The Chicago Blackhawks are entering the 2025-26 season with several young players to watch. One interesting Blackhawks player who fans should keep an eye on this season is forward Landon Slaggert.
Slaggert appeared in 33 NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he posted two goals, six points, and 25 hits. He also recorded 10 goals and 25 points in 39 games down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs.
Overall, Slaggert has shown signs of promise early on in his career, even if he has had some growing pains like all young players do. The potential for him to become a solid bottom-six forward, at a minimum, is certainly there.
Slaggert also demonstrated at the collegiate level that he has some offensive potential. This was especially the case during his senior season with Notre Dame during the 2023-24 campaign, as he set career his collegiate career highs with 20 goals and 31 points in 36 games.
Overall, now that Slaggert has completed his first full professional season split between the NHL and AHL, it will be fascinating to see if he can hit a new level with Chicago in 2025-26. If Slaggert takes that next step in his development, it would be great news for a Blackhawks club looking to become more competitive.
At the team's annual charity golf tournament on Monday, Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios held court with the media and was asked, among other things, about winger Alex Formenton. TSN's Clare Hanna brought up the fact that Formenton had signed to play in Switzerland again, that his rights still belonged to Ottawa and asked Staios if he had spoken to the player or if he had any thoughts.
"I have no comment on that. In fact, it's a league matter, and the player is ineligible to play," Staios said. THN Ottawa's Graeme Nichols followed up, asking if Formenton became eligible, would there be interest? "I won't comment on it," Staios said.
The fact that the Senators retained Formenton’s NHL rights seemed like a moot point up until very recently. Leading up to the World Junior trial, it had been announced, although not formally filed with the league, that Formenton was walking away from a professional hockey career to pursue a career in construction.
He hadn’t played anywhere in the 2024-25 campaign and had only played a total of 46 games with Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss-A league in the two previous seasons.
However, in light of his acquittal, Formenton has now re-upped with Ambri-Piotta for 3.5 months for the coming season – a timeline which seems to suggest he hasn't given up on his dream of returning to the NHL.
Now, the Senators are faced with three options that they may not have anticipated. Here's a synopsis of the options and their pros and cons, assuming the NHL’s post-acquittal investigation leads to their eligibility being reinstated.
1) Walk Away
This option makes the least sense. Even if they don’t want him back in the fold, simply walking away and letting him become a free agent would be poor asset management.
The one thing the Senators have is time, and Staios and company would be wise to use it.
Formenton needs to be on an NHL contract by December 1st to be eligible to play this season. They can use this time to scout and evaluate him to see if he's missed his window or if he can get back to where he was in 2021-22, which was a player with a lot of upside and elite speed. He's also a player who's cap-friendly and would likely sign for the league minimum. This time can be used to determine if he's still an asset or not.
2) Trade
The Senators won’t be the only team scouting Formenton in Switzerland. Surely, at least one other of the 31 NHL markets would see value in bringing him in if he still has the skills.
The return wouldn’t be huge, but maybe the Senators could get back a second-round pick, which is what Formenton was in 2017. Elite skating forwards who bring a physical element, kill penalties and score 18 goals in the NHL don’t grow on trees.
There is a buyer out there for Formenton if he can get back to his past NHL level of play.
3) Sign
There appears to be some support for this in the online community. A good number of Sens fans appear to believe that since the player was found not guilty on all charges, he should be welcomed back.
Justice Maria Caroccia, in her judgment, did more than pronounce Formenton and his co-accused not guilty. It sounded like she accepted Formenton’s counsel’s version of the events as the truth, and described the Crown's evidence as not credible or reliable.
So a good portion of Sens Nation will be tracking Formenton’s progress in Switzerland and his HockeyDB page over the next three months out of sheer curiosity. They will also be casting a watchful eye on Gary Bettman and Bill Daly for news of their investigation to see if clemency will be granted.
The Calgary Flames announced today that they have signed goaltender Dustin Wolf to a seven-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $7.5 million.
Wolf, 24, emerged as a cornerstone for the Flames during the 2024–25 season, appearing in 53 games and recording a 29-16-8 record alongside a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average. His 29 victories not only led all rookie netminders but also ranked him 11th overall among NHL goaltenders.
