SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs posts up against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on February 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s day two of the NBA’s schedule drop for the 2026-27 season (why is this necessary?), with the Emirates NBA Cup groups being announced today. The Spurs wound up in Group C, along with the Lakers, Warriors, Kings and Trail Blazers. After seemingly always ending up in the “Group of Death” in past years, this is a relatively friendly one that the Spurs should be favored to advance out of.
The groups are set and the schedule is OUT 👀
Starting October 30, all 30 teams will compete for the @emirates NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing out of groups into the knockout rounds, with the Championship held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, December 11!
As a reminder, each team will play each other once during the regular season between October 30 and November 27, and the winners of each group will advance, along with a wildcard team from each conference. As always, the quarterfinals and semifinals count as regular season games, while the final does not count in any way other than towards the 65-game rule. (Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama thanks you!) The 22 non-qualifying teams play two standard regular-season games during the knockout rounds to fulfill the 82-game schedule, and losers of the quarterfinals play one regular season game.
A new change this season is like the quarterfinals, the semifinals will be hosted by the higher-seeded team, while the Final will take place at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on December 11. In the past, the semifinals and final were held in Las Vegas, but relatively low attendance due to short turnaround notice for fans to travel played a role in moving the event back to home arenas.
Last year was the first time the Spurs won their group and advanced, and they surprisingly beat the Lakers in Los Angeles in the quarterfinals without Victor Wembanyama to advance to Vegas. Wemby then returned from his 12-game absence due to a calf strain but played limited minutes off the bench as the Spurs got their first of what would become three surprising beatdowns of the Thunder across 12 days before falling to the Knicks in the final: a surprising precursor to what would come in the playoffs. (This was also the first time the Cup winner went on to win the NBA Championship.)
Below is the Spurs’ Cup schedule. You can also click here to get more information about the Cup itself. Are you starting to like this event now that the Spurs are more competitive?
Friday Nov. 13 — vs. Golden State Warriors, 8:30 PM CT on Prime
Wednesday Nov. 25 — at Portland Trail Blazers, 9:00 PM CT on ESPN
Friday Nov. 27 — vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 PM CT on Prime
Knockout Rounds
Quarterfinals — Friday Dec. 4 and Saturday Dec. 5, hosted by higher seeded teams.
Semifinals —Tuesday Dec. 8 and/or Wednesday Dec. 9, hosted by higher seeded teams (I’m guessing the uncertainty of date is due to not knowing the teams and locations, and if a double-header is feasible or not).
Final — Friday, Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Regular season games for the disqualified teams will take place on the other days during this time frame.
The NBA will release all 30 teams’ complete regular season schedule tomorrow at 2:00 PM CT.
A former Pittsburgh Penguins prospect is heading to the KHL.
The Shanghai Dragons have signed former Penguins prospect defenseman Calen Addison to a one-year contract.
Addison was selected by the Penguins in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, 53rd overall. He was once considered one of the Penguins' top prospects, but he never ended up playing a game for Pittsburgh. This is because the Penguins traded Addison to the Minnesota Wild in February 2020 as part of the the trade that brought forward Jason Zucker to Pittsburgh.
Addison played in three games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2018-19, however, where he posted two assists.
After being traded by the Penguins, Addison played four NHL seasons from 2020-21 to 2023-24. In 152 career NHL games over that span, he posted six goals, 44 assists, 50 points, and 96 penalty minutes. His best season in the NHL was in 2022-23, as he set career highs with three goals, 26 assists, and 29 points in 62 games.
Before signing this new deal with Shanghai, Addison spent each of the last two seasons exclusively at the AHL level. In 65 games last season with the Utica Comets, he recorded six goals and 31 points.
The Coachella Firebirds, the American Hockey League (AHL) Seattle Kraken affiliate, announced on July 29th that the team had signed defenseman Gustav Olofsson.
Olofsson appeared in 48 games last season for the Firebirds, recording four goals and 28 assists.
The defenseman was drafted 46th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. he has appeared in 63 NHL Games with three teams: the Minnesota Wild, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Seattle Kraken.
Firebirds General Manager Troy Bodie spoke about the signing.
“Gustav has been a part of this organization since day one, and that says a lot about the person and player he is,” said Bodie. “His leadership, professionalism, and consistency have helped establish the culture we’ve built in Coachella Valley. Gustav brings valuable NHL experience and continues to set an outstanding example for our younger players. We’re excited to have him back for another season.”
Olofsson joined the Firebirds in the 2022-23 season and is entering his fifth season with the team. He has appeared in 414 AHL regular-season games and 69 Calder Cup Playoff games.
