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Swiss Club Extends Two Ex-NHLers

SC Bern has signed two ex-NHL players to contract extensions, the National League club announced on its website on Wednesday.

Finnish right winger Waltteri Merelä, 29, has signed for two more years, while Swedish defenseman Anton Lindholm, 30, has signed for one.

For both players, the 2024-25 season was their first in Bern. Merelä had 51 points in 59 regular-season and playoff games. Injuries limited Lindholm to 20 games, in which he recorded five points and 10 penalty minutes. Through the team’s first four games this season, they each have three points.

“Waltteri is an absolute leader of our team,” Bern GM Diego Piceci said about Merelä. “With his goal-scoring ability and his commitment, he is of great importance to us.”

About Lindholm, Piceci said, “We are very pleased with Anton’s commitment. With his skills and leadership, he is a very important part of our team.” 

Merelä played in Finland until he was 24, developing into a good-sized, reasonably productive winger first with the Lahti Pelicans, then with Tappara Tampere. After never representing Finland in any youth age category, he made the national team for the 2023 IIHF World Championship, held at home in Tampere, and scored a goal in his only game.

Finn Waltteri Merelä moves from Tampa Bay to BernFinn Waltteri Merelä moves from Tampa Bay to BernAfter one season in North America, split between the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, 25-year-old right winger Waltteri Merelä has signed a one-year contract with National League club SC Bern. Merelä is yet another name to the list of Finns who have chosen to play in Switzerland over other European options.

In the 2023-24 season, Merelä had one goal in 19 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and 34 points in 55 regular-season games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. He also scored three goals in eight AHL playoff games.

Lindholm, who is a product of Skelleftea AIK, was chosen in the fifth round, 144th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2016 and 2021, he recorded five points and 16 penalty minutes in 55 NHL games for the Avalanche, and 28 points in 84 AHL games for the Colorado Eagles.

Since that time, Lindholm has played in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk and back in Sweden for Leksands IF before joining Bern. Internationally, he has represented Sweden at three World Championships.

Bern’s roster also includes ex-NHLers Emil Bemström, Joël Vermin and Simon Moser.

Emil Bemström Signs In SwitzerlandEmil Bemström Signs In Switzerland Swedish forward Emil Bemström, 26, has signed a one-year contract with SC Bern, the National League club announced on Friday.
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The Biggest-Little Questions About The Blueshirts Season

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Not to worry about Artemi Panarin; he'll get his bundle and become a $uper Breadman. (It ain't worth a paywall penny.)

There are two questions which must be decided now that training camp is open and Mika Zibanejad's plus-minus still is hovering at zero.

BIG QUESTION ONE: Should the season's theme be STANLEY CUP OR BUST?

BIG QUESTION TWO: Or, should the season's theme be PLAYOFFS OR BUST?

Let's start at the start since that seems logical. 

According to The Maven's ice bible, The Hockey News Yearbook, the Rangers' Cup odds go at 23-1. For the Devils it's 15-1 and the Islanders – Yikes! – 57-1. (In case you're wondering, for the Champ Panthers it's 9-1 and favored Vegas, 6-1

THN has Vegas – not the Cats – winning the mug.

As for the Beloved Blueshirts,  say go for it; at 23-1 it's as doable as Fats Lafreniere getting back in shape.

Then again, to win The Cup you have to first make the playoffs. And to make the playoffs, you've got to beat out Pitt, Philly, Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Columbus and Boston. 

Realists in the crowd just wanna get in, right? Once Sully's skaters get in, let Iggy Shesterkin take over and show his worth. (Don't laugh, this may be his year.)

"I consider J.T. Miller the decisive factor in terms of how far the Rangers can go," says The Old Scout. "Miller is capable of reviving the offense and power play. The defense should tighten up under Mike Sullivan's box-and-one system."

How J.T. Miller Sizes Up With Past Blueshirts' Cup-Winning CaptainsHow J.T. Miller Sizes Up With Past Blueshirts' Cup-Winning CaptainsNewly-minted Rangers captain J.T. Miller has big skates to fill. No, not those belonging to booted out Jake Trouba, good captain that he was.

Hey, we're talking about a core that had a 114-point season – still visible thought fading – in the rearview mirror.

It's the 100th anniversary season. That happens only once a century. Right? Which is why The Maven insists – go for it:

The Centennial theme must be: STANLEY CUP OR BUST!

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Machado the man for bases-loaded moments as his 14th grand slam powers Padres past Mets

NEW YORK — With the bases loaded, the last man any opposing pitcher wants to see at the plate is Manny Machado.

The seven-time All-Star once again showed why Wednesday night.

Machado launched a tiebreaking grand slam off David Peterson in the fifth inning that sent the San Diego Padres to a 7-4 victory over the New York Mets in a pivotal matchup between postseason contenders.

“The one thing about Manny that I appreciate is just his calmness,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Just not making the moment bigger than it is. You know, a lot of guys, hey, bases loaded — and try to do too much. Manny just knows who’s in charge at that point, and it’s the hitter. He just knows, I’m gonna stick a good at-bat. He put a nice, sweet stroke on it.”

Machado gave the Padres a 6-2 lead with his second grand slam this season and the 14th of his career — most among active players.

It was the first allowed by Peterson in 130 major league games.

“I was just trying to drive in one,” Machado said. “In that opportunity, it’s just trying to get one. Not try to do too much. You know, keep it simple. I think sometimes you can get into a habit of, you want to bring ’em in, you want to be the hero. But ultimately it’s just about just trying to get one run across.”

The win kept the Padres two games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West with 10 to play. They lead the Mets by five games for the second of three National League wild cards.

New York remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Arizona for the final NL playoff berth. Cincinnati and San Francisco are both two games back.

“Felt like a playoff game,” Shildt said.

The score was tied 2-all when San Diego loaded the bases with one out in the fifth.

After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Jake Cronenworth was hit by a 2-2 sinker from Peterson on the eighth pitch of his plate appearance. Cronenworth advanced on Elias Díaz’s sacrifice bunt, and Fernando Tatis Jr. fought back from a 1-2 count to draw a seven-pitch walk.

Three-time batting champion Luis Arraez dropped down a bunt single to bring up Machado. He drove a full-count curveball over the left-center fence for his 26th homer this season and third in the last four games.

“We talk about this a lot: We love the homers. You know, small things lead to big things,” Shildt said. “A lot of good, quality at-bats. Luis’ bunt knock to get Manny up there, and Manny put a swing on for a big number.

“A lot of good situational at-bats. Just a really well-played game in all phases — honestly both sides of the ball, both clubs. But yeah, it was a really well-played baseball game on our part.”

Machado’s grand slam provided enough cushion that a baserunning gaffe in the sixth didn’t cost San Diego.

Díaz slowed up while approaching home plate and failed to score from second base on a single before Arraez was tagged out to end the inning. Arraez made an ill-advised attempt to stretch the hit into a double with Machado on deck.

