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Brandon Nimmo doing tremendous job setting the tone during Mets’ winning streak

During the Mets’ tough stretch, they had a hard time coming up with the big knock when they needed it the most. 

That was until earlier this week when Brandon Nimmo lifted a second inning grand slam off of young Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski to break things open and help push them to a skid-snapping Game 2 victory. 

Since then, things have turned around for this offense with Nimmo leading the way. 

The outfielder has been scorching hot and that continued on Saturday, as he launched a first inning grand slam off left-hander Carlos Rodón to get things going in what ended as their fourth consecutive win. 

It was Nimmo’s third grand slam of the season, and his second in the last four days. 

“We had some great at-bats leading up to that,” Nimmo said. “Even Juan [Soto] giving himself up there, he felt like he wanted to lay a bunt down and at the worst he was able to get guys over into scoring position -- he’ll break that out sometimes. 

“That was inspiring to me, I was like heck yeah -- and then I knew with Pete [Alonso] going up there, there was a good chance that they were going to pitch around him to get to me, so I was just trying to come up with a gameplan and get the barrel on the ball.”

Nimmo would reach again with a single in the bottom of the fifth and stole a base but was retired in his other two plate appearances -- finishing the day 2-for-4 with four RBI and his ninth stolen base of the season.

After a slow start to the season, he’s now up to 18 homers and 52 RBI. 

He’s been particularly hot as the weather has started getting warmer -- hitting an even .300 with nine of those home runs, 22 RBI, and a .916 OPS over his last 30 games. 

“It sets the tone and takes pressure off of everyone,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s been locked in for a good stretch now -- driving the baseball with authority, controlling the strike zone, going the other way when he needs to, taking tough pitches out of the zone.

“Even the ones he’s fouling off there’s been conviction, there’s balance up there, there’s just a lot to like about his at-bats right now.”

Nimmo wishes he had some sort of magic potion behind his dramatic turnaround at the plate, but he says it’s simply the name of the game thus far this year. 

“It’s just staying the course, trying to not panic and kind of trusting that things will come around -- but it’s definitely been nice to be able to help the team out,” he added.

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Carlos Mendoza on Juan Soto’s first inning bunt vs. Yankees: ‘That’s part of the show’

The $765 million man laying down a bunt?

Carlos Mendoza doesn’t necessarily want to see it, but in this case it worked.

Juan Soto has been scorching hot of late, but after the first two Mets reached base against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón in the bottom of the first on Saturday afternoon, he elected to lay down a bunt. 

It wasn’t exactly clear whether or not he was bunting for a hit or a sacrifice, but it got the job done either way as the runners were able to advance into scoring position. 

After Pete Alonso draw the second walk of the inning to load the bases, Brandon Nimmo then stepped to the plate and crushed his second grand slam of the week to open an early 4-0 advantage. 

It was just Soto’s third sacrifice bunt of his eight-year big-league career. 

“That’s part of the show,” the skipper said. “I definitely want him swinging the bat there -- I trust a lot of these guys with decision making, he got the bunt down and we hit a grand slam after that, so we’ll take it.”

Soto went hitless over his next couple of at-bats but he was finally able to get in on the fun in the bottom of the eighth, as he cracked an RBI single off the right-center fence to put the icing on the cake.

The star outfielder is now hitting a scorching .337 with 11 homers, 23 RBI, and a 1.180 OPS over his last 30 games. 

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Former Penguins Forward Lands Exciting New Gig

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Mark Letestu has landed an exciting new job. 

The Colorado Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, have announced that they have hired Letestu to be their new head coach. 

Before landing this new job with the Eagles, Letestu spent each of the last four seasons as an assistant coach of the Cleveland Monsters, who are the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now, after gaining a good amount of coaching experience as an assistant, he will now be the Eagles' bench boss. 

Letestu began his NHL career as a player with the Penguins. In 85 games over three seasons as a Penguin from 2009-10 to 2011-12, he recorded 15 goals, 14 assists, and 29 points. His time with the Penguins ended during the 2011-12 season when he was traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for a fourth-round pick. 

