Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

How A New Rule Is Impacting The Canucks' 2026 Pre-Season Lineups

The 2026 pre-season has presented some interesting challenges for teams across the NHL. Not only was the number of games cut, but a new rule has also limited how many times certain players can suit up in the pre-season. While there are some positives in that prospects can get more opportunities, it does create some strain on coaching staffs who need to balance their lineups throughout the four pre-season games. 

The NHL's new "veteran" rule prohibits certain players from playing more than two pre-season games. Using the Vancouver Canucks as an example, Aatu Räty will be ineligible to play the final two pre-season games, as after Tuesday he will have suited up twice already. Here is how the NHL defines a "veteran" for the pre-season:

  • Any player who has played one hundred (100) or more career NHL Games
  • any player who has played four hundred (400) or more career games in the NHL and/or AHL
  • A forward or defenseman who played in thirty (30) NHL Games during the previous season
  • A goaltender who either dressed in fifty (50) or more NHL Games or played in thirty (30) or more NHL Games in the previous season
  • A first-round draft choice from any of the five (5) previous years’ NHL Drafts
  • A second-round draft choice from any of the three (3) previous years’ NHL Drafts.

After morning skate and practice on Tuesday, Manny Malhotra was asked about the new rules and how they have impacted his roster selection for pre-season games. In addition to the new rules, teams must also ensure they have at least eight "veterans" in the lineup. As Malhotra explained, a shorter pre-season means that players need to be ready to go, as they won't have as many opportunities to stand out before the season begins. 

"We've thought about this all summer long," said Malhotra. "Just in terms of the new rules and the limit on how many games a guy can play. So that definitely weighs into the equation. I think it kind of goes without saying that the guys have a very clear understanding that there's not a lot of runway leading up to the season. I think we calculated about between eight and 10 ice sessions. You get your two games, and that's what you have to show. So, I think in terms of the preparation for the guys, it makes it that much more important to show in our skates, in our morning skates, the attention to detail. And then, once we get into these games, it puts everything out there."

The pre-season plays an important role for every team because it lets those on the bubble shine. They also allow players to get up to game speed and battle against opposition that is not wearing the same jersey. According to Malhotra, there have been plenty of conversations amongst the players about the new pre-season roster rules this year. 

"Yeah, it's been a topic of discussion, and they're the ones that are bringing it up to us. A lot of veteran guys, they would like to get into three or four games potentially. So the limiting factor on not being able to get games is definitely a topic of conversation amongst the players. But there's definitely an understanding that there isn't a whole lot of time when you take away a week of camp." 

Based on Vancouver's first two lineups, Malhotra appears to be saving his potential NHL roster for the final two home pre-season games. Besides Räty, other key players who will have played one pre-season game after Tuesday include Kevin Lankinen, Tom Willander, Victor Mancini, Arshdeep Bains, and Max Sasson. With the limited pre-season games, it will be interesting to see how ready players are when the regular season begins on September 29. 

Mar 24, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk (74) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) and forward Brock Boeser (6) celebrate Boesers goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Mar 24, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk (74) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) and forward Brock Boeser (6) celebrate Boesers goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Canucks Projected Lineup For Game 2 Of The 2026 Pre-Season Versus The Calgary Flames

Canucks Kirill Kudryavtsev Discusses Recovering From A Two-Month Injury, Playing For Manny Malhotra And His Goal Of Becoming A Full-Time NHLer

"I Feel Like We Executed The Days The Way We Wanted It To': Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra Speaks Following 2026 Training Camp

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Image
Posted on

Can Adem Bona finally establish himself as backup center for Philly?

Boston, MA - April 21: Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona rejects a shot attempt by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in the third quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

It feels like a make-or-break year for Adem Bona.

With all the excitement and anticipation around the 2026-27 Sixers squad on top of the fact that he is entering his third year as an NBA center, there is going to be a lot of pressure on Bona’s shoulders this season to actually solidify himself as rotation-worthy at this level.

With two years in the NBA under Bona’s belt, there have been ups and there have certainly been downs. That feels like the crux of the issue for Bona, actually. There have been moments that he shows incredible promise to be an impactful player with his high level of energy… but other times, he has looked completely lost, making more than his fair share of unforced errors. The balance, as it stands, is not exactly in Bona’s favor.

For what it’s worth, the 23-year-old has likely featured more heavily in NBA play than he might have ever expected to as a young center (making 71 appearances and 18 starts in 2025-26) simply due to the context of being on the Sixers. The backup five position in Philadelphia in the era of Joel Embiid has been and will continue to be an absolutely critical one. Even at his healthiest, Embiid is simply not going to be out there every game. Even if he was, he can’t be out there every minute. Having someone reliable to step in off the bench and even to start in those Embiid-less moments has been a continuing story (and struggle) for this team for years.

And going into this campaign, he’ll have some competition for the role with 7’0”, 246-pound Ariel Hukporti, whom the Sixers signed with a portion of their bi-annual exception this offseason, joining the squad.

