Along with the financial punishments, Michigan State Spartans will vacate all wins from 2022-24 due to participation of three ineligible players.
Where Giants ace Logan Webb finished in 2025 NL Cy Young Award voting
Where Giants ace Logan Webb finished in 2025 NL Cy Young Award voting originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
After a strong 2025 MLB season, it comes as no surprise that Giants ace Logan Webb had a notable finish in the National League Cy Young Award vote.
Webb, who turns 29 next week, finished fourth in voting (47 points) after leading MLB with 207 innings while notching a career-high 224 strikeouts, becoming the first Giant to lead the NL in both innings and strikeouts since 1944.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes was a unanimous winner in the NL.
Paul Skenes wins the 2025 NL Cy Young Award UNANIMOUSLY!
He is the first NL pitcher to do so since Sandy Alcantara in 2022. pic.twitter.com/VF9QgsfCmA
— MLB (@MLB) November 13, 2025
Webb has finished second, sixth and fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting over the past three seasons.
Logan Webb finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting. He has finished second, sixth and fourth over the past three seasons.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) November 13, 2025
Webb was listed on more than half of the 30 ballots and received 10 third-place votes. He finished behind Skenes, Philadelphia Phillies’ Christopher Sánchez and Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Earlier this month, San Francisco’s staff ace took home his first NL Gold Glove Award for pitchers.
With another notable season from Webb behind us, there’s no questioning the Giants ace’s relentless quest for a Cy Young Award.
76ers health update: Joel Embiid day-to-day with knee issue, Paul George nearing return
Philadelphia is off to a solid 7-4 start, including another win over the Celtics on Tuesday night, with a top-10 offense in the league and Tyrese Maxey looking like an All-NBA player — all of that without Paul George and limited contributions from Joel Embiid, their two veteran stars.
We now have health updates on Embiid and George.
Joel Embiid
He was out Tuesday night due to right knee soreness, the second straight game he missed, which raised concerns. "He just reported a little soreness in his right knee. He's had some imaging on that this afternoon, and the doctors are here tonight to go over that with him," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said before Tuesday night's game.
That imaging found no structural damage, and the center will be day-to-day, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Embiid has played in six of the team's 11 games this season, averaging 19.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while playing less than 25 minutes a night. While he has seemed to move a little better each game, he is not playing like the peak Embiid. Knee issues limited Embiid to 19 games last season.
Paul George
The 76ers released an official update on George saying he was in the "final stage" of a return to play but doctors wanted him to strengthen his left quadricep following his surgery. That said, he could return to the court later this week or by next week.
The real question now for George and Embiid is whether they can fit into what is already working with Philadelphia without changing it. Can George play on the wing, do some secondary shot creation, but mostly knock down shots and play some solid defense. Tyrese Maxey has shown this season that he is the future of the franchise, along with V.J. Edgecombe and just returned Jared McCain. The 76ers can't move on so easily from Embiid's and George's $50+ million per season contracts, but they need them to recognize their roles and where this franchise is headed.
Dylan Cease Free Agent Profile: Contract prediction, best fits, stats
After a historic World Series, the MLB offseason is underway, and we're taking you through the potential markets for some of the biggest stars. So far, we discussed the market and potential landing spots for Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, Edwin Diaz, Kyle Tucker,and Bo Bichette, and Matthew Pouliot also ranked every free agent on the market this offseason.
Today, I'm going to continue with the curious case of Dylan Cease. After the 2022 season, it seemed like Dylan Cease had arrived as a perennial ace. He finished second in AL Cy Young voting that season and showed tremendous strikeout upside and command growth. However, he has been unable to match that success and continues to vascillate between good years and bad years. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we're likely headed into an offseason where some teams view Cease as a potential ace and others will have little interest in signing him for anything close to the deal he's likely set to command.
Don’t forget: Check out the Rotoworld player news feed for all the latest news, rumors, and transactions as MLB’s Hot Stove gets underway!
Stay up to date with the MLB free agent market this offseason, including player signings, contract details, and team fits as the 2025-26 Hot Stove heats up.
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D.J. Short
▶ Cease in Review
2025 was an odd-numbered year, so I guess we should have assumed that Cease was going to disappoint. While that's mostly in jest, Cease's best years have indeed come in 2022 and 2024, while he has struggled in 2023 and 2025.
This past season, he posted a 4.55 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 215/71 K/BB ratio. He also had a 1.13 HR/9, which was his highest since 2019, and an inflated .320 BABIP. Everybody will point out that the underlying metrics, like his 3.58 SIERA and 15.6% swinging strike rate (SwStr%), suggest that Cease was pitching better than his surface-level stats, and while that's partially true, there were also real issues that led to his struggles.
For starters, he posted just a 45.4% zone rate on his four-seam fastball. That was the 8th percentile in baseball among starting pitchers. His overall strike rate on his four-seam fastball was slightly better, at the 23rd percentile, but you can't be an effective pitcher if you aren't throwing strikes with your fastball. For comparison's sake, Cease was 25th percentile in zone rate and 33rd percentile in strike rate on his four-seam fastball in 2024, so even though these issues have always been present, they were more pronounced this past season. As a result, Cease posted just a 19% Early Called Strike rate (called strikes in 0-0, 0-1, 1-0, and 1-1 counts), which was well below the 21.4% league average for starting pitchers, and was not working from a position of strength often enough.
Cease has tried to combat this by adding different types of fastballs, but his prior experiments with a cutter have failed, and the sinker he added this season was used only 5% of the time and had a 4.57 PLV grade, which is below the league average for starting pitchers (4.90). His sinker had just a 12th percentile zone rate and a 25th percentile strike rate, so it had the same struggles in terms of command as his four-seam fastball, but with far less swing and miss.
As a result, Cease remains essentially a two-pitch pitcher. In 2025, he threw his four-seamer and slider a combined 82% of the time. He mixed in the odd curveball, sweeper, and sinker, but those were used sparingly. His curve was almost strictly a weapon for lefties and posted a slightly below-average swinging strike rate while also allowing a .321 batting average and a 15.8% barrel rate. He also only used it 25% of the time in two-strike counts to lefties, so it wasn't really a swing-and-miss pitch for him either.
