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Mets' Frankie Montas in 'good place' physically, not concerned with rehab game results

Veteran Frankie Montas has yet to pitch in a game for the Mets after suffering a lat injury during his first bullpen session of spring training, but as he gets closer to a return to the majors, the right-hander is looking forward to contributing to the team's early season success.

"I want to help man, I want to help," Montas said. "I think that's the biggest thing for me. That's what's killing me, not being able to help. Obviously the team is pretty good. I'm the type of guy, I like to do my part and I like to feel part of the win for sure."

The 32-year-old signed a two-year deal with New York in the offseason, but didn't play in any spring training games due to the lat injury. He has made five rehab starts in the minors, most recently lasting just 1.2 innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, as his ERA has ballooned to 15.43 over three Triple-A games.

Montas told reporters that he isn't too much concerned about the results of his rehab games and is feeling much stronger throwing the ball.

"I think for me it's how I feel," Montas said. "Like I said, this rehab process was actually pretty good. They did an amazing job on my lat. This is probably, I'll say the strongest my shoulder and arm has felt in a while."

He added: "Definitely would've liked to get more pitches in yesterday, that was the plan. I feel like the plan is just trying to get to the pitch count before coming back to the big leagues."

Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Saturday that Montas will have one more rehab outing before making a decision on his future.

"Talking to Hef [Jeremy Hefner], talking to Dickie Scott, obviously we haven't seen the results, but physically he continues to say he's fine," Mendoza said. "I haven't talked to him, I saw him from the distance today so I'll get back with him. But he's going to get one more in Triple-A and then we'll have a decision after that."

As for the role Montas returns to the Mets in following Kodai Senga's injury, either as a starter or a reliever, Mendoza said the team hasn't "made that decision yet." The manager then made it clear there isn't a concern about Montas' results during the minor league rehab games, adding that the goal is for him to reach the 75-80-pitch mark in his next start after throwing just 53 pitches on Friday.

"I wouldn't say concern, because physically he says he's fine," Mendoza said. "If there was something physically wrong, then you would say, 'OK, there's some concern there.' It's more mechanics and things like that. As he continues to get reps, we're hoping that we start seeing better results.

"As far as physically and all that, he's in a good place. We will continue to work with him and get him back on track."

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Harris, Acuña, Ozuna provide boost to lineup, give Braves hope they can save season

ATLANTA — With Michael Harris II finding his power stroke, Ronald Acuña Jr. hitting .375 after missing almost a full season and Marcel Ozuna fighting his way through a hip issue, the Atlanta Braves are hoping their offensive recovery has not come too late.

Harris has hit homers in back-to-back games for the Braves, who have won three of their last four games at a crucial stretch of the season.

Harris hit a three-run homer to tie the game and Ozuna added another three-run shot to give the Braves the lead in their 12-4 win over Colorado on Friday night. It was Ozuna’s 11th homer, despite the sore hip.

The Braves trailed 4-1 before recovering to beat the lowly Rockies after winning two of three games at Milwaukee — their first series win since May 16-18.

The Braves (30-38) still have much ground to make up in the NL East. Scoring six or more runs in each of their most recent three wins has given manager Brian Snitker renewed reason for optimism.

The Braves, who won the 2021 World Series, need a dramatic recovery to extend their streak of seven consecutive postseason appearances.

“These are big games, all of them,” Snitker said after Friday night’s win before acknowledging it won’t be easy to save the season after falling 10 games below .500, most recently at 28-38. The Braves are 14 games behind the first-place New York Mets and tied for third in the East with Washington.

“As we know, we’ve done it before (but) not this far back,” Snitker said.

Acuña doubled on the first pitch from Germán Márquez. He added singles in the third and fifth innings for his third consecutive three-hit game.

When asked what Acuña brings to the lineup, Harris said “Energy. He’s an MVP. You know the talent is there. He brings a lot of energy at the (leadoff) spot.”

Acuña stole second base in the fifth on his first attempt since returning on May 23 after missing almost a full season following surgery on his left knee.

“I was wondering if he was on a restriction,” said Harris of Acuña’s wait for his first steal. “Obviously, the speed is still there.”

It was Acuña’s first stolen base since May 25, 2024 at Pittsburgh, a span of 385 days. It was an encouraging sign of confidence in the surgically repaired knee for Acuña, who was NL MVP in 2023 when he hit 41 homers and had 73 steals.

