The Buffalo Sabres have a stockpile of young prospects in their organization, including four first-round picks who either played the entire year or split time between the AHL Rochester Americans and the NHL last season.
The Sabres are hosting the annual NHL Draft Combine next week, ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles late next month. Buffalo will be selecting ninth overall, but instead of adding another prospect to the coffers who may play three or four years down the road, GM Kevyn Adams may be willing to move his top-10 pick if he can acquire a player who can help snap the club’s 14-year playoff drought.
It is likely that Adams, along with newly added senior advisor Jarmo Kekalainen, will be looking for a player who has significant term or a young NHLer currently on his entry-level or second bridge deal with years remaining before being able to qualify for unrestricted free agency. There is a growing sense that if Buffalo does not make the playoffs this upcoming season, there could be an upheaval of much of the current management structure.
The Sabres have 10 picks in the 2025 Draft, with selections in each round, an extra pick in the fourth round and two additional selections in the seventh round. With an extensive stockpile of young prospects playing in the NCAA, and in Europe, it is quite possible that Adams would be willing to deal multiple selections to add players to the NHL roster, since he has admitted publicly that Buffalo is not a destination city for free agents or players with no-trade protection.
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The San Jose Sharks have announced that they’ve extended contract offers to a handful of prospects ahead of the June 1 signing rights deadline.
A bona fide offer allows a team to retain exclusive negotiating rights with a drafted player.
The Sharks have extended bona fide offers to the following prospects:
Nate Misskey – Defense – UMass-Lowell (NCAA)
Colton Roberts – Defense – Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Carson Wetsch – Forward – Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
By extending offers, the Sharks will hold onto the rights of all three players, giving them the ability to negotiate entry-level contracts down the line.
With the June 1 deadline approaching, teams across the league are finalizing decisions on which prospects they plan to retain—and which they’ll let go. In San Jose’s case, two players did not receive offers:
Theo Jacobsson – Forward – Nybro Vikings (Allsvenskan)
Evgeni Kashnikov – Defense – Yekaterinburg (KHL)
Since they weren’t signed, both Jacobsson and Kashnikov will re-enter the NHL Draft on June 27–28.
For GM Mike Grier and the Sharks, this is one more step toward the 2025 NHL Draft. But before then, there’s still work to do. Don’t be surprised if a few more RFA or UFA decisions are made before the draft—just to get a clearer picture heading into free agency on July 1.
It’s no easy task to keep the faith after your team falls behind 3-1 in a series, but the Knicks fans doing so in the face of a dynamic Pacers team have good reason to eschew history. While no team has ever come back from losing the first two home games of a conference finals, and just one team has come back from a 3-1 deficit, this roster is uniquely suited to pull off a miracle.
For all the questions about its toughness and identity, one thing this Knicks team has proven itself time and again is resilient. They did it in the regular season, in the biggest moments of the 2025 NBA playoffs, and now have a chance to do it again.
Many teams would buckle at a ground-moving trade like the one New York made the night before training camp, trading two starters from the previous year for Karl-Anthony Towns. He’d be a late show to camp due to the deal, while the returning Knicks still had to adjust to one new starter and the emotional aftershock from the trade.
Despite this, an opening night whooping from the Boston Celtics and an up-and-down start to the year, the Knicks would bounce back with a massive December, losing just two games in the month en route to a 24-10 start to the season. They’d continue through the regular season with the most available rotation in the league, constantly playing through injuries and some of the highest minute and miles loads across the NBA.
Then, as the season neared its end, Jalen Brunson, the team’s captain and MVP candidate, went down with an ankle injury. With a month to play until he’d return and playoff seeding on the line, the Knicks would once again respond, staying afloat with a 9-6 record over a West Coast swing.
The playoffs brought them little relief, as their first test was the physical and hungry Detroit Pistons. The up-and-coming squad pushed them in their first game at MSG, controlling the contest from the jump and going up double digits in the second half.
The Knicks responded with a massive 40-21 fourth quarter to defend home court, their first of many playoff comebacks this year. They would lose Game 2 at home, but come back with two gutsy road wins, both by single-possession margins, and eventually seal the series on the road in Game 6.
Then came the mighty Celtics, who, as the hoops media repeatedly reminded us all, went 4-0 against the Knicks in the regular season in dominant fashion. This didn’t dissuade the Knicks from competing, even as they fell behind by 20 in Game 1 on the road.
