It’s no secret there is disappointment surrounding the Warriors ahead of the upcoming season.
While Golden State retained Steph Curry for another two years on a $116 million contract extension, questions surround the rest of the roster. Curry will once again carry the offensive load as Jimmy Butler recovers from a torn ACL to start the season.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is seen during an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets. AP
For the second year in a row, it was a quiet offseason for the Warriors’ front office. Curry addressed the criticism and whether the front office has built a competitive team around him.
“I mean, I’m not an idiot. I know what it means in the sense of that window we had where coming off of ‘22, there were opportunities to get better, add new talent, and some worked out, some didn’t. And the jury is still out on how we end this entire journey with a competitive mindset,” Curry said to NBC Sports Bay Area.
“We knew there’s never really going to be a scenario where you’re going to be in the favorites conversation from a championship-contending perspective. There’s so many great teams out there. But for us to go through a year like we did last year where we had, and the year before in the playoffs, I get hurt, we take an early exit in [the] second round.
“Last year, I missed 40-whatever games. Availability was the biggest theme, and we’re still one game away from getting to a playoff run and who knows what happens. So, all that to say, I’ve had a really amazing career and journey. I want to win. All the other chatter doesn’t necessarily matter to me in terms of how I grade our seasons.”
Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy answers questions during a Golden State Warriors press conference. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via APDraymond Green and Steph Curry will play together at least one more season on the Warriors. NBAE via Getty Images
MONTREAL (AP) — The Nashville Predators acquired defenseman Jayden Struble from the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night for a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL draft.
Struble had seven goals and 28 assists in 174 games for the Canadiens. The 25-year-old former Northeastern University player was a second-round pick in 2019.
An 0-3-2 start to the season is far from what the Philadelphia Flyers expected from themselves after such a promising 2025-26 campaign, but with so few offseason additions, they have only each other to turn to in order to turn the tide.
Despite his best efforts and playing like a savant, Joseph Woll remains winless, and without the newcomer, the Flyers might be 0-5-0 with no points in the bank at all.
"Goals for Woll" may become a trend in the near future, as the Flyers are tied for last in the NHL with just four goals at 5-on-5 through five games.
Overall, the Flyers have scored just six times in total, with only Calgary and New Jersey keeping them company while having played fewer games - four and three, respetively.
Defensively, the Flyers rank 28th in the NHL with 19 goals allowed in five games, though this number is buoyed in large part by the 7-0 onslaught suffered at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the season opener.
But, this is all to say that, outside of Woll and Dan Vladar, every Flyers player can improve.
Three, in particular, need to step their games up multiple notches if the team is to right the ship and insert themselves back into the playoff conversation.
Trevor Zegras
In five games this season, Trevor Zegras has managed to produce just two assists, one of which came on the power play thanks to a heads-up play by Matvei Michkov in the crease against Ottawa on Thursday night, sweeping a loose puck over the goal line while the whistle was being blown.
Already, Zegras has ceded his center-ice duties to Christian Dvorak, and the Flyers now have Matvei Michkov taking faceoffs on the first power play unit barely two weeks into the season.
After signing a four-year, $36.5 million ($9.125 million AAV) extension with the Flyers, expectations for Zegras were raised heading into the season. He and his camp won both ends of the negotiation, pulling in an elevated salary while keeping the contract at a short length.
Now, it's time for Zegras to hold up his end of the bargain. The 25-year-old has hardly looked like the ice-tilting offensive dynamo he was last season, though the Flyers' struggles offensively aren't solely on his shoulders.
Still, Zegras has the talent to be that guy for the Flyers, as he was last year, and while I have little doubt he will eventually turn it around and get going in the right direction, the Flyers don't have time to spare. They've already lost five straight games, including three to Metropolitan Division rivals.
The only way to win hockey games is by scoring more goals than the other team, and the Flyers are depending on Zegras to lead the charge.
Cam York
Analytically, Cam York has been one of the worst defensemen in the NHL this season. (Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
For the last several seasons, Cam York has been a staple in the Flyers' top-four on defense, though he has badly struggled to keep pace this season.
