Contrary to popular belief, the contract is a legal one despite Schaefer not turning 18 until Sept. 5, which is when the contract ultimately kicks in.
Because Schaefer signed his ELC, that eliminates his ability to play in the NCAA this fall.
"I mean me, personally, I want to play in the NHL," Schaefer told us after throwing out the first pitch at the New York Mets game on Monday night. "Other people would always ask me 'where do you want to go?' But for me, I was so dialed in on wanting to play in the NHL. And when I set goals for myself, I work as hard as I can so I can get to that point.”
So, with college off the table, here are the options for the Islanders when it comes to Schaefer.
This is a reminder that Schaefer, under this collective bargaining agreement, is ineligible from playing in the American Hockey League, with the minum age being 20.
Schaefer turns 18 on Sept. 5.
OPTION 1: Plays in the NHL Full Time
The Islanders do not want to rush Schaefer. However, if they believe he's 100% ready to contribute in 2025-26 and proves his capabilities during training camp and preseason, he will likely make the team. There's an opening on the bottom pairing alongside either Scott Mayfield or Adam Boqvist, and it will be up to Schaefer to beat out fellow youngster Isaiah George.
Even if Schaefer makes the Islanders, that doesn't mean he has to play every day—just like we saw with Noah Dobson back in the day. There's value in practicing with an NHL team and getting your feet wet.
Once Schaefer plays over 10 games with the Islanders, that will burn the first season of his ELC, which brings us to the next option.
OPTION 2: Plays Nine Games Then Goes Back to Erie Otters
Schaefer may show well in training camp and earn a spot ahead of the 2025-26 season, but because of the 10-game rule when it comes to burning a year off an ELC, most youngsters get what we call a nine-game sample size.
After those nine games, the team will evaluate the player and decide whether or not he should remain with the big club or be returned to his junior team, which is the OHL's Erie Otters.
This past season, Calum Ritchie played seven games for the Colorado Avalanche before he was returned to the OHL's Oshawa Generals.
Because Schaefer only played 17 games for Erie last season due to mono and a broken collarbone, the Islanders would have to weigh whether staying with the NHL team in a bottom-pairing role is best for his development—or if playing top-pairing minutes on his talented junior team would prove more beneficial.
If, after the nine games, the Islanders believe sending Schaefer back to juniors is best, he would be ineligible to return to the NHL roster until after his OHL season ends.
OPTION 3: Plays More Than 10 Games but Still Goes Back to Erie
There is a world—not a realistic one—where Schaefer plays over 10 games with the Islanders and still heads back to juniors. For the Islanders and Schaefer, it's all about not rushing him. If they feel that he deserved more than nine games but maybe started to struggle around game 15, they could loan him back to juniors, where he'd have to remain for the rest of the junior season.
This is not a popular move, as the Islanders would be burning a year of team control for just a few extra games. But again, his development matters more.
Final Thoughts
Schaefer is going to be given every opportunity to make the Islanders. With Dobson now with the Montreal Canadiens, the Islanders don't just have a hole at 5-on-5 for a puck-moving defenseman—they also have a hole on the power play, even with Tony DeAngelo back on a one-year deal.
While beating out George for an NHL spot for that final starting defenseman gig won't be a cakewalk, Schaefer provides a clear need for this team. And if he can execute at training camp and show that he can handle NHL physicality while not deviating from his game, he'll make the team.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been the odds-on favorite to win his fourth National League MVP award since before the season even began. He tightened his stranglehold on the race through the end of June, leading the NL in homers, OPS, and extra-base hits.
As for Kyle Schwarber, he has largely toiled in obscurity, a distant third on the list behind Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs as recently as last week. Some books didn’t even have odds for him a month ago.
However, Schwarber’s annual June hot streak began a bit later than usual. But it’s here, and it has been a game-changer in the MVP race.
