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17-year-old Eli Willits, No. 1 overall pick in MLB Draft, signs with Nationals

WASHINGTON — Eli Willits didn’t want to waste time before signing his first pro contract. The 17-year-old shortstop is on a tight schedule.

Willits agreed to terms with the Washington Nationals on Saturday, only six days after the club selected him No. 1 overall in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.

“I’ve set a goal to be in the big leagues by the time I’m 20, and that’s something I’m really excited to do,” Willits said during an introductory news conference at Nationals Park. “Hopefully, I get out there and start playing well and that can be something I can accomplish in the next few years.”

A switch-hitter from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma, Willits is the son of Reggie Willits, who played six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and also coached with the New York Yankees.

Willits, the youngest player picked No. 1 overall since Seattle chose Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987, will fly to Washington’s spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday and begin to get workouts with the team’s player development staff.

Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo, who was elevated to his current role when Washington fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on July 6, said the club will see how things unfold in the next couple weeks before making any further decisions.

“One of the things that attracted us to Eli was how motivated he is, his work ethic, how focused he is,” DeBartolo said. “I love that about him. Certainly, I’m not going to put any timelines on anybody. He hasn’t stepped on a pro field yet, but I love that that’s his outlook and we’re certainly going to do everything we can to make that possible.”

Willits recalled how he would make sure he was in the stands whenever Aaron Judge took batting practice during his father’s stint with the Yankees. Another member of the New York organization at the time was Miguel Cairo, who is now the Nationals interim manager and was familiar with the new No. 1 pick almost a decade ago.

“That made me feel really old,” Cairo said.

Willits joined Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Bryce Harper (2010) as the only players selected No. 1 overall by the Nationals.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity that the Nationals gave me,” Willits said. “Not many people get to come up here and be the No. 1 overall pick.”

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Yankees among teams to inquire about potential Eugenio Suarez trade: report

Trade deadline season is here and the Yankees have reportedly already begun putting out feelers to teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks.

According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Yankees are among the teams that have inquired about third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Other teams reaching out to the Diamondbacks include the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs, among "many others."

A Suarez deal makes sense for the Yankees. New York needs an everyday third baseman, especially one with power and hits from the right side.

Entering Saturday, Suarez is hitting .251 with 31 homers, 78 RBI and a .888 OPS. Through four innings of Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Suarez already has two bombs, bringing his season total to 33, which leads the National League.

The Yankees need more than a third baseman. They have needs in the bullpen and starting rotation thanks to a litany of injuries that have befallen their pitchers. That's why the Yankees are preparing for the deadline by sending out pro scouts to different teams over the last few weeks.

According to Newsday's Erik Boland, the Yankees currently have, or recently had, scouts visit a list of teams this month. Those teams include the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, and the Diamondbacks.

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for July 31.

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Jeff Bittiger, former major league pitcher, longtime Athletics scout, dies at 63

MLB: Athletics at Kansas City Royals

Jun 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of the Athletics logo on a bag, before a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

Peter Aiken/Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeff Bittiger, a pitcher who played four seasons in the major leagues and spent the last 22 years as a scout in the Athletics organization, died Saturday morning, the A’s announced. He was 63.

The team did not disclose a cause of death.

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Bittiger made his major league debut for Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 1986. The 5-foot-10 right-hander went 4-6 with a 4.77 ERA in 33 appearances for the Phillies, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox.

He pitched his last major league game in 1989 for Chicago, and the A’s said he continued to play independent ball until age 40.

As an area scout for the A’s, Bittiger signed right-hander Andrew Bailey, the AL Rookie of the Year in 2009, and he was part of the team’s professional scouting staff for the past decade.

“Jeff spent his whole life around the game: playing, coaching, and scouting. He was as good a person as he was a scout, and he was a hell of a scout,” Billy Beane, a senior adviser to Athletics owner John Fisher who previously served as the club’s general manager, said in a statement. “He knew pitchers inside and out and you could tell how much he loved baseball just by being around him.”

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Canadiens Get Big Praise For Great Off-Season

After taking a big step in the right direction last season, the Montreal Canadiens have been very busy this off-season. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has undoubtedly been aggressive this off-season, as he made several notable roster moves. 

