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Revisiting the Ryan Poehling-Trevor Zegras Trade

The Trevor Zegras era in Anaheim was one full of high highs, but came crashing to earth with an unceremonious thud exactly one year ago today when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for center Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

The Anaheim Ducks drafted Zegras with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft, and he’d be the first of seven top-ten selections in consecutive years made by the Ducks through their long rebuild process. 

2025-26 Anaheim Ducks: By the Numbers, Part 6

Anaheim Ducks Could be Susceptible to Offer Sheets this Offseason

During two of the darkest years in the Ducks’ franchise history, Zegras became one of the faces of the NHL, dazzling with highlight-reel plays on a seemingly shift-by-shift basis. He was the Calder Trophy runner-up in his rookie year of 2021-22, scoring 61 points (23-38=61) in 75 games, and would follow it up with 65 points (23-42=65) in 81 games during his 2022-23 sophomore season.

A lengthy contract negotiation following the expiration of his ELC in 2023 caused Zegras (along with Jamie Drysdale) to miss the majority of the 2023-24 training camp, the first under then-new head coach Greg Cronin. After a surprisingly difficult start to the season, where he was attempting to play through injury, Zegras landed on IR with a lower-body injury (osteitis pubis) early in the season.

He would return to the lineup after missing 20 games, only to break his ankle seven games later. He’d finish the 2023-24 season missing a total of 51 games and only scoring 15 points (6-9=15) in 31 games. 

Ducks’ Zegras learned lots of lessons in tough 2023-24 season

During Zegras’ second stint out of the lineup, Jamie Drysdale was traded to Philadelphia, and speculation surrounding Zegras’ future with the Ducks began. From there, his name was in trade rumors for the next 18 months until his eventual departure seemingly became an inevitability. 

With rumors and speculation swirling for the duration and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek appearing non-comital toward his talented forward’s future with the organization, Zegras totaled 32 points (12-20=32) in 57 games during another injury-riddled 2024-25 season.

Zegras’ hands are only rivaled by his vision and creativity on the ice. His game lacks the pace and intensity that many covet, but by all accounts (including former head coach Greg Cronin), he attempted to tweak and alter his game to fit the club’s system and intended direction.

On May 8, 2025, the Ducks hired Joel Quenneville as their next head coach. The system Quenneville intended to and eventually implemented, along with his previous success with comparable stylistic players to Zegras like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Huberdeau, had optimists believing a Zegras bounce-back season with the Ducks in 2025-26 was in the cards.

To add to that notion, on June 12, 2025, five weeks after Quenneville was hired, the Ducks acquired Chris Kreider, an offseason training partner and friend of Zegras. With a new compatible coach and a new compatible teammate, it seemed like Verbeek was making moves to get the most out of Zegras as he was entering his prime NHL years. 

Zegras was traded 11 days after Kreider was acquired, and that idea was put to rest for good. 

Zegras, of course, had his bounce-back year with the Flyers, notching a new career high in points by scoring 67 (26-41=67) in 81 games and leading Philadelphia back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season and advancing to the second round. 

The Ducks found success of their own in 2025-26, making the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18 with Ryan Poehling playing a huge role on the Ducks’ bottom six and penalty kill all season. He was one of their most effective two-way, shutdown forwards and contributed a career-high 36 points (11-25=36) in 75 games and added five more (4-1=5) in 11 playoff games. 

Poehling will continue to be a significant part of the Ducks’ build toward contention, as on March 5, he signed a four-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $3.75 million. 

With the second-round pick acquired in the trade, the Ducks selected forward Eric Nilson (45th overall in 2025), son of former NHL forward Marcus Nilson (48), out of Djurgardens IF in Sweden. 

Nilson played the 2025-26 season for Michigan State in the NCAA, scoring 11 points (3-8=11) in 35 games during his freshman season and adding three points (1-2=3) in seven games for Sweden at the 2026 World Junior Championships, where he won a gold medal. Nilson projects as a competitive, two-way, middle-six center at the NHL level. 

Verbeek’s cited intention of this trade stemmed from roster construction, as he felt Poehling filled a specific role he was looking for, and Zegras did not. Critics of this trade will reference timing as their biggest gripe. 

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on Trevor Zegras-Ryan Poehling Trade

As the months of trade rumors piled up, it became clear Zegras wasn’t in Verbeek’s long-term plans for the Ducks. It was also clear from the second that the trade was submitted that Zegras was sold at his lowest possible value after back-to-back seasons of poor production and injury came on the heels of back-to-back 60-plus point seasons to begin his career. 

Those who felt the value was off will suggest Zegras’ value could have been increased by playing any number of games under Quenneville. Others will argue his value could have increased by simply waiting a week or two until the dust of the draft and free agency settled. Much like in 2026, the 2025 offseason, whether analyzing the trade or free agency market, didn’t provide enough available players for the number of teams looking to add top-six forward talent.

Ryan Poehling had an excellent first year with the Anaheim Ducks and will likely remain an impactful piece on the depth chart through his prime years in the NHL. Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden compared Eric Nilson to William Karlsson at the time of his draft, and if Nilson reaches 80% of what Karlsson became, the Ducks will be overjoyed. 

The snag with this trade will remain timing, as one may have hoped for a more sizable return when moving on from a talented former face of a franchise (and for a brief period of time, a former face of the NHL). 

2025-26 Anaheim Ducks: By the Numbers, Part 5

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The NHL Buyout Window is now Open, Anaheim Ducks May Need to Use It

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Jimmy Haslam was reportedly a "driving force" in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Miami

Jimmy Haslam is one of the rare sports owner to have his fingerprints all over a pair of massive deals in two different sports in the same month.

With the Milwaukee Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, barely three weeks after the Cleveland Browns traded Myles Garrett, Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports reports that the Browns owner was a "driving force" in the decision to pick the Heat deal over an offer from the Boston Celtics that included Jaylen Brown.

As O'Connor explains it, "Haslam didn’t want to risk Jaylen Brown wanting out of Milwaukee in a year after dealing with Giannis and Myles Garrett trade demands." Instead, Haslam wanted the "certainty" that comes from having draft picks. (Until, of course, those players selected with the extra picks want out, too.)

Haslam's involvement with the Bucks is no surprise. It became clear last month that he’d be taking a more active role in the NBA team he partially owns.

Which serves as a reminder that owners always have the right to take an active role in roster management — regardless of whether they have the skills, knowledge, and/or ability to do so.

In Cleveland, Haslam has been the common denominator through the last 14 years of dysfunction. Now, dysfunction could be descending on Wisconsin's NBA franchise.

At least dysfunction is easier to spell than Antetokounmpo.

