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Olympic medallist Ben Proud becomes first British athlete to join Enhanced Games

  • Swimmer won silver for GB in Paris last summer

  • Event allows athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs

The Olympic silver medallist Ben Proud has become the first Briton to join the Enhanced Games, an event that allows athletes to take ­performance-enhancing drugs.

The 30-year-old, who came second in the 50m freestyle in Paris last summer, does not believe the event undermines clean sport. “I think [the Enhanced Games] opens up the potential avenue to excel in a very different way,” he told BBC Sport.

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REPORT: Blues' Justin Carbonneau Could Receive ELC, Hoping To Earn Roster Spot

According to Marco D'Amico of RG Media, St. Louis Blues top prospect Justin Carbonneau could sign his entry-level contract very soon, and has been informed that he will have the opportunity to make the roster out of training camp and pre-season.

Carbonneau was selected with the 19th overall pick in the most recent NHL Draft after he recorded an outstanding 46 goals and 89 points in 62 QMJHL games with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. With the new CHL-NCAA agreement, Carbonneau could have committed to a college team, but has chosen to remain in the QMJHL and compete for a roster spot.

“After the World Junior Summer Showcase, I went back to St. Louis where I met with Jim Montgomery and the rest of the coaching staff,” Carbonneau told RG Media. “We discussed team strategies and expectations for me, and we also spoke about possible opportunities to crack the roster.”

The message the 18-year-old received was versatility. Carbonneau needs to prove that he is more than just a point producer, someone they can trust in their own end and in high-leverage situations.

“I want to show that I can be played in all situations and that’s a necessity to be ready to crack an NHL roster,” said Carbonneau. “ I need to work to show I can be trusted and bring value to my teammates.”

Justin Carbonneau (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Because Carbonneau's offensive game has obtained plenty of praise during the NHL Draft process, his ability to throw his weight around and engage himself in the forecheck has flown under the radar. Standing 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, the right-handed shooter can more than stand his ground against bigger players, welcoming and initiating it when needed.

The Blues' top prospects will be competing in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase starting on Sept. 12. The roster features Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, Adam Jiricek and Carbonneau. The practices begin on Sept. 11, and this weekend is an excellent opportunity for Carbonneau to showcase why he should make the team.

“I have nothing to lose, I’m showing up to win a spot at camp,” said Carbonneau. “And, if not, I’ll be going back to an excellent situation with the Armada, where we get to compete for a President’s Cup.”

“Nothing to Lose” — Carbonneau Aims to Crack Blues Roster, Earn ELC “Nothing to Lose” — Carbonneau Aims to Crack Blues Roster, Earn ELC Justin Carbonneau reflects on being drafted by the Blues, his first camp in St. Louis, and the work ahead to earn a roster spot in the NHL.
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Clippers Investigation Could Hinge on CBA Language, Sponsor Actions

The NBA’s investigation into possible salary cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers could invite interpretative questions about collectively bargained language and when teams ought to be punished for the actions of a sponsor.

The controversy, which concerns an endorsement deal Kawhi Leonard signed with Clippers’ sponsor Aspiration, has been discussed extensively. In 2022, Aspiration signed the superstar forward (through Leonard’s KL2 Aspire LLC), to a four-year, $28 million endorsement deal. On the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, journalist Pablo Torre reported that Leonard wasn’t obligated to perform services to Aspiration, that the deal would end if the Clippers traded Leonard and that the payments were understood as circumventing the cap. 

Aspiration has significant ties to the Clippers. The company signed a sponsorship with the team, while owner Steve Ballmer reportedly invested $50 million into the firm. Aspiration filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and court records indicate the company owes the Clippers and KL2 Aspire $30.1 million and $7 million, respectively. The company’s co-founder Joseph Sandberg also agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud last month. Federal prosecutors accused him of deceiving investors and lenders. 

The key question for the NBA is whether Aspiration’s deal with Leonard was made to enable the Clippers to circumvent the salary cap. 

Leonard signed a max contract with the Clippers in 2021 around the time it partnered with Aspiration. Some basketball insiders were surprised Leonard signed a four-year deal with the Clippers instead of positioning himself for what could have been a longer, more lucrative deal the following year. Regardless, the team could have arranged for Leonard to earn more by arranging for a sponsor to sign him.