The Canadiens' upgraded the right side of their defense in a big way, as they acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and picks Nos. 16 and 17 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Canadiens then immediately signed Dobson to an eight-year, $76 million contract, cementing him as a long-term part of their core. 

This was not the only exciting trade the Canadiens made this off-season, though. They also brought in promising young forward Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect defenseman Logan Mailloux. Bolduc should be a nice pickup, as he has shown very good promise early on his career. In 72 games last season, he set new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, 36 points.

The Canadiens also improved their depth by bringing in players like Joe Veleno, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Sammy Blais. They also re-signed young goaltender Jakub Dobes to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $965,000.

Overall, it is hard not to be happy with the moves the Canadiens have made so far this off-season. Due to their strong moves, they have now received some serious praise. 

In a recent article for The Athletic, Dom Luszczyszyn listed the Canadiens as the second-most improved this off-season. The only team ahead of the Canadiens on The Athletic's list are the San Jose Sharks.

When looking at the additions the Canadiens have made this off-season, it is understandable that they are viewed as a club that has significantly improved. They added a legitimate top-pairing defenseman in Dobson, a skilled forward on the rise in Bolduc, and some experienced depth players. Thus, it is hard not to feel optimistic about the Canadiens heading into 2025-26. 

It will be intriguing to see how the Canadiens perform next season after their strong off-season, but it is fair to say that their roster looks better than it was last year. 

Canadiens Have The Most Expensive Goaltending This Season (On Paper)Canadiens Have The Most Expensive Goaltending This Season (On Paper)According to Puckpedia’s numbers, the Montreal Canadiens have the most expensive goaltending in the NHL this season. They devote $14.8 million in salary to masked men, which accounts for the three goaltenders they have on NHL contracts and who aren’t waivers exempt: Carey Price, Samuel Montembeault, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Jakub Dobes. That works out to 15,5% of their cap.

Photo Credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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Dave Roberts gives Mookie Betts a day off as season-long slump continues

LOS ANGELES, CA -JUNE 4, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, left, speaks with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts before a game against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on June 4. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It took just one game coming out of the All-Star break for Dave Roberts to know Mookie Betts still wasn’t right.

A week ago, Roberts was hopeful that Betts — coming off his first missed All-Star Game in a decade — would return from the break refocused and rejuvenated; ready to snap out of a career-worst start to his season and rediscover a swing that has eluded him for much of the campaign.

Instead, in the Dodgers’ second-half opener Friday night, Betts went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. His batting average dipped to .241 (more than 20 points worse than he has ever posted in a full season) while his OPS fell to .688 (the worst it has been all year). And, as has been the case for most of the summer, his signs of frustration were abundantly clear, with the 32-year-old looking lost at the plate.

Read more:Dodgers are shut out by Brewers, but Tyler Glasnow shows signs of growth

Thus, when Roberts set his team’s lineup for Saturday, the manager made a surprise decision to leave Betts out of it, giving his superstar shortstop an unplanned day off after calling Betts on Saturday morning to discuss the state of his game.

“Talking to him, seeing where his head is at, seeing where he’s at mechanically, I just thought tonight was a night where I felt he needed to be down,” Roberts said hours later, ahead of the Dodgers’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

“He was more than willing and wanted to be out there. But for me, I wanted to take it out of his hands [so he could] have a day. I’ve talked about this before, just having players watch a baseball game. And I understand we just had four days off at the break. But still showing up at the ballpark, and not participating, watching, that’s a different mindset, psyche than being at home. So for him to come here, show up, not play, know he’s not going to play, I feel good about the work he’s going to put in today. Also, I think, for the mind it will be beneficial.”

Betts did not talk to reporters Saturday, but did go through his normal set of pregame infield drills at shortstop — further confirming that, indeed, his absence from the lineup had nothing to do with any sort of injury-related issue.

While Roberts said his "expectation" is that Betts will be back in action Sunday, he left the door open to giving Betts another day off for the series finale.