And to this point, Bona hasn’t exactly found the footing to really establish himself as the reliable backup big for Philadelphia by any means. He is an energetic young player and is one of the best shot blockers you could ask for, but he’s virtually inconsequential (at best) on the offensive end minus a few dunks, struggles with defensive rebounding and is no stranger to unforced errors like moving screens and silly fouls.

The one most puzzling (and I think most detrimental to his value overall) won’t necessarily show on a stat sheet, but you know it’s true if you’ve watched him play: Bona cannot catch a basketball at times. His hands seem to suddenly lose the ability to grip, and instead become two completely flat surfaces for the ball to bounce right off of. That is a really bad quality in a 6-foot-10 center (with a 7-foor-4 wingspan) that you’d hope could make up for some of the Sixers’ lack of rebounding, especially on the defensive end.

It’s an especially bad quality when Bona’s game has so many other weaknesses. Now, that might sound harsher or meaner than intended, but it actually just displays something that — if Bona could do it just a bit better — could really balance out his value on the floor even against some of his sloppier moments. As it stands right now, he just doesn’t do enough well.

That being said, I can’t imagine there’s anything that motivates quite like the idea of playing alongside LeBron James, and Bona is going to have to establish himself quickly to earn the trust of the likes of LeBron… or he may fall out of the rotation fast and find himself replaced by the February trade deadline.

I think a large key for Bona is going to be not trying to do too much, which is when he seems to get out of sorts and commits questionable mistakes, and instead work on improving some seemingly-small but hugely-impactful fundamentals — like defensive rebounding — to solidify himself as a guy Nick Nurse can really trust to help stem the tide of the Embiid-less minutes on the floor.

They say pressure is what turns coal into diamond. Enterting year three with more at stake than ever personally and for the Sixers team, it’s up to Bona now to try to make that happen.

(A final note that Bona is currently dealing with a left foot sprain suffered during World Cup qualifiers, but is reportedly expected to return within the first two weeks of camp.)

Posted on

Kawhi Leonard’s future with Raptors comes into focus with whopping $115 million contract

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball, Image 2 shows Kawhi Leonard looking thoughtful during a press conference, Image 3 shows Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard holds the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy

Kawhi Leonard’s future in Toronto has been revealed.

The Raptors and Leonard agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with a player option for the 2028-29 season.

The Clippers traded Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors. Getty Images

Leonard is entering his second stint with the organization. He previously spent the 2018-19 season with the Raptors and led the franchise to its first and only NBA championship.

The extension comes just a few weeks after the Clippers were stripped of five first-round picks and fined $30 million for violating the league’s salary cap circumvention rules. While the Clippers are reeling from the NBA’s punishments, Leonard landed in a better situation.

After being fined $700,000 for his involvement in the Clippers scandal, Leonard was traded to the Raptors after the transaction was previously put on hold amid the investigation. The two-time Finals MVP made his first public comments since the trade last week, when he explained why he chose to return to Toronto.

“I’m not really championship chasing, trying to find the best team I could win [with],” Leonard said on the Raptors’ Open Gym YouTube channel.

“I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys. The city took a liking to my family, I took a liking to the city. Really enjoyed it. My son was born here, and he’s been asking me forever when he’s going to come back.”

In Toronto, Leonard joins Scottie Barnes in the frontcourt. The Raptors are positioned to make a deep playoff run after securing a top-five seed last season in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard speaks to reporters before a team practice. AP
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard holds Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 in Game 6. AP

Posted on

Former Jets Forward Retires From 12-Year NHL Career

On Tuesday, former Winnipeg Jets forward Kevin Hayes' NHL career has come to a close. Selected 24th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 draft, Hayes never actually suited up for Chicago. 

Instead, he starred for four years at Boston College before signing with the New York Rangers as a free agent in 2014 after the Blackhawks failed to get him under contract before he finished his collegiate career.

Hayes spent the bulk of his career in New York, where the first five seasons of his career were with the Rangers, featuring in 361 regular-season contests in Manhattan. Midway through the 2018-19 season, Hayes was traded to the Winnipeg Jets, a stop that turned into the best statistical season of his career. 

Hayes closed out that 2018-19 campaign between the two teams with 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points in 71 games, a career year that came to define his time in a Jets uniform before he moved on in free agency.

He later moved on to several other NHL clubs before ending his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins for two seasons. Over 12 NHL seasons, Hayes leaves the league with 185 goals and 446 points in 805 career games. He was also a finalist for the 2021-22 Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Flyers hold their breath as Vladar departs preseason game with injury

Flyers hold their breath as Vladar departs preseason game with injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers experienced their worst nightmare in the first period of Tuesday night’s preseason game at TD Garden.

Dan Vladar, their most valuable player, suffered an apparent injury with 6:29 minutes left in the opening stanza. The 29-year-old goaltender was hunched over, favoring his right arm and stick hand as he skated toward the bench after the Bruins scored to make it 1-0.

Vladar went down as he tried to corral a rebound and lost his stick. Michael Eyssimont took advantage by deflecting a shot past Vladar, who was back to his feet but banged up.

