PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) tends net in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on September 21, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Back on PPG Paints Arena ice for the first time since April, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their preseason slate with a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Sergei Murashov got the nod in goal and pitched a shutout, stopping 13 shots, in his 30 minutes of action before Joel Blomqvist took over. Connor Dewar, Bryan Rust, Avery Hayes, and Elmer Soderblom were the goal scorers. [Pensburgh]
Pens Points…
It will be a quick turnaround for the Penguins with the Detroit Red Wings coming to town for the second preseason game later tonight right back at PPG. It will an entirely different roster suiting up for the Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin along with twin brothers Liam and Markus Ruck. [Penguins]
It’s pretty remarkable, that even over two decades into his NHL career, Sidney Crosby remains one of the best hockey players on the planet. NHL Network has Crosby ranked at No. 12 on their annual list of the 50 best players in the league. [Pensburgh]
If you’re going to get injured, might as well do so before the season starts to lessen the impact of how many games you’ll miss. It was announced on Monday that Blake Lizotte is going to be week-to-week with an upper-body ailment. [Pensburgh]
With fewer preseasons games to make your case for the Penguins roster, every time out will be important and those lineup battles started to take shape last night against the Sabres and will continue through the week as the preseason rolls along. [Penguins]
After posting a career season in 2025-26, Justin Brazeau is back for an encore with the Penguins this season, but his job is anything but locked down at the moment, and he’ll once again have to earn his place in the Penguins lineup with a strong preseason. [Trib Live]
There was some shuffling along with blue line this offseason for the Penguins, with a few familiar faces leaving for other opportunities with new faces coming in to take their place. One of those new faces is Trevor van Riemsdyk who brings a strong, veteran presence to the back end. [Penguins]
Former Penguins forward Kevin Hayes announced his retirement from hockey on Monday following a 12-year NHL career. After spending two seasons with the Penguins, Hayes signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL last month but has decided to retire after only five games. [Trib Live]
NHL News and Notes…
Sam Steel could have opted to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but instead has decided to reup with the Dallas Stars a year early with a new four-year contract extension that will begin next season. [Sportsnet]
There will be some big names up for the Calder Trophy this season, including top overall pick Gavin McKenna. Outside of the preseason front runners, there are some under the radar rookies who could put together big seasons and spoil the coronation. [The Hockey News]
Josue De Paula celebrates in the dugout after scoring on an RBI single by the Dodgers' Mookie Betts last weekend against the San Francisco Giants. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula sat down with third base and outfield coach Dino Ebel in the visiting coach’s room at Great American Ball Park. Ebel pulled up defensive metrics on three different outfielders.
One was Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the National League MVP favorite and MLB’s defensive fWAR leader. Another was Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages, who has evolved into an elite center fielder during his time with the organization. And the third was De Paula.
“There’s a lot of colors in the game, and when you have red, it’s not good, and when you have green, it’s good,” Ebel said in a recent conversation with The Times. “And he saw a lot of green from the other two players, and he saw some green and some red on his side. So it kind of hit home with him.”
The reports broke down his first step, going right and left, arm strength, and so on.
“Just comparing [Pages’] journey, too, with mine — and that it’s possible,” De Paula said of what he took from the conversation. “I have all the tools under my belt to be able to do so. It’s more about just being focused throughout the whole thing, and having that drive to want to do it.
“And when I saw it, it was also a motivation for me. It was like, all right, let’s go now.”
It was De Paula’s bat that earned him a call-up when Shohei Ohtani landed on the injured list. And it’s his bat that’s now making his case for a postseason roster spot. (“This is more of a trial run,” manager Dave Roberts said last week.)
For De Paula to stick in the majors, however, his development on the defensive side is going to be key. As he has risen through the system, his outfield play has lagged behind his offensive influence. But the Dodgers have already seen growth this year.
“Our goal is to become, one day, a Gold Glover,” Ebel said. “And I think he’s young enough to do it, and his mindset is right, he’s got a chance to do that.”
Dodgers special assistant Jason Heyward started poring over video of the team’s top prospects — a group chalk full of outfielders, led by De Paula — as soon as he began working for the Dodgers’ front office at the beginning of May.
“He handles constructive criticism, for me, with some of the best of them that I’ve been around,” Heyward said.