The 25-year-old has often looked a step or two behind and has shown little urgency with the puck. Offensively, much is still to be desired, even with an added opportunity quarterbacking the second power play that has now been lost to David Jiricek and Jamie Drysdale.
Among NHL defensemen with at least four games played this season, only Nashville's Roman Josi has a worse share of scoring chances (13-44, 22.81%) than York (20-53, 27.4%) at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick.
Like Zegras, it isn't all on York with four other players sharing the ice at 5-on-5 at any given moment, but both Drysdale and Travis Sanheim have much better looking underlying stats without York on the ice compared to with him.
York has no points in five games this season and will need to improve dramatically to retain his hold on a featured spot in the lineup.
Otherwise, the Flyers may be left to seriously consider alternative options on defense, such as Simon Edvinsson or Alex Nikishin.
Tyson Foerster
In reality, Tyson Foerster has played mostly well, but the end product in his game has been completely absent, and it's been absent for some time.
Foerster, 24, has just two goals, his only two points in his last 15 games played, including the playoffs.
Of course, Foerster dealt with injury woes at the start and end of last season, and upon his second return to the lineup on April 2, Foerster scored three times in his first four games back.
Since his two-goal game against New Jersey on April 7, Foerster has just two goals and three points in 19 games, including the postseason.
The Flyers, like many fans, are enamored with Foerster's potential as a two-way winger given his shooting ability, 6-foot-2 size, and defensive prowess, but the former first-round pick is due to remind the organization and fans of that potential.
That inconsistency and drop-off is a bit worrisome, considering Foerster, like Zegras, signed a big-money extension this offseason, inking a eight-year, $56.8 million ($7.1 million AAV) deal to remain in Philadelphia for the long haul.
The Flyers have invested heavily in each of the three young players on this list, and in a time of great need, with heightened expectations, Zegras, York, and Foerster need to come through for the team and get the Flyers back on track in a hurry.
A logjam formed on the left side of the Montreal Canadiens' blueline, and GM Kent Hughes decided it was time to act. Less than 24 hours after his team dropped two points to the Nashville Predators, Hughes sent Jayden Struble to the Predators in return for a second-round pick at the next draft.
Struble was a healthy scratch for that game as the Habs elected to dress Adam Engstrom for the first time of the season. The young blueliner did well and it allowed to executive to finally answer the Struble or Arber Xhekaj dilemma that has been the talk of the town for three years now, even though it seems like we've been talking about it for longer than whether Ross and Rachel were on break.
During Thursday's game, former Habs prospect William Trudeau, another left-shot defenseman was forced to leave the game and was placed on IR today. He will be re-evaluated on a week-to-week basis. That left a hole in the Predators' defense and Montreal had a surplus, a match made in heaven.
Struble is 25 years old and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the current season. In Nashville, he'll get an opportunity to play everyday rather then have to sit out like he did in Montreal.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens' get a second-round pick for a defenseman they had picked with the 46th selection of the 2019 draft. Given the fact that he hasn't yet established himself as a regular in the NHL, this is a good deal for the Habs and it will allow Engstrom to see more action, at least until Kaiden Guhle's return.
The Canadiens could also call up David Reinbacher, although it is likely they prefer him to see plenty of action in Laval rather than sit on the press gallery in Montreal. For Xhekaj who wanted to stay in Montreal and now plays alongside his baby brother Florian, this is probably good news although bittersweet as Struble was a good friend of his.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to a defensive play by Tommy Edman #25 (not pictured) during the fourth inning in game one of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Winning the National League Division Series in four games afforded the Dodgers the luxury of setting their starting rotation exactly the way they wanted for the next round. Tarik Skubal gets the ball in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 to cover the first two games of the series in Milwaukee, manager Dave Roberts said via Zoom on Friday.
Skubal struck out seven in six innings in his win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the NLDS. This will be the fourth Game 1 start for Skubal, who has a 1.97 ERA in seven career postseason starts, with 63 strikeouts and seven unintentional walks in 45 2/3 innings, and he’s lasted at least six innings in all seven starts.