“I just thought it was a base hit, so I’m going to score easily. That’s why I slowed down at the end. I never thought he was going to try to get a double,” said Díaz, who took full responsibility. “You have to finish it — 100 percent.”

When he realized he didn’t cross the plate in time, Díaz sheepishly put his hands on his head.

“We were glad it didn’t turn out to be a pivotal run,” Shildt said. “Kind of just took it for granted a little bit. But it’s a good opportunity to continue to remind ourselves that until you touch home plate you haven’t scored, before the play’s over.”

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'I Heard There Was Some Noise On That': Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Responds To Reported Interest In Dillon Dube

During his media availability with reporters on Wednesday, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said the team is still actively looking for a top-six forward to replace the role vacated by star winger Mitch Marner.

“It's not been from a lack of trying. There's not a lot of them out there that everybody's willing to hand over to you, right? So I think today is no different than yesterday and the day before,” Treliving said. “You're always looking to try to improve your team, right? It was, I think league-wide, it was a slower summer”.

A theory suggests that the lack of player movement this summer was not only due to teams having enough cap space to keep their players, but also a result of confusion over the effective dates for new long-term injured reserve and salary cap rules. As part of the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement, the league did its best to close all loopholes related to long-term injured reserve while also imposing the salary cap in the playoffs where the 20 players on the ice cannot exceed the upper limit of the cap. The extension of the CBA goes into effect beginning in the 2026-27 season, but it was only two weeks ago that the NHL and NHLPA agreed to start enforcing the new roster rules for this upcoming season. The lack of clarity explains why teams were hesitant to make moves.

Why The Maple Leafs’ Best Chance to Replace Mitch Marner Will Come At The 2026 NHL Trade DeadlineWhy The Maple Leafs’ Best Chance to Replace Mitch Marner Will Come At The 2026 NHL Trade DeadlineIt’s been a quiet August for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and unless something unforeseen happens before training camp, the team’s roster could head into camp as it is currently constructed. This means there is no direct replacement for Mitch Marner, who departed the organization in June in a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights.

As a result, the Leafs didn't have many options and may now have to look for Marner’s replacement either internally or through a different approach.

One of those possibilities was theorized by TSN’s Darren Dreger on Tuesday when he went on TSN Radio, saying he  wouldn't  be surprised if the Leafs threw their hat into the ring for forward Dillon Dube.

“I heard there was some noise about that,” Treliving said.

Dube was one of five players acquitted on sexual assault charges stemming from a gala in 2018, as a member of Canada’s World Junior hockey team in 2018. Treliving signed Dube to his last NHL contract as a member of the Calgary Flames back in 2021.

“We're not focused on that right now. We're focused on the 73 players we've got here right now and sort of figuring out where that fits,” Treliving said.

“Let’s all just be clear. There's special circumstances around those players. You'd have to be very comfortable. At the end of the day, it hasn't been a focus of ours right now. The league has put in some guidelines of when those players are eligible and all the rest of it. But you'd have to be very comfortable”.

Following the acquittal, Dube, along with four other players charged in the case, were given parameters by the NHL whereby they would be permitted to sign a contract no earlier than Oct. 15 and be permitted to play in the NHL no earlier than Dec. 1. So it’s easy for the Leafs to not be focused on a player like Dube since that option is a month out.

There’s also a question of if Dube would actually be what Toronto is looking for. At times in 2023, Dube was used in a top-six role alongside Jonathan Huberdeau and Elias Lindholm, but his usage fluctuated. Before taking NHL-mandated leave from the game, he was used in a bottom-six role.

Unless he comes really cheap and the Leafs are still struggling with the chemistry of existing players to play on the top line that will consist of Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, it’s hard to see where there’s enough benefit for Toronto to take the risk on the player.

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3 Veterans & 2 Rookies To Watch Closely At Blackhawks Training Camp

The Chicago Blackhawks open up training camp on Thursday. After a week of rookie camp followed by the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, the young players on the roster are ready to join practice with the older players. 

There are plenty of usual suspects that people may be excited to see, like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Alex Vlasic, amongst others. At this point, they are the leaders on the team in terms of value and production. With that said, there are other less hyped veterans that are worth watching during camp to see where they’re at.

As far as rookies, there are guys like Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, and Oliver Moore that everyone is prepared to see. All three of them will see NHL ice, whether it's to open the season or not.

Like the established players, there are some "under the radar" rookies that deserve attention. Eyes will be on them to see if they can crack the NHL team out of camp, or even have a chance to make their debut at some point during 2025-26. 

These are the three veterans and two rookies to watch with extra close attention during camp.

Veterans:

Ryan Donato

During the off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks and Ryan Donato came to an agreement on a contract extension before he was ever able to reach free agency. He clearly fits in Chicago, and leaving wouldn’t help anyone. 

Now, during camp, all eyes will be on him as he looks to follow up his first career 30-goal season with another solid campaign. He may not reach that plateau again, and ice time will likely play a role in that, but he is expected to contribute to the offense. 

Last year, Donato put in much work during the summer to come to camp ready for a big year. It will be interesting to see what he did as an encore ahead of 2025-26. 

Andre Burakovsky

Andre Burakovsky has had a solid NHL career as a middle-six forward. That includes two Stanley Cups (Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche) as a key contributor. 

He has had some tough times with injuries and inconsistencies as a member of the Seattle Kraken, and a change of scenery was needed. In Chicago, he’ll play a middle-six role as a veteran on a young team. During camp, we’ll see what kind of adjustments he’s made and the type of shape he’s in. 

Teuvo Teravainen

Teuvo Teravainen had an underrated season for the Blackhawks, who didn’t do a lot of winning, in 2024-25. He knows what it takes to succeed in the NHL and in Chicago. 

Teravainen may still hang on to a top-six role during camp. He is one of the most offensively gifted players in Chicago, and he’d like to be a representative on Team Finland when the Olympics come around. 

Expect him to come to camp hungry to prove that he is still able to be a key contributor on an NHL team, which will also show his country that he’s ready to go. This is an important camp for Teravainen as the team around him is much younger, faster, and more skilled. He was brought in to complement those types of players, so he must be on top of his game.  

Rookies:

Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis scored 71 goals in the OHL last season. That’s not bad for a former 3rd-round pick trying to become a pro hockey player, which he will in 2025-26. The only question is where. 

Lardis was an incredibly noticeable player during rookie camp, and all eyes will be on him when he is surrounded by NHL roster players during the main training camp. 

If Lardis is extra impressive during practice and scores a ton of goals in the preseason, don’t be surprised if he is on the opening night roster for Chicago. A trip to the AHL to begin the year is most likely, but the Blackhawks are not deep enough to think there is no chance for him to steal a spot. 

Marek Vanacker

Like Lardis, there was a lot of hype for Vanacker during rookie camp and the showcase. He is a former first-round pick who missed this portion of the season in 2024-25 due to injury. 

