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Penguins Win Prospects Challenge For Third Straight Year

The Pittsburgh Penguins capped off the 2025 Prospects Challenge in style on Monday with a 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. They finished the challenge with a 2-0-1 record, which is good enough to win the event for a third year in a row. 

They started a bit slow by giving up the first goal, but were able to rally and beat the Sabres 6-3. Avery Hayes and Tristan Broz were once again the two big standouts from this game and are riding a lot of momentum into training camp. 

Hayes tied the game at one, giving him four goals in three games. He was living in the offensive zone again and getting chances each shift he was on the ice. He was toying with the Sabres, and it clearly looked like he was too good for this competition. Hayes still has a lot of work to do to make the opening-night roster, but he's showing that he could at least be a call-up option during the 2025-26 season. His defensive work and skating were also noticeable throughout this tournament. 

As for Broz, he scored two power-play goals during Monday's win, and both goals came from in tight. The second one featured Broz stuffing the puck home even though it was potentially about to go in before. Still, he made sure of it when he scored. He continues to ooze in confidence and will be an underrated young player to watch over the next few weeks and during the 2025-26 season. 

Outside of Broz and Hayes doing their thing, let's look at a couple of other players who had good performances to round out this tournament. 

Benjamin Kindel 

Kindel was a little quiet to start the Prospects Challenge, but that changed in a big way on Monday. It was a classic Kindel game, where he used his great hockey IQ to his advantage and out-thought the other team while on the ice. His first of two goals was the perfect example of that when he scored from in the crease, and nobody knew where the puck was except him. 

It took the officials a couple of seconds to confirm that Kindel scored before dropping the puck at center ice. His first goal made it a 4-1 game before scoring his second goal to make it 6-3. 

Outside of his two goals, he added two assists and almost had a third when he made a nasty no-look pass to spring a 2-on-1 for a good goal-scoring opportunity, but the puck didn't go in. His development this upcoming season will be one to watch because he already has a lot of NHL traits in his game. 

'This Is Where I Want To Be': Sidney Crosby Reaffirms Commitment To Penguins'This Is Where I Want To Be': Sidney Crosby Reaffirms Commitment To PenguinsPittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby made it clear on Monday that he is sick and tired of the trade rumors surrounding him.

Quinn Beauchesne

Beauchesne unleashed a rocket of a slap shot from the point for a goal to essentially clinch the challenge for the Penguins' prospects. The goal made it 5-3 after goaltender Sergei Murashov made a massive save on a breakaway. 

The skating was once again flawless, and he was doing a great job of going from defense to offense from his own zone. He's set to play for the OHL's Guelph Storm again this year after he likely spends some time at the Penguins' training camp over the next week or two. 

Next up for the Penguins is their 2025 training camp. It's set to get underway at 8:45 a.m. ET on Thursday, September 18, and will run through October 1. 

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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Yankees strike out 14 times, held to two hits in lifeless shutout loss to Twins

The Yankees couldn't take advantage of inferior competition on Monday night, as their offense went astonishingly cold in an ill-timed 7-0 loss to the Twins at Target Field.

Here are the takeaways...

-- While the Yankees insisted pregame that Anthony Volpe was healthy enough to serve as a full-time player, they once again turned to the hot hand in utilityman Jose Caballero, who ironically made a pair of defensive miscues in the third inning. After a leadoff double, he struggled to handle a sharp short-hop grounder that produced an infield single. Then, with runners on the corners and one out, Caballero took too much time to flip a ball to Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base on what appeared to be a routine double play. The fielder's choice groundout allowed the Twins to take an early 1-0 lead.

-- Simeon Woods Richardson entered Tuesday with a bloated 4.58 ERA, but it didn't seem as if the Yankees even knew that the Twins' starter was vulnerable. They were simply caught off-balance by the right-hander's slider-splitter pitch mix, as he delivered a career-high nine strikeouts through five innings while allowing a pair of hits and walks. Caballero logged one of those knocks -- a one-out double in the fifth -- but he was regrettably picked off trying to steal third, moments later. Woods Richardson added two more punchouts in the sixth, finishing with a stunning 11 on 92 total pitches.

