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2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

Vegas oddsmakers have released the first look at 2026 Stanley Cup futures, with the Oilers and Panthers leading the pack but one unexpected team is turning heads early.

As the hockey world anxiously awaits the puck drop for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final this Wednesday, the conversation is already shifting to next season and beyond. 

Sportsbooks have released early betting odds for the 2026 Stanley Cup, giving fans and bettors a first glimpse into who the oddsmakers think are poised for glory, and who might need a miracle run.

More NHL: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Betting Preview: Oilers-Panthers Set for Epic Rematch

At the top of the odds board are the Carolina Hurricanes (+700), fresh off another dominant regular season and looking to finally break through for a cup. Close behind are the Florida Panthers (+750) and the Edmonton Oilers (+750), both teams loaded with star power and built to continue contending. The Colorado Avalanche (+850) and Dallas Stars (+900) round out the top five, continuing their runs as perennial contenders.

Full list of 2026 Stanley Cup Betting Odds per FanDuel Sportsbook:

  1. Carolina Hurricanes +700
  2. Florida Panthers +750
  3. Edmonton Oilers +750
  4. Colorado Avalanche +850
  5. Dallas Stars +900
  6. Vegas Golden Knights +1200
  7. Tampa Bay Lightning +1600
  8. Los Angeles Kings +1800
  9. New Jersey Devils +1800
  10. Winnipeg Jets +2200
  11. Toronto Maple Leafs +2400
  12. Washington Capitals +2400
  13. Ottawa Senators +3200
  14. New York Rangers +3200
  15. Utah Mammoth +3400
  16. Minnesota Wild +3500
  17. St. Louis Blues +4700
  18. Vancouver Canucks +5500
  19. New York Islanders +6500
  20. Calgary Flames +8000
  21. Philadelphia Flyers +8000
  22. Columbus Blue Jackets +8500
  23. Nashville Predators +9000
  24. Montreal Canadiens +9000
  25. Detroit Red Wings +10000
  26. Boston Bruins +12000
  27. Buffalo Sabres +14000
  28. Pittsburgh Penguins +28000
  29. Seattle Kraken +35000
  30. Anaheim Ducks +40000
  31. Chicago Blackhawks +50000
  32. San Jose Sharks +50000

More NHL: NHL Insider Reports Maple Leafs, Golden Knights May Have Discussed Marner Trade

While the favorites are largely the usual suspects, the real intrigue might lie at the bottom of the list particularly with the Anaheim Ducks. 

Despite their +40000 long-shot odds, the Ducks are widely seen as a team to watch this offseason. With plenty of cap space and a clear mandate from general manager Pat Verbeek, Anaheim has publicly stated its desire to be aggressive in free agency and push for a return to the playoffs and they’ll have plenty of options.

More NHL: Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Next Team Betting Odds Revealed

This summer’s UFA class is stacked with talent, including:

  • Mitch Marner (F, Maple Leafs)
  • John Tavares (F, Maple Leafs)
  • Aaron Ekblad (D, Panthers)
  • Sam Bennett (F, Panthers)
  • Brad Marchand (F, Panthers)
  • Nikolaj Ehlers (F, Jets)
  • Brock Boeser (F, Canucks)
  • Matt Duchene (F, Stars)
  • Mikael Granlund (F, Stars)
  • Vladislav Gavrikov (D, Kings)
  • Brock Nelson (C, Avalanche)
  • Pius Suter (C, Canucks)

In addition, several restricted free agents could be targets for trades or even offer sheets:

  • Matthew Knies (F, Maple Leafs)
  • Gabe Vilardi (F, Jets)
  • Evan Bouchard (D, Oilers)
  • Luke Hughes (D, Devils)
  • Noah Dobson (D, Islanders)
  • JJ Peterka (F, Sabres)
  • Lukas Dostal (G, Ducks)

As the league prepares for one of the most intriguing offseasons in recent memory, these early odds offer a fun but potentially temporary snapshot of the landscape. A few bold signings or blockbuster trades could turn a basement dweller into a dark horse overnight.

More Hockey: 2026 Winter Olympics – Men’s Ice Hockey Betting Odds & Team Outlooks

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Plaschke: Missed chance to sweep Yankees leaves Dodgers in a precarious spot

Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, June 1, 2025 - Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages.
Dodgers left fielder Andy Pages bobbles a hit by New York's DJ LeMahieu during the Dodger's 7-3 loss to the Yankees on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The desperation of a toasted Dodger Stadium made itself abundantly clear Sunday in the fourth inning of a sunburn against the New Yankees.

With mighty Yankee Aaron Judge huffing and puffing at the plate, a lone insistent chant emerged from a Dodger fan lurking in the shadows.

“Ko-be! Ko-be! Ko-be!”

