Is there any chance the Sixers will find a core piece with the 22nd pick in Round 1 of the NBA draft on June 23?
The team sure seems to have snagged one of the top 21st selections ever in All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey. As for No. 22, below is a chronological (and unscientific) rundown of the best players drafted at that slot:
George McGinnis (1973)
After a series of contract disputes, McGinnis debuted with the Sixers in 1975. Fresh off an ABA MVP season, the do-it-all Hall of Fame forward earned All-Star nods in his first two years as a Sixer and won the Eastern Conference title in 1977. Other notable Sixers picks from the 1973 draft class include Doug Collins (No. 1) and Caldwell Jones (No. 32). McGinnis died in 2023 at 73 years old.
Davis helped the Trail Blazers win it all his rookie season. The speedy guard out of Dayton had his most productive NBA years with the Pacers, averaging 16.4 points and 5.4 assists from the 1978-79 through ’81-82 seasons. Davis went on to coach in the NBA and served as the Sixers’ head coach for Allen Iverson’s rookie year in 1996-97.
That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.
So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.
“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”
The Flyers have only five picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.
“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said June 2 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.
“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”
“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).
“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”
Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.
Next up:
Adam Novotny
Position: Winger Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 200 Shoots: Left Team: Peterborough
Scouting report
The Czechia product is a sturdy, hard-on-the-forecheck player who can create offense through contact. He competes like a pro with his effort and skill in tight areas.
“I’d say the upside, the potential is maybe a top-six guy [in the lineup],” Daily Faceoff associate editor and prospect analyst Steven Ellis said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think he’s more of a safe bet at the second line, but I like him.”
Novotny put up 65 points (34 goals, 31 assists) over 58 games for Peterborough this season, his first in the OHL. He recorded a little under five shots per game and had six multi-goal games. He did so while adapting to North America as an 18-year-old.
“For the most part, it’s a big life change,” Ellis said. “It’ll take a little bit for players to figure it out, but once Novotny did, I feel like he showed he can really be so dangerous around the net. He has got a good shot and he’s a tough guy to push around because he has got a lot of muscle.”
Earning a silver medal at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, Novotny didn’t tear it up from a production standpoint. He had no goals and three assists in seven games, but he led Team Czechia with a ridiculous 34 shots. For some context, Martone scored six goals in the tournament with Team Canada and had 19 shots.
So Novotny did impress despite the underwhelming point total.
“I remember seeing the expected goals for him at the world juniors, he was among the best shot and play generators on that Czech team,” Ellis said. “He just couldn’t score. … This was a guy who was just truly unlucky, I think that’s the best way to kind of put it.”
“I could see him go as high as 15th,” Ellis said. “I think there are some scouts who might think he’s a little lower, but I think overall, there’s a lot to like about his game.”
There’s definitely some intrigue with Novotny’s shot mentality and skating ability. The Flyers could use more goal-scoring talent, guys that can make things happen in the offensive zone and on the power play.
Novotny isn’t the most well-rounded player and the Flyers have a ton of young wingers. That might not make him the ideal pick.
But the Flyers have shown recently they won’t always go with the safe pick. If Novotny is available at No. 21 and the Flyers feel his offensive strengths are high end, he’ll give them a good decision to make.
Interestingly, four of the Flyers’ last five first-round selections have come out of the OHL.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 13: Jonny Farmelo #98 of the Seattle Mariners plays center field during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Peoria Stadium on March 13, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tacoma Rainiers
The Rainiers found some success for the first time in a while this week, snagging five of six against a very solid Albuquerque team. It’s been a brutal stretch of baseball recently for this Tacoma team, so managing to string together some W’s is an awesome sight to see.
A rehabbing Cal Raleigh did a substantial amount of work for the lineup this week and looks to be back to his old self offensively. Having launched five homers on his rehab stint, Raleigh figures to return to the big league club this week and should provide a massive boost for a lineup that’s missing the bulk of its major offensive producers. With a pitching staff that’s reeling and in desperate need of a guiding presence, Cal should provide this team with the leader it desperately needs.
Arkansas Travelers
The Travelers took home yet another series win this week, besting the Naturals by a series score of four to two. Despite a league-leading run differential of +103, the Travs find themselves 2.5 games back of the Tulsa Drillers for the division lead and will need to make up a bit of ground if they hope to lock up a spot in the playoffs.
Ryan Sloan joins Kade Anderson in being awesome today. Final line: 6IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 7K, 12 whiffs, 10 groundouts, 78 pitches, 52 strikes. pic.twitter.com/WzznT2gWIE
Fans were treated to a dazzling double header on Saturday afternoon after inclement weather postponed Friday’s contest. Featuring arguably the top two pitchers in all of minor league baseball, the tandem of Ryan Sloan and Kade Anderson dominated opposing bats all afternoon, combining to twirl 12.2 scoreless innings while punching out 13 and walking none. The pair allowed just six hits on the day and looked exceptionally polished from the get-go. When we’ll see these two in the big leagues is yet to be seen and is largely up to factors out of their control, but when they do end up receiving the call to the bigs, it’s sure to be appointment television.
Lazaro Montes loves hitting on the road! Launching another three homers this week, Montes raised his season OPS up to .922 and looks like a force at the plate for this Traveler lineup. The lefty masher has been Arkansas’ best hitter for the bulk of this 2026 season and has already hit the 20 HR mark for the year, an accomplishment he’s achieved each of the past three seasons. Montes’ overall offensive profile is a tenuous one, and his high-strikeout approach is sure to give him his doubters, but with his inarguable talent and immense age-adjusted output at every stage of his career, Montes remains one of the best prospects in this organization and a surefire top 100 prospect leaguewide.