Now, he will finally be able to participate in an NHL training camp for the first time in his career. Folks will be looking to see if he has what it takes to make an impact as a pro as well. 

Vanacker played in the AHL at the end of last season, and he’s sure to play there in 2025-26 as well, unless he is exceptional at camp and in the preseason. He will likely make his NHL debut at some point this year, but for how long? He’s worth watching in the weeks leading up to the season. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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25 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #25

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 25 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #25. 

Let's take a look.

Bruce Gardiner - 2001 - Drafted by St. Louis in 1991. 

Gardiner scored the first goal in franchise history 7:34 into game one of the 2000 season. He played 73 games as a Jacket and had 22 points. Gardiner only played seven more NHL games after he left Columbus.

Gardiner left for Europe, where he played in Russia and Finland. He retired in 2005. 

These days, Gardiner is a police officer with the Barrie Police Department. He was charged with criminal harassment and extortion on Feb. 4, 2022, but the charges were dropped in July of 2024. 

Andrew Cassels - 2003-2004 - Drafted by Montreal in 1987.

Cassels signed with Columbus in 2002. He played 137 games for the CBJ over the course of two seasons, scoring 26 goals and totaling 94 points. Cassels signed with Washington in 2005, which would be his final pro hockey season. He was released in January of 2006. 

After retiring, Cassels stuck around Columbus and been a coach for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets since 2018. His son Cole currently plays in Slovakia and was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2013. He also spent a year with the Cleveland Monsters in 2021-22. 

Jason Chimera - 2006-2010 - Drafted by Edmonton in 1997. 

Chimera was traded to Columbus by the Phoenix Coyotes. He played in 331 games for the Jackets before being traded to the Washington Capitals on December 28, 2009, in a trade that brought current Cleveland Monsters GM Chris Clark to the Columbus organization. 

He last NHL season would be the 2017-18 season. 

Kyle Wilson - 2011 - Drafted by Minnesota in 2004. 

Wilson played 32 of his 39 career NHL games with Columbus during the 2010-11 season after signing on July 2, 2010. He spent the rest of the season with the Springfield Falcons. 

He left North America for Europe in 2013, and played until 2017 in Latvia, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany. He retired in 2017. 

Ryan Russell - 2012 - Drafted by the New York Rangers in 2005. 

The twin brother of for Blue Jacket and long-time NHLer Kris Russell, he played 41 games for Columbus during the 2011-12 season after being traded to the Jackets on July 7, 2011. He spent most of that season, and the next playing for the Springfield Falcons. 

He left for Sweden, playing two seasons, and then played in England one season before retiring. He has spent the last nine seasons as an Amateur Scout for the San Jose Sharks. 

Luke Adam - 2015 - Drafted by Buffalo in 2008. 

Adam played three games for Columbus after his trade from the Sabres on December 16, 2014. 

In 2016, he left for Europe, where he would play seven years in Germany, and then a year each in Czechia and Slovakia. 

In 2024, he returned to North America where he would sign with the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL. He was named Captain of the team and will serve Captain again this upcoming season.  

William Karlsson - 2016-2017 - Drafted by Anaheim in 2011.

 It's a common misconception that Karlsson was drafted by the CBJ. Taken by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, he was traded to the Jackets in March 2015. He played 165 games for Columbus and had 47 points, mostly as a fourth-line grinder and penalty killer.

He was chosen by Vegas in the expansion draft of 2017 and has been there ever since. His career in Vegas has been up and down, but he's managed to get 396 points playing for Vegas. In 2018, he won the Lady Byng, and in 2023, he helped his team win their first Stanley Cup. 

Mikhail Grigorenko - 2021 - Drafted by Buffalo in 2012. 

Grigorenko signed with Columbus in July of 2020. He played in 32 games and had 12 points. He left for Russia again after his time in Columbus and still plays there today. 

He is signed to play for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL. 

There are 25 days until opening night at NWA. 

Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Camp will run until the pre-season begins and then transition directly into the full pre-season schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.

After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET

Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

There are 26 days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena.

Let us know what you think below.

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Canadiens: Two Former Members Of The Organization Inducted Into The QMJHL Hall Of Fame

Last night, three former players, a coach, and a builder were inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame; Corey Crawford, Mathieu Benoit, Patrick Lebeau, Claude Julien, and Raymond Bolduc were welcomed amongst the junior league legends.

In that list, there are two former members of the Montreal Canadiens’ organization: Claude Julien and Patrick Lebeau. As you’ll no doubt remember, Julien was at the helm of the Canadiens twice in his career. From 2002-03 to 2005-06, he served as the head coach of his first NHL coaching job. He was fired mid-way through his third season after posting a 19-16-6 record in 41 games. He spent the following season behind the New Jersey Devils’ bench before moving on to the Boston Bruins, where he spent parts of 10 seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010-11. On his way to the championship, he eliminated the Habs in the first round in a thrilling first-round series, which ended with a Nathan Horton overtime goal.

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The Bruins dismissed him after 55 games of the 2016-17 season, and the Canadiens wasted no time in hiring him again to replace Michel Therrien, who was fired on Valentine’s Day. Julien’s second stay in Montreal would last for part of five seasons, and he was eventually replaced by Dominique Ducharme, his assistant, who would guide the team to a surprising Stanley Cup final run. In his second stint, Julien kept a 129-113-35 record and a .529 winning percentage. After his dismissal, he stayed on the sidelines for three seasons before being hired as an assistant coach by the St. Louis Blues.

In the QMJHL, he coached the Hull Olympics to a Memorial Cup title in 1997, and a few short years later, he graduated to the AHL, where he coached the Canadiens’ farm team as the Hamilton Bulldogs.

As for Patrick Lebeau, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t remember his passage in the Canadiens’ organization. While he was an outstanding player in junior hockey and a great points producer (he put up 500 points in the QMJHL in 257 games), he was only 5-foot-10, and his talent never translated to the NHL.

An eight-round pick at the 1989 draft, Lebeau would only end up playing two games with the Canadiens. After short stints with the Calgary Flames and the Florida Panthers, he ended up leaving for Europe before the 1994-95 season and found success there. Still, his incredible numbers in the Q fully deserved to be recognized and remembered, and the induction was more than appropriate.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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Mets 2025 MLB Wild Card Watch: Playoff odds, standings, matchups, and more for Sept. 18

With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Mets are looking to hold off a handful of teams for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of play on Sept. 18...

