For every NHL team, including the eventual Stanley Cup winner, summer is a time of change.
Naturally, the Cup-winning GM would love to stand in front of his team and make the Wolf of Wall Street speech: "We're not leaving! The show goes on!"
But the salary cap, free agency and maybe a retirement or two make that impossible.
For a GM like Ottawa's Steve Staios, after watching his team get swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and score just five goals in the process, he might have been thinking a month ago that he has some serious work to do this summer to help his team close the gap.
However, the way the Carolina Hurricanes have played this spring may be giving him some new pause for thought.
What if the team that spanked the Senators in Round 1 goes on to just completely trample everyone else and win the Stanley Cup? Doesn't that have at least some effect on Staios’ view of his club and how much change is actually required?
As the 2026 playoffs march on, it's becoming crystal clear that the Hurricanes are a wagon. As of this writing, the Canes are 11-1 in these playoffs, getting timely scoring, solid goaltending and, most of all, they boast an absolutely suffocating defensive structure that the Senators, the Philadelphia Flyers and now the Montreal Canadiens had no answer for.
The Hurricanes have taken a 3-1 series lead on the Canadiens and dominated Game 4, outshooting Montreal 43-18 in a 4-0 victory. Every time cameras cut to Martin St. Louis, he looked completely exasperated, like a man with no answers.
It was a game the Canadiens had to have, and yet they finished the third period with just three shots on goal.
Carolina is one win away from getting to the Cup final in just 13 games. The all-time NHL record (four rounds, all seven-game series) for fewest games needed to win a Cup is 18. That’s how good Carolina is.
Sure, no matter how you slice it, getting swept in round one was disappointing for the Sens organization and the fan base, but it's becoming obvious there's no shame in it.
The Senators were one of the best teams in the NHL in the second half of the season, but because they got off to a rough start thanks to poor goaltending, their punishment was getting pinned as the lowest seed and having to play the very best team right away.
Carolina isn't just good. They're hungry, they're filled with experience, and they're covered in playoff scars.
In 2019, they lost in the Conference Final. In 2020, they lost in the first round. In 2021 and 2022, they lost in the second round. In 2023, they lost in the Conference Final again. In 2024, the second round. In 2025, another loss in the conference final.
This is a group that is clearly being driven by the sting of all those past playoff failures, and all those hard lessons are now well-learned. They work hard, they sweat the small stuff, and they're doing whatever it takes to avoid reliving the heartbreaks of the past.
The Senators will have some of that motivation next season, too, though not to the same degree as 2026 Carolina.
The good news is that if the Hurricanes do win it all this year, there will be solace in that for the Sens. It sucks to be swept. It sucks less to be swept by the Cup champs. Meanwhile, the hunger fueling the 'Canes right now may become difficult to replicate next season, which could allow famished teams like Ottawa to close the gap.
There will be changes this summer because there always are. But the Senators may be closer to contention than they appeared to be a month ago.
The Chicago Cubs come in as underdogs against Paul Skenes and his Pittsburgh Pirates on tonight.
However, my Cubs vs. Pirates predictions expect them to pull off the upset, with the reigning Cy young winner not playing at his best lately.
Read on to get my free MLB picks for Thursday, May 28.
Who will win Cubs vs Pirates today: Cubs moneyline (+146)
Paul Skenes is coming off the roughest two-game stretch of his young career, allowing nine earned runs in 10 innings of work in two losses for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Skenes has seen opponents square up more of his pitches than ever, with 32.7% of batted balls landing in the Launch Angle Sweet Spot this season.
The Chicago Cubs have been incredibly streaky this year, but are a fundamentally strong offensive squad, averaging 4.73 runs per game and posting a .725 OPS.
I’m backing Chicago to win this game as long as I can get a premium of +140 or more.
COVERS INTEL:The Cubs are raking against Skenes’ bread-and-butter pitch – the four-seam fastball – pulling it in the air 21.3% of the time against right-handed pitchers.
Cubs vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-110)
Even when Skenes struggles, it hasn’t been enough to hit the Over. The Pirates have played to totals of seven runs or less in five of his last six starts, as their ace keeps them in games even when the offense flounders.
While Colin Rea (4-3, 4.83 ERA) has struggled a bit this year, he has put up a strong 32.2% chase rate, which will play well against a Pirates team that ranks third-worst in whiff percentage this year at 27.5%.
I’m taking the Under at 7.5 runs if we can get the standard -110 odds or better.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-14, -5.98 units
Over/Under bets: 7-14, -7.53 units
Cubs vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Chicago +146 | Pittsburgh -161
Run line: Chicago +1.5 (-142) | Pittsburgh -1.5 (+129)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-103) | Under 7.5 (-112)
Cubs vs Pirates trend
The Pirates have hit the Under in each of Skenes’ last four starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Pirates.
