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Takeoff: Jay Bilas discusses Ace Bailey vs. VJ Edgecombe for Sixers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
So, who should the Sixers take at No. 3 in the 2025 NBA draft?
ESPN’s Jay Bilas gave his insight on the latest Takeoff with John Clark podcast.
Is Ace Bailey mature enough? What’s the scoop on VJ Edgecombe? Could Dylan Harper drop to the Sixers?
Bilas touched on that and more below.
Phillies shift Nola to 60-day IL, call up Buddy Kennedy originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Weston Wilson hasn’t been hitting and has played sporadically over the last two weeks so the Phillies are shipping him out for a hotter hand.
They optioned Wilson to Triple A Lehigh Valley on Thursday afternoon and selected the contract of right-handed-hitting Buddy Kennedy.
Kennedy, who played eight games late last season with the Phillies, has hit .283/.388/.447 for the IronPigs with eight home runs and 40 RBI in 268 plate appearances. The majority of his 60 starts have come at first base (33) and third base (15). He’ll be another corner infield option against lefties behind Alec Bohm and Otto Kemp as the Phillies await Bryce Harper’s return from right wrist inflammation.
The Phils played Kennedy some in the corner outfield in spring training but he hasn’t played there at all in Triple A so it would be surprising to see them use him out there.
The 26-year-old Millville, NJ native has already had a few moments with the Phillies. He walked in front of a Kody Clemens walk-off hit last September and hit a game-tying double in the eighth inning of a win over the Mets the next week.
The Phillies freed up a 40-man roster spot for Kennedy by transferring Aaron Nola to the 60-day injured list. Nola has been out since May 15, first with a right ankle sprain and now with a stress fracture in his right rib.
The move to the 60-day IL officially ends Nola’s first half but he wasn’t coming back before the All-Star break anyway. August appears more likely given the number of boxes he’d have to check — multiple bullpen sessions, live batting practice, multiple rehab starts — before rejoining the Phillies’ rotation.
Let's go back in time to this past Friday.
The Mets carried a 5-1 lead into the sixth inning against the Rays at Citi Field. But a fatigued Clay Holmes (who was feeling run down after his start at Coors Field) was pulled before the inning started, and Paul Blackburn (who isn't a reliever) had a disastrous relief outing as New York blew that lead and lost.
Now let's go back in time to Tuesday against the Braves in Atlanta.
The Mets carried a 4-1 lead into the eighth inning at Truist Park, but poor execution from the players and a few questionable decisions by Carlos Mendoza conspired to turn that into a 5-4 loss in 10 innings.
Why do we bring these games up?
Because had the Mets won them, they would be -- at worst -- in the midst of a 2-3 stretch that people would be shrugging their shoulders at in an unbothered fashion.
Instead, they have lost five games in a row, and lost 4.0 games to the Phillies in the NL East standings in the process.
The strange thing about the losing streak, though, is that it has much more to do with things that weren't mentioned above.
Specifically, there are three glaring issues with the Mets right now. And there don't seem to be any quick fixes...
Just under a week ago, right after Kodai Senga went down with a hamstring injury that could keep him out until around the All-Star break, I wrote that the Mets had more than enough starting pitching depth to withstand the loss.
Since then, Tylor Megill has hit the IL due to an elbow injury and Frankie Montas got battered in his final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse.
Meanwhile, Blackburn did not inspire confidence during his return to the rotation on Wednesday against the Braves, when he was jumped for three runs in the first inning and lasted just 3.2 frames.
That means the Mets' starting rotation right now consists of Holmes, David Peterson, Griffin Canning, and two question marks.
Sean Manaea should be back soon, which will be a massive boost. He's starting for Syracuse on Friday, and will likely have one or two more rehab starts after that before being activated from the IL.
In the immediate, the Mets need a starter for Friday against the Phillies (likely to be a spot starter called up from the minors) and have to decide what to do with Montas. Their choices are to activate him and use him in the rotation, activate him and use him in the bullpen, or leave him on the IL due to an injury.
It's possible a prospect like Nolan McLean is ready to seriously contribute soon, and that Jonah Tong -- who hasn't yet pitched above Double-A Binghamton -- could debut at some point this summer.
For now, though, the Mets aren't in an advantageous spot.
With Mark Vientos nearing a return but still needing a handful more rehab games, the Mets' third base situation isn't great.
Brett Baty, who caught fire after being called up from Syracuse in early May and looked to have perhaps turned a corner offensively, is again scuffling.
