Have bat, will travel: Caleb Bonemer is learning the outfield in hopes of finding a faster path to Chicago.
Caleb Bonemer spent the summer giving baseballs a one-way ticket out of the yard. Now, the White Sox are trying to figure out where to put his glove. After a 37-homer season between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, Bonemer has made a pretty convincing argument that his bat deserves attention. Finding a place for it in Chicago is the next part of the assignment, and some extra mileage in the outfield could help.
That work has continued in the Arizona Fall League, where Bonemer is getting more opportunities to learn the grass while giving Glendale plenty to like at the plate. The Sox haven’t settled on his defensive home, but they’re giving themselves options. With an increasingly crowded infield, that’s probably a good idea.
Bonemer finished the regular season with a .251/.380/.550 slash line and a .930 OPS across the two levels. Along with those 37 long balls, he drew 84 walks in 595 plate appearances, good for a 14.1% walk rate. There’s power here, obviously, but there’s also a willingness to take the free pass when pitchers won’t give him something to hit.
And the production continued after his promotion to Birmingham. That matters. Beating up on High-A pitching is fun, but carrying an offensive profile into Double-A gives the Sox more reason to consider how soon he might help the big league club.
Of course, there’s still some swing-and-miss to address. Bonemer struck out 161 times during the regular season, a 27.1% rate. More than a quarter of his trips to the plate ended without a ball in play, and better pitching will keep testing that part of his game. The goal is to make more contact while keeping the damage that makes him dangerous. The walks help, but getting a hittable pitch and doing something with it will become increasingly important as he moves closer to Chicago.
So far, the fall has offered encouraging results. Through 39 at-bats, Bonemer has hit .282/.349/.590 with a .939 OPS, four doubles, a triple, two home runs and nine RBIs. He has also drawn four walks against eight strikeouts. It’s a small sample, because pretty much everything in the AFL is a small sample. Still, we’ll happily take the extra-base hits.
The more interesting development, though, might be what happens between his plate appearances. Bonemer’s outfield experiment began before he arrived in Arizona. He worked with Doug Sisson in Birmingham in late summer and made his first center field appearance on Aug. 26, giving him some experience before taking the assignment to Glendale. He started nine games in center for Birmingham, handling all 28 chances without an error over 79 2/3 innings.
That makes the AFL an extension of work already underway. One of the biggest reasons for sending him was to get more defensive reps, and he has spent time at all three outfield positions, mostly in center. There’s plenty for the 21-year-old to learn. Reading a ball off the bat, choosing an efficient route and knowing when to call off another outfielder take practice. So does getting the ball back to the correct base without giving runners an extra 90 feet.
Bonemer has one error in eight chances this fall, but that tells us very little about how the transition is going. An error total won’t tell you whether a late jump turned a catchable ball into a double or whether a good route made a difficult play look routine. Those are the details worth watching.
Maybe an offseason conversation with Tristan Peters would help, too. The former Savannah Banana gets some terrific jumps, and Bonemer could do worse than picking the brain of the guy currently patrolling center on the South Side. Peters also complicates any assumption that Bonemer’s assignment comes with a future starting job attached. Chicago’s rookie center fielder hit .265/.337/.437 with a .774 OPS, 12 home runs, 56 RBIs and 31 doubles while making the All-Star team. The Fielding Bible credited him with five Defensive Runs Saved. That’s a pretty solid case for keeping his spot.
The corners offer more questions. Braden Montgomery finished with zero DRS in right and had his struggles at the plate. Sam Antonacci, another infielder learning the outfield, finished at -9 DRS in left. That gives the Sox reasons to keep developing alternatives. It doesn’t tell us which player, if any, Bonemer might eventually replace.
Josh Barfield told Scott Merkin that outfield work adds versatility; Bonemer remains an infielder. Keeping both possibilities alive makes sense. With the big league infield crowded, the outfield could offer Bonemer a quicker route to Chicago, an opportunity he has acknowledged and embraced. A player who can handle multiple positions is easier to work into a lineup, particularly when his bat gives the manager a reason to find room. But he has to be able to handle them. Writing three extra positions next to his name won’t help much if the Sox can’t trust him to play there.
There’s also the trade question. A power bat with several possible defensive homes could interest another organization, and maintaining his infield work preserves those options. That’s a potential benefit of the development plan, though there’s no reason to treat it as evidence the Sox are preparing to move him. For now, there’s enough to follow without trying to predict a transaction or pencil him into the 2027 lineup.
Watch where Bonemer gets his remaining AFL starts. Watch whether his reads, routes and throws become more comfortable as the innings accumulate. At the plate, watch whether he keeps pairing power with walks while cutting down the Ks. Then comes his assignment to open next season, which should give us another clue about how close the Sox believe he is.
Bonemer has already given Chicago a reason to think about finding room for his bat. The work now is making sure his glove gives them somewhere to put it.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 14: Sergio de Larrea #55 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the second half of the preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans at American Airlines Center on October 14, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spanish point guard out of Valencia averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, five assists and averaged 66.7 percent on three-pointers (on three shots per game) this preseason. Unsustainable, but nonetheless impressive for a rookie.
“I think he’s a player who also has to adapt to a pace that, so to speak, is different from what he’s used to with players who are very physical and probably have superior athletic ability. But his size and his understanding of the game also help him create many opportunities for his own team,” Mateo said.
The 6’6 rookie has surprised a lot of people with his passing during the preseason, making it look easy to create and connect with his teammates despite playing in a physically tougher NBA environment than where he comes from.
Revisiting the 4th quarter of today's game in Macao for THIS play…
Sergio de Larrea (4 AST) with the lookaway dime to Zaccharie Risacher (16 PTS) for the reverse slam 🔥
“He’s shooting well, but more with his feet on the ground,” Chus Mateo pointed out.
“I think that perhaps little by little he’ll manage to shoot more in the pick and roll after the dribble, which is perhaps one of the areas he can improve. He’s a genuinely intelligent player both on and off the court,” the Spanish coach said.
Mavs coach Dusty May has also praised De Larrea’s basketball IQ and most recently his unique ability to shine under pressure.
“He’s a gamer, especially when the lights are on. He has the ‘it’ factor. We’ve been very pleased with him,” May said after the first preseason games.
Spanish NBA reporter, Toni Canyameras, notes that he believes that Sergio De Larrea has a good chance of becoming the first option in the rotation after Kyrie Irving. This echoes what the Mavs have said previously in the season, and how they played him through Summer League, as well as the preseason.