How to watch Cubs vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Thursday, May 28, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
MARQ, SNP
Cubs starting pitcher
Colin Rea (4-3, 4.83 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Paul Skenes (6-4, 3.00 ERA)
Cubs vs Pirates latest injuries
Cubs vs Pirates weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Hockey News is currently in the process of revealing its Top 100 NHL players of the 2025-26 season rankings. So far, The Hockey News has revealed players 100 to 71.
One Buffalo Sabres star has made the rankings so far, as Alex Tuch made the cut.
Tuch was given the No. 97 spot on The Hockey News' rankings. When looking at the season he put together for the Sabres, it makes sense that he has been ranked among the NHL's top players from this season.
In 79 games this season with the Sabres, the 6-foot-4 forward recorded 33 goals, 33 assists, 66 points, 82 hits, and a plus-24 rating. With numbers like these, the pending unrestricted free agent is setting himself up for a nice raise, whether he re-signs with the Sabres or joins another club.
Tuch did not make The Hockey News' top players rankings for the 2024-25 season. This was after he had 36 goals and 67 points in 82 games during last season.
In 360 games over five seasons with the Sabres, Tuch has recorded 139 goals, 170 assists, 309 points, and a plus-60 rating. With numbers like these, he has been a very good player for the Sabres, and it will be interesting to see if he ends up staying put.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2026: Charles McAdoo #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays in the field during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at TD Ballpark on March 14, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
I missed this yesterday (being fair, I haven’t turned on the computer for two days, but I did ride my bike 100 very hill kilometers over the last couple of days).
Charles McAdoo will be getting the call-up today. He is hitting .250/.356/.436 with 6 home runs, 28 walks, 40 strikeouts and 6 stolen bases with the Bisons.
McAdoo was on our ‘just missed out list’ in this year’s top 40 prospects. Tom M wrote:
Charles McAdoo was the last cut from out list. The trade return for Isiah Kiner-Falefa repeated AA last year with mixed results. He hit for some power but struck out too much (28%). That’s basically McAdoo’s game. He swings hard, with a bat path geared to maximize fly balls at the expense of contact. It might work, because he has plus power and enough feel for the barrel to make acceptable if below average contact rates, but it’s a narrow path. There will also be a lot of pressure on the bat, because he’s a below average defender at third base and a below average runner, so first base might be the ultimate destination.
Someone (Lenyn Sosa) will have be be removed from the active roster and the 40-man roster. Sosa has been just terrible for the Jays (he did finally take a walk Monday). No one is going to miss his .480 OPS. He hit 22 home runs last year, and the team was hoping that power would show up. It didn’t.
Also yesterday, the Jays traded for Connor Seabold from the Tigers. Juanmi Vasquez is going to the Tigers. Vasquez has a 5.87 ERA for the Vancouver Canadians. In 23 innings. he has 16 walks and 35 strikeouts.
Seabold has pitched parts of five seasons in the MLB, and has a 7.28 ERA in 134.1 innings, with 49 walks and 110 strikeouts. He’s made 19 starts and 32 relief appearances.
He throws a fastball in the 93 mph range, a change-up, a slider and curve ball.
Jose Berrios was moved to the 60-day DL to make room.
Beyond all that:
Austin Voth was called up to the Jays yesterday. He pitched in a game in April for the Jays, 2.2 innings allowing 1 earned, with 3 hits, a walks and a strikeout.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 19, 2026: Edwin Arroyo #56 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Keith Law of The Athletic released his mid-season Top 50 overall prospect list this morning, and by his count the Cincinnati Reds have a different top prospect in their system than they did on Opening Day.
On the heels of his brilliant start to the AAA season, infielder Edwin Arroyo landed all the way at #23 overall on Law’s list, even outranking stud catching prospect Alfredo Duno (who checked in at #35 overall). Law hails Arroyo as ‘a natural shortstop,’ but thinks he has the chops to ‘be plus at second and the bat will play anywhere,’ which is a pretty ringing endorsement of a guy who fell completely off any and all Top 100 overall lists after his powerless 2025 season.
Of course, that came on the heels of a totally lost 2024 season in which he underwent major shoulder surgery, and last season drew into question whether he’d ever get his swing back. So far at AAA in 2026, the swing has looked more than fine, as Arroyo is hittin g.335/.397/.576 with 10 homers, 9 doubles, and 5 triples across 50 games for Louisville.
Keep in mind that Arroyo isn’t just some flash in the pan. Now 22, he once checked 36th overall on Kiley McDaniel’s Top 50 prospects during the middle of the 2022 season, with the ESPN analyst even calling him the ‘headliner’ of the trade that sent Luis Castillo to Seattle and also brought back Noelvi Marte. That list had him ahead of the likes of Andy Pages, Colton Cowser, Ezequiel Tovar, Brett Baty, and Sal Frelick, among others, and slotted him just behind the likes of Pete Crow-Armstrong (#31) and Jackson Holliday (#30).