He is hitting just .159/.229/.286 in 70 plate appearances over his last 20 games. Beyond that, he is dealing with a groin injury that could possibly land him on the IL.
In Baty's place, Ronny Mauricio has been getting starts at third base. But Mauricio, who was hurried back to the majors when Vientos went down, has looked mainly overmatched at the plate.
He's run into a few homers, but not done much otherwise, with only seven hits in 41 at-bats.
It's fair to believe Vientos will be inserted back as the starting third baseman upon his return, which should help the offense a bit. But Vientos' defense at the hot corner (he is in the first percentile in Outs Above Average) has been a serious detriment.
On Tuesday against the Braves, Francisco Alvarez made two glaring mistakes in the 10th inning that helped cost the Mets the game.
First, he lazily backhanded a ball in the dirt, allowing it to trickle away. He had Luke Williams caught between second base and third base, but strangely threw to second -- allowing Williams to advance to third and score the winning run on a sacrifice fly.
After the game, Alvarez seemingly still didn't understand what the right play (throw to third or run toward the runner with the ball) should've been. Couple that with his 85 OPS+ and the Mets have an issue.
Luis Torrens started in place of Alvarez on Wednesday and didn't inspire confidence, either.
He balked when he used his catcher's mask to pick up a ball that got a way from him -- leading to two Braves runs in the first inning. Torrens had a passed ball later in the game that cost New York another run.
Despite everything covered above, the Mets are 45-29 and in first place in the NL East.
They remain a very good baseball team, and should be just fine.
And it's fair to believe that David Stearns, who has done a stellar job since taking over as president of baseball operations, is already knee deep when it comes to exploring how to address the team's issues.
(Header/feature image courtesy of Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)
The Philadelphia Flyers have made no secret about their desire to start adding to their team instead of subtracting—and with significant cap space and an arsenal of draft capital, they’re in a strong position to make good on those ambitions.
According to a report from RG, the Flyers have shown interest in 25-year-old New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, a pending restricted free agent known for his physicality, defensive reliability, and emerging offensive instincts.
While a deal is far from imminent, the Flyers have reportedly inquired about Romanov’s availability as the offseason market begins to heat up. And the fit, frankly, makes a lot of sense.
Romanov, who the Islanders acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in 2022, has quietly built a reputation as a punishing and consistent left-side defensemen. In his time with the Isles, he’s played in 221 NHL games, recording 64 points (13 goals, 51 assists), 465 blocked shots, and 502 hits.
If there’s one word to define his game, it’s presence—Romanov is a true tone-setter, the kind of defenseman who makes forwards think twice before cutting to the middle of the ice.
When a tank hits a king ⚔️ Alexander Romanov absolutely flattens Cale Makar 👀 LGI #Isles#Islanders#GoAvsGo#NHL#Hockey#Hit#AlexanderRomanov#CaleMakar#IslandersLivepic.twitter.com/2m0AM2SVcm
— IslandersLive (@IslandersLive53) January 29, 2025
And yet, he’s not a one-dimensional bruiser. Over the past season, Romanov showed real signs of growth in puck-moving and playmaking, elevating his offensive confidence without compromising his defensive structure. He won’t quarterback a power play, but he can transition the puck effectively and hold his own in the offensive zone. However, his real value lies in being a shutdown defenseman with great skating and mobility skills. His responsible, physical, high-motor game is exactly the kind of stability the Flyers could use on their left side.
It’s no secret that Flyers GM Danny Brière is open to upgrading the NHL roster while continuing to stockpile young talent. With $18.99 million in cap space (pending RFAs Cam York and Jakob Pelletier have yet to sign new deals) and seven picks in the first 48 selections of this year’s NHL Draft, Philadelphia has the currency to be active.
If the Flyers are indeed eyeing Romanov, the interest likely stems from a few key needs:
At just 25 years old, Romanov is entering his best years, and if the Flyers believe his upward trajectory will continue, they may see him as a long-term core piece worth investing in.
According to RG’s reporting, Romanov could be seeking a contract in the range of $5 to $6 million AAV.
That’s a significant investment, but perhaps not an unreasonable one—especially for a defenseman who can be trusted with high-leverage minutes and provide some snarl to a team that’s been trying to carve out a more physical identity.
The real cost, of course, would be in trade assets.