Heyward, a five-time Gold Glove outfielder, first met De Paula in spring training in 2024, when the prospect jumped in on outfield drills with the major leaguers. In Heyward’s new role, he’s made multiple trips to Tulsa, Okla., to work with De Paula and the rest of the group there.
Heyward emphasized building a consistent and productive routine.
“He makes it so easy to have something to make relatable to this because I’ve seen his work in the cage, I’ve seen his attention to detail,” Heyward said. “He takes on challenges, but it’s not a, ‘Let me hurry up and get to this challenge, let me rush through this.’ He’s like, ‘No, I’m going to go about this how I want to go about it, I’m not going to be rushed, I’m going to lock in, and I’m going to give this like all my focus.’”
That process on the offensive side was something Heyward encouraged De Paula to tap into in all parts of his game, including defense. But De Paula said Heyward also acknowledged that the nature of playing in the outfield can make that more difficult.
“Hitting, you are always unfocused on the next pitch, your mind is always going,” De Paula said. “But you could go three days without getting a fly ball. So it’s kind of easy for your mind to drift and stuff like that. But it’s just more about tips of engagement and that intensity of focus.”
Heyward was a fitting person to deliver the message. Once a heralded prospect for the Braves, he put together a 16-year MLB career that included a second-place rookie of the year finish, an All-Star nod, and a stellar reputation for defense and veteran leadership.
“It’s a blessing to have somebody like that in your corner, especially rooting for you, to be able to see your talent, like what you’re capable of,” De Paula said. “He’s been through it, so he knows, man. So it’s awesome to have somebody like that as your mentor.”
“It’s a very commendable job that all of our staff have done at every level,” Heyward said. “... I’d be doing a big injustice without giving everyone their flowers on this because it’s definitely been a group effort. … For someone like him who became a part of the organization at 16 years old, he’s a Dodger through and through.”
Over the past week and a half, the major-league coaching staff, which also had De Paula in major-league spring training camp the last two years, has taken over. And already, they’ve seen the benefit of the routine he’s developed this year.
“All the reports that we’ve gotten from our minor-league staff are right on cue,” Ebel said. “He’s been working, he’s bringing it right here to the major leagues. And it’s a pleasure for me, with some energy, coming out early every day — hasn’t missed. We’re working on game situations, ground balls, left, right, right at him, fly balls, shags during BP. So we’re on the right track.”
Dodgers two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell joined them one day in Miami, catching De Paula’s throws in early work. Though the new teammates wanted to keep the specifics of their conversations between them, Snell’s advice and encouragement made an impression — “It’s like putting fuel in a rocket,” De Paula said.
“He’s just really, really talented, lots to learn,” Snell said. “And excited for him in his journey and what it could turn into.”
In the next city, Cincinnati, Roberts spent an afternoon in left field with him while he was shagging fly balls during batting practice.
“I wanted to be up close to watch him get off on the baseball, watch his reads, his angles to balls and make sure he’s shagging the right way,” Roberts said. “Had some instruction for him; he was great.”
Roberts, too, has challenged De Paula to make defense a strength, one that will keep him in games, rather than lifted for a defensive replacement. And De Paula has met it with bright eyes and motivation.
“The trust on the defense is going to come,” De Paula said. “I have to prove it over time. And with the work that I’m doing on the field, I know I’m going to gain it.”
A gold glove is a goal of his too.
“That’s one thing about me, when my mind is set on something, I feel like it’s no going back,” De Paula said. “So, I’ve gotten a lot of hate on my defense, and I just love to prove people wrong. So I’m like, hey, all right, there’s a weakness there, but I’m gonna shut you up. Just give me some time. I’ve got you.”
The slog is almost over, yet there’s still a fair amount of business to take care of during the final week of Major League Baseball’s 2026 season.
All three wild-card berths in the National League are technically still up for grabs, while the American League has two division titles and a wild card to give out. The slightly less pressing matter of playoff seeding also needs settling, though several teams are virtually locked into position.
With that, a look at four series that will impact this final week:
Key matchup: Tuesday – Guardians LH Parker Messick vs. Red Sox LH Payton Tolle
Outlook: The Chicago White Sox will certainly be interested to see just how motivated the Red Sox (who clinched a playoff berth Sunday) are to take down the Guardians. Cleveland enters the week holding a one-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central. Most notably, Red Sox aces Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez are lined up for all three games – but how deep will they go in their final starts ahead of their highly expected AL wild-card assignment against the Yankees?