Following his Penguins tenure, Letestu had stints with the Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets. In 567 games over 11 NHL seasons, he recorded 93 goals, 117 assists, and 210 points. Now, he will look to thrive as the Eagles' new head coach from here. 

Ex-Penguins Defenseman Is Top Free Agent LeftEx-Penguins Defenseman Is Top Free Agent LeftWith it now being multiple days after July 1, most of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have found their new homes. While this is the case, there are still some solid players available who should get signed before the start of the campaign. 

© Kim Klement-Imagn Images

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Mets' Kodai Senga pitches 3.2 innings in first rehab start for Double-A

Coming back from a right hamstring strain he sustained in the middle of June, Mets aceKodai Senga made his first rehab start on Saturday with Double-A Binghamton and pitched 3.2 innings.

Senga's outing started off great as he struck out Cole Carrigg to kick things off, but a walk, fielding error, wild pitch and another walk quickly put the right-hander in danger. He allowed a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded for the game's first run (unearned) before escaping the inning with a flyout.

After shaking off some rust in the first inning Senga went back to work in the second, but his defense let him down once again after a throwing error and passed ball put a runner on second with nobody out. Senga got his second strikeout for the first out of the frame, but soon after uncorked his second wild pitch of the outing. This time it didn't come back to haunt him as he got through the inning unscathed.

In the third, Senga recorded another strikeout before giving up the first hit he allowed despite so much traffic on the bases in the first two innings. But after a scoreless third, things began to unravel in the fourth.

The inning began with a solo shot by Zach Kokoska, followed by a single and sacrifice bunt. Another single drove in the second run of the inning and a sac bunt followed by the third single of the inning put Senga and the Rumble Ponies in a 4-0 hole.

Senga's outing was done after he was unable to get the third out, allowing another single and the fifth hit of the inning.

Overall, the 32-year-old allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four through 3.2 innings. He threw 68 pitches (44 strikes).

Despite the tough fourth inning, it was a solid start for Senga who has a chance to return to the team next week in Kansas City, manager Carlos Mendoza said earlier on Saturday.

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3 observations after Edgecombe scores 28 in Sixers' summer league opener

3 observations after Edgecombe scores 28 in Sixers' summer league opener  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe was ready to roll for his summer league debut.

The No. 3 overall pick was outstanding Saturday night in the Sixers’ opening game at the Salt Lake City summer league, a 93-89 loss to the Jazz.

He posted 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. 

Kyle Filipowski led Utah with 22 points. No. 5 pick Ace Bailey had seven points on 3-for-13 shooting and seven rebounds. 

Sixers rookie two-way contract player Hunter Sallis sat with a sprained ankle and is day to day, according to The Athletic’s Tony Jones.

The summer Sixers will face the Thunder on Monday night. Here are observations on their opener: 

Broome-Bona frontcourt 

Adem Bona threw home the night’s first hoop with an emphatic dunk out of the pick-and-roll. Next time down, rookie Johni Broome sunk a pick-and-pop three-pointer assisted by Edgecombe. 

Both Broome and Bona were looking forward to playing in a double-big lineup. 

“He’s a great teammate,” Broome said Wednesday of Bona at the Sixers’ summer league minicamp. “He talks, he leads by example, he’s a willing worker. He’s going to put the extra work in. Super athletic, super bouncy. It’s going to be really fun to play with him.”

The Sixers later used Broome at center with Bona on the bench. 

Broome’s lack of vertical pop was evident on a few occasions. Adama Sanogo swatted one of his layups. However, the 22-year-old showed his physical strength and knowhow inside. Broome recognized his chances to get deep catches and score on smaller players, tallied three offensive rebounds and drew five free throws (3 for 5). He finished with 13 points in 24 minutes.

Bona played with his typical energy and explosiveness in a 16-point, eight-rebound outing.

Edgecombe dangerous in transition 

The Sixers’ starting five was Jalen Hood-Schifino, Edgecombe, Justin Edwards, Broome and Bona.

Hood-Schifino served as the starting point guard and Edgecombe received plenty of on-ball reps in the second half. Just about every perimeter player brought the ball up at times in the Sixers’ transition-heavy offense. 