The Islanders are thin on picks and prospect depth and may be looking to recoup assets. A package that includes some of the Flyers’ late first-round picks or one of their four second-rounders could appeal to New York, especially if it’s paired with a young player or mid-tier prospect. The Flyers would need to decide just how high they’re willing to go for a player like Romanov—and whether they believe he’s worth giving up a shot at drafting another young, cost-controlled piece.
But if the Flyers truly see themselves on the upswing—and if Romanov is viewed as part of a potential playoff-caliber top four—it could be the kind of proactive, controlled risk Brière has shown a willingness to take.
No trade is ever a lock, and RFAs come with their own set of complications—especially when it comes to contract demands, arbitration risk, and the sheer unpredictability of restricted free agency. But Romanov presents a compelling mix of reliability, edge, and upside.
He’s already logged meaningful NHL experience. He’s shown growth each year. And most importantly, he plays a style of hockey that Flyers fans (and coaches) tend to appreciate: structured, tough, responsible, and intense.
For a Flyers team that’s still finding its identity but wants to keep inching closer to contention, this could be the right kind of bet—a player still developing, but ready for a bigger role. The question now becomes: how much are they willing to pay to make it happen?
And perhaps just as critically: are the Islanders ready to deal?
Stay tuned. The Flyers’ blue line may not be set just yet.
FanDuel's early odds spotlight a wide-open Jack Adams race fueled by comeback coaches and surprise contenders.
As the 2025 NHL season draws to a close, the race for the Jack Adams Award as the league's best coach as started to intensify.
FanDuel's current odds reflect this competitive landscape, with Columbus' Dean Evason and Anahiem's Joel Quenneville leading the pack ahead of what will be a busy summer for both clubs.
It's easier to look at the award as the team that generally improved the most and provided the best storyline like this past season with Spencer Carbery and the near-President's trophy winning Washington Capitals, after many pegged them to be a wild card team at best entering the season.
With that in mind, we present the betting odds for next year's Jack Adams award with some potential storylines that could come out of certain teams and lead to their head coach winning the predigest award.
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Evason brings a wealth of experience, having previously coached the Minnesota Wild, where he led the team to multiple playoff appearances. His leadership is credited with revitalizing the Blue Jackets, guiding them to a strong finish in the 2024–25 that almost no one expected, with preseason expectations having them pegged as a lottery team.
Quenneville is back as an NHL head coach after a hiatus and could prove to be a difference maker for a hungry Ducks team.
With over 969 career wins and three Stanley Cup titles, Quenneville's extensive experience will almost certainly help improve and develop the younger players on the team while creating a culture not seen in the City of Angels for quite some time. The team will also look signicantly better after the Ducks use their $32.1 million in cap space to bring in fresh blood like New York's Chris Kreider.
The Utah Mammoth had a fun team last season that finished with a very solid 38-31-8 record and will look to build on that success with just over $20 million in cap space heading into the summer.
One thing that team owner Ryan Smith made clear is that he wants his team to win and to bare minimum make the playoffs next season. The attitude of the organization is to win and perform like Smith's Denver Nuggets of the NBA and this should lead to some aggressive moves from GM Bill Armstrong this summer.
The Habs have a promising young core and as much as their rivals like it, they are building towards a potential cup contender. Since taking over as head coach, St. Louis has led a remarkable turnaround in Montreal, guiding the team to an unexpected playoff berth this past season and earning recognition with votes for the Jack Adams Award.
His leadership and tactical adjustments have been key to the team's success and with more talent on the way like Ivan Demidov, there's a very real chance the Habs could be a top three seed in the Atlantic division and earn St. Louis a relatively easy Jack Adams next season.
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Sullivan, a two-time cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has a very easy case to win the award as he has to turn around a Rangers team that finished with a 55-23-4 record just one year ago. With his expertise of a 409-255-89 all-time record with the Penguins, the Blueshirts should have one of their best years yet but it could depend on the talent in the lineup.
GM Chris Drury has made some aggressive moves to change the culture of the team like trading away longtime Rangers in Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider. If Drury doesn't manage to trade away all of New York's skilled players, Sullivan will have one of the safest cases to be a contender for the Jack Adams.
Huska has been leading a Flames team that is focusing on building a resilient and competitive group. Despite their 41-27-14 record this past season, Calgary fell just short of a playoff berth but showed lots of promise as a physical team that many dreaded to play against.
With the fifth-most cap space in the league at nearly $27 million, the team could make some key improvements and continue to ride the hot hand of rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf, who looks like he will be the anchor of the Flames for years to come.