Sorry. Nice try. But on this day, the Dodgers lacked all evidence of a Mamba Mentality.

Coming off two inspirational wins in this three-game weekend showdown against their American League twin, the Dodgers ate the broom.

A team that had finally seemed to figure out its pitching watched its ace fold.

Read more:Yoshinobu Yamamoto runs into problems quickly as Yankees thwart Dodgers sweep

A team whose offense had become balanced and deep could barely poke a soft-tossing journeyman utility starter who they once cut.

And, yeah, a team that does everything right did bits of everything wrong, a wild throw scoring a run, a wild pitch scoring another run, and a foolish stolen base attempt costing yet another run.

In all, it resulted in a 7-3 Yankees victory that left the Dodgers facing another stark set of numbers.

Baseball’s most talented team is 12-10 against legitimate championship contenders.

Baseball’s richest team is 28-23 since starting the season 8-0.

And now one of baseball’s most injury-plagued teams must strap back in for a four-game series against a first-place New York Mets team that has won seven of eight. Followed by three games in hot St. Louis. Followed by three games in angry San Diego. Followed by three games against the reborn San Francisco Giants. Followed by four more games against damn San Diego.

Whew. Gulp. A little Mamba would be nice.

That the Dodgers are facing this impossibly tough stretch would have made it extra sweet to sweep the Yankees, particularly coming 24 hours after beating them 18-2, and less than 48 hours after roaring back to beat them 8-5.

Everyone thought this defending champion Dodger team of gargantuan expectations had finally and permanently arrived.

Not so fast.

“When these guys came into town, I think we ramped up our focus, our approach, just the intensity,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts before Sunday’s game. “And it’s fortunately showed.”

And then it disappeared again, which has sort of been the Dodgers issue all season, right?

“We’ve got our guy going tonight,” Roberts also said, referring to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a Cy Young candidate who had shut down the Yankees twice last season. “It’s going to be fun..”

And then it wasn't.

Roberts refused to change his positive tune afterward, maintaining, “For us, the takeaway is, we won a series, and that was the goal coming into this weekend.”

Yeah, but still...

Yamamoto had his second-worst stinker as a Dodger, surpassed by only his fumble of the division series opener last season against the Padres.

He gave up a career-high seven hits along with four runs in just 3 ⅔ innings, and didn’t have much help.

The Yankees quickly put the Dodgers on the ropes with a messy first inning, scoring one and loading the bases on, among other jabs, two walks and a wild throw home from left fielder Andy Pages.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulls starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulls starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the game in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

One inning later the Dodgers should have come back to take a 2-1 lead on Tommy Edman’s homer. But on the previous pitch, Pages, perhaps trying to make up for that lousy throw, was thrown out trying to steal third despite there being only one out.

One inning after that, Yamamoto went bust, walking Judge, giving up a two-run homer by Ben Rice, then yielding two singles to set up a run-scoring wild pitch.

It was all pretty scary stuff for a pitching staff working on such a precarious tightrope. There’s enough uncertainty in other places that the one arm they must be able to count on is the one attached to Yamamoto.

The four scheduled starters for the Mets series are Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin and Landon Knack. All have been both decent and struggling and the bottom line is, would you want to give the ball to any of them with your season on the line?

Read more:Hernández: How Japan media track down Ohtani's home-run balls

Honestly, the Dodgers need Yamamoto to be great, transforming a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon into a chilly missed opportunity.

His bad day was all the Yankees needed when the Dodgers’ vaunted four-man top of the lineup — minus an injured Mookie Betts — went hitless in 16 at-bats. A day after their offense banged out 21 hits, the stars can’t even raise a scratch on starter Ryan Yarbrough? How does that happen?

The Dodgers should have known all about Yarbrough. They had him for parts of the last two seasons, long enough for him to receive a World Series ring but not long enough to keep them from essentially releasing him before trading him.

The offensive struggles, which doomed late homers by Max Muncy and Pages, were epitomized by two middle-inning face plants.

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas tags out New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells.
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas tags out New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a stolen-base attempt in the seventh inning Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Dodgers put two runners on in the fifth, but a Miguel Rojas line drive to center field was caught, only briefly summoning memories of when it wasn’t.

Then, the top of the order couldn’t get the ball out of the infield in the sixth inning, meekly disappearing on 13 pitches.

“It’s funky, it’s funky,” said Will Smith of his former teammate’s style, and he’s not talking about a cool funky.

There was some good news for the Dodgers on Sunday, Betts working out while wearing a shoe for the first time since fracturing his toe during a midnight bedroom stroll and, according to Roberts, handling the pain. This means he could be back soon and, even though he has lacked his usual offensive greatness this season, his return can’t come soon enough.

Betts met the media before the game to discuss it.

”Just going to the bathroom... whatever you picture, that’s exactly what happened,” he said. “I’m sure we all have fractured toes from stuff like this...Just clumsiness I guess.”