There was no immediate word on Vladar’s status. Aleksei Kolosov took over in net.

The Flyers simply can’t afford to lose Vladar for any extended period of time. The club opens the regular season next Wednesday.

Vladar signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension after an excellent first season with the Flyers.

(More coming …)

Posted on

theScore Bet Promo Code YAHOOBONUS: Up to $1,000 Back for Tuesday MLB Betting Slate

New users who sign up with theScore Bet promo code YAHOOBONUS at sign-up can claim a Bet Reset of up to $1,000 when they wager on any game in tonight's MLB lineup.

CLICK HERE: Bet Reset up to $1,000 with theScore Bet promo code YAHOOBONUS

New users only, 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be physically present in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, NC, OH, TN, and VA in order to wager. Players must sign up using a specified Promotion code and then place an Eligible Wager on an Eligible Game during the Promotion Period. Please Gamble Responsibly.

This page contains affiliate links. A commission or other compensation may be earned when you click through.

Football may be getting most of the attention, but there's still plenty of MLB action worth watching. Tuesday's 16-game slate includes several teams fighting for postseason positioning, making it a good time to get involved with baseball using theScore Bet promo code YAHOOBONUS.

TheScore Bet offers plenty of ways to bet Tuesday's MLB schedule, including moneylines, run lines, totals and alternate lines.

If you're a new customer, use theScore Bet promo code YAHOOBONUS to claim a Bet Reset worth up to $1,000. If your qualifying wager loses, you'll receive bonus bets equal to your original stake, up to $1,000. The bonus bets expire after seven days, so make sure you use them before they disappear.

6:35 p.m. ET

  • Blue Jays at Orioles

6:40 p.m. ET

  • Nationals at Tigers

  • Cardinals at Pirates

  • Brewers at Phillies

6:45 p.m. ET

  • Guardians at Red Sox

7:05 p.m. ET

  • Rays at Yankees — Doubleheader Game 2

7:15 p.m. ET

  • Reds at Braves

7:40 p.m. ET

  • White Sox at Royals

  • Marlins at Cubs

8:05 p.m. ET

  • Mets at Rangers

8:40 p.m. ET

  • Diamondbacks at Rockies

9:40 p.m. ET

  • Angels at Athletics

  • Astros at Mariners

9:45 p.m. ET

  • Twins at Giants

10:10 p.m. ET

  • Padres at Dodgers

With the regular season winding down, there are plenty of meaningful games across Tuesday's slate. Whether you're targeting a moneyline, run line or total, theScore Bet gives new users plenty of options to find a wager.

The Brewers at Phillies matchup stands out with Milwaukee bringing a 98-58 record into Philadelphia. The Phillies are 86-70 and in control of the final Wild Card spot. 

Use theScore Bet promo code YAHOOBONUS to claim a Bet Reset worth up to $1,000.

Play Responsibly. Void where prohibited. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or 1-800-GAMBLER or visitwww.ncpgambling.org; AZ: 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783) or text NEXT-STEP to 53342; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369). CT: (888) 789-7777 or visitccpg.org.

Posted on

Kawhi Leonard suggests he will retire a Raptor: inks extension with Toronto

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 16: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors huddles up with his team before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 16, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The dust is finally settling around the Kawhi Leonard trade, as the forward has put the finishing touches on a $165 million dollar deal for three years with the Toronto Raptors. Shams Charania reported today that Leonard has signed a two-year extension for $115 million dollars, offering the team a slight discount of $11 million dollars, while waiving his trade kicker of $7.45 million dollars.

Leaving several million dollars on the table demonstrates a newfound willingness to pursue team success, and an early show of commitment to Toronto. Leonard retains a level of personal control with the addition of a player option in the third year of his contract, where he would be 37 years old.

Charania went on to note that Leonard believes that his second stint in Toronto will mark the end of his career in the NBA, reporting that he had been told that the Klaw’s insistence that he will retire a Raptor was a notable component of the agreement between the two parties.

Leonard may be turning over a new leaf as he re-enters the Canadian market, seemingly moving past the pursuit of a paycheque that seems to have dominated his time in Los Angeles. As the superstar’s career is winding down, Kawhi’s unfinished business in Toronto seems that it will go on to dominate the latter half of the 2020s for this franchise, perhaps ushering the team into a golden age. Only time — and championships — will tell.

Posted on

After months in limbo, Kawhi Leonard gets $115 million contract extension from Raptors

Kawhi Leonard spent most of his summer waiting on the NBA to let him go back to Toronto. Now he's seemingly not going anywhere else.

Leonard agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Raptors that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season a person with knowledge confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because the deal was not yet publicly announced.

The extension comes eight days after Toronto finally closed its trade for the 35-year-old, a deal the teams agreed to on June 30 and then sat on for more than two months. The hold up was due to a league investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers had used outside endorsement deals to pay Leonard more than the salary cap allowed.

Leonard is in the last year of a contract that pays him $50.3 million this season. To get the trade done, he waived his full 15% trade kicker, a bonus some players get when they're dealt.

