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Carter Yakemchuk Ranked 26th Overall In Magazine's New NHL Prospect Rankings

When the Ottawa Senators selected Carter Yakemchuk seventh overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, they went against the grain. The young Calgary Hitmen star was ranked as the sixth-best defenceman on most pre-draft boards, and four of the five listed ahead of him were still on the board when Ottawa stepped up to the draft podium to make their pick. 

But the Senators bet on Yakemchuk’s offensive upside, size, and long-term potential.

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Now, nearly a year later, those same defencemen remain ahead of Yakemchuk, according to at least one draft/prospects publication. In other words, Yakemchuk hasn’t fallen off, but he also hasn’t done enough to prove Ottawa was correct in scooping him up before one of his higher-ranked peers.

This week, McKeen’s published its Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects, a list that includes four years' worth of prospects, primarily hailing from the 2020-2024 Drafts. They believe that Yakemchuk remains an excellent prospect at 26th overall, but he's also still behind the same five defencemen who were ranked ahead of him last year.

The actual 2024 draft order ended up being:

Artyom Levshunov (CHI, 2nd overall)
Carter Yakemchuk (OTT, 7th)
Zayne Parekh (CGY, 9th) 
Anton Silayev (NJ, 10th)
Sam Dickinson (SJ, 11th)
Zeev Buium (MIN, 12th)

As far as the 2024 defensive draft class goes, McKeen’s now sets the 2025 NHL-affiliated prospect rankings as:

1.  Dickinson
2. Levshunov
3. Buium
4. Parekh
5. Silayev
6. Yakemchuk

Again, everyone on the list above, other than Levshunov, was on the board when the Sens took Yakemchuk.

This past season didn’t offer a breakout case for Yakemchuk. After putting up 30 goals and 71 points in 2023–24, setting a Calgary Hitmen record for goals by a defenceman, his offensive numbers dipped to 17 goals and 32 assists through 56 games in 2024–25. Some of that decline was expected, though, as Yakemchuk deliberately shifted his focus to improving his defensive game and skating, areas that were flagged at Sens camp last fall.

Towering Utah Defenceman Would Be Ideal Senators Trade TargetTowering Utah Defenceman Would Be Ideal Senators Trade TargetInjuries to Artem Zub and Nick Jensen highlighted the Ottawa Senators' need for greater quality of depth on the right side throughout the 2024-25 season.

As with player development, rankings and evaluations can vary from one publication to another, and long-term value can’t be measured after only a year. But so far, the defencemen the Senators passed over have largely maintained their standing. Yakemchuk hasn’t lost ground, but he hasn’t gained any either.

The Senators remain confident in the pick, and obviously, prospect development timelines can also vary wildly from one prospect to the next, especially among defencemen. 

But a year after making one of the bolder decisions of the 2024 draft, Ottawa will have to wait a while longer for some clear signs that their bet on Yakemchuk will pay off.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa 

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

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NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Will The Stars Or Oilers Win The Western Conference Final?

The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs are over, so it’s once again time to offer our series predictions. In the second round, we went 1-1 with our Western picks, and we’re back to offer up our projections for the Western Conference final.

As always, bear in mind these are this writer’s educated guesses.

On to it, we go:

Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)

Season series: 2-1 Dallas

Why Dallas will win:The Stars have gotten stronger and stronger as the playoffs have unfolded, knocking off the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in Round 1, then outlasting the Winnipeg Jets in six games in Round 2. Despite dealing with the high-octane offense of the Jets and Avs, Dallas allowed more than two goals just once in their eight wins in the first two rounds – and in three of those eight wins, the Stars allowed only one goal. Meanwhile, Dallas’ offense has been potent, generating at least three goals in six of those eight wins.

The Stars have a far better goalie in Jake Oettinger (.919 save percentage, 2.47 goals-against average) than Edmonton does in Stuart Skinner (.884 SP, 3.05 GAA), and Dallas also has the better defense corps, including top blueliner Miro Heiskanen. The Stars will have to keep Oilers superstar centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in check, but they found a way to do that with Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar – and that was without Heiskanen, who was injured at the time. 

To be sure, the Oilers will give the Stars their toughest test yet, but there’s a reason why Dallas was the sexy pick of many people to win the Cup at the beginning of the season. The Stars have the depth, elite talent and plethora of difference-makers to get the job done. And while Edmonton also has its share of elite talent, Dallas was able to beat two very good teams in the first two rounds, and there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again now.

Why Edmonton will win: The Oilers showed last season they could handle the Stars in the Western final, beating Dallas in six games – and this year’s Edmonton team is deeper and better than last year’s Oilers team. Edmonton has gotten the expected contributions from McDavid and Draisaitl as they eliminated the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1 and the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 2, but they’ve also received solid showings from support players including forwards Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen and Adam Henrique, and that’s what any team needs if they’re to win a Cup.