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Kyle Bradish dominates, Orioles take series opener over Angels

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 22: Taylor Ward #3, Leody Tavares #30 and Tyler O'Neill #9 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after ninth inning of a 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels during a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 22, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/Getty Images) | Getty Images

If you didn’t know any better, if you hadn’t been watching the rest of the 2026 Orioles season, you could be tempted after a game like this one to conclude that things are definitely going to be okay with the Orioles. Maybe we are in the middle of where they’re finally doing it. Maybe. They certainly need games like this one to happen more often than they have been. Kyle Bradish had a masterful outing against his former organization, pitching eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts to help push the Orioles to a relatively easy 6-1 win over the Angels.

The Orioles led this game from their very first batter. Taylor Ward, who hit 36 home runs for the Angels a year ago, greeted his former team with a 419 foot home run over the center field fence. Ward, traded for Grayson Rodriguez over the offseason, has not been homering at such a mighty rate for the Orioles. This was just his fifth long ball of the season.

One run was nearly enough for Bradish to do the thing on its own. That’s not to say that it always looked that way. The Angels threatened to get the run right back in the bottom half of the first after a couple of one-out singles. We’ve seen many a game this year where the defense or the pitcher or both just collapse and give up the lead they just got.

On Monday night, Bradish did not do the collapse. He rocked. That first inning was the closest they ever got to scoring against him. He rolled through the next seven innings, never allowing more than one runner to reach in any other inning. The only time he let the leadoff batter reach base, he induced a ground ball double play immediately afterwards. And, crucially, he was fairly efficient with his pitches, the real thing that let him get through eight. In all, Bradish tossed 101 pitches. It wasn’t a complete game, but it was the kind of start the O’s have been sorely lacking from him and others this year.

While Bradish was dominating, the Orioles offense did not do that thing where they score early and then fall asleep. Well, mostly. Angels starting pitcher Sam Aldegheri did retire nine straight Orioles after giving up the leadoff homer to Ward. That streak came to an end as Gunnar Henderson drew a walk leading off the fourth inning. Pete Alonso muscled a soft liner that floated over the shortstop’s head into left field.

We’ve seen the Orioles blow plenty of “two on, none out” rallies this season. Coby Mayo ended any question about that happening by connecting on a bottom-of-the-zone changeup and driving it out into the seats in left field. It didn’t clear the fence by too much, but enough is enough. This would have been a home run in 28 stadiums, but not Camden Yards. On the road, count it as an Earl Weaver special, with the Orioles now holding a 4-0 lead.

The offense continued to add on for Bradish with a run apiece in the fifth and seventh innings, not that he needed it. In all, it was a strong, 11-hit effort. Henderson collected three of those hits, dragging his on-base percentage back over .300 for the first time since, if you can believe this, April 15. That’s another guy that the Orioles need to be able to have “back” if they’re going to sustain good things this season. Each of the top four hitters in the lineup scored at least one run and drove in at least one run.

Unfortunately, the win did not come without a cost, as there was an in-game injury that caused more than a little bit of chaos. Starting third baseman Blaze Alexander fouled a ball off of his knee on the way to striking out in the second inning. An inning later, Alexander was unable to take the field and the Orioles had to put in a sub for him.

Problem: With Jackson Holliday apparently not available due to groin tightness, with recent Orioles roster decisions leaving them bereft of any further bench infielders, and with Mayo already in as the designated hitter, that meant it was emergency substitute time. I’m talking Leody Taveras playing third base level of emergency, the first time Taveras has ever played anywhere on the infield in a professional career that spans back to 2016. Naturally, the very first ball in play after Taveras entered the game was a grounder to third. He fielded it and threw it to first. Alonso had to make a nice save to stop it from being an error, but still, the chance was completed.

After the game, manager Craig Albernaz said that Alexander suffered a contusion from the foul ball and it locked up on him an inning later. The Orioles don’t seem to be concerned about a long-term injury problem here, but unless Alexander and Holliday can play tonight, they might need to make a roster move for an infielder so they don’t have to get weird again. Taveras only got the one ground ball chance before the Orioles gave up the DH to shift Mayo to third in the eighth inning.

The Angels finally got on board in the ninth. Jorge Soler hit a leadoff homer against Rico Garcia. That continues a tough June for Garcia, as he’s allowed five earned runs in seven innings pitched. Even so, his ERA remains low at 1.95, and in Monday’s game that was the only guy he let on base, so the game never got too dramatic there towards the end.

This is the sixth time this season that the Orioles have won three straight games. They have failed to win a fourth straight the previous five times. Is this the time they can change that, facing the team with the worst record in the AL? Tuesday’s game will answer the question one way or the other. Shane Baz is set to start the 9:38 Eastern game for the Orioles, with the Angels sending Ryan Anderson to the mound. Anderson has a 12.83 ERA in five games. It’s time to finally do this thing, Orioles. It’s long past time.

**

It is the longtime tradition on Camden Chat to choose the Most Birdland Player after each victory. What is “Most Birdland”? It cannot be explained. You just have to feel it. Sometimes, this is the most valuable player of a game, and other times, it is not. Let us know your pick for this excellent victory in the comments below.

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Giannis trade: Jimmy Haslam influenced by Myles Garrett trade in big decision in big NBA deal

MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 26: Junior Bridgeman speaks the during a press conference introducing him as a Milwaukee Bucks co-owner on September 26, 2024 at the Froedtert & Medical Science of Wisconsin Sports Science Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

As just an owner of sports franchises, Jimmy Haslam’s impact has been huge. Since buying the Cleveland Browns, Haslam has been a part of forcing the selection of QB Johnny Manziel, allowing then-OC Kyle Shanahan out of his contract, trading for QB Deshaun Watson, trading away QB Baker Mayfield, a myriad of head coaching and front office decisions, building a dome, and trading DE Myles Garrett this offseason.

As noted in the comments below, Haslam also traded Juan Camilo “Cucho” Hernandez, a Columbus Crew legend, recently:

RandomGuy741
Don’t forget that a little over a year ago Haslam also traded his biggest star and cup MVP Cucho from his other other team the Crew.

Earlier this offseason, Haslam promised to spend more time with another one of his teams, the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. Late Monday night, the Bucks, like Haslam’s Browns with Garrett, traded their biggest superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

According to all reports, Milwaukee was negotiating with both the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, who brought totally different offers to the table. The Bucks ended up accepting the Heat’s offer of young players and draft picks over getting a star player, Jaylen Brown, and a couple of picks from the Celtics. The latter deal was more similar to Cleveland’s return for Garrett.