He's coming off a 65-game season, up from 37 the year before. He averaged 27.9 points and 1.9 steals and made the All-NBA second team.

The last time Toronto had him, he gave the city a championship and left a month later.

Why the Raptors paused the Kawhi Leonard trade

Toronto went 46-36 last season and lost to Cleveland in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. The Raptors agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 pick swap and second-round picks in 2030 and 2033 to the Clippers for Leonard.

On July 9, Toronto hit pause. The investigation was still open and nobody could say yet whether Leonard would be suspended. The Raptors did not comment publicly the rest of the summer.

The report that started the NBA investigation

In September 2025, reporter Pablo Torre reported that Leonard had a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a climate-focused financial company, that asked almost nothing of him. Former employees told Torre the deal was a way around the salary cap. Investors tied to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had put money in Aspiration.

What the NBA found

The league released its findings Sept. 2. Investigators found a "pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations." The Clippers had lined up deals for Leonard with four companies, pushed those companies to sign him by offering them team business and paid personal expenses for him.

The Clippers lost five first-round picks, 2029 through 2033, and were fined $30 million. Ballmer was suspended for a year. Gillian Zucker, president of business operations, got a one-year unpaid suspension. Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, got six months unpaid. Dennis Robertson, Leonard's uncle and business manager, was banned from dealing with NBA teams for five years.

Leonard was fined $700,000 and was not suspended.

"I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgement by people within my inner circle," Leonard said in a statement. He also said he signed his Clippers contract and the endorsement deals in good faith.

What's next for Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors?

The trade became official Sept. 14. The extension means Leonard is signed for more than one season in Toronto this time. He joins Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley under coach Darko Rajakovic. General manager Bobby Webster, promoted to executive vice president this summer, made the deal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After months in limbo, Kawhi Leonard gets $115 million contract extension from Raptors

Posted on

Boston Celtics Daily Links 9/22/26

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: The sneakers worn by Jordan Miller #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the game against the Denver Nuggets during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 17, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

HeraldFive Celtics players with most to prove this season after Jaylen Brown trade

Former Celtics coach Rivers joining NBC’s NBA broadcasts

Globe Longtime Celtics voice Mike Gorman lists Boston penthouse for $1.5 million

Brad Stevens explains why Celtics traded Jaylen Brown

Insisting his coaching career is over, ex-Celtics coach Doc Rivers joins NBC

Clippers hire John S. Gibson as interim CEO and governor after Steve Ballmer’s NBA ban

CelticsBlog Preview Review: Looking back at my 2025-26 preview

CLNS MediaShould Celtics Have Traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Baylor Scheierman Will Have a Breakthrough This Season

Neemias Queta Talks Leading Revamped Celtics Center Position

NBC Sports Boston Ramp to Camp: One bold Celtics prediction for 2026-27 season

NESNCeltics’ Neemias Queta Has Something to Prove After ESPN Snub

Celtics See Multiple Players in ESPN Top 100

Why Jayson Tatum Drastically Makes Celtics Numerically Scary NBA Title Contenders

Mass Live Celtics rival facing risky contract conundrum

Former Celtics coach Doc Rivers joining NBC after retirement

Celtics WireFormer Celtics coach Doc Rivers to reportedly retire from coaching

Could the Celtics win the 2027 NBA Eastern Conference Finals?

Robinson on change coming with Boston Celtics move, future battles vs. Knicks

Longtime Boston Celtics broadcaster Mike Gorman selling Boston penthouse

Celtics history: Dana Barros signed; Al Brightman born

Ceiling, floor, expectations: Mitchell Robinson with the Celtics in 2026-27

Why each East team won’t have home court at the end of the 2026-27 NBA regular season

The AthleticThe NBA season is less than a month away. Here are 30 reasons to be excited

Doc Rivers, retired from coaching, steps back into TV booth for NBC Sports

Hardwood Houdini Zach Randolph hints the Celtics may have to deal with Russell Westbrook after all

NBA media is finally realizing how dangerous the Celtics actually are

Nicolas Batum played a hand in the Celtics’ fate in the 2020s

Bleacher Report’s wild Celtics hot take is actually dead accurate

Celtics found their ultimate defensive anchor in Neemias Queta

Why the Celtics shouldn’t fear the Pistons’ $200 million Jalen Duren offer

CLNS Media/YouTubeNoah Eagle: Joe Mazzulla Was GIDDY About Celtics Game 7 Starting Lineup vs Sixers

Could the Celtics Make the East Finals Next Season? | You Got Boston w/ Noa Dalzell

NBC Announcer Noah Eagle Previews Boston Celtics and East Rivals | Celtics Daily

Locked on Celtics East Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers BETTER or WORSE than last season?