“He’s hit the ground running since he’s been back, that’s for sure,” Snitker said. “His at-bats have been not like he missed the significant amount of time he missed.”

Harris, hitting only .238, has driven in 41 runs. He has hit three of his six homers in the last six games.

“Obviously, I want my average to be up a good amount, but I feel I’ve been able to get some key RBIs through the season,” Harris said.

The Braves have been below .500 most of the season and their recent stretch of six straight series losses led to speculation they might be sellers instead of buyers at the trade deadline.

“I don’t think we really think about that much,” Harris said. “... It’s just worrying about who’s here now.”

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Mets vs. Rays: How to watch on SNY on June 14, 2025

The Mets continue a three-game series against the Rays at Citi Field on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Despite Friday's loss, the Mets' 27-8 (.771) record at home is their best in franchise history through the first 35 home games of a season
  • Pete Alonso extended his season-high 21-game on-base streak with a double on Friday -- it was his 22nd double of the season, tied with Lawrence Butler and Bobby Witt Jr. for the most in the majors
  • Juan Soto owns a 1.219 OPS over his last 15 games, hitting .346 with five home runs, 11 RBI, and 16 walks
  • Tylor Megill let up two runs on three hits over 5.0 IP last time out on June 8 against the Rockies, lowering his ERA to 3.76 on the season after a shaky May
RAYS
METS
-Francisco Lindor, SS
-Brandon Nimmo, LF
-Juan Soto, RF
-Pete Alonso, 1B
-Jeff McNeil, CF
-Starling Marte, DH
-Brett Baty, 2B
-Luis Torrens, C
-Ronny Mauricio, 3B

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here. 

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2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Cameron Schmidt

The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is winger Cameron Schmidt, who plays for the Vancouver Giants.

There are few players in this draft as dynamic as Schmidt. Listed at 5'7", 160 lbs, Schmidt lit up the WHL with 40 goals and 78 points in 61 games. He also helped Canada capture Gold at the 2025 U18s, scoring twice and adding two assists in seven games. 

What makes Schmidt a top prospect is his speed. He is already one of the fastest players in the WHL, and can pull highlight reel moves at breakneck speeds. His superb skating also comes in handy in the transition game, as once he builds up momentum, he is extremely hard to catch. 

In the offensive zone, Schmidt is a player who likes to get the puck off his stick quickly. He can beat goaltenders from every angle, and as the season went on, he showed that he can be a reliable playmaker. In the end, it is safe to say Schmidt already has an NHL-calibre shot, which makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. 

The next step in Schmidt's game will be his play away from the puck. While he has impressive defensive moments, becoming more consistent and involved defensively could help translate into additional offensive chances. If Schmidt can round out his game and add some defensive elements to his toolkit, he will be an even more dynamic player at the pro level.

Schmidt is expected to be a late first-round pick this year. He has the offensive tools that teams covet, while his speed and skating are attributes that organizations love to add to their prospect pools. Ultimately, Schmidt has top-six potential, while his ability on the power play should lead to his name being called on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Cameron Schmidt of the Vancouver Giants (Photo by Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants/WHL)

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The Hockey News
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Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet happy to ‘live and die with my best pitch’ against Aaron Judge

BOSTON — The Red Sox have had a chance in games whenever Garrett Crochet has been on the mound this season.

And with the exception of one pitch in Friday’s 2-1, extra-inning win over the Yankees, he again proved to be the antidote to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

Crochet held New York scoreless over a career-high 8 1/3 innings, striking out the Yankees slugger three times while holding the rest of New York’s lineup to four hits with seven total Ks.

But with Boston clinging to a 1-0 lead and Crochet back on the hill to try to finish the game in the ninth, his fourth time facing Judge proved costly. Crochet took him to a full count, but let his 99 mph fastball dip down in the strike zone — Judge’s sweet spot. He jumped on it, blasting it 443 feet over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park to tie the game.

“I’m going to live and die with my best pitch,” Crochet said afterward. “Whether it be pitch selection or execution, tough way to end it. But overall, I felt really good tonight.”

It helped that Crochet’s partner throughout the night — catcher and former Yankee Carlos Narváez — helped put a happy face on the night, when he ended the game with a walk-off single in the 10th. Crochet didn’t get the victory, but Narváez said it didn’t diminish his masterful night on the mound.

For the season, Judge is just 1 for 7 with six strikeouts against Crochet.

