Miami football quarterback Carson Beck spoke about his public breakup with Hanna Cavinder in an interview with ESPN. Here's more.
Here’s why I expect Ben Rice to start for Yankees tonight in Wild Card Series
At this hour an army of scientists, dressed in white lab coats, are hunkered in the Yankee Stadium offices, pouring over biomechanical data regarding Ben Rice’s swing path, and endeavoring a deep dive into Paul Goldschmidt’s REM sleep over the past nine days.
They are preparing Aaron Boone’s orders for tonight’s lineup, delivered with the usual threat to follow their numbers … or else.
Just kidding.
Boone and bench coach Brad Ausmus, two humans, discussed and wrote the lineup before leaving the ballpark last night, as they always do. In case you haven’t yet heard, this is how the Yankees make decisions.
I haven’t seen tonight’s lineup, but amid all the chatter about first base and catcher, I fully expect the Yankees to start Rice at first in Game 3, Austin Wells at catcher and use Goldschmidt off the bench.
In Game 1, Boone opted for a righty-heavy lineup against Boston’s lefty ace Garrett Crochet. In a few cases, the manager actually went against what the team’s analytics department wanted. That’s a fact.
A game plan against Crochet is different from a game plan against another pitcher, regardless of handedness.
With their season on the line tonight, the Yankees are facing rookie left-hander Connelly Early. After Game 2 Boone would only reveal that he will start Jazz Chisholm Jr. against Early. He left first base and catcher open (why tell Alex Cora before he needs to know, right?).
But he said this:
“It's not just, it's a lefty. It's, what lefty? Is that guy going to be out there for six or seven innings? I want to leverage a spot for whoever my bench guys are to have a good matchup, not three bad matchups that I can guarantee. All of these things factor into it.”
An argument for starting Rice against Early tonight — in addition to the fact that he’s been smoking balls all over Yankee Stadium — is that the Red Sox have five left-handers in their bullpen. And that’s assuming that Crochet won’t give them an inning. It might be six lefties.
This means that if Boone starts Goldschmidt with the intent to swap in Rice after Early leaves (which could be … early), he might be waiting all night. Cora can counter with one lefty reliever after another. Might as well just start Rice.
As for catcher, that does not seem in question, and it has little to do with Wells’ game-winning hit last night. Wells is a superior game-caller, and that’s hugely important in the playoffs, not to mention when working with a rookie in Cam Schlittler.
Florida Panthers remove 33 players from training camp roster as Opening Night nears
The Florida Panthers are entering the home stretch of the preseason.
With only two games and five days remaining before they can officially shift their focus to Opening Night, the Panthers have made some big cuts to their training camp roster.
On Thursday, Florida announced that the roster had been trimmed down to 29 players, a significant drop from the 52 players that made up the roster previously.
The moves break down like this:
MacKenzie Entwistle, Nolan Foote and Wilmer Skoog have been waived, and will head to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers if they clear.
Contracted players who have been assigned to Charlotte are forwards Jack Devine, Josh Davies, Gracyn Sawchyn, Kai Schwindt, Ryan McAllister, Ben Steeves, Hunter St. Martin, Anton Lundmark and Sandis Vilmanis, defensemen Marek Alscher, Michael Benning and Mikulas Hovorka and goaltender Cooper Black.
Also heading to Charlotte are Jake Livingstone, Trevor Carrick and Hunter Johannes, who were all released from their PTOs (professional tryouts), as well as Liam McLinskey, Brett Chorske and Colton Huard, who were released from their ATOs (amateur tryouts).
Additionally, defenseman Ben Harpur was released from his PTO.
Florida’s training camp roster now features 18 forwards, eight defenseman and three goalies. They must get the roster down to at least 23 players by Opening Night.
It will be an important few days for forwards Tyler Motte, Noah Gregor and Jack Studnicka, who are all vying for an NHL job.
The Panthers will close out their preseason with games against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night in Tampa and Saturday night in Sunrise.