The AthleticDoc Rivers, retired from coaching, steps back into TV booth for NBC Sports

Celtics RoundtableBoston Celtics Officially Announce 2026-27 Media Day; Here’s What We’ll Want to Know

Former Boston Celtics Head Coach Gets New NBA Job

Sports Broadcaster Confident in Paul George’s Fit With Boston Celtics

Madyson/YouTube Raised in the Stands: Episode 1 – Mitchell Robinson

Essentially SportsNBA Referees Break Silence After Alleged Physical Abuse and Sexism Against Female Official

The Sporting NewsWhy Jayson Tatum Drastically Makes Celtics Numerically Scary NBA Title Contenders

NBA/You/tubeJaylen Brown’s Most MEMORABLE Boston Celtics Moments

HeavyJayson Tatum’s Jaylen Brown Praise Draws Pushback From DeMarcus Cousins

Celtics Champion Announces Major Career Decision

ESPN NBA Rank 2026: 10 players to watch in next season’s top 100

Fadeaway WorldDeMarcus Cousins Criticizes Jayson Tatum For Being A Bad Teammate To Jaylen Brown

The Celtics ChronicleCeltics Camp Battle: Ball Handling

The Post and Courier 2 pro basketball teams to practice at The Citadel in Charleston, including 18-time NBA champions

UFC/YouTubeHow jiu-jitsu makes Joe Mazzulla a better coach | CHAMPION MINDSET

Daily KnicksCeltics already giving Knicks painful reminder of what they lost in Mitchell Robinson

Fan RecapDeMarcus Cousins Just Turned Celtics Fans Against Jayson Tatum

Devin Carter’s Celtics Chance May Have Started With One Lost Opportunity

Celtics Face A Risky Payton Pritchard Decision They Can’t Fully Control

Joe Mazzullas Celtics Keep Looking Elite With One Lingering Problem

Celtics Have A Real Reason To Watch Milwaukee Closely Right Now

Celtics Center Concern Has Suddenly Turned Into A Real Strength

Basketball Network“Jaylen Brown is coming back between hero and villain” – Cedric Maxwell predicts a complicated Boston homecoming for the former Celtics star

Hoop Dungeon/YouTubeWhy the Celtics Chose Jayson Tatum Over Jaylen Brown

NBA .com2026-27 Season Preview: Boston Celtics

Sportsnaut8 Best Under-the-Radar NBA Moves of 2026 Offseason, Including Miami Heat Adding Tim Hardaway Jr.

Posted on

Florida Panthers Reveal Emergency Backup Goaltender For 2026-27 NHL Season

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, each NHL team will have an emergency backup goaltender who will wear No. 00. 

On Tuesday, the Florida Panthers revealed that Noah Altman will be their EBUG for the 2026-27 season, as George Richards of HockeyNow confirmed. 

Altman is a 6-foot-7, 26-year-old with college goaltending experience. Altman played four seasons at Quinnipiac but skated in only seven games. He last played during the 2024-25 season. Before attending Quinnipiac, Altman played for Shattuck St. Mary's, a prep school famous for producing Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Toews, and recently, Macklin Celebrini. 

Previously, the EBUG served as the goaltender in the team's home arena. But under the new CBA, Altman will travel with the Panthers rather than serve as the EBUG at Amerant Bank Arena. 

The Panthers haven't officially announced Altman at the EBUG, but he's been skating with Brad Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich, both of whom are injured. 

After graduating from Quinnipiac, Altman took a job at ESPN as a production assistant, according to his LinkedIn account. Now, he'll have the opportunity to be on the road with the Florida Panthers and maybe feature in an NHL game.

However, the Panthers' coaching staff and front office would likely rather not see Altman in between the pipes during a regular-season or playoff game, as that would mean both Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid had sustained injuries. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

2026 Brewers Minor League Roundup: Week 26

BILOXI, MS - SEPTEMBER 20: Josh Adamczewski #6 of the Biloxi Shuckers celebrates during the game between the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the Biloxi Shuckers at Keesler Federal Park on Sunday, September 20, 2026 in Biloxi, Mississippi. (Photo by Sierra Gatz/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!

As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.

The Sounds just finished up their season this week, and the Shuckers will be done either Tuesday or Wednesday. You can expect the annual Minor League Season Roundup next Tuesday, but for now, here’s the final weekly roundup of the season.

Triple-A Nashville Sounds

Current record: 80-69
Record this week: 2-4
This week’s opponent: vs. Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals)
Next week’s opponent: None

Standout performances:

Jonathan Ornelas: 7-for-20, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K
Eduardo Garcia: 5-for-16, 2 RBI, BB, 7 K
Brandon Lockridge: 5-for-18, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 6 K
Akil Baddoo: 5-for-18, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
Tyler Black: 5-for-22, 3 2B, RBI, BB, 4 K
Bryse Wilson: 6 1/3 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Coleman Crow: 9 2/3 IP, 12 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Tate Kuehner: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

The Sounds ended their season by dropping four of six games to the Memphis Redbirds, an inconspicuous ending to what was largely a successful season.

Infielder Jonathan Ornelas led the Sounds with a 7-for-20 performance that included his first two home runs as a Sound. Ornelas, who got a cup of coffee with the Brewers due to injuries earlier in the summer, is slashing .213/.327/.362 in 47 at-bats with Nashville.