It remains unclear the most direct path to the big leagues for Arroyo, as he’s obviously blocked at his primary position of shortstop by All Star Elly De La Cruz. Matt McLain, despite still not hitting three years after his breakout, seems locked in at 2B and has the trust of manager Terry Francona, while Sal Stewart, Eugenio Suarez, and even Ke’Bryan Hayes will continue to dominate looks at 3B for the remainder of this season. After 2026, though, Suarez will be a free agent and the Hayes conundrum must be addressed, since it’s clear that Arroyo is a) fully healthy again and b) more than deserving of a shot at a regular infield role going forward.
TEMPE, AZ - MARCH 19: Cleveland Guardians third baseman Dean Curley (1) bats against the California Angles during the Spring Breakout game at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 19, 2026, at Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Today, we finish up our scouting of the Guardians’ High-A affiliate, the Lake County Captains!
In case you missed it, you can check out my scouting reports on Captains’ pitchers here and Captains’ hitters here.
Welcome back to the final installment, where I take off my blindfold and compare my own rankings to other outlets. This portion is mostly a sanity check: I am aware of all these publications, and I am a semi-regular reader of many. However, I intentionally have not reviewed prospect rankings in anticipation of making something like this.
As a reminder, many of these players are not going to be assessed by the baseball media. Amateur/minor league scouting can be incredibly resource-intensive, and most outlets are covering 30 teams over their staff. They have good grips on the systems they cover, but there still needs to be some selectivity in who gets the write-ups.
The List as of the 5/19/2026 Roster: Ratings by FV
Future value is used by prospect writers to try to project what a player can be. This list is still an effort to rank each player in descending order based on my evaluation of that player. To be blunt: This roster is one of the most talented Lake County squads I have seen in some time with respect to depth. It’s not quite as good as the playoff roster from 2024 that featured Travis Bazzana, Ralphy Velazquez, and Angel Genao, but a larger group of these players seem to have a legitimate chance to be big-league players.
Also, feel free to roast this! The list was not in mind when I set out to do this, and there will be some big breaks in consensus. We will not complain about the traffic. After I share my list, you will also see the rankings for each prospect from Baseball America, Fangraphs, and MLB Pipeline. Baseball America provides grades adjusted for risk- I have given the adjusted grade because I am also trying to assess risk with my own grades.
I am very low on Jackson Humphries relative to consensus. This is primarily because command and control are fickle. Even with that in mind, it would be correct to say he does not surrender many hits, and he works out of his own jams consistently. I still worry about ranking him higher because I do not trust that he will limit his hits the same way when he figures out how to keep the ball in the zone.
Fangraphs loves Jogly Garcia. At a time last season, Garcia was also a top 30 on Pipeline, but their preseason revision dropped him out in favor of Luke Hill, which is looking like a good move.
Franklin Gomez is another Fangraphs darling, but the early returns will likely have him considered for re-rankings, even for post-draft assignments. His results are coming in a Midwest League that is extremely offense-oriented.
Dean Curley is polarizing, and each of these outlets have concerns over whether he can stay at shortstop. I believe he can play shortstop, at least in the short-term as a young player, and that is why he is ranked ahead of Aaron Walton.
Aaron Walton helium, if it ever comes, will probably be reflected in organization re-ranks. With that said, BA has already done theirs, and Walton did not move much, reflecting the idea that college hitters should be performing well at High-A.
A final note: my opinion of these players and their potential is not meant to disparage them in any way. Baseball is incredibly hard. Writing about what you see, in contrast, is much easier. Any one of these guys can prove me wrong, and it would be a delight- we all want to see people figure it out and succeed. See: This 2011 article describing Corey Kluber (accurately) as a failing, old starting pitcher prospect.
Now, I take off my blindfold and compare my own rankings to other outlets. This portion is mostly a sanity check: I am aware of all these publications, and I am a semi-regular reader of many. However, I intentionally have not reviewed prospect rankings in anticipation of making something like this.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
(Editor’s Note: Thank you SO much to Mike for his time and effort compiling this insight into a great team in our system!)
While the Athletics are trying to win games at the MLB level, their scouts and front-office executives are preparing for the 2026 MLB Draft, which will take place July 11–13 in Philadelphia. For the sixth straight year, the draft will set the stage for MLB’s All-Star Game, scheduled for July 14. With this summer marking America’s 250th anniversary, MLB could not have picked a better city to celebrate both the game’s current stars and its future ones.
Unlike the NBA and NFL drafts, MLB draft picks do not immediately join their organization’s big-league club. Most spend at least a year or two in the minors, with notable exceptions like Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, all of whom were considered too advanced and dominant to remain in the minor leagues for long. As a result, teams usually select the best player available rather than drafting for need.
Past Draft History
In 2025, the A’s selected left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold out of Florida State University with the 11th pick in the MLB draft. Despite enduring a losing season the year before, MLB rules prevent revenue-sharing small market teams from receiving a top-six lottery pick in three consecutive drafts. In the previous two drafts, the A’s chose current starters first baseman Kurtz and shortstop Wilson with the fourth and sixth overall picks, respectively.
