets the game,” play-by-play man Gary Cohen added.
He went on to note Soto’s injuries to “both calves” this season.
They could be either hampering him or making him less reluctant to run.
New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto hits into a double play to end the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in The Bronx, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Soto was on the injured list for two and a half weeks in April with a right calf strain as the Mets went on a season-defining 12-game losing streak in his absence.
He then missed 31 more games over July and August with a Grade 2 left calf strain. Soto returned to the lineup on Aug. 29.
He seemed to put any questions about his calf to rest when he hustled out a double in the top of the fourth inning, tagged up to third and then scored on a Carson Benge single.
“He showed no issues with his calf,” Keith Henrndez said. “He ran like the devil on that double.”
Soto then mashed a mammoth solo home run in the seventh to extend the Mets’ lead to 6-2.
On this day 104 years ago, Eddie Collins started one of the strangest triple plays in White Sox history.
1900 The White Sox beat the Cleveland Blues, 12-4, in Chicago to clinch the franchise’s first pennant. (The American League would not be recognized as an official major league until 1901, however.) Roy Patterson got the win in the game.
The season seemed to set the tone for the franchise, with exceptional pitching and defense — and just enough hitting to win games. Cleveland manager Jimmy McAleer said as much after the Sox clinched against his club: “It’s the strangest thing that ever happened. A club with no good batsman to win a flag! Why, such a thing was never heard of before. [Dick] Padden has done most of it. He has been the whole works, and has shown himself a born general. The pitchers did the rest, with special credit to that lad Patterson.”
1908 Ultimately, the White Sox did not prevail for the pennant, but don’t say they didn’t put up a fight. Arriving at Detroit’s Bennett Park for a five-game set against the first-place Tigers and behind by three games, the White Sox won the opener, then played four consecutive extra-inning games to finish out the series, splitting them. On this day, the White Sox got back to just two games out with a 2-1 victory in 10 innings. Frank Smith not only went the distance for his 12th win on the season, he singled in the game-winner in the top of the 10th.
The White Sox continued a three-way fight for the pennant (with Cleveland as well), and the season came down to the last day, hosting Detroit. Had the White Sox not been blown out in the finale, they would have finished tied with (but percentage points ahead of) Cleveland and a half-game in front of the Tigers for the pennant.
1922 After three straight singles by Cleveland to open a game at Comiskey Park, the White Sox executed their eighth triple play ever. It was a bonkers play, which started out as a routine double-play grounder from second baseman Eddie Collins to shortstop Ernie Johnson to first baseman Earl Sheely. Cleveland left fielder Charlie Jamieson scored from third on the play, but for some reason the runner who started on second base, shortstop Bill Wambsganss, went for home as well; Sheely fired home to catcher Yam Yaryan for the out (and yes, the White Sox once had a catcher named Yam Yaryam).
It was the 282nd triple play in MLB history, and interestingly, the 283rd was also executed by the White Sox, three weeks later, on October 1.
The White Sox still were routed in the game, 8-2, yielding 17 hits to a greedy Cleveland offense.
1956 The White Sox signed 16-year-old pitcher Jim Derrington to a $50,000, bonus-baby deal. Such terms meant that the teenager would have to remain on the active roster for two seasons.
Derrington made his debut 18 days later, on the final day of the season, at two month shy of 17 becoming the youngest pitcher in major league history to start a game. He pitched surprisingly well, giving up just three runs (two earned) through 5 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, manager Marty Marion tried to squeeze six innings out of the young arm, and Derrington was clubbed for two home runs before the sixth was out, leaving him with a final ledger of six runs/five earned, and six walks against just three Ks for a 29 game score.
He appeared in 20 games for the White Sox in 1957 and pitched better, but not well enough to avoid the minors at the soonest possible juncture (the 1958 season). Derrington was active through 1961, but never came close to returning to the major leagues.
Derrington remains the third-youngest player in the majors (pitcher or hitter) since World War II and is the youngest player ever to appear in a game for the White Sox.
1976 At nearly 53 years old, Minnie Miñoso became the oldest player in major league history to get a hit, singling in the second inning of a 2-1 White Sox win over California. Angels starter Sid Monge surrendered the hit. Miñoso would later strike out and fly out to left in the game, won by the White Sox on Brian Downing’s walk-off double in the 10th inning.
Both Monge and future Hall-of-Famer Rich Gossage went the distance in this meaningless September game between teams with a combined record of 125-160.