Former Dallas Stars president Jim Lites and former Stars player Brenden Morrow drop a ceremonial puck with Connor McDavid and Jamie Benn. (Tim Heitman-Imagn Images)

In beating the Golden Knights, the Oilers got a great performance from Skinner, and if Skinner does falter against the Stars, Calvin Pickard can come in and at least give Edmonton a chance to beat the Stars in Round 3. And if veteran D-man Mattias Ekholm can return from injury, he’ll give the Oilers a physical element that will punish Dallas when they’re in Edmonton’s zone.

The Stars did edge out the Oilers in their regular-season matchups, but Edmonton has found a way to raise their overall game with every round that has passed. With game-breakers McDavid and Draisaitl giving them an edge up front, the Oilers have the hunger and determination to best Dallas once again and set up a Cup final showdown against the Carolina Hurricanes or Florida Panthers. It’s about rising to the occasion, and the Oilers have demonstrated they can do that.

Prediction: Stars in seven games

In picking Dallas to win this series in seven games, we’re giving the Oilers their due. Edmonton isn’t going to lie down for anyone, and they’ve already got the confidence that comes from the experience they had against the Stars last year. But the Stars have a game-breaker of their own in right winger Mikko Rantanen, and Dallas’ attention to detail on the defensive end of things gives them an all-around edge against Edmonton. 

As we know, sometimes playoff success can come through special teams, and Dallas’ power-play efficiency in the playoffs (30.8 percent) and penalty-kill (86.1 percent) is superior to Edmonton’s power-play (25 percent) and penalty-kill (66.7 percent). In a series that will see each team thriving at different times for different reasons, the edge in special teams could be the difference between the Stars winning and losing against the Oilers. 

Regardless of who wins the Western final, we’re picking the winner to emerge as the Cup-winner this spring. But we’ve been impressed by Dallas all season long, and that isn’t going to change now. So we’re sticking with the Stars team we’ve liked right off the hop this year, and we’re projecting Dallas to win its second Cup in franchise history.

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Stanley Cup Playoffs: Betting Odds for the Conference Finals

With four teams left, odds roll out for NHL Conference Finals starting Tuesday

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The Stanley Cup Playoffs are down to four, and the series odds paint a picture of two tightly contested matchups. In the East, the Florida Panthers face the Carolina Hurricanes, while out West, the Dallas Stars take on the Edmonton Oilers.

The markets are tight, the narratives are set, and with series prices, MVP odds, and exact outcomes on the board, there’s no shortage of angles for bettors.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: Jonathan Toews NHL Return Could Be With Anaheim Ducks, According to NHL Insider

Eastern Conference Final: Florida Panthers (-125) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (+104)

Florida enters as a modest favorite, with oddsmakers narrowly favoring the Panthers to reach the Final for a third straight season. The most common outcome based on odds?

A Panthers win in six games (+420), tied with a Hurricanes win in seven (+420). Bettors looking for value might consider Carolina’s resilience at plus money — this series is expected to be a grind either way.

Goaltending will likely decide the outcome. The Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky is the betting favorite to win the Conn Smythe for Florida, while Frederik Andersen holds that title for Carolina. If either netminder takes over, they could tilt the series and vault themselves into MVP conversations.

Despite having the longest Stanley Cup odds of the four teams (+310), Carolina’s experience and defensive structure remain dangerous — particularly with veteran Brett Burns, who leads all remaining players in odds to receive the first Cup handoff at +350 odds. 

More NHL: Flyers Name Rick Tocchet as New Head Coach

Western Conference Final: Dallas Stars (-102) vs. Edmonton Oilers (-118)

There’s almost no separation between the Stars and Oilers in the series odds. Edmonton is the slight favorite, but Dallas to win in seven games (+420) is the most bet outcome. That’s closely followed by the Oilers to win in six or seven games, both priced at +430 odds.

This series features a lot of star power — and the Conn Smythe board reflects it. Connor McDavid leads all playoff MVP candidates at +380, with Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen second at +450 odds. The battle between Edmonton’s elite offense and Dallas’ depth and structure should produce fireworks.

Importantly, there’s precedent for a losing finalist to take home the Conn Smythe — which McDavid did it last season. Odds for a player to do so again sit at +950, with McDavid or Rantanen appearing to be the only realistic candidates. If either posts monster numbers in a long series, that path could open once again.

More NHL: Utah Hockey Club Announces New Team Name

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NBA Postseason Players Power Ranking: The 10 best players in conference finals

Welcome to the NBA's changing of the guard.

We're down to four teams, the NBA's conference finals, and the old guard is out. No LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant (his team didn't even make the postseason), or even a Jayson Tatum in sight.

There is still plenty of star power — the next generation is rising. Here are the top 10 players still playing as the NBA conference finals begin.

1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)

If he wasn't going to be on top of these power rankings before, he cemented his grip on the top spot Sunday with 35 points to lead the Thunder in a close-out Game 7 — the best performer stepped up on the biggest stage.

" You know who this is? The MVP," Chet Holmgren said, standing next to Gilgeous-Alexander in the team's walk-off interview after the win.

SGA is averaging 29 points, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds a game in the playoffs, all while playing high-level defense and pitching in 1.5 steals a night. This is the best player on the best team remaining, and he is the best player left in the postseason.