A seventh-round pick by Calgary in the 2019 NHL Draft (214th overall), Wolf has quickly built a decorated resume. Before establishing himself with the Flames, he captured back-to-back AHL Goaltender of the Year awards (2022, 2023) and earned the Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP in 2023.
With this extension, the Flames secure their goaltending future as the team continues to build toward long-term success.
Luypen became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 after the Blackhawks elected not to tender him a qualifying offer. Now, after spending over two months as a UFA, he has found his new home with the Stingrays.
Luypen spent the majority of this past season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs. In 56 games with the AHL squad, he recorded eight goals and 14 points. He also played in five ECHL games with the Indy Fuel, posting one goal and three points.
In 110 games over two seasons with the IceHogs, Luypen posted 12 goals, 22 assists, and 34 points. He never appeared in an NHL game during his time with the Blackhawks.
Luypen was selected by the Blackhawks with the 216th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Blackhawks Have Big Decision To Make With DefenderChicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy has been an important part of the team's roster for a long time now. The right-shot blueliner is entering his ninth season with the Blackhawks in 2025-26, where he will once again be one of their veteran leaders.
Both players have gotten off to slow starts to their professional playing careers. Additionally, both are entering the last year of their entry-level contracts, and a change of scenery may be exactly what they need to break through at the AHL level and earn another contract.
Robertson, 22, was taken 123rd overall in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Kraken. He played three seasons in the OHL, with the Covid-19 pandemic taking away his 2020-21 season. He played for the Petes during his entire tenure in the league, recording 189 points (65 goals, 104 assists) in 191 games.
During the 2022-23 season, when Peterborough were crowned champs, Robertson led the team in goals (36) and points (90) during the regular season. He finished second on the team in scoring during the playoffs with 22 (9 goals, 13 assists) in 23 games.
Through his first two professional seasons, the Toronto, Ontario, native has 77 AHL games under his belt, registering 19 points (10 goals, 9 assists).
Avon, 22, went through the 2022 NHL Draft without hearing his name called. However, shortly after attending Philadelphia’s rookie development camp, immediately after the draft, the Flyers signed the speedy forward to an entry-level contract.
Avon came into the league as a top prospect. His hometown Peterborough Petes drafted him 11th overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, and just like Robertson, he spent his entire tenure in the OHL with the Petes.
Robertson had the better OHL career than his former teammate Avon, who recorded 139 points (62 goals, 77 assists) in 179 games. However, Avon has had slightly more success in the AHL, playing two full seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) in 125 games.
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Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader reacts after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Marlins on Friday in Miami. (Megan Briggs / Getty Images)
Moments later, the same fan removed the ball from his son's glove and gave it to a woman who claimed that it rightfully belonged to her.
Days after the now-viral incident occurred during the fourth inning of the Phillies' 9-3 win over the Marlins on Friday in Miami, Drew Feltwell explained to NBC-10 in Philadelphia that he decided in the moment to "be Dad and show him how to de-escalate the situation" — something he determined was more important than providing Lincoln with a really cool game souvenir.
"We were there to get a home run ball," said Feltwell, a Florida resident whose wife and daughter were also at the game. "So I thought I had accomplished this great thing. And putting it in his glove meant a lot. She was just so adamant and loud and yelling and persistent, and I just didn't want to deal with it anymore.
"There was hundreds of people just staring. And like I said, she was very, very, very close, and I'm Dad of the family, so I didn't want to do something I'd regret. And that was the choice I made, just hand the ball back and tell her go away."
Feltwell said he was the first to get to the ball after it landed in an empty seat "down a couple seats" to his right. He said he was starting to walk away with the ball when other people, including the woman who eventually confronted him, started grabbing for it.
"I guess she just thought that that was her ball, because it was in front of her," Feltwell said. "That's fine, but she was too slow."
Lincoln didn't leave the game empty-handed though. A Marlins representative visited the family at their seats and presented the boy with a bag full of souvenirs. Then a Phillies representative invited the family to meet Bader outside the team clubhouse after the game. There, the nine-year veteran who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline signed a bat for Lincoln and posed for pictures with the group.