The Firebirds signed Olofsson to a one-year AHL contract. The 2026-27 season will kick off on October 2.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 28, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the NBA action fast approaching, the league has begun announcing all of the games for the 2026-27 season.
On Tuesday, we got news that the Lakers will take on the Sixers on Christmas Day and that their first official game will be at home against the Warriors. Now, on Wednesday, we got the full schedule for NBA Cup action.
Los Angeles will open play in its group against Golden State on Friday, Oct. 30 on Prime. Here’s a look at their four games:
Oct. 30, 7 pm PT – Lakers at Warriors (Prime)
Nov. 6, 7 pm PT – Lakers vs. Blazers (Prime)
Nov. 20, 7 pm PT – Lakers vs. Kings
Nov. 27, 6:30 pm PT – Lakers at Spurs (Prime)
The Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Group Play schedule includes 15 national games across Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and ESPN.
Group Play games will occur every Friday from Oct. 30 through Nov. 27. There will also be contests happening on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Wednesday, Nov. 25.
This isn’t exactly an easy group for the Lakers. On paper, LA should be favored against the Warriors, but any Steph Curry-led team is tough to beat. Facing the Spurs will be an even tougher challenge.
Last season, San Antonio won their group and reached the NBA Cup title game. Victor Wembanyama is an elite, highly competitive player, so expect him to try to win it all this season. The Blazers and Kings are the weaker opponents in this group, but no team can be taken lightly.
The Lakers won the very first NBA Cup competition back in 2023, but haven’t had as much success in it since. In 2024, they didn’t make it out of the group stage, and in 2025, they lost in the quarterfinals to the Spurs.
During the three-year history of the NBA Cup, success in the tournament has been an indicator of what teams are the best in the league.
Last year, the NBA Cup title game and NBA Finals had the same teams participating. Back in 2024, the Thunder lost in the Cup Championship against the Bucks, before winning the NBA Finals against the Pacers.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 4: Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on November 4, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics will once again compete for the Emirates NBA Cup this season — and they’ll look to secure the franchise’s first in-season tournament championship. Now, we know when that will happen, and against whom, as the NBA has unveiled the entire NBA Cup schedule as part of a week-long schedule rollout.
The Celtics are in Group C, which means they’ll compete against the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards. They failed to make it out of the group stage round in each of the past two seasons, and lost in the Quarterfinals in the Cup’s inaugural season. But, at least on paper, Group C is one they should stack up well against (only the Hawks were a playoff team last year).
The Celtics’ NBA Cup schedule
Friday, October 30th vs. Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday, November 6th at Hornets, 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday, November 24th at Wizards, 8 p.m. ET
Friday, November 27th vs. Hawks, 8 p.m. ET
After the group stage, there are three knockout rounds.
Quarterfinals: Friday, December 4th and Saturday, December 5th
Semifinals: Tuesday, December 8th and/or Wednesday, December 9th
Championship: Friday, December 11th
We also know that the Celtics will face the Detroit Pistons for the first game of the NBA regular season on Tuesday, October 20th at 3pm ET, and host the New York Knicks for their home opener on Friday, October 23rd at 7pm ET.
On Christmas Day, the Celtics will host the Miami Heat at 2:30pm ET.
The full 2026-27 schedule will be released Thursday at 3pm ET.
BROOKLYN, NY - NOVEMBER 28: Terance Mann #14 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on November 28, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We now have the first piece of the puzzle that is the Brooklyn Nets’ 2026-27 regular season schedule. This morning, the NBA announced dates, times, and locations for the Emirates NBA Cup group round matchups. Brooklyn’s games, which should all be televised on the YES Network, include the following:
vs Detroit on 10/30 at 7:30 p.m. EST
vs Orlando on 11/20 at 7:30 p.m. EST
at Milwaukee on 11/25 at 7:00 p.m. EST
at Toronto on 11/27 at 7:30 p.m. EST
While all will matter equally on paper, Brooklyn’s second contest vs Orlando will likely carry a bit of extra weight, as it’ll feature both Wagner brothers as competitors for the first time in the NBA.
In the NBA Cup’s three year history, the Nets have yet to advance into the knockout round. However, should they finally break through this season, those games will take place from December 4-9th. The Cup championship game is scheduled for December 11th at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The NBA will also announce the remainder of its national television schedule, being ESPN and NBC’s slate of games, at 3 p.m. EST today. Last year, the Nets only played in two nationally televised games — an early November bout with the Minnesota Timberwolves and a mid-January game with the Chicago Bulls.
