At last season's Prospects Challenge, the Penguins walked away as the only team with a 3-0 record. They will look to do the same this year as they take on the Bruins on Sept. 12, the Blue Jackets on Sept. 14, and the Sabres on Sept. 15.
The 2025 Prospects Challenge is set for September 11-15! đ
Last year, the Penguins sent some of their top prospects - including Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Owen Pickering, and Harrison Brunicke - to the challenge, and they figure to do the same thing this season. While those players will likely all return, there will probably be several new faces.
He's looking to become the fourth-ever winner in franchise history, and the first since his current teammate and captain Aaron Judge took home the crown back in 2017 at Marlins Park.
Here's how Jazz's quest in Atlanta went...
Round 1
In the first round, all eight hitters have three minutes or a total of 40 pitches (whichever comes first) to hit as many home runs as they can.
They then receive a bonus round, which lasts until they record three outs (any non-homer put in play) -- but if a player hits a 425+ foot blast during that extended period, they receive an extra out.
Chisholm was the sixth participant to take his hacks, and he started things off on a bit of a cold streak -- leaving the yard just one time over his first minute.
He called his first timeout with 1:25 remaining but still couldn't quite get himself into a groove, going another 45 seconds before lifting just his second homer of the night.
The lefty put one more over the right-center fence during the regulation period, and then went homer-less during his bonus round to finish the night with just three homers.
Chisholm, the hometown guy Matt Olson (15), young Nationals star James Wood (16), and Athletics slugger Brent Rooker (17) were eliminated in the first round.
Round 2 & Final
In the semi's, Junior Caminero (eight) beat Byron Buxton (seven), then the first-half home run leader Cal Raleigh put on an absolute show (19) to eliminate O'Neil Cruz (13).
With his dad pitching and his little brother behind the plate, Raleigh carried that momentum into the finals -- launching 18 more homers, which was enough to beat Caminero (15) and secure the derby title.
Raleigh is the first catcher and just the second player in Mariners history (Ken Griffey Jr.) with a derby victory.
The Detroit Red Wings appropriately felt slighted by the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery when they somehow fell back multiple spots and ultimately landed the No. 4 pick despite having posted the worst record of any team since the expansion Atlanta Thrashers of 1999-2000. .
The visions that danced in the heads of Red Wings fans everywhere of Lafreniere donning the Winged Wheel were dashed when Detroit not only didn't get the first overall pick, but had to watch the New York Rangers, a playoff team, select him.
The Red Wings then turned to their Plan B and selected forward Lucas Raymond, who was playing in the Swedish Hockey League with Frölunda HC. And by all reasonable measurements, Detroit's rotten Draft Lottery Luck in 2020 turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Raymond has become one of the best young players in the NHL after bursting onto the scene as a rookie, along with Moritz Seider, in the 2021-22 season.
He scored 23 goals with 34 assists in his rookie season, and while he experienced a dip in production known as the dreaded "sophomore slump" that multiple players endure, he roared back immediately.
Raymond caught fire in the second half of the 2023-24 season, finishing with 31 goals and 41 assists for a then career-high 72 points. None were bigger than his pair of goals in Detroit's home finale against the Montreal Canadiens to tie the score late in regulation and then give the Red Wings the overtime victory, keeping their postseason hopes alive.
His output in the recently-completed 2024-25 NHL season was even higher, scoring 27 goals with 53 assists to set a new career-high in points with 80.
He was the highest-scoring player in the NHL aged 23 or younger, and he also became the first Swedish-born player aged 23 or younger to reach 80 points since Nicklas BÀckström in 2009-10 with the Washington Capitals.
Additionally, Raymond's 254 career points are 61 higher than the 193 career points for Lafreniere, and are the second-most by any active NHL player aged 23 or younger, behind only Ottawa Senators forward Tim StĂŒtzle.
The Red Wings recognized the special talent that they had on their hands when Raymond was extended for eight years last offseason, and he's in Hockeytown for the long haul.
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It wonât take long for new Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan to face his old team.
The NHL announced on Monday afternoon that the Blueshirts will play host to the Penguins on Oct. 7 at 8:00 p.m. as part of an Opening Night tripleheader.
This will be Sullivanâs first time facing off with Pittsburgh since the 2013-14 season.
The veteran headman spent the past 10 years behind the bench with the club, helping them reach the postseason eight times including a pair of Stanley Cup victories.
