Can we have a "Pass of the Year" candidate in the preseason?
Nikola Jokic made the case for one with a cross-court, behind-the-back pass from one corner to the other, landing right in Cameron Johnson's shooting pocket — this is wizardry.
If Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon can largely stay healthy this season — and especially if Johnson can find his groove again — Denver is going to be a problem in the West.
BRONX, NY - JULY 19: Aaron Guiel #46 of the New York Yankees bats against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on July 19, 2006 in the Bronx borough of New York, New York. The Mariners defeated the Yankees 3-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the things we have always loved about baseball is how the players can come in all shapes, sizes, and corners of the map. Aaron Guiel was born north of the United States border in Vancouver, BC, Canada. So far north of the border, his high school did not have a formal team. It took a long and grinding road, but Guiel eventually broke through to the big leagues and finished his big league journey in the Bronx.
Aaron Colin Guiel
Born: October 5, 1972 (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Yankees Tenure: 2006
Growing up playing as many club ball games as he could, Guiel eventually found himself playing organized baseball at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, Canada. In June 1992, the California Angels drafted Guiel in the 21st round of the amateur draft. Guiel did not sign until May 1993, a move that added more waiting to a career that would experience its fair share.
Guiel made his professional debut in 1993, playing second base and the outfield for the Boise Hawks in Low-A, and impressed by putting up strong numbers, batting .298 with a .455 on-base percentage across 35 games. This kicked off a three-year streak of him impressing enough to move up a level each season before he finally hit a stalled period. During the 1997 season, the Angels traded Guiel to the San Diego Padres for Angelo Encarnación.
The following season, in 1998, at 25, Guiel finally reached Triple-A. He stayed parked at that level in 1999 and was released by the Padres following the season. Guiel signed and spent a brief amount of time in spring training with the Athletics in 2000. After being cut, it seemed his career might be over, but Guiel found an opportunity playing for the Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Mexican League. South of the border, Guiel batted .365 with 22 home runs in 56 games, which caught the attention of the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals bought his contract, and Guiel found himself back in Triple-A for the rest of the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Guiel returned to Triple-A at the start of the 2002 season, but that would be the year he finally broke through and reached the big leagues. It took almost a decade from when he was drafted and over 900 minor league games, but on June 22, 2002, Guiel finally became a Major Leaguer. Across 70 games at the major league level in 2002, Guiel slashed .233/.296/.338 with four home runs.
Guiel then bounced up and down over the next several seasons. His best season was in 2003 when he slashed .277/.346/.489 with 15 home runs while platooning in right field and getting run batting from the leadoff spot. Following that performance, Guiel’s career momentum was then derailed in 2004 by blurred vision in his left eye that required multiple surgeries, the first coming in May. Guiel battled back and kept shuffling between different levels in the Royals organization in both 2004 and 2005.
In 2006, Guiel was waived by the Royals, and the Yankees claimed him. These Yankees were desperate for outfield help as Hideki Matsui had broken his wrist and Gary Sheffield was also battling his own wrist injury. The Yankees used the lefty-swinging outfielder in a platoon role.
Guiel ended up appearing in 44 games for the Bombers, splitting time between right field and first base. He hit .256 with four home runs and 11 RBI. Guiel played his final Major League game on October 1, 2006, against the Toronto Blue Jays as he was left off the postseason roster, and with that, his MLB story ended for the time being.
Seeking a larger role and hoping to play more, Guiel moved overseas to play in Japan. He played for five more seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Guiel enjoyed a successful few years in Japan, even earning the nickname The Angel from fans, until injuries eventually shut him down in 2011. Following his playing days, Guiel quickly transitioned into coaching and scouting roles back with the Royals.
Oct 3, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nathan Ray Seebeck/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin said his 22nd season in the NHL will be his last, beginning the farewell tour for the longtime Washington Capitals captain who holds the league’s career goal-scoring record.
Ovechkin addressed teammates to deliver the news before the team posted a message from him on social media.
“It’s sad, but it is what it is,” Ovechkin said in his locker room address. “It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it and let’s do some special things this year.”
Ovechkin signed a one-year contract this past summer and turned 41 on Sept. 17. All signs pointed to this being the end, and he said he and his family decided as much in recent months.
“I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” Ovechkin said in a statement released before the Capitals’ home opener.
Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April 2025 and entered this season at 929. The front office acquired Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch in trades and signed fellow forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais in free agency to add around a young core in the hopes of making another long playoff run and contending for the Stanley Cup.