Haslam was reportedly influenced by his recent experiences with Garrett and Antetokounmpo in pushing for the offer from the Heat:

So, Haslam didn’t want a star player who might ask for a trade. Instead, he wanted players who maybe could become stars but wouldn’t be demanding a deal out of Milwaukee. The Browns/Bucks owner also wanted more draft assets for players who potentially could become stars down the road.

In a star-driven league with just five players on the court at all times, Haslam’s decision-making is questionable. At some point, Milwaukee will need a couple of stars if they want to get back to a championship level, and, in the NBA, those stars are likely to request/demand a trade if they are not satisfied with how the team is being built. A far bigger part of the NBA than the NFL that Haslam is used to.

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The Heat made their move for Giannis. Now comes the big question.

It took six years.

To get here, it took whiffing on Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant (twice), Kyrie Irving (twice), James Harden, Bradley Beal (twice), Chris Paul, DeMar DeRozan and, yes, even Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Yet, with a midnight blockbuster Monday, June 22 that ships Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, team president Pat Riley proved, once again, that he can deliver a hoops wonder to Bayside. And with that, he appeased a fan base that had started to grumble and wonder if it was time for him to step down. Now, the hard work begins.

Make no mistake: this move triggers immense pressure. With Antetokounmpo in the fold, the expectation becomes that Miami is to compete for championships.

There’s precedent for that, too.

Since Riley took over the franchise, each acquisition of a legitimate superstar in their prime – from Shaquille O’Neal in 2004, to LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010, to Jimmy Butler in 2019 – has produced trips to the NBA Finals, at a minimum.

Those moves delivered the franchise’s three championships, and Butler was the lone addition unable to win a title.

So, does this make the Heat the favorites to win the Eastern Conference next season?

No, at least not yet.

Antetokounmpo, provided he stays healthy, makes Miami far more dangerous than it would’ve been under its previous roster construction. But does he catapult the Heat over the Knicks? Or a healthy Pacers or Celtics?

Antetokounmpo shrinks the gap, certainly, but the retooled roster still has massive holes.

For one, the Heat desperately need shooting.

Norman Powell, the 2026 All-Star shooting guard, is an unrestricted free agent, and the Heat would love to re-sign him. He’s a career 39.6% 3-point shooter, and Antetokounmpo’s gravity would only help create more space for him. But even if Miami is able to swing his return – Powell was spotted back in the building in early May so there may be mutual interest – the Heat will still need to add reliable snipers along the perimeter. They’ll have to do it on the cheap, too.

After all, the Heat did gut their roster somewhat, so they’ll have to replenish depth, especially at point guard and center, where Kasparas Jakučionis and Kel’el Ware were primed to improve.

The Heat will need Andrew Wiggins to decline his $30.2 million player option, with the hopes that he re-signs on a friendlier arrangement to open up cap space. Because if there’s one thing the last two NBA champions have proved, it’s that depth is essential, particularly if injuries mount.

Miami will also need coach Erik Spoelstra, widely considered one of the premier minds in the sport, to get in the lab and cook up a scheme that highlights Antetokounmpo’s transition offense and passing ability. He will have to find ways to expand captain Bam Adebayo’s portfolio.

The Heat project to be an exceptional defensive team; Adebayo and Antetokounmpo instantly become the top rim-protecting duo in the conference, and players like Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith, Pelle Larsson and Bobby Portis – also acquired in the Bucks trade – embody grit and defensive toughness.

That should help against explosive offensive teams like the Knicks and Celtics. The task, however, will be to score consistently, especially off of jumpshots.

Because Boston’s failed pursuit of Antetokounmpo proves president of basketball ops Brad Stevens grasps just how aggressive he needs to be to maintain Boston’s competitive edge. Put another way: just because the Celtics missed out on Antetokounmpo doesn’t mean they won’t relentlessly try to improve their roster. Expect them to be active in the coming weeks.

The Knicks launched a well-deserved celebration, but they’re built for cohesion and consistency.

"He keeps demanding that I land a whale," Riley told the LeBatard Show in February during the Miami Heat Gala when asked about Heat owner Mickey Arison. "I might be out there looking, but I got a guy in the chair back there with a big harpoon and that’s (executive vice president of basketball operations) Andy Ellisburg.

"And once I identify it, he goes schoooop," Riley continued, while arcing his hand in a fishing motion.

Riley and Ellisburg caught the one that had long eluded them, but the job is not done. Not close to it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Has the Giannis trade made Miami the best team in the East?

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AL West Hate Index: Ranking the rivals

extremely rare evidence of Anthony Rendon playing baseball | Getty Images

After a rousing review of everyone’s favorite Mariners conspiracy theories last week, I decided to come back to a familiar topic: how much we, as Mariners fans, dislike the rest of the AL West. I asked everyone rank the other AL West teams from most hated to least hated in order to get the pulse of the general Mariners fan consensus these days, and the results had a few surprises!

I’ll throw some hot take rankings on the results using my patented and very scientific Mariners Hot Take Ranking System:

Okay, let’s get into it.

THE RESULTS:

  • Most votes for #1 most hated rival: the Houston Astros
  • Second most votes for #1 most hated rival: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
  • Most votes for #2 most hated rival: the Texas Rangers
  • Least amount of votes for any of the top 3 most hated rival spots: the West Sacramento Athletics

ANALYSIS:

Gonna go ahead and give a BEAVAN to ranking the A’s as the least hated rival. We all could have guessed this. Most of us still feel bad for all the fans who had their team sold and moved on them, only to have to suffer the further injustice of seeing the A’s play in a minor league stadium for at least two seasons a few hours away from the Bay Area in Sacramento. It’s a lousy situation all around and the final scores at that lil’ bandbox stadium reflect that. Whatever is going on in West Sacramento right now is none of our business as Mariners fans, even when the Mariners play there. I hope A’s fans find peace.

The Texas Rangers got a lot of votes for number two most hated rival, inserting themselves between the Astros and Angels in some fashion for most. I feel like hatred for the Rangers has increased in last 8 years or so due to their World Series run and their continued refusal to not have a pride night (the only team in MLB!), among other dubious choices and political signaling which I will not be getting into further. In fact, I can’t say any of the other things I despise about the Rangers without inviting commentary that will break the site guideLLines and make Sweezo want to Albert Belle me at the next softbaLL game (details coming soon!). Anyways, I give this one an IWAKUMA.

Ultimately I figured the Astros would continue their legacy of being hated for the top-to-bottom shitbirds they are, but the currently 32-48 (!!!) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim getting so many most hated votes surprised me a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I loathe them. They are a stain upon all that is good and just in the world of baseball. They are the last stop on countless players’ career journeys and have proven repeatedly to be extremely hazardous to pitcher health, even downright hostile. And that’s without even diving into the tragic death of Tyler Skaggs. Nevertheless, I thought that the Angel’s complete nosedive in irrelevancy (more so that usual even!) would have spared them some hatred, but nope! Mariners fans do not forget.

