A look back at what we can take away from the defense and special teams in the 23-20 loss to the Seahawks.
Ex-Flyers Goalie Placed On Waivers By New Team
Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Flyers traded goaltender Ivan Fedotov to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. The move made sense, as Fedotov stood out as the odd man out for the Flyers' NHL roster.
Yet, Fedotov is now available for the taking. According to TSN's Chris Johnston, Fedotov has been placed on waivers by the Blue Jackets.
Placed on NHL waivers today: Ivan Fedotov (CBJ), Liam Foudy (NYI), Julien Gauthier (NYI), Cole McWard (NYI), Gavin Mitchell (NYI), Kevin Connaughton (UTA), Calle Rosen (WSH) and Spencer Smallman (WSH).
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 26, 2025
Fedotov being placed on waivers comes after the former Flyer stopped 24 out of 25 shots in the Blue Jackets' Sep. 23 preseason matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. He also made 14 saves on 15 shots against the St. Louis Blues in his first preseason appearance for Columbus on Sep. 21. Thus, he certainly performed well this preseason, but it was not enough for him to avoid being placed on waivers.
Fedotov is under contract until the end of the 2025-26 season, where he carries a $3.275 million cap hit.
Fedotov was selected by the Flyers with the 188th overall pick of the NHL Entry Draft. In 29 games over two seasons with Philly, he posted a 6-14-5 record, a .874 save percentage, and a 3.29 goals-against average.
Joel Embiid said there is no timetable for his return to court but wants to play 'consistently'
Nineteen games. The season before, 39.
That's how many games Joel Embiid has played since his MVP season. While he remains a dominant force when on the court, he comes into this season off another arthroscopic left knee surgery in April, with no timetable for his return this season, he said at 76ers media day. While that is concerning, Embiid said that there was a plan in place.
"The goal is to play consistently," Embiid said, via the Associated Press. He later added, "I think going forward, we're just going to listen to the body. I'll be honest and say it's going to be unpredictable at times, and that's OK. We're going to work with that."
There was also no timetable for Paul George's return to the court. He had arthroscopic surgery on his knee in July after injuring it during a workout. That said, both George and Embiid are largely expected to be ready to go early in the season (if not opening night).
Embiid and George being healthy is at the heart of the 76ers' potential — if things mostly go right, this team could be a contender in the East. That starts with Embiid, who averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game when he was on the court last season.
"I want to play. I want to play every single game," Embiid said. "I've been pretty unlucky when it comes to that compared to most NBA players."
The 76ers opened training camp this week before flying to the United Arab Emirates for two preseason games in Abu Dhabi (against the Knicks).
Philadelphia already had some unlucky injury news to start the season as second-year guard Jared McCain tore a ligament in his thumb and will miss the start of the season. Philly needs McCain to show that his fast start to last season was not a fluke, and it also needs Tyrese Maxey to play like an All-Star, rookie V.J. Edgecombe to provide athleticism and a spark, and it needs its veterans — guys like Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre and Kyle Lowry — to pump the team up when needed.
However, if the 76ers want to be a threat in the East, what they need most of all is a healthy Embiid.
"I've had so many injuries," Embiid said. "The only thing I've always told myself is you can't give up."
Isaac Howard's Time Is Now With The Oilers, While Their Former Prospect Is Back In Junior
One piece of the Isaac Howard and Sam O'Reilly trade is back in the OHL, while the other is staying in the NHL.
We won't fully understand the impact of the 1-for-1 trade between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers for a few years, but one piece will be staying at the NHL level, while the other is heading back to the OHL.
On Wednesday, the Lightning sent Sam O'Reilly back to the OHL's London Knights for his third year.
Meanwhile, Howard, who scored in the Oilers' 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, will have a role on opening night in the Oilers' lineup.
Where exactly he will be in the lineup is yet to be determined, according to Oilers radio play-by-play voice Cam Moon. But it's obvious what he can bring to the roster.
"You can see the tremendous skill level that he has, and I know it's a big jump from the NCAA to the National Hockey League," Moon said. "There's going to be an adjustment period, I'm sure, but again, what we've seen is only a small snippet.
"We don't have a huge sample size right now, but in the small sample size, a great level of skill, has a nose for the net, as you'd expect, and that is something I will look at. I'm sure Oilers fans everywhere will look at in the future as we look ahead as he continues to be an offensive player."
O'Reilly spending another year in London isn't a bad thing, either, Moon said. His time at the highest level will come with a little more growth in an organization that can wait on him, while Howard's time at Michigan State has shown that he can jump into NHL-level situations in 2025-26.