“A knack and feel” for the game and that it’s “innate”, “something you can’t teach”, as Mavs Summer League head coach Joe Boylan described it back in July. Already back then, De Larrea’s ability to scan and pass before the defender can catch up left defenses scrambling. And Dallas excited.
Unfortunately, things look a little different for the other part of the Spanish Mavs connection, Santi Aldama.
The seven-footer and NBA veteran has been out with an injury, recovering from the knee arthroscopy that ended his season last March and has yet to play a minute for the Mavs. A return date has not yet been disclosed.
Aldama was traded to Dallas this season after five years with the Memphis Grizzlies. And Toni Canyameras is optimistic:
“This is a refreshing reset for him after being part of that project led by Ja Morant, which has been in steady decline over the years,” he says.
There will be a lot of competition for the power forward spot in Dallas, however. But the fact that Aldama also has the ability to play as a dynamic center is worth noting.
“His proven combination of size, shooting ability, and playmaking skills opens up a wide range of possibilities. The Grizzlies’ roster instability, plagued by injuries in recent years, has spurred Aldama’s versatility, allowing him to play in every position,” Canyameras notes.
As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to open the season this week with an almost completely different roster than last year, and a handful of newcomers, including in leadership, their Spanish rookie seems ready for his debut. Vision, IQ, and size will give him an advantage to start; improved pace and physicality will be points to improve.
But as the very best in the world, Sergio De Larrea has something worth paying attention to. He thrives under pressure. And that’s something you can’t teach.
Kings guard Malik Monk, speaking with NBC Sports California’s Deuce Mason and Morgan Ragan during the team’s Media Day, offered his own bold prediction.
“I feel like if we’re all healthy, we can sneak into the playoffs…” Monk stated. “…I think we’re all bought in right now — it looks like everybody has bought in. I think we can surprise a lot of people.”
It’s a surprising statement given the Kings finished last season at 22-60, tied with the Utah Jazz for the worst record in the Western Conference. But Monk pointing out health as a big factor is valid.
Domantas Sabonis played just 19 games last season due to a torn meniscus. Zach LaVine played just 39 games and Keegan Murray played in 23 games. That is 165 combined games missed between just three starters.
Murray points to chemistry as a key factor for the Kings; something that the team was not able to build last season due to injuries.
“Every team starts 0-and-0. And I mean, we have any chance like any other team…” Murray said. “So, everyone laces their shoes the same way, everyone in the NBA has talent. It’s just a matter if your chemistry can continue to grow.
“And if we can do that, we can be a pretty good team.”
Sabonis, similar to his teammates, dismissed the gloomy predictions.
“Eleven years in it, you have so many predictions, so many people are so wrong,” Sabonis said.
Despite those predictions being outlandish to Sabonis, he sees a potential benefit to them being made.
“If anything, it helps to find some kind of fire in there,” Sabonis explained. “I know it’s driving [Kings owner] Vivek [Ranadive] and [coach] Doug [Christie] crazy – which is good. It’s obviously driving us crazy.
“We want to go back to where we were in those ‘Beam Team’ years, and we’re excited.”
The upcoming season will be the fourth since the Kings broke the franchise’s 17-year NBA playoff drought. It feels like it’s been much longer.
But despite the departure of the coach and key role players who brought the franchise back into playoff contention, a part of that skeleton remains in Sacramento in the presence of Sabonis, Murray and Monk.
“Going what we went through last year, it’s just all the pieces,” Monk said. “Ben [Simmons] has been disrespected a lot. We are getting disrespected a lot. Scott [Perry] is getting disrespected a lot. Vivek gets disrespected a lot. Doug, you know what I’m saying?
“I got forgotten about, they forgot about Keegan, they forgot about Domas. So, I think we got a chip on our shoulder this year.”
It’s easy to forget about the players who helped light the beam so frequently in years past because of their missed time.
But, if Monk is right, the NBA world could be in for a reminder.
The Slovenian superstar leads a new-look Los Angeles Lakers squad in their season opener against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
All of that will continue to develop as the season progresses. But none of it will matter when the ball goes up tonight.
Here are the three biggest storylines the Lakers face entering 2026-27:
How long will it take the Lakers to gel?
The Lakers have an almost entirely new look shaped around Dončić and Austin Reaves. Kessler was the crown jewel of the offseason, arriving via trade from Utah in exchange for what essentially remained of L.A.'s tradeable draft capital.
President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka filled out the rest of the roster with players who could shoot, dribble and pass: Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Ziaire Williams, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Matisse Thybulle and Jaden Hardy.
This is the deepest the Lakers have been in a while, but there are so many new faces that they're almost impossible to predict right now. It doesn't help that the new big three of Dončić, Reaves and Kessler only played 13 minutes together in the preseason.
JJ Redick abhors predictions, but did tell reporters on Tuesday that the biggest unknown with this team to him is how they'll handle adversity, and how that'll show up over an 82-game season.
"That's different for every team," he said. "And that's different maybe how we deal with adversity in November versus how we deal with adversity in March. Hopefully there's growth throughout the season so that we can deal with adversity in the right way, and that ultimately will prepare us for a deep playoff run."
Can Walker Kessler live up to the legacy of Lakers centers?
George Mikan. Wilt. Kareem. Shaq. Pau Gasol. Anthony Davis.
Kessler is walking (no pun intended) into a long line of Laker greats to have played the five, all of whom have hardware to show for it. Superstars have crumbled under the magnifying glass that comes with wearing the purple and gold. How is Kessler dealing with it all?
"The energy's great," he told reporters Tuesday. "I remember being in Utah. Every time we played the Lakers at L.A. I was there for Luka’s opening night, and ... it was insane. The fan base is unreal, their energy is great and playing for that, obviously … you can place on yourself a little bit of pressure. But for me, I just look at it as an opportunity to compete for a such a great franchise."
More than just a debut, Wednesday is also set to be the first time Kessler takes an NBA floor since last Halloween. He tore his left labrum after just five games and missed the remainder of the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery.
He's been described as a "perfect fit" alongside Dončić and Reaves by both Redick and Pelinka. He's automatically the best rim protector the Lakers have had since trading away AD. There hasn't been much time to hit the ground running, but Kessler's relishing every moment of it.
What does Austin Reaves the leader look like?
