On June 22, 2021, Montreal Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield had the first of many milestone nights. In a third-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the winger became the first rookie since P.K. Subban in 2010 to score at least eight points with the Habs in a single playoff tournament.
The Canadiens would go on to eliminate the Golden Knights three days later, on St-Jean-Baptiste, to book their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Caufield would finish the tourney with 12 points in 20 games, a very successful first taste of playoff action, but like the rest of the Habs, he would then go four years before seeing any postseason action.
Still, it’s been all about progress for the sniper since then, and this last season, the NHL had to acknowledge just how important a role he is playing with the Habs as he gave Nathan MacKinnon a run for his money for the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s best goal scorer. The diminutive winger pocketed 51 lamplighters this year, and it feels like we’ve yet to see his ceiling.
While his size has so far prevented him from finding his way on Team USA, it’s hard to imagine that he will never get his opportunity, especially since he forced the other markets to take notice this season, as evidenced by his Lady Bing Trophy win.
Caufield is under contract with the Canadiens for the next five seasons, and if the Habs are to finally be successful in the quest for their 25th Stanley Cup, they will need him to be at the top of his game. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with next season after establishing career-best numbers in both goals and points and tying his career-best numbers in assists.
Real conversations are happening regarding defenseman Morgan Rielly and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After 13 seasons in Toronto, and the longest active tenured player for the team, it could be the end of the line for Rielly and the Maple Leafs this off-season.
However, a breakup between both parties isn't as simple as it may seem, and that's because of Rielly's contract. The 32-year-old is entering the fifth year of an eight-year contract and earns $7.5 million against the salary cap. In addition, he has a no-move clause in his deal, which allows the player to dictate where he goes next if he were to get traded.
With all that in mind, the complications of Rielly's situation and contract would factor into a potential trade and could hinder what the Maple Leafs receive, depending on the trade partner and what that other team may be interested in.
To anticipate what Toronto should expect in return if they dealt Rielly this summer, let's go through some previous examples of notable defensemen on unpopular contracts that were traded, or players who had trade protection and got moved anyway in recent memory.
It doesn't take a deep search to find a recent example of when a player with a no-move clause was traded. In fact, it happened before last year's Olympic break when the New York Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings.
Because Panarin had a say in where he wanted to end up, the Rangers were practically forced into a deal in which they probably could've garnered more assets elsewhere if Panarin had no trade protection.
In the end, New York received a solid prospect in Liam Greentree, as well as a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 fourth-round pick.
It's worth noting that Panarin's situation is very different, considering he was on an expiring deal and is a top-five scorer in the NHL over the course of the past decade. Nonetheless, that's how a no-move clause can affect the return in a trade.
There are multiple other ways to go about trading a player with a no-move clause or with an unpopular contract. Salary retention can certainly help with that.
However, the Panthers found a way to get Jones with the Blackhawks retaining $2.5 million of his contract. In the process, Florida sent goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick. That's quite the return for Jones, who was coming off some of the worst campaigns of his NHL career in Chicago.
And though many teams would be hesitant to retain any salary on a long-term contract like Jones' (expires after 2029-30), it doesn't mean something can't be worked out. Like Jones, Rielly's contract also expires through the 2029-30 season with a no-movement clause attached.
Another defenseman who was once in a similar situation to Rielly is Jacob Trouba of the Anaheim Ducks. Although this deal comes without salary retention.
Ahead of the 2019-20 season, Trouba inked a seven-year contract with the Rangers at $8 million per season. Not long after, it would be seen that Trouba did not play up to his dollar value, and when a highly-paid player can't perform to expectations, questions come to the surface.
Eventually, Trouba was traded to the Ducks through his 15-team no-trade list at the time, and New York didn't receive much in return. The Rangers received defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft.
There is a wide range of what can go down when a player needs a change of scenery. Sometimes, both parties in a trade walk away happy, or the team parting with the big-name player is handicapped by a bad contract or a trade-protection clause.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Collins will posthumously be honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for his impact on LGBTQ+ visibility in pro sports at The ESPYS in July.