“We have an unbelievable team this year,” Ovechkin said. “Let’s make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”
Ovechkin has spent his entire career with Washington, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2005-06, the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and leading the NHL in scoring nine times. He was playoff MVP in 2018 when he led the Caps to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
Oct 3, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nathan Ray Seebeck/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin said his 22nd season in the NHL will be his last, beginning the farewell tour for the longtime Washington Capitals captain who holds the league’s career goal-scoring record.
Ovechkin addressed teammates to deliver the news before the team posted a message from him on social media.
“It’s sad, but it is what it is,” Ovechkin said in his locker room address. “It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it and let’s do some special things this year.”
Ovechkin signed a one-year contract this past summer and turned 41 on Sept. 17. All signs pointed to this being the end, and he said he and his family decided as much in recent months.
“I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” Ovechkin said in a statement released before the Capitals’ home opener.
Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April 2025 and entered this season at 929. The front office acquired Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch in trades and signed fellow forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais in free agency to add around a young core in the hopes of making another long playoff run and contending for the Stanley Cup.
“We have an unbelievable team this year,” Ovechkin said. “Let’s make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”
Ovechkin has spent his entire career with Washington, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2005-06, the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and leading the NHL in scoring nine times. He was playoff MVP in 2018 when he led the Caps to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
Oct 3, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nathan Ray Seebeck/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin said his 22nd season in the NHL will be his last, beginning the farewell tour for the longtime Washington Capitals captain who holds the league’s career goal-scoring record.
Ovechkin addressed teammates to deliver the news before the team posted a message from him on social media.
“It’s sad, but it is what it is,” Ovechkin said in his locker room address. “It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it and let’s do some special things this year.”
Ovechkin signed a one-year contract this past summer and turned 41 on Sept. 17. All signs pointed to this being the end, and he said he and his family decided as much in recent months.
“I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” Ovechkin said in a statement released before the Capitals’ home opener.
Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April 2025 and entered this season at 929. The front office acquired Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch in trades and signed fellow forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais in free agency to add around a young core in the hopes of making another long playoff run and contending for the Stanley Cup.
“We have an unbelievable team this year,” Ovechkin said. “Let’s make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”
Ovechkin has spent his entire career with Washington, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2005-06, the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and leading the NHL in scoring nine times. He was playoff MVP in 2018 when he led the Caps to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
Elliotte Friedman reported some news on Saturday night that will eventually create a big change in the National Hockey League. According to Friedman, the top insider in the game, Simon Edvinsson prefers to be traded away from the Detroit Red Wings.
Saturday Headlines:
Edvinsson "prefers" trade although DET's desire is to sign him...Barkov...Oilers...coaches warned about interactions with officialshttps://t.co/koTYiu5bCr
This is going to be a tough blow to the Red Wings organization in a long line of them. After a summer filled with drama, mostly surrounding former captain Dylan Larkin (who is still with them), they now have to consider honoring the request of a young player whom they thought would be a core piece of their puzzle.
Detroit doesn’t even have a full-time general manager to deal with these things. Shawn Horcoff is the interim, and it’s on him to be the decision-maker for the time being. He may end up the full-time guy if he works out these issues correctly, so there is pressure on him as an individual as well.
Edvinsson is a young defenseman who hasn’t yet blossomed into a star, which is his potential, but he is already a great young top-four guy. He’s the type of defenseman who is good for any partner because of his ability to defend and transfer the puck up the ice. Whatever the team needs from him, he can provide.
He can’t continue to make progress in his development as a 23-year-old playing the hardest position in the sport without playing games, which is currently happening due to a contract stalemate. The now-fractured relationship plus the turmoil around the team are the key reasons for this trade request.
One team that may be interested in a player like Edvinsson is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks have a lot of interesting young defensemen, but none of them have grown into a legit number one. They likely wouldn't have traded for Bowen Byram if one of them stood out early in their career.
Now that the Blackhawks do have Byram, there is more room for development lower in the lineup. Edvinsson is someone who is already a proven NHL player with the ceiling of a star. Like most young players at that position, his offense is a bit ahead of his defense, but his defense has been solid too.
Edvinsson has experience playing with a star like Moritz Seider. With that experience, he could play with a proven player like Byram as well. At his age, he would also fit in with a lot of Chicago's budding core, including their many young defenders.
What would a team like the Blackhawks have to give up for Edvinsson? Well, for one, they are not even in the same conference, so there is no "rivalry tax" there. Also, the fact that this report is out in the public eye certainly doesn't raise the price. It's a nightmare situation for Detroit, but it's the fact of the matter.