The NBA has retained the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, which the league used in its investigation into then-Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury owner Robert Sarver, to investigate the Clippers. Under Article XIII of the CBA, the Clippers could be found at fault with circumstantial evidence, meaning indirect proof that is reliable enough to draw inferences. The Clippers deny the allegations and maintain they’re innocent.

If the Clippers schemed with Aspiration to pay Leonard, then the NBA would issue severe punishments. The league could void the Clippers-Leonard contract and order the forfeiture of first-round picks, a penalty experienced by the Minnesota Timberwolves when they were found to have circumvented the cap to sign Joe Smith. Other punishments could include lengthy suspensions and fines imposed on Ballmer, the Clippers and team officials.

The Clippers would have the chance to appeal to an NBA appeals panel. They could also, at least theoretically, challenge the NBA in court, but any litigation would face severe headwinds. Owners and teams contractually assent to the league and commissioner having final, binding and conclusive authority, meaning courts would give the league sizable deference. 

A murkier scenario is if the NBA doesn’t find sufficient evidence the Clippers directed Aspiration to pay Leonard but concludes Aspiration signed Leonard to a no-show contract as part of an illicit arrangement with Leonard’s representatives. The Toronto Star on Tuesday reported that representatives for Leonard demanded no-show sponsorship income when Leonard, who won a championship with the Toronto Raptors, sought a new contract in 2019. 

Would the Clippers be at fault if a sponsor decides to pay a player, but there isn’t sufficient evidence the team directed that payment? 

This is where interpretation of the CBA would become crucial.

The CBA doesn’t contain a rule that specifically contemplates punishment of a team for the actions of a sponsor. That makes sense since a sponsor is a separate entity. Article XIII references a team running afoul of its language by entering into an agreement or understanding with a sponsor or business, but a sponsor acting on its own doesn’t fit squarely within that definition. Likewise, while Article XIII expansively prohibits “any agreements” of “any kind” that are “express or implied, oral or written” or “understandings of any kind,” that language still implies the team’s involvement.

The CBA also makes clear that teams have discretion in sponsorships. Article XXVIII states that “nothing” in the CBA “shall limit the rights” of “NBA teams to provide, and authorize others to provide, advertising and promotional opportunities within NBA games or NBA or Team events and NBA-related or Team- related content.” 

At the same time, the league could rightfully ask why Aspiration, a sustainability services company, would agree to pay Leonard millions of dollars but not (allegedly) expect anything in return. The NBA could surmise that Aspiration either had a handshake arrangement with the Clippers or, if not, sought to curry favor with the Clippers in hopes of gaining an edge in future business dealings with the team. 

The definition of the word “understanding” is imprecise, and that could become significant in determining what counts as team wrongdoing in the context of a sponsor. Merriam-Webster defines understanding as a “a mutual agreement not formally entered into but in some degree binding on each side” or a “friendly or harmonious relationship.” In court filings, judges and prosecutors have defined understanding as “the comprehension or awareness of the parties” and “at least a universal perception or belief.” The NBA could place a low bar for “understanding” to find the Clippers at fault.

To that point, the NBA might not find the Clippers schemed with Aspiration but nonetheless determine that they deserve punishment for failing to adequately scrutinize Aspiration’s relationship with Leonard. Imagine the Clippers argue they did not direct Aspiration and didn’t know what Aspiration was doing. The league might be skeptical that the Clippers were merely ignorant of the Aspiration-Leonard relationship and question why the team didn’t undertake more diligence. In that same vein, the NBA could view any defense along the lines of “hear no evil, see no evil,” sometimes called purposeful ignorance, as suspicious. 

Article 35A of the league constitution, which is a contract between the league, teams and owners, accords commissioner Adam Silver with wide latitude in suspending and fining team officials when they’re “guilty conduct prejudicial or detrimental to the Association.” Such a misdeed might not warrant the forfeiture of multiple first round picks but could carry a meaningful penalty.

There are other ramifications in a scenario where the Clippers are punished not for plotting to circumvent the salary cap but for what amounts to negligence: unreasonably failing to find out more information about a sponsor when that sponsor is compensating a player in an endorsement deal. Other teams would need to monitor their sponsors more aggressively and thoroughly. Given that private equity groups can now buy stakes in NBA teams, the number of persons connected to a team’s ownership could lead to a long list of conflict checks for teams. It stands to reason that players and the NBPA might argue new guidelines for sponsor-player endorsement deals need to be bargained. 