“It’s going to be a day-to-day thing,” Roberts said. “It’s going to be my decision on how I feel he is mentally to take on that night’s starter.”

There was no specific moment from Friday’s game that convinced Roberts such a break was warranted. Instead, it was the fact that so little had seemingly changed from where Betts was before the All-Star break, when he reached the midway mark in a three-for-24 slump and batting just .185 over his previous 31 games.

“He’s not used to struggling like this,” Roberts said of Betts, who also has only 11 home runs and a .377 slugging percentage. “There’s a part of it where you feel like you’re letting people down, letting the team down. That weight that is just natural for him to carry is there. That’s a little bit from last night, just seeing him.”

Betts has struggled to identify the cause of his decline — one so stark, he has a below-league-average mark of 95 in the all-encompassing OPS+ metric (effectively meaning he has been 5% less productive than a league average hitter).

In an interview before Friday’s game, he said he has cycled through various “feels” with his swing in hopes of getting his mechanics realigned. Hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc pointed to inefficiencies in the way Betts “loads” his arms and hands, which he believes have impacted the slugger’s bat path and swing sequence.

“There’s no exact [fix], where you can do this, this and this,” Van Scoyoc said, “because he has to find something for him that works organically that gets him lined up.”

Read more:‘As lucky as we could be.’ Dodgers’ Max Muncy already recovering better than expected

To that end, Roberts’ hope is that Saturday’s day off will help.

That it comes just two days into the second half signals how urgent Betts’ struggles have become.

“He understood,” Roberts said. “He’s a guy that wants to be out there every single day. But I think he understood that it was my decision and I think it’s best for him, I think it’s best for our ball club. He’ll be ready when called upon.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets unable to finish off ninth-inning comeback in 5-2 loss to Reds

The actual Mets game on David Wright’s number retirement day certainly didn’t go as they would have hoped. The Mets lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, at Citi Field after a mostly lackluster performance from their offense. 

Until the final inning, anyway. With one out and two on, Juan Soto hit a long drive down the right-field line that would have tied the score had it been fair. But the potential three-run homer was foul, even after an umpire review. Soto struck out and then Pete Alonso followed with a long fly out to right that was exciting for a moment, too, but was ultimately the final out. 

The Mets, who have now lost three straight dating back to the final game before the All-Star break, heard some boos from the sellout crowd of 42,605 after several early lineup failures. 

The Mets, who entered the day batting just .232 with runners in scoring position, a season-long issue, were 1-for-10 in such situations Saturday. They left 11 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded twice. They had two on and no out in the ninth but did not score.

Over the past four games, the Mets have scored 11 runs. 

Clay Holmes was the starter and loser for the Mets, allowing five runs (four earned) in 5.1 innings. He is now 8-5 this season with a 3.48 ERA.

Here are the takeaways...

-The Mets opened the scoring in the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead, but left the bases loaded. Mark Vientos hit a two-out RBI single to drive in Brandon Nimmo, who had led off with a single. Alonso went to second on Vientos’ single and Jeff McNeil walked to put a Met on every base. But Ronny Mauricio grounded out and the Mets couldn’t cash in. 

-In the second inning, Brett Baty extended the Mets' lead to 2-0 with a solo homer that traveled 393 feet to right and had an exit velocity of 110.2 mph off the bat. Baty, who also had a single in the fourth inning, came into the game batting .333 in his previous nine games and .296 over his previous 20.

-Holmes allowed two runs in the third inning, but only one of them was earned, thanks to Luis Torrens’ throwing error. Jake Fraley led off with a double and Noelvi Marte was hit by a pitch. Torrens threw away a pickoff attempt and Fraley raced home while Marte went to third. One out later, Matt McLain hit an RBI single to knot the score at two. It was the fourth error of the season in 60 games behind the plate for Torrens.

-Holmes walked the leadoff hitter in the fourth inning and that hurt. He got the next two batters out, but gave up a single to Tyler Stephenson and then an RBI single to Fraley, which gave the Reds a 3-2 lead. 