An updated training camp roster can be seen below:
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Photo caption: Sep 19, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice speaks to his players during training camp at Baptist Health IcePlex. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Buy-Low Sleepers: 8 Fantasy Basketball Bounceback Candidates
Every successful fantasy basketball season is built on identifying undervalued players. After a 2024-25 campaign marked by injuries, slumps, or poor team fit, several high-potential stars have seen their Average Draft Position (ADP) plummet. This creates a massive opportunity for savvy managers to find sleepers who are set to drastically outperform their draft slot. We've zeroed in on eight players who are primed for a major statistical rebound. Stop drafting based on last year's stats—here's your guide to the ultimate bounce-back picks for your 2025-26 fantasy draft.
Fantasy Basketball Bounceback Sleepers
Point Guard: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
On the surface, it's hard to say Ball can deliver a bounce-back performance in 2025-26. After all, he averaged a career-high 25.2 points per game to go along with 7.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 47 regular-season contests. That lack of durability is an issue with the star floor general, as Ball has played fewer than 50 games in each of the past three seasons. Simply staying on the court would be enough to believe he can deliver a bounce-back performance, although an improvement in his shooting numbers is also possible. The star floor general finished the 2024-25 campaign shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 33.9 percent from beyond the arc. Those are subpar numbers regardless of the overall scoring output.
Shooting Guard: Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
Miller is the second Hornets player on this list, and he suffered an unfortunate injury when he was showing signs of having a breakout campaign in his sophomore year. The 22-year-old underwent season-ending surgery in January to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist after averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals across 27 regular-season games. The Hornets are expected to be an improved team in 2025-26, and Miller is likely to assume a prominent role as an offensive weapon capable of carrying the team on offense alongside Ball. If Miller stays healthy, he should have all the chances in the world to bounce back in 2025-26 and establish himself as a reliable fantasy option due to his excellent two-way ability and ever-improving offensive skill set.
Small Forward: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Markkanen showed signs of being a star-caliber player while representing Finland in 2025 EuroBasket. However, the big question is whether he can translate that kind of success into the NBA. The forward had a down year in 2024-25 and averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and a combined 1.1 steals-plus-blocks in 47 regular-season contests. That's even worse when considering he was coming off back-to-back seasons in which he averaged at least 20 points, eight rebounds and two assists per game. Markkanen also shot the ball poorly from three-point range and only made 34.6 percent of his outside shots on 8.5 attempts per game. Pairing the most volume with the second-lowest percentage of his career isn't ideal. However, if he stays healthy and manages to translate his European success into The Association, then Markkanen could be a strong bounce-back candidate.
Power Forward: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Williamson's main issues throughout his career have been his weight and injury history – playing more than 60 games in a regular season just twice in his five-year career. Williamson is reportedly healthier and slimmer heading into the 2025-26 campaign, which should boost his chances of having a better year. The talent is undeniable, but his durability will be the key to his having a successful fantasy campaign. Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2024-25, and if he stays healthy, his role as the Pelicans' go-to weapon on offense should allow him to clear the 25-point-per-game mark with relative ease.
Center: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Gobert averaged 12.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in the 2024-25 season. That was his worst scoring average, his second-worst rebounding tally and his joint-worst block-per-game figure since his breakout season in 2016-17. Gobert is clearly a complementary piece on offense in a Minnesota team led by Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. Still, Gobert should remain productive enough to be effective in most fantasy formats. An uptick in his scoring and blocking numbers would go a long way toward allowing him to deliver a bounce-back effort after a 2024-25 season in which he was one of the biggest disappointments among frontcourt players when comparing the ADP vs. production.
Guard: Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
Saying that Suggs underachieved in 2024-25 might be a stretch, but the guard wasn't able to live up to expectations when healthy, and he also missed most of the season with an injury that limited him to a career-low 35 regular-season appearances. Suggs has shown flashes of stardom at times, averaging a career-best 16.2 points per game in the 2024-25 season. However, injuries have often limited him and prevented him from reaching his full potential. The Magic are primed for taking the next leap as a team in this upcoming campaign, and simply having Suggs healthy for the entire season would already be a bounce-back for the fifth-year veteran.