While the attention on the allegations against the Clippers is understandably focused on Leonard’s dealings, the impact of the league’s investigation could pose consequences for all teams and sponsors in how they negotiate with players.

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Mets 2025 MLB Wild Card Watch: Playoff odds, standings, matchups, and more for Sept. 10

With 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Mets are looking to hold off a handful of teams for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of play on Sept. 10...

Mets: 76-69, 2.0 games up on Giants for third Wild Card

Next up: @ Phillies, Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. on SNY (Clay Holmes vs. Cristopher Sanchez)
Latest result: 9-3 loss to Phillies on Tuesday
Remaining schedule: 2 @ PHI, 3 vs. TEX, 3 vs. SD, 3 vs. WSH, 3 @ CHC, 3 @ MIA
Odds to make playoffs: 87.8 percent
*Mets hold tiebreaker over Giants by virtue of winning the season series

Giants: 74-71, 2.0 games back of Mets 

Next up: vs. Diamondbacks, Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. (Carson Seymour vs. Eduardo Rodriguez)
Latest result: 5-3 win over D-backs on Tuesday
Remaining schedule: 1 vs. ARI, 3 vs. LAD, 3 @ ARI, 4 @ LAD, 3 vs. STL, 3 vs. COL
Odds to make playoffs: 7.7 percent

Reds: 73-72, 3.0 games back of Mets 

Next up: @ Padres, Wednesday at 8:45 p.m. (Andrew Abbott vs. Nick Pivetta)
Latest result: 4-2 win over Padres on Tuesday
Remaining schedule: 1 @ SD, 3 @ ATH, 3 @ STL, 4 vs. CHC, 3 vs. PIT, 3 @ MIL
Odds to make playoffs: 5.2 percent

Diamondbacks: 72-74, 4.5 games back of Mets

Next up: @ Giants, Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. (Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Carson Seymour)
Latest result: 5-3 loss to Giants on Tuesday
Remaining schedule: 1 @ SF, 3 @ MIN, 3 vs. SF, 3 vs. PHI, 3 vs. LAD, 3 @ SD
Odds to make playoffs: 0.8 percent

Cardinals: 72-74, 4.5 games back of Mets

Next up: @ SEA, Wednesday at 9:40 p.m. (Michael McGreevy vs. Logan Gilbert)
Latest result: 5-3 loss to Mariners on Tuesday
Remaining schedule: 1 @ SEA, 3 @ MIL, 3 vs. CIN, 3 vs. MIL, 3 @ SF, 3 @ CHC
Odds to make playoffs: 0.6 percent

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33 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #33

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 33 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #33. 

Let's take a look.

Petteri Nummelin - 2001 - Nummelin was drafted by Columbus in the 5th round of the 2000 NHL Draft.

After playing just 61 games for Columbus during its inaugural season, Nummelin bolted back to Europe to play for HC Lugano of the Swiss National League. He would return to the NHL in 2006 to play for the Minnesota Wild for two seasons but would again leave for Europe. 

During his career, he played in Switzerland, Finland, Norway, and even Japan before retiring in 2019. Nummelin was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2024 and is currently an assistant coach for HC Ajoie of the Swiss National League. 

Jamie Allison - 2002-2003 - Drafted in 1993 by the Calgary Flames

Allison played 55 games for Columbus from 2001 to 2003 and had one point. After leaving Columbus in 2003, he went to play for the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers. 

Before retiring in 2006, Allison had a wild thing happen. On December 13, 2005, goalie Chris Mason got hurt during the pre-game, resulting in the Predators having no backup goalie. As he was scheduled to be a healthy scratch that game, Allison was dressed as the backup goaltender instead.  

Jeremy Reich - 2004 - Drafted in 1997 by the Chicago Blackhawks

Reich played 9 games for the Jackets during the 2003-04 season and had one point. He spent most of his time playing for the Syracuse Crunch, where he had 118 points over five seasons.

He would go on to play in 90 games for the Boston Bruins, and played a season in the DEL. He played semi-pro hockey off and on until 2024 and was a coach for several years in minor hockey. 

Fredrik Modin - 2007-2010 - Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 3rd round of the 1994 NHL Draft.