“Crochet was awesome,” Narváez said. “He made a mistake a little bit. But that was a 100 mph fastball. That was impressive. ... Probably the best pitcher now against the best hitter in baseball.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he has no regrets leaving Crochet in the game.

“That wasn’t fun. But our guy was throwing great,” Cora said. “He was efficient toward the end. We gave him a shot. It didn’t work out. That’s why (Judge) is who he is. One of the best in world, and he got one pitch down and he hit it out of the ballpark. You tip your hat.”

Though he acknowledged he’d probably lose sleep over Judge’s last at-bat, Crochet was proud of his overall outing.

“It was a special feeling jogging back out there. Standing (ovation). I could tell the fans wanted me out there,” Crochet said. “I already wanted to be out there pretty bad. But it made it mean a little bit more. It made me grab a little bit more in that inning. I wish I could have finished it out. ... If my night had to end there from a home run I’m at least glad that it was on a fastball.”

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Panthers Need More Than Mediocrity From Bobrovsky In Final Stretch

In this year’s Stanley Cup final, goaltending has been a major storyline for the Edmonton Oilers. Regular starter Stuart Skinner has been displaced by backup Calvin Pickard, and Oilers fans don’t have consensus on who should be starting Game 5 for the team. But very quietly, the goaltending situation for the Florida Panthers has also proven to be a tricky one, with star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky not performing as consistently as the Panthers undoubtedly hoped.

Let’s be clear – we’re in no way arguing that Bobrovsky should be riding the pine as a healthy scratch in favor of backup Vitek Vanecek. Bobrovsky is a key component for Florida, and that’s not going to change.

Nevertheless, it’s also true that Bobrovsky has contributed in a negative way to the Panthers’ struggles against the Oilers. In particular, Bobrovsky laid an egg in the Game 4 result that ended with a 5-4 overtime for the Oilers. In that Edmonton win, Bobrovsky gave up all five goals on 35 Edmonton shots for a sub-par save percentage of .857. And in the four Cup final games, Bobrovsky has surrendered 14 goals for a goals-against average of 3.50. Obviously, those aren’t the type of numbers you want to see from your netminder.

Bobrovsky has struggled in at least one game in every playoff series this year – and at his worst, in Florida’s second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he posted a save percentage of .882 or worse in four games of the seven-game series. There’s no question he’s bailed out his teammates at times, but he’s also been bailed out by his teammates at other times.

Bobrovsky being erratic will not serve the Panthers well in the three remaining games of the Cup final. Florida doesn’t necessarily need him to stand on his head and steal games at this stage – although that would be nice, given he remains the highest-paid player on the Panthers’ roster at $10-million per season – but if he can just hold off Edmonton long enough for Florida’s offense to pick apart Skinner or Pickard, the Panthers should be able to win their second Cup in as many years.

Sergei Bobrovsky (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

Bobrovsky has one more season on his contract, and considering he’s now 36 years old, we might see some slippage in his game sooner rather than later. And that process may have already started, given that his regular-season save percentage fell from .915 in 2023-24 to .906 this season. He’s still a workhorse for the Panthers, appearing in at least 50 games in each of the past four seasons. But it might be time next year for Florida to ease up on Bobrovsky’s workload and keep him fresher for the post-season.

For the moment, the pressure is squarely on Bobrovsky – maybe not to the degree it is on Skinner and/or Pickard – and Panthers fans will be watching keenly to see if Bobrovsky can hold the fort. If he puts in another effort like the one he did in Game 4, Florida is going to be in trouble. But if he plays the way he has in most of the Panthers’ playoff victories – not being perfect, but being above-average – the Oilers will be going home without a Cup for the second straight year.

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Bath hold off Leicester to win Premiership title after 23-21 victory – as it happened

Bath ended their 29 year wait with victory at Twickenham

4 mins. Leicester win said scrum and there’s another one a minute later after more poor Batch handling. This second one brings down the full malevolence of the Tigers pack to crumble the Bath eight and bring about a penalty. Pollard pings a beautiful touchfinder deep into attacking territory.

2 mins. The crafty kick off is very nearly gathered by Cracknell, but the ball ends up pinging about a bit before Spencer gets his hands on it and punts it away. There’s a few carries by Leicester in their own half before a knock-on brings about the first scrum of the match.