-- The lack of run support forced Carlos Rodón to work from behind, but the veteran left-hander still managed to grind through a quality outing. He struck out four across six solid innings (95 pitches), limiting the Twins to two runs on five hits and one walk. His biggest mistake came in the fifth, when he gave up a leadoff homer to Brooks Lee that bumped the Twins' lead to 2-0. Rodón has now allowed two or fewer runs in eight straight starts. His season ERA now sits at a solid 3.11 (182.1 total innings).

-- Luke Weaver took over for Rodón in the seventh, and for the fourth time in September, the right-hander grappled with command. He served up a leadoff pinch-hit double to Trevor Larnach, who proceeded to score two pitches later on a double to right from Lee. Weaver then loaded the bases via walks, and just when another pitching change seemed warranted, he allowed a bases-clearing double to Austin Martin that pushed the Twins' lead to 6-0. Camilo Doval took over from there, giving up a stolen base and an RBI single to Luke Keaschall. It was a huge five-run seventh for the Twins.

-- The Yankees' luck at the plate didn't change after Woods Richardson left, as three Twins relievers combined to record another three strikeouts over three scoreless frames. Cody Bellinger (2), Giancarlo Stanton (4), Ryan McMahon (2), and Chisholm (2) were responsible for more than two-thirds of the punchouts, and it was the Yankees' ninth shutout loss this season.

-- Ben Rice entered as a pinch hitter for Caballero in the top of the eighth -- he struck out on six pitches. In the bottom half, Rice moved to catcher as the replacement for Austin Wells,and Volpe took over at shortstop. The swap wasn't blemish-free, as Rice failed to corral a popup along the netting behind home plate.

Game MVP: Brooks Lee

Minnesota's shortstop raised his season RBI total from 58 to 60 with the solo shot and double. Those hits alone provided them enough cushion.

What's next

The Yankees (83-67) will continue their three-game series in Minnesota on Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:40 p.m.

RHP Cam Schlittler (3-3, 3.05 ERA) is slated to take the mound, opposite RHP Zebby Matthews (4-5, 5.06 ERA).

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Phillies clinch NL East with thrilling extra-inning victory over Dodgers

Phillies clinch NL East with thrilling extra-inning victory over Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LOS ANGELES — After getting plastered by the Royals Sunday in a game where the Phillies could have clinched the NL East with a win, the team had to sit for hours on a broken down plane until another arrived, fly cross country and then wait until the seventh inning to get their second hit of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But it was all worth it as the Phillies recorded a thrilling come-from-behind extra-inning win to secure the division. A sacrifice fly from J.T. Realmuto scored Harrison Bader after the later innings of the game saw a go-ahead home run by Bryce Harper in the eighth and an uncharacteristic blown save by Jhoan Duran in the ninth.

“Being down early like we were, we had one hit until the seventh inning, they’re just tough, they’re resilient,” said manager Rob Thomson. “I’m proud of them, I really am. This is a really special group.”

“We don’t have Wheels (Zack Wheeler) but we have a deep rotation,” said Thomson. “Deeper than we’ve had in the past, I think. The additions of Duran, he’s a guy that’s going to shut down a game. You can pretty much book it. The addition of David Robertson. Those guys have really helped this club. I think we’re a little bit different than we were in the past and I think we can do some things. We’re going to slug but we can also play some small ball to win games, too. It’s a good balance.”

The Phillies found out they clinched a playoff spot Sunday while sitting on the busted plane, but there was no celebrating that. Rob Thomson and his team wanted to wait until a real celebration could be done. The wait was well worth it, it seemed, as Harper pumped his fists and clapped his way around the bases after his go-ahead homer.

“We’re a really good team and I think we’re playing really good baseball right now,” said Harper. “We’ve got a bigger picture and things on our mind that we want to win in playing in October and into November. Every team we’ve had the last couple of years have been really good. Just hasn’t happened, hasn’t finished with a win. We have to understand that we’re a really good team and ebbs and flows of a season, obviously, but we’ve got a really good team.”

But Andy Pages prolonged the game with his home run to left off Duran that sent the game to extra innings. With Harrison Bader on second with one out in the 10th, the Dodgers intentionally walked Harper. He and Bader then pulled off a double steal and Bader scored on Realmuto’s fly ball to right.

David Robertson worked out of a bases loaded jam in the 10th with one out to close out the game and trigger the on-field celebration.