New York pushed its way back, forcing overtime and stealing home-court advantage there. Game 2 was almost a near-repeat, as once again they found themselves down 20, only to march back into striking distance down the stretch, where they’d pull off a historically massive upset in back-to-back road games.
Even in their decisive Game 4 win to take a 3-1 lead in the series, the Knicks found themselves down double figures after the first quarter. At this point, it had almost become a meme for New York to play their best ball when all the odds were stacked against them.
We’ve seen this carry over into this Pacers series. After losing both home games, the Knicks came back from 20 points yet again in Game 3 to keep their series alive.
Down 3-1 and facing elimination, New York would not let itself go out on their home court on Thursday, crushing Indiana to force a Game 6 on Saturday night. One more win and they’ll find themselves in a one-game series, at Madison Square Garden, with all the momentum on their side.
So while many have written off this Knicks season given their predicament, the ones who have stayed positive may be onto something. Because this New York team is far tougher than meets the eye, and has proven that time and time again in getting here.
They may not be able to complete the comeback, but to count them out is going against everything they’ve been this season.
SAN FRANCISCO — The odds are pretty good that Robbie Ray will be named National League Pitcher of the Month for May. The left-hander posted a 1.38 ERA in six starts, and when he walked off the mound on Saturday in Miami, he led the league in innings pitched this month.
Ray went 4-1 in May, but it very easily could have been 6-0.
For the second time in his last three starts, Ray dominated but watched the lineup struggle. He allowed just one run, but the Giants were shut out for the second time in their last seven games, losing 1-0 to the last-place Miami Marlins. The two shutout losses are part of a stretch of 13 consecutive games without scoring more than four runs.
The Giants had plenty of opportunities to break through Saturday, but didn’t take advantage. They loaded the bases with one out in the first but came away with nothing. Willy Adames and Mike Yastrzemski — who was moved out of the leadoff spot — both struck out.
With a runner on in the fourth, Tyler Fitzgerald hit a high fly ball to left, where Marlins Park used to have a nightclub. But Heriberto Hernandez reached over the wall and pulled back what would have been a go-ahead homer. That was it against hard-throwing righty Edward Cabrera, who entered with a 4.73 ERA but now has back-to-back scoreless starts.
The Giants thought they had tied it in the bottom of the seventh, but center fielder Dane Myers made a tremendous catch to rob Jung Hoo Lee of an extra-base hit with Heliot Ramos on first.
A defensive misplay and a walk put two on with one out in the eighth, but Yastrzemski flew out and Fitzgerald struck out.
No Offense
You have to go back to 1988 to find the last time the Giants went 13 straight games without scoring more than four, and they’re hardly even getting to that relatively low number. Since the Wilmer Flores Game against the A’s, the Giants have scored four runs just twice. They have just 10 runs over their last seven games.
The Giants are somehow 6-7 during this ugly stretch, a testament to how good their pitching has been. But on Saturday, they weren’t able to get the two runs Ray needed.
Changing It Up
The results fit in with the rest of Ray’s season, but the way he got there was different. He threw a career-high 32 changeups, blowing away his previous high of 18. The pitch is one that Ray learned from Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in the offseason, and it has been a game-changer for him, allowing him to succeed on days when his fastball and slider aren’t quite as sharp.
Ray got 22 strikes with those 32 changeups, including 12 of his 19 swinging strikes. Five of his nine strikeouts came on changeups.
At Least They Have That Guy
Heliot Ramos was far and away the team’s best position player in May, and on Saturday that led to a lineup change. LaMonte Wade Jr. started the season as the leadoff hitter against righties but he’s down at the bottom of the order now, and might be out of it altogether when Jerar Encarnacion returns. Yastrzemski was hitting .213 in May after Friday’s game, and that got him bumped down, too.
Ramos already was the leadoff hitter against lefties and he’s now at the top of the lineup against righties, too. He reached base four times Saturday, getting two singles, a walk and hit-by-pitch. His on-base percentage for the season is up to .355.
The first two spots are a lock: Duke's Cooper Flagg is going No. 1 to Dallas (there is zero chance they trade this pick) and Rutgers' Dylan Harper will be taken No. 2, very likely by San Antonio (the Spurs will listen to trade offers, but unless it's a Giannis Antetokounmpo-level deal they will hold on to the pick).
