The addition of center Al Horford figures to pay dividends for the Warriors in several ways during the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.
As coach Steve Kerr sees it, one of those ways could be helping a 22-year-old budding star break out.
“Maybe Al and JK [Jonathan Kuminga],” Kerr answered Friday when reporters asked which Horford combination excites him most. “You know, I think that’s a two-man combo that could make some sense.”
Kerr and the Warriors have long searched for a way to get more consistent production from Kuminga, who has flashed immense potential but also experienced bouts of ineffectiveness throughout his career.
Per Kerr, Horford could be the key to finally stabilizing Kuminga and turning his lineups into winning combos.
“With JK, we want to give him space when he’s got the ball,” Kerr said. “Al can do that. So, if JK’s at the four, Al’s at the five and we put shooters around those guys, that could be an interesting combination.”
Horford enters his 19th NBA season as the Warriors’ biggest offseason addition. A veteran center who can space the floor and play quality defense, the 39-year-old could give Golden State a dimension they’ve lacked in recent years under Kerr.
“The defensive wherewithal that Al has, just the accumulation of so much knowledge and experience in his career, is definitely going to help him and help us,” Kerr said. “Another big, athletic rim protector can only help.”
Plus, Kerr added, Kuminga won’t be the only direct beneficiary of Horford’s presence.
“Al, with anybody, is going to be good,” the Warriors’ head coach said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Draymond [Green], Jimmy [Butler]…he could even play with Trayce [Jackson-Davis] or QP [Quinten Post]. So, the beauty of Al is the versatility he gives us from a lineup standpoint.”
The former Kentucky coach who also led the programs at Texas A&M and Texas Tech has been at Tarleton State for five seasons. Gillispie faced allegations of player mistreatment at Texas Tech, where he spent one season.
Luka Doncic, shown during a photo shoot at media day, will not play in preseason games against the Suns and Warriors this weekend. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Lakers star Luka Doncic will not play in the team’s two preseason games this weekend, the team announced after its shoot-around Friday.
Doncic will sit out against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert and against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.
The Lakers said it was a collaborative decision made with L.A.’s performance team because of his time playing for the Slovenian national team in the EuroBasket tournament this summer.
The Lakers said the plan is to be smart with Doncic in the long term as he ramps up for the regular season that opens Oct. 21 against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James, Marcus Smart (achilles tendinopathy), Maxi Kleber (quad) and rookie Aduo Thiero (knee) also won’t play against the Suns.
Doncic played in his last game with Slovenia about a month ago, a game in which he scored 39 points but his squad was eliminated by Germany in the EuroBasket quarterfinals.
After practice Thursday, Doncic talked about easing his way into training camp while getting ready for the regular season after playing at peak level for Slovenia.
“Yeah, obviously probably take it a little bit slower than the usual,” Doncic said. “ I had a busy summer. I think month, month-and-a-half I was with national team. So, it was kind of a lot. But that got me ready for the preseason and obviously regular season. So, for me, I think it really helps.”
Now that he’s officially back in the fold, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is ready to build off his promising end to the 2024-25 NBA season.
Specifically, the 22-year-old hopes to refine the chemistry he cultivated with veteran star Jimmy Butler. Speaking to reporters during his media session on Thursday, Kuminga acknowledged the crucial experience he gained playing with Butler in Golden State’s Western Conference semifinal loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.
“I think it’s very important that we’re here now, early, trying to figure each other out,” Kuminga said. “And I feel like we actually did [figure each other out] going through that series.”
When Stephen Curry suffered an injury in Game 1 that ultimately ended his season, the Warriors called on Kuminga to help plug the gaping hole left in their offense. The Timberwolves prevailed in five games, but Kuminga led Golden State in series scoring and shot over 54 percent from the field, while Butler led the team in assists.
That duo figures to play a huge role in the Warriors’ upcoming 2025-26 season, and Kuminga wants to do his part in helping his connection with Butler flourish even more.
“It’s very easy and simple to play with Jimmy,” Kuminga said. “And we actually get to sit down more now. I get to go ask him certain questions. How does he like to play? What does he like? I feel like us having a lot of time together, me being healthy, him being healthy, him being here from day one training camp-wise…it’s going to help us figuring out certain things about each other going forward.”
For the last few years, the Montreal Canadiens had included a Mont Tremblant getaway in their training camp; however, this season, they opted for a stay in Quebec City, as they had to play a preseason game against the Ottawa Senators at the Centre Videotron. The goal of such a getaway is to encourage players to spend more time together and get to know one another.