Regardless, Tuesday’s game is a fantastic matchup of rookie left-handers, both likely to finish high on AL Rookie of the Year balloting but likely behind Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle.
Key matchup: Tuesday – Rays RH Nick Martinez vs. Yankees LH Carlos Rodón
Outlook: Well, this four-game series got downgraded in a hurry, from "showdown for AL East title" to "possible ALDS preview" to "Will the Yankees be upright come playoff time?"
The Diamondbacks’ series win over the weekend in the desert was hardly the worst news for the Bombers, who learned Aaron Judge could miss at least part of the postseason. Now they will get an up-close look at a seemingly unstoppable Rays squad that’s 17-6 and likely to celebrate their East title on the Yankees' turf. After that, it's simply fine-tuning while taking the week off before the ALDS.
The Yankees have a 5 ½-game lead over Boston for home-field advantage in the wild-card series, so they're all but locked in. Yet the Yankees need to show some signs of life and get some good news – on Judge, and center fielder Trent Grisham, who’s aiming to return from a hamstring injury. Tuesday’s doubleheader will line up the Rays’ top starters – Martinez and Drew Rasmussen – against lefties Rodón and Max Fried.
Key matchup: Wednesday – Brewers RH Logan Henderson vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola
Outlook: A carbon copy of Yankees-Rays: A small-market team simply tuning its engine before a first-round bye faces a bigger-market behemoth crashing out at the worst time. Make no mistake, the Phillies’ plight is much worse than the Yankees’. Their bullpen is a mess, with Orion Kerkering demoted to the minors and Jonathan Bowlan’s groin barking, All-Star lefty Jesus Luzardo will be fortunate to come back as a short reliever for the playoffs and the lineup ranks 26th in the majors in September OPS, at .671.
The Brewers? Basically sunning themselves before the NLDS, with a franchise-record 98 wins in hand and the No. 1 seed in the NL soon to follow. That said, they’ll want to see Dustin May provide quality length in his Tuesday assignment opposite Zack Wheeler and emerge as a solid No. 3 playoff starter. And Henderson-Nola is a fantastic matchup – perhaps one we’ll see in the NLDS, should the Phillies get their heads together.
Key matchup: Sunday – Diamondbacks RH Michael Soroka vs. Padres RH Michael King
Outlook: This is it. This is the big one.
OK, not really, but in a lackluster final week short on head-to-head showdowns, Arizona possibly fighting for its life against the team it’s been chasing all year is as good as it gets. Shoot, the D-backs could be eliminated by then, but winning two of three against the Yankees breathed new life into their flagging playoff hopes.
They cannot screw things up on their three-day diversion to Coors Field before heading to San Diego.
The Padres? Simply the game’s most devastating offense in the second half, second only to the Cubs in slugging and OPS and tied with the Brewers in batting average. The Padres and Cubs (87-69) and Phillies (86-70) enter the final week almost assured of a playoff spot yet could land in any of three slots: Hosting a wild card series, on the road at the division-winning Braves or out of the money altogether.
That can only happen if Arizona – four games behind the Phillies and five behind the Cubs and Padres – virtually wins out this final week. If nothing else, they can keep it interesting into the weekend.
English club rugby enters its fourth decade determined to meet its challenges with more high-profile investment deals and expansion
It has taken a while but the penny finally seems to be dropping with those in charge of English club rugby. Perhaps it is simply maturity striking as the professional club top tier reaches its 30th season. Remember how things felt when you began to settle down, look for a proper job and start a family? According to the league’s chief executive, Simon Massie-Taylor, it is a similar story with the Prem.
And maybe he has a point when he says the league, which kicks off this Friday, is entering a new phase. In the rear-view mirror are the toddler tantrums and playground politics that disfigured the early years, the teenage growing pains and the subsequent existential struggle of finding a foothold in a precarious world.
The Sacramento Kings enter the 2026-27 season as a team with plenty of room for improvement. The Kings snapped a 16-year long playoff drought in 2023 and haven't been back to the postseason since as a lot has unfolded, including a new general manager, head coach and face of the franchise.
The Kings finished their most recent campaign with a 22-60 record, the second-worst in franchise history since moving to Sacramento. It was the first full season for head coach Doug Christie, who initially went from assistant to interim coach when Mike Brown was fired in December 2024. The interim was tag removed last season under new general manager Scott Perry, whose focus has been set on rebuilding the team infrastructure and identity.