Forward: Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
Kuzma opened the 2024-25 season as one of the go-to offensive options on the Wizards roster and was later traded to the Bucks when Milwaukee wanted to add a punch to their lineup ahead of the second half of the campaign and the playoffs. The results weren't what anyone would've expected, though. Kuzma averaged 15.2 points per game in 32 regular-season games with Washington, and that number dropped to 14.5 ppg in 33 regular-season contests with Milwaukee. Kuzma is too good a scorer to be posting those numbers, especially since he was coming off two straight seasons with over 21.0 points per game in 2022-23 and 2023-24. While Kuzma isn't a dominant force in fantasy, he's tipped to bounce back after an underwhelming showing in 2024-25.
Utility: Terry Rozier, Miami Heat
Yes, there's a strong chance that Rozier won't even be fantasy relevant by the time training camp ends. However, he has a shot at earning regular playing time at the beginning of the season if he stays healthy, committed and overcomes the woeful showing he delivered in 2024-25. Rozier averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season, a far cry from the 19.8 ppg, 5.6 apg and 4.0 rpg he posted in 2023-24. Tyler Herro (ankle) will miss the start of the new campaign, so Rozier could carve out a role off the bench in an attempt to bounce back from one of the worst seasons of his career.
Shohei Ohtani to make postseason pitching debut for Dodgers in Game 1 of NLDS
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani will make his postseason pitching debut when he starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
The Dodgers open the best-of-five series on Saturday in Philadelphia.
“Very talented ballclub. It’s going to be a fun environment,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think we match up really well with those guys. They’re going to run a bunch of left-handers at us. Talented, all throughout the lineup.”
Roberts confirmed Ohtani as the starter after the Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 to complete a sweep in the NL Wild Card Series on Wednesday night. The Dodgers had planned to start Ohtani if the Wild Card had gone to a deciding third game.
Ohtani (1-1, 2.87 ERA) didn’t pitch for the Dodgers last season while recovering from a second elbow surgery that he had in September 2023. He became the first player in major league history with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases as the Dodgers won the World Series over the New York Yankees.
The two-way superstar never made the playoffs during six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
At the plate, Ohtani revived himself in September, hitting .312 with 10 home runs and a 1.165 OPS. He finished the regular season with a career-high 55 homers, one more than last season.
Against the Reds in Game 1, he hit two homers. He was 1 for 4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI in the closeout win Wednesday.
Dodgers advance to NLDS with terrific offense, starting pitching, shaky bullpen
LOS ANGELES — The starting pitching is terrific. The offense is clicking. The Los Angeles Dodgers have opened the postseason on a roll in defense of their World Series title.
If their bullpen can stop blowing up, they might just be the first team since the New York Yankees 25 years ago to win back-to-back championships.
“I think we can win it all. I think we’re equipped to do that,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We certainly have the pedigree. We certainly have the hunger. We’re playing great baseball. And in all honesty, I don’t care who we play. I just want to be the last team standing.”
After a second straight shaky eighth inning by the relief corps, the Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Wednesday night to sweep their NL Wild Card Series.
The Dodgers advanced to their 20th NL Division Series appearance — 13th in a row — in franchise history and will face the Phillies starting Saturday in Philadelphia. The teams last met in the postseason in 2009, when the Phillies beat the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series for the second straight year.
Shohei Ohtani will make his postseason pitching debut in Game 1. The two-way superstar never got to the playoffs during his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and he didn’t pitch in his first season with the Dodgers after having a second elbow surgery in September 2023.
The team has carefully managed his mound outings this season, with his first coming in mid-June. Ohtani’s longest was six innings at Arizona on Sept. 23. He was 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 appearances during the regular season.
The Dodgers’ Japanese contingent of Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki figure to gather steam as the postseason progresses. At the plate, Ohtani homered twice in the Dodgers’ 10-5 Game 1 win over the Reds. Yamamoto struck out a playoff-high nine while allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings in Game 2 and Sasaki made his postseason debut out of the bullpen with a 1-2-3 ninth Wednesday.
“I’d probably say he’s No. 1 on the growth chart,” Roberts said about Yamamoto. “Considering coming over here and trying to get his feet wet, trying to learn the culture, the game, the hitters, create a routine for himself, to then be a really big-game pitcher.”
The Dodgers essentially outscored their bullpen in sweeping the Reds.