Two words, Mookie.

Night light.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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‘Not right’: Verstappen issues veiled apology for Russell crash at F1 Spanish GP

  • Four-time champion posts message on social media

  • Driver hit with penalty for Spanish Grand Prix collision

Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his crash with George Russell by admitting it “was not right and should have not happened”. The four-time world champion was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Russell with two laps remaining of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Russell said he felt Verstappen’s move was deliberate and accused the Red Bull driver of letting himself down. He also suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified. After the race, Verstappen refused to accept blame for the coming together and even sarcastically offered Russell a tissue after he was informed of his rival’s comments.

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Celtics assistant GM Austin Ainge taking Jazz front office role

Celtics assistant GM Austin Ainge taking Jazz front office role originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Austin Ainge is reuniting with his father.

The Utah Jazz are hiring Ainge, the Boston Celtics’ assistant general manager, as their new president of basketball operations, the team announced Monday. ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim Bontemps first reported Ainge’s hire.

Ainge is the son of former Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who left Boston in June 2021 and took over as the Jazz’s CEO of basketball operations and alternate governor later that year.

Austin Ainge first joined the Celtics organization in 2009, serving as head coach of the G League Affiliate Maine Red Claws (now the Maine Celtics). He moved to the front office in 2011, starting out as Boston’s director of player personnel before assuming the assistant GM role in 2019.

“We are thrilled for Austin as he embarks on his new journey with the Jazz,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement Monday. “He’s clearly ready for this next step, and I know how much he’s looking forward to leading a team.

“He’s obviously very bright and has experienced success as a player, coach and executive at various levels of the game. On top of that, he leaves no stone unturned – he’s a strategic thinker that’s motivated and is an extremely hard worker. We will miss him in Boston, but could not be happier for Austin and his family.“

The timing of Ainge’s departure is notable, as Boston faces a potentially franchise-altering offseason. The Celtics need to shed at least $20 million in salary to get under the second apron of the luxury tax, and Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles — which could sideline him for most or all of the 2025-26 season — might convince Stevens to reset the roster in some capacity to avoid punitive roster-building and financial penalties.

Stevens and his front office now will need to make those decisions without Ainge, who gets the chance to serve in a prominent role for a franchise that features his father atop the masthead and a former Celtics assistant, Will Hardy, as head coach.

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Penguins Roster Breakdown: Which Young Players Have Realistic Hopes Of Cracking NHL Roster Next Season?

Mar 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Ville Koivunen (41) takes the ice for his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins are heading into the 2025-26 season with full intentions of having a youth movement on their NHL roster.

But, of course, a lot of that is dependent on who returns to the NHL roster next season.

As of now, there are four pending-unrestricted free agents - forwards Matt Nieto, Boko Imama, and Joona Koppanen as well as defenseman Matt Grzelcyk - and five pending-restricted free agents - forwards Connor Dewar, Philip Tomasino, and Vasily Ponomarev and defensemen P.O Joseph and Conor Timmins - who may or may not return.

But, barring any other moves in the trade market or free agency, here is a breakdown of which returning players remain under contract, how many roster spots - as things stand now - will be open for youth to fill, and which young players have the best shot at the NHL roster.

Who is already under contract?

Here are the NHL players - and their contracts - who are currently set to return next season, according to PuckPedia data:

Forwards

- Sidney Crosby: $8.7 million (UFA 2027)
- Evgeni Malkin: $6.1 million (UFA 2026)
- Bryan Rust: $5.125 million (UFA 2028)
- Rickard Rakell: $5 million (UFA 2028)
- Kevin Hayes: $3.75 million (UFA 2026)
- Tommy Novak: $3.5 million (UFA 2027)
- Danton Heinen: $2.25 million (UFA 2026)
- Noel Acciari: $2 million (UFA 2026)
- Blake Lizotte: $1.85 million (UFA 2026)

Defensemen

- Erik Karlsson: $10 million (UFA 2027)
- Kris Letang: $6.1 million (UFA 2028)
- Ryan Graves: $4.5 million (UFA 2029)
- Ryan Shea: $900,000 (UFA 2026)
- Vladislav Kolyachonok: $775,000 (RFA 2026/UFA Group 6)

Goaltenders

- Tristan Jarry: $5.375 million (UFA 2028)
- Alex Nedeljkovic: $2.5 million (UFA 2026)

---

Total number of contracts on the books for next season: 16

3 Amazing Stats Penguins' Sidney Crosby Can Hit Next Season3 Amazing Stats Penguins' Sidney Crosby Can Hit Next SeasonPittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby is one of the greatest players in NHL history, and he is showing zero signs of slowing down at 37 years old. The 2005 first-overall pick is still a dominant player at this stage of his career, and his stats this season effectively demonstrate that. The veteran center posted 33 goals and 91 points in 80 games this season.