Perry has been able to begin the retooling process largely through the draft. In the 2025 NBA Draft he selected Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud and signed Dylan Cardwell as an undrafted rookie. All found their way into the rotation last season after the roster faced multiple injuries. They proved to be potential cornerstone pieces to a new era brewing in Sacramento. Perry followed that draft performance by selecting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, later selecting Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp to round out the event.
Sacramento will be an interesting case study in the league as the franchise attempts to field a competitive team and improve on their previous record while navigating the development its young players and monitoring potential trade offers vets like Sabonis and LaVine.
Here's a breakdown of the Sacramento Kings' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
G Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft)
F Alex Karaban (No. 29 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, trade with Cleveland)
G Emanuel Sharp (No. 45 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft)
Key roster losses
G Russell Westbrook (retirement)
G DeMar DeRozan (free agent)
C Dario Saric (international)
F Doug McDermott (free agent)
Biggest question entering training camp
How will the Kings' mix of veterans and young players mesh together?
Last season, the Kings' draft picks Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell earned minutes through development and injuries to Domantas Sabonis, who played just 19 games, Keegan Murray who played 23 games, and Zach LaVine who played 39 games. With incoming highly touted draft picks Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban, it'll be interesting to see how everyone fits and minutes are divided. The Kings also added Ben Simmons, who's looking to have a resurgent season after sitting out last year with a back injury. Head coach Doug Christie is going to have his work cut out for him figuring that out.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Darius Acuff Jr.
G Zach LaVine
F De'Andre Hunter
F Keegan Murray
C Domantas Sabonis
Rotation players
G Malik Monk
G Ben Simmons
G Nique Clifford
G Emanuel Sharp
G Adam Flagler
F Precious Achiuwa
F Daeqwon Plowden
F Alex Karaban
F Jonathan Mogbo
C Maxime Raynaud
C Dylan Cardwell
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Kings have a fun team. No one is predicting they will win a bunch of games, but expect the Kings to play hard. Sacramento will be exciting, energetic and to some extent entertaining. Monitor the gradual development of their future core, it could very-well influence the trade market. Overall, the growing pains will continue in California's capital. Anticipate struggle and expect lots of ugly games with the Kings – that's the price of development. Growth is coming. Try to appreciate the process and brace yourself for the ride.
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Isaiah Crawford #27 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 14, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Julian Phillips
Phillips is a 6’6” small forward who signed with the Rockets in the offseason after going to the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He spent two and a half seasons with the Bulls before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves at last year’s deadline. He then joineed the Rockets as a free agent this past summer. In case you’re noticing a trend, Phillips is the type of defense-first forward that Ime Udoka loves, as he has the length an athleticism to be NBA-ready on defense. However, the 22-year-old struggles offensively, shooting just 43.5 percent from the field for his career and 32 percent from deep. He also struggles creating offensively, but if the Rockets need another long, lanky wing defender to throw at teams, Phillips is your guy. He only averages 3.6 points in 11 minutes per night over his career, but we all know it’s your defense that could get you on the floor for Udoka.
Isaiah Crawford
Crawford is another 6’6” small forward, but this one played for the team last year after first spending his rookie year with the Sacramento Kings. He originally went undrafted in 2024 after earning Conference USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for Louisiana Tech. Crawford is another Udoka defensive specialist, and though he hasn’t gotten much run with the big boys, he had a pretty good line in Rio Grande Valley last year, going for 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.2 steals per game on 53.4 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from deep. Crawford is 24, so I’m not sure how much ceiling he has left, but the Rockets have a baller in tow in case they need to break glass in case of emergency. I don’t expect much run this year barring injury, but Crawford is another guy that’s a good fit for what Udoka wants to do.
After years of irrelevance and rebuilding, after a season spent tanking, the Jazz have an unproven but talented roster in place. So, now, expectations are elevating in kind.
After years of rebuilding, can this Jazz team finally compete in the West?