Heâll now look to carry that success over to the Big Apple, where the Blueshirts are coming off an extremely disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
This meeting will also be a homecoming for Sullivanâs replacement Dan Muse, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant on Peter Lavioletteâs coaching staff.
Florida will host the Blackhawks (5:00 p.m.) and the Kings will host the Avâs (10:30 p.m.) to round out the slate.
The rest of the NHL schedule is set to be released on Wednesday afternoon.
The Buffalo Sabres are a team that's still a ways off from being a true Stanley Cup playoff frontrunner. However, in The Hockey News' 2025 Future Watch edition, writer Bill Hoppe broke down the talent that's in the Sabres' system. Below, you'll find our ranking of Buffalo's top-10 young prospects:
BUFFALO SABRES
GRADE: B+
RANKING: 11TH
By Bill Hoppe
As he rebuilt the Sabres early in his tenure, GM Kevyn Adams refused to take any shortcuts and trade his top prospects for a quick fix. These days, Adams operates differently. The Sabres graduated to a new level in 2022-23, entering win-now mode when they missed the playoffs by one victory. As he illustrated in dealing Matt Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ryan McLeod following last seasonâs disappointing 12th-place finish in the East, anyone could be in play. The Sabres need immediate help as Adams works to end the NHL-record 13-year playoff drought that hangs over the franchise.
TOP SABRES PROSPECTS
1. KONSTA HELENIUS
C, 18, 5-11, 189
Rochester (AHL)
42â7â13â20â18
2024 draft, 14th overall
OVERALL:15
Helenius arrived in Rochester this season as a polished youngster, having spent the past two years in Finlandâs Liiga. âAn all-around, good two-way center thatâs probably benefited from playing with men in Europe because heâs not overwhelmed, and thatâs pretty rare,â Adams said. Helenius put up huge numbers for a 17-year-old â 14 goals and 36 points in 51 games â with Jukurit last season. The Sabres want Helenius to play faster as he adapts to a different brand of hockey.
FUTURE WATCH 24 | new NHL | 2026-27
2. NOAH OSTLUND
C, 20, 5-11, 171
Rochester (AHL)
27â5â9â14â12
2022 draft, 16th overall
OVERALL60
Rochester coach Mike Leone said Ostlund, whoâs in his first full season in the AHL, is as talented and detailed as anyone he has coached. In fact, he believes the Swede is perhaps the most responsible player in the defensive zone who has ever played under him. Ostlund possesses a maturity rarely seen in rookies. Still, it hasnât translated into offense, with just five goals in his first 27 games this season. âIf he learns how to finish, heâs going to be a really good player in the NHL,â Leone said.
FUTURE WATCH 24 | No. 2 NHL | 2025-26
3. ANTON WAHLBERG
C, 19, 6-4, 198
Rochester (AHL)
39â8â12â20â0
2023 draft, 39th overall
OVERALL91
Wahlberg has quickly established himself as an aggressive and physical presence capable of parking himself around the net to score or disrupting plays by forechecking. âHe has the ability to play with the top-line guys because he can see the ice and skate,â Leone said. âWhen heâs driving pucks to the netâŠhe has an ability to protect pucks and extend plays in the O-zone because he doesnât get hit and pinned a lot.â Leone wants Wahlberg to play with more urgency.
FUTURE WATCH 24 | No. 6 NHL | 2026-27
4. ADAM KLEBER
D, 18, 6-5, 210
Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
25â2â2â4â11
2024 draft, 42nd overall
OVERALL97
When Adams watched Kleber at this yearâs WJC, he noticed the youngster had taken âmassive stepsâ over the last year. âHe looks like a guy that is getting better and better with the puck,â Adams said. âHe needs to work on his puck skills and work on his feet, but he has a big, long frame, and he handled himself really, really well at the world juniors.â Adams is also impressed with Kleberâs play in his first year at Minnesota-Duluth: âHeâs done a really nice job in college as a true freshman.â
FUTURE WATCH 24 | new NHL | 2028-29
5. ISAK ROSEN
RW, 21, 6-0, 180
Rochester (AHL)
45â25â18â43â8
2021 draft, 14th overall
The exploits of Jiri Kulich and other recent first-round picks have overshadowed Rosen, who has morphed into one of the AHLâs top goal-scorers in his third season. âHeâs attacking the game and getting to the middle of the rink,â Leone said. âHe has the ability to strip guys because heâs tenacious on the puck. Heâs not going to overpower you with physicality, but he can get there quick and use his stick.â Leone said Rosenâs wall play â winning battles and advancing pucks â will help him get back to the NHL.