Lincoln told NBC-10 that although he was unhappy to have to give away the home run ball, "I'm happy that I got to get something else."
And, he added, "it was very, very fun getting to meet Bader."
Feltwell said he holds no ill will toward the so-called Phillies Karen who ended up with the home run ball.
"I don't wish any harm to her. I would love to have that particular ball to put on the wall next to his bat, and got about 500 promises that they're going to get the ball."
Even so, he said, "I hope nobody does anything stupid to get it."
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow celebrates after closing out the top of the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)
In almost any other season, Dave Roberts might have made a different choice.
Even though Tyler Glasnow was pitching a no-hitter, Roberts would have at least considered removing the right-hander after six innings on Monday night.
Glasnow’s pitch count was already at 91.
This season is unlike any other, however. Up is down, down is up, and the Dodgers can’t rely on their bullpen.
The uncharacteristic problem required an uncharacteristic solution from Roberts, who kept Glasnow in the game.
What was most important about the series-opening 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies wasn’t that Glasnow kept a no-hitter intact for another inning or that human propane tank Tanner Scott blew it by giving up a double to Ryan Ritter in the ninth.
Rather, the most promising development of the night was that Glasnow completed seven innings and threw 105 pitches.
Starts like this will be necessary for the Dodgers to overcome their most obvious weakness. Starts like this will be indispensable in their quest to repeat as champions.
For the Dodgers to have a chance to win another World Series, they will have to lean more than usual on their starting pitching.
“I do think that there’s certain times, if [the starters] give me the opportunity as far as efficiency and how their stuff is playing, to push them a little more,” Roberts said.
Roberts is already pushing them.
Two days earlier in Baltimore, Roberts granted Yoshinobu Yamamoto a chance to complete a no-hitter. Yamamoto came up short by an out.
Glasnow has completed seven innings in each of his last two starts.
“Those things are going to be good going forward,” Roberts said.
As much as Roberts continues to champion his relievers — “I believe in them,” he insisted — the reality is that the Dodgers’ bullpen ranks 19th in the majors in earned-run average entering play Tuesday. The less Roberts has to call on that group, the better.
Scott, the team’s $72-million closer, has a 4.47 ERA. Kirby Yates, another questionable offseason acquisition, is even worse at 4.71.
Blake Treinen was a postseason hero last year but he was sidelined for more than three months with a forearm sprain and has struggled with consistency since his return.
The only addition made to the bullpen at the trade deadline was Brock Stewart, who is on the injured list.
The situation could force the Dodgers to move away from the kind of bullpen-heavy game plans they have used in recent years and turn back the clock to the days when their starters accounted for an overwhelming majority of their innings.
Since the start of August, the Dodgers are second in the majors in innings pitched by their starters. Their starters have a combined ERA of 3.31 in that period, also second-best in the majors.
The Dodgers are expected to have four pitchers in their playoff rotation, and they have five legitimate candidates for those positions in Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw.
But pitching deep into a postseason game isn’t the same as pitching deep into a regular-season game. Snell and Glasnow have each started 10 playoff games. Snell didn’t complete six innings in any of them. Glasnow did it only twice.
Yamamoto crossed the sixth-inning threshold once in four postseason starts last year, as he pitched into the seventh inning against the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series.
Kershaw’s last six-inning start in the playoffs was in 2020. Ohtani has never pitched in the playoffs, and the most he has pitched this season is five innings.
The pitching staff’s composition could lead to hard decisions for Roberts in October.
Yamamoto, Snell and Glasnow have each averaged 4 ⅔ innings in their postseason starts. If, say, Snell runs into trouble in the fifth inning of a playoff game, what should Roberts do? Could he trust this particular group of relievers to cover the last four-plus innings of a game? Would Snell be the more reliable option to record the final outs of the inning? Or would either choice lead to disaster?
There’s potential for irony. The manager previously second-guessed for removing starting pitchers too early could now come under scrutiny for leaving them in too long.
With 18 games remaining in the regular season, the Mets are looking to hold off a handful of teams for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of play on Sept. 9...
