LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th home run of the season Saturday night in the fifth inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 9-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
The two-way Japanese star reached 40 homes for the fourth time in his career, after winning MVP awards in each of the previous three years he did it. Last year, Ohtani hit a career-high 54 home runs in winning the National League MVP in his first year with the Dodgers.
On Saturday, Ohtani hit a solo shot 417 feet to center off starter Chris Bassitt to give the Dodgers a three-run lead.
“That was one of those swings where he was behind the ball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He stayed into the ground. I know he and the hitting guys have been working on some things mechanically. That was as good of a swing as you’re going to see.”
With 45 regular-season games left, Roberts was asked if he thought Ohtani could reach 55.
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Roberts said. “Guys like Shohei always look for something to motivate them. He likes round numbers. I know 50 is on his radar. We’ll see how it goes.”
Ohtani was not made available to the media.
In 2021, Ohtani hit 46 home runs with the Los Angeles Angels and earned his first MVP. He homered 44 times in 2023 as well.
EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings made a quiet but meaningful move this week, re-signing forward Alex Laferriere to a three-year contract extension. While the deal doesn’t carry the headline shock of a blockbuster trade or marquee free agent signing the team sought in the early days of free agency, it speaks volumes about the organization’s belief in the 23-year-old’s upside and versatility.
For a team balancing a veteran core with an emerging next generation, locking up Laferriere is more than just a depth signing. It’s about creating flexibility in a roster that has seen plenty of its up and coming forwards show ability to play wing and center.
Laferriere’s Journey and Impact
Drafted in the third round (83rd overall) in 2020, Laferriere arrived in Los Angeles as an intriguing prospect out of Harvard University. He was known for his high-energy style, relentless forechecking, and willingness to play in all three zones. His transition to the NHL has been defined by exactly those traits—he doesn’t take shifts off, plays with noticeable pace, and has the kind of competitive edge that coaches trust in high-leverage moments.
Echoing Alex Iafallo, Laferriere shocked both team and non-team personnel with his opening NHL camp and his first full NHL season, as he not only made the roster but quickly earned a reputation for reliability, versatility, and a knack for complementing more offensively gifted linemates. That would diminish down the stretch in his first season with Kings’ fan favorite Pierre Luc Dubois.
Laferriere has shown promise, potentially emerging as a high-end secondary scoring threat even after his second season on a potent line with Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala. He posted modest point totals (42 points), threatened to score 20 in his second season (19), while showing flashes of dominant responsible play (+22) to keep the door open for further growth.
Perhaps the most appealing part of Laferriere’s game is his ability to seamlessly shift between roles of winger and center. He can play up and down the lineup, handle tough defensive assignments, and, critically for the Kings, has the potential to take on minutes at center if needed.
The Center Question in Los Angeles
For years, the Kings have been spoiled down the middle. Anze Kopitar has been the franchise’s future Hall of Fame rock, combining Selke-level defense with offensive production. Phillip Danault has provided elite shutdown capability and secondary scoring. Behind them, the team envisioned a future with Byfield as the next top-line centerpiece and Alex Turcotte anchoring the middle six.
Alex Laferriere with the SWEET no-look feed to Kevin Fiala who makes it 7-3 Kings 😮💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/dpQjnvLfMz
Hockey development is rarely linear, which can be said even about well thought out plans. For the Kings, Byfield has taken encouraging strides, but Turcotte’s journey has been marred by injuries and inconsistency. Once viewed as a sure bet to claim a full-time NHL center role, Turcotte has yet to cement himself in the lineup, despite showing signs of growth while getting top line wing time with Kopitar and Adrian Kempe last season.
General Manager Ken Holland has projected Turcotte to anchor the fourth line this upcoming season, next to Joel Armia and Corey Perry. A brand new line never seen before in Los Angeles should be cause for excitement, though the ceiling of a line that might get max 10-13 minutes should dampen expectations. History is also against Turcotte here, with their higher-end prospects seemingly dying on the vine in the bottom six (Rasmus Kupari, Jared Anderson-Dolan, Arthur Kaliyev, and now Akil Thomas).
The Kings could face a significant gap in their depth chart within the next two to three years if Turcotte cannot form into a low end 2C, Kopitar in his potential last year and Danault, despite defying expectations in LA, stepping closer to his mid-thirties.
That’s where Laferriere’s extension becomes more strategic than it appears at first glance.
Laferriere as a Center Option
While Laferriere has spent most of his NHL time on the wing, he has experience playing center at lower levels, including during his NCAA days. His defensive responsibility, hockey IQ, and skating make him a plausible option to transition back into the middle if the Kings need to fill a spot, either due to injury, roster reshuffling, or Turcotte’s up-and-down developmental journey.
As I asked Laferriere in his recent availability about the potential at center:
“I think for how I am as a player, I’ve always kind of prided myself on being someone who can be put anywhere in the lineup and try to do my best there… I think Jimmy trusts me in that role [at center]”
- Alex Laferriere Media Availability August 6th, 2025
For a player who rarely played center growing up, the move wouldn’t be without challenges, though to have an NHL coach (regardless in his first year as a benchboss in the league) trusting a player like Laferriere at center, speaks volumes. Center in the NHL is a demanding position, requiring more defensive reads, faceoff responsibilities, and the ability to facilitate offense from the middle of the ice. But Laferriere’s style, driven by anticipation, work ethic, and adaptability, suggests he could handle at least a hybrid role.
Even if he doesn’t become a full-time pivot, having him capable of spot duty at center provides Los Angeles with lineup flexibility. In the postseason, when injuries and matchup needs often force changes, that kind of utility can be the difference between stability and scrambling.
What If Turcotte Doesn’t Pan Out?
The Turcotte situation looms large over the Kings’ forward group. Drafted fifth overall in 2019, in a wave of great up and coming USHL players, Turcotte was projected to be a top-six, two-way center in the mold of Jonathan Toews, a player who could dominate at both ends of the ice and impose himself as a natural leader. Instead, injuries and developmental setbacks have limited his NHL exposure and slowed his progression.
If Turcotte can’t secure a consistent center role, the Kings have three options:
First, shift an existing winger to center. Laferriere should be the leading candidate here, given his profile. It wouldn’t be an ideal full-time solution, but it could work in specific scenarios. Kempe has played center, but is better weaponized on the wing.
Secondly, rely on other internal prospects. Though the pipeline, which includes some intriguing names, are not remotely surefire NHL-ready centers in the next year or two. This approach carries the most risk in the fallout of a once brimming with talent center pipeline.
Lastly, acquire a center via trade or free agency. This would be the most expensive option in both cap space and assets, especially for a contending team.
It is important to note however, that the projected cap will continue to rise, with Kopitar coming off the books and Drew Doughty's AAV due to come back down to earth for his next contract. There could be some money to play with despite Kempe destined to be the next eight digit player on the Kings.
In this context, Laferriere’s three-year deal acts as insurance. If Turcotte emerges as a reliable middle-six center, Laferriere remains a valuable winger with the flexibility to move around. If Turcotte doesn’t, the Kings have at least one internal player capable of stepping in without completely overhauling the roster.
Cap and Contract Implications
From a financial perspective, the Laferriere extension is a low-risk, high-upside move. His cap hit remains manageable, giving the Kings room to maneuver as they navigate contracts for other young players and potentially add reinforcements. The three-year term also ensures cost certainty during a period when the roster may undergo significant changes.
For a team walking the line between “win now” and “develop for the future,” cost-controlled versatility is gold. Laferriere fits that bill perfectly.
Looking Ahead
The Kings are at an inflection point. The Kopitar-Doughty era is winding down, and the Byfield-Clarke generation is just beginning to take shape. In between sits a group of players like Laferriere, core upside but essentially bridge pieces who can connect the eras while carving out their own place in the team’s identity.
If Turcotte finally breaks through, the Kings will have enviable depth down the middle. If not, Laferriere’s adaptability could quietly become one of the organization’s most important assets if they cannot bolster their center corps with an external move.
Either way, this three-year deal isn’t just about locking up a promising young forward. It’s about keeping options open in a league where flexibility often dictates success.
Bottom Line
Laferriere’s extension is a savvy, strategic and forward-thinking move for the Kings. It ensures lineup stability, provides potential coverage at a critical position, and reinforces the team’s commitment to building around players who can adapt to whatever the future holds. For a franchise navigating the balance between legacy and next-generation talent, that might be exactly what they need.
The New York Islanders signed Matthew Schaefer to a three-year entry-level contract on Aug. 4, becoming the ninth 2025 first-round pick to sign.
There isn’t a glaring weakness in the 2025 first-overall pick’s game. He’s as confident as you’ll find and thinks the game like a No.1 defenseman should. There’s not a single issue with his character. In fact, anything that has been said about him makes him seem like an increasingly genuine person.
What Schaefer has endured off the ice is no secret and doesn’t need to be touched upon further, but the mental fortitude to not only bounce back but become a shining light for children going through similar experiences as he has is a testament to his character.
While understated at times, balancing hockey and the mental side of things is difficult, especially for a rookie, but no player seems more prepared for it than Schaefer.
Physically, Schaefer could benefit from adding some muscle and weight to his 6-foot-2 frame, but that’s to be expected for someone who won’t turn 18 years old until Sept. 5.
Schaefer is a smooth skater, capable of starting transitions on his own. Defensively, his skating and stick work force opponents to the outside before he quickly snatches the puck away from them. With a great understanding of positioning and what to do with the puck when it’s on his stick, Schaefer’s game should have no problem translating to the NHL.
Once he signed his entry-level contract, the possibility of playing a season in the NCAA was abolished, but there are still routes Schaefer can take.
Schaefer could return to the Erie Otters in the OHL following training camp and pre-season, and become, if not the catalyst, one of the key figures on what’s shaping out to be a strong Canadian roster at the World Junior Championship.
Schaefer looked outstanding in the 17 OHL games and the one and a half world junior games he played last year, which is why he has been pencilled in as an NHLer.
If the Hamilton, Ont. native looks comfortable in pre-season but hasn’t necessarily won a job out of camp, the New York Islanders can allow him to play nine games to start the season before burning a year on his ELC. If he isn’t ready, he can return to the Otters for the remainder of the season.
What currently seems the most likely is that Schaefer starts the season on the Islanders’ third pair, playing behind fellow left-handed defensemen Adam Pelech and Alexander Romanov. As the season goes on and Schaefer continues to adjust to the pro game, his role can grow and his ice time can increase.
"I mean me, personally, I want to play in the NHL," Schaefer said after throwing out the first pitch at the New York Mets game on Monday night. "Other people would always ask me 'where do you want to go?' But for me, I was so dialled in on wanting to play in the NHL. And when I set goals for myself, I work as hard as I can so I can get to that point.”
The Islanders are in a favorable position where they don’t need to rush Schaefer, and can protect him in difficult matchups until they believe he is ready.
Each team has different perspectives on what’s best for a young defenseman. Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Miro Heiskanen and Owen Power all spent one or more seasons away from the NHL before beginning their careers. It proved to work out for them as they are among the NHL’s best defenseman. For others, like Rasmus Dahlin, they were thrown into the fire immediately, and although there were hiccups, Dahlin has become one of the premier defensemen in the NHL.
Schaefer looks to be in a great position, and either choice could be very beneficial, which should kick-start a great career.
Yes, the 2024-25 season was a lost year for the duo, with Barzal sustaining two long-term injuries that limited him to just 30 games.
But in 2023-24, the duo produced.
Horvat recorded 22 goals and 26 assists at 5-on-5 that season, with Barzal posting 18 goals and 37 assists at 5-on-5, with his overall 80 points the most since his Calder-winning season back in 2017-18.
However, for the 2025-26 season, the Islanders have decided to separate Barzal and Horvat, with Barzal going back to his natural position of center.
While Barzal certainly feels more comfortable down the middle, the loss of Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline left a hole at the No. 2 center position.
While Calum Ritchie, the big-time prospect the Islanders got in return for Nelson, will have a chance to make the team out of training camp, giving him the responsibility of being the second-line center may be too much for the 20-year-old, who only has seven games of NHL experience.
Here's what Darche said when asked by “The Sheet’s” Jeff Marek about Barzal:
"The beauty of it, to me, with Mathew is yes, he's a centerman, but the more players you have that can play different positions, that gives you options," Darche said. "Last year, he had good moments with Bo Horvat, but sometimes they might both be centers, and sometimes during times of the game, times of the year, maybe they play together. So having that flexibility is great."
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both centermen, with head coach Kris Knoblauch usually having them separated at 5-on-5.
However, whenever Edmonton needed to score a goal, those two usually heard their names called.
And more often than not, Edmonton found a way to put the puck in the back of the net.
It's a tremendous luxury to have the ability to do that with two top forwards.
While there's no question that if Barzal's going to play center, he's going to have to perform much better in the faceoff dot — he owns a career 42.3% on faceoffs — he is a righty. Horvat is a lefty, which allows that line to take draws and use whoever is on their strong side, another luxury.
McDavid and Draisaitl are both left-handed.
There will be times during the season, potentially late in games, where the Islanders need a goal or Roy is looking to get the boys buzzing again.
He knows what he has in his former dynamic duo and can put the two together without worrying about how they might play. One part that can't be overlooked here is the defensive play of those two.
Horvat has always been a strong two-way player, and Barzal's game away from the puck grew exponentially when he was on Horvat's wing.
So, Roy could have Horvat and Barzal out on the ice late in games, preserving a lead if he has to — the Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom duo may get tasked with that — and not have to worry about a defensive drop-off.
As of right now, we know that Jonathan Drouin will play on Horvat's left wing, but outside of that, the rest of the lineup — especially who rounds out that “top line” and who Barzal will play with — remains a mystery.
Could Kyle Palmieri flank Horvat? Will Anders Lee and Barzal be reunited long-term like we saw during the Barry Trotz days? Has Holmstrom earned the right to be the starting second-line right winger?
Roy has a ton of options, but Roy also needs results early, one would think.
If he's having a hard time finding suitable linemates to get the best out of Barzal, we may see No. 13 back on Horvat's wing in short order.
Yes, that would put the Islanders in a tough situation since, outside of Barzal, they really don't have an answer for the second-line center spot.
But maybe Ritchie surprises everybody at training camp and shows he can be that guy.
That would change everything because then the Islanders could have Drouin-Horvat-Barzal as a top line without hurting the overall makeup of the lineup.
Training camp opens in mid-September, as we are almost...almost a month away.
The Yankees have lost another of their trade deadline acquisitions.
Amed Rosario has been placed on the 10-day IL with a left SC joint sprain.
Rosario collided with the left field wall on Friday, and it appears he'll have to miss some time.
The speedster did tell reporters that he expects to be able to return after the minimum 10 days, though, which is certainly encouraging news.
Rosario has appeared in just four games since being acquired from the Washington Nationals, going 3-for-7 at the plate with a double and an RBI over that span.
Outfielder Austin Slater is also currently sidelined with an injury and reliever Jake Bird is down in Triple-A after struggling mightily in his first few outings, leaving New York without three of their new pickups.
In a corresponding roster move, catcher J.C. Escarra has been recalled from Triple-A.
Escarra has served as New York's No.2 backstop this season, but he was sent down to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last week to make room for Slater.
Earlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens re-signed defenseman Jayden Struble to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.4125 million. Getting this deal done with Struble was important for the Canadiens, as he is among their most promising young defensemen.
Struble is coming off a solid season with the Canadiens, as he scored two goals and set new career highs with 11 assists, 13 points, and 124 hits in 56 games. This was after the 6-foot defenseman recorded three goals and 10 points in 56 games with the Canadiens during his rookie season in 2023-24.
Overall, Struble has had a solid start to his NHL career and is cementing himself as a nice part of the Canadiens' blueline because of it. Yet, when noting that he is still only 23 years old and has just 112 career NHL games on his resume, he undoubtedly still has the potential to hit a new level. With this, he is a clear breakout candidate on the Canadiens to watch during the 2025-26 season.
Struble has certainly shown promise early on in his career, and he should only improve as he continues to gain more experience. If he can get his offense up a bit more and continue to be reliable defensively, it would be massive for a Canadiens team on the rise. It will be intriguing to see if he can put together a breakout year for the Habs from here.
Sunday’s crackerjack contest at the MCG against the equally superb Demons was a most welcome heartstopper after weeks of blowouts
With 10 minutes to go until the opening bounce of the Bulldogs’ game against Melbourne, Luke Beveridge stalked the MCG boundary line, a man careful not to slip on a banana peel. He was more clenched and coiled than usual. He looked like he’d spent the last six months deadlifting trucks and moving magnets. He knew better than anyone how dangerous this game was. He’d seen Brisbane slip up the previous day. He’d seen Fremantle nearly throw away their season. He knew his own team’s history of self-sabotaging in games like this.
When Aaron Naughton kicked his fourth goal and his second in as many minutes in the third term, his coach was entitled to loosen up a little. The first half had been a dozy affair, with both sides just trundling along. But now Naughton was marking everything, Bailey Dale and Marcus Bontempelli had about a thousand touches between them and the Dogs had their foot on the throat.
David scores 83 to lead Australia to win in Darwin
Australia have dominated South Africa’s largely unknown batting lineup to secure an unlikely victory in the first match of a three-game Twenty20 series in Darwin.
South Africa lost by 17 runs in at Marrara Oval on Sunday, bowled out for 161 after Australia were dismissed for a disappointing 178 from the final ball of an innings rescued by Tim David’s 83.
ARLINGTON, Texas — As expected, the Phillies recalled veteran right-hander David Robertson from Lehigh Valley and optioned pitcher Alan Rangel to Lehigh Valley.
Robertson hasn’t pitched yet this year in the big leagues as he was contemplating retirement after pitching for the Texas Rangers last season, when he appeared in 68 games that constituted 72 innings and a 3.00 ERA.
“I’m very excited to be back. This is the only life I’ve ever known for the past 20 years,” the 40-year-old Robertson said Sunday. “Ready to step back between the lines and see if I can help this team out. I feel ready to go. Everything that I’ve thrown is back to where it should be. Now I’ve just got to step up here and do it in between the lines at this level.
“It took a couple games, I knew I would need three or four outings, it ended up being five and had back-to-back outings before I come in here, so that was good so I can be prepared to throw back-to-back days up here.”
“It’s really changed over a short period of time. We’ve added some real quality and there’s a lot of options out there to go to,” manager Rob Thomson said. “To start out with, I’d like to ease [Robertson] in a little bit, a little lower leverage, but we may be forced to run him out there in high leverage, who knows.
“He’s a calming influence, he’s been through it before, World Series, playoff runs. I think he’s a good guy for the younger guys to kind of lean on and learn from.”
Stott starts against a lefty
Bryson Stott got the start Sunday against Rangers left-hander Patrick Corbin.
It’s rare that Stott gets the start against a lefty, but there were numbers behind the manager’s decision. Stott is 5 for 13 in his career against Corbin with a double, triple and five RBI. He has also been swinging well of late as he gone 5 for 9 with a pair of runs scored in his last three games.
“I think the change in his mechanics,” Thomson said of Stott’s better hitting of late. “Quieting his hands and hands up as he’s going into his load is helping a lot. He knows where the barrel is at now. He’s using the field and now he’s getting the ball up in the air to the pull side, which is good.”
Over his past 14 games, Stott is 13 for 39 (.333 average) with nine RBI, eight runs scored and five doubles.
Defense working
The Phillies have been playing really well in the field as of late, with strong play in all areas. It’s something that has been coming, according to Thomson.
“I think over the past couple of years it’s gotten better and better and better,” he said. “It’s due to a lot of work by the players but also by (infield coach) Bobby Dickerson and Paco (Figueroa) and the catching coaches. I think they’ve done a great job, cleaning up some physical stuff. I think we’ve played really well of late. I think we’ve gotten better over the last couple years.”
In Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Rangers, J.T. Realmuto threw out two would-be base stealers, while Edmundo Sosa saved a run with a terrific play at third and Stott ended any rally thoughts by Texas in the ninth when he came up with a slow grounder and threw to get the first out of the ninth.
MILWAUKEE — Pete Alonso hit his 252nd career home run Saturday night, tying the New York Mets record held by Darryl Strawberry for 37 years.
Alonso connected against Milwaukee Brewers starter Tobias Myers leading off the second inning for his 26th homer this season, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. The 413-foot shot to left-center came on a 1-2 fastball at the top of the strike zone.