A mix of draft picks, a good young NHL defender and/or forward, and prospects can be expected in return for a player with a high ceiling like Edvinsson. With the way that the Blackhawks have defended so far this season, taking a chance like this is something to think about if the price is right.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
Elliotte Friedman reported some news on Saturday night that will eventually create a big change in the National Hockey League. According to Friedman, the top insider in the game, Simon Edvinsson prefers to be traded away from the Detroit Red Wings.
Saturday Headlines:
Edvinsson "prefers" trade although DET's desire is to sign him...Barkov...Oilers...coaches warned about interactions with officialshttps://t.co/koTYiu5bCr
This is going to be a tough blow to the Red Wings organization in a long line of them. After a summer filled with drama, mostly surrounding former captain Dylan Larkin (who is still with them), they now have to consider honoring the request of a young player whom they thought would be a core piece of their puzzle.
Detroit doesn’t even have a full-time general manager to deal with these things. Shawn Horcoff is the interim, and it’s on him to be the decision-maker for the time being. He may end up the full-time guy if he works out these issues correctly, so there is pressure on him as an individual as well.
Edvinsson is a young defenseman who hasn’t yet blossomed into a star, which is his potential, but he is already a great young top-four guy. He’s the type of defenseman who is good for any partner because of his ability to defend and transfer the puck up the ice. Whatever the team needs from him, he can provide.
He can’t continue to make progress in his development as a 23-year-old playing the hardest position in the sport without playing games, which is currently happening due to a contract stalemate. The now-fractured relationship plus the turmoil around the team are the key reasons for this trade request.
One team that may be interested in a player like Edvinsson is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks have a lot of interesting young defensemen, but none of them have grown into a legit number one. They likely wouldn't have traded for Bowen Byram if one of them stood out early in their career.
Now that the Blackhawks do have Byram, there is more room for development lower in the lineup. Edvinsson is someone who is already a proven NHL player with the ceiling of a star. Like most young players at that position, his offense is a bit ahead of his defense, but his defense has been solid too.
Edvinsson has experience playing with a star like Moritz Seider. With that experience, he could play with a proven player like Byram as well. At his age, he would also fit in with a lot of Chicago's budding core, including their many young defenders.
What would a team like the Blackhawks have to give up for Edvinsson? Well, for one, they are not even in the same conference, so there is no "rivalry tax" there. Also, the fact that this report is out in the public eye certainly doesn't raise the price. It's a nightmare situation for Detroit, but it's the fact of the matter.
A mix of draft picks, a good young NHL defender and/or forward, and prospects can be expected in return for a player with a high ceiling like Edvinsson. With the way that the Blackhawks have defended so far this season, taking a chance like this is something to think about if the price is right.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
Elliotte Friedman reported some news on Saturday night that will eventually create a big change in the National Hockey League. According to Friedman, the top insider in the game, Simon Edvinsson prefers to be traded away from the Detroit Red Wings.
Saturday Headlines:
Edvinsson "prefers" trade although DET's desire is to sign him...Barkov...Oilers...coaches warned about interactions with officialshttps://t.co/koTYiu5bCr
This is going to be a tough blow to the Red Wings organization in a long line of them. After a summer filled with drama, mostly surrounding former captain Dylan Larkin (who is still with them), they now have to consider honoring the request of a young player whom they thought would be a core piece of their puzzle.
Detroit doesn’t even have a full-time general manager to deal with these things. Shawn Horcoff is the interim, and it’s on him to be the decision-maker for the time being. He may end up the full-time guy if he works out these issues correctly, so there is pressure on him as an individual as well.
Edvinsson is a young defenseman who hasn’t yet blossomed into a star, which is his potential, but he is already a great young top-four guy. He’s the type of defenseman who is good for any partner because of his ability to defend and transfer the puck up the ice. Whatever the team needs from him, he can provide.
He can’t continue to make progress in his development as a 23-year-old playing the hardest position in the sport without playing games, which is currently happening due to a contract stalemate. The now-fractured relationship plus the turmoil around the team are the key reasons for this trade request.
One team that may be interested in a player like Edvinsson is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks have a lot of interesting young defensemen, but none of them have grown into a legit number one. They likely wouldn't have traded for Bowen Byram if one of them stood out early in their career.
Now that the Blackhawks do have Byram, there is more room for development lower in the lineup. Edvinsson is someone who is already a proven NHL player with the ceiling of a star. Like most young players at that position, his offense is a bit ahead of his defense, but his defense has been solid too.
