HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 30: Mike Burrows #50 of the Houston Astros warms up before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Daikin Park on June 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you were wondering why the Astros chose to recall Ronel Blanco earlier today and not Mike Burrows, it turns out we now have a legitimate reason, courtesy of this report from Brian McTaggart of MLB.com:
The reason Mike Burrows isn’t pitching today is that he felt his shoulder barking when he was throwing yesterday, and imaging showed some shoulder inflammation. He’s day-to-day.
Burrows, who was on the IL with right elbow neuritis, now is battling shoulder inflammation.
Two different injuries to the same pitching arm at the same time have now pushed Burrows timetable for return to an unknown point. Whether or not Burrows is able to return to the Astros this season is very much in question.
For the first time in what feels like forever, the Philadelphia Flyers will be heading into training camp and a new season with a respectable amount of depth at both forward and defense.
Over the last year, forward prospects Alex Bump and Denver Barkey graduated to the NHL level after brief, impressive stints with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Oliver Bonk, a 2023 first-round pick, came on strong in his first professional season, and ultimately made his Flyers debut and Stanley Cup playoff debut within weeks of each other to finish out the campaign.
But, as the aforementioned youngsters continue to surge, other prospects will have to play catch-up just to have a shot at an NHL future going forward, and some are approaching their last chance to secure such a role.
Helge Grans, RHD, Age 24
This time last year, Flyers defense prospect Helge Grans was the in-house favorite to take over as the team's third-pair right-shot defenseman, but had a training camp and showing so poor that the Flyers cut him early and stuck with the likes of Egor Zamula and Noah Juulsen as their depth options.
Grans, now 24 years old, is running out of time to show that he's an NHL-caliber defenseman.
In his age-22 season in 2024-25, Grans played six games for the Flyers under former head coach John Tortorella, recording one assist in his November jaunt with the big club.
This year, however, Grans is heading into the last year of his two-year contract and will be 25 years old when free agency begins on July 1.
A future with the Flyers is not guaranteed, either, if for no reason other than Grans being a Group 6 unrestricted free agent, as he'll be 25 years old with fewer than 80 NHL games played.
This year, Grans will have to overtake the younger, more talented David Jiricek, whom the Flyers acquired for Bobby Brink at the recent NHL trade deadline, as well as Bonk, just to make the roster. Establishing himself as a regular at the NHL level will require another two or three gears up from what we have seen in the past.
Jacob Gaucher, C, Age 25
(Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
The Flyers thought highly enough of Jacob Gaucher, who came to the organization as an undrafted free agent, to award the swashbuckling center an NHL contract on Dec. 12, 2024.
Somewhat surprisingly, despite having not established himself, Gaucher returned to the Flyers on June 4 on a one-year deal, after which he'll be an unrestricted free agent.
The brolic 6-foot-4 center is an interesting prospect for the Flyers in that he has played eight NHL games for them over the last two seasons, but his underlying metrics in a sheltered role have been quite poor.
At the AHL level, though, Gaucher has scored no fewer than 20 goals and 36 points in each of the last two seasons, and scored three goals, three assists, and six points in seven Calder Cup playoff games in 2025.
The Flyers spent much of last season searching for a right-shot center they could use for matchup purposes, and with top prospect Jett Luchanko still playing at the junior level in the OHL, there was nobody stopping Gaucher from coming up and filling that role.
Instead, the Flyers bypassed him and left him in the AHL with the Phantoms, and eventually claimed veteran Luke Glendening on waivers from the New Jersey Devils on March 6 instead.
Now that Nikita Grebenkin is healthy and Noel Acciari has been brought in as a veteran fourth-liner with versatility, the odds are really stacked against Gaucher sticking at the NHL level at some point.
Still, the Longueuil, Quebec, native offers some valuable size and scoring upside should the Flyers need it, and he's proven that he can beat the odds to make it to this level in the past.
We can't count Gaucher out just yet, but he, like Grans, is in a contract year having to play the numbers game.
Pakistan cricket selector and ex-captain Misbah-ul-Haq resigned following the shock sacking of red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed in the wake of successive Test defeats to England, sources told AFP.
The saga surrounding Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets continues to escalate, with recent reports suggesting the divide between the goaltender and the organization may run deeper than initially believed.
TSN analyst and longtime NHL netminder Martin Biron addressed the situation on Overdrive this week, saying he believes the three-time Vezina Trophy winner could be prepared to sit out the entire 2026-27 season if his trade request isn't granted.
"I really feel that Connor Hellebuyck is gonna say, 'Ok that's fine, suspend me whatever. I'm willing to sit out a year, I've made good money, I've put it away... just gonna take time with my family,'" Biron said.
It would be an unprecedented step in the modern NHL and would mean walking away from a significant chunk of the $59.5 million remaining on his seven-year contract, but Biron suggested Hellebuyck may be prepared for exactly that outcome.
Hellebuyck's public statement last week made clear he wants to move on from Winnipeg, but the severity of that stance has only become more apparent as the situation has unfolded.
Biron also weighed in on what it would take for the Jets to move him, suggesting Winnipeg should be seeking a first-round pick, a high-end prospect, an established NHL player and additional help in net to pair alongside newly acquired goaltender Stuart Skinner.
The rift has also become a talking point on other platforms, including the widely followed Spittin' Chiclets podcast, hosted by former NHL players Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette and Keith Yandle.
During a discussion of the situation on Tuesday's episode, Bissonnette, a Canadian native who has spent much of the past year working in the United States on NHL broadcasts among other media assignments around the league, offered some added context. He noted the relief he personally felt returning home to Canada after a long hockey season, and suggested a similar pull toward home may be another factor driving Hellebuyck, a Michigan native currently playing in Winnipeg.
The hosts also pointed back to comments Hellebuyck made following his return from the Winter Olympics, where he described the reception back in Winnipeg as far from warm despite having just won gold with Team USA.
In an article published by CBC back in March, Hellebuyck spoke about the backlash both he and his family faced. "The blowback that my wife [Andrea] was getting is just not fair. I don't understand how she can take so much heat for just being with me as a hockey player.
"We've done nothing wrong, she's done nothing wrong, my kids have done nothing wrong," he said.
"That's the stuff that is out of bounds for me, and that's the part that really, really upset him."
The podcast hosts speculated that the fallout from the Olympics may have marked the beginning of the divide between Hellebuyck and the organization, one that only deepened once Winnipeg's season ended outside the playoffs.
With training camp approaching and no resolution in sight, the situation risks intensifying further, particularly if Hellebuyck were to skip camp entirely, a scenario that could turn an already tense standoff into a much bigger issue for both sides. Given the stakes, it may ultimately be in Winnipeg's best interest to find a resolution sooner rather than later.
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1895: The inaugural U.S. Open golf championship concluded at Newport Golf Club, where England’s Horace Rawlins won by two strokes to claim the first U.S. Open title.
1925: Detroit’s Harry Heilmann collected six hits in a doubleheader and edged teammate Ty Cobb for the American League batting title, .393 to .389, while Cobb finished his 20th consecutive season batting above .300.
1948: The Cleveland Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox 8-3 in a one-game playoff at Fenway Park to capture the American League pennant behind Gene Bearden and player-manager Lou Boudreau.
1955: The Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 2-0 in Game 7 to win the first World Series championship in franchise history. Johnny Podres threw a shutout and became the first World Series MVP.
1969: The New York Mets played the first postseason game in franchise history, defeating the Atlanta Braves 9-5 in the first National League Championship Series game.
1991: The Edmonton Oilers traded captain Mark Messier to the New York Rangers for Bernie Nicholls, Steven Rice and Louie DeBrusk. Messier later captained the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup championship in 54 years in 1994.
1995: Jim Leyritz hit a two-run homer in the 15th inning to give the New York Yankees a 7-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of the AL Division Series. The 5-hour, 13-minute game became the longest postseason game in major league history at the time.
1997: WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis stopped Andrew Golota in the first round in Atlantic City.
1999: Al Leiter threw a two-hit shutout as the New York Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 in a one-game playoff for the National League wild card.
2001: Barry Bonds hit his 70th home run of the season, tying Mark McGwire’s major league single-season record as the San Francisco Giants played the Houston Astros.
2001: San Diego Padres outfielder Rickey Henderson homered to pass Ty Cobb and become Major League Baseball’s career leader in runs scored.
2011: Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Paul Goldschmidt hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in an 8-1 victory over Milwaukee in Game 3 of the NL Division Series.
2014: Brandon Belt homered in the 18th inning as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 2-1 in Game 2 of the NL Division Series. The 6-hour, 23-minute contest became the longest postseason game by time in major league history at the time.
2020: Tom Brady threw five touchdown passes in Tampa Bay’s 38-31 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, becoming the oldest quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in a game and continuing his record-setting NFL career.
2020: The Seattle Storm defeated the Las Vegas Aces 104-91 in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, setting a Finals record with 33 assists and moving within one win of the franchise’s fourth championship.
2022: New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of the season, surpassing Roger Maris to set the American League single-season record.
— USA TODAY Network
This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
The Anaheim Ducks will retire the No. 15 jersey of franchise icon Ryan Getzlaf on Jan. 30 before their game against the Nashville Predators.
Getzlaf will get the honor after being the franchise's all-time leading scorer and longest-serving captain (2010 until his 2022 retirement).
He played his entire career with the Ducks after being drafted 19th overall in 2003 and finished with 1,019 points in 1,157 games. He also ranked first on the team with 737 assists and fourth with 282 goals.
Getzlaf had a team-best 17 points as the Ducks won their lone Stanley Cup title in 2007 in his second year in the league. He also won gold medals with Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
He will become the fourth Ducks player to have his number retired, joining Teemu Selanne (8), Paul Kariya (9) and Scott Niedermayer (27).
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country.
It’s September 1st, and the Diamondbacks are in the thick of a battle for a wild-card spot. To some extent, this is a bit of a miracle to be here, considering the team currently has $75 million of cash salaries on the IL – more than one-third of its total payroll. Two weeks ago, a Fangraphs analysis had the D-backs the NL team most hurt by injuries this season. But despite all that, the team are in all likelihood, a good month from reaching the post-season. But having that good month depends on a number of factors going (more or less) their way. So, if you had one wish for the team down the stretch, what would it be?
There’s no doubt that there is scope for improvement across the whole team. The starting rotation is currently a bit of a patchwork, to put it mildly. There should be help coming the remainder of the way, in the shapes of Corbin Burnes, Michael Soroka and Zac Gallen. But all are returning from injury and there are question-marks of varying sizes over all of them. The bullpen was 19th in August by ERA, at 4.16, and dumped closer Paul Sewald (anyone notice he has pitched 5.2 scoreless innings for Toronto?). Roles since have been… flexible, but there have been bumps in the road, even in the post-Sewald era.
Meanwhile, offense overall was fine: a .748 OPS was fourth in the majors. But by runs they were markedly lower, at equal eighth, largely due to issues with runners in scoring position (as was seen last night). The bad news? There may not be anything that can actually be done about that, beyond crossing your fingers and hoping for better, because clutch hitting is notoriously difficult to control. Or maybe we just need the team to put all the fuss of KetelGate behind them, and pull as one in the common direction of the post-season. Perhaps there could even be something else – an absence of further injuries?
That’s what this week’s poll is about. The options are below, but feel free to provide specific information in the comments. If you vote for “clutch hitting”, I expect details… 🙂
Stan Kroenke first bought shares in Arsenal in 2007 [Getty Images]
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has bought Major League Baseball franchise the Los Angeles Angels in a deal reportedly worth $4bn.
Kroenke, who has had a controlling stake in Arsenal since 2011, now owns teams in six major sporting leagues.
The Angels join NFL side the Los Angeles Rams, the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL and MLS team the Colorado Rapids, as well as the Gunners, in being under the 79-year-old's control.
While the cost of the deal was not announced, the Los Angeles Times have reported that it is a record price for an MLB team, exceeding the $3.9bn the San Diego Padres were sold for in August.
"The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market," Kroenke said in a statement.
"We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organisation."
Previous owner Arte Moreno bought the Angels in 2003 but had come under pressure from fans to sell the club after 11 years without qualifying for the play-offs.
With less than a month of the regular season remaining, that is set to extend to 12 seasons - the longest active play-off drought in the MLB - with the Angels holding the joint-worst record in the American League.
Fan discontent has intensified this season with their "Tarps Off" protest, in which supporters went shirtless and waved their shirts above their heads, going viral.
Chants of "sell the team" and "we want play-offs" have also been heard regularly at Angel Stadium.
A statement from Moreno read: "The Moreno family has been honoured to steward the Angels for 23 years and we believe with [Kroenke's holding company] Kroenke Sports & Entertainment's experience and success, they are the best next owner for the franchise."
The exterior of Angel Stadium before a game between the Seattle Mariners and the Angels in June 2025. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
When the Angels won their lone World Series, this was the headline in the Los Angeles Times: “Fantasyland!”
Can we run that headline again?
For your new owner, Angels fans, you get a proven winner and real estate developer — more on that in a second — whose very name drips with baseball history.
You know him as Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Rams. His full name is Enos Stanley Kroenke, so named in honor of two St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famers: Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial.
As he assembled his sports empire, baseball was the one sport that eluded him. He has the Rams, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and Arsenal. He badly wanted the Dodgers, a runner-up in the bidding when Mark Walter bought them in 2012.
Now he is acquiring the Angels — at a $4 billion valuation, a record for a baseball team — and getting the closest thing to a blank slate that any owner can get without buying an expansion team.
The general manager? He’s an interim, and his contract expires this year.
The roster? The only players currently under contract for next year are outfielder Mike Trout — the Angels’ answer to Musial — and pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.
The Angels’ playoff drought? The longest in the majors, going on 12 seasons. Go, Super Bowl champ, go!
For Kroenke, the first order of business might well be a comprehensive search for what would be the Angels’ answer to Les Snead and Sean McVay, the GM and head coach duo that led Kroenke’s Rams to a Super Bowl championship. The players might not be the next order of business. The deal is not expected to be approved until early 2027, according to a sale announcement, and who knows whether owners still will be locking out players by then?
But Kroenke appears to be the perfect guy to resolve the longest-running and most critical order of business in Anaheim: resolving the Angels’ future there.
For 60 years, the Angels have played in a stadium surrounded by 130 acres of parking lots. For 60 years, fans have driven into the parking lots, watched the game, and driven home. For 60 years, the city has lost untold millions in tax revenue by failing to build anything atop those parking lots.
Kroenke just does it. He is doing it around SoFi Stadium, which he built. He is doing it around the Rams’ training facility in Woodland Hills, which he built. He plans to do it around the sports arena he is building in San Diego.
Now Kroenke could lobby for a new ballpark in Inglewood, in place of the Forum, and call it synergy. James Butts, the mayor of Inglewood, has said he would frown upon a ballpark there.
But here’s betting Kroenke won’t ask. The sale announcement highlighted Kroenke’s “presence in one of the largest sports and entertainment markets in the United States” and said the purchase of the Angels “extends this footprint south into a market of more than three million residents with its own distinct civic identity, corporate base and tourism economy.”
Kroenke wants what all sports owners want these days: money coming out of a stadium site 365 days a year, not just on game days. That means shops, restaurants, homes, hotels, offices, parks, music venues, and food halls. And good luck to Kroenke or any other developer trying to find a vacant 130 acres in any urban area in Southern California, much less one adjacent to a train station and within three freeways.
This is already happening across the 57 Freeway from Angel Stadium, where Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli are putting up what they call the OC Vibe. Kroenke’s history indicates he would do something just as fun, and likely grander given that he’ll have more land, and suddenly Anaheim could be the coolest place to be in Orange County (*unless Olivia Rodrigo is putting on another Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine).
And, if Kroenke is willing to rename the team the Anaheim Angels, the city and its local assemblyman just pushed through a new law that could provide him with a significant financial incentive for development, which in turn could reduce his cost to build the new ballpark the Angels so desperately need.
The city owns the stadium and parking lots, so they were not part of the team sale. City officials have not met with Kroenke.
“Fans and residents welcome the start of a new chapter for baseball in Anaheim,” Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said. “I am encouraged by Stan Kroenke’s track record with the Rams and his commitment to investing in and uplifting neighborhoods.
“I look forward to working with the team’s incoming ownership to advance our city’s priorities around housing, open space and youth sports at the right time.”
For decades, Anaheim has loftily labeled the land around the neighborhood around the “Platinum Triangle.” Now the city might well have struck gold.
The local assemblyman that introduced that law, Avelino Valencia, could hardly have been any happier Tuesday.
“This is a big day for Anaheim,” Valencia texted me. “For 60 years, our community has filled Angel Stadium, raised a World Series banner as the Anaheim Angels, and shown up through every season.
“Few cities can offer a new owner a foundation like that. New ownership means new possibilities, and Anaheim is ready for them.
“I congratulate Stan Kroenke and Kroenke Sports and Entertainment on their agreement to purchase the Angels, and I welcome them home. Let’s build a partnership rooted in pride of place, a team that reflects the city it calls home, and the return of the Anaheim Angels.
“Anaheim is ready to work together, and Anaheim is ready to win.”
In a statement, State Sen. Tom Umberg called it “a great day for Angels fans and Anaheim.”
As the stalemate between the city and Angels owner Arte Moreno grew more entrenched, the condition of Angel Stadium deteriorated. So did Moreno’s investment in the team.
Three years ago, the city commissioned an assessment of what it would take to keep Angel Stadium up and running for decades to come. We’re still waiting.
Those words, in a nutshell, exemplified the relationship between the team and the city in recent years. When the news broke Tuesday, a city official reached out to me to ask if it were true. And, after years of city officials sniping that the Angels had for a decade clipped the “of Anaheim” from their “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim” name, the Angels e-mailed a statement confirming the sale with this headline: “Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to Acquire the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.”
After a season of “Sell The Team” chants, Moreno did. And, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Valencia’s bill into law last week, the title of the law actually sounded more appropriate Tuesday: “The Home Run for Anaheim Act.”
With active rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players now that it’s September, the Mets have recalled outfielder Nick Morabito and right-handed relief pitcher Dylan Ross from Triple-A Syracuse.
Morabito made his major league debut in a brief stint with the Mets earlier this season. He went without a hit in 12 plate appearances over the course of the five games in which he appeared. In Syracuse, though, he’s hit .254/.355/.388 with 13 home runs and 42 stolen bases in 46 attempts. That line is good for just a 96 wRC+ given the context of the International League.
Ross has yet to make his major league debut. Drafted by the Mets in the 13th round in 2022, he made his professional debut with one appearance in Single-A in 2024 before throwing 54.0 innings with a 2.17 ERA and a 3.32 across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A stints in 2025. This year, he’s thrown all but a few of his innings in Syracuse, and he has a 6.94 ERA and a 5.90 FIP in his time at that level. His walk rate—7.68 per nine or 16.8 percent—has been a significant problem, and he’s given up quite a few home runs.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Cleveland Cavaliers logo before the game against the Toronto Raptors during round one Game two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jeff Haynes /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on Tuesday morning that they have agreed to a multi-year deal with DAZN for the team’s local broadcasts starting this upcoming season.
In the team’s official post on X it stated, “Fans in-market can stream all Cavs regular season games not selected for exclusive national broadcast, including 15 games for free this season, preseason games and team-produced original content.”
Another move hidden behind the new streaming host is that the Cavaliers plan to move the in-game production within the Rock Entertainment Sports Network, allowing for major changes to how games will be presented on DAZN.
The team’s in-game broadcast team including play-by-play announcer John Michael, analyst Brad Daugherty, reporter Serena Winters and pregame and postgame host Cayleigh Griffin, will return.
Further details of the extent of the service are yet to be announced.
The Cavaliers previously were streamed on the Bally Sports/Fanduel TV Network from 2021 through the 2025-2026 season.
PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 31: Members of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate a win after the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Monday, August 31, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We have reached September, which means it’s time to start looking ahead. The Phillies have used an August to remember to vault themselves back into contention not just for a wild card spot in the National League, but they have also made the East a division that looks winnable if they can continue to keep up the hot hitting and solid pitching (and get some help from the Braves).
How do you think this ends?
Can the Phillies actually somehow doing the once thought to be impossible – winning a division that they really never had a shot at? It would take a decent sized collapse from the Braves to do so, but the amount of times the two teams play each other, it’s at least in the realm of possibility that it will happen.
Even though a collapse of their own seems like something that can’t really happen, it’s something that needs to be considered. Were that to happen, we’d be having a whole new conversation about jobs and roster spots and all the other things that go with it.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phillies fans and fans across the country.
With the 2026 Rookie Faceoff just a couple of weeks away, the San Jose Sharks released their roster for the event on Tuesday. Surprisingly, Michael Misa and Igor Chernyshov who spent a considerable amount of time in the NHL last season were among those listed.
Full Roster:
Forwards:
Jordan Bax
Filip Bystedt
Igor Chernyshov
Aurelio Garcia
Andre Gasseau
Jake Gustafson
Brendan Hoffmann
Connor Lockhart
Cam Lund
Pavel Martinu
Michael Misa
Quentin Musty
Ivar Stenberg
Carson Wetsch
Defensemen:
Jake Boltmann
Mattias Havelid
Alexander Karmanov
Thomas Messineo
Mack Oliphant
Eric Pohlkamp
Leo Sahlin-Wallenius
Tristan Sarsland
Phillip Sinn
Goaltenders:
Matt Davis
Connor Hasley
Brady Knowling
The Sharks will play two games, the first on Saturday, September 12 against the Los Angeles Kings at 5 P.M, followed by a game on Sunday against the Utah Mammoth at the same time.
The Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, and Vegas Golden Knights will also participate in the three-day event at Tech CU Arena and Sharks Ice at San Jose.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Moussa Cisse #45 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Sunday, the hockey world was sent into a swirl over comments made by a former teammate of free agent forward Evander Kane.
The longtime NHL winger, who began his career as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets franchise after being selected fourth overall in 2009, has since bounced around the league.
Kane most recently playing for a last-place Vancouver Canucks team this past season after three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, the most notable stretch of his career, one that included two trips to the Stanley Cup Final. Kane remains unsigned heading into 2026-27, with some suggesting his off-ice reputation may be playing a role.
Gabriel didn't hold back, describing Kane as habitually late to team meetings and would routinely dress unprofessionally. He went further, calling Kane a bully who leaned on his toughness to intimidate teammates, while also acknowledging he personally wasn't intimidated and would confront him directly.
Peng, on the same episode, pointed out that San Jose's leadership group effectively pushed for Kane's exit, a situation that culminated in the Sharks terminating his contract in 2022 after he was found to have violated COVID-19 protocols at both the NHL and AHL level by attempting to use a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination card.
Kane responded on social media to Gabriel's remarks with a cryptic message that read, in part, "I can't wait for the day I decide to share my truths. The only difference? Mine will come with facts, receipts, and the actual truth."
He continued, "a lot of people have become far too comfortable speaking publicly while relying on my silence. Enjoy it while it lasts. There are plenty of bombs with plenty of names attached."
I can’t wait for the day I decide to share “my truths.” The only difference? Mine will come with facts, receipts, and the actual truth.
For now, I’ll simply say this: a lot of people have become far too comfortable speaking publicly while relying on my silence. Enjoy it while it…
The BC native closed by suggesting that when the time is right, he'll address the claims directly, a comment that hints he may be waiting until retirement to offer more context on certain situations throughout his career that have often been viewed as problematic.
Kane will likely have plenty to address if that day comes, given he's never spent more than four seasons with the same team. Between 2013 and 2016, he faced a dismissed sexual assault lawsuit and an arrest for harassment and trespassing in Buffalo.
From 2019 to 2021, he was sued by a Las Vegas casino over roughly $500,000 in gambling debts before filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2021, listing $26.8 million in debt, and was also investigated by the NHL for alleged match-fixing, though he was cleared of betting on NHL games. Reports of friction with teammates have also followed him through stops in Winnipeg, Buffalo and San Jose.
Kane is now 35, but last season he still showed he can produce, finishing with 13 goals and 31 points on a struggling Canucks team. Whether any team is willing to take a chance on him now likely comes down to how front offices around the league weigh his remaining on-ice value against the mounting off-ice noise surrounding him.
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