The Navy All-American Bowl together with America’s Navy have named ten of the top players from across the nation as the inaugural Academic Navy All-Americans.
Mets' Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat tuning out trade rumors, looking to build on debut seasons
The Mets hosted their annual Kids Holiday Party at Citi Field on Thursday, with Clay Holmes, Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong all in attendance.
And while the focus of the day was to spread some holiday cheer to some local children, it also provided a chance for the players to weigh in on the offseason, particularly as it relates to trade rumors.
While McLean is widely considered untouchable in any trade talks, both Sproat and Tong have had their names floated around in many a trade rumor, but the pair of top prospects both said they aren’t focused on any of the outside noise.
“I really don’t look at it, if I’m being honest,” said Sproat, who made four starts at the big-league level last season while pitching to a 4.79 ERA.
“I love being a Met. It’s truly one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my entire life,” Tong told SNY. “I also understand that it’s a business, so honestly [I] don’t look at anything, and my focus is to get down to spring training every season, and I’m really excited for next year.”
While Tong’s minor league numbers in 2025 were staggering (1.43 ERA with 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings), his brief appearance in the majors was largely uneven. The right-hander pitched to a 7.71 ERA and averaged less than 4.0 innings per start.
And despite being mentioned in just about every theoretical Mets trade, the 22-year-old is locked in on continuing his improvement as a player.
“Same focus: one foot in front of the other. I’m not too worried about results, and just more worried about the process,” Tong said. “When I’ve done that in the past, everything else has taken care of itself, and honestly, I’ve had a lot of fun doing it. So, I think doing that with the group of guys that we have is going to be really exciting.”
Sproat is taking a similar approach to his offseason as well, learning from his time in the majors as he heads into the 2026 season with a legitimate chance to break camp in the major league rotation.
“Obviously, I was super blessed to be able to debut last year. It’s been my lifelong dream,” Sproat said. “Just going out there and soaking it all in, and then just taking cues away from it and going into the offseason and working on those. There’s always something that you can work on, whether it’s the mental side or the physicality, pitches. I think there’s always something that you can take away from it.”
McLean, Tong, and Sproat are Joe DeMayo’s first, fourth, and fifth-ranked prospects in the Mets’ system, respectively, so it’s easy to see why they’re so coveted by other teams.
But if the Mets decide to hold on to the talented trio, they could become the foundation of the rotation for years to come.
“Even though we’re young,” Sproat said, “I think we bring a lot to the table.”
Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns named to 2025 NBA Cup All-Tournament team
The Knicks’ one-two punch of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns has been spectacular this season, and on Thursday, the pair were both named to the NBA Cup All-Tournament team.
New York’s duo joins LA's Luka Dončic, San Antonio's De'Aaron Fox, and OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The All-Tournament Team was selected by a media panel of 20 voters.
OG Anunoby received seven votes as well, but ultimately well three short of the final spot.
Brunson was also named the tournament MVP following Tuesday night’s championship victory over the Spurs.
The captain averaged 33.5 points, 6.5 assists, and shot 55 percent from the field.
Towns was slowed down by an injury during the championship matchup, but still put together a strong showing.
He averaged 21.1 points and 10.9 rebounds, and had a double-double in six of New York’s seven tournament games.
Mets’ Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes on joining Team USA for 2026 World Baseball Classic: 'It was an easy yes'
Nolan McLean took the league by storm during his rookie campaign.
With just eight big-league games under his belt, though, the youngster was surprised to receive the call to join Team USA for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Once he did, though, the decision was a no-brainer.
"They called me up and I was passionate about it from the start," McLean told SNY's Michelle Margaux. "I wasn't really expecting to get that nod that early in my career, but it was something I couldn't turn down."
McLean was spectacular for the Mets after cruising his way through the minors.
He pitched to a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out 57 batters over 48.0 innings, which was good enough for him to finish 11th in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
The 23-year-old is expected to be leaned on heavily again during his first full season.
