CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: Mario Hezonja #33, Peyton Watson #8, and Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve gotten our first look at the newest members of the Cleveland Cavaliers — Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja, and Meleek Thomas — in the team’s three preseason games. All three showed how they could help this team going forward.
Earlier this week, we asked which of the three has impressed you most in the preseason. Hezonja, who is playing in the NBA for the first time in six years, was the clear winner, with 44% of the people surveyed singling him out as the new Cavalier they’ve been most impressed with.
Hezonja’s preseason got off to a rough start against the Boston Celtics. He struggled in his first-half minutes in his debut before settling into the game in the second half.
Hezonja seemed to become more comfortable back in the NBA as the preseason progressed. Sunday’s 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting were an encouraging step in the right direction. He backed that up with 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists in Tuesday’s preseason finale.
“But as I said since the first day that I arrived here, I know how to play, I know basketball, I know the sport,” Hezonja said after Sunday’s game. “I might be away from the NBA, but I was never away from the game.”
It’s too early to say anything definitive, but Hezonja has the skills the Cavs need at backup power forward. His ability to stretch the floor, act as a tertiary playmaker, rebound, and create mismatches should fit nicely with some of the bench units.
The Cavs are looking to improve on their trip to the conference finals last season. If they’re going to do so, one or more of their newest additions need to hit as high impact players.
The top of the league is crowded, especially in the Eastern Conference. The NBA is in an unprecedented era of parity. This is reflected in some of the preseason future odds.
FanDuel currently gives the Cavs the eighth-best chance to win the Finals at +2700. They’re tied with the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets with those odds. They are tied with the Toronto Raptors with the fourth-best odds to come out of the East at +950. That puts them behind the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics.
Oct 31, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) in the second half between the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Suns+
Listen: ESPN Phoenix 620 AM, SiriusXM
Four preseason games down. One to go. Tonight will be the last chance to tune things up before the games count, and Phoenix could use a good one. The Suns are 1-3 after Wednesday’s 123-103 loss in San Antonio, where the Spurs outscored them by 18 at the line and by 18 from three.
The Jazz come in at 2-1. Phoenix took the season series from Utah last year, 2-1, including a 134-109 win in the last meeting on March 28th.
Who actually suits up is still TBD. Luke Kennard will sit with a sore knee after leaving Wednesday’s game in the second quarter. The rest of the rotation is a game-time call, and with the opener on October 21st, don’t be surprised if Jordan Ott keeps a few regulars in sweats.
Dillon Brooks will not be one of them, as he intends to play tonight for a final tune-up against his former teammate.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks said he's playing tonight against the Utah Jazz in their final preseason game.
"I'm playing. I'm playing against Jaren Jackson. So I'm playing."
All of the statistics listed below are from last season.
Probable Starters
Taking a guess here. Bridges and Kennard sit out as a precaution, and the starters get a few minutes early on, nothing crazy. We should have updates soon.
Injury Report
Suns
We shall see if Miles Bridges suits up. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Phoenix rest him as a precaution, with it being the preseason and all.
Mark Williams — OUT (Torn Left Labrum)
Miles Bridges — DTD (Ankle)
Luke Kennard — OUT (Knee Soreness)
Jazz
Jusuf Nurkic — OUT (Foot)
Kyle Filipowski — DTD (Back)
Blake Hinson — DTD (Hip)
What to Watch For
The dress rehearsal rotation. This is the last look before games start counting. If the regulars play, watch who takes Kennard’s minutes. If they don’t, it’s another long audition for the guys fighting for the last spots. Kennedy Chandler made his case Wednesday, scoring all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter against the Spurs. We will likely see plenty of Bouyea, Spencer, Brea, Highsmith, and Peat as well.
The emphasis should be on two things: fouling and three-point shooting.
San Antonio went 30-of-35 at the line Wednesday, and Phoenix shot 7-of-31 from deep. The Suns won the paint by 16 and still lost by 20. Clean that up heading into the regular season, starters or not.