With LeBron's departure, Reaves graduates from the Lakers' third option to Luka's right-hand man. That – and his shiny new $184.76 million contract – comes with more responsibility.
Dončić has seen it, telling reporters on media day that Reaves has become much more vocal with his teammates. Redick said he's "been the leader in the gym every day" since returning from the Slovenia trip. Reaves himself described his leadership style as less confrontational, he prefers pulling guys aside and having one-on-one conversations. He's not an in-your-face, admonish you in front of everybody kind of player.
"I'm not gonna lead the same Bron does, I'm not gonna lead the same way Luka does," Reaves told reporters at media day. "I like to do things a little different."
How to watch Lakers season opener vs Warriors on Wednesday
Here's everything you need to know about how to tune into Lakers vs Warriors, including start time, location, TV channel and streaming.
The Boston Red Sox are stuck. If you’re the type of person who is content finishing third within the division and being bounced by your arch rivals in just a handful of games in back-to-back seasons, you might disagree. If you’re not an idiot, you know difficult decisions need to be made and that things need to change.
I’ve decided to task myself with analyzing which players can be part of the turnaround and which should be shown the door, all as a way to take the heat off chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. If you’re not down with that, I’ve got two words for ya: Problem or Solution?
Jarren Duran
It’s time to rip the band-aid off and talk about the most polarizing player in the organization…
Jarren Duran has not-so-slowly devolved from being the heart and soul of the team to dead weight, doing it within three seasons. I’ll go ahead and lay out the numbers for you below, which illustrate just part of the reason we’re even having this conversation…
… with the other reason(s) being his penchant for getting into trouble by flipping off fans, using homophobic slurs, threatening to beat up podcasters, and all sorts of other stuff. I’d like to stick to on-field factors, but it’s kind of impossible with this guy in particular.
WHAT WE KNOW Duran has worn out his welcome, with all of the things we previously laid out seemingly working together to limit his effectiveness on the field.
Duran still showcased an ability to hit for power and cause havoc on the base paths last season, but the consistency was gone and much of that had to do with the fact that he wasn’t entrusted with a full-time role until Roman Anthony was injured on May 4. I’d imagine they aren’t going to suddenly trust him more after the season he just had season, especially with the organization expected to lean on that trio of Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW If any of those three players get hurt, which history tells us is just a matter of time, there will be tons of questions surrounding the overall depth of the outfield.
Nate Eaton, Jahmai Jones, and Mickey Gasper were getting significant at-bats down the stretch, dude. I don’t have to tell you how bad that is, so while it hurts me to admit, there is at least a track record to look back at with Duran.
I’d also like to point out the fact that everything we’ve seen from him over the last two seasons, as well as the impending lockout and an expected uneasiness floating over potential player acquisitions this winter, would tell you that it’s going to be nearly impossible to come to a point where you feel like you’re not getting fleeced in a deal where you send the guy away — so long as he can’t be pawned off on an idiotic franchise like the San Diego Padres or Philadelphia Phillies.
Philadelphia wants another “gritty guy who plays the game the right way” and gives you a lottery ticket to acquire him.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO Breslow doesn’t want to get duped, holds onto the asset, and we do this whole song and dance all over again.
CONCLUSION It’s addition by subtraction, folks.
The Red Sox need to move on from the player and the person — he’s too much of a headache for the production you’ve gotten since the midway point of last season and there’s little reason to expect that he’ll turn things around as he gets older and starts to wear thin.
Old habits die hard, and for the Boston Celtics, that habit is letting go of the rope once they’ve built themselves a comfortable lead. Two runs from the Detroit Pistons, one in the third and another 23-0 in the fourth, slammed the door on the Celtics and left us scratching our heads.
The Wheels Fell Off
The Celtics went into halftime with a 13-point lead. They’d created gaps in the defense, hit their shots, and played solid defense. The ball was moving, cutters were cutting, and everything seemed right in the world. Well, everything except for Jayson Tatum’s shooting, but we could overlook that because the team was up double digits, and he was putting in work elsewhere on the floor.
Yet, in the second half, everything changed. Detroit made defensive adjustments, primarily in how their help defense operated, and suddenly Boston’s ability to penetrate off the dribble vanished. Separation became hard to create, and touches in the paint began to dry up. The addition of former Celtic Javonte Green also swung momentum for the Pistons, as he turned into a human torch from deep.
Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta didn’t pay off, either. Boston was outworked on both ends of the glass. When shots were falling and the offense was clicking, rebounding seemed like something you could figure out on the fly. However, as the Celtics began to crumble under Detroit’s momentum, you found yourself begging them to take control of the boards and dictate the tempo.
Save for Paul George, who had himself a night, it’s hard to look at any other Celtics and say they played a solid game. Derrick White probably comes closest. For me, the ball stuck to Payton Pritchard too often, and Sam Hauser struggled when closing out on defense. Jordan Walsh was a passenger for most of the game, barring some boards, and neither Hugo Gonzalez nor (to a far lesser extent) Baylor Scheierman made the most of their minutes.
Boston will need more across the board.
I’m chalking it up to an early start, coupled with it being the first game of the season and the fact that the Pistons are a really good team.
Tatum Will Be Better
There’s no denying that this was a brutal shooting night for Tatum. No matter how you look at it, he struggled from start to finish with his shooting. Unfortunately, Tatum needed to perform in this game. It was the first meaningful outing for the Celtics since shipping out Jaylen Brown, and rightly or wrongly, fans were going to judge him much more harshly.
I’m of the belief that trading Brown was the right call. Both for cap reasons and for building around one star. Tatum is the more complete player. If the front office has decided that one of the two needs to go, then Tatum was going to win that head-to-head. Would I have preferred to run it back with both? Of course. Still, it’s done, and we look forward.
However, for some fans, it’s not that cut-and-dry. So, when Tatum struggled, despite leading the team in shot attempts, it rubbed salt into a still-open wound.
The good news is, Tatum isn’t going to average 26.1% from the field. His shot will get better. He will grab more rebounds. Most importantly, though, he will grow into this new role.
None of that helped yesterday, when emotions were running high. We’ve watched Tatum long enough to know he grows into the season and slowly peaks around the All-Star break. Now, though, with Brown gone, Tatum has to step up earlier in the season. You can’t ask Paul George to shoulder so much of the offense all season.
Tatum will be better. Once he finds his footing, Boston’s offense should go to a totally different level. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait too long.