"Ike Howard looks like he's farther along in his development and more NHL-ready right now, where a guy like Sam O'Reilly, who I don't doubt will be an NHL player also, but just not right now," Moon said. "There's a little more development to be had. I think this is one of those deals where it works well for both teams and both players."
Watch Avry Lewis-McDougall's latest video column for more.
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LA Card Show! Dodger Stadium will be full Sunday even though the team is in Seattle
Dodger Stadium won't be empty Sunday, even though the next time the Dodgers play at home will be Tuesday in a National League Division Series opener.
But LA Card Show will make its Dodger Stadium debut that day with a Dodger blue-tinged format that includes a watch party of the team's regular-season finale starting at 12:10 p.m. on DodgerVision.
Most of the time, however, attendees likely will have their heads down, studying the intricacies of trading cards and memorabilia of all stripes and types. More than 350 collectibles vendors will display, buy, sell and trade wares across sports, Pokémon, Disney and other trading card games along with comics, toys and art.
“It’s the perfect blend of card show and cultural experience, and Dodger Stadium provides the ultimate backdrop for us to lean in and create an extraordinary event.” said Chris Koenig, executive director of Dodgers 365, the program that brings outside events into Chavez Ravine.
Read more:Dodgers defeat Diamondbacks to clinch their 12th NL West title in 13 seasons
The event begins at 10 a.m. and will include live DJ sets, food vendors, brand activations, giveaways and an autograph lounge with former Dodgers Ramón Martínez, Joe Kelly and Orel Hershiser, who owns a collectibles store in Claremont called Legends’ Attic.
Tickets are available at lacardshow.com/tickets.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LA Kings Make Roster Moves: Jared Woolley and Henry Brzustewicz Return to London Knights
The Los Angeles Kings made some additional roster moves earlier today as the preseason is coming to a wrap in just a week. LA is loaning defenseman Jared Woollley to the London Knights (OHL) and returning defenseman Henry Brzustewicz to the same junior club.
The @LAKings announced the following training camp roster moves:
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) September 25, 2025
- Defenseman Jared Woolley has been loaned to London (OHL).
- Defenseman Henry Brzustewicz has been returned to London (OHL). pic.twitter.com/gWDTHuJN3y
Both players will return to the Ontario Hockey League, where they will continue their development under the Kings and are expected to play significant roles for the London team until they are called back up to the NHL.
The moves are part of the assignments and cuts that the Kings are required to make and trim down before the start of opening night.
With less than two weeks left until the regular season begins, and the Kings looking very solid in the preseason, Los Angeles is narrowing down its roster to the group of players who are fit to be ready when the season starts.
Both Woolley and Brzustewicz are still very young and lack the experience to play in the NHL yet. Even if they were ready to play for the Kings, it would still be tough because of the presence of all the veterans, and the rest of the team has significantly more experience on the ice compared to them.
The depth chart and many of the positions, including defense, right and left wings, etc., are very competitive and deep for significantly younger players like Wooley and Brzustewicz, making them viable options to be considered.
Veteran players like Drew Doughty, Cody Ceci, Joel Edmundson, and Brian Dumoulin will still be on the roster, anchoring the defensive side.
The other players, who also have experience, such as Brandt Clarke and Mikey Anderson, will be there for the foreseeable future. Therefore, it was always very unlikely that both Brzustewicz and Woolley would make the cut.
For the Kings, sending players like Woolley and Brzuteswicz back to London allows them to continue developing them in the Ontario Hockey League while the Kings figure out what they're going to do with their roster in the future.
Cal Raleigh's 60th dinger sparks a chain of feel-good events ending with the ball in No. 29's hands
Cal Raleigh got his 60th home run ball.
Two fans — a 45-year-old man who originally caught the historic ball and a 12-year-old boy who was gifted the ball by the kind stranger sitting behind him — got bats signed by the Seattle Mariners star catcher.
And baseball fans got to enjoy a feel-good story as the 2025 MLB season winds down.
Read more:All about Cal Raleigh's 60th home run — and a fan's random act of kindness that followed
Raleigh's historic 60th home run, second long ball Wednesday night, came against Colorado Rockies reliever Angel Chivilli in the bottom of the eighth inning. The ball soared 389 feet into the right field stands and ended up in the hands of longtime Seattle resident Glenn Mutti-Driscoll, a licensed hydrogeologist who was attending the game with some co-workers.