Across the last four seasons, the Jazz have won 107 of a possible 328 games (.326). Across the last two, they’ve won only 39 of 164 (.237). They’ve missed the postseason each of those four seasons, as the team was in a full rebuild after it traded away franchise cornerstones Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Now, the roster has a solid balance of young players — Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey — and veterans — Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkić — in place to compete. There might be some growing pains along the way, but there’s so much raw talent on the roster now — especially among the top eight players in the rotation — that the time for excuses is gone. These Jazz need to take a jump.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Keyonte George
G Darryn Peterson
F Ace Bailey
F Lauri Markkanen
C Jaren Jackson Jr.
Rotation players
C Jusuf Nurkić
G Isaiah Collier
F Kyle Filipowski
F Brice Sensabaugh
C Jaxson Hayes
G Josh Okogie
G Josh Green
C Mo Bamba
G Trey Alexander
F Svi Mykhailiuk
What to expect in 2026-27 season
A team that is much better than it has been the last four seasons. The Jazz are a young and talented team, and there are some questions that need to be answered, but they could fly under the radar and emerge as a playoff contender. As to the questions: does coach Will Hardy, who is normally patient and deliberate with rookies, break his rule and start No. 2 overall rookie Darryn Peterson right away? Does Hardy opt to start Jusuf Nurkić at center, instead of Jaren Jackson Jr., who has expressed a desire to play power forward? And, in a related question, what then happens to Ace Bailey, the 20-year-old No. 5 overall selection from the 2025 draft? These are good problems to have, and they signal a team that is on the rise.
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Arguably no team has undergone more change over the course of the year than the Portland Trail Blazers.
They’ve seen their head coach at the start of the 2025-26 season charged in an alleged illegal gambling ring. They surprised and broke through in the NBA Play-In Tournament to make the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. Their interim coach was not retained, despite the success, and their new owner, Tom Dundon, has floated relocation in negotiations to upgrade the Moda Center, the Trail Blazers' home venue.
Can the Trail Blazers find some semblance of stability?
This was a surprise playoff team, one that had to deal with chaos just days into the 2025-26 regular season, when former head coach Chauncey Billups was charged for his role in an alleged illegal gambling ring. But, after righting the ship and getting the most out of the young Trail Blazer roster, former coach Tiago Splitter was not retained. In comes in first-time coach Micah Nori, who was an excellent assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But Nori was signed to a one-year deal, which is wildly unconventional. It also points to more potential changes in the future, as Portland could theoretically have four different head coaches in four seasons, if Nori is not retained next season. When players cycle between different offensive and defensive philosophies and coaching styles, it can create a whiplash and can stymie the development of younger players. There’s decent talent on this roster, but ownership does these players a disservice by not sticking to a long-term plan.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Ja Morant
G Damien Lillard
F Deni Avdija
F Toumani Camara
C Donovan Clingan
Rotation players
G Scoot Henderson
G Jrue Holiday
C Robert Williams III
G Vit Krejci
F Sidy Cissoko
F Jeremy Sochan
C Micah Potter
G Blake Wesley
C Yang Hansen
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Honestly, it’s a little difficult to project. This team has a blend of young and veteran talent. Damian Lillard’s return should provide plenty of perimeter shooting, and Ja Morant could eventually become a low-cost upgrade, if he can return to form and stay healthy. Deni Avdija was a first-time All-Star last season. But, given the tumult in the coaching staff, and given that Micah Nori is a first-time head coach, the Trail Blazers could be a candidate for regression. Whether that comes true or not will hinge on Morant’s ability to assimilate and operate Portland’s offense and whether Lillard has more left in the tank.
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The Washington Wizards had an interesting way of building toward this season.
Trae Young played just 15 games last season, a career low, and only five of them for Washington. He called it "a blessing in disguise," the deal that sent him out of Atlanta after the Hawks never offered him an extension. The Wizards then gave him four years and $212.8 million – the most any team could have offered him – and agreed to it the day before they used the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA on AJ Dybantsa.
Nobody was actually bidding against them though.
The Wizards had already landed Young and Anthony Davis in midseason trades, then won the lottery after losing 26 of their final 27 games. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring as a BYU freshman.
