The Winnipeg Jets have signed forwards Cole Koepke and Tanner Pearson to one-year, $1-million contracts.
Koepke spent the 2024-25 season with the Boston Bruins, scoring 10 goals and 17 points in 73 games. The 27-year-old has played just 99 career NHL games but will serve as a safe depth forward for the Jets.
Unlike Koepke, Pearson comes with a bundle of experience. The 32-year-old has played in 722 games, winning a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings. In the 2024-25 season, Pearson scored 12 goals and 27 points in 78 games playing on the Vegas Golden Knights' fourth line.
The signings of Pearson and Koepke are safe moves that will help them combat the loss of Brandon Tanev, Rasmus Kupari and likely Mason Appleton. The low cap hits also benefit the Jets, leaving them ample space to re-sign their restricted free agents and possibly chase unrestricted free agents.
The Jets now have just over $21-million to fill out their forward group and improve on their record-setting season, which resulted in a second-round loss in the playoffs.
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Clayton Kershaw, above walking off the field with Will Smith after pitching seven scoreless innings on June 14 against the San Francisco Giants, is 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA this season and sits three strikeouts away from 3,000 for his career. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The transformation happened quickly in May 2009.
Early into his second year in the majors, a young Clayton Kershaw was enduring a sophomore slump with the Dodgers. Looking for a way to complement his predominantly fastball/curveball mix, he began toying around with a slider in his between-starts bullpen sessions.
When Brad Ausmus, the well-traveled 40-year-old backup catcher on that year’s Dodgers team, heard about the experiment, he didn’t initially think much of it. That a raw 21-year-old talent would be tinkering with a new pitch didn’t come as much of a surprise.
But when Ausmus asked the club’s bullpen catcher, Mike Borzello, how Kershaw’s new pitch looked, he got his first inkling it might be special.
“He was like, ‘It’s really good,’” Ausmus recalled recently. “I said, ‘Oh, so maybe he’ll throw it in a couple more bullpens before taking it into the game.’ And he’s like, ‘Ehh, I think he might take it into the game his next start.’”
A few weeks later, Ausmus got his first chance to see it up close, calling it sporadically in a Freeway Series game at Angel Stadium. That day, Kershaw spun a gem, throwing seven scoreless innings in a Dodgers victory.
But it was afterward, as Kershaw, Ausmus and longtime Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt reviewed the outing, that the longtime catcher started to understand that Kershaw wasn’t just any young pitcher. That his tantalizing talent was matched by a preternatural aptitude. That his precocious battery mate was both a physical force and pitching prodigy.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, talks with former teammate Brad Ausmus, right, and coach Matt Martin before a game in 2019, when Ausmus was the manager of the Angels. (Alex Gallardo/AP)
“Keep in mind, this is a rookie, basically, talking to a guy who’s been in the big leagues 17, 18 years,” Ausmus said. “And he goes, ‘Brad, I wish you would call more sliders.’”
Initially surprised, Ausmus thought to himself: “Really? This is a brand new pitch. We probably threw 10 or 15 of them.”
But Kershaw could already see the bigger picture. He immediately sensed how the new pitch might profoundly impact his game.
“If you think about it, the fastball was 95, the curveball was probably in the low-to-mid 80s, so there was a lot of separation in terms of velocity. It almost gave the hitter time to reload before swinging,” Ausmus said. “The slider did not allow the hitters to do that.”
Seventeen years, three Cy Young Awards, two World Series titles, and — very nearly — 3,000 strikeouts later, the rest has been singularly impressive history.
“It speaks to not only his knowledge, but his ability and his confidence,” said Ausmus, now bench coach for the New York Yankees. “He has an aptitude for the game. He adjusts. And he continues to perform at a high level. It really is remarkable … I miss having that guy as a teammate.”
When Clayton Kershaw takes the mound on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, he will need just three strikeouts to become the 20th member of Major League Baseball’s 3,000 strikeout club.
And, just as it was almost two decades ago, it will be the same primary three-pitch mix that is all but certain to lift him into such rarified air.
For better or (very rarely) worse, at full strength or in ailing health, the now 37-year-old future Hall of Famer has managed to perfect one of the sport’s all-time signature plans of attack on the mound:
Establish the fastball on the edge of the plate for a strike. Tunnel the slider on the same trajectory to get awkward swings when it tails off late. Mix in a curveball when a change of pace is needed. And never be afraid to change the sequence and tendencies of that infallible trio of pitches, using instinct and feel to amplify his physical talent.
“It’s what's upstairs [that makes him special],” current Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said. “He’s always a step ahead.”
Countless big-league pitchers have used a similar fastball-slider-curveball repertoire. Even in Kershaw’s prime years, there were always others who could throw harder, or produce more break, or manipulate the ball with more gravity-defying spin.
What separates Kershaw are more foundational skills. His unwavering execution, in seasons he threw 200-plus innings or those in which he battled increasingly persistent injuries to his back, shoulder and even a bothersome left big toe. His unflappable persistence to move from one pitch, one start, one year to the next; never satisfied with his best moments nor shaken by his rare failures.
“He just knows the ins and outs of baseball, and has such good feel,” longtime teammate and backstop Austin Barnes said. “He’s like a train that comes at you consistently.”
That’s why, when Kershaw does inevitably cross the 3,000-strikeout threshold, it will be equal parts a testament to his talent and durability — an accomplishment that required him to continually reinvent his game without ever changing his fundamental nature as a pitcher.
“Clayton has everything the right way, on the field, off the field, over a long period of time,” manager Dave Roberts said last week.