The Celtics Are Missing A Penetrator
When the Pistons shut down Boston’s offense for stretches of the second half, you could feel the shift. The Celtics are at their best when they’re getting into the paint, manipulating the defense and finding open shooters. Early in the game, the Celtics did this by manipulating the tagger before finding the open man — either on dribble-drive kickouts or swing passes.
Once the Pistons fixed their help scheme, the Celtics rarely got into the teeth of the defense. As such, Boston was trying to break Detroit down once they’d gotten set, and that led to some choppy possessions. Penetration made way for more perimeter screening actions, and they led to more contested jumpers. Shots that did come from two-point range were rarely at the rim hadn’t come via forcing rotations to the point where the Pistons had begun to bend.
After the game, I tweeted that we shouldn’t use Mike Conley. While I was serious about the idea that Conley could have settled the offense down in a short stretch, that wasn’t the tweet’s real aim. Instead, I wanted to point out that Boston didn’t add another guard they actually planned to include in the rotation, even though we all knew it was an area of concern heading into the summer.
Yesterday, the Celtics needed an extra player who could create off the bounce and get into the teeth of the defense. Someone who could penetrate and reliably make reads, be it scoring or playmaking. Both Pritchard and Tatum can fill that role, and they’ll likely thrive as the season progresses. Yet, when a defense is honing in, you need a wildcard. Right now, someone off the bench has to prove they can be that guy.
A Look To The Playbook
On a happier note, we did see some stuff from the Celtics offense that looks repeatable and impactful. One simple play that I was a fan of, was having Robinson slip out of a stagger screen to open up a lob pass for White.
What I liked about this play was that the setup was simple and the execution was repeatable.
The Celtics set up a stagger screen, with George as the first screener and Robinson as the second. As White came off Robinson’s screen, and John Collins looked to contain White should he turn the corner, Robinson rolled hard to the rim. With no one guarding the passing lane between White and Robinson, an easy lob pass ended in a quick two points.
Given the size Boston now has in the middle of the floor, I’m expecting to see a lot more of these quick-hitting, easy scoring plays as the season continues — especially when Tatum has found his rhythm.
It Wasn’t All Bad!
When your favorite team falls to defeat, despite holding such a sizeable lead, it’s easy to focus on the negatives. However, the Celtics also showed some good signs, especially early in the game. They’re much more active at forcing turnovers, which in turn is allowing them to get out in transition more. That high tempo will likely be sustained by what is hopefully a long, sustainable period of dominance on the glass, too.
If we’re talking about positive performances, we’ve also got to look at George. After a summer when Celtics fans were vocally dejected about his arrival, he quickly endeared himself. It’s unlikely what we saw from him last night will become the new normal, but knowing he’s got that in his locker will offer some comfort when you’re looking to someone for a quick bucket or two.
We’ve also got to credit the Celtics for how active their hands were in the passing lanes. They ended the night with 23 deflections. Also, it’s not like the team shot poorly all night. They walked away from the game having hit a steady 40.5% from deep on 17-of-42 shooting.
Once you factor in the spurts of solid defense and the way the Celtics looked on offense during the first half, there’s a lot to be excited about. They’ve just got to figure out how to keep hold of their leads, because while they might have a solid track record of eking out wins after being up double digits, too often they’re rolling the dice after letting things slip away.
Next up is the New York Knicks on Friday. It’s another tough test for the Celtics, and one that will undoubtedly highlight more areas the team needs to work on. That’s what the early part of the season is about. I’m not worried. I trust Mazzulla, the roster, and the rest of the coaching staff. Still, that doesn’t make losses like yesterday’s any easier to stomach.
Punches were allegedly seen too at Madison Square Garden, specifically in an incident involving Funkmaster “Funk” Flex, a DJ, rapper and long-running radio host on New York City’s Hot 97.
A video went viral on social media around the game, alleging Funk Flex was punched in the face in the Delta Club at the Garden.
Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex is involved in a physical altercation at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener against the 76ers in New York, Oct. 20, 2026. Instagram/alextodd
In the video, one man in a black outfit can be seen being pushed back by a security member while another in a blue jacket and gold chain is being talked to camly by seemingly other members of security.
However, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Funk Flex denied the punch and suggested there is more to the story than the video suggests.
“I THIS WHERE I GOT PUNCHED IN THE FACE? YEAH RIGHT! I DIDNT SEE THAT PART! ,” he wrote in an Instagram post, sharing the video.
“IS THAT RECORD COMPANY GUY UPSET? ISNT HE A GUY THAT PROMOTES RECORDS? YOU MAD AT ME? WHY YOU CHASE ME LIKE THAT SHADOW?. I DID NOT SAY I WAS GONNA SUE! WHY DID SHADOW SAY? “HIT ME FIRST SO I CAN SUE YOU?
Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex is involved in a physical altercation at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers in New York on Oct. 20, 2026. Instagram/alextodd
“WHY YOU SAY ‘IM A BROKE NI$$A’ YOU TRYING TO GET A MONEY GRAB OFF ME? YOU THREW A DRINK AT ME?”
He went on to guess he got “these label guys kinda angry” and added that they want to “sue when they don’t get they way.”
From Funk Flex’s point of view, it seems there was an altercation involved with others in the music industry and someone allegedly wanted the rapper to sue.
Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex is involved in a physical altercation at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2026. Instagram/funkflexHot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex is involved in a physical altercation at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener against the 76ers on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Instagram/funkflex
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Justin Champagnie #9 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Folks, tonight marks a landmark moment for the Milwaukee Bucks: their first official game—against the revamped Washington Wizards—without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster in 13 years. 13 years. It’s been one hell of a ride—culminating in a title, of course—but all good things must come to an end. And as that era ends, another begins, starting tonight in the nation’s capital.
Preseason has come and gone—with the Bucks going 2-3 in their five games—so we now have a (somewhat) clearer idea of what to expect. We know Taylor Jenkins emphasises defensive intensity and rebounding as his main pillars, but with the team so new, there is still a lot to learn—and that’s the exciting part. Obviously, it’s a very young squad, so there will be some great moments and some not-so-great ones, but overall, if the vibes are good and the intentions are right, most fans will be content.
