The Nashville Predators have something to root for in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Despite being eliminated from contention back in early April, the Predators have a conditional 2027 NHL Draft pick from the Vegas Golden Knights that can be upgraded if Vegas reaches the Western Conference Final.
In the 2025 trade that sent Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon to the Golden Knights for Nic Hague, the Predators also received a 2027 conditional third-round pick.
If the Golden Knights win two rounds, that pick upgrades to a second-round selection.
That'd give Nashville three picks in the first two rounds of the 2027 draft.
Vegas currently has the Utah Mammoth facing elimination in Game 6 on Friday in Salt Lake City, after a 5-4 double-overtime win on Wednesday that put the series at 3-2.
The Predators and the Golden Knights have made a handful of transactions between them over the past two years, beginning with Vegas star forward and 2023 Conn Smyth winner, Jonathan Marchessault, signing with Nashville in the 2024 offseason.
Along with the Hague trade, Nashville sent Cole Smith to the Golden Knights at the 2026 trade deadline for a 2028 third-round pick and defenseman Christoffer Sedoff.
The Golden Knights are getting solid production from their acquisitions from Nashville in the playoffs. Both Sissions and Smith have three points in five games, giving Vegas a boost from the bottom six.
Nashville saw consistent production from Hague in his first season, totaling 15 points in 62 games. On the other hand, Marchessault's play has steadily declined, posting a career-low 31 points in 62 games.
The Predators latest acquisition, Sedoff, has no points in 12 games this season with the Milwaukee Admirals and played in just one of the Admirals three playoff games.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: What’s your opinion on the performance of this year’s team?
Diamondhacks: I saw a very motivated and impressive-looking collection of individual performances from a decidedly less impressive roster. Six of nine rotational pieces posted career best (or comparable) seasons, which falls somewhere between a positive and astonishing organizational accomplishment. (Even Ryan Dunn, often perceived as stagnant or in Ott’s doghouse, performed measurably better than he did last year.)
The three non-career years were Booker, whose .507 eFG% was his worst in nearly a decade, but he mitigated that by getting to the line more than ever and was still credibly our most valuable player. You’d never project codgers like Royce or Grayson to deliver career years, but both still made significant contributions (5th and 7th in Win Shares) despite injury and even a few exaggerated reports of death.
Ashton: When I was a kid, I devoured any book written by Stephen King. Writing as Richard Bachman, “The Long Walk” is what comes to mind about the Sun’s season in a very dystopian ending.
It is not how you start the marathon but how you end it. And in the case of the protagonist who did win while limping with bloody feet and feeling of despair against a counterpart that would not quit (if you fall below a 4 MPH – you get shot). If you want summer reading, go for it.
The protagonist was limping into the postseason with no real chance of even stealing a game. Had the Suns won against Portland, I think they could have stolen a game or maybe even two while Oso goes home at night, crying in the shower, after getting “Wembied”.
Flowers for the first three months of basketball. The rest of the season was a slog that was hard to watch. And the Thunder is unstoppable.
OldAz: This one is easy. Not only did this year’s team overachieve by making the playoffs, they bettered last season’s record and put on a far more entertaining and competitive basketball. All of these fulfilled the promises Matt Ishbia made before the season and certainly went a long way to justify the front office moves last off season (despite the MSU jokes). I especially like the emphasis on defense and ball movement early in the season becoming the identify of the team.
Rod: In a word, they were phenomenal…especially in respect to the preseason expectations. Yes, the team faded somewhat toward the end of the year, but I really think that was largely due to them starting off the season playing games with a playoff intensity that eventually wore them down. I especially believe that’s what caused Gillespie’s drop off in production late in the season.
With even a lessening of the injuries that they suffered through, I believe they would have wound up an even better team near the end of the season. Not just because of the minutes lost due to injury, but due much to the necessity of having numerous players in and out of the lineups, which stalled the development of on-court chemistry.
I know a lot of fans are hoping for some big changes through trades this summer but I’m presently on the side of wanting to mostly run it back while making some smaller moves to, hopefully, make improvements in specific areas…such as adding more size. But adding size without talent will not solve anything which makes that more difficult than some may think. While it’s true that you can’t teach height, it also doesn’t matter how tall a traffic cone is.
Q2: What’s your opinion on the performance of rookie head coach Jordan Ott?
Diamondhacks: When a mediocre roster led by three overrated and oft-injured “stars” vastly exceeds industry expectations, the coach probably has something to do with it. And when essential parts of this wildly overachieving band of brothers methodically break down, like the 1975 Ford Granada they closely resemble, I don’t reflexively blame the coach.
I know what The Unhappies want. They want a coach who doesn’t play so small, who always has a 7 footer out there – even two at a time if possible. A more traditional coach, with a crustier demeanor who gets teed off and teed up, who plays younger guys like Ryan Dunn or Rasheer Fleming for balance, rebounding, defense, the American Way, and The Wins We Rightly Deserve That Were Stolen From Us By Jordan Ott! So, I know what they want. Just be careful what you ask for. Because his name is “Mike Budenholzer”.
Ashton: Surprisingly good for the first half of the season. I was among his detractors that a first-year rookie head coach could not handle an NBA locker room. Turns out that nobody could handle an NBA locker room that included Booker, Beal, and Durant.
So, he gets a passing grade from me. Let’s see what he does with the returning young talent next season. This is an easy meet and exceeds expectations for the HC.
OldAz: This one is tougher. I constantly have to remind myself to try and filter my comments on art through the lens of him being a rookie head coach. They started the season so well early, and Ott gets almost all of the credit in my book for the focus on defensive effort & energy and ball movement the offensive end. He played deep into his bench with two-way and minimum players and effectively mixed them in to create a solid identity of the team that resulted in a very entertaining brand of basketball. He also gets some credit in my book for his handling of the rookies early in the season and making them earn their playing time and splitting time in the G league to do that.
However, the late season criticism is also fair because a lot of of the elements that made the team successful in the first half of the season seemed to disappear, including the consistent, defensive intensity, the ball movement and the deep bench. Specifically on the last point, Ott told us repeatedly that he was shortening the bench because that’s what you do in the playoffs (why?). He also often said that “everything was on the table” but then made almost no actual adjustments. He was also the one who consistently put out lineups with a center surrounded by 4 undersized players when Brooks got hurt and stuck with that gameplan after a brooks returned. Despite these lineups getting abused by middle of the pack power forward and center combinations, Ott never adjusted back to using a deeper bench where additional bigger players could be found. This is especially true after Maluach and Fleming showed that they were capable of contributing.
Grading on the curve of a rookie coach, I still give Ott a high grade (B or B+ maybe). I would much prefer if the halves of the season were reversed and he struggled early and adjusted to the more effective options in the late half of the year. But overall, I still give credit for changing the culture and effort put forth by the team. These did not wane later in the season. Based on this alone, I am happy with the hire and look forward to seeing if he comes back next season with some introspection and big picture adjustments going into his sophomore season.
Rod: I’ve heard Ott called stubborn (and a lot worse things) often for playing small lineups as well as not giving the rookies more time, but I suspect he more likely subscribes to the belief that you should just play your best players. I think he did that mostly regardless of the size of the lineups. Whether he was right or wrong in some of his decisions is, of course, debatable, but he also wasn’t dealt the best hand in the game from the get-go.
Maybe he wasn’t flexible enough, but he always played talent and players who played hard. For that, he earned my respect and, from everything I’ve heard, that of the players as well. He wasn’t perfect but I think he was a really good fit for this team and I’m more than willing to give him time to grow and hopefully progress as the Suns’ head coach.
Q3: In general, what do you see as the most important things for Brian Gregory and the Suns to attempt to accomplish this offseason?
Diamondhacks: We saw what this group could do with a healthy, athletic and skilled NBA center, and we saw what they did without one. Centers with those attributes aren’t easy to acquire or cultivate, but they can cover up a lot of other roster problems. Which we have – and will likely have for a while.
Ashton: Dang Rod, How many generalist questions do we have here? I will not go essay hunting, yet.
First, send all the players to the Japanese hot springs to heal their wounds (a nod to anime – I have nothing else to watch except the D-Backs). And then replace the medical team and training staff.
Second, nail the 47th pick of the draft. This is a big ask as historic numbers of under classmen are returning for college NIL. And the good bigs in college are going for NIL record numbers. If you only follow NBA and not college, you will see where this is intertwined. NBA needs to raise their salaries for second rounders.
Third. There will be discussions around what Suns tradable assets actually exist. I assume most talks will revolve around RO and GA, or some combination thereof. But for whom? And I think the Suns need to stay below the luxury tax for another season. No need to go into that territory unless the deal is too good to be true.
BG is going have a hard time in front of him without a bunch of assets to work with. The Suns have painted themselves into a corner and I do not expect that to change next season. The chatter has already begun on how to fix an imbalanced and smaller team, but hard decisions will be have to be made with all the UFAs, RFAs, and extensions coming up.
Basically, Brian is not going to Cancun with Brooks anytime soon.
OldAz: The easy answer is that the team needs more length and athleticism. However, we don’t know the full impact of the length and athleticism that Maluach and Fleming can provide. Still, these are items you can never have enough of in the modern NBA so I still think this needs to be the focus for Gregory. If a deal materializes to move Green and his salary for a similar front court player, then I think he needs to explore it (I won’t even go down the road of trading Booker, as that is inconceivable for many reasons). However, such a large move would completely change the this answer depending on that deal.
So barring any big move, I think Gregory needs to explore moving Allen and or O’Neale for actual forwards (size, length, athleticism) that would slot in about the same place in a lineup (capable of starting or significant contributions off the bench). After that, I think it needs to be a priority to resigning the three free agents from this year because of what they bring: Gillespie, Goodwin and Williams.
Rod: First and foremost is the decision on the direction the team takes moving forward financially. They made a conscious effort to get below the luxury tax threshold in 2025-26 but, unless they do it again this coming season, they would still have to pay the repeater taxes again if they go over that threshold this year. I believe Mat Ishbia won’t hesitate to do it IF he’s convinced the team has the potential to be even better this year if he keeps his wallet open. I don’t think it’s a matter of spending like crazy as he did in the past though, just a willingness to pay some taxes again rather than possibly take a step or two backward just to avoid paying luxury taxes.
Re-signing Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams without going over the tax threshold won’t likely be possible without some cost cutting measures elsewhere, such as trading away some other players that bring back much less salary in return…and that’s more easily said than done with so many teams now trying to avoid going over the tax aprons like the plague. I won’t say it can’t be done but I do doubt that any such move by the Suns will actually improve the team significantly and might even be a backwards step.
Whether they decide to largely keep this team together for 2026-27 or make some moves to significantly reshape the roster, how they will go about doing either of those things will be greatly influenced by that 1st decision.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“I appreciate Coach Ott for giving me that leeway to explore the basketball floor.” – Dillon Brooks
“From the starting five to the bench, every single person comes in and does something special for us.” – Jalen Green
“I think we brought a new life. After not making the playoffs last year, we exceeded everyone else’s expectations, but not ours. We still have some learning to do.” – Devin Booker
“I’m glad that we got that foundation and now it’s time to grow.” – Oso Ighodaro
Losing is never easy, but I feel really good today about our team and am already thinking about where we go from here.” – Mat Ishbia
Suns Trivia/History
On May 3, 2019, the Suns hired Monty Williams as Head Coach. In his 1st season he would lead the Suns to a much improved regular season record, the now historic 8-0 run in The Bubble, and just missed making it to the NBA’s new playin tournament. In his second season, he would lead the team back to the NBA Finals for just the 3rd time in franchise history.
On May 4, 2006, with time running out and the Suns down by three points, Tim Thomas hit a buzzer beating 3-pointer to send game 6 of the Suns’ first round playoff series with the Lakers into overtime. The Suns out scored the Lakers 21-13 in OT to win the game, tie up the series 3-3 and send it back to Phoenix where the Suns sent the Lakers packing for the season with a 121-90, 31-point blowout win.
Kobe Bryant was literally 10 seconds away from sending the Suns packing.
What happens next still haunts LA fans: a chaotic scramble, a missed three by Steve Nash, a devastating offensive rebound, and then Tim Thomas buries the dagger to save the Suns' season. pic.twitter.com/mq4zuoxhME
On May 6, 1968, the Suns acquired their first player during the NBA Expansion Draft, selecting 6-5 guard Dick Van Arsdale from New York. Van Arsdale is still affectionately known as “The Original Sun.”
Important Future Dates
Mid-June (date TBD) – Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents (following the Finals) June 23 – NBA Draft First Round, 8 ET (ABC/ESPN) June 24 – NBA Draft Second Round, 8 ET (ESPN) June 30 – Free agency begins July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas
Their scoring woes continued during Wednesday’s Game 5 home loss to the Rockets, dropping back-to-back games, after taking a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
The Lakers’ LeBron James tries to score while being swarmed by Rockets defenders during Game 5 on Wednesday. AP
And their offensive production and efficiency have regressed in each game, with the Lakers continuing to search for answers on how to turn things around entering a pivotal Game 6 on Friday in Houston.
“I mean, it helps when shots go in,” said Reaves, who scored 22 points in the 99-93 loss Wednesday. “I know [LeBron James] had probably three or four [shots] in the first half that went in and out. I missed two easy layups, I missed two or three good looks from 3, one little midrange. You make shots, you miss shots.”
There’s a lot of truth to what Reaves said.
The Lakers started the series on a heater, making a combined 46.1% of their 3-pointers (35 of 76) in Games 1-3 compared with the Rockets’ 28.7% shooting on 3s (29 of 101).
But the Lakers have cooled off significantly.
They shot a combined 24.5% from beyond the arc (12 of 49) in their losses in Games 4-5, including 25.9% (7 of 27) in Game 5, while the Rockets shot a combined 37.1% on 3s (26 of 70) in those games.
The Lakers went from making wide-open 3s at a better rate than floaters to struggling to knock down even the easy looks.
A fact that encapsulates the Lakers’ current shooting struggles: Rockets wing Amen Thompson, who’s shot 21.9% on 3s for his career in the regular season, made just as many 3s (two) in Game 5 as Reaves, James and Luke Kennard combined in Game 5.
Reaves shot 2 of 8 on 3s, while James went 0 of 6 and Kennard missed both of his 3-point attempts.
Kennard, in particular, has struggled.
After scoring a combined 64 points on 55.3% shooting (52.9% on 3s) in the first three games, he’s scored just eight points (25% shooting, 0 of 5 on 3s) in the last two, including one point in Game 5.
“We had some opportunities to make some shots we didn’t make,” James said. “Obviously, they were generating good shots. As much as we got to defend, you also got to score in this game, too. I don’t think we did that at a good rate, especially in the second and the third.”
The Lakers got Austin Reaves (15) back in the lineup for the first time in the 2026 postseason, but the Rockets won Wednesday. NBAE via Getty Images
Even though the Lakers’ 15 turnovers in Game 5 tied for a series low, they’re still struggling with their ball security.
They have the worst turnover rate among teams in the playoffs (20.1%) entering Thursday, which is part of the reason they’re averaging 73.4 field-goal attempts and 25 3-point attempts through five games — both of which are the lowest marks among playoff teams.
“Take care of basketball — we’ve been through this,” the Lakers’ Marcus Smart said. “We understand this team and how they play, and they’re very aggressive, and we got to take care of the basketball. Myself, I had six turnovers, and that’s unacceptable for me, especially with only two assists. Especially against this team. So we definitely got to take care of the ball. We got to do a better job, all of us, and collectively, and that’ll help us for sure.”
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Their offensive rating and shooting efficiency have dipped in each game.
They continue to have a pattern of strong offensive starts before fading in each quarter.
“We know what it is: We just got to make shots,” Smart said. “We got guys doing things, and we’re not giving ourselves a chance by turning the ball over, which we can’t get a shot up on the rim because of that. And that hurts anybody, no matter how good you are offensively, if you can’t get a shot up on the rim, that’s always going to hurt.”
Smart added: “We know what it takes. We got good plays. The game plan is right. The coaching staff [is] doing a good job of putting us into positions. We got to go out there and capitalize on the plays that we are [running] and make the best of them.”
The Lakers better hope that Smart is right, and that the shotmaking turns around in Game 6.
Because if not, they’ll return to Los Angeles for a Game 7 on Sunday, looking to avoid being a part of NBA history for the wrong reason.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Ryan Nembhard #9 of the Dallas Mavericks walks backcourt during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When I previewed Ryan Nembhard back in October, the framing was modest by design. Pass-first guard. Two-way deal. Floor general in the margins. Best case: define his lane so clearly that the Mavericks couldn’t justify cycling him out of the roster. Worst case: blend into the background.
Six months later, he set the franchise’s rookie record for assists in a game with 23 against the Bulls in the season finale, breaking a mark his own head coach set in 1995. So we can dispense with the question of whether the season was a success. It was. The harder question, the one that lingers under the highlight reel, is what kind of NBA player he gets to be from here. Let’s walk through what actually happened.
Season Retrospective
Nembhard barely played in October. Two minutes here, ten there, sixteen against San Antonio in the opener. He was the fifth or sixth option in a backcourt rotation that included D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams, Dante Exum, and, for the first stretch of games as Jason Kidd performed what he believes was an unlocking maneuver, Cooper Flagg as the starting point guard.
The door cracked open on November 28 in Los Angeles. Nembhard scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in 23 minutes against the Lakers. Three nights later in Denver, he became the first undrafted rookie since Stephon Marbury in 1996 to record 25 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers in a game: 28 points, 10 assists, 12-of-14 from the floor, 4-of-5 from deep. It was a coming-out party for the undrafted player.
The next month was the best stretch of his rookie year. Across thirteen December games he averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists on 48 percent shooting. He had 13 assists against Miami, 11 against Utah in an overtime loss, 7 in a one-point win over Denver before Christmas. The Mavericks went from a historically poor offensive team to something resembling functional, and the math wasn’t subtle: when Nembhard ran the show, the ball moved, the spacing made sense, and the finishers Dallas had stockpiled actually got clean looks.
Then the roster’s limits caught up to him.
Dallas was hard-capped at the second apron, which meant the front office couldn’t convert his two-way deal until January 6 at the earliest. Then the calendar started working against them anyway. Two-way players are limited to 50 NBA appearances, and Nembhard was burning through his allotment. By early February, the math was unmistakable: keep playing him and he’d hit the cap; sit him and let the conversion happen on the back end. Dallas chose patience. His last NBA appearance before the conversion was February 5 against the Spurs.
The conversion finally came on February 28. Tyus Jones, acquired in the Anthony Davis trade as point guard depth, was waived to clear the roster spot. Nembhard signed a two-year deal with a team option for 2026-27. The early Brandon Williams parallel from my preseason write-up, undrafted two-way guy plays his way onto a permanent contract, wasn’t aspirational anymore. It happened for Nembhard much the same way.
What happened next was murkier.
March was a rollercoaster. Williams had emerged as a real backup option. Flagg was getting more reps initiating the offense. Nembhard’s minutes contracted. There were four-minute appearances and five-minute appearances and outright DNP-CDs, including one against the Lakers. Facing a roster of Lakers wings none shorter than 6-foot-5, Kidd opted not to put him on the floor at all. The implication wasn’t subtle. Against certain matchups, his size becomes a problem the coaching staff can’t scheme around.
He still flashed: 12 assists with zero turnovers against Atlanta on March 18, 9 dimes against the Clippers on March 21 in overtime. But the role had narrowed, and the eye test started raising questions the December breakout had quieted.
April rebooted the workload. With Dallas closed out of any meaningful seeding race and the rotation fully thinned, Nembhard started every game and averaged 30 minutes. The finale against Chicago was a perfect storm. Flagg out after ten minutes with the ankle, the Bulls offering essentially zero defensive resistance, and Nembhard given the keys for a full 38 minutes against a defense that looked actively allergic to closeouts. He finished with 15 points, 23 assists, and 9 rebounds. Take the perfect storm out of it and the closing kick is still real. In his last three games before the Bulls, he posted 21 assists against just one turnover in 86 minutes.
For the season: 60 games, 27 starts, 6.6 points, 5.3 assists, 2.2 rebounds. Led all NBA rookies in assists per game. 316 total assists against 85 turnovers, a 3.7-to-1 ratio that would be impressive for a veteran and is borderline absurd for an undrafted rookie. He belongs in the league. Kidd said as much in his postgame after the finale, unprompted: “He belongs in this league.”
Outlook
So what is he, going forward?
The honest answer requires distinguishing between three different jobs. Can Ryan Nembhard be the entrenched long-term starting point guard for a team trying to win? Very unlikely. Not because of what he showed this year, but because of what the league has become. There were once a few smaller lead guards starting on serious teams. Now there’s basically one, and Trae Young (6’2) is now on the rebuilt Wizards, looking to contend. Young is carried by an offensive ceiling that Nembhard is unlikely to match. The size question doesn’t go away with development. Elite on-ball defenders look at a 5’11” point guard the way a pitcher looks at a hitter who can’t catch up to a fastball. They’ll keep throwing it until you prove you can.
Can he be a fifteen-minute-a-night contributor on a winning team? Maybe. The passing translates anywhere. The decision-making is real. The shot, 35.6% from three on the year and 44.4% in his starts, is functional enough that defenses can’t just sag off him. In the right ecosystem, with the right teammates around him, that’s a useful nightly piece.
Can he be a third point guard, on a standard contract instead of a two-way, on a team trying to compete? Almost certainly yes. That’s the floor, and it’s a floor most undrafted rookies never reach. Brandon Williams found that floor last year and turned it into a real role. Nembhard’s already cleared that bar.
The question of which version Dallas gets, or whether the answer is “none of them, here,” isn’t really one he controls. The Mavericks are about to hand the keys of the front office to someone new. That person inherits an audition tape. The Marbury game in Denver, the Mavericks rookie assist record, the absurd assist-to-turnover ratio, and also the DNPs against length-heavy lineups, the March stretches where the role evaporated, and the size question that won’t ever fully answer itself. Whoever’s reading that tape will decide whether Nembhard is a piece of what comes next or an asset that helps build it.
That’s just the cruel calculus of an undrafted guard who exceeded every modest expectation set for him and now has to clear a much higher bar to stick where he made his name.
What I’m certain of is this: on a Mavericks roster with very few feel-good stories this season, Ryan Nembhard was one. He showed up on uncertain nights and gave the team something it didn’t have anywhere else. He earned the contract. He earned the record. He earned the conversation.
Whatever the next chapter looks like, and wherever it gets written, the floor he established is real. The ceiling is the league’s to determine. And the guy in the middle of it, the 5’11” undrafted Canadian who led every rookie in the NBA in assists per game and broke his coach’s franchise record on the last night of the season, has earned the right to be evaluated honestly, not generously.
He belongs in the league. Now we find out what the next Mavericks GM does with that.
One of the features of the transfer portal is players from smaller schools and conferences get to prove themselves at the mid-major level and earn an opportunity to step up a level of competition.
So who is next in line to take their big game to a bigger stage?
Top mid-major players on the move in college basketball transfer portal
Cruz Davis, Texas Tech (Hofstra)
Texas Tech landed its Christian Anderson replacement in former Hofstra guard Cruz Davis, the CAA Player of the Year in 2026. Davis averaged 20.1 points with 4.7 assists last season, and was No. 37 in USA TODAY Sports' transfer portal player rankings before committing.
The Plano, Texas product fared well vs Power conference teams last season, scoring 17 vs. UCF, 36 vs. Pitt and 22 vs. Syracuse, and will be a key piece to Grant McCasland's Red Raiders reload without Anderson gone and JT Toppin coming back from an ACL injury.
The 6-8 Lithuanian was ranked No. 7 in USA TODAY Sports' portal player rankings after averaging 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for a 27-win Saint Mary’s team last season. Unsurprisingly, the first-team All-West Coast Conference pick followed former Gaels coach Randy Bennett to Arizona State, where he was hired to replace Bobby Hurley.
Alex Wilkins, Kentucky (Furman)
From a zero-star recruit to Big Blue Nation in the span of a year. Wilkins had a standout freshman season for the Southern Conference champions and led the league in field goals made. The 6-5 guard averaged a team-high 17.8 points and 4.7 assists per game. In the NCAA Tournament, the No. 28 player in USA TODAY Sports’ portal rankings showed he could compete against elite competition, scoring 21 points in a competitive game against eventual national runner-up UConn. With three years of eligibility, he’ll be more than just a quick rental, which will help Mark Pope try to find some much-needed stability in Lexington.
Ryan Sabol, Providence (Buffalo)
If Lundblade was one of the top available shooters in the portal, Sabol quite possibly was the top shooter available in the portal. Sabol's 3.8 made 3s per game were third-most in the nation, and he did so at 39.9% clip.
He averaged 18.8 points per game and had 14 games where he hit at least five 3-pointers. He'll be a good fit for Bryan Hodgson's system in Providence. Hodgson's South Florida team led the American Conference in scoring last season and was second in the league in made 3s.
Tyler Lundblade, Tennessee (Belmont)
The reigning Missouri Valley Conference player of the year was one of the top shooters available in the portal and fills a clear need for the Vols, who need to replace their top six scorers from this past season. The former walk-on made 40.6% of his 3-pointers despite having a high shooting volume, with 8.8 attempts per game from beyond the arc. Tennessee's top returning 3-point shooters (Ethan Burg and Troy Henderson) had 15 makes all season.
Terrence Hill Jr., Tennessee (VCU)
Let's stay on Rocky Top. The sophomore had a breakout season in 2025-26, averaging 15 points a game on 46.6% shooting. He showed he won't be scared by brand names after scoring 34 points against North Carolina in the Rams' first round in the NCAA Tournament.
Hill only started two games for VCU last season, but beginning in January, he routinely played 30-plus minutes, providing a spark off the bench.
Drew Scharnowski, Duke (Belmont)
Duke had a clear need in the post with Cameron Boozer headed for the NBA Draft lottery and Maliq Brown out of eligibility. The 6-9 Scharnowski could slot alongside returning Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba II or provide valuable frontcourt depth. A first-team All-MVC pick, Scharnowski was the No. 50 player in USA TODAY’s portal rankings after averaging 10.7 points, six rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a sophomore for a Belmont team that went 26-6. He was a strong presence down low, too, with 1.3 blocks per game. At the start of the portal process, the prevailing thought was Scharnowski would follow former Belmont coach Casey Alexander to Kansas State. The big man set his sights higher and will test himself in the Blue Devils crucible.
Tyrone Riley IV, Oregon (San Francisco)
Riley will get plenty of run as the Ducks return just one player from last season's roster.
The 6-6 junior wing has 65 starts under his belt and averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and one steal a game last season for the Dons. He shot 47.2% from the field and 36.8% from 3 on his way to a second-team All-WCC selection.
In games against Power conference foes Minnesota, Colorado and Mississippi State (OK, maybe not a murderer's row), Riley averaged 14 ppg, and he put up 17 points on Saint Louis and 16 vs. Gonzaga.
Jaquan Johnson, Iowa State (Bradley)
How would Iowa State replace Tamin Lipsey? The Cyclones point guard started all 137 games he played for ISU and left as the school's all-time steals leader and fourth in career assists.
Enter, Johnson. About as seamless of a fit as you could hope for if you're the Cyclones. He took an enormous leap from his freshman to his sophomore season, improving his scoring average from 6.6 to 16.9 points per game to help him earn first-team All-MVC honors, MVC most improved player and all-defensive team honors (thanks to his 2.6 steals per game).
He is only 5-11, which could cause some problems against bigger, more athletic competition in a major conference, but his all-around production is impressive, with 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
Gavin Doty, Syracuse (Siena)
Doty is following Gerry McNamara from Siena to Syracuse and did just about everything he could to try to pull off a stunning 16-over-1 upset over Duke in the NCAA Tournament, scoring a team-high 21 points in a 71-65 first-round loss. The 6-5 sophomore led the Saints in scoring at 18 points per game and was an excellent rebounder for someone his size, pulling down a team-high 6.9 boards per game.
He won't be an unknown to McNamara, and his near-immediate commitment to the Orange says a lot about his coach's belief that Doty can scale up from the MAAC to the ACC.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant has missed most of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers and a similar pattern is expected for Game 6.
Durant missed Game 1 with a right knee contusion, an injury he sustained during practice a day before the game. He scored 23 points in a Game 2 loss, but suffered a left ankle sprain that has kept him sidelined for Games 3, 4 and 5.
The pain in his ankle will likely keep him from competing in the potential elimination Game 6 in Houston. League sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Durant will not play, as the Rockets trail the Lakers 3-2 in their best-of-seven series. Durant was listed as "doubtful" on the NBA injury report as of 10 p.m. ET, April 30.
The Rockets have won the previous two matchups against the Lakers after falling down 3-0 in the series. A Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, if necessary.
Durant's timetable for a return was a minimum of two weeks, sources told Charania. He first suffered the ankle injury on April 21. If the Rockets can force Game 7, it would be just days before the two-week mark given for Durant.
The Rockets have won back-to-back games without Durant, though, led by their young, future core of Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and Alperen Sengun. Smith led Houston with a team-high 22 points in the Rockets' 99-93 Game 5 win in Los Angeles. Thompson led the Rockets with 23 points in their 115-96 Game 4 win in Houston.
Durant, 37, averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 78 games during the 2025-26 regular season.
On Wednesday night, the Montreal Canadiens went up 3-2 in their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Former Chicago Blackhawks third overall pick Kirby Dach scored one of Montreal’s 3 goals in the victory.
Earlier in the series, Marty St. Louis kept Dach in the lineup after a horrific game that included a bad turnover that led to a Lightning overtime winner. Since then, he’s been one of the Canadiens’ most impactful forwards.
On the other side is Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel, who is also a former Chicago Blackhawks forward. Although he didn’t impact the scoresheet in Game 5, he’s been their best player, drawing a lot of attention to the fact that the Blackhawks traded him away.
On Thursday, all four prominent players the Blackhawks traded at the deadline were on the ice for their new teams. One of them had a good night, and the other three went out with a whimper.
First, Nick Foligno and the Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars 5-2, earning a first-round victory in Game 6 at home. Foligno didn’t have any points while playing on a line with his brother, Marcus, but he was a physical specimen all over the ice for the entire game.
Foligno is more of a depth piece to the Wild than he was as the captain of the Blackhawks. He throws his weight around, brings a sense of urgency on every shift, and provides a steady game in all three zones.
The nightcap was Game 6 between the Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers. With a 3-2 series lead, the Ducks had a chance to eliminate Jason Dickinson, Connor Murphy, Colton Dach, and the Oilers.
From the puck drop on, the Ducks were the better team. Eventually, they skated their way to a 5-2 win of their own and will move on to the second round for the first time since 2017.
Connor Murphy scored a goal for the Oilers in Game 6, and it was assisted by Colton Dach. Dickinson almost single-handedly won Game 1 with two goals of his own. The Blackhawks, who moved on to the Oilers, did their job, but it wasn’t enough.
Anaheim’s head coach is former Blackhawks head coach and three-time Stanley Cup champion Joel Quenneville. There are a lot of parallels between what Quenneville has now and what he had when he first got the Blackhawks into the playoffs. He seems to be saying the right things and putting the right systems into place once again.
Even when Quenneville was in Florida, he had the team on the rise. When he left, they kept it going and have been to three straight finals and won two. Now, the Ducks are trying to do something similar.
Stan Bowman, who was Quenneville’s GM for part of his tenure in Chicago, is the GM of the Oilers. Some of his moves have been questionable, and there is now a lot of pressure to make Connor McDavid happy before he packs his bags.
Up next are three Game 6’s on Friday, including the big Canadiens (Kirby Dach) vs Lightning (Brandon Hagel) matchup. Foligno and the Wild will face the Colorado Avalanche in Round 2.
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The Philadelphia Flyers are going to have to prepare for a very quick turnaround for their upcoming series against the Metropolitan Division rival Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
On Thursday night, it was announced that Game 1 between the Flyers and Hurricanes will be set for 8 p.m. on Saturday night, with the Flyers having to travel down to Raleigh, North Carolina, for the first two games.
Thursday was a scheduled, and well-deserved, day off for the team after a teeth-gritting 1-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 on Wednesday night.
Notably, both the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, and Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, still have their Round 1 matchups ongoing.
Their respective Game 6s will take place on Sunday, though, at the time of this writing, a time has not been specified for either game.
As for the Flyers and Hurricanes, Carolina took the season series by a decisive 3-1 margin, and it could very well have been a 4-0 sweep if not for some late-season heroics from the Flyers.
Back on April 13, with the Hurricanes resting a number of key players, including Sebastian Aho, Jaccob Slavin, Seth Jarvis, captain Jordan Staal, and Andrei Svechnikov, the Flyers stole a 3-2 decision in a a lengthy shootout to book their trip to the playoffs.
A significantly weakened Hurricanes team still jumped out to a 2-0 lead, though Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras, and Porter Martone all delivered in the clutch to knot things up at 2-2.
Dan Vladar was his usual reliable self, making 24 saves on 26 shots and stopping all four Hurricanes attempts he faced in the shootout that night.
Vladar is coming off a monster 42-save shutout of the Penguins in Game 6, so the Czech netminder is white-hot heading into this bloodbath with Carolina.
The Flyers' offense has struggled so far in the playoffs, as Rasmus Ristolainen leads the team with five points, and Travis Sanheim and Martone are the only two Flyers with multiple goals (two apiece).
They'll need to ramp it up to have any chance of beating the vaunted Hurricanes, especially having to start fast on the road beginning Saturday night.
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins takes the ice against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Five of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The offseason is here a little earlier than the Penguins wanted it to be. As they shift into that mode, here’s what to watch for in the upcoming weeks for the early portion of decisions that will need to be made and events to unfold prior to the busy period around the draft and free agency.
Step 1: The Wilkes-Barre playoff run
Pittsburgh’s season is over but there’s still important information to glean for the organization within their AHL team. There are several players in Wilkes-Barre now, from Sergei Murashov to Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Avery Hayes and Harrison Brunicke that will have very good chances to graduate to the NHL as soon as the start of next season. The organization would love to see a deep run by WBS to see which young players rise to the occasion and pique their interest when it comes to sorting out their squad for next season and which holes they might still want to fill via trades and free agents over the summer. The Pens probably wouldn’t have traded for Arturs Silovs without his 2025 Calder Cup run, this year their targets could well be internal for projecting to the NHL club.
Step 2: Find out draft position
Pittsburgh’s draft spot is currently 22nd, with draft position being set by regular season performance and not playoff results (until Conference Finals and Stanley Cup teams getting bumped to the end of the order, anyways). The Pens’ slot could move up to 20th if both the Flyers beat Carolina next round AND Vegas doesn’t advance to the Western Conference Final. If one of those items occur then the Pittsburgh pick moves to 21st. If neither of them happen, the pick remains 22nd. Vegas is up 3-2 in their series on Utah to move onto the next round and Carolina is a heavy favorite, so for draft positioning there might not be a move up from 22nd, but it’s one of those things to sit back and wait and see how it goes.
Step 3: Sort out Evgeni Malkin
This could take hours, days, weeks or even months to reach a conclusion. Malkin has made no secret his desire to return in 2026-27 with the Penguins. Kyle Dubas, on the other hand, has been in no rush to extend the star forward. Malkin will turn 40 this summer and the Penguins want to get younger, but he did produce 61 points in 56 games this season. Objectively, there shouldn’t be much to think about here to give the franchise icon a one-year extension. He’s still a productive player that could and should help the team next season and likely even come at a discounted rate. (It also doesn’t hurt that Malkin will help sell tickets and merch while keeping Sidney Crosby happier).
Step 4: Ownership transition
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently said the sale of the Penguins from FSG to the Hoffmann announced in December is ‘on track’ but didn’t give a timetable of when it would be completed. That requires Board of Governors approval and they haven’t had a meeting recently to get to that business. Immediate reactions might be for some sort of drastic change or shifts but it usually doesn’t pan out like that from the very start. It’s still an important item to check off the list, even if it likely won’t alter the offseason or team direction.
Step 5: Other free agents
The unrestricted free agents on the NHL roster, along with Malkin, are Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, Connor Clifton, Ryan Shea, Ilya Solovyov and Stuart Skinner. In an effort to get younger, most of these names have likely played their final game as a Penguin. To varying levels, a few (most likely Dewar, Shea and Solovyov) will at least be approached for a possible return, if not get outright efforts to keep for next season. Maybe that applies to some of Acciari, Mantha and Skinner too, though I’d personally put those three names in a much less likely to return category at this point.
For restricted free agents, the Pens have Egor Chinakhov and Arturs Silovs to deal with (plus Koivunen and Joel Blomqvist down in the AHL). In this day and age it’s not uncommon to not tender an RFA and try to get a better deal for the team – that happened with Dewar and Phil Tomasino last year, but it’s a no-brainer that everyone mentioned in this category will get a qualifying offer and have their rights retained by the Pens.
—
There are certainly other items to consider and items to get to as well, depending on how aggressive the team might feel about what to do with someone like Ryan Graves or whatever might happen with the Kris Letang situation, whose no movement contract turns to a 10-team no trade on July 1st. Items like that are not as pressing or immediate for this early look at the offseason items and decisions that will unfold first.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 02: Simon Nemec #17 of the New Jersey Devils reacts during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on April 02, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 7-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“Hischier has made it known his goal is to win a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils, and he’s certainly a player they need to keep around if they’re serious about doing so. He has averaged 32.4 goals and 72.6 points per 82 games over the last three seasons. That production alone makes him irreplaceable, let alone all that gets put on his plate defensively and in the faceoff dot. It’s rare to find players who can not only hold their own, but excel, with the kind of usage Hischier draws.” [Infernal Access ($)]
“Despite the disappointing season, the New Jersey Devils still had a few players who exceeded expectations.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
What might new contracts look like for Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec and Arseny Gritsyuk? Some projections: [New Jersey Hockey Now]
Hockey Links
The Flyers, Wild and Ducks advance, and the Penguins, Stars and Oilers are done:
THE BATTLE OF PENNSYLVANIA BELONGS TO THE FLYERS! 🤩
Your Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalists are… 🏆 #NHLAwards
The trophy is presented annually to the player judged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. pic.twitter.com/wsCXBieTLB
“The on-ice officials not only missed Greig uppercutting a defenseless Hurricanes defenseman, but they also put Brind’Amour’s team on the PK afterward, something the Canes coach said shouldn’t be acceptable given how many people in the building saw the incident take place. But after years of watching mistakes such as this, Brind’Amour didn’t place blame on the two refs and two linesmen on the ice. Instead, he went back to an argument he has been making since he stepped behind the bench: the NHL’s officials need more help to get things right.” [The Athletic ($)]
“Jessica Campbell will not return to the Seattle Kraken bench next season, the team announced Thursday. Campbell’s contract is expiring this summer, and sources told ESPN that she has received interest across the league.” [ESPN]
A cool moment before Tuesday’s Bruins-Sabres game in Buffalo: “Seconds into ‘O Canada,’ national anthem singer Cami Clune’s microphone malfunctioned. A dutiful crowd of 19,070 — Shane and Andrea Doan included — rushed to her aid with a full-throated, word-for-word reinforcement.” [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 26: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the second half of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 26, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA released the next round of game days as the Spurs move on to the next round of Western Conference Semifinals. Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News posted this on x.com.
Per NBA: The San Antonio vs. DEN-MIN series will be played on May 4, 6, 8, 10, 12*, 15*, 17*.
The Spurs will host the first game on Monday, May 4th followed by Game 2 on Wednesday, May 6th. Denver, vanquished on Thursday night leaves the Spurs to face the Timberwolves. They will then head to Minneapolis for Game 3 which takes place on Friday, May 8th with Game 4 on Mother’s Day, May 10th.
If Game 5 is needed, the Spurs will host on Tuesday, May 12th. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday, May 15 back in Minneapolis, before returning to San Antonio for Game 7 on Sunday, May 17, as needed.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
There are a few things that are axiomatic in the NBA.
Steph Curry is going to make inhuman shots. Nikola Jokic is going to have a statline that looks fake. And LeBron James’ legacy is etched in stone.
Stunningly, the last sentence could be under examination if things go awry for the Lakers.
With only four teams in NBA history forcing a Game 7 after trailing 3-0 in a playoff series, LeBron James’ legacy is on the line.
The Lakers’ 3-0 series lead against the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs has been turned on its head after two straight losses. Suddenly the Lakers are only up 3-2 with Game 6 Friday in Houston.
Teams that have been up 3-0 are 159-0. Only four of them have reached a Game 7.
Could you imagine if a LeBron James-led team was the first to be on the wrong side of history?
That would be so shocking, so unprecedented, so powerfully bad that it could dent something that was previously considered bulletproof.
His legacy.
For James, the narrative has wildly swung.
Initially, the storyline around this series could only bolster his lofty resume.
If the oldest person in the NBA (age 41) could lead a depleted roster (without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves) past the Rockets, that would be his most stunning achievement.
He had nothing to lose.
Despite being the best player in the series, James will forever be remembered as blowing a 3-0 lead to a Rockets team without Kevin Durant. NBAE via Getty Images
No one expected the Lakers to win. But then James did what he does and put the team on his shoulders. It was incredible to watch.
But it was a double-edged sword.
The Lakers started slipping. A new storyline was born.
Is arguably the greatest player of all-time going to be part of the most epic playoff collapse ever?
James desperately tried to stomp out that flame in Game 5.
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After only scoring eight points in the first half, he closed the game with another 17 points. He led the Lakers on an 11-1 run to cut a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to three points.
But he missed some big shots late in the game, including all three of his 3-point attempts, and he had a key turnover against Reed Sheppard.
Sure, the Lakers have two more attempts to win a game and avoid being the biggest blight in playoff history. But it’s obvious that this team is losing steam and the Rockets are gaining confidence.