It didn't stay Mutti-Driscoll's possession for long.
“I was standing with it for 15 or 20 seconds and there was a kid in front of me," Mutti-Driscoll said Thursday in an interview, via the Seattle Times.
In that moment, Mutti-Driscoll was moved to make an incredibly generous gesture. He handed the historic and potentially quite valuable ball to a 12-year-old boy he had never met.
“The whole thing was surreal. It just was happening so fast,” Mutti-Driscoll said. “And standing there with it and I guess looking down at the kid, and he deserves it more than me.”
The recipient was Marcus Rueblos, a sixth-grader from Maple Valley, Wash., who was attending the game with his family.
"A genuine act of kindness, a true gentleman," Marcus' father Galan Rueblos later wrote on Facebook. "Marcus was in tears. We were all in shock. The fans were going crazy!"
Mariners security quickly whisked Marcus and Galan Rueblos away to get the ball authenticated. According to an MLB Network report, Mutti-Driscoll told Marcus at the time to make sure Raleigh got the ball. Rueblos said during a radio appearance Thursday that his son would have done that anyway.
“My son whispered to me and said, ‘Dad, because it’s Cal, I want him to have [the ball],’" Rueblos told KIRO-FM (97.3) in Seattle. "He was never thinking, are we going to keep it for money? That wasn’t even a thought.”
Read more:Shaikin: Dodgers fans should take a moment to appreciate team's success before anxiety returns
Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin Auctions, told The Times on Thursday that Raleigh's 60th home run ball likely would have been "a six-figure ball" had it gone on the auction block.
Marcus received a Raleigh-signed bat and an invitation to batting practice in exchange for the ball, according to the Mariners. Rueblos said his son had hoped to meet Raleigh the night of the historic home run but was unable to since the game was still in progress at the time.
Marcus understood and was thrilled with the experience, Rueblos added — and was still "hugging the bat" the next morning.
Read more:Fan gives back Mike Trout's 400th career home run ball, but not before getting to do something cool
“We were never thinking about how much the ball was worth, or the most we could get,” Rueblos said. “We have the future MVP, hopefully, and [Marcus] touched history, that’s kind of more precious; he’ll live with that forever.”
The feel-good didn't stop there either.
On Thursday, the Mariners launched a search for the mysterious stranger who had gifted the ball to someone he had never met. Eventually, they tracked down Mutti-Driscoll and were able to get him, his wife Catherine and their sons Ethan, 14, and Aiden, 10, to T-Mobile Park for a pregame meet-and-greet with Raleigh before that night's game against the Rockies.
Raleigh gave Ethan and Aiden signed balls and presented their father with a bat, on which Big Dumper had written, "Glenn, thanks for being a a good guy & nice catch."
Raleigh's two home runs Wednesday helped the Mariners defeat the Colorado Rockies 9-2 and clinch the American League West Division title for the first time since 2001. In doing so, the player lovingly known as Big Dumper became the seventh player in MLB history to hit at least 60 home runs in a season (joining Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Aaron Judge.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mets call up hard-throwing relief prospect Dylan Ross, DFA Kevin Herget
With two games left in the regular season and a spot in the postseason on the line, the Mets are looking to bolster their bullpen.
New York is calling up relief prospect Dylan Ross from Triple-A before Saturday's game against the Marlins.
SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported the move wouldn't be made ahead of the series opener, but likely at some point this weekend.
The 25-year-old right-hander had a 2.17 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP over 49 appearances across three minor league levels this season. Ross saw most of his action in Triple-A, pitching to a 1.69 ERA with 39 strikeouts over 28 games (32.0 IP).
Martino reported on Sept. 17 that Ross was "a real possibility to get a tryout this month" as the team works to fill their righty reliever need.
Ross was a 13th-round pick by the Mets out of the University of Georgia in the 2022 MLB Draft, but underwent Tommy John surgery during the 2022 season and a revision procedure in 2023, causing him to miss all of the 2023 season.
He pitched one inning for St. Lucie in 2024 before throwing 54.0 innings during the 2025 season, recording an impressive 80 strikeouts to just 33 walks.
The reliever is listed at 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds and features a fastball that sits at an average of 96.8 mph, with the ability to hit triple-digits. He also throws a splitter, cutter, slider, and occasional curveball.
Ross is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter due to being a college draftee with three seasons of professional baseball under his belt.
In a corresponding roster move, Kevin Herget has been designated for assignment.