-Holmes pitched into the sixth inning, but found trouble. This part was his fault: he walked Austin Hays leading off. This part wasn’t: One out later, Spencer Steer swung at a Holmes sweeper and hit it off the end of his bat, a 55.5 mph bouncer down the third-base line. It went for an infield hit and turned out to be Holmes’ final pitch. Reed Garrett came in and gave up an RBI fielder’s choice that could’ve been a double play, but Mauricio’s throw pulled Baty off the second base bag. Fraley followed with an RBI double and the Reds had a 5-2 lead.

-Holmes threw 92 pitches and worked 5.1 innings, but it’s another game in which the Mets did not get terrific length from their starting pitcher, an ongoing problem that will continue to be a topic swirling around the team, especially with the trade deadline looming at the end of July.

-The Mets staged a huge threat in the sixth inning, but left the bases loaded again. McNeil and Baty sandwiched walks around an out and then Torrens had a 12-pitch battle with reliever Scott Barlow, which ended in a walk to stuff the bases. Overall in the at-bat, Torrens hit seven foul balls. But Barlow struck out Nimmo and broke Francisco Lindor’s bat on an easy grounder to first. 

-Lefty Brooks Raley entered the game in the seventh inning, making his season debut and first appearance since April 19, 2024. Raley, who was out after having Tommy John surgery, threw a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts. After he caught Elly De La Cruz looking at a third strike, Raley walked off the mound, clapping his glove. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner hugged him in the dugout afterward. Raley, who had terrific seasons in 2022-23 for the Rays and then the Mets, could give the current Mets bullpen a real boost.

Star of the Day:

David Wright, for his engaging pregame speech and evident joy in reminiscing about his terrific Mets career and his bond with fans. What, you thought we’d pick someone from this game?

Highlights

What's next

The Mets and Reds complete their weekend series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. on PIX.

David Peterson (6-4, 3.06 ERA) will take the mound while Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.07 ERA) will climb the hill for Cincinnati.

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Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has fractured left rib, placed on 10-day injured list

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has a fractured left rib and was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Bohm was injured a week ago when San Diego’s Yu Darvish hit him with a pitch. He sat out Sunday against the Padres before the All-Star break, then played Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

Bohm is hitting .278 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 92 games this season.

Utility player Weston Wilson was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to the Phillies’ game Saturday night game against the Angels to take Bohm’s spot on the roster.

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Vancouver Canucks Coaches’ Playing Careers: Adam Foote

Welcome to another The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site article series. In this set of features, we’ll be taking a look at the 2025–26 Canucks coaching staff and their careers as players in the NHL. To start this series off, we’ll be looking at newly-appointed Vancouver head coach Adam Foote. 

Before Foote joined the Canucks organization in January of 2023 as an assistant coach to former head coach Rick Tocchet, he spent 20 years in the NHL as a tough, hard-nosed defenceman. He spent the bulk of his time in the NHL with the Québec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, as well as a handful of seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Had it not been for his brief stint with the Blue Jackets, Foote would have been a career Nordique/Avalanche, as he was drafted 22nd overall by the organization in 1989. 

Prior to joining the NHL, Foote played for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL for three seasons. The defenceman piled points upon points onto his OHL career with each year that he played in the league for. In his first season, 1988–89, he scored seven goals and 31 assists in 66 games played. Both his goals and assists outputs increased the season after, as he put up 12 goals and 43 assists in 61 games. In his final season with the Greyhounds in 1990–91, during which he served as an assistant captain, Foote scored 18 goals and 51 assists in only 59 games. 

Despite his point totals in the OHL, throughout his NHL career, Foote was known for his defensively-sound qualities as a stay-at-home blueliner. He played in 46 games during his first season with the Nordiques, scoring two goals and five assists. He made his NHL debut in October of 1991, registered his first NHL point in November of the same year, and scored his first NHL goal in January of 1992 against the Calgary Flames. 

In the 1992–93 season, Foote registered 168 penalty minutes in 81 games and added 16 points to his stats. He also got his first taste of NHL playoff action with the Nordiques, skating in all six of the team’s postseason games in their loss to the Montréal Canadiens in the first round. By the time Québec made it back to the playoffs, Foote had played in nearly four NHL seasons. This run ended in the same result as Foote’s first — a six-game first round loss, this time to the New York Rangers. It was after this season, 1994–95, that the Nordiques were relocated to Colorado. 