Brandon Lockridge has now been in Triple-A for over a month. After this week’s 5-for-18 showing, he’s hitting .253 with a .701 OPS in the minors. Lockridge more than held his own in Milwaukee (.273 average, albeit with a .658 OPS), so while he’s not supplanting Luis Lara or Sal Frelick anytime soon, there’s a world in which he ends up on the bench in the playoffs as a pinch-runner and late-game defensive specialist.

Aside from Lockridge, Akil Baddoo, Tyler Black, and Eduardo Garcia each had solid weeks. None of the three appear to be in the Brewers’ future plans, but each has held his own this year in Triple-A. Black has put up a .755 OPS in 354 at-bats this year and seems like a candidate to end up somewhere else this winter.

As for the pitching staff, Coleman Crow got hit around a bit but managed to limit the damage, allowing 12 hits but only two runs over 9 2/3 innings. Tate Kuehner put together another solid start; since coming off the injured list last month, he hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his six appearances. In four of those outings, he’s allowed one or fewer earned runs, including this week’s start. Bryse Wilson was even better, tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings while striking out seven during his rehab assignment.

Double-A Biloxi Shuckers

Current record: 68-69
Record this week: 2-1
This week’s opponent: Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Miami Marlins) (Southern League Division Series)
Next week’s opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels) (Southern League Championship Series)

Standout performances:

Matthew Wood: 5-for-10, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K
Dylan O’Rae: 5-for-12, RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
Damon Keith: 4-for-12, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 6 K
Andrew Fischer: 3-for-13, HR, 3 RBI, 4 K
Jesús Made: 3-for-13, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Bishop Letson: 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
J.D. Thompson: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Josh Knoth: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Biloxi finished the first half with the best record in the South Division of the Southern League, so they’ve had a playoff spot secured for about half the season. This week, they finally got to prove their mettle and did not disappoint. The Shuckers swept a three-game set against the Blue Wahoos, winning the opener 6-3 and the clincher by an even more decisive 8-3.

Game 1 was deadlocked at 0-0 as Pensacola starter, and Madison, Wisconsin, native, Jacob Kisting (10-0, 1.72 ERA) no-hit the Shuckers through four innings. However, things took a turn when Kisting opened the fifth with two fastballs that were much slower than his normal velocity, and Shuckers outfielder Damon Keith tagged the second one for a solo home run. Kisting was clearly in pain after the pitch and was immediately pulled from the game. Biloxi then hung five runs on his replacement, Nigel Belgrave, to take the first game of the series.

In Game 2, Biloxi took a quick 6-0 lead and never looked back thanks to three two-run homers from Jesús Made, Matthew Wood, and Braylon Payne. Payne’s was an absolute laser, clearing the fence while he was still in the batter’s box.

Yeah, you read that right: 117 mph, which happens to be the hardest-hit ball by a Shucker this season. It’s not surprising that it came off the bat of Payne, whose 28 homers this season trail only Andrew Fischer (who’s had a record-breaking season) and Blake Burke.

After sweeping the Blue Wahoos, Biloxi advanced to the Southern League Championship Series, where they dropped Game 1 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, 5-4, despite home runs from Josh Adamczewski and Andrew Fischer. Fischer went opposite field to give the Shuckers a 4-2 lead.

Starter Josh Knoth went six strong innings and put the Shuckers in a position to win, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Each of Biloxi’s starters this week — Bishop Letson, J.D. Thompson, and Knoth — went at least five innings and allowed no more than two runs. All three have had their fair share of ups and downs this year, but they’ve looked better as the season has gone on, and their playoff performances can only give Brewers fans more reason to be excited about their development.

Finally, Blake Burke was named the Southern League MVP (despite having been in Nashville since August 10). This season, he became the first player to hit 30 home runs in the Southern League since 2015, while his 91 RBIs broke the Shuckers’ single-season record of 90, set by Jackson Chourio in 2023. Burke slashed .285/.367/.603 (.970 OPS) in 375 at-bats with the Shuckers.

Biloxi will need to win each of its next two games to claim the first title in franchise history — and the first outright title by a Brewers Double-A affiliate since 1994. Game 2 & a potential Game 3 will be held in Madison, Alabama at the home of the Trash Pandas. Game 2 is set for 6:35 p.m. CT on Tuesday night, and Game 3 would also be at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday night.

Posted on

Dodgers and Padres bring postseason urgency into showdown

Good ol' animosity. It's like an extra player roaming the field at Dodger Stadium as the San Diego Padres open play for a three-game series with their rivals to the north, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The National League West teams have a midweek turn that can go a long way to determining either team's plans for postseason glory. The Dodgers are four games in the black over the Atlanta Braves for the second-best record in the senior circuit, which would come with the benefit of a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Padres have their sights set on more than just October. San Diego remains on track to secure the top NL wild-card seed, carrying a five-game advantage over the Arizona Diamondbacks with only six games left in the regular season. The D-backs face a much steeper challenge, sitting four games behind the Phillies for the league's final wild-card berth.

If the standings were to remain, the Padres would open the postseason in a battle with the Chicago Cubs in a best-of-three series. Just one game ahead of the Phillies, San Diego could slide to the No. 6 seed in the playoff bracket, putting them in a wild-card series in Atlanta.