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Canadiens: Potential First-Round Pick – Caleb Desnoyers

Speaking to host Tony Marinaro on The Sick Podcast earlier this week, TVA Sports’ Nicolas Cloutier mentioned that at the NHL scouting combine, the Montreal Canadiens met a lot of players who are slotted to go top 10. He added that it could mean they’re gathering intel for the future in case they trade for them somewhere down the line, or it could mean they are considering trading up in the draft. One of those players was St-Hyacinthe-born center Caleb Desnoyers.

The 6-foot-1.5 and 178-pound Moncton Wildcat left-shot pivot is ranked seventh in the Central Scouting ranking of North American skaters. He should be long gone by the time the Canadiens are scheduled to talk in the first round. But the Habs have two first-round pick and they could be open to trading them both to move up in the draft.

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Desnoyers has had a great season with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, picking up 84 points in 56 games and being his team’s most important player. His production even increased at the right time, in the playoffs, when it mattered most, scoring 30 points in 19 games or 1.88 points per game (up from 1.50 in the regular season). He’s an elite playmaker with a high hockey IQ who scans the ice and works out the best play to make. Or, as Martin St-Louis calls it, he makes good reads, and that’s hard to teach.

You can have the best system in the world, but if the other team doesn’t play the way you expect them to, your system may be useless, and then, you’ve got to rely on your players’ ability to read the game. In that sense, Desnoyers is the kind of player the Canadiens’ bench boss would like.

His talent and skills mean that he can fool opponents with deceptive passing that’s likely to come from anywhere on the ice, when defenders are going to think “ok, he’s got no angle, no room left, I can ease up”, that’s when he’ll strike.

His performance in the playoffs has unsurprisingly made his draft stock rise, and he could even go top-five, so it would take a big trade for the Canadiens to be able to draft him, but never say never. Cloutier also mentioned that he feels the youngster has all the tools to cope with the pressure that comes with being a French-Canadian high draft pick in Montreal.

While there’s no denying he ticks quite a few boxes when it comes to what the Canadiens are after and that the team probably does like him, I’m not sure they like him enough to swing the kind of trade it would need to move up to the range he’s being projected to go in. TSN’s Bob MacKenzie has him going at six, Craig Button has him at seventh, THN’s Ryan Kennedy has him at six as well while McKeen’s hockey ranks him at fourth.

Photo credit: Michael Augello

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Former New Jersey Devils Forward Joins New Team

Former New Jersey Devils forward Brandon Gignac is taking his talents overseas. EHC Kloten of the Swiss National League has announced that they have signed Gignac to a two-year contract.

Gignac began his professional career with the Devils, as he was selected by the Metropolitan Division club with the 80th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He made one appearance with New Jersey during the 2018-19 season, where he posted zero points, one block, and a minus-2 rating.

While Gignac played in just one NHL game during his time with the Devils, he spent multiple years with the organization down in the AHL. In 127 games over five AHL seasons from 2016-17 to 2020-21 with the Albany Devils and Binghampton Devils, he recorded 18 goals and 53 points.

Gignac's time with the Devils organization ended during the 2021 NHL off-season when they chose not to re-sign him. He then spent each of the next four seasons with the Laval Rocket of the AHL and played in seven games for the Montreal Canadiens in 2023-24, posting one goal and a minus-3 rating.

Devils Should Bolster Top Six By Trading For Sabres StarDevils Should Bolster Top Six By Trading For Sabres StarThe New Jersey Devils are in a position where they should be looking to improve their forward group this summer. Bringing in a top-six winger, in particular, would be huge for a Devils club that is looking to take that next step and needs more offense. 

Photo Credit:  © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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With minutes left before their title dreams faded, Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder’s biggest stars stepped up

NDIANAPOLIS — "He never blinks, never shies away from the moment."

Alex Caruso's description of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is apt. This was the biggest moment in Gilgous-Alexander's young career, and there may not be a more crucial one in the future. The MVP-leader of Oklahoma City had been bottled up again by the physicality and pressure of Indiana's defense for three and a half quarters. Every possession was tough for him, the Thunder couldn't shake SGA free. He couldn't get his teammates going and had zero assists on the night.

With 3:52 left in the game, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault leaned into his stars — he started asking for Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams pick-and-rolls. The goal was to force a switch and get Aaron Nesmith off SGA and get Andrew Nembhard on him — Gildgeous-Alexander shot 6-of-9 for the game with Nembhard as his primary defender.