While much can change over the next few months, McLean is currently the meat on the top of the bone for a Mets rotation that struggled mightily during the second-half last season.
No matter what additions they make, he is expected to remain one of their top arms.
"I mean I know it's cliche, but pressure is a privilege," he said. "Just to be able to go out there and compete on the highest level, in front of an awesome fanbase, it just means the world to me."
Before that though, he will team up with some of the best arms in the game, including potential Mets trade targets Tarik Skubal, Joe Ryan, and closer Mason Miller.
Mets right-hander Clay Holmes will also be part of the roster, coming off a strong season transitioning to a starter.
He happily accepted after having discussions with Team USA pitching coach Andy Pettitte.
"It's something I've always wanted to do," Holmes told Margaux. "When I saw that some of the build-up and workload stuff would be similar, it was an easy yes. I'm super excited to put the red, white, and blue on and compete with those guys."
(12-18-25) Rangers-Blues Gameday Lineup
ST. LOUIS – It’s been a week since Jordan Binnington has seen the net for the St. Louis Blues.
Binnington was last in action against the Nashville Predators and received the mercy pull in a 7-2 loss, in which he allowed six goals on 25 shots in a poor effort by those playing in front of him.
Joel Hofer has started the past three games, including a 1-0 shutout win of the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, but it will be Binnington back between the pipes when the Blues (13-15-7) host the New York Rangers (16-15-4) on Thursday in the second of back to back games at 7 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
“The team needed a reset, first of all,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “He’s been the negative benefit of our poor play. When we’ve really played poorly, it’s been in front of ‘Binner’ in these last two weeks. I think it’s given him the opportunity to work and to prepare and to get back the right mindset that makes him an elite goaltender in this league along with coach (David) Alexander.”
- - -
The Blues will make a couple skater changes for the game Thursday, including inserting Matt Luff in at forward for Robby Fabbri, and Tyler Tucker will go in for Matthew Kessel.
For Fabbri, he started off the season with an assist in each of his two games but on Wednesday, played in just two shifts in the third period with Alexey Toropchenko taking Fabbri’s spot on the top line and double-shifting protecting a one-goal lead.
“I think that he got here, his first two games were excellent,” Montgomery said of Fabbri. “I think his last two games, and I spoke to him about this, a little less juice in his legs, not being as impactful. And on a back to back, it’s a lot. He wasn’t in a training camp, he’s not in the same hockey shape as everybody else is. It’s just an opportunity, and Luff’s been really good for us. We’re playing a bigger, heavier team tonight on a back to back, a team that’s fresh, so we’ll just get a fresh body in. It really wasn’t a negative of anything of his play. He’ll be back in the lineup soon.”
Toropchenko will start on that top line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. As for how the game progresses, it will be determined if he stays there.
“He’s smart enough to play with anyone,” Montgomery said of Toropchenko, normally a fourth-line winger. “It’s not ideal that he’s in that situation, but we’re playing with a lead (Wednesday). He brings north hockey to playing with 18 and 89, who like to play east-west because they have the creativity and the ability and skill level to do it, and he allows them to be a little bit simpler and the way he reloads and the way he back-checks, his habits, his sticks, creating turnovers in the offensive zone, we just thought it would allow us to close out that game a little bit better, and he’s going to start there tonight.”
Tucker, who sat out Wednesday not necessarily as a healthy scratch but he was banged up from Monday’s loss to the Predators, is an insertion into the lineup to provide beef against a bigger lineup.
“Tucker was a little sore yesterday from the slew-foot that he received at the end of the game in the third period (Monday),” Montgomery said. “It’s just with a back to back, we weren’t going to play Tucker with him being sore. It wasn’t so much of a matchup as it was we’re in a back to back, we’re in the middle of a three in four. Kessel’s been really good for us, his numbers suggest that, we have a lot of confidence in him, but now we’re on a back to back, so we’re going to go back to Tucker. It’s that simple.”