Everett AquaSox
The Frogs wound up splitting the series against the Canadians this week, unable to best a far inferior team in their home ballpark. The top prospects on this roster have really come into their own as of late, and despite a slow start the first few weeks of the season, this team is set up beautifully for a strong second-half contention window.
Jonny Farmelo clubs his 9th HR of the season, extending his hitting streak to 7 games at High-A 🔱
Here’s Jonny! Top centerfield prospect Jonny Farmelo is having a torrid month of June, carrying the AquaSox lineup out of the leadoff spot for the better part of three weeks. Now up to a season slash of .264/.394/.476, the speedy Farmelo’s 18 stolen bases on the year and solid centerfield defense make him a truly special prospect with nearly unlimited potential. Regardless of whether the organization will choose to challenge him with a promotion to Double-A or opt to leave him in Everett for the remainder of the season, the toolsy Farmelo is finally looking like his former self on the field and is one of the more promising young prospects in this Seattle system.
Shortstop Felnin Celesten had another fantastic week at the dish as he continued his resurgent 2026 season. Logging another eight hits on the week, Celesten launched a pair of homers in the series and now holds a season OPS of .906 through 212 AB’s. Celesten and Farmelo are in a similar boat for this upcoming promotion cycle; after struggling last season, their repeat of the Hi-A level has gone incredibly well and puts the organization in a position to reward them for their success. Though it’s not a foregone conclusion, look for the pair to make their way up to the Texas League by the end of the month.
Inland Empire 66ers
It was a series split for the 66ers this week, managing three games against a very solid Rancho Cucamonga team. The foundation for a solid second-half team is here, but they’ll need reinforcements from the ACL and upcoming draft class in order to get there.
Centerfielder Korbyn Dickerson has been on a heater as of late and looks to be ascending toward his ceiling as a prospect. The right handed outfielder is slashing .300/.405/.567 on the month and currently sits with a season OPS of .841 with 15 bags. Dickerson seems like a prime candidate to replace Jonny Farmelo on the AquaSox following his eventual promotion and should provide him a good challenge to close out the year. Hopefully he’s able to continue his hot hitting and carry some of that momentum over to an Everett team some time in the next few weeks.
ACL Mariners
Both Yorger Bautista and Nick Becker are largely in the same spot as they’ve been the past several weeks (high K’s, decent if uninspiring raw production), however right-handed hurler Po-Chun Lin has now had back to back scoreless starts after a tough handful of outings to kick off his pro career. Across his past two starts, Lin has logged 7.2 innings of two-hit ball while punching out 12 and walking three. Lin, who signed out of Taiwan last January, has had some interesting numbers in international competition and features a blossoming arsenal with a fastball that reaches the mid-90’s. He’s been knocked around a bit and doesn’t have the shiniest numbers, but with a solid K%-BB% rate and performance that’s trending in the right direction, Lin should find himself somewhere in the back half of the M’s organizational top thirty prospects list.
DSL Mariners
Young phenom Gregory Pio has continued to impress in the early stages of his career, leading the way offensively for this DSL squad thus far. The centerfielder launched his first professional homer in Saturday’s contest in a two-hit performance that raised his season slash to a .429/.500/.857 mark with an even 7:7 K/BB ratio (15.9% for both). With essentially no apparent holes in his game right now, Pio and his teammate Juan Rijo both figure to be prospects on the rise over the next few months.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 30, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we continue our series with a look at Austin Reaves.
Certain players are always connected to Los Angeles. There are the obvious ones, like Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson. But you don’t have to be a legend for your entire Lakers tenure to be remembered for your time inpurple and gold.
Anytime one of the young Lakers from the post-Bryant era finds success, they get love from fans. Josh Hart remains loved by Lakers fans. And even people like Nick Young are remembered, even if they spent more time elsewhere and won a title elsewhere.
So much of Austin Reaves’ story is still left to be written, but one thing is clear: he will always be a Laker. The question is whether his journey will continue in LA.
Reaves is expected to turn down his player option and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Throughout his career, he has far exceeded even the rosiest of projections people have had of him. He has improved every year, and with him reportedly wanting upwards of $40 million, it seems either the Lakers or another team will oblige.
In an ideal world, the Lakers can pay Reaves whatever number he wants, and that’d be that.
However, nothing is ever ideal, and the NBA operates under a restrictive new salary cap. Paying Reaves will not dramatically impact what they do this year, but in the years ahead, it could prevent LA from adding impactful new pieces.
Although letting such an uber talent like Reaves walk away could also be dire and set the franchise back for years to come.
LA has a lot of decisions to make this summer to turn this team from a fun 50-win roster to a title contender. And the first, and perhaps biggest, decision they have is what to do with Reaves.
How did he play?
It was a tale of two seasons for Reaves.
He was an offensive juggernaut this year, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists. His scoring and rebounding numbers were career highs and his point total has increased every single season.
Not only were his numbers fantastic, but his play in key moments during the regular season also stood out. He posted his career high 51 points in a win over the Kings and he helped atone for his playoff struggles against the Wolves by hitting a game-winner against Minnesota.
As the season progressed, it became clear the Lakers were a better team with Luka Dončić’s running mate being Reaves rather than LeBron. So, as the season progressed, Reaves’ usage continued to increase. By March, Reaves became a higher-usage player for the Lakers than James.
This meant the ball was in Reaves’ hands more often, and there were a ton of pick-and-roll actions with him and Luka. The result? The Lakers went 15-2 in March, their best month as a franchise since the 1999-00 season.
At that point, the Lakers were the hottest team in the NBA, and Reaves’ stock was at an all-time high. However, that’s not where the story ended.
Thanks to Reaves, working his tail off in his recovery, he was able to return in the first round against the Rockets. While his return was commendable, his play once he touched the floor left a lot to be desired.
