Summer passing tournament allows Raul Lara to reminisce about his days leading the Jackrabbits to championships.
This wasn’t just a happy homecoming for David Wright — it was a reminder of his continued impact
David Wright said that Saturday felt like being back home after a long trip -- ”when you’ve been away, seeing the familiar faces.”
It is true that this place -- Metsland, both physical and spiritual -- is a lifelong home for Wright, full of all the love and history that defines the word.
But the homecoming to mark Wright’s number retirement and induction into the Mets Hall of Fame was more than just a warm and fuzzy lovefest. It was a reminder that Wright’s impact on the organization remains tangible, even across vastly different eras, rosters and ownerships.
The years since Wright’s last game in 2018 have been ones of staggering turnover. And yet, his influence remains in the air.
Two of the young men who stand on the infield dirt in Wright’s former position can certainly feel it.
“I’ve gotten to speak with him a lot these past couple of years, and he’s an amazing guy,” Brett Baty said. “And I have seen what he has done for the organization and the type of leader he was.”
As a young player, Baty made a point to read Wright’s memoir, The Captain, written with Anthony DiComo.
“I read that book, and I was like, man, he was someone who everyone loved playing with, and who I would have loved playing with, too,” Baty says. “I could tell how hard a worker he was, and to bring that to the organization is huge, because that’s what everyone speaks on, how hard he worked. I didn’t witness it personally, obviously, but you know about it.”
“I grew up watching David Wright,” adds Mark Vientos. “My dad was a big Mets fan and the games were always on at home. He was the captain -- and now being on the same team and playing the same position is an honor.”
It’s more than that, too. Wright has taken time in spring training to talk about the specifics of the position with Vientos. He left a lasting impression on a young David Peterson with a similar conversation about the game. He called Max Kranick, another lifelong Mets fan, when Kranick made the team out of spring training this year.
Wright has dabbled in an even more active type of involvement.
For a brief time, he was an influential member of the front office. He attended the 2018 Winter Meetings as part of then-GM Brodie Van Wagenen’s inner circle. After that, he scaled back to spend as much time as possible with his family in California.
Several GMs later, Billy Eppler wanted Wright to come back to the fold in time to help the organization choose a manager. But while Wright is happy to be involved from a distance, and occasionally in person, he maintains that family is the priority for now.
The Mets will be fortunate if Wright ever decides to increase his time and influence, as Carlos Beltran has by joining the front office. But fortunately for the team, Wright’s initial impact, the one he made as a player, remains impactful.
“No one exemplifies more what it means to be a Met than David Wright,” says Dave Racaniello, the Mets' longtime bullpen catcher and one of Wright’s closest friends.
“The way he goes about his business both on and off the field, with his head down and his lunch pail, I think that has played a big part in why he’s so popular. That blue-collar attitude resonates so much with the people of New York, and especially the people of Queens.”
As a longtime Met himself, Racaniello is positioned better than anyone to describe the specifics of the legacy that linger into the 2020s.
“Our head strength coach, Dustin Clarke, and [trainer] Brian Chicklo -- these guys got here after David and, especially Dustin, has talked to me about how he remembers seeing David going about his business and thinking, ‘Okay, this is how it’s done here.’ And those expectations that Dustin now has for players were set because of how David conducted himself.
“So yes, the impact can run for generations.”
Mrtka Leads Sabres Prospects On The Athletic’s Top 100
The Buffalo Sabres once had one of the top-rated prospect pools in the NHL, but with youngsters Zach Benson, Devon Levi, and JJ Peterka either graduating to the NHL or aging out. This season, the Sabres have three of their prospects in The Athletic’s Top 100 Drafted Prospects list, with none of them ranked in the top 10.
Sabres 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka was ranked highest at 17th. The 18-year-old blueliner was selected ninth overall last month and is listed between a pair of older right-handed defensemen, New Jersey’s Simon Nemec, and Detroit’s Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
Other Sabres Stories
Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust
Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere
According to the Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, Mrtka “doesn’t have some of the kinks you expect a D his size and age to have. I think his ceiling is quite high. His skating and calm with the puck are both very rare attributes in a player his size.”