While the core players are starting to know each other pretty well after spending three or four years together, the Canadiens have added important pieces this summer, and they, too, need to be integrated into the core. Noah Dobson signed a long-term contract, making him the second blueliner to join the core after Kaiden Guhle. Ivan Demidov is still on his ELC, but there’s no doubt the Habs want him to be in Montreal for as long as possible, and judging by how Zack Bolduc has been used so far, he’s destined for a long-term contract as well.
During their stay in Quebec, the Habs had the opportunity to participate in various team-building activities, such as going golfing and holding a karaoke night, just like anyone would with their colleagues, to foster a sense of camaraderie. Furthermore, the two public practices held in Quebec have also been a way for the players to realize just how much the team is loved in the province and not just the city. Players who wear the Sainte-Flanellecarry the hopes and aspirations of a whole people, and they shouldn’t forget it.
Once upon a time, Quebec City had its Nordiques, and the Canadiens’ support in la vieille capitale was minimal, even after the Nords moved to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche. The people of Quebec weren’t ready to jump on the Habs’ bandwagon then, they couldn’t stomach cheering for the enemy and a lot of them decided to support Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins instead or Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, not only because he was such a great player but also because they appreciated how he learned to speak French during his time with the Rimouski Oceanic. 30 years later, though, the people of Quebec were united behind the visiting Canadiens when they took on their host for the day, the Senators.
The game itself became another team-building exercise for Martin St-Louis’ men. A few of the Senators' players poked the bear when they hit Alex Newhook from behind and slashed Demidov in a hazardous manner. Those two moves allowed the coach to see just how well his players had heard his message about having a pack mentality. The Xhekaj brothers, Jayden Struble, and Alexandre Carrier all chipped in to defend their teammates. There’s already a strong bond between the Canadiens’ players, and this trip will only make it stronger.
On Friday morning, the Canadiens will hold one last public practice in Quebec. Chances are, they will once again be showered with love by the fans in la vieille capitale, which should be a stark contrast to what they’ll receive from the Senators on Saturday night when the two teams end their preseason calendar with one final game. Will Tuesday’s incidents result in another “old-fashioned hockey game”? That’s a possibility. When he was asked about it, Arber Xhekaj said:
We’re their rival, so of course it’s going to be charged up. I don’t think guys have necessarily noted some players’ numbers, but we do remember some cheap shots, and that will take care of itself.
- Arber Xhekaj on Saturday's game against the Senators
In other words, that slash on Demidov won’t go unpunished, and if Nick Cousins is in the lineup, he’ll probably have to answer for what he did, especially if one or both of the Xhekaj brothers are in the lineup.
This was not only a dirty slash by Nick Cousins to intentionally injure Ivan Demidov, it was also cowardly to do it after Arber Xhekaj had left the game
When the Canadiens head back to Montreal on Friday afternoon, they’ll be an even tighter bunch than they were before, and they’ll have Quebec and the Senators to thank for that.
The Kings are counting on Dennis Schröder’s on-ball defense to lighten Keegan Murray’s workload. With the veteran guard joining the starting unit, Murray said he expects to spend less time guarding opposing point guards — a shift that could free him up for other matchups.
“I think with Dennis, obviously it helps,” Murray said. “I won’t guard as many point guards as I did. Obviously, they’ll be versatile in where I guard, obviously, the best player on the court. But, obviously, Dennis is able to do that too. So, it’ll be interesting to see once we get into the season.”
Schröder, entering his 12th NBA season, has built a reputation as a relentless defender. The 32-year-old German guard averages 0.8 steals and 2.9 rebounds per game across his career.
That skill set could be crucial for a Sacramento team that finished last season with a 115.68 defensive rating, a number that often undercut the Kings’ high-powered offense.
With Schröder applying pressure on the perimeter, the Kings hope Murray can focus on defending bigger wings and conserving energy for his expanding offensive role.
“Obviously, with Dennis, it helps me a lot in the starting unit to pick up four court, disrupt the ball handling and things like that,” Murray added. “We’ve seen improvement. At this point, it’s just going out against someone else and going out against the opponent, not obviously making that happen in the game. So, you can’t really just do it in practice and not do it in the game.”
Murray averaged 12.4 points and 6/7 rebounds last season while shooting .343 percent from three.