He couldn’t handle the physicality of OKC’s defenders. His field goal percentage dropped from 49% during the regular season to 42% against the Thunder. From deep, he was even worse, going from knocking down 36% of his 3-pointers to just 30%.
As an on-ball creator, he was awful. Reaves had 27 turnovers compared to just 35 assists. He also had the second-worst plus-minus on the team at -59.
As a defender, Reaves didn’t silence his critics with his second-round play. He was relentlessly attacked and demonstrated the resistance of a turnstile.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell scored in bunches on Reaves, which is why he was often the defender they were looking for.
In Reaves’ defense, he was fresh coming off his injury, and the playoffs are a tough place to try to get back to 100% health.
Also, he improved as the series against the Thunder progressed. In Game 2, he scored a game-high 31 points on 10-16 shooting, and in Game 4, he had 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
What is his contract situation moving forward?
If Reaves declines his player option like everyone expects him to, he will be an unrestricted free agent. Given how good he’s been, to retain Reaves, the Lakers are likely looking at paying him $40 million or more. Although Reaves has stated he isn’t just looking to make as much money as possible. Winning matters to him as well.
The good news is that his cap hold this year will be approximately $20.9 million, which helps the Lakers this offseason. It means they’ll be able to pay him without feeling the impact of every dollar he makes right away in their books.
Should he be back?
He has his flaws like any other player, but ideally, Reaves will be back next year. He has room to grow, but has proven he’ll do the work to get there time and time again.
However, the Lakers have to be smart with what those numbers look like. Los Angeles, as currently constructed, is not good enough to win a title. Reaves is fantastic, but he’s not Luka. He doesn’t get a blank check, no questions asked. The deal has to make sense because the Lakers need flexibility to acquire players who can elevate the team to the next level even past this offseason.
The Lakers might think their backcourt’s defensive woes are exaggerated, but they aren’t lockdown defenders either. LA needs better defenders around their duo and likely a dominant frontcourt player to add to this roster.
In the end, it’s in LA’s best interest to continue this partnership with Reaves. They just need to do so while making Austin happy and still allowing them to add to their roster so they can be contenders once again.
CAMDEN, NJ - JUNE 8: Mike Gansey speaks as the Philadelphia 76ers introduce him as their new President of Basketball Operations on June 8, 2026 at The Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the New York Knicks taking down the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals, the 2025-26 season has officially come to an end.
Teams are now allowed to speak to their own free agents and start mapping out their offseason. For the Sixers, that means Kelly Oubre, Jr., Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond. The likelihood of all three coming back feels very low. Drummond has likely played his last game in Philadelphia. Oubre and Grimes are talented but flawed rotation players who could conceivably be back.
Also, the 2026 NBA Draft is a little over a week away now. Mock drafts have the Sixers taking players like Chris Cenac, Dailyn Swain, Allen Graves and Jayden Quaintance. The options at 22 are very uncertain, but this is a good and deep draft class.
It’s no longer a battle of division leaders, but the Tampa Bay Rays-Los Angeles Dodgers series starting tonight still matches two of the best teams in baseball.
The Rays fell behind the Yankees in the AL East over the weekend, while the Dodgers are cruising in the NL West.
With a favorable pitching matchup and a more urgent need for a win, my Rays vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks expect Tampa to start the series off on the right foot on Monday, June 15.
Who will win Rays vs Dodgers today: Rays moneyline (+148)
The Los Angeles Dodgers have alternated wins and losses over the last eight games, a schedule that includes the Angels and Pirates.
L.A. starts waiver-wire pickup Eric Lauer, who has pitched well for them but has a 5.47 ERA this year. He’s also a former division rival of the Tampa Bay Rays, so their batters are familiar with him. Current Rays have a .333 average and .632 slugging against the lefty.
The Rays have one of the five best records in MLB, making the current odds a bargain.
The game may not be a toss-up, but it’s close. Anything over +130 on Tampa is money well spent.
COVERS INTEL:Shohei Ohtani has just one walk in 10 plate appearances against Nick Martinez. Ohtani is hitless and has struck out three times. He’s grounded out four times and fouled out once. He made good contact against Martinez one time—a deep flyout.
Rays vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-120)
The Rays have scored four or fewer runs in seven of the last 10, the Dodgers in four of 10, including two of three.
Tampa starts Nick Martinez, who leads the league in fewest walks per nine innings. His offspeed stuff has a run value in the 100th percentile of MLB hurlers. His fastball is also 87th percentile, so he’s not merely a junkballer.
L.A. is without catcher Will Smith. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Shohei Ohtani are the three Dodgers who have faced Martinez the most, and all have a .214 or lower career average against him.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 22-25, -0.91 units
Over/Under bets: 26-25, -0.22 units
Rays vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Rays +156 | Dodgers -163
Run line: Rays +1.5 (-133) | Dodgers -1.5 (+127)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+122) | Under 9.5 (-127)
Rays vs Dodgers trend
The Tampa Bay Rays have hit the Moneyline in 29 of their last 45 games (+9.70 Units / 17% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Rays vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Monday, June 15, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Rays starting pitcher
Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.43 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Eric Lauer (2-5, 5.47 ERA)
Rays vs Dodgers latest injuries
Rays vs Dodgers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
At long last, Rod Brind'Amour has finally proven that he and his Carolina Hurricanes can win the big games, and one Stanley Cup win later, the Philadelphia Flyers legend is exalted above most in NHL history.
Twenty years ago, Brind'Amour, now 55, won the Stanley Cup as the captain of the Hurricanes, and now he's done the same for the Hurricanes, steering the ship in a different way.
Having triumphed as both a player and coach with the same team, the Flyers Hall of Famer has joined exclusive company in NHL history.