Relievers Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez and Jack Dreyer combined to issue four walks as the Reds scored three runs and pulled to 10-5. The trio needed 59 pitches to get three outs on Tuesday.
“I thought it was a good lesson for them, more so for Henriquez and Jack, but I’m still evaluating,” Roberts said. “You learn a lot from that inning.”
Former starter Emmet Sheehan and Vesia worked the eighth on Wednesday. Sheehan gave up two runs before the Reds brought the potential tying run to the plate against Vesia. The duo made a combined 41 pitches before the flamethrowing Sasaki mowed down the Reds in the ninth.
“It’s sort of a daily kind of conversation with the pitching coaches, the front office and most importantly, what I see,” Roberts said. “In the postseason, you have to go with ultimately who you feel best in that one spot.”
After illness and offensive struggles during the regular season, Mookie Betts is rounding into form. He went 6 for 9 with a run, three doubles, three RBIs and a walk.
“We had a lot of struggles really all year. But I think we all view that as just a test to see how we would respond,” he said. “Now we’re starting to use those tests that we went through earlier to respond now and be ready now. And anything that comes our way, it can’t be worse than what we’ve already went through. Just keeping a positive mindset and just keep going.”
The Dodgers had a combined 28 hits against the Reds, the first time they’ve had 13 or more in consecutive postseason games since 1978.
“We’ll be sharp going into the next series,” Roberts said.
How Derrick White randomly became a good luck charm for Red Sox
How Derrick White randomly became a good luck charm for Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Can we get Derrick White to Yankee Stadium on Thursday night?
The Boston Red Sox’ season is on the line in the Bronx as they face the New York Yankees in a winner-take-all Game 3 of their American League Wild Card series. And while White likely has other plans — his Boston Celtics just kicked off training camp — recent history suggests the Red Sox would benefit from the veteran guard being in the building.
Here’s why: White has been to three games at Fenway Park since the start of the 2024 season that have ended in Red Sox walk-off victories. Here’s the list:
- June 24, 2024: Walk-off win over the Toronto Blue Jays
- April 10, 2025: Walk-off win over the Blue Jays
- Sept. 26, 2025: Walk-off win over Detroit Tigers
(A recent social media post suggested White was also at a Red Sox walk-off win on May 14, 2024; while White did attend the May 16 game — a Red Sox loss to the Rays — there’s no video evidence of White in the stands on the 14th.)
“Yeah, I’ve picked good games,” White deadpanned to Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg at Media Day when asked about his remarkable luck at Fenway Park. “… It’s been kind of crazy.”
White had some company at that first walk-off win in June 2024, as the entire Celtics team was honored at Fenway Park shortly after winning the 2025 NBA title. Jarren Duran did the honors that night with the walk-off single that sent White and his Celtics teammates into a frenzy.
White was back at Fenway on April 10 of this season to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, then witnessed Trevor Story hit a dribbler to second base that allowed David Hamilton to score the winning run against Toronto.
White’s most recent trip to Fenway was by far the most memorable, however, as the Celtics guard was in the house for Ceddanne Rafaela’s dramatic walk-off triple against the Detroit Tigers that clinched Boston’s spot in the playoffs.
For White, the fun didn’t end with the final out; he actually wandered onto the field to watch the Red Sox celebrate their playoff berth, then managed to take a selfie with the Wally the Green Monster head costume that Boston players wear after hitting home runs.
“They were like, ‘We’re going to take you through the field’ so I could get to my car, and the celebration was going on, so I was kind of just staying out there, kind of enjoying it,” White explained to Forsberg. “Then I had to use the bathroom, and then outside of it I saw (the Wally head), so I took a selfie, really for my dad. And I thought it was funny.”
White’s father, Richard White, is a die-hard Red Sox fan who grew up in the Boston area, so he deserves a hat tip for inspiring some of White’s fandom. And while we’d imagine White isn’t heading to New York on Thursday night, perhaps he’d make an appearance at Fenway next week if the Red Sox are able to punch their ticket to the American League Division series with a win Thursday night.
If that happens, history suggests there will be drama.
NHL Rumor Roundup: How Will Kirill Kaprizov's Contract Affect the 2026 UFA Market?