Edvinsson has experience playing with a star like Moritz Seider. With that experience, he could play with a proven player like Byram as well. At his age, he would also fit in with a lot of Chicago's budding core, including their many young defenders.
What would a team like the Blackhawks have to give up for Edvinsson? Well, for one, they are not even in the same conference, so there is no "rivalry tax" there. Also, the fact that this report is out in the public eye certainly doesn't raise the price. It's a nightmare situation for Detroit, but it's the fact of the matter.
A mix of draft picks, a good young NHL defender and/or forward, and prospects can be expected in return for a player with a high ceiling like Edvinsson. With the way that the Blackhawks have defended so far this season, taking a chance like this is something to think about if the price is right.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Will Smith #16 and Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talk on the mound during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers needed one win to send the Atlanta Braves to the brink of elimination on Sunday. Instead, the Braves lineup forced an early exit from Blake Snell and scored two defining runs against the bullpen in a 3-2 win over the Dodgers, forcing the series back to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4.
It wasn’t the first rocky outing for Snell against Atlanta this season, as he only managed to toss three innings while allowing four runs in his 2026 debut back on May 8 before being placed on the injured list. The southpaw had looked like his usual dominant stretch once he returned in August, but the ultimate test was to see how he would perform against the lone team that roughed him up.
Snell made quick work of Drake Baldwin for the first out, but after allowing a one-out single to Ronald Acuña Jr., he walked both Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies to load the bases. Snell managed to get Michael Harris II to fly out in foul territory for a crucial second out, but Mauricio Dubón tacked on the game’s first run with an infield single. Snell faced seven hitters in the first inning, needing 27 pitches to give the Dodgers a chance to hit.
Snell’s biggest flaw on Sunday was his inability to get quick innings, unlike Tarik Skubal on Saturday. Snell needed four pitches to get two quick outs in the second inning, but allowed a six-pitch walk to Baldwin and needed another eight to strike out Acuña. Snell allowed another two-out baserunner in the third inning, this time a single from Harris, needing 19 pitches after tossing 18 the inning prior.
Snell’s hopes at a clean inning were dashed in the fourth inning, as he walked a pair of hitters and tossed 26 pitches before the plug was pulled on his night. The Dodgers got him off the hook in the bottom of the fourth inning with a Freddie Freeman home run, but the Dodgers employed six relievers out of the bullpen over their final 5 1/3 innings on the mound.
Snell had a postseason to remember last year, as his defining moment came in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, facing the minimum over eight shutout innings. Sunday’s outing was the first time he failed to log four innings in a postseason start since he began the 2022 Wild Card series against the New York Mets back when he was a San Diego Padre. Out of the 90 pitches he tossed against Atlanta, 47 of them went for strikes.
Snell’s final start of the regular season was limited to just one inning after he dealt with left groin inflammation. Dave Roberts was quick to deny any concern over Snell’s groin issue, noting that he was battling himself on the mound.
“No, it wasn’t that. He was fighting himself in his delivery all game. Today, I just think the fastball was really good, the changeup was good at times, but I think, in total, didn’t have fastball command, didn’t have slider command, and the changeup wasn’t there. He was pulling it. I think overall it wasn’t the groin, and he wasn’t sharp tonight.”
Roberts felt optimistic about his chances of Snell on the mound while Atlanta went with their own bullpen game, beginning with left-hander Ray Kerr. The pieces just couldn’t fall into place on Sunday.
“Felt great. Anytime I feel I have Blake Snell lined up against any pitcher felt good. Going to getting Kerr out of the game and then getting [Grant] Holmes out of the game, I felt really good where we were at. I really did. We just couldn’t execute as the game progressed.”
Now the Dodgers will face the only pitcher to shut them out in the regular season, left-hander Chris Sale, in a crucial Game 3 at Truist Park on Tuesday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound for the first time in the playoffs since his Herculean performance in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 08: Jhoan Duran #59 and Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, September 8, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Every year, the great folks at MLB Trade Rumors does a masterful job at trying to predict what players who are eligible for arbitration will make for the following season. This year’s version has quite a few numbers for the Phillies that are going to raise an eyebrow.
Garrett Stubbs: $1MM
Brandon Marsh: $8.3MM
Jhoan Duran: $10.9MM
Bryson Stott: $9.2MM
Tanner Banks: $1.4MM
Derek Hill: $1.5MM
Rafael Marchán: $1MM
Bryan De La Cruz: $1.2MM
Orion Kerkering: $1.5MM
For the first time in a while, the Phillies don’t have anyone projected to make less than $1 million in arbitration. Maybe it’s just me that finds that interesting. However, there are some pretty easy and pretty complicated decisions to make here.