Collins was the NBA's first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league. The 13-year center died May 12 of a brain tumor at age 47.
Before his death, Collins publicly shared his cancer journey and spoke openly about his prognosis in hopes of advancing understanding and helping others facing similar diagnoses.
The Ashe award is given to a person who has made a difference beyond the field of play by fighting for what they believe in. It will be accepted by Collins' twin brother, Jarron.
"It is profoundly bittersweet but deeply meaningful to accept the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage on my brother’s behalf, celebrating a legacy of visibility, strength, and love that will endure forever,” Jarron Collins said in a statement.
Among the past recipients of the Ashe Award are the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse survivors, NBA player Kevin Love, the U.S. Women’s national soccer team, former NFL player Steve Gleason, and NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson.
Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” comic Marcello Hernández, The ESPYS will air July 15 on ABC from New York. The show will also stream on ESPN+.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 06: Udoka Azubuike #20 of the Utah Jazz shoots over Jaylin Williams #6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of a game at Vivint Arena on April 06, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During the last decade the Jazz have had their fair share of hits and misses in the draft. Today we take a look back at the best, and worst of these picks, tomorrow the Jazz will make their most important selection in franchise history.
Best:
Donovan Mitchell
In 2017 the Jazz made one of the best decisions in franchise history and traded Trey Lyles and 24th overall pick to move up to 13th and select Mitchell. In his 5 seasons in Utah he was a three time All-Star, runner up for rookie of the year, (thanks Ben Simmons) winner of the 2018 Dunk Contest, and made the play-offs every year. Although the furthest the team ever made it during this span was a Western Conference Semifinals appearance it was still a very entertaining time to be a Jazz fan, and Mitchell was the main reason why.
Walker Kessler
Though technically drafted by the Grizzlies I’m going to include Kessler here anyway because he was immediately traded to the Jazz, and because he deserves all the love from the fan base, especially in the midst of contract negotiations. At the time there was very little excitement about Kessler, and the main focus of the trade was on the draft picks involved, but Kessler quickly proved himself as an extremely talented starting level center. His first three seasons in Utah he averaged 2+ blocks per game, and probably would have done so again if his season hadn’t ended prematurely due to a shoulder injury. Going into this offseason Kessler is a restricted free agent and the Jazz will look to negotiate a deal to keep him here longterm. He also seemed to add a new skill to his game as he shot 6-8 (75%) from deep this season. While it’s obviously a very small sample size, his shooting form looked solid, and it could make him an even bigger threat on offense if he can be a 30ish% shooter from three.
Keyonte George
If not for the 65 games played rule Keyonte would’ve firmly been in the running for the Most Improved Player Award. Picked 16th overall in 2023, the Jazz got an absolute steal. Before injuries and tanking slowed him down, he was averaging 24 points, and six assists per game, while also averaging a steal per game for the first time in his career. It will be so exciting to see how Keyonte will look on a team that is trying to compete next year.
Ace Bailey
After so much pre-draft drama surrounding the Jazz’s selection of Bailey 5th overall, he showed that the Jazz absolutely made the right call when drafting him. He looked every bit like the explosive highflying player that he was projected to be. Additionally he still hasn’t celebrated his 20th birthday yet, so he’s really only scratched the surface of his potential. It will be interesting to see if he will remain in the starting lineup after the Jazz add a blue chip player in this year’s draft. My guess would be that he will remain a starter and have an even better second year in the league.
Isaiah Collier
Collier was another certified draft steal when he was selected 29th in the 2024 draft. Since coming to the Jazz he has been a true floor general, even breaking John Stockton’s rookie assist record. Another thing that stands out about Collier is his speed, when he attacks the rim at full speed, not many other players can keep up with him. This most recent season his jumpshot also looks to have improved.
Worst:
Cody Williams
I almost couldn’t bring myself to include Williams on this list, but I did my best to set my biases aside. To put it bluntly Williams appeared to be unplayable at times as a rookie. He lacked an NBA body and shot a putrid 32.3% from the field. There were so many times during his rookie year that he would become a ghost on the floor, but what a difference a year can make. Williams put in a ton of effort during the offseason, and gained 13 pounds. His confidence also grew considerably, and he took on a much more aggressive playstyle, and looked like a different player. If he can take a year three leap, he will find himself off of this list.