2024 top pick Konsta Helenius is listed 52nd, even though the Finnish center made the jump to North America and was named to the AHL All-Rookie team as an 18-year-old. The third is 21-year-old center Noah Ostlund, who had 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games with AHL Rochester and earned an eight-game tryout with the Sabres at the end of last season.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Schwarber continues monster week with grand slam in Phillies' win over Angels
Schwarber continues monster week with grand slam in Phillies' win over Angels originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
It was tough to tell what was louder Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park – the crack of the bat on Kyle Schwarber’s go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning or the MVP chants that cascaded down on the Phillies designated hitter.
Schwarber’s blast turned a 4-3 deficit into a 7-4 lead and propelled the Phillies to a 9-5 victory over the Angels. They extended their lead in the NL East to 1.5 games after the Mets lost again to Cincinnati.
“I knew I hit it kind of hard,” Schwarber said of his grand slam. “I saw it kind of go up and it looked like it kind of hit a force field there for a second. I was just hoping it had enough where it was going to hit the wall or something. But when it goes over the fence, you’re excited, you’re happy that you got the job done in a big way.”
Bryce Harper was asked about his view of Schwarber’s grand slam from the on-deck circle. “It was awesome,” Harper said. “What a moment for him. Sold out crowd, big opportunity obviously and he continues to come through for us. Just really cool for him and really excited for him.”
In a Phillies season marked by inconsistency, Schwarber has been the constant. His eighth career grand slam was his 32nd home run of the season, tied with Shohei Ohtani for the most in the National League. Schwarber added a double in the first inning and has 74 RBI and a .945 OPS in 98 games. He’s on pace for a career-high 53 home runs.
“I don’t know where we’d be without him,” manager Rob Thomson said. “It seems like there’s a moment every other night. There’s a lot of moments. Thank God we got him. He’s really something… He’s been huge. He’s really a solid hitter and a solid man.”
It’s been a banner year for Schwarber but this week stood out. His ‘swing-off’ performance in Tuesday’s All-Star Game earned him MVP honors. He homered in his first at-bat after the break on Friday. Then he rescued the Phillies from a potential third straight series loss with one swing of the bat on Saturday.
“It’s been a crazy week, a whirlwind,” Schwarber said. “It was fun, I had the boys (his sons Kade and Asher) down on the field for the Home Run Derby. Obviously the game and the whole swing-off thing, able to come home with the trophy. Went to Avalon there for a couple days and got some rest. You come back and get honored on the field (during Friday’s pregame ceremony) with a lot of great players here that have been All-Stars and have the fans go crazy, special moment.”
Schwarber wasn’t the only big bat that made noise on Saturday. Harper continued his torrid pace with a double in the third inning and a two-run home run in the eighth. Harper now has 11 extra base hits in his last six games, including three home runs in the first two games after the break. He has 12 hits in his last 24 at-bats.
But it was Schwarber’s grand slam that flipped the script on what had been a frustrating night for the Phillies. They squandered numerous scoring chances early in the game. There was a baserunning blunder in the first inning that resulted in Schwarber and Turner both being caught in rundowns. There were runners left on base in each of the first five innings.
Then there was Taijuan Walker. The veteran righthander held the Angels scoreless through the first three innings before his outing unraveled quickly in the fourth. Los Angeles erupted for three runs on six hits in the inning, highlighted by back-to-back solo home runs by Taylor Ward and Jo Addell.
“I made some pitches,” Walker said of the fourth inning. “A lot of base hits, singles. It was one of those innings where I’m glad to get away with just three runs and still kept the team in it and give them a chance to win.”
Walker exited after allowing three runs on nine hits in just four innings. His ERA ballooned to 3.75. It was the type of frustrating performance that has typified his three seasons with the Phillies.
But on this night, what mattered most was Schwarber. The soon-to-be free agent has made it virtually impossible for the Phillies not to re-sign him. We’re approaching blank check territory.