Edgecombe thrived in the open floor. He scored his first basket on a tricky scoop shot that evaded Jazz big man Filipowski. The Baylor product added another fast-break highlight in the second quarter when he grabbed a defensive rebound and then glided past everyone on his way to a coast-to-coast slam. 

Though he didn’t have a good long-distance shooting night (1 for 7 from three-point range), Edgecombe swished a fluid baseline pull-up jumper late in the first quarter and generally appeared quite comfortable in the mid-range. He had no hesitation about firing up open shots both off the catch and off the dribble. 

Edgecombe’s work on the boards was also a bright spot. He displayed the traits that made him a strong guard rebounder in college and, thanks largely to hustle and athleticism, wound up leading the Sixers in that category. 

Sixers’ effort not an issue

The Sixers struggled to run productive half-court offense and shot 4 for 22 beyond the arc. Edwards began 2 for 10 from the floor. Mark Armstrong went 0 for 7.

Despite those shooting woes, the Sixers scrapped back into the game late in the third quarter. Backup point guard Judah Mintz played some pesky defense and was the Sixers’ best bench player. Edgecombe dished to Bona for a dunk that tied the contest up at 66-all early in the fourth. 

While effort level tends to understandably fluctuate at summer league, Edgecombe’s approach sure wasn’t casual. Seconds after a chase-down block on former Sixers first-round pick Jaden Springer, Edgecombe converted an and-one layup.

Utah’s execution was ultimately a bit better down the stretch.

Edwards stepped on the sideline with 12.9 seconds left, Edgecombe missed a tightly contested, game-tying jumper attempt, and the Jazz notched a home win.

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How Logan Webb, Robbie Ray have kept Giants afloat amid inconsistent season

How Logan Webb, Robbie Ray have kept Giants afloat amid inconsistent season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

WEST SACRAMENTO – The Giants have two legitimate Cy Young Award contenders. Ironically, neither is the guy on San Francisco’s pitching staff who already owns three of them.

Two days after Robbie Ray threw another in a long line of pitching gems this season, Logan Webb kept his name in the discussion with solid outing in the Giants’ 7-2 win over the Athletics on Friday night at Sutter Health Park.

Pitching about 30 minutes from where he grew up, Webb spun 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs and seven hits.

Like Ray did on Thursday in the series finale in Arizona, Webb was in control from the start and kept an A’s lineup that has been surprisingly good this season from putting together much of a threat.

“I told Robbie the other day, I was like ‘That looked fun and I’m going to try to do it,” Webb said. “I love watching Robbie throw so much, especially after all the stuff he had to come back from. I know he wasn’t happy with last year.

“I just enjoy it every time he’s out there, the tight pants, the grunts. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and it’s a pleasure to watch him throw every five days.”

Webb and Ray have a combined record of 17-9 this season and have essentially carried the Giants’ rotation on their backs while nine-time All-Star Justin Verlander searches for a way to get his season on track.

Both pitchers have respectable ERAs. Ray has a solid 2.68 ERA while Webb’s mark rose slightly to 2.61 after Saturday’s game when he pitched in front of several friends and family at a park he had made only one previous appearance at, and that was while he was in the minor leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes (2.03 ERA, 0.919 WHIP) is the obvious front-runner for the NL Cy Young. As long as they continue to pitch how they have so far this season, Webb and Ray should have a case to be among the finalists.

At the very least both Ray and Webb should be voted into the 2025 MLB All-Star game, along with one or two of the Giants’ relievers. Webb’s 120 1/3 innings pitched are tops in the National League while Ray’s 107 innings are fourth-most in the NL.

“We both see how good this team can be and we both want to contribute,” Ray told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re both competitors and we both want to give our best effort every single time we go out. Watching the other guy kind of gives you that drive, that edge. When he goes out and has a great outing you want to come up behind him and do the same.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a competition or anything. It’s more of just feeding off each other, feeding off the energy.”

Webb had a lot of energy behind him at Sutter Health Park. There were several of his family and friends in the stands, and the right-hander was cheered loudly throughout the night.

“You could feel the interest in him being on the mound,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “Every time he came into the dugout there were a lot of people cheering for him., which typically you don’t hear (on the road). He throws a Logan Webb game. It’s pretty typical of what he’s done all year.”