The Minnesota Wild signing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136-million contract extension will make the 28-year-old left winger the NHL's highest-paid player starting next season.
It also raised questions among the punditry over how it will affect the 2026 UFA market.
Connor McDavid tops next summer's UFA class, but The Hockey News' Jim Parsons and TSN's Chris Johnston don't see Kaprizov's contract having any effect on McDavid's negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers.
Johnston believes McDavid prefers a short-term contract over a long-term deal, speculating he could get something between two and four years. As for salary, he pointed out that the Oilers need salary-cap flexibility to maintain a competitive roster around their captain.
Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Journalbelieves McDavid must choose between the security of a long-term contract at a guaranteed $144 million if he pursues the cap maximum annual salary, or a short-term one where his salary rises with the cap in a few years, despite the injury risk.
Tychkowski's colleague, Jim Matheson, doubts McDavid will accept a lower average annual value than Kaprizov's $17 million. He predicts the Oilers' superstar will give his club a discount of $18 million annually on a two or three-year contract.
Why Connor McDavid Shouldn't Consider An Oilers Discount After Kaprizov SigningNews that Minnesota Wild superstar left winger Kirill Kaprizov signed an eight-year contract extension Tuesday sent ripple effects throughout the NHL – most notably, in Edmonton, where Oilers dynamo Connor McDavid is in need of a contract extension.
Meanwhile, Pierre LeBrun agreed with Johnston that Kaprizov's contract will have little effect on McDavid's negotiations. He felt other notable UFAs would be affected, like Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights, Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings, Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, and Martin Necas of the Colorado Avalanche.
Vegas Hockey Now's Hannah Kirkell cited several NHL insiders predicting that Eichel could get a new contract from the Golden Knights with an average annual value between $13 million and $14 million.
While that's a lot of money, Kirkell pointed out that it would only be between 12.5 and 13.46 percent of next season's $104 million salary cap.
Bleacher Report's Frank Seravalli believes Kaprizov's deal could push Necas' salary much higher than the Avalanche might prefer, especially if the 27-year-old right winger has another point-per-game season alongside Nathan MacKinnon. He didn't rule out a $10 million average annual value for Necas.
Kaprizov's deal also ensures Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor will get a significant raise. TSN's Darren Dreger reports the two sides continue to grind away in negotiations, seeking a deal that makes sense for both sides.
Connor's been a consistent scorer for the Jets, sitting eighth among the league leaders in total goals (282) since 2017-18. He also has two 90-plus point seasons on his resume, including a career-high 97 points in 2024-25. Connor is earning an AAV of $7.142 million, and another 90-point season could earn him a raise of around $12 million annually.
Kempe has led all Kings scorers with 139 total goals since his 2021-22 breakout season. Another solid performance this season could see his AAV rise from $5.5 million to $10 million.
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Devils Star Lands Spot On New NHL Top Players List
New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes once again had a strong season for the Metropolitan Division club in 2024-25. In 62 games, the 24-year-old forward recorded 27 goals, 43 assists, 70 points, and a plus-12 rating. With this, the 2019 first-round pick was over a point per game player for the fourth season in a row.
Now, due to his latest big season, Hughes has been rewarded. This is because he has made Sportsnet's top 50 players list ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Hughes was given the No. 19 on Sportsnet's list. With this, he ranked ahead of other notable NHL stars like William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs), Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets), Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators).
When looking at the year Hughes just had and his success over the years, it is not surprising in the slightest that he has been ranked as one of the top players in the NHL right now by Sportsnet. It will be interesting to see what kind of year he puts together for the Devils in 2025-26 from here.
Chessum granted special permission for early Prem return as Leicester captain
Most British & Irish Lions on mandatory 10-week break
Chessum returns despite featuring in all three Tests
Leicester’s new club captain Ollie Chessum has been cleared to return to domestic action against Harlequins ahead of schedule this weekend. The majority of British & Irish Lions squad members are not being permitted to resume playing for their clubs until next week but the Tigers forward has been given special dispensation.