“I think management knows that, I think Dombo (Dave Dombrowski) knows that as well,” Harper said of the growing sentiment to bring Schwarber back at all costs. “Obviously he should be here. He’s been great for us, he’s our leader. He’s the guy that talks on the bus and everything else. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. And one of the better guys I’ve ever played with. I can’t see him in any other uniform and I think he deserves it.”
Schwarber appreciates the support he’s getting from teammates and fans when it comes to his future after this season.
He was asked whether a contract extension could get done before he reaches free agency.
“It’s probably something that you just wait ‘til the end,” Schwarber said. “You just want to feel like you’re pouring everything you have into your team and you don’t want to be distracted by anything else, whether it’s numbers getting exchanged or what you’re thinking about what’s coming next. You would do everyone a disservice where you could be thinking about something else besides trying to help these guys in here win a game.”
The Phillies will turn to another pending free agent, Ranger Suarez, to deliver a series win in Sunday’s rubber match.
Update on Alec Bohm
The Phillies placed Alec Bohm on the 10-day injured list with a left rib fracture before Saturday’s game. The club recalled Weston Wilson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Bohm’s place on the 26-man roster.
Bohm sustained the injury when he was hit by a pitch last weekend in San Diego. He aggravated the rib during his last at-bat of Friday’s game against the Angels.
Rob Thomson didn’t want to speculate about a timeline for how long Bohm might be out. But it’s fair to assume Bohm will miss more time than the minimum 10 days. Thomson said the Phillies will use both Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa at third base while Bohm is sidelined.
Could the Red Wings Target Panthers' Pending Free Agent Niko Mikkola?
Florida's loaded cap space make back-to-back champion Niko Mikkola a possible cap causality next summer
The 2026 NHL Free Agent class has the potential to be the biggest in league history with some of the biggest names up for grabs. Barring a similar event to this year where all the top players re-sign, we could see a major shake up within the league. Most hockey fans look to biggest names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin among others on the block and salivate at the idea of their team nabbing one of the league's best.
The back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers won't be excempt from potentially losing a key piece in this free agency class with defenceman Niko Mikkola entering next season on an expiring contract. The Panthers have several big name players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand signed up until 2030 with a player like Mikkola on the outside looking like a potential cap causality.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
The towering 6-foot-6 defenceman has proven to be a physical, playoff-type player that has excelled in Florida's culture. Mikkola isn't much of a point producer as he usually finishes with 20-25 points per season but is mainly utelized for his elite defensive play. Over the last two seasons, he has managed a +23 rating along with the 13th-most hits in the NHL at 335 and a team-leading 212 blocked shots.
His key efforts on the defensive end with make him a hot ticket in the market and will certianly garner a long list of suitors. One of which could be the Detroit Red Wings as they are currently sitting with 12 million in cap space and will have plenty more at the end of this season. Coming off the books will likely be Patrick Kane's $3 million cap hit as well as $4.75 million more from 34-year-old Ben Chiarot and another $3.4 million from defenceman Justin Holl.
The extra $11 million cleared up from these three players alone should be enough to get a deal done for Mikkola while also still having enough left over to go after another available player in superstar and Michigan native Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets. These two adds would be massive for Detroit but even coming away with just Mikkola would be a big win.
The Red Wings defence corps is didn't make significant improvements this summer and are coming off a season where they finished bottom 12 in goals against average. An addition like Mikkola would be a huge upgrade in an area of need while also not blocking the path and providing a stable partner early on for high-end prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka, if the team decided to call him up. The top four being Simon Edvisson with Mortiz Seider followed by Mikkola and Sandin-Pellikka would be a deadly foursome and something that Steve Yzerman and company should seriously consider.
2025 Red Wings Draft Pick Michal Svrcek Announces Where He's Playing Next Season The 2025 NHL Draft wrapped up in late June, and among the players selected by Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was Slovakian forward Michal Svrcek in the fourth round (119th overall).
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
A Name That Should Be Well Known In Rangers History
The name Dorrington is not well-known in Rangers history but it should be, and here’s why.