“That’s a tough situation,” said Robertson. “They have a really good lineup and trying to finagle your way around that. I just tried to be smart. Me and J.T. took a few minutes to try and talk some things over. Every call was his and every call was right. I tried to give it to him as best I could on every pitch and fortunately we were able to sneak out of that inning without giving up a run.”

Kyle Schwarber, who turned his No. 12 around to 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente Day, reached out and poked a first-inning home run, his 53rd of the season, to right-center off Dodgers opener Anthony Banda to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. It seemed to be a good start for the Phillies, but it turned out it was the only hit they would get in the first six innings as Emmet Sheehan was spectacular.

The Phillies were able to tag relievers Jack Dreyer and Alex Vesia for three runs in two innings to complete another memorable game for them at Dodgers Stadium.

The Phillies’ second hit of the night led off the seventh inning — a double by Otto Kemp to left. He scored on a Bryson Stott single before Weston Wilson then hit a no-doubter to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. But that was short-lived.

Mookie Betts homered off Orion Kerkering in the seventh to tie the game. Harper answered big time with his 27th homer of the season to center, setting off his mini celebration.

A bigger one awaited in the Phillies clubhouse after the game.

Matt Strahm pitched a perfect eighth inning before closer Jhoan Duran gave up a home run to Andy Pages in the ninth as the Dodgers tied the game at 5-5.

Phillies starter Ranger Suarez entered the game having allowed just three earned runs over 30 2/3 innings in his last five starts. He was good against the Dodgers but it’s hard to maintain the level of excellence he’s held over the past month.

Suarez finished his start after six innings and allowed seven hits, three runs and struck out five.

The Phillies now trail the Milwaukee Brewers, who were idle on Monday, by 1.5 games for the best record in the National League for the top seed in the playoffs.

“It’s always different, it’s a different road each time,” said Stott. “Different team and different guys. It’s always a blessing. The group of guys we have is great and every day to come to the field is a blessing. I don’t take myself too seriously and I just want to go out and win.”

They have done that 90 times this season against 61 losses. If they have played better baseball during this long season than they have over the past 15 games or so, it’s hard to find.

“The last four years have been the most fun I’ve had in baseball in my forty years in baseball,” said Thomson. “And I tell you that truthfully. It’s because of the guys. Being in charge isn’t that much fun sometimes, but being with these guys, it’s been a lot of fun because you see them fight and see them work. They have a lot of fun. I don’t feel 62. This has been fabulous.”

“I feel like this never gets old,” said Brandon Marsh. “To be on top of this division, one of the best in all of baseball if not the best, it’s a blessing to be where we’re at. We’ve got more work to do.

“We preserver, we fight to the last out. Kyle got us going early and then we went dead a little bit and we got back up. Ranger pitched phenomenal. I loved the Orion attacked them. Drob closing it out. You can’t really ask for anything else. It’s a really fun group of guys, we love each other, we’re all united. It’s a special group.”

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Antetokounmpo calls winning EuroBasket bronze 'probably the greatest accomplishment' in career

Giannis Antetokounmpo has an NBA championship ring and a Finals MVP trophy from 2021. He has two NBA MVP trophies.

However, after lifting Greece to the bronze medal in EuroBasket Sunday, he called that his greatest accomplishment.

"This is probably one of the biggest accomplishments that I've ever accomplished as an athlete. I know I've won an NBA championship, but there's no feeling like representing your national team and representing 12 million people that breathe and live this national team. This is probably the greatest accomplishment so far in my life."

Greece has the bronze because Antetokounmpo was dominant on Sunday, scoring 30 points and pulling down 17 rebounds to lead Greece to a 92-89 win over Lauri Markkanen and Finland.

This was the first time Greece has medaled at EuroBasket since it took the bronze in 2009.

Behind the play of the Kings' Dennis Schroder and the Magic's Franz Wagner, Germany took the EuroBasket crown, defeating the silver medal team Turkiye, led by the Rockets' Alperen Sengun.

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Ex-Devils First-Rounder Without Contract As Training Camp Nears

With training camps opening up around the NHL, five players remain unsigned restricted free agents (RFAs). Headlining that list is New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. 

A former Devil is also on that list: Alexander Holtz. 

In April, he concluded his first season with the Vegas Golden Knights organization after New Jersey traded him and Akira Schmid for Paul Cotter and a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

At the time of the trade, Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon told reporters, "We are taking a swing at his upside and what a change can do sometimes for young players. We have seen (that) with different players who have been brought into Vegas needing a change and have benefited by that change. That was the motivation behind acquiring Alexander Holtz. He is still a young player, and we think he is going to fit into our lineup and contribute and grow his game here.