The Blackhawks are desperately looking to improve on their 126-215-43 record since 2020 and the hope is Blashill is the man to get the job done.
With potential reinforcements from trading the third overall pick and utilizing $25.2 million in cap space for free-agent signings, Chicago could assemble a competitive roster. A playoff berth would almost certianly put Jeff Blashill in contention for the Jack Adams Award.
More NHL: Blackhawks Reportedly Open to Trading No. 3 Pick in 2026 NHL Draft
The Sharks were one of most exciting teams in the league to watch last season as they remained a reliable betting team to cover the puck line despite their troublesome record that has them listed as a lottery team once again. San Jose is slowly building as a team in the basement for a long period of time almost always leads to a sleeping dragon much like the Florida Panthers for several years.
If Warsofsky can develop San Jose’s young players into difference-makers and make key additions using their league-leading $41.7 million in cap space this summer, it could result in a far more competitive roster than anticipated and put Warsofsky in the running for the Jack Adams Award.
The Flyers have a promising future thanks to their talented young players such as Matvei Michkov and Noah Cates, who have already demonstrated they can make an impact at the NHL level.
Adding to that, Rick Tocchet’s elite coaching resume, highlighted by his recent Jack Adams Award, brings proven leadership and player development expertise. With Tocchet guiding this youthful roster, the Flyers are well-positioned to improve and compete more strongly in the upcoming season.
Green has helped develop the young Senators team into a playoff contender and depending on the success of the team next season, he could be an easy pick to win the award. A top three division seed for Ottawa would make Green hard to beat
Todd McLellan took over as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings mid-season, replacing Derek Lalonde. Despite the team's overall struggles, McLellan's experience with defensive structure should help lead the Red Wings to one of their best seasons in years as they are on the cusp of a playoff berth. Watch for McLellan to be one of the biggest darkhorses for the award.
The case for Foote is easy as the Vancouver Canucks have the makeup of a team that challenged the two-time Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game slugfest a year ago and could build up to that same level once again.
Star players like Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes will need to play massive roles and get the Canucks back in the playoff picture at minimum.
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Celtics draft fits: Is Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis worth trading up for? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Should the Boston Celtics trade up in the 2025 NBA Draft to select a player who could make a meaningful impact as a rookie?
The C’s are one of only three teams in the second apron of the luxury tax, which limits their ability to add players via trade and free agency. Therefore, the upcoming draft is likely the best avenue for the Celtics to add young, cost-controlled young players.
More Celtics Draft Fits:
But the Celtics own the No. 28 pick near the end of Round 1. There are usually a couple good players near the end of the first round and early second round in each draft, but finding them is difficult.
If the Celtics packaged the No. 28 pick, the No. 32 pick (second pick in Round 2) and maybe a future pick, perhaps they’d be able to move up into the late lottery or early 20s.
And if they were able to swing that kind of move, one player worth considering in that range is Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis. He is projected to land between the No. 10 and No. 17 picks in a lot of mock drafts.
Learn more about Jakucionis and his potential fit with the C’s below:
Jakucionis hit just 31.8 percent of his 3-pointers for the Fighting Illini, but an arm injury during the season might have been the reason for those struggles. He does have a nice offensive game driving to the basket. He boasts an impressive repertoire of moves near the rim, including fantastic footwork. Jakucionis is a three-level scorer and is effective on pick-and-roll scenarios.
The Lithuanian guard also is a very good playmaker, but he did turn the ball over a little too much at Illinois — 3.7 turnovers per game, tied for the fourth-most of any player last season — so he’ll have to clean that up a bit in the pros.
Should the Celtics target Jakucionis in Round 1, especially if they have to trade up to get him?
Here’s what our insider Chris Forsberg thinks:
“The one-and-done Illinois combo guard is known for his creative passing and the way he sees the floor. He gets to the free throw line a lot, too, and as we’ve seen with Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the foul-merchant business is a good one to be in.
“Before suffering a midseason arm injury, Jakucionis was shooting 41 percent from 3-point range. His numbers dipped afterward. If that dip can be attributed to his injury, his game fills out a bit more. If the Celtics can get higher in the draft through some wheeling and dealing, Jakucionis could be the target.”
Warriors' 2025 NBA offseason has to start with shooting, scoring firepower originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
If the Oklahoma City Thunder end the Indiana Pacers’ season Thursday night, or simply win one of the next two games in the 2025 NBA Finals, the age-old adage of “defense wins championships” can take a victory lap.
