The Sharks secured seven of 12 points on their six-game road trip, but they certainly feel like they let plenty of opportunities pass them by — especially after a tough 6-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night at TD Garden.
San Jose fell apart again late in their trip-ending loss, allowing four Bruins goals in the third period after entering the frame with a 3-2 advantage. The defeat, which gave them a 3-2-1 road trip, marked the fifth time during the young 2026-27 NHL season the Sharks have blown a third-period lead, but just the second time it has resulted in a loss.
“We just shoot ourselves in the foot again,” Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov told reporters after the game. “I think it’s kind of happened almost every game. We’re not winning the battles when we have to. We’re not playing more hungry for the battles, for the puck, and that’s why we give up some goals. …
“It’s obviously frustrating, but we’ve played games and there’s a lot of games coming up. We have to learn and not do the same mistakes.”
After game-tying goals from Michael Misa in the first period (to make it 1-1) and Kiefer Sherwood in the second (making it 2-2), Orlov’s power-play goal 4:03 into the third gave the Sharks a 3-2 advantage, and it looked like they could leave Boston with two points after losing to the Bruins 6-3 at SAP Center on Oct. 13.
But Boston scored three unanswered goals before Will Smith’s fourth score of the season made it 5-4, which is all the fight the Sharks would muster before the Bruins put the game away with an empty-netter as less than 30 seconds remained.
Smith put the onus on the Sharks’ defense after the game, after goalie Alex Nedeljkovic posted an .853 save percentage in the loss.
“I think we’ve just got to be better in front of net,” Smith told reporters. “There’s a couple of goals there, especially when our line’s out there, we can’t let it happen, and definitely think we should have won that. …
“[The goals are] very preventable. We’ve got to help Ned out and defend right there.”
Nedeljkovic also viewed the defeat as a should-have-been win that slipped through San Jose’s fingers, but he’s viewing the road trip as a whole in a positive light.
“We had chances, we had momentum and just let it kind of slip away and didn’t finish,” he told reporters. “It’s a tough one to swallow right now. Definitely leaves a sour taste in your mouth, at least for me. It’s a tough one.
“But we did a lot of good things. I think there’s still plenty of room for us to grow in certain areas and get better at. So, we’ll take the .500 record. It’s a tough trip. It’s a long trip. Played in some tough buildings. So, take the record and regroup at home, and hopefully come out swinging on Tuesday.”
Nedeljkovic and the Sharks will look to get back in the win column when they return to The Tank to face the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday.
Mavericks fans won’t see their star player in the team’s home opener.
Cooper Flagg was ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Spurs with a left shoulder sprain.
The former No. 1 overall pick will be reevaluated next week, the team announced.
Flagg, the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year, suffered the injury during Friday night’s win over the Pacers, when Indiana forward Aaron Nesmith fouled him hard from behind on a dunk attempt late in the second quarter.
Cooper Flagg (32) is fouled on a drive by Pacers swingman Aarom Nesmith. NBAE via Getty Images
Flagg crashed to the floor and landed awkwardly on his left shoulder, sparking a scrum between the two teams.
Mavericks forward Naji Marshall immediately confronted Nesmith, setting off a brief shoving match.
Nesmith was also assessed a flagrant 1 foul for his contact with Flagg.
“Look, Nesmith is a great guy, a heck of a player. I’ve known him since he was in high school,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said after the game. “Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully, Coop’s fine … He’s in good spirits. We’ll know in the next couple days what’s next.”
Cooper Flagg holds his shoulder after being fouled during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 23, 2026. Getty Images
Flagg remained in the game to shoot free throws before heading to the locker room and did not return for the second half.
The injury interrupts a strong start to the 19-year-old’s second season in the NBA.
Flagg went off for 32 points in Wednesday’s season-opening loss to the Rockets, setting an NBA record for the most points scored by a teenager in a season opener.
He was putting together another strong performance Friday before leaving the game, recording 14 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block in just 17 minutes.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors throws his arms up in the third quarter of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night’s loss will reverberate for the rest of the season, just from a statistical standpoint. Oh sure, it’s confirming all of our fears, but fandom and emotionalism are one in the same. Most of us already figured that the Golden State Warriors were in their post dynasty era. Their managed decline. Their hospice years. But, that was their most likely win out of their first 6 games, so the situation actually feels worse than lose labels. History doesn’t offer us any hope, except in one weird case.
Now, that post-We Believe team is the meaningful exception on the list. It’s the entire point of this article. No other time has a Warriors team started 0-3 and gone on to have a winning record. Outside of 2007-08’s 48-34 record, only the 2004-2005 edition won over 30 games (34-48).