After that, the Dodgers.

One of the sport's greatest rivalries kicks off Tuesday with storylines aplenty.

Dodgers vs Padres previews possible playoff clash

The Dodgers are 14-3 over their past 17 games and are showing flashes of a team that is leaving the dog days of August behind them. Granted, much of the latest heat check has come at the hands of the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals.

Mookie Betts is again showing life as one of the best hitters in the league. His 1.214 OPS is good for third in all of baseball in September, and he has chipped in six home runs and 20 RBI in that span.

The team is getting healthier, with Roki Sasaki and Andy Pages returning for the Padres series, giving the Dodgers much-needed depth on offense and defense and time to acclimate.

Still, the Dodgers have cause for concern in a playoff collision course with the Padres. For one, San Diego has been just as hot, winning 14 of their past 16 games.

Fernando Tatis' resurgence and 1.083 OPS this month are big reasons San Diego feels hopeful, especially after the offensive doldrums he suffered earlier in the season.

Both teams are hot with the bats lately and are top two in OPS and home runs in September.

There remains the one sizable question in the form of Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers' previous World Series run was boosted by the star's two-way availability, pitching in four games in the 2025 postseason.

This year, the Dodgers will have to live with a percentage of Ohtani.

Dave Roberts gave hope that he might see action after his 15-day stint on the IL (biceps, knee). "There's a good chance next series we'll see him," Roberts said recently, pointing to this week's series with San Diego.

The Dodgers skipper continued, "It's going to be the best physical place he's been in in quite some time."

Clearly hampered by injuries, Ohtani has played in just nine games this month and batted .111 with six strikeouts.

The Padres meet the Dodgers in L.A. in the penultimate series for both teams before October baseball comes calling. These three games will be crucial to showing which team is more ready for prime time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers and Padres bring postseason urgency into showdown

Posted on

Cody Bellinger homers, Carlos Rodon dominant as Yanks beat Rays 2-0

The Yankees shut out the Tampa Bay Rays in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader, winning by a score of 2-0.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- Carlos Rodon was at his absolute best on Tuesday afternoon, limiting the Rays to just three hits (all singles) and striking out eight in eight scoreless innings. 

It was the longest outing by the left-hander this season and the first time he’s completed eight innings since July 11 of last year. In fact, since joining New York in 2023, Rodon has made it through eight frames just twice in 95 starts.

-- Rodon faced the minimum for the first 19 batters of the game thanks to two double plays turned behind him. The first twin killing came in the second when Jose Caballero started a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning after a one-out single. 

The second was a little more unconventional. With Richie Palacios at the plate, Victor Mesa Jr. broke on the 1-0 pitch which was lined into left field and caught by Cody Bellinger. Bellinger fired the ball to first base and Luis Garcia Jr. placed the tag on Mesa who was scrambling back which ended the inning. 

-- Aside from that, Rodon faced one over the minimum and was completely dominant from start to finish. He lowered his season ERA to 2.67 and has been excellent in September (3-0, 1.42 ERA in four starts).

-- Offensively, the Yankees had trouble with Rays starter Nick Martinez who was perfect the first time through the lineup. However, things changed in the fourth when Ben Rice led off with a double. On the very next pitch, Bellinger blasted one 382 feet to right field for a two-run homer to get New York on the board.

George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones added back-to-back, two-out singles later in the frame, but were stranded after Anthony Volpe struck out to end the inning.

-- The Yankees had another chance in the fifth after a bunt single by Caballero, followed by two steals, and a walk to Rice put runners at the corners, but Martinez got Bellinger to pop out and Heliot Ramos to fly out to end the threat.

-- New York wouldn’t get another baserunner after that, but it didn’t matter as Rodon kept the Rays off the board for eight innings before closer David Bednar came in for the save.

-- With a win in the first game of their doubleheader against their AL-East leading rivals, the Yanks are now 5.0 GB of Tampa Bay and at the very least delayed the Rays from clinching the division for a little while longer.

Game MVP: Carlos Rodon

It was perhaps Rodon's best outing of his career and came at a nice time.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees play the second game of their doubleheader with the Rays at 7:05 p.m.

LHP Max Fried (5-4, 2.63 ERA) goes for New York while Tampa Bay counters with RHP Drew Rasmussen (15-5, 2.72 ERA).

Posted on

Canadiens Caufield And Hutson Already In Mid-Season Form

With all eyes on the players battling for a spot on the Montreal Canadiens’ roster, the fact that the team’s sniper, Cole Caufield, is already in mid-season form has almost gone unnoticed. In two games so far, the diminutive winger has scored three goals in two games which is tied for the league lead.

But it’s not just the fact that he’s scoring goals; it’s when he scores them. When the Habs need a goal, Caufield always answers the call. So far, he has two overtime game-winning goals and one game-tying goal. Of course, it’s only exhibition games and ultimately doesn’t matter much, but with such a short preseason, hitting the ground running is a must.