The only three other people to ever accomplish such a feat? Toe Blake (Montreal), Hap Day (Toronto), and Cooney Weiland (Boston), all of which were for Original Six franchises.
That makes Brind'Amour's accomplishment that much greater.
In his nine years with the Flyers, Brind'Amour scored 235 goals, 366 assists, and 601 points in 633 regular season games.
The legendary two-way forward, now esteemed coach, still views the Flyers organization in high regard, and perhaps he doesn't get the job done without them.
Several former Flyers who left the team in recent seasons joined up with the Hurricanes for this playoff run: defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Walker, who were often paired together, and enforcer Nick Deslauriers.
At the other end of the ice, ex-Flyers John Tortorella and Carter Hart crumbled under the spotlight of the Stanley Cup Final.
Brind'Amour has made the playoffs as the head coach of the Hurricanes every season since taking over in 2018-19, and eight years and a Jack Adams Award later, he has captured the elusive Stanley Cup, too.
The Flyers helped their own friend along the way, suffering a sweep at the hands of the Hurricanes in Round 2, and now the Flyers, led by head coach Rick Tocchet, know the standard to which they need to play to win a Stanley Cup of their own.
Let Brind'Amour and the Hurricanes be the shining example of how to draft, build a team, lead, and stick to a plan.
The Philadelphia Phillies (38-33) host their NL East opponent, the Miami Marlins (36-36) for a three game series. Philadelphia is 3-1 against Miami this season and outscored the Marlins, 14-7.
Miami is 7-1 in the last eight games and 10-2 in the past 12. Miami is coming off four straight series wins over Pittsburgh, Arizona, Tampa Bay, and Washington. The Marlins are hitting .260 (13th) in that 12-game span with the fifth-most steals (13) and sixth-best OBP (.345). The pitching staff leads the MLB with a 2.52 ERA and .207 OBA. This is the best stretch of the year and another win lands the Marlins over .500 for the first time since April 13 (9-8 record).
Since the Phillies' four-game winning streak to start June, Philadelphia has gone 4-4. This month, the pitching and hitting numbers have been middle of the pack for the Phillies, but they have found themselves on the winning side more often than not (8-4 record). Philadelphia has won three of the last four series, including five of the last six overall games at home.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Marlins at Phillies
Date: Monday, June 15, 2026
Time: 6:40 PM EST
Site: Citizen Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Marlins at the Phillies
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-198), Miami Marlins (+162)
Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+104), Marlins +1.5 (-125)
Total: 8.0
Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Phillies
Monday's pitching matchup (June 15): Zack Wheeler vs. Ryan Gusto
The Phillies’ Brandon Marsh is hitting .322 with 76 hits, 8 home runs and 32 RBI over 236 at-bats
The Phillies’ Adolis Garcia is hitting .195 with 45 hits and 84 strikeouts over 231 at-bats
The Marlins’ Otto Lopez is hitting .343 with 97 hits, 5 home runs, and 31 RBI over 283 at-bats
The Marlins’ Kyle Stowers is hitting .215 with 39 hits and 61 strikeouts over 181 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Marlins at Phillies
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 25-46 ATS
The Marlins are 36-36 ATS
The Phillies are an MLB-best 38-30-3 to the Under
The Marlins are 40-29-3 to the Over, ranking seventh-best
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 11-25 ATS at home
The Marlins are 16-17 ATS on the road and 12-10 ATS as an away underdog
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Phillies
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Marlins and the Phillies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Marlins on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Marlins at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.5
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 14: New York Knicks fans climb on buses as they celebrate after they win the NBA Finals in Times Square on June 14, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 and could win the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973 if they win tonight.(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks aren’t just NBA champions, they’re a lesson in perseverance. Proof positive why you should never quit on your team, no matter how dark it gets, no matter how bleak the future seems, no matter how much an owner tries to push you away. James Dolan’s name might be on the papers, but Saturday night proved that the Knicks don’t belong to him — they belong to New York.
It’s impossible not to love the scenes from New York following the Knicks’ breaking their 53-year championship drought. Did the celebration go too far? Sure. Did it turn the streets into anarchy? Absolutely. Did it closely resemble the Joker’s clown parade in Batman Returns? It sure did. It was also magical, inspiring, and reminded us how powerful sports can be, even as we become jaded in the face of ticket scalpers, political movements, and greedy owners who put their own motivations ahead of a city. When the dust settles, it’s about simply this: A small group of individuals who came together as a team, to bring joy to millions who have invested their heart and souls into loving a team their entire lives. People who said “this could be our year” more times than they could count, and when it comes to the NBA there is not a single more passionate, longer-suffering fanbase than the New York Knicks.
No doubt there would have been joy in San Antonio too, but it would have hit different. All due respect to Spurs fans, but even y’all have to admit that your franchise has had a horseshoe lodged up your derriere for the better part of 30 years. From drafting Tim Duncan during David Robinson’s ONE injury year to winning the Wemby sweepstakes, it just wouldn’t have been satisfying to see another Spurs win. Moreover, San Antonio is a competent, sensible organization run like a successful business — it’s not the Knicks, where fans have had to endure James Dolan’s whims at every turn, doing his level best to destroy the organization from within while playing a piano solo in his nepo band.
Dolan and the Knicks have given fans HUNDREDS of reasons to pack it in over the years. I don’t know how Spike Lee managed to endure the pain for as long as he did — but not just the pain, the promise. The possibility that Patrick Ewing, and John Starks would win a title, then if Stephon Marbury and Allan Houston could get the job done, then Carmelo, Amare, and J.R. Smith. Fans continually experience the yo-yo whiplash of made that make them believe, before seeing opportunity get yanked away, like a cat toy from a desperate tabby. They’ve seen brilliant teams under the guidance of Jeff Van Gundy, Mike D’Antoni, and Tom Thibodeau all establish specific eras of Knicks disappointment, which makes it all the more magical right now.
