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Warriors' Draymond Green sets out on quest to prove he's still elite defensively

Warriors' Draymond Green sets out on quest to prove he's still elite defensively originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – When we last saw Draymond Green on the basketball court, the Warriors were in the Western Conference semifinals, and the 35-year-old forward was trying and failing to reach the level achieved years ago as the backbone of Golden State’s dynasty.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle wouldn’t allow it. Three inches taller, 20 pounds heavier and five years younger than Green, Randle was feasting at the All the Buckets You Can Eat buffet. The place Draymond deemed “off limits” for most of his 13-year career.

“Ju played great the entire series,” Green conceded after the Timberwolves won Game 5 to advance to the conference finals, while the Warriors boarded a jet into the offseason.

“The way Julius has been playing since he came back from the injury … he’s been lights out,” Green added. “I have no doubt that he’ll continue to play that way. He’s aggressive as hell and he’s going to after it. He’s got the mindset, always have had that mindset. And it’s clicking for him.”

Was this some kind of conditional surrender? Or can Draymond, at this advanced NBA age, still represent the backbone of a stellar defense?

Don’t get it twisted. Green embraces the challenge that comes with the aging process. His quest is to prove he’s still elite and, moreover, quite capable of ruining opposing offenses. 

“I think, ironically, at 22, there was some things that my body couldn’t do that I can do now,” he said Monday. “Because it’s just all the work you put in and the things that you learn and the strengthening that you do. I think there’s a little give and take there. I’m always confident that I can win mentally. That’s what you rely more on, when you realize, ‘Oh, man, I can’t quite do that thing.’

“But if I’m honest with you, I don’t think I’ve reached a point to where my body can’t do it.”

To be sure, for all the fireworks provided by the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, Draymond’s unique gifts as a defender were essential to Golden State’s “Death Lineups” that once demoralized even the best of opponents. He was the NBA’s only 6-foot-6 “big man” capable of protecting the paint, patrolling baselines, clogging passing lanes, supervising the defense and running point on the break.

It’s unreasonable to assume Green can be as peripatetic as he once was six or seven years ago. He shouldn’t have to be. He is entering the winter of his career, with young teammates available to boost the team’s energy. A slimmer Trayce Jackson-Davis. The relentless Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski. And, it appears likely, Jonathan Kuminga. They all can feed any fire started by the first unit.

But no frontcourt player on the roster has a physical/mental/instinctive combination to match Green at his best. He knows that. For the Warriors to beat back ageism and make a serious run, he needs to be that.

“I feel great,” he said. “Am I the same person that I was at 27? No. And thank God I’m not. I’ve learned a lot since 27. There’s things that change, but if you decrease in one area, you’ve got to grow in another. That’s the constant challenge of what keeps you going and keeps you striving to do it again and again and again.”

Against Randle in May, Green, despite earning All-Defensive first-team honors, seemed too small and not quick enough to offset his physical disadvantage. Randle averaged 25.2 points per game, shooting 53.3 percent from the field, adding 7.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds. He scored a combined 60 points in Games 4 and 5.

Now, five months later, as the Warriors prepare for the 2025-26 season, Green is determined to prove he has recovered his mojo and has the goods to embellish his status as an elite defensive force. The nine-time All-Defensive team selection is chasing No. 10.

Only five players in NBA history have earned the honor at least 10 times: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Scottie Pippen.

“That’s my motivation,” Green said. “To go and try to make another All-Defensive team and join that list. It’s an amazing list. All first-ballot Hall of Famers. To try to put myself, my name, in the hat with those guys … that would be a dream come true.”

Thousands of fingers throughout Dub Nation are crossed in hopes Green, who turns 36 next March, can live that dream. His odds are long in a league that has more than a dozen candidates, including San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley.

That dream might be required for the Warriors to reach the heights to which they aspire.

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MLB playoff predictions: will the Mariners finally break their title drought?

Cal Raleigh has been a revelation this season for the Mariners. Photograph: Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Team that that will be most missed from the playoffs

The Pirates may have been abysmal again but have remained appointment viewing thanks to Paul Skenes, whose highlight reels make you question physics. It’s not just his raw pace, throwing 100mph+ deep into games, but his mastery of late-moving variations that mean batters can’t pick whether it’s a sweeper or a splinker until it’s already behind them. Alan Evans

The Astros. They’d made the playoffs for eight straight years, winning a couple of World Series, four American League pennants and seven AL West titles. Sure, they were villains on merit, but gravity-defying dynasties like Houston’s only make for richer postseason narratives. Bryan Armen Graham

Well, these days, it’s hard to miss any team because just under half of them make the playoffs. That said, the Orioles have great young talent and a fanbase starving for a winner. When Camden Yards is full and buzzing it’s one of the best atmospheres in North American sports. Their 2025 has to be considered one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory, unless you’re a Mets fan of course. David Lengel