Holtz split his time in the NHL with the Golden Knights and the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Henderson Silver Knights. 

In Sin City, the winger appeared in 53 games, collecting 12 points (four goals, eight assists). With the AHL club, he scored seven goals and earned 13 points in 16 games. 

His 2024-25 salary cap hit was $894,167. 

During his tenure with the Devils, Holtz appeared in 110 games over three seasons. He potted 19 goals and recorded 34 points. At the 2020 NHL Draft, New Jersey drafted him seventh overall. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Buffalo Hoping Center Krebs Will Emerge As Key Cog

Peyton Krebs (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is just about upon is, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re near the end of our player-by-player series in which we break down each Buffalo player’s expectations for the coming year.

We’ve already looked at the Sabres’ goalies and defensemen, as well as most of Buffalo’s top forwards. And in today’s file, we’re looking at young center Peyton Krebs – one of the pieces the Sabres got in the trade that sent star center Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights. Below, we’re going to analyze what’s reasonable to expect from Krebs in ‘25-26:

Player Name: Peyton Krebs

Position: Center

Age: 24

2024-25 Key Statistics: 81 games, 10 goals, 28 points, 13:56 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary: $1.45 million

2025-26 Expectations: Krebs was the 17th-overall pick of the Golden Knights in 2019, and while his adaptation to the NHL has been slow-but-steady – he’s averaged just 13:37 of ice time in 296 career games in hockey’s top league – Krebs delivered modest-but-career-highs in goals (10), assists (18) and points (28) last season. The 24-year-old is also well ahead of his prime, so you can understand why Buffalo still has hopes that Krebs will live up to his draft status and emerge as a top-six forward.

In that regard, Krebs began to show some serious promise at the end of next season, scoring four goals and 10 points in his final 13 games of the season. There’s no assurance Krebs can maintain that pace this coming year, but if Krebs can ascend through Buffalo’s depth chart up front – and do so at the relative-bargain price of $1.45 million – the Sabres are going to be delighted.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Exciting Young Center Kulich Has Good Chance To Be Special NHLer For BuffaloSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Exciting Young Center Kulich Has Good Chance To Be Special NHLer For BuffaloWe’re about to kick off the NHL’s 2025-26 season, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re moving through our player-by-player series in which we analyze every Buffalo players’ expectations this coming season.

Krebs may never be the type of player Buffalo envisioned he’d be when he was one of the centerpieces of the Eichel trade. But there’s still time for him to salvage himself – and not to mention, to get a significant raise when he becomes an RFA at the end of the ‘25-26 season. 

Krebs needs to come out of the gate confident and finding a way to contribute to Sabres wins, even if he’s beginning the season on Buffalo’s fourth line with wingers Beck Malenstyn and Justin Danforth, neither of who are offensive dynamos. Krebs has a tough challenge ahead of him trying to make his way into a top-nine spot in Buffalo’s group of forwards, but there’s still time for him to realize his potential and make a notable impact for the Sabres. 

Krebs averaged slightly less than 14 minutes of ice time last season, but Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff has to be open to giving Krebs more minutes this year. You want your young players to feel like there’s a fair and honest opportunity to rise through the pecking order, so Krebs needs to know there's a merit-based process that he can take advantage of and assert himself as a long-term piece of the puzzle in Western New York.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Winger Quinn Must Make Most Of His OpportunitiesSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Winger Quinn Must Make Most Of His OpportunitiesThe NHL’s 2025-26 season has just about arrived, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re continuing our player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for each Buffalo player in the coming season.

Although Krebs isn’t likely to usurp centers Ryan McLeod and Josh Norris to be one of the Sabres’ top two pivots, Krebs can force Ruff’s hand and give him no choice but to dole out ice time more evenly and reward Krebs for earning more kicks at the can. It's entirely up to Krebs to dictate how many opportunities he gets this coming year, and Buffalo has to give him a decent shot at growing into a veteran component of the Sabres moving forward.

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Sandis Vilmanis Continues To Impress Panthers Organization

Sandis Vilmanis had a stellar pre-season prior to the 2024-25 season and followed it up with a strong AHL rookie campaign. And now the Florida Panthers prospect stood out at this year's rookie camp.