Tuesday night’s performance against the Orioles was the latest haymaker thrown by Schwarber, two resounding left hooks that laid waste to errant pitches. A two-run smash that tied the game at 3-3, then a TKO grand slam in the team’s eight-run sixth inning.
Since July 1, Schwarber leads the NL in homers (15) and RBIs (37), and he’s second in OPS (1.140). Ohtani’s insurmountable lead in the MVP race has been decimated. At FanDuel, for example, he is still a -650 favorite, but Schwarber is on the radar, second-best at +550. PCA is now third at +1300.
Surely, Ohtani adds value to his team with his pitching ability. But looking purely at the offensive numbers, it’s nearly a dead heat:
Ohtani
Schwarber
512
PA
498
102
RUNS
79
38
HR
40
73
RBI
94
.274
BAT AVG
.258
.378
OBP
.382
.600
SLG
.593
.978
OPS
.974
59
XBH
58
These two titans have put on quite a show. The final eight weeks of the regular season should be electric. It’s a shame there can only be one winner.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been the odds-on favorite to win his fourth National League MVP award since before the season even began. He tightened his stranglehold on the race through the end of June, leading the NL in homers, OPS, and extra-base hits.
As for Kyle Schwarber, he has largely toiled in obscurity, a distant third on the list behind Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs as recently as last week. Some books didn’t even have odds for him a month ago.
However, Schwarber’s annual June hot streak began a bit later than usual. But it’s here, and it has been a game-changer in the MVP race.
Tuesday night’s performance against the Orioles was the latest haymaker thrown by Schwarber, two resounding left hooks that laid waste to errant pitches. A two-run smash that tied the game at 3-3, then a TKO grand slam in the team’s eight-run sixth inning.
Since July 1, Schwarber leads the NL in homers (15) and RBIs (37), and he’s second in OPS (1.140). Ohtani’s insurmountable lead in the MVP race has been decimated. At FanDuel, for example, he is still a -650 favorite, but Schwarber is on the radar, second-best at +550. PCA is now third at +1300.
Surely, Ohtani adds value to his team with his pitching ability. But looking purely at the offensive numbers, it’s nearly a dead heat:
Ohtani
Schwarber
512
PA
498
102
RUNS
79
38
HR
40
73
RBI
94
.274
BAT AVG
.258
.378
OBP
.382
.600
SLG
.593
.978
OPS
.974
59
XBH
58
These two titans have put on quite a show. The final eight weeks of the regular season should be electric. It’s a shame there can only be one winner.
The Montreal Canadiens did well against the Atlantic Division last season, and that included the games against Steve Yzerman’s Detroit Red Wings. The Habs won three or the four meetings between the two sides last season, including the latest one in April, as both teams were clinging on to the hope of making the postseason.
Montreal and Detroit fought it out first in a home-and-away series in December. The Canadiens won both of those games, the first by a score of 4-3 in Detroit with Patrik Laine scoring the game-winning goal on the power play 12 minutes into the final frame.
The result was even worse for the Wings the next day in Montreal, as the Habs secured a 5-1 win. Jake Evans, Emil Heineman, and Laine, who had all scored the day before, struck again with Juraj Slafkovsky and Brendan Gallagher completing the score. The Wings were never truly in that one, and Alex Lyon was a big reason why, surrendering five goals on just 24 shots.
Detroit’s sole win of the season against the Canadiens came on January 23rd, a 4-2 triumph in which they took 45 shots on Samuel Montembeault’s net, with captain Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider leading the charge with a couple of points each.
As for the April game, Montreal won 4-1 despite only taking 21 shots on goal, far from Cam Talbot’s best effort. Meanwhile, Montembeault turned aside 35 of the 36 shots he faced. It was a tight contest until the very end; however, the game was tied until halfway through the second period when Josh Anderson sealed the deal, and Gallagher and Nick Suzuki both scored with less than two minutes to go.