The 25-year-old was injured for a large chunk of last season and ended up starting only 16 games and featuring off the bench four times. Despite being involved in all three Lions Tests against the Wallabies, the player management load group overseeing the welfare of top players has allowed him to face Harlequins at Welford Road on Saturday.
Continue reading...3 observations after Maxey-Edgecombe backcourt debuts in preseason loss to Knicks
3 observations after Maxey-Edgecombe backcourt debuts in preseason loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Tyrese Maxey-VJ Edgecombe tandem now has one NBA (preseason) game under its belt.
Maxey and Edgecombe sharing the floor was the most significant Sixers item Thursday from the team’s 99-84 preseason-opening loss to the Knicks in Abu Dhabi.
In his preseason debut, Edgecombe tallied 14 points, six rebounds and three assists. Maxey had 14 points, four assists and four boards.
Key Sixers out with injuries included Joel Embiid (left knee), Paul George (left knee), Jared McCain (right thumb) and Trendon Watford (right hamstring).
The Sixers’ second preseason game in Abu Dhabi is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. ET. Here are observations on their defeat Thursday:
The Maxey-Edgecombe backcourt
The Sixers paired Maxey and Edgecombe together to start the game alongside Kelly Oubre Jr., Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona.
That unit played with good defensive intensity out of the gate, pressuring the Knicks and hunting for turnovers. An Oubre steal on Mikal Bridges led to a Maxey fast-break bucket.
Edgecombe and Maxey’s chemistry as a duo will take time to build. Maxey threw a pass out of bounds late in the first quarter when he expected Edgecombe to stay on the wing and the rookie instead started to cut. The two talked things over as the Sixers headed to a timeout.
Individually, Edgecombe in the first quarter showcased many of the talents that made him the No. 3 pick. He grabbed a defensive rebound, pushed the ball ahead and tossed up a lob that Bona finished in high-flying fashion. Bona got another alley-oop slam about a minute later courtesy of Maxey.
Edgecombe displayed his passing instincts again when he received the ball on a backdoor cut and dropped off a dish to Johni Broome for an easy hoop.
Edgecombe tried for a giant highlight in the second quarter, soaring high and attempting to dunk over Knicks center Mitchell Robinson. He didn’t quite pull it off, but Edgecombe drew a foul and knocked down both of his free throws.
Meanwhile, Maxey was the Sixers’ top producer in the first quarter, running the show and scoring 10 points. He hit a smooth floater on the Sixers’ last possession of the period.
A shooting day to forget
The Sixers’ outside shooting was about as bad as it possibly could have been in the first half at 1 for 20 from three-point range. The Knicks (8 for 39) were also very subpar in that area Thursday.
The final numbers for the Sixers were 34.6 percent from the field and 8.6 percent (3 for 35) beyond the arc.
All teams have poor shooting days and preseason results deserve little scrutiny. Still, we’ll note that the Sixers went 34.1 percent from three-point territory last season, which ranked 27th in the NBA.
They need stars like Maxey and George to have better shooting seasons, and for role players to sink a higher percentage of the open jumpers those stars create.
No bench standouts
As is the norm in the preseason, the Sixers used a long bench. The team’s first five subs were Justin Edwards, Jabari Walker, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Broome.
After that, the Sixers played Kennedy Chandler. The 23-year-old point guard on an Exhibit 10 contract scored 10 points. Chandler entered ahead of two-way contract player Hunter Sallis, who made a mid-range jumper soon after checking in and posted eight points and three rebounds.
No Sixers bench player had an exceptional outing and the Knicks’ second unit was superior, turning their win into a blowout in the third quarter.
Edwards struggled offensively Thursday, missing all eight of his field goals and committing three turnovers in 16 minutes.
Do the Senators Need To Add Another Fighter Who Takes A Regular Shift?
As the Ottawa Senators continue their pre-season auditions, Tuesday’s 5-0 loss illustrated something clearly. When the Montreal Canadiens play the Ottawa Senators this season, they intend to try to intimidate them physically.
Who could blame them? Aside from Brady Tkachuk, who else on the roster can fight and win? This is not to question anyone's heart.
Zack MacEwen was signed a couple of years ago as a response to the Toronto Maple Leafs signing Ryan Reaves. MacEwen is a good fighter and always willing to answer the bell. But he hasn't fared well against the league's heavyweights.