The sweeper was a pitch he threw almost exclusively to righties, but he used it only 6% of the time against them this season. It, like the curve, also had a below-average swinging strike rate; however, it didn't allow much hard contact and had success in two-strike counts when Cease decided to use it. The issue is that, surprisingly, Cease's sweeper is actually in the zone too often, which is part of the reason it has poor whiff rates but good called strike rates.
Yet, one thing we can say about Cease is that he's durable. He has thrown 884 innings over the last five years and and not dipped below 165.2 innings in any full MLB season. That's incredibly rare in this age of baseball. That kind of durability and consistency will give him even more value on the market.
At the end of the day, Cease remains the same pitcher he's been for years. He's essentially a two-pitch pitcher with poor command of his four-seam fastball, which leads to strong strikeout rates and poor walk rates. 2024 was an example of what can happen when things break right for Cease, and 2025 was an example of how things turn out when things don't go his way. The team that chooses to pony up a big contract for him will have enough confidence in itself and its plan to get the 2024 version more regularly.
Dylan Cease dials it up to 98 MPH for his 200th strikeout of the year pic.twitter.com/ogiPAynkui
— MLB (@MLB) September 14, 2025
▶ Market Outlook
The starting pitcher free agent market is not a robust one, but there are some intriguing names at the top. Cease and Framber Valdez figure to attract the biggest contracts this offseason. However, if Shota Imanaga declines the Cubs' qualifying offer, then he would join them among the top arms on the market. Cease's teammate, Michael King, also possesses top-of-the-rotation upside but has only one year as an MLB starter and battled injuries this season, which could keep his cost down. Ranger Suarez is another talented pitcher, but lacks the upside of Cease and Framber, while Lucas Giolito is coming off a bounce-back season with the Red Sox, but has a long list of injuries behind him.
The rest of the market is filled with pitchers who are more likely to be viewed as back-of-the-rotation starters and wouldn't impact Cease's free agent market.
As a result, Cease has a strong chance to earn the biggest contract this offseason. He will be 30 years old next season, so it's unlikely that a team would give him more than six or seven years, but he should make at least $25 million per season, considering Max Fried signed for just over $27 million per year last season. Fried, Corbin Burnes, and Blake Snell were the only three pitchers to sign for over $25 million per season AAV last year, and Cease has not proven to be a Cy Young caliber starter yet (apart from the 2022 season), so it would be unlikely that his contract pushes into the $30 million AAV range.
▶ Best Fits
Mets: We know the Mets need and want help at the top of the rotation, and we also know they believe they can fix any starter. They tried giving short-term deals to pitchers like Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, but those didn’t hit last year. Perhaps now they’ll feel enough pressure to dish out a longer-term contract to hopefully land an ace.
Red Sox: Red Sox president of baseball operations Craig Breslow already said this offseason that the team has no interest in adding a number four or five starter. If they are going to add a starter, it’s going to be somebody who can pitch alongside Garrett Crochet at the top of the rotation. Dylan Cease would certainly fit that bill; however, the Red Sox also seem primed to package surplus hitters for a starter like Joe Ryan, which would take them out of the Cease market.
Cubs: The Cubs need a top-of-the-rotation starter with Shota Imanaga now a free agent. The team has already been linked to Dylan Cease this offseason, so we know there is interest.
Dodgers: The Dodgers are linked to everybody, right? It would seem like they don’t need a starting pitcher, but with Clayton Kershaw retired and plenty of their other starters continuing to show major health risks, they could certainly look to bring in somebody like Cease.
Orioles: A lack of front-line starting pitching has been a major problem for the Orioles in recent seasons. They should get Grayson Rodriguez back next year, but that likely isn’t enough. If they want to convince people that they’ll spend money in the free agent market, then Dylan Cease could be the best option.
Braves: The Braves could make a big splash in the offseason after missing the postseason this past year. Spencer Strider doesn’t seem to be the same pitcher following his second Tommy John surgery, and both Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach are coming off injuries. Beyond those three names, the rotation is a major question mark, so Cease could provide an emphatic answer to that question.
Contract Prediction
I think the Red Sox will make a trade for a starter, and the Dodgers will spend bigger money on a closer and outfielder, so that leaves the Mets and Cubs as the two likely biggest bidders for Cease. At the end of the day, I just haven't seen the Cubs spend big money to sign a free agent enough times, so I'm going to assume Steve Cohen will pony up and get himself a potential ace for his pitching lab.
Mets- Six years, $151 million
Steph Curry grants young Warriors fan's wish, signs prosthetic leg before game
Steph Curry grants young Warriors fan's wish, signs prosthetic leg before game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Steph Curry has autographed thousands of items over his illustrious 17-year NBA career with the Warriors.
And the generous 37-year-old just added to the long list of memorabilia in a creative, heartwarming fashion.
Curry signed a young superfan’s prosthetic leg ahead of Golden State’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center.
The fan, wearing a shirt and the aforementioned prosthetic leg depicting Curry’s iconic night-night celebration, said Curry was his “favorite player” and asked the superstar for a picture; the future Hall of Fame sharpshooter took care of the rest.
Curry is no stranger to kindly offering his signature.
He often is spotted autographing jerseys after jersey at games and events, and one could scroll online for hours to see the abundance of sports cards and signature Under Armour shoes the 11-time NBA All-Star has inked.
Curry even has given his signature in the form of a permanent tattoo — as requested, of course.
A four-time NBA champion with Golden State, Curry is one of the league’s most popular players of all time.
So while Wednesday’s demonstration might appear to be unique, it truly is a reflection of Curry’s gravity and memory-making ability across basketball, even far from home, as seen on Wednesday in the Lone Star State.
Who knows what and where Curry will be asked to sign next?
Fantasy Basketball Week 4 Injury Report: Joel Embiid sidelined again; updates on LeBron James, Paul George
While the 2025-26 NBA season still isn't officially one month old, it may feel like it is from an injury standpoint. Some stars have yet to appear in a game, while others have spent multiple games on the sideline. In the case of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, the team's measured approach to his return did not prevent another issue from popping up. Let's look at some injuries that will impact fantasy basketball for the remainder of Week 4 and the first few days of Week 5.
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks
Alexander-Walker, who stepped in for the injured Trae Young at point guard, has missed Atlanta's last two games with a back injury and is questionable for the team's November 12 game against Sacramento. Keaton Wallace (one percent rostered, Yahoo!) replaced him in the starting lineup, totaling 19 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one steal and five three-pointers in wins over the Lakers and Clippers.