In the end, Montreal outscored Detroit 15-9 on the season, and its knack to beat the Wings played an essential part in its playoff qualification. Motritz Seider and Dylan Larkin were the Wings’ best players against the Habs, each posting three points, while Patrick Kane and Joe Veleno each had two.
As for the Canadiens, Jake Evans was their top scorer, followed by Patrik Laine and the now departed Emil Heineman, who both had three. While Yzerman would have liked to add some scoring punch to his offense this summer, he wasn’t able to do so, but he did make some sizeable additions. Acquiring John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks for Petr Mrazek and two draft picks was a good move, if only as a solid placeholder until Trey Augustine is ready for the big leaguer.
Signing Mason Appleton as a free agent will also give Detroit some depth up front, and he has playoff experience. Yzerman was also able to retain Kane’s services while shipping out Vladimir Tarasenko, whose performance fell short of expectations last season. James Van Riemsdyk’s signing will add some veteran leadership, while Jacob Bernard-Docker will bolster the blueline.
The Wing will be gunning for a playoff spot this upcoming season, and those meetings with the Canadiens will be of pivotal importance. Kent Hughes didn’t stand pat this offseason, though, and the arrivals of Noah Dobson and Zach Bolduc will go a long way towards making the Habs a better team.
The first game between the two teams will take place on October 9, the second tilt in two days for the Canadiens, who are starting the season with a back-to-back.
Photo credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
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"I think [Michkov could become the face of the Flyers]. Philadelphia management loves Russian hockey players and is happy to invite them to the team," Sushko said.
"Matvei had a great debut season in Philadelphia. If he continues to progress, he will become the team’s main star in the future. It’s a pleasure to watch him and his game. I sincerely wish him a great career in the NHL."
For those who may not remember Sushko, the Belarusian forward was drafted 107th overall by the Flyers in 2017 and made his only two NHL appearances in Feb. 2021.
And, while Sushko has been in the KHL since the 2022-23 season, his words about Michkov (and the Flyers, especially) carry significance as someone who has been there and seen that.
Michkov, 20, led all rookies in goals last season with 26, and also finished joint-second with Macklin Celebrini in rookie scoring (63 pts), trailing only Lane Hutson (66).
What comes next for the Flyers star remains to be seen, but it's reasonable to expect small improvements around the edges to bring him at or near 30 goals, 50 assists, and 80 points.
The addition of Trevor Zegras and, in due time, Jett Luchanko, will give Michkov more speed and support down the middle, allowing him to do new things.
And new head coach Rick Tocchet is also prepared to let the Russian sensation do his thing, as he's said multiple times already this offseason.
Everything seems to be trending in the right direction for the young Michkov, but the next step will be executing and putting it on the ice next season.
Those moves aren’t shaking Pritchard’s confidence in the guys still left on the roster, though.
In the latest episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast, Pritchard sat down with Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg. The Oregon alum shared why, even in an offseason of retooling the roster, the Celtics enter next season with the same goal in mind. What message would he have for Celtics fans who might not feel the same way?
“We’re definitely trying to be a playoff team. We’re trying to win a championship,” Pritchard said. “It’s not even about playoffs, we have one standard in Boston and it’s to win a championship. Everybody in that locker room will have the goal of competing for a championship. And we will do everything in our power necessary to go for that. That’s what (the fans) should know.”
🔊 Celtics Talk Podcast: Payton Pritchard on Celtics’ summer changes, NBA’s new heave rule and Kyrie wanting to swing on him | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
The Celtics, fresh off a championship in 2024, are on a sustained run of dominance in the NBA dating all the way back to their 2008 title. In the past 18 years, the Celtics have 17 playoff appearances with four Finals trips and nine Eastern Conference Finals berths. They’ve made the playoffs in 11 straight seasons dating back to 2015.
All that is nice, but winning titles has long been the main goal in Boston, for the Celtics and all the other teams. Pritchard, since being drafted in 2020, has quickly realized that.