1989 Robin Ventura made his major league debut in an 11-1 romp over the Baltimore Orioles. Ventura walked in his first at-bat and came around to score the first White Sox run. In the fourth inning, facing his 1988 Olympic teammate Ben McDonald, Ventura slapped an RBI single for his first career hit.
2016 The White Sox tied an unusual franchise record, as they beat Cleveland, 11-4, at U.S. Cellular Field. In the game, the Sox scored at least one run in every inning. It was only the 20th time in major league history that a team had accomplished this. The first time the White Sox scored in every inning was May 11, 1949, beating the Red Sox at Comiskey Park.
In the 2016 win, the Sox banged out 16 hits, Avisaíl García getting four of them. Six went for extra bases.
2019 All-Star righthander Lucas Giolito set a White Sox record by striking out eight straight Royals hitters from the third through the fifth inning during an afternoon game at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Of the eight, seven were swinging strikeouts, with Meibrys Viloria caught looking. The run started with Whit Merrifield to open the third, and ended with Nicky Lopez grounding out to shortstop Tim Anderson to end the fifth. Giolitofinished with 12 strikeouts overall.
According to STATS, Giolito’seight straight tied for the seventh-longest single-game MLB run at that time. But even with his brilliant afternoon, Giolito lost the game, 6-3, giving up a pair of home runs including a three-run shot that made the difference.
Carlos Rodón (Sept. 30, 2016, against the Twins) and Joe Cowley (May 28, 1986, at the Rangers) previously shared the White Sox consecutive strikeout mark, at seven.
According to STATS, Giolito’seight straight tied for the seventh-longest single-game MLB run at that time. But even with his brilliant afternoon, Giolito lost the game, 6-3, giving up a pair of home runs — one of which was a three-run shot which made the difference.
2020 White Sox first baseman José Abreu had himself a game to remember: The slugger drove home seven runs in a 14-0 slaughter of the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field. (The team record is eight in a game.)
This was the second time Abreu had accomplished the mark, first driving in seven in a game in 2016. In the 2020 effort, he went 4-for-4 and scored five runs. Abreu became the first White Sox player in club history to get four-plus hits, two homers, seven RBIs and five runs in a game. It was also his 17th multi-homer game.
FORT MYERS, FL- FEBRUARY 27: Emmanuel Rodriguez #33 of the Minnesota Twins looks on during a spring training game against the New York Yankees on February 27, 2026 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch: 3:10 pm CDT TV: Twins.TV Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy
One of the only redeeming factors of this year’s annual August/September slide is that the youth movement — which in each of the last few seasons has mainly been represented by prospects falling out of relevance or young “veterans” failing to take the next step — has actually looked somewhat promising, between the continued development of guys like Luke Keaschall and Brooks Lee, as well as the emergence of familiar names like Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins.
This afternoon, top prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez joins the fold. Rodriguez, who had jumped into a top-2o ranking from various outlets in 2025, saw his stock dip ahead of this season but went on to post a .914 OPS in 49 games at St. Paul as a 23-year-old. With those numbers came 11 homers, a .500 slugging percentage, and .414 on-base percentage, with 42 walks to 58 strikeouts as he demonstrated an eye tool that was going to get him to the big leagues sooner rather than later.
E-Rod, or Em-Rod (M-Rod?) or Emma; he’ll have plenty of nicknames to choose from as he finally makes the step to the active roster, having been on the 40-man since 2023 as a Rule 5 protection, and having seen his minor-league options evaporate in the subsequent years.
Rodriguez, unfortunately, is not being dumped into the middle of a pennant race. I guess he is, if you count Cleveland’s pennant race. The reality is, if the Twins keep losing to the Guardians this weekend, they will have helped to completely shake up the American League playoff picture. The Chicago White Sox, at 75-72, have been alone in first place since July 4th, and have watched the Guardians pull to within just half a game back, mere weeks after they had been as much as 5.5 behind.
What’s more, immediately following this weekend series, the Guards will host Chicago at Progressive Field in a three-game set that may define the Central with just two weeks of the season remaining. It might not mean Chicago is out of the picture — the third Wild Card, presently Cleveland’s, has a two-game buffer over the next-best Blue Jays — but nobody wants to back into the postseason.