The youth movement will be underway again. To me, this is like one of those late April games where it feels more like rec ball than pro ball.
Oct 14, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Kennedy Chandler (2) hangs on the rim after a dunk in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Key to a Suns Win
Stay out of foul trouble and make Utah’s defense pay. Phoenix lost by 20 in San Antonio because it gave up 30 made free throws and shot 7-of-31 from deep, even after winning the paint by 16. Utah allowed 126.0 points per game last season, the most in the league.
If the Suns keep attacking the rim the way they did Wednesday and knock down open shots, the points will be there. Defend without reaching, and this one should not be close.
The biggest “win” we can take from this one is entering the season opener healthy. That’s our real win.
My pick: Phoenix ends the preseason on a good note.
Whoever suits up gets a final look at what the rotation should be, along with some free-flowing basketball in the 2nd half, and the Suns head into the opener with some momentum.
NEW YORK — When the Milwaukee defeated the mighty, monied Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night, they set up the first World Series between two of baseball’s smallest spenders in 35 years — just as team owners are arguing that clubs like the Brewers need a salary cap to compete consistently.
Milwaukee will face Cleveland or Tampa Bay in a best-of-seven series for the title beginning Oct. 23, ensuring two clubs in the bottom half of big league payrolls will play in the World Series for the first time since 1991. The Dodgers, New York Mets and New York Yankees will watch from home with payrolls this season that each cost more than the Brewers’, Guardians’ and Rays’ rosters combined.
The low-budget World Series showdown will start six weeks before a likely management lockout, a work stoppage that threatens the 2027 season as owners and players battle over the sport’s lack of a salary cap.
Speaking at the All-Star Game in July, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made his case for a cap while saying exceptions did not reflect parity.
“Our view of the world is that over a very long period of time there’s a very strong relationship between who gets into the playoffs and who proceeds, notwithstanding the exceptions we’ve got,” he said.
Milwaukee, which won the NL pennant with a four-game sweep of the Dodgers, had MLB’s 19th-highest payroll as of Aug. 31, while Tampa Bay was 25th and Cleveland 30th. The last time both pennant winners were among the bottom 50% in player spending was when Minnesota (15th among 26 teams) beat Atlanta (19th) for the 1991 championship.
In terms of market size, Milwaukee ranks as MLB’s 30th and smallest Designated Market Area, defined by Nielsen as non-overlapping geographic regions that group counties based on television viewing areas. Cleveland is 22nd and Tampa Bay 15th.
If the Guardians win the AL pennant, this would mark the first World Series involving two teams in the bottom half of MLB cities by DMA since St. Louis (24th) beat Detroit (18th) in 2006. No small-market team has won the World Series since Kansas City in 2015.
Three years after the Twins won that 1991 title, players went on strike as owners pushed for a salary cap, leading to the cancellation of the World Series. No such cap was added, and owners hadn’t proposed one again until this summer.
Since the 1991 Twins, the only World Series winners with bottom-half payrolls have been the 2002 Anaheim Angels, 2003 Florida Marlins and 2017 Houston Astros.
“It’s how the game is played in the moment dictates winning outcomes,” agent Scott Boras said Friday. “There’s no question that the probabilities of winning, success, are increased with greater talent, but we all know that talent has many variables as to how it performs at times.”
MLB owners have proposed a salary cap with a floor, a system players say they will never accept. A lockout is likely to start Dec. 2.
Opening-day payrolls were topped by the Mets ($358.4 million), Dodgers ($323.3 million) and Yankees ($302.8 million). The Brewers were at $125.9 million, the Rays $90.5 million and the Guardians $75.5 million.
“Don’t believe what you hear from the owner who’s complaining: ‘I don’t have the resources to compete,’” players’ association head Bruce Meyer said at the All-Star Game. “They all have the resources to compete. Our proposals include provisions that would give them more resources and reward the teams that actually do compete.”
Manfred maintains spending big increases the odds of success.