While the Nets undoubtedly improved as a team this summer and certainly increased their “watchability” by adding a former All-Star in Julius Randle and a potential blue-chip prospect in Mikel Brown Jr., I would expect a similarly sized portion of nationally televised games again this year. We’ll update this story with the details once they’re released. The compete NBA 2026-27 season schedule will drop at 3 p.m. EST on Thursday.
Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Jayden Struble now has four years of professional hockey under his belt, but he has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHLer. For the last three seasons, he’s been in a duel with teammate Arber Xhekaj for the sixth defenseman role. Thanks to the injury bug, though, they’ve both seen a fair bit of action. Last year, Struble skated in 59 games with an average of 14:01 of ice time, while Xhekaj saw action in 65 games but only averaged 11:25 of ice time. However, in the playoffs, Struble played in 12 games and averaged 11:40 of ice time, while Xhekaj played in 13 games but averaged only 8:06.
What the last playoffs made very evident is that coach Martin St-Louis doesn’t trust the rugged Xhekaj to play a complete and reliable game. The bench boss is not keen on players taking themselves out of the play to land a big hit, and while Xhekaj has all but eradicated that from his game, it seems like St-Louis believes that a leopard doesn’t change its spots. Now is the time for Struble to step in and claim that 6th defenseman, whether Xhekaj is still with the Canadiens or not.
The duel is about to become a three-way battle at best since Adam Engstrom appears all but ready to make the jump to the NHL and the team seems keen on giving David Reinbacher a shot at making the team out of training camp. Struble is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $1, 412,500 cap hit, and he finds himself in an “It’s now or never” situation.
Thankfully for him, he forms a good tandem with Lane Hutson when he’s called upon to play with the young star, and that might just be what gave him the edge over Xhekaj in the playoffs. Before talking about season expectations for Struble, we should really be talking about training camp expectations, because that’s where he’ll put his NHL job on the line.
If Xhekaj remains a Canadiens player and signs a new contract, Struble will have to beat him, Engstrom and Reinbacher at training camp to earn a spot in the lineup. A strong start is always a good way to catch the coach’s eye, and the Northeastern University alumni should be riding high after earning St-Louis’ trust in the playoffs. Struble needs to make a statement that he deserves the sixth spot on the blueline and that it’s not time to move on from him to give Engstrom or Reinbacher NHL minutes.
He’s never been a big point producer, and that’s not about to change; what he needs to do is play a smart game, one that is based on solid decision-making and a heavy physical game without going overboard. You can fully expect Struble to come out strong because one way or another, he’ll be playing to earn a new contract with the Habs, and he needs to fend off the competition. At the end of the season, he’ll be an RFA with arbitration rights if he convinces Kent Hughes to give him a qualifying offer. That shouldn’t be too hard, since the GM is not one to lose assets without getting anything in return. Sooner or later, though, the Canadiens will have to do something about the logjam on their blueline; as things stand, Struble is not the one who’s rumored to be on the move, but rumors tend to be just that and don’t always come to fruition.
26 Feb 1999: Pitcher Dave Pavlas #60 of the New York Yankees poses for the camera on Photo Day during Spring Training at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport | Getty Images
Dave Pavlas is a name many Yankees fans might have to double-take at and search deep into their brain folds to remember. Despite only being a footnote in the grand scheme of the illustrious Yankees history, the six-foot-seven righty made some headlines during his time with the club.
David Lee Pavlas Born: August 12, 1962 (Frankfurt, Germany) Yankees Tenure: 1995-96
Pavlas was born in Frankfurt when its country was known as West Germany, but he was effectively raised in Texas. He graduated from Shiner High School and then went on to play baseball at Rice University in Houston. Upon leaving Rice, Pavlas went undrafted but was signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago Cubs in December of 1984.
After being signed, Pavlas started working his way through the Cubs’ farm system. Pavlas had made it to Double-A in 1987 when he was traded to the Texas Rangers for Mike Mason. Pavlas kept grinding his way through the minors and would reach Triple-A for the Rangers. In January of 1990, the Cubs purchased Pavlas back from the Rangers.
The 1990 season would be Pavlas’ first taste of the majors as a September call-up. In 13 games, Pavlas recorded 21.1 innings, going 2-0 and posting a 2.11 ERA. Despite this relative success, Pavlas only appeared in one game for the Cubs in 1991, instead spending most of the 1991 and 1992 seasons playing for Triple-A Iowa.
Pavlas was out of the majors for the 1993 and 1994 seasons, instead playing in the Chinese Professional Baseball League for the Brother Elephants among other international teams and leagues. His return stateside was not without controversy, as the Yankees signed Pavlas as a replacement player during the 1994-95 Major League Baseball strike, on February 8, 1995.
