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Sacramento Kings season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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.

The Kings' fresh crop of talent is complimented with vets including Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk and Zach LaVine. During the offseason, Sacramento was busy. They re-signed Precious Achiuwa, Daeqwon Plowden and recently added free agent 6-foot-10 guard Ben Simmons into the mix, giving the team more defensive versatility. De'Andre Hunter also returns from an eye injury that limited him to just two games with the Kings.

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:

SACRAMENTO KINGS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Sacramento Kings offseason review

  • Record last season: 22-60 (14th in Western Conference)
  • Playoff finish: Did not qualify
  • Coach: Doug Christie (2nd season)
  • 2026-27 title odds: +100000 (per BetMGM)
  • Projected record : 18-64
  • Offseason grade : D

Key roster additions

  • G Ben Simmons (free agent signing)
  • 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.

Sacramento Kings guard Zach Lavine was injured for much of the 2025-26 season.

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sacramento Kings season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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Rockets 2026-2027 player previews: Julian Phillips and Isaiah Crawford

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.

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Utah Jazz season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

It’s a new era for the Utah Jazz.

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.

The pillars are forwards Lauri Markkanen, who is now going into his fifth season with the franchise, and Jaren Jackson Jr., the mid-season trade acquisition from February. But with No. 2 overall draft pick Darryn Peterson and Keyonte George, who was just awarded a massive, $157.5 million extension, the Jazz have a pair of dynamic guards to anchor the backcourt, too.

Here's a breakdown of the Utah Jazz's offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

ANALYSIS: Jazz ink Keyonte George to huge extension. Was it worth it?

UTAH JAZZ SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Utah Jazz offseason review

  • Record last season: 22-60 (15th in Western Conference)
  • Playoff finish: Did not qualify
  • Coach: Will Hardy (fifth season)
  • 2026-27 title odds: +20000 (per BetMGM)
  • Projected record : 44-38
  • Offseason grade : A-

Key roster additions

  • G Darryn Peterson (NBA draft)
  • C Jaxson Hayes (free agent signing)
  • G Josh Okogie (free agent signing)
  • G Josh Green (trade)

Key roster losses

  • C Walker Kessler (trade)
  • F Cody Williams (trade)

Biggest question entering training camp

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.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen reacts during a game on Dec. 27, 2025.

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah Jazz season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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.

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Portland Trail Blazers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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.

And, the offseason also saw a big trade with the Memphis Grizzlies to acquire two-time All-Star Ja Morant, who is as dynamic an athlete as there is in the NBA, though his availability has been an issue.

Here's a breakdown of the Portland Trail Blazers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Portland Trail Blazers offseason review

  • Record last season: 42-40 (7th in Western Conference)
  • Playoff finish: Eliminated in first round (1-4, against Spurs)
  • Coach: Micah Nori (first season)
  • 2026-27 title odds: +8000 (per BetMGM)
  • Projected record : 34-48
  • Offseason grade : C+

Key roster additions

  • G Ja Morant (trade)
  • F Jeremy Sochan (free agent signing)
  • F/C Micah Potter (waiver claim)
  • C Branden Carlson (free agent signing)

Key roster losses

  • F Jerami Grant (trade)
  • F Kris Murray (trade)
  • G/F Matisse Thybulle (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

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.

Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots a 3-pointer during warm-ups before Portland's game against the 76ers at Moda Center in Portland on Feb. 9, 2026.

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Portland Trail Blazers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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.

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Washington Wizards season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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.

Deandre Ayton came from the Los Angeles Lakers for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks. Khris Middleton arrived in a six-team sign-and-trade at three years and $17.6 million, but only the first year is fully guaranteed.

Washington has gone 50-196 over three seasons and has not won a playoff series since 2017.

Here's a breakdown of the Washington Wizards' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

WASHINGTON WIZARDS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Washington Wizards offseason review

  • Record last season: 17-65 (15th in Eastern Conference)
  • Playoff finish: Did not qualify
  • Coach: Brian Keefe (fourth season)
  • 2026-27 title odds: +15000 (per BetMGM)
  • Projected record : 30-52
  • Offseason grade : C+

Key roster additions

  • F AJ Dybantsa (draft, No.1)
  • F Khris Middleton (sign-and-trade)
  • C Deandre Ayton (trade)
  • G Tre Mann (trade)

Key roster losses

  • F Cam Whitmore (trade)
  • G D'Angelo Russell (free agency)
  • G Jaden Hardy (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

Do these guys fit on the same roster?