In NBC Sports’ latest 2025 NBA Mock Draft, we have Rutgers' Ace Bailey going No. 3 to Philadelphia and Baylor's VJ Edgecombe going No. 4 to Charlotte. While that is the most likely outcome, those two picks are far less certain.
Bailey no lock at No. 3
The main reason there is uncertainty about Bailey going No. 3 is that there is uncertainty about who will be drafting third. Thanks to the lucky bounces of the lottery ping-pong balls, the Philadelphia 76ers own that pick and are open to trading down. This is a win-now team run by Daryl Morey, someone who never shies away from a bold move.
While drafting Bailey to pair with younger star Tyrese Maxey and the promising Jared McCain would create a clear future timeline for the team, the 76ers have Joel Embiid and Paul George on the roster now and are committed to winning with them. If a trade is presented that makes Philly a more dangerous threat in what should be a wide-open East next season, Morey will have to strongly consider it.
"Bailey has remained polarizing for NBA executives all season, with the wide understanding that he'll need time to adjust before contributing winning minutes on a good team. There are varying levels of confidence around the NBA as to whether he will reach his ceiling ultimately, creating a layer of risk that has held him back from becoming the consensus option at No. 3."
The question isn't Bailey's potential — he might have the second-highest ceiling of any player in this draft (behind Flagg). Bailey checks all the boxes of a prototypical modern NBA wing or stretch four: Good size at 6'8", freak athlete, creates his own shot, and can shoot the 3. He averaged 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season.
What makes him polarizing is that some executives and scouts doubt his ability to live up to that potential. He lived on a diet of tough shots at Rutgers, and while he made them that is harder to do against defenders at the next level. He didn't draw a lot of fouls and shot 69.2% from the line. While he could be a future All-Star if he plays a simplified game and focuses on efficiency, some executives and scouts fear that he may not do so and become a role player who never lives up to the hype.
Edgecombe brings two-way play
Edgecombe had "an excellent interview with the Hornets," reports Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports. He seems a natural fit in Charlotte as the two guard between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller because he is arguably the best athlete in this class and is an elite defender (which is needed next to Ball), plus he shot 36.4% from 3 last season. Edgecombe can get out in transition and moves well off the ball, which would be a hand-in-glove fit with Ball.
VJ Edgecombe is the most explosive athlete in this class, but shows quite a bit of skill as well. He's an event-creator defensively who hit 39% of his 3s in Big 12 play with improving shot-creation and passing prowess that bodes well for his long-term development. pic.twitter.com/aIwf9EGLS4
A team that trades up to the No. 3 spot may be more interested in the athleticism, two-way play and higher floor of Edgecombe over having to work to develop Bailey. If so, they could take Edgecombe third and leave Bailey to Charlotte. Some mock drafts see it that way, although it's difficult to pick because it depends on who has the No. 3 selection when Adam Silver walks to the podium.
At the draft, upside tends to win out — when picking as high as third, GMs don't want to pass on the potential future All-Star. Doing so could lead to hard questions in a couple of years from fans and ownership about why they made the pick they did. It's not a good look for a guy trying to hang onto his job. Which is why Bailey likely goes third, but it is far from a lock. And a lot depends on draft-night trades that could shake up the top of the board.
Lewis Hamilton finds form to secure fifth for Ferrari
Oscar Piastri barely broke a sweat under the blazing Catalan sun, demonstrating a fearsome control to claim pole for the Spanish Grand Prix. Indeed, such has been the dominance and the nonchalance with which he claimed this pole and his wins this season, it was put to him that he was taking on Kimi Räikkönen’s mantle as the Ice Man, albeit in the somewhat less flattering form for the 24-year-old of Ice Boy.
Piastri’s pole was imperious at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, beating his teammate Lando Norris into second by a huge two-tenths of a second, the biggest margin of the season, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third, three-tenths down.
LOS ANGELES — Reigning MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani blasted historic home runs in the first inning as the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers met Friday night in a rematch of last year’s World Series.
Judge got the fireworks going with a 446-foot solo shot to dead center on a 1-1 pitch from Tony Gonsolin. The Yankees slugger’s 19th homer of the season tied him with Kyle Schwarber for third in the majors.