Pavlas stuck with the organization once the big-league team returned, accepting an assignment to Triple-A Columbus. In July, the Yankees called up the former replacement player. After the harsh and bitter strike, the move was not received well by the players on the roster. Captain Don Mattingly told reporters that he would always see Pavlas as a scab. He largely ignored Pavlas in the clubhouse and would not interact with him outside of the lines of the field. Despite the drama, Pavlas did his job when called on out of the ’pen by Buck Showalter. In 1995, he had a 3.18 ERA over 5.2 innings in four appearances. He was not on the playoff roster but traveled with them to their heartbreaking ALDS loss to Seattle.
For most of the 1996 season, Pavlas was back in Columbus. However, the Yankees needed some innings and called him up in August for the last two months of the season. Pavlas appeared in 16 games, went 23 innings, and posted a solid 2.35 ERA.
The Yankees picked David Weathers over Pavlas on their playoff roster, and the move worked out with Weathers spinning a 0.82 ERA over 11 postseason innings during the 1996 championship run.
The players on the team voted not to give Pavlas a share of the postseason bonus. This infuriated owner George Steinbrenner, who paid Pavlas and two other players directly from the team and gave them World Series rings anyway. The vote was said to make Steinbrenner so mad that he traded* Jim Leyritz, who was allegedly the ringleader encouraging the vote against awarding the fringe contributors rings and a share.
*The presence on the wider 40-man roster of an up-and-coming backstop named Jorge Posada—a third-stringer in ’96—was more likely the primary motivator.
Following his last game with the Yankees in 1996, Pavlas would not appear in another big-league game (though he was at the ring ceremony in 1997). Chasing the dream, however, did not end, as Pavlas would play professionally internationally back in China and in Japan, including a short run playing with Hideki Matsui on the Yomiuri Giants prior to “Godzilla” becoming a Yankees legend. Then in 1999 he made another stop with the Yankees back in Triple-A Columbus, before spending a few more years pitching for the Pirates’ Triple-A club.
In 2001, Pavlas officially retired from baseball. When it was all said and done Pavlas played professionally in seven countries and spent time in seven major league systems. His final line with the Yankees was a 0-0 record, a 2.51 ERA over 28.2 innings, and 21 strikeouts. If there were hard feelings over his involvement with the 1996 team, they at least somewhat subsided by 2016, as he was greeted warmly upon returning to the Bronx for the 20th anniversary celebration of the 1996 champions at Old-Timers’ Day.
Happy birthday, Dave!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 07: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on April 07, 2025 in Miami, Florida. 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. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While not the biggest gamble of the offseason, the Lakers certainly committed a lot of belief and money into Quentin Grimes.
The team’s focus on getting younger and more athletic led them to Grimes, whom they signed to a four-year, $60 million deal. It’s a huge vote of confidence in his potential and that a likely starting spot and streamlined role will lead to big results in the coming seasons.
As we continue our series looking at some of the team’s free agent signings, we spoke to Paul Hudrick, site manager for Liberty Ballers, about Grimes’ time with the Sixers, where he flourished, and
What are his strengths?
When Grimes is going well, his physicality, fearlessness and versatility are major strengths. He was never able to replicate what he did to close the Sixers’ nightmare 2024-25 campaign, but you saw glimpses of it throughout last season.
He’s a physical guard with the ability to play on or off the ball. He can score at all three levels. He’s also an aggressive and physical player on the defensive end. If you’re looking for the most optimal version of Grimes, his Game 5 in Boston last year was it.
What are his weaknesses?
Grimes seemed to struggle last season with more stars on the floor. He started the season looking like a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. As Tyrese Maxey ascended, VJ Edgecombe improved and Joel Embiid and Paul George got healthier, Grimes seemed to fade into the background.
While that Game 5 performance highlights what Grimes can be, the rest of the playoffs showed where you might have concerns. He’d often disappear in games. He was also prone to strange mistakes and his shot selection could be questionable, perhaps being a bit overaggressive as his touches diminished.
From an outsider’s perspective, how do you see him fitting with the Lakers?
While he didn’t have much success with a fully healthy Sixers team, it’s fair to note the Sixers didn’t have anyone near the playmaking level of Luka Doncic last season. It’s also fair to note that Grimes had success playing alongside Luka in Dallas.
I’m curious how he’ll play next to Collin Sexton. I would imagine Grimes and Sexton will battle to be the first guard off the bench. Grimes’ ability defensively likely gives him the edge there playing next to Luka or Austin Reaves.
Anything else to know about him?
In the time I covered him, Grimes was a player who always left me wanting more. I’d see him yam on somebody, bury four threes a row with a hand in his face and then chest up someone like Jaylen Brown defensively, then he just wouldn’t have an impact for a long stretch.