A storm is brewing.
LeBron James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the regular season and postseason history. AP
This isn’t James’ fault. He has been the best player on the court in every game this series except for his disappearing act in Game 4. He has once again made our jaws drop.
The only player in NBA history to reach season 23 is still a superstar.
But if the Lakers lose, James will shoulder all of the blame.
You can already hear the pundits’ rumblings being seeded and watered. How could he let this happen? Michael Jordan would’ve never permitted this.
James has two games to stop the bleeding.
Reaves, who returned in Game 5 after missing a month because of an oblique injury, better quickly find his rhythm to help his teammate or else he’s going to be involuntarily complicit in the James battering.
Reaves had 22 points and six assists on Thursday, but he was 1-for-8 from the field in the fourth quarter.
Luke Kennard, who averaged 25 points in the first two games of the series, didn’t make a single field goal. Marcus Smart, who was the best defender on the court in the first three games, was a pole.
LeBron James must put on his superman cape and save the Lakers — and his legacy — before being on the wrong side of NBA history. AP
James isn’t panicking.
“Try to flush this one,” James said after the Lakers’ 99-93 loss Thursday.
James has carried 10 teams to the NBA Finals, winning four championships.
He orchestrated the greatest comeback in NBA history, leading the Cavaliers to claw their way back from a 3-1 series deficit in the 2016 Finals to win their first title over the dynasty Warriors.
He’s the league’s all-time leading scorer.
He has continually thrived under a magnifying glass in pressure-filled moments. He has nothing left to prove.
For him, this is nothing. This is the first round of the playoffs. This is a 3-2 series lead.
But it’s also everything.
If the Lakers lose, this would forever haunt him. This would eternally enter barbershop chats. This would be a deep stain on his unbelievable career.
It’s shocking that James is in this position at this stage in his career.
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
It wasn’t a good day for the Brotherhood Thursday in the NBA playoffs.
Jayson Tatum and Boston lost to Philadelphia, 106-93. That series is now tied 3-3. Minnesota eliminated Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets with a 110-98 win in Game 6. And New York eliminated Atlanta, also in Game 6, but this was more like a Mafia-style elimination than an NBA game. It was just brutal.
The halftime score was 83-36, and at one point, the Knicks were up by 60. NBA playoff teams are not supposed to be down by 60. Unbelievable.
New York blew the game open with a 39-4 run that was basically flawless. They’ll probably never be in a game like this again. It’s a one-off…but what a one-off it was! When the players on this Knicks team are old men, they’ll have dreams about this game. It was an incredible performance.
Minnesota won despite lacking their starting backcourt, which can’t make the Nuggets very happy.
Jones got in for 12 minutes, scoring 4 points and dishing out 3 assists. Typically, he had no turnovers.
Finally, Jayson Tatum and Boston missed a chance to eliminate Philly, as the Jays (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown) both played less than their best. Brown had 18 points on 7-17/2-6, and got just 1 rebound. Tatum finished with 17 on 6-13/2-6, with 11 rebounds and 3 assists.
Tatum only played 29 minutes, leaving the game with 4:03 In the third quarter after a problem with his left leg. He said after the game that he left to ride the bike, but when he came back out, the game was out of reach, so the starters were rested for Game 7.
On Friday, we’ll get Detroit at Orlando in Game 6, with the Magic up 3-2, Toronto hosting Cleveland with the Cavaliers up 3-2, and Los Angeles at Houston, with the Lakers up 3-2.
And just like that, April is behind us. The season is flying, and the lineup picture is finally starting to settle in some places while staying murky in others. Here's where every team stands heading into the weekend.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Ildemaro Vargas has started 15 straight and 19 of 20. He's typically at 1B but plays 2B when Ketel Marte is at designated hitter. There was some overlap, but Adrian Del Castillo and Gabriel Moreno essentially flipped being on the IL and batting cleanup. Jose Fernandez is getting starts at 1B and DH while filling in at SS when Geraldo Perdomo sits.
Athletics
Brent Rooker surprisingly returned on Sunday and served as the DH in three straight before being given a day off Thursday. Tyler Soderstrom (shoulder/head) is banged up, which could lead to more middle-of-the-lineup chances against righties for Carlos Cortes. Darell Hernaiz has started four straight at 3B since Max Muncy was diagnosed with a fractured hand.
Atlanta Braves
Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin have hit 1-2 in all 31 games for the Braves this year. Michael Harris II (who is raking) began the year in the bottom-third but has worked his way up to fifth vs. RHP. Austin Riley is down to sixth against righties. Mauricio Dubon has been in the lineup for all but two games this season, mostly at SS but with some LF mixed in.
Baltimore Orioles
Gunnar Henderson, Taylor Ward, and Pete Alonso have played every game so far, including Thursday's doubleheader. Adley Rutschman has started six of eight since returning from the IL, including his first appearance as a DH. Jeremiah Jackson has started 19 straight at 2B. Colton Cowser has started against just one of the past four right-handers Baltimore has faced.
Boston Red Sox
There's a new manager in town, but no major lineup changes yet. The difficulty with this roster continues to be who serves as the DH between Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran each day, and that doesn't even factor in playing time for Masataka Yoshida. Since Chad Tracy took over, the 1-4 against righties has been Duran/Contreras/Anthony/Abreu. Marcelo Mayer still hasn't started against a lefty.
Chicago Cubs
Moisés Ballesteros has hit second against the past two right-handers they've faced, and he got his first start at catcher this week. Note that those two-hole starts coincided with off-days for Alex Bregman and Seiya Suzuki. Pete Crow-Armstrong still hasn't hit higher than 8th since April 12. Matt Shaw has started 8 of 19 games since Suzuki returned from the IL, with starts mixed in at 1B, 2B, 3B, CF, and RF.
Chicago White Sox
Sam Antonacci has started 11 of 14 since he was called up, including two of five vs. lefties. He's made starts at 2B and LF. The leadoff plan is Chase Meidroth against lefties and Andrew Benintendi vs. right-handers. Everson Pereira is on the IL with a strained pec, opening up some middle-of-the-order opportunities.
Cincinnati Reds
Sal Stewart has two starts at second base and one at third base. Otherwise, he's the everyday cleanup-hitting first baseman. Nathaniel Lowe has started seven straight as the team's DH, which coincides with Eugenio Suarez (oblique) landing on the IL. JJ Bleday is up from Triple-A and playing left field against righties, which cuts into Rece Hinds' PT.
Cleveland Guardians
Travis Bazzana has played second base and hit seventh in his first two MLB games. Juan Brito was optioned as the corresponding move, so there should be everyday ABs against righties at minimum. We'll see what happens when they start facing lefties with Bazzana up.
Colorado Rockies
Edouard Julien remains the leadoff hitter against righties, while Jordan Beck has taken the role against lefties. Jake McCarthy and Brenton Doyle are splitting center field against righties, while Doyle gets the position versus lefties.
Detroit Tigers
Kevin McGonigle leads off against righties and bats third against lefties. Colt Keith hits third against righties and sits against lefties. Matt Vierling and Wenceel Perez are in line for more outfield playing time with Parker Meadows (arm) and Javier Baez (ankle) both sidelined.