Webb welcomed the once-in-a-lifetime moment and embraced it the same way he’s been embracing feeding off Ray’s pitching.

“It was really cool,” Webb said of the ovations he was greeted with. “I heard it the minute I walked out there, people yelling at me. It was a blast. I love being here and happy I was able to get the win here.”

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Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso combine for three homers and nine RBI as Mets slam Yankees

The Mets put on a power show at Citi Field on Saturday, hitting three home runs, two by Pete Alonso and a grand slam by Brandon Nimmo to rout the Yankees, 12-6, and win a second straight Subway Series game. 

As a result, the Mets assured themselves of winning this three-game series and have now won three of the five Subway Series games this season.

It was also their fourth straight win overall and the Yankees’ sixth straight loss.

Here are the takeaways...

- For the second time in this four-game winning streak, Nimmo ignited the Mets’ offense with a grand slam as he took Carlos Rodón deep in the first inning for an early 4-0 lead. 

- The Mets tacked on runs from there, thanks mostly to Alonso’s two home runs. He hit a two-run opposite-field shot in the fifth inning, giving the Mets a 7-2 lead, and then essentially put the game on ice with a three-run shot to left off reliever Jayvien Sandridge who was making his MLB debut.

The two home runs give Alonso 20 for the season and 246 for his career, six behind Darryl Strawberry’s club record of 252.

- Frankie Montas gave the Mets a solid start and actually pitched better than his final line showed, thanks mostly to a couple of soft-contact hits in the sixth inning that cost him two runs. He wound up going 5.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits, no walks, and two strikeouts. Montas gave up solo home runs to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells. 

The right-hander was leading 7-2 after five innings before giving up two in the sixth, thanks in part to a bloop single by Trent Grisham and a well-placed fly-ball double to left-center by Cody Bellinger. 

All in all, it was a much better start than last time out in Pittsburgh where he gave up five first-inning runs. In the days afterward, Montas said he believed he was ambushed early that day because he was tipping pitches. His performance on Saturday made the case that he may have been right.

- With the Mets’ bullpen thinned out by injury and illness, they got four outs from Richard Lovelady and Chris Devenski, which got them to the eighth inning and Ryne Stanek. 

Devenski got a very important out in the seventh inning. With two runners on, two outs, the Mets leading 7-5, and Aaron Judge on deck, Devenski fooled Trent Grisham with a change-up and got a weak comebacker to escape the inning. 

Stanek was shaky but got through the eighth, allowing one run, and even with a six-run lead manager Carlos Mendoza brought in Edwin Diaz to close it out.

- On the Yankees’ side, it was a very disappointing start for Rodón. He came in with a 2.95 ERA, having a strong first half, but fell behind early on Saturday thanks to a first-inning grand slam by Nimmo and wound up giving up seven runs in five innings, including another home run to Alonso and a ton of hard-hit balls. 

As a result, Rodon’s ERA jumped to 3.30. With Saturday’s news that Clarke Schmidt will likely need Tommy John surgery, Rodón looms as crucial to the Yankees' hopes in the second half. 

- The Yankees hit three solo home runs, by Chisholm, Wells, and Anthony Volpe.

Game MVP: Pete Alonso

Nimmo’s grand slam set the tone but with the Yankees chipping away at the early lead, Alonso’s home runs proved decisive, accounting for five runs. 

With five RBI, Alonso has 73 for the season, tied for third in the majors, pending other action on Saturday. 

Highlights

What's next

The crosstown rivals will play their Subway Series finale on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 p.m. on SNY.

The Mets have yet to announce their starter, while ace Max Fried (10-2, 2.13 ERA) is slated to take the mound for the Yanks.

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Rockets agree to trade Cam Whitmore to Wizards for two second-round picks

Cam Whitmore is going to get his chance.

Whitmore was frustrated in Houston with his lack of minutes. Part of that was that Whitmore was stuck in a logjam at the forward spot in Houston, and the addition this offseason of Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith was not going to help matters. Some around the league also said he struggled to break through because Ime Udoka was frustrated with Whitmore's levels of effort and team play. It was time for both sides to move on.