FUTURE WATCH 24 | No. 4 NHL | 2025-26
6. DEVON LEVI
G, 23, 6-0, 192
Rochester (AHL)
16â6â2, 2.36, .911
Trade (Fla), July 24, 2021
After early struggles in Buffalo, the agile Levi has become the Amerksâ backbone.
7. VSEVOLOD KOMAROV
D, 21, 6-4, 208 Rochester (AHL)
45â2â10â12â69
2022 draft, 134th overall
Seeing about 18 minutes a game in AHL. Has offensive skills but also plays physically.
8. MAXIM STRBAK
D, 19, 6-2, 200
Michigan State (Big Ten)
26â1â14â15â16
2023 draft, 45th overall
Adams said the Slovak teen projects to be a hardnosed two-way defender.
9. BRODIE ZIEMER
RW, 19, 5-11, 190
Minnesota (Big Ten)
30â11â8â19â21
2024 draft, 71st overall
Ziemer is an intelligent, reliable player whoâs a âcoachâs dream,â according to Adams.
10. RYAN JOHNSON
D, 23, 6-1, 195
Rochester (AHL)
43â0â7â7â26
2019 draft, 31st overall
Leone said the puck-mover has been perhaps the Amerksâ most consistent player.
After getting let go by the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of free agency, once-promising prospect Elliot Desnoyers has resurfaced, signing a one-year deal with the AHL Iowa Wild, the minor-league affiliates of the Minnesota Wild, on Monday.
On June 30, one day before the start of NHL free agency, the Flyers announced that Desnoyers, Zayde Wisdom, and Jakob Pelletier would all not receive qualifying offers, making them unrestricted free agents free to leave Philadelphia.
Wisdom ultimately returned to the Flyers organization, signing a one-year AHL deal of his own with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Pelletier inked a three-year pact with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 2.
Only two years ago, Desnoyers, 23, seemed on the cusp of making the NHL on a permanent basis. The Flyers' former fifth-round pick scored 23 goals, 21 assists, and 44 points in 65 games in his first professional season with the Phantoms in 2022-23, earning himself a four-game NHL cameo in the process.
But, an unimpressive training camp doomed Desnoyers to another year in the minors, during which he managed just six goals, 16 assists, and 22 points in 63 games.
This past season saw much of the same for the 5-foot-11 forward, as he struggled to the tune of an even worse five goals, 14 assists, and 19 points. All in all, an 11-goal, 41-point output in two seasons after nearly making the NHL.
It's a shame for Desnoyers, but perhaps the new change of scenery will allow him to get his career back on track.
Winners Hockey Agency announced on July 9 via Telegram that Desnoyers had joined their clientele and was ready to continue his playing career in the KHL, but it would appear that the ex-Flyer has elected to stay in North America for the time being.
Fans may recall that the 23-year-old was once part of the 2021-22 Canada U20 squad that won gold at the World Juniors - a team that featured Flyers teammate Tyson Foerster, Connor Bedard, Sebastian Cossa, Carson Lambos, Ridly Greig, Mason McTavish, Logan Stankoven, Kent Johnson, and Will Cuylle.
Desnoyers isn't the first player of that team to change NHL teams, of course, but he's on the verge of being amongst those lost in the crowd going forward.
At the top of the list of things the 76ers need to turn next season around is key players staying healthy. This is a bad start.
Paul George underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee "to treat an injury sustained during a recent workout," the 76ers announced on Monday. That's a rather vague description of what was done, and the only timeline the 76ers gave was that George will be re-evaluated before training camp starts in September. Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports had a few more details.
A source familiar with Georgeâs injury told me this was essentially an arthroscopic clean up and did not involve the major ligaments
If that report is accurate, George should be good to go by the start of next season. However, nothing feels certain with George and his health.
George, who was attending games at the Las Vegas Summer League, played in just half of the 76ers' games last season due to knee and groin injuries. That followed the pattern in Philly, where Joel Embiid played in 19 games, Jared McCain played 23 games, and Tyrese Maxey played in 52 due to an assortment of injuries. When George did play, he averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game, while shooting 35.8% from beyond the arc.