Houston Astros
Yordan Alvarez has played every game this year. Carlos Correa had led off in nine straight before resting the second leg of Thursday's doubleheader. Jose Altuve has dropped to fifth against righties while Isaac Paredes has moved up to third. Dustin Harris is getting left field starts against RHPs with Joey Loperfido sidelined.
Kansas City Royals
Jac Caglianone is 2-for-9 in starts against southpaws. Michael Massey has plenty of runway at second base with Jonathan India (shoulder) out for the year.
Los Angeles Angels
Yoan Moncada has hit third against the past three right-handers, with Nolan Schanuel dropping to fifth. Moncada is in a 3B platoon with Oswald Peraza. He, Josh Lowe, and Adam Frazier all sat in four straight when the Angels had a run of lefties recently. Travis d'Arnaud should be the regular catcher with Logan O'Hoppe (wrist) on the IL.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup in two of his five starts on the mound. Otherwise, he's played every game. Kyle Tucker began the year hitting second with Freddie Freeman at cleanup, but that has recently flipped. Hyeseong Kim has started 17 of 22 at SS, including nine straight, since Mookie Betts (oblique) went on the IL.
They've kept things pretty steady. Owen Caissie and Graham Pauley are in platoons. Kyle Stowers has started against the only lefty he's had a chance to face since returning from the IL, and he got a start at 1B this past Sunday. That'll be interesting to track.
Milwaukee Brewers
Jackson Chourio (hand) could return early next week. Garrett Mitchell has led off against the past two righties. Gary Sánchez was getting regular run as the team's DH once Christian Yelich (groin) went on the IL, but Tyler Black has started four of six as the DH since being recalled from Triple-A.
Minnesota Twins
Luke Keaschall and Royce Lewis continue to bat in the bottom half of the lineup for now. Austin Martin is still getting two-hole reps against lefties while Trevor Larnach gets them vs. righties.
New York Mets
Juan Soto has been the DH in eight straight since returning from his calf injury. Ronny Mauricio has started six of seven at shortstop since Francisco Lindor (calf) went down. Brett Baty is a regular against righties at either 1B or RF. Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien have played every game.
New York Yankees
Jasson Domínguez has played in three straight since being recalled from Triple-A, and Randal Grichuk was just designated for assignment. Assuming everything checks out with his elbow, Domínguez should get everyday at-bats until Giancarlo Stanton (calf) returns. All eyes on when Anthony Volpe (shoulder) returns and how that affects José Caballero, who has sat just once this year.
Philadelphia Phillies
Trea Turner,Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper have started every game. Adolis Garcia is hitting cleanup against righties and fifth vs. lefties. Felix Reyes is fourth against lefties. No meaningful changes yet following Rob Thomson's firing. JT Realmuto (back) could return this weekend.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Still waiting to see if and when Konnor Griffin makes a meaningful move up the order. Marcell Ozuna has sat three of six as his struggles persist.
San Diego Padres
Fernando Tatis Jr. is already up to five starts at second base. Ty France has started five of six at first base, which is helping him catch up in starts among the four 1B/DH types San Diego is rotating through.
Gavin Sheets (22 total starts)
Miguel Andújar (18)
Nick Castellanos (14)
Ty France (13)
San Francisco Giants
Willy Adames was removed from the leadoff role this week in favor of Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos, who are splitting it. Casey Schmitt is hitting cleanup with Rafael Devers dropped to fifth.
Seattle Mariners
Cole Young has still yet to miss a game, playing against all lefties despite consistently batting in the bottom third of the order. Leo Rivas is filling in at 3B for Brendan Donovan (groin). JP Crawford leads off against righties while Rob Refsnyder does so against lefties.
St. Louis Cardinals
Ivan Herrera has started every game and hit second. Pretty consistent usage overall for the Cardinals, who haven't dealt with many offensive injuries.
Tampa Bay Rays
Chandler Simpson has started all but two games this season, and he's led off against 14 consecutive right-handers. Jonathan Aranda is 6-for-6 in starts against southpaws after not being a regular vs. them last season. Jake Fraley, Cedric Mullins, and Richie Palacios predictably remain in platoon roles.
Texas Rangers
Brandon Nimmo has started and led off in every game. Josh Jung has been in the two-hole for three straight. Evan Carter is 2-for-2 in starts against lefties while Wyatt Langford (forearm) is out. He was 0-for-5 in starts against them previously..
Toronto Blue Jays
George Springer is back, so the regular leadoff role should be his again. Jesús Sanchez hits second or fourth against right-handers.
Washington Nationals
Luis Garcia Jr. is batting second against RHP while playing sporadically against southpaws. Brady House gets to bat third or fourth when he starts, which is most games but not all of them.
On Friday night, the Montreal Canadiens will have a golden opportunity to qualify for the second round of the playoffs by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fourth time. If they do manage it, it will only have taken four years for the Kent Hughes/Jeff Gorton/Martin St-Louis regime to win a playoff round. That would be remarkable.
If you compare them with the Canadiens’ long-time rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, they hired Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas to mould their rebuild in 2014. They missed the playoffs in their first two seasons, just like the Canadiens did in their first two seasons with the new administration at the helm.
Both franchises made the playoffs in their front office’s third season at the helm. That was in 2017 for the Leafs, when they lost in the first round to the Washington Capitals in six games. For Montreal, that was in 2025, when they too lost to the Caps in the first round, but in five games.
Then, for the next two seasons, Toronto lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. The following year, they lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the qualifying round. In 2021, they lost to Montreal in seven games after leading the series 3-1. In 2022, they lost to the Lightning in seven games. It took the Shanahan/Dubas duo nine years to finally win a round in the playoffs.
The Canadiens could potentially do it in four and a half years, half the time. Why? Because the Habs have been built the right way. They did not focus solely on the big names and handcuff themselves with big contracts and no movement clauses. The Leafs had Morgan Reilly, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and John Tavares from 2018 onwards. There was a lot of star power that faded when it really counted, and Toronto couldn’t overcome it.
This year in the playoffs, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky have been struggling to put up points at even strength. Suzuki has five points, four of which have come on the man-advantage; Caufield has four points, all on the power play, just like Slafkovsky’s three points.
Still, the Canadiens lead the series. Why? Because of their depth, which they have because Hughes was able to sign his top guns to reasonable contracts with team-friendly cap hits. The way he handled the negotiations for Caufield, Slafkovsky, Guhle and Hutson has been exemplary, and he’s been able to add good complementary pieces along the way like Mike Matheson, Zach Bolduc, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Texier, Alexandre Carrier, Alex Newhook and even Kirby Dach of late has stepped up.
Of course, you can’t call a rebuild an unmitigated success until a Stanley Cup has been won, but if the Canadiens manage to reach the second round in such a short time, it will be further evidence that they are doing things the right way.
Nashville Predators Trade Cole Smith To Golden Knights For Christopher Sedoff, Draft PickPredators reshape roster, sending forward Cole Smith to Vegas for defenseman Sedoff and a future draft pick. Another busy night for Nashville.
Jorge Montanez