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'Couldn't Ask For Anything Better': How Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Jake Muzzin Is Helping Develop The Next Crop Of Toronto Defenders

As Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 first-round pick Ben Danford finishes a battle drill at the organization's development camp, he receives a stick-tap from Jake Muzzin.

The 36-year-old, who moved into a development role with the Maple Leafs last summer after scouting for the 2022-23 season, has been working behind the scenes with Toronto's top defensive prospects this past season.

Muzzin would have calls nearly every week with prospects like Danford and 2023 sixth-round pick Noah Chadwick throughout the year, dissecting their game and, at times, texting them clips of plays from NHL games he was watching. He’d even come to Danford’s games, too.

"A couple times a month [I'd have calls with Muzzin]," Danford said in a one-on-one with The Hockey News Toronto on Friday.

"It was mostly just my kind of video, my shifts. If he would send me a text or something, it might be a clip of an NHL game on just that night. Maybe a D-man had a broken play and it turned into the other team scoring, like things you don’t want to see, so things like that.

"But when it was Zoom calls, it was just looking at my shifts, focusing on myself, really just watching me, how I can make my teammates better, plays I can do better, and stuff like that."

'He Always Wants To Be The Best': Why Tinus Luc Koblar Could Be Maple Leafs' Biggest Steal Of The 2025 NHL Draft'He Always Wants To Be The Best': Why Tinus Luc Koblar Could Be Maple Leafs' Biggest Steal Of The 2025 NHL DraftA few weeks after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tinus Luc Koblar is soaking up his time in the city.

The 19-year-old Danford is coming off his third season with the OHL's Oshawa Generals, where he captained the club to the OHL Championship Final against Easton Cowan and the London Knights. Oshawa was able to steal one game from London before the Knights won the title and went on to win the Memorial Cup.

Cowan didn’t take to the ice during development camp, though when he spoke about Danford, he recalled how difficult it was to go up against him.

"Some people say he blocks shots like (Chris) Tanev, and he has sneaky-good offensive skill… I’m glad he likes me again [after the playoff series]."

'They Look Like They're 24': Maple Leafs Prospects Inspired Watching Veterans Like Tavares, Tanev, And Laughton Train At Development Camp'They Look Like They're 24': Maple Leafs Prospects Inspired Watching Veterans Like Tavares, Tanev, And Laughton Train At Development CampThe Toronto Maple Leafs prospects got a firsthand look at current NHL players as they filed into the rink during development camp.

"He just kills plays," added Toronto 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins, who’s had his fair share of battles with Danford being in the same division. 

"Once you hit that blue line, he’s coming at you and he’s coming at you fast. And he has a really good stick as well, which makes it a lot harder for a player trying to get by and not turn that puck over at the blue line."

When Danford arrived in Toronto a week before development camp, he was able to skate a few times with Tanev. The young defender praised the veteran defenseman for his character, both on and off the ice, adding he’ll be skating with him more over the summer.

"He’s been phenomenal. I’ve looked up to him for quite a few years now. I feel like that’s someone I can really learn off of," said Danford. "He’s just that rock-solid D-man that can contribute second-piece offense as well."

'You Notice Him Out There': Why 2025 Third-Round Pick Tyler Hopkins Stood Out At Maple Leafs Development Camp'You Notice Him Out There': Why 2025 Third-Round Pick Tyler Hopkins Stood Out At Maple Leafs Development CampIf you're wondering who might've stood out at Toronto Maple Leafs development camp, look no further than 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins.

Danford might not have had as many points this year compared to last season, though he's certainly taken a step away from the puck. He's become stronger, more physical, and is constantly working on becoming a much meaner defender who'll one day step onto the Maple Leafs' blue line.

"His game is starting to calm down," said assistant GM, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser. "He's a great skater. He moves as well as anyone on the ice here. Sometimes he tries to do too much when he plays in the OHL with Oshawa, and we've just been talking to him about taking the time to play calm, getting inside lanes to block shots."

Throughout Toronto’s 2025 development camp, defensemen have raved about having players like Muzzin and Mark Giordano—who addressed the prospects—being around the facilities.

"Those guys were unreal NHL defensemen," Danford said. "To learn off of (Muzzin) and what he’s taught me already in my first year with the Leafs, I think, yeah, I just want to keep working with him. He’s great, we have a really good relationship."