His decision-making can be a bit maddening as well. I think he’s a good player and belongs in an NBA rotation, but there might be a reason he’s been on five teams in six years.
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
Who had the best and worst offseason in the Atlantic Division?
27. Stiven Sardarian – Right Wing (Michigan Tech – NCAA)
The Sabres selected Sardarian in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the pick obtained from the Florida Panthers for Brandon Montour. The St. Petersburg native played his youth hockey in the Moscow Dynamo system but chose to come to North America in 2021 and play in the NCAA. After a season with Youngstown in the USHL.
Sardarian has built himself up from 157 lbs at the start of his NCAA career to 180 lbs, which may be part of the reason for why he broke out offensively in his junior season. As a freshman at UNH, he had only seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 29 games. His sophomore campaign showed some progress, as he doubled his offensive totals to 14 points and scored seven times in 32 games, but he availed himself of the NCAA’s transfer portal and moved on to Michigan Tech.
The 23-year-old has led MT in scoring the last two seasons, with 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 35 games as a junior and 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists) in 37 games as a senior.The Sabres have not signed Sardarian to an entry-level contract and he will become an unrestricted free agent on Saturday if they do not.
It is possible that the new administration under Jarmo Kekalainen does not see any pro upside in him, but with the club’s AHL roster seeing a mass exodus either by trade or likely promotion to the Sabres, that they would not extend at least a short-term ELC to Sardarian.
The Minnesota Wild have spent years searching for more high-end offensive talent around Kirill Kaprizov.
They may no longer have to search very far.
Kaprizov and Matt Boldy were both ranked among the six best wings in hockey by NHL Network, giving Minnesota one of the most highly regarded star duos in the league entering the 2026-27 season.
No other NHL team placed two players inside the top six.
The only two wings ranked ahead of Kaprizov were Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov at No. 1 and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak at No. 2.
Kaprizov finished ahead of some massive names, including Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Matthew Tkachuk, Artemi Panarin and Kyle Connor.
Boldy's placement might be even more noteworthy.
The 25-year-old finished ahead of Jason Robertson, Matthew Tkachuk, Cole Caufield, William Nylander, Connor, Panarin, Sam Reinhart and several other established NHL stars.
NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp had especially high praise for Boldy during the countdown.
“He is an absolute star, can score some goals, and that clutch ability, that clutch gene that he has, is immeasurable,” Rupp said.
Boldy's rise has changed the outlook of Minnesota's offense.
For years, Kaprizov was unquestionably the centerpiece of the Wild's attack. While that hasn't necessarily changed, Boldy has developed into another legitimate game-breaking winger alongside him.
And NHL Network apparently believes the gap between Minnesota's two stars isn't very large.
Kaprizov and Boldy were separated by just three spots in the rankings.
The Wild were also one of only three organizations with multiple players inside the top seven. Dallas had Rantanen at No. 5 and Robertson at No. 7, while Minnesota had Kaprizov and Boldy even higher at Nos. 3 and 6.
That gives Minnesota something few teams can match: two wingers, NHL Network believes, are among the very best players at their position.
The complete top 10 consisted of Kucherov, Pastrnak, Kaprizov, Marner, Rantanen, Boldy, Robertson, Matthew Tkachuk, Caufield and Nylander.
NHL Network said its rankings were based on performance over the past several seasons, with additional emphasis placed on the 2025-26 regular season and 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, while also factoring in future upside.
That last part is particularly interesting for Boldy.
Kaprizov is already firmly established among the NHL's elite. Boldy, meanwhile, is entering what should be the prime years of his career and is now being ranked alongside some of the biggest stars in hockey.
Minnesota doesn't just have one of the NHL's best wings anymore. According to NHL Network, it has two of the six best.
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At first glance, the Senators don't look dramatically different from the team we watched last season.
Yes, the captain abandoned ship, but you still have a ton of the usual suspects. The core guys like Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Dylan Cozens, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Linus Ullmark and others are all still here.
But dig a little deeper, and there's actually been quite a bit of turnover in the past year.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss where Jake Sanderson fell on the list of top NHL defensemen.
In fact, 12 players who appeared in at least one game for the Senators last season are now somewhere else.
#7 Brady Tkachuk – 60 games
As news goes, this one is bigger than all the other 11 exits put together.
After eight seasons in Ottawa, Tkachuk requested a trade and was dealt to the Florida Panthers in June. The former captain leaves the biggest hole of anyone on this list, but many fans think it may be a case of addition by subtraction. Even some teammates aren't convinced his exit will be a major loss at all for this group,
Time will tell.