This Knicks team was so decidedly un-Knicks. Jalen Brunson is obviously a superstar, but this team was defined by doubt, not promise. Nobody believed Karl-Anthony Towns was good enough to be a focal point, Mickal Bridges was an overpaid addition; heck, Mike Brown was almost universally reviled when he was hired to lead this iteration of the Knicks, because his career before New York was defined by everything the organization was trying to avoid. Brown routinely led promising teams, only to fall short — and the assumption was that he would do the same with the Knicks. He didn’t. Instead, he prevailed.
The conclusion of the NBA season isn’t just for fans of the Knicks, but for every long-suffering fan in sports. A reminder that success can happen when you least expect it. If you pack it up and ignore a team, finally beaten down by the frustration — sure, nobody will know you took a break, but deep down you will. The pain is what makes moments like this legendary. The inescapably sour that finally gives way to the sweet. A chance to take to the streets, party like it’s the end of the world, and know that all the emotional effort wasn’t in vain.
James Dolan doesn’t own the Knicks, he’s merely a caretaker. This isn’t his championship, it’s New York’s. The 2025-26 season will have a legacy that exists when Dolan is gone and forgotten, which means he never really won. One billionaire can try to kill a team, but the city never let it happen. Let them be a reminder for all of us.
Splitter, 41, led the Trail Blazers to a 42-40 finish in 2025-26, taking Portland to the first round of the NBA Playoffs, where they fell in five games to the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs.
With the Blazers, Splitter embraced speed and pace on offense, asking the team's young core to grab rebounds and sprint out into the open floor. Portland ranked ninth in the NBA in pace (101.63 possessions per 48 minutes) one season after ranking 16th (99.51). Splitter also created a fluid offensive structure that empowered players to read the defense and react with concepts and actions, as opposed to a reliance on set plays.
Under Splitter, forward Deni Avdija became a first-time All-Star after averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. The Trail Blazers also saw young players like Shaedon Sharpe (20.8 points per game), Scoot Henderson (14.2) and Toumani Camara (13.4) improve their games. Portland had eight different players average double-figures in scoring this season.
In Chicago, Splitter will try to revitalize a team that has struggled to make deep runs in the postseason in recent years. The Bulls overhauled their roster during the trading deadline, adding several guards to an already deep position on the roster.
Splitter's fit with point guard Josh Giddey — a versatile, play-making guard who can create his own shot and distribute for others — should be seamless, and his success with the Bulls will depend on elevating Giddey to an All-Star-caliber player.
The Bulls also have a developing star in forward Matas Buzelis, who averaged 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season. The most promising piece for Splitter, however, may not even be on the roster yet.
Chicago won the No. 4 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, a class that is both loaded with elite talent at the top of the class and deep. The consensus best players, Darryn Peterson of Kansas and AJ Dybantsa of BYU, are expected to be off the board at that point, but that could leave North Carolina's Caleb Wilson or Duke's Cameron Boozer available for selection.
Wilson is full of promise and has the size (6-foot-10) and athletic ability to be a premier threat in the NBA.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 11: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers collides with Carter Jensen #22 of the Kansas City Royals as he scores in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Corey Seager, who was just activated off the injured list ten days ago after spending a few weeks on the injured list with back spasms, has not played since Thursday’s series finale in Kansas City. He has been listed as day-to-day since then due to being generally sore and banged up after a collision at home plate with Royals catcher Carter Jensen on Thursday, though, per the beats, the team is now saying he is dealing with “concussion-like” symptoms as a result of the collision.
Here’s the collision between Seager and Jensen, for those of you who are curious:
The magic phrase “concussion-like symptoms” could be an indicator that the Rangers are consider the seven day concussion injured list as an option for Seager. That would mean that Seager would miss the three games against Minnesota this week, but would be eligible to be activated on Friday, when the Rangers start a series against the Padres. If he went on the 10 day injured list, on the other hand, the soonest that he could be activated would be on Monday, when the Rangers start a series in Miami. Under either scenario, he’d have to be played on the injured list today to be eligible to return on those dates, since i.l. moves can only be retroactive for up to three days.
If the Rangers were to place Seager on the injured list, he’d have to be replaced by a position player, since the Rangers are already carrying the maximum 13 pitchers allowed on the 26 man active roster. The only healthy position player on the 40 man roster who is not in the majors currently is Blaine Crim, though Crim, as a righthanded hitting 1B/DH, doesn’t necessarily make for the greatest of fits with the current needs on the active roster.
The more likely option would seem to be Josh Smith, who was placed on the injured list in early May due to a glute strain, then was hospitalized with a case of viral meningitis. Smith started a rehab assignment with Frisco on June 7, playing in both games of a doubleheader for the Roughriders, and continued that assignment by playing in all six of the Round Rock games this past week. Skip Schumaker on Friday said that Smith would need a little more time than usual on his rehab stint due to the fact that he was coming back from a hospitalization for an illness rather than your usual injury, but after three more rehab games, one would think that Smith would be ready to be activated, particularly if Seager needs a trip to the i.l.
Smith may end up activated today even if Seager doesn’t go on the injured list, and at some point, the Rangers will have to decide who will go down, whether upon Smith being activated if Seager doesn’t head to the i.l., or once Seager is activated if there is an injured list trip. The Rangers only have three true outfielders on their active roster currently, in Wyatt Langford, Brandon Nimmo and Alejandro Osuna, though Duran, Cody Freeman and Josh Smith are all infielders who can also play the outfield. Osuna came up with Michael Helman landed on the injured list with a broken hand, and would seem to be the odd man out when Evan Carter returns (hopefully next week), so Osuna could get sent down now, with some combo of Freeman, Duran and Smith handling left field in the meantime.