The Thunder had the best defense all regular season, and that continued in the playoffs. Their league-best 106.6 defensive rating has dropped to 105.9 in the playoffs, with one or two games remaining. They averaged 10.3 steals per game in the regular season, and that number has jumped to 10.9 in the playoffs. OKC’s defense circles its prey, swarms, and in thunderous unison releases the Kraken to send a dagger through their opponents.
Having a 26-year-old MVP who’s a modernized throwback scoring machine that averaged 32.7 points per game to lead the NBA this season certainly helps. So does having a No. 2 who can score all over the floor. Jalen Williams has increased his scoring output in each of the first five games of the Finals, putting 40 on the Indiana Pacers to take a three-games-to-two series lead in Game 5.
Wherever the Warriors have been watching the Finals, they could be shaking their heads and sweating at the mere thought of going against the Thunder’s defense for a playoff series in the alternate universe that a healthy Steph Curry led them past the Minnesota Timberwolves and into the Western Conference Finals. In the real world of how the Warriors’ season unfolded with an injured Curry watching from the sidelines, however, the front office should have seen that more shooting and scoring firepower will be needed to get past the Thunder and anybody else if they want to climb the mountain once more in the next two years of Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond’s Green contracts.
“When Steph went out, the lack of shooting was an issue, and that impacted Draymond, it impacted Jimmy, impacted [Jonathan Kuminga],” Steve Kerr said after the season. “So those are things that we have to figure out for sure.”
In the four games of the conference semifinals that Curry missed because of his strained hamstring, the Warriors only made 38 threes and shot 31.9 percent. As the Timberwolves kept missing, the Warriors made 18 threes in their Game 1 win when Curry had 13 points and three 3-pointers in just 13 minutes. They made 11 threes in that win after his exit, but five came from Buddy Hield.
The other six were from a combination of Green, Butler, Kuminga and Gary Payton II, four players considered “non-shooters” from deep. The Warriors in Game 2 through 5 averaged 9.5 threes per game, five fewer than the Timberwolves’ average of 14.5.
Plenty of question marks surround the Warriors going into the offseason. There’s one certainty: If healthy, Curry, Butler and Green will all be in the starting five as the trio that makes everything go. When those three are on the floor together, the Warriors like their chances against anyone. It also complicates a couple of things.
“Obviously with Steph, he’s such a unique player and creates so much gravity, but Jimmy and Draymond are unique in their own rights,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said last month. “Jimmy’s ability to get to the line, it’s a highly efficient way to score and get to the basket and those things.
“We’ve got ways to be a really good offense, but it’s just maybe not as traditional in 2025 as some of these other clubs.”
Simply said, the Warriors can’t be a five-out team with both Butler and Green in the lineup. Can they even be a four-out team? On a list that could be long, shooting and scoring have to be the Warriors’ main priority entering the NBA draft, free agency and possibly conducting their next trade.
That can come through multiple avenues, including internally. It’s no surprise that the best offensive rating of a three-man unit for the Warriors that included Butler and Green was inserting Curry (117.8 offensive rating). But Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski were the two players who spent the most regular-season minutes next to Butler and Green.
Moody in the final 28 games of the regular season when he became an everyday starter shot 36.8 percent from three with 1.3 steals per game as a steady two-way player. From Jan. 1 to the end of the regular season, a 48-game span, Moody was a 37.6 percent 3-point shooter on five attempts per game. He then shot 33.3 percent in the playoffs, went four consecutive games without a made three, and was a shell of himself offensively.
The Warriors then announced Moody underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right shooting thumb less than a week after the season ended. Like Moody, health surely played a part in Podziemski’s playoff shooting struggles.
Podziemski played 26 regular-season games after the Butler trade and shot 41.7 percent from three on six attempts per game. He averaged 15 points per game in that span, and then 11.3 points per game in the playoffs on 32.8 percent beyond the arc. Forty percent of his points in the playoffs came from two games.
And then the Warriors announced Podziemski has gone through left wrist surgery and surgery to repair a core muscle injury this offseason. The healthy sample sizes of Podziemski and Moody, especially with how they fit their roles once Butler was aboard, has to make the Warriors feel confident moving forward.