Philly enters next season as the biggest question mark in the Eastern Conference (if not the NBA). On paper, the Embiid/George/Maxey core should lead one of the â if not THE â most talented team in the East, but can they be trusted to stay healthy and mesh under coach Nick Nurse? In a down Eastern Conference, this team has the potential to win the conference, but numerous questions lie in its way.
Health is at the top of that list of questions. George's surgery may be nothing and something forgotten about by the time next season tips, but it feels like a bad omen. At least.
The Yankees are expected to be very active ahead of the trade deadline.
Longtime GM Brian Cashman told reporters last week that heâs preparing to âgo to townâ as he looks to improve the club in the second-half.
Three of the biggest needs mentioned: starter, bullpen help, infielder.
One player who continues to be connected to the Bombers is Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio SuĂĄrez.
It remains to be seen whether or not Arizona will actually make SuĂĄrez available in the coming weeks, but recent reports have indicated they will, and he certainly would make a ton of sense in the Bronx.
The 34-year-old is an impending free agent in the midst of a spectacular campaign.
While heâs enjoyed his second season with Arizona, he certainly sounds open to the idea of landing with more of a title contender such as the Yankees ahead of the trade deadline.
âIâm happy where I am, but I understand the game and the business,â SuĂĄrez said at All-Star Media Day. âWhatever happens, if I stay itâs fine but if I go its okay too, I will do my best wherever I am -- right now Iâm happy where I am.
âThe Yankees are the Yankees,â he added on potentially landing in the Bronx. âItâs a team that wants to win. They had success last year but are still hungry, if I go there I will do my best to try and help them win the World Series.â
SuĂĄrez has been terrific in the middle of things for Arizona -- earning his second career All-Star appearance.
The right-handed hitting slugger has already topped his home run total from last season (30), heâs driven in a National League leading 78 runs, and has accounted for a WAR of 3.0 through the first-half of the season.
Though SuĂĄrezâs glove isnât nearly as valuable as his bat, but he would present the Yanks with a starting-caliber option so they can keep fellow All-Star Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second full-time.
The NHLâs trade and free-agency period has died down, which gives us the opportunity to weigh in on the top teams in the league by position. Weâre kicking things off by examining the NHLâs best defense corps.
The criteria for narrowing things down to five teams includes identifying the best blend of the limitation of quality scoring chances against and overall offensive production. If they were very strong in one category and above average in another, that helps. Of course, quality depth on âDâ plays a factor as well.
With that said, here are this writerâs picks for the top five defense groups in the NHL, with new-addition players in italics:
1. Colorado Avalanche
Defensemen: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Samuel Girard, Brent Burns, Sam Malinski
Adding Burns to an already-dynamic collection of blueliners gives the Avalanche as deep a group of D-men as there is.
Burns has lost some of the offensive punch he had in recent years, but Colorado doesnât need him to lead the team in scoring by a blueliner. Thatâs because the Avs led the NHL in points from defensemen in 2024-25, with 211. Colorado was also 12th in the league with a 2.82 goals-against average and 11th in fewest expected goals-against per 60 minutes, with 2.87, according to naturalstattrick.com.
Superstar Norris Trophy winner Makar and Toews power the Avalancheâs defense group. Manson and Girard form an excellent second pair. Burns and young puck-mover Malinski comprise the third pair. It doesnât get better than that.
2. Florida Panthers
Defensemen: Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones, Nikko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, Jeff Petry
The back-to-back defending Cup champions had an embarrassment of riches on the back end. Re-signing Ekblad was a massive move, and having him and Jones on the right side is a heckuva one-two punch. Replacing veteran Nate Schmidt with the experienced Petry shouldnât hurt the depth, either.
Regardless of how their final pair shapes up, Floridaâs top four of Ekblad, Jones, Forsling and Mikkola are mobile puck-movers who limit opponent chances to the outside. They averaged the seventh-fewest high-danger chances against, the fourth-fewest expected goals against and the fifth-fewest shots against. While they were only 23rd in the NHL in points by defensemen, they were 13th in goals by defensemen and easily outchanced their opponents.
Their defensive acumen when the games matter most is the reason why theyâre one of our top six defense corps.