  • 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.

AJ Dybantsa of the Washington Wizards walks on the court during a break in the first half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Utah Jazz at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Washington Wizards season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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Chicago Bulls season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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.

First-year coach Tiago Splitter, who successfully led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA playoffs in an interim capacity last season, takes over for Billy Donovan. Bulls executive VP of basketball operations Bryson Graham arrived from the Atlanta Hawks and acquired impact veterans in Norman Powell and Nic Claxton. The biggest reason for optimism, however, might be forward Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

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:

CHICAGO BULLS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Chicago Bulls offseason review

  • Record last season: 31-51 (12th in Eastern Conference)
  • Playoff finish: Did not qualify
  • Coach: Tiago Splitter (1st season)
  • 2026-27 title odds: +75000 (per BetMGM)
  • Projected record: 40-42
  • Offseason grade: A-

Key roster additions

  • G Norman Powell (free agent signing)
  • F Caleb Wilson (No. 4 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
  • F Dailyn Swain (No. 15 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
  • C Nic Claxton (trade)

Key roster losses

  • G Collin Sexton (free agent)
  • G Anfernee Simons (free agent)
  • F Guerschon Yabulsele (free agent)
  • C Nick Richards (free agent)

Biggest question entering training camp

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago Bulls season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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.

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Indiana Pacers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

The Indiana Pacers are poised to return as NBA championship contenders after a one-year hiatus following the Achilles injury suffered by star Tyrese Haliburton in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. But Haliburton is set to make his long-awaited comeback to start the 2026-27 season, and the Pacers are a leading candidate to make a dramatic jump in the standings.

Haliburton will have a new center to play with after Indiana acquired Ivica Zubac at last February's trade deadline and mostly kept him under wraps as the franchise chose to position itself for a lottery pick. The strategy backfired; the selection fell just outside the top-four protected range and the No. 5 pick was conveyed to the Los Angeles Clippers.

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:

INDIANA PACERS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Indiana Pacers offseason review

  • Record last season: 19-63 (14th in Eastern Conference)
  • Playoff finish: Did not qualify
  • Coach: Rick Carlisle, 6th season
  • 2026-27 title odds: +6600 (per BetMGM)
  • Projected record: 53-29
  • Offseason grade: C

Key roster additions

  • F Kelly Oubre Jr.
  • F Larry Nance Jr.

Key roster losses

  • G Kam Jones (trade)
  • C Micah Potter (waived)

Biggest question entering training camp

Can Tyrese Haliburton return to all-NBA form?

  • 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.

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, shown here during the 2025 NBA Finals, is expected to return from an Achilles injury to begin the 2026-27 NBA season.

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana Pacers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

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.

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Why Bruins need another elite Jeremy Swayman season to reach playoffs

Why Bruins need another elite Jeremy Swayman season to reach playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

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.

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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.

David Pastrnak and Jeremy SwaymanJohn 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.

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Upcoming free agent Brandon Lowe has interest in returning to Pirates

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.  

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Henry Pollock saga ends after player signs ‘multi-year’ deal to stay at Northampton

  • ‘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.”

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Yankees news: Sweep or weep

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.

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Former Avalanche Forward Is Back In Vegas — And “Happy To Be Back”

Victor Olofsson left Las Vegas looking for a fresh start. A little more than a year later, after stops in Colorado and Calgary, he has found himself right back where it all began.

The former Colorado Avalanche forward is once again a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, returning to the organization he left in free agency after the 2024-25 season. What followed was a whirlwind stretch that included 60 games in Colorado, the birth of his second child, a trade to Calgary and, ultimately, another opportunity in the desert.

Olofsson's wife, Taylor, gave birth to the couple's second child during the Olympic break. Just over a week later, Olofsson was on the move, joining the Flames in the trade that sent Nazem Kadri back to Colorado.

Before that trade, Olofsson had put together a productive season with the Avalanche. He scored 11 goals and added 14 assists for 25 points in 60 games, including the first hat trick of his NHL career on Oct. 28.

