Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey Teams Announce Their First Six Players: Tracker And Reaction

The 12 national men's hockey teams competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan all announced the first six players on the roster on Monday.

Here's a look at each squad's first players with reaction.

Team Canada

C: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

C: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

C: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

D: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

C: Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers

C: Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning

Canada is looking to win their 10th gold medal at the Olympics and third straight in tournaments that allowed NHL players. As usual, the team is littered with superstars and Stanley Cup Champions. Among the six players, there are eight Cups and counting.

Reinhart is the only new player from the 4 Nations preliminary roster. Instead of him, it was Marchand who was among the first six players listed.

Team USA

C: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

D: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

D: Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins

C: Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

LW: Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators

LW: Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Team USA is looking for revenge after the way the 4 Nations Face-Off final ended, with them losing in overtime. They’ve also had no luck in the Olympics for quite some time. The men's last gold medal in ice hockey at the Olympics was in 1980. The last time they earned a medal at the Olympics was in 2010 when they got silver after Sidney Crosby’s golden goal for Canada.

However, the personnel is different for the U.S. this time around. The roster is filled with all-stars and award-winners like Matthews and Quinn Hughes, along with Cup champions in Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk.

Team Finland

RW: Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars

C: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

C: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

G: Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

D: Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars

D: Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars

Team Finland’s preliminary roster for these upcoming Olympics is identical to the initial roster they listed for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Aside from Saros, all the players on this list played in the conference final of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Dallas Stars own the most Finnish players, and not just on this preliminary roster. If Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund are picked later in the year to go to the Olympics, they’ll have a reunion with their teammates from their club.

Team Sweden

RW: William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

LW: Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings

D: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

RW: Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings

D: Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres

LW: Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche

Team Sweden made a few changes to their preliminary roster from the 4 Nations team. One name that stands out is Colorado Avalanche captain, Landeskog. He made a dramatic return to hockey during this past post-season after being sidelined with a severe knee injury for nearly three years.

Kempe, Raymond and Dahlin weren’t among the first names announced for the 4 Nations tournament. However, all three players featured for Sweden in the tournament last February.

Team Latvia

G: Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets

D: Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers

C: Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers

G: Arturs Silovs, Vancouver Canucks

C: Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks

C: Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning

In the 2023 World Championship, Latvia defeated the U.S. in the bronze medal game to earn the first top-three finish in the country’s history. Defenseman Kristians Rubins scored the overtime-winner to seal a 4-3 win over Team USA.

Team Latvia is the only nation that has listed two goaltenders on their preliminary roster. Merzlikins and Silovs have some NHL playoff experience, with Silovs taking the reigns for the Canucks with Thatcher Demko injured. The Latvians will need both of their goaltenders to step up and hold off the elite offenses of the opposition.

Team Italy

D: Luca Zanatta, Pustertal/Val Pusteria (ICEHL)

D: Thomas Larkin, Schwenninger Wild Wings (Ger.)

C: Diego Kostner, HC Ambri-Piotta (Sui.)

C: Daniel Mantenuto, HC Bolzano (ICEHL)

G: Damian Clara, Anaheim Ducks

C: Tommy Purdeller, Pustertal/Val Pusteria (ICEHL)

Team Italy is the host nation and home team as the Winter Games are held in Milan. They have one player on this list who is associated with an NHL team. Goaltender Clara is in the Anaheim Ducks system.

He hasn’t played an NHL game up to this point, but he has made appearances with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Ducks. Clara played two games for them in this past season, recording a 3.15 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage.

Team Czechia

RW: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

C: Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche

C: Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins

D: Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks

G: Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

LW: Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils

The Czechs have had success in international tournaments before. Just last year, Team Czechia won gold at the 2024 World Championship. It was a big deal for the nation as fans filled the streets of Prague in celebration.

After they won the tournament, Pastrnak posted a picture of himself with the trophy with a caption that read, “Maybe Four Nation invite now?"

Czechia is more than capable of upsetting some of the big teams in this tournament. They could even be considered a big team themselves skilled players like Necas and Dostal to shut the door in goal.

Team Switzerland

D: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

C: Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils

D: Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils

LW: Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils

LW: Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings

RW: Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets

Team Switzerland is another team capable of upsets. There is plenty of leadership sprinkled around in this team, especially with the captains of the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils on this team.

It won’t only be on former Norris Trophy winner Josi and former Selke Trophy finalist Hischier to lead this team. Players like Niederreiter and Fiala have the experience and skill with a combined 1,620 regular-season games between them.