On June 30, 2006, Modin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Marc Denis. Modin played in 176 games for Columbus and had 85 points. After playing four seasons with the CBJ, he was traded to the LA Kings on March 3, 2010. 

On May 11, 2011, he announced his retirement due to back issues. He came back to the Columbus organization in 2015 and worked as a Hockey Operations Advisor until 2018. 

Tomáš Kubalík - 2011-2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2008

Kubalík played in 12 games over two seasons from 2010 to 2012. He spent most of his time playing for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. 

He left for Europe in 2013 and played there until he retired in 2024. He's played in Czechia, Finland, Poland, France, and Germany. For the last couple of seasons, he was an asst. coach for ERV Schweinfurt of Germany's fourth division. 

Adrian Aucoin - 2013 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1992.

Aucoin signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2012. He played 36 games for the Jackets and had four points. Following his one season with the CBJ, he would retire on November 19, 2013. 

Aucoin has been coaching various age groups of youth hockey since his retirement. 

Markus Hännikäinen - 2016-2017 - Hännikäinen was undrafted out of Helsinki, Finland.

Hännikäinen had signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 20, 2015. Over parts of four seasons, he played in 91 games for Columbus and had 15 points, which included 8 goals. He spent most of his time playing for the Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters.

In February of 2020, Hännikäinen was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Arizona Coyotes, ending his time with Columbus. 

Hännikäinen left for his native Finland when the COVID pandemic hit and never returned. He's played in the KHL(Finland), DEL, SHL, and is signed with HC Litvínov in Czechia for 2025-26. 

With 33 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena, the anticipation for the season is in full swing. Take a look at the schedule of events below.

Blue Jackets Participate in 2025 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo

The Blue Jackets will take part in the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo from Thursday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 14. They’ll play three games and have one day off.

The schedule looks like this:

Thursday, Sept. 11 7 p.m. vs. New Jersey Devils

Friday, Sept. 12 `No Game Scheduled

Saturday, Sept. 13 7 p.m. at Buffalo Sabres

Sunday, Sept. 14 3:30 p.m. at Pittsburgh Penguins

This will be the second year Columbus has participated in the Prospects Challenge. Before that, they played in the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City. As for the roster, it won’t be released until closer to the tournament.

Blue Jackets’ 2025-26 Training Camp and Pre-Season

Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Camp will run until the pre-season begins and then transition directly into the full pre-season schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.

After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET

Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

More From THN Columbus

Former Cleveland Monster Signs PTO With PredatorsFormer Cleveland Monster Signs PTO With PredatorsFormer Cleveland Monster Dylan Gambrell has signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Nashville Predators, according to Anthony Di Marco. Blue Jackets Will Participate In 2025 Prospect ChallengeBlue Jackets Will Participate In 2025 Prospect ChallengeThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced they will participate in the 2025-26 Prospect Challenge in Buffalo, taking place from September 11-15. FROM THE THN YEARBOOK: Blue Jackets Predicted To Finish 6th In The Metropolitan DivisionFROM THE THN YEARBOOK: Blue Jackets Predicted To Finish 6th In The Metropolitan DivisionThe hockey season is around the corner, and that means The Hockey News has put out one of its most special and most coveted issues of the year. It's THN Yearbook season.
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Mets at Phillies: How to watch on SNY on Sept. 10, 2025

The Mets continue a four-game series against the Phillies in Philadelphia on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Juan Soto is hitting .306/.461/.667 with 12 home runs, 30 RBI, 31 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases over his last 30 games
  • Francisco Lindor had a strong month of August, but he's gone 0-for-12 over his last three games  and is hitting .185/.395/.333 with no homers and one RBI during eight games in September
  • Clay Holmes is coming off a start in which he allowed just two earned runs (three runs overall) in 4.2 innings against the Detroit Tigers
METS
PHILLIES
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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Sean Manaea's struggles continue, Juan Soto joins the 30-30 club

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Tuesday, in case you missed it...

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Canadiens: Behind The Scenes At The Draft

Without warning, aside from a heads-up an hour before it dropped, the Montreal Canadiens released their behind-the-scenes at the draft video on Tuesday night. With the rookie camp set to kick off the following morning and the anticipation building in town, the timing couldn’t have been better.

The team has long mastered the art of compiling thrilling videos that take the fans not only behind the scenes at the actual draft, but in the run-up to the yearly event. In other words, the video also features the scouting combine in Buffalo, and we get an extended look at the interview the team conducted with Hayden Paupanekis. The center not only came prepared, but he said all the right things.