It worked. This pick-and-roll threw off the Pacers' defense just enough to allow SGA to score 15 of the Thunder's final 16 points (eight from the free throw line) in the final four minutes of the game and secure the win and tie the NBA Finals 2-2 heading back to Oklahoma City.

" Winning, especially this time of the season, it comes down to the moments, it's going to come down to late game," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Every team is good. There's rarely going to be a blowout. It comes down to the moments and who is willing to make winning plays on both ends of the floor.

"I relish those moments, love the moments, good or bad. When I was a kid shooting at my driveway, I'd count down the clock for those moments. Now I get to live it."

Part of what keeps the Thunder calm and focused in those moments is Gilgous-Alexander's steady, focused, stoic demeanor.

"You really wouldn't know whether he's up three, down three, up 30, down 30, eating dinner on a Wednesday," Daigneault said. "He's pretty much the same guy."

"You wouldn't know if it was a preseason game or it's Game 4 of the NBA Finals down 2-1 with him," said OKC's Alex Caruso, who had 20 points and five steals of his own in the win. "That's why we have such a good mentality as a group. That's why we are able to find success in adversity. No matter what's going on, you look at him and he's the same. Underneath that stoic personality or (his) look on the court is a deep, deep-rooted competitiveness. That is sprinkled throughout the whole team."

Holmgren’s defense

In those final minutes, the Pacers hunted another Thunder star, Chet Holmgren, getting him switched onto Tyrese Haliburton. That was the matchup Indiana wanted: Holmgren on an island against the Pacers' All-NBA guy.

It didn't work.

"I had just given up two drives right before that. Just kind of trying to learn from those and play them better in those instances," Holmgren said of his play late. "I feel like I got a good contest. He was still able to get it off. He shoots a high-arcing shot. The whole time it's in the air, a lot's going through your mind. I'm just glad we were able to get those stops and close out the game."

"We don't [switch] a ton with him because he's just so impactful at the rim, but he can really switch," Daigneault said. "It's funny, when he was coming out of the draft, that was one of the things that they really recognized with him, is that he's very switchable. He's got great feet. We just found ourselves behind the ball in a lot of plays tonight. The switching was able to get that under control late. We can't do that unless he can do that. He was outstanding tonight."

It feels like the Thunder snatched momentum in these NBA Finals with the win, tying the series 2-2 as they head home for Game 5.

Still, this was a game where the Pacers were the better team for 42 minutes, as their defense effectively bottled up SGA and the Thunder for much of the night. It's a game they could have won if not for their own shooting troubles in the final minutes — they scored one bucket in the final five minutes — in the face of more defensive pressure.

If the Thunder are going to win a critical Game 5 at home, they are going to need a lot more Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren.

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NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Should Consider Acquiring This Kings Defenseman

Kings defenseman Jordan Spence would be a big upgrade for the Flyers at a potentially low cost. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

If the Philadelphia Flyers want to get younger and more talented on defense this offseason, they need not look further than Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence.

With the Nicolas Hague trade rumors that were flying around, the discussion around the Flyers' defense went from talent and skill to size and strength. Hague, who is reportedly not on Philadelphia's radar, would have brought the size and strength, but who will bring the other aspects?

After all, the Flyers were 30th in the NHL in total scoring amongst defensemen, producing a bog-standard 132 points from the backend.

That's where Spence comes in. The 24-year-old has scored six goals and 52 points over the last two seasons while establishing himself as an NHL regular in a bottom-four role with the Kings.

But, the Australian-born defenseman played more than 10 minutes once in his five playoff appearances for L.A., which can at least partially be attributed to his modest 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Friday's episode of "32 Thoughts" that Spence is likely available on the NHL trade market for that reason.

"I think that's a name to keep an eye on. Ken Holland, you know how he feels about his blueline. He likes a big, mobile blueline. I just don't think the Kings feel Spence and Brandt Clarke on the right side together works," Friedman said. "They're both right-hand shots, they both need to play. I just don't think they feel there's room for two of them. Clarke I don't believe is available. Spence, I think, is, so that's a name to keep an eye out for."

So, why would the Flyers trade for a smaller defenseman in Spence when they already have Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae?

Image

The answer is simple, actually. Spence's defensive metrics have been phenomenal in his current role, whereas Drysdale's, for example, have been extremely poor.

And for all Drysdale's talents and skating ability, the end product has not been there. With Spence, you're guaranteeing yourself a defenseman with a history of playing at a high level and producing no fewer than 24 points in each of the last two seasons.