How many spots will youth fill?

Well, if you're doing the math, if all 16 current returning contracts are accounted for at the start of the 2025-26 regular season - and if no pending-UFAs or RFAs return - the Penguins will have seven open roster spots.

But there's a good chance that, at least, a few pending-RFAs may return, and the team is likely to sign a few players in free agency. So, realistically, the Penguins should have anywhere between two and four spots for the taking. 

And - lucky for them - they have some youth talent who should be battling for those spots.

2 Prime Penguins Breakout Candidates For 2025-26 Season2 Prime Penguins Breakout Candidates For 2025-26 SeasonThe Pittsburgh Penguins are currently retooling their roster as they look to become a playoff team again. Because of this, the Metropolitan Division club will be hoping that some of their young players will take a notable step forward in their development next season.

Who will be in the mix for a spot on the NHL opening night roster?

If you ask whoever the next head coach of the Penguins - or POHO/GM Kyle Dubas - this question, they'll tell you something along the lines of, "everyone is in the mix."

While this does hold some weight - and, occasionally, veterans get waived or jettisoned in some form to make way for youth - the reality is that there, more than likely, will only be a few spots wide open.

Here are some players to look out for in training camp:

The frontrunners

- F Rutger McGroarty: McGroarty technically did break camp last season and spent three games with the NHL club before getting optioned back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - but he really shined in his five-game stint at the end of the season on the top line alongside Crosby and Rust, recording a goal and three points in five games before a foot injury ended his season. He should have an inside track at making the team from the jump.

Apr 8, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rutger McGroarty (2) shoots the puck as Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy (5) defends during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

- F Ville Koivunen: Like McGroarty, Koivunen showed that he belonged at the NHL level at the end of the NHL regular season. He was nearly point-per-game with seven assists in eight games and split time between Malkin's and Crosby's lines - both of which he thrived on. He is, by all accounts, the heaviest favorite to land a forward spot on the opening night roster. And he's earned it.

- D Jack St. Ivany: Don't discount St. Ivany, who had a poor start to the 2024-25 season that led to a demotion in November. Unfortunately, he was out of action in WBS for nearly two months with an injury, but - upon return - he played quite well. With the right side being as thin as it is beyond Karlsson and Letang for the Penguins, St. Ivany has as good a shot as any in cracking the roster.

In Midst Of Whirlwind Season, St. Ivany Regains ConfidenceIn Midst Of Whirlwind Season, St. Ivany Regains ConfidenceIt has been a whirlwind year for Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany. 

- D Owen Pickering: Pickering, 21, earned a long look at the NHL level last season, registering a goal and three points in 25 games to go along with a minus-5. He saw some top-four minutes on a pairing with Letang, and - although his play fell off a bit before he was re-assigned to WBS - he showed he is more than capable of playing at the highest level.

 The dark horses

- F Avery Hayes: Forget about Hayes at your peril. The 22-year-old winger recently signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Penguins, and he put up 23 goals and 42 points in 60 AHL games last season. He's feisty, he's clutch, and he's getting better and better each year, so don't discount the possibility of an impressive training camp earning him a spot.  

Penguins Forward Prospect Earns Entry-Level ContractPenguins Forward Prospect Earns Entry-Level Contract A potential key part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' future at the forward position earned himself a payday.

- F Filip Hallander: Now in his second stint with the Penguins' organization, Hallander, 24, is coming off of a breakout season for Timra IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He registered 26 goals and 53 points in 51 games and earned SHL Forward of the Year honors, and his strong two-way game shined as well. Hallander has the potential to be an NHL mainstay, especially if he has a strong training camp.

- F Tristan Broz: Unfortunately, a long battle with mononucleosis kept Broz, 22, out for two months during his first professional season. But he still recorded 19 goals and 37 points in 59 games, and the Penguins were impressed with his growth at the center position. His production slowed a bit post-recovery from mono, so - as long as he is healthy - he should have a shot at the NHL roster at some point next season, even if not straight out of camp.

- D Harrison Brunicke: Brunicke, 19, also missed a signficant portion of his junior season with the Kamloops Blazers due to a broken wrist. But he was the standout in training camp last season, and he impressed in a 10-game AHL stint at the end of the season for WBS, even working on the second pairing during the team's two playoff games over more seasoned veterans. If he has a training camp anything like last season - he was specifically named by Dubas as someone who could compete for a spot - he may just earn himself a nine-game NHL trial this time around.

Oct 4, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke (45) skates in on goal against Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly (7) during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The "long shots, but don't discount"

- F Sam Poulin: Realistically, players like Poulin and Valtteri Puustinen should have a leg-up on some of the younger guys because of production and prior NHL experience. Poulin had 19 goals and 43 points in 57 AHL games last season, but he was playing third-line minutes by season's end. Unless he is a standout at training camp, he's probably in the AHL. But he's still young enough at 24 that he could break out in a big way.

