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“Everyone Wants To Play In The NHL And That’s What I Want”: Canucks Defenceman Elias Pettersson Discusses Goals For 2025–26 Season

The 2024-25 season was a rough one for the Vancouver Canucks, but there were still a few bright spots by the end of it. One of these was the remarkable rookie effort from defenceman Elias Pettersson. 

The 21-year-old, who started his first North American season last year with the Abbotsford Canucks, made his NHL debut on January 25 against the Washington Capitals and stuck in Vancouver’s lineup virtually since then. Calm, cool, and collected, the defender demonstrated a confident tenacity not often seen in players his age. Because of this, he’s the current favourite to make Vancouver’s third-pairing on opening night. 

“Everyone wants to play in the NHL, and that’s what I want,” he told The Hockey News after the second day of the Canucks’ Training Camp on Friday. “I think it's just great for the competition, for the practices, for the games.”

Last season was full of memorable moments for the younger Pettersson, who was also named to the AHL All-Star Challenge as a rookie, though he didn’t end up playing due to already being in Vancouver’s lineup for another game. He also scored his first NHL goal on April 5 against the Anaheim Ducks, and got in his first NHL fight on April 11 against Logan O’Connor of the Colorado Avalanche. Still, the defenceman insists that the biggest moments of that season were the first he’d ever experienced — his debuts. 

“Always the debuts,” he said. “Debut in Abbotsford, debut up in Vancouver. A debut, you never forget those moments.” 

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Vancouver’s off-season lasted a bit longer than the team would have wanted it to, with their final game being played on April 16. During the summer, Pettersson took the opportunity to learn from current NHLers such as Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund. 

“He helped me, battling with him on one-on-ones — so hard — but I think it’s so good for me to play against such great players during the off-season.” 

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Elias Pettersson (D) Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Elias Pettersson (D) Welcome to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s player preview series for the 2025–26 season. In these articles, we’ll preview the players who are expected to play for the Canucks in the 2025–26 season. Today, we’ll be looking at how rookie defenceman Elias Pettersson could perform in 2025–26. 

The 2025-26 season will be quite different from last year, with one main change in the team being their coaching staff. Former assistant Adam Foote is now the head coach, and appears to be approaching things differently than former bench boss Rick Tocchet. The team appears more aggressive under he and new assistant coaches Kevin Dean, Brett McLean, and Scott Young. Pettersson worked with Foote last season, and will continue to learn under him now despite the coach having a different role. 

“I learned so much. I’m still learning,” he explained. “Always some advice every practice, every game. Just really good for myself and for the team.”

Pettersson has learned lots, and will continue to learn even more, as he prepares to embark on what could possibly his first full NHL season. 

Mar 11, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (25) skates against the Montreal Canadiens in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Phillies execute piggyback plan to defeat Diamondbacks 8-2

Phillies execute piggyback plan to defeat Diamondbacks 8-2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

PHOENIX – The big picture for the Phillies as they wind down this regular season is to make sure a first-round bye is secured by either being the first or second seed in the National League.

The smaller one is for manager Rob Thomson to tweak and shuffle and have his players in just the right frame of mind heading into the postseason.

Friday night at Chase Field, the Phillies checked both those boxes with an 8-2 thumping of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With the Milwaukee Brewers losing to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phillies are now two games back in their quest for that No. 1 seed. The Phillies have now won 12 of their past 16 games and improved to 92-62 on the season.

Thomson designed for Friday to be a pitchers’ piggyback game with Taijuan Walker getting the start and Walker Buehler scheduled to replace him during a clean inning. If he could have gotten eight innings or so out of the duo, the manager deemed before the game that it would be ideal. He pretty much got it.

After giving up two runs in the first, Walker didn’t allow another during his four innings before giving way to Buehler, who was nothing short of terrific in his 3 2/3 innings of work.

Buehler, whose fastball got as high as 96 MPH and hovered around 94 during his stint, was in complete control during most of his 60-pitch outing. He did load the bases in the eighth on a single and two walks, but Tanner Banks came in and got pinch-hitter Jordan Lawlor to pop out to short to end the threat. For the night, Buehler allowed two hits, two walks and struck out three.

The Phillies got their first run on the board in the second when Brandon Marsh got a one-out single and scored on a double to right-center by Alec Bohm, who was making his first start since September 7th after coming off the IL earlier in the day.

A two-out home run to left by Harrison Bader in the fifth tied the game before the Phillies took the lead in the sixth inning.

Marsh led off with a single and stole second with two outs. Weston Wilson then brought him home with a single to left for a 3-2 lead.

Marsh had a chance to do more damage in the seventh when he came up with the bases loaded and two outs. But lefthander Philip Abner, making his major league debut, got Marsh looking with a fastball. It really didn’t matter, though, as the Phillies combined to score five more times in the eighth and ninth.

Nick Castellanos, who put on a home run hitting show in batting practice before the game, drilled a two-run shot to left off Jake Woodford in the eighth for a 5-2 lead. Castellanos entered the game in the sixth when he pinch-hit for Max Kepler against lefthander Jalen Beeks. He stayed in the game and provided those huge insurance runs for the Phillies.

It was a positive return for Bohm, who saw eight pitches before delivering his RBI double the opposite way to open the scoring for Philadelphia. He also made a spectacular play at third in the fourth, diving towards the line to get a ground ball by Tim Tawa. He reached base in the eighth on an error by third baseman Blaze Alexander and scored ahead of Castellanos on his homer and drove in a pair in the ninth with a bases-loaded single to center. Castellanos then drove in his third run of the game with a single to center to drive in Marsh and the route was complete.

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Giants fail in bid to spoil Kershaw Night as postseason hopes continue dwindling

Giants fail in bid to spoil Kershaw Night as postseason hopes continue dwindling originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LOS ANGELES — At 9:53 p.m. last Friday, Patrick Bailey hit a walk-off grand slam off Tanner Scott to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park. The Giants crept closer in the NL Wild Card race that night, and given how ridiculous the moment was, it wasn’t hard to picture them rolling all the way through September. 