Mets: 78-74, 1.5 games up on Diamondbacks for third Wild Card

Next up: vs. Padres, Thursday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY (Jonah Tong vs. Randy Vasquez)
Latest result: 7-4 loss to Padres on Wednesday
Remaining schedule: 1 vs. SD, 3 vs. WSH, 3 @ CHC, 3 @ MIA
Odds to make playoffs: 82.3 percent
*Mets hold tiebreaker over Giants by virtue of winning the season series, while Reds hold tiebreaker over Mets. The tiebreaker between the Mets and Diamondbacks is TBD, and will likely be based on intradivision record since the two clubs split the season series

Diamondbacks: 77-76, 1.5 games back of Mets

Next up: vs. Phillies, Friday at 9:40 p.m. (Ryne Nelson vs. Taijuan Walker)
Latest result: 5-1 loss to Giants on Wednesday
Remaining schedule: 3 vs. PHI, 3 vs. LAD, 3 @ SD
Odds to make playoffs: 6.7 percent

Reds: 76-76, 2.0 games back of Mets

Next up: vs. Cubs, Thursday at 7:15 p.m. (Hunter Greene vs. TBD)
Latest result: 6-2 win over Cardinals on Wednesday
Remaining schedule: 4 vs. CHC, 3 vs. PIT, 3 @ MIL
Odds to make playoffs: 6.6 percent

Giants: 76-76, 2.0 games back of Mets 

Next up: @ Dodgers, Thursday at 10:10 p.m.(Logan Webb vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto)
Latest result: 5-1 win over Diamondbacks on Wednesday
Remaining schedule: 4 @ LAD, 3 vs. STL, 3 vs. COL
Odds to make playoffs: 4.4 percent

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Sharks star Will Smith reveals surprising position change for 2025-26 season

Sharks star Will Smith reveals surprising position change for 2025-26 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Will Smith says the plan for him is to play mostly wing during the 2025-26 NHL season.

That’s something of a surprise, given general manager Mike Grier’s declaration last April that Smith, picked as a center by the Sharks in the 2023 NHL Draft, would return to his original position at the beginning of the season.

But a lot has happened between last April and September, including the Sharks selecting center Michael Misa with the second overall pick of the 2025 draft.

So it’s also not a surprise, considering that Smith enjoyed most of his rookie season success on the wing. Wing also represents Smith’s best chance to play regularly with good friend and franchise center Macklin Celebrini.

Read the full story on San Jose Hockey Now

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Why Warriors are reluctant to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings, per Sam Amick

Why Warriors are reluctant to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings, per Sam Amick originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears the Warriors don’t want to lock up Jonathan Kuminga long-term, but they also don’t want him to potentially go elsewhere and thrive with another NBA team.

Especially, it seems, the NBA team 80 miles northeast in Sacramento.

As The Athletic’s Sam Amick shared on a recent appearance on Sactown Sports 1140’s “The Carmichael Dave Show,” a small factor that has kept Golden State hesitant to send Kuminga to the Kings partly is due to the fear of the 22-year-old breaking out in California’s state capital.

“Joe Lacob is eternally in love with Jonathan Kuminga,” Amick said Wednesday. “There is a sense from some people involved that there’s a real reluctance not only to finally quit him if you will, but to see him go up the road to another Northern California NBA team that’s run by a guy in Vivek Ranadivé, who used to be with the Warriors. And what if Kuminga blows up and becomes a total star?

“From a personal ownership dynamic level, there are some folks that feel like that could be playing a small part. Again, that’s not really relevant, because these other things are the real obstacles. But I mean, Joe — like a lot of owners — is very involved, too.”

As Amick emphasized, this only is a small factor among the overarching deterrants keeping Kuminga out of Sacramento.

The Kings offered veteran guard Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick to Golden State in exchange for the young forward, per multiple reports, but the Warriors don’t want any protections attached to the future draft pick, something Sacramento has been unwilling to offer at this point.

Plus, as Amick reported in a recent column, there are other financial obstacles in the way as Monk’s current contract runs through the 2027-28 season, when he has a player option worth $21.5 million. But the Warriors are adamant about having as much financial flexibility entering that 2027 summer, as they could chase big-name superstars such as Nikola Jokić or Giannis Antetokounmpo, who both have player options for the 2027-28 season.

Kuminga, in four seasons with the Warriors since being selected No. 7 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, has averaged 12.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting, with 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22.0 minutes through 258 career games (84 starts).

He has been in and out of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, and after registering multiple DNP-CDs to end the 2024-25 regular season and into the postseason, Kuminga has been firm about wanting a consistent, solidified role with a team, something Golden State has yet to make feasible, especially after the late-season acquisition of six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler.

The Phoenix Suns are the other team to have shown strong interest in Kuminga via a sign-and-trade deal, and while that still would be shipping their former first-round pick to a Western Conference rival, it would seem to be a lot less painful than watching him shine in Sacramento.

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Why Warriors are reluctant to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings, per Sam Amick

Why Warriors are reluctant to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings, per Sam Amick originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It appears the Warriors don’t want to lock up Jonathan Kuminga long-term, but they also don’t want him to potentially go elsewhere and thrive with another NBA team.

Especially, it seems, the NBA team 80 miles northeast in Sacramento.

As The Athletic’s Sam Amick shared on a recent appearance on Sactown Sports 1140’s “The Carmichael Dave Show,” a small factor that has made Golden State hesitant to send Kuminga to the Kings is the fear of the 22-year-old breaking out in California’s state capital.

“Joe Lacob is eternally in love with Jonathan Kuminga,” Amick said Wednesday. “There is a sense from some people involved that there’s a real reluctance not only to finally quit him, if you will, but to see him go up the road to another Northern California NBA team that’s run by a guy in Vivek Ranadivé, who used to be with the Warriors. And what if Kuminga blows up and becomes a total star?

“From a personal ownership dynamic level, there are some folks that feel like that could be playing a small part. Again, that’s not really relevant, because these other things are the real obstacles. But I mean, Joe — like a lot of owners — is very involved, too.”

As Amick emphasized, this only is a small factor among the overarching deterrents keeping Kuminga out of Sacramento.

The Kings offered veteran guard Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick to Golden State in exchange for the young forward, per multiple reports, but the Warriors don’t want any protections attached to the future draft pick, something Sacramento has been unwilling to offer at this point.

Plus, as Amick reported in a recent column, there are other financial obstacles in the way as Monk’s current contract runs through the 2027-28 season, when he has a player option worth $21.5 million. But the Warriors are adamant about having as much financial flexibility entering that 2027 summer, as they could chase big-name superstars such as Nikola Jokić or Giannis Antetokounmpo, who both have player options for the 2027-28 season.

Kuminga, in four seasons with the Warriors since being selected No. 7 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, has averaged 12.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting, with 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22.0 minutes through 258 career games (84 starts).

He has been in and out of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, and after registering multiple DNP-CDs to end the 2024-25 regular season and into the postseason, Kuminga has been firm about wanting a consistent, solidified role with a team, something Golden State has yet to make feasible, especially after the late-season acquisition of six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler.

The Phoenix Suns are the other team to have shown strong interest in Kuminga via a sign-and-trade deal, and while that still would include the Warriors shipping their former first-round pick to a Western Conference rival, it would seem to be a lot less painful than watching him shine in Sacramento.