Canadiens: Hutson’s Agent Sets The Record Straight
Pierre LeBrun Brings Up The Canadiens To Crosby
Canadiens: 4 Centers To Target Right Now

After he compared himself to a polar bear or a grizzly bear because they’re vicious, Dr. David Scott, a consultant in sports psychology, challenged him, asking how he could be vicious and only have 29 penalty minutes in 39 games. The youngster calmly replied that you don’t need to get penalties to be vicious and play hard, there’s no need to two-hand people in the face. When asked if he only saw his future at center, he answered that he would play wherever he was asked to by the coach. At the end of the interview, Dr. Scott congratulated him for handling himself well.

Unsurprisingly, the Canadiens drafted the power forward in the third round, as their amateur scout for Canada, Ben Shutron, was quite high on him. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the Memorial Cup hosting Kelowna Rockets under the watchful eye of new assistant coach and former Canadiens blueliner, Josh Gorges. As for the co-director of amateur scouting, Nick Bobrov, he was sold on Bryce Pickford, but Montreal was able to pick him later with the 81st pick.

Clearly, the Canadiens approached the draft with the mentality that they would move; they wouldn’t just pick at 16 and 17. In addition to trying to pull off the trade with the New York Islanders, the team was also evaluating players in case they were able to move up. In the end, the trade materialized, and Montreal didn’t get to pick in the first one. Still, it didn’t matter as they were very high on their second-round pick, Alexander Zharovsky, but they weren’t alone, which is why they had to trade up to get the 34th overall pick to avoid seeing another team snatch him from under their nose.

In a recent episode of the Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens, we heard that GM Kent Hughes consulted with team captain Nick Suzuki before acquiring Patrik Laine, and in this video, we see Hughes test the waters about a possible pick of Zharovsky. Before trading up to get him, Hughes texted rookie Ivan Demidov asking if he was awake. Not only was Demidov awake, but he was also positive about his work ethic and absolutely sold on his skills and talent. It was no secret that the Russian was on the Canadiens’ radar as they had set a meeting with him in Florida ahead of the draft.

The video goes on to show Hughes and Gorton calling a couple of their draftees, Zharovsky and LJ Mooney, who was clearly over the moon about being drafted by the Canadiens. Gorton made a point of reminding him that the Habs have had a lot of success with undersized Americans like Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield.

What this video highlights particularly well is the fact that the Canadiens have moved forward in their rebuild; it’s not just about the future anymore, it’s about the present. The team didn’t hesitate to send Emil Heineman and two first-round picks to the Islanders for a player that fits the Habs’ timeline age-wise, but can also help solidify their defense right away.

The video also gives us a peek at development camp and one of Martin St-Louis always inspired speech, basically telling the young hopefuls that making the NHL is not just about having the motivation and the will to get there, you need the discipline to stick with your training no matter how hard it is, even if you’re alone in the summer and you do not have the other hopefuls competing for a spot pushing you. The coach has got a knack for making speeches that light a fire under players; he knows how to inspire the same intensity he put forward on the ice when he was playing.

In short, the 23-minute video is an excellent way to get ready for the upcoming season and get to know a little bit more about players who are hoping to be Canadiens players down the line.

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

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

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Ramp to Camp: Who will emerge as Celtics' go-to big man this season?

Ramp to Camp: Who will emerge as Celtics' go-to big man this season? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics enter the 2025-26 season with plenty of questions following painful roster changes this summer. But there’s one BIG question: Who will emerge as the go-to center in a largely overhauled big-man stable?

The trio of Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis accounted for 4,200 total minutes of regular-season action last season. Take 48 minutes and multiply it by 82 games and you don’t even hit 4,000 total minutes. That’s a lot of big-man minutes to replace.

For Day 8 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to pick the Celtics big man most likely to eat up the majority of those center minutes this season. 

Before the August addition of veteran big man Chris Boucher, the Celtics were incredibly green at the center spot. Neemias Queta (1,345 career minutes) and Luka Garza (973) might play more this season than the entirety of their NBA careers. Xavier Tillman has played sparingly since being acquired two seasons ago, but both he and offseason acquisition Josh Minott could be small-ball center options like Boucher, too.