Olofsson after recording his first hat trick as an NHL player. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing - Imagn Images
Olofsson after recording his first hat trick as an NHL player. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing - Imagn Images

His time in Calgary was considerably shorter. Olofsson finished with two goals and four assists in 18 games before free agency provided a familiar opportunity.

Vegas signed him to a one-year contract on July 1, bringing him back to the organization where he first experienced playoff hockey.

“I had a great time here last time around,” Olofsson told Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Danny Webster. “When the opportunity came, it felt like an easy choice. It was nice and quick. Happy to be back.”

There is also a new set of wheels waiting for him.

Cadillac of Las Vegas recently shared a photo of Olofsson picking up a brand-new Cadillac Escalade, posing alongside presumably the salesman. 

What better way to celebrate a return to the city of “lost wages” than by buying a brand-new car?

The Escalade is new. The opportunity in Vegas isn't.

Olofsson's first stint with the Golden Knights began with plenty of promise. He scored three goals in his first four games before a lower-body injury in October forced him to miss nearly two months.

This time, the circumstances could be different.

“I was a little bit in and out there the last time I was here,” Olofsson said. “I had a lot of good looks and chances, too, so we’ll see what happens this year. I’m ready for whatever and I’m excited.”

That is perhaps the biggest difference between Olofsson's first run with Vegas and his return. He has experienced another NHL organization, another trade and another season of trying to establish himself in a new environment.

Colorado was supposed to be a significant part of that next chapter.

Instead, Olofsson's time with the Avalanche ended before he could see the season through, with the veteran forward eventually becoming part of the trade that brought Kadri back to Denver.

Still, his 25-point season in Colorado gave him another productive stretch offensively, while his time in Vegas had already shown him what it is like to play for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

That experience appears to have remained important to him.

“The guys in the room, a lot of guys have won it one time and came close last year, too,” Olofsson said. “That’s the ultimate goal.”

For Olofsson, that goal was a major reason the decision to return to Vegas came together so quickly.

“That’s why I wanted to come back, too, was to win the Cup,” Olofsson said. “It’s always a team that’s in contention every year.”

Olofsson began his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres after being selected 181st overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He spent six seasons in Buffalo, including a 28-goal campaign in 2022-23, before eventually moving on to Vegas.

Since leaving Buffalo, Olofsson has played for Vegas, Colorado and Calgary, giving him three different stops before ultimately bringing him back to the Golden Knights. His chapter with the Avalanche lasted just one season, but it became another part of an NHL career that has taken several unexpected turns.

Now, after everything that has changed since he first left Vegas, Olofsson has another opportunity with an organization he already knows and a goal that has remained the same: winning the Stanley Cup.

And if his return to the desert needed one final touch, a brand-new hot rod isn't a bad way to start the next chapter.

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Giants get a 5-2 win, but lose another pitcher to injury

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Bo Davidson #94 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated by Drew Gilbert #0 after he scored during his Major League debut against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Oracle Park on September 21, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In a thoroughly depressing 2026 season for the San Francisco Giants, there was some hope about the future of the outfield Monday night. Drew Gilbert went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Bo Davidson got a hit and stole a base in his big-league debut. And Jonah Cox continues to show he’s a plus defender at both second base as well as center field as the Giants won, 5-2.

Of course, the main theme of the 2026 season is that the Giants and their fans cannot have nice things. Blade Tidwell got his first win of the season Tuesday in St. Louis, then had to leave Monday’s game in the 4th inning due to ominous “elbow discomfort” one batter after allowing a Brooks Lee home run that just barely made it out of the park in right.

Tristan Beck (welcome back!) relieved Tidwell and retired all eight batters he faced for a much-deserved first win of the season. He even got his ERA below 6! Trent Harris got his second save with a perfect ninth inning, moving him into a tie for fifth among Giants closers this season. When the entire team has 30 saves for the season, you take them where you can get hem.

The Giants raced out to an early lead thanks to Gilbert and Davidson. Gilbert legged out an infield hit and Davidson followed up by lining a single to right on the 9th pitch of his first major league at-bat.