Vilmanis played in three pre-season games last year, notching two goals and three points, which included an overtime winner against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Following his pre-season success, Vilmanis joined the Charlotte Checkers for his AHL rookie season.

On a strong Checkers team, the 21-year-old posted nine goals and 27 points in 61 games, including three goals and seven points in 11 playoff games. The youngster finished with the 11th most goals and 10th most points on the Checkers.

Standing 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, Vilmanis has an NHL-ready frame, but is currently working on adding pace to his game, which revolves around solid skating mechanics, nifty hands and a heavy shot. Drafted in the fifth round (157th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, the expectation would be that if Vilmanis did pan out, it would take some time, but the Latvian-born winger has progressed far faster than the team expected. 

Sandis Vilmanis (Florida Panthers)

Vilmanis showed up to rookie camp determined, and the results followed quickly. The left-handed winger got the scoring started in the opening game against the Carolina Hurricanes and did so again against the Nashville Predators in the third and final game.

Unfortunately for Vilmanis, he collided with the boards in the opening frame after forcing a turnover and creating a breakaway chance. The collision forced Vilmanis to leave the game, and he did not return for the second period. 

Vilmanis' health status is unknown, and the current hope is that he was removed from the game as a precaution. 

With the competitiveness of the Panthers' current bottom-six, it's unlikely that Vilmanis is even in the conversation to make the team, but if he continues to improve and impresses in the AHL, it wouldn't be too surprising to see Vilmanis earn his first call-up to the NHL this season and be a real contender to earn a spot out of camp next year. 

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Momentum from Bryce Eldridge's awaited MLB debut can't inspire slumping Giants

Momentum from Bryce Eldridge's awaited MLB debut can't inspire slumping Giants originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The momentum from Bryce Eldridge’s highly anticipated MLB debut wasn’t enough to lift the Giants past the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Chase Field. 

Instead, the Giants took another stumble in the NL wild-card race, succumbing to a series-opening 8-1 loss in Arizona. 

Eldridge, despite going hitless in his first game in The Show, was one of the few standouts on Monday.

The 20-year-old, who joined San Francisco greats Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain in the organization’s history book for youngest debuts, backed the hype, especially when going up against Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen in his first major league at-bat.

“It was fun. I think that was a good start, facing a guy like him,” Eldridge told reporters after his debut. “I had fun. 

“He had a good plan against me. It was fun to face him. I felt like I belonged. I felt like I competed and did my best.”

Less than 48 hours ago, Eldridge, selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, had zero clue he would be getting an major league call-up.

Fast forward to Monday night, and Eldridge revealed that he had more than 25 loved ones rooting him on at Chase Field as he put together an 0-for-3 performance, including an eye-catching flyout.

When asked about Eldridge’s awaited debut, manager Bob Melvin didn’t hesitate to validate why the slugger is one of San Francisco’s most promising power-hitting prospects in recent memory.

“He looks good up there. [He] had some good swings,” Melvin told reporters. “It’s too bad he didn’t get the one hit there, but he certainly didn’t look like he was overmatched, didn’t look like he was nervous.

“I’m sure there were some nerves there, but he looks pretty hitter-ish at the plate.” 

Now two games back of the New York Mets, and with persistent bullpen struggles at play, the Giants certainly will need Eldridge to be everything he has been promised to be. 

In the meantime, the organization’s No. 1 prospect at least got the debut nerves out of the way.

“I feel like just today, for the debut, there’s kind of like not pressure but some nerves,” Eldridge concluded.

“[I was] working through that. Like I said, the first at-bat. After that, it felt like a normal game. I don’t focus on that. I focus on trying to hit the ball hard and do my job.”

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Some Warriors coaches reportedly didn't prefer Jonathan Kuminga in 2021 draft

Some Warriors coaches reportedly didn't prefer Jonathan Kuminga in 2021 draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the Jonathan Kuminga free-agency saga continues with the Warriors, it was revealed that some within the organization reportedly would have preferred to select a different player with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. 

“A few” members of the Warriors’ coaching staff voiced a preference to draft eventual Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner instead of Kuminga, but Golden State owner Joe Lacob was the “driving force” behind selecting the Congolese forward, ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania reported, citing sources, in a piece published Monday. Wagner was drafted one pick later by Orlando with the No. 8 selection. 