As for tonight, I think it will be a great measuring-stick game. The Wizards are improved, yes (I mean, they have to be to some degree, since they are actually trying to win basketball games now), but they are not the Thunder or the Spurs; this is a new team trying to integrate many different players who may have many different motivations. If the Bucks play selfless basketball and stick to the game plan, they can win.
The Task Ahead
There’s something poetic about the Bucks—a team just entering a rebuild—opening their season against the Wizards—a team just exiting a rebuild. And yeah, the Wizards have lost a lot since Will Dawkins and Michael Winger took over and declared that Washington would no longer be riding the hamster wheel of mediocrity. Dawkins and Winger cut the dead wood, went into full development mode, and attacked the draft (which, yes, included a mandate to tank, and tank hard).
Over the past three seasons, the Wizards have a combined 50-196 record. Woof. But of course, teams tank to put themselves in a position to draft franchise cornerstones, and the Wizards—while they did draft at two in 2024, taking a solid player (Alex Sarr) in a middling class—still hadn’t found theirs heading into last season. This made last season’s tank, ahead of what most experts labelled an elite draft class, one of the most important years in Wizards history. They lost their way to the league’s worst record (17-65) and finally got some lottery luck in a loaded class, drafting the precocious AJ Dybantsa—who is out tonight with an ankle injury—as the final piece of their rebuild.
But of course, Dybantsa isn’t the only major addition the Wizards made. This team has quickly become filled with stars of yesteryear. Washington traded for Trae Young midway through last season and, as I’ll get to, subsequently inked him to a gargantuan deal that will probably age like milk in the sun. Anthony Davis, I’m assured, now also plays for the Wizards. Heck, even Deandre Ayton is here! And of course, I can’t forget Bucks legend Khris Middleton, who returned to Washington after the Wizards dealt him to the Mavs—as part of the Anthony Davis trade, funnily enough—at last season’s deadline. Jokes aside, although these guys no longer live up to their once-lofty reputations, they are still good players who should be nothing but additive to Washington’s talented young core.
Injury Report
Bucks:
Nate Ament: probable (ankle)
Wizards:
AJ Dybantsa: out (ankle)
Tristan Vukcevic: out (hip)
Jamir Watkins: out (knee)
Player to Watch
Trae Young. Once a heralded star in the league, Young is looking to prove he’s still that guy after his stock dropped precipitously over the last few years—so much so that Atlanta dealt him to Washington for a bag of chips before they had to pay him. The Wizards, on the other hand, clearly believe in the 28-year-old a lot more than the Hawks did, given that they extended him on a fully guaranteed four-year deal worth $212m. Yikes. Regardless, Young—someone who has given the Bucks fits going all the way back to their title run—still has the potential to be a gamebreaker. Milwaukee’s defence needs to make him play in crowds and keep him out of the paint; if he tries to score one-on-one, the defence has done its job. Neutralising Young will also go a long way toward neutralising Anthony Davis.
Some of us have been speculating (hoping) that Tyler Herro was taking it easy in the preseason and that he’d play with more vigour once the real thing started. Well, the real thing is here, and I’m going to stick my neck out and say he has a really good game. Maybe except for Bilal Coulibaly, the Wizards don’t really have defenders who can bother Herro, so I think this matchup gives him a chance to feast a little and announce himself as a Buck. I’m talking 27 points, five assists, efficient shooting.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 19: Victor Mesa Jr. #25 and Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
One of the major questions for the Mets going into the offseason is who will take over first base in 2027, after a grabbag of (mostly) underwhelming options in 2026.
One of the candidates for the Mets hitting coach opening is Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee, who formed a close connection with MVP frontrunner Pete Crow-Armstrong in recent eyars.
Around the National League East
Dave Dombrowski is looking for ways bolster the Phillies outfield and keep the veteran players fresh in 2027.
Around Major League Baseball
Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine has become a serious contender for the Houston Astros general manager vacancy.
After 78 years, a championship has continued to prove elusive for the Cleveland Guardians.
No matter who wins, this year’s World Series champion will be a first time winner.
This year’s World Series is unlike any we’ve seen in a long while.
The Brewers’ success stems from knowing who they are and believing in their way of baseball, as attested to by outfielder Sal Frelick.
The Rays have a unique approach that carried them from early season long-shots to American League champions.
Either World Series champion would be a liability for sportsbooks, with the Brewers looking to be a worse outcome for the house.
Jacob Misiorowski enters the World Series with hopes to finally showcase the dominance he showed in the regular season.
Milwaukee’s potential World Series win would be a rare feat in the current iteration of postseason sports.
The Rays winning the ALCS when they did may allow them to perfectly line up their rotation and fully rest their bullpen.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither were the Tampa Bay Rays.
While Brandon Woodruff making his return to the field as the longest tenured member of the Brewers would be a great story, league rules may make that impossible.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Chris McShane reviewed Freddy Peralta’s half-season with the Mets in 2026—and what came of him after being dealt to the Rays.
Steve Sypa profiled Teruaki Sato, the NPB Triple Crown winner who has been posted for MLB teams to bid on this offseason.
This Date in Mets History
26 years ago Timo Perez learned the hard way not to count your home run chickens before they hatch.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 14: Aaron Bummer #49 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the ninth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on May 14, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a few days off before the World Series gets underway, there is plenty of opportunity to look back on the Atlanta Braves’ 2026 season. Our player review series continues with left-hander Aaron Bummer, followed by a look back at the top 10 game-changing hits for the Braves throughout the 2026 campaign.
MLB News:
The New York Mets have reportedly shown interest in John Mallee as they continue their search for a hitting coach.
From the Feed:
The Braves have a few needs that should be addressed this offseason with some notable free agents available. Between Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena, who should the Braves go after?
COLUMBUS, Ohio — On the second night of a back-to-back, the Maple Leafs arrived in Ohio looking for simplicity and found it in volume. Toronto generated just 22 shots but converted six of them, including four in a dominant second period to beat the Blue Jackets 6-2 at Nationwide Arena.
The win improved the Leafs to 5-4-2 and marked the second straight victory for a group that has shown signs of settling into a more straightforward style.
Easton Cowan continued a rapid ascent with a career-best three-point night that included his first short-handed goal in the NHL. Marshall Rifai scored his first NHL goal in just his fifth game. And the team absorbed the early loss of Jake McCabe to a high-stick injury before finishing the night with five defencemen.
Marchenko’s power-play goal at 8:16 of the first period tied the game 1-1 after Jake Christiansen had opened the scoring for Columbus at 2:38. The former Blue Jacket deflected a puck off his foot and past Jet Greaves.