The only Flyers defender with more than 20 points this season was Travis Sanheim, who scored 30 while playing a staggering 24:30 a night on average. Drysdale and Nick Seeler each scored 20 points, but Drysdale was a -32 while Seeler, his most common defense partner, was a +10.

As for Andrae, there are no guarantees he is an NHL defenseman, as encouraging as most of last season was for him. York is a pending RFA who is expected to remain with the team, while Drysdale is heading into a contract year that will probably define his NHL career.

Rasmus Ristolainen, if he isn't traded to the Kings in the Spence deal, won't be injured forever. But he's not getting any younger and will assuredly be at the mercy of Helge Grans come training camp if the latter shows some serious flashes.

Plus, top prospects Spencer Gill and Oliver Bonk are both 6-foot-2 or bigger.

Simply put, the Flyers have no real reason to worry about size on the right side. They need to worry about talent, production, performance, and more generally, finding the right mix.

Trading for Spence, at the very least, would signify that they're not content with how the 2024-25 season went with the currently constructed defense core.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit The Hockey News and like our Facebook page. Follow us on 𝕏: @ByJonBailey,  @TheHockeyNews

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3 qualities Knicks should look for in next head coach

After being denied permission to speak to several head coaches under contract such as Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka and Chris Finch, the Knicks’ search for a head coach continues. The team has seemingly casted a wide net in its process to find a new coach to replace Tom Thibodeau.

It seems that there’s a possibility New York could go with a head coach with experience like Taylor Jenkins, the former Memphis Grizzlies head coach, or Mike Brown who most recently was the head coach for the Sacramento Kings.

They could also go young with former Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant.

Regardless of who the Knicks hire, let’s look at some characteristics the next Knicks head coach should have to get the best out of this team going forward.

Regular season schemer

Making adjustments is one of the most crucial qualities a head coach needs to thrive in the NBA. For all of this regular season under Thibodeau, the Knicks generally eschewed switching pick-and-rolls and off ball screens. 

In the second round of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics, Thibs had New York switch ball screens and outside of some breakdowns and miscommunications, it generally worked. In the Conference Finals, the lack of preparation for guarding the Indiana Pacers’ non-stop movement hurt the Knicks. In Game 1, the Knicks seemed unsure if they were switching screens or fighting through them. And it hurt them, as Aaron Nesmith made six three-pointers in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter to help Indiana come back from a 14-point deficit late.

Also, Thibodeau could have entertained trying different lineup combinations. It was well documented that New York’s starting lineup played more minutes than any other five-man unit in both the regular season and the playoffs. We never got a real chance to see Miles McBride on the floor in place of Josh Hart with New York’s four other starters.

The next coach experimenting with different lineups and playing styles would be important. Maybe a decision like that costs New York a regular season game here or there, but being prepared to adjust to different opponents and scenarios in the postseason is better for the long run.

A believer in ball movement

During Thibodeau’s five-year tenure as head coach, the Knicks never finished higher than 17th in assist rate. In fact, the club was in the bottom third of the category in four of the five years. Despite that, the Knicks managed to have a quality offense due to offensive rebounding and a low turnover rate.

Moving the ball doesn’t always lead to having a great offense. However, for the Knicks’ current roster construction, extra ball and body movement could boost New York’s ceiling in the postseason.

The Knicks’ top-five ranked offense in the regular season wilted in the postseason as teams took away Karl-Anthony Towns’ three-point shooting. There were too many times New York resorted to putting the ball in Jalen Brunson’s hand and isolating. Of all 16 playoff teams, the Knicks had the lowest assist rate (50.4 percent).

Outside of Brunson, the Knicks don’t have many playmakers capable of breaking down the defense off the dribble. Adding more passing and off-ball movement could elevate players like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby on the offensive end.

Embracing player development

Thibodeau has generally been known to lean on his starters, but that wasn’t always the case. Thibodeau embraced New York’s depth in the past when the bench was constantly beating opponents behind lineups that had Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose.

But as New York’s depth weakened through trades for its current core, Thibodeau relied even less on the bench. New York’s reserves were last in scoring during the regular season and second-to-last in the playoffs. 

We’ve seen both NBA Finalists, the Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder internally develop second-round picks like Andrew Nembhard and undrafted players like Luguentz Dort. With several young players on the back end of the roster, the Knicks need a coach that will entertain the challenge of helping Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti become players that the team can trust to receive regular rotation minutes down the road.