Former NHL Defenceman Tyson Barrie Joins Canucks Broadcast Team For The 2025-26 Season
There will be a new voice on Vancouver Canucks broadcasts this season. The Canucks have announced that former NHL defenceman Tyson Barrie will be joining regional home broadcasts on Sportsnet for the 2025-26 season. According to the press release, Barrie will make his debut on Friday, September 26, 2025.
The press release also featured a statement from Barrie, which said, "Growing up on Vancouver Island, I always thought it would be special to finish my career with the Canucks. While my playing days ended elsewhere, I'm grateful for the chance to start this new chapter with a great organization so close to home. I've always embraced the lighter side of the game, and I'm excited to bring years of insight and lots of laughs to the broadcast!"
Barrie played 822 regular-season games in the NHL. He scored 110 goals while recording 508 points over his 14-year career. Barrie played for the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames, as well as the Kelowna Rockets during his time in the WHL.
Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:
Marcus Pettersson Looking Forward To First Full Season With The Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks Podcast Rundown: Hockey, Actually, Episode 7
Vancouver plays their first home game at Rogers Arena during the 2025 pre-season on September 26 when they takes on the Seattle Kraken. The Canucks are 1-1-0 so far in the pre-season, which includes a loss to the Kraken. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm and will be broadcast on Sportsnet.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Lukas Dostal an Underrated Benefactor of New Coaching Staff
When Joel Quenneville was hired by the Anaheim Ducks and brought in his new coaching staff, much of the discussion centered on how beneficial he, Jay Woodcroft, and Ryan McGill would be to the current and future rosters.
The brand new systems, specifically defensive zone coverage, where the Ducks had struggled mightily over the past three seasons, finishing in the basement in every traditional and advanced statistical category, could have the most impact on the upcoming season.
Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: An Open Spot in the Top Nine
Preseason: Takeaways from the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Los Angeles Kings
Switching from a man-to-man scheme to a pressure-zone was an imperative adjustment, as the roster construction was more suited for it. In Theory, those poised to benefit most from a system that relies more on off-puck reads, instincts, and knowledge of where support is coming from are centers like Ryan Strome and Mason McTavish, as well as defensemen like Drew Helleson and Pavel Mintyukov.
Perhaps overlooked in the “who will benefit most” conversation is the newly dubbed and paid franchise goaltender, Lukas Dostal.
Dostal (25) has emerged as one of the best young goaltenders in the NHL and has posted impressive numbers despite the Ducks’ poor defensive metrics over the past two seasons. The Ducks awarded him with a five-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $6.5 million.
In his first two full seasons in the NHL (2023-24 and 2024-25), Dostal notched a 34-46-10 record, a roughly league-average .902 SV%, and 7.83 goals saved above expected. Those numbers are made all the more impressive considering, in that time, he led NHL goaltenders (min. 50 games played) with 32.73 shots against per 60 minutes and was third in high-danger shots against per 60 with 8.72 (John Gibson led the NHL with 8.86).
Dostal’s game is built on sound positional fundamentals, remaining calm in the midst of flurries in front, and the ability to track pucks throughout the offensive zone and through traffic.
The new zone defensive system should (mostly) guarantee that against a sustained cycle, the net front will be covered at all times. It’s also designed to limit the number of times defenders are outnumbered near the crease, effectively keeping most shot opportunities to the perimeter of the zone.
Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Mammoth
Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-0 Loss to the Kings
“I personally like it because, for the goalies, I believe it’s more predictable,” Dostal said following his half-game preseason debut against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. “You kind of know all sides of the team and what you’re giving up. Nothing is 100%, but I think it’s more predictable.
“I personally like the system because it’s something we always played in Czech, we played it on the Czech national team when I was growing up, even in Finland. It’s something I’m used to.”
That familiarity and predictability have allowed Dostal to focus efforts on developing other parts of his game during the offseason, particularly his rebound control. In his first action of the preseason (it’s just preseason, so a grain of salt is required), he elevated his game management skills to another level and was easily deflecting shots, especially perimeter shots, to the safety of the corners. Dostal saved 17 of 18 total shots he faced in that game.
“Sometimes you have games where the puck sticks to your chest better than other games, but that’s been something that I’ve worked on this summer,” Dostal added after the game when asked about his rebound control. “The last two seasons in the NHL showed me the guys are crashing the net quite a lot, so it’s something that I worked on this offseason to eliminate the rebounds and something I really focused on.”