Team Germany

C: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

C: Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators

D: Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings

G: Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken

C: Nico Sturm, Florida Panthers

LW: Lukas Reichel, Chicago Blackhawks

Hockey in Germany has grown drastically over the years. When they played in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, the roster had a handful of players who had played in the NHL.

Now, the Germans can say they have star players on their team, beginning with Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers center has six 100-point seasons, a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, a Rocket Richard Trophy and more.

Don’t forget the supporting cast of the talented Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators and the physical Seider of the Detroit Red Wings, who captained Germany in the 2025 World Championship.

Team Slovakia

D: Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals

LW: Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens

LW: Tomas Tatar, Zug (Sui.)

D: Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightning

D: Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

C: Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames

Slovakia’s preliminary roster has a great mix of veteran and young players. However, these players have one theme seasoned into all of them, and that is grit.

Calgary Flames’ Pospisil leads the way in that aspect of the game. In this past regular season, the center finished the campaign with 301 hits, third in the league. Even the Montreal Canadiens’ Slafkovsky joined Pospisil on the list of top hitters, recording 194 hits.

However, it doesn’t end there, as D-man Fehervary blocked shots consistently for the Washington Capitals this season. He averaged 1.85 blocks per game, totalling 150 over 81 games.

Team Denmark

RW: Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets

G: Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes

C: Lars Eller, Washington Capitals

RW: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning

LW: Jonas Rondbjerg, Vegas Golden Knights

D: Jesper Jensen Abo, EC-KAC (ICEHL)

Denmark’s preliminary roster is highlighted by goaltender Andersen, who is coming off a solid playoff campaign for the Carolina Hurricanes. He led the team to the Eastern Conference final with stellar performances in the first two rounds against the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals.

Ehlers and Bjorkstrand are skilled wingers with excellent offensive skill for the Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively. The Danish wingers have had multiple 20-goal seasons in the NHL and will look to bring their best for their nation in February 2026.

Team France

D: Yohann Auvitu, HC Vítkovice (CZE)

C: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, HC Ajoie (Sui.)

D: Jules Boscq, HPK (Fin.)

D: Hugo Gallet, Tappara (Fin.)

RW: Jordann Perret, Mountfield HK (CZE)

LW: Alexandre Texier, St. Louis Blues

France doesn't have as much NHL experience as other squads, but there are some notables.

Auvitu, Bellemare and Texier have made appearances in the NHL. St. Louis Blues’ Texier is the only player who currently plays in the NHL. He scored six goals and 11 points in 31 games this past regular season.

Bellemare played 700 games in the NHL for five teams. He played his final season with the Seattle Kraken in 2023-24. Auvitu played 58 NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

June 16, 2025

Mets prospect Jonah Tong turns in another terrific start for Double-A Binghamton

Mets prospect Jonah Tong's dominance in Double-A Binghamton continued on Sunday.

The right-hander fired 5.0 tremendous innings, allowing one run on two hits while walking none and striking out five.

Tong has been close to unhittable over his last nine starts dating back to April 27, allowing more than one run just once.

Overall this season, he has a 1.97 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 96 strikeouts in 59.1 innings over 12 starts -- a rate of 14.6 strikeouts per nine.

Speaking with SNY a few weeks ago, Tong discussed his ascension and highlighted what he's working on -- including his new slider.

"Right now we’re tinkering with shapes, so I can’t really tell you what exactly is happening," Tong noted about the slider. "We’re tinkering with a few things, but really happy with the progress of that."

The 21-year-old right-hander is also mindful of the need to limit his walks.

"The most obvious one for me is the walks right now," he said. "They’re definitely there. I do think – and I’m really confident -- that they’re not always gonna be there. It’s just more getting my feet wet and getting into the season. Last year happened for me right out of the gate, and this year it’s just a little bit slower when it comes to that.

"It’s just being more consistent, and knowing that when I’m in the zone we’re gonna have a lot of success. And just feeling confident in that. So I think just being in the zone early and often, and having the ability to put away hitters is something I’ve shown I can do – I just need to do it a little more consistently."

Tong's promotion to Triple-A Syracuse might not be imminent, but it will be a mild surprise if it doesn't come before the calendar flips to July.

June 16, 2025

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Game 5: TV/stream info, date, time for 2025 NBA Finals

The 2025 NBA Finals return to Paycom Center in Oklahoma City as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder host Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in Game 5. Tip-off is at 8:30 PM ET tonight on ABC.