Marchenko described the whole night as being about staying focused in the moment rather than sentimental.
“I try to think about my game again, and I said before, try to focus on like things what I can control,” Marchenko said. “It’s like my game, my shifts, like work hard. Yeah. It’s obviously again special, fans, everything. But happy to play here. Happy to be back.”
He added that the reception did not alter his approach.
“It’s fine. I’m ready for that, but like again, I can’t control that. I appreciate it for all fans who’s been here when I played, and it doesn’t matter for me. Actually, I just do my work on the ice and try to be better.”
The second period turned the game.
William Nylander scored at 2:26 on a feed from Morgan Rielly, Auston Matthews added the winner at 3:12 in his 700th NHL game, Cowan scored short-handed at 6:48, and Jack Roslovic finished the stretch at 12:03.
The four goals in under 10 minutes of game time gave Toronto a 5-1 lead before Charlie Coyle scored early in the third and Rifai closed it out at 16:58.
Rielly, who finished with three assists, said the group tried to keep the game manageable after Monday’s win over San Jose.
“On a back-to-back, you want to try to play simple especially on the road,” Rielly said. “I thought everyone did a good job, obviously. I thought our goalie was outstanding and the penalty kill was good again.”
Anthony Stolarz stopped 35 of 37 shots. The shot disparity was significant — Columbus held a 65-43 edge in Corsi attempts and a narrow edge in expected goals (2.69 to 2.61) according to tracking data from NaturalStatTrick.com — but Toronto’s finishing and special-teams play offset the volume. The Leafs’ penalty kill continued its strong start, and Cowan’s short-handed marker extended a stretch in which the unit has been among the league’s most reliable.
Cowan, playing up beside Matthews and Roslovic at times, said the group trusted the system on the kill.
“Yeah, I think we’re just trusting the system. We’re having good sticks, good clears, and we’re not allowing much during us. Hopefully we keep that going.”
On the short-handed goal itself, he offered a direct description.
“Yeah. I had a decent shot there. I think the goalie was favoring Willy, which I probably would too. So, yeah, I just picked my spot.”
Rifai’s first NHL goal came late, a slap shot set up by Rielly and Roslovic. The call-up had already been elevated into more minutes after McCabe left in the first period following a high stick from Kent Johnson that caught him in the face area. Coach Jim Hiller said the decision to hold McCabe out was precautionary after the medical staff evaluated him.
“I bumped into him. Seems to be doing okay, but we just want to make sure. We want to go slow,” Hiller said.
“First and foremost, just getting the win. We came here to get two points and win back-to-back, and we were able to accomplish that. So all the individual stuff feels a lot better when the team gets the job done.”
He added that he understands the role required to stick around and that the goal was just a bonus.
“Maybe confidence (from the goal) but ultimately, you know, that’s not going to be my calling card to help this team. And I understand that. I’m going to have to block shots. I’m going to have to break pucks out, use my feet and close out. Those are the things that are going to keep me around.”
Hiller praised the overall effort on a night when several players moved into larger roles. On Cowan, the coach said the young forward has met elevated expectations.
“We’ve talked about him a lot. He’s really — I can’t say enough good things about him. Honestly, like he’s exceeded my expectations, and I had high expectations for him. And I’ve told you, he told me this is what he was going to do, and so he’s living up to his end of the bargain. Now he’s a regular penalty killer, and he’s a good player, and he’s gonna have a great career.”
Rielly described the better version of the Leafs as one that keeps it simple.
“I think as a group, we’ve had a tendency to overcomplicate things or try to make too many plays. And I think when we’re able to keep it simple and just kind of manage the puck, our big guys can kind of take over. I think that’s kind of what happened here.”
Matthews finished with a goal and an assist. Nylander and Roslovic each contributed multi-point nights. The Leafs face the Rangers at home on Thursday. McCabe’s availability will be monitored, but the early indication is that the facial injury did not force an immediate longer absence.
The Leafs have won consecutive games for the first time this season, something they probably needed for their confidence, having dropped three of the last four games before it. Now it’ll be up to them to see if they can build on it.
NOTES: The Maple Leafs acquired forward Kirill Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzļikins (with 18% salary retained), and forward Miles Wood from the Blue Jackets. In return, Columbus received forward Matthew Knies, forward Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a 2027 second-round draft pick. Knies and Andrae weren't much of a factor in this game.
Knies had one opportunity in close in the late stages of the first period but his shot went over top of the net.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia (51) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of game four of NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Among the 2026 Dodgers set to hit free agency following the conclusion of the World Series, Tarik Skubal ranks among the top available options this offseason. The Dodgers will certainly be in the hunt for a reunion for the still-reigning two-time American League Cy Young award winner.
One of the more under-the-radar impending free agents is that of left-handed reliever Alex Vesia. Vesia has been with the team since being acquired from the Miami Marlins for Dylan Floro following the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series victory. Through the ups and downs, both on and off the field, Vesia had been one of the more reliable relief options for a wildly turbulent bullpen over the last six seasons.
With his future with the Dodgers now uncertain, Vesia took to his Instagram account where he thanked and expressed gratitude towards the fanbase.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I do want to say thank you to Dodger Nation for showing me so much love over the past 6 years, especially this year. I’m just a man on a mission!”
Should Vesia find a new home this offseason, he’ll finish with a combined 22-13 record with a 2.87 ERA over 328 regular season innings and a 1.59 ERA across 22 2/3 postseason innings as a Dodger.
One of the most prominent international free agents this offseason is 27-year-old outfielder Teruaki Sato. Sato will be posted after having an incredible season with the Hanshin Tigers, slashing .303/.383/.609 with 39 home runs and 106 RBI.
The Dodgers have notoriously dipped into the international free agent market over the last three offseasons, and they will be a team that has their eyes on Sato, per Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report.
One of those international signings was utility man Hyeseong Kim, and the Dodgers’ “Swiss Army knife” has failed to keep a stable role with the big league club over the last two seasons. Kim took the time to post to his Instagram account that he doesn’t regret signing with the Dodgers despite the lack of playing time, but he’s disappointed with the way he’s performed the last two years.
I love the Dodgers, and I have never once been disappointed in this team. It was my choice, and I haven’t regretted it for a single moment. My only disappointment was in myself. I have nothing but gratitude for the team and all the Dodgers fans!