Back in the early 1950s the Blueshirts had a farm team in Atlantic City. They were called the Sea Gulls and played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League against teams such as the New York Rovers, another Rangers farm team.
Art Dorrington, an African-Canadian, was a Sea Gulls star and signed a Rangers contract.
Unfortunately the Blueshirts failed to promote Dorrington - their mistake - but he became historic nonetheless, becoming the first black player to sign an NHL contract, paving the way for players such as Willie O’Ree.
After retiring, Art settled in Atlantic City and organized one of the best kids programs in North America.
“I went down to A.C. and did a feature on Dorrington,” Stan Fischler recalls. “He was one of the most popular figures in the resort city.”
Happily, I report the Dorrington name lives on not only with the Rangers organization but the Islanders as well.
While not being known for producing top NHL talent like certain collegiate programs, Sacred Heart University, in Fairfield, Connecticut, has steadily made its mark on professional hockey. To begin the 2024-25 season, the Pioneers had 18 alumni suit up at the professional level.
Justin Danforth, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was the only NHLer. By the end of the season, an additional four players from the Pioneers 2024-25 roster got a taste of professional hockey. Including Max Dorrington.
At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Max received a professional tryout from the Bridgeport Islanders and skated in seven AHL games.
“I was actually at my house in Bridgeport when he [Dorrington’s agent] told me I was gonna sign there.
“I told my roommate and he was obviously super excited. Then I just let my parents know, and I was at practice pretty much the next day. So it all happened really quick.”
A Coversation With NHL Photographer Bruce BennettIt’s not everyday you get to speak with the man responsible for some of hockey’s most iconic photographs. Recently, I had that opportunity with Bruce Bennett.
Dorrington had the opportunity to attend his first NHL development camp, with the New York Islanders, and cherished every moment.
“It's been a crazy experience, you know, just being in the facilities, getting treated like an NHLer for the week, being in the gear, it's all pretty surreal.”
Dorrington signed a one-year AHL contract with Bridgeport on July 1, and is preparing for his first full professional season.
When asked about his distant cousin, Art, this is what Max had to say.
“He's the first black player to sign an NHL contract. And I think that that's a pretty important milestone, especially because he did it for the Rangers in this exact same area.
“He's kind of had an impact here, especially on hockey. So, yeah, I wear the name proudly, and I definitely think about it.”
Max is the Islanders’ Dorrington, but what about the Rangers?
Max’s brother, Jackson, played his collegiate career at Northeastern University, and is now on the opposite side of the New York rivalry.
Jackson, a sixth round draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks in 2022, was acquired by the Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade.
“We got to play each other three times at the end of the year in the AHL, so that was our first time ever playing against each other,” Max recalls. “We train together in the summer. We kind of feel like we're on the same team, working towards the same goals, but then once October comes around, it's gonna all change, and we're going at it again.”
Both brothers are preparing for the beginning of their professional careers, and it’s safe to say they are looking forward to it, especially Max.
"It's the first time in my life where there's no more school, there's no more distractions, it's just gonna be hockey all the time, and I'm pretty excited for that.”
Art Dorrington would be proud!
White Sox place All-Star rookie right-hander Shane Smith on IL with sprained ankle
PITTSBURGH — White Sox rookie Shane Smith was placed on the 15-day injured list with a sprained left ankle on Saturday, four days after the right-hander pitched in the All-Star Game as Chicago’s lone representative.
The White Sox did not immediately provide details on how or when the injury occurred. Smith faced two batters in the eighth inning of Tuesday night’s Midsummer Classic in Atlanta, hitting one and retiring the next on a fielder’s choice. His move to the IL was retroactive to Wednesday.
Smith pitched three innings in a loss to Cleveland on July 11, an abbreviated start that manager Will Venable said was planned.
The 25-year-old Smith is 3-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 18 starts. Chicago selected him in the Rule 5 draft in December, and he became the second player to make an All-Star team in the year immediately after being taken in that draft.