Young is 27, Davis is 33, Middleton is 35. Dybantsa is 19, Alex Sarr is 21, Tre Johnson is 20. Keefe has to get all of them shots without stalling any of the development that got him a fourth season in the first place. His record so far is 43-160. Then there is Davis, who wants a max extension. If Washington declines, a trade request is the logical next move, and it would land in the middle of the season the Wizards have spent two years setting up.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Trae Young
G Kyshawn George
F AJ Dybantsa
F Anthony Davis
C Alex Sarr
Rotation players
G Tre Johnson
G Bub Carrington
G Tre Mann
F Bilal Coulibaly
F Khris Middleton
C Deandre Ayton
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Thirty wins would be progress. Washington finished 30th in defensive rating at 122.7 and 30th in net rating at minus-11.8, and it has finished last in net rating in back-to-back seasons. Young and Davis alone should move both numbers several points, and Davis, Dybantsa and Sarr give Young three pick-and-roll partners who can all finish, easily the best supporting cast of his career.
The defense will still be a problem. So will the East, which is no longer anybody's soft landing.
Washington opens at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 21. General manager Will Dawkins, asked in April whether the coach who went 17-65 would be back, did not hesitate. "Yeah, I anticipate Brian Keefe to be here," he said.
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The Chicago Bulls underwent drastic changes this offseason, adding three new starters, a new front office leader and a new coach. This makes better days easier to envision even though the Bulls once again appear positioned as neither a legitimate Eastern conference contender nor a doormat entering the 2026-27 NBA season.
After years of holding on to a core that was only good enough to be a play-in team, the Bulls have finally turned the page while retaining potential foundational players in Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. If Wilson has an immediate impact, Chicago can suddenly look forward to one of the East's most intriguing young trios.
Here's a breakdown of the Chicago Bulls' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Is Caleb Wilson the franchise cornerstone the Bulls have been searching for since Derrick Rose?
Wilson was widely regarded as one of four elite prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he's the most likely to emerge as a star from the Bulls' rebuilding pivot. The success of Chicago's new direction will largely depend on Wilson's development over the next several seasons and a productive rookie campaign is especially important for this new regime after 2025 first-round pick Noa Essengue struggled to gain traction last year.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Josh Giddey
G Norman Powell
F Matas Buzelis
F Caleb Wilson
C Nic Claxton
Rotation players
G Tre Jones
G Isaac Okoro
F Dailyn Swain
F Patrick Williams
F Noa Essengue
F/C Jalen Smith
What to expect in 2026-27 season
It's been more than a decade since the Bulls won a playoff series and that's unlikely to change this season. But the franchise has more optimism than recent years with the arrivals of Wilson and Powell to help Buzelis and Giddey. Expect this group to hover closer to .500 than last year, with the chance to push for one of the East's last playoff spots if the new pieces come together quickly.
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The Pacers should nonetheless be in the playoff mix again, with much of the core that won the Eastern Conference finals less than 16 months ago still intact. If Haliburton is healthy enough to once again be one of the NBA's best playmakers, Indiana will quickly re-emerge as a title threat.
Here's a breakdown of the Indiana Pacers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 season rehabbing from an Achilles injury and also dealt with a frustrating case of shingles that slowed his recovery. He appeared to be at the peak of his powers before getting hurt, hitting game-winning shots and orchestrating Indiana's high-powered offense throughout its run to the 2025 NBA Finals. Advances in Achilles rehabilitation and Haliburton's diverse skill set provide reasons for optimism, but last season only reinforced that the Pacers are counting on him to remain a franchise star. Indiana's roster is built around Haliburton's ability to create shots for himself, and his ability to bounce back from injury will determine this team's outlook.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Tyrese Haliburton
G Andrew Nembhard
F Aaron Nesmith
F Pascal Siakam
C Ivica Zubac
Rotation players
G T.J. McConnell
G Ben Sheppard
F Kelly Oubre Jr.
F Jarace Walker
F Obi Tobbin
F Larry Nance Jr.
C Jay Huff
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Nobody in the NBA should improve their record more than the Pacers this season, even if Haliburton isn't quite what he once was in his first year coming back from a major Achilles injury. That's how strong the combination of Pascal Siakam and Zubac could be in the frontcourt and how much the team's record suffered while tanking in Haliburton's absence. But Haliburton's re-emergence as a star is the key to this group separating itself from the other Eastern Conference contenders trying to challenge the Knicks this season.
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The Boston Bruins returned to the playoffs in the 2025-26 NHL season after a disastrous 2024-25 campaign that saw the Original Six franchise finish with the league’s fifth-worst record.
The turnaround was powered by many different players. David Pastrnak tallied his fourth straight 100-point season. Morgan Geekie scored a career-high 39 goals. Charlie McAvoy posted a career-high 61 points. Young forwards such as Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdnov showed improvement.