Arnold, who was considered one of the top college pitching prospects in his draft class, has begun his professional career at Double-A Midland, bypassing the A-ball levels entirely. If he pitches well, the left-hander has a chance to join Kurtz and Wilson on the Athletics’ big-league roster later this season or sometime next year.
2026 Draft Outlook
This year, the team once again suffered bad luck in the draft lottery as the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals jumped them despite entering the lottery with lower odds for the first pick. As a result, the A’s will pick eighth, a slot that is not ideal, but does makes sense as the team finished with the eighth-worst record in the league last season.
Like the past few draft classes, this one features a handful of elite prospects at the top of the rankings, most of whom will probably be off the board by the time the A’s are on the clock. The Chicago White Sox are widely expected to select UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, the consensus top player in this draft class, with the No. 1 pick.
Additionally, it is doubtful that the draft’s top pitching prospect, Jackson Flora, a right-hander out of University of California, Santa Barbara, will still be available when the A’s pick.
Potential A’s Options
With A’s starting catcher Shea Langeliers eligible for free agency after the 2028 season, Georgia Tech’s catcher Vahn Lackey is an appealing option for an A’s organization largely devoid of catching prospects.
The team once had a promising catching prospect in Daniel Susac, its first-round pick in 2022. Yet, for reasons that remain unclear, the A’s chose not to add Susac to their 40-man roster. He was subsequently selected in the Rule 5 Draft and is now off to a strong start in his rookie season with the San Francisco Giants.
As a result, the A’s may once again look to address the position in this year’s draft, though Lackey will assuredly be off the board by the time they are on the clock. If the team wants to pop a catcher in the first round, Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick is the name to watch. The Northern California native, widely considered the top defensive catcher in this class, has been mocked to the A’s in multiple draft predictions.
Given the number of infield options already on the A’s big-league roster, not to mention promising minor-league infield prospects Leo De Vries and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, the team would be better off avoiding college infielders like Chris Hacopian (Texas A&M) and Eric Becker (Virginia).
Having not drafted a high school player since Max Muncy in 2021, the A’s have a chance to buck that trend this year. Apparently they have been scouting center fielder Eric Booth Jr. from Oak Grove HS (Miss.), but experts doubt he will fall this far. Alternatively, the A’s could select Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress or LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with this pick.
Or, the team could draft a pitcher in the first round for the second straight year. They will have an abundance of options to choose from. Left-hander Gio Rojas, from the same high school that former A’s pitcher Jesus Luzardo attended, could be an option as could college right handers Cameron Flukey (Coastal Carolina), Liam Peterson (Florida) and Cade Townsend (Mississippi). Although the A’s pitching staff has held its own so far this season, pitching still remains a long-term concern for the team, so this might be a good avenue to explore.
Who do you want the Athletics to target in this summer’s draft? Let’s get the discussion rolling in the comments.
The Philadelphia Flyers made enormous strides across all positions this season. They became faster, more organized, more emotionally resilient, and significantly more difficult to play against.
Their postseason run proved they are no longer simply a rebuilding team trying to survive meaningful hockey games. It also exposed something important to address this summer.
The Flyers still need another legitimate top-four defenseman.
Not because their current group failed. In many ways, the exact opposite is true. Philadelphia’s defense corps performed admirably considering the pressure it was placed under, particularly against one of the most suffocating forechecking teams in hockey against the Carolina Hurricanes. The issue is that that series highlighted how thin the margin for error becomes when a team relies too heavily on one or two defenders to absorb chaos shift after shift.
The Flyers have built a respectable blue line. They have not necessarily built a fully insulated one.
Travis Sanheim Is Carrying an Enormous Burden
Sanheim had arguably the best all-around season of his career, recently being named as one of the NHL's top 100 players of the 2025-26 campaign. He skated pucks out cleanly and closed gaps early. He defended the rush aggressively instead of retreating into survival mode. And, most importantly, he continued to be reliable in playing enormous minutes without his game falling apart physically or mentally.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim (6). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
The problem is that the Flyers still leaned on him to solve almost every difficult defensive sequence—defensive-zone faceoffs, heavy forecheck shifts, penalty kill, late-game situations, transition recovery, top competition. He was essentially the emergency solution for every structural problem the roster encountered.
That is not sustainable long-term if the Flyers want to evolve from “dangerous playoff team” into legitimate contender.
A defense corps becomes truly dangerous when a team can spread those responsibilities across multiple pairings instead of overloading one player. Philadelphia is not quite there yet.
Jamie Drysdale’s Encouraging Growth
Drysdale became one of the—if not the—most important developments of the Flyers’ season.
The raw talent was never the question. The organization knew they were getting a skilled, smart, "rover"-style defenseman in Drysdale when they acquired him in 2024. The concern was whether his game would stabilize enough defensively to justify top-four deployment against elite teams. This season, it finally started to happen.