“It defies human experience to ask a fan to think that the bottom end of that gap has the same opportunity to win as the top,” he said. “There is no question that everybody in any sport is not going to win once every 30 or 32 years depending on how many teams you have, but the data in our sport is stark: Your opportunity to make the playoffs if you are a larger-market team is dramatically higher and your opportunity to proceed to the subsequent rounds, that advantage grows with each round.”
The Buffalo Sabres have been making a habit of staging comebacks from significant deficits this season and after earning a point in a shootout loss in Montreal where they trailed by two goals after 40 minutes, the Sabres repeated that late-game dramatics in Toronto, where they scored twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation to tie the game, and won it 5-4 on Owen Power’s second overtime game-winner of the season.
The Leafs led 4-2, powered by a hat trick from recently acquired Kirill Marchenko and Auston Matthew’s sixth of the season, but remained within striking distance in spite of not having team captain Rasmus Dahlin in the lineup, due in part to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s second straight strong performance and a four-point night from winger Jack Quinn.
“We don’t like playing from behind, but we fought our way back, clawed our way back in games, down by a couple goals. We’ve got to fix the start obviously.” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game, “It’s the best game I’ve seen (Quinn) play. All around. Four points, he had a couple goal posts, scored a couple goals, an unbelievable fight – sort of. We’ll give him the Gordie Howe (hat trick) on that one.”
Toronto played short-handed for most of the third period, as veteran John Tavares left the game injured and first overall pick Gavin McKenna was benched. Buffalo took over the game territorially, outshooting the Leafs 12-4 in the final 20 minutes and getting goals from Dennis Gilbert and Mattias Samuelsson.
Owen Power scores his second overtime winner of the season against Toronto on Thursday
The Sabres returned to Montreal and will take on the Canadiens for the second time in five days at the Bell Centre on Saturday night. Ruff indicated that Dahlin will miss his third straight game due to the upper-body injury he suffered on Monday against Florida.
Center Josh Norris left Thursday’s game, and after the game Ruff indicated he was in concussion protocol, but he participated in an optional practice on Friday. Forward Jiri Kulich was scratched before the Leafs game and was sent back to Buffalo for testing, but those tests were negative and he may rejoin the club in time to play on Saturday.
The Ducks look to close out their short, two-game homestand with a victory. Their last game was their worst of the young 2026-27 season, a 4-2 loss to the then-winless Calgary Flames. After the game, head coach Joel Quenneville said, "I don't find much positive right now (about that game)."
Their opponent, the Boston Bruins, are 5-2-0 and coming off a 6-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 13. Newly-named captain David Pastrňák is leading the way offensively with eight points, with Fraser Minten—who got a long-term extension this past offseason—and Morgan Geekie just behind him.
This game should be a physical affair, as the Bruins rank top-10 in hits. Nikita Zadorov, Tanner Jeannot and Will Borgen rank inside the top-50 league-wide in hits while Tim Washe and Nikita Nesterenko feature in the top-50 for Anaheim.
“If we’re using our speed, we’re tough to hit and we’re tough to stop in transition,” Ducks forward Frank Vatrano said. “They’re a team that’s not gonna give things for free. You’re gonna have to work for everything out there, so we’re gonna have to put pucks in deep. We’re gonna have to forecheck their D, make it hard on them. They have some guys up front that can make you pay. Gotta be smart with the puck, not turn pucks over at the blue lines and just play our game that we know how to play.”
“If we just play our simple brand of hockey and play with a lot of possession, smart plays with the puck and our pace, it doesn’t matter how physical they are,” Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier said. “They won’t be able to keep up.”
Gauthier missed Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury, an ailment which caused him to leave last Saturday's game early on, but one he said he is now over. Because of injuries to Ryan Poehling (sprained MCL) and Mikael Granlund, Gauthier will line-up as a center against the Bruins. He played center growing up and as a collegiate player, but shifted to the wing when he arrived in the NHL.
“I’ve been a center pretty much my whole life up until the NHL, so it’s definitely a position I’m comfortable with and something I’ve been speaking with the coaching staff to want to play that center role. I’m excited for the opportunity tonight.”