2) Jalen Brunson (New York)

Sometimes a player wins one of the NBA's postseason awards, then goes out in the playoffs and shows exactly why — Jalen Brunson was voted the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year and has more than lived up to that in these playoffs.

Brunson is averaging 28.8 points and 7.7 assists a game for the Knicks this postseason, he is the engine of their playoff offense. The Knicks' offense falls off a cliff when Brunson is not on the court (New York has a 97.1 net rating when he is off the court this postseason, 18.7 points less than when he is on). Brunson has secured his Knicks legend status, which will only grow if he can lead New York to the NBA Finals.

3) Anthony Edwards (Minnesota)

We have been able to watch Edwards grow throughout these playoffs, to figure out the mental side of the game and take a step forward with each game. Golden State has a quality defense that threw different looks at him, and you could see him figuring out how to handle and attack them in real time. Edwards continues down the path to becoming one of the true faces of the league.

These playoffs, Edwards is averaging 26.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists a game, shooting 38.5% on 3-pointers (and taking 9.1 a game). Edwards is not done being tested by strong defenses — Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and the Oklahoma City Thunder are on another level, and Edwards being able to take care of the ball will be a key stat in that series.

4) Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana)

The focus coming into the last round was all the stars on the Cleveland Cavaliers, but while they stumbled through the series it was Haliburton who was the best player on the floor. Through the playoffs, he is averaging 17.5 points, 9.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds a game, but the numbers (especially his 33.8% shooting from 3) don't tell the story — he is the conductor of a high-paced symphony of an offense. Also, he's been as clutch as Brunson this postseason.

And don't forget this one:

5) Julius Randle (Minnesota)

Minnesota is in the Western Conference Finals because Julius Randle outplayed Draymond Green in the last round.

"I lost my matchup," Green said after the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors. "Julius was incredible. He played great basketball. Honestly, some of the shots he was taking were shots you want him to take, and he made them. He made the shots. At the end of the day, the game comes down to shotmaking and he made the shots. So I got to give Ju a lot of credit."

Randle is averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists a game this postseason. It took most of the regular season for Randle and Rudy Gobert to figure out how to fit next to each other, but they do now and the Timberwolves are a threat because of it.

6) Karl-Anthony Towns (New York)

Towns has already had a strong playoffs, averaging 19.9 points and 11.3 rebounds a game. With Mitchel Robinson healthy, the Knicks have two dominant bigs on the floor, which has been a big part of what has fueled them to this point.

Towns' biggest days may be ahead of him: He averaged 30.3 points and 12 rebounds a game against the Pacers this season, having some of his best nights of the regular season, including a 40-point, 12-rebound game after the All-Star break. He will need to do that again if the Knicks are going to advance.

7) Pascal Siakam (Indiana)

Siakam is arguably the most underrated player in the NBA, and he has experience on this stage that his team needs. Don't forget that he has a ring from Toronto. Siakam knows what is required in order to win at this level, and how to do so next to a red-hot superstar.

Siakam is averaging 18.8 points and 6.2 rebounds a game these playoffs, numbers close to what he did during Toronto's title run (19 points and 7.1 rebounds), plus he is a quality defender who gives Rick Carlisle options in slowing New York's attack.

8) Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City)

Williams has been incredibly inconsistent this postseason, but when the Thunder have needed him most he has stepped up, like his 24 points and +35 performance in Game 7 against Denver. For the playoffs, Williams is averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists a game. The Thunder need Williams to be more consistent in this series and especially in the NBA Finals (if they advance).

9) Myles Turner (Indiana)

Myles Turner was tough against the Cavaliers. Going up against a physical and impressive front court of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, Turner was the best big on the floor — and often the most physical — in helping spark the Indiana win. Turner is averaging 16.5 points and 6 rebounds a game, but most importantly, 2.5 blocked shots a game. He has been a force in the paint and needs to be again when facing Brunson and friends.

10) Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)

Much like Jalen Williams, Holmgren has not been consistent or efficient as the Thunder need this postseason (which is why this spot almost went to Andrew Nembhard of the Pacers), but he's done just enough to earn it. Holmgren is averaging 15.7 points and 9.7 rebounds a game, plus 2.2 blocks a night in these playoffs. He's a big presence in the paint who needs to have a big series against the size of Minnesota if OKC is to advance.

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The Dodgers have younger stars now, but Clayton Kershaw reaching 18th season is still special

Clayton Kershaw made his season debut, and although his performance over four innings was forgettable, he still added another accomplishment to his illustrious career.

Kershaw now has played in 18 seasons for the Dodgers, tying the franchise record held by outfielder Zack Wheat and shortstop Bill Russell. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts may have taken over as the team’s big stars, but Kershaw’s role in helping Los Angeles become a powerhouse should not be understated.

And like Russell, Kershaw never has played for any other major league team. That makes his tenure in Los Angeles even more special.