But these 26-27 Warriors look setup to start quite a bit worse than 0-3, don’t you think? After bricking the home opener and playing short against Phoenix, they’ll go to Denver, then Minnesota, and come back home to host the Lakers. So, yeah. If the situation feels grim, it’s because it is. And 0-6 feels very likely. But it’s not inevitable. Just 63 teams have started a season 0-6 in the history of the league.
Sure, only five of those teams went on to have a winning record (and because the Eastern Conference has always been a bit of a joke, eight have gone on to make the playoffs), but one of those teams — and I can’t stress this enough — was the 2007-2008 Warriors. That team finished 48-34… and missed the playoffs, sure, but I digress!
Of course, Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler are months (and months!) away. In the meantime, the Warriors will be depth-less and because of their best players being older, often short-handed. Thanks to all the roster moves Mike Dunleavy Jr. didn’t (or couldn’t) make this past offseason and what the team hasn’t been able to do the past couple of years will simply point the franchise towards a dead end.
I’d like to think the randomness of sports and life could be a reason to retain a shred of hope, but then I look at the 2007-2008 roster next to this season’s and I can’t help but note that Don Nelson’s team had just two players 30 or older on it: Chris Webber (34, 9 games) and Troy Hudson (31, 9 games). Steve Kerr’s has five. I look back at the list of 63 teams in NBA history to start 0-6 and note that the Warriors appear on it twice more: 1997-98 and the aforementioned 2004-05. It seems improbable they’d get off to such a bad start, but it feels like a certainty.
So, history is against the Warriors.
It doesn’t feel like one of those situations where “it’s only two games into the season” is a meaningful comment. What frustrates me the most about the NBA (besides the officiating) is how set in stone it all is. Sure, some kind souls might’ve projected 43 wins for Golden State this season, but the weighted nature of these slimmer rosters mean that it doesn’t take much for things to go very wrong and there’s not much that can be done to change course in-season. And from there, it’s easy to project how things will go if certain drastic actions aren’t taken.
This Warriors season has started more or less as feared and as plainly predictable given the totality of their circumstances. They can’t be accused of stasis, but their acquisition strategy has turned their tricky situation into a near-impossible one. Steph Curry is unlikely to play like he’s 34 again, and if the team can’t supplement their veteran players with quality youth and depth, then the last few years of Curry’s illustrious career will be as painful as the start to this season. Obviously.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout prior to Game One of the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees on September 29, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I think its important when evaluating front office performance to also evaluate the moves the team could’ve made but chose not to just as much as you evaluate the deals they made. Last December, one of the major storylines of the entire MLB offseason was whether or not the Arizona Diamondbacks were going to trade Ketel Marte. Marte was just wrapping up another typical season for himself in which he created a lot of value, but was also a major source of off the field distraction. The narrative at the time was that they were ‘listening’ on Ketel Marte but not actively trying to move him. Even with his pending 10 and 5 rights that were set to vest at the beginning of the 2026 season in April. This led to plenty of speculation by the industry as to whether he might be moved and where he might end up.
The Boston Red Sox seemed to ultimately get the closest and according to Alex Speier at the Boston Globein February of 2026, the Red Sox were heavily interested and had offered a package of Payton Tolle and Franklin Arias for Marte. According to Speier, the Dbacks insisted that Marcelo Mayer be included in the deal and the Red Sox refused. That would effectively seal Marte’s fate with the Dbacks for 2026 and potentially beyond. But what would this team have looked like if Hazen and co hadn’t been so insistent on Marcelo Mayer and just said yes to Tolle and Arias for Marte? This article will rewind the clock and examine just that.
In fairness, I need to put the disclaimer here that none of the results are guaranteed on the new teams because there are a ton of factors that dictate player performance. I also don’t have a crystal ball, so for the purposes of this exercise lets just assume the players had the same 2026 regardless of what team they were on. Also in fairness to Mike Hazen, it is easy to play captain hindsight. It is much harder to make the moves in the moment. However for entertainment purposes only, lets revisit the trade that almost was and analyze the ripple effects.
Trade: Bos Recieves: Ketel Marte Ari Recieves: Payton Tolle and Franklin Arias.
The Dbacks acquire the fastball heavy prospect Payton Tolle and they finally get the bat missing controllable arm they have coveted. They also would acquire a top middle infield prospect that would’ve likely started the season in Amarillo and got promoted to Reno and honestly could’ve pushed for some big league time, however for the purposes of this exercise lets assume Arias would’ve spent the season in the minors and not contributed any major league value.