Everyone answered the bell in the Habs game. The Habs, led by the Brothers Xhekaj, initiated the majority and, aside from Kirby Dach turtling against Donovan Sebrango, there really wasn’t a chest puff moment for the Senators.
As far as nuclear deterrents go, the Senators don’t have anyone in the system who can play regularly AND keep the other team in line.
Tyler Kleven has the size to suggest he could handle himself. However, his inaugural bout was against Adam Lowry of the Jets, and it soon became clear that Kleven played University hockey where he did not learn how to become a great fighter.
Carter Yakemchuk had 120 penalty minutes in his draft year and another 82 last year, but didn't have much interest in fighting on Tuesday night. Gabriel Eliasson, the Senators' 2nd pick in the 2024 priority selection, was regarded as the meanest player in the 2024 draft. This is a reputation he tried to uphold in rookie camp this year.
Perhaps they will be a pair one day. This doesn’t solve the current dilemma.
Ridly Greig will take all comers and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. He irritates. He doesn’t intimidate.
Other teams may take note of what happened on Tuesday and try to replicate it. The risk is not only having liberties taken with your star players, but also having your captain taken out of the game defending people when he should be wreaking havoc in front of the opposing goalie.
Looking within the division, the defending champion, Florida Panthers, are without a couple of key pieces in Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, who play the hard minutes, but the Panthers also have the likes of Sam Bennett, who can play it anyway you want or someone like AJ Greer, who can play hard minutes and fight.
The Leafs have said goodbye to Mitch Marner, and new faces like Nicolas Roy won’t replace his offence but will make them bigger and harder to play against. They also brought in Michael Pezzetta for nights when trouble is expected. Simon Benoit is a defenseman who brings both size and the ability to use it effectively to the table. Not the most intimidating roster in the division, but they are big enough not to get pushed around.
The Bruins have the likes of Nikita Zadorov who is as mean as they come, and they also doubled down on former Senator Mark Kastelic for another three years. Say what you will, but Kastelic can play a fourth-line role and can win a fight. He had 10 last year alone. The Bruins, as a team, had the second most fights in the NHL last season with 30.
The Bolts don’t have a lot of guys who fight but they have plenty of guys who can, and they are huge with the likes of former Senator Nick Paul, Victor Hedman, Erik Czernak, and the list goes on. Teams won’t intimidate them physically.
The Sabres don’t have a Matthew Barnaby type and haven’t in a long time. Adding Josh Norris didn’t make them tougher to play against. They also own the longest playoff drought in the league at 14 seasons. Coincidence? They had the eighth most fights in the league last year at 23. Fights at the end of games you are about to lose don’t add up to much in the standings.
The Detroit Red Wings don’t have anyone who would fit the description of an enforcer. They also have the second-longest playoff drought in the league at nine years. Coincidence? Mason Appleton is a gritty player, but as an off-season signing, he doesn’t really inspire fear, and nor do adding Jacob Bernard-Docker and Travis Hamonic. Hard to say where Stevie Y is taking this team.
Coming out of the last lockout, the competition committee sought to make the game faster and more entertaining with an emphasis on skill. This led to the near extinction of the dedicated enforcer. It also led to players who can both play harder minutes, be physical AND fight when needed, all the more valuable. Tkachuk is the Senators' only such player.
Teams don’t need a lot of pugilism to be effective, but they do need some, and aside from their captain, the Senators have a glaring gap in this department.
More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Reviewing Four Of The Nastiest Moments From Senators–Canadiens Game On Tuesday
Eight Former Ottawa Senators Placed On Waivers This Week
Brady Tkachuk On Starring In Prime Video Show: 'I'm An Open Book To Begin With'
Broadcast Frustrations Resurface For Senators Fans
Ullmark Says He Enjoys The Struggle
Former Senator Josh Norris Embraces New Opportunity To Prove Himself
Islanders Conclude Preseason Slate: Lineup vs. Flyers & Notes
EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders conclude their preseason slate on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. We will be chatting with head coach Patrick Roy and select players at 4 PM ET.