Maple Leafs Linked To Free Agent Jack Roslovic, Could He Be A Fit In Toronto?Maple Leafs Linked To Free Agent Jack Roslovic, Could He Be A Fit In Toronto?The Toronto Maple Leafs are still seeking offensive reinforcements following the departure of star forward Mitch Marner. While a trade seemed the most likely avenue for a replacement, recent talk suggests a compelling free agent option: Jack Roslovic, who shares a history with Leafs star Auston Matthews.

Working first-hand with Muzzin this year has been an eye-opening experience for Danford. 

"If I could ever play like the way he did, I’d be pretty happy with my NHL career. He was a feisty player, someone who was physical. He’d lay hits. He’s a two-way guy. He put up some really good numbers some seasons," the defensive prospect said.

"But defensively, just his details, and I mean, he won a Cup. I mean, to do that, it’s a dream come true, so if I can ever do that, it would be awesome."

Chadwick as well.

"I couldn’t really ask for anything better. He’s a fantastic human being. Good character. He’s special to work with and passed a lot of good lessons on to me. Just hoping to continue to build my game with him as I step into pro."

'I Saw My Name And I Was Going Crazy': Maple Leafs Prospect Rylan Fellinger Describes Getting Drafted Into The NHL While Attending Prom'I Saw My Name And I Was Going Crazy': Maple Leafs Prospect Rylan Fellinger Describes Getting Drafted Into The NHL While Attending PromRylan Fellinger, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ sixth-round selection (185th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft, had a quite unique draft experience: he wasn't at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles when his name was called. Instead, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound defenseman was in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, attending his high school prom.

Danford is a strong skater who can move laterally very well. He’s got all the tools to be an NHL defender, from the size, speed, and strength in front of the net. There are a couple of areas of his game that need work if he wants to step into an NHL role sooner rather than later.

"Who knows when I’m going to make the jump to pro, but I think I need to get bigger and stronger and faster," said Danford. "The way (NHL players) can move and stuff and how strong they are on pucks, that’s a really big eye-opener, so I feel like that’s something that I can really get better at."

The most important piece of advice he’s received from Muzzin, though, is to keep things simple with the puck.

"I mean it’s simple, like the word is simple actually," he smiled. 

"To get to the next level, the coaches need to trust you and you need to limit your mistakes when you first come up, so that all starts now in junior. Limiting my mistakes, keeping it simple. When that first pass is there, take it, don’t overcomplicate things. 

"Just use my skating to my advantage, we both think that’s something that can really help me to get to the next level, so I think that’s one thing, though, just really simplify things, don’t overdo things."

'Time Will Tell': Is Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Ready For The NHL Next Season?'Time Will Tell': Is Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Ready For The NHL Next Season?One year ago, it was only the NHL or OHL for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. However, now, it'll be NHL or AHL for the 20-year-old.

It’s a fascinating situation for Toronto’s top defensive prospects. They have someone a couple of years removed from his hockey career, helping them develop into players who hope to one day play consistently in the NHL.

A player’s game can get to another level when you’re constantly surrounded by players who are still in the league, or those who’ve retired recently.

"I feel like because he just retired, you can relate off him just as much," Danford said. "He knows what the speed and the game is like at the NHL level, he had a long career, a successful one, so it’s really cool to work with him and everything just because of that for sure."

Having players like Muzzin, Tanev, Giordano, and Kyle Clifford around, plus even Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette, allows prospects an up-close-and-personal view of what’s needed to take another step in their game.

Fight Breaks Out at Maple Leafs Development Camp Between Matthew Hlacar and Rhett ParsonsFight Breaks Out at Maple Leafs Development Camp Between Matthew Hlacar and Rhett ParsonsWe have a fight on day one of Toronto Maple Leafs development camp.

The hope for Toronto is that a few of these prospects can turn into homegrown defensemen who can play a key role with the Maple Leafs down the line, something they haven’t had since drafting Morgan Rielly in 2012.

"I think for these players, they love and look up to the players that played," Wickenheiser said. "When they talk, the players listen. They’ve been through it. They know what it’s like, and they bring a lot of wisdom and experience that they can still relate to."

(Top photo of Muzzin and Danford: Nick Barden / The Hockey News Toronto)

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Book excerpt: What scared Bryce Harper away from signing with Giants in 2019

Book excerpt: What scared Bryce Harper away from signing with Giants in 2019 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

  • Editor’s Note: Alex Pavlovic’s new book “The Franchise: San Francisco Giants: A Curated History of the Orange and Black,” hits bookshelves Tuesday, July 8. The following is an excerpt regarding the team’s pursuit of Bryce Harper during the 2018-19 offseason. You can purchase the book HERE.

For all of the attention that was paid to the Jon Lester chase (in 2014), the Giants never really felt he was coming to San Francisco. Larry Baer, Brian Sabean, Bobby Evans and Bruce Bochy flew to Atlanta to meet with Lester and Buster Posey, who lived a few miles away, but it was pretty apparent that he would choose the Cubs. As they walked out of the meeting, Bochy, as good a judge of body language as anyone in the sport, turned to the others and said Lester wasn’t coming to San Francisco.

Lester was high-profile, but over the years, the Giants had fallen just short on plenty of others, from Pudge Rodriguez to Zack Greinke. The first pursuit of Shohei Ohtani was a long shot, but the Giants did their best to stand out. Trainer Dave Groeschner laid out a plan for the Japanese superstar to pitch every six days and play the outfield. Bochy added a personal touch by learning some Japanese from bullpen catcher Taira Uematsu. But the Giants could tell that Ohtani didn’t love their plan to use him in the outfield, and he chose to play in Anaheim, where he could be a designated hitter.

The other target that offseason, Giancarlo Stanton, was also best suited to DH, but back then, he was an outfielder and the reigning NL MVP. The sides agreed to a deal that would send Stanton to San Francisco in exchange for Denard Span and minor leaguers Jacob Gonzalez and Andrew Suarez, with the Marlins potentially sending about $40 million over the next decade to help offset some of the $295 million left on his deal. But a week after meeting with the Giants at a hotel in Los Angeles, Stanton used his no-trade clause to rebuff them and the Cardinals and land in New York.

Falling short on Ohtani and Stanton helped usher in a new front office, and a few months in, Farhan Zaidi made a run at one of the game’s best players. In just about every way, Bryce Harper was the perfect fit. 

He was just 26, making him the rare superstar who could chase another title with the existing core but also be around long enough to lead a future generation. While Harper had some of the worst numbers of his career at Oracle Park, he loved the atmosphere. Sure, he always found it chilly, but he had faced the Giants in the 2014 postseason and never forgot what it was like to play in front of that crowd. 

The Giants were a late entrant in the sweepstakes, with Baer, Zaidi and Bochy flying to Las Vegas to meet Harper, his wife and agent Scott Boras at a casino near his home in early February. Years earlier, Harper had played on a travel team called the San Diego Stars that got field passes for a Padres game. He got to meet Bochy, and he remembered how all of his fingers disappeared in the former catcher’s huge hands. When they met again in 2019, Harper told Bochy he would love to play for him, but he needed to know how long they might be together. He knew Bochy was going into the final year of his contract and had not announced his future plans. Harper’s one shot at free agency was too big a decision for any uncertainty.

“We had a great meeting. They’re a great organization and they have been for a long time,” Harper said. “The biggest thing for me was asking Bochy if he was going to be here, and he said no, he had just one year left. I think that was the thing that really scared me the most.”

The question was still bouncing around Harper’s head as he neared a decision a few weeks later. A night before it was announced, he called Brandon Crawford and asked about the team and the organization. He also asked if the shortstop had any insight into what the plan was after Bochy retired. 

Nobody did at the time, and the next day, Harper reached a $330 million deal with the Phillies. The Giants had offered him $310 million over 12 years, and while they signaled to Boras that they could stretch higher if needed, there was a lot of ground to be made up because of the difference in state taxes. There was also another problem. “The key thing,” Boras said, “is they were late to the event.” Boras and Harper thought the meetings with the Giants went well, but they were always chasing offers from the Phillies and never caught up.

In a twist, the succession plan to Bochy ended up being to hire Gabe Kapler, who was Harper’s manager in his first year in Philadelphia. “You never know what’s going to happen, right?” Harper said. “I love Philadelphia. I love where I’m at and I’m very happy with the decision. It came down to Philadelphia or San Francisco, and I just felt that for me and my family, it felt right that we were going to go to Philadelphia.”

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Alex Cooper booed while singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at Wrigley Field

Alex Cooper booed while singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at Wrigley Field originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It appears Chicago Cubs fans do not want to take Alex Cooper out to the ballgame after her performance in the seventh-inning stretch.

Cooper, the famed host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, attended the Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field Sunday, where she sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

But her unique rendition and choreographed performance left many fans booing from the stands.

The Cubs had promoted the event as “Big Al’s Takeover.”

“Your Father, Alex Cooper, is taking over the Friendly Confines! Come on down to Wrigley Field Sunday, July 6, and take part in Big Al’s Takeover … You don’t want to miss Alex lead the crowd in ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ during the seventh-inning stretch,” the team wrote ahead of the game.

Video posted to social media shows Cooper starting out the song with an interesting vocal choice as two friends performed choreographed moves behind her.

The boos started shortly after the performance began, but Cooper didn’t appear fazed. She continued through the end of the song, closing with a grand finale as she belted a note from the top of her friend’s shoulders while laughing.

While the seventh-inning stretch has carried many unconventional performances before, it appeared Cubs fans weren’t into this rendition.

“This was so brutal,” one fan wrote on X.

“You know it’s bad when you get booed during the stretch. Most get booed for a bad rendition of the National Anthem, but this is pathetic,” another commented.

A Reddit user reported hearing the boos from their condo four blocks away from the field.

“As a Cards fan, W Cubs fans for booing that horrendous rendition,” another wrote on X.

Cooper did not post any footage of the performance to her own social media channels and has not yet commented on the boos.

The Cubs ultimately gave fans plenty to cheer about Sunday, however, as they shut out the St. Louis Cardinals 11-0.

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Tatum's Achilles injury rehab reaches next level with pool workout

Tatum's Achilles injury rehab reaches next level with pool workout originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jayson Tatum’s recovery process has reached its next stage.

The Boston Celtics star is just under two months removed from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in a May 13 playoff game against the New York Knicks. And while most Americans were enjoying a relaxing July 4 weekend, Tatum was attacking his rehab — both in the gym and in the pool.

On Saturday, Tatum posted an Instagram photo of himself working out in the gym (with a walking boot on his right foot) with the motivational caption, “Keep showing up JT.”

On Sunday, Tatum briefly ditched the walking boot for a pool workout, sharing a video on his Instagram story of himself doing some slow but steady “high knees” under the close watch of trainer Nick Sang.

Tatum has been very active post-surgery — he shared another video of himself in the gym on June 29, less than 50 days after his operation. The 27-year-old has a relentless work ethic, so it’s no surprise that he’s doing everything he can to speed up his recovery process.

Whether we see Tatum at some point during the 2025-26 season, however, remains to be seen.

The Celtics have been intentional about not putting a clock on Tatum’s recovery, with president of basketball operations Brad Stevens recently noting that Tatum won’t have a projected timeline for “a long, long time.”

“It’s baby steps right now,” Stevens told reporters after Round 1 of the NBA Draft on June 25. “He’s actually progressed great, but I don’t know what that means with regard to projected timelines.”

“And that’ll be in consultation with him and (trainers) Nick (Sang) and Phil Coles and everybody else to make sure when he hits the court, he is fully ready and fully healthy. And that will be the priority.”

While most NBA players miss full seasons due to Achilles injuries, there have been some examples of stars returning in under 12 months’ time — most notably Dominique Wilkins, who was back on the court less than 10 months after his injury. Given Tatum’s youth and work ethic, it’s certainly possible he’s able to speed up his own recovery process.

Then again, Boston will need to consider the risk of rushing Tatum back to action, especially on a team that has lower expectations in 2025-26 after losing Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and possibly Al Horford. The better course of action might be to keep Tatum out the entire season and let him return at 100 percent health in 2026-27, instead of throwing him into the fire in March or April 2026.

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What Kevon Looney is most proud of from 10-year NBA tenure with Warriors

What Kevon Looney is most proud of from 10-year NBA tenure with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Kevon Looney has a lot to be proud of from his time with the Warriors. Perhaps most importantly: Three NBA championship rings.

While the 6-foot-9 center never produced eye-popping numbers throughout his 10-year career with Golden State, he played a pivotal role as a reliable big, both in the starting lineup and off the bench, while also establishing himself as a veteran leader in the Warriors’ locker room.

Looney’s role, and the overwhelming respect he garnered throughout the organization, did not come easy, as he outlined in a heartfelt letter to the Warriors and Dub Nation in a Players’ Tribune article posted on Sunday after he agreed to sign a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

“In looking back on everything on my way out, I think the thing I’m most proud of when it comes to my time with the Warriors is the fact that I earned everything that came to me as a player,” Looney wrote.

“No one gave me anything. I worked for everything. I earned my stripes.”

Looney earned a lot of praise for how reliable and poised he was in the biggest moments, and after he was selected by the Warriors in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, with Golden State’s dynastic run just beginning, there were plenty of big moments to follow.

“And I’m not gonna lie: It was scary sometimes,” Looney shared. “I didn’t always know how things were gonna turn out. I’d look up, and I’m out there on an island with James Harden, and it was just like … go figure it out. But my coaches and teammates, they all trusted me to come through. Make or break.  

“And I didn’t break. I’ll always be proud of that.”

While Looney’s role as one of the Warriors’ veteran leaders never wavered, his spot in the starting lineup, and coach Steve Kerr’s rotations, certainly did over the years, which was not an easy pill for Looney to swallow.

“I had to earn that support, of course. And the journey, that winding path I took over the years, it honestly wasn’t easy,” Looney added. “Getting benched. Guys getting drafted and taking your minutes. Lineup changes. Falling out of the rotation sometimes. None of that is fun. But when you’re part of a culture where everything is about winning, and you’ve seen vets sacrifice in previous years, that mindset kind of takes hold.

“So, yeah, sure, if I’m being honest, I got frustrated sometimes, or was feeling bad, but … I’d just keep all that at home, and then come to work each day ready to help us win.”

Looney’s unwavering commitment to the Warriors did not go unnoticed, and for that, he forever will hold a special place in the hearts of those within the organization and Dub Nation.

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What Kevon Looney is most proud of from 10-year NBA tenure with Warriors

What Kevon Looney is most proud of from 10-year NBA tenure with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Kevon Looney has a lot to be proud of from his time with the Warriors. Perhaps most importantly: Three NBA championship rings.

While the 6-foot-9 center never produced eye-popping numbers throughout his 10-year career with Golden State, he played a pivotal role as a reliable big, both in the starting lineup and off the bench, while also establishing himself as a veteran leader in the Warriors’ locker room.

Looney’s role, and the overwhelming respect he garnered throughout the organization, did not come easy, as he outlined in a heartfelt letter to the Warriors and Dub Nation in a Players’ Tribune article posted on Sunday after he agreed to sign a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

“In looking back on everything on my way out, I think the thing I’m most proud of when it comes to my time with the Warriors is the fact that I earned everything that came to me as a player,” Looney wrote.

“No one gave me anything. I worked for everything. I earned my stripes.”

Looney earned a lot of praise for how reliable and poised he was in the biggest moments, and after he was selected by the Warriors in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, with Golden State’s dynastic run just beginning, there were plenty of big moments to follow.

“And I’m not gonna lie: It was scary sometimes,” Looney shared. “I didn’t always know how things were gonna turn out. I’d look up, and I’m out there on an island with James Harden, and it was just like … go figure it out. But my coaches and teammates, they all trusted me to come through. Make or break.  

“And I didn’t break. I’ll always be proud of that.”

While Looney’s role as one of the Warriors’ veteran leaders never wavered, his spot in the starting lineup, and coach Steve Kerr’s rotations, certainly did over the years, which was not an easy pill for Looney to swallow.

“I had to earn that support, of course. And the journey, that winding path I took over the years, it honestly wasn’t easy,” Looney added. “Getting benched. Guys getting drafted and taking your minutes. Lineup changes. Falling out of the rotation sometimes. None of that is fun. But when you’re part of a culture where everything is about winning, and you’ve seen vets sacrifice in previous years, that mindset kind of takes hold.

“So, yeah, sure, if I’m being honest, I got frustrated sometimes, or was feeling bad, but … I’d just keep all that at home, and then come to work each day ready to help us win.”

Looney’s unwavering commitment to the Warriors did not go unnoticed, and for that, he forever will hold a special place in the hearts of those within the organization and Dub Nation.

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Heat acquire Norman Powell, Clippers get John Collins in three-team trade: Report

Heat acquire Norman Powell, Clippers get John Collins in three-team trade: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Miami Heat have reportedly added a dynamic scorer.

Norman Powell is headed to Miami, John Collins is off to the LA Clippers and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a Clippers 2027 second-round pick are going to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Monday.

The Heat get a skilled scorer in Powell, who averaged a career-high 21.8 points per game (24th in the NBA) with the Clippers last season while shooting 42% on 3-pointers. The 32-year-old guard spent three-plus seasons with the Clippers after being dealt from the Portland Trail Blazers in February 2022.

Miami is shipping out two veterans in Love and Anderson. Love, a five-time All-Star, averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds across 23 games for Miami in 2024-25. Anderson, meanwhile, played just 25 games with the team and averaged 6.7 points per game after being traded from the Golden State Warriors.

The Clippers bring back Collins. The forward averaged 19.0 points (tied for the team lead) for the Jazz across 40 games last season. He spent two years in Utah after playing with the Atlanta Hawks for his first six NBA seasons.

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Nuggets reportedly tell Jonan Valanciunas they expect him to honor contract

One of the deals that made the Denver Nuggets a winner this offseason was trading for Jonas Valanciunas. He would be the best backup center of the Nikola Jokic era in Denver...

Except Valanciunas reportedly wanted to play in Europe. He spoke with officials from Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos about a return to Europe, and they reportedly were willing to offer three years, $13 million, which would make him one of the highest-paid players on the continent.

The problem is it's not Valanciunas' call. Nor Panathinaikos. It's Denver's. Valanciunas can't abandon his two-year, $20.4 million contract and quit the Nuggets. There are FIBA rules about such things.

The Nuggets informed Valanciunas' representatives that "the franchise fully intends to have him honor his contract," reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. If Denver sticks to its guns on this, the conversation is over.

While this could be a negotiating tactic by the Nuggets, don't bet on it. Denver wants to contend next season, and Valanciunas is too valuable a player for the Nuggets to just let walk away. For years, Denver's biggest Achilles' heel has been the team's non-Jokic minutes — Valanciunas can help turn that tide (especially when paired with Bruce Brown, Peyton Watson and the emerging Julian Strawther). Also, because Valanciunas is very skilled at dribble handoffs and short midrange shots (inside 15 feet), the Nuggets don't have to switch up their offensive scheme when Jokic is out.

The road to Valanciunas playing in Greece next season is long and requires the cooperation of Denver. Under FIBA rules (the governing body of international basketball), a player under contract, such as Valanciunas, needs a FIBA "letter of clearance" to sign with another team. (For the record, this rule applies to European teams trying to sign NBA players, or NBA teams trying to sign European players.) In this case, it would mean Valanciunas and the Nuggets would have to agree to a buyout, freeing him from his contract (the Nuggets would likely expect him to give up all of that money). After that, FIBA would issue the letter and Valanciunas could sign.

The question is, why would Denver do that?

More likely than not, Denver will bring back Valanciunas this season and see how it plays out. A year from now, maybe Denver and Valanciunas work out a buyout, but the Nuggets upgraded this offseason and are serious contenders for another ring. They aren't going to let Valanciunas simply walk away.

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Penguins' New Assistant Coach Excited To Get To Work In Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Penguins' new assistant coach Mike Stothers almost missed the call - literally - to discuss what is now his position on head coach Dan Muse's staff.

While celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife at their lakeside house in Owen Sound, Ontario, Stothers didn't have his phone on him.

"I didn't have my phone with me all day long," Stothers said. "And, usually, you know... you always have your phone around."

He continued: "I came back late at night, and I looked at my phone, and I went, 'Oh my god, who's this?' Then, I looked, and I'm like, 'Oh, man... he's probably moved on,' because I hadn't responded."

Stothers may have missed the initial calls, but he was eventually able to get in touch with Muse and have good conversations about the potential opportunity to join Pittsburgh's staff. 

"Your staff has to be kind of like your roster," Stothers said. "Everybody has a role, and then, there's a fit. So, it seemed to just move along very, very well from there, and then, they offered me the opportunity. They said, 'Do you want some time to think about it?' And I said, 'No.' I said, 'I haven't stopped thinking about it since the first time you reached out.'

He had plenty of experience travelling to Pittsburgh as a player. Stothers spent most of his professional hockey career in the AHL between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Toronto Maple Leafs organizations. Drafted 21st overall by the Flyers in 1980, he played in 30 NHL games spread across five different seasons, registering two career assists. In 671 career AHL games - mostly played with the Hershey Bears - Stothers racked up 1,843 penalty minutes. 

Penguins Add Mike Stothers As Assistant Coach To Fill Out 2025-26 StaffPenguins Add Mike Stothers As Assistant Coach To Fill Out 2025-26 StaffAfter two long months, the Pittsburgh Penguins' quest to bring on a new coaching staff for the 2025-26 season is finally complete.

His familiarity with the city of Pittsburgh - and the connection he felt to city when he visited as a player - made the decision to accept the job easy for him.

"There was no hesitation," Stothers said. "I was so excited to be a part of Pittsburgh because, when I was with the Flyers - and don't start throwing stuff at me because I was with the Flyers - even as a visiting team coming in, you just knew a city, right? You just have a good feel for it, like that would be a good place to play or that would be a good place to work. So, it just seemed to fall into place."

And Stothers brings plenty of coaching experience to the Penguins' staff. He started his coaching career with the Bears in 1991-92 as a player-assistant, and he remained there for three years before moving on to the Philadelphia Phantoms, and - eventually - to the Flyers, as an assistant from 2000-02.

Assistant coach Mike Stothers speaks with the Pittsburgh media on Sunday. (Credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News)

His first head coaching gig came with the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL in 2002-03, where he remained for five seasons. From there, he rotated between gigs as a head coach in the AHL and WHL and as an NHL assistant for the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers in 2010-11, and - most recently - his stint with the Anaheim Ducks from 2021-23. 

He is prepared to helm the defense and penalty kill, which could both use some improvement. But - echoing the sentiment of Muse on Friday - Stothers expects it to be a team effort, especially with Muse's and Nick Bonino's experience with PK units.

"I think it's going to be a collaboration between the three of us, to be honest with you," Stothers said. "There are no right answers, there's no '100 percent' way of doing things.... Everything's well-researched. Everybody does their pre-scouts and everything else. So, it's like a chess match, it really is."

Ducks assistant Mike Stothers diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma of the lymph nodeDucks assistant Mike Stothers diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma of the lymph nodeAnaheim Ducks assistant coach Mike Stothers announced Saturday he has been diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma of the lymph node, an advanced form of skin cancer.

Stothers took more than a year away from hockey after being diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma of the Lymph Node while with the Ducks, needing ample time to recover both physically and mentally. While he was grateful for that time off, he missed being around hockey and being behind the bench. 

And he can't wait to get right back into the swing of things with the Penguins' organization, especially having previous connections to fellow assistants Todd Nelson and Rich Clune as well as forward Boko Imama, who Stothers said he has a "special relationship with."

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Feature image credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News 

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Rangers Re-Sign Brendan Brisson To One-Year Contract

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The New York Rangers have re-signed forward Brendan Brisson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL, $100,000 in the minors, and contains a guaranteed salary of $125,000. 

Brisson was selected by the Golden Knights in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

After spending most of his time with the Vegas’ American Hockey League affiliate the Henderson Silver Knights, he was traded to the New York Rangers in March in a deal that centered around Reilly Smith. 

The 23-year-old played 16 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack, recording two goals, four assists, and six points. 

Brisson has played in 24 total NHL games, tallying two goals, six assists, and eight points while averaging 11:25 minutes.

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Penguins Prospects Development Camp: Day Four Recap

We finally got to see some scrimmages between the top Pittsburgh Penguins prospects during development camp on Sunday, and they didn’t disappoint. Several players, including one from yesterday’s session, had solid days and will look to make an even bigger impact during Monday’s tournament. 

Defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke has been the talk of the camp since it started on Thursday, and he continued to make an impact on Sunday. His skating was once again flawless, and he showcased his excellent reach when defending against scoring opportunities during 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 drills. He even scored a seeing-eye goal from the point at the end of Sunday’s session. 

After the session concluded, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Kirk MacDonald spoke glowingly about Brunicke, having had the opportunity to coach him for 10 games at the end of the 2024-25 season and two in the playoffs. 

“Huge. Honestly, it was. Credit to him, he figured it out quick,” MacDonald said. “Came in initially and in junior habits, where you can just skate by people and hold on to the puck for a long time; I thought he did a really good job. Last couple of regular season games and the playoff stint, he was moving pucks quick, jumping into the rush, the goal he scored in the playoffs was outstanding.” 

“I thought his ability to kill plays, again, the less he does in certain areas, the more he accomplishes. I mean that by just making a really good first pass and then activating and jumping in the rush. We want our D to be aggressive and try to create offense, but it doesn’t mean necessarily having to skate through everybody. I think once he kinda recognized that, he was a little more patient with his game. The offense came to him. He did a great job.”

If Brunicke keeps it up and has another great training camp and preseason, there’s a chance he will get the nine-game tryout to open the 2025-26 season. He was extremely close to earning the tryout last year before being sent back to the WHL.

Will Horcoff made his presence felt during Saturday’s practice, specifically thanks to his release, which he showcased during Sunday’s drills and scrimmages. His wrist shot was almost unstoppable every time he had the puck on his stick, and he was also excellent around the net-front areas. For someone who is 6’5”, he is a relatively nimble skater. He’s super happy with the way his development camp has gone so far. 

“It’s going great,” Horcoff said. “Today was the first game day, so that was fun. Good competitive atmosphere. Looking forward to the 4-on-4 tomorrow.”

He’s in a great spot at Michigan and could be primed for a breakout season in 2025-26 after compiling four goals and 10 points in 18 games for the program last year. 

Cruz Lucius took a step forward on Sunday after being a bit quieter to start development camp. He was all over the ice and brought a physical element to this game along the boards and up by the point. He got several quality scoring chances and scored a couple of really nice goals, including a one-timer by the goal line, during some drills.

Lucius is back to full health after a shoulder injury kept him out for a good chunk of the 2024-25 season. He scored his first goal with Arizona State back in February and finished the season with two goals and 10 points in 19 games. He’s feeling good going into Monday’s tournament. 

“Yeah, I feel really good,” Lucius said. “I think throughout the start coming back, I had some ups and downs, but I think the training I’ve been doing in the summer, whether it’s skates or working out, I’ve been feeling back to myself now.”

Other miscellaneous thoughts:

Defenseman Quinn Beauchesne was selected by the Penguins in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft and showcased his skating ability on Sunday. He moved well and created space each time he had the puck. Both are things to monitor going into Monday’s tournament. He spent the 2024-25 season with the OHL’s Guelph Storm and finished with six goals and 24 points in 49 games.

Forward Jordan Charron was another one of the Penguins’ fifth-round picks and had some impressive edgework during drills. He also had a nice snipe before the full scrimmage got underway. Charron was picked 154th overall and spent the 2024-25 season with the Soo Greyhounds, compiling 10 goals and 21 points in 48 games. 

Defenseman Charlie Trethewey was one of three players the Penguins selected in the third round of this year’s draft, bringing his strong release to Sunday’s drills and scrimmages. It’s also all over his 24-25 tape with the U.S. National U18 team. He will spend the 25-26 season at Boston University. 

Development camp from the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex will conclude with a tournament on Monday at Noon ET. It will be free and open to the public. 

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Feature image credit:  Hunter Hodies - The Hockey News 

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Izak Rankine is born to play to full houses as his talent ensures Adelaide stay on song | Jonathan Horn

The electric forward showcases his full suite of talents as the Crows keep clinging to a top-four spot after overrunning the Demons

A fine singer, Izak Rankine plays his football like he’s taking requests. Adelaide were nearly five goals down halfway through the second quarter against Melbourne. If they had lost, they would have coughed up third spot and been in the ruck of teams on 40 points including ninth-placed Fremantle. Rankine stepped up on stage, showcased his full suite of talents and tilted the game the Crows’ way.

Rankine got his five goals when Adelaide needed them most and he got them in so many different ways. He got them by floating through the middle, by ducking into space in the pocket, by getting front and square, by banana bending them from set shots and by sharking ruck contests. He nearly had a career-high sixth after a wonderful lunging spoil and a bit of jujitsu hustling forced a free kick.

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NHL News: Blues Re-Sign Goalie Prospect

The St. Louis Blues are staying busy.

According to PuckPedia, the Blues have re-signed goalie prospect Vadim Zherenko to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season. 

Zherenko, 24, was selected by the Blues with the 208th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. After developing his game overseas, Zherenko has spent each of the last three seasons with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Now, with this new one-year deal, he will continue to be a key part of the Thunderbirds' crease. 

Zherenko posted a 12-17-5 record, a .897 save percentage, and a 3.44 goals-against average in 32 games this past season with Springfield. This is after he had a .904 save percentage and a 3.49 goals-against average in 29 games with the Thunderbirds in 2023-24. 

Overall, with this move, Zherenko will continue to be a depth option in the Blues organization. It will be interesting to see if he can take a big step forward next season from here. 

Blues Made Great Move Signing Ex-Canucks ForwardBlues Made Great Move Signing Ex-Canucks ForwardThe St. Louis Blues have had a busy off-season. One of their most notable moves was signing forward Pius Suter to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.13 million.

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