High seed at risk of going out early

The Brewers surged to the best record in baseball (96-65) with an astonishing summer after having been 25-28 on 24 May. But their momentum slowed in September, and with the new extended wildcard format giving the best teams a five-day break, that may be enough to knock them off their rhythm and send them home early. AE

The Brewers could be vulnerable. The NL Central champions have come back to earth after the 14-game win streak that vaulted them to the best record in baseball. There are questions over the fitness of closer Trevor Megill and they’ll have a tricky NLDS draw with the Padres or Cubs after a five-day layoff. BAG

That has to be the Tigers, who are facing a Guardians team that came out of nowhere to capitalize on a historic Detroit collapse. Cleveland’s recent stretch of allowing just 32 earned runs in 19 games was otherworldly, and it’s helped earn them three home games v Detroit. There’s only one Tarik Skubal pitching for the Tigers, so that means they’re in trouble. DL

Dark horse to win

The Padres are used to being overlooked in favor of their more glamorous neighbors in Los Angeles, but they have a dangerous core led by Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr, and the bullpen’s 3.06 ERA is by far the best in baseball. If they can keep games close early on, they will be hard to shake off. AE

The Mariners are the lone major league team to have never reached a World Series much less won one. They have a strong chance of finally breaking that hoodoo thanks to Cal Raleigh’s brilliance and proven October commodity Randy Arozarena. BAG

The Red Sox have come out of this dormant phase, won back their temporarily apathetic fan base and are quite good, and importantly, well-rounded. They do everything well, and despite the loss of rookie phenom Roman Anthony, probably have enough to oust the Yankees this round, and more. They have the ace in Garrett Crochet and two Comeback Player of the Year candidates in Trevor Story and Aroldis Chapman. Don’t be surprised if they pull of their fifth title of the century. DL

Most important factor this postseason/offseason

The Dodgers already have the best – and best-paid – lineup in baseball, but are still likely to give Kyle Tucker a megacontract this offseason. If that does happen, calls will grow for a long-overdue look at competitive balance and the rules about salary deferrals. This won’t stop the Dodgers winning 100+ games a year for the next decade, but it could shape the outcome of the collective bargaining agreement due after next season. AE

Bullpen upgrades. In today’s game, the difference between winning and losing in October often comes down to late-inning arms in high-leverage situations. Any team that can lock down seventh-to-ninth inning relief dominance will head into 2026 with a huge competitive edge. BAG

Well, so much of the pitching world surrounds bullpens these days, with starters having trouble going deep into games. LA’s relief core has struggled, but now that their starters are healthy, and the pen can breathe a little, the Dodgers are well placed to use their core more effectively. San Diego’s bullpen, with Mason Miller is terrifying. On the flip side, expect the Yankees bullpen to let them down at just the wrong time. DL

NLCS

Dodgers over Padres. AE

Phillies over Brewers. BAG

Dodgers over Brewers. DL

ALCS

Yankees over Mariners. AE

Mariners over Yankees. BAG

Mariners over Blue Jays. DL

Your World Series champions will be …

The Dodgers may be facing injury struggles, most notably catcher Will Smith’s fractured hand, but no team has a deeper roster. They have the best player in the world in Shohei Ohtani, an experienced batting lineup who know how to win in the postseason, and the potentially powerful storyline of retiring team hero Clayton Kershaw being used as a super-reliever if they make the World Series. His teammates would love to send him off with another championship, and they have the quality and consistency to dominate any opponent. AE

The Phillies boast one of the most balanced rosters in baseball, even without ace Zack Wheeler. Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez and Jesús Luzardo headline a rotation that can carry games deep, sparing a top-heavy bullpen. Jhoan Duran, electrifying in the ninth, has turned Citizens Bank Park into a theater of intimidation. Offensively, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper – two of the generation’s best October sluggers – anchor a lineup bolstered by Rob Thomson’s platoons and a supporting cast with eight double-digit homer hitters. Harper feels destined for a World Series MVP run after 2022’s near-miss, while Schwarber (56 homers) has generally thrived under pressure. The X-factor? Trea Turner’s return from a hamstring injury. If he finds his rhythm, Philadelphia’s combination of power, depth, and home-field magic makes them the most compelling case to win it all in 2025. BAG

The Mariners were born in 1977 and have never won the big one. Nearly 50 years later, they’re ready to shock the Dodgers and finally bring that elusive title to the northwest corner. It won’t be a shock, because Seattle have the talent and they’re peaking at the right time. With should-be MVP Raleigh, Arozarena and Julio Rodríguez, their lineup is beefy. But it’s the pitching rotation, with depth from Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert that’s found elite form over the last month, combining with a pen in top gear that make them so formidable. Yes, they really can match LA, and if they can somehow strikeout a little bit less, they’ll pip the Dodgers in seven. DL

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Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 Victory over the Sharks

On Monday night at Honda Center, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the San Jose Sharks for the first time this exhibition season and in their fifth of seven overall preseason games.