Here’s a list of each team’s longest-tenured player who spent his whole career with that franchise in that city. Only current teams — in their current locations — are included. So the Athletics are left out, and so are stars like Mel Ott, who spent 22 seasons with the Giants before they moved to San Francisco.

Baltimore Orioles: Brooks Robinson (23 seasons)

Boston Red Sox: Carl Yastrzemski (23)

Chicago Cubs: Cap Anson (22)

St. Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial (22)

Detroit Tigers: Al Kaline (22)

Chicago White Sox: Ted Lyons (21)

Kansas City Royals: George Brett (21)

Pittsburgh Pirates: Willie Stargell (21)

Cleveland Guardians: Mel Harder (20)

Milwaukee Brewers: Robin Yount (20)

San Diego Padres: Tony Gwynn (20)

Houston Astros: Craig Biggio (20)

New York Yankees: Derek Jeter (20)

Cincinnati Reds: Dave Concepcion and Barry Larkin (19)

Atlanta Braves: Chipper Jones (19)

New York Mets: Ed Kranepool (18)

Los Angeles Dodgers: Bill Russell and Clayton Kershaw (18)

Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt (18)

Seattle Mariners: Edgar Martinez (18)

Colorado Rockies: Todd Helton (17)

Washington Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman (16)

Minnesota Twins: Tony Oliva and Joe Mauer (15)

Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout (15)

San Francisco Giants: Jim Davenport and Matt Cain (13)

Toronto Blue Jays: Garth Iorg (nine)

Texas Rangers: Rusty Greer (nine)

Tampa Bay Rays: Brandon Lowe (eight)

Arizona Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb, Kevin Ginkel and Merrill Kelly (seven)

Miami Marlins: Jesús Sánchez (six)

Feast or famine

There are three pitchers with 6-0 records in the major leagues right now. One is former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray of the Giants. Another is prized free agent acquisition Max Fried of the Yankees.

The third? Reliever Jorge López of the Nationals, who is somehow 6-0 despite a 6.86 ERA.

This isn’t a case of López constantly giving up leads and then having his teammates rescue him offensively. In four of his six victories, he produced a scoreless outing, and he allowed one run in the other two. The reason his ERA is so high is because he’s already had three outings allowing at least three runs — and didn’t pick up a decision in any of them.

In the live ball era, the most wins a pitcher has received in a season with an ERA over 6.00 — while pitching exclusively in relief — is seven. Bob Kline went 7-2 with a 6.80 ERA for the Senators and A’s in 1934, George Frazier went 7-8 with a 6.39 ERA for the Cubs in 1985, and Curt Leskanic went 7-5 with a 6.23 ERA for the Rockies in 1996.

Trivia time

Which two players spent their entire 21-year careers with one team, but did not make the list above? One of them played for a team that is no longer in that city. The other was with a franchise that had another player with an even longer tenure.

Line of the week

Wilmer Flores homered three times and drove in eight runs to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 13-5 win over the Athletics. Flores is hitting .258 with just 12 extra-base hits, but he leads the majors with 42 RBIs. Flores is hitting .395 with runners in scoring position.

Comeback of the week

The Rockies won a wild 14-12 game, and it wasn’t even at Coors Field.

Colorado had a 3.2% chance of winning according to Baseball Savant when it fell behind 11-6 in the bottom of the fifth. Then the Rockies scored four runs in the sixth and three in the seventh on the way to their eighth win of the season.

The next day? Arizona beat Colorado 1-0.

Trivia answer

Walter Johnson spent his whole 21-year career with the Washington Senators, who are now the Minnesota Twins. Cal Ripken Jr. played 21 seasons for the Orioles, two shy of Robinson’s mark.

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9 Former Ducks Advance to Conference Finals

The conference final matchups for the Stanley Cup Playoffs are set. The Dallas Stars will face the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of last season's Western Conference final while the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will face the Carolina Hurricanes. Those four rosters consist of nine former Ducks.

Sam Steel

Drafted in the first round of the 2016 NHL draft (30th overall), Steel had a prolific junior career in the WHL with the Regina Pats. However, his glimmers with Anaheim were few and far between and he was never able to carve out a significant role. But after latching on with the Minnesota Wild ahead of the 2022-23 season, he was able to reinvent himself as a checking forward and parlayed that into a regular bottom-6 role. He's spent the last two seasons with the Stars in a similar role and recently scored in the Stars' series-clinching victory over the Winnipeg Jets.

Ilya Lyubushkin

Lyubushkin was a Duck for less than a full season, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in Aug. 2023 and then flipped at the 2023-24 deadline to the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his time with the Ducks, he was leaned on heavily in penalty killing and high-leverage defensive situations by then-head coach Greg Cronin. He was influential in guiding fellow countryman Pavel Mintyukov through most of his first season as an NHLer as well. Lyubushkin signed a three-year deal with the Stars this past summer and has played primarily with blossoming star Thomas Harley.