“Lacob has remained a staunch Kuminga supporter and vocal believer in his long-term future,” Slater and Charania wrote. “He voiced an unwillingness to include Kuminga in a proposed trade from Chicago for Alex Caruso a couple of seasons back, sources said, and was still glowing about Kuminga’s performance in May after he rose from out of Steve Kerr’s first-round rotation to the team’s leading scorer in the second-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.” 

Despite being drafted back-to-back, the two forwards have had vastly different experiences in their four years of NBA service. 

In four seasons with the Magic, Wagner has played 291 games and was in the Orlando starting five for each game he played. In contrast, Kuminga has played 258 regular-season games with the Warriors and has started in just 84. 

Wagner signed a five-year, $224 million contract with Orlando prior to the 2024-25 NBA season. Golden State has reportedly offered Kuminga a three-year, $75.2 million contract. 

Kuminga’s usage has fluctuated throughout his four-year career with the Warriors. In the 2023-24 season, he logged a career-high 26.3 minutes per game and played in 74 of the 82 regular-season games. That number saw a downtick to 24.3 minutes per game last season, as he battled injuries and rotation changes while appearing in just 47 games, a career low. 

The 22-year-old restricted free agent’s playing time under coach Steve Kerr took its biggest hit after the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat at the NBA trade deadline in February. 

Kuminga played in just three of the seven games in the first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets. That changed in the next series, as he broke out in the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves in large part due to the hamstring injury to superstar Stephen Curry in Game 1 at Minnesota.  

In Curry’s absence, Kuminga was the Warriors’ leading scorer in the series, averaging 20.8 points per game. 

An obstacle to the re-signing of Jonathan Kuminga for the Warriors is the question of a substantial role for the forward, a key concern for Kuminga and his camp in free agency according to Slater and Charania. 

On the other hand, there has been no question about Wagner’s role with the Magic. Last season, the forward averaged 24.2 points per game, the second-most for the Magic behind NBA All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. 

Unlike Kuminga, Wagner did not face much competition for rotation minutes early in his career. In their rookie seasons, Orlando finished with a 22-60 record, the second-worst in the NBA in the 2021-22 season. In contrast, the Warriors went on to win the NBA Finals in that season, a much harder team to play vital rotation minutes for as a rookie. 

Although there was little difference in their draft position, there is a large gulf between Kuminga and Wagner in terms of contract size and team role in their young careers.

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Red Wings Announce Initial Schedule for Centennial Jersey Nights

The 2025-26 NHL season is a special one for the Detroit Red Wings, as it officially marks a full century of play.

The entire theming of the campaign will be centered around the centennial celebration of the winningest U.S.-based NHL franchise, and to that end, the Red Wings released their special alternate centennial uniforms they'll be wearing on select dates this season. 

The Red Wings have announced that the uniforms will be worn in each of their first two home games at Little Caesars Arena, both against fellow Original Six opponents.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Detroit will face the Montreal Canadiens in the regular season opener on Oct. 9, followed by a matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 11. In both games, the Red Wings will take the ice in their newly released centennial uniforms.

“Red Wings fans have long embraced the Winged Wheel, and we wanted our Centennial uniform to commemorate its legacy,” said Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment via the Red Wings official website. “This design honors the traditions that make Red Wings hockey truly distinctive, while incorporating meaningful details to celebrate this remarkable milestone in a way that stays authentic to Detroit. It recognizes the outstanding players, the defining moments and above all, the devoted fans who have shaped us into who we are today. We believe this uniform will serve as a powerful reminder of our history, while inspiring anticipation for the memorable moments yet to come.”

The new look incorporates elements from past uniforms the Red Wings have worn throughout their history, including when they were initially known as the Cougars and Falcons. 

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All You Need To Know About The Three Players The Hurricanes Signed To PTOs

Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

The Carolina Hurricanes signed three players to PTOs heading into training camp, as they will compete to make the Hurricanes’ opening night roster. 

Here’s all you need to know about these three players:

Kevin Labanc:

Lebanc has spent eight of his nine NHL seasons playing for the San Jose Sharks, while he spent last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In 512 career games, Leblanc has recorded 84 goals, 153 assists, and 237 points. 

The 29-year-old forward’s career best season came during the 2018-19 campaign with the Sharks when he tallied 17 goals and 39 assists for 56 points.