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Proteau on Dach Being The Second Line Center – Have Your Say

THN's Adam Proteau wrote an interesting piece following Martin St-Louis' declaration that Kirby Dach would be the Montreal Canadiens' second-line center to start the season, read it here and vote on the poll! 

Montreal Canadiens' Choice For Their Second-Line Center Raises Doubts

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: New York falls short against San Diego; potential bullpen moves on the horizon

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Wednesday, in case you missed it...

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Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft: Results & Expert Tips for Yahoo Category Leagues

A mock draft is one of the best ways to prepare for your fantasy basketball season. With a panel of NBA Fantasy experts, I hosted a 12-team, 9-category mock draft on Yahoo to analyze different strategies and values. From the first-overall pick to late-round sleepers, I'll break down my picks with commentary on player value, position scarcity, and which players might be worth a gamble. Full results for every team can be found at the end.

1- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

You should consider Victor Wembanyama here too, but I still believe Jokic is the safer option. He's been the best fantasy asset across the past half-decade. Nothing should change this year for him, though I wouldn't be shocked if he saw 1-3 fewer minutes per game since Denver is deeper than last year. Either way, drafting Jokic sets you up for almost any other type of build you want to execute.

24- Amen Thompson, Rockets

Maybe these next two picks could be considered small reaches, but you don't have much of a choice when picking at the turn. You have to get your guys. Thompson certainly fits that bill for me around this draft slot. He's one of the best athletes in the NBA, an All-Defensive player, and versatile on the offensive end. If Thompson can improve his perimeter shooting even a little bit, there might be a first-round fantasy asset here.

25- Josh Giddey, Bulls

You shouldn't expect Giddey to produce at the level he did in March and April last season. But he's still the lead playmaker for this run-and-gun Bulls squad, and agreeing on a contract extension cements the organization's commitment to him. He's a candidate for a triple-double every time he steps on the floor, and he's made strides as a three-point shooter and defender.

48- Coby White, Bulls

I didn't mean to grab Bulls players back-to-back, but Giddey/White is a solid pairing. You get the team's top two offensive options. White is essentially doing a Zach LaVine impersonation. He's an efficient scoring combo guard who can drop some dimes. If Giddey misses any time, White becomes the team's best playmaker by a mile.

49- Joel Embiid, 76ers

There isn't really a "right" spot for Embiid with his injury risk, but this is generally where he's being drafted. Part of me couldn't resist the MVP pairing of Embiid with Jokic. It's also important to remember Yahoo's default league requires two starting centers. There's a premium on bigs, so I didn't mind taking a bit of a gamble.

72- Josh Hart, Knicks

The fantasy basketball community doesn't buy Hart producing at the same level that he did last season. Part of that was potentially unsustainable efficiency; another part is wondering if new coach Mike Brown will play Hart (and the rest of the starters) knee-destroying minutes like Tom Thibodeau did. But at pick 72, I'll buy the dip.

73- Julius Randle, Timberwolves

Randle has holes in his game, especially defensively. But his floor is quite high as Minnesota's clear No. 2 option – a team that doesn't have many reliable playmakers. I'll happily take the points/rebounds/assists combo at this draft position.

96- Brandon Ingram, Raptors

My argument for drafting Ingram at 96 isn't much different from drafting Randle at 73. Who else in this range has 20/5/5 upside? Yes, Ingram falls this far for a reason – he can't stay healthy, and Toronto's offensive hierarchy is confusing. I knock him for those exact same reasons, but those concerns ring more hollow around pick 100.

97- Zach Edey, Grizzlies

Edey won't begin the season healthy, and it's possible he misses the first month or two. For that reason, this might be a little early for him. Still, I'll toss him in my injured reserve slot and figure it out later. Edey's play was encouraging down the stretch last season, and it seems like new coach Tuomas Iisalo is interested in featuring him more than Taylor Jenkins was. We know it doesn't take much for centers with Edey's statistical profile to contend for top-50 production.

120- TJ McConnell, Pacers

Indiana's gameplan for this season feels up in the air. Ultimately I trust McConnell to play 20-25 minutes. He's got top-75 upside if he can get more into the 26-28 minute range. At this point in the draft, he's an excellent source of assists and steals. And we know he can pop for big games when given expanded opportunities.

121- Brandin Podziemski, Warriors

Despite being about a month away from regular-season basketball, we do not have a resolution on the Jonathan Kuminga situation. That makes Podziemski's value murkier than I would like, but he improved significantly toward the end of last year after struggling out of the gate. I buy him as a glue guy with upside to expand his role if/when Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green miss time.

144- Kyle Kuzma, Bucks

I'm far from a Kuzma optimist, but the Bucks are not a deep team when it comes to playmakers. In theory, Kuzma could fill the No. 2 role behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. Very few potential No. 2 options are available with your second-to-last pick in a fantasy basketball draft.

145- Collin Sexton, Hornets

Sexton has almost faded into obscurity while playing for the tanking Jazz, but he has quietly been one of the more productive per-minute guards in the NBA. I don't trust him to have more than a sixth-man role for Charlotte, but we know LaMelo Ball has struggled to stay healthy.

Draft Results - Rounds

Round 1

Nikola Jokić (DEN - C) - Alex Barutha

Victor Wembanyama (SAS - C) - Kirien's Mat...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC - PG) - Rotomancer

Luka Dončić (LAL - PG,SG) - Fantasy•Ba...

Cade Cunningham (DET - PG,SG) - DT's Fabulou...

Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL - PF,C) - Jeff's Sensa...

Anthony Davis (DAL - PF,C) - Aburnshoops

Anthony Edwards (MIN - PG,SG) - Maven's Mind...

Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK - PF,C) - Mike Catron ...

Trae Young (ATL - PG) - Joel Bartilo...

James Harden (LAC - PG,SG) - Matty G @NBA...

Tyrese Maxey (PHI - PG) - SteveSaintP

Round 2

Stephen Curry (GSW - PG) - SteveSaintP

Devin Booker (PHX - PG,SG) - Matty G @NBA...

Domantas Sabonis (SAC - C) - Joel Bartilo...

Evan Mobley (CLE - PF,C) - Mike Catron ...

Jalen Johnson (ATL - SF,PF) - Maven's Mind...

Donovan Mitchell (CLE - PG,SG) - Aburnshoops

Jaylen Brown (BOS - SG,SF) - Jeff's Sensa...

Jalen Williams (OKC - SF,PF) - DT's Fabulou...

Alperen Sengun (HOU - C) - Fantasy•Ba...

Kevin Durant (HOU - SF,PF) - Rotomancer

Scottie Barnes (TOR - SG,SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...

Amen Thompson (HOU - PG,SG,SF) - Alex Barutha

Round 3

Josh Giddey (CHI - PG,SG) - Alex Barutha

Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF,C) - Kirien's Mat...