His retrievals became cleaner, and his confidence under pressure improved noticeably. He stopped forcing low-percentage plays quite as often and began understanding when to accelerate play versus when to simplify it. Most importantly, his skating became an actual defensive weapon again rather than merely an offensive tool.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale (9). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
That said, Drysdale still profiles best beside a steadying presence.
His pairing with Cam York has not been a bad one by any stretch of the imagination, but some of Drysdale’s toughest moments came during prolonged defensive-zone sequences where he was repeatedly forced into physical net-front battles after failed clears or extended cycles. He competed hard, but that is not necessarily the optimal usage for him over an 82-game season and deep playoff run.
The Flyers need another defenseman who can absorb difficult defensive minutes while still moving the puck efficiently enough to survive against heavy pressure teams, and who can allow the more offensive-minded, free-flowing players like Drysdale and York to be effective on both ends of the ice.
The key is finding someone who isn't a pure shutdown defender who kills offense, but someone who is not another offensive rover who duplicates Drysdale’s strengths. The Flyers could benefit from someone who stabilizes the entire structure, and is responsible enough to let their wealth of offensive defensemen really shine without risking defensive mistakes.
Cam York Took a Necessary Step Forward
Cam York deserves major credit for responding after an uneven prior season.
This year, his game looked calmer and more mature. His puck management improved substantially, and he became far more reliable navigating defensive pressure without defaulting to glass-and-out hockey.
THE FLYERS WIN IT IN OVERTIME, THEY WIN THE SERIES 🚨
That response is important because the Flyers need defensemen who can actually exit cleanly against aggressive forechecks. Teams that simply rim pucks away eventually get trapped shift after shift until they break. York handled that challenge far better this season than he had previously.
But there is still a difference between being a solid top-four option and being someone capable of driving a matchup against elite postseason pressure. York is trending in the right direction, but the Flyers still lack one more proven stabilizer who can insulate everybody beneath him in the lineup hierarchy.
Adding another legitimate top-four defenseman would not just help the top pairing, but would improve everybody’s slotting.
That happens, and suddenly York is facing slightly easier matchups; Drysdale gets cleaner offensive usage; Sanheim is not playing half the game; Nick Seeler and Rasmus Ristolainen are not overextended physically by May.
Depth on defense is never really about the sixth defenseman. It is about how much pressure gets removed from the top four.
Rasmus Ristolainen Still Matters, But Age and Wear Are Factors
Ristolainen remains an important contributor to this team.
His physicality changes shifts. Especially after the Olympic break, he closed plays early and created discomfort around the crease. In playoff hockey, those things still matter significantly. The Flyers do not have many defensemen with his size profile or ability to physically wear down opponents over a series.
But he is also entering the stage of his career where usage has to be managed intelligently. The Flyers cannot keep asking him to consistently absorb brutal forechecking pressure, heavy defensive-zone deployment, and physically taxing hockey without reinforcement around him, especially with his injury history.
The issue is not that Ristolainen cannot still help a contender—the Flyers have made it clear that they fully trust him to be a consistent blue line presence—but it's that Philadelphia currently needs him to do slightly too much.
The Emil Andrae Situation Is Becoming Difficult to Ignore
This may be the organization’s most fascinating blue-line dilemma.
Emil Andrae looks capable of helping the Flyers play faster offensively. His instincts are obvious. His passing pops immediately. He processes offensive-zone movement quickly and gives the power play a different kind of fluidity.
Yet the Flyers still hesitate to fully commit to him.
Some of that likely comes down to trust defensively. While Andrae plays a gritty, fearless game that belies his 5'9" stature, it doesn't change the fact that smaller defensemen are relentlessly targeted below the goal line. Coaches worry about retrieval battles, cycle coverage, and net-front matchups becoming exploitable weaknesses over seven-game series. That concern is understandable, but there is also a point where organizational indecision becomes counterproductive.
Andrae is 24 years old. He has little, if anything, left to prove offensively at the AHL level. If the Flyers truly believe he can become an NHL regular, he needs real NHL minutes consistently enough to work through mistakes and develop rhythm.
If they do not believe that, then they owe it to both the player and the roster construction process to make a concrete decision. Because right now, he exists in an awkward middle ground: too skilled for prolonged AHL usage, but not fully trusted for NHL deployment.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Why They Are Not Rushing Oliver Bonk or David Jiricek
While the Flyers are a team that prioritizes giving young players real chances when they've earned them, the team deserves props for resisting the temptation to accelerate their prospects too quickly. Danny Briere said as much when it comes to their plans for deploying Bonk and Jiricek at the NHL level.
Bonk’s NHL debut showed why the organization is rightfully excited about him. He looked poised, intelligent, and offensively composed. He has all the tools to be an NHL regular, but defensemen require a different developmental timeline, and the Flyers would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to integrating Bonk into the team. The 21-year-old seems to be first on their list when it comes to a next man up, but they're correctly making a point to not shoehorn him before they trust he can handle it.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Oliver Bonk (59). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
The same applies to 22-year-old David Jiricek. Young defensemen almost always need time, particularly defensemen expected to handle difficult minutes against top competition.