Today, Connor Prielipp and Daniel Espino will face off in an attempt to clarify the playoff picture.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Bradgley Rodriguez #72 of the San Diego Padres celebrates during the game between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Friday, September 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
San Diego Padres (79-68) at San Francisco Giants (62-86), September 12, 2026, 1:05 p.m. PST
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Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: Last season, Devin Booker’s shooting was his 4th least-effective (.507), and his three-point shooting (33.0%) was his second-worst ever. How important is it for him to get to at least above his career averages in these areas in 2026-27?
GuarGuar: Definitely was a down year shooting-wise for Book last season. His high free throw rate and percentage is what kept him a decently efficient player last year still. He’s going to need to figure out the three-point inconsistency. There are plenty of guys later in their careers who became more consistent from three, and we need Book to achieve that. His shooting form is different in some way since he came into the league. I think it was to maximize his midrange percentage, but the cost has been consistency from 3. It’s really off-the-dribble threes where he struggles, catch and shoot he’s been solid historically. He’s gotta regain confidence from behind the arc, and I believe in him to do it.
zenzino: Very important. Next question.
For reals, Ishbia has unequivocally stated on numerous occasions that he is ride or die with Devin Booker. Great! Then build the team around him rather than having him adjust to the players that are brought in.
He spent a lot of time last season getting his teammates involved, which is great and what was needed last season, but I agree with many that point Book is not the most effective Book.
The ball is always going to go through Book, and that’s fine. But run some sets that get Book open looks and then, when he gets blitzed (top 10 in getting blitzed), open up passing lanes so the other guys can use his gravity to get open shots.
I’d really like to see Book be more offensively minded this season. Be slightly more selfish about getting his shots. I’d also like to see him be more selective with his 3-pointers. He shouldn’t try to be a high-volume shooter. If he averages around 28 per game, I’d be fine with his assists staying around 6 per game.
For him personally, I really hope he does and puts an end to the ridiculous narrative that he is declining.
Ashton: This feels almost like a loaded question because any self-respecting Suns fan would read this and go “of course this a problem!”
So, I reached for my contrarian hat to try to put this in context. Let’s start with this. Every now and then I get a job description interview from a recruiter that is a literal laundry list of hard to master skills that concludes with “and the kitchen sink”. I wonder what type of job description they would have to write up for Booker? Must be an all-star, must be an able defender, must be able to take over the game in the final minute, must be a play-making facilitator, must be a leader in locker room presence and mentor to players, must lead a winning team to the finals, and the list goes on, finishing with “and the kitchen sink”. This is how the Suns fans would want to write up their HR job description for Booker.
But I rarely encounter the “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” in these job descriptions smorgasbord. To answer this question, is 3-PT shooting a “must-have”? No. For one, Book was never a volume three-point shooter. We used to joke if this would be the game that Book would put up and make seven or more three-pointers. It was the easiest prop bet in the world to say he wouldn’t. Why? Because teams long ago knew that targeting Book on the offensive end was the key to their defensive scheme. The sweep by the Thunder in last year’s playoffs showed exactly that.
Book is asked to do a lot of things on the court, and improving his three-point efficiency is a “Nice to Have,” but not that relevant in the grand scheme of Ott’s coaching. Playmaking is my “Must Have”. Olympic Book is what I am looking for this year, the same as last year.
Rod: Career averages in those areas would be acceptable but far from optimal. Book doesn’t have to carry this team, but he does have to lead the way…at least on the court. Playing more efficiently while sharing the scoring load with others is the way to do that, in my opinion.
This year, I think he’ll be sharing the court with the best supporting cast he’s had since 2021-22…with a deeper and arguably better bench. The loss of Mark Williams hurts the team, but I think they can make it through his downtime with the depth they have without dropping off too much. I know a lot of fans would be against Ighodaro starting in Mark’s place, but his ability to facilitate could work very well with a starting unit without a true point guard and allow Book to spend less time trying to play point and more time concentrating on putting points on the scoreboard.
Q2: The Suns were 28th in free throw attempts last season (20.3 per game). Do you believe they will get to the line more often in 2026-27?
GuarGuar: I think losing Royce and Grayson will help the team have a higher free throw rate this year. Those guys did not draw many fouls, and adding Bridges, who is a more aggressive slasher, should help too. As aggressive as Brooks is, he’s not much of a foul drawer, and it’s an area I’d like to see him get better at. We basically relied on only Booker to draw fouls last year.
zenzino: I hope so.