The Ducks iced a squad nearly full of NHL-caliber players that will likely closely resemble their opening night roster.

The Sharks, on the other hand, sent a team mostly consisting of AHL players, not one of which was over 30 years old. It was a tale of two rosters, and the Ducks were expected to control play from puck drop.

Ville Husso got the start for the Ducks and stopped 22 of 24 shots, not allowing many second-chance opportunities and working to find pucks through traffic.

Opposite Husso, Jakub Skarek got the start for the Sharks and stopped 13 of 16 shots before he was pulled in a scheduled goalie switch halfway through the second period. Gabriel Carriere entered the game in relief and saved all 14 shots he saw off Ducks sticks.

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Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Drew Helleson Breakout Key to Unlocking Blueline

Once again, it is preseason, but for this game especially, any statement surrounding it should be taken with a grain of salt.

That said, here are my takeaways from this game:

Chris Kreider-The Ducks have been starved for a true netfront difference-maker, especially on the power play, and that’s where Kreider earns his money. He instinctively knows how goalies move when tracking pucks throughout the offensive zone and reacts accordingly to always remain in their field of vision.

His battling ability was on display in this game, as he consistently won pucks back that were shot and deflected below the goal line to extend zone time substantially, an underrated but impactful quality.

Cycle-Since the start of camp, coaches have implemented a cycle system in the offensive zone built on constant player and puck movement from all five skaters on the ice. Rather than continuous efforts to move pucks from low to high, followed by a shot, and an attempt to win an ensuing board battle, forwards run give-and-gos up the wall to defensemen, who jump to the middle or switch with their d-partner to create one-timer looks.

There are elongated sequences where forwards remain high at the blueline, weaving while defenseman remain low after shifting in efforts to draw defenders well out of position.

“Just kept it simple,” Nikita Nesterenko said after the game. “Got the puck in, trying to create energy for the other lines, tie their D up. I think every like was rolling. Leo’s line played incredible. It’s fun to watch those guys.”

Leo Carlsson-This was a game that Carlsson was expected to dominate while implementing some of the aspects of his game that needed refining in the past. He didn’t disappoint. He displayed vision, patience, and anticipation skills with the puck on his stick he’d only shown flashes of to this point in his career. This game may have solidified Kreider a spot on his left wing for the foreseeable future with the way they consistently found each other in dangerous areas of the ice.

Beckett Sennecke-Sennecke was one of the few players for the Ducks in this game who could stand to gain a lot. This was the most dynamic he’d been all preseason and displayed true game-breaking potential with the kind of quick strike offense that teams crave. Whether it’s a pure strength factor or if he needs to tweak his approach, the next step in his progression will be to enter battles more efficiently and come away from them with the puck with greater frequency.

“I thought he didn't play a lot, but every time he was out there, he was a threat & he was dangerous,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “He was fun to watch, and on every given night, it could be a different situation. He gives you a lot of versatility as a wild card player.”

The Ducks will head to San Jose to take on the Sharks again on Wednesday night for their sixth of seven preseason games.

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Mailbox Monday: What Will The Penguins' Final Roster Look Like?

Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp is beginning to draw to a close, and there is sure to be a lot of drama in the next several days. 

So, it's a perfect time for a Mailbox Monday, as I'm sure many fans have burning questions on their mind regarding camp, the final roster, impressions of young players, and more.

You asked, and I did my best to answer. 

If you were GM how would you balance the seemingly conflicting aims of making Pens long term contenders and reaching the playoffs with the core 3? Given the lack of trades, it seems Dubas has been pressured into competing sooner, but I don't see a long window with no new core.
- @liam_rhea
I actually love questions like this because they are a reminder of why I am not an NHL GM. There is a lot that goes into this, so I'll do my best.

There are a few things to consider here. First, Evgeni Malkin is in the final year of his contract. Given the roster situation, an entirely new coaching staff, and youth just beginning to push for the NHL, it's hard to imagine the Penguins being contenders this season in any capacity unless they go young, and the prospects all perform immediately. 

So - if I'm the GM - with Malkin, I'd have the expectation that if he wanted to contend one more time with this team, he'd probably have to sign another contract. That would be a pretty clear message.

As far as trades, at this point, I'm holding out for the right deal - especially for Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. The best window to trade Rakell may have already passed, and Rust is worth keeping around the young guys. I would, however, trade Erik Karlsson if presented with the opportunity to accrue more leverage in draft capital.