- F Mikhail Ilyin: Ilyin, 19, just signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Saturday, and he was just the eighth teenager in KHL history to record at least 30 points in a season last year. There's a good chance that Ilyin will return on loan to the KHL's Severstal Cherepovets next season, but if he comes to North America, he will certainly be one to watch with his keen hockey sense, playmaking ability, and creativity. 

Penguins Ink Forward Prospect Mikhail Ilyin To Three-Year ContractPenguins Ink Forward Prospect Mikhail Ilyin To Three-Year ContractAfter some uncertainty surrounding his status, it looks like Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Mikhail Ilyin is coming to North America next season after all.

- F Atley Calvert: Learn the name, because the 22-year-old undrafted Calvert was quite the buzz in the organization last season. He registered 13 goals and 36 points in 38 ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers before his AHL call-up, after which he turned in nine goals and 14 points in 26 games. He can score some goals, and he's flying a bit under-the-radar. Don't count him out.

- G Joel Blomqvist: The only reason Blomqvist is in this spot is because there are two goaltenders on the NHL roster who are, essentially, blocking any real chance of Blomqvist making the opening night roster. By all means, Blomqvist should be starting NHL games next season, but that largely depends on what happens with Jarry and Nedeljkovic. An injury that kept him out for most of the end of the AHL season didn't help his case, either.

Will Joel Blomqvist Be On Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Will Joel Blomqvist Be On Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Between injuries and inconsistency, the 2024-25 season was one of ups and downs for Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!       

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Tigers at White Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 2

Its Monday, June 2 and the Tigers (39-21) are in Chicago to take on the White Sox (18-41). Jack Flaherty is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Jonathan Cannon for Chicago.

Detroit is 6-1 in the last seven games and have taken five of the last six series entering this matchup. Chicago has lost three straight and six of the past seven.

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 how to catch tipoff, 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 Tigers at White Sox

  • Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, CHSN

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 Tigers at the White Sox

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (-210), White Sox (+174)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for June 2, 2025: Jack Flaherty vs. Jonathan Cannon
    • Tigers: Jack Flaherty, (3-6, 3.94 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 8 Strikeouts
    • White Sox: Jonathan Cannon, (2-6, 4.15 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts

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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Tigers and the White Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

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 Tigers and the White Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at White Sox

  • The Tigers are on a 10-game win streak at the White Sox
  • The Under is 4-1 in the White Sox's last 5 matchups against AL Central teams
  • The Tigers have covered the Run Line in 4 straight games at the White Sox

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Padres at Giants prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 2

It's Monday, June 2 and the Padres (33-24) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (33-26). Stephen Kolek is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Logan Webb for San Francisco.

The Padres are 5-2 over the last seven games and coming off a 6-4 comeback win over the Pirates last night, while the Giants are 2-4 in the past six, but are off a 4-2 victory over the Marlins.

San Francisco is 3-2 at home with Webb on the mound, while San Diego is 3-2 in Kolek's five starts this season.

Lets 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 how to catch tipoff, 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 Padres at Giants

  • Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming:

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 Padres at the Giants

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (+146), Giants (-175)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for June 2, 2025: Stephen Kolek vs. Logan Webb
    • Padres: Stephen Kolek, (3-1, 4.11 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Logan Webb, (5-5, 2.82 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 10 Strikeouts

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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

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 Padres and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Giants

  • The Padres have won 3 straight games at the Giants
  • This season the Giants pitcher Logan Webb has an ERA of 2.83 and a WHIP of 1.19 when opening
  • With Logan Webb opening the Giants are up 1.31 units on the Run Line at Oracle Park in 2025

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Twins at Athletics Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 2

Its Monday, June 2 and the Twins (31-27) are in {game.venue.city} to take on the Athletics (23-37). Joe Ryan is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Luis Severino for Oakland.

The Athletics enter this matchup with the Twins on a six-game losing streak and two straight series being swept. For Minnesota, the Twins have lost two consecutive games and three of the past four.

This is four-game series and the end of a 10-game road trip for Minnesota. The Twins are 2-4 on this cross country road trip against the Mariners and Rays so far. The Twins have won four straight with Ryan on the mound and the Athletics lost four consecutive with Severino pitching.