The series is now tied 2-2 after OKC’s 111-104 victory on Friday night. The Pacers opened up with an aggressive start, scoring 20 points in the first five minutes of play. They built an early lead, but the Thunder continued to answer back.

Oklahoma City trailed by seven entering the fourth quarter, but Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up, scoring 15 points in the final four minutes to lead the Thunder to victory.

"I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight, and I didn't want to go out not swinging — not doing everything within my power and my control to try to win the game," said Gilgeous-Alexander.

"The guys deserve that much from me."

Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2025 league MVP, finished with 35 points. Jalen Williams added 27 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 14 points and a team-high of 15 rebounds.

"We got stagnant. Their second shots were a big problem, when you're unable to rebound, it's hard to continue to play with pace and tempo," said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle.

"We're going to have to dig in, circle the wagons, and come back stronger on Monday. This was a big disappointment, but there's three games left."

Pascal Siakam led the way for the Pacers with 20 points in the loss. Haliburton finished with 18, while Obi Toppin scored 17.

NBA: Finals-Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers

How much does home-court advantage matter to players in the NBA Finals?

Indiana fed off the crowd during its Game 3 win, but players will say the advantage is more about the comfort of routines at home.

Kurt Helin,

Kurt Helin,

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Game 5:

Date: Tonight, Monday, June 16
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
TV Channel: ABC

Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview: 2025 NBA Finals prediction, schedule, who to watch

The Thunder come in as heavy favorites, but we also have some best bets to consider this series.

Kurt Helin,

Kurt Helin,

When is Game 5 of the NBA Finals?

Monday, June 16, at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.

What channel is the Thunder vs Pacers game on?

The Thunder vs Pacers series will take place on ABC.

Thunder vs Pacers Series Scores and Schedule:

*All times listed are ET (* = if necessary)

Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
Game 2:Thunder 123, Pacers 107
Game 3:Pacers 116, Thunder 107
Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104
Game 5: Pacers at Thunder - Mon. June 16, 8:30 PM on ABC
Game 6: Thunder at Pacers - Thu. June 19, 8:30 PM on ABC*
Game 7: Pacers at Thunder - Sun, June 22, 8 PM on ABC*

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for each game of the Thunder vs Pacers series!

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Path to the NBA Finals:

The Thunder are seeking their first NBA title since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008. The last time the franchise reached the Finals was in 2012, dropping their series against LeBron James' Miami Heat in 5. Here is how they advanced to the NBA Finals:

Oklahoma City swept the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies in the First Round, eliminated the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in 7 in the Conference Semifinals, and defeated the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves in 5 in the Western Conference Finals.

Indiana Pacers’ Path to the NBA Finals:

The Indiana Pacers are seeking their first NBA title. The team's last Finals appearance was in 2000, when they lost to the Lakers in 6. Here is the team's path to the Finals:

Indiana eliminated the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games, before knocking out the No. 6 New York Knicks in 6 to advance to the Finals.

Head to nbcsports.com/nba for the latest news, updates, and storylines!

June 16, 2025

Oilers are on cusp of making the wrong kind of Stanley Cup Final history

Oilers are on cusp of making the wrong kind of Stanley Cup Final history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Will the Edmonton Oilers finish as Stanley Cup runners-up again?

Edmonton was pushed to the brink of elimination in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Saturday, losing Game 5 at home by a score of 5-2 to the defending champion Florida Panthers. The series now shifts back to Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday, when the Panthers will have the chance to pull off a repeat championship.

The rare Cup Final rematch between Florida and Edmonton has played out much differently than last year, when the Oilers erased a 3-0 series deficit before dropping the decisive Game 7 on the road.

Panthers-Oilers Round 2 has been a back-and-forth battle with three overtime contests in five games. Edmonton took the series opener before Florida responded with two straight victories. The Oilers evened the series in Game 4, but the Panthers pulled back ahead in Game 5.

Now, Connor McDavid and Co. need to win two straight elimination to avoid becoming repeat Stanley Cup runners-up.

Has an NHL team ever lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

The Oilers wouldn’t be the first team to suffer Cup Final losses in consecutive seasons.

How many NHL teams have lost back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

Since the start of the expansion era in the 1967-68 season, there have been just two instances of the same team losing at least two Cup Finals in a row.

Who was the last NHL team to lose back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals?