Alternatively, either Freeman or Nicky Lopez could be squeezed out. Lopez would seem to be superfluous once Smith returns, as a lefthanded hitting utility infielder, but then, Cody Freeman would seem to be superfluous with Duran here. Freeman can be optioned, while Lopez would have to be put on waivers, so sending Freeman down would correspond with the rule of maximizing your roster flexibility and capacity, but on the other hand, Nicky Lopez is Nicky Lopez, so I’m not sure how much that would matter.
The Colorado Avalanche's 2024 Trade Deadline was one to forget. The team had a bunch of holes that needed fixing, and management did their best to patch them up, but in the long run, they just reappeared. From the desperate need for a second-line center, to bottom-six production, to better play from their defensemen. The Avalanche addressed all those issues, but it hurt them in the long run.
Though the biggest trades we find out are ones that either didn't happen or were close to happening, but time ran out, look at the recent Maple Leafs news with Matthew Knies and the Montreal Canadiens. This time, for the Avalanche, it could have been a potential star winger in the making, but they decided to pass on it to address other needs.
A Potential Top-Six Winger For The Future
Initially reported by Sportsnet and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on his “32 Thoughts: The Podcast,”the Flyers were shopping Cutter Gauthier. General Manager Danny Brière asked the Avalanche about Bowen Byram, but the Avalanche weren’t too keen on moving him at that time.
“I think Philly did ask about Bowen Byram and I just think Colorado wasn’t going there,” Friedman said. “I suspect Colorado’s answer was ‘We are not doing this 1-for-1, it’s got to be more than Gauthier for Byram.”
Now, another NHL insider, Frank Seravalli, brought this topic up again on this recent podcast, “Frankly Hockey”
"Here’s one trade that never happened: the Avalanche and Flyers were talking about Cutter Gauthier when they had to move him. The Flyers were looking for Bowen Byram for Cutter Gauthier straight-up. The Avalanche said, “well if you want Bowen Byram, you need to add a third in order to make that happen."
Instead of making the trade, the Avalanche pivoted to a need for a center and went with Casey Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres in a one-for-one deal.
The Pros And Cons Of Not Making The Trade.
Looking back at the trades and now the news, the Avalanche could have had Gauthier, for it doesn't look great for them. Middelstadt was a need for the team after Nazem Kadri left for the Calgary Flames in free agency, after winning the Stanley Cup.
He was coming off his best two seasons with the Sabers, and the Avalanche saw the right time to move on from Byram, who was not performing as well as he could have been, but Middelstat's production got worse while Byram's improved.
Obviously, the Avalanche don’t “care” about draft picks if it means acquiring players helping them win a Stanley Cup. Still, when what's supposed to be your new second-line center, who's in his mid-20s, plays 81 games and only scores 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points before being shipped off at the next trade deadline, and you have to pay more to give him up, it's not a good look.
Though, as much as recency bias goes with how well the Anaheim Ducks performed this season with Gauthiers' help, what are the chances that we see the same production from him this season?
Remember, when Byram was traded for Mittelstadt, Gauthier wasn’t in the league yet; he made his debut on April 18, 2024, after his NCAA season with Boston College ended. So the chances of the Avalanche seeing Gauthier at all that season were very low, if not at all, as the Ducks, who were eliminated from the playoffs by then, saw a chance to bring him on right away.
He would play his full season next year, playing all 82 games and scoring 20 goals and 24 assists for 40 points, before he would blow up this past season, scoring 41 goals and 28 assists for 69 points, 11 of those goals coming from the power play. So yes, the Avalanche would have loved that level of production from him, but would he have gotten the same level of production and role responsibility on a Stanley Cup team?
The Ducks are a rebuilding team with a lot of youth, which has given Gauthier a significant role in the top six alongside prospects like Leo Carlsson and Beckett Sennecke, with added support from their veterans. Though the Avalanche top-six, with Landeskog back, was pretty full. While you could have moved Arturri Lehkonen, Landeskog, Kadri, or someone else down the lineup, how long would that position last?
Gauthier is 22 years old. While he did score a lot, he wasn’t perfect and made some defensive mistakes. If that was him on the Avalanche, what stopped Jared Bednar from moving him back down the lineup or bringing in someone like Joel Kiviranta in a bottom-six role and taking him out of the lineup?
We saw it this season with younger guys like Gavin Brindley, who, when he was hot and performing well, got top-six minutes, but when the rest of the lineup started to get healthy, he was pushed down the line. He then started to produce less; his production dropped off, and he was ultimately taken out of the lineup and sent down to the Colorado Eagles in the AHL.
Ultimately, the Avalanche should be happy with the production and growth Brindley has shown. Still, it all comes back to this: if the Avalanche made that trade for Gauthier, would he be putting up the same numbers we saw this past season?
The Avalanche wanted Middelstadt to be someone he wasn't, and that makes the trade hurt worse. The Ducks now get a promising piece for their future, while the Avalanche, who did end up with their old center in Kadri, could have had that same winger on his line to help elevate his play.
OG Anunoby, born in London, is now a two-time NBA champion [Getty Images]
With 1.2 seconds left of game four of the 2026 NBA Finals, a sold-out Madison Square Garden erupted.
The score was 106-105 in favour of the San Antonio Spurs as they looked to level the best-of-seven series at 2-2, when New York Knicks talisman Jalen Brunson's three-point attempt was denied by the rim.
But before any Spurs defender could make the crucial rebound, a flying OG Anunoby did enough to rise through a crowd of players and palm the ball back into the basket for a one-point lead and put the Knicks on the brink of immortality.