Yamamoto added to his legend in Game 7 of last year’s World Series, getting the final eight outs of Game 7 one day after starting and pitching six innings in Game 6. He’s the only pitcher in postseason history to win five straight road appearances while allowing no more than one run in each game, a streak that began in Game 2 of last year’s NLCS, also in Milwaukee.
Ahead of his NLDS start, Yamamoto expressed willingness to start on short rest or pitch of out of the bullpen if needed when asked.
“I’m going to get myself ready for any situation. If they want me to go out, then I go out,” Yamamoto said, with interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “But for me, just those are key things for me. Postseason is just focusing on the game right in front of me.”
But this far, every one of Yamamoto’s 86 MLB starts — including 10 in the postseason — have come with at least five days rest, and Game 2 comes with five days rest after his 10 strikeouts in seven innings on Tuesday in Atlanta. And starting Yamamoto in Game 2 of a best-of-7 series would allow him to also start in Game 6 on five days rest, while Games 1 and 3 starters would start in Games 5 and 7 on four days rest.
“It’s more looking at how he’s gotten his rest this year, and what gives him the best chance to pitch potentially two games, Games 2 and 6,” Roberts said. “With the off days and the game schedule, that’s probably the best way to manage it.”
A day after facing off against the Montreal Canadiens, the Nashville Predators have now made a trade with them. On Friday evening, the Predators organization announced that they had acquired defenseman Jayden Struble from the Canadiens in exchange for a second round pick that originally belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Struble, a 25-year-old left-handed defenseman, has been a mainstay in the Canadiens' lineup for the last four seasons. Known mainly for his offensive ability during his time in collegiate and junior hockey, he hasn't been able to carry that offensive production into the NHL.
Last season, Struble scored two goals and added 10 assists for 12 points in 59 games for the Canadiens. He also had 58 penalty minutes. During the Canadiens' playoff run, he failed to record a point in 12 games.
The Predators' defensive core has struggled mightily to start the season and with William Trudeau out week-to-week, Struble will give Andrew Brunette another option to work with for the time being.
“Jayden Struble is a 25-year-old physical defender who will add mobility and a hard-to-play against quality that will help our backend,” Predators General Manager Chris MacFarland said in a press release. “We are excited to watch his growth and look forward to him being a player who can grow with us.”
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) attempts a shot defended by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov (55) and Chicago Blackhawks center Dominic Toninato (25) during the second period at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The Islanders are in limbo on Bo Horvat’s status, with their newly-named captain still being evaluated on Friday after Frank Nazar’s illegal check to the head late in Thursday night’s win over Chicago.
Horvat was immediately pulled out of the game by the league’s concussion spotters, and didn’t take part in a very optional practice on Friday at UBS Arena.
“I think he’s going to see our people again this morning and see how he feels,” coach Pete DeBoer said.
The NHL’s department of player safety suspended Nazar for two games following a hearing on Friday.
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) attempts a shot defended by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov (55) and Chicago Blackhawks center Dominic Toninato (25) during the second period at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, Thursday, October 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Though that may be some measure of justice, it would do nothing to help the Islanders should they be without Horvat for Saturday’s game against the Lightning or beyond.
Horvat’s four goals in four games lead the Islanders and so too did his 31 goals last season. He was also the only Islander named to an Olympic team.
With 1:33 to go in Thursday’s match and the Islanders leading 3-1, Horvat was upended with a late shoulder to the head area after shooting the puck into an empty net.
The Islanders reacted with furor, jumping into the ensuing melee to defend the captain.
“I definitely think [the hit] was over the line,” Kyle Palmieri said. “I don’t think it’s necessarily taking liberties. It’s a fast game, Bo is in a vulnerable position and he’s got to know better.
“Hopefully everything goes well with Bo and he’s ready to go. Obviously he’s a huge part of our team, and the hit is what it is and it’s out of our hands now. We reacted as a team and stuck up for each other.”
Mat Barzal continued skating on his own Friday, this time for a longer period than Thursday, but DeBoer struck a note of caution regarding his eventual return from left kneecap inflammation.
“We’re not even having those conversations yet,” DeBoer said when asked about a timeline for Barzal to rejoin the team. “We’re still in the initial phase of return to play.”
