Marcus Stroman had a one word message after being cut loose by the Yankees.
The right-hander posted an Instagram story flashing his watch on his plane Saturday afternoon with a very brief caption: “Adios.”
Stroman, of course, was released Friday after two disappointing years with the club.
He pitched to a 4.31 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 30 appearances last season, and ultimately found himself left off of the Bombers’ 26-man ALDS roster.
He was added back on for the ALCS and World Series, but didn't make an appearance.
Stroman missed time at the beginning of this season with left knee inflammation, and he hadn't quite been able to find his footing since making his return from the IL.
He allowed four earned runs on six hits over five innings of work in his last outing Thursday against the Rays, bringing his ERA to 6.23 for the year.
Luis Gil will rejoin the rotation on Sunday, so it was between Stroman, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler for the final two spots, and the team decided to move forward with their young arms in the mix.
“Obviously, that was a tough decision we made today,” Aaron Boone said Friday. “The perception around Stro, for us, did not meet the guy we got to be around the last couple years -- he’s just an awesome competitor.
“It’s a case of we think Warren and Schlittler are ready to be in the rotation full-time. Just felt like with some more roster moves probably coming over the next few days at least, the timing was right.”
Stroman finishes his time with the Yankees with a 4.69 ERA over 39 appearances.
Coach Billy Napier has offered no timetable on his star player’s return. It’s the latest injury issue for Lagway, who missed spring practice with a shoulder injury after undergoing sports hernia surgery.
Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell went five innings in his return from injury Saturday against the Rays, striking out eight while walking none. (Chris O'Meara / Associated Press)
Blake Snell nearly had a flawless return from the injured list on Saturday afternoon.
If only the Tampa Bay Rays didn’t have slugger Yandy Díaz, or a quirky short right-field wall at their temporary home at Steinbrenner Field.
Making his first start since the second week of the season, when he went down with a shoulder injury that shelved him, Snell largely looked like the ace the Dodgers thought they were getting when they signed him to a $182-million contract this offseason.
Over a five-inning start that included eight strikeouts, no walks and a whole bunch of flailing swings by the Rays, the veteran left-hander flashed his two-time Cy Young Award-winning stuff and tantalizing late-season potential.
However, in the Dodgers’ 4-0 loss to the Rays, Snell gave up three runs on a pair of long balls to Díaz –– who twice took advantage of the ballpark’s short porch in right field.
After the Rays’ permanent home, Tropicana Field in nearby St. Petersburg, had its canvas roof shredded during Hurricane Milton this winter, the club relocated to Steinbrenner Field for this season; using the New York Yankees’ open-air, Tampa-based spring training park for its home schedule.
Since the 10,000-seat venue was modeled after Yankee Stadium in New York, its defining feature is a short right-field wall (similar to the one in the Bronx) that measures at just 314 feet down the line — eight feet shorter than the dimensions at Tropicana Field.
In the bottom of the first inning, Díaz took full advantage, golfing a 3-1 fastball the other way for a solo home run. According to MLB’s Statcast system, the ball traveled only 326 feet, and would have stayed in play at each of the league’s other 29 stadiums. But not here, and especially not on a sweltering summer afternoon with a first-pitch temperature of 91 degrees.
The first-row drive opened the scoring and it wouldn’t be the last souvenir Díaz sent that direction on the day.
Two innings later, Díaz came back to the plate with Snell seemingly in a groove, having retired seven of the next eight batters, including five on strikeouts.
However, on a 1-1 fastball that was up in the zone, Díaz launched one to the opposite field again, hitting a two-run blast on a 341-foot fly ball that would’ve been a homer in only two other parks (Yankee Stadium itself, and Daikin Park in Houston).
Frustrating results that overshadowed an otherwise auspicious day.
In the big picture, after all, the Dodgers’ main priorities for Snell are: 1) Stay healthy; 2) Pitch better than he did at the start of the season, when his bothersome shoulder contributed to two underwhelming outings that marred the start of his Dodgers career.