Nikita Klepov draws back into the lineup in Granlund’s absence after being a healthy scratch for the past three games. He’ll slot onto the top line with Alex Killorn and Leo Carlsson.
“We’re working with him here to get up to pace,” Quenneville said. “The speed of the game, the strength, the recognition of plays in situations. Keeping the puck, shooting the puck, give-and-go’s, coming up with loose pucks. Playing with Leo is a big step, but that’s a good opportunity for him because they can complement one another with some thought processes in some tight areas in the offensive zone. We’d like to see him take advantage of this. We didn’t mind his first game (against Edmonton), this is only his second start here. I think he’s getting better practices and I think he’s getting more competitive through our practices. It should transfer to the game.”
Ducks Projected Lines
Alex Killorn - Leo Carlsson - Nikita Klepov Nikita Nesterenko - Cutter Gauthier - Beckett Sennecke Frank Vatrano - Roger McQueen - Judd Caulfield A.J. Greer - Tim Washe - Jeff Malott
Jackson LaCombe - Noah Warren Pavel Mintyukov - Tristan Luneau Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Bruins Projected Lines
Morgan Geekie - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrňák Marat Khusnutdinov - Fraser Minten - JJ Peterka Casey Mittelstadt - Elias Lindholm - James Hagens Tanner Jeannot - Matthew Poitras - Mark Kastelic
Hampus Lindholm - Charlie McAvoy Nikita Zadorov - Will Borgen Frédéric Brunet - Mason Lohrei
Less than 24 hours after the Dodgers were swept by the Brewers in the National League Championship Series, Mookie Betts addressed the fanbase.
“This season didn’t end the way we wanted, but I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported us along the way,” the Dodgers shortstop wrote in an Instagram post.
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout before game four of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Getty Images
“Through the ups and downs, you continued to show up and show love. I don’t take any of that for granted. Thank you, Dodger Nation.”
The Dodgers’ season came to an untimely end on Thursday night as the Brewers were awarded the National League pennant after a dominant four-game performance over the back-to-back World Series champions.
The Dodgers assembled one of the greatest rosters in baseball and spared no expense to do so. But the NLCS proved that while the Dodgers may be the richest team in the league, luxurious spending does not guarantee a championship.
Now, the juggernaut will be forced to evaluate how to approach the upcoming 2027 season. Will Shohei Ohtani pitch again? Should the Dodgers trade Teoscar Hernandez or Tommy Edman? Will free agent Tarik Skubal be back in LA? How do the Dodgers get younger?
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts speaks ahead of Game 3 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory BullMookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium. Getty Images
While the team ultimately fell short in 2026, there’s a chance the Dodgers could very well make another deep playoff run next year if the front office can assemble all the right pieces.
Refusing a captain’s order usually guarantees a swift end to their stint in a side for a cricketer, but former Australian fast bowler Paul Reiffel was prepared to take that risk after finding himself in a position he never imagined on a South Africa tour.
Apparently, getting swept out of the National League Championship Series wasn’t humiliating enough for the Dodgers. Now, some of their fans are trying to turn a good old-fashioned baseball beatdown into baseball’s next great cheating scandal.
The evidence? A few long at-bats, a couple of unexpected home runs and a whole lot of sour grapes.
After the Milwaukee Brewers completed their four-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions with a 6-4 victory Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, conspiracy theories began circulating on social media accusing Milwaukee of knowing which pitches were coming.
Never mind that nobody has produced a shred of evidence of illegal sign-stealing.
The amateur detectives pointed to Jake Bauers’ grueling 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2, his lengthy battle against Blake Snell in Game 3 and another extended confrontation with Tyler Glasnow in Game 4.