Next season, he’ll have to chase that goal without some of his longtime teammates in Kornet, Holiday and Porzingis. While sad to see them go, Pritchard is happy for them to be getting bigger opportunities elsewhere.
“I mean, it definitely sucks,” Pritchard said about the offseason changes. “You become brothers with your teammates, you’re with them all the time. So, definitely going to miss them. It’s part of the business side so you have to move on.
“But you see a guy like Luke (Kornet) get paid, you know, you have to be happy for him for all the work he’s put in to earn that.
“I’m personally really going to miss Jrue. Jrue’s like a big brother, somebody I learned a lot from. One of the best teammates that I’ve ever had, and competitors. He’s the reason why we won a championship, so going to miss him a lot.
“Obviously, KP (Kristaps Porzingis), the type of person he is. Boston fans loved him, and a heck of a talent. We’re definitely going to miss those guys but it’s part of the NBA. We have to regroup, got to find new identities, new people need to step up and we got to get back to that level.”
With so many minutes now up for grabs, Pritchard plans on continuing his ascension. Last season, he averaged career-bests in points (14.3), rebounds (3.8), assists (3.5), steals (0.9) and shooting percentage (47.2).
“I feel like everybody should be excited,” Pritchard said. “There’s a lot of opportunities across the board. For me, personally, I’m excited every year. Because it’s an opportunity to prove myself again, to show that I can take another step. And that’s my goal every year. I’m definitely hungry and motivated this year, been working really hard. So I’m excited.”
Pritchard also shared his thoughts on the NBA’s potential new heave rule, Jayson Tatum’s injury and what Kyrie Irving said about his half-court shot in the 2024 NBA Finals. Check out the full episode here or on YouTube.
SAN FRANCISCO — The trade deadline often is about what you get back, but because of the specific pieces the Giants traded away last week, that wasn’t really the case initially.
In Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers, Buster Posey and Zack Minasian traded away not just their eighth- and ninth-inning guys, but also the two longest-tenured pitchers in the bullpen. Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski was the longest-tenured position player and was very popular with the fans who have filled Oracle Park all summer.
It was a somber stretch for the organization, and the initial reaction was to say goodbye to three players who had become big parts of the franchise. But over the next two months and beyond, the focus will be on what came back.
The Giants got eight players in the three trades, including seven who still are in the minor leagues. The reaction from around the league was that they did very well in the Rogers deal, in particular, but Posey felt like the entire haul will help future Giants teams. There definitely was an emphasis on adding some players who are close to the big leagues, and that should help the 2026 group try to reach the postseason.
“You want to feel pretty good about what you’re getting back,” he said last week. “We feel like we added to the system, and yeah, it’s a huge plus to get players like (Blade) Tidwell and (Drew) Gilbert, who we think are very close to major league ready.”
Both could be options later this month or in September, and some of the others aren’t far behind. Here’s a look at what the Giants got back at the deadline, beginning with the one player they already have used:
José Buttó, right-handed reliever
The only acquired player to go right onto the big league roster, Buttó pulled a reverse Tyler Rogers. He was a Met who became a Giant, and over the weekend he pitched well against his former teammates. Like Rogers, he even joined his previous team on the flight back to New York on Wednesday.
Buttó has three strikeouts in two scoreless appearances for the Giants. For the season, he has a 3.47 ERA and 3.31 FIP, and those numbers are 3.40 and 3.84 over parts of four seasons. While Rogers will be a free agent at the end of the year, Buttó is under team control through 2030, so if he sticks, he could give the Giants a nice cost-controlled bullpen weapon for a few years.
The slider is the pitch Buttó used often against his former teammates over the weekend, and it has been his best pitch. Opponents are hitting just .182 off it this season.
Blade Tidwell, right-handed pitcher
Tidwell joined Buttó in going right on the 40-man roster, which was necessary after he made four appearances for the Mets earlier this season. They didn’t go well, as he allowed 15 earned runs in 15 innings, with 10 walks to 10 strikeouts and four homers allowed.