Queta, already the lone rotation holdover, might have put himself in the driver’s seat for starter minutes with his strong play at EuroBasket. The 26-year-old big man has provided solid minutes over the past two seasons, most notably early in the 2024 title season where he made a case for his elevation to the parent roster.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla put Queta in some tough defensive spots last season, maybe with the goal of expediting his development. And now it might be time to take off the training wheels.

Queta is an imposing presence around the basket and looks far more comfortable on the defensive end compared to when he first arrived in Boston. Garza has obvious offensive talents, but has to show he can hold up on the defensive side to earn Mazzulla’s trust. 

Boucher is an interesting addition. He’ll turn 33 during the season, and on a one-year minimum contract, he doesn’t exactly figure into the long-term future of this team. The Celtics would probably prefer to use minutes this season to develop players that might comprise core pieces of a future title contender. And yet Boucher’s veteran steadiness and ability to help nurture a younger stable makes him quite vital to however this year plays out.

The one thing we know for sure at the center spot: Boucher is going to play hard. Remember a couple seasons ago when he bumped Mazzulla during a timeout on the court? Robert Williams III’s bearhug of Mazzulla was the only thing that prevented any further escalation. But coach and player are kind of perfect for each other.

Still, the Celtics have to find the right balance between allowing Boucher to bring some veteran poise to that position and giving Queta, Garza, and the small-ball bigs a chance to develop. If Boucher leads the team in center minutes, it’s only a good sign if the Celtics dramatically outkick expectations and elect to lean on his experience. 

The bigger question here might be whether the center of the future is currently on Boston’s roster. If you’re leery of this center depth chart, we get it. But also remember that few thought Luke Kornet would evolve into an eight-figure center when he arrived.

The Celtics have rarely splurged at the center spot outside of the Porzingis acquisition. Having Horford there with an ability to play in double-big lineups or shuffle him to center was an insane luxury that the team will dearly miss. 

But now it’s on younger players like Queta to show they are ready to shoulder the minutes load.

Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor

Neemias Queta.

Am I overreacting to Queta racking up 23 points and 18 rebounds against lowly Czechia in EuroBasket action? Potentially. But the Portuguese big man has improved every year since arriving in Boston, and he has a golden opportunity to take another leap this season.

Chris Boucher might be the more polished player, but Queta has more upside. Let him work toward realizing it.

Michael Hurley, Web Producer

I know that Chris Boucher is the only option who’s actually played 20-plus minutes a night for full seasons in the NBA, but I bet it’s Neemias Queta.

He has two years of experience working with the Celtics. They’re invested in each other. He took some positive steps last season, so there’s reason to believe that can keep advancing.

Sean McGuire, Web Producer

Neemias Queta.

The lone holdover of the aforementioned group, Queta started just six of the 62 games he played last season because of the depth in front of him. But the 26-year-old fared fine in those six starts and narrowly missed a double-double in three of them.

If Queta can continue to build confidence from long range like he has in FIBA EuroBasket tournament this summer, Joe Mazzulla surely will appreciate it.

Josh Canu, Media Editor

Neemias Queta.

We have all enjoyed the flashes from Queta when called upon. Will he struggle in certain matchups? Absolutely. But he’s the best chance they have.

I think with a bigger workload he will have some eye-popping games and it should be fun to watch him continue to develop.

Jim Aberdale, Supervising Producer, Celtics

I’m guessing most will go Neemias Queta, but I’m taking Chris Boucher.

I like the fact he’s an eight-year veteran and has been on a couple championship teams. As the question mentions, someone has to play the 1,500 minutes and I think Joe Mazzulla leans on Boucher the most.

Max Lederman, Content Producer

Neemias Queta has the institutional knowledge that comes from already playing two seasons under Joe Mazzulla and is coming off a breakout EuroBasket performance for Portugal.

The center job is Neemy’s to lose.

Kevin Miller, VP, Content

Neemias Queta coming off a strong EuroBasket run will be the first choice. The Celtics could use his offensive rebounding and overall activity for some needed second-chance points.

That being said, I could see several minutes of small-ball five lineups.

Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy

Chris Boucher emerges as a true threat alongside Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. People will be very excited for him to play with Jayson Tatum, Ray. People will most definitely be excited.