The White Sox recalled right-hander Wikelman González from Triple-A Charlotte to take Smith’s roster spot. Also Saturday, Chicago reinstated infielder/outfielder Brooks Baldwin from the 10-day IL and optioned outfielder Will Robertson to Charlotte.
Debunking Ridiculous Rumor Connecting Kings To Sidney Crosby
The Los Angeles Kings were recently linked to Sidney Crosby, but it's time to shut any speculation down before it gets out of hand.
Frank Seravalli: Re Sidney Crosby: I think there's been some teams, or a short list, Montreal, LA Kings, Avalanche, those are the teams have been talked about, but he hasn't shown any interest...in moving - Bleacher Report (Jul 15)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 17, 2025
Sorry to say, but there isn't a short list, there aren't any teams being talked about, and pundit Frank Seravalli has made this up. Crosby has been very clear that he doesn't want to play anywhere but for the Pittsburgh Penguins, so claiming there are teams behind the scenes, or "have been talked about" that are interested is simply clickbait.
He did start it off with "I think," which turns this away from being a true report, but Crosby has stated numerous times he won't play anywhere else. To think differently is wrong.
I would love to have Crosby on the Kings as well, considering how strong his playoff performances have been in the past, but it's not realistic at all; he will never leave the Penguins.
Report: Kings' Kopitar Believed To Be Entering Final NHL SeasonThe Los Angeles Kings have made some changes to their roster this offseason, and one thing that fans have been waiting for is a potential extension for long-time forward Anze Kopitar.
Report: Kings' Adrian Kempe Asking Price On Next Contract RevealedThe Los Angeles Kings will soon have to focus on trying to re-sign forward Adrian Kempe, and while there is no indication he has any interest in leaving the organization, his asking price was revealed in a recent report from The Fourth Period, and the two sides are expected to ramp up contract talks soon.
Free Agency Recap: Did the Los Angeles Kings Get Better or Worse This Offseason?The LA Kings entered the 2025 offseason facing another year of playoff disappointment and a roster in question. With several roster questions and trades, General Manager Ken Holland has opted not to make a splash, instead staying quiet, leaving fans wondering if the Kings have truly improved.
SEE IT: Mets officially unveil David Wright's No. 5 in rafters at Citi Field
David Wright is officially a part of forever, as the Mets unveiled the beloved third baseman's No. 5 into the rafters on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field.
He became the eighth player in franchise history to have his number retired, and also joined legendary pitcher Tom Seaver as the only members to be enshrined into the team's Hall of Fame on the same day.
"Whether or not I earned this love, this respect, can probably be debated," Wright humbly said at the podium before a sold-out crowd. "I never accomplished my goal of bringing a World Series back to Queens, but I promise you I gave it everything I had and wanted it just as badly as you did.
"I think this fanbase recognized that, and was willing to genuinely have my back and support -- support me unconditionally through the good and the bad. And for that, I'll always be thankful... Thank you so much for allowing me to live out my dream in front of you each night. I love you so much. Let's go Mets."
"Whether or not I earned this love, this respect, can probably be debated. I never accomplished my goal of bringing a World Series back to Queens, but I promise you I gave it everything I had and wanted it just as badly as you did. I think this fanbase recognized that, and was willing to genuinely have my back and support -- support me unconditionally through the good and bad. And for that, I'll always be thankful."
A first-round pick in 2001 who blossomed into a seven-time All-Star at the hot corner, Wright wrapped up his 14-year career as the Mets' all-time leader in hits (1,777), doubles (390), RBI (970), and runs scored (949). He also ranks second in games played (1,585) and third in home runs (242).
Wright became the Mets' fourth captain in 2013, joining team greats Keith Hernandez (1987-89), Gary Carter (1988-89), and John Franco (2001-04). While his career was cut short due to serious neck, back, and shoulder injuries, he hung up his cleats in 2018 with a laudable .296 average.
"We have truly formed something extraordinary in this game," Wright said. "An 18-year-old kid from Virgnia, having the privilege of being a lifelong Met and developing an unbreakable bond with the best fanbase in baseball."
Here are highlights from the pregame celebrations and festivities...
Congratulations to David Wright on having his number 5 retired by the Mets! 👏
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/lRPcP9um1S
David Wright walks out to third base for his number retirement ceremony
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) July 19, 2025
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/weuJgrvp2Z
The Mets have gifted David Wright a mosaic No. 5 with his former teammates, managers, and other special people who helped him get to this point
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/3G1cZIp4gf
"DA-VID WRIGHT! DA-VID WRIGHT!"
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/b9J72kiPaO
David Wright caught up with @SteveGelbs ahead of his number retirement ceremony at Citi Field:
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/VpD4ikw7R6
He didn't ask for the torch. He earned it. pic.twitter.com/vcPc3cBUG1
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 19, 2025
"I never accomplished my goal of bringing a World Series back to Queens, but I promise you I gave it everything I had and wanted it just as badly as you did."
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
- David Wright
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/Lp4gJ1w9jt
David Wright looks back at his final game:
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
"That night I fully realized the extent of the relationship I had developed with the city of New York and in particular, this Mets fanbase."
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/PC3rkqPZsc
David Wright closes his number retirement speech:
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
"Thank you so much for allowing me to live out my dream in front of you each night. I love you so much and Let's Go Mets!"
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/IMwOSuXB75
"I've known David since 2001, he's like my brother. To be here and this team do that for him, that's unbelievable" @SteveGelbs talks with @lamelaza_7 following David Wright's jersey retirement ceremony:
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/82mLEZnIgu
"He never wavers. He's always the same guy."
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
Cliff Floyd catches up with @SteveGelbs after David Wright's number retirement ceremony:
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/rxIHFuQmBu
"Everybody wanted to follow what he was doing."
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
David Wright's longtime friend and former Met Michael Cuddyer catches up with @SteveGelbs after Wright's number retirement:
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/IFu3a50WSA
David Wright and his kids throw out the first pitch at Citi Field 🫶
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2025
➡️ Tri-State @Cadillacpic.twitter.com/mPtCOklgJm
New Chelebration Event And Community Request Cards In NHL 25
A new Chelebration Event and Community Request cards are live now in NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team.
The four Community Request cards are 97 overall Eric Daze, Milan Hejduk, Kaiden Guhle, and Rasmus Ristolainen. A screen will pop up when players open NHL 25 and you make your vote there.
The five new master set players for the Chelebration event are 97 overall Doug Weight, Matt Rempe, Sheldon Souray, Tyler Myers, and Jacob Markstrom.
These MSPs can be acquired by trading in any thre 94+ Chelebration cards and any two 94+ cards. Players can also trade in MSPs with their corresponding team jersey for a fan pack.
Players can trade in any three 90+ cards for a 92+ Chelebration card and any three 92+ Chelebration cards for a 94+ player.
A free redeemable collectible pack is available daily in the HUT Store. Players can trade in collectibles for Chelebration player packs.
The Chelebration base cards are full of tall players and are led by 97 overall Henrik Tikkanen, 96 Gordie Howe and Logan Stanley, and 95 overall Tyler Seguin and Valeri Nichushkin.
The Season 7 XP Path is now live, Check out the Origins Event Week 2 here.
For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.
Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL 25
Wild's Matt Boldy Joins Some Elite Company In NHL
The NHL put together a list of the top ten forwards in the league who are under the age of 25. One Minnesota Wild player made the list at No. 3.
Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators was first on the list and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils was second. Wild's Matt Boldy ranked third on the list.
How does this ranking stack up with your own? 📝 #NHLYoungStarsWeek
— NHL (@NHL) July 15, 2025
Read more from @NHLdotcom ➡️ https://t.co/VoP2Ryaqunpic.twitter.com/0vhGvD9yCe
Boldy, 24, is coming off his fourth season in the NHL all with the Wild. He has 102 goals, 142 assists, and 244 points in 285 career games.
The 6-foot-2 forward posted a career-high in games played (82), assists (46), points (73), game-winning goals (10), shots (271), and overtime goals (2) during the 2024-25 season.