And it’s been nearly 50 years since it last happened. The Boston Bruins lost the 1977 Cup Final to the Montreal Canadiens before suffering the same fate against Montreal in 1978. Boston’s consecutive Cup Final defeats were part of a four-peat for Montreal from 1976-79.

The only other team to record consecutive runner-up finishes is the St. Louis Blues, who were defeated in three straight Cup Finals. St. Louis lost to the Canadiens in 1968 and 1969 before falling to the Bruins in 1970. The Blues wouldn’t make it back to the Cup Final until 2019, when they defeated the Bruins for the franchise’s first championship.

June 16, 2025

England’s Littler and Humphries lacked team unity at World Cup, insists Price

Welshman says ‘team ethic didn’t show with England’
Defending champions booed in ‘rubbish’ performance

Gerwyn Price said the lack of unity shown by Luke Littler and Luke Humphries contributed towards England’s “rubbish” performance at the World Cup of Darts.

Price and his Welsh compatriot Jonny Clayton finished runners-up in Frankfurt after losing a last-leg shootout against the Northern Irish duo Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney.

June 16, 2025

USA and other nations reveal first 6 players for 2026 Olympics hockey rosters

USA and other nations reveal first 6 players for 2026 Olympics hockey rosters originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s all starting to come together for the Milan Cortina Olympics.

With NHL players set to return to the Olympics in 2026 for the first time since 2014, national teams across the globe are scrambling to sign up their stars.

USA Hockey confirmed on Monday the first six players who will be on its roster:

Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Mike Sullivan of the New York Rangers was previously announced as the coach for the 2026 Olympics and 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.

Five of those six players competed for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, losing in overtime to Canada in the final. Hughes was set to be on the roster, but he withdrew from the tournament due to injury.

Aside from the U.S., the other 11 countries also revealed the first six players for their rosters. Here’s a look at who will be heading to Italy in February:

CANADA

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

FINLAND

Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

SWEDEN

Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

CZECHIA

Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche
Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins
Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks
Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

SWITZERLAND

Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings
Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils
Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils

SLOVAKIA

Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens
Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames
Tomas Tatar
Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightnings
Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals
Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

GERMANY

Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
Lukas Reichel, Chicago Blackhawks
Nico Sturm, Florida Panthers
Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators
Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken

LATVIA

Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers
Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks
Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning
Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers
Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
Arturs Silovs, Vancouver Canucks

DENMARK

Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets
Lars Eller, Washington Capitals
Jonas Rondjberg, Vegas Golden Knights
Jesper Jensen Aabo
Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes

FRANCE

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Jordann Perret
Alexandre Texier, St. Louis Blues
Yohann Auvitu
Jules Boscq
Hugo Gallet

ITALY

Diego Kostner
Daniel Mantenuto
Tommy Purdeller
Luca Zanatta
Thomas Larkin
Damian Clara

June 16, 2025

Orioles at Rays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 16

It's Monday, June 16 and the Orioles (30-40) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (39-32). Zach Eflin is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Ryan Pepiot for Tampa Bay.

Both Baltimore and Tampa Bay are coming off series sweeps of their opponents over the weekend. The Orioles outscored the Angels 19-7, while the Rays outscored the Mets 24-9.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Rays

Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
Time: 7:35PM EST
Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
City: Tampa, FL
Network/Streaming: MASN2, FDSNSUN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Orioles at the Rays

The latest odds as of Monday:

Moneyline: Orioles (+107), Rays (-129)
Spread: Rays -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Rays

Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Zach Eflin vs. Ryan Pepiot
- Orioles: Zach Eflin, (6-2, 4.08 ERA)
  Last outing: 6.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 5 Strikeouts
- Rays: Ryan Pepiot, (3-6, 3.31 ERA)
  Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Rays

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Orioles and the Rays:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Rays

The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against divisional opponents
The Rays' last 3 games have gone over the Total
The Rays have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.30 units
Baltimore is 6-3 when Zach Eflin pitches this season
Tampa Bay is 5-9 when Ryan Pepiot pitches this season

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

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

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

June 16, 2025

Celtics Draft Fits: Could Koby Brea bring elite 3-point shooting to Boston?

Celtics Draft Fits: Could Koby Brea bring elite 3-point shooting to Boston? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There are many ways to make a living in the NBA. One of the most effective in 2025 is shooting 3-pointers at a high rate.