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: David Robinson attends the game during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday, Spurs legend David Robinson joined Lauren Rosen and Sean Little on The Association. He spoke of the Spurs incredible 2025-2026 season, their return to the NBA Finals, and his experience watching the next generation of Spurs develop into championship contenders.
During the interview, The Admiral was asked about netting a historic quadruple-double. His 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks on February 17, 1994 was only the fourth recorded quadruple-double and the last time it occurred in the NBA. Over three decades later, Robinson feels that it is not a question of if Victor Wembanyama will join the list of players to tally the elusive statistic anomaly, but when.
There are also some great highlights of The Admiral in his heyday. You can never go wrong with the best of David Robinson.
I always love when Robinson speaks about the Spurs. He has such passion for the team and has really been through it all with the team. He is the foundation for so many wonderful aspects of the franchise, and the team’s ultimate ambassador.
Spurs dropped their first game, leaving them in dead last in the Western Conference with an 0-1 record. Hopefully just a humbling hot minute as the Spurs tweak the strategies that will best serve them over the long season.
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 24 : linesman Jonathan Deschamps #80 holds Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils and Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings apart after the end of the NHL regular season game at the Prudential Center on November 24, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 4-3. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
For much of the summer, former Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin had made it clear that he only wanted to be traded to a small handful of NHL contenders in the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Florida had spent most of their remaining trade assets to unite the Tkachuk brothers in Florida. Vegas was already short on tradable assets thanks in part to previous moves they had made to bolster a roster than went to the Cup Final last season. And Minnesota, seemingly the last man standing on Larkin’s original list, couldn’t agree to terms with Detroit on a trade. As a result, Larkin has remained in Detroit to start the season despite his trade request.
Larkin is a player that I have long thought makes sense for the Devils as adding him down the middle would give the Devils as good a 1-2-3 punch at center as anyone in the league. And make no mistake, you NEED to have a legitimate 1-2-3 down the middle if you want to be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. But I never really thought it was worth taking the time to discuss the idea as Larkin seemingly didn’t have any interest in waiving his no-trade clause to come to New Jersey.
Things have since changed.
Reputable Red Wings beat reporter Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported on Tuesday that Larkin has expanded his list of preferred destinations to ten teams. Along with the aforementioned three teams, joining his list now are the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth, Washington Capitals…..and yes, the New Jersey Devils.
Larkin is reportedly willing to come to New Jersey. But should New Jersey even want him, and if they did, what would a trade even look like?
Why the Devils Should Want Larkin
Larkin, who turned 30 over the summer, is a two-way center who plays in all situations. He’s a perennial 30 goal scorer, having reached that mark in each of the last five seasons. I wouldn’t say he’s a 1:1 direct comparable player to Nico Hischier, but the two share many similarities in how they play the game. Similar frames, similar production. Both had been leaders on their respective clubs. Both play in all situations. Both win a lot of faceoffs.
Interestingly enough though, I do think Larkin brings some things to the table that this Devils team lacks. Larkin historically has not had issues finishing around the net, which can’t be said about most of the forwards on the Devils roster. He has what I would call a deceptively heavy shot where it doesn’t look like he’s getting a ton on it but he’s capable of beating opposing goaltenders clean from the high slot and/or top of the circle. His backhand shot is underrated, as is his ability to pick corners. I also think he is a good enough skater where he’d be a fit for the style and brand of hockey the Devils are looking to play attacking off the rush, although his boots will likely decline some as he continues to get older.
Signed through the end of the 2030-31 season, Larkin has four more seasons remaining on his deal after this one at $8.7M AAV. I think that last point is also key when talking about Larkin. This is a salary cap league where the cap is continually rising. While it’s true that Larkin is signed through his age 35 season, that $8.7M cap charge is a relatively low number for a Top Six caliber center. That number is only going to continue to look better and better as the cap increases further, and from a Devils perspective, you’d be talking about a team that is set down the middle with Hischier ($11.7M AAV through 2032), Jack Hughes ($8M AAV through 2030), and potentially Larkin through the end of the decade.
I do think there are two things worth mentioning with Larkin. First, the Devils did try to acquire a center this offseason with the Barrett Hayton offer sheet that Utah ultimately matched. The Devils ultimately pivoted and went in a different direction, but I wouldn’t discount Sunny Mehta recognizing the importance of the position and the need to address it. The other thing that is worth mentioning is that both of the Devils bottom six centers in Evan Rodrigues and Cody Glass are slated to hit UFA this summer.
I also think when it comes to discussing Dylan Larkin, its worth bringing up the elephant in the room.
Larkin was a key member of the US Olympic hockey team, as was Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes. Larkin also is close to the Hughes brothers in general, having spent a bunch of time with them over the summer. Larkin and Quinn are close enough to the point where when I wrote about it this summer, I thought if Larkin wound up in Minnesota that that might be enough to convince Quinn Hughes to stay there.
I wouldn’t suggest that the Devils trade for a specific player because it might make another player more likely to sign with them in the summer. That said, the Devils need to be cognizant of the fact that this is an arms race. It’s the player empowerment era. Either you adapt and load up on star players who want to come play for you, or you don’t and you get left behind. Either you be aggressive now when it comes to team building, or you wonder what the heck just happened if and when Jack Hughes is the next Team USA star to consider his options elsewhere.
Part of the reason why Larkin wanted to go to Minnesota in the first place was to play with Quinn Hughes. I would guess part of the reason why he’s open to the idea of coming to New Jersey is to play with Jack and Luke Hughes. The Devils should embrace that and beat Minnesota to the punch by exploring a Larkin trade. And if it just so happens that adding Larkin is the move that ultimately pushes Quinn Hughes to New Jersey next summer to join his brothers, I fail to see how that’s a bad thing. If good players want to play for you, you find a way to make it happen and then worry about making it all work from a cap perspective down the road.
Speaking of beating teams to the punch, the Devils would also be smart to be aggressive here and keep Larkin away from a Carolina team they’ve struggled to beat and a Washington team that had their way with them the other day. Especially when those are the two teams most likely to finish 1-2 in the Metropolitan Division this season.
What Could A Realistic Trade Look Like?
It’s not often you see Top Six centers traded in the NHL, let alone centers under contract for another half decade. But if there is a trade that could potentially be used as a comparable, maybe we look as far back as the Jack Eichel trade for one.