The Wizards are willing to give him a chance. That's why Houston has agreed to trade Whitmore to Washington in exchange for two second-round picks, a trade first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic and subsequently confirmed by other sources.

Whitmore, who turns 21 on July 8, is a very athletic 6'7" forward who can play the three or the four, and that athleticism would lead to some big nights and jaw-dropping highlights.

However, the Rockets were a defense-first team, and Whitmore's efforts on that end, along with his willingness to play team-first basketball, led Ime Udoka to limit his minutes.

The runway is open in Washington, but Whitmore has to prove himself. He fell to 20th in the 2023 draft, and now, after two seasons, the team that took him is ready to move on. The Wizards are trying to build a culture, a defense-first mindset and use his switchability on that end. The effort needs to be there every night. Whitmore will get his chance but he's going to have to earn it.

For the Wizards, this is a good roll of the dice for a very low price.

For the Rockets, this is about the money — Houston is hard-capped at the first luxury tax apron (due to the Finney-Smith signing) and getting off Whitmore's $3.5 million gets it below that line. The Rockets have one more roster spot to fill but can do so with a veteran minimum contract.

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2-Time Olympic Champion Backs Egor Zamula to Revive Flyers Career

Egor Zamula has the inside track for an NHL roster spot this season... for now. (Photo: Robert Edwards, Imagn Images)

Egor Zamula will be one of multiple Philadelphia Flyers battling for a roster spot come training camp and preseason.

Injuries to other defensemen saw an early season surge from Emil Andrae, who supplanted Zamula in the Flyers' lineup for parts of the season.

Zamula, 25, played 66 games last season and 63 games this past season, coming in and out of John Tortorella's gameday squad due to inconsistencies and, sometimes, struggling with the pace of play.

With new head coach Rick Tocchet coming to town, the 2025-26 season will be a fresh start for Zamula, who now faces competition for a roster spot in the form of Andrae, as well as Helge Grans, Adam Ginning, Hunter McDonald, and newcomers Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert.

Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Igor Kravchuk, a former NHL defenseman and current KHL assistant coach, believes the book is not closed on Zamula in Philadelphia.

Kravchuk noted that Zamula and Alexander Romanov, who just signed a massive eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the New York Islanders, were both standouts on the same Russian U18 and U20 national teams, but their careers have since gone in opposite directions. 

Aleksei Kolosov Must Change Attitude Towards NHL, Legendary Coach SaysAleksei Kolosov Must Change Attitude Towards NHL, Legendary Coach SaysThe Philadelphia Flyers haven't fully given up on Aleksei Kolosov yet, but has Aleksei Kolosov given up on the Flyers?

"By the way, Romanov was a leader of the defense in the Russian youth team, along with Egor Zamula. Unfortunately, Zamula’s career is not going as well as Romanov’s," Kravchuk told Russia-Hockey.ru in a recent interview. "The current Philadelphia is a peculiar team. There are problems with the balance of the roster, with the entertainment. Zamula is a little lost in it, but there is still time to return his career to the right trajectory. Especially since the coach has changed in the club."

Heading into the crucial third full season of his NHL career, Zamula has already played for Alain Vigneault, Mike Yeo, John Tortorella, and Brad Shaw in parts of five seasons.

Next up will be Tocchet, who's previously coaxed career years out of Jakob Chychrun, Filip Hronek, and Quinn Hughes during his time working with those players.

Assistant coach Todd Reirden, tasked by Tocchet with running the penalty kill and defense, has previously worked with John Marino, Marcus Pettersson, Mike Matheson, Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov, John Carlson, Karl Alzner, and Nate Schmidt when those players were in their early and mid-20s, too.

Zamula was quietly excellent last season, according to Evolving-Hockey's model. (Evolving-Hockey)

Whether or not the previously undrafted Russian can follow in their footsteps remain to be seen, but the potential is there.

Zamula, at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, has the size the Flyers need and want on their defense, even if he seldom uses it to his advantage.

The left-shot defender also has a penchant for sneaking shots through traffic, and has a better shot in general than most would give him credit for.

That's something that led to Tortorella and Co. icing him for power play minutes, even though Zamula is not particularly agile and one of the slowest skating defenders in the NHL.