The Kings will find out soon enough if Schröder’s defensive edge can help Murray — and the team — strike a better balance.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rutger McGroarty has missed all of training camp and the preseason with an upper-body injury.
General manager and president Kyle Dubas announced before camp started that McGroarty would be out indefinitely with this injury, which was a tough blow to the team. He was set to compete for a spot on the opening-night roster after looking NHL-ready during his second stint in the league at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Despite being out with the injury, he made progress in his quest to return on Friday, skating on the ice for the first time during training camp.
It's unlikely that he'll be ready for the start of the regular season on Tuesday, but it's still great news that he's back on the ice. McGroarty showed instant chemistry with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby at the end of the 2024-25 season and could get more reps with him once he's ready to return.
McGroarty played in eight NHL games last season, compiling one goal and three points. He also played in 60 games for the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, compiling 14 goals and 39 points.
The Penguins will play their final game of the preseason on Friday at 7 p.m. ET against the Buffalo Sabres.
It had to be this way in the ALDS, didn’t it? After the Yankees and Blue Jays tied for the best record in the league during the regular season and chased each other all year, it’s only right that they meet now with their playoff lives at stake.
And it’s a tasty matchup, too, with New York's raw might clashing with Toronto’s less-brawny-but-mighty-effective offense. The Yanks and Jays ranked first and fourth, respectively, in MLB in runs per game this year.
The Blue Jays are rested, thanks to owning the division tiebreaker with the Yankees. They claimed the season series, beating them in eight of 13 games and outscoring them, 70-59. Home field advantage could be big in this series, too, considering the Blue Jays won six of seven at Rogers Centre and the Yankees took four of six in the Bronx.
Toronto has some rotation questions, but New York's starters are on a heater. Does Vladimir Guerrero Jr. alter his personal postseason narrative? Or does Aaron Judge, who knows a few things about having a postseason rep, lead the Yanks by destroying the series with longballs?
WHAT THE YANKEES HAVE GOING FOR THEM
It’s always worth starting with Judge, the fulcrum of the game’s best offense. The Yanks hit 274 home runs this season and Judge smashed 53 of them, while also leading the universe in rate stats -- so much so that the AL MVP race might be neck-and-neck between Judge and Cal Raleigh, the Mariners catcher who hit 60 (!) homers.
Judge went 4-for-11 (.364) as the Yankees topped the Red Sox in their best-of-three Wild Card series. All of his hits were singles, but he did raise his career October average to .212.
It’s also worth noting that the homer-centric Yankees hit only two in three games against the Red Sox and still won. That’s how good their rotation was (1.33 ERA in 20.1 innings).
Max Fried was exceptional in the opener, delivering 6.1 shutout innings, and Cam Schlittler was so good in his dominant Game 3 start that his name will probably be a forever-pejorative in his native Boston, alongside Bucky Dent and Aaron Boone.
Schlittler threw eight shutout innings and struck out a dozen, sending researchers deep into the record books to produce stat links to names such as Waite Hoyt, Spec Shea and Roger Clemens.
Overall, the Yankees' rotation has been soaring. In 52 starts since Aug. 5, their starters have a 2.80 ERA and have allowed two earned runs or fewer in 41 of those games. Luis Gil or Will Warren figure to have an impact early in this series, depending on how Boone lines up his arms. If the rotation can give a sometimes-shaky bullpen fewer innings to cover, that could pump up the Yankees’ chances in the series.
WHAT THE BLUE JAYS HAVE GOING FOR THEM
Guerrero has struggled in his first six career postseason games, batting just .136 with a .422 OPS and one extra-base hit. Perhaps it’s not a surprise that the Blue Jays are 0-6 in those games.
And he’s not exactly blazing right now – he has not hit a home run since Sept. 21 and he’s got only a .596 OPS in that span, well below his season mark of .848. Still, he’s a huge talent who figures to loom in this series.
So does George Springer, who has 19 career postseason home runs -- including two against the Yankees dating back to his Astros tenure -- and an .875 October OPS. Springer had a .959 OPS with 32 homers this season, a nifty bounce back. His OPS last season was nearly 300 points worse.
As a whole, the Blue Jays may have hit 83 fewer home runs than the Yankees, but they excel at putting the ball in play. They had the most hits in MLB, 1,461 (90 more than the Yankees). Their 17.8 percent strikeout rate was the lowest in baseball (the Yankees were at 23.5 percent). They were tied for third in OPS (.761, 26 points lower than the Yankees) and tied for seventh in slugging.