Speaking of not forgetting, ha ha oh yes the Astros. Boy, do we still hate the team that still fields players from the 2019 cheating scandal who were never actually punished. And we should because while MLB fined and suspended the owners, executives, and coaches, it’s still up to the court of public opinion to let these players know that a line was crossed and we still do not approve.

Giving these rankings of the Angels and Astros a BOSIO because to me there is nothing more workmanlike than clocking in to hate these bastards on any given day.

What did we miss? Any other personal pet peeves about the AL West rivals? Disagree with the rankings? Let’s hear it in the comments!

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Final mock draft roundup for Sixers with 22nd pick

Final mock draft roundup for Sixers with 22nd pick  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

We’ve reached Day 1 of the 2026 NBA draft.

Before the first round begins at 8 p.m. ET, here’s a final mock draft roundup for the Sixers, who hold the 22nd pick: 

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie

Chris Cenac Jr., Houston 

Vecenie: “Cenac has been an exceptionally difficult prospect to find a home for. The consensus seems to be that he’s going to go somewhere in the top 20, and he was among the second batch of players invited to the green room. However, the feedback I get from teams is that he’s more like a late first-rounder. He’s seen as a high-upside swing for teams that can afford to be patient and wait for him to improve his feel for the game.

“The 76ers need another big, and Cenac could potentially slide to the four at times if his feel for the game improves. But he is more of a project than some of the other players the 76ers could take. This is a very difficult team to mock right now, as sources around the league are still trying to figure out what new head of basketball operations Mike Gansey’s type will be.” 

Vecenie describes Cenac as a “total feast-or-famine profile” in his draft guide. If the Sixers drafted the 19-year-old, it would indicate that they believe his physical tools, character and willingness to fire jumpers will coalesce into a productive NBA player down the line. 

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman

Chris Cenac Jr., Houston 

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo

Daily Swain, Texas 

Woo: “The 76ers brought in a range of candidates for this pick last week and can go best available at this spot in new president Mike Gansey’s first draft at the helm.”

Swain had a breakout year as a junior at Texas, averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He may very well be off the board by No. 22. 

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor

Henri Veesaar, North Carolina 

O’Connor: “Veesaar is an agile big with real shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs. He also offers rim protection and is a locked-in help defender. He could even play next to (Joel) Embiid. In all three of his collegiate seasons, he made a massive leap in production each year. The Sixers would need that ascent to continue.” 

Veesaar has major offensive talent for a center prospect. The 22-year-old Estonian posted 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last year at UNC. 

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann 

Koa Peat, Arizona 

Mann: “The Sixers are in the unique situation of having a dominant center who likes to score near the rim sometimes and doesn’t have an appetite for the grittier work in the paint. So I get the sense that they are looking for a convergence of exceptional physicality, the ability to create offense in the paint and near the rim, and skill and versatility at the 4. Luckily, there are a number of candidates who can help them with that at this stage of the draft. Peat has an unusual cross section of lateral quickness and brute strength on the defensive end, and he’s also a pretty terrific passer once he’s caught the ball on the move inside the arc.”

Along with the basketball traits Mann outlines, Gansey’s front office certainly seems like it could be on board with the intangible impression that Peat is a winning, hard-nosed player. 

CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno

Isaiah Evans, Duke 

Salerno: “Peat is someone who has been connected to the 76ers throughout the draft cycle. If he’s off the board, I see the 76ers going BPA. Evans went from almost strictly a pure catch-and-shoot 3-point specialist at Duke during his freshman year to a legit No. 2 scoring option on the No. 1 overall seed in college basketball. Evans almost doubled the amount of 3-pointers he took from this year to last and still knocked them down at a 36.1% clip.”

USA Today Sports’ Bryan Kalbrosky

Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama 

Kalbrosky: “Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.”

Philon would be an interesting fit for the Sixers as a smaller guard; he was the lightest projected first-round pick at the NBA draft combine, weighing in at 176 pounds. The hope would be that his bucket-getting abilities translate to the NBA. 

NBC Sports’ John Fanta

Cameron Carr, Baylor 

Carr’s stock rose when he scored 30 points and knocked down six three-pointers in a combine scrimmage. He averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists as a junior. Carr would be the second straight Baylor first-round pick by the Sixers, who took VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 last draft.

SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell

Allen Graves, Santa Clara 

Graves emerged as an NBA prospect in his redshirt freshman season. The 19-year-old forward was a major help in the possession game on both sides of the floor.

Sixers draft profiles 

Dailyn Swain has a knack for driving

Will Chris Cenac Jr. put it all together in the NBA?

Isaiah Evans fires away from long range

Allen Graves is a unique one-and-done prospect

Christian Anderson has big-time offensive talent

Bennett Stirtz is a polished, battle-tested guard

Morez Johnson Jr. brings tons of defensive tools to the table

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3 Flyers Trade Alternatives to Brady Tkachuk

The Philadelphia Flyers may have missed out on a Brady Tkachuk trade that was never going to break for them, but they can still go out and strike a deal for a power forward to complement their current forward group.

With a bit of luck in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Flyers were able to come away with top prospect Porter Martone, who is now the only stereotypical power forward the organization has in its long-term top-six.

Owen Tippett has developed a power forward game, though he isn't exactly the type to muck it up like a Tkachuk would.

Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny will, but they don't have the size to back up the bark.

To bridge the gap, and to get the power forward goal-scorer Flyers fans have long wanted, the front office can instead consult the NHL trade market.

The low-hanging fruit here, of course, is Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, whose name has been dangled in trade rumors all year long. Plus, it has been widely reported that the 23-year-old nearly ended up on the Montreal Canadiens at the NHL trade deadline.

In any event, Knies remains with the Maple Leafs, who could still be motivated to find a trade in the right situation.

The 6-foot-3 left winger has scored 52 goals across the last two seasons, and still managed a career-high 66 points in what was an overall catastrophic season for the Maple Leafs.

Flyers 'Entered' Trade Discussions for Former 4th Overall Draft PickFlyers 'Entered' Trade Discussions for Former 4th Overall Draft PickThe Philadelphia Flyers are beginning to consider a potential trade opportunity for former No. 4 overall draft pick Shane Wright.

Knies can hit, fight, and most importantly, score, and his age and continued ascension make him an obvious target for the Flyers.

Should the Flyers want to find their Tkachuk alternative at the center position and knock down two needs at once, they need only to look at his Ottawa Senators.

The Flyers reportedly hold varying degrees of interest in each of the Senators' top three centers, but only one--Dylan Cozens--fits the mold we're looking for here.