Puck drop is slated for 7 PM ET and can be watched, exclusively, on ESPN+.
Forward Jonathan Drouin, who missed Wednesday's skate due to illness, did rejoin the team on Thursday but did not take part in line rushes. Roy didn't think he'd play when we spoke to the bench boss following Wednesday's skate.
Drouin went pointless in three preseason games, but was clearly getting more comfortable with his new team in each passing game.
"It’s something you feel. You’re forechecking and you're in your head saying, ‘Am I in the right spot?’ or ‘Am I forechecking the right guy?’ That stuff kind of goes away. & you’re just playing. You’re skating, you’re freer."#Isles@TheElmontershttps://t.co/4cIaYpPSMH
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 2, 2025
Forwards Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri were on the ice but neither took part in line rushes. Both took part in penalty kill work.
Goaltender Ilya Sorokin told us he wanted to play in two preseason games, and he'll get to do that as he'll start the finale. He stopped 23 of 26 in a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils last Friday \\.
Here's the lines:
#Isles morning skate lines:
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 2, 2025
Duclair-Ritchie-Heineman
Lee-Barzal-Tsyplakov
Holmstrom-Pageau-Shabanov
Cizikas-MacLean-Gatcomb
E: Horvat, Drouin, Palmieri
Pelech-Pulock
Schaefer-Mayfield
Romanov-Boqvist
George-DeAngelo
Sorokin
Rittich
Forward Maxim Tsyplakov, who wasn't available for the first four preseason games, did skate on Monday, but did so on the fourth line. He's focused heavily on going North and not as much East-West-South play that got him in trouble at times during his rookie season.
We'll see what he can show alongside Barzal.
Forward Calum Ritchie also played on the fourth line last game, but we know he is a top-six forward once he develops to the level the organization envisioned.
While making the Islanders' roster out of training camp is going to be tough despite his strong performance, Thursday serves as his final chance to show his worth, and the Islanders seem to be giving him an opportunity to do that, playing alongside Anthony Duclair and Emil Heineman.
Here's how the Islanders lineup on the power play:
#Isles PP: (QB-LW-RW-B-N)
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 2, 2025
PP1: Schaefer-Barzal-Duclair-Heineman-Lee
PP2: Boqvist-Shabanov-Holmstrom-Ritchie-Tsyplakov
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Ex-Rangers Defender Lands Big Extension With Panthers
Former New York Rangers defenseman Niko Mikkola has landed a big payday, as he has signed an eight-year, $40 million contract extension with the Florida Panthers. His extension will kick in during the 2026-27 season.
Mikkola first signed with the Panthers during the 2023 NHL off-season in free agency after finishing the 2022-23 season with the Rangers. Since then, he has become a key part of Florida's blueline and has won the Stanley Cup twice. Thus, it is understandable that the Panthers have locked him up to this long-term contract extension.
More of Mikksy!
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 2, 2025
📝 » https://t.co/XJRqf2bYuspic.twitter.com/GvqZ84ahwd
Mikkola was acquired by the Rangers with forward Vladimir Tarasenko during the 2022-23 season from the St. Louis Blues. In 31 games with the Rangers that season following the trade, the 6-foot-6 defenseman recorded one goal, three points, 38 blocks, 55 hits, and a plus-4 rating. He also played in seven playoff games for the Blueshirts in 2023, where he recorded two assists, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus-2 rating.
Jonathan Kuminga changes Warriors jersey number ahead of 2025-26 NBA season
Jonathan Kuminga changes Warriors jersey number ahead of 2025-26 NBA season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Jonathan Kuminga enters the 2025-26 NBA season with a new contract — and a new jersey number.
The young forward returned to Warriors practice Thursday after signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract with Golden State, and he appears to have exchanged his No. 00 jersey number to No. 1.
The contract agreement ended a summer-long standoff between Kuminga and Golden State.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters Thursday that Kuminga participated but scrimmaged for only half of the scrimmage time as the team continues to ease him back into action.
Kerr added that Kuminga “looked good” and “did a nice job” on his first day back.
As Kuminga seeks a clean slate with the Warriors after a drama-filled offseason, perhaps a jersey number is just one of the many changes he will encounter this season.