Tidwell’s first two appearances came as a starter and the second two as a long reliever, and the question moving forward is whether he will stick as a rotation option or move to the ‘pen.
Taken 14 picks ahead of Carson Whisenhunt in the 2022 draft and signed to an over-slot deal, the Tennessee product thus far has been developed purely as a starter. Of his 73 minor league appearances, 66 have been starts, and he has a 4.13 ERA with 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Tidwell has had command issues, but his walk rate this year is his lowest as a professional.
Minasian said the Giants liked Tidwell’s “plus breaking ball” and Baseball America has his slider as his best pitch. If he ends up in the bullpen, his velocity and a good slider would be a nice combo; he hit 99 mph in one of his big league appearances and averaged 96 mph with his four-seamer across those 15 innings.
Drew Gilbert, outfielder
Tidwell entered the Giants’ MLB Pipeline top 30 list at No. 12 and Gilbert came in at No. 13. The two were teammates at Tennessee and Gilbert went 28th overall to the Houston Astros in the 2022 draft, ahead of Tidwell and Whisenhunt and two picks ahead of Giants first-rounder Reggie Crawford.
Gilbert played in the 2023 Futures Game, but he wasn’t an Astro for long. He was a big piece in the deal that brought Justin Verlander back to Houston from New York at the deadline in 2023. Before the next season, Gilbert was a consensus top-100 prospect.
Gilbert has a .261/.361./453 slash line in the minors with 44 homers, 14 of which have come this season. He had some hamstring issues after getting drafted and hasn’t run much, but he is considered a good defensive center fielder with a plus arm that should allow him to play right at Oracle Park. Given that he already has more than 600 plate appearances in Triple-A, it shouldn’t be long before his MLB debut.
Minasian said the Giants like that Gilbert “plays with an edge.” He also watches Tidwell’s dog occasionally, which should be on his scouting report:
Blade Tidwell says he left his dog, Bentley, with Drew Gilbert in Syracuse.
The 23-year-old has been the DH for Sacramento in his first two games, but at some point the Giants will throw him behind the plate, and that might determine how the entire Doval trade is graded.
Rodriguez was the biggest piece in that deal, which brought back four players, and Posey spoke passionately about his talent after the deadline.
“I know (he) is not ranked very high (but) the guy, all he has done is hit,” he said. “I think he has been a player that, listening to our pro scouting department talk about him, that has kind of come on the scene a little bit later. He has never really been a famous guy (but) you’re a .308 career hitter in the minor leagues, you watch his swing and he sprays the ball all over the field. We’re happy and excited about him.”
Rodriguez has hit at least .296 in every professional season and has a .395 OBP in six minor league years. He only has reached double-digit homers once, but the Giants are buying into the hit tool and low strikeout rate — and the idea that he can catch.
Rodriguez has caught and played both corner infield spots, but he has a strong arm and Minasian said he thinks he “can be a quality defensive catcher.” If that’s the case, he should be Patrick Bailey’s backup next season, and as a right-handed hitter, he’s an ideal partner. That’s something the Giants haven’t had the last couple of years.
Trystan Vrieling, right-handed pitcher
Born in Idaho and raised in Washington State, Vrieling grew up a Giants fan. He told Trey Wilson of the Richmond Flying Squirrels that he was “shocked” to be in a trade for Doval.
“Man, I had watched Doval throw for a long time,” he said on Wilson’s podcast.
Vrieling was drafted out of Gonzaga in 2022 but missed all of the next season with an elbow fracture. He has a 4.36 ERA in the minor leagues while featuring a deep pitch mix.
Minasian noted that Vrieling’s velocity is trending up, and the Giants saw him at 95 mph consistently just before the deadline. Vrieling also throws a cutter, two sliders, a curve and changeup. If he can find a reliable mix, he could be a back-end starter down the line.