#89 Lars Eller – 68 games
Tkachuk isn't the only former Senator headed to Florida. Eller played 68 games for Ottawa last season after signing a one-year deal last summer.
He provided veteran depth down the middle but was always going to be a short-term solution. He was solid, but the Senators were ready to try someone else, and that's probably Stephen Halliday.
#3 Nick Jensen – 61 games
Jensen became an important part of the Sens' defence after arriving in the Jakob Chychrun trade in 2024.
He played 61 games last season before another injury ended his year and has since signed a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks. It will be interesting to see if Jensen can get back to where he was before he began to break down in 2024-25.
The Sens will now lean more heavily on Artem Zub and Jordan Spence while Nikolas Matinpalo and Carter Yakemchuk battle for the third spot on the right side.
#57 David Perron – 49 games
Perron's two-year stay in Ottawa actually ended before the season did.
The Senators traded the veteran winger to Detroit at the deadline after he appeared in 49 games. It closed the book on a somewhat disappointing free-agent signing, although Perron did provide some useful experience during Ottawa's return to the playoffs.
As the Sens tried to rally from a 0-3 series deficit in their 2025 first round against Toronto, Perron's game-tying goal in the third period of Game 6 will always be a highlight.
Perron remains a UFA, and at 38, he might still be a PTO option for someone.
#47 James Reimer – 14 games
Reimer wasn't even a Senator when last season began. He signed in January after Linus Ullmark took a long leave of absence and goaltending became a concern. A grave concern. Reimer provided some stability, appearing in 14 games.
But with Samuel Ersson brought in this summer, Reimer has moved on and, at 38, he remains a free agent. After historically giving the Sens fits over the years, it was nice for a change that they could benefit from his play.
#6 Dennis Gilbert – 8 games
Gilbert's second go-around with the Senators wasn't much longer than the first. He played in 8 games and then three more in the playoffs after spending much of the year in Belleville. He provided some depth when injuries began piling up on Ottawa's blue line.
He's now back in Buffalo, where the Sens first acquired him, along with Dylan Cozens, in 2025.
#60 Lassi Thomson – 11 games
Thomson's second tour with the Senators organization is over.
The former 19th overall pick returned to Ottawa last season and eventually got into 11 NHL games, recording three assists. He also suited up for one playoff game.
He's since returned to Europe (again), likely closing the book on his time with the organization that drafted him in 2019. Thomson was, by far, the best asset to come from the trading of Matt Duchene to Columbus, which speaks loudly about the quality of that deal.
#15 Olle Lycksell – 7 games
Lycksell actually made Ottawa's opening-night roster after signing as a free agent last summer, but his stay in the NHL didn't last long.
He appeared in seven games for the Senators and spent most of the season in Belleville. He was a depth player who signed in Switzerland for the coming season.
#34 Arthur Kaliyev – 2 games
Kaliyev was an intriguing low-risk signing last summer because of his shot, his goal-scoring ability, and his OHL days when he played for Steve Staios. Nothing really came of the signing, though Belleville fans would disagree. Kaliyev led the B-Sens and the AHL with 40 goals last season.
He appeared in two games for Ottawa in October but never made it back to the NHL club. Kaliyev finished the season as a dominant scorer in Belleville. Despite leading the AHL with 40 goals, he remains a UFA.
#37 Donovan Sebrango – 2 games
Sebrango got another brief taste of the NHL last season, appearing twice for the Senators.
The Ottawa-area product had been part of the organization since coming over from Detroit in the Alex DeBrincat trade in 2023, but he was claimed off waivers by the Panthers in October after the Sens tried to send him down to Belleville.
Sebrango went on to have his best year yet, playing 40 games for Florida and signing a one-way deal with them last month.
#40 Mads Søgaard – 2 games
There was a time when Søgaard was considered a legit candidate to become the Sens' goalie of the future.
That never happened.
Sogaard appeared in just two games for Ottawa last season and has since signed with Tampa Bay. The last 6-foot-7 Sens goalie who left for Tampa was Ben Bishop. If Sogaard can only be half as good, the Lightning will be thrilled.
#31 Hunter Shepard – 1 game
Shepard's Senators career lasted exactly one NHL appearance.
Ottawa signed him as organizational goaltending depth last summer and eventually traded him to Montreal in March in a minor league swap. Shepard will give the KHL a go this season.
Obviously, no two exits carry the same impact on the Sens roster. At the top, it's Tkachuk, while a few of these departures won't move the needle at all.
But it does illustrate just how quickly an NHL roster turns over. 12 players who pulled on a Senators sweater at some point last season have already moved on.