Chet Holmgren (OKC - PF,C) - Rotomancer

LeBron James (LAL - SF,PF) - Fantasy•Ba...

Jalen Brunson (NYK - PG) - DT's Fabulou...

De'Aaron Fox (SAS - PG,SG) - Jeff's Sensa...

Bam Adebayo (MIA - PF,C) - Aburnshoops

LaMelo Ball (CHA - PG,SG) - Maven's Mind...

Jamal Murray (DEN - PG,SG) - Mike Catron ...

Pascal Siakam (IND - PF,C) - Joel Bartilo...

Dyson Daniels (ATL - PG,SG,SF) - Matty G @NBA...

Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM - PF,C) - SteveSaintP

Round 4

Myles Turner (MIL - C) - SteveSaintP

Kawhi Leonard (LAC - SF,PF) - Matty G @NBA...

Derrick White (BOS - PG,SG) - Joel Bartilo...

Tyler Herro (MIA - PG,SG) - Mike Catron ...

Deni Avdija (POR - SF,PF) - Maven's Mind...

Franz Wagner (ORL - SF,PF) - Aburnshoops

Ivica Zubac (LAC - C) - Jeff's Sensa...

Trey Murphy III (NOP - SF,PF) - DT's Fabulou...

Ja Morant (MEM - PG) - Fantasy•Ba...

Cooper Flagg (DAL - SF) - Rotomancer

Brandon Miller (CHA - SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...

Coby White (CHI - PG,SG) - Alex Barutha

Round 5

Joel Embiid (PHI - C) - Alex Barutha

Austin Reaves (LAL - PG,SG) - Kirien's Mat...

Desmond Bane (ORL - SG,SF) - Rotomancer

Jimmy Butler III (GSW - SF,PF) - Fantasy•Ba...

Jalen Duren (DET - C) - DT's Fabulou...

Lauri Markkanen (UTA - SF,PF) - Jeff's Sensa...

Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL - PF,C) - Aburnshoops

Deandre Ayton (LAL - C) - Maven's Mind...

Darius Garland (CLE - PG) - Mike Catron ...

Zion Williamson (NOP - SF,PF) - Joel Bartilo...

Jakob Poeltl (TOR - C) - Matty G @NBA...

Cameron Johnson (DEN - SF,PF) - SteveSaintP

Round 6

Payton Pritchard (BOS - PG) - SteveSaintP

Mark Williams (PHX - C) - Matty G @NBA...

Nikola Vučević (CHI - C) - Joel Bartilo...

DeMar DeRozan (SAC - SF) - Mike Catron ...

Immanuel Quickley (TOR - PG,SG) - Maven's Mind...

Jordan Poole (NOP - PG,SG) - Aburnshoops

Jalen Green (PHX - PG,SG) - Jeff's Sensa...

Jarrett Allen (CLE - C) - DT's Fabulou...

Walker Kessler (UTA - C) - Fantasy•Ba...

OG Anunoby (NYK - SF,PF) - Rotomancer

Alex Sarr (WAS - C) - Kirien's Mat...

Josh Hart (NYK - SG,SF,PF) - Alex Barutha

Round 7

Julius Randle (MIN - PF,C) - Alex Barutha

Kel'el Ware (MIA - PF,C) - Kirien's Mat...

Donovan Clingan (POR - C) - Rotomancer

Miles Bridges (CHA - SF,PF) - Fantasy•Ba...

Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC - C) - DT's Fabulou...

Cam Thomas (BKN - SG,SF) - Jeff's Sensa...

Zach LaVine (SAC - PG,SG) - Aburnshoops

Matas Buzelis (CHI - SF,PF) - Maven's Mind...

Onyeka Okongwu (ATL - C) - Mike Catron ...

Michael Porter Jr. (BKN - SF,PF) - Joel Bartilo...

Fred VanVleet (HOU - PG) - Matty G @NBA...

Paul George (PHI - SG,SF,PF) - SteveSaintP

Round 8

Rudy Gobert (MIN - C) - SteveSaintP

Shaedon Sharpe (POR - SG,SF) - Matty G @NBA...

Andrew Nembhard (IND - PG,SG) - Joel Bartilo...

Christian Braun (DEN - SG,SF) - Mike Catron ...

Nic Claxton (BKN - C) - Maven's Mind...

Mikal Bridges (NYK - SF,PF) - Aburnshoops

John Collins (LAC - PF,C) - Jeff's Sensa...

Anfernee Simons (BOS - PG,SG) - DT's Fabulou...

Jaden Ivey (DET - PG,SG) - Fantasy•Ba...

Ausar Thompson (DET - SF,PF) - Rotomancer

Toumani Camara (POR - SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...

Brandon Ingram (TOR - SG,SF,PF) - Alex Barutha

Round 9

Zach Edey (MEM - C) - Alex Barutha

VJ Edgecombe (PHI - SG) - Kirien's Mat...

Jalen Suggs (ORL - PG) - Rotomancer

Dereck Lively II (DAL - C) - Fantasy•Ba...

Bennedict Mathurin (IND - SG,SF) - DT's Fabulou...

Devin Vassell (SAS - SG,SF) - Jeff's Sensa...

Draymond Green (GSW - PF,C) - Aburnshoops

Tobias Harris (DET - PF) - Maven's Mind...

Bradley Beal (LAC - SG,SF) - Mike Catron ...

Keyonte George (UTA - PG,SG) - Joel Bartilo...

Norman Powell (MIA - SG,SF) - Matty G @NBA...

Kyrie Irving (DAL - PG) - SteveSaintP

Round 10

Isaiah Jackson (IND - C) - SteveSaintP

Donte DiVincenzo (MIN - PG,SG) - Matty G @NBA...

RJ Barrett (TOR - SF,PF) - Joel Bartilo...

Tari Eason (HOU - SF,PF) - Mike Catron ...

Isaiah Collier (UTA - PG,SG) - Maven's Mind...

D'Angelo Russell (DAL - PG) - Aburnshoops

Aaron Gordon (DEN - PF,C) - Jeff's Sensa...

Naz Reid (MIN - PF,C) - DT's Fabulou...

Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL - PG,SG) - Fantasy•Ba...

Keegan Murray (SAC - SF,PF) - Rotomancer

Zaccharie Risacher (ATL - SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...

T.J. McConnell (IND - PG) - Alex Barutha

Round 11

Brandin Podziemski (GSW - PG,SG) - Alex Barutha

Reed Sheppard (HOU - PG,SG) - Kirien's Mat...

Kyshawn George (WAS - SG,SF) - Rotomancer

Andrew Wiggins (MIA - SG,SF) - Fantasy•Ba...

Herbert Jones (NOP - SF,PF) - DT's Fabulou...

Malik Monk (SAC - SG) - Jeff's Sensa...