Lets 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 how to catch tipoff, 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 Twins at Athletics

  • Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
  • Time: 10:05PM EST
  • Site: Sutter Health Park
  • City: Sacramento, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, NBCSCA

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 Twins at the Athletics

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (-161), Athletics (+135)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Athletics

  • Pitching matchup for June 2, 2025: Joe Ryan vs. Luis Severino
    • Twins: Joe Ryan, (5-2, 2.57 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Athletics: Luis Severino, (1-4, 3.89 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Twins and the Athletics

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

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 Twins and the Athletics:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Twins on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oakland Athletics at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Athletics

  • The Twins have won 7 of their last 9 games at the Athletics
  • 5 of the Athletics' last 7 games (71%) have gone over the Total
  • The Athletics have lost 6 straight games
  • The Twins have lost 2 straight games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Steph admits to suffering from impostor syndrome at times

Steph admits to suffering from impostor syndrome at times originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry, believe it or not, is human.

Although the Warriors superstar might not seem like it at times on the court, off the court, he has personal struggles of his own.

Curry sat down with CNBC’s Alex Sherman in an exclusive interview for the network’s documentary “Curry Inc.: The Business of Stephen Curry,” which airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT and again at 9 p.m., and admitted that even he, the four-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star, has self-doubts.

“I’m human,” Curry told Sherman. “Like everybody, you have doubts about yourself, you have impostor syndrome at times.”

Even Curry, who has accomplished so much on and off the court, has impostor syndrome?

“At times, yeah,” Curry added. “It’s an idea of are you doing everything you can to take care of the people that are relying on you? Are you fulfilling your full potential in all different areas that I’ve set out to do, like those are daily commitments and daily thoughts that you kind of have to weave through.”

“We all like to be a better husband, a better father, more present at times, just because we’re pulled — I’m pulled — in a lot of different areas.”

While his life certainly can be hectic at times, Curry knows it’s important to enjoy the fruits of his labor when he can.

“All of these realties are wild to me, and sometimes you just gotta get out of your own way and enjoy it,” Curry added.

After the Warriors were eliminated from the NBA playoffs on May 14, and with no Summer Olympics commitment like he had last year, Curry should have plenty of time to unwind this summer.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Steph admits to suffering from imposter syndrome at times

Steph admits to suffering from imposter syndrome at times originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry, believe it or not, is human.

Although the Warriors superstar might not seem like it at times on the court, off the court, he has personal struggles of his own.

Curry sat down with CNBC’s Alex Sherman in an exclusive interview for the network’s documentary “Curry Inc.: The Business of Stephen Curry,” which airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT, and admitted that even he, the four-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star, has self-doubt.

“I’m human,” Curry told Sherman. “Like everybody, you have doubts about yourself, you have impostor syndrome at times.”

Even Curry, who has accomplished so much on and off the court, has impostor syndrome?

“At times, yeah,” Curry added. “It’s an idea of are you doing everything you can to take care of the people that are relying on you? Are you fulfilling your full potential in all different areas that I’ve set out to do, like those are daily commitments and daily thoughts that you kind of have to weave through.”

“We all like to be a better husband, a better father, more present at times, just because we’re pulled — I’m pulled — in a lot of different areas.”

While his life certainly can be hectic at times, Curry knows it’s important to enjoy the fruits of his labor when he can.

“All of these realties are wild to me, and sometimes you just gotta get out of your own way and enjoy it,” Curry added.

After the Warriors were eliminated in the second round of the NBA playoffs on May 14, and with no Summer Olympics commitment like he had last year, Curry should have plenty of time to unwind this summer.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Simon Yates rides away with prize of Giro d’Italia while rivals lose the plot | William Fotheringham

Del Toro and Carapaz became distracted by each other, allowing the Lancastrian to claim a second Grand Tour

The Mexican standoff is a much-loved cinematic device, but the stalemate beloved of western movie script writers has rarely, if ever, decided one of cycling’s Grand Tours. The 2025 Giro d’Italia was the exception, appositely as the biggest loser was an actual Mexican, Isaac del Toro, with the unassuming Lancastrian Simon Yates the two-wheeled equivalent of the bandit who skips off with the loot, while two other bandits – in this case Richard Carapaz and Del Toro – stare each other down waiting for the other man to blink.

Yates’s second career Grand Tour win, forged on the Colle delle Finestre on Saturday afternoon in a peerless display of courage and cunning, and sealed 24 hours later in the streets of Rome, will go down in cycling’s annals as one of the most improbable heists the sport has witnessed.

Continue reading...
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Top fantasy baseball prospects: Jac Caglianone getting the call, Harry Ford heating up in Tacoma

A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025.

That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.

1. Jac Caglianone, 1B/OF, Kansas City Royals

2025 stats: 50 G, 322/.389/.593, 9 HR, 2 SB, 24 BB, 46SO at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. 

Last week, I talked about how I wouldn’t be surprised if Caglianone was off this list because of promotion. Well, he made it to the list, but he won’t be here next week. Multiple outlets report that the 2024 first-round pick will have his contract selected before Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals. The left-handed hitter has massive power in his left-handed stroke, and while he is prone to strikeouts, the ball jumps off his bat; giving him a chance to be a contributor in the average category as well. There’s some obvious risk with using a rookie in your lineup and particularly one who will swing and miss, but there’s an enormous amount of upside in hie left-handed bat as well.

2. Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

2025 stats: 53 G, .303/.430/.492, 8 HR, 3 SB, 45 BB, 4349 SO at Triple-A Worcester.

Anthony’s dealing with his first struggles of 2025 over the last week, and one could easily wonder if perhaps he’s getting a bit bored at the Triple-A level. Even his struggles haven’t really been too dire, there’s just a lot of one-hit efforts lately. It’s very hard to panic based on a week of so-so handful of games, and you can see from the numbers above that he’s been excellent for the overwhelming majority of 2025. Anthony deserves to be with the Red Sox, and he deserves a roster spot when that takes place, if not sooner.

3. Jordan Lawlar, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 stats: 39 G, .338/.414/.569, 6 HR, 13 SB, 19 BB, 43 SO at Triple-A Reno; 8 G .000/.175/.000, 0 SB, 3 BB, 9 SO at Arizona.

Well, that didn’t go great. Lawlar is back in the minors after essentially serving in a utility role with Arizona, and he wasn’t able to pick up a hit in his week-plus with the club. These things happen. The top prospect went hitless in his first game back with Reno, but then went 3-for-4 with a run scored Sunday while drawing a walk and also driving in a pair. Even with how disappointing his run with Arizona was, there’s doubt in my mind that he belongs on this list. There’s five tools at his disposal, and he offers as much upside as any prospect in the minors -- at least at the higher levels. When the Diamondbacks give him another chance this summer, I’d still be willing to make the roster move.

4. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

2025 stats: 12 G, 58.1 IP, 2.31 ERA, .177 BAA, 28 BB, 73 SO at Triple-A Nashville. 

Speaking of bad weeks. Misiorowski made two appearances since our last update, and one outing was shaky, the other ugly. The better was four innings of two-run baseball -- one of those runs earned -- with eight strikeouts. The ugly was two innings where he allowed five runs and he issued six walks; an unfriendly reminder of Misiorowski’s command issues that have caused concern over the last two seasons. The 23-year-old has been excellent for the overwhelming majority of 2025, and still offers significant fantasy upside in his right arm. He’s just going to have to get back on track before he’s going to join the Brew Crew’s rotation.

5. Christian Moore, 2B, Los Angeles Angels 

2025 stats:  46 G, .269/.374/.363, 2 HR, 8 SB, 29 BB, 56 SO at Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake. 

It’s a little surprising that a first-round pick from the previous year hasn’t gotten called up yet based on their recent history, but Moore did receive a promotion to Triple-A, and it has gone well so far, albeit in a small sample. The eighth-overall pick has hit .362/.456/.468 since joining the Bees over a dozen games, and he’s stolen three bases with three extra-base hits. Moore has plus power and speed in his bat, and while he will strike out, he’s also a patient hitter who can draw free passes and put those wheels to work. The Angels have been playing well, but their middle infield still leaves a lot to be desired. I like his chance for fantasy success whenever he does get the call.

Around the minors:

Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford struggled to begin the 2025 season, and he hit just .200 with a .662 OPS in the month of April. To say things went better for Ford in the month of May is the understatement of understatements. He finished that month with an OPS of 1.120 with a slash of .411/.475/.644 buoyed by three homers and nine extra-base hits. A 2021 first-round pick, Ford has an outstanding approach at the plate and tremendous athleticism for a player who mostly plays behind the plate, and he’s starting to tap into his above-average power in his right-handed bat. He’s definitely not going to usurp Cal Raleigh as the starter, but it’s possible the Mariners find a way to get Ford’s bat in the lineup after recently calling up Cole Young from Tacoma, and he’d be worthy of fantasy consideration whenever that takes place.

It’s been an impressive first professional season for Chase Burns, and he continued his strong run with a couple of quality outings last week. The second pick of last year’s draft struck out 10 Sunday for Double-A Chattanooga, and he followed it up with six scoreless frames for the Lookouts on Saturday. His ERA on the season is now 1.93 over 46 2/3 innings, and that number dips to 1.54 when you look just as his numbers since being promoted from High-A. At this point, I would be more surprised if Burns didn’t pitch for the Reds in 2025 than if he did. Even in the Reds' less-than-ideal park for pitchers, he'd obviously be worthy of roster consideration should that take place.

Caglianone has been one of the best hitters in the minors, but the hottest hitter at the Triple-A level as of late is Rockies infield prospect Ryan Ritter. Ritter has homered eight times over the last week, and three of those occurred in one game against Reno. The shortstop is now up to 16 homers on the season, and he’s also forged an impressive .307 average and 1.059 OPS over 199 at-bats. Ritter was better known for his defense than his offense coming into the year, but clearly he’s taken a step forward with the bat in 2025. At the very least, he’s now a name to monitor; especially since he’s on track to play his home games in Colorado.