Mets: 76-68, 3.0 games up on Giants for third Wild Card
Next up: @ Phillies, Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. on SNY (Sean Manaea vs. Ranger Suarez) Latest result: 1-0 loss to Phillies on Monday Remaining schedule: 3 @ PHI, 3 vs. TEX, 3 vs. SD, 3 vs. WSH, 3 @ CHC, 3 @ MIA Odds to make playoffs: 92.3 percent *Mets hold tiebreaker over Giants by virtue of winning the season series
Giants: 73-71, 3.0 games back of Mets
Next up: vs. Diamondbacks, Tuesday at 9:45 p.m. Robbie Ray vs. Zac Gallen) Latest result: 11-5 win over D-backs on Monday Remaining schedule: 2 vs. ARI, 3 vs. LAD, 3 @ ARI, 4 @ LAD, 3 vs. STL, 3 vs. COL Odds to make playoffs: 4.6 percent
Reds: 72-72, 4.0 games back of Mets
Next up: @ Padres, Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. (Zack Littell vs. Michael King) Latest result: 4-3 loss to Padres on Monday Remaining schedule: 2 @ SD, 3 @ ATH, 3 @ STL, 4 vs. CHC, 3 vs. PIT, 3 @ MIL Odds to make playoffs: 2.8 percent
Diamondbacks: 72-73, 4.5 games back of Mets
Next up: @ Giants, Tuesday at 9:45 p.m. (Zac Gallen vs. Robbie Ray) Latest result: 11-5 loss to Giants on Monday Remaining schedule: 2 @ SF, 3 @ MIN, 3 vs. SF, 3 vs. PHI, 3 vs. LAD, 3 @ SD Odds to make playoffs: 1.2 percent
Cardinals: 72-73, 4.5 games back of Mets
Next up: @ SEA, Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. (Matthew Liberatore vs. George Kirby) Latest result: 4-2 loss to Mariners on Monday Remaining schedule: 2 @ SEA, 3 @ MIL, 3 vs. CIN, 3 vs. MIL, 3 @ SF, 3 @ CHC Odds to make playoffs: 0.8 percent
The Calgary Flames made a big commitment in net to Dustin Wolf on Tuesday.
Calgary re-signed Wolf to a seven-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million, the team announced. He's currently entering the final season of a two-year contract worth $850,000 annually and would have been an RFA with arbitration rights.
Wolf, 24, finished second in Calder Trophy voting last season and was on the NHL's all-rookie team. After having only 18 games of NHL experience heading into the 2024-25 campaign, the rookie goaltender stayed in The Show for good and even leapfrogged Dan Vladar into the Flames' No. 1 role.
In 53 games last season, Wolf recorded a 29-16-8 record, a 2.64 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts. Vladar, meanwhile, had a 12-11-6 record with a 2.80 GAA, .898 SP and two shutouts. The veteran signed with the Philadelphia Flyers this off-season, while the Flames signed Ivan Prosvetov to compete with Devin Cooley for their new backup job.
Wolf's efforts were part of Calgary's push for the playoffs last year. He split the net in the team's four-game win streak to open the season, and he had more wins than losses per month from October to January, then in April. He also finished the season with 11.9 goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com.
Although Wolf finished second to Lane Hutson in the rookie of the year voting, the six-foot netminder from Gilroy, Calif., has earned accolades at previous levels.
Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, Wolf won the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's goaltender of the year twice, the Harry Holmes Memorial Award for the best goaltending duo and the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's most valuable player.
Before his AHL career began, Wolf won the Del Wilson Trophy as the WHL's top goaltender in back-to-back years. In 2019-20, he was the CHL's goaltender of the year as well. In 2018-19, he had the WHL's best GAA at 1.69, and he was the WHL and CHL's scholastic player of the year.
Wolf's new contract kicks in for the 2026-27 season and runs through 2032-33, eating up five years of UFA eligibility. He will be 32 when the contract is scheduled to expire.
Wolf was Calgary's last pending RFA at the NHL level. The Flames still have at least seven pending UFAs, including captain Mikael Backlund, Rasmus Andersson and Ryan Lomberg.
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If you heard that a group of Australian millionaires had attended the London Broncos v Bradford Bulls game at Plough Lane on Saturday with a view to buying one of rugby league’s sleeping giants, you might assume they were interested in the visitors, who won the match by 10 points to keep the pressure on York and Toulouse at the top of the Championship table.
But Brisbane Broncos and Australia legend Darren Lockyer, his long-term business partner Grant Wechsel of MWG Mining, and the former Brisbane Broncos CEO Paul White are about to become majority investors in London Broncos. The former South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has agreed to become their new head coach, they have lined up a string of players from the NRL and aim to be in Super League by 2027, if not 2026.
Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...
Mets Notes
Juan Soto is hitting .306/.461/.694 with 13 home runs, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 141 plate appearances over his last 30 games dating back to Aug. 6
Francisco Lindor has been on fire for about a month, hitting .375/.468/.615 with five homers, 10 doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 124 plate appearances over 26 games going back to Aug. 12
Sean Manaea struggled badly in his last start, allowing five runs on eight hits (including two home runs) in 3.2 innings against the Tigers in Detroit on Sept. 1
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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.
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.
The youth movement in Boston has another early addition.
The Boston Red Sox are expected to promote left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports. Early will start in Tuesday’s game against the Athletics in Sacramento, while right-hander Dustin May will go on the injured list in a corresponding move, per Rosenthal.
2025 stats at Triple-A Worcester (six games, six starts): 3-1 record, 28.2 IP, 2.83 ERA, 1.047 WHIP, 29 BB, 52 SO
Early began the 2025 season at Double-A Portland and pitched very well for the Sea Dogs with a 2.51 ERA through 15 appearances. He earned the call-up to Triple-A Worcester at the beginning of August and continued his success with the WooSox, allowing two runs or fewer in five of his six starts.
The Virginia product is the No. 6 prospect in Boston’s system, per MLB Pipeline, and the Red Sox’ fourth-ranked pitching prospect behind Tolle, 2025 draft pick Kyson Witherspoon and 22-year-old left-hander Brandon Clarke.
Connelly Early’s scouting report
Early has a fastball that tops out at 96 mph, but his best pitch is his changeup, which MLB Pipeline describes as “lively.”
“Early can’t overpower hitters but has the feel to provide consistent strikes without catching too much of the plate,” MLB Pipeline wrote in its scouting report of Early. “He throws his fastball just one third of the time, just enough to keep hitters honest and set up his secondary pitches, and his heater may need more velocity or life at higher levels.”
Early doesn't have Tolle's fastball – who does – but he has a better current array of secondary pitches that he can control and get whiffs with (31% whiff vs RHH on his CH, SL, CU). He's been working with 6 pitches. Holding velocity has been a question. pic.twitter.com/1Hs8snLoks
Early has excelled at every level of the minors so far and has managed to keep the ball in the park, with just five home runs allowed over 100.1 innings of work this season.
Good look at Connelly Early’s last start.
He’s made 6 starts since reaching AAA with a 2.83 ERA/3.06 FIP in 28.2 IP. 11.3 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9. Has limited homers with a 0.6 HR/9.
Early had a projected big-league ETA of 2026, but the Red Sox are hurting for arms at the moment. Kutter Crawford, Hunter Dobbins, Tanner Houck and Patrick Sandoval are all out for the year, while May will join Richard Fitts and Cooper Criswell on the injured list as well.
So, outside of Boston’s “big three” of Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello, manager Alex Cora doesn’t have much pitching depth to work with, to the point where he resorted to a “bullpen game” last Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians.
It is a bit curious that the Red Sox have yet to promote Kyle Harrison, the 24-year-old lefty acquired in the Rafael Devers trade who has actual MLB experience. But considering Tolle and now Early have been called up ahead of him, it appears the team believes Harrison has more room for improvement before making his Red Sox big-league debut.
Early will take the mound against A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs in Sacramento on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 10:10 p.m. ET.
With the loss, the Mets are now just 3.0 games up on the Giants for the third Wild Card spot in the NL. New York holds the tiebreaker over San Francisco
Florida's Brendan Bett publicly apologized for spitting on USF player Cole Skinner during the 18-16 loss in the second week of the college football season.
Former Blackhawks Prospect Joins New TeamFormer Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jalen Luypen is no longer on the free-agent market, as he has signed a one-year contract with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. 