In a corresponding move, Ari signs 3B Alex Bregman 5yr $175 million
If the Dbacks traded Marte, it is widely speculated that they would’ve signed Alex Bregman. There was a lot of reporting that Bregman wanted to play for the Dbacks and live where he played year round similar to the Corbin Burnes situation. Especially if the Dbacks had traded Ketel Marte as reported by Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic For the purposes of this exercise lets assume the exact same contract only its entirely likely he wouldve came at a slightly cheaper rate. I also think its not just a coincidence that the day after Arizona acquired Nolan Arenado on 1/12, Bregman signed with the Cubs. In my opinion, he was clearly holding out for a deal with Arizona. So in this world, Dbacks trade Marte and to fill the gap in the middle of their lineup, they sign Alex Bregman.
Moves that then Would’ve Never Happened: Sign Zac Gallen and trade for Nolan Arenado
By signing Bregman and acquiring Tolle, I think its all but certain the Dbacks dont sign Zac Gallen and it likely they dont trade for Arenado although I suppose there is another world out there where Arenado reportedly was willing to play first base. We wont go there though for the purposes of this. So no Nado and no Gallen.
What Would’ve Been the Net Effect?
In fairness to Hazen and Co, this is a little hand wavey assuming that the Dbacks are able to get the same breakout out of Tolle that the Red Sox were. However it is also kind of offset by the breakout the Dbacks were able to get out of Arenado. But for the purposes of this exercise, lets assume the same production in 2026. The result? An additional 4.4 wins almost completely from acquiring Tolle and not signing Gallen. This is where it really hurts:
The Money
To add insult to injury, this version of the 2026 Dbacks roster would’ve likely been about 10-11 million cheaper than they were:
Here is what this would’ve looked like long term financially:
So essentially, the trade would’ve saved 10-11 million in 2026 and cost almost that same amount back for 2027.
Franklin Arias
In addition, this organization would also have a clear consensus top 100 prospect in Franklin Arias who is currently MLB Pipeline’s #2 prospect in all of baseball after the 20 year old SS had a steller 2026 batting .323 with 25 HR in 117 games. Arias has posted elite contact rates at all levels of the minor league’s to go along with some pop at a premium position. This would’ve also solved much of the ‘lack of impact talent’ label this farm system as a whole currently holds and given this team a SS or 2B option of the future with Ketel Marte gone.
Conclusion
I think its fair to assume this is likely a move Mike Hazen and co would want back. Especially considering you add 4 wins to this 2026 club and you likely have a 90 win playoff contender. In addition you also add long term stability to your starting rotation and middle infield at league minimum cost. Had this trade been made, you likely were playing baseball the past couple of weeks, and head into the 2027 season with the rotation anchored by a solid pairing of youth and experience in Burnes and Tolle. You also have Alex Bregman and his leadership coming off of a near 6 WAR season anchoring the middle of the order for years to come and the #2 prospect in all of baseball per MLB Pipeline heading into the offseason.
As I mentioned, there are a ton of variables that could’ve impacted performance one way or the other. Especially when you consider guys playing on different teams and the team dynamics changing. Its not as simple as adding and subtracting WAR in my opinion. We are also basing all of this on reporting from reputable outlets like the Boston Globe and The purposes of this analysis is purely an exercise to further evaluate the decision making of this organization and a fun little ‘what could’ve been’ experiment.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Pitching coach, Matt Blake of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees knew that there was one face of Aaron Boone’s coaching staff who they could not risk getting away from them, and they made sure to handle it before his contract officially expired. Matt Blake, the team’s pitching coach since the 2020 campaign, has reportedly agreed to a three-year extension to remain with the team according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Heyman’s colleague Joel Sherman had reported yesterday that the two sides were working on a new deal, and with his current deal set to expire at the conclusion of this year’s World Series, the time was nearing to get this thing done.
Blake has transformed the Yankees’ pitching philosophy since entering the organization, having the reins handed to him to lead an analytical breakdown of their pitching staff that has led to significant success. This season Yankees pitchers had the best collective ERA in baseball with a 3.23 mark, ranked third with a 3.71 FIP, and collected the fifth most fWAR at 21.9. Any way you sliced it, their pitching was the MVP of the roster, and it was led by the presumptive Cy Young Award winner in Cam Schlitter. They were far from a one-man show though, for once having more starting pitching than the team knew what to do with despite dealing with a host of injuries, as Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodón all turned in fine seasons.