They may not have the same kind of boldface names as the Yanks, but they still put up runs. They could be without another star, shortstop Bo Bichette, who has a left knee sprain.
Their rotation will be fronted by Game 1 starter Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber, with help from celebrated rookie Trey Yesavage. Max Scherzer has a 9.00 ERA over his last six starts and Chris Bassitt has been dealing with a back issue, so who knows what either can provide.
Jul 21, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) runs out of the dugout during the pregame warmup before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre / Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
THE YANKEES WILL WIN THE SERIES IF…
They can keep it clean. Part of the reason they lost so many games in Toronto this year is that they made 11 errors in the seven games there, leading to eight unearned runs. Some of those were made by players who won’t have an impact on this series. But shortstop Anthony Volpe made three of them.
The Yankees weren’t nearly as sloppy toward the end of the season and did not make an error in the ALDS. But they know how much poor defense hurts – they benefited from some defensive botches by Boston.
They added Ryan McMahon at the trade deadline and he’s been terrific at third, as evidenced by the catch he made of a foul pop in Game 3, secured while going face-first over the Red Sox dugout railing. “That’s routine for him,” Schlittler said afterward.
The Blue Jays are far less likely to give defensive gifts to the Yankees – they made 30 fewer errors than Boston during the season and eight fewer than the Yankees. They boast at least two outstanding defenders – Andrés Giménez, who will sub at short for Bichette, and center fielder Daulton Varsho. That puts even more pressure on Yankees sluggers to mash.
Giancarlo Stanton, an October monster for years, was only 1-for-11 against Boston. He thought his one hit was a homer, but it didn’t get out and his trot had to turn into a sprint to secure a double. The good news for those sluggers: The Blue Jays gave up 209 home runs during the season, the most by any team in the playoffs.
Maybe Volpe, who had a nice 2024 postseason, is a big offensive factor again. He was 4-for-11 with one of the Yankees’ two homers (Ben Rice hit the other) against Boston and he’s reached base in 16 of 17 career postseason games. His October average is .300 and his OPS is .850. Not bad.
THE BLUE JAYS WILL WIN THE SERIES IF…
The bullpen drama falls their way. If they can quickly inflate the pitch count of Yankees starters, getting into their relief corps might be a path to success. That's how the Red Sox won Game 1, when Luke Weaver could not hold the lead that Fried handed him. The Yankees' bullpen had a 5.13 ERA over the final month of the season, and even after a deadline makeover, they entered October with the highest bullpen ERA of any playoff team.
Then there’s the Blue Jays’ closer, Jeff Hoffman. He had the third-most saves in the AL (33), but he also blew seven and gave up 15 home runs in 68 innings, slightly under two homers per nine innings. Does that sound like a great match against the Yankees, who had 10 players with at least 10 homers and hit 30 more home runs than the next-closest team, the Dodgers?
And they already have one game-winner off Hoffman – Rice hit a tie-breaking solo shot in the ninth inning back on July 22, their only victory in Toronto this season.
PREDICTION
Yankees in five games.
Judge goes boom (it’s going to happen in one of these series; he’s too good not to wreck one sometime), Schlittler continues to emerge as a star, and the bullpen does enough to back the rotation.
And the Yankees spike the narrative that this year’s pinstriped model can’t win north of the border.
The Florida Panthers have claimed Cole Schwindt from the Vegas Golden Knights, a year after the Golden Knights claimed him from the Calgary Flames.
Schwindt was a 2019 third-round pick of the Panthers, but was dealt to the Flames as part of the trade that saw Matthew Tkachuk come to Florida.
Schwindt played just three NHL games with the Panthers before he was dealt, and played just four NHL games with the Flames in two seasons. In his first season with the Golden Knights, he scored a goal and eight points in 42 games, dressing for one post-season game as well.
The Golden Knights and Panthers have a history of waiver claims, with Grigori Denisenko and Tobias Bjornfot previously moving between the two organizations.
Schwindt showed promise in a fourth-line role with the Golden Knights, improving on the defensive end and providing occasional offense.
With the injuries the Panthers are facing and the always-important need for depth, claiming Schwindt is a smart move by the Panthers. Centers are immensely valuable; another right-handed center is a welcome addition.
Solovyov, a 25-year-old defenseman, recorded one assist in five NHL games last year while adding 28 points in 59 AHL matches. He put up one assist in three games this pre-season. He's in the second campaign of a two-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.