Magic Johnson in 1986. Michael Jordan in 1996. Steve Nash in 1997. This means the company Anunoby can now put himself in with a game-winner that has gone viral and etched itself in history.
"Game four is probably the top of British basketball history," said London-born Anunoby, now a two-time NBA winner.
"Amazing for Britain and the UK and everyone who loves basketball in the UK."
Three nights after Anunoby's game-winner that sent MSG and its celebrity front row into shock, the Knicks wrapped up the series 4-1 in San Antonio for a first finals win since 1973.
Unlike his first NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Anunoby played a significant role. Seven years ago, he was only a spectator as injury ruled him out of the entire play-offs, with the Raptors beating the Golden State Warriors in the finals.
In another tip of the hat to British basketball and its future, Anunoby's team-mates included Jeremy Sochan. While Sochan plays for Poland, because of his upbringing and allegiance to the UK he is listed as one of four UK-based players in the NBA.
Alongside Anunoby and Sochan, Amari Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan played in an NBA season that featured a record number of players from the United Kingdom this term.
OG Anunoby was mobbed by the media following his winner in game four against the San Antonio Spurs [Getty Images]
If you think of the Knicks and their current squad, point guard Brunson is likely the name that springs to mind.
Not only an NBA champion, but now an NBA Finals MVP winner and an NBA all-star in each of the past three seasons.
While Brunson is the immediate franchise player, Anunoby is very much one of those right behind him.
Anunoby featured in 84 of the Knicks' 101 matches this term, all of which he played from the start. During the play-offs, he ranked second in the Knicks squad for average minutes played as well as points, assists, blocks and steals per game.
Brunson may get the plaudits, but Anunoby is among those in the supporting cast who deserve their flowers, too.
More than three billion social media views were generated from game four, one where the Knicks had earlier trailed by 29 points before the result was ultimately decided by Anunoby's dramatic winning basket.
The series itself was the most-watched on ESPN since Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their sixth and final title 28 years ago.
The Knicks have won this title, their first in 53 years, at a canter. They won 15 of their final 16 matches of the season, 10 of the first 11 of which were by more than 10 points.
Their only loss in that run was a four-point defeat by the Spurs in game three of the finals.
What next for British basketball?
OG Anunoby rose highest among crowds of New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs players to win game four, and ultimately set the Knicks up for a first title in 53 years [Getty Images]
Anunoby's championship-winning season and his clutch moments throughout the year come at a timely crossroads as far as the future of British basketball is concerned.
The NBA is planning to launch an independent European league within the next 18 months. London and Manchester are in place to be hosts to a franchise each when that league is launched, currently planned for October 2027.
By the time it has launched, both cities will have hosted an NBA regular-season match in the two years leading up to what could be the biggest changes to club basketball across the United Kingdom and Europe.
"I think London, especially, is an untapped market. There's so much talent and so many people playing basketball, so I think it would be amazing to bring a team to Manchester and London and continue growing in England," said Anunoby on the prospect of a European NBA league.
"As time goes on [basketball in the UK] is going to grow more and more. I think over time more and more [young boys and girls] are going to pull up at the NBA or WNBA.
"I want them to see that someone from where they are from is doing this. There is a lot of untapped potential and hope it's going to grow. It will mean exposure, growth, more leagues, more excitement for the game."
The London Lions recently signed a multi-year deal to remain competing in EuroCup for at least the next three seasons, which could be extended to five.
Anunoby was previously a minority owner of the franchise, who are coming off the back of a domestic quadruple-winning season.
It is an exciting time for a sport that has struggled to consistently produce top-level British stars but is showing growth and enormous potential at grassroots level.
Anunoby's championship-winning run is both timely and an inspiration for the next generation of UK-based basketball hopefuls.
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) talks with forward Victor Wembanyama (1) against the New York Knicks during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The 2025-26 season may have ended in disappointment as the Spurs stumbled their way through 4 fourth-quarter collapses in the NBA Finals, turning what could have been four victories and a championship into four excruciating losses in five games. However, when you look at the broader view, it helps to remember this is nowhere near what was expected of this team this season, how far ahead of schedule they are, and how much more room they have to grow.
Another thing this year’s trip to the Finals has given us is, after years of watching and waiting for two months once the season ended in April, we immediately get to turn our attention to important summer activities, such as the NBA Draft, Free Agency and Summer League with almost no time gap. Below is a list of important dates to keep in mind as the Spurs build on a highly successful season and prepare for the future.
NBA Draft
June 23, 2026 — First round
Spurs pick 20th (via Atlanta Hawks)
June 24, 2026 — Second round
Spurs pick 35th (via the Utah Jazz)
Spurs pick 42th (via the Portland Trail Blazers)
Spurs pick 44th (via the Miami Heat)
As of today, the Spurs have four total picks, including 20th overall in the first round thanks to owning the right to swap picks with the Atlanta Hawks, who will in turn pick in the Spurs’ slot of 29th (the Dejounte Murray trade keeps on giving). They also have three second round picks via other teams, while their own is going to Minnesota. (After getting a little spoiled by the lottery in recent years, waiting for 20th is going to seem like a long time.)
Free Agency
June 14, 2026 — Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents.
This was actually yesterday since it aligns with the first day after the end of the Finals, but with that being said, the Spurs have very few free agents of note. The most notable is Harrison Barnes, who began the season as a starter but fell out of the rotation as the season wore on and played sparingly in the playoffs. The Spurs’ other free agents include Kelly Olynyk, Jordan McLaughlin, Lindy Waters III, Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee, as well as their three two-way players: Harrison Ingram, David Jones Garcia and Emmanuel Miller.
June 29, 2026 — Last day for early terminations and qualifying offers for restricted free agents.