The move to Colorado seemed to mark a turning point in the franchise’s playoff performances, as the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in their first season after their relocation. From their first season in Colorado, 1995–96, to 2006–07, the Avalanche did not miss the playoffs. This dynasty included two Stanley Cup wins, four Conference Final losses, and two Semi-Final defeats. 

During his first regular season in Colorado, Foote scored five goals and 11 assists in 73 games played. He also contributed during the playoffs with a goal and three assists in 22 games. Ironically enough, after facing first-round demons in the two playoff series he’d played in before, Foote and the Avalanche took down none other than the Canucks in order to make it to the second round of the postseason. To make matters even more ironic, they also swept Vancouver during the first round of their second Stanley Cup win in 2001. Both Western Conference teams were considered powerhouses around this time, with the West Coast Express line of Markus Näslund, Todd Bertuzzi, and Brendan Morrison leading the way for the Canucks. 

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Foote was named an assistant captain for the Avalanche in the 1996–97 season, serving in this role until the end of the 2003–04 season. Offensively speaking, he had some of his best years towards the end of his first stint with the Avalanche (more on that later). In the 2001–02 season, Foote scored five goals and 22 assists in 55 games played, adding a goal and six assists to this total as well in Colorado’s 21-game Conference Final loss. In this same season, he joined Team Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, winning his first international gold medal. He hit his career-high in points the season after with 11 goals and 20 assists in 78 games, and followed that up with eight goals and 22 assists in 73 games in 2003–04. 

With the lockout keeping players from playing during the 2004–05 season, Foote joined Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey and put up three assists in six games. He was joined by Canuck at the time Ed Jovanovski and soon-to-be Canuck Roberto Luongo. In Canada’s undefeated tournament win, capped off by a 3–2 victory against Team Finland, Foote was named to the All-Tournament Team alongside Martin Brodeur (Canada), Kimmo Timonen (Finland), Fredrik Modin (Sweden), Vincent Lecavailer (Canada), and Saku Koivu (Finland). 

April 10 2011; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote (52) reacts after Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly (not pictured) scored a first period goal against the Edmonton Oilers at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

By the time the NHL resumed play, Foote had moved on from the Avalanche, signing a three-year deal with the Blue Jackets. He was named captain in his first season with the team and scored six goals and 16 assists in 65 games with Columbus. In the following years, he scored nine goals and 25 assists in 124 games before the Blue Jackets ultimately decided to trade him back to Colorado in exchange for a first-round and fourth-round pick. 

After reuniting with the Avalanche, Foote spent the better half of three more seasons with Colorado, during two of which he acted as the team’s captain. The 2010–11 season was his final one as a player, as Foote made the decision to retire at the end of the year. However, it didn’t take him long to find his way back to the NHL, as he became a team consultant for the Avalanche in the 2013–14 season — two years after his retirement as a player. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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Mets induct David Wright into team Hall of Fame, retire No. 5

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets inducted David Wright into their Hall of Fame and retired his No. 5 on Saturday — nearly 21 years after his big league debut.

“I went straight from the airport to the ballpark and I couldn’t wait to see what number I was going to be,” Wright said at a press conference Saturday. “That spring I was 72, and I would have been perfectly happy with 72. “But later on I found out that Charlie Samuels, the old equipment guy, gave me 5 because of Brooks Robinson and George Brett.”

Wright, who debuted against the Montreal Expos on July 21, 2004, appeared to be on track to join Robinson and Brett as a Hall of Fame third baseman when he hit .301 with 222 homers, 876 RBIs and an .888 OPS through his first 10 seasons.

But Wright played just 211 more games while battling chronic back, shoulder and neck injuries as well as a diagnosis of spinal stenosis. He went more than two years between big league appearances before concluding his career with a pair of cameos in September 2018.