At 9:57 p.m. exactly a week later, Matt Chapman popped up a slider from Scott, clinching a 6-3 loss on a night that started with some promise. The Giants lost for the sixth time in seven games since the Bailey slam, and while they’re trying to avoid the math, the situation is bleak.

The late July/early August Giants returned at the worst possible time. Their dreams of an unlikely postseason run could be officially extinguished as early as Sunday afternoon, and the final week might be spent simply trying to finish above .500. Even that might be a stretch, given that they’re 76-78 and have two more games left at Dodger Stadium this weekend.

After the Bailey slam, manager Bob Melvin noted it has been a season of extremes. He smiled and said he hoped the Giants would ride the positive vibes as long as possible. Instead, they have found themselves on the other side. 

The 2025 Giants might finish right around .500, but they don’t necessarily embrace the middle. When they win, they do so with walk-offs and offensive explosions. When they lose, well, the lows are pretty low. 

The latest loss came when Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts went back-to-back, erasing a deficit and knocking Robbie Ray out of the game after a strong start to his night. Ray had outdueled Clayton Kershaw in the other lefty’s final start at Dodger Stadium, but the Dodgers quickly caught up after Kershaw was pulled in the fifth and showered with multiple standing ovations. 

Ray has had some success against Ohtani, and his fastball has been firm in September even as he has struggled overall. He threw five of them at Ohtani in the fifth, the final one coming in at 95.5 mph and sticking to the corner. Ohtani casually flipped it into the seats. 

“It was almost like he was trying to foul it off, and he hit it out to left several rows deep,” Melvin said. 

Ray said he thought it was a good pitch. Ohtani just put a good swing on it. 

“If it’s not down the line, it’s probably not a homer,” Ray said. “But he caught it deep enough to where he was able to get it over the wall.”

This is what the Giants will be up against for the rest of the decade, but the last time they were at Dodger Stadium, they tried to cut into the deficit. At the end of a trip in June, Buster Posey acquired Rafael Devers, who helped the team get back in the race in early September. 

Devers, however, is still looking for a signature moment in orange and black, and he has struggled when the Giants needed him most. Since the win last Friday, Devers is 2-for-27 with 11 strikeouts. Four of them came Friday night, including one with two runners on in the ninth. 

The stars have slumped over the past week, and given their lack of pitching depth, that has left the Giants with little hope. They weren’t even able to spoil Kershaw’s goodbye outing, despite a strong start. 

Heliot Ramos was intent on being aggressive, and he nearly homered on Kershaw’s first pitch. Later in the at-bat, he smoked a ball 431 feet into the seats in left-center. 

“The plan was to be aggressive and try to attack,” Ramos said. “We know the position we’re in. I was trying to attack.”

It was the right mentality, but the rest of the lineup would manage just one more run off Kershaw, who soaked in every moment. Long after the final out, which clinched a postseason spot for the Dodgers, he came back out to the mound to wave at fans and take pictures with his large family. 

A couple hundred feet away, the Giants got dressed in a quiet clubhouse. Ramos said the goal was still to pile up as many wins as possible over the next week and see what happens. Ray said the team is still taking things one day at a time. 

They are running out of days, though. That’s what happens when you waste an entire week in September. 

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Jonathan Toews Making Immediate Mark On Winnipeg Jets

When longtime Chicago Blackhawks star center and captain Jonathan Toews chose to sign with the Winnipeg Jets this summer as part of his NHL comeback, the questions began about how quickly he would make his mark on his new team.

The answer to that question is “immediately.”

“The biggest thing you see is the level of enthusiasm,” Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said of Toews in his comments to media on Thursday. “I have talked to his agent a few times, and he was like, ‘I haven’t seen him like this in years. I haven’t seen him like this since he was breaking into the league, as far as the excitement levels.’ ”

When Toews pressed pause on his NHL career in 2023, there were no guarantees about a return to hockey’s top league whenever the 37-year-old had addressed and overcome serious health concerns. But now that he’s back and active with the Jets, Toews’ leadership skills and instincts are readily apparent to the Winnipeg organization.

“I was fortunate enough to watch him when he was coming into his prime (in Chicago) and becoming ‘Captain Serious’, and it was the little things that he did, the things that he did to make linemates better,” Cheveldayoff said Thursday. “Those aren’t things you lose because of age or not playing. Those are intangibles, and that is what he has. We will see how things progress and everything like that, but I think the true measure of what he is going to bring to the team is how he elevates people around him.”

To be sure, Toews’ 15 NHL seasons of experience – in which he’s played 1,067 regular-season games, while generating 511 assists and 883 points and winning three Stanley Cups – can only be a good thing for the Jets. He’ll not only be motivated to earn up to $5 million in performance bonuses on top of his $2 million of base salary, but he'll be hungry to win.

This coming season, they’re going to try to push further than the second round of the playoffs, where they were beaten last year by the Dallas Stars. So Toews has a golden opportunity to add to his terrific resume and be one of the catalysts in Winnipeg having its best year in the franchise’s history.

Five Burning Questions Heading Into NHL Training CampsFive Burning Questions Heading Into NHL Training CampsAs NHL training camps open across the NHL, there are unfinished contract business, lineup projections, rookies looking to earn a spot and pending signings and trades. 

Toews’ talents on offense may have been diminished by Father Time – in his most recent season, he produced only 15 goals and 31 points in 53 games – but the Jets don’t need Toews to be a front-runner for the NHL’s Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top point-getter. That said, they need him to not only produce on offense but also play savvy defense, be a calm voice in their dressing room and help the team weather any storm that might come its way. 

If he can do those things, the Jets and Toews will be soaring this season.

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What we learned as Clayton Kershaw gets last laugh in Giants' loss to Dodgers

What we learned as Clayton Kershaw gets last laugh in Giants' loss to Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

LOS ANGELES — In the fifth inning Friday night, about two hours after the first pitch, Dodger Stadium started shaking. But it had nothing to do with the game being Clayton Kershaw’s final regular season start in Los Angeles. 