Tampa Bay's Yandy Díaz watches his solo home run off Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell during the first inning Saturday. (Chris O'Meara / Associated Press)
Down the stretch this season, the Dodgers’ biggest strength might be their rotation. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is in the Cy Young Award conversation. Tyler Glasnow has looked improved since returning from his own shoulder injury. Shohei Ohtani has showcased tantalizing talent in his return from a Tommy John procedure. And even Clayton Kershaw has been productive in his 18th season.
The biggest linchpin, though, likely remains Snell — whom the Dodgers targeted this offseason in hopes of avoiding the tightrope they walked last October, when their injury-ravaged rotation was almost completely depleted by the start of the postseason.
While the Dodgers had managed in Snell’s absence, maintaining a narrow lead in the National League West despite another prolonged stretch of patchwork pitching, manager Dave Roberts acknowledged they had missed his “presence” over the first two-thirds of the season.
Having guys like him and Glasnow back, Roberts added, could mean “everything” to the team’s chances entering the stretch run of the campaign.
“Last year, we found a way to do it, not having that [rotation depth],” Roberts said. “But having the starters healthy, pitching the way they're capable of, makes it a better quality of life for everyone.”
Outside of the Díaz home run, Snell offered plenty of promise in his return to action.
First and foremost, he filled up the strike zone, eliminating his habit of nibbling around the plate by throwing 57 strikes in 86 pitches. And, in another positive development, many of those strikes were of the swing-and-miss variety.
Snell racked up 19 whiffs on Saturday, tied for third-most by a Dodgers pitcher in a game this season. Seven came on 12 total swings against his changeup, a key offspeed pitch that showed no signs of rust even after his long layoff. Five others were courtesy of his slider, with the Rays coming up empty on all five swing attempts against it.
It wasn’t enough to help the Dodgers win on Saturday — when their lineup managed only six hits and squandered its best opportunity to rally on Teoscar Hernández’s bases-loaded, inning-ending double-play grounder in the top of the sixth.
But it did raise the hopes about the potential of the team’s late-season rotation, offering a glimpse of the dominance the Dodgers will need out of Snell the rest of the year.
“I think this is sort of what we envisioned,” Roberts said, with his pitching staff finally looking closer to its original design. “It hasn’t been linear, like it ever is, as far as how you get to a place. But … signs are kind of looking like the roster we all intended.”
How many 21-year-olds have the
chance to play alongside one of the greatest of all-time? Ville Koivunen
found himself occupying such rarefied air during his first taste of NHL
play with the Pittsburgh Penguins, operating on the top line alongside
Bryan Rust and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby.
“When
I went to the NHL, it was like a dream come true,” Koivunen said. “It
was pretty nice and a lot of fun. And, of course, playing with Crosby
and Malkin, Rusty, those guys were pretty awesome.”
But Koivunen
skating alongside ‘The Kid’ wasn’t initially in the cards. While the
Oulu native has all the requisite tools to become a top-six attraction,
it appeared he’d spend his future plying his trade with the likes of
Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov after the Carolina Hurricanes
selected Koivunen in the second round of the 2021 draft, 51st overall.
Instead,
Koivunen – then in his third season with Liiga squad Karpat – became
the key prospect Pittsburgh coveted in the 2024 deadline deal that saw
winger Jake Guentzel head to Carolina. “It came out of the blue,” said
Koivunen, now 22. “I was pretty surprised when I woke up and saw the
trade. The first hour, I was a little bit shocked. Like, what’s going to
happen now? And what do I have to do now? But after one hour, I was
very excited about where I get to with the organization, what they have
done and what kind of players they have. And of course, the good part,
maybe getting chances to play in the NHL, too.”
This was no ordinary Stanley Cup run, this was a Rat Race! 🐀
Introducing the brand new 2025 CHAMPIONS Issue @FlaPanthers
Koivunen
made an immediate impact in his first full season with the AHL’s
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, blowing past expectations to lead the
team with 56 points and tie for third in goals with 21 in 63 games,
earning a spot on the AHL’s all-rookie team. “They’re a great group,”
Koivunen said. “It was easy to play with them – a skillful group. And
coach Kirk (MacDonald) helped me a lot. He gave me a chance to play with
my strengths and use them, which was pretty great.”
"When I went to the NHL, it was like a dream come true."