Penguins' Mid-Camp Prospect Tiers: Who Is Most Likely To Make NHL Roster?Penguins' Mid-Camp Prospect Tiers: Who Is Most Likely To Make NHL Roster?We're officially 10 days into Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp, and if one thing is for certain, there has been a ton of competition. 

But the other part of this is a bit more complicated because I think it all depends on how the organization views the current crop of young players who already are or are very close to NHL-ready. You mentioned a "new core." Well, even if they don't yet have a franchise center or a star defensemen, I would argue that a few members of that "new core" have already arrived.

Ben Kindel has the talent and the smarts to be a top-six center, so I would consider him a potential part of a new core. Harrison Brunicke should be a top-four defenseman and, at his ceiling, a top-pairing blueliner, so he could also be part of that. And then there's Sergei Murashov, whose camp and track record prove that he could be the real deal - and that he has potential as a star NHL goaltender.

If I'm GM, I'm feeling pretty confident about three of my current prospects - plus, perhaps, at least one of Rutger McGroarty or Ville Koivunen - and think part of that core is already here. So, perhaps I don't push super hard to compete in a strong draft year, bank on drafting that franchise talent, and go from there, depending on who that is.

'Inspiring': Penguins' Top Goaltending Prospect Reflects On Fleury, Game To Remember 'Inspiring': Penguins' Top Goaltending Prospect Reflects On Fleury, Game To Remember Marc-Andre Fleury's final game in Pittsburgh was an unforgettable experience for many, fans and longtime teammates alike. 

Hypothetically, if the Penguins do draft a franchise center or defenseman in 2026 who can help immediately - and those other three have another year of development at that point - I'm looking at that $50 million-plus of cap space and boatload of draft capital I have next summer, and I'm going to get aggressive in trying to acquire whichever that other "missing" core piece is. 

And that is the best shot I have at competing in the final year of Crosby's contract while also managing not to mortgage the long-term future of the franchise. And, hey, maybe that also means 87 sticks around for a few more years before hanging them up, which is never a bad thing.

Why couldn't Kindel make the roster? Other than being a little small, he didn't look out of place to me. 
- @ThePuckMike

I'm going to be honest, Mike: I'm not sure that he shouldn't.

I hear a lot of arguments about "rushing" Kindel onto a non-playoff NHL team. While I understand that side of the coin, I'm also of the belief that no two players are alike. No two players have the same timeline for NHL readiness. And no two players are predictable.

Kindel has thoroughly impressed me in this camp, and the thing that impresses me most is how he's gotten better each game as the competition has gotten better. His reads are up to NHL speed, his skating is fine, and his smarts are off the charts for someone his age. 

Benjamin Kindel Finding His Footing In First Penguins Training CampBenjamin Kindel Finding His Footing In First Penguins Training CampIt's been almost three months since the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Benjamin Kindel with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

If a player is legitimately ready for the next level, there's no such thing as "rushing" them. If they're not behind, why not reward them for showing that they're ahead?

I'm not even saying that Kindel needs to stay beyond a nine-game trial. But, if Kyle Dubas meant it when he said "the young guys are coming," Kindel has earned those nine games through his performance. Him cracking the NHL roster wasn't on my training camp bingo card, but he should certainly be in the conversation at this point. 

If the Pens keep a younger player or two who has earned a spot (Broz, Brunicke), can you explain how that would work logistically/financially? Is it as simple as waiving/sending Dumba or whoever down to the AHL? It has to be more complicated, right? Thanks for all your reporting!
- @jeffrose810.bsky.social

Thanks, Jeff. I appreciate you reading along.

And, in this case, no, I don't think it's more complicated than that. 

Again, if Dubas meant what he said about young guys earning spots, he won't hesitate to move the veterans they beat out for roster spots however he has to. Ideally, he would execute a trade - but trading players during training camp is difficult because teams are well-aware of the waiver wire and that they can probably get that same player for free on waivers rather than giving up an asset for them.

So, I do not think waivers will be an issue. The Penguins have more than $11.75 million in cap space, so they can afford to bury a few contracts if that's what it comes down to.

'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press Conference'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press ConferenceOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. 

The Athletic writers have the Pens dead last. I get the blue line may have issues, but the forward group looks too good to finish there. What do you think? 
- @WadeWorkman3

Quite frankly, I disgree with that assessment. And I feel especially confident in saying that after watching five Penguins' pre-season games and seeing some of the newfound structure that Dan Muse and his coaching staff are implementing. 

It doesn't look like this team is playing nearly as high-risk. They aren't bleeding odd-man rushes, and they're playing a much cleaner game in the neutral zone. They also aren't afraid to use center drive, which is something Muse has talked about. 