Davidson went on to steal second base, then scored on Brett Harris’ two-run single. Fun fact! It was Harris’ first two RBIs of the season, coming in his 9th game with the Giants and 13th overall. To his credit, he has not concussed himself on a doorway this season, though there’s still a week to go.

In the second, it was another infield single, this time by Osleivis Basabe, that started a rally. Christian Koss broke out of an 0-for-10 streak with a double, then Gilbert lined the ball over a drawn-in Twins infield to drive in both of his teammates.

Gilbert continued to torment Twins starter Zebby Matthews in the 5th, leading off the inning with his 11th home run. He’s been much better in the second half of the season, slashing .238/.339/.427 since the All-Star break and hitting unusually well (265/.365/.530) when he leads off an inning.

Later in the game, Duane Kuiper texted Mike Krukow that his call of Gilbert’s dinger was the “Worst home run call I’ve ever heard” and Krukow admitted the call was so stressful he may have wet his pants a little.

Marcelo Mayer, acquired in the Erik Miller trade, also made his Giants debut. It wasn’t great, as he earned himself a Golden Sombrero by striking out all four times he came to the plate, the first three coming on 3-2 pitches.

Old friend Taylor Rogers pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief and became the first Minnesota pitcher to retire Gilbert. Sadly, his twin brother Tyler may have ended the Toronto Blue Jays’ slim hopes of a playoff berth by giving up a game-winning two-home run homer to Pete Alonso on the same night.

Five more games. Please, no more injuries.

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The champagne is on ice as Phillies get set to open final homestand

The champagne is on ice as Phillies get set to open final homestand originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Champagne showers are in the forecast as the Phillies open their final week of the regular season Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

The six-game homestand features visits from the top team in the National League (the Milwaukee Brewers) and the top team in the American League (the Tampa Bay Rays).

The Phillies will enter Tuesday night’s game against the Brewers with a magic number of 3 to clinch their fifth straight trip to the postseason. That means Garrett Stubbs could be doing the backstroke in the Phillies’ clubhouse as early as Wednesday night.

The Phils control the third and final NL wild-card spot with a four-game advantage over the Arizona Diamondbacks, currently the last team out. Any combination of three Phillies wins or three Arizona losses would put the Phils in the postseason.  

While Baseball-Reference.com gives the Phillies a 98 percent chance of making the postseason, it’s still unclear where they will play a first-round Wild Card Series next week.

With six games remaining, the Phils are a game behind the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres, who are tied for the top NL wild-card spot. The Phils still have a chance to claim the first wild-card spot, which would make them the NL’s No. 4 overall seed and keep them at home for the best-of-three first-round series.

Finishing as the second (No. 5 seed) or third (No. 6) seed would put the Phils on the road for the first round. Based on the standings today, the Phillies, as the No. 6 seed, would travel to No. 3 seed Atlanta for the first round. Atlanta clinched the NL East on Sunday. The Braves went 9-4 against the Phillies this season.

If the Phils finish as the No. 5 seed, they would open on the road against the No. 4 seed. Based on tiebreakers, that team would currently be the Cubs, who won their season series with the Padres.

If, by chance, the Phillies, Cubs and Padres all finish with the same record, the Cubs would claim the No. 4 seed with the Phillies as the No. 5 seed over the Padres, based on season-series tiebreakers.

On Sunday, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team would prioritize making the postseason ahead of striving for the home-field advantage in the first round. So, if the Phillies lock up a postseason berth before the weekend, Zack Wheeler would not pitch Sunday’s regular season finale. He instead would be in place to start Game 1 of the playoffs. Cristopher Sanchez could also be a candidate to start that game, provided the Phillies sew up a postseason berth before his turn comes up again on Saturday.

Wheeler (13-5, 2.99) pitches Tuesday night against Milwaukee’s Dustin May. Aaron Nola (7-10, 4.49) will start Wednesday night.

Here’s a look at what the final week of the season looks like for the teams the Phillies are battling.

CUBS – They are 87-69, tied with San Diego for the top wild-card spot, with six games to play, three at home against Miami and three at Boston.

PADRES – They are 87-69, tied with the Cubs for the top wild-card spot, with six to play, three at the Dodgers followed by three at home against Arizona.

DIAMONDBACKS – They are 82-74, four games behind the Phillies, the current No. 6 seed. They finish with three at Colorado and three at San Diego.