While the Islanders have maintained Barzal is progressing and feeling good, the timelines attached to his recovery were in terms of his return to skating, not his return to full practices or playing.
The Islanders have a chance to win three consecutive games at home to start the season for just the third time this century, according to team statistician Eric Hornick.
They swept the Lightning last season in three games between the two teams.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mathew Dumba is retiring after 13 NHL seasons with five different teams.
Dumba last played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, with stints in Minnesota, Dallas, Arizona and Tampa Bay. The 32-year-old defenseman won the 2020 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplified leadership qualities on and off the ice and made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
“Matt Dumba is officially hanging up his skates after 748 NHL career games,” the NHL Players Association posted on social media Friday. “Wishing the former blue liner and 2019-20 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner the best of luck in his retirement!”
Dumba spent his first 10 NHL seasons in Minnesota after the Wild drafted him with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2012 NHL draft. He signed with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023, but was sent to Tampa Bay just before the deadline.
Dumba played one season with the Lightning, another with the Dallas Stars and had a goal and two assists with the Penguins in 2025-26. He spent most of the season at Wilkes-Barr/Scranton, the Penguins' AHL affiliate.
Dumba had 85 goals and 176 in 748 NHL games. He also had give goals and 10 assists in 54 playoff games.
The Vancouver Canucks are 2–3–0 through their first five games of the 2026–27 season. This isn’t the worst record that they’ve produced through the past five seasons, but it’s not the best either. Here’s how the 2026–27 Canucks’ first five games compare to previous seasons.
The 2022–23 Canucks Didn’t Register A Win In Any Of Their First Five Games
The 2022–23 season was arguably the most significant in the team’s recent history, between trading then-captain Bo Horvat to hiring Rick Tocchet as Head Coach. The first five games of this season, however, made the start of the year look startlingly bleak. The goaltending tandem of Thatcher Demko and Spencer Martin combined for the team’s second-lowest save-percentage through the first five games of the past five seasons with .859% — ranking 30th in the NHL. The lone instance where either goaltender recorded a SV% of above .900 was in the team’s 3–2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 2022–23 Canucks’ first five games of the season also saw the team put up a particularly poor penalty kill with a success rate of only 58.8%.
When it came to individual stats, Horvat led the way in goals scored through the first five games with four. Quinn Hughes tallied the most assists of Vancouver’s skaters with five. Elias Pettersson was the team’s leader in points with six, scoring three goals and three assists.
Vancouver Started 2023–24 With Three Wins In Their First Five Games
2023–24 was, of course, Vancouver’s strongest season in recent history in terms of their place in the league’s standings and post-season contention. They started this particular season with a two-game win-streak, both of which were against the Edmonton Oilers. Thanks to their aggressive 8–1 win against the Oilers to open the year, Vancouver finished their first five games of the season with a total of 20 goals scored. They also logged the third-highest power-play percentage in the NHL with a success rate of 37.5%.
During this span, Vancouver put together their best combined save-percentage with .928%. Only one of these games — a 4–3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning — ended in a Canucks goaltender recording a save-percentage of less than .900. What makes this stat even more impressive is the amount of shots Vancouver allowed in each of these games. The Canucks allowed 40+ shots in both their 4–3 win against Edmonton and 2–0 loss to the Flyers, while the lowest number they permitted was 27 in their home-opener.
A four-goal performance in the Canucks’ season-opener gave Brock Boeser an early bump for the team’s goal-scoring lead, scoring six goals in the team’s first five games. Pettersson led the team in both assists and points this span of time with eight and 10 respectively.
Three Of The 2024–25 Canucks’ First Five Games Went To Overtime
The 2024–25 season started off memorably for the Canucks. They dropped their first game of the year by a score of 6–5 in overtime after climbing up to a 4–1 lead after the first period. Vancouver followed that up with a 3–2 shootout loss to the Flyers. After their third loss of the year, a 4–1 loss to Tampa Bay, the Canucks took their first win of the year in their third overtime game of 2024–25 — a 3–2 overtime win against the Florida Panthers.
2024–25 also saw Vancouver put up their lowest goals-for through their first five games in the past five seasons with 14 total. All but one of their first five games resulted in the Canucks scoring three or less goals.