Book’s free-throw attempts jumped up by almost 2 to 8.1, which was good for 5th in the league. Hopefully, he can continue his physicality on the offensive end and repeat that.
Green has averaged under 4 per game in previous years. That dropped by half last season because of his injuries. He should be able to bring that up and maybe add 1 or 2 if he stays aggressive.
Surprisingly, Bridges also only averages around 4 per game. I would have guessed more. If he’s concentrating more on putting pressure on the rim, maybe his average goes up too.
I never really count on the Suns getting the benefit of the whistle, though. It’s the curse of the purple and orange since circa 1968.
Ashton: Nope. Sorry to say, Suns fans, but the evidence is just not there. I expect this statistic to be about the same as long as:
There is no dominant frontline to draw fouls
The Suns still have a line-up that is dependent on the mid-range shot. Especially on ISO plays where that is what the player is left with when being defensively shut down.
With Booker’s mouth and Brooks penchant to draw technical fouls, the Suns will not win the Zebra’s favoritism
This ranking may facilitate somewhat, but I just don’t see getting to the FT line in the cards. Oh, yeah, how many times do we play the Lakers again? My nod to the third point. There is just no diplomacy between the Suns players when encountering flopping and maybe phantom fouls and the refs. I am a firm conspiracy theorist that the refs hate us, but the players have a lot to do with that. I am not saying buy the refs flowers before the game, but the way the players conduct themselves on the court is just as important as off the court. Put the egos aside and play the game.
Rod: I think they’ll get to the line more often this year. How much more often? I won’t speculate, but it looks like the Suns are gearing up to attack the basket more often, which generally adds up to more trips to the line than a team that prioritizes three-point shooting. I don’t want the team to seek out contact, though, at least not at the expense of getting off a good shot, but I don’t want them to avoid it either. If they can just be at the league average for FT attempts, I’d be very happy with that.
Q3: Do you expect Koa Peat to get more playing time with the “big team” this year than Maluach and Fleming did in their rookie seasons?
GuarGuar: I don’t expect Koa to play any more than Fleming and Man Man did last year, to be honest. He’s got Fleming, Bridges, and maybe Oso ahead of him on the depth chart for the power forward position. I think the focus is gonna be developing him in the G League until the spring, as we did with Rasheer and Maluach last year. I will say though, Koa has looked way more polished than those two did this time last year.
zenzino: Before the Bridges trade, I would have said 100%.
Now, I’m not so sure. He’s very young with only his freshman season in college under his belt. And now there are thee power forwards on the team. They can afford to be patient even more than they were with the rookies last season.
However, one of the things about Man Man and Sheer was them needing to get their bodies NBA-ready. Koa comes with an NBA body out of the gate. So he has that going for him.
I’d like to see him play a lot with the G-League when the season starts. If he picks up where he left off in Summer League, he’ll soon be dominating. Then he might just earn some minutes with the “big team”.
Addendum: After writing this, news surfaced that Mark Williams will be out for 5-7 months with a torn labrum. I think this might have a bearing on Koa Peat’s playing time.
Because of how the rotations are going to need to be adjusted, I can see situations where the Suns will play a semi-small ball with Bridges and Sheer being the ‘bigs’ and the rest guards. I can also see Peat slotting in for Bridges when he needs a break.
Either way, small ball haters – prepare to hate. When they traded for Bridges and now with this MW injury, the Suns are going to be playing even more small ball than they did last season.
Ashton: This is the rare instance that I get to suggest a new rule. No Fantable member who actively supports their university as an alum must answer this question due to bias concerns about a former college player. This is out of respect for the Sun’s community that is composed of ASU supporters, people who do not give a damn about college athletics, and our international friends overseas (the University of Arizona beat the Lithuanian national squad before FIBA competition in an exhibition game. Michigan did not). Okay, I know my audience. So, Rod, I will pass on this question.
Ah, screw that. I want Koa to get all the minutes he can steal. Starters, developing bench players in KM and Fleming, it doesn’t matter. Steal those minutes, Koa! Show everyone how to get to the free thorw line (Q2) and be an free throw average shooter (which he is). Sun fans will surely enjoy the effort, though. Koa can quickly become a favorite of the Suns fans.
Will it happen? No. Sheer and KM, rightfully, need their development minutes and will take those minutes away from Koa. But you never know. At this point, I thought it was undetermined if Koa Peat would even play on the “Big Team” but rather spend most of his time tearing it up in G League.