3. Washington Capitals
Defensemen: John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy, Rasmus Sandin, Martin Fehervary, Trevor van Riemsdyk
The Capitals made some strategic improvements to their back end in the past couple seasons, acquiring Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators and signing Roy in free agency last summer. They also got Sandin from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023. But Washington has built a terrific defense corps, which finished fourth place in points by defensemen last year, with 200.
The Capitalsâ 2.79 goals-against average also finished ninth in the NHL, while their shots against and high-danger chances against were above average. Theyâre clearly stronger offensively than defensively as a group, but their main pairings this past season outchanced their opponents when on the ice. And given that four Caps D-men â Chychrun, Roy, Sandin and Fehervary â are signed for at least the next four seasons, Washingtonâs defense corps will likely stay a top-level force for the foreseeable future.
4. Carolina Hurricanes
Defensemen: Jaccob Slavin, KâAndre Miller, Sean Walker, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jalen Chatfield, Alexander Nikishin
The Hurricanes had one of the best groups of blueliners last season, but they lost veterans Brent Burns to Colorado and Dmitry Orlov to San Jose this summer. Still, this group remains elite because Carolina GM Eric Tulsky acquired Miller via trade with the New York Rangers.
The Canes were 13th in the NHL in points from defensemen, with 171. But itâs their skill at preventing goals thatâs why theyâre an elite group of D-men. Jaccob Slavin is among the NHLâs best defensive defensemen, after all. Carolina finished 10th in the league in goals-against average (2.80), and the Hurricanesâ defense made life much easier on their goaltenders by limiting quality scoring chances for the opposition. They allowest the fewest shots per game in the NHL, with 24.9.
Of defense pairs that logged at least 500 minutes this past season, the Gostisbehere and Walker pair had the highest expected goals percentage, at 59.6 percent, according to moneypuck.com. The Slavin-Burns pair was fourth, at 57.4 percent.
5. New Jersey Devils
Defensemen: Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler, Simon Nemec, Brenden Dillon
The Devils were snakebit by the injury bug last season, which limited star D-man Hamilton to only 64 games. However, when everyoneâs healthy, New Jerseyâs defense has the skill at both ends of the ice thatâs the envy of many, if not most teams.
The Devils were 20th in the league in points by defensemen (161), but Hamilton led the NHL with 40 points among defensemen who played 65 games or fewer. Youngsters Hughes and Nemec are only 21 and still developing, and Siegenthaler and Pesce are 28 and 30 years old, respectively. Only Hamilton (32 years old) and Dillon (34) are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, so this group should only improve. The team was also above average in limiting high-danger chances.
Seattleâs Cal Raleigh won his first All-Star Home Run Derby after leading the big leagues in long balls going into the break, defeating Tampa Bayâs Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round Monday night.
The Mariners breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper advanced from the first round on a tiebreaker by less than an inch over the Athleticsâ Brent Rooker, then won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburghâs Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over Truist Parkâs right-center field seats was the longest of the night.
Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers, took three pitches and hit a liner to left field.
Becoming the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title, Raleigh had reached the All-Star break with a major league-leading 38 home runs. He became the second Mariners player to take the title after three-time winner Ken Griffey Jr.
Raleigh was pitched to by his father, Todd, former coach of Tennessee and Western Carolina. His younger brother Todd Raleigh Jr. did the catching.
Just the second Derby switch-hitter after Baltimoreâs Adley Rutschman in 2023, Raleigh hit his first eight left-handed, took a timeout, then hit seven right-handed. Going back to lefty, he then hit two more in the bonus round and stayed lefty for the semifinals and the final.
Caminero beat Minnesotaâs Byron Buxton 8-7 in the other semifinal.
Atlantaâs Matt Olson, Washingtonâs James Wood, the New York Yankeesâ Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Athleticsâ Brent Rooker were eliminated in the first round of the annual power show.
Cruz and Caminero each hit 21 long balls and Buxton had 20 in the opening round. Raleigh and Rooker had 17 apiece, but Raleigh advanced on the tiebreaker of their longest homer, 470.61 feet to 470.53.
Cruzâs long drive was the hardest-hit at 118 mph.
The longest derby homer since Statcast started tracking in 2016 was 520 feet by Juan Soto in the mile-high air of Denverâs Coors Field in 2021. Last year, the longest drive at Arlington, Texas, was 473 feet by Atlantaâs Marcell Ozuna.