Parks Harber, corner infielder
Undrafted out of UNC, Harber had a .914 OPS in A-ball this year, but there’s a caveat. He turns 24 next month, so he’s pretty old for that level and the Giants probably will want to test him against better competition whenever he returns from the IL, which he was on at the time of the deal.
Harber is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and he hit 20 homers as a college junior. He has played first base and third base this year, and batted .326 after a promotion to High-A.
Carlos De La Rosa, left-handed pitcher
If you would like to feel old as you read this, note that De La Rosa was born in 2007. He’s exactly the type of player you want thrown into a deal like this one.
The lefty is 17 years old and has just 22 professional innings in the Dominican Summer League, with a promising 36 strikeouts. He has a low 90s fastball that has hit 96 mph, and Minasian referred to him as a prospect with “upside.” Baseball America notes that De La Rosa has the “highest ceiling” of the four players that got traded for Doval.
It’s possible that De La Rosa finds more velo as he gets older and stronger and turns into a really good prospect. It’s also possible this is the last we hear of him. It’s a lottery ticket, the type that front offices love.
Yunior Marte, right-handed pitcher
You don’t get much for trading rentals like Yastrzemski, but the Giants seem to have done pretty well here. The 21-year-old Marte — not to be confused with the other Yunior Marte, who once was a Giant and got traded for Erik Miller — was slowed by a meniscus injury earlier in his career, but he’s having a very good year.
In 19 starts in A-ball before the deal, Marte had a 2.74 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He has 79 strikeouts in 82 innings, and he has limited walks and homers as a professional.
Listed at 6-foot-5, Marte has a low 90s fastball that has touched 97. MLB Pipeline views him as a potential No. 4 starter, with the possibility of being a good bullpen fit down the line, too.
After a winding career path, Abou Ali now faces the pressure of being a designated player for one of the league’s best teams
As soon as I stepped on the field on the King Abdullah II Stadium in southeast Amman in June, Wessam Abou Ali stepped off. Palestine had just had their dreams of the 2026 World Cup ended by a last-minute Oman penalty that was as soft as they come. While some players in white fell to their knees or collapsed crying into the arms of coaching staff, the 26-year-old, with scrunched-up shorts, exited stage left to head to the United States and the global stage of the Club World Cup with Egypt’s Al-Ahly, after impressing so much on the African and Asian one.
Now, after this busiest of summers, the Danish-born star has signed for Columbus Crew – a No 9 for one of MLS’s best teams in need of one, and one who takes up one of the team’s allotment of designated player spots, to boot.
Just before the start of Monday night’s Boston Red Sox-Kansas City Royals game, Sox manager Alex Cora made a last-minute lineup switch that had fans scrolling their social feeds for updates.
Roman Anthony, the Sox rookie star who has helped propel the team to first place in the Wild Card race, was scratched from the lineup, but it wasn’t immediately clear why. Was he ill? Did he suffer an injury? Was the future of the season in jeopardy?
As it turns out, Anthony wasn’t seriously injured, but experienced some mid-back tightness, and the team chose to replace him in right field with Wilyer Abreu as a precaution.
“Came out to the line, everything felt normal all day, and I felt something as I was standign on the line. Just figured we’d be cautious with it,” Anthony said after the game. “It just was super uncomfortable, and I relayed that quickly and we just decided we were going to shut it down.”
Anthony is expected to sit out Tuesday’s game as well, but could be back in the lineup as soon as Wednesday.
“Yeah, obviously, I’ll get with the training staff and figure that out, but already definitely trending in the right direction and feeling better than it was earlier,” Anthony said.
As it turned out, the Sox didn’t need Anthony on Monday anyway, as they beat the Royals 8-5 behind strong pitching from starter Brayan Bello and strong offensive performances from Jarren Duran and Rob Refsnyder.
Yegorov, 19, is entering his sophomore season at Boston University, where he plays under former Devils forward Jay Pandolfo. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 181 pounds, the Russian netminder was drafted 49th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He impressed at the Devils’ 2025 Development Camp, towering over fellow prospects.