Schwindt, a 24-year-old center, had a goal and eight points in 42 games for Vegas last season. Florida drafted him 81st overall in 2019 but included him with Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar in the Matthew Tkachuk trade with Calgary. Schwindt scored once in four games this pre-season. He's on a one-year contract worth $825,000.
Hunt, a 23-year-old defenseman, was a third-round pick by Minnesota in 2020. His 13 NHL games came with the Wild, which traded him to Columbus in November 2024 in a package for prospect defenseman David Jiricek. Hunt had 14 points in 48 games for Columbus' AHL affiliate and recorded an assist in four games this pre-season. He's on a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.
Seven NHL teams also placed a combined 12 players on waivers, according to PuckPedia. Here's that list.
Boston: Patrick Brown, Michael Callahan, Georgii Merkulov, Victor Soderstrom, Riley Tufte
Carolina: Givani Smith
Tampa Bay: Brandon Halverson
Toronto: David Kampf, William Villeneuve
Utah: Matt Villalta
Vancouver: Nils Aman
Washington: Sheldon Rempal
Kampf joins the NHL waiver wire in the third season of a four year contract carrying a $2.4-million cap hit. The center hasn't played in the AHL since 2017-18, logging 536 career regular-season NHL games. But last year, his ice time dropped to 12:24, and he had five goals and 13 points in 59 games.
With the Maple Leafs acquiring centers Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton earlier in 2025, and with Calle Jarnkrok able to play center as well, the Leafs appear to have squeezed Kampf out of the roster for now. If no team claims him, Kampf can go to the AHL Marlies and allow the Leafs to bury $1.15 million of his cap hit.
Soderstrom, 24, was an 11th overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes in 2019. He played last season in the Swedish League, recording 37 points in 49 games, and the Bruins acquired him this past June. The defenseman has one assist, seven shots and a minus-3 rating in three pre-season contests.
Smith, 27, has played 168 career NHL games, including seven last season. He had three points in 16 AHL games as well. This pre-season, the right winger ranks second in penalty minutes, with 28, and he added three points in four outings.
Aman, 25, had a goal and six points in 19 matches for Vancouver and 30 points in 36 AHL games last year. The center had a goal in three pre-season games.
For each player, the 31 other NHL teams can submit a claim for them by 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. Otherwise, their teams can assign them to the minors. And if any of the squads that did claim a player places them back on waivers, their initial team can still claim them.
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The Phillies know the challenge in front of them. The defending-champion Dodgers arrive with aspirations of repeating last year’s tune, but the Phils believe they’re just as battle-tested.
“This is probably the best lineup and bullpen we’ve had since I’ve been here,” J.T. Realmuto said. “Obviously it’s tough losing Wheeler, you can’t replace a guy like that, but our starting pitching is still very deep. We’ve got guys that have had success at this stage. I do feel like this is probably the best team we’ve had.”
Sánchez draws the spotlight
Cristopher Sánchez will get the ball in Game 1, facing Shohei Ohtani in a marquee pitching matchup. For Realmuto, the lefty’s rise has been about more than just pure stuff.
“His confidence has just grown and grown,” Realmuto said. “He’s always had really good stuff, but his command has gotten better, and that in turn has given him more confidence. He’s able to throw all three pitches where he wants, and that’s made him take another step.”
Sánchez admitted he’s leaned on Wheeler, calling him his favorite pitcher. With Wheeler sidelined, the veteran’s support hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“He was here yesterday,” Sánchez said. “He was really excited for me and everything that’s been going on with my career recently. … As far as myself, I just have to go out there and compete.”
Asked about facing Ohtani again after a rough matchup in Los Angeles, Sánchez kept it simple: “I’m focusing on controlling my emotions and performing out there.”
Ohtani and the Dodgers’ test
The Phillies already saw Ohtani dominate them in September, tossing five no-hit innings at Dodger Stadium. Realmuto didn’t play in that game, but he’s heard the reviews.
“Obviously his stuff is really good,” Realmuto said. “He mixed really well and kept guys off balance. The fastball plays up, the breaking balls are sharp. It’s obviously going to be a challenge, but hopefully seeing him a second time will help our guys.”
Alec Bohm echoed that it can’t just be about waiting for the long ball. “Especially when the playoffs roll around, every arm you’re facing is the best of the best,” Bohm said. “Guys can kind of lose themselves trying to be the hero, but it’s the little things — moving the ball around, limiting strikeouts, manufacturing runs — that wins in the end.”
Thomson on adjustments and rest
Manager Rob Thomson, who will announce his Game 2 starter on Saturday, said the key is adapting quickly.
“When you see an opponent a second time, whether it’s a pitcher seeing another lineup or an offense seeing another pitcher, it helps,” he said. “That’s when you have to make adjustments.”
He expressed that both clubs enter evenly matched. “Good starting pitching, a lot of thump in both lineups, and really good bullpens. Both teams are very evenly matched.”
Thomson isn’t concerned about rust a number of days off. “The guys are highly motivated, so I’m not worried about the mindset,” he said. “We did more velocity training, more breaking ball training, really focusing on strike-zone control. And the intrasquad game the other night did a lot for us.”
The gameplan
The Dodgers bring one of the deepest lineups in baseball, and Thomson knows it’s not just about Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Ohtani.
“They proved in the Wild Card round they can win without slugging,” he said. “They’ve got veteran hitters that grind at-bats, know the strike zone, don’t chase. You have to pitch them very, very well.”
For the Phillies, the offensive approach will be about balance.
“Our goal, no matter who we’re facing, is to get the starter out as soon as we can,” Thomson said. “But we can’t be too passive. We’ve got to keep the ball in the strike zone. That’s how you build pitch counts.”
Max Kepler said the team is ready after a long week of prep. “I feel great,” he said. “Everything we did was essential and necessary to what we have to do tomorrow. Having fans in here for the scrimmage made it feel more real. We’re ready to go.”
Urgency and unfinished business
Realmuto brushed off any suggestion that expiring contracts might alter the urgency in the clubhouse.
“We’ve always had a sense of urgency here,” he said. “Every year the ultimate goal is to win the World Series, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”
Bohm added that experience will matter most. “Everybody knows the games are big, but the first time around it can be a little overwhelming,” he said. “Now we’ve been through it, and I think that familiarity helps.”
Falkirk manager John McGlynn remains "wary" of struggling Rangers as he expressed sympathy for under-pressure counterpart Russell Martin.
The second-bottom Bairns trail Rangers - who have one league win in six games - by just two points before Sunday's meeting at the Falkirk Stadium.
"You can't hide from the fact that Rangers are not in a place that they want to be, but put them down at your peril," McGlynn said.
"There's no way we'll be taking it lightly at all. I'm looking for a response to the game last week.
"It wouldn't have mattered if it was Rangers or whoever we're going to be playing tomorrow. On Sunday, we'd be looking for a response from the players. That's my main theme here."
Falkirk have impressed at times in their return to the top flight, but they were well beaten 3-0 by Hearts last weekend at Tynecastle.
"It's probably the first time we've let ourselves down," the Bairns manager said. "However, I do understand that we wouldn't have been the only one that day [to get well beaten], Hearts were in a particularly good place, they were ready for whoever on that day.
"They'd just been to Ibrox and won for the first time in 14 years, sitting proudly on top of the league. They'd had a lot of time to prepare for the game, and we had a short time to prepare, and we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were good, we were a little off it."
Rangers were beaten 2-1 by Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday, a sixth defeat in 16 games for boss Martin, who continues to face abuse from his own supporters.
"Of course you [feel sympathy for him], because you're a human being," McGlynn said.
"You do feel for him. There's abuse and there's going too far. I've seen with another manager [Stuart Kettlewell at Motherwell] last season, he came away from it because of that.
"Sometimes you get guys saying to you, 'I don't know how you do it'. But we love the game. It's a huge part of it. I have a lot of sympathy because sometimes it's going too far. You can't be doing that type of thing. You shouldn't be [having to get] escorted to training and such."
EAST MEADOW, NY -- By Monday at 5 PM ET, the New York Islanders and the 31 NHL teams must submit their salary-cap-compliant rosters to the league office.
Goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who is already on Injured Reserve (IR) as he works his way back from knee surgery, will remain there, which creates the roster spot for backup goaltender David Rittich.
Forward Pierre Engvall, who had offseason hip surgery, will likely land on IR as well, which creates a roster spot for an extra forward. As of now, it appears that Kyle MacLean and Marc Gatcomb are the two extra forwards.
You may be asking, "Why don't the Islanders just put Engvall and his $3 million and Varlamov and his $2.75 million on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) to allow them to go over the salary cap by $5.75 million?
The Islanders are currently cap compliant, so unless they planned on adding a player via trade or waivers, there's no need to go the LTIR route, especially because that would eliminate their ability to accrue deadline cap space.