Individually, Vancouver’s player stats through the first five games faced a fair drop-off compared to previous seasons. Boeser logged the team’s lead in goals once again, this time with three. He also finished with a team-high of five points. Jake DeBrusk finished with the team’s lead in assists with four.
No Canucks Averaged A Point Per Game Through Their First Five Games In 2025–26
The 2025–26 Canucks had a decent first five games of the season compared to how the year actually ended. They won three of their first five, one of which came in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks. Thatcher Demko had a particularly strong start, recording a save-percentage of .944% in back-to-back matchups.
Vancouver’s team stats landed towards the middle of the pack through their first five games of the year. Their power-play percentage (18.8%) was tied for 16th in the league, with their penalty killing rate (78.9%) coming in at 17th. Their highest registered team stat was their save-percentage (.909%), which ranked eighth throughout the NHL.
Vancouver’s goal-scoring was a lot more spread out through their first five games of the 2025–26 season. Boeser, Filip Chytil, and Kiefer Sherwood were tied for the team’s lead with three goals. Hughes, Conor Garland, and Filip Hronek shared the lead in assists with three. Hughes and Garland split the lead in points with four each.
The Canucks Have The NHL’s Worst Penalty Kill Through The First Five Games Of 2026–27
There are both positive and negative things that can be taken away from the Canucks’ first five games of the 2026–27 season. For starters, their overall effort level has been strong, with the team sporting two wins and one loss separated by only one goal. They’ve managed a strong offensive effort, scoring 21 goals since the start of the season — the most of all seasons through the past five years. They currently sit at third in the league in goals scored behind only the Colorado Avalanche (23) and Oilers (22).
Also positive about this start are the players’ individual stats. Paul Cotter’s four goals is currently tied for fourth in the NHL, while Pettersson’s six assists and eight points lead the Canucks in both categories.
There are, however, some things about the Canucks’ first five games to be concerned about. Kevin Lankinen and Leevi Meriläinen’s combined save-percentage currently sits at .837%, the lowest of all five seasons on this list. Their penalty kill also sits at the bottom of the league with a success rate of 57.9%.
Oct 3, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Leevi Merilainen (31) and defenseman Tom Willander (5) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) and forward Drew O'Connor (18) celebrate the victory against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards reacts during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 08, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Detroit Pistons tomorrow night. Let’s preview.
Game Info
When: Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injury Report
Wizards: Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic are out. Khris Middleton and Alex Sarr are day-to-day but according to … Greg Finberg of Bullets Forever (just had to be a little snarky here … WE LOVE YOU GREG!), Sarr is trending toward returning.
What to watch for
The Wizards are 1-0 in the preseason after beating the New York Knicks yesterday. However, it’s time for Washington to show what they can do at home. The Wizards will host the Pistons, a young team that was rebuilding not long ago but is now among the Eastern Conference’s best. Tomorrow night will be an opportunity for the Wizards to repeat what happened yesterday with the Dybantsa-Trae Young-Anthony Davis trio and show what’s in store this fall and winter.
But Volpe’s near-moment, after a season in which he was twice demoted to Triple-A after losing his job as the Yankees starting shortstop, was a reminder that he may still have a place in the future of the organization, namely as their second baseman next season.
There is a long way to go between now and whenever (or if) baseball begins in 2027 — due to the looming lockout — but as the Yankees enter the offseason, Volpe has at least given himself a chance to find a home again in pinstripes, as George Lombard Jr.’s double-play partner.
“If we were going to go win a World Series, we needed Anthony Volpe on the team,” Aaron Judge said late Wednesday night. “He’s an incredible player, not only the talent he has, but to handle that type of adversity — not only from the game, not playing your best and then hearing it from fans, hearing it from everybody, and then for him to go down to Triple-A, work on what he needed to and then come up here with a bang like he did, it speaks volumes to his character and the type of grit he has.”
It was not long ago that Volpe was at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, looking like a player who might benefit from a change of scenery in a trade this offseason. It is not out of the question that the 25-year-old could still be dealt this winter, depending on how the Yankees offseason shakes out. But with Jazz Chisholm Jr. headed to free agency and unlikely to return (despite his wishes), Volpe at the very least looks like a placeholder at second base, if not something more.