Taylor Hendricks
Hendricks finds himself on this list for reasons completely outside of his control. A gruesome leg injury just 3 games into his sophomore season greatly derailed his development. In his third year as a Jazzman he could never really find his footing on the team. Since then he was included in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, and has looked like a different player. The change of scenery seemed to be exactly what Hendricks needed, as in his 26 games in Memphis he averaged 10.6 points and 4.7 rebounds. Hopefully he can continue to develop with more consistent playing time, and a more stable role.
John Tonje
Is it really fair to include a player taken 53rd overall who was traded before he ever even appeared in an NBA game? Probably not, but I’m going to do it anyway because I have a horrible feeling that the Celtics will turn him into a decent player, and I wanted to put this prediction out there just in case I end up being correct. Other players that I could have included in this spot are: Nigel Williams-Goss, Justin Wright-Foreman, or Joel Bolomboy. Those three combined played just 26 games for the Jazz.
Grayson Allen
Allen was the Jazz’s lone selection in the 2018 draft, and after just his rookie year he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Mike Conely deal. Since then Allen has really come into his own as a player. He’s shown that he can be a real contributor on a playoff team. This past season was his most impressive, as he posted career highs in points, assists, and steals.
Udoka Azubuike
Azubuike was selected 27th overall in 2020, unfortunately his NBA career got off to a horrible start as he suffered a serious ankle injury in a G-League game. After that he could never really stay healthy and only played in 68 games during his 3 year Jazz tenure. When he was on the court however he was awful. He couldn’t defend, he was slow, and he was the least talented offensive player I have ever seen in a Jazz jersey. Jeff Withey had more of an offensive bag than Azubuike did. After a 16 game stint in Phoenix, he was out of the NBA. Currently he plays for the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
One of the best players in Boston Bruins history is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Former Bruins center and captain Patrice Bergeron, who played 19 years for the franchise from 2003-04 through 2022-23, has been elected to the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.
The Hall of Fame announced Monday its new class that includes Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Carey Price and Keith Tkachuk. The induction ceremony is in November.
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026
Longtime Bruins captain and star defenseman Zdeno Chara was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.
Bergeron is arguably the best two-way forward in NHL history. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy — given annually to the league’s top defensive forward — a record six times. He also scored 20-plus goals 14 times and finished with 1,040 points (427 goals, 613 assists) in 1,294 career games.
Bergeron helped the Bruins make the playoffs 15 times in his 19 seasons, including three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and the team’s only championship (2011) since 1972. He scored two goals in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks. The B’s won 4-0 on the road to secure their sixth title.
In addition to his accolades with the Bruins, Bergeron also enjoyed a lot of success for Team Canada in international competition.
He won two Olympic gold medals (2010 and 2014) and a World Championship (2004). He is one of 30 players in the Triple Gold Club — at least one Stanley Cup title, Olympic gold medal and World Championship gold medal.
May leaves for the NBA and the Mavericks — where he'll coach former Duke standout and 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg — after leading the Wolverines to one of the more dominant national championship runs in recent memory last season.
In two seasons at Michigan, May led the Wolverines to a 64-13 overall record, a pair of Big Ten championships, including a conference tournament title in 2025, and the program's first national championship in nearly four decades.
May, who broke onto the scene as one of the top college coaches in the nation when he led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023, has been in talks with Michigan for a contract extension since the start of the NCAA tournament. He had even spoken openly about his intentions to stay in Ann Arbor and further build the Wolverines into a powerhouse.
Here's what to know on May's contract details at Michigan, and a look back at some of his past comments regarding his contract extension talks with the Wolverines:
Dusty May contract details
May's previous deal was set through 2030, and offered him an annual increase of $250,000 for the next four seasons, according to his contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports. His base salary in 2025-26 was $4.6 million and was set to increase to $4.85 million this season, under his previous contract.
Dusty May buyout
May's buyout on his previous contract was reduced to $5 million after April 30, 2026.