It was Alonso’s fourth homer in eight games, since he went deep Aug. 1 against San Francisco to end an 0-for-19 slump.
“It means a lot. A mark that’s not easy to get,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said following his team’s 7-4 loss. “How many great players have put on this uniform? For Pete to be able to tie it, it’s something special for him and for all of us. We’re proud of him.”
Alonso was not available to speak with reporters after the game because of a personal situation, a Mets spokesman said.
The record-tying drive came in the same ballpark where Alonso launched the biggest home run of his career last October — although that one didn’t count toward his regular-season total. The slugger’s go-ahead, three-run shot in the ninth inning off All-Star closer Devin Williams saved New York’s season and rallied the Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Brewers in the decisive Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series.
A homegrown star drafted by the Mets in 2016, Alonso broke into the big leagues with a bang in 2019, hitting 53 home runs to set a major league rookie record and establish a franchise high for a single season.
The five-time All-Star, nicknamed The Polar Bear, has reached 40 two other times and been one of the most consistent sluggers in baseball since his arrival. After a protracted negotiation, he returned to the Mets as a free agent in February on a $54 million, two-year contract that includes a $24 million player option for 2026, which Alonso will likely decline.
The only other active players who lead their current franchise in home runs are Manny Machado (Padres) and Mike Trout (Angels).
Giancarlo Stanton, now with the New York Yankees, holds the Miami mark with 267 for the Marlins.
Strawberry broke the previous Mets record with his 155th home run on May 3, 1988, passing Dave Kingman. The sweet-swinging outfielder hit 252 in 1,109 games for New York during his first eight major league seasons from 1983-90. He later played for the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees, finishing his 17-year career with 335 homers.
The 30-year-old Alonso played his 963rd game Saturday night. The durable first baseman has appeared in 370 straight, a team record.
The Diamondbacks and Padres are the lone major league clubs that haven’t had a player hit more than 252 homers for them. Luis Gonzalez holds the Arizona record with 224, and Machado entered Saturday with 187 for San Diego.
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. Each week, we’ll dig back into the magazine’s archives to look back on a key moment, player or other important figure in the ECHL.
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Mar 3, 1995/vol. 48, issue 24
Langway long way from NHL in ECHL
Two-time Norris Trophy winner Rod Langway, who hasn’t played competitively since Feb. 21, 1993, is attempting a comeback of sorts with the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast League.
Langway, 37, parted company with the Washington Capitals on less than friendly terms after the 15-year yeter-an was told he would no longer be playing every game because the club wanted to work younger legs into the lineup. Langway was six games short of his 1,000th NHL contest.
Craig Laughlin, Richmond general manager and a former teammate of Langway with the Montreal Canadiens and Capitals, said Langway’s performance would be assessed on a game-by-game basis.
“I told him I didn’t want to put his life in jeopardy for a minor league team,” Laughlin said.
ECHL teams are allowed to dress three veterans. Langway will be used as a player and defensive tutor.
Laughlin and team president Harry Feuerstein said there were no immediate aims for Langway to attempt an NHL return.
The Renegades are averaging 5,700 fans a night and Feuerstein denied this was a publicity stunt to fill more seats.
“You don’t do publicity stunts with a team that’s in first place,” he said.
“Stunt assumes there’s some sham involved, that something’s wrong. The reality is Rod wants to play and promote the game.”
Langway has spent the past two years perfecting his golf game.
NOTEBOOK: The Capitals completed the first quarter of their schedule winless (0-6-2) on the road. In their first 12 games overall, they scored a league-low 22 goals, only nine at even strength…The team sent video to the NHL seeking redress after defenseman Jim Johnson received a two-handed slash across his left wrist from the Philadelphia Flyers’ Eric Lindros Feb. 13
There have only been two players wear the #64 for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Unfortunately for Columbus, neither one of them made a significant impact for Columbus. Cleveland is a different story, however.
Trey Fix-Wolansky
Many people thought, despite being drafted so late in the draft and his diminutive size —5-foot-7, 180 pounds —he would turn out to be a really good winger in the NHL. So far, he’s yet to be able to show his talent at the NHL level.
Fix-Wolansky played three seasons in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings. In those three seasons, he played 206 games, scored 93 goals, and had 245 points. His production improved year after year, so many thought he could translate that into the pros.
He made his full-season pro debut during the 2019-20 season for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. He would play in 43 games, score 12 goals, and end with 26 points. The following season, he suffered a leg injury that required surgery, limiting him to only nine games. But even in those limited games, he would have nine points.
In the 2021-22 season, Fix-Wolansky played in 53 games and had 33 points, but more importantly, on February 8th, 2022, he would make his NHL debut. Fix-Wolansky would score in his debut against the Washington Capitals, taking a pass and sneaking the puck by Phoenix Copley. He finished playing in six games for Columbus that season, netting two points. He had five shots in those six games and had an average time on ice of around six minutes.
TFW's breakout season in the AHL would be the 2022-23 season. He would score 29 goals and total 71 points in 61 games. He set career highs in goals, assists, points, games played, and power-play goals. Fix-Wolansky played in nine games for the CBJ, scoring only one goal. He did average almost 13 minutes a game, however.
Fix-Wolansky had two very good seasons in 23-24 and 24-25. In each season, he finished with 26 goals and 60 points. Despite having an unreal career for Cleveland the last seven years, Fix-Wolansky never got an extended chance to prove he could be an everyday NHL player, and was not tendered a contract this summer. He went on to sign a deal with the New York Rangers.
TFW is generally considered the greatest player in Monsters' history. He leads the Monsters franchise with 112 goals, 147 assists, and 259 points. Defenseman Jake Christiansen is the only active player close enough to catch TFW, but he was in Columbus last season, and most likely this season, so Fix-Wolansky's records are safe.
Tyler Motte
Tyler Motte was the first player to wear #64 for the Blue Jackets, although it wasn't for very long.
Motte was traded to Columbus by Chicago with Artemi Panarin and NY Islanders' 6th round pick (previously acquired, Columbus selected Jonathan Davidsson) in the 2017 NHL Draft for Brandon Saad, Anton Forsberg, and Columbus' 5th round pick in 2018 NHL Draft, June 23, 2017.
Motte would go to play in 31 games for the Blue Jackets, scoring 3 goals and 5 points, while averaging 9:56 per game of ice time.
Later that season, Motte was traded the Vancouver by Columbus with Jussi Jokinen for Thomas Vanek, February 26, 2018.
The St. Clair, Michigan native went on to play four more seasons in Vancouver. After playing last season with his home state Detroit Red Wings, Motte currently sits without a contract after playing nine NHL seasons.
As of right now, no other player is scheduled to wear #64 in the immediate future for the CBJ, but surely someday someone will take that number who will have an impact on the team.
The Jackets have 64 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena, and fans are getting restless. The CBJ will take on the New Jersey Devils on Monday, October 13th at 7 PM. The Blue Jackets have much higher expectations this season than in previous years. Many expect the CBJ to make the playoffs, something they missed by a single win last season. Can the Blue Jackets overcome their deficiencies and weaknesses to make a playoff push in the weak Metro Division?
Goaltending seems to be the topic du jour just about every day in the CBJ universe, and this is something that probably won't go away unless Elvis and Jet Greaves both have outstanding seasons. All signs are pointing to that happening, and fans can't wait until the 25-26 season gets underway.
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The Mets take on the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at 2:10 p.m. on PIX11.
Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...
Mets Notes
Pete Alonso crushed the 252nd homer of his career on Saturday, officially tying Darryl Strawberry's all-time franchise record
Alonso is hitting .286 with three home runs and nine RBI over his last seven games
Juan Soto has left the yard in three consecutive games, bringing his total to 28 on the season
Sean Manaea is looking to bounceback after allowing five runs earlier this week against the Guardians
The southpaw has a 3.52 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over his first five outings of the season
METS
BREWERS
Francisco Lindor, SS
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Juan Soto, RF
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Brandon Nimmo, LF
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Pete Alonso, 1B
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Jeff McNeil, DH
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Ronny Mauricio, 3B
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Cedric Mullins, CF
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Brett Baty, 2B
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Luis Torrens, C
XX
How can I watch the game online?
To watch Mets games online via PIX11, you will need a subscription to a TV service provider and live in the New York City metro area. This will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone browser.