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2025 Memorial Cup: London Knights Capture Crown And Redemption With Win In Final

The London Knights are once again Memorial Cup champions. The OHL’s most dominant franchise over the last quarter century has once again asserted itself as CHL royalty, and it was a long, winding road to get there. 

Almost three years ago, the London Knights began what was supposed to be a rebuild or retool, an unusual spot for the franchise. That year, they made it all the way to the OHL final with a new core of stars emerging along the way. Denver Barkey, Easton Cowan, Oliver Bonk and Sam Dickinson were the future of the franchise and their growth and improvement over the following two seasons would set the Knights up for a historic run. 

Last year, they were looking to build off that relatively surprising season and they were dominant en route to an OHL championship before falling just short in the Memorial Cup final, losing on a last-second goal against Saginaw. They took a step – winning the OHL championship – but ultimately still finished their season with an agonizing loss in their final game. 

This year, they weren’t going to let the heroics of an opposing player or anything else get in there way. After dismantling every opponent that they came up against in the OHL and cruising to a league title for a second straight year, along with gaining entrance into the Memorial Cup, they finished second in the round robin. This was because of a loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers in a very hard fought game, but they breezed by the Moncton Wildcats to reach the final and a rematch with those same Tigers. 

After Jacob Julien opened the scoring in the first period, the Knights' core began to take over in the second period. Cowan scored on a net drive play, tapping a pass from below the goal line in from the top of the crease. About a minute and a half later, Barkey picked up a puck in the neutral zone, burst up ice for a breakaway and scored a beauty to put the Knights up three goals early in the second period. 

After Barkey added another for his second of the night, the Knights were up 4-0 heading into the third period against a very strong Medicine Hat squad that hadn’t lost a game to this point at the Memorial Cup tournament after ripping through the WHL for a league title. A team that strong wouldn’t go down without a fight. 

As London looked to park the bus a bit and lock down their big lead, Medicine Hat pushed back, and it was no shock that 2026 NHL draft phenom Gavin McKenna was at the center of it all. 

Under three minutes into the final frame, McKenna caught a pass on the half wall and cut to the middle quickly before firing a laser by the London netminder. The shiftiness of McKenna finally broke through the tight defense that London had played on him to that point. 

The Tigers continued to push, but the Knights continued to do their best not to break. With time winding down and their hopes beginning to be lost, McKenna found the back of the net once again, but the goal was reviewed and called back for a high stick earlier in the play by the Tigers. McKenna and the Tigers were understandably upset on the bench, but they kept pushing. 

When the Tigers pulled their goalie, it was all of the Knights' core players who were leading shifts out on the ice. Barkey was blocking shots. Dickinson was clearing the slot. Bonk was making defensive stops. Cowan was winning puck races. The core four were doing what it took to win in the biggest game of the year. 

The London Knights were celebrating on the bench as the clock wound down and gloves went flying as the clock hit zero and the CHL finally crowned their kings.  

This was a team of destiny. They began a rebuild and immediately got to the league final before losing. They came back the next year to win the OHL final but lost the Memorial Cup. They followed that up with this year's Memorial Cup win. The progression of the core and the team around them was incredible. 

Dale Hunter had a special tournament in his own right behind the bench. He became the winningest coach in Memorial Cup tournament history, finishing off with 17 wins after the championship game. He tied Don Hay for most Memorial Cup wins by a head coach as well. He didn’t want any of the spotlight, though, making it very clear in the aftermath of the game that this was a special team that he had the opportunity to coach. 

“Skill and will to win, that’s always the key,” noted Hunter. “We came up short last year, it hurt a lot, these boys were determined right from the get-go.”  

The stars were grateful for the opportunity that this team and the fans in London gave them over the years as they look to appreciate this championship before the large group of them look to move to pro hockey this year. 

“We hung out every day. We’d get ice cream together and watch horror movies together, even though I’m not a big fan of the horror movies,” laughed Cowan, who won MVP and led the tournament in scoring. “What a team we had.” 

Denver Barkey, Jared Woolley, Oliver Bonk, Easton Cowan and Sam O'Reilly (Vincent Ethier / CHL)

The Knights were a deserved champion. They built this team up and developed all of the key players on this team. 

“We’ve kind of been working towards it for all four years here. To come up short last year and then get it done tonight, it’s a surreal feeling,” Knights captain Barkey said, overjoyed. “I’m so proud. I went down in the Kitchener series, and I didn’t know if I’d play again this year, but these guys stepped up and made sure I played hockey again this year.”

The London Knights are sitting atop the CHL throne, once again as Memorial Cup champions.

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