Hield was brought in to pick up the 3-point slack from Klay Thompson’s departure, and he fulfilled that need by making at least 200 threes for a seventh straight season. He also averaged 9.3 points and shot 31 percent from three for a two-month stretch. Hield is hot and cold, rarely finding a middle ground.
The reality of a possible Kuminga return as a restricted free agent only intensifies the need for more shooting. Curry has played at least 70 games the last two seasons, and that number should be expected to drop next season and the season after. A scorer like Kuminga can help ease that burden, but only if the proper shooting is around him, spacing the floor for driving room to the basket.
Size is undoubtedly part of the priority list. Height might not matter much if the player can’t stretch the floor like we’re seeing by the last two teams standing from players like Chet Holmgren and Myles Turner. The Pacers have a true five-out starting lineup, and the Thunder led the NBA in 3-point percentage once the calendar moved to 2025.
The NBA offseason began before the season even ended when the Orlando Magic traded for Desmond Bane on Sunday. Why did the Magic send Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four first-round picks and a future pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies for someone who’s yet to make an All-Star team in his first five seasons? Because Bane’s scoring ability as someone who has averaged more than 20 points twice, and shooting 41 percent behind the 3-point line for his career, is exactly what the Magic have been missing.
Making it further than a second-round exit is the expectation after understanding who the Warriors are in the Butler era. The only way that will happen is if the main investment the next few weeks and throughout the summer is circling players who can put points on the scoreboard and make the nets drip once again inside Chase Center, and beyond.
With the top-level juggernaut careering away the majority of Europe’s clubs need help and should be better rewarded for players they develop
While a dozen of Europe’s elite clubs were chasing the American dream, 170 of their less garlanded peers gathered for a barbecue next to Lake Geneva. They had converged on Uefa’s headquarters to attend the qualifying round draws for next season’s continental competitions; Tuesday night was time to get together, perhaps to speed-date representatives of the team you had been paired with or simply to cut loose before a labyrinthine summer spent journeying in search of league-phase football.
Borussia Dortmund were slugging out a goalless draw with Fluminense while the meat hit the grills, but “Club World Cup” is a dirty formulation in Nyon’s corridors of power. Any available screens showed action from Uefa’s own Under-21 Championship and alternative sources of entertainment roamed the pastel green lawns. A caricature artist did the rounds, stopping at the table occupied by Aleksander Ceferin and putting his pencil to work.
Continue reading...Mike Gatting took over from David Gower as captain before the Test at Headingley. It didn’t make much difference
India will be hoping the Test at Headingley this week goes better than their last visit to the ground in 2021. Dismissed for 78 in the first innings, a defeat inevitably followed for the visitors. It was a far cry from their two previous visits – the victory in 2002 inspired by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, and their first Test win at the ground in 1986.
England’s defeat at Headingley 39 years ago was a tough one for their fans. As the World Cup in Mexico grabbed the attention of the sporting public, and Boris Becker defended his Wimbledon crown, England’s Test team were plumbing new depths. The glory of the 1985 Ashes series seemed a lifetime ago. That victory had led some to believe that the winter series against the West Indies could be an evenly matched contest between two of the best teams in the world. File that under misplaced confidence. England were crushed 5-0, and the pressure on captain David Gower started to crank up.
Continue reading...The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Reese Hamilton, who plays for the Regina Pats.
Hamilton's biggest strength, without a shadow of a doubt, is his skating. Explosive strides, smooth edgework, the former Calgary Hitmen blueliner has ways to close gaps and push opposing skaters to the outside. Once he gets there, a finished body check is likely on the way and puck possession will change hands.
However, the Pats defender at one point was a top-15 player in the 2025 class. Since the beginning of the season, he has fallen to somehwere in the 125-175 range. As is the case with multiple players in the past, this isn't a death sentence; Hamilton does have the tools to become a solid defender in the NHL, especially with his skating, but the offensive output could use some work.
Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Nathan Behm
2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Peyton Kettles
2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Hayden Paupanekis
2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: David Lewandowski
Tri-City Americans Jackson Smith Commits To Penn State University
The Metsconclude a three-game series with the Braves in Atlanta on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. on SNY.
Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...
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Former New Jersey Devils forward Fabian Zetterlund has landed a nice payday.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Ottawa Senators are signing Fabian Zetterlund to a three-year contract extension that comes with a $4.275 million average annual value.