Scoot Henderson (POR - PG) - Aburnshoops

Jaden McDaniels (MIN - SF,PF) - Maven's Mind...

Stephon Castle (SAS - PG,SG) - Mike Catron ...

CJ McCollum (WAS - PG,SG) - Joel Bartilo...

Jrue Holiday (POR - PG,SG) - Matty G @NBA...

Ace Bailey (UTA - SF) - SteveSaintP

Round 12

Egor Demin (BKN - PG) - SteveSaintP

Bobby Portis (MIL - PF,C) - Matty G @NBA...

Bilal Coulibaly (WAS - SG,SF) - Joel Bartilo...

Brook Lopez (LAC - C) - Mike Catron ...

Neemias Queta (BOS - PF,C) - Maven's Mind...

Kyle Filipowski (UTA - PF,C) - Aburnshoops

Santi Aldama (MEM - PF,C) - Jeff's Sensa...

Cason Wallace (OKC - PG,SG) - DT's Fabulou...

Cam Whitmore (WAS - SF,PF) - Fantasy•Ba...

Jared McCain (PHI - PG,SG) - Rotomancer

Jay Huff (IND - C) - Kirien's Mat...

Kyle Kuzma (MIL - SF,PF) - Alex Barutha

Round 13

Collin Sexton (CHA - PG,SG) - Alex Barutha

Jonathan Kuminga (GSW - SF,PF) - Kirien's Mat...

Sam Hauser (BOS - SF,PF) - Rotomancer

Ty Jerome (MEM - SG) - Fantasy•Ba...

Daniel Gafford (DAL - C) - DT's Fabulou...

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL - SG,SF) - Jeff's Sensa...

Yang Hansen (POR - C) - Aburnshoops

Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU - PF,C) - Maven's Mind...

Aaron Nesmith (IND - SF) - Mike Catron ...

Yves Missi (NOP - C) - Joel Bartilo...

De'Andre Hunter (CLE - SF,PF) - Matty G @NBA...

Chris Boucher (BOS - PF,C) - SteveSaintP

Draft Results - Teams

Alex Barutha

(1) Nikola Jokić (DEN - C)

(24) Amen Thompson (HOU - PG,SG,SF)

(25) Josh Giddey (CHI - PG,SG)

(48) Coby White (CHI - PG,SG)

(49) Joel Embiid (PHI - C)

(72) Josh Hart (NYK - SG,SF,PF)

(73) Julius Randle (MIN - PF,C)

(96) Brandon Ingram (TOR - SG,SF,PF)

(97) Zach Edey (MEM - C)

(120) T.J. McConnell (IND - PG)

(121) Brandin Podziemski (GSW - PG,SG)

(144) Kyle Kuzma (MIL - SF,PF)

(145) Collin Sexton (CHA - PG,SG)

Kirien's Matchless Team

(2) Victor Wembanyama (SAS - C)

(23) Scottie Barnes (TOR - SG,SF,PF)

(26) Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF,C)

(47) Brandon Miller (CHA - SF,PF)

(50) Austin Reaves (LAL - PG,SG)

(71) Alex Sarr (WAS - C)

(74) Kel'el Ware (MIA - PF,C)

(95) Toumani Camara (POR - SF,PF)

(98) VJ Edgecombe (PHI - SG)

(119) Zaccharie Risacher (ATL - SF,PF)

(122) Reed Sheppard (HOU - PG,SG)

(143) Jay Huff (IND - C)

(146) Jonathan Kuminga (GSW - SF,PF)

Rotomancer

(3) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC - PG)

(22) Kevin Durant (HOU - SF,PF)

(27) Chet Holmgren (OKC - PF,C)

(46) Cooper Flagg (DAL - SF)

(51) Desmond Bane (ORL - SG,SF)

(70) OG Anunoby (NYK - SF,PF)

(75) Donovan Clingan (POR - C)

(94) Ausar Thompson (DET - SF,PF)

(99) Jalen Suggs (ORL - PG)

(118) Keegan Murray (SAC - SF,PF)

(123) Kyshawn George (WAS - SG,SF)

(142) Jared McCain (PHI - PG,SG)

(147) Sam Hauser (BOS - SF,PF)

Fantasy•Basketball•PH's Team

(4) Luka Dončić (LAL - PG,SG)

(21) Alperen Sengun (HOU - C)

(28) LeBron James (LAL - SF,PF)

(45) Ja Morant (MEM - PG)

(52) Jimmy Butler III (GSW - SF,PF)

(69) Walker Kessler (UTA - C)

(76) Miles Bridges (CHA - SF,PF)

(93) Jaden Ivey (DET - PG,SG)

(100) Dereck Lively II (DAL - C)

(117) Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL - PG,SG)

(124) Andrew Wiggins (MIA - SG,SF)

(141) Cam Whitmore (WAS - SF,PF)

(148) Ty Jerome (MEM - SG)

DT's Fabulous Team

(5) Cade Cunningham (DET - PG,SG)

(20) Jalen Williams (OKC - SF,PF)

(29) Jalen Brunson (NYK - PG)

(44) Trey Murphy III (NOP - SF,PF)

(53) Jalen Duren (DET - C)

(68) Jarrett Allen (CLE - C)

(77) Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC - C)

(92) Anfernee Simons (BOS - PG,SG)

(101) Bennedict Mathurin (IND - SG,SF)

(116) Naz Reid (MIN - PF,C)

(125) Herbert Jones (NOP - SF,PF)

(140) Cason Wallace (OKC - PG,SG)

(149) Daniel Gafford (DAL - C)

Jeff's Sensational Team

(6) Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL - PF,C)

(19) Jaylen Brown (BOS - SG,SF)

(30) De'Aaron Fox (SAS - PG,SG)

(43) Ivica Zubac (LAC - C)

(54) Lauri Markkanen (UTA - SF,PF)

(67) Jalen Green (PHX - PG,SG)

(78) Cam Thomas (BKN - SG,SF)

(91) John Collins (LAC - PF,C)

(102) Devin Vassell (SAS - SG,SF)

(115) Aaron Gordon (DEN - PF,C)

(126) Malik Monk (SAC - SG)

(139) Santi Aldama (MEM - PF,C)

(150) Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL - SG,SF)

Aburnshoops

(7) Anthony Davis (DAL - PF,C)

(18) Donovan Mitchell (CLE - PG,SG)

(31) Bam Adebayo (MIA - PF,C)

(42) Franz Wagner (ORL - SF,PF)

(55) Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL - PF,C)

(66) Jordan Poole (NOP - PG,SG)

(79) Zach LaVine (SAC - PG,SG)

(90) Mikal Bridges (NYK - SF,PF)

(103) Draymond Green (GSW - PF,C)

(114) D'Angelo Russell (DAL - PG)

(127) Scoot Henderson (POR - PG)

(138) Kyle Filipowski (UTA - PF,C)

(151) Yang Hansen (POR - C)