The biggest factor in Blake’s rise to the top of the organization has been his work with the lesser-known prospects and journeymen the team has cobbled together. Will Warren has turned into a dependable fifth starter who most teams would jump at the opportunity to slot into the middle of their rotation, and Ryan Weathers took a major leap this year when trusted with a role in the front five after being acquired last offseason. Meanwhile, the bullpen has continued to take on unknowns and spit out gems, this year seeing Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick form an unstoppable bridge to closer David Bednar after both entered the year as relative afterthoughts. The team has gotten similar leaps from relievers in the past, like Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver (who both served as the team’s closers in recent years), and reined in enough of Fernando Cruz’s wildness to make him an effective middle inning reliever until a UCL tear ended his season. Brian Cashman gets a lot of credit for finding the pieces of this staff out of thin air, but Blake’s role in leading the “pitching lab” has been just as crucial in developing their talent.
Blake now sits as one of the few men on the coaching staff with a secure position within the organization. His side of the roster was unquestionable in their dogged pursuit of title No. 28 this season, and overall has produced time and time again since Blake has arrived. The man above him doesn’t have that much security, with Boone entering the final year of his contract this season without an extension in front of him. The pitchers have bought into Blake’s direction wholeheartedly and the results have been plain to see — now the work begins on finding the next set of unheralded arms to transform.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: The sneakers worn by Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While the Montreal Canadiens took on the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night, their alumni enjoyed a bonding dinner ahead of Saturday night’s alumni game against the former Winnipeg Jets. It’s been so long since the Habs played an outdoor game that only Paul Byron was in the lineup when the Habs took on the Ottawa Senators in the NHL 100. Go back one more year, and P.K. Subban, David Desharnais, and Andrei Markov all played in the 2016 Winter Classic against the Boston Bruins. While he attended the dinner, Subban won't play in the game.
Of course, some players have been retired for a long time, including Chris Nilan, Patrice Brisebois, Maxim Lapierre, and Stephane Quintal. In net, Jaroslav Halak and Yann Danis will split the workload, and they’ll have their hands full against a Jets roster that includes Dustin Byfuglien, Blake Wheeler, Andre Ladd, Bryan Little, and Tobias Engstrom. At the time of writing there were still some tickets available for the old-timers game are still available on Ticketmaster. If you are in Winnipeg for tomorrow’s event, you might as well splash out to enjoy the full experience.
If you didn’t make the trip but want a memento, the Canadiens have already put their outdoor games auction online, including the jersey the Habs alumnus will wear in Saturday night’s game. Buyer beware, however: Mike Cammalleri’s jersey clearly states it’s only prepared and won’t be worn or autographed, suggesting the fan favorite might not be at the event; he wasn’t in the dinner photo. The game will be available to watch on the Jets’ website.
Hopefully, everything goes smoothly tonight, and there are no accidents. 10 years ago, in 2016, ahead of the alumni game between the Habs and the Boston Bruins, Denna Laing played in the women’s game between the Boston Pride and Montreal Canadiennes. Unfortunately, she fell and went headfirst into the boards, breaking her neck and suffering a serious spinal cord injury, which has left her in a wheelchair. To this day, she remains an inspiration and a spokesperson for those who suffer a similar fate.
Connor Hellebuyck was introduced by the Devils on Saturday.
Near the end of his press conference Saturday, after answering questions about his New Jersey knowledge and his Olympic memories and how he can be the missing piece for this Devils core, Connor Hellebuyck fielded one about the Winnipeg fans.
About his message to them after the 33-year-old spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Jets before a messy breakup that ultimately ended with a blockbuster Friday — when Winnipeg sent him to New Jersey in exchange for forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, Alexander Command, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
Hellebuyck requested a trade in the offseason, didn’t show up to training camp and was then suspended by the Jets, but he said he hopes that the Jets fans “know I care about them” while deflecting any further reflection until a later date.
Connor Hellebuyck (37) of the New Jersey Devils answers questions during a press conference prior to a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
“I mean, there’s a lot,” Hellebuyck told reporters Saturday, when he was introduced by the Devils. “There’s a lot that I need to say, but they have the Heritage Game coming up — so out of respect for them and for the celebration of hockey, I’m gonna postpone that to a later date.”
It was the saga — along with Dylan Larkin in Detroit — that defined the NHL season to this point, especially with his suspension reportedly set to end and a potential return to Winnipeg, of all things, after months of drama, still on the table.
But a trade had always appeared to be the most likely solution, and after joining Martin Brodeur as high-profile goalies to play for the Devils this century, Hellebuyck, who hasn’t played in a game since the end of last season, said Saturday he doesn’t think he’ll need long to ramp up before returning.