- - -
Montgomery was asked about Otto Stenberg, a first-round pick (No. 25) in the 2023 NHL Draft, and his successful debut in the NHL on Wednesday, playing 13:38. Here is an interesting take on Stenberg’s awareness and ability to read a game by Montgomery.
“He’s a first-round pick not because of his stature, it’s because of his brain, his instincts and his ability to make plays at both ends of the ice,” Montgomery said. “As a coach, you see the things that make a guy very effective right away, stick positioning, angling, little things, always being on the right side of the puck.
“There was a play yesterday in the third period that a defenseman was in, taking a shot off the rush, I believe it was (Philip) Broberg, and he was the last forward back. And the puck went into the corner to where he could have dove at it. He didn’t go because he read numbers. Most young players would dive in and the other team would have a 2-on-1 off his back. As a coach, it’s a confidence-builder as a coach when you see a player read numbers that quickly because the game of hockey, especially when you come to play your first game in the NHL, things happen faster than you’ve ever seen before and he read that instantly. And they got nothing. We actually reloaded above, they turned it over by the red line.”
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Injured players Jordan Kyrou (lower body), Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist) and Nathan Walker (upper body) were on the ice Thursday morning working prior to an optional morning skate.
None will play Thursday, but that’s some encouraging signs that they are on the mend.
“It’s always good when you see guys getting closer,” Montgomery said. “What’s not good is when you win a game, the fist pump line of guys not dressed is about eight long, that’s when you’re like, ‘Holy Jesus, we do have a lot of injuries.’”
Dylan Holloway (high ankle sprain) and Nick Bjugstad (upper body) were not skating.
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The Blues, after wearing their old home uniforms that are now their third jerseys on Wednesday, will don the road whites at home for the first and only time on Thursday, so fans will get to see firsthand -- unless you've seen them on the road -- those sweaters.
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Alexey Toropchenko-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich
Jake Neighbours-Brayden Schenn-Otto Stenberg
Pius Suter-Dalibor Dvorsky-Jonatan Berggren
Mathieu Joseph-Oskar Sundqvist-Matt Luff
Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko
Tyler Tucker-Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler-Logan Mailloux
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Robby Fabbri and Matthew Kessel. Jordan Kyrou (lower body), Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Dylan Holloway (high ankle sprain), Nathan Walker (upper body) and Nick Bjugstad (upper body) are out.
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Rangers Projected Lineup:
Will Cuylle-Vincent Trocheck-J.T. Miller
Artemi Panarin-Mika Zibanejad-Alexis Lafreniere
Conor Sheary-Noah Laba-Taylor Raddysh
Gabe Perreault-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe
Vladislav Gavrikov-Braden Schneider
Carson Soucy-Will Borgen
Matthew Robertson-Scott Morrow
Igor Shesterkin will start in goal; Jonathan Quick will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Jonny Brodzinski and Scott Morrow. Adam Fox (upper body) and Adam Edstrom (lower body) are out.
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Senators' Latest Addition To Ring Of Honour 'One Of The Easiest Decisions In Franchise History'
Exactly three decades after he coached his first game behind the Ottawa Senators' bench, Jacques Martin is set to be immortalized by the franchise.
The Senators announced on Thursday that Martin will be added to the club’s Ring of Honour on Saturday, January 24, before the club's home game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The date is a nice choice, falling exactly 30 years after Martin coached his first game with the Sens on January 24, 1996.
“I have been privileged to coach outstanding players and not only great players, but great people. And that was the reason I was able to get there,” Martin said in a club statement.
His addition to the Ring was one of the easiest decisions in franchise history.
The Sens' content team devised a clever plan to surprise Martin, asking him and Daniel Alfredsson to narrate a Great Moments in Sens History video. Alfredsson capped it off by revealing Martin's tribute night, a special moment that hasn’t happened yet.
Martin isn't an easy guy to make smile, but he looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
Kudos to the Sens content team for this one. It has nostalgia, emotion, and a well-executed surprise. Instantly one of my all-time favourites. https://t.co/cJljHkKhsq
— Steve Warne (@SteveWarneMedia) December 18, 2025
The Ottawa-born coach stands 16th in NHL history with 1350 games coached in the NHL and holds team records for games coached (748), wins (367) and playoff victories (31).