Cozens, 25, has dished out north of 200 hits in each of his last two seasons, comes with 30-goal upside, at a minimum, and can do a bit of everything.

His 17 minutes of average ice time tell us that he isn't being used as a No. 1 center, and perhaps he never will be, but with the Flyers, Cozens would get that opportunity.

Philadelphia covets Cozens's 6-foot-3 size, as well as his being a right-shot center, which head coach Rick Tocchet can use for matchup purposes.

Senators center Shane Pinto certainly deserves some consideration, but he cannot provide the same elements Cozens can despite the Flyers reportedly preferring the former the most.

While with Knies, the Flyers have already made one deal with the Maple Leafs, while talks with the Senators have been ongoing for sometime.

The Senators are reportedly interested in defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, so that is a logical starting point between the two sides.

Last but certainly not least is Dallas Stars superstar Jason Robertson who, while he doesn't bring the nastiness Tkachuk, Knies, and Cozens might, still plays a game that allows his size and hockey IQ to do the talking.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Linked to Multiple Senators CentersNHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Linked to Multiple Senators CentersThe Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly interested in three different Ottawa Senators forwards, including two established goal-scorers.

Undoubtedly a far better player than Tkachuk, Robertson, 26, is a pending RFA with three 40-goal seasons under his belt, which includes a 109-point campaign back in 2022-23.

It goes without saying that 100-point players don't grow on trees, and this is as good an opportunity as any for the Flyers to nab one for themselves.

Robertson is a complete 200-foot player who is among the most impactful forwards in the entire NHL.

That's someone the Senators could conceivably target to replace Tkachuk, but the Flyers have plenty of ammo of their own to compete with the package Florida just sent to Ottawa.

In any case, the Flyers will have to give in order to get, with no player on this short list coming in at a minimal price tag.

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Evaluating Cardinals Options with Dustin May

A week before Christmas, St. Louis and Dustin May agreed on a 1 year bounce back opportunity for the once highly touted right-hander. After a myriad of injuries that plagued his early 20’s and a freak esophageal tear that nearly cost May his life, he appears to be unlocking his big talent in the gateway to the west. The Cardinals entered 2026 hoping for health and consistency from May in the middle of their rotation, and after his first 2 starts, it looked like a potential flop.

Since April 10th, Dustin May has a 2.54 ERA and a 2.68 FIP across 74.1 IP. Striking out 23.5% of batters, limiting hitters to a .206 BAA, and a 0.98 WHIP. Over that time, May ranks 9th in ERA, 7th in FIP, 26th in K%, 14th in BAA, and 9th in WHIP. Really, really impressive stuff over that time.

The swing and miss in May’s profile is still improving, and some of the quality of contact numbers are still a little inflated from his truly disastrous first couple of starts of the season. The other element to note for Dustin May is that he has raised his arm angle 12 degrees from last year!

So, with this success, the Cardinals now find themselves in one of those good problems. What do they do? They can make the obvious decision to trade him and recoup assets that will help continue the rebuild, they can try to agree to an extension before the deadline and keep the good times rolling as he nears 30 years old, or they can ride it out through the season, and when he inevitably declines the mutual option, the Cardinals can provide a qualifying offer likely in the 23-24 million dollar range.

Consider this, since the April 10th marker, these are some of the other names expected to be available at this year’s trade deadline (minus Skubal, who will obviously be the top trade chip). I find FIP to be a more enlightening stat to help guide these types of conversations because you can say, “This is what player X does in a neutral environment.” Dustin May might be the 2nd most valuable rental arm available at the deadline, and when contenders are desperate for pitching reinforcements at the deadline, that will greatly improve the Cardinals’ chances at a really good return.

The next option could be to extend the big right-hander. The Cardinals might be tempted to offer a Sonny Gray-type deal for Dustin May at 3 yrs 75 million. That would minimize the long-term risk for the Cardinals and allow May to stay somewhere he’s healthy, happy, and contributing. I would be skeptical that May would settle for such a deal if his representation convinces him he could get over 100 million on the open market, assuming he maintains health and production through the conclusion of the season. The other element to consider here, is that if May IS traded midseason then he is not eligible for a qualifying offer and to be a high octane starting pitcher under the age of 30 with no draft pick compensation attached to him, he might be one of the top 2nd tier pitchers on the market this offseason outside of Skubal and that would land him a really nice payday and some fierce leage wide competetion for his services. He may look at all of those elements as a business decision and whats best for his family, and you can’t argue against that, and testing the open market.

Speaking of the qualifying offer, if the Cardinals can maintain their foothold in the WC standings come August 3rd, it wouldnt be out of the question for St. Louis to hold May and try to make a run with him at the top of the rotation, leading the way. Now, before you scoff at the notion of simply offering him a QO at season’s end. Consider these names to have been drafted using the comp pick over the last 8 years.

2025

Patrick Forbes (AZ) 50 FV

Caden Bodine (BAL) 50 FV

Wehiwa Aloy (BAL) 55 FV

Brady Ebel (MIL) 50 FV

2024

Kyle DeBarge (MIN) 50 FV

2023

none

2022

Sterlin Thompson (COL) 40 FV

Sal Stewart (CIN) 50 FV

2021

Jay Allen II (CIN) 50 FV

2020

none

2019

Brennan Malone (AZ) 55 FV

Drey Jameson (AZ) 50 FV

2018

Shane McClanahan (TB) 55 FV

Nick Schnell (TB) 50 FV

Jackson Kowar (KC) 55 FV

Daniel Lynch IV (KC) 50 FV

Ethan Hankins (CLE) 50 FV

The Cardinals would have the ability to draft a really high upside player still in the range of the recouped comp pick. It’s easy to blow off the idea of a comp pick when it’s framed as “a random draft pick.” It might change a few tunes when you start seeing the names McClanahan and Stewart. Those being the best case scenerios, sure. But, simply having the opportunity to bring in another 1st round quality prospect in whats expected to be a really strong draft in 2027 isn’t insignificant. If the Cardinals were to trade May, acquiring teams would have to at minimum surpass the value of a comp pick player. The Cardinals would also give themselves at least a fighting chance for a playoff spot when most of us assumed this was a 75-win team at best coming into the season, and still recoup assets as they try to capitalize on a surprise playoff bid.

Ultimately, Chaim Bloom is going to have a very difficult decision on his hands as to what he should do with a valuable asset like May by August 3rd, and the decision between now and then might fluctuate 7 or 8 different times as the ebbs and flows of a season remain a continuously fluid day-to-day evaluation.