Rod: At this point in time, I’d be very surprised if he got more court time than last year’s rooks but it also wouldn’t surprise me if he does get more. Maluach and Fleming obviously weren’t ready for prime-time minutes last season, but Peat still has time to prove himself worthy of some court time in training camp and in the preseason games.
Right now, I expect Fleming to be Bridges’ primary backup at PF with Peat behind him. Fleming and Peat look like different types of PFs to me, though, with Fleming as a 3&D type and Peat as a driving, attack-the-rim sort. Which type is ultimately going to be the best fit with the other players on the court? I have no idea…yet.
I also don’t know how well Peat is going to be defensively in the NBA, and that could play a big role in his court time as well. I’m hoping that he turns out to be a major surprise for the Suns, but I’m not counting on it.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Suns Trivia/History
On September 12, 2005, the Suns signed former Arizona State University star shooting guard Eddie House to a one-year deal. House didn’t disappoint, appearing in 81 games off the bench; he averaged 9.8 points per game and 38.9% from beyond the arc in 17.5 minutes per game. The Suns would finish the 2005/06 season with a 54-28 record and make it to the Western Conference finals before finally being sent home by Dallas 2-4.
On September 13, 1978, Curtis Perry, a major figure in the Suns’ NBA Finals run in 1975-76, retired after four seasons in the Valley. Perry set career highs during the 1974-75 season of 13.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. His 11.9 rpg that season is the 5th highest single-season rebounding average in Suns history, and his career average of 9.49 rpg for the Suns is 7th on the Suns’ All-Time leaders list.
On September 16, 1974, the Suns acquired Curtis Perry, Dennis Awtrey, Nate Hawthorne and a 1976 first-round pick (Adrian Dantley) from the New Orleans Jazz for Neal Walk and a 1975 second-round pick (Clyde Mayes).
Walk, the Suns’ first-ever draft pick (2nd in 1969), averaged 14.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, missed only two regular-season games during his 5 seasons in Phoenix, and in 1973 averaged 12.42 rebounds per game which is the second-highest single-season rebounds-per-game average in Suns history behind only Paul Silas’ 12.53 rebounds in 1971. His career high for the Suns was 42 points vs. the Milwaukee Bucks on January 11, 1972. The Suns won 115-114 and Walk outscored future Hall of Fame member and the man picked first above him in the 1969 NBA Draft, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 42-27.
In 1988, while Walk was living in Phoenix, it was discovered that he had a benign tumor enveloping his spine. Following surgery, he was left in a wheelchair, from which he played wheelchair basketball for the LA-Phoenix Samaritans in the Southern California league of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. In 1990, he was honored at the White House by President George H. W. Bush as the “Wheelchair Athlete of the Year.”
He later worked for the Phoenix Suns in the Community Affairs department and sadly passed away on October 4, 2015, due to an unspecified blood disease.
On September 16, 1994, on the same day that the NBA finally approved a one-year, $1 million deal for Danny Manning, the Phoenix Suns submitted a one-year, $850,000 deal for power forward Wayman Tisdale, arguably making the Suns the deepest team in the NBA at that time.
Important Future Dates
Sept. 28 – Media Day Sept. 29 – Training Camp opens Oct. 5 – Suns @ Pistons (preseason) 4:00 PM Oct. 7 – Suns @ Bulls (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 10 – Suns vs. Spurs (preseason) 7:00 PM (ESPN2) Oct. 14 – Suns @ Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 16 – Suns vs. Jazz (preseason) 7:00 PM Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027
In the slowest point of the offseason — at least until the NBA Board of Governors' meeting next week — here is a quick weekend update on a few topics.
Derrick Jones Jr. not seeking trade
After the NBA brought the hammer down on the Clippers, fans across the league scurried to trade machines, thinking LA's players would scramble to abandon a sinking ship. Nowhere is that truer than among the fans of that other franchise in Los Angeles, which did not land Jonathan Kuminga. Said fans are scrambling to come up with ways they think Rob Pelinka should upgrade their roster — often in ways not grounded in reality.
Enter Derrick Jones Jr. A solid veteran two-way forward, he could help 29 other teams around the league, so speculation started flying. One small problem: He hasn't asked for a trade, nor is he expected to, notes plugged-in Clippers writer Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points.
To address a recent post I saw, Derrick Jones Jr. has not requested a trade from the Clippers, per source.