What Dusty May said of contract extension with Wolverines
In May at the Big Ten spring meetings, May told USA TODAY Sports' Jordan Mendoza there were "minor details" being adjusted between Michigan and his party in terms of his contract extension. He said he was committed to staying with the Wolverines, though a contract had not been signed yet.
A request for clarification on whether May had signed his contract was not immediately returned to USA TODAY Sports at the time this story published.
"We’d like to build one of the most consistent, greatest basketball programs in the country," May said.
May had been a name tossed around in several college basketball openings during Michigan's NCAA Tournament run, including the North Carolina opening that eventually went to former NBA and Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
At the Wolverines' national championship celebration in April, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced that May and he had agreed to a deal that will keep May in Ann Arbor.
May will lead the Mavericks into a new era, led by former No. 1 overall pick and rookie of the year Cooper Flagg. May replaces Jason Kidd as coach, and Dallas also recently hired former Raptors executive Masai Ujiri as the team's president.
It's a tough blow for Michigan, which was starting to cement its place as one of the top programs in college basketball. Now, the Wolverines could be headed for another transitional period, where they'll hope to keep their roster together ahead of the 2026-27 season with players allowed to enter the transfer portal following the coaching change.
Why did May decide to leave Michigan, though? Here's what we know:
Why is Dusty May leaving Michigan for Dallas Mavericks?
It's unclear what changed between Michigan's national championship parade celebration in April and now, given athletic director Warde Manuel announced he and May had agreed on a new contract to keep May with the Wolverines for "many years to come."
While Michigan was positioned to compete for another national championship in 2026-27, the opportunity with the Mavericks was likely too much to pass up for May, who was always rumored to have NBA interest.
May told USA TODAY Sports on May 18 his contract hadn't yet been signed, as the two sides were still discussing "minor details." He did, however, note he was committed to staying with the program.
The Mavericks already have Flagg, one of the best young players in the NBA, and are led by Ujiri, who has already shown capable of building an NBA championship contender with the Raptors. May is the first college head coach since 2019 to leave for an NBA head coaching job, joining former Michigan coach John Beilein, who went to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
May's tactical prowess also fits the NBA style. His calm nature as a coach does, too, along with his rapid rise as one of the top coaches in college basketball.
The 49-year-old coach grinded his way to the top, starting as a student manager at Indiana without any college playing experience. He landed his first head coaching job in 2018 at Florida Atlantic, eventually leading the Owls to the Final Four in 2023 before taking the Michigan job.
At Michigan, he had a wildly impressive 64-13 record.
All season long, as Michigan kept racking up wins with a roster on which multiple players developed into likely lottery picks, a number of NBA front offices had their eyes on Wolverines head coach Dusty May as a potential target.
Dallas got him.
May is leaving Michigan after leading the team to a national title to become the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, a story broken by Shams Charania, Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel of ESPN and confirmed by multiple other reports. This is a huge win for the new Dallas head of basketball operations, Masai Ujiri.
May replaces Jason Kidd, whom Ujiri let go despite $40 million remaining on his contract.
May jumps to one of the most coveted open jobs in the NBA coaching realm because the Mavericks have Cooper Flagg to build around. They also have Kyrie Irving (returning from a torn ACL) and Klay Thompson as the veteran All-Stars on the roster, plus a quality front line with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
May, 49, took over a Wolverines team that had lost a program-record 24 games the season before he took over and led an impressive turnaround. He led the team to a 64-13 record in those two seasons, with two Big Ten titles and, last season, a national championship. He developed three Michigan players — Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara — who are expected to go in the lottery (or at least the top 20) in this year's NBA Draft. Prior to that, May led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023.
Ujiri reportedly looked at several college coaches, including Duke's Jon Scheyer and Florida's Todd Golden, and wanted to bring back former Dallas assistant coach (then San Antonio assistant) Sean Sweeney, but Sweeney chose to take the Orlando coaching job.
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 7: Gary Harris #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 7, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Gary Harris picked up his $3.8 million player option to remain with the Bucks next year, Spotrac’s Keith Smith reported on Monday; the 31-year-old combo guard had until June 29 to pick up the option. This was widely expected, given it’s extremely unlikely that Harris would have had better offers on the table if he declined the option and entered unrestricted free agency.