Jaycob Megna

Megna played sparingly this season for the Panthers after appearing in 44 games last season for the Chicago Blackhawks. But his appearance on this list speaks to his perseverance and work ethic. Drafted by the Ducks in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Megna played nearly three full seasons in the AHL (in addition to two full collegiate seasons) before making his NHL debut in 2017, coincidentally against the Blackhawks. He continued to split time between the NHL and AHL, departing the Ducks organization after the 2018-19 season. He spent the entire 2019-20 season in the AHL before returning to the NHL in 2020-21. Most of his career since then has been as an NHLer, with brief stints in the AHL. 2024-25 was the first time he had played more than 22 AHL games since 2021-22.

Mar 6, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jaycob Megna (43) celebrates his goal with center Sam Steel (34) during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images

Frederik Andersen

The only goaltender on this list now, Andersen was drafted 87th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft, the same draft class as Megna. A stellar season in the AHL in 2012-13 led to him getting the call to the NHL in 2013-14, where he was thrust into the limelight due to injuries suffered by incumbent starter Jonas Hiller. Andersen had strong regular season performances as the starter in 2014-15 and 2015-16, but a shaky series against the Blackhawks in 2015 and the emergence of John Gibson made Andersen expendable. He was traded to the Leafs in June 2016 (as a restricted free agent) for two draft picks, one of which became Steel. Funny how things work. After several seasons with the Leafs, Andersen signed with the Hurricanes and has been a rock in net for them. The major issue for him has been staying healthy, which hasn't been very often. He's already missed one game in the playoffs due to injury, but hasn't looked worse for wear since returning.

Dmitry Kulikov

Kulikov was also a Duck for less than a full season, acquired from the Wild in Aug. 2022. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins the following March for Brock McGinn and a third-round pick. As part of the worst Ducks team in franchise history in terms of points, Kulikov was Cam Fowler's most frequent defensive partner, with the duo almost forced to play major minutes because of the lack of quality on the blue line. After becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023, the 34-year-old returned to the team where he began his career, the Panthers. After helping his first team to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, he signed a new four-year deal on the first day of free agency this past July and continues to be a reliable player for the Panthers.

Adam Henrique

"Uncle Rico" joined the organization as they began their downward spiral, traded to Anaheim in Nov. 2017 with several assets in exchange for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a third-round pick. Henrique proved to be a Swiss army knife of sorts for the Ducks, playing in all situations and even shifting from center to wing at times to help open up spots for other players. One of his best moments in a Ducks sweater came against his former team, the New Jersey Devils, when he lobbed the puck over Vatanen before beating him in a foot race, muscling his way to the net and scoring. The victim of a shocking waiver placement by then-general manager Bob Murray in Feb. 2021 as a means to jumpstart a struggling Ducks team, Henrique demonstrated leadership and was well-liked by teammates and fans during his time with the Ducks. He was traded to the Oilers last season with Sam Carrick, helping them to the Stanley Cup Final. At 35 years old, he's not the top-6 option that he used to be, but he is still a dependable depth option and reliable in the faceoff circle.

Feb 19, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Adam Henrique (14) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

John Klingberg

Klingberg was part of the same Ducks crew as Kulikov, signing a one-year, $7 million deal in the summer of 2022 in an attempt to recoup some of the value lost after he turned down a large long-term deal from the Stars prior to hitting free agency. His time with the Ducks wasn't very memorable, as he looked like a former shell of himself offensively and a turnstile defensively. Injuries have limited him from getting back to where he was previously, but he is now being relied on heavily in the playoffs by Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. After appearing in just 11 games this season due to injury, Klingberg has found himself as a fixture on the Oilers' blue line, playing mostly with Jake Walman.

Max Jones

Hailing from the era that produced draft picks like Steel, Troy Terry and Josh Mahura, Jones was selected 24th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. He was part of a power forward breed that Murray wanted to form between players like Nick Ritchie, Maxime Comtois and him. A tenacious and strong player, Jones proved he could be a versatile player, moving up and down the lineup. But his inconsistent play, penchant for taking ill-advised penalties and inability to stay healthy meant that he was never quite able to gain a foothold with the Ducks. After he did not receive a qualifying offer from the Ducks last summer, he signed with the Boston Bruins but was reassigned to the AHL after just seven games played. A mid-season trade to the Oilers gave Jones another chance to prove himself at the NHL level. Though he was in the lineup regularly when several players were injured, he has now been relegated to a healthy scratch.

Corey Perry

The longest-tenured Duck on this list and by far the most well-known, Perry has had a heck of a ride since being bought out by the Ducks in June 2019. He's been to four consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with four different teams and is looking to make it five consecutive appearances this season. He's been praised for his veteran leadership and his fearlessness in going to the net to create havoc. "The Worm" is at his best when he's within five feet of the crease, and he's been rewarded by playing on a line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of late. The wily veteran accumulated almost 400 goals and nearly 1,000 games played with the Ducks, helping them win their first Stanley Cup in 2007 and crafting one of the best moments in Ducks playoff history by scoring the game-winning goal in the "Comeback on Katella" against the Oilers in 2017. At 40 years old, he's proving that he's still got it.