Both he and the team have a great relationship and the two sides are open to extension talks to keep the forward in Los Angeles.
As Azarly and others have noted recently, agents are constantly looking for ways to get their players paid more, or moved into a position where they get more playing time or a chance to chase a ring. It's an agent's job to think that way. However, it's another couple of steps from there to a player pushing for a trade. Jones is in the final year of his contract at $10.5 million and could hit the free agent market next summer, but that always comes with risk. He could extend with the Clippers — clearly a team in a transition phase but a place Jones likes playing — on a tradable contract, then work with them when other teams come calling. Or, he could let the Clippers know he doesn't intend to re-sign and that they should trade him at the deadline. Jones has options. A smart agent keeps all of those in play while working to get the client what he wants.
In this case, that does not mean a trade from the Clippers in the short term.
Hawks waive Devin Carter, Celtics interested
Back in June, Atlanta picked up a second-round pick from Sacramento for taking on Devin Carter's $5.1 million salary. However, the Hawks have a roster crunch so they have officially waived Carter, who will become a free agent once he clears waivers.
Boston is interested in Carter, a point guard, reports NBA insider Jake Fischer. The Celtics have an open roster spot and the money to sign a player to a minimum contract (or slightly more), but Carter also has two-way eligibility, so Boston could be thinking about that if they want to keep that final roster spot open for flexibility.
Carter played two seasons in Sacramento, totaling 74 games, and last season averaged 8.9 points per game when he did get in, but he is not a floor-spacing guard and shot just 26.3% from beyond the arc. Would that be different in 3-happy Boston?
Worth nothing: Atlanta still has 16 players on guaranteed contracts and has to make one more move — a trade or waiving another player — before the start of the season.
Board of Governors meeting
Next Monday and Tuesday, the NBA owners convene in New York for a Board of Governors meeting, and this one should be interesting. On the docket:
• The Clippers findings and punishments. It's unclear as of now who, if anyone, will represent the Clippers at this meeting. Also unknown is whether they plan to take this to court and fight the stiff punishments handed down by the league. One thing teams are asking about, according to Brian Windhorst at ESPN:
One topic rival front offices have discussed is the less-talked-about but draconian-sounding "compliance and monitoring program by the league office for a period of five years" penalty that was also leveled on the Clippers. The terms were nebulous, probably for a reason, and the devil will surely be in the details.
• Expansion. The NBA is in the process of vetting potential ownership groups for both Las Vegas and Seattle. What we know is there are more bidders for Vegas, the price tag is expected to be higher and it is expected to be approved first, with Seattle to follow. One interesting note about this from ESPN's Windhorst:
Some teams have been projecting the per-team payout for expansion to be $500 million to $600 million, which would put the combined expansion fee at around $15 billion to $18 billion.
• NBA Europe. This is the one owners appear to care more about than domestic expansion, and the league is still on track to open NBA Europe in October of 2027. That said, there are still a lot of questions that remain.
Those start with a potential partnership with EuroLeague, the current peak of European basketball. EuroLeague team owners are meeting in Italy on Oct. 5, and there will be more clarity about that partnership (or lack thereof) after that, Windhorst notes.
The league will have 12 permanent members and another four teams that will play their way in. Exactly what that will look like and who the permanent members may be will come into focus in the coming weeks.
In that list, he included Blankenburg as a PTO assignment with the Maple Leafs.
"Undersized defenseman, ex- of UMichigan," Dupont wrote. "Small, but mobile, an insurance play by new GM John Chayka, looking for options if Chris Tanev still needs time to recover from March surgery to fix a core injury."
Blankenburg is coming off a season split between the Predators and the Colorado Avalanche. In total, the undrafted D-man played 176 NHL regular-season games across parts of five seasons.
Last year, in his second season in Nashville before getting traded to Colorado around the trade deadline, Blankenburg featured in 49 games for the Preds, followed by 12 appearances for the Avs.
In total, he registered eight goals and 24 points in 2025-26, which marked a career-high on both fronts for the 5-foot-9 blueliner.
He also made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut with Colorado, playing five games and scoring one goal while averaging 9:25 of ice time per game.
Aside from two seasons with the Predators and a short stint with the Avalanche, his first three years in the league, beginning with a seven-game stint in 2021-22, were with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
And though he didn't get much ice time with the Avalanche, that doesn't tell the whole story. Aside from his stint in Denver, he averaged 18:40 of ice time per outing, which is typical of a bottom-four pairing defenseman.