However, Wallace played 12 fewer minutes against the Clippers than he did against the Lakers, with Jalen Johnson's return after a one-game absence and Vit Krejčí (two percent) going bonkers from beyond the arc impacting Keaton's playing time. Wallace isn't a must-stream player, even if Alexander-Walker cannot return on Wednesday.
G Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets
On November 7, the Nets announced that Thomas would be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks after suffering a strained left hamstring. That's the same hamstring he injured back in January and February, with the latter instance ending his 2024-25 campaign. With that in mind, the Nets will likely exercise caution in bringing Thomas back into the fold.
In the three games Brooklyn has played since, rookie Egor Dëmin (seven percent) has moved into the starting lineup, averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.7 three-pointers in 25.3 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from three. According to Basketball Monster, Dëmin has been a top-150 player over the past week. That isn't "great" fantasy value, but with the Nets clearly rebuilding, this may entice some deep-league managers to roll the dice on the rookie guard.
Also, Drake Powell (less than one percent) has entered the rotation in Thomas's absence, averaging 23.7 minutes over the last three games. Dëmin would be the rookie to prioritize if you're mining the Nets roster for value, whether now or for the "silly season," but keep an eye on Powell, especially if the defensive ability results in solid steals numbers.
G Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
Giddey sprained his right ankle during Chicago's November 8 loss to the Cavaliers, and he missed Monday's loss to the Spurs as a result. He's considered questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Pistons, and Giddey's availability impacts multiple players. Kevin Huerter (17 percent), who has been a top-75 player in nine-cat formats, moved into the starting lineup on Monday, finishing with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, one block and four three-pointers in 33 minutes. Ayo Dosunmu (20 percent) played 33 minutes off the bench, accounting for 20 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block and three three-pointers.
However, Huerter and Dosunmu aren't the only Bulls guards who receive a boost to their fantasy value when Giddey (and Coby White) aren't available. Tre Jones (33 percent), who has filled in admirably for White, is close to a top-50 player in nine-cat formats. Even if Giddey can play on Wednesday, he's worth holding onto until White returns. As for Huerter and Dosunmu, they will both retain value in deeper leagues.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is making massive strides after a disappointing sophomore campaign.
Cole HuffG Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
Garland injured his left big toe in Monday's overtime loss to the Heat, returning briefly during the third quarter but exiting for good shortly thereafter. This is the same toe he injured late last season, aggravating it in the first round of the playoffs and ultimately requiring surgery during the offseason. The good news is that Cleveland has cited "left toe injury management" as the reason for Garland's absence on Wednesday, when the Cavaliers face the Heat again. However, while he may be day-to-day, toe injuries can be tricky.
From a minutes standpoint, Sam Merrill (13 percent) and Jaylon Tyson (15 percent) were the biggest beneficiaries on Monday. Unfortunately, Tyson has entered the league's concussion protocol and will miss Wednesday's game at a minimum, leaving it to Merrill to pick up the slack. De'Andre Hunter (32 percent) isn't the best category-league option, but he's healthy and starting.
Also of note for Wednesday is that Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are out for rest reasons. Due to those absences, Lonzo Ball (nine percent), Dean Wade (one percent) and Craig Porter Jr. (less than one percent) can be thrown into the mix as potential streamers, but the former remains on a minutes restriction.
F/C Anthony Davis and C Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks
Davis (calf) and Lively (knee) have both been out for extended periods, with the former last playing on October 29 and the latter last doing so on October 26. Both players are considered questionable for Wednesday's game against the Suns. However, Davis has been listed as questionable ahead of the last few games, only to be ruled out. Daniel Gafford (17 percent) is the first player to consider, even though his minutes have been limited due to ankle injuries.
Superior options, especially for those desiring streamers who will play more minutes, have been Max Christie (15 percent) and Naji Marshall (12 percent). Both are providing solid value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Of the two, Christie may offer a slightly higher long-term upside, as he's replaced the struggling Klay Thompson in the starting lineup. His place within the rotation should be safe when Davis and Lively return, while Marshall's playing time may take a hit.
G/F Ausar Thompson, F Tobias Harris and C Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
With Cade Cunningham listed as questionable due to a hip contusion, the Pistons could be without four key contributors for Wednesday's game against Chicago. Of the three listed here, however, Harris may be the furthest from a return. While making progress according to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, he still does not have a timeline for returning from his sprained right ankle. Thompson (ankle) is out with a sprained ankle, while Stewart is doubtful with a sprained ankle.
Stewart's absence led to Ron Holland (five percent) and Javonte Green (one percent) starting the last two games, with the latter filling the void in Monday's win over the Wizards. The only way either will be worth the risk is if the Pistons are forced to play without Cunningham. Duncan Robinson (eight percent) is more of a specialist than someone who can provide value across multiple categories, while Daniss Jenkins (one percent) will be worth a look if Cunningham sits.
G Bradley Beal and F Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
Leonard has missed the Clippers' last four games with a sprained ankle and will also not play on Wednesday against the Nuggets. As for Beal, a fracture in his hip will keep him out for the rest of the season. Kris Dunn (four percent) entered the starting lineup at the time of Leonard's injury, but he has only been a top-200 player over the past week.
With Beal out, John Collins (84 percent) started Monday's loss to the Hawks, and he struggled, shooting 3-of-11 from the field and finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, one steal, one block and one three-pointer in 31 minutes. With Collins rostered in most leagues and Dunn not doing enough on offense to merit being streamed, there really isn't anywhere to turn while Leonard sits and Beal is done for the year.
F LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
James (sciatica) may be getting closer to making his first appearance of the season. As of Tuesday, he was on track to practice with the Lakers' G League affiliate while the Lakers are on their current road trip. Wednesday's game against the Thunder is the first of three games they'll play during the rest of Week 4, and all are on the road.
LeBron won't be of any service to fantasy managers this week, but his absence has opened up additional minutes for Marcus Smart (11 percent) and Jake LaRavia (19 percent). The former has been the fifth starter, with the latter heading to the bench after Austin Reaves returned from a groin injury that sidelined him for three games. Smart and LaRavia are worth a look in deep leagues, at least until LeBron is available to play.
G Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans
Poole was diagnosed with a strained left quad on November 7 and is due to be re-evaluated over the weekend, based on the 7-10 day timeline provided by the team. Jeremiah Fears (18 percent) had already replaced Poole in the starting lineup, and the rookie will be worth holding onto, especially for those who can compensate for the efficiency issues that can plague rookie guards.
Saddiq Bey (eight percent) and Jose Alvarado (two percent) have provided decent fantasy value recently, with the former starting for the still-injured Zion Williamson (hamstring). Based on the timeline provided after his injury, Zion should be re-evaluated soon. Is Bey worth a look in deep leagues? That depends on how desperate the fantasy manager may be for frontcourt production, especially with Bey not offering much in the way of defensive stats.
C Joel Embiid and F Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers
Having undergone a procedure on his left knee during the offseason, Embiid's minutes were being managed even before his most recent injury. Unfortunately, he's back on the sideline, but it's due to a sore right knee. However, no structural damage was found in the team's examinations of the knee, and Embiid will be considered day-to-day moving forward. Philadelphia only plays once more this week, which may limit Andre Drummond's (14 percent) streaming appeal in the eyes of some.
As for George, he'll be re-evaluated toward the end of the week as he attempts to return from offseason knee surgery. ESPN's Shams Charania reported late Tuesday that the doctors want George's left quad to get stronger before clearing him to play. Trendon Watford (15 percent) has been the most recent starter at power forward, providing 10th-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats over the past week.
76ers' Paul George is in the final stage of his debut process and will be re-evaluated later this week. He is moving closer to a return, but doctors want additional strength of his left quadriceps to support the knee before clearance.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2025
G Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns
Green, who made his season debut on November 6 after suffering a strained right hamstring during the offseason, suffered another strain during the Suns' November 8 win over the Clippers. He will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks, so there's no guarantee that Green will be back in games before late December.
From the Suns: Guard Jalen Green has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain. He will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks.
— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) November 11, 2025
Given the amount of time that Green missed due to the first injury, fantasy managers should have a clear understanding of who to target. Royce O'Neale (27 percent) returned to the starting lineup on Monday, playing 23 minutes in a blowout of the Pelicans. That game was also a showcase for Grayson Allen (41 percent), who dropped a career-high 42 points and hit a franchise-record 10 three-pointers. Both players are worth rostering while Green sits, with Allen likely being more valuable to fantasy managers once the Suns return to full strength.
G/F Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards
After missing the first four games due to offseason thumb surgery, Coulibaly played three full games before injuring his calf during a November 5 loss to the Celtics. Wednesday's game against the Rockets will be the fourth he has missed, and the third-year wing could be out even longer than that. Rookie Tre Johnson (nine percent) has moved into the starting lineup, but he hasn't been a top-200 player over the last week. Managers willing to add Johnson will have to bet on him being a factor later in the season, because the short-term value hasn't been there. That can also be said for Cam Whitmore (four percent), whose opportunities have been more consistent with Coulibaly unavailable.
Dodgers’ Tommy Edman to have ankle surgery, eyes spring training return
LAS VEGAS — Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Tommy Edman will have right ankle surgery, general manager Brandon Gomes told reporters at the Major League Baseball GM meetings.
Gomes said Edman could be ready for spring training.
Edman has been dealing with a bad ankle since midway through the 2024 season when he was with St. Louis. He continued to play, was traded to the Dodgers that July and wound up the NL Championship Series MVP.
He batted just .143 in this year’s seven-game World Series victory over Toronto, but Edman made several crucial defensive plays at second base and center field to help the Dodgers repeat as champions.
Edman signed a five-year, $74 million contract last offseason.
Pirates' Paul Skenes, Tigers' Tarik Skubal named Cy Young winners
Pirates' Paul Skenes, Tigers' Tarik Skubal named Cy Young winners originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes were named the winners of MLB‘s Cy Young awards on Wednesday as the top pitchers in the sport for the 2025 season.
Skubal won his second straight American League Cy Young Award, joining elite company after another spectacular season in which the left-hander helped propel Detroit to a playoff berth.
The 28-year-old Skubal became the 12th player to win baseball’s top pitching honor in consecutive years, joining a group that includes Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez.
Jacob deGrom was the previous pitcher to win consecutive Cy Youngs, pulling off the feat with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019. Martinez was the last American League pitcher to do it, in 1999 and 2000.
Skubal posted a 13-6 record with an American League-leading 2.21 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings for the Tigers during the regular season, then went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three playoff starts for Detroit, which was eliminated by Seattle in the Division Series.
Skubal received 26 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The other four went to runner-up Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox. Crochet led the American League in innings (205 1/3) and strikeouts (255). Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros came in third.
Skenes was a unanimous choice for the National League Cy Young Award, becoming the first pitcher in 40 years to win Rookie of the Year one season and baseball’s top pitching prize the next.
The 23-year-old Skenes — selected first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 amateur draft after a standout career at Air Force and LSU — was a marvel for the last-place Pirates, leading the majors in ERA (1.97) while striking out 216 batters in 187 1/3 innings during his first full season in the big leagues.
Yet even with his brilliance, Skenes needed a little late help from Pittsburgh’s woeful offense to avoid becoming the first Cy Young-winning starting pitcher to finish with a losing record. Skenes won three of his final four decisions to finish 10-10.
Dwight Gooden is the only other pitcher to win Rookie of the Year and a Cy Young Award in consecutive seasons, doing it in the NL for the New York Mets in 1984 and 1985. Los Angeles Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela swept both NL awards in 1981.
Philadelphia left-hander Cristopher Sánchez received every second-place vote, and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers finished third.
Skubal’s historic run comes with him set to enter free agency after the 2026 season. Considering the massive contract Skubal could command on the open market, it’s uncertain whether he’ll stay with the Tigers beyond next season.
A year after taking a massive step forward by winning the pitching Triple Crown in the American League on his way to being a unanimous Cy Young Award winner, Skubal backed it up by serving as the anchor for the Tigers during a volatile season in which Detroit squandered a 15 1/2-game lead in the AL Central and was caught by Cleveland down the stretch.
The Tigers got a bit of revenge in the wild-card round, beating the division-champion Guardians in three games thanks in large part to a 14-strikeout gem by Skubal in the series opener.
Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy and Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt win Manager of the Year for 2nd straight season
Pat Murphy grew up going to minor league games at MacArthur Stadium in Syracuse, New York. In those days, the local team tried to retrieve all the baseballs that went over the fence during batting practice, but Murphy would pocket a souvenir or two before he was run off.
Quite often chased away by Bobby Cox or a member of his staff.
That long-running connection came full circle when Murphy won the NL Manager of the Year award for the second straight season. The only other NL manager to take home the honor in consecutive years was Cox for Atlanta in 2004 and 2005.
Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt also was a repeat winner as AL Manager of the Year, receiving 17 of 30 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Toronto’s John Schneider got 10 first-place votes and finished second, followed by Seattle’s Dan Wilson. Voting was conducted before the postseason.
The previous AL manager to win in consecutive seasons was Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash in 2020 and 2021.
“He’s well-deserving. Does a great job with his club,” Murphy said of Vogt. “He’s going to be a Hall of Fame manager, I really believe that.”
Murphy got 27 first-place votes. Cincinnati’s Terry Francona was second, followed by Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson.
The folksy Murphy, who turns 67 on Nov. 28, was coaching Arizona State University when he formally introduced himself to Cox in the early 2000s.
“I said, `I’ve always wanted to meet you,’ and he looked at me, and he goes, ‘So now you have,’” a chuckling Murphy said. “And it was dead silent. I’m like, I don’t know if this guy’s messing with me or what, but I interrupted something.”
Vogt led Cleveland to a second straight AL Central title in his second year in charge. The 41-year-old played in the big leagues for 10 years, then retired after the 2022 season. He had a one-year stint as Seattle’s bullpen coach and was hired by the Guardians in November 2023.
Cleveland trailed Detroit by 15 1/2 games in early July and by 11 games in early September before storming back to clinch the division title on the final day of the season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the largest in-season comeback in Major League Baseball history.
The Guardians also became the fourth big league team to reach the playoffs despite having a losing streak of at least 10 games during the regular season, joining the 2017 Dodgers, 1982 Braves and 1951 New York Giants. Vogt’s club dropped 10 in a row from June 26 to July 6.
“The messaging was, we can’t control yesterday, and we can’t control tomorrow,” Vogt said. “We have to lean in on today. We have to win the game today and then we’ll worry about tomorrow tomorrow. I think that was really a mantra that we all kind of owned.”
Cleveland went on its big September run after closer Emmanuel Clase and starting pitcher Luis Ortiz were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of an MLB investigation into sports betting.
Asked what he will remember when he looks back on this season, Vogt pointed to the resilience of the team.
“It’s one thing to make a comeback and play well down the stretch and fall short, but we were able to come back and win the division and get in the playoffs,” he said.
Murphy directed Milwaukee to a major league-best 97-65 record this year, setting a franchise record for wins. The Brewers were second in the NL Central in early July before overtaking the Chicago Cubs with a remarkable 29-4 stretch that included a 14-game win streak, another franchise record.
Milwaukee eliminated Chicago in a memorable Division Series before it was swept by the Dodgers in the NLCS. The five-game victory over the rival Cubs was the Brewers’ first postseason series win since sweeping Colorado in a 2018 NLDS.
“We had the right who,” Murphy said. “We had guys that are aware and hungry, and that makes the manager look good at the end of the day.”
Murphy was Milwaukee’s bench coach for eight seasons before he was promoted after Craig Counsell left for the Cubs in November 2023. The Brewers also won the NL Central in Murphy’s first season in charge, finishing with a 93-69 record.
Murphy had a long coaching career at the college level before serving as a special assistant with the San Diego Padres for the 2010 season. He went 42-54 as interim manager of the Padres in 2015.
Draymond Green questions Warriors' commitment to winning as a team
Tuesday night, Oklahoma City reminded Golden State how far it is from the top teams in the West, with the Thunder cruising to a 126-102 win. Golden State is now 6-6 on the season with a bottom-10 offense in the league despite having Stephen Curry on the roster, and it looks more like a play-in team than a threat.
After the game, Draymond Green questioned the Warriors' commitment to winning, in comments reported by Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.
"Everybody was committed to winning, and doing that any way possible," Draymond Green told reporters at Paycom Center. "And right now, it doesn't feel that way ...
"You've got to fight your way out of it," Green said. "Anytime you're in a little rut in this league, it'll never be easy, never be pretty getting out of it. You've got to claw your way out. And right now, that's not the identity of this team."
Jimmy Butler backed up Green, to a point.
"I think he's partly correct," Butler said of Green's comments. "We've just got to get back to doing whatever it takes to win. Everybody is going to have to sacrifice something. I can't tell you what that sacrifice might be for every individual. It may be different for every individual every single night.
"But we're got to get back to winning is the main thing, the only thing. It's going to be up to the collective, as a group, to figure out what is needed to win."
Green would not discuss which players were not committed to sacrificing and winning for the team. This is a team where Jonathan Kuminga went through a rough restricted free agency and has been mentioned in trade rumors. Additionally, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody are all extension-eligible after this season and are playing for their next contract.
Golden State started this season winning four of five, and it looked like the "Butler Bump" that had this team 23-8 at the end of last regular season was real. However, the Warriors are 2-5 since then. With an older core of Stephen Curry, Butler and Green, this is a Warriors team better built for the postseason than the grind of the regular season — but the Warriors have to get to the playoffs before they can be a threat. Right now, that doesn't feel like a sure thing.
Panthers return to South Florida playing well, will begin extended stretch of home games this week
The Florida Panthers are finally back home.
Despite the NHL season being just over a month old, the Panthers have already endured road trips of four and five game lengths, one of which took the team to the opposite side of the country for a week.
After a forgettable first trip, and a regretful opening game of last week’s trip in California, the Panthers are showing some serious signs of positivity.
That 7-3 loss last Tuesday in Anaheim led to an intense team practice and video sessions the following day in Los Angeles, one that Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice described as something of a back-to-basics kind of exercise.
Florida’s three games since have been three of their better games of the season, and certainly some of the best they’ve played on the road so far.
Now the question will be whether they can carry that momentum into what will be an extended period of time spent almost exclusively in South Florida.
Starting Thursday, when the Panthers host the Washington Capitals at Amerant Bank Arena, Florida will play 12 games over a 24-day stretch.
Only one of those 12 games will be on the road.