But no player made a more significant impact than Jeremy Swayman.
The 27-year-old goalie had a bounce-back season. He was voted a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time in his career, earned a spot on Team USA’s Olympic gold medal-winning roster and established himself as an elite goaltender.
Swayman posted a 31-18-4 record with a .908 save percentage and a 2.71 GAA. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but the analytics painted a very different (and more favorable) picture.
(function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})();
If the Bruins are going to make it back to the playoffs in the upcoming campaign, they’ll need great goaltending again. They did not defend at a high level on a consistent basis last season. The B’s ranked 27th in shots against, 27th in scoring chances against and 29th in high-danger chances allowed in all situations, per Natural Stat Trick. They also went to the penalty kill a league-high 278 times. Swayman helped the Bruins overcome these defensive issues. He bailed out his teammates’ mistakes a lot.
Maybe the Bruins’ defense will be better this season. They added defensemen Will Borgen and Connor Clifton in the offseason. Hampus Lindholm is healthy. Frederic Brunet could inject some youth and playmaking ability on the back end. But relying on Swayman to overcome worrisome defending again and again is not an ideal strategy for long-term success.
The Atlantic could be the most competitive division in the league this season. Six of the eight teams, including the Bruins, have a realistic shot at the playoffs.
Four of the top eight teams in goals scored last season were in the Atlantic — Lightning (No. 4), Sabres (No. 5), Canadiens (No. 7), Senators (No. 8) — and that doesn’t include the Panthers, who are healthy again after being decimated by injuries a year ago. They also added top-six forward Brady Tkachuk in the offseason. The crazy amount of offensive skill in the Atlantic will make goaltending even more important for a team like the Bruins.
Even though the Bruins finished 10th in goals scored last season, you could still argue that they do not have the offensive firepower to win high-scoring games on a consistent basis, and therefore will need great goaltending again. The B’s scored the second-most goals above expected last season, per MoneyPuck. Several players had a career-high shooting percentage. It’s fair to wonder if last season’s surprising scoring uptick was an outlier and if a regression is coming.
We did see a steep regression in the playoffs. The B’s scored an average of 1.25 goals over the last four games of their first-round series versus the Sabres. They needed Swayman to be almost perfect to win that series, and he gave them a chance, including a brilliant performance in a Game 5 overtime win on the road. The regular season is not the playoffs, but it would be foolish to just assume that Boston’s offensive improvement from last season will continue.
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Swayman and David Pastrnak celebrate a playoff win.
Swayman posted great numbers while playing a career-high 55 games last season. Only eight goalies played more games than him. Karel Vejmelka of the Utah Mammoth was the only goalie to appear in 60-plus games.
Managing Swayman’s workload to keep him fresh but also maximize his production will be an important task for head coach Marco Sturm and his staff. He was asked about it last week.
“We’ll see, time will tell,” Sturm said at a press conference. “He had a pretty good run last year, and that’s why there’s a lot of nights we even talk about who’s going to be in net the other night or the next night. Sometimes we had to go with him because he was pretty hot for a while, so hopefully he’s going to have stretches like this again, regardless of who’s going to be the backup, a veteran or a young kid like Mikey [Michael DiPietro].
“We just want to give him the best opportunity, and hopefully he’s going to have another year like this, like he had last year for us, and get us a lot of good saves and a lot of points on the board.”
If the Bruins had gotten better and more consistent performances from backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo, maybe they wouldn’t have had to play Swayman in 55 games. Korpisalo tallied a lackluster .894 save percentage and a 3.15 GAA in 31 games played (28 starts). He had a few good stretches throughout the regular season, but overall, he wasn’t reliable enough.
Korpisalo was traded to the New York Rangers in July, and the new backup is expected to be Michael DiPietro, who excelled for the AHL’s Providence Bruins each of the previous three seasons and won the league’s MVP award last year.
DiPietro has more than earned his chance to be an NHL-level goalie. And if he can consistently give the Bruins a chance to win games while Swayman gets much-needed rest, it will significantly increase their chances of reaching the playoffs.
There are a lot of factors that will have to go right for the Bruins to make the playoffs from an ultra competitive division. One thing that has to go well is goaltending. Swayman needs to be the foundation of the team’s success. When he’s playing at the top of his game, the rest of the team gets a huge lift.