Cap accrual is what allows teams to have a greater cap space at the NHL Trade Deadline than they had at the start of the season.
When it comes to the Islanders’ final roster trim, forward Calum Ritchie and defenseman Isaiah George seemed like the two players who would not make the team.
Ritchie’s injury -- he's out 1-2 weeks with a lower-body injury -- now impacts his ability to head to Bridgeport.
And if you look at the Islanders’ roster, you’ll see three other players who can’t go to the AHL just yet due to injuries.
Per the CBA, teams can’t send down or waive players who are injured unless they’re going on a conditioning stint. Even then, if a player requires waivers, they must be waived to remain in the AHL.
That brings us to defenseman Ethan Bear and forwards Jesse Nurmi and Daylan Kuefler, who are still on the Islanders’ roster. Do they count against the roster and cap hit?
Great question.
The answer is no, and that’s because of something called Season-Opening Injured Reserve (SOIR).
SOIR is a roster tool that helps teams deal with training camp injuries to players who weren’t going to make the NHL roster. It allows players like these three — and potentially Ritchie — to remain on the NHL roster without taking up roster spots or counting against the salary cap.
The biggest difference between SOIR and LTIR, outside of the timetable, is this: there’s no minimum time a player must spend on SOIR, whereas LTIR requires a player to miss at least 10 games and 24 days. Functionally, SOIR prorates players based on the number of days spent on the roster last season (which also affects their salary). , while LTIR increases the cap ceiling.
There are eligibility rules, of course. A player can only go on SOIR if they didn’t play 50 NHL games the prior season and are on a two-way contract.
Neither Bear, Nurmi, nor Kuefler saw NHL action in 2024–25, and all three are on two-way deals. Bear signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 ($325,000 AHL). Nurmi and Kuefler are both signed to entry-level contracts, which are automatically two-way.
The Islanders could also place Ritchie on SOIR to open the season, since he’s on an ELC.
In Ritchie's case, he will have a cap hit if he's on SOIR. He spent 16 days on the roster last season with Colorado; his cap hit will be prorated accordingly.
Now, unlike Ritchie, Nurmi, and Kuefler, Bear is not waiver exempt. That means whenever he’s activated from SOIR, he’ll need waivers to head to Bridgeport.
To summarize: the Islanders will likely open the season with a 23-man roster consisting of 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders. Varlamov and Engvall will start on IR, while Ritchie, Nurmi, Kuefler, and Bear will be on SOIR. That would leave the Islanders with $532,472 in available cap space, while still being eligible to accrue more.
St. Louis Blues top prospects Justin Carbonneau and Adam Jiricek will return to their respective CHL teams, doing so with the confidence of performing well in training camp and the praise from coach Jim Montgomery.
Carbonneau skated in three pre-season games, notching a goal and an assist. His determination to win the puck back was evident in all three games, and the 18-year-old showed no fear, physically engaging himself. Carbonneau will return to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL for what is likely his final season in juniors before competing for an NHL or AHL spot next year.
"I want him to gain that next-play speed," said Montgomery. "When the puck transitions from offense to defense that he gets above it. Anyone that's been a scorer, they hang and hope for a turnover, so they're in a better offensive position. That's kind of what we talked to him about. Watch McDavid, watch MacKinnon, watch Crosby, Aho... when he was on the ice with our players, he naturally was the last guy coming back into our end every time. That's just next-play speed: 'I've got to do this.'"
Jiricek impressed as well, and he, too, will return to the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs for what should be his final season in juniors. The 19-year-old carries an abundance of skill, mixed with excellent physical tools, but Jiricek's biggest issue so far in his career has been his health.
The Czech defender played just 27 games last year after suffering a knee injury, but after adding muscle to his frame, he's hoping to remain healthy and continue to improve on both sides of the puck. In his two pre-season appearances, Jiricek failed to record any points, but logged big minutes and looked comfortable in each.
"He's elite with the puck. He's just got to learn to move it and not take as many hits as he does," said Montgomery. "He's got the mentality, 'I'm going to take a hit to make the play.' But sometimes just let the puck do the work and jump by the forechecker. Both (Carbonneau and Jiricek) are elite and going to be NHL power-play players. We see all of that. But to get into the NHL as soon as we would like them to be, they've got to improve in those areas."