But, for a guy who played even strength minutes almost exclusively this season, Zamula's underlying analytics looked amazing, as noted in the image above.

He cut his penalty minutes from 32 to six from 2023-24 to 2024-25, and those can be a good indicator of whether or not a young, non-physical, non-fighter player is struggling to keep up with his competition.

Don't Discount Nikita Grebenkin in Battle for Flyers Roster SpotDon't Discount Nikita Grebenkin in Battle for Flyers Roster SpotWith an open battle brewing amongst wingers for an NHL roster spot with the Philadelphia Flyers, don't discount Nikita Grebenkin.

And yes, Zamula scored only three goals, 12 assists, and 15 points in 63 games this season, but he only registered 37 shots on goal. Zamula's 8.1% shooting percentage actually impressively ranked in the 85th percentile amongst his defensemen peers, according to NHL EDGE.

The big flaw, as previously referenced, will be Zamula's skating. His top speed, 22+ MPH bursts, 20-22 MPH bursts, and 18-20 MPH bursts all ranked below the 50th percentile.

The 6-foot-3 defender will now need to shift his focus towards building trust with a new coaching staff with his in-zone defending and play with the puck; managing the puck effectively will be crucial to Zamula's success, given his weaknesses with mobility and turnovers.

Heading into the last year of his contract, Zamula's Flyers future is entirely in his hands.

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Yankees sign INF Jeimer Candelario to minor-league deal

The Yankees have signed veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario to a minor-league deal, the team's Triple-A affiliate has announced.

Candelario was released by the Cincinnati Reds on June 29 after a rough season that included a lumbar spine strain that forced him on the IL. In 22 games, the 32-year-old slashed .113/.198/.213 with two home runs and 10 RBI.

However, the switch-hitter is just one year removed from hitting 20 homers in 112 games for Cincinnati and is a career .237 hitter with 110 home runs and a .726 OPS.

Candelario's best seasons came when he played for the Detroit Tigers from 2017-2022, but he's also played for the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals.

Mostly a third baseman in his career, Candelario has also played first base.

He will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will act as infield depth for New York.

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Is There Anything Left For Sabres To Pick Up In Free Agency?

Victor Olofsson (Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL's free-agent frenzy has colmed down considerably, with most of the available talent now off the market. And the Buffalo Sabres still have approximately $13.6 million in salary cap space to utilize. So, is there anything left for Buffalo to spend on the open market, or is the only road to improvement via trades?

From this writer's perspective, it's a no-brainer -- there's next-to-nothing left in free agency. Sure, the Sabres can take a run at center Jack Roslovic, who posted 22 goals for the Carolina Hurricanes this past season. Or perhaps Buffalo can offer former Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson a second stint with the Sabres; Olofsson had 15 goals and 29 points with Vegas last season, and who knows -- he might get back to the 28-goal form he had with Buffalo in 2022-23. 

Otherwise, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is looking at a whole lot of slim pickings in free-agency. And that means it's almost certainly going to be trades Adams makes that remodels Buffalo's lineup for next season.

Of course, everyone and their know-it-all neighbor is expecting the Sabres to trade RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. Adams came out after free-agency began and stated plainly that he's going to match any offer sheet a team would present to Byram, but let's remember that GMs are always playing a long game of chicken with their counterparts. We're not suggesting Buffalo won't match a Byram offer sheet, but we are saying Byram is the biggest trade chip Adams is likely to use in the coming days and weeks, and that's not going to change anytime soon.

Personally, it's our opinion that Adams should be prepared to trade other Sabres veterans, but for argument's sake, let's presume that Buffalo trading Byram is the Sabres' biggest move before training camp begins in the fall. You'd better believe that Adams has to hit a home run with a Byram trade -- we're talking an experienced forward who can contribute meaningfully right away next year -- to justify parting ways with Byram.

Olofsson Another Former Sabre Still Unsigned Olofsson Another Former Sabre Still Unsigned The signings by NHL clubs have ground to a halt five days into free agency, with the most sought-after players locked up on Day 1 and the biggest fish in Nikolai Ehlers finally signing with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. A pair of former Buffalo Sabres are among the most prominent players still not signed. Jeff Skinner had 16 goals last season with Edmonton, but played sparingly in the playoffs, while Victor Oloffson had a solid injury-shortened season with the Vegas Golden Knights.   