The #Brewers at home, are clearly cheating when ab. Now, it's cool if a pitcher is tipping pitches (Yamamoto was, Mason Miller was, and is especially easier to spot Yama's tips), and a baserunner relays that. However, when an org person in centerfield sees that, then relays to a…
Milwaukee Brewers celebrate their NLCS win over the Dodgers in Game four of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Garrett Mitchell’s home runs against Snell and Tanner Scott in Games 3 and 4 only added fuel to the conspiracy theories. Mitchell only hit one homer off a left-hander in 107 at-bats during the regular season. He hit two in the series.
But apparently, battling through an at-bat and hitting a home run against a difficult matchup are now grounds for a federal investigation.
And who helped give this nonsense oxygen? AM 570 radio guy David Vassegh, whose devotion to the Dodgers occasionally makes objectivity seem like an opposing team’s scouting report.
Vassegh, the host of “Dodger Talk,” claimed multiple unidentified MLB players texted him during Game 2 suggesting the Brewers knew what Yamamoto was throwing. He subsequently asked former Reds slugger Joey Votto whether the Japanese right-hander might have been tipping his pitches.
“Sure, there’s a pretty good chance they caught something,” Votto said.
David Vassegh revealed on AM 570 that players around MLB were texting him during Game 2 because they believed the Brewers had Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s pitches.
Vassegh specifically pointed to at-bats from Jake Bauers and Brice Turang. Bauers fouled off six consecutive pitches during… pic.twitter.com/qpRwG4C3Wc
Recognizing a pitcher tipping his pitches isn’t cheating. It’s baseball.
For generations, hitters have studied pitchers’ grips, glove positioning, delivery and mechanics for clues. Modern technology, including sophisticated video analysis and artificial intelligence, has made identifying those tendencies even easier.
There is an enormous difference between detecting a pitcher’s tell through legitimate observation and illegally intercepting or electronically relaying signs, as Houston did during its infamous 2017 scandal.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) watches a single hit by Milwaukee Brewers third baseman David Hamilton (6) during the third inning of a National League Championship Series game at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Roberts didn’t make excuses. He didn’t spout conspiracy theories, and he certainly didn’t reference anonymous sources that told him the Brewers were cheating.
The Brewers won 103 regular-season games, then dismantled Los Angeles with superior pitching, timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, fundamentally sound defense and relentless execution.
They didn’t need a secret camera, a trash can, a train whistle or a decoder ring.
Los Angeles Dodgers fan Isiah Ortez reacts to the Dodgers losing Game 4 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
And for four straight games, that’s exactly what they did.
The Dodgers’ dynasty may not be finished, but their reign atop baseball certainly took a beating this October.
Milwaukee is headed to its first World Series since 1982.
Instead of inventing excuses, Dodgers fans might consider doing what their own manager did and tip their caps to the better team this time around.
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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: The sneakers worn by Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The former NBA player, who is set to face Michael Beasley in a boxing match Friday, announced his marriage to longtime girlfriend Melissa Anaya in an image shared to his social media.
West captioned the post “The comeback story continues.”
Dallas Mavericks’ Delonte West (13) passes the ball against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason basketball game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. Getty Images
West is on his third marriage, having divorced his first wife in 2010 and his second in 2020.
West’s boxing career came from his partnership with Beasley as part of Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions for fight events. Additional fights will take place Friday alongside West vs. Beasley, including a matchup between Deshae Frost and YK Osiris.
West was drafted by the Celtics 24th overall out of Saint Joseph’s University in 2004 and later joined the Cavaliers in 2008. Legal troubles hindered his pro basketball career, including an arrest for possession of a firearm in 2009 while with Cleveland. West officially moved away from pro basketball in 2012.
LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat talks with Delonte West (13) of the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Miami. Getty Images
He was arrested again last year on assault and robbery charges, and has been photographed appearing to be homeless and panhandling. He has faced mental health and substance abuse issues in recent years.
West’s announcement comes days after he addressed longtime, unproven rumors about a relationship with Gloria James, mother of former Cleveland teammate LeBron James, at Wednesday’s Brand Risk 16 pre-fight media availability.
The moment quickly went viral as the decade-plus-old rumor started circulating once again.