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Pierre LeBrun Brings Up The Canadiens To Crosby

Just like Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby, is at the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas, and Pierre Lebrun had the opportunity to speak to him. The TSN and Athletic Insider revisited comments the All-Star player made in February during the 4 Nations Face-Off, noting that he had grown up a Habs fan and would never forget the reception he received from the crowd in the Bell Center that night.

Never one to pull any punches, LeBrun asked the captain if he was trying to hint at something when he mentioned that he grew up a Habs fan. Unsurprisingly, Crosby said that he wasn’t, but he still appreciates the fact that the team wants him (LeBrun added he probably meant the fanbase).

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LeBrun also tested the waters with Crosby’s longtime agent Pat Brisson, and while he believes his client should be competing for the Stanley Cup every year, it’s the player who has the ultimate say on his destiny.

Growing up a Habs fan or not, if the Pens’ captain were ever to decide he wants to move on, it would more than likely be to chase a Stanley Cup, and as much as the Canadiens’ faithful may wish to land number 87, Montreal is not one of the top Cup contenders right now. Crosby’s good friend Nathan MacKinnon plays on a team that’s arguably much closer to a Championship than the Habs are right now.

Besides, if Crosby were to request a trade, Kyle Dubas wouldn’t just give him away. Pittsburgh is on the verge of a rebuild and needs both young players and futures. The Canadiens have plenty of good young players, but how much can one sacrifice for a player who has just turned 38 years old? We’ve heard pundits on TV or radio advocating that it would make sense to trade Cole Caufield for Crosby, but I cannot see it. As good as Crosby is, two years of his talent versus at least five more years of a sniper who has yet to hit his ceiling?

It doesn’t make sense to me, despite how vital a good center is to a hockey team. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have always been transparent about wanting to build a perennial contender. They wouldn’t just roll the dice on a trade that could make the team better for a very short while and then suffer a setback. If the Canadiens were ever to consider acquiring the long-time Pens’ captain, it would have to be at a very reasonable price, and it’s hard to imagine a world where no GM is ready to overpay for the three-time Cup Champion.

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Flyers: Where Is Egor Zavragin?

(Photo: Russian Ice Hockey Federation)

Top Philadelphia Flyers goalie prospect Egor Zavragin has yet to play for his KHL club, SKA St. Petersburg, in the early goings of the 2025-26 season.

Zavragin, 20, was on SKA's bench as an unused substitute in Monday's 3-2 loss to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, where 22-year-old Artemi Pleshkov drew the start and stopped 28 of 31 shots.

Zavragin's place on the bench as the backup goalkeeper was actually a promotion for him, too.

On Saturday, Sergei Ivanov started for SKA against the Shanghai Dragons, but was yanked after 35:18 after allowing six goals on 20 shots. Pleshkov replaced Ivanov and stopped all five shots he faced in the final 23:37 of the 7-4 loss.

This is all to say that, without Zavragin on the ice, SKA is disappointingly 0-2-0 on the season.

The KHL outfit already replaced Roman Rotenberg, Matvei Michkov's former coach, with NHL legend Igor Larionov moving behind the bench, and the roster features players like Joseph Blandisi (already suspended), former Flyers forward Mikhail Vorobyov, veteran center and former NHLer Andrei Loktionov, Nikolay Goldobin, Rocco Grimaldi, Trevor Murphy, and St. Louis Blues prospect Matvei Korotky.

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If Larionov's poor luck continues, he may be forced to turn to Zavragin, which would be something certainly celebrated by the Flyers across the pond here in Philadelphia.

Flyers fans may recall how the 20-year-old former third-round pick dominated in the KHL last season under heavy expectations, going 20-14-3 across 43 games between SKA and HC Sochi and ripping off a 2.50 GAA, a .917 save percentage, and four shutouts.

In the Gagarin Cup playoffs, Zavragin was 1-2-0 with a 3.22 GAA and .913 save percentage across four games.

Plus, it certainly doesn't help Zavragin's case that only three of SKA's top 10 point-getters from last season remain.

Ivan Demidov, Alexander Nikishin, Arseniy Gritsyuk, Zakhar Bardakov, Tony DeAngelo, and, potentially, Evgeny Kuznetsov, have all left for the NHL, while only Sergei Plotnikov, Marat Khairullin, and Valentin Zykov remain.

If things don't continue to trend upwards for Zavragin, perhaps the Flyers will have other ideas on how to best develop their top goalie prospect that don't involve the KHL.