He was named the NHL’s Coach of the Year in 1999, and guided Ottawa to its only President’s Trophy during the 2002–03 season. That was the season the Sens went to the Eastern Conference Final before bowing out at home in a Game 7 heartbreaker against the New Jersey Devils.
When it looked like Martin's coaching days were probably behind him, the Sens brought him back at age 71 in Dec. 2023 to be a consultant and resource to head coach D.J. Smith. 12 days later, he became Smith's replacement, guiding the Sens to the end of the 2023-24 season. Martin made way for Travis Green in May 2024 and continues to serve as an advisor to the club’s coaching staff.
Martin will be remembered for quickly righting a floundering ship in Ottawa's early years.
When he arrived in the 1995-96 NHL season, it was only January, and Martin was already their third head coach of that season. The team wasn't that much better than the historically bad expansion team (10-70-4) they had in the 1992-93 season. Rick Bowness had recently been fired after a 6-13 start in his fourth season. They were even worse, absurdly so, after promoting their AHL head coach, Dave Allison, who was fired after a 2-22-1 record.
Just over one calendar year later, Martin steered the Sens into the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Technically, Martin had three stints with the Senators. In his first run with the Senators, in a beautiful gesture, he temporarily gave up the head coaching reins to his friend and assistant coach, Roger Neilson. Neilson, who was battling cancer, officially took over the Sens' bench for the final two games of the 2001-02 season, allowing him to reach the 1000 game mark in his NHL coaching career.
Neilson died the following year at age 69.
With his induction, Martin becomes the fourth member of the Senators' Ring of Honour at Canadian Tire Centre, joining Bryan Murray, Wade Redden and Dr. Don Chow.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News
This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:
Top Prospect Carter Yakemchuk Injured In Collision During AHL Game
Senators' First Step Toward Stanley Cup Playoff Return Is Better Goaltending
30 Games Into The Season, What Is The Ottawa Senators' Identity?
Speculating On Yakemchuk's NHL Arrival Time
Popular Former Senator Forward Attempting Comeback At Age 38
Four Ottawa Senators Make Annual List Of Most Punchable NHL Players
Beau Greaves: ‘I started beating better players and the penny dropped: I can be good enough to do this full-time’
Back at the PDC world championship for the first time since 2022, the women’s world champion means business, starting on Friday against the world No 22
“When I was younger, they thought I was a mute,” Beau Greaves says with a wry smile, thinking about all the ways darts has changed her. “Never said owt in school, really shy. Didn’t really know what to say half the time. I suppose playing darts just brought me out of my shell. When you get popular, people want to meet you and talk. It’s matured me.”
Greaves was 18 the first time she won the Lakeside women’s world championship, thrusting herself firmly into the crosshairs of public adulation. And even if she played like a natural born star, with her beautiful fluid throwing arc, she didn’t always feel like one. Endless interviews, viral fame, global domination: this was never what she had craved from the sport. She was Beau, and she just wanted to throw.
Continue reading...Ice rink construction begins at loanDepot park ahead of 2026 Winter Classic
It’s going to be a fun few weeks in and around Miami’s MLB ballpark.
That’s because the NHL has started moving into loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, and setting things up for the 2026 Winter Classic.
The game is set for Jan. 2 between the host Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers.
On Wednesday, the league began the process of building the ice rink inside the ballpark.
That processes included the NHL bringing down not one, but two mobile refrigeration units to help maintain the ice surface in warm South Florida.
“I think it’s pretty bold move by the League,” said NHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Derek King. “I think for us, it’s ‘Why not Florida?’ It’s an amazing hockey market, so for us to bring the game here, I think it’s pretty exciting.”
The retractable roof at loanDepot park is expected to remain closed during construction of the rink and likely until the game arrives, as temperatures in South Florida are expected to remain in the 70s and 80s in the days leading up to the Winter Classic.