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Why a tight NL West race factored into Dodgers' decision to cut Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes

Los Angeles, CA, Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes watches
Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes watches from the dugout during a game against the Athletics at Dodger Stadium last Tuesday. The next day, Barnes was designated for assignment, paving the way for Dalton Rushing. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Four years later, the memory remains uncomfortably fresh.

The last time the Dodgers tried to defend a World Series title, they racked up 106 victories. They matched the best winning percentage in the franchise’s Los Angeles history. They had seven All-Stars and three Cy Young vote-getters.

And it still wasn’t enough to win them the National League West.

The San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers still well remember, won 107 games in the 2021 season, marking the only time in the last dozen years someone else has claimed the division crown. The Dodgers eventually knocked the Giants out of the playoffs that October, but their elongated path through the postseason as a wild card team left them gassed in the NL Championship Series. They were eliminated six wins shy of a repeat title.

Read more:Dodgers fall to Arizona as pitching and fielding woes lead to fourth straight loss

For president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, the experience underscored an all-important truth.

“Our primary goal during the regular season is to win the division,” Friedman said. “That is what we feel like puts us in the best position to accomplish our ultimate goal.”

Thus, with another tight division race looming this year, the Dodgers didn’t wait to act aggressively this week.

Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor were struggling. Dalton Rushing and Hyeseong Kim looked like intriguing big-league options. And in two moves that were made in an effort to “win as many games as we can” in this season’s World Series title defense, Friedman said, the longtime veterans were released to make room for the rookies. Sentimentality lost out to the odds of even slightly better regular-season success.

"This has been a very emotional week for all of us,” Friedman said, addressing reporters hours after Taylor was released on Sunday. Barnes was designated for assignment earlier in the week. “Barnsey and CT have been in the middle of some huge moments for this organization. Both guys have left an indelible mark on our culture and where we're at this point. So the decisions were incredibly difficult. The conversations were tough.”

“But,” Friedman countered, “with where we are, the division race, the composition of roster, everything — we felt like this was in the Dodgers' best interest … [to] put us in a position to best win the World Series this year.”

Read more:Dodgers release Chris Taylor, parting ways with another veteran

Note the first factor Friedman mentioned in his answer.

Though the Dodgers are tied for the best record in the National League at 29-18, they continue to nurse the slimmest of NL West leads, entering Monday just one game up on the rival San Diego Padres (27-18) and upstart San Francisco Giants (28-19), and only four games clear of even the fourth-place Arizona Diamondbacks (25-22).

With their pitching staff already in tatters, at least temporarily, because of a wave of early-season injuries, the importance of consistent offense has also suddenly heightened; the Dodgers needing to maximize the production of their lineup to help offset a 4.18 team ERA that ranks 21st in the majors.

In a world where the Dodgers were running away with the division, or pitching the way they expected after two offseasons of spending heavily on the mound, maybe they could have tolerated Barnes’ and Taylor’s combined .208 batting average. They might have been more comfortable giving two longtime cornerstones of the franchise a longer leash to turn things around.

Instead, as club brass surveyed this year’s competitive division landscape, they recognized that — this season more than most — every single victory could matter come the end of the campaign. That every single loss would make the challenge of winning another World Series incrementally tougher.

So, as Rushing crushed triple-A pitching and Kim excelled in what was initially planned to be only a brief big-league call-up, the Dodgers did what they felt like they must. Rushing replaced Barnes as backup catcher. Taylor was cut loose so Kim wouldn’t be sent back to the minors. And a roster that once seemed too top-heavy now has, at least in theory, more potential impact options to bring off the bench.

“We didn't feel like coming into the season this was something that we would necessarily be doing in May,” Friedman said. “But with where we were, all things factored in, while not easy, we felt like it was the right thing to do."

There were other reasons, of course, the Dodgers felt motivated to make such emotionally conflicting decisions now.

Manager Dave Roberts noted that Rushing (who was batting .308 in the minors this year, and has started his big-league career an impressive four-for-10) and Kim (who has hit .452 since arriving in the majors, and has impacted games with his versatile glove and lightning-quick speed) deserved opportunities for more prominent roles.

With most of the team’s core players on the wrong side of 30, there are longer-term considerations about developing younger talent as well.

Read more:Clayton Kershaw shaky in his season debut as Angels take series win over Dodgers

“I think some of it is the [division] race,” Roberts said. “Some of it is, you still want to continue to develop young players and give them opportunities with a veteran ball club.”

Eventually, it was always likely that Rushing would force his way to the majors, and that Kim would carve out a niche with his well-rounded skill set.

But the early pressure being applied by the team’s NL West rivals still sped up that timeline. The Dodgers remember what happened in 2021. And, wary of having that reality repeat itself, they didn’t wait to begin acting with urgency this year.

“We saw it in 2021, winning 106 games and not winning the division,” Friedman said. “We have a tough division [again this year]. We've got some really good teams in our division who are playing well. And so for us, it's about doing everything we can each night to try to win a game."