Dostal’s numbers wavered slightly toward the end of last season, especially when Gibson was healthy and it was unclear game-to-game who would get the start each night. This season, that aspect will be nullified, as Dostal is the clear #1 option in Anaheim, and the schedule and roles will be more defined and predictable.
Dostal is primed for a big season, and if the Ducks achieve or come close to their goal of making the 2026 playoffs, it can be assumed that Dostal stayed healthy had a large hand in that outcome. He could perhaps even receive end-of-season award recognition.
Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Zellweger, Mintyukov to Benefit Most from New Coaching Staff, Systems
Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Right Shot Defense Position Battle
Islanders May Have The Answer To The Florida Panthers Injury Woes
News broke on Friday morning that Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will be having surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss the entire 2024-25 season:
Andy Slater (@AndySlater) on XExtremely tough news for the Florida Panthers.
Aleksander Barkov is expected to miss the entire season after being injured during practice on Thursday, I've learned.It's a devastating blow for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, who are already dealing with Matthew Tkachuk being sidelined until December.
While replacing Barkov and what he brings is impossible, general manager Bill Zito has demonstrated that he knows how to fill holes and improve a team.
The Panthers, like most Stanley Cup winners, boast center depth with players such as Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, and Luke Kunin.
What they are really missing with Barkov out is that shutdown defensive center, which brings us to the New York Islanders and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
The 32-year-old center is entering the final season of a five-year deal worth $5 million annually, and his defensive style is exactly what the Panthers are now going to be missing from their lineup.
Is general manager Mathieu Darche, who told inquiring teams ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft that he was not moving Pageau, ready to move No. 44?
Darche made it clear that he wants to evaluate this roster before making moves. Pageau can win face-offs, play a responsible brand of hockey at 5-on-5, and play on a top penalty kill, so his value won't be higher than what it will be at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
Now, of course, there are always risks to holding onto an asset, whether that's poor play, injuries, or teams acquiring a player of the same position.
The other question is how much Calum Ritchie's performance at training camp has changed Darche's mindset?
Calum Ritchie Continues Making Waves In Bid for Islanders Roster SpotNEW YORK, NY -- The chances of New York Islanders prospect Calum Ritchie making the team out of training camp are slim -- it's not zero.
Ritchie is showing himself to be NHL-ready rather quickly. And like with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, Ritchie's skating ability is showing to become a game-changer.
The chances of Ritchie making the team are slim because there's no center ice spot for him unless a player like Casey Cizikas or even Pageau moves to the wing. But, with the belief that Anders Lee, Anthony Duclair, and Maxim Tsyplakov are ready to go for opening night -- at least two of the three, as we haven't heard much about Tsyplakov's injury -- what winger is coming out of the lineup?
However, if the Islanders do move Pageau, that opens the door for Ritchie to be an everyday player, while not having to put the pressure of being a No. 2 center on him, at least not yet.
Moving Pageau is not simple, though. The Islanders could likely net two second-round picks, clearing $5 million off the books. Even with Ritchie showcasing a firm defensive game, Pageau was the No. 1 face-off man in the NHL, winning 59.6% of his draws, while also playing on the top penalty-kill unit.
Pageau does have a 15-team no-trade clause, but it would be a shock if Florida were on it.
The Islanders have three preseason games remaining before their rosters are due, and a potential Pageau trade hinges on Ritchie's readiness. If the Islanders feel that Ritchie is close but could use 30 or so games learning from Rocky Thompson in Bridgeport, Pageau isn't going anywhere.
Florida is likely calling many teams at this time, and with Barkov's $10 million AAV likely hitting long-term injured reserve, the Panthers will have the cap space to acquire the top names available.
The best general managers are always the most opportunistic general managers -– much as we’ve seen the Tampa Bay Lightning operate over the years, with Jake Guentzel being the latest for them.
Do the Panthers call Darche? Do they look at their team and think that they can be okay until at least the deadline before making moves?
Time will tell as we await a further update on Barkov.
New Celtics owner Bill Chisholm vows to 'do whatever it takes' to bring championships to Boston
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics are expecting a smooth ownership transition - and not just because much of the old brain trust is sticking around.
New owner Bill Chisholm says he isn't going to mess with the success of the people who won two NBA championships in their 23 years in charge.
“Let’s do whatever we can to win championships and raise banners, and raise as many as we can,” he said in a news conference on Thursday, flanked by former lead owner Wyc Grousbeck, incumbent president Rich Gotham and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. “I will do whatever it takes, whatever the Boston Celtics need me to do.”