So while the names at the top of the lineup remain highly recognizable, there's actually been quite a bit of change under the hood.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the Sens headlines below:
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 25: Alexandre Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards dunks the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during a 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup game on November 25, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have released their 2026-27 NBA Cup schedule, which features four group-stage matchups across October and November.
Washington’s group — Group C — includes the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets. The team’s Nov. 24 matchup against the Boston Celtics at Capital One Arena will be aired at 8 p.m. on NBC.
While the full schedule hasn’t been released, it appears Trae Young’s first game in Atlanta since his January trade to the Wizards is scheduled for Nov. 6.
The Wizards are an NBA-worst 1-11 in NBA Cup games over the last three seasons. Their lone win came last season against the Hawks, who they’ll again face during this year’s group play.
Bob Iger, left, and Joshua Kushner. (Getty Images)
What a difference a year makes.
Less than a year after Dodgers owner Mark Walter bought the Lakers for a record-breaking sum, L.A.’s iconic NBA franchise is now being sold to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion, sources familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to The Times, $2.5 billion more than the reported number when Walter bought the team in October from the Buss family.
Kushner, of permanent-capital holding company Thrive Eternal and younger brother of Jared Kushner, and Iger, Disney’s former chief executive, were recently looking into an expansion franchise as the NBA eyed new teams in Seattle and Las Vegas. Walter, who also owns the Dodgers and the Sparks, has been at the center of a federal loan investigation. The Dodgers and Sparks were not involved in the deal, according to a source familiar with the transaction but not authorized to speak publicly.
“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world,” Kushner and Iger said in a statement. “We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles.”
Jeanie Buss, whose family owned the Lakers for more than four decades, remained the governor of the Lakers despite the family selling the team to Walter last year. She remained a fixture at games, sitting courtside during the season, with Walter occasionally joining her or sitting courtside near the baseline. The NBA announced in October after the sale was finalized that Buss would be the team’s governor for at least five years.
“Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life — an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family,” Walter said in the statement to ESPN, who first reported the sale Wednesday morning. “I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”
Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the L.A. Times Media Group and minority owner in the Lakers, welcomed his new business partners on social media.
“Go Lakers!” he posted on X. “Congrats Bob and Josh.”
Iger stepped down from his role as Disney CEO in mid-March, but remains on the board of directors through December. The longtime executive and his wife Willow Bay, the dean of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, bought a controlling stake in NWSL club Angel City FC in 2024 and led a project to build an NFL stadium in Carson before the NFL instead returned to Inglewood, where Rams owner Stan Kroenke built SoFi Stadium.
Mark Walter, chairman and controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, acknowledges a fan before a game against the Chicago Cubs last week. (Melissa Tamez / Associated Press)
Kushner also owns a minority stake in the Miami Heat, which he bought in 2024 and must now sell to finalize the Lakers purchase. He was previously a minority owner in the Memphis Grizzlies. This year, his venture capital firm Thrive Capital launched Thrive Eternal, which is focused on long-term ownership of a small number of iconic franchises and cultural institutions, and acquired a stake in the San Francisco Giants as its first foray into sports. Thrive Eternal was at the center of a plan to buy tournament rights to the FIFA World Cup, but the controversial deal collapsed amid outrage, including a boycott from UEFA, the governing body for European soccer.
“Both of them love basketball,” Lakers legend Magic Johnson said in an interview with The Times. “And I think they’ll take us in the right direction. … First I was happy because it was Mark Walter and now I’m even happier that it’s Bob Iger and Josh Kushner so we got the right two people to own the team. Bob lived here, Bob worked here, on and on and on. And he wants to win. Both of them want to win. And you gotta have people who want to win. They’ll bring all the resources and make sure they bring a championship to Laker fans and L.A.”
In his short tenure, Walter and TWG Global started remaking front-office and business operations with the Lakers. The franchise was investing in assistant general manager positions this offseason, growing its sports science resources with the help of the Dodgers and moving G League operations from the South Bay to the Coachella Valley. Lakers general manager and president of basketball Rob Pelinka called the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers and Lakers “brother-sister” organizations.
Despite being one of the NBA’s marquee franchises, the Lakers, who had been a family-run team for 46 years since Jerry Buss bought the franchise in 1979, were starting to fall behind in the booming NBA business. Within months of buying the team, Walter installed Dodgers executive Lon Rosen to oversee business operations. Rosen added new roles to drive revenue, oversee business strategy and grow interest in the franchise domestically and internationally.