As King and NHL Senior Manager of Facilities Operations Andrew Higgins explained, the construction of the rink itself will likely run though next week. Around Dec. 23 or 24, the installation of the ice surface will begin, at which time the air conditioning inside loanDepot park will be cranked up extremely high.
“We’ll be able to close in the building, keep everything conditioned,” said King. “That’s going to allow us to build it like we would in any other venue.”
Both the Panthers and Rangers are scheduled to hold practices on the ice at loanDepot park the day before the Winer Classic.
Anything the players and coaches have to say about the ice quality will be taken into account by Higgins and his staff, and adjustments can and will be made as needed.
Additionally, the ice that is being built at the ballpark will be quite thicker than what is normally seen inside NHL rinks.
Usually, ice is about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches thick, but the ice for the Winer Classic will be around 2 to 2.5 inches thick. That way, if there are any issues, they can just shave the ice down instead of adding water to it.
“I think the quality (of the ice) is going to be great,” said King.
When the game arrives, the plan is for the stadium to open its roof panels and the massive glass windows past left field that provide a pristine view of the Downtown Miami skyline.
The 2026 Winter Classic is set for an 8 p.m. faceoff.
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Kevin Garnett reconciles with Timberwolves, will have role with franchise, have jersey retired
Kevin Garnett is a legend of the game, enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with his No. 5 jersey hanging in the rafters in Boston.
Yet, so deep was his feud with former Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor that Garnett — the greatest player in franchise history —was never around the team, and his number is not retired there. Now, with Taylor out and the new Mark Lore/Alex Rodriguez group in charge, all that is about to change.
A franchise icon, Garnett has reconciled with the Timberwolves and will have a "new, all-encompassing role involving business, community efforts and content development," role with the franchise and the WNBA's Lynx, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by the team itself.
THE BIG TICKET IS BACK pic.twitter.com/baiO5oQvML
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 18, 2025
It also means we can expect the long-overdue Garnett jersey retirement in Minnesota to come together sooner rather than later.
Garnett played 14 seasons with the Timberwolves, at the beginning and end of his career, was named MVP in 2004, was a nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA player while with the club, and remains the franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, assists, and steals. He also took the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals for the first time.
Despite his icon status among Timberwolves fans, Garnett had a long-running feud with former owner Glen Taylor that dated back to his 2007 trade to Boston (KG went on to win a ring in Boston in 2008). Former Timberwolves coach and president Flip Saunders worked to mend fences between Taylor and Garnett, and there was an announcement about a reconciliation a decade ago, but that fell apart again pretty quickly after Saunders ' death. Since then, Garnett has not been around the franchise where he played his best years.
When Lore and Rodriguez purchased the team, they set out to repair the relationship between Garnett and the franchise, ultimately resulting in this announcement. What all of this will ultimately look like remains to be seen, but what matters is that Garnett is back in the Timberwolves family. As it should be.
Oregon vs. James Madison a study in contrasts as high-profile Ducks host a newcomer to the playoffs
The College Football Playoff is pretty much business as usual for Oregon, which is more accustomed to playing at this level. The story is different in several ways for James Madison, a newcomer to the playoff.
Alabama’s steady Ty Simpson and Oklahoma’s flashy John Mateer to meet in College Football Playoff
Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Oklahoma’s John Mateer will bring contrasting styles to their College Football Playoff matchup.
Texas A&M is not happy just to be here. Aggies plan to beat Miami, and win it all in their CFP debut
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko had to take a moment to compose himself when he was asked if this season was championship or bust or if his Aggies were simply happy to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time as they prepared for the game against Miami.
Michigan football investigation to leave ‘no stone unturned,’ per president
U-M president Domenico Grasso pledges 'we will act swiftly' if expanded investigation warrants 'termination of any employee.'
Report: Strahm ‘likely' to be traded — what it means for Phils
Report: Strahm ‘likely' to be traded — what it means for Phils originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies could keep adjusting their bullpen, after adding a veteran arm.