A Massachusetts native who made his money in private equity, Chisholm leads a group that will pay at least $6.1 billion for the Celtics - at the time, a record price for an American professional sports franchise; the NBA unanimously approved the deal last month. He told reporters on Thursday that the opportunity to buy into his favorite team was too good to pass up.
“The Celtics have brought me joy my entire life,” he said. “I feel like I have something to add here. This was an opportunity that was a dream that came true. For me to have this chance, I would never forgive myself if I didn’t go for it.”
Grousbeck and co-owner Steve Pagliuca led a group that bought the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million and presided over an era in which the Celtics won two NBA titles, lost in the Finals two other times and made the playoffs in 20 of 23 seasons. The team’s most recent title came in 2024, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Grousbeck said he will continue with the team as the CEO for five years - with no plans to leave after that. His ownership share will dip below the 15% required for him to continue as the team’s designated governor for league matters, though, so he will serve as alternate governor.
“I’m staying in, shoulder-to-shoulder with Bill,” he said. “I want a third ring. And then I want a fourth ring. I’ve got two, it’s a nice start.”
In all, Grousbeck said, more than half of the old ownership group will be sticking around, along with Stevens, Gotham and coach Joe Mazzulla.
But there should be no question who is in charge.
“There’s a governor, and the governor has the final say, and that’s me,” Chisholm said. “Ultimately, I’m the one responsible.”
Chisholm said he supported the idea of a WNBA team in Boston.
The Connecticut Sun are for sale, and Pagliuca offered to buy them and move them to Boston. (Pagliuca also made an offer for the Celtics but was outbid by Chisholm.)
But the league nixed the deal, saying cities that had already applied for expansion teams were a higher priority.
“It’s definitely something we’re going to look at. And I know the (WNBA) has a process,” Chisholm said. “We’ll do what we can to expedite things. There’s a process there. But philosophically it makes so much sense.”
Chisholm also sounded like he wasn't eager to move out of TD Garden, which the Celtics share with the NHL's Boston Bruins, saying “we've got a great thing going right now.”
“I really like the Boston Garden, personally. More importantly, the team and the players really like the Boston Garden. And equally important, the fans really like the Boston Garden. So that’s a starting point,” he said. “The second thing is I think the Celtics and the Bruins belong together."
Also meeting the media on Thursday was Aditya Mittal, the son of one of India’s richest men and the CEO of a ArcelorMittal, the second-largest steel-producing company in the world. He said he first visited Boston in the 1980s and attended a Celtics game at the old Boston Garden.
“It was magical,” he said. “I fell in love with it.”
Chisholm takes over the team in a bit of a transition just two seasons after its latest title.
Tatum is recovering from surgery to repair the ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered in Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the New York Knicks, dooming the Celtics’ hopes of a repeat.
And in order to avoid the second apron penalties of the NBA’s salary tax, the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis - key parts of the title-winning team – this summer. Grousbeck said those deals would have happened even if the team wasn’t sold.
Stevens said the deals weren’t about the financial penalties as much as the roster restrictions: If Boston had been over the second apron at the time, it would not have been able to acquire Porzingis, Holiday or Derrick White in the first place.
“You have to give yourself the flexibility and opportunity to jump at the right deals. You don’t always know when those are present themselves,” Stevens said. “So the second apron was the key.”
Chisholm said his message to the basketball operations crew is “Let’s go for it, but let’s do it in a reasonable way.”
“The flexibility the Brad talks about, I think that’s paramount to doing that," he said. "But, ultimately, we’re going to do everything we can to win. It’s job No. 1.”
Quentin Grimes, 76ers reportedly headed for one-year contract, but will it be qualifying offer or more?
Quentin Grimes wants to capitalize on his red-hot finish to last season after being traded to Philadelphia. The 76ers remain $1.7 million below the luxury tax line this season — despite having two players in Joel Embiid and Paul George making north of $50 million this season — and don't want to mess with future flexibility for a roster where there is great potential but a lot of questions.
That is likely to lead to a one-year deal between Grimes and Philly, something that has seemed likely from earlier reporting and was confirmed by Michael Scotto of Hoopshype. Grimes was seeking a long-term offer starting north of $17 million (approximately $20 million per season or close to it), and the Sixers' first formal offer was significantly below that, at four years, $39 million, Grimes' agent, David Bauman, told Scotto. The Sixers have pushed back on that idea as a formal offer and it was simply part of a negotiation.
However the sides wish to spin it, they are too far apart to find common ground on a long-term deal before the Oct. 1 deadline (when Grimes would have to pick up his qualifying offer). That has the sides moving toward a one-year contract. Scotto added details on that.