Almost every team uses the 3-point shot as a major focal point of their offense in 2025. Just look at the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. The Thunder ranked No. 6 and the Pacers were No. 9 in 3-point percentage during the regular season. The Pacers are shooting a league-best 39.3 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs.

We can debate whether the abundance of 3-pointers in the modern game produces the most exciting product possible, but the fact is teams need to be able to shoot well from 3-point range to maximize their potential.

More Celtics Draft Fits:

The Celtics are no strangers to taking 3-pointers. In fact, they set league records for 3-point shots made and attempted per game this past season.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the C’s to add even more shooting to their roster in the offseason, and the 2025 NBA Draft is a great place to find those players.

The Celtics own the No. 28 overall pick in the first round and the second pick (No. 32 overall) in the second round of the upcoming draft.

One player with the 3-point shooting talent to make an impact with the Celtics is Kentucky wing Koby Brea.

Learn more about Brea and his potential fit with the C’s below:

Koby Brea’s bio

Position: Wing
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 215 pound
Birthdate: Nov. 6, 2002
Birthplace: Washington Heights, New York
College: Kentucky

Koby Brea’s collegiate stats

2024-25 (w/Kentucky): 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 47.0 field goal pecentag (36 games)
2023-24 (w/Dayton): 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 51.2 field goal percentage (33 games)
2022-23 (w/Dayton): 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 36.3 field goal percentage (28 games)
2021-22 (w/Dayton): 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 43.6 field goal percentage (35 games)
2020-21 (w/Dayton): 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 40.0 field goal percentage (17 games)

Koby Brea’s collegiate accolades

2024 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year
2022 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year

Koby Brea’s highlights

Why Koby Brea fits with Celtics

Koby Brea might have the prettiest 3-point shooting stroke in the 2025 draft class. He shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range at Kentucky last season — one year after hitting those shots at an impressive 49.5 percent rate for Dayton in 2023-24. Brea made 43.4 percent of his 3-pointers over his five-year college career.

The issue with Brea is there aren’t many other super-impressive aspects of his skill set. He’s not an elite defender. He doesn’t rebound at a high level. His playmaking ability doesn’t fill up a highlight reel.

As our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg explains, Brea is an intriguing draft fit for the Celtics based on his 3-point shooting, but can he improve the other areas of his game?

“Koby Brea as the best 3-point shooter in the entire draft? Finishing his college career at Kentucky, Brea shot 44 percent from 3-point range for the Wildcats during his fifth college season after transferring from Dayton,” Forsberg said, as seen in the video player above. “He has decent size for a wing and provides elite shooting from distance.

“But the rest of his game is light on NBA qualities. Brea is often compared to someone like Duncan Robinson. So if Brea’s 3-point shot transfers to the NBA, he could be a useful rotational presence. Brea is likely to be a second-round pick and could land on the Celtics’ radar if they’re willing to develop the rest of his game.”

June 16, 2025

Ottawa Senators Star Named to Preliminary 2026 Winter Olympic Roster

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stützle has been named to the preliminary roster for Team Germany ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games being co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

The German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) announced the first six names on its men's preliminary Olympic roster Monday, in coordination with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the National Hockey League (NHL), the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Joining Stützle are fellow NHL stars Leon Draisaitl, Moritz Seider, Philipp Grubauer, Lukas Reichel, and Nico Sturm—a high-end core that reflects Germany’s remarkable rise on the international hockey stage.

Stützle, 23, is coming off an excellent year with Ottawa, where he led the Senators in scoring for the second time in three seasons. He put up 24 goals and 79 points, helping the club clinch its first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance since 2017. On top of that, he seems to be finding more of a groove in his two-way play.

Barring injury, Stützle is a lock for Germany’s final roster, which will be determined by the German National Olympic Committee (NOC).

This tournament will mark the first true best-on-best Olympic men’s hockey competition since Sochi 2014, as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time in over a decade.

While Germany's top six, headlined by Draisaitl, Stützle, and Seider, can compete with anyone, the drop-off in depth beyond that group is swift and fierce when compared to powerhouses like Canada and the USA.

But Germany can be a dangerous in any given game if their role players and younger talents can rise to the occasion. The Germans won silver at the games in PyeongChang in 2018 in the first of two tournaments that were completely void of active NHL players.

The men's tournament will take place from February 11 to 22, 2026, across two venues: the Milano SantaGiulia Ice Hockey Arena (14,000 capacity) and the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena (5,700 capacity).