Maven's Mind-Blowing Team

(8) Anthony Edwards (MIN - PG,SG)

(17) Jalen Johnson (ATL - SF,PF)

(32) LaMelo Ball (CHA - PG,SG)

(41) Deni Avdija (POR - SF,PF)

(56) Deandre Ayton (LAL - C)

(65) Immanuel Quickley (TOR - PG,SG)

(80) Matas Buzelis (CHI - SF,PF)

(89) Nic Claxton (BKN - C)

(104) Tobias Harris (DET - PF)

(113) Isaiah Collier (UTA - PG,SG)

(128) Jaden McDaniels (MIN - SF,PF)

(137) Neemias Queta (BOS - PF,C)

(152) Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU - PF,C)

Mike Catron - @watchtheboxes

(9) Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK - PF,C)

(16) Evan Mobley (CLE - PF,C)

(33) Jamal Murray (DEN - PG,SG)

(40) Tyler Herro (MIA - PG,SG)

(57) Darius Garland (CLE - PG)

(64) DeMar DeRozan (SAC - SF)

(81) Onyeka Okongwu (ATL - C)

(88) Christian Braun (DEN - SG,SF)

(105) Bradley Beal (LAC - SG,SF)

(112) Tari Eason (HOU - SF,PF)

(129) Stephon Castle (SAS - PG,SG)

(136) Brook Lopez (LAC - C)

(153) Aaron Nesmith (IND - SF)

Joel Bartilotta RW

(10) Trae Young (ATL - PG)

(15) Domantas Sabonis (SAC - C)

(34) Pascal Siakam (IND - PF,C)

(39) Derrick White (BOS - PG,SG)

(58) Zion Williamson (NOP - SF,PF)

(63) Nikola Vučević (CHI - C)

(82) Michael Porter Jr. (BKN - SF,PF)

(87) Andrew Nembhard (IND - PG,SG)

(106) Keyonte George (UTA - PG,SG)

(111) RJ Barrett (TOR - SF,PF)

(130) CJ McCollum (WAS - PG,SG)

(135) Bilal Coulibaly (WAS - SG,SF)

(154) Yves Missi (NOP - C)

Matty G @NBAGEEWHIZ

(11) James Harden (LAC - PG,SG)

(14) Devin Booker (PHX - PG,SG)

(35) Dyson Daniels (ATL - PG,SG,SF)

(38) Kawhi Leonard (LAC - SF,PF)

(59) Jakob Poeltl (TOR - C)

(62) Mark Williams (PHX - C)

(83) Fred VanVleet (HOU - PG)

(86) Shaedon Sharpe (POR - SG,SF)

(107) Norman Powell (MIA - SG,SF)

(110) Donte DiVincenzo (MIN - PG,SG)

(131) Jrue Holiday (POR - PG,SG)

(134) Bobby Portis (MIL - PF,C)

(155) De'Andre Hunter (CLE - SF,PF)

SteveSaintP

(12) Tyrese Maxey (PHI - PG)

(13) Stephen Curry (GSW - PG)

(36) Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM - PF,C)

(37) Myles Turner (MIL - C)

(60) Cameron Johnson (DEN - SF,PF)

(61) Payton Pritchard (BOS - PG)

(84) Paul George (PHI - SG,SF,PF)

(85) Rudy Gobert (MIN - C)

(108) Kyrie Irving (DAL - PG)

(109) Isaiah Jackson (IND - C)

(132) Ace Bailey (UTA - SF)

(133) Egor Demin (BKN - PG)

(156) Chris Boucher (BOS - PF,C)

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Zolak & Bertrand share intel on Tatum's intense approach to Achilles rehab

Zolak & Bertrand share intel on Tatum's intense approach to Achilles rehab originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jayson Tatum is still a long way from returning to action for the Boston Celtics. But he seems hell-bent on making his absence as short as possible.

Tatum underwent surgery mere hours after rupturing his Achilles tendon on May 12 in the Celtics’ second-round playoff series with the New York Knicks. By early July, he was doing pool workouts. By August, he was out of his walking boot.

And what appears to be aiding his recovery is essentially treating it like a full time job.

Marc Bertrand and Scott Zolak, the co-hosts of 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand radio show, revealed Thursday that they went out to dinner Wednesday night with Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who relayed some positive news about Tatum’s recovery.

“The Celtics are very happy with how hard Jayson Tatum has been working at his rehab, and his level of focus and intensity in the rehab process,” Bertrand said.

“(Tatum) did not leave town. He has been here the entire time. … Since the injury, he has not left town and he has been inside the building at the Celtics’ facility with their people and their team almost every single day for months.”

It’s not uncommon for injured players to be away from the facility during their rehab, especially during the offseason. For example, there were reports before Damian Lillard re-signed with the Portland Trail Blazers that he planned to rehab from his torn Achilles in Portland, regardless of where he signed.

But Tatum apparently has been doing his entire rehab in Boston under the guise of the Celtics’ training staff at their facility. And his commitment to that rehab is such that he’s been in the building virtually every weekday, per Zolak.

“He’s taken trips. He’ll go away to a certain island or something,” Zolak said. “But he’ll get his Friday workout in, fly down, work out there at that place, fly back late Sunday night, and be right back in the building on Monday morning.”

“All summer long, all he did was take weekend trips away,” Bertrand added. “He did not go away for any extended period of time, because he wanted to be back to work on his rehab.

“He’s doing things that nobody asked him to do.”

What all of this means for Tatum’s return date is still unclear. The Celtics have refused to put a timeline on his recovery, and it’s still possible they hold him out for the entire 2025-26 season, especially if the team isn’t a serious playoff contender after losing several key players this offseason.

But if Tatum continues this round-the-clock approach to his recovery, don’t be surprised if the discussion around his possible return gets louder when the calendar flips to 2026.

Here’s more from Zolak & Bertrand on Tatum:

Tatum’s progress is undoubtedly encouraging. But even if he’s ready to play by late February or early March (about nine to 10 months after his surgery), it’s still possible the Celtics keep him out or slow-play his return to ensure he’s 100 percent healthy for the 2026-27 campaign, instead of rushing him back amid a season with lower expectations.

Either way, younger players like Walsh, second-year wing Baylor Scheierman and rookie Hugo Gonzalez will have opportunity for larger roles while Tatum is sidelined. And it sounds like there’s already a fierce competition playing out for those minutes on the Celtics’ practice courts.

“The energy is already different. You can feel it,” Walsh said. “It’s kind of like, everybody’s trying to find their footing. Everybody’s trying to make their way, because it’s a bunch of young guys who are not necessarily proven. It’s a lot of potential and unproven talent that’s on the team.

“You can feel it in every workout where everybody is going at each other’s necks. Everybody’s trying to earn that spot, earn that playing time, earn that position. So, it’s like a dog fight right now.”

Check out Walsh’s full interview with Forsberg on the latest Celtics Talk Podcast: