Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

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The Hockey News Big Show: Devan Dubnyk On The Mental Side, Stuart Skinner, Sergei Bobrovsky And More

The Hockey News Big Show has a special guest on this summer episode: longtime NHL netminder Devan Dubnyk, who launched Dubnyk Development.

Devan Dubnyk On The Mental Side, Stuart Skinner, Sergei Bobrovsky And More by The Big ShowDevan Dubnyk On The Mental Side, Stuart Skinner, Sergei Bobrovsky And More by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Dubnyk discussed in this episode:

1:19: Why did Dubnyk start Dubnyk Development?

6:12: Looking back, what are some of the most important bench marks in your career getting to the NHL ? 

17:38: How important was Sean Burke (and the role of a "mentor") for Dubnyk midway through his career, when confidence may have been waning?

23:17: Why is the mental side to being a goalie more difficult than the mental side of other positions?

25:49: Which goalies in the NHL does he admire for their ability to process the highs/lows and stay consistent?

29:38: Thoughts on Stuart Skinner and the fact that Edmonton change the goaltending in the off-season?

37:30: How much time did Dubnyk spend on puckhandling during his playing days?

41:44: Which goalie do you want in a do-or-die Game 7?

44:21: Favorite goalie mask?

47:04: Who’s your favorite or the best goalie of all-time?

49:00:  Who will win the Vezina Trophy this year?

50:18: Dustin Wolf or Joseph Woll: who would you pick to start a franchise?

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

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What feud? Shaquille O'Neal to be presenter for Dwight Howard at Hall of Fame

In a couple of weeks, when Dwight Howard is inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Shaquille O'Neal will be by his side as one of his presenters. Shaq's addition to the list of Patrick Ewing, Robert Parish, Dennis Rodman, and Dominique Wilkins was announced by the Hall.

It's an interesting choice, given that Shaq and Howard have had a public feud that goes back more than 17 years. It was an inevitable tension as Shaq was not willing to cede his spot among the best centers in the game to another player, especially one Shaq saw as appropriating his "Superman" image.

This feud continued after Shaq's playing days, with him once suggesting Brook Lopez was a better center than Howard (who had been named First Team All-NBA for five straight years at that point). Howard said Shaq was retired and needed to let it go. Shaq later said all this was a motivational tactic to fire up Howard, but it continued even a year ago when both were out of the game (Howard was inspired by the Mike Tyson/Jake Paul "fight").

Now, though, it's apparently all good. The two men have a lot in common, including both being the No. 1 pick of the Orlando Magic and leading that franchise to the NBA Finals, and both were dominant at their peak.

hen Dwight Howard deservedly enters the Hall of Fame next month, Shaq will be there to present him and welcome him to the club.

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Pirates are going to call up Bubba Chandler, baseball’s top pitching prospect

PITTSBURGH — Baseball’s top pitching prospect is getting called up to the majors.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to promote 22-year-old right-hander Bubba Chandler ahead of their game Friday against the Colorado Rockies, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the roster move was not yet official.

Chandler will join a staff that already includes 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes.

The person told the AP that Chandler will initially work in a “bulk” bullpen role. Chandler got off to a hot start in Triple-A this year but has stumbled lately and is currently 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA in 100 innings pitched this year for Indianapolis.

The Pirates have been careful with Chandler’s workload since he moved to pitching full-time ahead of the 2023 season after being projected as a two-way player when he was drafted in 2021. Chandler saw time at shortstop and as a designated hitter early in his minor-league career but struggled at the plate, hitting just .184 with Class-A Greensboro in 2022.

Asked in February if he missed hitting, Chandler joked he learned in the minors that for a position player, he’s a pretty good pitcher.

And potentially a very good one. Yet Pittsburgh has been cautious in bringing Chandler along. He pitched 106 innings in 2023 and 119 innings last season.

Chandler got off to a scorching start at Triple-A this spring, posting a 1.33 ERA in April and a 2.54 ERA in May. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington, however, had been hesitant to promote Chandler, citing his relative inexperience as opposed to Skenes, who had a standout career at LSU before the Pirates called him up in May 2024.

Chandler’s effectiveness has waned of late. He went 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in three starts this month for Indianapolis.

Yet with Pittsburgh heading for a last-place finish in the NL Central, Chandler will get an extended audition in the majors as the club points toward 2026.

The top of the Pirates’ rotation for next year appears to be set with Skenes and Mitch Keller. The other three spots are a question mark at the moment, with Jared Jones (who has missed all season after having Tommy John surgery), Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo (who made his second start after having Tommy John surgery of his own in late 2023), all in the mix.

Chandler can join them with a solid showing, with the club likely looking for chances to put him in low-leverage situations. In that way, having him available for a weekend series against MLB-worst Colorado makes sense.

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REPORT: Jan Rutta Will Sign In Switzerland

Czech defenseman Jan Rutta is about to sign with Genève-Servette of Switzerland’s National League, according to a Swiss media report.

Gregory Beaud reports that his media outlet Blick has information that indicates the deal is imminent. No details about the length of the contract are mentioned, other than “for the upcoming season.”

If correct, it would mean a return to Europe after eight years in the NHL for the 35-year-old. Rutta has 98 points and 219 penalty minutes in 417 NHL regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks. He also has 11 points in 49 playoff games and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay.

Earlier this off-season, Blick reported that Jesse Puljujärvi was on his way to Switzerland.Two weeks later, the Finnish winger indeed signed with the same Genève-Servette team.

CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in SwitzerlandCONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

According to the report, Genève-Servette sports director Marc Gautschi has said that he wants to start the upcoming season with seven import players. The club already has under contract for the 2025-26 season Finns Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Sakari Manninen and Vili Saarijärvi, Canadian Taylor Beck and American Jimmy Vesey.

Genève-Servette team won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 after a century of existance and then won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. 

Jan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for finalJan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for finalThe Czechs will play for the gold medal on home ice in Prague but they’ll do so without defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been suspended one game by the IIHF World Championship Disciplinary Panel for an elbow to the head of Swedish forward Isac Lundeström.
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2 Blues Who Could Be Nice Surprises

The St. Louis Blues' goal this upcoming campaign will be to build off their strong 2024-25 season. When looking at the Blues' current roster, it is clear that they are trending in the right direction. This is especially so when noting that they brought in some good new talent this off-season.

With the Blues' season opener starting to get closer, let's take a look at two of their players who could be surprises for them during the 2025-26 campaign. 

Mathieu Joseph

Mathieu Joseph had a tough first season with the Blues, as he posted four goals, 10 assists, and a minus-6 rating in 60 games. While Joseph struggled to produce offensively in 2024-25, his past seasons demonstrate that he has the potential to bounce back. 

Just back during the 2023-24 season with the Ottawa Senators, Joseph scored 11 goals and set career highs with 24 assists and 35 points. With this, the possibility of Joseph getting his offense back up and being a nice surprise for the Blues next season should not be ruled out. 

Logan Mailloux

Earlier this off-season, the Blues traded forward Zack Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. While Bolduc was a promising young forward for the Blues and had a solid 2024-25 season, fans should not ignore Mailloux. He has the potential to become a key piece for the Blues moving forward. 

Mailloux is a former first-round pick who is still trying to cement himself as a full-time NHL defenseman. The promising blueliner should get more opportunities on the Blues, and it will be fascinating to see if he can break out for the Central Division club because of it. In seven games last season with the Canadiens, he had two goals and four points. 

Blues: 2 More PTO Targets To ConsiderBlues: 2 More PTO Targets To ConsiderThe St. Louis Blues signed forward Milan Lucic to a professional tryout (PTO) on Aug. 19. With training camp still being roughly a month away, there is still time for the Blues to bring in another player or two on a PTO before the pre-season begins if they wish to. 
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2 Canadiens Who Could Be Nice Surprises

The Montreal Canadiens are undoubtedly one of the NHL's most exciting teams heading into the 2025-26 season. They have plenty of young talent who have the potential to break out but also have a nice veteran core.

Yet, let's look at two Canadiens who could end up being nice surprises for the Original Six club next season.

Owen Beck 

Owen Beck will be an interesting prospect to watch heading into the 2025-26 season. The 21-year-old forward is still working on his development, and he certainly possesses good upside. With this, it would be significant for the Canadiens if he took a nice step forward next season and cemented himself a spot on their NHL roster. 

Beck had a solid first AHL season with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25, posting 15 goals and 44 points in 64 games. He also played in his first 12 career NHL games with the Habs in 2024-25, posting one assist. With a year of professional hockey experience under his belt, Beck is a sneaky breakout candidate to keep an eye on for next season. 

Joe Veleno

Joe Veleno is one of the new players the Canadiens have brought in this off-season. While he may not be as flashy as fellow newcomers like Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc, he is a player who fans should not sleep on.

Veleno showed during the 2023-24 season with the Detroit Red Wings that he can chip in offensively, as he posted career highs with 12 goals and 28 points in 80 games. If he can get his offense back up to these totals while maintaining his heavy style of play, the 25-year-old could end up being an excellent addition to Montreal's bottom six. 

Canadiens Soaring Goalie Should Only Get BetterCanadiens Soaring Goalie Should Only Get BetterIt is an exciting time for the Montreal Canadiens right now. The Atlantic Division club is a clear team on the rise due to their nice mix of impactful veterans and promising young players. With this, they are undoubtedly among the most intriguing teams to watch heading into the 2025-26 season. 
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Bulls' Nikola Vucevic handling trade rumors like a vet, 'There are always rumors. Most of them are false.'

He was linked to the Lakers. He was linked to the Warriors. He was linked to pretty much any team in need of a solid center. Then, there were rumors that the Chicago Bulls would buy out the final year of his $21.5 million contract, allowing him to sign elsewhere as a free agent.

Nikola Vucevic brushed them all off. The 14-year NBA veteran has been dealing with rumors his entire career, and he has been traded a couple times, he knows what that experience was like. What was happening this summer was nothing like that, he told BasketUSA in an interview as he practices with Montenegro for the EuroBasket championships starting in a week (hat tip to Real GM for the translation).

"The Bulls' GM [Marc Eversley] had contacted me after all the rumors about me, confirmed that nothing was true and that everything we had said to each other after the season was still relevant. I knew it but it's always nice when your GM contacts you to tell you...

"There are always rumors. Most of them are false. It's a bit of nonsense. For example, the buy-out was misinterpreted in Europe: the journalist wrote that if there was no 'trade' during the season, there might be a 'buy-out' option before the 'deadline.' I know how the business works, in the last year of a contract, there is always speculation. Since I can't control anything, I try not to worry about it."

Last season, Vucevic averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, shooting 40.2% from 3-point range on 4.4 attempts a game. He is a high-quality offensive center who could help a lot of teams and has become a key part of the Bulls' attack, but is not the defensive anchor at the position that a lot of teams are seeking in the modern game.

Vucevic added in the interview that he is "almost certain" he will be with the Bulls when the season opens, which makes sense as he is clearly the starter at the five and one of only two true centers on the 15-man roster (Zach Collins is the other).

Whether he is in Chicago when the season ends is another question. He's a 34-year-old center in the final year of his contract — players in that situation are often available in trades, and can be bought out to save money after the trade deadline. That is possible here, depending on what other moves Chicago makes. The Bulls front office has to be thinking about what comes next at the five, although figuring out the Bulls front office's long-term vision is a challenge in and of itself.

Whatever that plan is, it includes Vucevic at the five to start the season.

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In the System: William Strömgren

William Strömgren is a smooth-skating Swede with Top-Six potential.

Player Snapshot

Strömgren is a 6’3”, 175-pound left winger from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Selected by the Flames in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, he spent time in the SHL before making the jump to North American hockey. Known for his size-skating combo, Strömgren has the frame of a power forward but the finesse of a playmaker, making him an intriguing offensive piece in Calgary’s system.

Last Season in Review

In 2024–25, Strömgren appeared in 70 games for the Wranglers, scoring 14 goals and adding 35 assists for 49 points. It was a steady step up from his first full season in North America, where he posted 27 points (7 g, 20a) in 68 games. His confidence with the puck grew noticeably, as did his willingness to attack defenders one-on-one.

He also saw more time on the power play, where his quick release and ability to find soft spots in coverage helped generate scoring chances.

© Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Playing Style & Strengths

Strömgren combines long, powerful strides with deceptive hands, allowing him to carry the puck through the neutral zone and into dangerous areas. He’s comfortable on either wing, has a strong reach, and can protect the puck effectively along the boards.

His offensive instincts are sharp — he knows when to pull the trigger and when to look for a teammate — but his defensive game has also improved, earning him more trust from the coaching staff.

What’s Next for 2025–26

This season is about pushing his offensive ceiling. A 50 to 60-point season in the AHL would signal he’s getting ready to push for NHL looks. He’ll also aim to add a bit more size and strength to withstand the grind of top-six minutes and sharpen his play without the puck.

Bottom Line

With size, speed, and skill, Strömgren has the tools to develop into an NHL-caliber winger. Continued offensive growth and consistent defensive play will be his ticket to the next level.