All 12 qualified teams have been divided into three groups of four:

Group A: Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, France
Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy (host)
Group C: United States, Germany, Latvia, Denmark

Stutzle and company will face a tough path in Group C, including a monster opponent in the United States. Latvia is always sneaky good with loud fans who travel well. And Denmark just eliminated an NHL star laden Canadian team at this year’s Worlds.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

More Sens Headlines:

Senators Bring Back First-Rounder For Second Tour Of Duty
Fashionably Late: Top 10 Ottawa Senator Draft Day Steals
Why The Notion Of Mitch Marner Signing With Ottawa Wouldn't Work

June 16, 2025

Zaidi details ‘uncomfortable' feeling during Giants-Dodgers series

Zaidi details ‘uncomfortable' feeling during Giants-Dodgers series originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Farhan Zaidi, begrudgingly, watched his former and current teams battle it out in a three-game series between the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend at Dodger Stadium.

San Francisco’s former president of baseball operations, who was fired shortly after the 2024 MLB season, now is an advisor with Los Angeles, where he was the general manager from 2015-2018 before joining the Giants.

With the Giants and Dodgers squaring off for the first time this season, Zaidi spoke exclusively to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser for a Q&A about his time with San Francisco, his current role with Los Angeles and his candid thoughts about watching the Giants this season both up close and from afar.

“It is strange,” Zaidi told Slusser when asked if the weekend series is strange for him. “If I had my choice, I would just disappear or go to like a Caribbean island for three days and then come back once it’s over. It’s strange. It’s uncomfortable. Because, as I said, I do want to see the Giants do well. I do work for the Dodgers, so obviously I want the Dodgers to do well. I kind of just want this series to be over, and I want both teams to go on and be playing other teams.”

Zaid constructed the majority of the Giants’ roster that has exceeded expectations so far this season, and while he is pleased to see his former organization’s success in 2025, he does not take any solace in San Francisco’s winning ways.

“I don’t really take any responsibility or satisfaction from the fact that the team’s doing well,” Zaidi shared with Slusser. “I am very happy for the people who I had relationships who are still there because I understand the grind of the day-to-day season, and I know how much it sucks when you’re not playing well, and I know how much better it is when you are playing well.

“I know how hard those guys have worked to get the team to this point. I’m just happy for the players and the people in the organization who I know. Success is the goal and that is really validating, so I’m happy for them.”

This weekend’s Giants-Dodgers series might have been the first for Zaidi this season, but it certainly won’t be the last.

When the Orange and Black return to Dodger Stadium for what could be a pivotal four-game series on Sept. 18, Zaidi might want to plan a vacation.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

June 16, 2025

Rockies at Nationals prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 16

It's Monday, June 16 and the Rockies (14-57) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (30-41). Carson Palmquist is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Jake Irvin for Washington.

The Nationals have lost eight consecutive games and are coming off being swept in a three-game series to the Marlins and Mets over the past seven days.

For Colorado, the Rockies are coming off a 10-1 win over the Braves that snapped a two-game losing streak. The Rockies are 2-7 in the past nine games and have gone 0-5 when Palmquist pitches this season.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Nationals

Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
Time: 6:45PM EST
Site: Nationals Park
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming: COLR, MASN

Odds for the Rockies at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Monday:

Moneyline: Rockies (+168), Nationals (-204)
Spread: Nationals -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Nationals

Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Carson Palmquist vs. Jake Irvin
- Rockies: Carson Palmquist, (0-4, 7.77 ERA)
  Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
- Nationals: Jake Irvin, (5-3, 4.21 ERA)
  Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Nationals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Rockies and the Nationals:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Washington Nationals on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Nationals

The Nationals have won 6 of their last 8 home games against the Rockies
9 of the Nationals' last 11 games (82%) have stayed under the Total
The Nationals have failed to cover the Run Line in 6 of their last 8 games
Washington is 7-7 on the ML when Jake Irvin pitches this season
Colorado is 0-5 this season when Carson Palmquist pitches

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

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

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

June 16, 2025

Red Sox legend Ortiz uses Devers trade as lesson for young stars

Red Sox legend Ortiz uses Devers trade as lesson for young stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Red Sox legend David Ortiz wants young stars to use Boston’s shocking trade of left-handed slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants as a lesson. In a conversation with baseball content creator Yancen Pujols on Monday, “Big Papi” detailed why he believes there is much to learn from the 28-year-old’s fallout in Boston.