Wood hit 16 homers, including a 486-foot shot and one that landed on the roof of the Chop House behind the right-field wall. Olson, disappointing his hometown fans, did not go deep on his first nine swings and finished with 15, He also was eliminated in the first round in 2021.
Chisholm hit just three homers, the fewest since the timer format started in 2015.
Seattleâs Cal Raleigh won his first All-Star Home Run Derby after leading the big leagues in long balls going into the break, defeating Tampa Bayâs Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round Monday night.
The Mariners breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper advanced from the first round on a tiebreaker by less than an inch over the Athleticsâ Brent Rooker, then won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburghâs Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over Truist Parkâs right-center field seats was the longest of the night.
Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers, took three pitches and hit a liner to left field.
Becoming the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title, Raleigh had reached the All-Star break with a major league-leading 38 home runs. He became the second Mariners player to take the title after three-time winner Ken Griffey Jr.
Raleigh was pitched to by his father, Todd, former coach of Tennessee and Western Carolina. His younger brother Todd Raleigh Jr. did the catching.
Just the second Derby switch-hitter after Baltimoreâs Adley Rutschman in 2023, Raleigh hit his first eight left-handed, took a timeout, then hit seven right-handed. Going back to lefty, he then hit two more in the bonus round and stayed lefty for the semifinals and the final.
Caminero beat Minnesotaâs Byron Buxton 8-7 in the other semifinal.
Atlantaâs Matt Olson, Washingtonâs James Wood, the New York Yankeesâ Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Athleticsâ Brent Rooker were eliminated in the first round of the annual power show.
Cruz and Caminero each hit 21 long balls and Buxton had 20 in the opening round. Raleigh and Rooker had 17 apiece, but Raleigh advanced on the tiebreaker of their longest homer, 470.61 feet to 470.53.
Cruzâs long drive was the hardest-hit at 118 mph.
The longest derby homer since Statcast started tracking in 2016 was 520 feet by Juan Soto in the mile-high air of Denverâs Coors Field in 2021. Last year, the longest drive at Arlington, Texas, was 473 feet by Atlantaâs Marcell Ozuna.
Wood hit 16 homers, including a 486-foot shot and one that landed on the roof of the Chop House behind the right-field wall. Olson, disappointing his hometown fans, did not go deep on his first nine swings and finished with 15, He also was eliminated in the first round in 2021.
Chisholm hit just three homers, the fewest since the timer format started in 2015.
Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez controls the ball in front of Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin during a playoff game in April. (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)
The Clippers team Brook Lopez grew up watching as a young kid in Southern California is not that same franchise anymore.
These Clippers are about putting a winning product on the court and about putting together the right talent to win games â and that is what sold Lopez on signing with them.
âItâs crazy to see, but itâs very cool â seeing the climb, the ascent,â Lopez said Monday afternoon at a news conference hours before the Clippers and Lakers played each other in an NBA Summer League game at Nevada Las Vegas. âIâm a Cali boy. I grew up in the Valley, in North Hollywood. Obviously things were very different back then and to see where the Clippers have come now, itâs just astonishing, itâs beautiful. Iâm glad to be a part of it and hopefully I can help take them even further up.â
Lopez decided not to return to the Bucks after seven seasons in Milwaukee and opted not to sign with the Lakers, joining the Clippers on a two-year, $18-million deal.
He liked the idea of playing with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Ivica Zubac, a former teammate when they played on the Lakers in 2017-18, and for Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. Lopez also had a connection with Lawrence Frank, the Clippersâ president of basketball operations. Frank was the coach of the New Jersey Nets when Lopez was there.
âLooking at my options, I was just thrilled the Clippers reached out and were one of them,â Lopez said. âTheyâve been a great team for quite a while now. They have a ton of great players, obviously Hall of Famers, All-Stars, great young players. My guy Zubi! And there is a great chance to win a championship here.â
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, blocks a shot by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray in Game 3 of the first round of the NBA playoffs on April 26. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Over the course of his career, Lopez has been a starting center. He played in 80 games last season with the Bucks, averaging 31.8 minutes per game. And he was still productive at 37, averaging 13 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 blocks, while shooting 50.9% from the floor and 37.3% from three-point range.
But Zubac has emerged as one of the top centers in the NBA, even making the NBAâs All-Defensive second team.
Out of the 1,105 regular-season games Lopez has played, he has started in 1,064. With the Clippers, however, he'll likely come off the bench.