It all starts with a five-game homestand that starts Thursday and ends over a week later, as the Cats will host the Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers.
Then, a quick trip up to Tennessee for a matchup with the Nashville Predators on Monday, Nov. 24.
After that it’ll be right back down to South Florida for a six-game homestand that spans 12 days, featuring games against the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maples Leafs, Nashville, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders.
So far this season, the Panthers have played only seven of their 16 games at home, holding a strong 5-1-1 mark in Sunrise.
If they can find a way to combine the recent momentum that was found on the road with their already formidable ability to win games at home, the next several weeks could be very prosperous for the Panthers.
Entering play Wednesday, Florida holds a very mediocre 8-7-1 record on the season. It’s good for a tie for sixth in the Atlantic Division with Toronto and a spot one point behind the Wild Card leading Flyers.
The good thing for the Panthers is that the standings are still extremely tightly packed, as only five points separate Florida from the top of the division, with games in hand on both the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators, who sit second and third in the Atlantic, respectively.
Bottom line, the Panthers have a wonderful opportunity in front of them to simultaneously continue riding the momentum of their trip, enjoy some time at home while working with more familiar routines and made up some ground in the standings at a time where it’s easiest to do so.
We’ll see if Florida can take advantage in the coming days and weeks.
Stay tuned.
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Photo caption: Nov 1, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) celebrates with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) after winning a shootout against the Dallas Stars at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Sabres Heading Into Brutal Stretch That Could Bury Their Playoff Hopes
The Buffalo Sabres currently sit in dead-last in the Eastern Conference with a 5-6-4 record. But the worst could be yet to come – and it may be coming this week.
For proof, just look at the Sabres’ schedule. When you do, you’ll see that, over the next six days, Buffalo has four games. And it isn’t as if any of them are against pushover teams.
Indeed, the Sabres start off this punishing stretch of schedule on the road – where three of their next four games will be played – with a showdown Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. One night later, Buffalo travels to Denver to take on the dominant Colorado Avalanche. Then, on Saturday, the Sabres battle the Red Wings in Detroit. And finally, Buffalo squares off against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in Buffalo.
To be sure, the Sabres could come out of this four-game span with four losses. And before they know it, it’ll be the third week of November and Buffalo will be all but buried in the standings. And fat that point, it will be time for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and the team to part ways.
Sabres Must Get Out Of Losing Spiral, Or Deal With The ConsequencesThe Sabres' losing streak is threatening their playoff hopes. Can Buffalo finally break the cycle before time runs out on their post-season dreams?The Mammoth are one of the NHL’s up-and-coming teams. The Avalanche can beat any team in the league. The Wings are a pleasant surprise. And the Oilers will be continuing to prove they’ve got the ability to hang with any team. So there’s no question Buffalo really could come out of the next week with an 0-4-0 record. And that would be a calamity that should result in the resignation of Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff.
What can you say if the Sabres are essentially out of the playoffs by Christmas? You can’t say “Look at our long-term prospect!”. You can’t say “We’re going to be great four years down the line,’ “ You need results, and they need to be positive and lasting, and you need them right now. And if that sounds like a tall order, that’s because it is.
Sabres Entering Stretch That Could Spell End Of The Line For GM, CoachThe Sabres once again are in a difficult stretch. And if they can't win more consistently, the jobs of GM Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff are in serious jeopardy.The Sabres’ start to the season went about as poorly as they may have hoped, and now, they’ve got a killer stretch to deal with. The way they respond could be the difference between them making and missing the playoffs.
The Hockey News Big Show: Will Injuries Hurt The Canucks Or Leafs The Most?
The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond.
Will Injuries Hurt The Canucks Or Leafs The Most? by The Big ShowHere’s what Drew Shore, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed:
01:05: Does the NHL have a Nikita Zadorov problem after Auston Matthews hit?
04:40: Whose injuries will impact the team more: the Toronto Maple or Vancouver Canucks?
07:30: What contributes to rookies staying in the NHL or going back to junior?
12:30: Is it more beneficial to remain with an NHL team without bouncing back and forth between leagues?
14:20: Who's more of a Stanley Cup contender: the New Jersey Devils or Anaheim Ducks?
19:30: How concerned should Team Canada be about Brayden Point's start?
22:15: What did Drew do when he got into a slump?
24:10: How much change do you think there will be from Team Canada's 4 Nations team and the Olympic team?
28:15: What would you like to see next year when NHL All-Star Weekend returns?
31:00: What was your favorite moment from the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony?
33:15: Who gets traded first: Ryan O’Reilly or Nazem Kadri
36:00: Who will win the “hockey Cy Young,” a.k.a. the player with the most goals and fewest assists?
37:15: Who is on more of a hot seat: Craig Berube or Kris Knoblauch?
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Warriors unveil new-look starting lineup without Jonathan Kuminga vs. Spurs
Warriors unveil new-look starting lineup without Jonathan Kuminga vs. Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors coach Steve Kerr is a man of his word.
During his pregame presser before Golden State’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center, Kerr told reporters it was time for changes to the Warriors’ rotation. Forty-five minutes later, Golden State unveiled its first starting lineup without forward Jonathan Kuminga since the 2025-26 NBA season began.
Kuminga is out and Moses Moody is back in, making his third start of the season after a strong showing over Golden State’s last few games. Warriors rookie Will Richard will make the second start of his young NBA career after earning the role for the first time in Golden State’s short-handed loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 5.
Kerr was asked pregame if the Warriors needed to make “drastic rotational changes” given the team’s recent struggles, and the coach answered simply.
“Yes. It is,” Kerr said.
In the seven games since Golden State’s 4-1 start, the team is 2-5 and searching for answers. Veterans Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler criticized the team’s fight and commitment to winning on Tuesday night after an ugly loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Lineup changes are just a part of the season’s process, Kerr said, though Kuminga’s removal from the starting five is a stark contrast to the coach declaring the 23-year-old was entrenched as a full-time starter on Oct. 28.
“What I was saying earlier about lineup combinations, I think it’s very clear that we’ve been a little clunky recently, and I obviously watch everything and look at all the lineup data, and we have got to make some changes,” Kerr said Wednesday. “… There’s times in the season where it’s obvious you’ve got to make some changes, and it’s never any one individual’s fault. It’s all about the team, and how can we get the best out of everyone individually so that the collective is stronger.”