In addition, the Penguins have some legitimate young talent pushing for the roster. If even a few of those guys make the team, I think it, by default, makes the Penguins a better team. The forward group is better on paper than it was last season - even without the young guys in the mix - and the defense corps isn't much changed, especially since Marcus Pettersson wasn't at his best for much of the season last year before the trade. 

And, at the end of the day, I still think there are at least a handful of other teams that are simply way better-positioned to tank than the Penguins are, especially since they have not moved any of their higher-value veterans. As long as those guys are still on the roster, teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Buffalo Sabres, and Anaheim Ducks are likely to finish behind them.

Penguins Make Five More Roster Cuts On MondayPenguins Make Five More Roster Cuts On MondayThe Pittsburgh Penguins trimmed their training camp roster again on Monday. 

What's ur 23 man roster prediction
- @DrakeBarrett8

Well, isn't this the million-dollar question? It's also the hardest question on here. My answer changes by the day.

If you would have asked me 24 hours ago whether or not Ben Kindel would be making a legitimate case for the NHL roster, I would have said "no." But, his performance against the Detroit Red Wings in a 2-1 win on Monday changed my tune a bit, and I believe he has earned his way into the conversation. Same with Filip Hallander. 

That said, I still think Kindel ends up back in juniors. There are simply too many young forwards vying for few spots, and I do think others have earned it, too. I'm not saying it won't happen. I just think it's a longshot.

"I Wasn't Impressed": Todd McLellan Speaks Bluntly After Red Wings Play Flat In 2-1 Loss To Penguins The good news for the Detroit Red Wings is that their 2-1 setback at Little Caesars Arena against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins is that it won't count against them in the standings, as it was the fifth pre-season game of their schedule.

But... here goes. I'll probably change my answer immediately after writing this:

Forwards (13)
Sidney Crosby
Evgeni Malkin
Bryan Rust
Rickard Rakell
Ville Koivunen
Anthony Mantha
Filip Hallander
Philip Tomasino
Tristan Broz
Justin Brazeau
Blake Lizotte
Connor Dewar
Tommy Novak

Defensemen (8)
Erik Karlsson
Kris Letang
Parker Wotherspoon
Connor Clifton
Harrison Brunicke
Owen Pickering
Matt Dumba
Ryan Shea

Goaltenders (2)
Tristan Jarry
Arturs Silovs

Injured Reserve:
Kevin Hayes
Rutger McGroarty

Marc-Andre Fleury Steals Show For Penguins On Saturday Marc-Andre Fleury Steals Show For Penguins On Saturday It was Marc-Andre Fleury's night in Pittsburgh on Saturday as the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up their second preseason win. They beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by three, 4-1, thanks to two goals from Rickard Rakell, one from Sidney Crosby, and one from Ville Koivunen. 

Can't wait to see what I think at this time tomorrow. But that's where my head is at right now.

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Former Penguins' First-Round Pick Waived By Rangers

On Monday, former Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Derrick Pouliot was placed on waivers by the New York Rangers.

Pouliot, 31, was drafted eighth overall by the Penguins in the 2012 NHL Draft after a standout campaign with the Portland Winterhawks, where he put up 11 goals and 59 points in 72 games. Pittsburgh drafted him in hopes that he would become an elite, two-way, play-driving defenseman.

Unfortunately, things never translated for Pouliot at the NHL level. In his first three NHL seasons with the Penguins from 2014-17, Pouliot played a combined 67 games and put up a total of two goals and 14 points. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in the summer of 2017, where he spent two seasons before signing as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues.

He has spent the past four seasons with four different teams, and he signed a two-year contract with the Rangers this summer. Pouliot has played in only 26 NHL games since signing with St. Louis, and he has eight goals and 54 points - as well as a minus-31 rating - in 226 career NHL games.

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"I Wasn't Impressed": Todd McLellan Speaks Bluntly After Red Wings Play Flat In 2-1 Loss To Penguins

The good news for the Detroit Red Wings is that their 2-1 setback at Little Caesars Arena against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins is that it won't count against them in the standings, as it was the fifth pre-season game of their schedule.

The bad news is that they looked sluggish and uncrisp against a Penguins roster mostly comprised of minor league players. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's passes were sharper all game long and they enjoyed more quality scoring opportunities.

The Penguins scored on their first shot of the contest against goaltender John Gibson thanks to a blown defensive coverage on Ben Kindel, which was followed by a second period goal from Tommy Novak.

While Grand Rapids Griffins forward Dominik Shine halved Pittsburgh's lead with 3:40 left in the contest, the Red Wings were unable to secure the equalizing goal with Gibson pulled for a sixth attacker and instead fell to 2-3 in pre-season play. 

Gibson stopped 18 of 20 shots, while his Penguins counterpart Tristan Jarry made 21 saves. 

Following the game, the frustration with how his team played was evident for head coach Todd McLellan. 

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"I wasn't really impressed with our team, to be quite honest," McLellan said. "I thought we looked slow and sloppy. I don't know which caused what."

Among the roster regulars that the Red Wings skated included Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, Marco Kasper, Moritz Seider, J.T. Compher, and Erik Gustafsson. Justin Holl and Jonatan Berggren also suited up for Detroit. 

Without listing any names, McLellan made it clear that complacency among Detroit's more veteran players isn't an option, even if these games don't count in the standings. 

"Some of the older players have to get their games going quickly. Almost a week from today or tomorrow we're playing against really, really good teams," he said. "Some guys, in my opinion after watching them tonight, some have only played a couple of games and aren't ready to play yet."

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Noah Laba Steals The Show In Rangers' Preseason Win Over Islanders

 Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Just as he has done throughout training camp, Noah Laba stole the show in the New York Rangers’ 3-2 preseason win over the New York Islanders on Monday night, capping the game off with an overtime-winning goal. 

Coming into training camp, nobody expected Laba to crack the Rangers’ opening-night roster, but here he is, making it extremely difficult for the Rangers to deny him a spot. 

Laba has continued to impress Mike Sullivan, and as a result, Sullivan is putting the Laba in positions to thrive and showcase his skills. 

It’s safe to say that he hasn’t disappointed. 

Laba’s hard-nosed style of play helps transform him into a reliable two-way forward, which has set him apart from the rest of the young prospects. 

Monday night’s preseason game was a big test for Laba, who was going up against some of the Islanders’ top veteran players. 

The 22-year-old forward showed that he belongs in this NHL environment, as he thrived in this competitive environment. 

Laba had no fear when scoring his overtime goal, going straight to the net, a valuable attribute in an impactful NHL forward.

Over the course of training camp and the preseason, Sullivan has grown more and more fond of Laba’s offensive game. 

“I think Noah has a 200-foot game. I think his offense is evolving,” Sullivan said. “With each game that he plays, you could see more of the playmaking and just his vision, whether it be with the puck or without the puck on the offensive side, just his instincts.”

Rangers' Lines Combinations, Defensive Pairings And Goaltenders For Preseason Game Against Islanders Rangers' Lines Combinations, Defensive Pairings And Goaltenders For Preseason Game Against Islanders The New York Rangers are set to play in the New York Islanders on Monday in what will be their fourth preseason game. 

The Rangers have thrown more challenges onto Laba’s shoulders throughout the past few weeks, and that has only helped him grow his confidence. 

“From the first game till now, just slowly kind of gaining more and more confidence,” Laba said. “Obviously, that was the first time I kind of played an all-NHL lineup, so definitely a bit nerve-wracking there, but felt like as the game went on, I gained a little more confidence.”

That third-line center role is up for grabs, and Laba continues to gain momentum in his pursuit of securing the role. 

Whether Laba ultimately makes the Rangers’ opening-night roster or not, he’s put the entire organization on notice, and he’ll eventually make his way to The Big Apple.

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Dodgers feel an urgency to deliver another World Series title to L.A.

At this time last year, the pressure was palpable.

Up until last October, the Dodgers had a reputation as postseason failures.

It wasn’t an unwarranted distinction. In each of the previous two seasons, the team had been upset in the National League Division Series by lesser opponents in the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. The fall before that, their title defense flamed out against the underdog Atlanta Braves in the NL Championship Series. Yes, they won a World Series in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. But outside of that, it’d been more than three decades since they last triumphed under typical circumstances.

That checkered history weighed on them. Their urgency to change it in last year’s playoffs was fervent.

“That kind of sour taste that you have when you make an early exit from the postseason, our guys are tired of it,” manager Dave Roberts said on the eve of last year’s postseason. “So this is another opportunity. I do sense that edge.”

This week, of course, the Dodgers face a different kind of dynamic.

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After their memorable run to a championship last year, the team has gotten the monkey of its full-season title drought off its back. And while expectations are still high, with the Dodgers and their record-setting $400-million roster set to begin the playoffs with a best-of-three wild-card round starting Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, the questions about past October disappointments have dissipated.

So, does the pressure of this postseason feel different?

"You would think,” veteran third baseman Max Muncy said. “But the pressure's always going to be there. Especially when you're this team, when you're the Los Angeles Dodgers, there's a lot of expectations around you. There's a lot of pressure.”

Indeed, after an underwhelming regular season that saw the Dodgers win the NL West for the 12th time in the last 13 years, but fail to secure a first-round bye as one of the NL’s top two playoff seeds, the Dodgers have a new task before them.