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Cody Bellinger caps big Subway Series as scorned Juan Soto comes up empty in the Bronx

NEW YORK — Cody Bellinger lofted a high fly to deep right field, where Juan Soto positioned himself in front of an unfriendly Yankee Stadium crowd and came up short.

Summed up the entire Subway Series, really.

Soto was booed all weekend during a disappointing return to the Bronx, while Bellinger delivered several big hits that helped the New York Yankees get the best of their crosstown rivals.

Bellinger hit a game-breaking grand slam that soared just beyond Soto’s reach at the wall, and the Yankees beat the New York Mets 8-2 to take two of three at home in a matchup of first-place teams.

“I thought it was very fun,” Bellinger said after equaling a career high with six RBIs in the finale of his first Subway Series. “I really enjoyed it.”

Soto probably didn’t. He went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts to the noisy delight of Yankees fans in a sellout crowd of 48,028. That left him 1 for 10 with four walks during his first series back in the Bronx since leaving the Yankees for a record 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets.

The slugger didn’t speak with reporters in the clubhouse after the game.

“It was good to see him,” Yankees star Aaron Judge said, “but happy we were kind of — either walk him or not let him do any damage, especially in this series.”

Bellinger was acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs in a December trade to help replace Soto’s powerful bat in the outfield. Following a slow start, the two-time All-Star and 2019 NL MVP is on a major tear at the plate.

“He’s swinging at the pitches he needs to be swinging at, and his balance is where it needs to be,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I really think it’s as simple as that.”

Bellinger, whose father Clay won three American League pennants and two World Series titles as a light-hitting bench player for the Yankees from 1999-2001, is batting .340 with three homers, six RBIs and a .980 OPS since May 3 during a 13-game hitting streak that ties his career best.

“He’s just been swinging the bat so well the past couple games, and I love it when I have that guy hitting behind me,” Judge said. “I just feel like his approach is a little better. He knows what he’s looking for when he steps into the box, and when he gets what he’s looking for he’s not missing it.”

Bellinger went 3 for 3 with two walks on a perfect night at the plate, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. His two-run double in the first inning gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead, and his ninth career slam in the eighth off left-handed reliever Génesis Cabrera capped a six-run outburst that put the game away.

“He’s kind of the same every day. I think he’s got enough experience in this league now obviously, and he’s experienced it all,” Boone said. “He’s experienced being the best player in the league and winning MVP. He’s experienced struggles. He’s experienced making a career kind of swing change and dealing with an injury and kind of evolving behind the scenes.

“You see that experience play out, like, whether he’s flying high or going through a rough patch, just kind of sticking with his process and his routine and kind of the same guy.”

Bellinger also went deep in a 3-2 loss to the Mets and finished 7 for 11 with two homers, three walks, four runs and seven RBIs in the series.

“He can hit a homer or he can choke up and hit the ball the other way for a base hit, and he has the ability to fight off some really tough pitches — especially with two strikes,” Yankees ace Max Fried said. “You can turn on that two-strike approach and when you have a guy that has good bat-to-ball skills and also can be that deep-ball threat, it’s just really hard to make sure. They’ve got to throw a really good pitch.”

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How Brad Stevens is approaching Celtics' pivotal offseason

How Brad Stevens is approaching Celtics' pivotal offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Less than one year after raising Banner 18 into the TD Garden rafters, the Boston Celtics enter an offseason filled with uncertainty.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has several issues to address after watching the New York Knicks upset his team in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Most are related to Boston’s complicated financial situation, as it’s already committed to $228 million in contracts next season and is nearly $20 million over the second apron.

Given those financial constraints, running it back with the championship core will be next to impossible. Stevens must now make a pivotal decision: shed costs and embrace a bumpy 2025-26 campaign, or maintain as much of the group as he can to remain a top title contender.

🔊 Celtics Talk: What did we learn from Brad Stevens’ debriefing following Celtics’ early playoff exit? | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Addressing the media on Monday, Stevens opened his press conference with a brief statement on what lies ahead.

“I think that will all be driven by the same thing that’s always driven us,” he said. “And that is, ‘How do we get ourselves in the mix to compete for championships best?’”

Later in the session, Stevens spoke about the financial challenges he’ll face in the coming months.

“We’ve been talking about this for years,” Stevens said. “The CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) has been well-known for years, and so there are penalties associated with being at certain levels, and we know that. And you just weigh that, you weigh where we are, you weigh everything else, and you make those decisions.

“You have to have the clarity of a full season and the full playoffs and a couple good nights of sleep, and everybody gets in a room and put your heads together and figure out what’s next.”

The $228 million on the Celtics’ payroll doesn’t include big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet, who are about to hit the free-agent market. Jayson Tatum’s maximum-salary extension will kick in next season as he sits out much — if not all — of the campaign with a ruptured Achilles. Jaylen Brown will make $53.1 million in the second year of his max deal. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are set to earn $32.4 million and $30.7 million, respectively. Derrick White’s salary will jump up to $28.1 million.