Recently, West was complimentary of the James family, saying on a livestream with N3on that James and his mother still often reach out to check in on West and his family.
The former NBA player, who is set to face Michael Beasley in a boxing match Friday, announced his marriage to longtime girlfriend Melissa Anaya in an image shared to his social media.
West captioned the post “The comeback story continues.”
Dallas Mavericks’ Delonte West (13) passes the ball against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason basketball game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. Getty Images
West is on his third marriage, having divorced his first wife in 2010 and his second in 2020.
West’s boxing career came from his partnership with Beasley as part of Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions for fight events. Additional fights will take place Friday alongside West vs. Beasley, including a matchup between Deshae Frost and YK Osiris.
West was drafted by the Celtics 24th overall out of Saint Joseph’s University in 2004 and later joined the Cavaliers in 2008. Legal troubles hindered his pro basketball career, including an arrest for possession of a firearm in 2009 while with Cleveland. West officially moved away from pro basketball in 2012.
LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat talks with Delonte West (13) of the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Miami. Getty Images
He was arrested again last year on assault and robbery charges, and has been photographed appearing to be homeless and panhandling. He has faced mental health and substance abuse issues in recent years.
West’s announcement comes days after he addressed longtime, unproven rumors about a relationship with Gloria James, mother of former Cleveland teammate LeBron James, at Wednesday’s Brand Risk 16 pre-fight media availability.
The moment quickly went viral as the decade-plus-old rumor started circulating once again.
Recently, West was complimentary of the James family, saying on a livestream with N3on that James and his mother still often reach out to check in on West and his family.
Josh Hazlewood has his swing back and says there is a freedom that comes with approaching every Test as though it may be your last as he prepares for the second match in the series in Gqeberha on Sunday.
The 2026–27 season has gotten off to a slow start for the Vancouver Canucks, and this particular stat only emphasizes it.
In a 3–2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, Vancouver surrendered their third hat-trick of the 2026–27 season to take sole-possession of the league’s lead in hat-tricks allowed. Brady Tkachuk became the third player to score a hat-trick against the Canucks this season with his three-consecutive goals for Florida.
Vancouver began the 2026–27 season by allowing a hat-trick against in their season-opener. Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard put three goals past the Canucks in a 6–5 overtime win for Vancouver. Five games later, Vancouver surrendered their second hat-trick against, with Logan Stankoven of the Carolina Hurricanes being the one to score three this time around. Carolina won that game by a score of 7–2.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Vancouver sat tied for first in the NHL in hat-tricks allowed, with the New York Islanders being the other team to allow two. So far, the Islanders have surrendered hat-tricks against Alexis Lafrenière and the New York Rangers, as well as Brandon Hagel and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In 2025–26, Vancouver surrendered a total of five hat-tricks throughout the year. The first came on November 5 against Tyler Bertuzzi and the Chicago Blackhawks. They allowed their third hat-trick of the season on March 4 against the Hurricanes, with Nikolaj Ehlers putting three past Vancouver. The first team to allow three hat-tricks in 2025–26 was the St. Louis Blues, who did so in their 33rd game of the year — a 7–2 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Oct 1, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) and goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) react as Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) and forward Vasily Podkolzin (92) celebrate a goal scored by defenseman Evan Bouchard (2) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The 2026 Yankees won 93 games in a year in which superstar Aaron Judge played just 66 games. That’s not a bad total, but it feels like it could, and should, have been more. General manager and Senior VP Brian Cashman routinely builds contending teams, and he should get credit for that, but he and his staff should be aiming higher and doing more to bring the title back to the Bronx.
A Wild Card Series win against the Boston Red Sox was a nice way to start the postseason, but the sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays exposed many harsh realities that are directly tied to Cashman and his decisions.
For the Yankees, 93 wins is not enough. They need to be the best team in the division, because that would bring them additional benefits in postseason play, such as home-field advantage and a ticket straight to the AL Division Series. Everybody in the organization is responsible for how the season plays out, but the spotlight will always point to the head of baseball operations.