To Dupont's point, indeed there is a sliver of uncertainty surrounding Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev's health. Tanev says that he feels "quite good," but he still needs the green light and confirmation from doctors in the coming days.
A contract for Blankenburg is anything but certain. Even if Tanev still needs some more time recovering, Toronto still has Troy Stecher and Emil Andrae ready to go as depth defensemen to fill in.
Also, any team in the NHL is eligible to sign Blankenburg to a contract, as he is a UFA, even though he's joining the Maple Leafs for camp.
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For many hockey fans of a certain era, video games got them into the game. Whether it was the Atari, Nintendo, or the EA Sports NHL game, kids who grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s had video games as their door into hockey, especially when weeknight games were past their bedtime.
That nostalgia and trip down memory lane were on display when the Hockey Heritage Exhibit launched Pucks & Pixels on Saturday afternoon at the Madison Public Library in New Jersey. The exhibit is a mobile touring attraction that will travel to NHL arenas, community venues, and other public settings this season.
What Is Puck & Pixels?
Geoffrey Wyhopen, the creator and founder of the mobile museum, wanted to bring that love and joy for NHL video games to the public and show how the games have evolved, as well as an appreciation for hockey itself. The exhibit reflects that.
There was memorabilia on display, including Stuart Skinner's goalie pads, Filip Gustavsson’s Four Nations jersey, and a piece of the old Boston Garden. Every attendee received a handful of swag (which was my personal highlight of the trip). Most importantly, there was a wall displaying every version of the NHL game and the graphics going back to 1991.
A wall of monitors displayed every version of the NHL video game. If you look closely, you can see Adam Foote and Scott Stevens dropping the gloves in NHL '01. Photo Credit: Mike Fink / The Hockey News
The wall of games was the most fascinating because it showed the progress of the game over the years. Wyhopen noted in a conversation with The Hockey News that the difference in NHL '94 game where the graphics and gameplay were a significant upgrade. The same was true about the NHL '98 version. From there, every monitor showed a slightly improved version, at least until the early 2010s, when progress seemed to stagnate.
The exhibit looked similar to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Specifically, there was memorabilia for older fans but also videos for younger fans. The similarity is not coincidental since Wyhopen took a lot of inspiration from the Hall of Fame in Toronto for his exhibit. It’s the idea that hockey is for everyone and the display can be appreciated by anyone.
The display mirroring the Hall of Fame is also part of an idea behind exhibits and museums where everything is interactive. In hockey, the fans are separated from the game; they are not on the ice and instead are in the stands, separated by the glass. The people who bring the game closer to those fans, whether it’s through broadcasts, off-ice events, or community events, take the game to another level. For Puck & Pixels, a big part of the touring museum is bringing the game and its history closer to the fans.
It’s why their first event started in the Madison Public Library. It’s the local library for Wyhopen and is free for all patrons. It’s also why the museum is operating on a community-first mission, keeping admission free to the public.
What’s The Future For Puck & Pixels?
Wyhopen wants to bring this exhibit everywhere. NHL arenas, American Hockey League and PHWL games, public settings, and anything else where hockey and video game fans can take it in.
The idea is still in its early beginnings, but of course there’s plenty of opportunity to grow into something bigger. Eventually, the Hockey Heritage Exhibit is something the Hockey Hall of Fame can partner with. Likewise, teams around the league can contribute; the New Jersey Devils were one of the teams most helpful to Wyhopen, providing memorabilia and space at Prudential Center for games.
The question for Puck & Pixels is how they can become more attractive and interactive to hockey fans. The event, while fascinating, wasn’t heavily attended (the warm weather on a Saturday afternoon in September didn’t help). One idea that was suggested was to have an area where fans, especially younger fans, can play the game from different eras and see the difference in each version over time. Likewise, the Hockey Hall of Fame has a kids section that allows fans to play a mini version of the game, whether it's taking a shot or making a save, as if they were a part of it.
To learn more about Puck & Pixels and the Hockey Heritage Exhibit, visit hockeyheritageexhibit.com or contact Geoffrey Wyhopen at geoffrey@hockeyheritageexhibit.com
Aug 3, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish (56) in action during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Happy birthday, Kyle Bradish. Now go out there and get another win for the Orioles, what do you say?