The Flyers are trying to build something sustainable. Throwing Bonk or Jiricek into roles before they are structurally ready could hurt development more than help it.
That patience is the correct approach, but it also reinforces why the Flyers still need another established NHL defenseman now.
Two Realistic Targets
Dante Fabbro
Fabbro would be a clean fit for what the Flyers need. He is not flashy, but that is partially why he works for Philadelphia. Fabbro defends rushes well, moves pucks efficiently, and understands positional structure. He would not require power-play touches to justify his role, and he could comfortably stabilize second-pair minutes while easing Sanheim’s workload.
Most importantly, he plays a composed style that translates well against aggressive forechecking systems. Fabbro fits that archetype of a valuable calm retrieval-and-exit defenseman.
He is currently signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets through the 2028-29 season with an AAV of $4.1 million, which would be a reasonable price to pay with the role he'd be suited for in Philadelphia, considering how Briere stated in his end-of-season press conference that the Flyers have a comfortable amount of cap space to utilize.
Mario Ferraro
Mario Ferraro is another intriguing option.
David Pagnotta: Mario Ferraro...wants term, that's why he's not staying in San Jose, the Sharks are only willing to give him a 2, 3 year extension and he's looking for 5, 6 years plus; he wanted to stay - Leafs Morning Take (5/26)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) May 27, 2026
Currently a UFA after completing a four-year, $13 million contract ($3.25 million AAV) with the San Jose Sharks, Ferraro plays with pace, competes relentlessly, and thrives in transition-heavy environments. He is not a traditional towering shutdown defender, but his mobility and aggression make him effective disrupting forechecks early before sequences fully develop. He would also fit stylistically with how Tocchet wants the Flyers to play: aggressive, quick, direct, and emotionally engaged.
Ferraro may not be a true No. 1 defenseman, but he could absolutely become the kind of experienced second-pair stabilizer that pushes an entire defensive group into a healthier structure. And that is what the Flyers are really searching for now.
The 22-year-old Frenchman set up by teammate Stuyven
Vingegaard keeps pink jersey after attack on final climb
Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step completed a hat-trick of victories in this Giro d’Italia by winning a bunch sprint on stage 18 in Pieve di Soligo.
The 22-year-old Frenchman was perfectly set up by his teammate Jasper Stuyven in the final few high-speed turns and powered to the line, after 171km of racing, ahead of two Italian sprinters.
Italian’s dream of career slam evaporates against Cerúndolo
‘I wasn’t dying because of the heat,’ world No 1 claims
Jannik Sinner said his lack of energy in a stunning French Open loss was down to a combination of factors, including a long clay court swing, during which he played and won three successive events to arrive as the favourite in Paris.
Sinner, who was targeting a maiden French Open title and career grand slam in the absence of his injured rival Carlos Alcaraz, was hampered by illness for a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 second-round defeat by Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.
At 21–35 and buried at the bottom of the American League standings, the Los Angeles Angels are quickly becoming the perfect example of a franchise going nowhere.
But during Tuesday night’s loss to the Tigers, the most glaring sign that the season may already be lost came not from the stands, but from Jorge Soler jogging his way through a routine baseball play.
Angels’ Season From Hell Hits New Low After Jorge Soler’s Embarrassing Jog AP
The moment happened with the Angels trailing 1–0 in the top of the second inning. Soler reached on a leadoff single before Wade Meckler hit a ground ball to second baseman Colt Keith.
While Keith initially bobbled the ball, Soler failed to show any interest in getting to second base in a timely fashion, drifting away from the play before realizing too late that the ball had been mishandled. He was thrown out easily.
If the Angels want to turn things around they'll need better hustle than this pic.twitter.com/dvOuIv42eq
Angels owner Arte Moreno, right, talks with Angels manager Joe Maddon before the game against Cleveland. AP
Meanwhile, Meckler sprinted down the line trying to beat out the potential double play. For his part, Meckler stole second during the next at bat
The contrast couldn’t have been more obvious.
Fans online immediately questioned why Soler remained in the game and, later, questioned his place in the clubhouse after grounding out on the first pitch he saw in the ninth inning.
But the bigger issue may be manager Kurt Suzuki and his baffling attempt at an explanation at his postgame press conference.
Manager Kurt Suzuki of the Los Angeles Angels looks on before the game against the Athletics Getty Images
When asked by OC Register reporter Jeff Fletcher whether Soler’s lack of hustle was related to Suzuki’s comment that the veteran slugger was “battling some stuff,” Suzuki delivered a confusing, rambling answer that never addressed the question directly.
The response only added to growing concerns that the Angels have lost control of the clubhouse entirely.
For a fanbase already furious over years of losing and squandering talent under Moreno, Soler’s effort and Suzuki’s inability to correct, motivate or even simply explain it is symbolic of a franchise without accountability, direction, or urgency.