If Adams doesn't come away with a major trade in the coming days and weeks, a sense of despair will wash over Sabres fans. They're not naive enough to imagine that Buffalo's lineup as-is can somehow vault over most teams in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division and end their 14-year streak without Stanley Cup playoff hockey. They know it's going to be a long season if they're at that point.

Adams can pretend all he wants he's going to retain Byram's services. But if Byram returns, the Sabres are going to be top-heavy with defensemen, and light on the type of high-end forwards Buffalo needs to be a true playoff contender. So it's up to Adams to find a team that is (a) in need of Byram's skills, and (b) prepared and stocked to give the Sabres the high-impact forward they're looking for in return.

That said, nobody is going to be doing the Sabres any favors as they make alterations to their lineup. So Adams has to drive a hard bargain on the trade front. He can't pretend he's happy with the roster as it's currently constructed. He's really only added role players thus far, and that can't be the final result he's looking for.

Are The Sharks Hunting For Byram?Are The Sharks Hunting For Byram?Most of the speculation surrounding the Buffalo Sabres continues to be on restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram. Earlier this week, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that interested clubs were contemplating an offer sheet and that could still be the case if Byram does not opt for salary arbitration by 5 pm Saturday. The St. Louis Blues according to Jeremy Rutherford of the Athletic are in hot pursuit of the blueliner, but the Blues may have company.

If we're still waiting for a Byram trade a month from now, something seriously wrong has taken place in Buffalo. Whether it's trade paralysis on Adams' behalf, a directive from ownership to keep the payroll well below the salary cap limit, or both, there's going to be a clear issue in the front office, and Sabres fans will see right through it.

You can't say Adams is on the clock in terms of making a trade or two in the next day or so. But every day that passes without a major trade only builds pressure on him to do something of consequence.

Adams has to come up with something he can show Sabres fans and give them something to invest in, financially and emotionally. Otherwise, the backlash against Adams will be heavy, prolonged and justified.

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Why A Nazem Kadri For Morgan Rielly Swap Could Be A Great Move For The Maple Leafs

After a start to the NHL’s 2025 free agency period saw the Toronto Maple Leafs trade away star right winger Mitch Marner, Leafs GM Brad Treliving hinted at more moves to come from his team. 

“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said after Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday. “That’s really where our focus is.”

We’re taking Treliving at his word, and we don’t expect him to make any more notable moves in free agency. So, trades are going to be the route the Maple Leafs make to fill that need, and one trade in particular makes a lot of sense for Toronto, is acquiring veteran center Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames in return for defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Now, before we go any further, let’s be clear – both Kadri and Rielly would have to sign off on this deal to make it happen. Each of them has a no-trade clause, and in Rielly’s case in particular, Flames GM Craig Conroy would have to sell Rielly on coming to Calgary – at least, in the short term.

Why is that? Well, because the smart thing Conroy could do would be flipping Rielly to a playoff-bound team in need of an experienced blueliner who can contribute on offense and eat up 20 minutes a night. That’s probably not the Flames right now, especially after they do what many think they’ll do by trading veteran blueliner Rasmus Andersson. But if Rielly agreed to be moved to Calgary for the time being, with the knowledge that he can direct Conroy as to where to flip him, the deal definitely makes sense for both sides.

Certainly, the money involved in a Kadri/Rielly trade is almost a perfect match. Kadri is signed at $7-million per season for the next four years, while Rielly is signed at $7.5- million per season for the next five years. If the Flames are taking on that extra year of Rielly’s salary, Treliving may have to add another asset to make a deal work for the Flames – something like a second-round draft pick, which the Maple Leafs have in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.

But if that deal goes down, the Leafs change their DNA and add a second-line center, probably moving freshly re-signed pivot John Tavares to the wing. And all of a sudden, the Leafs would have a plethora of centers – Auston Matthews, Kadri, Tavares, new Leaf Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton and David Kampf. That’s more than Toronto needs down the middle, but at that point, Treliving could trade or buy out Kampf, freeing up more money to spend on wingers, or perhaps, on a depth defenseman.