Other Wild News
Wild Forward Signs One-Year Contract With Division RivalFormer Minnesota Wild forward Gustav Nyquist signed a contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 2nd. It was a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.
Minnesota Wild Release 2025-26 Season ScheduleST. PAUL, Minn - The 2025-26 season is almost here and the Minnesota Wild announced its schedule for the upcoming year. The length of the Wild's season is 187 days which is the same as last year.
Former Minnesota Wild Enforcer Traded To San Jose SharksThere have been a lot of former Minnesota Wild players on the move so far. On Thursday night, there was another one. Ryan Reaves was traded to the San Jose Sharks. How Good Will The Metro Be This Season & Where Will Islanders Finish?
Former NHLer turned analyst Mike Rupp made a claim on NHL Network about the Metropolitan Division heading into the 2025-26 NHL season:
Safe to say @Rupper17 is not too confident in the Metropolitan Division this year. 😬 pic.twitter.com/tEvVLYWr25
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 19, 2025
This past season, the Washington Capitals were the second-best team in the NHL (111 points), but then there was a major drop with the remaining Metro Division playoff teams.
The Carolina Hurricanes finished at No. 10 (99 points), while the New Jersey Devils (91) came in at No. 16.
The New York Rangers (85 points) and New York Islanders (82 points) missed the playoffs, finishing in 22nd and 23rd place, respectively. The Columbus Blue Jackets finished 20th (89 points).
So, what about the 2025-26 season and Rupp's claim?
The Capitals are coming off a magical season, but there's no way they can do it again, right?
The Hurricanes, regardless of what they do in the summer, always find a way to have strong regular seasons, so it wouldn't be a shock to see them finish atop the Metro this season. They did land Nikolaj Ehlers and get a full season of Logan Stankoven
While the Devils didn't make any crazy splashes in free agency -- they'll be getting Quinn Hughes sooner rather than later -- their success sits on the shoulders of Jack Hughes and his ability to stay healthy. They should be a playoff team.
The Rangers didn't do much and are going through a bit of an identity crisis at the moment, but when you have Igor Shesterkin in goal, defying odds is always possible. They did add Valdislav Gavrikov, who should help the defense.
First-time general manager Mathieu Darche filled holes this summer, but will the new additions be strong enough to get this team back to the postseason?
Coming off an emotionally driven season, the Blue Jackets could be a playoff team this upcoming season, while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers aren't likely to be ultra competitive.
The Islanders are likely to be fighting for a wild-card spot again, as they always seem to do. That projection can change if the Islanders can show some consistency out of the gate, as they've been anything but since Patrick Roy took over behind the bench mid-way through the 2023-24 NHL season.
To get back to Rupp's claim, the Metro could very well be the weakest division in the NHL this season, which means an even stronger chance for the Islanders to find a way to get back into the postseason.
Projection:
CAR
WSH
NJD
NYI
NYR
CBJ
PHI
PIT
Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
PHOTO: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Reds outfielder TJ Friedl gets hit by pitch three times against Mets, tying MLB record
NEW YORK — Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl tied a major league record Friday night when he was hit by a pitch three times — by three different New York Mets hurlers.
The 5-foot-8 Friedl was plunked on the left forearm by a 91 mph fastball from left-hander Sean Manaea in the third inning and on the left foot by an 85 mph slider from right-handed reliever Alex Carrillo in the fifth.
Mets lefty Brandon Waddell then drilled Friedl on the left hand with a 91 mph sinker in the eighth.
“The lefties, it makes more sense because everything is away and I’m trying to stick my nose in there,” Friedl said. “The last one, that one stung!”
It was the 39th time in the modern era (since 1901) that a hitter got nailed three times in one game. It’s happened to 34 different players — the only previous Reds batter was Derek Dietrich at Milwaukee on June 21, 2019.
Two other major leaguers have been plunked three times in a game this season: Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams on May 31 at Arizona, and Colorado’s Tyler Freeman on June 17 at Washington.
Batting leadoff, Friedl finished 0 for 2 but scored twice in an 8-4 victory over the Mets. He expects to be in the lineup Saturday and joked that he didn’t want a day off anyway.