And judging by the chants ringing through Anaheim, fans are completely done pretending otherwise.
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DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 22: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half at American Airlines Center on January 22, 2025 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 Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for ways to upgrade their roster this offseason after a premature elimination from the playoffs at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs.
The Wolves have a pressing need at the point guard position, so they need to scour the rest of the league to see if there are any upgrades available. One player that could be on the move is Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving. CBS Sports contributor Sam Quinn listed the Wolves as a potential destination for Irving this offseason.
“Minnesota could match money with Randle and DiVincenzo. It doesn’t have much draft capital remaining, but the front office can offer No. 28 this year, first-round swap rights in 2028 (valuable since Dallas currently owes a swap to Oklahoma City, so almost any secondary swap would be helpful), and an unprotected pick in 2033, when Irving will likely be retired. If Dallas likes the long-term prospects of Joan Beringer or Terrence Shannon, that greases the wheels here,“ Quinn wrote.
The Wolves should be willing to move on from DiVincenzo, who has an expiring contract and an injury that will keep him out for part of the upcoming season. As for Randle, he would be hard to move on from, but if the Wolves wanted to land a player of Irving’s caliber, they have to make a big splash.
Another reason why a move like this makes sense is because it allows the Wolves to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu in free agency. Dosunmu could act as the team’s sixth man, while Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert join Irving in the starting lineup.
Canis Hoopus community, what do you think the Wolves should do this offseason? Do you want Kyrie to come to Minnesota? Chime off in the comments section below.
Josh Kroenke says there will be no ‘standing still’
Extending Mikel Arteta’s contract the ‘utmost priority’
Josh Kroenke has promised that Arsenal will strengthen their squad even if they are crowned European champions for the first time and said rewarding Mikel Arteta with a new contract is an “utmost priority”.
Arsenal, who face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday, spent more than £250m last summer on players who helped them win a first Premier League title for 22 years. Kroenke and his father, Stan, the club’s American owners and co-chairs, watched Arsenal at Crystal Palace on Sunday and brought the trophy on to the pitch before it was presented to the captain, Martin Ødegaard. They are expected to be at the final.
ATLANTA, GA - CIRCA 1982: Bob Horner #5 of the Atlanta Braves bats during an Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Horner played for the Braves from 1978-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves franchise suffered another major blow recently, as former star Bob Horner passed away at the age of 68. It’s a tough loss for fans who were around to watch this team during their tumultuous period during the 1980s, since Horner was such an important figure to the Braves during that point in time.
Horner’s not just an important figure in Braves history but he’ll also go down in baseball history as well. While didn’t make the Baseball Hall of Fame as a player, his actions on July 6, 1986 ensured that he’ll be remembered forever in the record books. That was the day when Horner etched his name into the record books by becoming just the 11th player in baseball history (at that time) to hit four homers in a single game.
Thanks to Ted Turner’s SuperStation, the game was televised. That alone makes this a very important feat since this was very likely one of the first few times where a four-homer game had actual video evidence of the feat. The two most recent events before Horner did it was when Willie Mays hit four in one game in 1961 and then Mike Schmidt accomplished it in 1976, which means that it’s likely that Horner’s four-homer game was just the third time where people actually got to watch it as it happened on television.
As such, that means that we’ve actually got a chance to look back on how it happened. The video proof has been on MLB.com’s video search engine for quite some time now but recent events have prompted the MLB Vault YouTube channel to upload the video of all four homers from Horner’s big day back in 1986. Let’s watch some history, shall we?
It’s really lovely to hear the legendary commentators of Ernie Johnson Sr., Skip Caray and John Sterling on the call for this one. It’s also darkly funny that in typical ‘80s Braves fashion, they somehow managed to lose a game where one of their stars made history. Still, this is a golden clip and one of those things that makes baseball such a great sport. The thread of history that connects the past to the present is stronger in baseball than it is in any sport and moments like this continue to make sure that that thread allows players like Bob Horner to have their memory endure for a long, long time.
Death is always tough to handle but stuff like this is always why picture and video is so important. Bob Horner may no longer be with us here but we’ll at least have memories like this to continue to keep his legacy alive as the sport continues to progress into the future. Thanks for the memories.
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 25: Jalen Duren #0 and Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons talk during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a tough two-week stretch watching a team the Detroit Pistons probably should have passed get stomped on by the New York Knc
That’s not to say Detroit would have beaten New York in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the fight would have been there. Ultimately, the same glaring shortcomings that lingered throughout the season kept them from truly entering the conversation.
Now the Pistons enter one of the most fascinating offseasons the franchise has had in years, and the decisions ahead could define their future as a contender.
What makes it especially interesting is how interconnected everything feels. On paper, the core of this team already exists, and it seems likely Trajan Langdon’s focus will be on filling holes around the young stars already in place. Still, there’s a lingering feeling that a bigger swing could be brewing.