Ohtani matched him in the bottom of the frame with a 417-foot homer to center on the first pitch from Max Fried in front of a sellout crowd of 53,276.
“I felt like he was copying me,” a smiling Judge said.
It’s the first time reigning MVPs homered in the first inning of a game in major league history. Barry Bonds of San Francisco and Miguel Tejada of Oakland were the first reigning MVPs to homer in the same game, including the World Series, on June 30, 2002.
“I really thought it was important to be able to score another run in that situation, knowing that momentum is really important,” Ohtani said through a translator.
Judge downplayed the tit-for-tat with Ohtani.
“Try not to think about it,” he said. “I got a job to do on the field. I got to make plays, score some runs for the team. You try not to get too hyped into that.”
Ohtani led off the sixth with a solo shot to right-center, scurrying back to step on first base after missing it. That sparked a four-run rally that carried the Dodgers to an 8-5 victory, their 19th come-from-behind win of the season.
The long balls extended Ohtani’s major league-lead to 22. He tied the Dodgers record for most in a month with 15.
“We always seem to obviously play really well when Shohei’s obviously playing well,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “I heard the chants for MVP, and he’s really well on his way to doing that again.”
Ohtani has 60 runs this season, making him the first player since 1901 to reach the mark before June, according to OptaSTATS.
The Japanese superstar has hit five homers in his last five games, with four coming on the first or second pitch.
Judge is most impressed by Ohtani’s consistency at the plate.
“Year after year continue to go up there and put up the numbers he does,” he said. “Every single at-bat, you don’t know if he’s going to rip a ball to me in right field or if he’s going to take a Max Fried first pitch heater opposite field.”
The Dodgers beat the Yankees in five games to win their eighth world championship in 2024.
The St. Louis Blues selected forward Dalibor Dvorsky with the 10th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. With the way that Dvorsky has been developing since then, it is fair to say that the Blues must be happy about this decision.
Following being drafted, Dvorsky demonstrated his high offensive potential with the Sudbury Wolves during the 2023-24 season. In 52 games with the Ontario Hockey League club, he posted an impressive 45 goals and 88 points. He also had three goals and 10 points in nine playoff contests with the Wolves this year.
After an excellent 2023-24 season with the Wolves, Dvorsky began his North American professional career this season. He spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he had 21 goals and 45 points in 61 games. He was also named to the AHL All-Star Classic because of his impressive play.
Dvorsky also played in his first two NHL games with the Blues, where he recorded zero points and two shots. Overall, the 19-year-old forward did not look too out of place in his first NHL action with the Blues, and the expectation is that he should get more chances on St. Louis' roster next season.
With Dvorsky being a very skilled player and demonstrating great potential this season, it is hard not to feel optimistic about him hitting a new level next campaign. The youngster has the tools to blossom into a legitimate top-six NHL forward, and it is going to be fascinating to see what kind of season he puts together in 2025-26 from here.
Count the Nets among the many disappointed lottery teams, dropping two spots from No. 6 to No. 8 after San Antonio and Dallas jumped.
Brooklyn has veteran players, including Cameron Johnson, four first-round picks in this draft and future assets to dangle if it wants to move higher in the lottery. Teams expect the Nets, who are also operating in the interest of present and future cap space, to consolidate some of what they have.
Knueppel's reliable offensive play and high-level shooting would be a nice building block for the Nets, with his skill set augmenting most lineups no matter how they choose to build long term. League insiders see additional scoring and playmaking upside from the consistent wing.
There's also an interesting case for selecting and developing a young ball handler such as Egor Demin or Kasparas Jakucionis, or going with the offensive upside of Derik Queen, if the Nets stay at this spot. -- Woo
No. 19 (via Bucks): C Thomas Sorber,Georgetown
Height without shoes: 6-foot-9 1/4
Weight: 262 pounds
Age: 19
With the second of their four first-round picks, the Nets could go in many directions, likely taking swings on talent while considering the importance of acquiring size in a league that has swayed back toward seriously valuing big men.
Sorber isn't expected to conduct on-court activity during the predraft process as he recovers from foot surgery in February. Still, his strong feel for the game, defensive versatility, length, physicality and skill level as a pick-and-roll finisher are attractive qualities at 19 years old that should draw plenty of attention in this portion of the draft.