Canadiens Have The Most Expensive Goaltending This Season (On Paper)
According to Puckpedia’s numbers, the Montreal Canadiens have the most expensive goaltending in the NHL this season. They devote $14.8 million in salary to masked men, which accounts for the three goaltenders they have on NHL contracts and who aren’t waivers exempt: Carey Price, Samuel Montembeault, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Jakub Dobes. That works out to 15,5% of their cap.
The New York Rangers are in second place, with Ivor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick commanding a combined salary of $13 M, 13.7% of their cap. The Anaheim Ducks are in third place with $12.9 M for Lukas Dostal (who was just signed to a five-year contract with a $6.5 M cap hit), Petr Mrazek, and Ville Husso. The trio takes up 13.6% of the cap. The New York Islanders are in fourth place, having devoted $12 million to Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov, and David Rittich. That counts for 12.6% of the cap. Finally, the Boston Bruins wrap up the top-five with $11.2 M devoted to two goaltenders; Jaremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo that amounts to 11.8% of the cap.
How Halak (Eventually) Landed Laine For The Canadiens
Canadiens: Two Players Who Should Have Worn The C But Never Did
Canadiens Have Four Of The 23 Top Under-23 Players In The League
Among the top-five teams, only two have goaltenders who are or could be placed on LTIR, with only one who won’t ever come off it. That’s, of course, the Canadiens, with Price’s contract. Once he’s placed on LTIR or traded, the Canadiens’ cap hit for masked men will fall back down to $4.3 million, leaving them with one of the lowest amounts of money spent on goaltending.
That demonstrates the significant shift in direction the Canadiens have taken since Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton took over. Of course, they had no choice, since Price’s career was cut short by injury, but when he was hired, Hughes said in an ideal world, his team would be a fast and attacking one that would suit his coaching style. Since then, several moves have been made to achieve this goal, and there is no indication that the Canadiens will revert to a defense-first approach with the recent arrivals of Lane Hutson, Ivan Demidov, and this off-season’s addition of Noah Dobson.
When Price’s contract comes off the books, be it by expiring or being traded, that money won’t be reinvested in goaltending or defending, since the blueliner is already looking pretty solid with the prospects in the pipeline. While Habs fans enjoyed watching the face of the franchise make great saves for years, this is undoubtedly a welcome change of pace.
Photo credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images
Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.
Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
Mets reliever Max Kranick expected to undergo season-ending surgery
NEW YORK — Mets reliever Max Kranick is expected to have season-ending surgery on his right elbow, the latest blow to New York’s injury-depleted bullpen.
Kranick was placed on the 15-day injured list June 19 with an elbow strain. He had Tommy John surgery in June 2022 and is facing a second major operation on his pitching arm in 37 months.
“He’s going to have a Tommy John,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday before his team’s 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. “I don’t think we have a date yet, but he’s going to have the surgery.”
New York’s bullpen did get a boost Friday when left-hander Brooks Raley was reinstated from the 60-day injured list after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Raley had been sidelined since early in the 2024 season. He finished his minor league rehab assignment with eight scoreless outings across three levels.
“We saw it last year for the first couple of months — how special it is to have a guy like that that not only can get lefties out, (but) he’s a guy that, the way he spins the baseball, you feel good about whether it’s a righty or a lefty,” Mendoza said.
To make room for Raley on the roster, lefty reliever Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment.
Kranick, who turns 28 on Monday, was claimed off waivers by the Mets from Pittsburgh in January 2024 and spent nearly all of last season in the minors.
He made his New York debut on March 29 — his first time on a major league mound since 2022. The rookie right-hander was 3-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances covering 37 innings this year, though he allowed three runs over his final 4 2/3 innings before getting hurt.
Mendoza also provided updates on injured designated hitters Jesse Winker and Starling Marte.
Winker (back) received an epidural Friday and will be shut down from baseball activities for another seven to 10 days. Marte (bruised right knee) will continue to do baseball activities for another three to five days.