Harris inked a two-year, $7.4m contract—with the second year a player option—before the 2025/26 season after leaving the Orlando Magic. Originally meant to bring in guard depth, veteran leadership, and steady three-point shooting, Harris averaged a career-low 2.7 PPG, along wth 1.3 RPG and 1.1 APG on .442/.412/.889 shooting splits. In 48 appearances, he averaged just 13.8 minutes per contest.
When he returns to Milwaukee for his 13th NBA season—assuming the Bucks don’t just waive his contract and pay him out, which could well happen—his biggest challenge will be remaining on the court. Harris struggled to break into the Bucks’ guard rotation at the start of the season and was sidelined by nagging groin and hamstring injuries towards the end.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines cuts down the net after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
May is 49 years old, and felt destined to be one of college basketball’s top coaches for the next 15 years. This is a major first move from the Mavs’ new braintrust of Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz. Ujiri built the Toronto Raptors 2019 championship team, and was hired as Dallas’ new president earlier this offseason. Schmitz came over from the Portland Trail Blazers to be the team’s new GM after building his reputation as a razor-sharp draft analyst for ESPN.
May built an incredible Michigan team through the transfer portal by bringing together three de facto bigs and teaching them to play together. His teams are typically slightly better on the defensive end of the floor. Michigan finished with the No. 1 defense in America this year, as well as the No. 4 offense. It will be fascinating to see if he continues to lean into supersized lineups in the NBA.
The real intrigue for May is the opportunity to coach Flagg, who just won NBA Rookie of the Year. Flagg is perhaps the best young building block in the NBA after Victor Wembanyama, and he doesn’t even turn 20 years old until December. The Mavs are building around Flagg, and May will be the person leading his development.
May has a cool and calm demeanor that resonates well with players, and should continue to work in the NBA. He deserves to be seen as a great developmental coach after turning Lendeborg, Johnson, and Mara into lottery picks this past season when none of them were projected in that range at the start of the year. It feels like he has the ideal mentality to be an NBA coach, but life is always tough in the Western Conference, even with Cooper Flagg on your side.
The history of college coaches jumping to the NBA is a mixed bag. Larry Brown won a national championship at Kansas in 1988, and then won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. Brad Stevens took Butler to the title game in college basketball before becoming a fantastic head coach (and later lead executive) for the Boston Celtics. Billy Donovan won two national championships at Florida, and then jumped to the NBA where he had a solid pro career but never won a championship. There are also some busts, like John Calipari and Rick Pitino, who made the leap to the NBA and then went back to college after failing.
I followed Michigan during its national championship at the Big Ten tournament, Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, and Final Four and national championship. I came away so impressed with May in terms of his leadership, demeanor, and schematic ability. May knew he was likely never going to have another team as good as his 2026 group again. Building through the transfer portal and fundraising NIL dollars every year is incredibly stressful. I can absolutely see the appeal of this move to the NBA for both sides.
In the end, this is about the opportunity to coach Cooper Flagg, who is already excellent at 19 years old. The Mavs also reportedly considered Duke coach Jon Scheyer and some former NBA coaches like Terry Stotts, but May offers the most upside to me because of his youth and pedigree. The Mavs swung for the fences with their first big decision of the Ujiri era, and I think they hit it out of the park.
NBA success is far from guaranteed for May. It’s going to be a big adjustment to leap to the pros. The Mavs don’t need to win right away, though. They’re on Flagg’s timeline. May can grow alongside Flagg, and I think he has the smarts and the temperament for the job long-term. What a move by the Mavs.
The St. Louis Blues’ involvement in trade rumors continues to grow, with the most recent link connecting them to Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson.
According to CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal, he’s hearing that the Blues are “sniffing around” in trade discussions involving Pettersson.
“Somebody told me this morning that St. Louis is sniffing around Pettersson,” said Dhaliwal. “I’m looking into it to see if it’s true. The way it’s been told to me is if the Canucks think they have a deal for Pettersson that makes sense for them, I am sure they will then take that deal to Pettersson’s agents, J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson, to see if Pettersson will waive.”