(stats and graphs courtesy of Baseball Savant and Fangraphs, and FV values from MLB Pipeline)

-Thanks for reading

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Open Thread: Spurs sightings at international events

May 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Former San Antonio Spurs player Manu Ginobili looks on during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Since the NBA Finals, the sports world has been buzzing around the World Cup. The matches are taking place around the United States and all the world is watching. Recently, Manu Ginobili was recognized and projected on the big screen during the Argentina vs. Austria game in Dallas.

Additionally, Victor Wembanyama was recognized (and impossible to miss) as he arrived at a music festival in France.

La Fete de La Musique is the annual French celebration of the summer solstice. The festival features free outdoor concerts with a national spotlight on jazz at the Palais-Royal in Paris.

Wemby received a hero’s welcome including chants of MVP.

As the 2026 NBA Draft looms, the players are enjoying some well deserved rest and relaxation. For Manu, some time with his family enjoying his country’s participation in a competition that is bringing together many cultures. For Wemby, a music festival.

Check back for updates as other Spurs summer sightings are discovered.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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21 thoughts leading into the Pistons’ draft and offseason

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 26: Detailed view of the NBA New Era draft hats during the 2025 NBA Draft - Round Two on June 26, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

With the NBA Draft tipping off on Tuesday and rumors percolating regarding what Trajan Langdon’s next move will be for the Detroit Pistons, I’m here to offer 21 thoughts — draft- and overall offseason-focused — leading us up to the 21st pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

21. Are the Pistons even picking in this spot?

It looks like, sounds like, feels like the Pistons have their eyes on some guys in this range (Maleek Thomas, Ebuka Okorie, Allen Graves) and some guys rated higher (Cameron Carr, Yaxel Lendeborg), which has kept me from fully buying that they’ll pick at No. 21

20. I like Yax and Graves most, I think.

The idea of acquiring a cheap stretch four in the draft rather than paying the premium for a good in the league now seems like a possible angle for Detroit. If they’re bringing back Tobias Harris (I think they eventually do), having an heir-apparent for the soon-to-be 34-year-old makes a lot of sense. Yax is my favorite. Please, Trajan, get Yax. Please.

19. Cameron Carr is veryyyyy interesting.

I really love watching Carr play. He’s got a very smooth offensive game, and his jumper looks like it’ll translate nicely to the NBA. I don’t love that he’s a late bloomer, but, oddly, my two favorite prospects for the Pistons (Carr + Yax) both fit the bill in that regard.

18. Okorie is cool, but he’s also an odd fit.

It’s always tough to gauge a high-usage player on a bad college team. Okorie did a lot this season for Stanford and really went from off the NBA radar to firmly a first-rounder in his lone season with the Cardinal. I dunno how well he fits with Cade and Daniss Jenkins, but he checks all the boxes as a bucket-getter who can create offense.

17. Graves is my mystery box.

For the football folks, Graves feels like maligned Texas Tech QB Brennan Sorsby. Both had a chance to go from middling situations to big-time programs via the transfer portal and (likely) would have thrived in those bigger roles that would have boosted their draft stock.

Graves is probably picked between 15 and 25 on Tuesday. If he went to LSU or Kentucky and kicked ass, I wonder if this could be like getting a 2027 lottery talent a year early?

16. I don’t hate the Tyler Herro rumors.

By the time this goes live, the Giannis soap opera may be done. Tyler Herro may be in Detroit with the Pistons. Or not. Either way, I think if the price is right, Herro goes a long way toward curing the secondary shooting/scoring concerns. It does, in my mind, increase the importance of a stretch four who can defend… and those guys do not grow on trees.

15. Can they just get more shooting on the margins in free agency?

Two of the greatest 3-point seasons in team history have been trades/signings Langdon has made on the margins — Malik Beasley two years ago and Duncan Robinson last year. I have no idea if he can make the big-time moves yet, but he has shown us he can identify the under-the-radar shooters from a pro personnel standpoint.

14. One sleeper-ish guy I like Wednesday: Richie Saunders.

OR they could do this. Saunders is the other guy for BYU with Dybantsa and would be a nice bench add. I know they just drafted Chaz Lanier, but I’d take another stab at finding your AJ Green/Sam Merrill with Saunders, who is older at 24 and coming off a knee injury, but shoots an effortless 3-ball and battles on the boards.

13. I don’t think Isaiah Stewart is here next season.

Love the guy. I’ve stan’d Stew since COVID. He’s the most superfluous piece they have from a roster/salary perspective, and you need to trade good players to get good players. It would hurt to deal him away, but it might be a necessary evil to push this team forward.

12. How high would Ron Holland rank in this draft?

Holland was a raw piece of clay with big upside, coming off a very meh season with G League Ignite when he was drafted in 2024. If you did a re-draft today, I think he’s probably the 11th or 12th best player from that draft. He’s probably around the 20th best prospect in this draft. Both he and the 21st pick have been floated in these trade rumors, and that feels like his value with the flaws he’s shown + two years left on his rookie deal.

11. I’m expecting Isaac Bonga to be the new high-energy wing off the bench.

The 2018 second-rounder has been quietly mentioned in connection with the Pistons in recent years. His buyout with Partizan in the Adriatic League probably prevented him from coming, but he’s free to sign in the NBA now. I’d imagine he’ll be better now than he was 8 years ago after winning Best Defensive Player of EuroBasket 2025 and EuroBasket Finals MVP, averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds last season. He has consistently shot ~40% from three in Europe. Woo replacement, maybe?  ̄\_(ツ)_/ ̄ 

10. Cam Boozer is my favorite prospect.

I think AJ Dybantsa might be the next Paul George, but all Boozer needs to be a do-everything star is to improve his shot off the dribble. I’ve learned not to put too much weight into size or athleticism when the skills are elite.

He’s got the best tools in this draft.

9. I’m still dreaming on Trey Murphy.

It sounds like the ex-Pistons Execs in New Orleans are driving a hard bargain for the big shooter, but I still love that fit here so much. I get the concern with paying an exorbitant, Mikal Bridges-esque price for a guy who has never made an All-Star team, but I think Murphy could take a big leap with Cade Cunningham setting the table and Jalen Duren occupying the paint. It would be perfect, which is why it will clearly never happen.

8. The Pistons wouldn’t have beaten the Knicks if they made the ECF.

This is old news, but I still see people talk about it. Stop. Get some help. They weren’t stopping the Team of Destiny from finishing off a dominant championship run.

7. Manifesting Jalen Duren getting $30 million per year.

He’s getting paid, just not what he could have made. I hope it falls closer to $30 million than $40 million. I would be lying if I hadn’t thought deeply about the idea that Duren may not be the right guy at center — not because he isn’t good; he is very good — but because we haven’t seen a team win a title without a center-adjacent guy who hits 3s consistently in over a decade.