Deadline-acquired Fabian Zetterlund is signing a 3 x $4.275M extension in Ottawa
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 19, 2025
Zetterlund, 25, was traded by the San Jose Sharks to the Senators at the 2025 NHL trade deadline in a bit of a surprising deal. Before the trade, Zetterlund was a key part of the Sharks' forward group and had 36 points in 64 games with San Jose this season.
Following the move to the Senators, Zetterlund struggled to find his fit. In 20 regular-season games with Ottawa, he had two goals, five points, and a minus-1 rating. He also did not record a point in six playoff games. However, it is hard to believe that he does not have the potential to heat back up next season, as he is a solid second-line forward when playing at his best. Thus, it makes sense the Senators have re-signed him to this three-year deal.
Zetterlund's best season in the NHL thus far was in 2023-24 with the Sharks. In 82 games during that campaign, he set career highs with 24 goals and 44 points.
Zetterlund was selected by the Devils with the 63rd overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In two seasons in New Jersey, he posted nine goals, 28 points, and a plus-9 rating. His time with the Devils ended when he was traded to the Sharks in the trade that brought Timo Meier to New Jersey.
Devils Have Perfect Erik Haula Replacement In Canucks CenterThe New Jersey Devils made a notable move on June 18, trading forward Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators. Haula had been in the rumor mill with the summer here, and now the Devils have officially moved him.
Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
If the Big Ten and SEC can’t come to an agreement on a new format by December, the expectation is that the Playoff moves forward in its current iteration — with 12 total teams, including five conference champions and seven at-large selections. And that is the best possible outcome.
INDIANAPOLIS — Do the Indiana Pacers have another improbable comeback in them? Or will we see an NBA champion crowned on Thursday night?
The way the Thunder have won the last two games and taken control of the series makes it seem like Game 6 could be the final game of the 2024-25 NBA season — but underestimate these Pacers at your own risk. Especially on their home court.
Here are four things to watch in Game 6 Thursday night:
Everything Game 6 starts — and the Pacers' season could end — here.
Haliburton has a left calf strain, one that slowed him considerably in Game 5 when he scored four points on 0-of-6 shooting. He is the orchestrator of Indiana's high-paced offense, and if he's not playing at his All-NBA best, it's a massive advantage for the Thunder in a series where games have swung on the thinnest of margins.
Haliburton, for his part, was clear that he planned to be on the court Thursday.
"I'm a competitor; I want to play. I'm going to do everything in my power to play," Haliburton said.
He has been undergoing around-the-clock treatment to make sure he is on the court.
"Massage, needles, hyperbaric, H waves. Everything you can do to get as comfortable as you can going into it," Haliburton said, adding he is just following the instructions of the team's medical staff. "The right tape and stuff while I am performing."
Haliburton went through the Pacers' light practice on Wednesday, got up some shots, and was walking without a limp. However, Pacers' coach Rick Carlisle was more cautious about Haliburton's status.
"He participated in all our walk-through stuff. But it's a walk-through, so there was no real running," Carlisle said. "We'll see. We'll see where we are tomorrow... We will not really know for sure until late tomorrow afternoon or early evening."
Expect more Pascal Siakam initiating the offense, more T.J. McConnell, and Carlisle is ready to lean into whatever role player gets hot at home. It's still not the same without Haliburton. The Pacers are 12-3 this postseason when Haliburton scores at least 20 points. Does he have that kind of night in him? The Pacers need him to.
Oklahoma City has been here before. They were up 3-2 on the Denver Nuggets and, with the chance to put the Nuggets away in the Mile High City, the Thunder didn't come close. Jamal Murray scored 25 points, Christian Braun added 23 points and 12 rebounds, but this will mostly be remembered as the Julian Strawther game, he scored 15 second-half points off the bench to spark Denver and force a Game 7.
What can Oklahoma City take away from that Game 6 and bring to Indianapolis?
"Don't get complacent. Don't look too far ahead," Cason Wallace said. "We gotta take it one game at a time. I feel like we were, we're a little relaxed in that game, so just knowing that we can't, we can't make that same mistake again."
"I feel like we didn't control the controllables," Alex Caruso said of the Game 6 loss in Denver. "That's what we do. It's what we have to do in this game."
To a man at practices on Wednesday, the Thunder players discussed not getting ahead of themselves, staying in the moment, and coming out like the series is 0-0.
"We just got to come out with desperation again.." Isaiah Hartenstein said, referencing how the team played in Game 5. "So we're not going to come in acting like everything's sealed, everything's done. They're going to come out with desperation. They're a great team, and we're and we're going to come out with the same and probably, maybe even more desperation."