Kuminga started the season incredibly strong after some offseason contract drama that ended with him signing a new two-year deal worth a reported $48.5 million. The young forward now leads the team with 34 turnovers and is averaging 11.4 points over the Warriors’ last five games, down from 16.2 points per game during Golden State’s strong 4-1 stretch to start the campaign.
But the Warriors’ recent woes aren’t limited to just Kuminga, as Kerr said. The coach will continue toying with his rotations until he finds a method that helps the Warriors click — and the team certainly hopes that happens Wednesday in San Antonio.
NHL Power Rankings: Avalanche Thrive As Leafs, Jackets And More Fall
This week on the NHL power rankings, we’re entering the unofficial playoff cutoff as American Thanksgiving approaches.
Historically, NHL teams that are well out of the playoff race at the end of November have a very minimal chance of making the playoffs, so if any team is looking to bank points before the races heat up again in March, now’s the time to do it. (Looking at you, Bruins).
But what a difference a week can make. The standings have been tight – 17 teams are within two points of each other! – and we’re starting to see some winning and losing streaks emerge. We thought the Bruins were done after losing six in a row, but they now have won seven in a row. The Mammoth looked like they were going to take a huge leap with six straight wins, only to lose five of their next six.
Injuries have been a big story this season, and it continues. Auston Matthews left last night after taking a hit from Nikita Zadorov, and Thatcher Demko didn’t finish the game against the Jets.Boone Jenner and Thomas Chabot also didn’t finish their games, and Frederik Andersen was pulled by a concussion spotter, though he’s not expected to miss any time at this moment. No doubt their absences can negatively affect their respective teams.
As for the NHL power rankings, the No. 1 team has started to pull away.
1. Colorado Avalanche (11-1-5, +25. PR: 1)
There’s little doubt the Avs are the best team in the league. They held the Ducks, who have the second-best offense, to just one goal in Tuesday’s big showdown, and they’re pulling ahead of the pack. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are early-season front-runners for the Hart and Norris, respectively.
2. Carolina Hurricanes (11-5-0, +14. PR: 4)
Three goalies? No problem. The Canes have been in this situation before, and it hasn’t really disrupted their rhythm at all this season. They’ve lost consecutive games just once this season.
3. Anaheim Ducks (11-4-1, +14. PR: 9)
The hype is totally real. Though they scored just one goal, they hung with the Avs for most of the game, and they might have the NHL’s most underrated elite goalie in Lukas Dostal. The Ducks are playing some freestyle offense under Joel Quenneville, which really suits them given the amount of scoring talent they have.
4. New Jersey Devils (11-4-1, +7. PR: 7)
All three of their games over the past week went into extra time, but they pulled off wins against the Habs and Pens, maintaining the advantage against two upstart East teams. Interesting development is the Devils rotating Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom, one of the growing number of teams doing so.
5. Winnipeg Jets (10-6-0, +10. PR: 2)
The three-game losing streak was slightly concerning, but their offense picked up again, and Cole Perfetti will bolster their non-existent depth scoring. The lack of overtimes and loser points is hurting the Jets; they have three one-goal losses, all suffered in the third period. Had they at least forced extra time in those games, they would be tied for second in points in the standings.
6. Dallas Stars (10-4-3, -1. PR: 8)
It hasn’t been easy – the minus-1 goal differential is a little eyebrow-raising – but the Stars are 7-1-2 in their last 10 after a pretty slow start. The play of Miro Heiskanen this season, by the way, isn’t getting enough attention, and he has a chance to win his first Norris this season after being completely left off the ballot last season.
Who's Hot And Cold In The NHL: MacKinnon's On Fire, Marchessault SlumpsWho's hot – and who's not – in the NHL over the past week? An Avalanche superstar, the cornerstone of the Blackhawks and Red Wings goalies are among those on the list.7. Los Angeles Kings (8-5-4, -2. PR: 15)
There was a little concern early in the season, but they’ve gone 7-2-2 since. The Kings had a comeback win against the Pens and continue to dominate the Habs, winning their ninth (!) straight against them since 2021.
8. Montreal Canadiens (10-4-2, +6. PR: 5)
I’m a little curious why the Habs have played Sam Montembeault four times in their last five games when a red-hot Jakub Dobes is an option. The Habs remain impressive, but two losses to conference opponents and then suffering their worst loss of the season Tuesday against the Kings bumps them down a few spots.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (9-5-3, +9. PR: 13)
It’s Arturs Silovs’ show now with Tristan Jarry hurt, and there’s a lot of pressure to stay near the top of the standings. The Pens have lost six of their last nine but should have a good chance to sweep the Global Series against the Preds in Stockholm later this week. Cracks are showing, but the bottom has not fallen out yet.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning (8-5-2, +5. PR: 18)
I noted a couple weeks ago that we shouldn’t count out the Lightning because, well, it’s the Lightning. They’re now arguably the league’s hottest team and are 7-1-0 since their four-game losing streak, though injuries to Victor Hedman and Anthony Cirelli are slightly concerning. They’ve faced some tough opponents during that stretch with the only loss coming against the Avs, currently the best team in the league.
11. Vegas Golden Knights (7-4-4, +3. PR: 3)
It’s as if goaltending matters in this league. Clearly, the Knights either don’t feel confident with Akira Schmid in net or expect big things from Carl Lindbom down the road, otherwise they wouldn’t be rotating goalies like this. Their play in front of their goalies has been worrisome, too, and they’ve lost six of their last eight.
12. Utah Mammoth (9-7-0, +1. PR: 6)
I think fatigue is a factor here; the Mammoth have played eight of their last nine games on the road and lost five of their last six. What is more curious, however, is the lack of scoring on a team whose greatest strength is scoring. Clayton Keller has three points and Dylan Guenther has two goals in their last eight games.
13. Philadelphia Flyers (8-5-2, +4. PR: 14)
Is there a bigger dichotomy out there between how the Flyers are playing and the discourse surrounding Rick Tocchet? The Flyers are in playoff position, albeit tied with four other teams, but so far have exceeded expectations. This time last season, they already had a six-game losing streak.