Luckily for the Bruins, Swayman has shown in the past that he’s capable of shouldering that kind of pressure. The B’s need that to continue if they’re going to build on last season’s success and get back to the second round of the playoffs.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds the bases on his two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on September 16, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe has been arguably the best player for the franchise this season. He leads the team in home runs with 33 and he leads the team with RBIs with 93. However, the bad news is that Lowe is a free agent in the offseason.
There could be some good news, as there is apparently mutual interest between the team and Lowe to sign a new deal. According to Lowe the team has not approached him yet about signing an extension but it is normal for teams to table those types of conversations until the season is over.
Lowe told Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette the Pirates have not approached him about an extension, though he added: “I think this team’s got a very bright future and a lot of good players, and there’s a lot of good baseball that’s going to be played in this park for a long time. [If] they want to talk, I’m all ears.” Post Gazette
In the event a multiyear agreement does not materialize before free agency begins in November, the Pirates will likely give Lowe a $23.1MM qualifying offer. If the Pirates do present Lowe with a QO and he signs for upward of $50MM elsewhere, they will receive a pick after the first round of the 2027 draft in return.
Lowe was acquired in a three-team trade involving the Astros last December. In a swap that also delivered left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery and outfielderJake Mangum to Pittsburgh, the team shipped righty Mike Burrows to Houston.
One of the most important things that the Pirates need to take care of in the offseason is Lowe. He has been so good this year defensively and of course offensively. The power and leadership that he has brought to this young team has been apparent and that’s a guy that needs to resign.
I understand the asking price could be a lot but a team that never likes to spend money should especially for a player that is producing and showing interest in returning.
‘I’m happy. It’s an exciting place to be right now’
Prem champions have moved to tie down huge asset
England back row Henry Pollock has signed a bumper new contract with Northampton. The 21-year-old has agreed a “multi-year” deal, the Prem champions announced on Tuesday morning.
“I’m massively happy to re-sign with Saints, my boyhood club,” Pollock said. “It’s an exciting place to be right now. We’re in a great spot as a team, but it feels like there’s still so much more growth in us.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 20: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch, Adam Berry: The long and winding season is coming to a close, and the Yankees find themselves six games back of the Rays with just seven games remaining. The good news is that four of those remaining games will be against those Rays in the Bronx starting from Tuesday, giving the Yankees a very small chance to keep their division hopes alive. How small? Per FanGraphs, the Yankees have just a one percent chance of finishing first in the AL East. Given the way things have gone as of late, even that figure seems a tad optimistic, but as a wise man once said, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
Hoch and Berry outline the key details of this crucial homestand for the Yankees. Of note is the starting pitching matchups; Tampa Bay will send out their two best starters in the opening doubleheader — Nick Martinez for Game 1 and Drew Rasmussen for Game 2 — but they’re slated to rely on Ian Seymour and Freddy Peralta for Wednesday and Thursday, which is a step down in quality. Meanwhile, the Yankees will counter with Carlos Rodón and Max Fried for the doubleheader, then Gerrit Cole for Game 3 and Cam Schlittler for Game 4. If the Yankees can come away with two wins on Tuesday — a big if, admittedly — a four-game sweep might not be out of their reach.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillps: Of course, in all likelihood, the Yankees will have to settle for a Wild Card matchup with the Red Sox for the second season in a row. Phillips takes a shot on predicting the Yankees’ 26-man roster for the WCS. The most impactful decision looks to be who to start in center field, with Trent Grisham progressing in his recovery from a hamstring strain, while Spencer Jones continues to hold his own in the big leagues. Personally, I’d rather see Jones out there, but we’ll have to see.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: ($) There’s one Yankee in particular who is licking their chops at the opportunity to stick it to the Rays in the upcoming homestand, and that’s José Caballero. Having been traded from those Rays to the Yankees at last year’s deadline, the feisty infielder has used that to fuel his competitive fire, saying, “For me, it’s just, ‘All right, I’m going to show you that I was good enough to stay in this game. I was good enough to make you pay for it.’ That’s all.” While Caballero hasn’t recaptured the magic that saw him post a 133 wRC+ over last season’s stretch run, he nonetheless has been a valuable role player in 2026, accumulating 1.5 WAR over 131 games so far. Here’s hoping he backs up the talk and stings those Rays.
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