Haliburton's injury was part of what stalled out the Pacers' comeback dream in Game 5. The other thing was turnovers. Indiana had 23 turnovers that led to 32 Oklahoma City points. The Thunder had 13 more scoring opportunities on the night and won the possession battle, primarily because of the turnovers.
"That's the game. We've got to do a heck of a lot better there," Carlisle said.
The Thunder ball pressure will be back. Can the Pacers handle it?
LeBron James in 2013 in Miami.
That was the last time a player won the NBA MVP, the Finals MVP, and an NBA championship in the same season. It's happened just 15 times since 1970 (stats via Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one win away from that. Not that he was going to discuss the idea.
"The cusp of winning is not winning," he said. "The way I see it, winning is all that matters. It hasn't been fulfilled. We haven't done anything, the way I see it."
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder do need one more win, and if Jalen Williams has another massive night in Game 6, he could be voted Finals MVP. Still, SGA is on the cusp of history, as are the Thunder as a team, and it's something to watch.
The Los Angeles Lakers will become the most expensive sports team in history with a valuation of $10 billion (£7.45 billion) after an agreement was reached to sell a controlling stake to TWG Global CEO Mark Walter.
The Buss family, which has owned the team since 1979, has made a deal to sell to Walter, who also has a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and is part of the group that owns Chelsea.
Walter has been a stakeholder in the Lakers since 2021, when he took a 20 per cent holding in the franchise. He has overseen a period of success with the Dodgers, who won the World Series last year and in 2020.
The valuation of the Lakers comfortably eclipses that of their rivals, the Boston Celtics, who were sold for $6.1 billion (£4.5 billion) earlier this year, then a record-high price for an American sports team.
The Lakers are one of the most prominent teams in basketball and home to 40-year-old LeBron James, who won his fourth career championship with the team in 2020.
They made a blockbuster trade earlier this year for Slovenian Luka Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks, sending Anthony Davis in the other direction, one of the most unexpected moves in NBA history.
Jerry Buss, who bought the team for $67.5 million 46 years ago, died in 2013 and passed ownership of the Lakers to his six children in a trust. The family were in control of 66 per cent of the team but the terms of the trust reportedly required all six of the children to agree on any potential sale.
That appears to have happened, although Jeanie Buss, who has worked as the Lakers governor, is expected to keep her title under the new ownership structure. When Walter initially invested in 2021 it is understood he was given the option to become majority owner if the situation arose.
Fans and analysts are optimistic about Walter leading the Lakers to the sort of success he has enjoyed with the Dodgers. “Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand,” said their hall-of-famer Magic Johnson. “He is driven by winning, excellence and doing everything the right way. AND he will put in the resources needed to win.”
The Lakers have qualified for the play-offs in four of the past five seasons, but other than their Championship win in 2020 they have been knocked out in the first round. James remains a remarkably potent force given his age, but Doncic is the player the new Lakers era will be built around.
A 65-year-old businessman and CEO of the investment and financial services company Guggenheim Partners, which manages more than $330 billion (£246 billion) of assets. Highly private, his estimated net worth is disputed with one calculation guessing at $6 billion (£4.45 billion), another at $12 billion (£8.9 billion). A long career in insurance, investment and financial services has been extremely lucrative.
The Dodgers are his best-known other interest, only behind the New York Yankees in baseball in estimated value and cultural heft. Last year they recruited the sport’s biggest name Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers general manager, Dave Roberts, has already mock-warned Walter not to move Ohtani over to basketball, saying, “Hands off of Shohei. They got enough superstars wearing the purple and gold. Leave him alone.”
With his frequent investment partner Todd Boehly, Walter is part of BlueCo, the holding company which controls Chelsea and RC Strasbourg. Walter also has stakes in the Los Angeles Sparks women’s basketball team, owns the top league of women’s ice hockey in the USA and several motorsport teams, including Cadillac, which will compete in Formula One next year.
They are arguably the best-known and certainly the most popular team in a sport which is in rude health. Their brand has worldwide reach, guaranteeing lucrative earnings from merchandise and licensing around the globe. This is aided by their starry reputation as the team which frequently has the face of the league within its ranks: James currently but Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before him.
TV rights are negotiated locally for games not shown nationally in basketball and Los Angeles is one of the biggest markets in the country. Thanks to the closed-shop nature of American sport, operating without relegation, there are few reasons to believe the money will ever stop rolling in.