At this point, the 76ers have formally offered Grimes a one-year deal that's slightly higher than his qualifying offer of $8.7 million with the caveat that he'd waive his no-trade clause, league sources told HoopsHype. For Grimes to waive his no-trade clause flexibility on any one-year deal, Philadelphia's offer would preferably be somewhere north of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14 million) and $19 million range, league sources told HoopsHype.
Grimes has made a total of $11.1 million across four NBA seasons, so taking the qualifying offer at $8.7 million more than doubles what he made in any one season of his career. That said, he doesn't want to leave money on the table now, and for Philly, if it offers him something like $15 million for the season, it retains his Bird rights and can pay more next summer to keep him if it wishes. That said, anything north of $9.8 million pushes the Sixers above the first apron of the luxury tax, somewhat limiting their ability to make in-season moves.
Grimes wants to cash in on the red-hot 28 games he had with the 76ers after the trade deadline last season, when he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game. Philadelphia is deep with guards, including Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain (who will miss the start of the season with a thumb injury) and just-drafted VJ Edgecombe. Grimes' role this season will be a smaller one than he had at the end of last season, but still a key one as a starter or sixth man, and how much are the 76ers willing to pay for that?
We will find out by Oct. 1.
AL East race between Yankees and Blue Jays comes down to final weekend of season
NEW YORK — All even atop the AL East with three games to go.
That means the division title will be determined this weekend by how the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees handle a pair of also-rans.
After both teams won at home, the Yankees and Blue Jays remain tied for first place — and the best record in the American League — at 91-68. New York hosts last-place Baltimore, while Toronto welcomes fourth-place Tampa Bay north of the border.
“I think everyone’s very locked in the way they need to be right now,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully we can keep this going.”
Regardless of results over the next three days, the Yankees and Blue Jays are both headed to the playoffs.
One will have home-field advantage throughout a best-of-three Wild Card Series — very possibly against another AL East foe, the Boston Red Sox.
The other will win the division and earn a first-round bye before opening the postseason at home Oct. 4 in Game 1 of a best-of-five Division Series.
“I’ll take the bye all day long,” Boone said. “It’s winning a series, essentially, without having to play one.”
To do that, New York must finish ahead of the Blue Jays because they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after winning the season series 8-5. So the Yankees need the Rays to trip up Toronto at least once.
“I think everybody wants to feel this pressure at the end of the season,” outfielder Daulton Varsho told reporters in Toronto, where his sixth-inning grand slam broke a scoreless tie and sent the Blue Jays to a 6-1 win over Boston. “You want to feel that because that means you’re in it.
“It’s one of those things where you either can crumble and fall and not play well, or we can be us and know that throughout the season, we’ve played really good baseball, and just keep trusting it.”
Powered by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, the Blue Jays are in the playoffs for the fourth time in six years. But they haven’t won a postseason game since 2016 and are seeking their first division crown since 2015.
Toronto is 3-7 against Tampa Bay (77-82) this season.
Shane Bieber (3-2, 3.57 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against Rays right-hander Adrian Houser (8-4, 3.18) in the series opener. Touted prospect Trey Yesavage (0-0, 5.00) makes his third major league start for the Blue Jays versus Joe Boyle (1-3, 4.40), and Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.47) opposes Tampa Bay rookie Ian Seymour (4-2, 2.85) in the season finale.
Aaron Judge and the Yankees are 6-4 against the Orioles (75-84) after taking three of four games in Baltimore last weekend.
New York slugger Giancarlo Stanton, however, said the Orioles are “always a threat.” The Yankees throw rookie Will Warren (8-8, 4.35 ERA) against ace left-hander Trevor Rogers (9-2, 1.35), who fired six shutout innings of one-hit ball to beat the Bronx Bombers in his most recent outing.
“Got our work cut out for us,” Boone said. “Hopefully, get one tomorrow and go from there.”
Another rookie, Cam Schlittler (3-3, 3.27), faces Baltimore right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (10-9, 4.54), and Luis Gil (4-1, 3.29) pitches for New York versus Kyle Bradish (1-1, 2.25).
“Can’t let one of these games slip away from us,” Yankees catcher Austin Wells said.
Toronto has dropped six of eight since a six-game winning streak, stumbling toward the finish line of a surprisingly successful season.
New York, which has won five straight and eight of nine, boasts the top record in the majors (31-14) since Aug. 6 and has made up five games on the Blue Jays since Sept. 17.