The reports are interesting to say the least. While trading for Pettersson would have its benefits, as it truly gives the Blues a strong one-two punch down the middle of the ice, Pettersson is now 27 years old and carries a contract worth $11.6 million for six more seasons.
The Blues would need to drastically alter their lineup to become contenders, and unless they do so, trading for Pettersson would only upgrade their roster marginally, and not enough to compete with the best teams in the Central Division, like the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and even the Utah Mammoth.
27 is not old in the slightest, but by the time the Blues are ready to compete again, Pettersson could be trending towards the downswing of his career, which brings plenty of risk.
Add to the fact that the two worst seasons of his NHL career have come in his last two campaigns, and it brings another element of uncertainty and risk.
The Canucks are open to retaining some of Pettersson’s salary, which does soften the blow of making such a monumental move.
In addition to the Blues, the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings are reportedly interested in Pettersson, while other teams around the NHL could explore trade options once a price tag becomes clearer.
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The Boston Bruins have to make a decision on Pavel Zacha at some point over the next year.
The veteran forward has one more season left on his contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent in July of 2027.
The B’s need to determine whether it makes sense to give Zacha an extension or consider trading him.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported last Friday that the Bruins are “listening” to teams that call about Zacha.
“There’s a big difference between listening and wanting to move him, though,” LeBrun wrote.
“My understanding is that the Bruins’ top priority this summer is to extend Zacha if possible. That can happen as of July 1. He’s got one year left on his deal at a $4.75 million AAV and obviously will be looking for a raise after posting career bests with 30 goals and 65 points this past season. But how those talks go will be balanced with whether teams step up in a real way in trade talks.
“This is an intriguing situation to monitor, to say the least. So many teams are looking to upgrade at center, and some of them have called over the past week or so. Zacha has a no-trade list that allows him to say no to eight teams, and I’m told he submitted that list to Boston on April 1.”
Does it make more sense for the Bruins to trade Zacha or extend him? Let’s break down the pros and cons.
The case for trading Zacha
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Pavel Zacha can become a UFA in 2027.
The list of unrestricted free agent centers who could be available July 1 is pretty weak. In fact, if Zacha was a free agent this summer, he’d easily be the best center on the market. Boone Jenner is probably the best center who can be a UFA in July, and Zacha is absolutely better than him.
Centers are highly coveted. It’s a very important position. And with not many good ones seemingly available, it might make sense for the Bruins to capitalize on Zacha’s value because it might never be higher, especially when you consider he’s coming off a fantastic season in which he tallied career highs of 30 goals and 65 points.
The Florida Panthers traded forward Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken last week in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) and a conditional second-round pick. Samoskevich had a career-high 32 points last season — less than half of Zacha’s output. He’s also six years younger than Zacha, but the B’s forward is easily a better player right now.
That kind of package would be too low of value for Zacha. There’s zero point in trading him for future assets (like a late first-round pick) unless a team like the Winnipeg Jets, who need a second-line center, was willing to give up the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft. The No. 8 pick could allow the B’s to draft a potential franchise defenseman.
If trading Zacha could fetch a veteran right-shot defenseman with offensive skill, that would be worth considering as well. The Bruins desperately need another legit top-four defenseman on the right side of the blue line. If the B’s could trade Zacha as part of a package for a better center, that would be worth exploring, too. Red Wings captain and No. 1 center Dylan Larkin reportedly has requested a trade.
One argument for trading Zacha is if you don’t think it makes sense to give him a long-term extension with a potential salary cap hit in the range of $7-8.5 million. Charlie Coyle just signed for six years at $6 million per season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It wouldn’t make sense for Zacha to take a penny less than that. Zacha is five years younger and more productive offensively than the 34-year-old Coyle.
Zacha has been a reliable 20-plus goal scorer for Boston, but he’s only hit the 30-goal mark once and he has scored only two goals in 31 career playoff games between the Bruins and Devils. He has consistently underwhelmed in the postseason.