In Chicago, his wingspan was measured at 7-6, allowing him to play much bigger than his height (6-10½ in shoes). -- Givony
Rival teams expect the Nets to explore moving one or both of these picks in the 20s, as they manage their roster and salary cap situation to best position themselves moving forward.
Lendeborg faced one of the highest-profile, stay-or-go decisions among prospects at the combine, measuring quite well and turning in a solid, if not spectacular, showing in scrimmages, with Michigan coach Dusty May and members of his staff in Chicago to support him. NBA teams are aware Lendeborg has a multimillion-dollar NIL package to attend Michigan next season, and it wasn't clear by the end of the week as to whether he had done enough to secure the type of guarantee that might keep him in the draft.
He was highly productive last season at UAB and will step into a huge role with the Wolverines as the ostensible replacement for Danny Wolf, giving him an opportunity to improve his draft stock if he withdraws now. -- Woo
No. 27 (via Rockets): PF Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph's
Height without shoes: 6-foot-8 1/4
Weight: 232 pounds
Age: 20
The Nets might not be the team selecting here, which would make these picks in the late 20s interesting swing spots.
Fleming didn't participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages at the combine, but had impressive measurements. His excellent size and how effectively he scored this season for Saint Joseph's give him some attractive role-player qualities.
As a late-blooming player who is still lacking in ball skills and overall awareness at times, Fleming is more of a developmental addition than a true plug-and-play option in the late first round. -- Woo
Mar 15, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Saint Joseph's Hawks forward Rasheer Fleming (13) shoots the ball over George Mason forward Shawn Simmons II (10) in the first half at Capital One Arena. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report
No. 8: PF Noa Essengue, France
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 194 pounds
Age: 18
Big scoring outputs are becoming more common for Noa Essengue in the German BBL.
The easy baskets off rim runs, cuts and offensive rebounds have been consistent all season. But he's looking more comfortable converting off self-created drives and knocking down rhythm threes.
His improving on-ball skill and rising offensive production are becoming notable draft storylines, considering he's the draft's second-youngest prospect who also offers exciting defensive tools and movement.
No. 19 (via Bucks): PG/SG Jase Richardson, Michigan State
Height without shoes: 6-foot 1/2
Weight: 178 pounds
Age: 19
Jase Richardson's 6'0.5" barefoot measurements could scare a few teams, particularly since his skill set is better suited for the 2-guard position. However, his shooting, touch, finishing and decision-making may all be sharp enough for Richardson to get by and still thrive while undersized.
No. 26 (via Knicks): PG Nolan Traore, France
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 174 pounds
Age: 19
Nolan Traore is in the midst of one of his best stretches of the season. He's going to enter the draft with the field's highest assist percentage regardless, but now he's confidently stepping into three-point makes and creating for himself with visible decisiveness.
Shooting struggles and inefficiency caused by athletic limitations had scared scouts off. But the bar was awfully high entering the season. And now the 18-year-old has looked highly effective generating offense as a starting point guard in Pro A.
No. 27 (via Rockets): SG/SF Drake Powell, North Carolina
Height without shoes: 6-foot-5 1/4
Weight: 200 pounds
Age: 19
Teams figure to put extra stock into Drake Powell's NBA combine performance and workouts after he spent the year spotting up 49.2 percent of North Carolina's possessions and taking just 5.7 shots per game.
Despite the lack of production, there could still be first-round interest based on his outstanding physical profile, defensive projection and 37.9 percent three-point shooting.
Mar 14, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Drake Powell (9) during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Spectrum Center. / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Kevin O'Connor, Yahoo! Sports
No. 8: PF Noa Essengue, France
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 194 pounds
Age: 18
Essengue is a toolsy forward with a fluid handle, dynamic finishing package and highly versatile defense. Though he’s a raw Frenchman, he’s starting to string together his best run of the season. Over the last two months, he’s making 80% of his free throws. Though his success isn’t translating beyond the arc (29% over this same stretch), it’s at least encouraging his shooting is continuing to progress. Because it’s his one big flaw. Otherwise, the 6-foot-9 forward has clear upside across the board, and that’s why he’s rising up draft boards. Brooklyn has a clean slate of a future, so it’d only make sense to take a big swing.