The Lakers added a second row for courtside seats during playoff games, sold a uniform sponsorship to Daiso for the Laker Girls dance team and agreed to a new jersey patch deal with Albert, a personal financial assistant app. The team also laid off more than a dozen employees in May, soon after the season ended with a second-round playoff sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Usually, there is no reason to focus on MLB free agency in August. It's three months away and there's playoffs to worry about.
Except this year, baseball's traditionally drawn-out free agency period is expected to be a frenzy, condensed into the three weeks between the end of the World Series and the end of the collective bargaining agreement.
The market opens five days after the World Series ends. The labor deal expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, and a lockout is widely expected the moment it does. The last one ran 99 days and froze every signing and trade in the sport. This one could be worse, because the owners want a salary cap and the union has spent decades saying that's not even in the conversation.
So, the players about to hit the market are looking at a narrow chance in November where deals can actually get done under the current CBA before the expected lockout.
These last two months will matter more than they normally would. Almost every name in this free agent class just changed teams at the deadline. Tarik Skubal is a Dodger. Freddy Peralta is a Ray. Luis Arraez is a Phillie. Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes are Cubs.
They're all auditioning somewhere new, right now, for a market that might slam shut before anyone gets their money.
Here's the top free agents heading into 2027 ... or 2028:
Why Tarik Skubal is the only sure thing on the market
He is the class of the class and it isn't close. Two Cy Youngs, 29 years old, chasing the biggest contract ever handed to a starting pitcher. He had a bone chip taken out of his elbow earlier this year, which is the only question about an otherwise simple market.
His agent, Scott Boras, doesn't mind a slow winter − he's managed them before. He has the ace of the class and the wallets will open up for him whenever the business of baseball returns to wins and losses.
Top MLB free agent pitchers for 2027
The class has pitching depth, but most of it comes with questions attached. These aren't guys sailing into November on career years, they are trying to prove something in these last six weeks.
Freddy Peralta, 30, went 17-6 last year with a 2.70 ERA and finished fifth in the Cy Young voting. He's 5-9 with a 5.33 ERA this year and struggles to miss bats. He has the last few weeks with the Tampa Bay Rays and their magic pitching factory to resurrect his free agent value.
Kevin Gausman is 35 − he'll 36 by Opening Day − and he's been a middle-of-the-rotation arm this season. But he's made 31 starts every year since 2022, and somebody always pays for innings. He's continuing his case with the Cubs after Toronto dealt him.
Behind them are Shane Bieber, 30; Brandon Woodruff, 33; Robbie Ray, 34; and Luis Severino, 32.
The best position players in the 2027 free agent class
There aren't many bats available in this class.
Luis Arraez, 29, is a three-time batting champ who just landed in the Phillies lineup, which is about the best setup he can get two months before he hits the market. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 28, and Randy Arozarena, 31, come after him. Ian Happ, 31, Brandon Lowe, 32, Seiya Suzuki, 31, J.P. Crawford, 31, Trent Grisham, 29 and Taylor Ward, 32, are also in this thin group.
Gleyber Torres, 29, is worth watching too. He is only one of three second baseman in this class who hasn't turned 30 yet.
Which MLB players will opt out after the 2026 season?
Injuries took care of a lot of these decisions.
Corbin Burnes, 31, can walk away from four years and $140 million in Arizona. He had Tommy John surgery in June 2025 and has yet to return, so he's probably not going anywhere. Jose Berrios, 32, had Tommy John in May and won't pitch again until the middle of 2027. It will certainly be with Toronto.
Michael King has been here before. The 31-year-old hit the market last winter and came right back to San Diego for three years and $75 million. The deal lets him leave after this season with a $5 million buyout instead of collecting $53 million over the next two years. If he's healthy, he's probably taking the buyout.
Clay Holmes, 33 is an interesting case. He closed for the Yankees, made two All-Star teams doing it, then turned into a legitimate starter with the Mets. He suffered a broken fibula in May and just made his first start back and after being dealt to the Cubs. He has a $12 million option and if he has a strong August, September and October, he will decline.
Bo Bichette, 28, is the genuinely interesting one. He signed for three years and $126 million with the Mets, including opt-outs every season. Walking after his first miserable season in Queens is over means giving up $84 million after hitting .236. Still, many in the business believe he will leave.
Why the pending MLB lockout makes November a deadline
Every player here knows what's coming. Take the November deal and there is the security of knowing exactly what you have, or wait it out and find out what the new rules look like − with nobody able to tell you when the waiting ends.
The unofficial deadline for losing regular season games is early-to-mid-March. That's a long time to sit unemployed.
The guys with the least leverage will try to sign in November. Teams know that and will take advantage of it.
Skubal, on the other hand, can wait as long as he likes. The money will be there.