“There was nothing that I could do to do the thing anymore,” Wright said. “It took a while for my brain and my heart to kind of match up with that. But I think that very, very few athletes get the ending that they want — that storybook ending. I certainly wouldn’t call mine a storybook ending, but it’s better than 99% of what athletes get and I’ll forever be thankful for getting that opportunity.”

Wright, the Mets’ most recent captain and the only player in team history to have his number retired after spending his entire career with the club, expressed his gratitude throughout a speech that capped a half-hour ceremony emceed by broadcaster Howie Rose.

Wright, emerging from the third base side of Citi Field, walked to a gold-plated third base, stood atop the bag and blew kisses to the sellout crowd. In an appropriate Mets touch, a plane taking off from nearby LaGuardia ascended into view moments after his No. 5 was unveiled high above the left field seats.

The 42-year-old married father of three, praised throughout his career for his ability to connect with stars and everyday people alike as well as his appreciation of Mets history, mentioned late media relations executive Shannon Dalton Forde and late team photographer Marc Levine during his press conference.

Near the end of his speech, he also thanked the Wilpon family, who owned the team his entire career.

“If you would have told a young David Wright to close his eyes and imagine this day, I would have said you’re crazy, no way, impossible,” said Wright, a Virginia native who grew up rooting for the Mets while attending their Triple-A games in Tidewater. “And then I would have went out in my backyard in Virginia and hit off a homemade tee with balls that were falling apart at the seams until it got dark outside to prove you right.

“Thank you so much for allowing me to live out my dream in front of you each night. I love you so much. Let’s go Mets.”

Wright is the 35th member of the Mets’ Hall of Fame and the 11th individual to have his number retired, joining managers Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges as well as Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden as well as Jackie Robinson, whose No. 42 is retired throughout Major League Baseball.

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New Blackhawks Forward Is Big Bounce-Back Candidate

While the Chicago Blackhawks have had a fairly quiet off-season, they have made a few moves. One of them was bringing back old friend Sam Lafferty, as the Original Six club acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. 

The Blackhawks clearly like Lafferty as a player, as this is the third time that they have acquired him. This includes just this past off-season, as the Blackhawks acquired Lafferty's signing rights, forward Ilya Mikheyev, and a 2027 second-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks. However, the Blackhawks and Lafferty did not agree to a new contract before July 1 of last year, so he became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and signed with the Sabres. 

The Sabres moving on from Lafferty this off-season was not necessarily surprising. The 6-foot-2 forward struggled to find his fit with the Sabres in 2024-25, posting just four goals, three assists, and a minus-15 rating in 60 games. Overall, it was a rough year offensively for Lafferty, and he will now look to bounce back with the Blackhawks from here.

When looking at Lafferty's recent previous seasons, there is reason to believe that he could turn things around with Chicago. Just back during the 2023-24 campaign with the Canucks, he scored a career-high 13 goals and recorded 24 points in 79 games. This was after he had 12 goals and a career-high 27 points in 70 games split between the Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 season. Thus, the potential for him to provide decent secondary offensive production again could be there.

If Lafferty's offense does go up and he maintains his physical style of play, he could end up being a very solid addition to the Blackhawks' bottom six next season. It will be intriguing to see if he can be just that from here. 

Blackhawks' Connor Bedard Receives Massive PraiseBlackhawks' Connor Bedard Receives Massive PraiseChicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard just completed his second NHL season, and it is hard not to be optimistic about his future with the Original Six club. In 82 games on the year, the 5-foot-10 forward set new career highs with 23 goals, 44 assists, and 67 points. When noting that he was only 19 years old throughout the entire 2024-25 campaign, this kind of production is quite impressive.

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Marcus Smart plans to join Lakers after Wizards buy out contract

Washington Wizards guard Marcus Smart (36) looks to pass the ball while being defended by Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Mar. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Marcus Smart (36), looking to pass the ball while defended by Jazz guard Johnny Juzang during a game last season, has agreed to a contract buyout with the Wizards. He plans to join the Lakers after he clears waivers. (Terrance Williams / Associated Press)

The Lakers have found their point-of-attack, defensive-mind wing defender in guard Marcus Smart, who has agreed to a buyout with the Washington Wizards and plans to sign a two-year, $11-million deal with Los Angeles, people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to The Times on Saturday.