The easiest is that they’re going to pick one of those catchers to retain. Maybe it’ll be through arbitration, maybe it’ll be through the split contract that Stubbs had last year where he was paid a decent amount of money to spend time in the minor leagues. However, neither are actually good at hitting the baseball, so hopefully the team looks to upgrade that position a bit better somehow.
de la Cruz is likely someone that is sent on his way. He was a good bench bat, but even that paltry amount could be spent better elsewhere on the roster. Banks might be an interesting choice, but when he came back from his injury, he was better so they’ll probably keep him around as a left handed option in the bullpen. Derek Hill is definitely a maybe, if not a probably when it comes to retaining his rights. He was a very good option for them off the bench and has the ability to play center field, something the team values in its outfield bench bats. That’s a good amount that could be settled for, meaning he’ll probably return in 2027.
The names at the top are a little more obvious. Stott and Duran are guarantees to return, if not gain extensions once the new financial landscape of the game is settled in CBA negotiations.
It’s the final two that will be discussed heavily in the coming weeks.
Brandon Marsh was an All-Star in the first half before cratering in the final two months. There was nothing redeemable about his game that we could pick out. He was just bad at everything he did at the plate once the players returned from their mid-July break. Any ideas he had about being something other than a platoon bat have evaporated; this is what he is. He was so bad that his spot on the roster feels tenuous. $8 million is nothing to sneeze at for a platoon bat, making it more of a question mark that he returns. My guess is that the team works the trade phones heavily for Marsh, trying to see if there is a team that is willing to work with him to get him back to where he was in the first half of the season, maybe even a bit more. The Phillies’ hitting program isn’t exactly one of national import, so there could be another team interested in seeing what they can do. In the end, I’ll bet he is wearing another uniform once 2027 begins.
Orion Kerkering is another case where we want the endgame to be obvious, but it may not be. He is such an obvious case of needing a change of scenery, yet the stuff he has is enough that the Phillies may still think they can do something with him. The amount of money he is projected to make should not be an issue and may actually make him enticing to another team in a trade, should the Phillies decided to shop him around. That’s more or less where I believe this one ends up, with another team taking the Phillies up on their offer and acquiring him to try and see if he can turn things around in a different environment. I’d be wary if someone like the Dodgers or Brewers or Rays sniffs around him, but if that’s what it would take, the team really should be moving on from him.
Mike and Dan recap the Islanders’ first two games of the season, including an emphatic and historic home opening win over the Devils, as well as bring forth the first Master Leaf Theatre of a new year.
The Islanders went into the season with some bad vibes. The postseason was long and disappointing, even the new guys on the roster felt stale and the GM tried to bullshit the fanbase by talking about how much he “tried” to make meaningful changes. It didn’t feel better after a blah 2-1 loss in Toronto, of all places, in Game 1. But Game 2 was different – with a cascade of goals, solid all around play and the first NHL tally for “The Agent of Chaos” Victor Eklund, who also got a happy birthday singalong, it was a party for everyone in blue-and-orange. Suddenly, the future seems bright again for what feels like the first time in years.
We hope to keep the good times rolling into Week 2, with games against the rising Rangers, beatable Blackhawks and litmus test Lightning on the horizon. These games will give us a true indication of what this team and season will be like for the next… [checks notes]… 82 games?
Of course a game against the Leafs means a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre for the new year. This one needs almost no introduction before it goes off the rails biblically (literally). We also have rookies skipping optional skates with their coach’s blessing, more detail on a goal song than anyone will ever need and a computer masquerading as a man all the way to one of the most powerful seats in the land. It’s an epic kick off to a fan favorite bit that keeps on giving.
Thanks again to everyone who came to either Zofia’s Hideout on Wednesday or the game on Saturday (or both) and stopped by to say hello. We really appreciate the face-to-face meetings and kind words. Our next meetup at Zofia’s will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27. More info to come.
Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.
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Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).
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Mike and Dan recap the Islanders’ first two games of the season, including an emphatic and historic home opening win over the Devils, as well as bring forth the first Master Leaf Theatre of a new year.
The Islanders went into the season with some bad vibes. The postseason was long and disappointing, even the new guys on the roster felt stale and the GM tried to bullshit the fanbase by talking about how much he “tried” to make meaningful changes. It didn’t feel better after a blah 2-1 loss in Toronto, of all places, in Game 1. But Game 2 was different – with a cascade of goals, solid all around play and the first NHL tally for “The Agent of Chaos” Victor Eklund, who also got a happy birthday singalong, it was a party for everyone in blue-and-orange. Suddenly, the future seems bright again for what feels like the first time in years.