Another reason to trade Zacha would be looking at the landscape in the Eastern Conference and determining the Bruins are unlikely to contend with teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. But after making the playoffs this past season, it doesn’t seem that the B’s want to take a step back, even if that would make the most sense long term.
If the Bruins could upgrade at center in a Zacha trade, or acquire a lottery pick that would get them a top prospect, it should be considered.
The case for keeping and extending Zacha
The Bruins are already thin at center. Taking Zacha off the roster makes one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses even worse.
If Elias Lindholm was producing at a real top-six center level, then it would make more sense to cash in on Zacha’s value after his great season. But Lindholm, who signed a seven-year, $54.25 million deal just two years ago, has been a major disappointment.
Zacha is the Bruins’ best center. He centered a line with Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson — a trio which, according to MoneyPuck, ranked fifth in goals scored per 60 minutes (4.21) among all lines that played 350-plus minutes last season.
So if the B’s traded him without finding a comparable player or an upgrade at the position, it would make the offense worse next season.
Young forwards James Hagens and Fraser Minten have a ton of potential and could be top-six centers in the near future. But they aren’t performing to that level right now, and there’s no guarantee they will ever reach that level. If Hagens and/or Minten do reach their potential, the B’s could always slide Zacha into a third-line role.
Zacha has averaged 21 goals and 57 points in his first four seasons with the Bruins. He’s a reliable player. He’s not elite, but his floor is higher than most forwards on the roster. A healthy Zacha can be penciled in for 20-30 goals and around 60 points. That’s valuable for a team like the B’s that lacks a ton of offensive firepower.
Any extension for Zacha that carries a cap hit between $7-8 million wouldn’t be an albatross given how much the salary cap is supposed to rise over the next few years. He shows no signs of slowing down. He’s also very durable and hasn’t missed more than four games during any of his four seasons in Boston.
The biggest reason to keep Zacha is to contend with the core of David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. Many of Boston’s best players are in the win-now stage of their careers:
Morgan Geekie, LW, 27 years old
Jeremy Swayman, G, 27
Charlie McAvoy, D, 28
Pavel Zacha, C/W, 29
David Pastrnak, RW, 29
Elias Lindholm, C, 31
Nikita Zadorov, D, 31
Hampus Lindholm, D, 32
Viktor Arvidsson, LW, 33 (UFA this summer)
Trading Zacha for draft picks and/or prospects — assets that won’t make the 2026-27 roster better — does not give Pastrnak/McAvoy/Swayman the best chance to win in the short term.
Verdict
Keeping and extending Zacha makes the most sense for the Bruins unless they can trade him in a package for a better center or acquire a top 10 pick. He’s a good two-way player with enough versatility to be productive at center or on the wing.
‘No compelling justification’ for not submitting a sample
‘Unpredictable testing is essential to protect clean sport’
Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon singles champion, has been banned from professional sport for four years after she refused an anti-doping test.
According to an independent tribunal, Vondrousova provided “no compelling justification” for declining to provide a sample after being notified at her home by a doping control officer in December. The 26-year-old is suspended from all professional events until 21 June 2030.
The Houston Astros (37-42) open a three-game set in Toronto (38-39) tonight. The Astros took two of three over the weekend against Cleveland and have now won four of their last five to pull within three games of first in the American League West and within two of the final Wild Card spot. Toronto was rained out yesterday in Chicago after splitting the first two games of that series. The Jays have now won four of their last five games and sit 8.5 games in back of the Yankees in the AL East but in that aforementioned third and final Wild Card spot.
Toronto has been solid at home (21–18), while Houston has struggled on the road at 17–21.
The pitching matchup tonight features a pair of staff aces as Hunter Brown takes the ball for the ‘Stros against Dylan Cease of the Jays. Brown will be making his second start for Houston since returning from the disabled list. He is 1–0 with a sparkling 1.10 ERA with 24 strikeouts across just over 16 innings. The Blue Jays were expected to counter with right-hander Shane Bieber, but due to yesterday’s postponement, Bieber has been pushed back a day and Cease will start. This will be Cease’s 14th start of the season. He is 4-3 with a 2.71 ERA and 110 strikeouts (third in MLB).