Eichel, who wanted out of Buffalo in part because of a disagreement over how to treat his neck injury but also because of Buffalo’s track record as a perennial loser, had been stripped of the captaincy. He also had four plus years remaining on his contract at the time and was five years younger than Larkin is now.
Vegas ultimately agreed to terms on a trade, sending Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a first round pick, and a future second round pick in exchange for Eichel and a third.
Tuch was the established NHL player Buffalo got back, having scored 139 points in 249 games over four seasons with the Golden Knights. Krebs, then a top prospect, didn’t really get a chance to establish himself in Vegas as he was the “young prospect with upside” piece of this deal, but has since become a fixture in the Sabres lineup. Add in a first round pick (that eventually became Noah Ostlund) and a future second rounder and Buffalo probably did as well as could reasonably be expected given the circumstances at the time. After all, Eichel didn’t want to be there anymore and they were working against the clock as he had a NMC slated to kick in the next offseason, which would’ve only further limited the market and return.
The market is what the market is though. Eichel was legitimately injured at the time and I’m sure Buffalo wasn’t the only team scared off by the surgery that Eichel preferred at the time, which probably limited the market to some extent. Centers are in high demand and short supply, particularly those on contracts that may be deemed team-friendly. Still, I think this is a reasonable deal that can be used as a framework for a potential Larkin deal.
Dawson Mercer would seem to be the obvious fit as the “Alex Tuch, established NHL player” piece of this deal. This isn’t me saying that Dawson Mercer is as good as or better than Alex Tuch, as I don’t believe that to be the case. But he is an NHL player, albeit a flawed one, and may or may not be a piece Detroit would want in return. The Devils wouldn’t be able to make a deal anyways without moving some money out so Mercer’s $4M salary would almost have to go the other way. Now, if I were Detroit, I’d probably prefer Arseny Gritsyuk over Mercer, but that would be one where if I were Sunny Mehta, I’d push back on and say no.
I do struggle to find the top prospect fit, but I would guess the first few players Detroit would ask for are Anton Silaev, Alexander Command, and Mikhail Yegorov. I don’t think the draft picks would be much of a concern, especially since the Devils still have the extra first rounder remaining from the Simon Nemec trade, but there are reasons why the Devils should want to hold on to each of those prospects. I wouldn’t go as far as to say they should be off-limits but I do think those are players Detroit would ask about. I don’t know if an injured Seamus Casey or a Lenni Hameenaho moves the needle much in this particular case.
One potential complicating factor though is cap space, as the Devils simply don’t have a whole lot of it at the moment. Attaching Stefan Noesen or Cody Glass to this deal wouldn’t create enough space for the Devils to fit Larkin in. Adding Anthony Mantha or Brenden Dillon would create enough space, but I don’t know why Detroit would want players in their 30s for Larkin. I also don’t think its realistic to ask Detroit to retain cap space on Larkin to drop the cap hit down, as they’re probably not going to want salary retention on their books for five years.
I don’t know if a deal centered around Mercer, Command, and future picks is quite enough to get it over the finish line, particularly when compared to other teams best offers, but I do think its at least a starting point where the Red Wings aren’t hanging up the phone when Sunny Mehta calls. Sunny would likely need to get creative though in terms of making the cap work, which would likely involve looping in a third team to take some salary off of the Devils books. He may also need to get creative in finding the right pieces Detroit would want back to get them to say yes.
Final Thoughts
Sunny Mehta has previously said that his job trying to improve the Devils is never done. So I do think that with the Devils on Larkin’s list, they should at least explore the idea of bringing him in.
I get that some might be put off by Larkin’s public trade request, but I do think it is ultimately coming from a desire to be on a winning team and/or him being sick of losing. The Devils still have work to do in that respect to show that they’re not that type of team, but they are coming off a very good win against Colorado and have a lot of runway this season to show they’re not Detroit.
The Larkin to the Devils fit isn’t necessarily seamless, but its tough to argue that the Devils wouldn’t be a better team with Larkin. Larkin would give the Devils another legitimate top six option and more flexibility to juggle the lineup as they see fit. Maybe on some nights, that’s having Jack on the wing with Nico or Larkin. Maybe it’s having an embarrassment of riches down the middle with Larkin centering Mantha and Brown on the third line. I don’t know how Sheldon Keefe will make the pieces work, but I’d rather have the problem of having too many good players than not having enough.
Larkin is a valuable enough piece though between his contract and versatility as a player where it might be worth overpaying to acquire him. I can’t stress enough how difficult it is to find quality centers, and while Larkin isn’t Connor McDavid, he’s far from being a scrub either. You can’t go out into free agency and buy a Dylan Larkin, and if you were trying to do so in 2026, it would cost far more than the $8.7M AAV he’s currently making.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks "3 Standouts From The Game." In this recurring series, The Hockey News' Canucks team will do a deep dive into three standouts from Vancouver's last game. This article will focus on the Canucks' most recent 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Leevi Meriläinen
Another night, another standout performance by Leevi Meriläinen. The Finnish goaltender kept Vancouver in this game as he stopped 37 of the 42 shots he faced. Meriläinen's best moment came in the second period as he stopped Sebastian Aho on a penalty shot to keep the score at 3-3.
Meriläinen was busy all night. Carolina recorded at least double-digit shots in each period, with their lowest total at 12, which came in the first. With the way Meriläinen has been playing, the Canucks are going to be put in a difficult position once Thatcher Demko returns from injury.
Defenceman Elias Pettersson
Tuesday was another stellar performance from defenceman Elias Pettersson. The 22-year-old was a shot-blocking machine as he led all players on either team with five. Pettersson was also physical throughout, as he led Vancouver with four hits.
Pettersson has been the Canucks' best defenceman so far this season. He is finding different ways to impact the game, which has led to increased minutes on a nightly basis. If Pettersson can keep performing at this level, he is going to be a top-four defenceman at the NHL level for a long time.
Max Sasson
Max Sasson continues to develop into a strong bottom-six forward. The 26-year-old scored his third of the campaign and was tied for the team lead with three shots. Sasson was also solid in the faceoff dot as he won eight of his 13 draws.
Tuesday was another example of Sasson using his speed to create chances. He created chances off the rush, which included his second-period goal. Sasson also played a crucial role on the penalty kill, which went a perfect five-for-five, as he logged 3:39 of shorthanded time in this game.
Oct 20, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Leevi Merilainen (31) defends against Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
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