The latter part of this day hardly matters to the Spurs since their 2022 draft class is gone, but the former could matter if they choose to decline Julian Champagnie’s team option and sign him to an extension. If that is the case, they would need to do so by this time.
June 30, 2026 — Last day for veteran extensions, negotiation period begins (5:00 PM CT).
Should the Spurs take the previously mentioned route with Champagnie, this would be the last chance for him to sign an extension, otherwise he would become a free agent. Also beginning at 5:00 PM CT, teams can begin negotiating with other team’s free agents.
July 1, 2026 — True beginning of Free Agency (list is courtesy of Hoops Rumors).
Teams can begin exercising the third- or fourth-year team options for 2027-28 on rookie scale contracts.
A few notes here. One is as a reminder, the Moratorium Period is five days in which contracts can be negotiated but not signed. The other notable occurrence for the Spurs will be the bottom one, in which they can — and for all intents and purposes will — exercised the fourth-year option on Stephon Castle’s rookie contract and third-year options for Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant. (They technically have until October 31 to get this done, but it’s hard to imagine it would take that long, especially for Castle and Harper.)
July 6, 2026 — Moratorium period ends; trades, contracts and extensions can be officially signed.
Now pen can officially be put to paper for trades, contracts and extensions. The Spurs will be able to sign any new free agents, but most notably, Victor Wembanyama will become eligible to sign his rookie-scale extension. Assuming he takes the max, it will be largest rookie contract extension in NBA history and make him one of the league’s highest paid players beginning in the 2027-28 season. The base salary for his maximum extension is $251 million (or 25% of the salary cap) across five years, but it can turn into the super-max worth up to $301 million (30% of the salary cap) if he earns All-NBA honors or wins MVP or Defensive Player of the Year in the 2026-27 season. Barring him missing the 65-game limit, expect the super-max to be the case by the time it kicks in.
These are the main key dates that will be notable for the Spurs, but others within FA include:
July 13 —Last day to withdraw qualifying offers to restricted free agents.
July 31 — Players signed using the second-round pick exception begin to count against a team’s cap.
August 5 — Last day for teams to issue required tenders to unsigned second-round picks..
August 29 — Last day for teams to waive players and apply the stretch provision to their 2026-27 salaries.
Summer League
July 3-6 — California Classic
Amidst all the chaos of free agency will be Summer League, so you don’t even have to wait a month to watch basketball again! First, the Spurs will participate in the California Classic in San Francisco, along the Warriors, Lakers and Heat. This is usually a good place to at least see the Spurs second round picks for the first time.
July 9-19 — Las Vegas Summer League
This of course is the more notable of the Summer Leagues and where you stand a better chance of seeing the Spurs’ first round pick, as well as possibly some returning faces. While I wouldn’t expect Harper to be in SL this year (he doesn’t need it), it’s quite possible Bryant gets a run as team captain so he can develop more and show the Spurs how far he has come. This could also be a chance for players like Ingram to vie for another two-way spot with the Spurs or possibly even a guaranteed contract. Unfortunately, one face we may not see is Jones Garcia, who underwent ankle surgery in February and is not expected to be ready for SL.
It’s crazy how much quicker the offseason is when you play two extra months of ball (because math), but the lack of a long gap between April and now is certainly nice. It’s hard to believe that training camp is just a bit over three months away, and while the Spurs have some work to do this summer, expect them to return pretty much the same core team.
We will have plenty of content on potential draft and free agency prospects for the Spurs in the coming days and weeks, as well as Summer League coverage, so be sure to stick around at Pounding the Rock all summer. While this season may not have ended ideally, it was certain the best one I have covered since starting here in 2016-17, and the future couldn’t be brighter. Thank you all for your continued support!
The 2025-26 NHL season has concluded, now what do we do?
Don’t worry hockey fans, there are several key dates coming up that should keep you interested until the dog days of summer arrive.
First up will be the 2026 NHL buyout window. The first buyout period this year starts 48 hours after the Stanley Cup playoffs end. So, with Carolina ending it last night, clubs will start the process of figuring out if they wish to buy a player out, and that process must conclude by June 30th at 5pm ET.
What will Columbus do during the buyout season? Probably nothing. The only player that would even remotely be a candidate is goalie Elvis Merzlikins, and honestly, I can't see that happening.
And then, of course, on June 26th, the NHL will conduct the 1st round of the entry draft. The CBJ are picking 14th, and who they will choose is anybody's guess. There are plenty of quality players who will be available at 14. You can find the players we wrote about at The Hockey News -Columbus Blue Jackets site. You can watch the draft live on ESPN and ESPN+.
On June 27th, rounds 2-7 will be conducted. You can watch the coverage on NHL Network and ESPN+. The Jackets have six picks from rounds 2-7, but of course, that is subject to change depending on trades.
A few days later, on July 1st, the free agency period begins. There are a few big names out there, but time will tell what Don Waddell does. He first needs to lock up Jet Greaves and Adam Fantilli to contracts, which will take up a nice chunk of change. Cole Sillinger must also be given a new deal before July 1st. Get those three players done, and then Waddell can focus on free agency.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will have their annual development camp a few days after the NHL Draft. Last year, it went from July 2 to July 5. It's usually open to the public and will conclude with a Prospects Game on the final day of camp. It'll be held from June 29 to July 2 this year.
After the development camp, the NHL’s dog days begin. Other than random signings, there’s not a lot going on. The only thing really going on is all the speculation on Twitter from fans about what their team is going to do in free agency. Some people take a break, get out in the sun, and enjoy the world. It’s nice to take a break from the stressful relationship a lot of fans have with their teams. Whatever you’re doing this summer, have fun!
Stay with THN Columbus all Summer for breaking news, player pieces, and everything else you can think of.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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