Connor Hellebuyck of the New Jersey Devils holds up his jersey during a press conference prior to a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. NHLI via Getty ImagesWinnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck warms up before the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Dallas. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
He said that sitting at home for so long, as the rest of the NHL continued operating around him, “was getting to me,” and Hellebuyck oozed with excitement when talking about the chance for a fresh start that doubles as a reunion with Team USA hero Jack Hughes — who Hellebuyck watched score the game-winning goal in Milan from the other end of the ice.
Hellebuyck will also have a chance to fix perhaps the Devils’ most glaring weakness and help them have a chance to finally make a deep postseason run with a core that includes Hughes, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt.
“It aligns perfectly with where I’m at in my career,” Hellebuyck said. “I’m here to win, and the only thing I’ve got left on my résumé is a Stanley Cup. So seeing that these guys have kinda got their vision tight on that as well, it’s just gonna fit perfectly.”
DUNEDIN, FL - MARCH 07: Chris Colabello #15 of the Toronto Blue Jays swings at a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on March 7, 2016 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today marks Chris Colabello’s 43rd birthday.
The Blue Jays claimed Chris Colabello off waivers from the Twins before the 2015 season. During his two years with Minnesota, he posted a .214/.284/.364 line with 13 home runs in 114 games. Understandably, expectations were low for a 31-year-old first baseman/DH who hadn’t hit well enough to earn regular playing time.
Chris impressed in spring training. When Michael Saunders suffered a knee injury on a sprinkler head in Dunedin, the team suddenly needed outfield help. Dalton Pompey’s slow start and the Jays’ impatience led to Colabello getting the call-up in early May.
Colabello played the outfield with all the elegance of a statue—reminiscent of early Jays experiments with Otto Velez—but he found his swing at the plate. By the end of his first month, he was batting an impressive .368/.417/.568.
By late June, it was clear Chris’s bat couldn’t make up for his glove in the outfield, so he shifted to first base and DH. Justin Smoak, also new to the 2015 roster, wasn’t having a strong season, though his power was undeniable—when Smoak homered, it was never a cheap shot.
Unfortunately, the GameThreads devolved into endless debates about who should play first. For the first time, I found myself avoiding them. Chris nevertheless had an outstanding season, finishing at .321/.367/.520 with 15 home runs in 101 games. His defense limited his value—he posted a 0.7 bWAR.
He shined in the ALDS, hitting .375/.412/.688, but struggled in the ALCS, managing only .217/.250/.391.
We wondered if he could replicate his success. His .411 BABIP seemed unsustainable to many of us, but with more walks and fewer strikeouts, there was hope he could still produce solid numbers.
We never got to find out. Chris began the 2016 season in a slump, hitting just .069/.156/.225.
Then came the news of his positive PED test. With MLB’s improved testing, several players were caught that year, and Chris received an 80-game suspension. He claimed not to know how the substance entered his system and gave an emotional interview to Sportsnet. Personally, I’m skeptical of such claims—but who can say for sure? The slow start may have been because he knew the suspension was coming.
In 2017, he played in the minors for Cleveland and Milwaukee, hitting .254/.350/.395. He spent 2018 in Italy and 2019 in the independent leagues. I admire players who love the game enough to keep playing, even in the independents. He also played for Italy in the WBC in 2017 and played in Mexico for a season
Chris always seemed likable and was fun to watch (if a bit less so in the outfield). I hope things are going well for him.
Luke Glendening is expected to make his New York Rangers debut on Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators.
The Rangers signed Glendening to a one-year, $850,000 contract on Thursday after bringing him in on a PTO.
The Rangers will be without Joe Veleno for at least three months as he recovers from a lower-body injury and have been searching for a fourth-line center in the wake of his absence.
With the Blueshirts sending Justin Dowling down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, it opens the door for Glendening to take his spot as the team’s fourth-line center and is a clear indication that he’ll be in the lineup on Saturday night.
“Luke obviously has a significant body of work in the league,” Sullivan said. “The type of player that he is, he’s been a real reliable, conscientious player. Kills penalties. Really good in the face-off circle. He built a career on that element of his game and prides himself on that.
“Obviously, we've got a little bit of challenge with respect to depth at the center position, and I think Chris (Drury) and his guys thought that we'd bring him in and see if potentially he could help us.”
The 38-year-old forward was signed to a PTO by the Tampa Bay Lightning during training camp, and while he didn’t make the Lightning’s opening-night roster, he admitted that the experience “reinvigorated him.”