Oliver Kylington:

Oliver Kylington was most recently with the Anaheim Ducks where he played in six games. 

This past season, Kylington was traded twice. He was first dealt from the Colorado Avalanche to the 

New York Islanders as part of the Brock Nelson trade, and the Islanders quickly shipped him off to the Ducks for future considerations.

In his seven NHL seasons, Kylington has played for the Calgary Flames, Avalanche and Ducks. In 220 career games, the 28-year-old defenseman has recorded 18 goals, 42 assists, and 60 points. 

Givani Smith:

Smith was also traded twice during the 2024-25 campaign. He was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Avalanche in a deal that included Alexandar Georgiev and Mackenzie Blackwood in December. 

Full Look At The Hurricanes' Preseason ScheduleFull Look At The Hurricanes' Preseason ScheduleWith the start of training camp just around the corner, here's a full look at the Carolina Hurricanes' preseason schedule. 

Right before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, he was dealt from the Avalanche to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Erik Johnson. 

In six NHL seasons, Smith has played for the Detroit Red Wings, Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Avalanche. The 27-year-old forward has recorded nine goals, 13 assists, and 22 points in 168 career games.

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Hawks trade point guard Kobe Bufkin to Nets for cash considerations

Kobe Bufkin has played in just 27 NBA games across two seasons — because of time in the G-League and injuries — but at Summer League in Las Vegas this July he showed some potential as a point guard who could run the pick-and-roll, like during his 29-point outing against the Heat (17 in the fourth quarter to spark a comeback win).

That was enough to get the Nets to take a chance on him.

Atlanta is trading Bufkin to Brooklyn for cash considerations, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

For Atlanta, this is a salary dump. The Hawks save Bufkin's $4.5 million salary, putting them $7.7 million below the luxury tax line and $15.4 million below the first apron, where they are hard-capped (plus they create a trade exception they can use for the next year). For the Nets, this move puts them above the league's salary floor, but they still have $11.4 million in cap space to facilitate trades.

The Nets also get a one-year roll of the dice on Bufkin, to see if he is the point guard who was putting up so many points in Las Vegas, or if he is more the guy who was committing turnovers and not shooting consistently while he was doing so. This is the kind of move Nets GM Sean Marks made a lot during his first rebuild, taking a shot on a flawed player with potential to see if other teams have given up too quickly. Sometimes that works out, sometimes it doesn't, but it's a risk worth taking for the Nets, who are in the middle of another rebuild.

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Kings 2025-26 Player Preview: Francesco Pinelli

As the Los Angeles Kings prepare to try and finally make a deeper playoff run than in the previous few seasons, some players in the organization may be players to watch as potential call-ups throughout the campaign.

In this article, we take a look at Francesco Pinelli's 2024-25 season, what to expect out of him in the 2025-26 season, and his potential role in the Kings' organization.

Pinelli's 2024-25 Season

Pinelli, who is 22 years old, played with the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, scoring 15 goals and adding 14 assists for 29 points through 70 games.

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It was his second professional campaign with the Reign. In the 2023-24 season, he scored 13 goals and added seven assists for 20 points through 67 games. 

He was the Kings' second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at 42nd overall, and while he hasn't yet exploded offensively at the professional level, it seems as though there is still plenty of time to grow as he continues to try and turn himself into an NHL contributor one day down the line.

2025-26 Season & Expectations

As he looks to increase his production at the AHL level, there is a chance he becomes a player the Kings could call up if they run into some injury trouble.

There is a very slim chance that he makes the Kings' opening night roster, but a long shot is more than nothing. It's more than likely that he starts the season in the AHL with the Reign, where he will look to continue building on his offensive production and fine-tuning his defensive game. 

Pinelli has been praised previously for his offensive IQ and his ability to support his teammates while creating scoring opportunities for them and himself. He has been referred to as a craft playmaker who has a knack for finishing with the puck on his stick, and the Kings will be hoping he can continue to grow into a solid two-way contributor. 

According to the depth chart, Pinelli would have to beat out some really strong players to make the Kings out of training camp. So, the Kings are taking their time with Pinelli and letting him build confidence as he figures out his game, which is the right thing to do, rather than rushing him, so this will be another development campaign for the prospect.

Stay tuned in with your Los Angeles Kings here at The Hockey News, as the 2025-26 season inches closer.