Smart, the 2022 defensive player of the year when he played for the Boston Celtics, will sign his deal contract after when he clears waivers. He has a player option after the 2025-26 season, meaning he can become a free agent next summer.

The Lakers were in need of a defensive wing after defensive ace Dorian Finney-Smith signed with the Houston Rockets.

Smart played in only 34 games last season, splitting time between Memphis and Washington. He dealt with a finger injury on his shooting hand last season. He averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 39.3% from the field.

Smart, 31, played in only 20 games during the 2023-24 season with the Grizzlies, his time limited by a finger injury and left foot sprain. During his time on the court, Smart averaged 14.4 points per game and shot 43% from the field, 31.3% from three-point range.

Smart was at his best during his nine seasons with the Boston Celtics, making the playoffs each year. He missed the playoffs the last two seasons in Memphis and Washington.

Read more:Newest Laker Deandre Ayton is ready to prove the doubters wrong

He started a career-high 71 games during the 2021-22 season, when he averaged 32.3 minutes per game, 12.1 points and shot 41.8% from the field, 33.1% from three-point range.

That was the same season Smart was the defensive player of the year. He’s also a three-time member of the NBA’s All-Defensive first team.

With a starting backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, two players not known for their defense, the Lakers really needed a defensive-minded player like Smart.

The 6-foot-3 Smart has the size, strength (220 pounds) and athleticism to defend three positions — point guards, shooting guards and small forwards.

His soon-to-be addition, along with that of center Deandre Ayton and forward Jake LaRavia, gives the Lakers depth and talent to hopefully contend in the uber-tough Western Conference.

Smart was the sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Celtics.

He has been a starter and reserve over his career, having started 387 out of 635 games in an 11-year career.

During that time, Smart averaged 10.6 points, 4.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds, a sign of his all-around talents. He shot 38.8% from the field, 32.4% from three-point range and 77.6% from the free-throw line in his career.

But Smart is at his best on defense. His career defensive rating is 107.9.

He has the ability to move his feet and stay in front of his man. He’s a very good one-on-one defender, and that’s exactly what the Lakers need.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Projecting Sabres Trade Cost – Michael Bunting

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last week with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. 

Winger Michael Bunting has been much travelled over the last two seasons, ever since the 29-year-old left the Toronto Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent and signing a three-year, $13.5 million contract with Carolina. Originally a fourth-round pick of Arizona, Bunting spent five seasons in the American Hockey League before getting an NHL look and scoring 10 goals in 21 games with the Coyotes at the end of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.  

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Bunting signed with his hometown Maple Leafs and former junior GM Kyle Dubas and immediately clicked as the left winger on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and his 63 points (23 goals, 40 assists) earned him a Calder Trophy nomination. The following season, he matched his goal total, and his sandpapery and antagonistic play drew the ire of the opposition and 183 penalty minutes over two seasons with Toronto, but also earned him a reputation with officials that became a negative.

After signing with the Canes, Bunting has been traded twice; to Pittsburgh in the Jake Guentzel deal, and to Nashville for Thomas Novak and Luke Schenn. In both seasons, he has continued to score, with 19 goals each season.   

What Would It Cost?

Nashville is interested in bouncing back from a disastrous season after signing free agents Steven Stamkos. Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. This summer, they upgraded their blueline by swapping for defenseman Nicolas Hague and center Erik Haula, and signing Nick Perbix away from Tampa Bay. 

The Preds have some youth coming, but they may not be ready this season, and took on Bunting’s $4.5 million deal in part because Novak took a big step backwards in the first year of a three-year contract extension. GM Barry Trotz may be willing to part with the veteran in the final year of his deal for a younger forward like Isak Rosen or a non-first round pick. The Sabres could use the energy generated by the rambunctious winger, and he has proven that he can plug in asc a complementary top-six winger, which is what Buffalo needs to replace Peterka on the first or second line next season. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Penguins Still Have Big Roster Need To Address

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made multiple additions to their roster this off-season. Some of the players they brought in this summer include Anthony Mantha, Matt Dumba, Justin Brazeau, Arturs Silovs, Connor Clifton, and Parker Wotherspoon. Overall, the Penguins have added to their depth so far this summer. 