We’ll explore Detroit’s biggest offseason needs and why each move makes sense. The real intrigue will come from how those deals get done and which players the organization is willing to part with.
1. Re-signing Duren
An underwhelming postseason should impact the overall price tag of Jalen Duren’s next contract, but it still feels clear he is firmly part of Detroit’s future. If the team decides to let Duren go into restricted free agency, only a few teams will have enough cap space to be able to offer Duren a hefty contract. During the 2022 NBA offseason, the Indiana Pacers signed Deandre Ayton to a four-year, $133 million maximum offer sheet—the largest in league history at the time. However, the Suns matched the offer within hours, retaining the center and keeping him on their roster for the next season. Duren would command more money but this could be a similar representation of what we end up seeing.
For the record, I do think there’s some danger in automatically penciling in Duren and Ausar Thompson as long-term fits next to Cade Cunningham. Building around those three means the Pistons have to be extremely intentional with the type of players they place around them, which can make the roster more one-dimensional offensively.
Still, the upside Duren displayed this season was undeniable and earned him Third Team All-NBA honors. The fourth-year big man has improved steadily every season, and this year represented by far the biggest leap of his career, even if some of his best traits disappeared in the postseason.
ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 25: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket while being defended by Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of game three of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs at the Kia Center on April 25, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Pistons 113 to 105. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a little time removed from Detroit’s collapse against Cleveland, it’s easier to identify why Duren struggled. Most productive playoff big men benefit from better spacing and more offensive balance around them. We even saw during last year’s Knicks series that Duren looked far more comfortable with additional shooting on the floor.
There’s also another leap Duren can realistically make at just 22 years old: shooting.
It’s rare for centers to suddenly develop a consistent jumper midway through their career, but Duren has shown flashes and is only 22 years old. His free throw percentage jumped from 67 percent to 75 percent while taking three more attempts per game. That doesn’t mean he’s about to become a stretch five overnight, but over the course of his next contract it would not be surprising if he develops into at least a respectable mid-range or perimeter threat.
2. Finding a secondary creator
Detroit’s lack of shooting was exposed in the postseason, although there were still stretches where the offense looked functional. The larger issue came whenever Cade Cunningham left the floor. The offense often looked lost, to the point where Detroit had no choice but to overextend him.
It’s difficult to blame Cunningham entirely for the volume of mistakes late in games, even if many of them were careless. It became easy to forget that he entered the playoffs still recovering from a collapsed lung. The workload eventually piled up to a point where the mistakes felt inevitable.
Finding additional shooting is manageable in today’s NBA. Finding someone who can actually organize an offense for stretches and be trusted in a playoff setting is more difficult.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Detroit needs to swing for a superstar like Devin Booker or Kyrie Irving. They simply need someone who can fill a similar stylistic role. Atlanta’s trade for CJ McCollum at the deadline completely changed the trajectory of their season. A low-risk, high-reward veteran addition can raise both the floor and ceiling of a contender.
It’s still frustrating for Pistons fans to think about what this playoff run may have looked like with another secondary creator on the roster. At least now the need is impossible to ignore, and fortunately it should not be overly difficult to find help in that area.
3. Adding frontcourt shooting
Tobias Harris proved he can be a secondary scorer on a playoff team, but probably not on a true championship-level roster. His postseason success may have also played himself into a contract Detroit either cannot or will not entertain.
That means Langdon will need to get creative replacing what Harris brought to the lineup, if it comes down to that.
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the second half of game three in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Depending on how aggressive Detroit gets this offseason, the role Harris played could be completely reimagined. The Pistons already proved they can defend at a high level throughout the roster, and Harris was part of that identity. But everyone understands they need more offensive firepower.
If sacrificing a little defensive versatility makes Cade Cunningham’s life easier offensively, it is probably worth it. That should be the mindset entering the summer.
So what does that frontcourt change actually look like?
If Detroit plans to re-sign Duren, they need a high-level shooter on the floor with him at all times. Too often during the playoffs the spacing collapsed because there simply were not enough complementary offensive players around him.
Cleveland provided a perfect example in the second round. Evan Mobley’s perimeter development completely changed the geometry of the floor and opened opportunities for everyone else.
Maybe Detroit solves multiple issues at once by targeting a dynamic scoring forward who can also space the floor. Someone like Lauri Markkanen immediately comes to mind.
No matter what direction they choose, frontcourt shooting has to become a priority.
Bonus
Detroit needs more perimeter scoring, and this draft gives them an opportunity to find an immediate contributor.
Last year the Pistons played it safe by drafting a more one-dimensional prospect in Chaz Lanier, but the 21st pick in this class appears to hold more value. Some names connected to Detroit include Baylor’s Cameron Carr, Duke’s Isaiah Evans, and Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz.
Former Senators Defenseman Enters Ottawa Sport Hall Of Fame Wednesday NightThe Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame will honour Jason York's 757-game career, more than half of it played with the Senators. 
COVERS INTEL: 