In the Yankees’ five playoff games, Volpe started over Chisholm twice. The first came against Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series before Chisholm’s untrustworthiness led to Volpe starting again in Game 3 of the ALDS against Rays righty Nick Martinez with the season on the line.
Aaron Boone even considered starting Volpe at third base, a position at which he has played just one career major league game, for Game 2 against the Rays before deciding not to risk his first game there on Tropicana Field’s turf coming in the playoffs (though the decision to stick with Ryan McMahon still ultimately burned the Yankees).
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) plays third base and throws out Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium, Oct. 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
That Volpe was at second base for Game 3 was an indictment of Chisholm, but it also spoke to how the club believes in Volpe’s makeup, which was reinforced with how he responded to the demotion to Triple-A when he was replaced by Lombard after the trade deadline.
“Volpe, what he’s able to do, talk about facing adversity, and what’s it tell you about him and his character and his makeup and his ability?” Boone said. “The way he’s come back and the level of at-bats he’s throwing up there [in Game 3], getting off the mat.”
While Volpe hit 3-for-7 with a double and two strikeouts in his two playoff games this year, it remains a question what the Yankees could get out of him offensively next season. The demotion to Triple-A gave him the time to make some adjustments in his swing — ones he couldn’t fully make last offseason, which he spent most of rehabbing shoulder surgery — most notably using a stepback with his back foot to get him in a better rhythm.
In the 14 regular-season games he played after coming back up from Triple-A, he hit .265 with a .695 OPS, one home run and five steals. Whether there is more where that came from (meaning more than his career .661 OPS across four seasons) remains to be seen.
Volpe did look comfortable at second base, where his arm plays better and gives him more time to not have to rush plays, and it might just be his ticket to staying in The Bronx next year after a turbulent season.
“I just wanted to stay in the moment,” Volpe said late Wednesday night. “I haven’t really even gotten to think of what’s happened or what happened to me or this year, anything like that, or how to get better from it. I just always tried to stay in the moment and do what I could do every single day to make myself the best player I can be, the best teammate, the best Yankee, everything.”
After he exited last night's game against the Montreal Canadiens with an upper-body injury, the Nashville Predators have placed defenseman William Trudeau on the injured reserve.
The Predators revealed that Trudeau is considered week-to-week. Notably, Mavrik Bourque who also left the game with an upper-body injury has not been placed on the injured reserve, so he'll likely be good to go in the near future.
Trudeau, who the Predators claimed off of waivers from the New York Rangers during the preseason, is a Quebec native who started his professional career with the Canadiens organization. Montreal originally drafted the now 23-year-old defenseman back in 2021 with the 113th overall selection. He spent the last four years with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, before being traded to the Rangers in June.
Trudeau then went on to make the Predators' opening night roster and made his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars on October 3. He left the game in Montreal after just 4:39 of ice time.
One round of the playoffs down, two to go, and Shohei Ohtani still looks nothing like Shohei Ohtani.
The Dodgers have moved him around their lineup almost on a game-by-game basis, as if they’re looking for a place to hide him without embarrassing him. If they really believe that “it’s going to click for him” at some point, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the other night, they have a strange way of showing it.
Statistically, Ohtani was in an even worse place last October, as he batted .121 over an eight-game stretch early in the postseason. The Dodgers kept Ohtani in his customary leadoff spot and he blasted three home runs in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. He went on to homer three more times in the World Series. Sticking by Ohtani was an easy decision then, as the Dodgers were certain his problems were mechanical and not physical.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani reaches for his waist after taking a swing during an at-bat in the eighth inning in Game 3 of baseball’s National League Division Series as Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts kneels by the plate Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Ohtani could also be experiencing discomfort in other areas of his body.
Last month, before Ohtani was placed on the injured list, he was known to be dealing with discomfort in his hip and neck. This week, in his final at-bat in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, he grabbed his lower back after fouling off a pitch.
No need to drop him any further than fourth or fifth in the lineup. No need to replace him as the starting designated hitter. No need to shut him down.