We hope to keep the good times rolling into Week 2, with games against the rising Rangers, beatable Blackhawks and litmus test Lightning on the horizon. These games will give us a true indication of what this team and season will be like for the next… [checks notes]… 82 games?
Of course a game against the Leafs means a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre for the new year. This one needs almost no introduction before it goes off the rails biblically (literally). We also have rookies skipping optional skates with their coach’s blessing, more detail on a goal song than anyone will ever need and a computer masquerading as a man all the way to one of the most powerful seats in the land. It’s an epic kick off to a fan favorite bit that keeps on giving.
Thanks again to everyone who came to either Zofia’s Hideout on Wednesday or the game on Saturday (or both) and stopped by to say hello. We really appreciate the face-to-face meetings and kind words. Our next meetup at Zofia’s will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27. More info to come.
Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.
The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).
Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.
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Mike and Dan recap the Islanders’ first two games of the season, including an emphatic and historic home opening win over the Devils, as well as bring forth the first Master Leaf Theatre of a new year.
The Islanders went into the season with some bad vibes. The postseason was long and disappointing, even the new guys on the roster felt stale and the GM tried to bullshit the fanbase by talking about how much he “tried” to make meaningful changes. It didn’t feel better after a blah 2-1 loss in Toronto, of all places, in Game 1. But Game 2 was different – with a cascade of goals, solid all around play and the first NHL tally for “The Agent of Chaos” Victor Eklund, who also got a happy birthday singalong, it was a party for everyone in blue-and-orange. Suddenly, the future seems bright again for what feels like the first time in years.
We hope to keep the good times rolling into Week 2, with games against the rising Rangers, beatable Blackhawks and litmus test Lightning on the horizon. These games will give us a true indication of what this team and season will be like for the next… [checks notes]… 82 games?
Of course a game against the Leafs means a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre for the new year. This one needs almost no introduction before it goes off the rails biblically (literally). We also have rookies skipping optional skates with their coach’s blessing, more detail on a goal song than anyone will ever need and a computer masquerading as a man all the way to one of the most powerful seats in the land. It’s an epic kick off to a fan favorite bit that keeps on giving.
Thanks again to everyone who came to either Zofia’s Hideout on Wednesday or the game on Saturday (or both) and stopped by to say hello. We really appreciate the face-to-face meetings and kind words. Our next meetup at Zofia’s will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27. More info to come.
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Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).
Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.
Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
20 February 2011: Baseballs lies on the turf during Spring Training at the Carl Barger Baseball Complex in Viera, Florida. ***** Editorial Sales Only ***** (Photo by Ed Wolfstein/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Florida Complex League Mets Record: 24-33 (3/5 FCL East)
Dominican Summer League Mets Team Orange Record: 29-27 (5/7 DSL South)
Dominican Summer League Mets Team Blue Record: 20-36 (6/6 DSL Southeast)
It wasn’t a marquee year for any of the three complex teams. The FCL Mets ended the season nine games below .500, the DSL Mets Blue ended the season sixteen games below .500, and while the DSL Mets Orange managed a positive record, they were a mere two games over .500. The FCL Mets found themselves near the bottom in most offensive categories and in the bottom 33rd percentile in most pitching-related categories. The DSL Mets Blue were around the middle of the back in most offensive categories and near the bottom in most pitching categories, while the DSL Mets Orange were near the bottom in most offensive categories but were near the top in most pitching categories.
Vladi Gomez was signed out of the Dominican Republic on January 15, 2023. Far from a name who scouts and evaluators gushed about, Gomez received a minimal signing bonus and was assigned to the Dominican Summer League, where he appeared in 43 games with the DSL Mets Blue. The 17-year-old infielder/outfielder didn’t exactly impress, hitting .181/.335/.303 with 3 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 33 walks to 44 strikeouts, and remained in the Dominican Summer League when the 2024 season began. He split his playing time with the DSL Mets Blue and the DSL Mets Orange in his second professional season and had a better season in virtually every regard, hitting .264/.399/.368 in 43 combined games, hitting 1 home run, stealing 28 bases, and drawing 29 walks to 32 strikeouts.
Gomez was sent stateside in 2025, appearing in 46 games with the FCL Mets. The 19-year-old struggled, hitting .172/.325/.221 with 1 home run, 19 stolen bases, and 26 walks to 333 strikeouts. He began the 2026 season with the St. Lucie Mets but only appeared in a handful of games with them, going 5-18 with a pair of doubles and a stolen base before the organization opted to send him back down to the Florida Complex League when the FCL season began. Appearing in 48 games for the FCL Mets, he hit .328/.432/.440 with 1 home run, 33 stolen bases, and 15 walks to 21 strikeouts, good for a 127 wRC+. After the Florida Complex League season ended, he was promoted back up to Single-A St. Lucie in late July, where he appeared in in 27 games and hit .198/.282/.253 with 0 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and 11 walks to 24 strikeouts.
Gomez is listed at 5’11”, 150-pounds, and while he is still a bit skinny and lanky, he has certainly no longer 150-pounds. At the plate, the left-handed Gomez stands slightly open, holding his hands high at the eyes, wrapping his bat behind his head angled at 10:00. He swings with a moderate leg kick and has a long-levered swing best is suited for golfing low balls or poking them to the opposite field. While he is able to use the entire field with this approach, he struggles to hit the ball with authority. Despite the fact that he has filled in a bit, Gomez does not have much power, nor does he project to add much. Quick and athletic, speed is his most noteworthy tool and legging out base hits and stretching singles into doubles is his primary way of producing offensive value.
Defensively, Gomez spent most of 2026 playing second base and third base, but he also saw a substantial amount of playing time in left field. In the infield, his quick-twitch athleticism is his best attribute, while in the outfield, that athleticism allows him to cover a lot of ground once he gets going.
FCL CY YOUNG
Jean Brito: 13 G (4 GS), 32.0 IP, 19 H, 25 R, 17 ER (4.78 ERA), 20 BB, 31 K, .214 BABIP
(Runner Up: Cam Lohman)
It was a tough year for Florida Complex League pitching. The league average ERA was 5.76, with an average of 5.7 runs being allowed per game. The FCL Rays led the league with a cumulative 4.46 team ERA, while the FCL Marlins were worst in the league with a 7.57 team ERA. The FCL Mets found themselves 10th out of 15 teams, with a 6.26 cumulative team ERA. Of the pitchers to toe the rubber for the FCL Mets, Jean Brito is our FCL Mets Cy Young. The 20-year-old Venezuelan right-hander posted a 4.78 ERA in 32.0 innings, allowing 19 hits, walking 20, and striking out 31. While other players may have pitched more innings than Brito, or struck out more batters, or issued fewer walks, the right-hander had himself a balanced season looking at all pitching metrics.
Brito was signed by the Mets on January 15, 2023, but he missed the entire 2023 season due to an injury. He made his professional debut a year later, appearing in 3 games for the DSL Mets Blue and allowing two hits in three scoreless innings, walking two and striking out five. He remained in the Dominican Summer League for the 2025 season, pitching considerably more innings. In 44.1 innings with the DSL Mets Blue and DSL Mets Orange split between 7 starts and 6 relief outings, he posted a 2.84 ERA, allowing 31 hits, walking 21, and striking out 36. The 20-year-old right-hander was sent stateside in 2026 and appeared in 13 games for the FCL Mets, making 4 starts. Brito posted a 4.78 ERA with 19 hits, allowed, 20 walks, and 31 strikeouts, his H/9 lowest among any pitcher with 20+ IP, while his ERA was third, his strikeout and walk total fourth. After the Florida Complex League season ended, he was promoted to Single-A St. Lucie, where he appeared in 4 games and allowed 8 earned runs in 6.0 innings, giving up 10 hits, walking 6, and striking out 6.
The 6’3”, 180-pound Brito throws from a three-quarters arm slot and utilizes a long arm action through the back. He does not push off or extend much off the mound and as such, his whippy arm still has a comparatively high release point. His repertoire consists of a four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup and sweeping slider. Brito throws all of his pitches at about equal ratios, using his sweeping slider slightly more than his other pitches.
His slider sits in the mid-70s-to-mid-80s, averaging roughly 80 MPH. The pitch has below-average horizontal movement for a sweeping slider but slightly above-average vertical drop, almost giving it the appearance of a curveball.
His four-seam fastball sits in the high-80s-to-low-90s. With a low spin rate, the pitch has some natural sink to it. His cut fastball, which sits low-to-high-80s, features a bit more spin and roughly 5 inches of glove-side movement, making it much more effective of the two fastballs he utilizes.
His changeup sits in the low-to-high-80s, though these may be two separate changeups, as opposed to one pitch with such a large velocity gulf. When he throws his changeup harder, the pitch averages roughly 2,000 RPM and has the typical fade and sink of a changeup. When he throws the pitch slower, it loses roughly half of its RPM and acts more like a forkball.
If Wandy Asigen hadn’t missed so much time at the beginning of the 2026 season due to a hamstring injury, he would have won handily, as his 149 wRC+ led the team among DSL players with at least 75 plate appearances. But because so many other players on the DSL teams appeared in double, and in some cases, almost triple the amount of games that Asigen appeared in, I could not in good conscious say that he was the best DSL player this past season. Instead, with a combination of age, performance, and projected upside, Cesar Acosta
Acosta was signed a few days into the 2025-2026 international signing period, a secondary signing who received a $50,000 bonus. The Venezuelan backstop packed his bags and made his professional debut a few months later, appearing in 33 games for the DSL Mets Blue. In total, he hit .206/.317/.343 in his first year as a professional, swatting 2 home runs, stealing 1 base, and drawing 15 walks to 34 strikeouts as the youngest player in the entire Mets system. He remained in the Dominican Summer League for the 2026, this time getting rostered on the DSL Mets Orange, and the 17-year-old highlighted why scouts and evaluators began taking a notice of him despite his low signing bonus, hitting .271/.398/.458 with 11 doubles, 5 triples, and 2 home runs, stealing 5 bases, and drawing 30 walks to 47 strikeouts, good for a 114 wRC+.
Acosta is listed at 6’2”, 180-pounds and has a sturdy, athletic frame. At the plate, he stands square, holding his hands high and angling his bat head at 11:00 with a lot of pre-swing up-and-down waggle. He swings with a toe tap and very little load and weight transfer, but is able to do damage with above-average bat speed and natural strength when he barrels the ball, registering exit velocities well over 100 MPH. Acosta has shown some very concerning contact, swinging strike, and strikeout rates, posting 60.5% Contact%, 18.0% SwStr%, and 26.7% K% rates this past season, but as a 17-year-old, there is plenty of room and plenty of time to rebuild parts of his swing to improve these flaws.
Behind the dish, Acosta only has an average arm, but scouts and evaluators like his athleticism and mobility.
A native of Los Mochis, a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, Abner Alejandro Meza signed with the Mets a few days into the 2025-2026 international signing period, an older secondary signing who received a $10,000 bonus after showing a late velocity boost from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. The 18-year-old began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League a few months later and posted a cumulative 2.79 ERA in 38.2 innings thrown with both the DSL Mets Blue and Orange over 12 games and 8 starts, allowing 34 hits, walking 10, and striking out 32. The Mets had the right-hander remain in the Dominican Summer League for the 2026 season and Meza was even more successful, posting a 1.81 ERA in 49.2 innings with the DSL Mets Orange, allowing 38 hits, walking 10, and striking out 50.
The right-hander throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot with a long arm action through the back. His 6’0”, 175-pound frame is athletic and well-proportioned, his long legs and mid-section suggesting some further growth and muscle gain. He has a quick, lively arm, throwing darts. His repertoire currently consists of a low-spin four-seam fastball that sits in the mid-90s and features above-average arm-side life and induced vertical break, a high-70s curveball, and a high-spin changeup with arm-side fade and late tumble.
The Buffalo Sabres bounced back from a season-opening fizzle in Columbus with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in their home opener at Key Bank Center, but the win came against a club that entered the game 0-2 and outscored 11-2 in road losses to Vegas and Utah, and playing with their top forward (Connor Bedard) and top defenseman (Bowen Byram).
The Sabres trailed the Hawks 3-2 before mounting a third period comeback, with goals by Rasmus Dahlin and Jiri Kulich handing Buffalo their first win in the first game of an important five-game homestand. Last season, Lindy Ruff’s club started strong on home ice, going 4-2-1 in October, before a November plunge saw them drop to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
With a much stronger Atlantic Division this season, with clubs like Florida and Toronto making significant changes and additions to their rosters, the Sabres will need to pile up points and get off to a strong start to stay ahead of the game. The four remaining games of the homestand start with three Western Conference clubs that made the playoffs last season.
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild come to town. The Wild are 2-0 to start the year, in spite of losing Team USA blueliner Brock Faber to a fractured skull. On Thursday, the Dallas Stars visit KBC. The Stars have struggled out of the gate, with back-to-back losses to St. Louis and Nashville. The Utah Mammoth follow on Saturday, followed by a Columbus Day afternoon match against the Florida Panthers, who once again find themselves without team captain Aleksander Barkov.
It will be imperative for Buffalo to make hay on home ice during this stretch, as they will play seven of the next eight games to finish out the month on the road.