Canadiens Narrowly Beat Sens In Kraft Hockeyville Battle
Canadiens: A Big Opportunity For Reinbacher
Canadiens: There Were Some Big Changes At The Bell Centre

Caufield’s chemistry with standout defenseman Lane Hutson is also worth mentioning. If Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov always seem to know where the other is, Caufield and Hutson do too, and they are a lethal combination in overtime. The Canadiens’ goal-scoring machine fell just short of capturing the Rocket Richard Trophy last year, and it certainly feels like he’ll be a serious candidate to win it this time around.

On the blueline, Hutson is leading the league in points with five in two games (one goal and four assists). The 22-year-old is literally flying on the ice this preseason, and despite his young age, he looks like a veteran out there, so much so that the coaching staff didn’t hesitate to pair him with David Reinbacher for the Kraft Hockeyville game.

Watching the pair go on Monday night felt like a glimpse into the Canadiens’ future, and as the game went on, they seemed to understand each other with even more ease. Reinbacher isn’t the same kind of defenseman as Hutson, and that’s why he complements him so well. The Austrian is very good at reading the game, and he knows when he needs to cover his partner when he joins the attack.

If Hutson carries his current form into the season, he’ll likely be in the conversation for the Norris Trophy and for numerous other seasons to come.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Posted on

Red Sox prepare for Wild Card; Cleveland Guardians arrive for penultimate series of 2026

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 05: Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider runs a Guardians flag in the outfield following the Major League Baseball ALDS Game 1 between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians on October 5, 2024, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

We’re down to the last week of the regular season. The final few games are thankfully at Fenway Park after the Sox completed their final road trip of the year last week. First up are the Cleveland Guardians.

The Red Sox last saw them in May, when Boston took two of three while scoring 9 runs in each of their wins. It looked like The Turnaround. Of course it would be nearly a month before that would happen. The Guardians? They’ve displaced the White Sox atop the AL Central. Is the White Sox magical run going to come up short of the playoffs? Or just turn into a Wild Card berth? The Red Sox might play a role in deciding that.

Tuesday’s game has a pair of young, talented lefties facing off. Parker Messick is having a great year. He lost a game to the Sox in May but only allowed 1 run in 5.0 innings. The Sox picked up single runs in the 6th and 8th innings and then scored 6 in the 9th, for good measure. He’s matched up against Payton Tolle. Tolle, in his last start of the regular season, is perhaps lined up to start Game 1 of the Wild Card series. He didn’t face Cleveland earlier this year and he’s been cruising. The Red Sox have won four of his last five starts. He struck out 38 against 7 walks.

Foster Griffin returned to MLB after three seasons in Japan and was pretty good for the Nationals. Since being traded to Cleveland, he’s struggled. At least in terms of ERA. With Washington he out-pitched his FIP by a run, In Cleveland he’s almost two runs in the other direction. He’ll be looking to try and carry the Guardians to a win and secure the division. Sonny Gray will make his last regular season start live on ESPN. Yes, there’s a mid-week national TV game. Gray has pitched like the ace all season in place of Garrett Crochet. He’s put up four quality starts in his last five outings. He tossed the one win against Cleveland in May by allowing just a single run in 6.0 innings.

Cleveland currently has TBD listed for the Thursday finale. Last time through the rotation following Griffin, they used Daniel Espino (righty) as an opener for Joey Cantillo (lefty). Cantillo has made 30 starts this season so this isn’t a Brayan Bello situation. He’d been starting until the last two outings, when he came in for the second and third innings, respectively. Overall he has a 3.74 ERA / 4.02 FIP. He’s struck out 167 hitters in 154 innings but also leads the league in walks with 79. The Sox will send Ranger “Mr. October” Suarez to the mound for his tuneup before the playoffs. Ranger had a weird outing last time: 5.2 innings, 5 Ks, 5 BBs. The Sox did top the Rays 4-2 but he had a little trouble after issuing just three free passes total over the three previous starts. Suarez started the other win against Cleveland. He allowed 4 runs in 5.0 innings but struck out 10 and the bats piled up 0 runs to bail him out. Can’t complain there.

Rookie Travis Bazzana is hitting .246/.338/.407 with 15 homers in his 118 games.

José Ramírez has been their team MVP for a while but since he returned from the IL has hit just .234/.301/.315 for 48 games. Clearly he’s still struggling.

Since he was acquired from the Angels, Jo Adell has hit 6 homers.

After slashing just .225/.332/.282 during the first half Steven Kwan has been hot: .354/.440/.430 since the All Star Game.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Tuesday, September 22: Parker Messick (2.57 ERA / 3.11 FIP) vs. Payton Tolle (3.02 ERA / 3.04 FIP)

Wednesday, September 23: Foster Griffin (3.67 ERA / 4.07 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (2.82 ERA / 3.50 FIP)

Thursday, September 24: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Ranger Suarez (3.27 ERA / 3.12 FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Tuesday, September 22: 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Wednesday, September 23: 7:10 PM ET on ESPN

Thursday, September 24: 6:45 PM ET on NESN