“It’s what we’re capable of, and we’ve got three more games to be the ultimate factor, and then turn the page and see what else we can do,” Stanton said.
But the defending American League champions still need to gain one more game this weekend to win their second consecutive division crown and third in four years.
“We’ve got to go out and play well, execute, and play good baseball,” Stanton said. “It’s a good preview (for the playoffs), and it’s understood what we need to do. So, you can’t look to Sunday, you can’t look to Saturday, just execute Friday.”
Cal Raleigh makes history, but will the catcher’s 60 homers be enough to beat Aaron Judge for MVP?
The 60-homer mark remains a magical threshold in baseball.
Babe Ruth was the first hitter to reach it in a season, and nobody else did until Roger Maris 34 years later. Then it was another 37 years until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa surpassed 60 home runs in 1998, part of a power surge in which there were six 60-homer seasons between ’98 and 2001.
After that, it took over two decades before New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit 62 in 2022. Now Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh has 60 this year, and fittingly the American League MVP race is coming down to him and Judge.
Raleigh (-220) was a slight favorite for the award over Judge (+165) according to BetMGM Sportsbook. But 60 homers is no guarantee of anything. In 1999, both McGwire and Sosa surpassed 60, but Chipper Jones was the National League MVP. McGwire hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 but lost out to Sosa, who hit 66.
While Raleigh tries to add to his home run total, Judge has 51 of his own — and he’s closing in on the AL batting title. So the only thing that’s clear about the MVP race is that everyone else is fighting for third.
Advanced stats favor Judge
Judge led the American League in Baseball Reference’s version of wins above replacement (bWAR) — and by a pretty healthy margin of 9.3 to 7.2. The FanGraphs version (fWAR) is closer, with Judge up 9.6 to 9.1, but the New York outfielder also has significant leads in batting average (.330-.247), on-base percentage (.457-.360) and slugging percentage (.683-.594).
Judge and Raleigh both play for teams headed for the playoffs. Raleigh’s role on a Seattle club that has won its division, but was also in danger of missing the postseason until recently, could weigh in his favor. But Baseball Reference has a stat for that, too: Championship win probability added (cWPA) measures how much a player’s contributions have increased his team’s chances of winning the World Series. Judge has the edge there too, with a cWPA of 3.8% to Raleigh’s 3.0%.
How much does WAR affect the voting?
Quite a bit, seemingly.
From 2012 to 2015, Mike Trout led all AL hitters in bWAR every season but only won the MVP once. He was beaten out twice by Miguel Cabrera and once by Josh Donaldson — most contentiously in 2012 when the Triple Crown-winning Cabrera beat out Trout despite the latter’s 10.5-7.1 advantage in WAR.
But since 2016 across both leagues — and not counting the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign — only five of 16 MVP winners failed to lead his league in bWAR. Those were:
— Christian Yelich in 2018 was fourth in the NL in bWAR, but the only three players ahead of him were pitchers, who often face an uphill climb in MVP voting.
— In 2019, Trout somewhat ironically beat out Alex Bregman despite a bWAR deficit of 8.9-7.9.
— In 2021, Bryce Harper (5.9 bWAR) won MVP honors in a year pitcher Zack Wheeler led the NL in bWAR. Juan Soto had 7.3 bWAR, but his Washington Nationals lost 97 games.
— In 2022, Paul Goldschmidt (7.7) beat out Manny Machado (6.8) and Nolan Arenado (7.9) in the MVP race. Pitcher Sandy Alcantara (8.0) led the NL in bWAR.
— In 2023, Ronald Acuña Jr. (8.4) beat out Mookie Betts (8.6) for NL MVP.
It’s Acuña’s MVP that might be most analogous to Raleigh’s bid this year. Acuña in 2023 had a unique statistical accomplishment on his side — he’d become the first player to reach 40 homers and 70 steals in the same season.
Raleigh makes history
The question for Raleigh is whether Judge’s advantage in many key stats is small enough that more subjective factors can tip the race to the Seattle slugger. The Mariners just won their first division title since 2001, and Raleigh’s role as a catcher presumably includes contributions that stats have a hard time measuring. With Judge no longer playing center field — he’s been exclusively at designated hitter and in right field this year — it’s fair to say Raleigh has the tougher job.
No catcher — and no switch-hitter — has ever hit as many homers as Raleigh in a season. In that sense, he’s had a more historic year than Judge.
Now it’s up to the voters to decide if it was more valuable.