Keep running him out there – but not because manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani is “going to come to life.” Ohtani last homered on Aug. 18, and it would be unrealistic to count on him to start launching balls into the stands again.
Here’s what Ohtani is doing: He’s reaching base.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out on a foul tip against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning of an MLB National League Division Series playoff game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Mike Zarrilli/UPI/Shutterstock
He was on base at least once in every one of the four games of the NLDS. In 16 plate appearances, he walked twice and got on base a total of five times.
That’s an incredibly low bar for a four-time MVP, but that’s not how Ohtani should be judged right now. Rather, he has to be evaluated as one of the team’s 26 active players.
For a pitching-dependent team that isn’t expected to score runs in bunches – they averaged 3.5 runs per game in the NLDS – Ohtani is contributing enough offensively. He might be missing hittable pitches and reaching for too many that are outside of the strike zone, but opposing pitchers continue to treat him with a certain level of respect. That’s worth something, and it would be naive to think replacing him with Josue De Paula would represent an upgrade.
In the series-clinching win over the Braves on Wednesday, Ohtani drew a second-inning walk against starter Tyler Mahle, then stole second base. A resulting errant throw by Braves catcher Sean Murphy allowed Ohtani to advance to third base, from which he was able to score when shortstop Maurico Dubón dropped a popup by Max Muncy in shallow left field.
The run tied the game, 1-1.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) advances to third base after an error by the Atlanta Braves during the second inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Division Series in Atlanta, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
If Ohtani hadn’t scored, the game would have taken on an entirely different feel, as the Dodgers would have spent the night chasing the Braves instead of attempting to just wear them down.
In the game before that, Ohtani reached base on a catcher’s interference call to load the bases against Chris Sale. The Dodgers failed to score that inning, as Miguel Rojas lined out for the third out, but the plate appearance was nonetheless productive in that it elevated Sale’s pitch count and stressed the former Cy Young Award winner.
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Sale, who pitched a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers in late August, was removed from the game after just five innings.
So, there’s nothing wrong with Friedman’s insistence that Ohtani will continue playing in the upcoming NLCS against the Brewers.
Whether Ohtani is hitting or not, the best version of the Dodgers’ lineup has him in it.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani celebrates winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
And while he might be incapable of being a consistent threat in these playoffs, who’s to say he won’t run into a pitch in a critical moment?
At this point, his chances aren’t any worse than any of his potential replacements.
MILWAUKEE — Garrett Mitchell spent his first four major league seasons fighting through injuries, including a shoulder issue that prevented him from joining the Milwaukee Brewers’ playoff run last year.
Finally healthy for a full year, Mitchell is playing a vital role in the Brewers’ push for their first World Series title.
Mitchell, 28, was the best player on the field in Milwaukee’s NL Division Series title-clinching victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. He created an indelible moment in Brewers history in the eighth inning by catching a fly ball from Manny Machado at the center-field wall before it could reach the seats and become a tying homer.
The former UCLA star from Orange, California, is eager to help the Brewers in their NL Championship Series rematch with the the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who swept Milwaukee last year. The best-of-seven series starts Sunday night in Milwaukee.
“I think we have a different type of confidence and belief in ourselves together as a team,” Mitchell said as the Brewers celebrated the NLDS title. “It’s just like a quiet, subtle confidence. It’s not showboaty.”
One major difference in this rematch is that the Brewers have Mitchell in the lineup. Last year, Mitchell played just 25 games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
Mitchell never played more than 69 games any of his first four years in the majors as he dealt with a variety of injuries that included issues with his shoulder, oblique and finger.
The 145 regular-season games he appeared in for Milwaukee this season exceeded his combined total from 2022-25 (141). Mitchell hit .262 with a .354 on-base percentage, 11 homers, 65 RBIs and 14 steals.
In Milwaukee’s 3-1 Game 4 NLDS victory at San Diego, Mitchell went 2 for 4. He tripled and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning before preserving the Brewers’ lead with his remarkable catch at the wall.
“He’s been phenomenal, and no one could have predicted this, either,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said before the postseason. “When you’re looking at our team, maybe the reason we didn’t get picked early on to be as successful in the regular season was because the unknown about Mitchell. He had been injured for four years basically.”