During Tuesday’s media availability, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the club could continue to “look for arms in the bullpen.” By Wednesday, they acted on it, agreeing to a two-year, $22 million deal with right-hander Brad Keller.
This morning, ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote that the “best available” left-handed reliever is Matt Strahm, “who is likely to be traded by Philadelphia.”
Strahm is entering the final year of his contract and is set to make $7.5 million in 2026. He’s coming off yet another strong season, posting a 2.74 ERA in 66 appearances.
This is not the first time the southpaw has been mentioned this offseason. In November, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported that the Phillies generated interest in multiple left-handed relievers at the General Manager Meetings, including Strahm, as clubs surveyed bullpen options across the league.
That reporting followed the Phillies’ end-of-season press conference. During that availability, Dombrowski was asked about a reported comment Strahm made after the team’s Game 4 loss in the NLDS, when the series-clinching run scored on an error by reliever Orion Kerkering.
Per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, the comment referenced a perceived lack of focus on pitcher-fielding practice. Dombrowski responded by saying the club did “plenty” of pitcher-fielding work leading into the series and added that Strahm himself “didn’t do them, but we did them.”
Neither side suggested the exchange impacted any evaluation, but it added context to an offseason in which Philadelphia has remained open to bullpen adjustments.
In addition to Strahm, the Phillies have left-handed options in Tanner Banks and José Alvarado, and Keller’s arrival further deepens the bullpen in terms of matchups.
Strahm’s value lies in his durability and that he’s a lefty who can get righties out. In 2025, right-handed hitters batted .196 with a .585 OPS against the 34-year-old. Keller’s standout year makes the idea of moving the Strahm easier to entertain — right-handed hitters produced just a .466 OPS against Keller.
Their group of left-handers also look stable if Strahm were to be dealt.
Among left-handed relievers who faced at least 110 left-handed batters last season, Banks allowed the fewest earned runs in the majors (five) and posted a 1.47 ERA — a mark topped league-wide only by back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
And in Alvarado’s career, he’s held left-handed hitters to a .565 OPS.
If the Phillies are comfortable with a group headlined by Banks, Alvarado, Kerkering, Keller and closer Jhoan Duran, Strahm becomes a trade chip. Effective left-handed relief remains one of the scarcest commodities in the sport, and Strahm’s salary is reasonable for a team looking to add late-inning help.
What it could mean
A move could tie back to the club’s biggest unresolved roster question. The Phillies have made an offer to J.T. Realmuto — according to Zolecki — and Dombrowski said Tuesday they “haven’t been able to get it done so far.”
If the talks stall, the trade market could become the cleaner path to filling catcher than a thin free-agent class.
Chicago’s Carson Kelly is one possible fit. The 31-year-old hit 17 homers in just 369 at-bats in 2025 and posted a .761 OPS along with a 3.6 WAR. Statcast placed him in at least the 90th percentile in blocks and caught stealing above average.
Kelly is entering the final year of his two-year, $11.5 million contract and has a mutual option for 2027 that is unlikely to be exercised. The Cubs also have catching depth, with the organization’s No. 2 prospect Moisés Ballesteros posting an .868 OPS in his first 20 big-league games.
Carson Kelly — Credit: David Banks (Imagn Images)
A more expensive, higher-profile option would be St. Louis’ Willson Contreras, who has two years and $36.5 million remaining on his contract. Contreras moved to first base full time last season, but he was a slightly above-average defensive catcher prior to the shift, and the bat remains productive — a .257/.344/.447 line with 20 homers and 80 RBIs in 2025.
With the Cardinals holding depth at both catcher and first base, a deal could help them clear payroll, while the Phillies would be betting on Contreras’ ability to handle catching duties again.
Willson Contreras — Credit: Joe Puetz (Imagn Images)
The organization could also explore a younger solution behind the plate. A recent trade between Seattle and Washington involving catching prospect Harry Ford and left-handed reliever José A. Ferrer provides a framework for how teams may value controllable catchers. Kansas City’s Carter Jensen, the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing and Milwaukee’s Jefferson Quero are among the young backstops currently blocked at the big-league level.