While not NHL-ready just yet, Yegorov has already shown why he’s among the league’s most highly regarded young goalies. In his freshman season at BU, he appeared in 18 games, posting a .927 save percentage. Remarkably, he joined the team midseason and debuted just four days later in a rivalry game against Boston College.
Raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Yegorov moved to the United States at 17 with dreams of making the NHL. He spent two seasons in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers, playing 43 games in 2023–24 (.892 SV%) and 19 games in 2024–25 (.912 SV%) before leaving midseason for NCAA hockey.
Only three goaltenders ranked ahead of him:
Yaroslav Askarov – San Jose Sharks prospect, 6'4", known for size and athleticism.
Jacob Fowler – Montreal Canadiens prospect, 6'2", considered a top-tier talent.
Trey Augustine – Detroit Red Wings prospect, 6'1", athletic and composed.
The Devils’ current goaltending depth chart features Jacob Markstrom as the starter, coming off a playoff run last season. Veteran Jake Allen, who re-signed this offseason, serves as backup, while Nico Daws, with 52 NHL games under his belt, holds the third spot.
Yegorov is widely seen as the franchise’s future in net, and his No. 4 ranking among all NHL goalie prospects is a promising sign for New Jersey’s long-term outlook.
A recent report shows that among major sportsbooks, the New Jersey Devils have the eighth-best odds to win the Stanley Cup this season.
ESPN Bet NHL Futures lists the Devils at +1600 to take home the Cup.
This follows the 2024-25 season, when New Jersey was eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes, 4–1. The Devils finished the regular season 42-33, ranking 16th in the league and 7th in the Eastern Conference.
2024–25 Playoff ResultsFirst Round Eliminations:
Ottawa Senators: Lost to Toronto Maple Leafs (4–2)
Tampa Bay Lightning: Lost to Florida Panthers (4–1)
Montreal Canadiens: Lost to Washington Capitals (4–1)
New Jersey Devils: Lost to Carolina Hurricanes (4–1)
St. Louis Blues: Lost to Winnipeg Jets (4–3)
Colorado Avalanche: Lost to Dallas Stars (4–3)
Minnesota Wild: Lost to Vegas Golden Knights (4–2)
Los Angeles Kings: Lost to Edmonton Oilers (4–2)
Second Round Eliminations:
Toronto Maple Leafs: Lost to Florida Panthers (4–3)
Washington Capitals: Lost to Carolina Hurricanes (4–1)
Winnipeg Jets: Lost to Dallas Stars (4–2)
Vegas Golden Knights: Lost to Edmonton Oilers (4–1)
Conference Final Eliminations:
Carolina Hurricanes: Lost to Florida Panthers (4–1)
Despite last year’s early exit, the Devils’ projected 2025–26 roster has both high-end talent and depth. Stars like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and Luke Hughes lead the way, supported by veterans Dougie Hamilton and Jacob Markstrom.
Offseason additions Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov strengthen the bottom six, while continued development on defense and improved even-strength scoring are expected to boost the team’s performance.
If the Devils stay healthy, particularly Jack Hughes, maintain a solid goaltending rotation, and tighten their defensive identity, they could make a deep playoff push.
Heading into the new season, they remain 8th in the league in Stanley Cup odds.
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers during a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Brock Stewart slumped in front of a mostly empty locker in the middle of the Dodgers clubhouse Monday afternoon, a stall that used to belong to pitcher Dustin May, as clubhouse attendants rushed over with boxes of brand new size 13 cleats.
A week ago Stewart was pitching for the Minnesota Twins, who wear red cleats. The Dodgers don’t, so Stewart needed a makeover.
“I got blue gloves coming too,” he said.
Getting dressed properly isn’t the only thing players have to worry about when they change teams in the middle of the season. Stewart had a home and family in Minnesota to pack up and move when he learned Thursday that he had been traded from a team with a losing record to one chasing a second straight World Series title.