14. Chicago Blackhawks (8-5-3, +12. PR: 22)
The Hawks had a tough start but since then have really lost one game where they probably should’ve won (Nov. 3 against the Kraken) and another that could’ve gone either way (Oct. 17 shootout against the Canucks). The standings are super tight, so do not be shocked if the Hawks make some big jumps over the next few weeks. They have the fourth-best goal differential in the league, which can be a better barometer of a team’s ability than its record.
Five NHL Favorites For Fewest Regular-Season PointsWhich NHL team will finish the regular season with the fewest points? Here are five favorites.15. Detroit Red Wings (9-7-0, -5. PR: 10)
The Red Wings had a great start, but it’s starting to be undone with three straight losses and only two goals scored. Neither Cam Talbot nor John Gibson can win with that kind of goal support. Another long losing streak, and I swear we’re going back to doubting the Yzerplan again.
16. Boston Bruins (11-7-0, +3. PR: 25)
Ranked too low in the previous two weeks or just taking advantage of a soft part of their schedule? A little tough to say, but grinding out a 2-1 win against the Canes and then beating the Leafs in consecutive games – maybe this one’s not surprising – are definitely commendable feats. And they’re doing this with Morgan Geekie leading the team in goals.
17. Ottawa Senators (8-5-4, -2. PR: 28)
The Sens finally managed to win a game in regulation, and nearly half their games have gone to extra time. It’s hard to gauge a team when so many results have been decided by 3-on-3 and shootout gimmickry, but so far their depth has been very good.
18. San Jose Sharks (8-6-3, -2. PR: 30)
Ever since Ryan Warsofsky made that comment about trading his kid for a win, the Sharks have gone 8-3-1, so perhaps the apology wasn’t fully warranted. (Kidding). It’s worth noting for all the Macklin Celebrini highlights, the Sharks have held their opponents to just four goals in four games.
19. Washington Capitals (8-7-1, +7. PR: 16)
I think losing Pierre-Luc Dubois for most of the season is going to be a huge loss, and it highlights the Caps’ lack of depth at center. It’s a bad time, too, having lost six of their last eight.
20. Florida Panthers (8-7-1, -5. PR: 19)
It’s still not great, but it’s better. After losing four straight, the Panthers have alternated wins and losses. I think what’s most concerning, however, is that no one has really stepped up in Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk’s absence other than Brad Marchand.
21. Toronto Maple Leafs (8-8-1, -3. PR: 12)
Never mind the three-game losing streak, what might hurt most is losing Auston Matthews for an extended period of time. The Leafs have looked good at time this season, but nowhere near as good as they were last season or what people expected this season. Silver lining: Joseph Woll is returning soon.
22. Minnesota Wild (7-7-4, -8. PR: 23)
After a stretch of eight losses in nine games, the Wild have managed to get back on track, and getting better goaltending is no coincidence. They took advantage of the Preds, Flames, Isles and Canucks because some big tests against the Ducks, Knights, Canes and Jets loom in the coming weeks.
23. New York Islanders (8-6-2, even. PR: 26)
Big wins against the Rangers and Devils, so does that mean the Isles are the best team in the tri-state area? By the way, Ilya Sorokin’s line in October – 3-4-1, .877 SP, 3.40 GAA – versus his line in November – 2-0-1, .947 SP, 1.61 GAA. He’s back.
24. New York Rangers (8-7-2, -2. PR: 20)
No doubt having Vincent Trocheck helps a lot. After an embarrassing dearth of goals on home ice, the Rangers broke through in a big way against the Preds. I noted in previous weeks that the Rangers’ expected goals aren’t that poor, and the pucks should start going in soon. Even if you’re a pessimist, note the Rangers play at home only three times for the rest of the month.
25. Edmonton Oilers (7-6-4, -9. PR: 17)
What stuck out the most was an embarrassing 9-1 loss against the Avs. When Cale Makar scored from the same spot off the same play twice, it was a microcosm of the Oilers’ inability (stubbornness?) to adjust and change. You reap what you sow; the Oilers watched the same Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard we did and decided their best option was to run it back for a third time.
26. Columbus Blue Jackets (8-7-1, -1. PR: 11)
The Jackets at least ended their five-game road trip on a good note with a shootout win against the Kraken, allowing just one goal after allowing 17 in their previous four games. Consistency remains elusive, too, and they were just as streaky last season.
27. Seattle Kraken (7-4-5, -6. PR: 21)
The Kraken haven’t gone on any extended losing streaks like they did last season, which is positive, but they’ve also lost consecutive games four separate times already this season. They look a little more like the version that made the playoffs, but the story’s still the same – they can’t score.
28. Vancouver Canucks (8-9-1, -10. PR: 24)
Quinn Hughes looks like he might be playing hurt, and Thatcher Demko is definitely hurt. The Canucks are battling through injuries and managing to stay in games, but there continues to be an underlying current of frustration with the front office and management by the fan base. It’s not exactly toxic, but it’s not definitely helping, especially with what transpired last season.
Hall Of Fame D-Man Says Canucks' Quinn Hughes Is His Favorite To Watch, Paying Back ComplimentDuncan Keith has only been retired for three years, but the two-time Norris Trophy winner says so much has changed with the defense position: "Each generation does things that nobody has seen before."29. St. Louis Blues (6-8-3, -18. PR: 27)
The Blues nearly blew a 3-0 lead against the Flames, and given the way their season has gone, it’s actually a minor miracle they’ve somehow managed to win six games already. It certainly helps that Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer are playing better.
30. Buffalo Sabres (5-6-4, -8. PR: 29)
Losing Rasmus Dahlin is a huge blow, and we’ll see what Bowen Byram and Owen Power are really made of in the coming weeks. They’ve lost six of their last seven, including four in overtime, and have not won in regulation in two weeks. The Sabres have a logjam in the crease, which makes the panic signing of Alexandar Georgiev all the funnier.
31. Nashville Predators (5-9-4, -18. PR: 31)
If there’s a team that has the bleakest outlook, it’s certainly the Preds. Ryan O’Reilly was unnecessarily harsh on himself – perhaps he was deflecting – but there is some underlying truth to what he was saying. For many of the Preds’ vets, their best seasons are well behind them. They’re saddled with big contracts that will be tough to move.
32. Calgary Flames (4-12-2, -20. PR: 32)
The Flames have lost three straight and scored just two goals, quickly overtaking the Rangers as the league’s most offensively inept team. With dates against Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard coming up, they have zero chance if they can’t score goals.
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