“Players need to take this as an example, nobody is indispensable … You need to be smart and understand the situation. Your worst enemy is your ego,” Ortiz said.

David Ortiz says Rafael Devers' ego was what ruined his relationship with the Red Sox pic.twitter.com/L0DRQHLOt6
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 16, 2025

Ortiz’s comments were directed toward Devers’ unhappiness with his role in Boston and how, despite the three-time MLB All-Star playing under the 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed with the Red Sox in 2023, no one player is above a franchise.

After playing third base for the first eight years of his MLB career, Devers was moved to designated hitter this season to make way for Alex Bregman, whom the Red Sox signed to a three-year, $120 million free-agent contract this past offseason. Then, after Triston Casas suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon in early May, Boston asked Devers to step in at first base, which he never did.

Devers simply was turned off by the Red Sox wanting him to change positions multiple times. That fact left Ortiz wanting MLB’s up-and-comers to know that, even if you are a stud like Devers, you’re still just a part of a team – and movable.

“The organization is always going to be there,” Ortiz reiterated in an interview with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal published on Monday. “Players come and go. As a player, sometimes you’ve got to put your ego aside and understand that once you get paid, you’ve got to find a way to do what you’re told.

“That’s a message for all young players who think they turn out to be bigger than the game. I’m not saying that Devers was like that. He’s humble. He’s a good kid. But sometimes when you’re young and immature, you (don’t realize that).”

It is unknown if Devers would still be with the Red Sox had they not signed Bregman or had Casas not gotten injured. But the what-ifs don’t matter now, as Devers is San Francisco-bound and expected to work with manager Bob Melvin and president of baseball operations Buster Posey on figuring out his new role(s).

Devers exits Boston for San Francisco after posting a .905 OPS over 73 games as a full-time DH during the 2025 MLB season. Through the national noise and Ortiz’s comments, it’s clear most believe the Giants landed a potential National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, and that the Red Sox are in the dumps.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

June 16, 2025

Phillies at Marlins prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 16

It's Monday, June 16 and the Phillies (42-29) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (28-41). Mick Abel is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Sandy Alcantara for Miami.

Miami is coming off its first sweep of the season, taking the series from Washington in a variety of ways (11-9, 4-3, 3-1). This is the second three-game winning streak of the season for the Marlins and they've yet to win four consecutive.

Philadelphia has won four straight games and five of the past six as they prepare for this four-game home stand. The Phillies swept the Blue Jays after taking two of the three versus the Cubs.

Miami is 5-8 overall this season with Alcantra pitching, but they have won two of the past three, while Abel and the Phillies have dropped the past two with him on the mound.

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

Game details & how to watch Phillies at Marlins

Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
Time: 6:40PM EST
Site: LoanDepot Park
City: Miami, FL
Network/Streaming: NBCSP, FDSNFL

Odds for the Phillies at the Marlins

The latest odds as of Monday:

Moneyline: Phillies (-130), Marlins (+110)
Spread: Phillies -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Marlins

Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Mick Abel vs. Sandy Alcantara
- Phillies: Mick Abel, (1-0, 2.35 ERA)
  Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
- Marlins: Sandy Alcantara, (3-7, 7.14 ERA)
  Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Marlins

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Phillies and the Marlins:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Marlins

The Phillies have won 4 straight, while the Marlins are on a 4-game losing run at home
The Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara has an ERA of 7.14 and a WHIP of 1.46 when starting this season
The Marlins have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.19 units
The Marlins are 5-8 on the ML when Sandy Alcantara pitches this season
The Phillies have lost their last two with Mick Abel pitching this season (1-2 overall)

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

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

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

June 16, 2025

Team Sweden and Team Czechia Announce Preliminary Men's Ice Hockey Rosters for Winter Olympics

The Colorado Avalanche already have two represented players in next year's Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.

The IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation began announcing preliminary rosters (six players) for the 12 qualified countries participating in next year's Winter Games on Monday morning. At the time of this article's publication, Team Canada's first six have not yet been announced.

Team Sweden - Gabriel Landeskog

Sweden's Olympic Winter Games preliminary roster is taking shape with the first 6 names announced.🇸🇪💪#IIHF #Olympics #NHL #NHLPA @trekronorse @olympics @nhl @nhlpa pic.twitter.com/ocidNPtM1X
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) June 16, 2025

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has made the preliminary roster for Team Sweden.