Erase the frustrations of their 93-win campaign. Maintain the momentum they built with a 15-5 regular-season finish. And recreate the desperation that carried them to the promised land last fall, as they try to become MLB’s first repeat champion in 25 years.

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“For us, the challenge is not letting that pressure get to you and finding our rhythm, finding what's going to work for us this year,” Muncy said. “Each year the team has to find their identity when they get to this point. You have an identity during the regular season, and you have to find a whole 'nother identity in the postseason.”

The Dodgers’ preferred identity for this year’s team figures to be the opposite of what worked last October.

Unlike last year, the team has a healthy and star-studded starting rotation entering the playoffs. Also unlike last year, the bullpen is a major question mark despite an encouraging end to the regular season.

For the wild-card series, it means the team will need big innings out of Game 1 starter Blake Snell, Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto and (if necessary) Game 3 starter Shohei Ohtani — who is being saved for the potential winner-take-all contest in part to help manage his two-way workload.

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Ideally, their production should ease the burden on a relief corps that ranked 21st in the majors in ERA during the regular season, and has no clear-cut hierarchy for its most trusted arms.

“The starting pitching is considerably better” than it was last year, Roberts said Monday. “That's probably the biggest difference between last year's team.”

Granted, the Dodgers do feel better about their bullpen right now, thanks to the return of Roki Sasaki, the reallocation (at least for this series) of Emmet Sheehan and Tyler Glasnow from the rotation to relief roles, and recent improvements from Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott.

“[We have] much more confidence than we had a couple weeks ago,” Roberts said of the bullpen. “I think that it's because those guys have shown the confidence in themselves, where they're throwing the baseball. I think last week we saw guys more on the attack setting the tone, versus pitching behind or pitching too careful.”

Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott delivers against the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 19.
Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott delivers against the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 19. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Still, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will pitch in the ninth inning, or be called upon in the highest-leverage moments.

Close, late contests would be best for the Dodgers to avoid.

To that end, the continuation of the Dodgers’ recent uptick at the plate would also help. During a dismal 22-32 stretch from July 4 to Sept. 6, the Dodgers ranked 27th in scoring, struggling to overcome injuries to several key pieces, slumps from some of their biggest stars, and a general lack of consistent execution in situational opportunities. Over their closing 20 games, however, the lineup averaged an NL-best 5.55 runs per game behind late-season surges from Ohtani and Mookie Betts, plus team-wide improvements while hitting with runners in scoring position.

“The team is starting to fire on all cylinders, finally,” Muncy said. “It's something that we haven't really felt all year."

The Dodgers had good news on the injury front during Monday’s team workout at Dodger Stadium. Muncy, who missed the last four games of the regular season while battling leg bruises and what Roberts has described as other “overall body” issues, is expected to be in the lineup. So too is Tommy Edman, who hasn’t played in the field since last Wednesday because of a lingering ankle injury.

Read more:Nine concerns the Dodgers should have about facing the Reds in the NL wild-card series

The big question remains catcher Will Smith, who has been out since Sept. 9 with a right hand fracture.

Roberts said Monday the team has been “encouraged” with Smith’s recent progress. The slugger was even able to take live at-bats Monday night.

“If he can get through today and feel good,” Roberts said, “then it's a viable thought” that he could be on the final 26-man roster the Dodgers will have to submit ahead of Tuesday’s game for the wild-card series.

Either way, the Dodgers’ biggest concern remains on maintaining their recent level of play. Erasing past October failures might no longer be a motivation. But, like Muncy, Roberts said the urgency to win another World Series remains the same.

“I don't know if it's easier or harder that we won last year,” Roberts said. “But, honestly, all we care about is winning this year.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets prospects Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean earn MiLB Awards Show honors

Mets pitching prospects Jonah Tong and Nolan McLean dazzled in the minor leagues during the 2025 season and were recognized for their performances at the third annual MiLB Awards Show on Monday night.

Tong, the No. 2 prospect in SNY's midseason rankings, was named the 2025 Pitching Prospect of the Year and earned All-MiLB Prospect First Team honors after his dominant season with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse.

The 22-year-old went 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA and 179 strikeouts over 113.2 IP combined across both levels. He was promoted to Triple-A in the middle of August and made two starts with Syracuse, tossing 11.2 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts.

McLean, SNY's No. 4 prospect, won the Breakout Player of the Year after flying up the rankings and impressing each time he took the mound.

In his first season as a full-time pitcher, the former two-way player owned a 2.45 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 113.2 IP and 21 appearances with Binghamton and Syracuse.

Both prospects earned promotions to the majors and gave Mets fans something to look forward to for years to come. The pitching duo, along with fellow top prospect Brandon Sproat, are all expected to play a major role in 2026, which will mark their official rookie seasons.