No. 19 (via Bucks): PG/SG Egor Demin, BYU
Height without shoes: 6-foot-9 1/4
Weight: 199 pounds
Age: 19
Demin has one of the widest ranges in this draft class with people around the league seeing him as an option from anywhere in the mid-lottery to the late teens. The Nets would certainly be happy to take a swing on his rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes. Even though he struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, he did perform well at the draft combine and is said to be excelling in pre-draft workouts with his tweaked shooting mechanics.
No. 26 (via Knicks): C Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
Height without shoes: 6-foot-9 1/4
Weight: 262 pounds
Age: 19
Sorber has a brick-house frame and the throwback skill-set to match with strong screens, soft-touch finishes and gritty drop-coverage instincts. But to be more than a role player, he needs to tap into the flashes he shows as a shooter while also improving his perimeter defense. Sorber may not make it this far on draft night, but he’d end up giving the Nets a center for the long term.
No. 27 (via Rockets): PG/SG Ben Saraf, Israel
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 201 pounds
Age: 19
The Nets have five top-36 picks. Are they really going to keep all of these? I doubt it. But regardless of what Brooklyn does, drafting one or multiple guards could make some sense since this roster is a clean slate. Saraf is a crafty lefty playmaker who relies on guile, footwork and body control. Limited shooting and athleticism could cap his upside, but his positional size and skill could be hard to pass up.
It’s well-documented that Kent Hughes would like to address the Montreal Canadiens’ problems down the middle this Summer. With Ivan Demidov now in North America and Patrik Laine unable to produce at even-strength last season, the Habs need a real top-six center who will have the skills to get the best out of the two talented wingers. The Minnesota Wild could help.
The Wild has tried to shop Marco Rossi in the past, and he’s now a restricted free agent in need of a new contract. The 23-year-old center has consistently improved during his ELC and scored 60 points in 82 games this past season, representing a 20-point improvement over his previous season.
Yet, as The Athletic’s Chris Johnston points out in his NHL offseason trade board, Rossi only got 11 minutes of ice time per game in the playoffs and pivoted the fourth line as the Wild fell in six games against the Vegas Golden Knights.
There hasn’t been a leadership change in Minnesota, unlike with the New York Islanders, meaning the people who were looking to move Rossi are still in charge and would therefore likely be amenable to discussing a sign-and-trade deal.
Rossi’s downside is his size; at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, he’s not very imposing, and that might be why the Wild are hesitant to commit, according to Johnston. The Canadiens have shown in the past that they do not necessarily put a premium on size; they didn’t hesitate to draft Lane Hutson, who is roughly the same size.
Unlike when Hughes traded for Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, who had both only scored 26 points in their previous year with the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche, respectively, Rossi is not coming off a down year. The price tag would likely be relatively high.
The Wild doesn’t have a first-round pick at the upcoming draft and only have a total of four picks while the Canadiens have two first-rounders and a total of 12 picks, meaning this could be a good starting point for any discussion. If Johnston’s NHL trade board article is to be believed, Montreal could entertain moving one of its two first-round selections.
The article also reports the Habs are willing to move Logan Mailloux, and the Wild have got a few aging defensemen on the right side of their blueline, with Jared Spurgeon being 35 and Zach Bogosian being 34. They also have David Jiricek in their system. Still, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ sixth overall selection at the 2022 draft has failed to impress since being acquired for Daemon Hunt and a truckload of draft picks, including Minnesota’s first-rounder this year.
If the Wild is after size, could Kirby Dach somehow pique their interest? He wouldn’t be the central piece of the deal, but could be an interesting throw-in if the Wild can see some potential there.
As the draft nears, we will undoubtedly see increased speculation about who could end up where, especially since Kent Hughes has been active in his three draft weekends so far. He couldn’t pull a trade for a roster player at the last draft, but he did trade three picks to the Los Angeles Kings to move up and grab Michael Hage with the 21st overall pick.
Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
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The 2025 Stanley Cup final is now set, and that means it’s time for one last playoff prediction. In the third round, we went 0-2 with our picks, but overall this post-season, we’ve gone 8-6. Could be better, could be worse.
With that out of the way, here’s this writer’s educated guess on the showdown between the NHL’s two best teams:
Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers
Season series: 2-0 Florida
Why Florida will win: The Panthers haven’t always looked like the defending champions, particularly against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who extended their second-round series to the full seven games. But against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1, and against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final, Florida looked like world-beaters, winning both those series in five games. And they did it with overwhelming offense, as they scored five or more goals in all four of their wins against the ‘Canes.