Houston’s offense centers around their Triple Crown candidate, Yordan Alvarez. The designated hitter ranks fourth in the game with a .322 average, second with 25 home runs, and fifth in baseball with 56 RBIs. Ernie Clement struggled over the weekend but leads the Jays with a .292 average. Kyle Okamoto strikes out about once every three at bats but does damage when he makes contact with a team-leading 16 home runs.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Astros vs. Blue Jays
Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Time: 7:07PM EST
Site: Rogers Centre
City: Toronto, ON
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Sportsnet, SCHN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Astros vs. Blue Jays
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Houston Astros (+104), Toronto Blue Jays (-126)
Spread: Astros +1.5 (-206), Blue Jays -1.5 (+168)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Astros vs. Blue Jays for June 22
Astros: Hunter Brown Season Totals: 16.1 IP, 1-0, 1.10 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 24K, 9 BB
Blue Jays: Dylan Cease Season Totals: 73.0 IP, 4-3, 2.71 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 110K, 31 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Astros vs. Blue Jays
Jeremy Pena has 3 HRs in his last 4 games
Cam Smith was 1-9 over the weekend against Cleveland
Isaac Paredes was 6-12 over the weekend against Cleveland
Vlad Guerrero Jr. has hit safely in 3 of his last 4 games (5-15)
George Springer is 9-24 over his last 6 games
Ernie Clement is 1-15 over his last 4 games
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Astros vs. Blue Jays
The Jays are 37-40 on the Run Line this season
The Astros are 37-42 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 42 times in Houston’s 79 games this season (42-34-3)
The OVER has cashed 38 times in the Toronto’s 77 games this season (38-35-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Astros vs. Blue Jays
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Astros and the Blue Jays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Astros on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5
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WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Cavan Biggio #4 of the Houston Astros takes ground balls during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (32-42) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land jumped out to an early lead getting a 2 run home run from Alexander in the first inning. They got 2 more runs in the 2nd inning on a Salazar RBI single and Alexander walk. Javier got the rehab start and allowed 3 runs over 4.2 innings. Sugar land picked up a run in the 6th on a Ferreras RBI triple but the Isotopes tied it up in the bottom of the inning. After the Isotopes took the lead in the 7th, Biggio came through with a clutch 2 run home run in the 8th to give Sugar Land the lead. Ullola was great in relief tossing a perfect 1.1 innings as he closed out the 7-6 win.
Note: 9 of Ullola’s last 10 outings have been scoreless.
Ryan Weiss, RHP: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (WIN)
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (SAVE)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (31-38) won 5-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks the scoring started in the 2nd inning scoring a run on a Biggers groundout and Schiavone bases loaded walk. They got another run in the 4th on a Brutcher groundout. Gillis got the start and pitched really well tossing 6 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts. The offense added some insurance getting 2 runs in the 7th on bases loaded walks to Encarnacion and Bush. The pen gave up a few runs late but held on the Hooks won 5-3.
Brett Gillis, RHP: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (WIN)
Railin Perez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Jose Guedez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Jack Dashwood, LHP: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Hudson Leach, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (SAVE)
A+: Asheville Tourists (18-50) lost 7-2 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the first inning when Walker, who doubled to lead off the game, scored on a groundout. Howard started for Asheville but struggled allowing 7 runs over 4.1 innings. Rodriguez pitched in relief and was solid tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts. The offense got a run in the 9th on a groundout but that was it as Asheville fell 7-2.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (33-35) lost 14-6 (BOX SCORE)
Smith started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 1 run over 5 innings of work. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Flores RBI single. In the 4th inning, Neyens connected on a 3 run home run to give the Woodpeckers the lead. The offense added another run in the 5th on a Cauro sac fly. After the Cannon Ballers got 2 runs in the 6th, the Woodpeckers responded with one on a Flores RBI double. The Woodpeckers took a 6-3 lead into the 8th inning but Serrano really struggled in relief allowing 10 runs. The offense was unable to respond as the Woodpeckers dropped the series finale 14-6.
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images