Trading Strahm would only happen if the Phillies believe their bullpen can absorb the loss. The return would need to address a bigger need elsewhere, and catcher is the most obvious one at the moment.
Three takeaways: Deeper, healthier Panthers building momentum, earn tough home win after long road trip
The Florida Panthers are starting to make some headway in the Eastern Conference standings thanks to a very strong couple of weeks.
Wednesday night’s 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings was Florida’s sixth in their past seven games.
The victory improved the Cats’ record to 18-13-2, and their 38 points are one point back of both the second Wild Card spot and, perhaps more importantly, one point back of third place in the Atlantic Division.
Interestingly, the Atlantic is so tightly packed, the first-place Detroit Red Wings have 41 points, so only three more than the Panthers, and Florida has two games in hand.
It certainly looks like the Panthers are setting themselves up for a very happy holiday.
Let’s get to Wednesday’s takeaways:
A TOUGH HOME WIN
Ask any coach or any player…the first game back home after a long road trip is never an easy one to win.
Florida had just played four away games in six nights, all against playoff teams at the time (Utah has since fallen out of a playoff spot), and come away with six of a possible eight points.
Returning home to face a strong Kings squad who were quite hungry themselves after having a four-game point streak snapped Monday in Dallas, the Panthers certainly had their work cut out for them.
Florida survived a strong push by LA at the start before slowly but surely turning momentum in their favor, getting back to the basics that have driven their recent success away from home.
“This was a tough one tonight to come back off the road, and I think the other team, especially at the start, played exceptionally well,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “I think the road team has the advantage in this situation, and we found a way to win a game. We're in that mode. We're not looking for perfection right now.”
DEPTH AND HEALTH
The Panthers have spent much of this season trying to find ways to succeed in their systems despite having an extremely depleted lineup.
Between the injuries piling up and Carter Verhaeghe missing a game due to the birth of his child, things came to a head earlier this month as Florida dropped five of six, all on home ice.
Then Verhaeghe came back and Eetu Luostarinen returned, and suddenly the Cats’ depth received a nice boost.
They’ve now won six of seven and have points in seven of eight.
“At the start of the month, we got beat by Toronto,” Maurice said. “We get beat. But (Carter) Verhaeghe and (Eetu) Luostarinen were out, and that made our number (of healthy forwards) eight, and when you get to that number, you're going to have a hard time. And then Carter’s wife had the baby, and the next night he came in, and we got a point and we played a little bit better. And then Luostarinen came back into our lineup, so now you're back to a more manageable number of injuries.”
A LOSS TO BE LEARNED FROM
Florida’s only defeat over the past couple weeks came on the second night of a back-to-back against the NHL’s best team.
It was an incredibly difficult turnaround for Florida, who had to endure a two-hour time change in addition to steep elevation changes when traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Salt Lake City and then to Denver, and playing games on consecutive nights in those environments on top of it.
Panthers’ defenseman Aaron Ekblad said a couple days later that it was possibly the most challenging back-to-back set of his career.
It showed on the ice, as Florida followed up a victory in Utah with an embarrassing 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche.
Maurice and his Panthers didn’t let the defeat deter them off the path they had begun to walk and continued pushing toward better and more consistent play, instead using the loss as motivation and learning from what went wrong.
“I think we'd started to play better, and then we got pounded by Colorado, and there was just a lot of things that we don't do, but it almost was a blessing in disguise,” said Maurice. “(Playing on a) back-to-back, it exposed everything. From that point on, we've been better, much better. We gave up more than we wanted to give up tonight, for sure, but I think that's a function of context, because the Dallas game and the Tampa Bay game were played pretty darn well.”
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Photo caption: Nov 13, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) celebrates with teammates after reaching his 1000th career point on an assists to center Eetu Luostarinen (27) for a goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)