Glendening started the 2026-27 season without a job, but the Rangers came to him with an opportunity on Oct. 19, offering him a PTO. Just a few days later, they signed him to a full-time contract.
“I went from playing dress up and Barbies to playing in the National Hockey League, so it’s a wild ride,” Glendening said.
Throughout his 13-season NHL career, Glendening has played for the Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers, recording 85 goals, 90 assists, and 175 points.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Following the re-signing of Mark Williams, the center position felt like one of the few areas where the Phoenix Suns possessed legitimate depth, and with it, a developmental buffer.
You had Williams, an experienced starting center who also carried a lengthy injury history. With him in the starting lineup, third-year center Oso Ighodaro could comfortably slot in behind him on the depth chart. And with Williams likely missing time, whether due to injury or scheduled rest (especially on the second night of back-to-backs), second-year big man Khaman Maluach would also have opportunities to get some reps. There was no need to rush Maluach’s development. The Suns could bring him along on their own timeline, allowing him to grow at a pace they felt was appropriate.
But the news that Williams would miss a significant amount of time following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder changed that equation. Suddenly, Maluach’s developmental timeline accelerated, and the overall depth of the Phoenix Suns at center took a substantial hit.
Now, one game into the regular season, that depth is already being tested. Per Suns insider Duane Rankin, Oso Ighodaro will be out Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors with an oblique injury.
Suns coach Jordan Ott said Oso Ighodaro will miss Saturday's game as he was diagnosed with an oblique strain.
When asked if the injury is related to the hip, Ott said he's not a doctor.
Added Luke Kennard (knee) practiced today, trending in right direction. #Suns
Ighodaro exited Wednesday’s season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers before the conclusion of the first half and did not return. With confirmation that he’ll miss Saturday’s game, the question becomes how much additional time he might be sidelined.
Oblique injuries can be particularly difficult to navigate, as is the case with many injuries that affect movement on the basketball court. Look at Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, who suffered an oblique injury early in the 2024–25 season. His initial recovery timeline was six weeks, but he ultimately returned 11 weeks later.
There are three varying grades of oblique injuries:
Severity Grade
Typical Recovery & Absence Timeline
Grade 1 (Mild Strain)
1 to 3 weeks (approx. 11.6 days)
Grade 2 (Moderate Strain)
3 to 6 weeks (or up to 6–8 weeks depending on depth)
Grade 3 (Severe / Full Tear)
6 to 8+ weeks (sometimes requiring surgical evaluation)
We don’t yet know the severity of Ighodaro’s injury, but the circumstances certainly provide cause for concern. If he misses any significant amount of time, the team is in quite a pickle. Right now, the Suns’ center room consists of Khaman Maluach and newly acquired two-way players Duop Reath and Drew Timme. That’s it.
However, following the decision to waive Haywood Highsmith before the start of the regular season, Phoenix has one open roster spot. They could go shopping on the market for assistance, given that they have $4.4 million of flexibility under the second apron (which they are hard-capped at).
Who is out there? Let’s look.
Dwight Powell
I’ll start with 35-year-old Dwight Powell, who brings 13 years of NBA experience, nearly all of it with the Dallas Mavericks. Across 768 career games, primarily in a backup role, Powell has averaged 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds. He’s not going to stretch the floor, as he’s a career 29.4% three-point shooter, but he did post a career-high 15.1% rebounding percentage last season with Dallas. And the Suns? They could use some of that rebounding. This doesn’t project to be a dominating rebounding team, and quite frankly, you’ll need all of the assistance you can get.
The Mavericks waived Powell this offseason after giving him an Exhibit 10 opportunity to stay with the team as they pivot toward prioritizing youth at center, making him an option who could provide Phoenix with much-needed depth and rebounding off the bench.
His rim protection would be welcomed, as his overall defensive talent is rated in the 83rd percentile by B-Ball Index, with an A- grade.
From Mavs Moneyball’s Ben Zajdel on Dwight Powell last season:
Having a player like Powell around can help. A player who’s seen everything, has a personality that’s uplifting, and is generally a good hang can keep a bad season from turning into a disaster. Things in Dallas could have turned toxic quickly this year, and for the most part, the team was drama-free. Powell was a part of that, and it’s something NBA teams value.
Kelly Olynyk
If you want to talk about players with a high motor who would fit the culture Phoenix is trying to establish, you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who fits that profile better than Kelly Olynyk. Olyknk has made a career out of being a hustle player, the shot of energy off of the bench that might not put up statistical dominance, but affects those around him with his motor.