- Ville Koivunen
After
being recalled from the AHL on March 28, Koivunen made his NHL debut
two days later in a 1-0 Pittsburgh win over Ottawa. And he showed no
sign of jitters, putting up seven assists in his seven games after being
held off the scoresheet in Game 1. With the NHL squad missing the
playoffs, Koivunen earned further big-game experience after returning to
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and banking two assists in as many games in the
Baby Pens’ brief post-season run. “Every game, I felt a little more
comfortable,” he said. “I felt like I could make more plays in every
game and have a lot of confidence. The game’s faster, of course. There’s
a lot of skill – like how they play with the puck. I just went there to
play with my strengths, and then you feel it, and it is a little bit
like a different level.”
Though Koivunen is not big at six-foot
and 172 pounds, he has a great complete level, and his smarts and
natural playmaking ability make him dangerous. He now must work on
rounding out his game and adjust to the rigors of North American hockey.
“I’m just trying to get more explosiveness and be faster, and also a
bit more strength on the battles, on the corners and trying to win the
puck battles more,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing I’m trying to
improve.”
And what has he learned from his brief time sharing a
dressing room with Crosby, Malkin and Co.? “I just try to watch how they
play and what they do off the ice,” he said. “Just try to do everything
as good as you can. I think that’s going to help me a lot there.”
"I just try to make the team. In the NHL, I think that's the biggest thing that I have to think about."
- Ville Koivunen
Back
home in Oulu, Koivunen spends his summer maintaining a consistent
training regimen while reconnecting with friends and family. “I just try
to practise hard, train hard and also be with my friends – hang out
with them,” he said. “I haven’t seen them the whole season, so that’s a
lot of fun. Also, with my girlfriend, I try to do something with her and
hang out with my family, too. I don’t see them a lot, either, so I try
to be with them. I also like to play every kind of ball game. I like to
play tennis, golf and also floorball sometimes.”
Koivunen is in a
prime position to benefit from a change in philosophy within a Penguins
front office that is increasingly focused on the future. With the Pens’
youth movement intermingling with the Crosby-led legacy squad, Koivunen
has every opportunity to establish himself as much more than an everyday
NHLer. “I just try to make the team,” Koivunen said of his mindset
going into next season. “In the NHL, I think that’s the biggest thing
that I have to think about. I just try to make the team.”
This article
appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on
the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite
play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the
Cup final. We
also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman
Ryker Evans. In
addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL
season.
You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.
The Giants knew losing Tyler Rogers would sting, and of course with baseball being the comedic entity of a sport that it is, the reliever made his New York Mets debut against his former team while San Francisco’s own bullpen wounds still were fresh.
In perhaps a perfect microcosm of where both Rogers and his former employers currently stand, the Giants watched their once-dominant bullpen flounder while the submarining right-hander logged a scoreless inning in his first action for the Mets in San Francisco’s 12-6 loss to New York on Saturday at Citi Field.
Spencer Bivens and Tristen Beck got tagged for seven earned runs across three innings of work after the former took the mound with the Giants trailing just 5-4 in the sixth inning. Despite the ups and downs of the 2025 MLB season, the Giants previously attacked these situations from a place of strength, having the luxury of rolling out Randy Rodríguez or Rogers to keep San Francisco within striking distance. Now with a bullpen in limbo, the Giants are dealing with the immediate consequences of reshuffling the deck.
“Yeah, we knew we were going to see it at some point,” Melvin told reporters when asked if it was weird facing Rogers after Saturday’s loss. “I’m sure it was just as uncomfortable for him — or weird, put it that way.”
There always was a long-term component driving the decision to trade one of MLB’s best relievers, and yet the potential of striking gold on a prospect or two in the return haul serves merely as a coping mechanism in the interim as the Giants watched Rogers seamlessly do what he has done for years, delivering in a late-inning situation without so much as breaking a sweat.
Even amid their prolonged slump, there always existed the possibility of the Giants gritting their way into a playoff berth, where San Francisco could enter any prospective series with a moderate level of confidence boasting a three-headed monster at the back of its bullpen.
After all, this organization rattled off three World Series championships in five years following a formula that relied heavily on leveraging the Giants’ arsenal of elite bullpen arms to close out games under the bright October lights.
Those dreams, like Rogers, are long gone with San Francisco’s rotation in shambles and a depleted bullpen left to pick up the slack amid the departures of two of their longest-tenured arms.
With morale already waning from the Giants’ catastrophic July freefall, seeing Rogers take the mound for a competitor for the first time mere days after parting ways is something not even the most seasoned baseball veterans are conditioned to brush aside.
While it certainly had to have been an adjustment for Rogers, the 34-year-old reliever made it a priority to remain positive while balancing his debut for a new team with facing the only MLB organization he’d ever known until earlier this week.
“The adrenaline was there,” Rogers told The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser after Saturday’s game. “And then just to look up and see the Giants across in the batter’s box was another level, too. I was just with those guys couple days ago, it was cool. I just told myself to enjoy it. Baseball is funny in that way.”
Rogers has been dynamite this season, boasting a 1.76 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP while ranking second in MLB with 54 appearances. If Saturday’s outing is any indication, he will continue to shine for a first-place Mets team that appears to be on a crash course for a deep playoff run.
Any fantasies Rogers had of taking the mound in October in front of a sellout crowd adorned in orange likely will be a reality — just not the one that Giants fans hoped for.
San Francisco now is left to pick up the pieces while being stuck in a baseball purgatory of sorts, not quite eliminated from postseason contention but playing with a level of enthusiasm that doesn’t exactly inspire visions of San Francisco putting together the kind of run needed to make up ground in the packed National League playoff picture.
But hey, it’s baseball after all. Stranger things have happened.
The Phillies didn’t have a second straight comeback in the tank Saturday.
Despite the Phils’ three-run seventh inning and two-run eighth, the Tigers earned a 7-5 win at Citizens Bank Park.
Tarik Skubal beat Zack Wheeler in a very high-quality pitching matchup. The 2024 American League Cy Young winner logged seven innings and conceded three runs and five hits. Skubal notched 10 strikeouts and zero walks.
Wheeler allowed four runs (three earned) and nine hits in six-plus innings. He also struck out 10 and walked no one.
Wheeler and Skubal each recorded their first three outs on strikeouts. Skubal added three more to his tally in the second inning and finished the frame with a 99.4 mph heater that Otto Kemp watched for strike three.
True to form, Skubal combined precise command with swing-and-miss stuff. He threw strikes on 26 of his first 33 pitches. On the season, Skubal now has 181 strikeouts and 19 walks.
With Skubal dealing, the Phillies’ task appeared rather daunting after Cole Keith and Kerry Carpenter bashed solo shots over the right-field wall in the third inning to put the Tigers up 2-0.
Wheeler righted the ship in the fourth by striking out the side. He worked around a pair of one-out singles in the fifth by striking out Carpenter and inducing a Riley Greene groundout.
Just about all of the Phils’ contact against Skubal was weak and nowhere near the fences until nine-hitter Weston Wilson lined a double to right-center with one out in the sixth inning.
Skubal evaded any damage. Trea Turner grounded out to third base, which brought Kyle Schwarber to the plate. The Phils’ slugger hit a shallow fly ball down the left-field line and Greene made a great play in foul territory, nabbing a sliding catch. Skubal raised his arms in celebration as he walked off the field.
Detroit then expanded its lead in the seventh. Kemp committed an error at third and Javier Baez homered to end Wheeler’s day. A Gleyber Torres dinger off of Tanner Banks gave the Tigers another insurance run.
Those runs wound up mattering, since Skubal was not destined to cruise to a shutout.
Bryce Harper led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and J.T. Realmuto followed with an RBI double. Nick Castellanos’ first-pitch bomb cut the Phillies’ deficit to 5-3. He smashed a Skubal changeup 428 feet.
Matt Strahm couldn’t pitch a clean eighth inning. The Tigers caused two-out trouble and a Baez grounder trickled over the third-base bag, turning into a two-RBI triple.
Again, the Phillies prevented Detroit from feeling comfortable. Brandon Marsh delivered a pinch-hit single to begin the bottom of the eighth and eventually rounded the bases on a Harper homer to left-center against Tigers reliever Will Vest.
Max Lazar kept Detroit’s lead at two runs by tossing a 1-2-3 top of the ninth. Kyle Finnegan still picked up a low-stress save, though. Harrison Bader grounded out to shortstop, Kemp struck out, and Bryson Stott flew out to left to wrap up the Tigers’ win.
Sunday night’s game will decide the three-game series. Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 2.55 ERA) is set to face Charlie Morton (7-8, 5.42 ERA).
Alvarado back in town soon
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that Jose Alvarado will come to Philadelphia on Monday before the suspended reliever’s rehab assignment.
The Phillies didn’t have a second straight comeback win in the tank Saturday.
Despite the Phils’ three-run seventh inning and two-run eighth, the Tigers earned a 7-5 victory at Citizens Bank Park.
Tarik Skubal beat Zack Wheeler in a very high-quality pitching matchup. The 2024 American League Cy Young winner logged seven innings and conceded three runs and five hits. Skubal had 10 strikeouts and zero walks.
Wheeler allowed four runs (three earned) and nine hits in six-plus innings. He also struck out 10 and walked no one.
Wheeler and Skubal each recorded their first three outs on strikeouts. Skubal added three more to his tally in the second inning and finished the frame with a 99.4 mph heater that Otto Kemp watched for strike three.
True to form, Skubal combined precise command with swing-and-miss stuff. He threw strikes on 26 of his first 33 pitches. On the season, Skubal now has 181 strikeouts and 19 walks.
With Skubal dealing, the Phillies’ task appeared rather daunting after Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter bashed solo shots over the right-field wall in the third inning to put the Tigers up 2-0.
Wheeler righted the ship in the fourth by striking out the side. He worked around a pair of one-out singles in the fifth by striking out Carpenter and inducing a Riley Greene groundout.
Just about all of the Phils’ contact against Skubal was weak and nowhere near the fences until nine-hitter Weston Wilson lined a double to right-center with one out in the sixth inning.
Skubal evaded any damage. Trea Turner grounded out to third base, which brought Kyle Schwarber to the plate. The Phils’ slugger hit a shallow fly ball down the left-field line and Greene made a great play in foul territory, nabbing a sliding catch. Skubal raised his arms in celebration as he walked off the field.
Detroit then expanded its lead in the seventh. Kemp committed an error at third and Javier Baez homered to end Wheeler’s day. A Gleyber Torres dinger off of Tanner Banks gave the Tigers another insurance run.
Wheeler went out of his way to take the blame for the inning, saying postgame that he asked Phillies manager Rob Thomson to start the seventh.
Those seventh-inning runs wound up mattering, since Skubal was not destined to cruise to a shutout.
Bryce Harper led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and J.T. Realmuto followed with an RBI double. Nick Castellanos’ first-pitch bomb cut the Phillies’ deficit to 5-3. He smashed a Skubal changeup 428 feet.
Matt Strahm couldn’t pitch a clean eighth inning. The Tigers caused two-out trouble and a Baez grounder trickled over the third-base bag, turning into a two-RBI triple.
Again, the Phillies prevented Detroit from feeling comfortable. Brandon Marsh delivered a pinch-hit single to begin the bottom of the eighth and eventually rounded the bases on a Harper homer to left-center against Tigers reliever Will Vest.
Max Lazar kept Detroit’s lead at two runs by tossing a 1-2-3 top of the ninth. Kyle Finnegan still picked up a low-stress save, though. Harrison Bader grounded out to shortstop, Kemp struck out, and Bryson Stott flew out to left to wrap up the Tigers’ win.
Sunday night’s game will decide the three-game series. Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 2.55 ERA) is set to face Charlie Morton (7-8, 5.42 ERA).
“I loved it,” Thomson said of the Phillies’ comeback effort. “They just kept coming, and that’s what this team does. I don’t think that they ever believe that they’re out of a ball game.
“They just kept fighting, even with Skubal out there. That’s good to see. We put this behind us, come out here tomorrow and win a series.”
Alvarado back in town soon
Thomson said pregame that Jose Alvarado will come to Philadelphia on Monday before the suspended reliever’s rehab assignment.
Jan 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) takes a shot on goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
As disappointing as the 2024-25 season was for the Nashville Predators, there were some milestones and positive moments that, albeit briefly, put smiles on the faces of Preds fans.
Here’s a look at three great moments from last season.
Forsberg Gets No. 300
Jan. 16, 2025, was a great night all around for the Predators.
Forsberg’s goal tied the score at 2-2 with less than three minutes left in the third period, as he fired a slapshot home from the right side.
After overtime came and went without a tally from either side, the Predators got scores from Gustav Nyquist, Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos in the shootout to secure the victory. It was the Preds’ first shootout of the season.
Forsberg’s milestone wasn’t the only thrill that night. The team honored the inaugural class of its Preds Golden Hall. David Poile, Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne dropped the ceremonial puck before the game got underway. It was also the Predators’ 1001st victory in franchise history.
Saros Notches Career Win Milestone
On March 25, 2025, Preds goalie Juuse Saros earned his 200th career victory in a road triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes at LenovoCenter.
Saros stopped 34 shots in the win, while Luke Evangelista helped the cause with two goals. The victory also gave Nashville a sweep of the season series with the Canes.
Michael Bunting put the Predators in front 1-0 on a power-play goal, his second as a member of the Preds.
Evangelista’s backhander made the score 2-0 before Carolina narrowed the gap on a second-period goal by Taylor Hall.
Saros was tested throughout the game, particularly in the middle frame, but made some clutch saves to keep his team in front.
Evangelista added some insurance after tipping in a Marc Del Gaizo shot in the third.
Saros became the sixth Finnish-born goaltender in NHL history to reach the 200-win milestone. Rinne tops that list with 369.
Preds End Season With Win Over Dallas
Playoffs wouldn’t be in the cards for the Predators, but pride still mattered as they took on the Dallas Stars in the final game of the regular season Apr. 16 at Bridgestone Arena.
It was Fan Appreciation Night, and the home crowd definitely appreciated the send-off. Five different Preds skaters scored in a 5-1 victory over the Stars, who ultimately got to the Western Conference Finals.
Jordan Oesterle, Jakub Vrana, Justin Barron, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O’Reilly all tallied for the Preds, while Juuse Saros made 29 saves in goal to conclude the season.
The game didn’t start in Nashville’s favor. Mason Marchment scored just 16 seconds in to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.
That was all the visitors would get, however, as the Preds reeled off five unanswered goals for a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Saros took care of the rest, and the Smashville faithful gave their team a final ovation after the game.
The San Jose Sharks have an abundance of prospects who will be battling for spots in the NHL and the American Hockey League this coming season.
While there will be other prospects playing in a variety of leagues, today we’re going to focus on prospects who are expected to start the season with the San Jose Barracuda. Let’s take a look at some first-year professionals (in North America) whom head coach John McCarthy will be able to count on to push the Barracuda forward and further their development.
Quentin Musty had a strange 2024-25 season. It started with a holdout, as he refused to report to the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League to start the season. Eventually, he’d return to the team, but it did prevent him from participating in the Wolves’ first 12 games.
Less than a month after reporting to Sudbury, Musty broke his hand against the Oshawa Generals. Not only did that knock him out of OHL action, but it also prevented him from participating in the IIHF World Junior Championship.
All things considered, he had a pretty strong season for the Wolves but did take a step backward production-wise. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged 1.92 points-per-game, a number that dropped to 1.79 in his most recent outing. While there are many factors that contributed to that occurring, it wasn’t ideal to see from one of the Sharks’ top young prospects.
Musty made his debut with the Barracuda after the Wolves’ season came to an end. He played three games in the AHL, but failed to record a point. Once he gets a full professional training camp, though, things will likely be different for the 20-year-old winger.
The Sharks’ second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, Kasper Halttunen, has been successful at any level he’s played. He’s played at essentially every level of Finnish hockey, including a 27-game stint with HIFK in Liiga. Although he only recorded a single assist during that stretch, playing at that level as a teenager was an impressive feat in its own right.
Halttunen made the jump to North America immediately after being drafted, joining the OHL’s London Knights, where he’d play alongside fellow Sharks prospect Sam Dickinson.
Under head coach Dale Hunter, Halttunen made an instant impact for the Knights. In his first year, he scored 32 goals and totaled 61 points in 57 games while learning to adapt to the North American style of play.
After training camp last season, general manager Mike Grier faced a decision regarding Halttunen. As a European, Halttunen was eligible for the American Hockey League as a 19-year-old, but they also had the option to send him back to London alongside Dickinson and allow them to develop together.
Ultimately, Halttunen was given a stint in the AHL to start the season, but it didn’t last long. In six games, he scored two goals and added two assists before Grier decided to send him north of the border to rejoin the Knights in London.
From there, Halttunen had a decent showing with the Knights; however, he didn’t take the jump forward that the Sharks were likely hoping for during the regular season. He finished with 21 goals and 41 points in 38 games for the Knights, but he truly found his game in the playoffs.
During the postseason, Halttunen was a key contributor to the Knights’ run to the Memorial Cup. He scored 15 goals in 17 games, while adding six more assists for a total of 21 points. When all was said and done, Halttunen would end the season as a Memorial Cup champion and was named MVP of the OHL playoffs.
Now, he gets the opportunity to show what he can do as a full-time professional. The 2025-26 season will undoubtedly be crucial for Halttunen’s development, and if he’s not a key player for the Barracuda, that could indicate some issues ahead.
Like Halttunen, Igor Chernyshov does have a decent amount of professional experience. He played a total of 39 games in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League before making the jump to North America for the 2024-25 season. However, he has only played three professional games on North American soil. He made his debut for the Barracuda late last season and scored his first goal in May against the Colorado Eagles in his only postseason appearance under McCarthy.
The Sharks’ second-round pick in 2024, Chernyshov, brings size and powerful skating to the team, but also much more. According to Elite Prospects’ 2024 Draft Guide, “Chernyshov excels at anticipating openings and exploiting them. He beats defenders consistently by properly setting up his dekes, building up speed below the puck, and then attacking with a speed advantage and working give-and-goes.”
Although the Sharks will have an abundance of high-end talent at the AHL level, the Barracuda’s rookies should be some of McCarthy’s most dominant players. If that's not the case, it could be cause for some concern.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Forward Alex Laferriere has agreed to a three-year, $12.3 million deal to stay with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings announced the deal Saturday for Laferriere, who was a restricted free agent this summer after playing out his entry-level contract.
The 23-year-old Laferriere had 19 goals and 23 assists last year for the Kings, emerging as a dependable scorer in only his second NHL season. He largely played on the right wing alongside center Quinton Byfield, another key member of Los Angeles’ young core, and high-scoring Kevin Fiala.
A third-round pick in the 2020 draft, Laferriere has 31 goals and 34 assists in 158 games for the Kings.
New Los Angeles general manager Ken Holland has taken care of his most pressing summer contract issues after the signing of Laferriere, but Holland said last month that he would be eager to sign Adrian Kempe to a long-term deal as the Swedish forward heads into the final season of his current contract.
Carlos Mendoza provided some updates on the Mets' plans for the starting rotation and how he would deploy his options off the bench.
Rotation to remain a quintet
The Mets will “stay in line” with the rotation for the next time through and have David Peterson, who started Friday’s game, make his next start on regular rest, the skipper said.
Peterson has had some issues pitching without an extra day of rest and Clay Holmes struggled in his last outing (four runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings) on regular rest as well -- that’s something that hasn’t escaped Mendoza’s mind.
“Those are some of the conversations,” he said, adding that Holmes’ start in San Diego, “we saw the results. “We’ll continue to monitor it, but we feel good.
“They understand that at some point throughout the year, you’re gonna take the ball on regular rest. Petey’s done it and we’re not concerned at all.”
Saturday’s starter Kodai Senga, pitching as usual on five days' rest, is set to make his fourth start since returning from the IL and while the results haven’t been up to his standards, the skipper noted some promising signs.
“It's been fine,” Mendoza said of the righty’s recent outings. “I feel like, for the most part, he's getting the feel for his mechanics, which is a big deal for him.
“Definitely feeling really good physically, so health-wise he’s in a really good place. But I think it’s the mechanics that he’s continued to work on it and I feel like he’s getting to a really good spot.”
Bench to play active role
With the addition of Cedric Mullins, who was making his first start in center field on Saturday, the Mets will have another veteran option off the bench, which will likely lead to more mixing and matching off the bench in-game and have knock-on effects in terms of playing time for several players.
“They’re up for whatever we need as a team,” Mendoza said about the conversations he had with players about how Mullins’ arrival will change roles.
“We get into a time where they’re gonna understand that I can only play nine guys, we got 13 really good position players,” he said. “And even though your name is not in the lineup, you gotta be ready to come up and pinch-hit and get the biggest at-bat. And if I’m pinch-hitting for you, that doesn’t mean that I don’t believe in you, I like the matchup.
“I might be taking the bat away from you today, but tomorrow you could be the one getting that at-bat. It just goes to show you how deep we are with the roster.”
Jul 28, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) hits a grand slam during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. / Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
In Friday night’s game, it was Mark Vientos who was pinch-hit for by Brett Baty with two outs in the bottom of the eighth against ex-Met José Butto. For Saturday, Vientos is on the bench as Baty gets the start.
"It wasn’t an easy decision last night either, I wanted a lefty against Butto, we're familiar with him,” Mendoza said. “Then, you look at it today, facing a guy with big splits, too. And then we’re getting a lefty tomorrow, there’s couple of lefties [coming up].
“It's not like Mark won’t play against righties, he will pay, he will continue to get at-bats. It’s just me, especially today, trying to get all the lefties in the lineup.”
Vientos extended his hitting streak to 10 games in Friday's loss, and is slashing .343/.361/.486 for an .822 OPS over his last 16 contests.
Max Kranick update
Mendoza was not asked about the injured reliever ahead of Saturday's game, but an update earlier in the day from The Athletic's Will Sammon had a spot of good news.
Kranick, who was believed to have needed Tommy John surgery for a second time in his career, ended up undergoing flexor tendon repair surgery.
That procedure will be a shorter recovery timeline for his return at some point during the 2026 campaign, Sammon reported.
The Chicago Blackhawks have made some impactful draft picks since Kyle Davidson took over as the General Manager. A lot of the notable ones are the most talented. Players like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Anton Frondell come to mind as the high-end, skilled players in the organization.
With that said, you need depth to make deep runs in the NHL. Not every prospect is going to reach the highest level and become a superstar. Being a high-end offensive producer isn’t needed out of every player on a playoff-worthy roster. The top teams have a balanced lineup.
Nothing is set in stone, but the foundation of a solid bottom six may already be in Chicago’s pipeline. A free agent or acquired player via trade is likely to join the mix more than once, but the Blackhawks have a lot of young talents who could form great 3rd and 4th lines.
Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, AJ Spellacy, and Colton Dach are your prototypical bottom-six forwards who can play with speed and physicality. There are also players like Sacha Boisvert, Nick Lardis, and Marek Vanacker who have top-six ceilings with bottom-six abilities.
What is it you look for from guys who play this role? Forechecking, winning face-offs, and producing offensively here and there is a great start.
When you think back to Chicago’s championship years, guys like Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik, Marcus Kruger, and Viktor Stalberg made a huge impact in the bottom six. Players like Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell were those guys who could play anywhere in the lineup. They’re all important complements to stars like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Sharp.
Not all of these prospects are going to end up with the Chicago Blackhawks. Not all of them will even be NHL players for long. The ones who accept their role and execute it the best will stick around.
Chicago still has some work to do to add/develop star power at the top of their forward group, but the organizational depth gives them a chance to build a great bottom-six.
Quinten Byfield is officially on Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 21-year-old Los Angeles Kings Forward was one of 42 NHL players invited to Hockey Canada’s Olympic orientation camp, boosting his status as a young rising star prospect to join a legitimate national team contender.
Hockey Canada has invited 42 NHL players to orientation camp in preparation for the 2026 Italy Olympics:
Byfield, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, has taken significant steps in the last two seasons, posting career-high numbers in goals, assists, and points while lifting the Kings to playoff contention.
In a camp that includes veterans like Sidney Crosby and Conor McDavid alongside emerging stars like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, Byfield will get to learn a lot from these veteran players, ushering in the next generation.
For the Kings, it’s another payoff on their long-term investment. After patiently developing Byfield through injuries and early struggles, Los Angeles now sees him evolving into a core piece of their future — and potentially one of the youngest players on Canada’s Olympic roster.