Offseason moves and decisions
Cashman didn’t have a particularly bad offseason, but there were some notable holes when the season started. He didn’t find proper replacements for the rehabbing Anthony Volpe and the underwhelming Ryan McMahon: the former ended up being demoted in early August when the organization promoted George Lombard Jr., and the latter posted a 78 wRC+ and just 0.5 fWAR in 124 games. Volpe eventually returned and played an important role in the stretch run and during the postseason.
Extending Trent Grisham a qualifying offer was seen as a moderate risk when it happened, but it was a reasonable one since the outfielder had hit a career-high 34 homers in 2025. The outfielder declined this year, particularly on defense, but at least it wasn’t a long-term commitment.
The trade for Ryan Weathers was universally acclaimed, and it was a good piece of business on Cashman’s part. He ended up posting career-bests in ERA (3.60), fWAR (2.5), and innings pitched (137.1). The executive also brought back Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger.
Some of them were nice additions, particularly the 2019 NL MVP, but Cashman left the roster exposed to injuries and underperformance in many spots, and that’s on him, too. The bullpen was a bit thin, as some of his past trade experiments, such as Jake Bird, Ángel Chivilli, and Camilo Doval, just didn’t work. The same can be said about Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest. We are more than willing to give Cashman a pass in the bullpen, since the unit finished with the second-best ERA in MLB, though.
Trade Deadline activity (or lack thereof)
The Bombers entered the deadline with a few notable needs, which Cashman was very much aware of. They could have used a catcher given Austin Wells’ season-long slump up to that date, a reliever or two, a starter, and a right-handed outfielder.
They flirted with several backstops, but ended up empty-handed on that front to the frustration of fans. They did bring in Luis García Jr., who had been enjoying an amazing year in Washington with 23 homers and a 133 wRC+.
Heliot Ramos’ arrival was met with mixed reviews, and he posted a disappointing 93 wRC+ in pinstripes. He did have a 184 wRC+ vs. lefties during his time in the Bronx, which was one of the main reasons behind his acquisition. Giving up left-handed pitching prospect Henry Lalane to get him hurt, though. Speaking of…
Prospects and young core
Yes, you could say that the Yankees’ deadline was a disappointment, although some might disagree. However, they managed to keep most of their top prospects, including Lombard, Dax Kilby, Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodríguez, and Ben Hess. The promising Lalane was the lone exception.
They represent, together with Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice, Spencer Jones, Weathers, and Will Warren, the next wave of young talent that will, theoretically at least, keep the team highly competitive for the next 3-7 years. Keeping them all, particularly Lombard when half the league was asking for him in trade conversations, was a win for Cashman.
The rest of the farm, however, needs work. A lot of work. The Yankees will need to draft well and be active in the international market in the next couple of years to revamp their depleted system. At least Cashman took a step towards solving the situation, dismissing longtime international scouting director Donny Rowland and replacing him with Mario Garza in January.
Player development wins and losses
As every general manager, Cashman had some player development wins and losses when looking at the final picture of the 2026 campaign. He and his staff managed to turn Blackburn into a very useful reliever with his 1.59 ERA in 85 innings, and he got a nice season from Weathers, too.
Schlittler took a step forward into stardom, and Brent Headrick and Warren also improved in 2026. On the other hand, they couldn’t fix Doval, Luis Gil, McMahon, or Volpe, and Jasson Domínguez remains a fringe player. Grisham and Wells were also subpar for their standard.
The offense, generally speaking, had a mediocre year with a 101 wRC+ that ranked 14th in MLB. Yes, injuries to Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and other key hitters certainly hurt, but the feeling is that Cashman could have done better, or more.
Bottom line
We have said it multiple times in this space: the Yankees need new voices. They need to listen to more prepared people. They can’t keep doing the same things in personnel decisions, player analysis, research and development, and scouting and expect different results. Unless the ownership decides to part ways with their longtime executive, it will be on Cashman to push that change within the organization: does he have that in him, though? It’s at least a fair question.