âIâm just trying to come in and help the team win,â Lopez said. âWhatever that may look like, thatâs what Iâm here to do. Wherever my minutes may come from when Iâm on the court, the beginning of the game, middle of the game, end of the game, Iâm trying to be out there trying to help my team win and beat the other team on the court.â
Because he can stretch the floor with his outside shooting, the 7-foot-1 Lopez can see a world in which he and 7-0 Zubac are on the court playing together.
âI think we complement each other extremely well,â Lopez said. âObviously, weâll be very big. I think weâll be great defensively, just dominating the paint, sealing the paint off. And then offensively, we complement each other there as well. Iâll spread the floor for him, give him all the room in the paint to go wild.â
When the Bucks visited the Clippers last season, Lopez got to see the Intuit Dome.
He was impressed by the arena that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer built and that also played a role in his decision.
âHe texted me right away, (saying) how excited he was to have me on the team,â Lopez said. âI told him the same thing back. Iâm excited to win and I think thatâs what weâre all here for and itâs going to be so much fun.â
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, left, and New York Yankees star Aaron Judge are not competing in the 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times; Yuki Iwamura / Associated Press)
A home run contest without baseballâs two most famous home-run hitters?
Whatâs the point?
Ohtani pointed to the contestâs physical demands as to why he didnât compete. Judge said he would only consider participating if the event was staged in New York.
How unfortunate for baseball, which has the perfect stage to showcase its two most popular players but canât persuade them to perform on it.
Hereâs one potential remedy: Let Ohtani and Judge write the rules.
That might not change Judgeâs position, but it could change Ohtaniâs. Ohtani has certainly pondered modifications that could be made to the Derby to make him more inclined to participate, some of which he shared at All-Star media day.
âThatâs not for me to decide,â Ohtani said in Japanese. âHowever, personally, I think there could be limits on the number of pitches, the number of swings, and a focus on flight distance.â
The commissionerâs office should listen.
As profitable as baseball is, its cultural relevance in this country is diminishing. The most popular athletes in the United States are football and basketball players. Outside of Ohtani, and maybe Judge, no baseball player transcends his sport.
In Ohtani, baseball finally has its long-awaited face of the game, and the sport would be negligent to not maximize his stardom, both domestically and abroad.
Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners might be the major league leader in home runs, but heâs a nobody as far as the general public is concerned. The same is true of everyone else in the eight-player Derby field â Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees, Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brent Rooker of the Wandering Athletics.
Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting his 30th homer of the season against the Chicago White Sox on July 1. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
By participating in the Derby, Ohtani wouldnât just draw attention to the event. He would also elevate his competitors, giving them chances to introduce themselves to audiences that would otherwise remain ignorant of their existences.
If baseball has to reduce the number of swings taken by Derby participants to gain that kind of exposure for its players, it should reduce the number of swings taken by Derby participants.
For that matter, if Ohtani says he would participate only if heâs allowed to hit soccer balls, let him hit soccer balls.
Why not?
What would be compromised, the integrity of a barely-watchable made-for-television event?
Ohtaniâs reticence is based on history. When Ohtani made his only Derby appearance in 2021, the format was similar to what it is now. In the first round, Ohtani had three minutes to hit as many homers as possible, as would be the case today. The Derby has since added a 40-pitch limit.
Ohtani was eliminated by Juan Soto in the opening round, after which he said with a simile, âIt was more tiring than the regular season.â
Ohtani went on to win his first most valuable player award that year, but the Derby marked a turning point in his season. In 84 games before the All-Star break, Ohtani batted .279 with 33 homers and 70 runs batted in. In his 71 games after, he hit just .229 with 13 homers and 30 RBIs.
He implied that experience was why he was unlikely to return any time soon.
âWith the current rules, itâs pretty difficult,â Ohtani said last month, âso for now, I donât think thereâs much of a chance.â
For baseball, that translates to limited viewership.
Viewership for the Derby was at its highest in the first decade of the 2000s. Of the five most-viewed Derbys, only one was staged in the last 15 years: The 2017 Derby, which Judge won as a rookie. Judge has not competed since.
The Derby doesnât make the players. The players make the Derby. And if the sportâs only superstar is open to taking part, the league should facilitate it.
The Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski was dominant against the Dodgers last Tuesday, striking out 12 in six innings and yielding only a leadoff home run to Shohei Ohtani. (Aaron Gash / Associated Press)
Seven days ago, Jacob Misiorowski was really only known by the most die-hard of baseball fans.
And even then, he was far from any sort of household commodity.
âI donât even know who Iâm pitching against,â future Hall of Fame Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said last week, a day before squaring off against the Milwaukee Brewers' rookie phenom who had made only four career starts prior.
âIs that the guy who twisted his ankle on the mound, the âTwisted-His-Ankleâ guy?'â Kershaw added, able only to recall a widely shared clip of Misiorowski having to exit his MLB debut a month earlier amid five hitless innings after turning his ankle on the downslope of the hill.
âI know he throws hard. I saw a couple highlights,â Kershaw continued.
But, as far as the 23-year-oldâs reputation was concerned, that was it â both to Kershaw, and most casual observers of the sport.
Then, however, came the game that changed everything â for Misiorowski, Major League Baseball and the conversation around this yearâs All-Star festivities in Atlanta.
Last Tuesday, Misiorowski had his official coming-out party with a dominant six-inning, one-run, 12-strikeout gem against the mighty Dodgers â easily the most electrifying outing of the young flamethrowerâs nascent career.
Days later, in a move that stunned the sport, Misiorowski was unexpectedly added to the National League All-Star team â an immediately controversial move given his one total month of big-league service time.
On Monday, at an All-Star media day event near Truist Park in Atlanta, Misiorowskiâs presence was still dominating story lines at the Midsummer Classic, especially after several members of the Philadelphia Phillies (who felt two of their pitchers, Cristopher SĂĄnchez and Ranger Suarez, were more deserving of All-Star nods even though they wouldnât have pitched in the game) derided Misiorowskiâs selection over the weekend as a âjokeâ and public relations stunt by the league.
It was the first question Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who will helm the National League team after winning last yearâs World Series, fielded at a Monday afternoon news conference at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater.
And when Misiorowski took his seat at media day, he was immediately peppered with questions about the backlash to his inclusion, and how he felt about people who argued he wasnât deserving of being in the game â especially his NL teammates from the Phillies.
âI mean, theyâre not happy,â Misiorowski said with an awkward smile. âBut theyâre not upset with me. Itâs nothing I did. So they were all nice to me. The clubhouse has been good.â
For all the visceral takes and viral reactions the Misiorowski story has generated in recent days, chances are it will blow over by the time Tuesdayâs game rolls around.
Roberts confirmed Misiorowski will pitch in the contest, probably somewhere in the middle innings.
And while he said Misiorowskiâs selection, coupled with the withdrawals from numerous other NL All-Star pitchers, required a âdeeper conversationâ about how the game could be improved, he added that he was all for having Misiorowski take part in this yearâs event.
âFor this young kid to be named an All-Star, I couldnât be more excited for him,â Roberts said. âItâs gonna be electric. The fans, the media, youâre gonna love it. So for me, itâs an easy answer, because if it brings excitement, attention to our game, then Iâm all about it.â
If it wasnât for Robertsâ team, the Misiorowski drama might have never happened.
Entering his start against the Dodgers last week, Misiorowski had a 3.20 ERA, was coming off a five-run, 3 â inning clunker against the New York Mets, and (despite his 100-plus mph fastball and wicked repertoire of breaking pitches) was nowhere near the All-Star picture.
Even internally, he acknowledged, he was still getting comfortable in the majors.
But in that game against the Dodgers, Misiorowski bounced back from a leadoff home run from Shohei Ohtani by giving up just three other hits. He mowed through the Dodgersâ league-leading offense with triple-digit fastballs and upper-90s mph sliders, which Dodgers catcher Will Smith called the nastiest current pitch in the sport. And he emerged with a newfound sense of belonging at the big-league level.
âThatâs one of those games you look back on and youâre like, âOK, now we go,ââ Misiorowski said Monday. âNow it starts.ââ
Afterward, no one praised the young right-hander more than Kershaw, who started his postgame remarks about Misiorowski by quipping, âI know him now, huh?â
And now, a week later, so too does the rest of the baseball world; with Misiorowskiâs dismantling of the Dodgers helping to thrust him into a spotlight he could have never imagined seven days earlier.
âI think it was just one of those things that, when it happened, itâs not really anything Iâve done,â he said. âIâm not gonna say no to MLB about coming to the game, so it is what it is.â
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