It won’t be easy for the Leafs to turn a position of need into a position of strength, but one trade – albeit a big trade – could do the trick for them in that regard. A reunion with Kadri surely would be welcomed by the former Leaf, and his growth as a competitor and his Cup championship pedigree from his time with the Colorado Avalanche would only help the Buds become a significantly harder team to play against.

Nazem Kadri (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Saying goodbye to Rielly – a cornerstone component in Toronto and a terrific human being – would be tough for the Leafs. But the time to act and move on from Rielly is now, and if the Leafs and Calgary can work together on finding him a better work situation, Rielly would be erring if he didn’t accept a trade and get a new lease on life on the ice, the same way Marner has. 

If Treliving is able to pull off this deal, don’t say you didn’t see it coming. The fit on Toronto’s end is just about perfect, and the Leafs’ desire to change their makeup would be fulfilled by bringing Kadri back to a place he still considers home.

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What we learned as Willy Adames' big night powers Giants' win over Athletics

What we learned as Willy Adames' big night powers Giants' win over Athletics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

WEST SACRAMENTO – What a difference a day makes.

Twenty-four hours after Justin Verlander absorbed another loss and received very little help on the offensive side during the Giants most lopsided loss of the season, San Francisco flipped the script on both ends and beat the Athletics 7-2 on Saturday to even the series with their former Bay Bridge rivals.

Logan Webb led the charge with another yeoman work effort on the mound while pitching about 30 minutes away from where he grew up. The right-hander scattered seven hits and two runs over 6 2/3 mostly solid innings, striking out six and walking three to get his third win in his last seven starts.

For the third consecutive day, manager Bob Melvin didn’t have to reach too deep into his bullpen.

That’s nothing new when Webb starts.

Randy Rodriguez replaced Webb and retired one batter. Tyler Rogers set down three, and Spencer Bivens worked the ninth to complete the game.

The Giants also showed signs of breaking out of their collective offensive funk in third baseman Matt Chapman’s return from the Injured List.

Heliot Ramos hit his 14th home run of the season, Willy Adames had three hits and drove in four runs and Brett Wisely added a pair of hits ad two RBIs. Rafel Devers reached base four times.

Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s win:

CHAPMAN’S RETURN

Before the game Melvin insisted Chapman’s return to the lineup was advantageous in multiple ways, and the third baseman certainly made things happen Saturday.

Batting in the clean-up spot behind Rafael Devers, Chappy was hit by a pitch and scored on an Adames single in the first inning. In the third Chapman beat out an infield single then took third on Jung Hoo Lee’s single to center and scored on another Adames’ two-out hit.

Chapman reached on a fielder’s choice in the fifth, flew out to center in the sixth then drew a six-pitch walk in the ninth.

More importantly as far as Melvin is concerned, having Chapman back in the lineup adds another experienced veteran voice in the clubhouse. That, as much as his glove and bat, is exactly what the Giants at this juncture.

ADAMES SHINES IN THE 6 HOLE

Chapman’s return enabled manager Bob Melvin to juggle his lineup a little more, including dropping Adames down to No. 6 in the batting order. That’s a spot where Adames has had some of his best production this season, and he kept that roll going against the A’s.

Just when it looked like the Giants were going to waste a huge opportunity in the first inning, Adames laced a two-out, two-run single up the middle to give Webb some early run support.

Adames came through with another two-out hit in the third that knocked in two more runs.

Adames, who has been San Francisco’s No. 2 hitter most of the season, has driven in 22 of his 42 RBIs while batting No. 6.

RAMOS REGAINS POWER STROKE

Ramos ended his second-longest power outage with his solo home run off Severino leading off the fifth. It was Ramos’ team-leading 18th homer and first since June 21, a span of 13 games.

Ramos had been ill for the final two games in Arizona and was in a 5-for-34 rut before crushing Luis Severino’s first pitch in the fifth for a 416-foot home run.

The Giants slugger, who came short of a second home run when he doubled to center in the eighth. was hit by a pitch, grounded out in his other at-bats.

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