6. He’s no All-Star, but if Memphis drafts Cam Boozer, I’d call about Santi Aldama.

Speaking of bigs who can shoot. If they don’t go this route tonight, this could be the optimal stretch five option. Aldama is more of a power forward, but at 7-feet he offers legit shooting and is a nice table setter, topping seven assists three times this season. I think you can play him with Duren or in lineups without him, it’d be a great add.

5. I think Giannis ends up in Boston.

I know the Miami option is the best for the Pistons, but I can’t see the Bucks taking the mystery platter from Miami over Jaylen Brown. I also think teams are going to try to be middling to good over horrible because of the lottery reform. If Brown works, the Bucks will be good. If not, they won’t be terrible and, in turn, will have decent lottery odds.

4. I don’t know if Jaylen Brown, The Guy, is going to work so well outside Boston.

I think Brown was awesome this year, and he carried the Celtics to a surprising season. I also am not sure, outside the confines of the Celtics eco-system, if he would have the same success as your No. 1 guy. That team was built so perfectly for the system, and Brown worked so well within it. I’ll be curious to see how that plays out if he does get dealt.

3. I probably wouldn’t trade any picks past 2029, either.

Langdon said in his press conference last week that he didn’t think teams, including his, would deal picks after 2029. That’s because it marks the first year of maybe another new lottery reform, as the current 3-2-1 model is only being tested for the next three years.

It begs the question: how much will teams get for players in deals, and will we see more players traded since teams can’t mortgage five years of picks + swaps when the future is a complete unknown?

2. Maybe moving up and acquiring a cheap, rookie piece is the fallback?

If the Giannis trade goes down with just Milwaukee and one of Miami or Boston, I think the Pistons’ focus shifts to moving up into the top 10 of the draft. It makes sense as they prep to extend Ausar Thompson and re-sign Duren. If you can package pieces to move up in the draft for, surprise, someone like Yax, you could solve some issues without adding a big salary, thus, leaving room for other moves via trades or free agency.

1. Free agency will be secondary for Detroit this summer.

The Pistons will make some tangible moves this summer, but I don’t see any of them coming in free agency outside of re-signing Jalen Duren. I’ve seen them mentioned with Austin Reaves… I don’t see that happening. Fans have clamored for CJ McCollum; he’s headed back to Atlanta. Rui Hachimura? Sure, I guess?

There will be marginal moves to accentuate the remaining holes — maybe a cheap stretch four if they go guard in draft, or vice versa if they go big — but I’m pretty confident trades and the draft are where they’ll be focused.

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NBA Draft Day Dallas Mavericks discussion

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Cooper Flagg (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted first overall by the Dallas Mavericks during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today’s going to be a fun, weird day. We’ll have plenty of content, but I wanted to give you all a place to have all the draft day conversations. So here we are.

There’s bound to be a ton of rumors and chatter, so please, comment and share away. Use The Feed for anything huge please.

My guess, as of this writing on Monday night, is that the Mavericks will keep their pick at nine and select whoever falls to them. The 30th pick is a different deal entirely, and I hope the front office finds a means to get creative to trade up. Someone good will be there at 30, but there are a lot of guys I expect to go 20-25 and I’ll be a smidge grumpy if they get picked.

While we’re here, I wanted to tell you about a new game from Splash Sports you can play prior to the draft. It’s a NBA Draft Predictor and has cash prizes. If you sign up and use the code MAVS you’ll get $20 in QuickPicks vouchers plus a 100% boost on Splash’s DFS game. This site has a ton going on, including an NFL survival pool that’s going to be big, $21 million! Back to our scheduled programming…

For now, I’m hoping one of the guards falls to us. I need it. We need it. If Mikel Brown falls, I promise I won’t ask anything of the basketball gods for at least a year. Man I love the Draft. If you want to revisit any of our old takes or posts, here’s the link. I am partial to all the Draft profiles of individual players. That’s some of the work where I learn the most as an editor.

Everyone, have fun and find me on Twitter or email if you need anything.

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2025-26 Season in Review: Sergei Murashov

Vitals

Player: Sergei Murashov
Born: April 1, 2004 (22 years old)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 pounds
Hometown: Yaroslavl, Russia
Catches: Right
Draft: 2022, Pittsburgh Penguins (fourth round, 118th overall)
2025-26 Statistics: Five NHL games played (1-1-2 record, .897 save percentage, 2.56 goals against average) and 38 AHL games played (24-9-8 record, .919 save percentage, 2.20 goals against average).
Contract Status: Signed through the 2026-27 season at a $936,000 cap hit before hitting restricted free agency ahead of his age-23 season.

Monthly Splits

via Yahoo!

Story of the Season

Mursahov took a few major steps toward coming the Penguins’ potential goaltender of the future this season.

Part of that involved Murashov making his NHL debut during a four-game stretch in November, followed by one appearance in mid-December.

Murashov spent most of the season in the AHL, where he ranked third in the league in both goals against average (2.2) and save percentage (.919) during the regular season.

He improved those numbers even more with a 2.11 GAA and .931 SV% in the postseason as he helped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins reach the Eastern Conference Final of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Penguins general Manager Kyle Dubas said last fall he felt goaltenders had the best chance of succeeding in the NHL after putting together “a very long stretch of dominant play at the American League level.”

With Murashov having achieved that and with Stuart Skinner hitting unrestricted free agency this summer, there’s a chance Murashov could be one of the goaltenders on the Penguins’ roster to start next season.

Regular season 5v5 advanced stats

Data via Natural Stat Trick.

HDSV%: .800
HDGAA: 0.79
GSAA: 0.31
Shots Against/60: 22.25
Saves/60: 20.14
HD Shots Against/60: 3.97
HD Saves/60: 3.18
Rush Attempts Against/60: 1.32
Rebound Attempts Against/60: 2.38
Average shot distance: 36.31 feet
Average goal distance: 21 feet

It’s difficult to draw any major conclusions from these numbers, which took place over just five NHL games. Murashov faced 15 higher-danger shots and made 12 high-danger saves over that span.

Highlights

Questions to ponder

Kyle Dubas said at the end of the Penguins’ regular season that whether Murashov could continue taking on a heavy workload during the WBS Pens’ conference finals run would serve as a “massive test” for the goaltender.

Murashov went on to start all six games of the series for the WBS Penguins before the team was eliminated in Game 6 overtime by the Toronto Marlies.

But that run is likely not enough to secure Murashov his spot in the NHL next season. Joel Blomqvist also had a strong season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he posted a .913 SV% and 2.40 GAA in 26 games.

“My full expectation is that the two of them, Sergei and Joel, will be competing for a roster spot here this year… They both have earned, over years now, the chance to compete for that,” Dubas said in his end-of-season media availability.