By late Monday evening, Stewart found himself in the middle of that pennant race when he took the mound in the ninth inning of a tie game. It didn’t end well, with Stewart (2-2) surrendering a run on three hits while getting just two outs in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
It was a rude homecoming for the right-hander, who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 but waived five years later after pitching 36 times over parts of four seasons. After he remade himself during a six-year sojourn in which dropped down to independent ball, Stewart was brought back to Los Angeles to stabilize an overworked, injury-plagued bullpen that has struggled.
In his first appearance at Dodger Stadium in the home uniform since 2019, he added to those struggles, giving up hits to the first two batters he faced, then falling behind 2-0 to pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo, who flared a single over the infield to drive in the go-ahead run.
For manager Dave Roberts, one bad outing won’t change Stewart’s role.
“That’s baseball,” he said.
“He's a high-leverage guy,” Roberts added. “He was certainly needed for our ballclub and I will use him as such.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts watches from the dugout during a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Monday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Stewart certainly wasn’t the only reliever who struggled, with both bullpens wasting excellent efforts by starters Tyler Glasnow and Sonny Gray.
Glasnow gave the Dodgers (65-48) seven strong innings for the second time in three starts, conceding a run on three hits — none after the second inning — while striking out seven. Gray was even better in his seven innings, giving up just a fourth-inning solo home run to Freddie Freeman and a second-inning walk to Max Muncy before leaving with the score tied 1-1.
Anthony Banda was the first man out of a Dodger bullpen that has pitched more innings than any in baseball. Three batters later the Cardinals (57-57) went ahead on Iván Herrera’s home run to center.
Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien gave the run right back in the bottom of the inning on a double to Teoscar Hernández.
So with the score even again, Roberts called on Stewart, who has had a whirlwind week. Five days ago he was on his way to Cleveland with the Twins when he got a call to fly to Tampa, Fla., to join the Dodgers instead. That left his wife Christina to pack up the couple’s house, their sons, 3-year-old Jett and 16-month-old Cal, and their hound-mix puppy and move to Los Angeles.
“My wife is just wearing the brunt of it,” he said. “That's maybe what people don't understand.”
Roberts, who played in five cities in his career, said the challenge of changing teams can go beyond finding the right color glove and cleats. But the transition was easier for Stewart since he broke in with the Dodgers.
“He's familiar with some of the players, most of the coaching staff, the city itself, the ballpark,” he said. “Things like that are part of his past routine.”
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a solo home in the fourth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Monday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Stewart, arguably the biggest acquisition the Dodgers made at the trade deadline, had been in Los Angeles less than a day when he got to the ballpark Monday. He agreed he didn’t have much time to get acclimated, though he said he may need some time to find his way around the clubhouse, which underwent a $100-million renovation last winter.
As for his job, he said the Dodgers had made that clear.
“Andrew [Friedman] and [Brandon] Gomes just told me don't try to change anything. Just do what you've been doing and that'll be good enough,” he said, referencing the team’s president of baseball operations and general manager, respectively.
It wasn’t good enough Monday. But, Roberts said afterward, there’s still a lot more games to be played.
Right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to throw the equivalent of three innings to hitters Friday and if that goes well, he could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week. He has not pitched in nearly three months after going on the IL with a shoulder impingement.
Edman goes on injured list
Utilityman Hyeseong Kim, out since July 29 with a shoulder issue, is swinging a bat and taking grounders. Roberts is optimistic Kim will be able to return soon. But another utility player, Tommy Edman, went on the IL with an ankle injury. With Kim, Edman and Kiké Hernández, another utility player, all out with injuries, Roberts has not had the usual versatility he has enjoyed in fielding a lineup.
Islanders Sign No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer To Entry-Level DealThe New York Islanders announced that they have signed No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer to his entry-level deal.