Shortly after Kershaw departed, Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts went back-to-back off Giants starter Robbie Ray. That flipped a close game and led to another NL West loss for the Giants, who are getting closer and closer to being officially eliminated from the MLB postseason race. 

The 6-3 loss was the fourth in five games on this road trip through Phoenix and Los Angeles and sixth in seven games since the Giants briefly climbed into a tie for a postseason spot. They got a leadoff homer from Heliot Ramos, but after that it was another quiet night for a group that has seen its stars slump with the season on the line. 

The night started with a standing ovation for Kershaw, who took the field alone and then signaled his teammates to join him as he warmed up. Before many of the 53,000 could sit down, Ramos blasted a 431-foot homer to left-center, but the Giants weren’t able to spoil Kershaw’s big night. 

A day after he announced that he is retiring after the season, Kershaw allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings. He was on the hook for a loss when he departed, but Ohtani quickly changed that with a three-run blast. 

Closing The Book

For years, a decade even, the Ramos homer alone would have qualified as a good day for the Giants against Kershaw. Nobody has ever been more of a Giants-killer than the future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, who made his 63rd career appearance against them on Friday night. 

With his second of six strikeouts, Kershaw passed Warren Spahn for the most career strikeouts against the Giants. He finished with 421 of them in 411 2/3 innings and posted a 2.10 ERA. That’s the lowest for any pitcher in history who threw at least 150 innings against the organization.

Kershaw finished his night — and possibly his career at Dodger Stadium — by striking out Rafael Devers for a second straight time. He froze Devers with an 89 mph fastball at the knees and then hugged teammates as Dodger Stadium roared and Dave Roberts came out to get the baseball.

The Night’s Other Lefty

Ray has gotten to know Kershaw over the years, a friendship that began when they played catch together at an All-Star Game. On Thursday, shortly after Kershaw’s announcement, Ray said he was excited about pitching in what would feel like a playoff atmosphere. 

For four innings, Ray looked ready to ruin the night. But he got heater-happy against Ohtani and paid for it. Ray has had good velo the last two times out and he pumped fastballs at Ohtani, who hit the fifth one into the seats in left for his 52nd homer of the year. 

Ray was charged with five earned runs. He has allowed 16 earned over four starts in September. 

Postseason Picture

If you are, uhh, still holding out hope … it’s not pretty.

The New York Mets used a six-run inning to blow out the Washington Nationals on Friday afternoon and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs in a homer-filled game at Great American Small Park. It shouldn’t be long now before the Giants are mathematically eliminated. 

Counting the tiebreaker, they are five games behind the Mets with eight to go. The Reds are two games ahead of the Giants, so even if New York collapsed and the Giants finished strong, they would still need plenty of help. With a rough weekend, they could be eliminated as soon as Sunday. 

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Nate Schmidt Brought Big Energy and Bigger Expectations When Playing for the Jets

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Talk The Talk, Walk The Walk - Oct. 19 2021 - Vol. 75 Issue 5 - Jared Clinton

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(SERGEI BELSKI-USA TODAY SPORTS)

NATE SCHMIDT HAS AN industry secret to share, a trick of the trade he’s picked up over the past few months.

You see, beyond balancing that patrolling-the-blueline-in-the-best-league-in-the-world thing, Schmidt picked up a side gig as a salesman during the off-season, buying into ShortSide Hockey Co., a hockey tape and apparel company started by a few friends from Minnesota.

Schmidt stumbled across a surefire sales tactic through his work with ShortSide. It goes a little something like this: find a potential customer and use the gift of gab. Sure, it’s not for everyone. There are those without a penchant for prattle, those who feel no need for chitchat. But the good news is Schmidt likes to talk. Like, a lot.

“Usually I get on the phone and just start chatting and rambling and talking, and I think usually by the end of it people are saying, ‘Yeah, I’ll buy it from you just so you shut up,’” Schmidt laughed.

Early Takeaways From Jets Training Camp: Groups, Players To Watch, Position BattlesEarly Takeaways From Jets Training Camp: Groups, Players To Watch, Position BattlesBreaking down the early takeaways of Winnipeg Jets Training Camp including storylines from each group, position battles to watch and prospects to keep an eye on.

He’s kidding, of course. Truthfully, it’s hard to fathom anyone telling Schmidt to pipe down and not at all because of his big-league bonafides. Rather, it’s Schmidt’s gregariousness. He has a magnetism and all-too-rare earnestness to him. A conversation about hockey tape shouldn’t be engaging, yet Schmidt can manage to talk about the process of testing batches, cold-calling coaches and persuading teammates to use the stuff without the conversation falling flat.

He brings that same sincerity and thoughtfulness to everything he does, not the least of which is his NHL day job. That much is evident when Schmidt discusses his summer trade to the Winnipeg Jets and reports he considered using his no-trade clause to veto the move. In his first meeting with the Winnipeg media, he took pains to clarify any thought given to nixing the deal was no slight to the city, team or its fans.

It was simply his desire to step back and think – about moving halfway across the country to a new team, about life in a new city and about how his fiancee would feel about the move. “When guys go through and look at free agency and such, things happen really quickly and some guys always say, ‘You wish you could slow it down because it happens so quickly,’” Schmidt said. “When I was taking a look at (the trade) and looking at all the things, the possibilities, it was, for me, my way of slowing it down, to be able to walk away and just reflect on all the things that were about to change.”

It’s difficult to argue with that justification, and even more difficult when considering the veritable whirlwind that has been the past few seasons of the 30-year-old’s career.

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CHANGE OF SCENERY

Schmidt hopes the move to Winnipeg will spur a return to his prior form as a reliable offensive contributor.

(GARY A. VASQUEZ-USA TODAY SPORTS)

Shrinking NHL Pre-Season Could Present Opportunity For AHLShrinking NHL Pre-Season Could Present Opportunity For AHLThe NHL's recent CBA changes could lead to a longer AHL pre-season, following the NHL cutting down on exhibition games. 

Ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, with one year remaining on a two-year pact he had signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, Schmidt inked his first legitimate big-money, career-making contract, a six-year, $35.7-million deal that he believed would keep him in Sin City for the bulk of what was left of his career.

Included in that deal was the aforementioned no-trade clause, which seemed to further insinuate Vegas saw him as a long-term fixture on its blueline. That wasn’t quite the case. One season into his new agreement, the Golden Knights sent Schmidt packing, dealing him to Vancouver for a third-round pick. Less than 10 months later, Schmidt was headed to Winnipeg. “The first time it was pretty devastating to go through, because you think, ‘I signed this deal, I am going to be a part of this team, we’re the Misfits and we’re going to keep it together,’” Schmidt said. “It was a hard thing to figure out at first. I think as you go through and realize that this is part of hockey, it doesn’t really diminish the fact it is hard.”

MY EXPECTATIONS FOR MYSELF ARE EVEN HIGHER THAN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE FOR ME– Nate Schmidt

And while he’s not about to make excuses, he admitted the wrinkle that COVID-19 added to matters – from the shutdown to the bubble and off-ice restrictions – made that first transition especially challenging, which bore out in Schmidt’s numbers. Across the three seasons preceding his campaign in Vancouver, Schmidt had established himself as a regular offensive contributor, with his 97 points in 196 games, a hair shy of half-point-per-game production during his time with Vegas.

As a Canuck, his output dropped precipitously, to the tune of just five goals and 15 points in 54 games. “I knew I wasn’t at my best last year,” he said. “A lot of different things go into that with a weird year and frustration sometimes. You put a lot of pressure on yourself to go in there and play really well, and there really isn’t a whole lot of time to get used to a new system, new team and real time to actually get going.”

Having gone through this before has Schmidt feeling more settled this time around. It doesn’t hurt he’s relatively close to home – St. Cloud, Minn., is roughly a six-hour drive south – and was able to settle into former teammate Cody Eakin’s Winnipeg home upon arriving with his new team. He’s getting a feel for the city, for the team facilities, and he’s starting to form all-important bonds with his teammates, which has been made that much easier by the relaxing of some of pandemic-related restrictions.

Schmidt acclimating to his new surroundings is no small thing, particularly given the Jets are anticipating he’ll be a major piece of a rejuvenated blueline to which Brenden Dillon has likewise been added. Not since the halcyon, Western Conference-finalist days of 2017-18, when Winnipeg iced a top four of Josh Morrissey, Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers, has there been this much promise in the Jets’ defense corps, at least on paper. If Schmidt returns to the same form that saw him munch minutes for the Vegas group that ended that 2017-18 Winnipeg team’s post-season run, it’d be no surprise to see the Jets carving a playoff path this season.

Trust he’s aware of what Winnipeg is hoping for, too. “A lot of the time, honestly, the expectations people make, my expectations for myself are even higher than what other people have for me,” Schmidt said. “I expect the best out of myself. I do feel good. I feel like my confidence is back playing with this group, we have a good group and it’s going to make for an exciting year.”

Divisional Focus: Jets Look to Snap Losing Skid versus Last-Place PredatorsDivisional Focus: Jets Look to Snap Losing Skid versus Last-Place PredatorsThe Winnipeg Jets aim to win three crucial divisional games over the Nashville Predators next season after losing four of their last seven matchups. 
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Blackhawks Coach Provides Matt Grzelcyk Update

Matt Grzelcyk (© David Gonzales-Imagn Images)

Matt Grzelcyk is currently on a professional tryout (PTO) with the Chicago Blackhawks. With this, the 31-year-old defenseman is certainly aiming to impress in hopes of landing a contract from the Central Division club for the 2025-26 season.

While speaking to reporters, including the Chicago Sun-Times' Ben Pope, Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill shared that the team will sign Grzelcyk if their young defensemen do not appear to be ready for the NHL. However, Blashill also added that the team will likely not sign Grzelcyk if their youngsters earn NHL spots. 

It is understandable that the Blackhawks are waiting to see if some of their young blueliners are ready for the NHL before potentially signing Grzelcyk. The Blackhawks are in a rebuild, after all, so it makes sense that they want to see if some of their prospect defensemen can make the team. 

However, if the Blackhawks decide to start some of their young defensemen at the AHL level, bringing in Grzelcyk could benefit them. He would give them another veteran blueliner to work with to help mentor their young players.

Nevetheless, we will now need to wait and see what the Blackhawks decide to do with Grzelcyk from here.

Blackhawks Rumors: 4 Other Teams Still in Running for Matt GrzelcykBlackhawks Rumors: 4 Other Teams Still in Running for Matt GrzelcykIt is shocking that Matt Grzelcyk went so long without actually being signed after the 31-year-old put up 40 points on the Pittsburgh Penguins. But recently, the Chicago Blackhawks signed him to a PTO. I will continue to argue that it was the decision to do so even though there is one veteran on the back-end.
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Two-start pitchers: Chris Sale headlines a group of stellar options for the final week of the 2025 season

Hello and welcome to the final installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I have been here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week and I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you that has come along for the ride with me.

It's the final week of the year. The decisions that you make now could wind up making or breaking your entire season. Now is the time to really dig in and make sure we're optimizing our rosters as well as possible.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

The Orioles continue to roll with a six-man rotation, so as long as no one suffers an injury over the weekend, it appears as though no one will line up for two starts in the final week of the regular season with only six games on tap. The only possibility would be Dean Kremer (vs. Rays, @ Yankees) should anything get moved around or if someone in their rotation gets shut down prematurely.

As things currently stand, the Guardians are using a six-man rotation and don’t have anyone lined up to make two starts next week. That could change though if they’re still in the playoff picture on Sunday. If that’s the case, Gavin Williams could start on regular rest over Joey Cantillo, in which case he would draw the two-start week (vs. Tigers, vs. Rangers) and would make for a strong option.