“The North Star is to have a championship contender,” Stevens continued. “You have to do what’s best to give yourself the best opportunity to do that, when you can do that. We just have to look at it all and decide how feasible that is on any given year, and then make sure we are making the decisions accordingly.

“But the reality is, like I said, we have a lot of good players. We’re in a unique situation. They’re all under contract, and obviously there are several basketball penalties that will come with that amount of salary. So we just have to weigh it all and make those decisions.”

The work will begin the day after the NBA Finals, when teams can start negotiations with their own free agents. Free agency officially begins on July 6.

Watch Stevens’ end-of-season press conference below, or on YouTube:

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Angels hope to build momentum with their first 3-game sweep of Dodgers since 2010

LOS ANGELES — If the Los Angeles Angels turn around their season, an improbable sweep of the Dodgers could be viewed as the turning point.

The last-place Angels beat the defending World Series champions 6-4, rebounding from a late-inning bullpen stumble when Travis d’Arnaud hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth.

“It’s tremendous,” said d’Arnaud, who also hit an RBI single in the third. “Every game here has felt like a playoff atmosphere. Everybody was passing the baton, having good at-bats up and down the lineup.

“It was just a dogfight every single game, high stress, and we prevailed in all three games. It’s really special against last year’s world champions. It’s very good for our confidence moving forward, knowing we can beat anybody.”

The Angels (20-25) remain last in the AL West, six games behind first-place Seattle. Their first three-game sweep of the Dodgers (29-18) since 2010 gave them at least a glimmer of hope that they can rebound into contention. The Dodgers had not been swept in a series since last July in Philadelphia.

The Angels bludgeoned Dodgers pitching in the first two games, batting .307 (23 for 75) with 17 runs, four homers and eight doubles. Zach Neto’s solo homer and Taylor Ward’s two-run shot off Tony Gonsolin staked left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to a 3-0, first-inning lead.

Kikuchi pitched well enough to win, giving up one run and three hits, striking out seven and walking four in 5 2/3 innings before hurting his right ankle in a first-base collision with Tommy Edman.

Kikuchi departed with a 4-1 lead but had to settle for another no-decision after Shaun Anderson gave up a three-run homer to Will Smith that tied the score 4-4 in the seventh. Kikuchi is 0-4 despite a 3.50 ERA in 10 starts.

On an afternoon when Angels setup man Ryan Zeferjahn and closer Kenley Jansen were unavailable after pitching in each of the previous two games, Anderson assumed the role of both setup man and closer.

The 30-year-old right-hander, who has played for 10 different organizations since being drafted in 2016, retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings, closing the game with a strikeout of 2024 National League MVP Shohei Ohtani.

“He really saved us,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “When he came in (after the seventh inning), I told him this game was his. And he went out there and did a good job and ended up getting Ohtani for the last out of the game.
We needed him to do exactly what he did — give us that length — and he did it.”

Anderson (1-0) was credited with a blown save and a win for a bullpen that has a major league-worst 7.04 ERA.

“To come in here and sweep them, it kind of shows what the Angels have, you know?” Anderson said. “It’s kind of hard to see with our record, but these guys put in the work every day, the preparation, the postgame work, getting to the yard early and hitting. … These guys want to win, and you can totally see it when you walk into the clubhouse. To see us rally and win the last three games, it just shows what we can do here.”

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Pirates pitcher Jared Jones to be examined again after setback in recovery from strained elbow

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones will be re-examined after a setback in is recovery from a strained ligament in his right elbow.

Jones, 23, had been on a throwing program as he made his way back from an elbow strain he sustained in mid-March. The Pirates said the initial exam of Jones showed that his elbow was stable and the club opted to shut him down for six weeks. He began throwing by playing catch in late April, with the potential to return to the mound after the All-Star break.

Jones went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts during his rookie season in 2024, though he did miss time with a lat injury.

The Pirates had anticipated Jones being in a fixture in the starting rotation next to 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. Instead, there’s a chance Jones could miss all of 2025 and a significant portion of 2026 if Tommy John surgery is recommended.

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Royals at Giants prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 19

It's Monday, May 19, and the Royals (26-22) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (28-19). Kris Bubic is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Robbie Ray for San Francisco.

The Royals are coming off a 2-1 win yesterday over the Cardinals that broke a four-game losing streak. Kansas City is 2-6 over the last eight games compared to San Francisco who is 4-1 in the past five games and coming off a three-game sweep this weekend versus the Athletics.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Royals at Giants

  • Date: Monday, May 19, 2025
  • Time: 9:45 PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, NBCSBA, MLBN

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.

Odds for the Royals at the Giants

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+104), Giants (-124)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for May 19, 2025: Kris Bubic vs. Robbie Ray
    • Royals: Kris Bubic, (4-2, 1.66 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Robbie Ray, (6-0, 3.04 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts

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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Royals and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

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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 Monday’s game between the Royals and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Francisco Giants on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Giants

  • The Giants have won 7 of their last 9 games at home
  • The Under is 27-17-1 for the Royals' road games and the Giants' home games combined this season
  • The Royals have covered the Run Line in 5 straight road games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)