Meanwhile, against the Bolts, Florida scored six goals in two of their wins and another four goals in one of their other two victories. No defence corps has been able to contain the Panthers’ waves of pushes into the offensive zone, and Florida has spread out the scoring, with 10 Panthers players generating at least 11 points, and eight players posting at least four goals.
When you have that type of depth, it’s no wonder you can poke holes in your opponent’s back end. And given that Edmonton isn’t renowned for their stifling defense, it’s safe to say that Florida will get plenty of opportunities to continue that trend.
Goaltending is going to be a key in this Cup final series, and the edge in net has to be given to Panthers star Sergei Bobrovsky, if only because he’s got the pedigree that comes with making big saves in high-stakes situations. Unless Bobrovsky’s counterpart, Stuart Skinner, can stifle Florida’s point producers, the Panthers are going to be a handful for Edmonton. And we could well see Year 2 of a modern-day dynasty in Florida.
Why Edmonton will win: Like the Panthers, the Oilers have bent without breaking in this post-season, losing two games to the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round before steamrolling two very good teams in the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars in the second and third round respectively, with both of those series wins coming in just five games.
The Oilers have the top two players remaining in the current post-season in superstar centers Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, but Edmonton’s supporting cast has also been excellent, as nine Oilers players have at least four goals, and their top seven players have combined to post an astounding 118 points. The Oilers won’t have one of those players available in the final, with star right winger Zach Hyman out for the season. But with McDavid and Draisaitl combining for 51 points, they don’t need their secondary scorers to carry the bulk of the load.
Skinner has gotten better as the playoffs have unfolded, allowing one goal or less in three of Edmonton’s five games against the Stars. We’re still not sure about the Oilers’ defense corps compared to the Panthers’ group of blueliners, but now that rugged veteran D-man Mattias Ekholm is back in the lineup, Edmonton is going to put up a seriously fierce battle against Florida’s high-octane offense. And that could well mean this year’s Cup final will have a very different result from last year’s.
Prediction: Oilers in six games
We’ve got to own it – we haven’t been high on the Oilers for the bulk of the playoffs, but we’ve seen enough now, and Edmonton deserves its due. When you have arguably the two best players on planet Earth in Draisaitl and McDavid, and you’re getting clutch contributions from forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Brown and Corey Perry, plus blueliner Evan Bouchard, you’re going to be about as close to unbeatable as it gets.
That doesn’t mean we see the Panthers getting demolished. But Florida hasn’t had to come up against an opponent with as much depth, drive and desire as the Oilers have this spring. Do we see the Panthers winning at least a couple games? Absolutely. But given how Edmonton disposed of the Stars – our pre-season pick to win it all – the Oilers should have enough left in the tank to outlast Florida and bring the Cup to Canada for the first time since 1993.
It feels like Edmonton is a team of destiny, and like most all-time greats, McDavid and Draisaitl have learned from past defeats and appear fully ready, willing and able to win the first championship of what could be many. The Panthers are going to be a worthy opponent for them, but the Oilers have the juice and jam to carve out their names on sport’s toughest trophy to win.
Steve Yzerman has spent years accumulating blue-chip prospects – now, it’s time to cash in.
The team needs to push its young players to take on more responsibility. Look for these three youngsters to force their way onto the NHL roster. Not because the Red Wings have to put them there, but because they will push the issue and force the organization to keep them in the NHL.
The 20-year-old Axel Sandin Pellikka is ready for the big leagues. He displayed tremendous ability during the 2024-25 season. As a right-handed defender, he’s also a hot commodity.
In 46 SHL games, he recorded 29 points while averaging north of 20 minutes a game. That’s impressive for any defender in the SHL, let alone one as young as Sandin-Pellikka.
There are only two defenders signed to NHL deals next season who are right-handed: Moritz Seider and Justin Holl. With Jeff Petry’s contract expiring, there is a place for him to come in and seize an opportunity.
Amadeus Lombardi
Armed with one of the greatest names in the history of hockey and a penchant for clutch goals, Amadeus Lombardi is primed and ready to be launched on the Red Wings' opening night roster.
Despite missing a decent chunk of the 2024-25 season, Lombardi still managed to collect 40 points in 44 games. He’s a big-time player, scoring four game-winning goals for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.