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Yankees prospect Spencer Jones named 2025 All-MiLB Prospect First Team

Yankees top prospect Spencer Jones had himself a fantastic 2025 season in the minor leagues and has been rewarded by being named to the All-MiLB Prospect First Team.

Jones split the year between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and excelled at each level. He finished with 35 home runs, 80 RBI, 102 runs scored and 29 steals in 116 games. His triple slash line was an impressive .274/.362/.571 to give him a .933 OPS.

Following his successful campaign, the 24-year-old will look to make a difference in New York as soon as 2026.

The lefty-swinging outfielder joins Dylan Beavers (Baltimore Orioles) and Edward Florentino (Pittsburgh Pirates) as outfielders selected to the First Team.

Mets' Jonah Tong also made the First Team as the right-handed starting pitcher. On top of that, Tong was also named the MiLB Pitching Prospect of the Year.

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Hurricanes Reassign Five Players To AHL, Two To Go Through Waivers

The Carolina Hurricanes made their second round of cuts just before their penultimate preseason game.

The Hurricanes reassigned a trio of defensemen — Dominik Badinka, Domenick Fensore and Aleksi Heimosalmi — to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

The team also reassigned center Skyler Brind'Amour and defenseman Ronan Seeley to Chicago as well, but the two will need to pass through waivers first before they can officially reassigned.

The team had already sent goaltenders Amir Miftakhov and Ruslan Khazheyev to the Wolves a day prior and there will be a whole litany of players right behind these seven as well now that the Hurricanes have just one preseason game remaining.

Rod Brind'Amour had been pretty upfront about wanting to keep his main NHL guys off the ice throughout the preseason to avoid injuries, but he did say that he'd like to have most of them play the final preseason game.

"We'll decide when we get a little bit closer, but yeah, I'd like to see more of our guys play that have only played one game," Brind'Amour said.

More cuts are coming, but it'll also be interesting to see if anyone has earned the chance to stick around a little bit longer.

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Jack Studnicka scored twice, including the overtime winner as the Panthers fought off a Hurricanes comeback

The Florida Panthers returned home to Sunrise for the first time since hoisting the Stanley Cup back on June 17th. It was the debut of their new scoreboard, and a lineup with a mix of veterans and young guys, the Panthers fought off the Hurricanes comeback as they won it in overtime by a final of 4-3.

It did not take long for the first goal to be scored. After battling for the puck at the end boards, Mackie Samoskevich set up Jack Studnicka, who beat Frederick Andersen with a backhand shot through the legs to make it 1-0 Florida.

Each team got a power play in the first period, but neither team lit the lamp on special teams.

Florida added on to their lead in the second period. Their active sticks in the neutral zone paid off. Nolan Foote created the turnover and a quick entry into the Carolina’s zone, was able to hit the trailer Sandis Vilmanis who got the puck through the short side with a back hand at 9:48 of the second.

Shortly after the second television timeout, 6’8” goaltender Cooper Black stepped into the crease to play the remainder of the game.

Carolina’s Bradly Nadeau looked to have scored to make it 2-1, but a challenge for offside by the Panthers was successful to keep it at a two-goal lead.

Minutes later, Carolina did find the back of the net off the draw. Former Panther Givani Smith got behind the Panthers defense and beat Cooper Black past the blocker at 14:40 of the second frame.

Carolina had two shots through most of the second, yet were opportunistic a second time in the period. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin’s shot from the right circle and a screen made it past Black to tie it at two at 17:02.

After 40 minutes, Anderson was taken out for 2021 6th round German goaltender Nikita Quapp to play the remaining 20 minutes.

The Panthers continued to tilt the ice in their direction, and it paid off.

Catching the Hurricanes on a line change, Brett Chorskie was able to skate in a straight line after Ben Harpur’s chipped it to him off the boards in the neutral zone, and then got the puck past the glove of Quapp as the Panthers retook the lead at 8:36 of the third.

The back-and-forth continued as Cooper Black was once again beat on the blocker side, this time it was Justin Robidas less than 4 minutes later to tie it at three.

This game wouldn’t be set in regulation, but the Cats would start overtime on the power play as Carolina was called for delay of game with 23 seconds left in regulation.

Studnicka already had one goal on the night, and he added another in overtime with a chance off the rebound while parked at the net front on the man advantage.

Florida wins both games of the home-and-home against Carolina, and take their record to 2-2 for the preseason.

No time to waste as the Panthers will travel 250 miles to Central Florida to play a game in less than 24 hours. Florida will play a neutral site game from the Kia Center against state rival Tampa Bay on Tuesday night, where the Panthers are expected to dress a younger lineup.

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