The major question for Murashov next fall will be whether he is able to build on his AHL success to beat out Blomqvist, who has 15 games of NHL experience from the 2024-25 season, for a roster spot in Pittsburgh.

Ideal 2026-27

The ideal next season for Murashov could be earning a roster spot with the Penguins out of training camp and functioning as a tandem, potentially alongside a more experienced netminder, as he adjusts to the NHL.

Who that other goaltender would be remains to be seen, although Arturs Šilovs is an option should the team re-sign him in restricted free agency.

Bottom line

Murashov has already proven himself to be one of the best goaltenders in the AHL. The big question for next season will be whether he is ready to make the jump to the next level with the Penguins.

Final Grade

Murashov’s work with the Penguins arguably came over too small of a sample size for a grade at the NHL level, although the Penguins ultimately went 1-2-2 over his five appearances.

His grade at the AHL level has to be an A. Murashov was stellar throughout a campaign that led to him being named to the league’s Top Prospects Team as voted on by AHL general managers at the end of the season.

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Tyron Guerrero could bring back something nice at the trade deadline – but the Red Sox need relievers

May 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Tyron Guerrero (41) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

There’s no such thing as too much pitching. Pitchers inevitably get hurt. Relievers go on cold stretches. Starters tire down the stretch. The baseball season is a war of attrition, and pitchers are the main casualties. There’s a reason why teams hand out minor league deals to every pitcher with a pulse during Spring Training. For the Red Sox, one of those pitchers was Tyron Guerrero.

Coming into the season, Guerrero had last appeared in the Majors in 2019 when he posted an ERA over six with the Miami Marlins. Since then, he’s spent time in Japan, Mexico, and the minors. His numbers didn’t jump off the page in any of those stops, but if you watch him pitch for about three pitches, you’ll know why he was given a chance back in the States — he’s huge, and he throws really, really hard.

Guerrero’s sinker averages 99.9 miles per hour. Among pitchers with at least 150 pitches thrown (an arbitrary threshold to include Guerrero), that ranks 5th in all of baseball, behind names such as Jacob Misiorowski and Mason Miller. When you figure in his 7.1 feet of extension, the perceived velocity is 101.3 mph, 3rd among 507 qualifiers. That isn’t enough to make someone stick in a major league bullpen, but it’s enough to give them a chance.

Guerrero has taken that opportunity and run with it. He allowed 4 earned runs over his first 3 appearances, ballooning his ERA to 9.82. Since then, he’s been lights out, allowing just 1 earned run over his last 9 appearances (7.2 innings). He’s struck out almost 40% of the hitters he’s faced this season and walked just one (2.1%). Last time he was in the majors, he walked over 16% of hitters while striking out 19.9%. In Japan in 2025, he walked 8.5% and struck out 21%. We’re dealing with a small sample this season, but the improvement is clear. The question is: is it for real, or is it small sample luck?

With so few appearances under his belt, it’s hard to say if Guerrero is for real, although there are some encouraging signs. The biggest of which is that he’s in the zone. His sinker’s zone rate is over 60%, the highest mark of his career. I don’t have his rates from overseas, but I’d be willing to bet the current mark is above those marks as well. His slider – his most used secondary pitch – is also above 50%. Those two pitches have posted well above average strike rates, helping him limit the walks.

Each pitch also provides whiffs. The sinker’s swinging strike rate is over 15%, while the slider’s is almost 20%. At 100 mph with movement, that mark feels sustainable. The slider, as long as it’s near the zone, should also continue to return whiffs as hitters gear up for the fastball. Seriously, how do you hit this?

That’s really all there is to the arsenal. Throw one million miles per hour and dare people to hit it. Every now and then, pull the string and drop in a slider. It’s a formula that’s worked for a long time and will continue to work as long as Guerrero is in or around the zone.

That’s all fairly uninteresting, but the Red Sox do have an interesting choice to make with Guerrero. Given his age (35) and contract, he’ll likely never hit free agency (barring a significant chance to the CBA). According to Spotrac, the righty is still pre-arbitration, meaning he has several years of team control before he hits free agency.

As I mentioned in the open, contenders always need bullpen help. Adding strikeouts to a bullpen is always an attractive proposition. Guerrero, with his premium velocity, might become a name that teams are circling ahead of this year’s deadline. But, should the Red Sox trade him? Dan Secatore described the tightrope the Red Sox need to walk at this year’s deadline yesterday. The pitching is excellent, the offense is not, but they’re not that far off from competing in a top-heavy American League. Despite a disastrous season, they’re poised to turn things around in 2027 and compete again with a few shrewd moves to bolster the lineup. Adding prospects, either to flip for other pieces or to develop into major leaguers, is never a bad idea.

At the same time, the Red Sox have not developed relief pitchers over the past several years. Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock have been staples at the back of the bullpen for a few seasons now, but Chapman is all but certain to be traded. Justin Slaten has excellent stuff, but he’s struggled with injuries and hasn’t been dominant for a long stretch. Outside of those finds, the Red Sox haven’t had any late-inning arms to rely on. With that in mind, do you hold onto Guerrero and trust him to continue his dominance, slotting into the seventh or eighth inning for 2026, or trade him now while there is some value to be had? I lean towards the former, but could see the argument either way.

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Detroit Tigers seek series-clinching win vs New York Yankees on Tuesday

Don’t look now, but the Detroit Tigers have gotten hot again, having won four in a row after beating the New York Yankees at Comerica Park on Monday night, 5-3. Framber Valdez held the visitors to just one run over six innings while Riley Greene and Kevin McGonigle led the offense to victory.

The Motor City Kitties have a chance to clinch their fourth series win against a division-leading team on Tuesday night with right-hander Casey Mize on the mound. The 29-year-old is coming off a quality start against the Houston Astros, which saw him surrender three runs on six hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out three to earn his fourth loss of the 2026 campaign.

Opposite him is left-hander Carlos Rodón, whose season was stunted by offseason elbow surgery and then tightness in his right hamstring during spring training that delayed his debut. Since finally making his first start on May 10, the 33-year-old has produced mixed results — his first two starts were rough, but he followed that up with three games of sub-1 ERA before regressing a bit over his last two outings.

Take a look below at how the two match up on Tuesday.

Detroit Tigers (34-44) vs. New York Yankees (46-31)

Time (ET): 6:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:Pinstripe Alley
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 79: RHP Casey Mize (2-4, 2.58 ERA) vs. LHP Carlos Rodón (3-2, 3.50 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Mize1052.125.26.333.12.671.7
Rodón736.027.213.242.03.660.6

MIZE

RODÓN