Including their CHL campaigns, Jiricek and Cabronneau could feature on their countries' World Junior Championship rosters. Jiricek is likely a lock, previously featuring on the roster twice, but Carbonneau will have to compete against several top Canadian forwards. A strong start to his QMJHL campaign could earn him a spot. His ability to play physically could be a trait the Canadian coaching staff are looking for.
Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov reset the market this week, signing an eight-year, $136 million extension that carries a $17 million average annual value.
The deal has the highest total value in NHL history and immediately raises questions about how it will ripple across the league.
Specifically, the immediate question is how it will impact pending UFAs.
“The reality with the cap going up and Kaprizov making $17 million on his new deal is that every good forward's value on an existing contract just went up exponentially. Players like Tage Thompson at $7 million or William Nylander at $11.5 million have to be considered bargains,” The Hockey News’ Michael Augello wrote on X.
Let’s look at big names ready to sign big contracts and how, if at all, the Kaprizov deal will affect their negotiations.
Impacted: Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
One interesting name to watch comes from Los Angeles, where the Kings and winger Adrian Kempe might have been close to an extension, but the Kaprizov deal changes things.
Talks between the Kings and Kempe’s representatives are set to resume this week, and according to Elliotte Friedman on the FAN Hockey Show, his camp was already targeting an ask in the $10.5 million range. How much did that just jump as Kempe watched Kaprizov sign for $6.5 million more per season?
Kempe is not Kaprizov. Kempe’s career high is 75 points, while Kaprizov’s is 108. It’s fair to assume Kempe’s camp knows there’s a difference between the two players, both in terms of their on-ice production and overall value to the franchise. Still, Kempe, a 40-goal scorer two seasons ago, has proven he can drive offense, and the Kaprizov benchmark strengthens his negotiating position.
Impacted: Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor is another player to watch. A consistent scoring threat and former Lady Byng Trophy winner, Connor has been a critical piece for Winnipeg’s attack. Like Kaprizov, Connor is essential to the Jets’ franchise. Unlike Kaprizov, it’s arguably for a different reason.
Kaprizov is the face of the Wild. He brings in fans. Connor, meanwhile, represents the Jets' ability to retain key players in a market that isn’t always at the top of the list for big stars. If he re-signs, that will help attract other players to Winnipeg.
With Kaprizov’s $17 million average annual value approaching as the new ceiling for elite wingers, Connor’s next deal, which was believed to be hovering around the $12 million mark per season, is almost certain to command more than previously projected.
Not Impacted: Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
For Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights, Kaprizov’s deal has little direct impact.
First, Eichel is a center. Second, he’s playing in a market that almost every NHL player wants to go to. Third, no-tax benefits change what Eichel can ask for and will receive.
Eichel, 28, is finishing up an eight-year, $80 million contract and is expected to ask for more than $13 million annually – surpassing teammate Mitch Marner’s $12 million figure. His case is based on the top of the center market, not the winger market, and he has absolutely no desire to leave Vegas. Eichel’s leverage is more an internal cap thing than it is looking at Kaprizov’s deal and telling Vegas they need to get close.
The Colorado Avalanche are in a tricky situation that only got trickier with the Kaprizov deal.
Martin Necas is locked in at $6.5 million this year and is looking to cash in on a new extension. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos said in June there was a sense Necas wasn’t thrilled with his run in Colorado after joining the team in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes. As such, it is expected that he will ask for every penny he can get. Otherwise, he’ll test the market.
Necas is an underrated talent who doesn’t have the same pedigree as Kaprizov. At the same time, the Avalanche gave up Mikko Rantanen in a deal they might likely look back on and regret. If they aren’t willing to let Necas walk away, too, then they may have to pay more than expected to maintain similar margins in cap hit between Necas and a star like Kaprizov.
Not Impacted: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
If there is one unicorn in the group of free agents that wasn’t named Kaprizov, it’s Connor McDavid. His situation is totally unique from anyone else’s, simply because he’s the best player in the world.
If he chooses to take less so the team he’s on can remain competitive, then the Kaprizov contract means nothing. If he wants to be the highest-paid player in the NHL, he should be, and no one will ask questions or try to negotiate with him. McDavid will simply tell the Edmonton Oilers – or another team in free agency this summer – what he wants, and that team will give it to him.
Some might argue that McDavid will see the Kaprizov deal and feel the need to make more. That said, while McDavid wants to be paid fairly, he doesn’t seem to be motivated by money. He’s motivated by giving himself the best chance to win a Stanley Cup multiple times.
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