This may seem controversial, but Sebastian Cossa is absolutely ready to be in the NHL. This prospect might seem the least likely, but hear me out.
For starters, his AHL record this past season was impeccable. In 41 games, he recorded a 21-15-5 record, a 2.45 goals against average (GAA), a .911 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout.
Secondly, there is a good likelihood that Petr Mrazek will end up demoted to the AHL or placed on injured reserve. Alex Lyon has not been extended (we’ll see if that happens at all), so that leaves Cam Talbot as the remaining goalie ready for regular duty.
If that’s the case, a tandem of Talbot and Cossa would make sense. Talbot is an impeccable professional who could mentor Cossa on what it takes to play in the NHL. Talbot has gone through a lot during his NHL career and all of those experiences would be a great influence on the young netminder.
2025-26 Prediction
Each of these prospects offers something that isn’t already on the Red Wings roster. If I had to put my money where my mouth is, I’d say that Sandin-Pellikka and Lombardi make the Red Wings out of camp, while Cossa starts the year in the AHL until Mrazek gets hurt, and then he gets called up.
The future is bright for the Red Wings, and the future is now.
Ready or not, here they come.
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*Please vote in the poll to let us know who you think will make the Red Wings next season. If there is a prospect that you think has a chance, but isn't listed above, leave a comment with their name. Let us know what you think!
Bryce Harper will try to swing a bat in the Phillies’ indoor cages Saturday afternoon for the first time since being hit on the right elbow by a 95 mph Spencer Strider fastball on Tuesday.
He’ll also try to throw. Harper took grounders on the field before Friday’s series opener against the Brewers but was limited to underhand flips to first base.
“It’s really bruised today, the bruising has started to come,” manager Rob Thomson said Saturday. “The swelling is down a little bit.”
Thomson reiterated that he still doesn’t think Harper will need time on the injured list. Saturday was the fourth straight game Harper has missed and it is unclear if he’ll be able to return to the lineup on Sunday. An IL stint can be backdated by a maximum of three days.
Still, Thomson said he doesn’t think the Phils will have to make a decision one way or another by Sunday. If Harper still isn’t ready then but the potential exists that he could play in Toronto Tuesday through Thursday, the Phillies could just play a man short on their bench for another game or two. It’s not ideal but neither would be IL-ing Harper and having him miss time on the back end unnecessarily.
Kyle Schwarber fielded grounders at first base on Friday. That wasn’t a coincidence.
“Every once in a while he does,” Thomson said. “He’s ramping it up a little bit because of the Harper situation, we don’t really know where we’re at with that.”
Schwarber last played first base in the 2021 postseason with the Red Sox, though he did spend 24 innings there this spring to better prepare him in case of a Harper injury.
No rotation news yet
Thomson had nothing to divulge about the Phillies’ rotation on Saturday but said an update would come Sunday.
Taijuan Walker allowed four runs in four innings in a loss Friday as right-hander Mick Abel continued his strong run at Triple A. Abel has a 1.08 ERA over his last seven starts, six at Triple A and one in the majors.
Optioned to Lehigh Valley on May 19, Abel is eligible to be called back up to the majors in time for his next start, if the Phillies so choose. The next time Walker’s rotation spot comes up is Thursday in Toronto but the Phillies could also push that start back to Saturday in Pittsburgh because of an off-day Monday.
Aaron Nola (right ankle sprain) is the other element in this equation. Nola will throw 45-to-50 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday. If it goes well, he could face hitters in live batting practice later in the week, potentially Friday. The step after that would be a rehab assignment, which might last only a start or two. Two more weeks seems realistic for Nola.
Walker will be shifted back to the bullpen for the duration of the season once Nola is ready to return. If the Phillies go with Abel the next turn through, they’d only be speeding up that transition by 1-2 starts.
There’s no guarantee Walker will work out as a reliever but the Phillies’ bullpen would welcome the boost. In two relief appearances this season, Walker has allowed two earned runs and five baserunners in six innings with nine strikeouts.
“My goal is to help any way I can,” Walker said Friday night. “I’m pretty confident in my stuff.
“If I have one inning to blow it out, whatever it is, I feel like my stuff would play up just a little bit more. Knowing that I’ve got one inning, just let it eat.”
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