Mitchell had shown glimpses in the past of what he could do when healthy.
He posted a 2.1 WAR (wins above replacement) while playing only 69 games in 2024. He hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning of a 5-3 Game 2 victory over the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card Series that year. He owns an .860 OPS in six career playoff games.
“Obviously everybody knew he was a super-talented player who could do everything on a baseball field,” Brewers designated hitter and captain Christian Yelich said. “I think people kind of got to see that this year with him being out there, what kind of contributions he’s made to our team.”
Mitchell has dealt with this kind of adversity before.
He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of nine. As he developed into the type of prospect capable of getting drafted in the first round, Mitchell remembers hearing questions about whether his status as a diabetic would impact how he would be able to handle the grind of a long baseball season.
“In my mind I took it more as kind of a sign of disrespect,” Mitchell said. “If you know the person, if you know the player, if you watch me play, that’s not the thing I think you worry about, because I’ve dealt with it for as long as I have.”
Mitchell grew up watching highlights of outfielder Sam Fuld, who played in the majors from 2007-15 while dealing with Type 1 diabetes. Yelich appreciated the opportunity to communicate with him while in high school.
Now he pays it forward by trying to set an example to other young athletes with similar health situations.
“I’m just trying to show no matter what obstacles are in your way and whatever’s thrown at you in your life, if you trust and believe in yourself, nothing can really stop you,” Mitchell said.
Shohei Ohtani is scuffling at the plate, and so far the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is coming up mostly empty in the postseason.
After stumbling into the playoffs battling biceps and knee injuries, he was 2 for 13 (.154) with two walks, four strikeouts and one stolen base in their four-game NL Division Series win over the Atlanta Braves, to go with a .421 OPS and .154 slugging percentage.
Clearly not up to the four-time MVP’s standards.
“He’s a very good self-evaluator, a very extremely high competitor and expects a lot from himself,” manager Dave Roberts said this week.
As Ohtani goes, so go the Dodgers. They weren’t much better, hitting just .203 against Atlanta.
Ohtani was dropped to fifth in the order — his lowest as a Dodger — for Game 3 of the NLDS. He reached base twice — on a catcher’s interference and a walk. He moved up to the cleanup spot for Game 4. He had previously only started in the first or second spot.
Not postseason punishment, just tactical moves based on opposing pitching.
Some of Ohtani’s offensive slump can be traced to nagging injuries that limited him to just 139 games in the regular season. He went on the injured list, with right biceps and left knee issues, for the first time as a Dodger in September.
Ohtani has admitted he’s still not 100% healthy. At times, he doesn’t appear comfortable at the plate.
“I haven’t been able to get a good grasp of the root cause of all this,” he said through a translator last week. “I think that process is going to happen during the offseason when I’m going to have a little bit more time to be able to address it. But as of now, it’s something I’m just going to have to manage.”
However, health is only part of the equation. He’s been uncharacteristically aggressive swinging at pitches outside of the strike zone, something Roberts hopes he improves going into Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
“He can still do a better job of staying in the strike zone,” Roberts said. “It’s hard to have success when you’re out of the zone.”
Roberts has maintained unwavering trust in Ohtani and believes his bat will come to life as the Dodgers’ bid for a third consecutive World Series championship continues.
Bolstered by their pitching, the Dodgers are in the NLCS against the Brewers for the second straight year.
Ohtani led the Dodgers to a four-game sweep of Milwaukee last year, when the Brewers hit a measly .118 against Dodgers pitching.
He was 5 for 14 (.357) with three home runs, four walks and five strikeouts as NLCS MVP — all three homers came in a memorable Game 4 clinch in which he also struck out 10 as a pitcher. He had a 1.643 OPS and 1.143 slugging percentage.
Ohtani won’t be pitching this time because of his injuries, with his place in the rotation taken by two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow return.
Elite pitching can carry a team deep into the postseason, but poor hitting often leaves a team with a thin margin for error, especially when its biggest star is struggling.
“Hitting homers, slugging, it’s part of his hallmark in the batter’s box,” Roberts said. “He’s very in tune with what’s being said, what he hasn’t done.”