His 13-year career has spanned eight franchises, most recently with the San Antonio Spurs, where he appeared in 42 games as a backup last season. Throughout his career, Olynyk has averaged 9.8 points and 5 rebounds, and he can knock down the occasional three-pointer as well, shooting 36.9% from deep on 3 attempts per game.
While his athleticism has begun to decline with age, at 7 feet tall and 240 pounds, Olynyk brings size, experience, and an established work ethic that could serve the Suns well given their current circumstances.
He’s not as analytically effective as Dwight Powell, but he is someone who can assist in crashing the boards (you see a theme here for me? Johnny wants rebounds), especially on the offensive end. If he’s your second-team center, extra opportunities would be appreciated.
Bismack Biyombo
What am I doing here? Just looking at all of the backup bigs the Spurs let go this offseason? Well, yeah. They had a trio of veterans behind Wemby and opted to move on. And since the Suns are in a bind, we could use them.
I’m normally not big on retreads, but when you look at the list of available centers, you’re bound to come across a few former members of the Phoenix Suns. Mason Plumlee is available (another former Spur), as is Drew Eubanks. But if I were picking somebody from that pile, it would be Bismack Biyombo.
We know him from his two seasons in Phoenix, where he appeared in 97 games, starting 17, and averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds.
We also know he can’t space the floor in any capacity, and his push shot leaves plenty to be desired. But if you need somebody who can come off the bench and provide a physical presence on the glass, even at 6-foot-8, Biyombo is capable of doing exactly that.
After all, he averaged 10.8 rebounds per 36 minutes and possesses a career rebounding percentage of 16.7%. I wouldn’t mind having him back around, knowing that his impact is primarily one-dimensional.
Jonas Valanciunas
The last guy on my list might be the most intriguing, and that’s 15-year veteran big man Jonas Valancuinas. The Big V who has bounced all over the NBA but never into the Valley of the Sun.
If you’re looking for a big body, this is your guy. At 6’11” and 265 pounds, Valanciunas brings a physical presence and a skill set that could help the Suns in several areas. He can knock down a midrange jumper, finish around the basket, and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty fighting for rebounds.
After all, across 14 NBA seasons, he’s averaged 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds. His rebounding percentage? 20.7%!
The Suns are a team that certainly lacks size, and Valanciunas provides exactly that. He ranks in the 7th percentile for defensive rebounding talent but in the 94th percentile for offensive rebounding talent.
He’s strictly an interior player at this stage of his career. He can’t defend the perimeter effectively, nor can he stretch the floor offensively. But if rebounding is a priority, which I firmly believe it should be for this team, Valančiūnas is somebody the Suns should absolutely pursue.
Big V is currently playing in the EuroLeague for Zalgiris in the Lithuanian Basketball League, playing in his home country on a two-year, $5.5 million contract.
The Rest
Here’s a list of everybody else who is available on the free agent market:
Tony Bradley
Drew Eubanks
Christian Koloko
Kevin Love
Josh Oduro
Lachlan Olbrich
Mason Plumlee
Olivier Sarr
Oscar Tshiebwe
My guess is that the Suns will ultimately lean on Duop Reath and Drew Timme as they await further clarity on the severity of Oso Ighodaro’s injury. But the flexibility is there if they decide to explore other options. What do you think? Should the Suns stand pat? Or, after just one game into the new season, should they go out and add some much needed flexbility.
Before we begin looking ahead to 2027, OTM is looking back at 2026, highlighting some of the biggest, strangest, and most memorable moments of a memorable season. Today, we look back at the belated season debut of a new rotation mainstay.
So much was made of Brayan Bello’s redemption arc — a spring demotion to Triple-A followed by a subsequent rebirth as a dominant bulk reliever — that many (including this writer) briefly forget that an even better starter actually began 2026 in Triple-A.
The 2026 Red Sox roster was notable for how awesome the rotation looked in March. It was rife with the presence of a recent Cy Young runner-up in Garrett Crochet, Bello, who was fresh off the World Baseball Classic, Ranger Suarez, who was an exciting addition to the top of the rotation from Philadelphia, another addition in Sonny Gray, and Connelly Early, who looked amazing even in defeat in 2025’s Wild Card Round at Yankee Stadium. That, of course, left a couple guys on the outside looking in, including Payton Tolle, who himself pitched in the waning moments of last season.