The Birds delivered exactly what they needed in last night’s opener in Toronto, erupting for five runs in the second en route to a 7-4 win. Unfortunately, the victory didn’t draw them any closer in the wild card race, because the Guardians also won in Minnesota, maintaining their three-game lead over the Orioles (which is essentially a four-game lead, since the Guardians hold the tiebreaker in case they finish with the same record as the O’s).
Orioles fans should also be keeping an eye on the AL Central race, where the Guardians are only a half game back of the swooning White Sox. If Cleveland takes over first place in that division, it’ll be Chicago that the O’s need to catch for the third wild card. The Orioles do hold the tiebreaker against the White Sox, so they would only need to finish with the same record as Chicago to punch their ticket to the playoffs. Of course, that also assumes that the Blue Jays, currently two games off the pace, get eliminated from contention before then.
That’s where the Orioles can do their part. With five games remaining against Toronto, they have every opportunity to knock the Jays off the pace for good. Today it’s Bradish, on his 30th birthday, who will try to secure the series win. Bradish has shown real signs of fatigue lately and hasn’t thrown a quality start in his last four tries. In his most recent start, he lasted only four innings and gave up three runs, though they were all unearned after a Gunnar Henderson error preceded a home run.
The Blue Jays, instead of using ace Dylan Cease on normal rest, are giving him an extra day, so he’ll start the finale tomorrow. For today they’ll go with a bullpen game, starting with Spencer Miles. Miles has been an opener on eight other occasions this year and sometimes can eat a few innings, but his season high is 4.1, so the O’s should be seeing a lot of Jays relievers today. The Orioles will use eight of the same nine hitters from last night’s productive lineup, including Heston Kjerstad, but Samuel Basallo is getting a day off before he catches Trevor Rogers in tomorrow’s finale.
Orioles lineup:
LF Dylan Beavers 1B Pete Alonso 2B Jackson Holliday DH Coby Mayo SS Gunnar Henderson 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand RF Heston Kjerstad CF Colton Cowser C Carlos Narváez
RHP Kyle Bradish
Blue Jays lineup:
CF Brett Bateman DH George Springer 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. C Alejandro Kirk RF Nathan Lukes 3B Kazuma Okamoto 2B Josh Smith SS Andrés Giménez LF Rudy Martin Jr.
Sep 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) celebrates with second baseman Miguel Rojas (72) and shortstop Mookie Betts (50) after the game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers and Marlins conclude their 2026 business on Sunday afternoon at loanDepot Park in Miami.
The Dodgers haven’t listed a starter, but Emmet Sheehan is in line to pitch bulk innings after his stellar Monday start at home. Justin Wrobleski was previously listed as the Sunday starter, perhaps as an opener, as the left-hander was also warming up to potentially pitch on Friday night in relief in Miami. There’s also when the Dodgers decide to activate Roki Sasaki off the injured list to consider.
Sep 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) celebrates with pitcher Edgardo Henriquez (60) after the game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Friday’s victory over the Miami Marlins was the Dodgers’ 90th win of the season, a mark that has long been seen as a sign of success in baseball and has amazingly become the floor for the Dodgers for 14 years running.
The Dodgers have won at least 90 games in each of the last 13 full seasons, dating back to 2013. During the truncated 2020 campaign the Dodgers were 43-17, which was the best record in baseball. Thirteen full seasons in a row with 90 wins is more than any other MLB team in history.
From 1947-58 the New York Yankees won at least 92 games every year for a dozen years in a row, a streak even more impressive because it was under a 154-game schedule instead of the modern 162. The 1946 Yankees won 87 games, the equivalent of 91.5 wins over 162 games, so it’s far to say these current Dodgers are at least spiritually even with those dominant Yankees teams.
There’s no question the Dodgers’ financial largesse has made it easier for them to compete, but money doesn’t always guarantee winning. The New York Mets, for instance, have spend well over $300 million last season and this year with no postseason to show for it. The Yankees, who have spent the second-most behind the Dodgers since 2013, have won 90 games seven times in that span, and will add an eighth 90-win season with only five more victories this year.
That’s still five full seasons for the Yankees with under 90 wins during that time, despite the heavy spending.
Cleveland is the only other team with even seven 90-win seasons since 2013. The Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and St. Louis Cardinals have six such seasons, including this year for Milwaukee. The Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Milwaukee Brewers have five such seasons with an excellent chance to also win 90 games this year.
But to win 90 games in all 13 full seasons is a remarkable accomplishment, no matter how you slice it.