While this is the case, it is clear that the Penguins have a clear roster need to address if they hope to be more competitive -  adding another top-four left defenseman.

When looking at the Penguins' left side, it is clear that it could use some work. While they have options like Wotherspoon, Ryan Graves, Alexander Alexeyev, and Ryan Shea, expecting them to be true long-term answers for the top four may be a stretch. Thus, if an opportunity presents itself to bring in an upgrade to their left side, the Penguins should act on it.

However, with it being so deep into the off-season, it will be harder for the Penguins to address this need before the season starts. Top unrestricted free agent (UFA) Vladislav Gavrikov ended up signing a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers once he hit the market. Meanwhile, former top left-shot defenseman trade candidate K'Andre Miller was dealt by the Rangers to the Carolina Hurricanes and immediately signed an eight-year, $60 million contract with the Canes.

Bowen Byram could be an interesting player to keep an eye on as a potential trade target for the Penguins. While he recently re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres for two years, he has still been discussed in the rumor mill. The 24-year-old blueliner would certainly boost their blueline if acquired, as he is a young and proven top-four defenseman. However, he can become a UFA once his new deal expires after the 2026-27 season, so the Penguins acquiring him would also come with some risk. 

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Penguins can find a way to boost the left side of their defense from here. If not before the season, this should be an area they work to improve during the campaign. 

Penguins Made Good Move Trading For Former Canucks GoaliePenguins Made Good Move Trading For Former Canucks GoalieThe Pittsburgh Penguins have had a busy off-season, as they have brought in multiple new players. One of them is goaltender Arturs Silovs, as the Penguins acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick earlier this month.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois: undisputed heavyweight championship – as it happened

And now here’s Usyk. The unbeaten heavyweight champion walks slowly to the ring to a haunting version of Ave Maria by Tommee Profitt and Stanaj. He’s wearing a silver hooded robe and looks all business. Nothing new there. He makes the final approach to Браття by Василь Жадан, one of his more familiar ringwalk songs.

The lights have gone down and Daniel Dubois is making his ring entrance. A half-dozen stage pyrotechnicians are doing their thing on stage to a Chase & Status banger. And now here’s Dubois, making the long way to the ring wearing a sleeveless black shirt with black shorts. He looks calm and composed, making his final approach as Dennis Brown’s Want To Be No General blasts from the stadium sound system.

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NHL News: Former Blues Goalie Officially Retires

After not playing for two consecutive seasons, former St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak confirmed to Tomas Prokop of Dennik Sport that he is officially retired. 

Halak was acquired by the Blues from the Montreal Canadiens during the 2010 NHL off-season and certainly put together a strong tenure with the Central Division club. In 159 games over four seasons with the Blues from 2010-11 to 2013-14, he recorded an 83-47-19 record, a .916 save percentage, a 2.23 goals-against average, and 20 shutouts. He also won the William M. Jennings Trophy with Brian Elliott during the 2011-12 season with the Blues. 

Halak's time with the Blues ended near the 2014 NHL trade deadline, as he was moved to the Buffalo Sabres in the deal that sent Ryan Miller to St. Louis. However, Halak never ended up playing a game for the Sabres, though, as he was quickly traded to the Washington Capitals at the deadline. 

Following his time with the Blues, Halak had stops with the Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Rangers. In 581 games over 17 NHL seasons, he had a 295-189-69 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.50 goals-against average. He also won his second William M. Jennings Trophy during the 2019-20 season with the Bruins. 

Blues Made Sneaky Good Move Signing New ForwardBlues Made Sneaky Good Move Signing New ForwardEarlier this off-season, the St. Louis Blues signed forward Nick Bjugstad to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.75 million. With the Blues needing more center depth, seeing them bring in Bjugstad ultimately made sense. This is especially so when noting that Radek Faksa ended up leaving St. Louis and going back to the Dallas Stars in free agency.

Photo Credit:  © Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images