Landeskog made his professional return to the NHL on April 23rd after over 1,000 days of rehabilitation of a knee injury suffered in the team's 2022 Stanley Cup run.

In five games played in this most recent postseason, the Stockholm, Sweden native posted 4 points (1 goal/3 assists).

Team Czechia - Martin Necas

Who’s in?👀 Czechia has selected the first 6 names for its Olympic Winter Games preliminary roster.🇨🇿#IIHF #Olympics #NHL #NHLPA @czehockey @olympics @nhl @nhlpa pic.twitter.com/zii4b2t2pg
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) June 16, 2025

Martin Necas, traded to the Avalanche this past January, has been named one of the first six players to Team Czechia's ice hockey roster.

Necas posted a career high in points this past season between his time with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Avalanche, tallying 83 points (27 goals/56 assists) in 79 GP.

Bookmark THN's Colorado Avalanche site so you never miss the latest news surrounding the burgundy and blue!

Make sure you also bookmark The Hockey News to keep up on all things hockey, from NHL to AHL to PWHL and so much more!

Follow Bailey Curtis on X and stay up to date on live news stories following all things Colorado hockey!

June 16, 2025

Sixers draft profile: Khaman Maluach is a bona fide big man

Sixers draft profile: Khaman Maluach is a bona fide big man originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A scouting report on NBA draft prospect Khaman Maluach:

Position: Center
Height: 7-0.75(without shoes)
Weight: 253 pounds
College: Duke

Strengths

Maluach’s size is an obvious place to start; he’s a bona fide big man whose 7-6.75 wingspan was the highest at the draft combine.

His youth and potential to make major progress are worth highlighting, too. Maluach began playing basketball in 2019 and represented South Sudan at the Paris Olympics as a 17-year-old. He’ll be 18 on draft night.

While Maluach wasn’t a Donovan Clingan-esque shot blocker in his one year at Duke, he did record 2.5 rejections per 40 minutes and has talent in the rim protection department outside of raw size. Maluach understands the importance of verticality and knows he can help his team through deterring and disrupting drivers.

In the NBA, Maluach looks like he should be able to do more than simply patrol the paint. He slides his feet quite well for someone over 7 feet and isn’t in an automatically hopeless position if he’s switched onto a perimeter player.

Offensively, Maluach largely sticks to his strengths. He’s a serious pick-and-roll lob threat, a skill that shined with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. And Maluach’s relative lack of basketball experience doesn’t show in his non-dunk finishing. He shot 80.6 percent at the rim, per The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.

At the foul line, Maluach finished the season with a 76.6 percent mark. He was mainly an interior player and went just 4 for 16 from three-point range, but his touch and that foul shooting success is encouraging.

Weaknesses

Maluach’s freshman year production was not that of a player guaranteed to become a star. Over 21.9 minutes per game, he averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. Maluach did very little as a passer, totaling 20 assists and 30 turnovers across Duke’s 39 games.

Maluach had zero rebounds in 21 minutes during the Blue Devils’ national championship game loss to Houston. Defensive rebounding stands out as a weaker area of his game. One reason is he doesn’t possess great lower-body strength or bounce.

Maluach ranked near the bottom in most of the combine’s athletic testing, including standing vertical leap (24 inches). That’s fine for a player of Maluach’s size, but it does seem that he has considerable room to improve at carving out position inside and snagging contested boards.

Self-awareness is a valuable trait in the NBA. With that said, there’s valid big-picture questions about how limited Maluach will be as a professional. Will he one day be able to score regularly in ways outside of lobs and put-backs? Will he be solid in multiple pick-and-roll coverages (drop, switch, at the level) and capable of playing high-quality playoff minutes?

Fit

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s stated philosophy is to take the best player he can. Of course, Joel Embiid’s presence on the Sixers wouldn’t be irrelevant at all if the team wound up selecting Maluach, whether that’s as a surprise pick at No. 3 or later in the draft following a trade down.

If Embiid returns to good health and still has elite prime years ahead of him, there wouldn’t be many minutes available for a player like Maluach. However, with the 31-year-old Embiid’s persistent left knee problems, that world doesn’t appear to be a certainty.

Morey drafted a center in 2024 with the 41st overall pick and Adem Bona had a very positive home stretch of the season, starting the Sixers’ final nine games and posting 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per contest. Other second-round center selections during Morey’s tenure include Paul Reed (58th overall in 2020), Filip Petrusev (50th overall in 2021) and Charles Bassey (53rd overall in 2021).