As things currently stand, Jack Flaherty is in line to make two starts for the Tigers next week (@ Guardians, @ Red Sox). There are a couple of ways in which that could change though. If the Tigers have a rough weekend and their spot on the playoffs starts to get challenged, we could see Tarik Skubal on regular rest take the ball on Tuesday against the Guardians, in which case he would get the two-start week instead. If the Tigers have a good weekend and play well against the Guardians to start next week, you could see them lock up the American League Central, in which case they may just use some sort of bullpen day on Sunday instead of giving Flaherty his full workload. Just things to keep in mind. We’ll update through the weekend if we gain any additional clarity.

No word yet on what the Angels plan to do with their rotation to fill the void left by Jose Soriano (forearm) landing on the injured list. It’s possible that Yusei Kikuchi moves up and starts on regular rest on Tuesday, in which case he would start twice next week (vs. Royals, vs. Astros). It’s also possible that they promote someone from Triple-A or go with a bullpen day, in which case we’re unlikely to have interest.

The Dodgers will roll with a six-man rotation once again for the final week of the regular season, meaning that none of their starters will line up for two starts. At least they’re consistent.

The Twins are another team that have been rolling with a six-man rotation and there’s no reason to expect them to go away from that in the final week of the season, so none of their starters will get the honor of toeing the slab twice.

The Pirates are utilizing a six-man rotation for the final week of the season as well so that means none of their starters will take the mound twice. With Monday being an off-day, they could choose to move Paul Skenes up to Tuesday and give him the option to make two starts next week (@ Reds, @ Braves), but that doesn’t seem particularly likely. It also wouldn’t impact any decisions for fantasy managers as he’s locked into lineups regardless.

The Rangers are moving to a six-man rotation to accommodate the return of Tyler Mahle on Friday, making it so that none of their starters will double next week. If Mahle doesn’t make it through his start healthy or if anyone else gets skipped, it would be Jack Leiter getting the two-start week (vs. Twins, @ Guardians)

The Nationals are going with a six-man rotation as well and with each team only playing six games over the final week that’s another team that will be without a two-start pitcher. If you’re looking for volume, this is a tough week to add it to your team.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of September 22.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of September 19 and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Cole Ragans, Royals, LHP (@ Angels, @ Athletics)

Ragans has been a major disappointment throughout the 2025 season, posting a 2-3 record, 5.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and an 80/18 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings over 11 starts. This is his chance to finish the season on a high note though before coming back fresh in 2026. He gets a pair of road starts against weak divisional opponents that he should be able to feast on. Even if the ratios aren’t quite where we would want them to be, he should be able to pile up strikeouts in these two starts and will be in a good position to earn a victory as well. I understand that fantasy managers are bitter over his performance this season, but that doesn’t mean he should be on the bench for the final week of the season. Roll with him in all leagues.

Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays, RHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Rays)

Kevin Gausman is tentatively lined up to make two starts next week – both of them at home against familiar divisional foes. He’s an excellent option whether he makes one start or two, but there’s a chance that he gets moved from that second start or has it shortened depending on how the Jays want to align their rotation for the postseason. Gausman has been terrific this season, registering a 3.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 177/47 K/BB ratio over 183 2/3 innings. Studly.

Lucas Giolito, Red Sox, RHP (@ Blue Jays, vs. Tigers)

Giolito has had a terrific bounce-back season for the Red Sox, posting a 10-6 record, 3.46 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 118/52 K/BB ratio over 140 1/3 innings after missing the entire 2024 season due to injury. The matchups aren’t ideal for the upcoming week, but there’s a very strong chance that he does make both of the starts with the Red Sox desperately fighting for a postseason berth. I’d feel comfortable starting him in leagues of all sizes.

AJ Blubaugh, Astros, RHP (@ Athletics, @ Angels)

Blubagh has impressed through his first nine outings (two starts) with the Astros this season, registering a 2.16 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 32/7 K/BB ratio across 25 innings of work. The only concern is the workload, as he threw only 50 pitches and went just three innings his last time out. The matchups are great and he’s a solid bet to help fantasy managers in ratios and in strikeouts. If he can make it through five innings, he’ll have a shot at helping out in wins as well. He makes for an excellent streaming option for the final week of the regular season.

Decent Plays

Ian Seymour, Rays, RHP (@ Orioles, @ Blue Jays)

So far, so good for Seymour as he transitions to the Rays’ starting rotation. He’s coming off of a brilliant outing in which he didn’t allow an earned run over seven innings against the Blue Jays while striking out three. For the season, he holds a minuscule 2.54 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 55/15 K/BB ratio across 49 2/3 frames. Now he’ll do battle against the Orioles in Baltimore before finishing up with a Blue Jays’ squad that is likely to be sitting most of their regulars on the final day of the season. He makes for an excellent streaming option wherever he may be available.

Shane Smith, White Sox, RHP (@ Yankees, @ Nationals)

While Smith’s rookie campaign with the White Sox has been a rousing success, he is limping his way to the finish line and may be getting a bit fatigued. He was lit up for six runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings against the Orioles his last time out and now he’ll face a tough assignment against the Yankees to start the week. The matchup against the Nationals on Sunday is better – assuming that he actually makes that start. If you’re hunting for strikeouts, he’s still in play, but if you’re concerned about protecting ratios, you may want to look in a different direction.

Luis Gil, Yankees, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Orioles)

Luis Gil has allowed a lot of traffic on the basepaths through his first nine starts, leading to a cringe-inducing 1.50 WHIP, but he has able to limit the overall damage (3.33 ERA) despite a troublesome 36/29 K/BB ratio. He has picked up four victories in nine starts and is a threat to earn a win every time he takes the mound with the Yankees’ offense backing him. He looks like a solid option for his upcoming two-start week and should be started in all leagues.

Bryce Miller, Mariners, RHP (vs. Rockies, vs. Dodgers)

After a terrific season for the Mariners in 2024, Miller has come crashing back to earth this year, posting a miserable 5.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 68/31 K/BB ratio over 80 2/3 innings. What he has in his favor this week though are the matchups. He’ll do battle against the Rockies at home in a spot where he should be a favorite to earn a victory and then he’ll finish the season with a Dodgers’ squad that will probably be resting many of its starters. If there’s any week to trust Miller after a disappointing season, this would be it.

At Your Own Risk

Mason Barnett, Athletics, RHP (vs. Astros, vs. Royals)

The 24-year-old right-hander has struggled through his first four starts in the big leagues, registering a 7.56 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and a 15/9 K/BB ratio across 16 2/3 innings of work. He has also lasted five innings in just one of his first four outings. The matchups aren’t the greatest either. It’s the final week of the season, so if all you’re concerned with is volume and trying to pile up strikeouts, he could be worth a look. It’s very likely that he hurts your ratios though and is unlikely to earn a victory in either of these starts.

National League

Strong Plays

Chris Sale, Braves, LHP (vs. Nationals, vs. Pirates)

The schedule couldn’t line up much better for Sale entering the final week of the 2025 season, getting to do battle against the Nationals and Pirates with both starts coming at home. He hasn’t missed a beat since returning from the injured list, posting a 1.75 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and a ridiculous 36/2 K/BB ratio over 25 2/3 innings in four starts since being activated. He may be the top overall play on the board for the final week of the season.

Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies, LHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Twins)

For now at least, the Phillies’ star southpaw is lined up to make two starts next week, though he could get pushed from that Sunday start as the Phillies line up their playoff rotation as the desire. He has been a revelation on the hill this season, registering a 2.66 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 198/43 K/BB ratio over 189 1/3 innings. He should be started in all leagues regardless of whether he makes one start or two.

Brady Singer, Reds, RHP (vs. Pirates, @ Brewers)

Singer has done a nice job in his first season with the Reds, compiling a 14-10 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 155/59 K/BB ratio over 161 innings through his first 30 starts. He has been rolling as of late, allowing two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts and just three runs in the other. He’ll get a premium matchup against the Pirates to start the week before finishing the season against a Brewers’ squad that could be resting many of it’s regulars. Singer looks like a very strong option in all leagues for the final week of the season.

Brandon Woodruff, Brewers, RHP (@ Padres, vs. Reds)

Woodruff has been exceptional in his return to the Brewers’ rotation this season, going 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and an 83/14 K/BB ratio over 64 2/3 innings through his first 12 starts. There’s no reason to expect any sort of drop off this week. The only concern is that with the top seed in the National League already locked up, it’s possible that Woodruff doesn’t start or doesn’t see a full workload on Sunday against the Reds. It’s a minor quibble though and he should still be locked into all fantasy lineups for the final week of the regular season.

Cade Horton, Cubs, RHP (vs. Mets, vs. Cardinals)

Tentatively, Horton is lined up to make two starts next week, but with a Wild Card spot already locked up and the Cubs looking to set their rotation for the postseason, it wouldn’t be surprising in the least to see Javier Assad make that start on Sunday instead, allowing them to deploy Horton in whichever game they want in the Wild Card round. He’ll still start against the Mets and is worth using in all leagues, just don’t go in expecting him to make two starts next week. Treat it as a bonus if he does actually get the ball on Sunday.

Nick Pivetta, Padres, RHP (vs. Brewers, vs. Diamondbacks)

Like many teams heading to the postseason, it’s unclear whether we’ll actually get two starts from Pivetta next week, or if they’ll choose to optimize their rotation for the postseason and roll with an extra starter or some sort of bullpen game instead. The Padres’ right-hander has been awesome this season and still makes for a strong option on the week, even if he does only get one start, so this shouldn’t impact decisions.

Ryan Weathers, Marlins, LHP (@ Phillies, vs. Mets)

Sandwiched around stints on the injured list, Weathers has actually done a very nice job through his first seven starts for the Marlins this season – posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 29/10 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings. He’ll draw a pair of tough divisional foes for his upcoming two-start week, but as long as he’s taking the mound we want to be using him for fantasy purposes. The limited strikeout rate is offset by the added volume of a two-start week, making Weathers a nice streaming option in all leagues.

Decent Plays

Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Dodgers, @ Padres)

Pfaadt has struggled to find consistency this season, as evidenced by his 13-8 record with a 5.02 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. He’s coming off perhaps the best start of his career though – striking out seven batters over nine innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball against the Giants. The opponents are both tough for the upcoming week, and there’s always a chance with final week shenanigans that he doesn’t end up making the Sunday start, but it we’re chasing volume and looking to make up ground in wins and strikeouts, he makes for a solid option in both 15- and 12-team formats.

Justin Verlander, Giants, RHP (vs. Cardinals, vs. Rockies)

The 42-year-old hurler gets two strong matchups at home to finish out the 2025 season and they may serve as an audition for interested teams as he’s heading into free agency and has already expressed his desire to continue pitching in 2026. While the overall line on the season is underwhelming, Verlander has actually been dominant over his last five starts, registering a 0.87 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 28/12 K/BB ratio over 31 innings. If he’s hanging around on the waiver wire, he makes for an excellent streaming option for the final week of the regular season.

Michael McGreevy, Cardinals, RHP (@ Giants, @ Cubs)

McGreevy hasn’t quite hit the ground running in the Cardinals’ rotation the way that most fantasy managers had hoped, but he still sports a solid 4.08 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 53/15 K/BB ratio over 86 innings in his first 15 outings. He was a difference maker in fantasy leagues during the final week of the 2024 season and I anticipate that being the case once again in 2025. Look for him to finish his year on a high note with a pair of stellar road starts. He should be utilized in all formats.

At Your Own Risk

McCade Brown, Rockies, RHP (@ Mariners, @ Giants)

Never Rockies. Never. Just don’t do it. Even when it’s two starts on the road. Nothing that we have seen from McCade Brown through his first five starts gives any indication that he can be useful for fantasy purposes. He’s 0-4 with a sky-high 9.17 ERA, 2.09 WHIP and an 11/13 K/BB ratio over 17 2/3 innings. Could he defy logic and dominate in one of those starts to earn his first MLB victory? Sure. The odds are stacked against it though. More likely, you’d wind up with eight innings of horrific ratios and a handful of strikeouts. Just say no.

David Peterson, Mets, LHP (@ Cubs, @ Marlins)

While Peterson has had a solid season overall for the Mets, he has really struggled down the stretch, posting a 7.59 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over 40 1/3 innings in his last eight starts. While it’s possible that he reverts to his early-season form here, if you’re trying to protect your ratios at this point of the season there’s really no reason to chance it. If all you’re looking for is wins and strikeouts, you can roll him out there and hope for the best. It’s also possible he loses that second start as the Mets look to set their rotation for the Wild Card round.

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Alec Bohm returns from IL with time to regroup before postseason

Alec Bohm returns from IL with time to regroup before postseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

PHOENIX – Since getting hit with a pitch just before the All-Star break that resulted in a fractured rib and then developing inflammation in his left shoulder, Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has played in just 20 of the team’s last 58 games.

Friday, before playing the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team announced that it had reinstated Bohm from the injured list. Manager Rob Thomson penciled him in to play third base and hit sixth as the Phillies opened their final road series of the regular season against a Diamondbacks team that is fighting for a playoff spot.

Bohm is hitting .293 with 22 extra base hits and 42 RBI over his last 81 games and did have an 11-game hitting streak from mid to late August during which time he hit .349. That is the Bohm the team hopes they are getting back.

“Just see what the swing looks like with a healthy shoulder,” said Rob Thomson of what he’s looking for from his third baseman. I think that had a lot to do with a lot of the stuff that was going on. I think we’re all encouraged. Watching his BP over in Dodger Stadium was pretty good, pretty impressive. He showed some raw power in BP, anyway. Hopefully it transfers into the game.

Not that injuries ever come at a good time but these came when Bohm was really rounding into form before the rib injury sat him down.

“The power was coming, he was using the field and putting the ball in play hard,” said Thomson. “Sometimes time off helps. So, hopefully it helps him and get him back to where he was.”

The other player out with injury on the left side of the infield, Trea Turner, continues to rehab back in Philadelphia with the hope still being he returns for games before the playoffs begin.

“He couldn’t get on the field today because it was covered,” said Thomson. “So, he did a lot of stuff inside. But he went through his whole routine offensively inside, so we’ll get him back on the field tomorrow. He’s probably 60 percent (running), that’s from Trea. I want to see him run 100 percent.”

Painter is dry

Top prospect Andrew Painter threw four innings and gave up seven hits, three earned runs, two walks and struck out six on Wednesday for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and, according to Thomson, that’s all she wrote for the season for Painter.

“No. He’s done. He’s tired,” Thomson said. “To me he’s had a really good year, has come through healthy and it’s always the second year when you see the stuff really play up and a guy gets back to normal after Tommy John. So, I think, all in all, it was a very successful year for him.”

This was a work year for Painter, to just try and build up the innings and make sure that arm got through things well. He made 22 starts and threw just over 106 innings. While word was swirling earlier in the season about him coming up to the Phillies, the scenario still played out well.

What’s left?

The goal for the Phillies is still to try and win every game, get the top seed and a first-round bye. But there are still some things that Thomson wants to see his team work on while still trying to achieve those goals.

“Yeah, some reliever stuff. Get a one-plus out of certain guys,” he said. “But at the same time not put them in harm’s way. Just little things like that. Pickoff plays at second. Bunt plays. Doing some little things that we haven’t done a whole lot of.”

Might that include using closer Jhoan Duran for more than inning? Maybe face a fourth or fifth hitter in a save opportunity?

“He’s done that before, so I’m not really concerned about him,” said Thomson.

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The Wraparound: Do The Canadiens' Kent Hughes And Jeff Gorton Deserve Long-Term Extensions?

NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments are what The Wraparound is all about.

Do The Canadiens' Kent Hughes And Jeff Gorton Deserve Long-Term Extensions? by The WraparoundDo The Canadiens' Kent Hughes And Jeff Gorton Deserve Long-Term Extensions? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Diandra Loux discussed in this episode:

0:00: Which Toronto Maple Leafs acquisition will have the biggest impact this season?

5:22: Do Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton deserve long-term extensions with the Montreal Canadiens?

9:27: How much will Kyle Connor be making on his next contract with the Winnipeg Jets?

13:09: How difficult will it be for GMs to negotiate long-term contracts with the rising salary cap?

18:46: Who do NHL players think the next ‘face of the league’ will be?

24:04: Who will have to step up the most for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the absence of Nick Paul?

27:50: Breaking down Mikael Backlund’s extension with the Calgary Flames

30:00: Will Anze Kopitar be a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

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Canadiens Prospect Is Ready To Shine

Oliver Kapanen (© Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens are entering this upcoming season with several promising young players. One specific prospect who fans should be keeping a very close eye on during the 2025-26 season is forward Oliver Kapanen. This is because the 22-year-old forward has the potential to blossom into a solid part of the Canadiens' roster.

Kapanen took a nice step forward in his development this past season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Timra IK. In 36 games with the SHL club on the year, the 6-foot-2 forward recorded new career highs with 14 goals and 35 points in 36 games. This was after he had 14 goals and 34 points in 51 games with KalPa of the SHL in 2023-24. Thus, his offensive production went up in less games this past season, which is very encouraging.

Kapanen also played in his first 18 career NHL regular-season games with the Canadiens this past campaign, posting two assists. He also recorded one assist in three games for the Canadiens during the playoffs. Overall, while he did not make the most impact offensively while playing with Montreal in 2024-25, he did not look out of place and showed promise. 

Now, Kapanen will be looking to take that next step with the Canadiens this upcoming season. He is one of the many Canadiens youngsters fighting for a spot on their NHL roster and is easily among their breakout candidates for the new year. 

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Mets' Kodai Senga to face live hitters next week; status for potential playoff roster spot even murkier

Kodai Senga hasn't yet taken the mound for the last time this season, but the Mets already know the right-hander's next appearance won't occur in a big league uniform.

Prior to their home series opener with the Nationals on Friday afternoon, manager Carlos Mendoza revealed the upcoming plan for Senga, which will include him pitching either live batting practice or a simulated game sometime next week.

"The plan is for him to face hitters again. The question now is, where's that going to be?" Mendoza explained. "The minor league season ends on Sunday. Now we're in the process of trying to figure things out, to where we're going to give him those live looks."

If the Mets still envision Senga contributing at the major league level again in 2025, time is obviously running out for him to prove he's ready and worthy of the task. He's not a lock to make the potential postseason roster, and his latest outing in the minors was underwhelming.

Senga struggled in his second and final start with Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday night, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts across 3.2 innings. Call it several steps backward, as he logged six frames of one-run ball with eight punchouts on Sept. 12.

"Stuff-wise was down. Whether it was the velo, execution, the secondary pitches weren't sharp," Mendoza said. "That's the report I got, and watching film, you could see it. That's probably one of the reasons why he's asking for one more time to face hitters, to continue to work through those issues."

It's been a confounding season for Senga, who undisputedly resembled the Mets' ace before injuring his hamstring in mid-June. But mechanical issues and a patent lack of consistency have plagued him since mid-July -- he owns a bloated 6.56 ERA across his last eight starts (35.2 innings).

When asked what the Mets would need to see from Senga moving forward in order to promote him, Mendoza didn't offer a concrete answer. He called the situation "a tough spot" for proper evaluation, and justifiably so. It's a role undefined. The clock is ticking for him to regain trust.

Earlier this week, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Senga needs to demonstrate he can "consistently get major league hitters out," while also emphasizing "results always matter."

The Mets (79-74) also don't have the luxury of casually testing Senga's stuff out during one of their nine remaining regular-season games. They enter the weekend with a narrow two-game lead over the Diamondbacks for the third and final NL wild card spot.

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Bradly Nadeau Better Prepared, More Confident In Second Training Camp As He Aims To Make Hurricanes Roster

Carolina Hurricanes 2023 first-round pick Bradly Nadeau is one year into his professional hockey career, but already he's been turning heads.

The 20-year-old winger lit up the AHL last season, becoming just the sixth teenager in league history to score 30+ goals, while also being named to the 2025 Top Prospect Team, an honor bestowed to the AHL prospects projected to be the best future NHL players.

Now, Nadeau is hoping to convert his efforts and experience into a full-time NHL role.

The New Brunswick native has enjoyed essentially linear progression since being drafted by Hurricanes, dominating at every level he's played at. 

From the BCHL to the NCAA and, last year, the AHL, Nadeau has continually demonstrated the talents that made him a first-round pick.

"When you go up a level, sometimes it feels like players will try to change their game," Nadeau said. "They don't want to make mistakes but I think you just have to play your game. Mistakes are going to happen in hockey today and it's just about trying to limit them. If you can play with confidence, you can keep your game going and play how you've played at all those levels before."

After a strong showing at the 2025 Prospects Showcase, the talented winger is now taking part in his second Carolina training camp, something he feels much better prepared for this time. 

"It's real hard," Nadeau said about training camp. "You can be really good, but you have to fight for your spot. But this year, coming in, I know what to expect. I just want to make a good impression, but also have fun and just try to do all the small details right. This year, I feel like the game is slowing down a bit. I feel more confident out there. There's going to be a lot of good players again this year, so I know what to expect and I'm ready for camp to get going full tilt here."

Does Bradly Nadeau Have A Shot At Making The Carolina Hurricanes Opening-Night Roster?Does Bradly Nadeau Have A Shot At Making The Carolina Hurricanes Opening-Night Roster?The Carolina Hurricanes kick off training camp this Thursday, with the opening of the NHL season just a few weeks after that.

On top of gaining professional experience, Nadeau has also grown a bit more into his body.

At his first training camp, Nadeau was listed at 5-foot-10 and 160lbs. Now, he measures in an extra inch taller and 12 pounds heavier.

"He's making the right steps and you can't skip steps," Brind'Amour said. "You want him to keep dominating every step and that's what he's done. Now, it's just one more step and he's knocking on the door for that."

The biggest hurdle for Nadeau though is the current depth of the Canes' roster. 

The team has 13 forwards under contract who played significant NHL roles last season, so he has quite the hill to surmount.

However, Nadeau doesn't view the current roadblock as detrimental.

"I wouldn't say there's any frustration," Nadeau said. "I think it's just that you're waiting for your chance. You can always use all the time you can get to prepare. Right now, it's just about working hard and doing all those things right until that chance comes. ... Carolina is going to have a good team this year and it's always fun to know that you're trying to get a spot on a team like that."

It's exactly the attitude that Brind'Amour wants to see too.

"There's nothing he can do about that,' Brind'Amour said about the  "He can only worry about doing his thing and then it's up to us to find a seat on the bus for him if he deserves it.

"I thought he grew as a player. We know his ability to score goals, especially with that shot. Lots of power play goals there, one-timers. It looks very familiar to some players you've seen over the years. Like, it's a threat every time he rips one. Now he has to add the other elements to his game so that he can be an everyday player here."

Nadeau knows that if he wants to make the team, he's going to have to have a better camp than last year, which he described as just an 'okay' showing.

"For myself, I had an okay camp, but I could have been better," Nadeau said. "I felt like I was rushing plays and felt like the game was fast. But now, with the season last year, the experience I got, it changed how I see the ice now, so I think that's going to be a big factor for me that'll help me."

All Nadeau can do is focus on his own game and if he's ready, the team will find a way to make it work. I mean, it's exactly what happened last season.

Last year, Nadeau was one of three promising rookies looking for a spot, but in the end, Jackson Blake was the one who made the most of the opportunity, turning a strong camp and preseason into a consistent NHL role and eventually an eight-year contract extension.

"Jackson, we were in the same spot last year and now obviously he's signed an extension and he's doing great for himself," Nadeau said. "You never know what can happen, you just have to work hard and hopefully things will go your way."

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