If there was any internal competition between the two young guns, it was manufactured if it existed at all. The duo took pictures together, were inseparable on broadcasts, and had nothing but praise for each other. Tolle, a towering lefty just like his newfound best friend and rotation-mate Early, had his four-seam fastball in spades. He also had one of the best call-up videos I have ever seen prior to his first start against eventual NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes on August 29 (featuring a WooSox manager he surely would never see again, right?)
While Tolle had his fastball, though, he lost ground to Early in the early going of each’s career with the amount of times he was taken over an outfield wall; 5 in 18 innings, to be exact, in comparison to Early avoiding that feat in his 19 innings. That was probably the defining factor in the decision to give Early his first Opening Day roster nod in what will, in all likelihood, become a successful career… in Washington, amongst other places, as Tolle, after a 2026 campaign that saw him notch 171 strikeouts and pitch to an ERA just a hair over 3, is a lock to capture his first Opening Day slot in 2027. So how did we get here? We can look at April 23 at Yankee Stadium as a pivotal point.
The Red Sox had just gotten a good 3 2/3 innings in relief out of Eduardo Rivera, who had never pitched higher than Double-A in his short professional career. Garrett Crochet was, to put it bluntly, not pitching well, but it would not be revealed until later in the week that he was actually dealing with shoulder inflammation that would place him on the Injured List for the remainder of the season. Thus, Alex Cora needed a starter for the third game at Yankee Stadium on Friday night on Apple TV, and who better than a guy who was mowing them down in Worcester to face Cam Schlittler?
The game started out as a duel. Tolle looked every bit up to the challenge. After three consecutive balls in the exact same spot to Amed Rosario, Tolle came back in the count. K. He then sat Aaron Judge down on four pitches. And that fastball would bite Ben Rice, clocking in at 98. He’d then get Giancarlo Stanton and Randal Grichuk. Five hitters, five strikeouts. Tolle was back, and he was here to stay. In fact, he’d not allow a baserunner until the fourth inning.
All told, Tolle would wrap up his night confidently, even with allowing a home run to Jazz Chisholm. His 3 up, 3 down in the sixth including two strikeouts, number 10 and number 11 on the night, finished his outing. It would be the most strikeouts a Red Sox pitcher had on the season until Sonny Gray tied it in Colorado two months later; Tolle would eventually have the title on the team with 14 against the Athletics. Sadly, Alex Cora made a few managing mishaps that would define the beginning of the 2026 season and would do him in. The signature tells were both in effect here, but one was no fault of his: the offense wouldn’t really support the good start out of Tolle outside of a Carlos Narvaez home run, and Cora’s part in the loss was calling on Greg Weissert with inherited runners (from Danny Coulombe) when there was plenty of evidence that those inherited runners would score. And score they did – the final score: Yankees 4, Red Sox 2.
The Yankees would complete the sweep against the Red Sox, take the season series, and end the Red Sox season some months later. That was Tolle’s best night for a couple of months, and some of his tells still existed. He still allowed home runs at a higher rate than most of the other rotation. But he went deep into games and certainly struck guys out. Every team wants a pitcher that gives them a real chance to win. After July 7, the team would be on the losing end of a Tolle start just twice in the regular season. The encouraging news, even with the fifth consecutive loss at Yankees Stadium, is that, on that fateful night in the Bronx, the Red Sox’s rivals had no answer for a guy who hopefully will be a foundation of the rotation for years to come.
Mathys Tel scored a fine solo goal to set the seal on a rare Spurs victory at the Bridge
The teams take to the pitch. Chelsea in blue, Spurs in white, and it won’t be long before every shirt is soaking wet. Has the signature work of the Harry J All Stars ever been so apposite? We’ll be off in a couple of minutes.
Roberto De Zerbi also speaks to Sky. “James Maddison is a very important player … he brings personality, qualities, experience … a different position on the pitch … he’s a different player to Conor Gallagher or [Omar] Marmoush as a number ten … we have to find him in the right moment in the best position … [Dominic Solanke] felt fatigue after Coventry … I am lucky to have a big squad with many different solutions … so I took the decision [to rest him] but the game is 90 minutes.”
Burnley sack manager Hayen after 4-1 loss at Lincoln
Southampton announced themselves in the promotion race with a statement 3-2 win at the pre-season title favourites, West Ham. Kuryu Matsuki, James Bree and Lewis Dobbin were all on target in a chaotic first half, while Kyle Walker-Peters and Tomas Soucek replied for the Hammers.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side would have gone top with a win but instead saw their nine-match unbeaten run halted. There were thousands of empty seats by the end at the London Stadium, with those who stayed booing the Hammers off. Southampton, deducted four points at the start of the season, are now just two points behind West Ham.