“It’s hard to wrap your head around what it takes,” he added, “as far as longevity, and greatness.”
"He's like a train that comes at you consistently," former Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes, center, said of pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Few players have produced the kind of prolonged period of greatness Kershaw did during the peak of his career. Starting in that 2009 season, he went on a run of sub-3.00 ERA campaigns in 11 of his next 12 years. In seven of them, he had 200 or more strikeouts, including a career-high 301 punchouts in 2015. Eight of his 10 All-Star selections came in that stretch, as did his three Cy Young Awards and a 2014 National League MVP (still the last time a pitcher won the game’s highest individual honor).
His only blemishes in that time were repeated disappointments in the playoffs. But even in most of those, he was tasked with trying to save the team’s season while pitching on short rest or desperately-needed outings out of the bullpen.
“Even with all the pressure he’s had as the Dodgers’ ace … he’s always out there, he’s always willing to take the ball,” Barnes said. “I think that goes underappreciated. He’s willing to put himself out there, even when he doesn’t feel his best.”
To Barnes, who has caught more Kershaw starts than anyone other than A.J. Ellis, the way Kershaw strives to always be better is what has made it all possible. It was a trait he noticed in one of his first games catching him in 2017 against the San Diego Padres.
“I kind of went against the scouting report, and I called a fastball that froze the guy,” Barnes, who signed a minor-league deal with the San Francisco Giants this week after being released by the Dodgers earlier this year, recalled recently. “I remember him coming up to me after, kind of sizing me up and down, like, ‘Why’d you call that?’ I just said, ‘I just kind of felt it.’”
It was a small example of how Kershaw’s pitch mix — unchanged over the years, outside of an occasional flirtation with a variety of changeup grips — could be weaponized in ways opposing batters have long struggled to expect.
“Not everybody gets to his caliber of pitching and stuff,” Barnes said. “But the work he puts in, in the weight room, in the video room, for him to go out there and have clarity and conviction in what he needs to do, I think that’s what helps most. And the level of competitor he is. He can do it all.”
Even, in recent years, as his stuff has gradually diminished.
At the start of this season, Kershaw was just 32 strikeouts away from the 3K club — an exclusive fraternity that includes only three other left-handed pitchers, and two who spent their entire career with one team.
In past seasons, that would’ve been a total he could clear in less than a month.
But now, he joked early in his return from offseason foot and knee surgeries: “Maybe by September I’ll get there. We’ll see.”
After all, Kershaw barely touches 90 mph with his fastball even on a good day now. His slider and curveball don’t always have as much bite as they once did. Such has been the case for much of the last three seasons, as the miles on Kershaw’s arm and body have steadily caught up to him.
At the end of 2020, when Kershaw finally won his first World Series and began more seriously starting to contemplate when he might retire, he was less than 500 strikeouts away from 3,000. He seemed like a virtual lock to get there, perhaps as the last new entrant for the foreseeable future.
"He's always a step ahead," Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior, left, said recently about pitcher Clayton Kershaw when discussing the key to his success. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
Since then, however, he had a season-ending elbow injury in 2021 that nearly required Tommy John surgery; back and shoulder problems that limited him in what were nonetheless All-Star seasons in 2022 and 2023; consecutive offseasons of surgical rehabs each of the past two winters, first on his shoulder and then his lower-body ailments; all on top of the normal aches and pains that come with pitching into someone’s late 30s.
His three-pitch arsenal remains unchanged, but figuring out ways to maximize it has been an ongoing challenge.
“He’s doing it the same way, but he’s having to figure out different ways to do it, if that makes sense,” Prior said.
Just like when he first broke into the majors, it has required him to trust what’s working best and adjust on the fly to his ever-weakening capabilities.
And yet, entering Wednesday’s potential milestone outing, Kershaw is 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA in his eight starts this season (the second-best ERA among Dodgers starters behind only Yoshinobu Yamamoto). He is coming off a particularly productive June, giving up just seven earned runs in 27 ⅔ innings over the entire month. And, while they don’t come as frequently as they once did, the strikeouts are still present, with Kershaw averaging 7 ½ per nine innings over his last five starts.
To Prior, it’s a testament to Kershaw’s enduring ability to still pitch his way through a start.
“He knows when guys are looking hard and he can get them with the slider. The fastball and slider still do look the same, when he’s on, so he can pull the trigger on one or the other … And he has the equalizer with the curveball, to be able to use that to change speeds like he has his whole career.”
“Again, it’s the same pitch mix,” Prior added, “but he’s still finding ways to do it at this stage.”
To Roberts, it’s made Kershaw an example for the rest of the team to follow.
“It’s a lesson in life,” the manager said. “You don’t always have to feel perfect to be productive. I have a lot of respect for him.”
The great irony, once Kershaw does eclipse the 3,000-strikeout mark, is that punchouts have never been his primary objective.
“No, no,” Barnes said with a laugh. “He cares about winning the game and throwing up zeroes. That’s the biggest thing for him. The strikeouts are just a byproduct of him getting ahead of hitters, and being able to have [the pitches in] his mix playing off each other.”
But once that moment does arrive — fittingly, as things have lined up, likely on the Dodger Stadium mound he has dominated for almost two decades — the total will be indicative of all he has accomplished in a career of unmatched excellence, and the way he has elevated himself as one of the best pitchers in the history of the sport.
“He’s teaching me that so much of this game is still about mindset,” Prior said. “There’s so much object data, which is helpful in all aspects of our game. But part of it is still so unquantifiable. He’s just someone who has willed himself to be better than everybody else.”
This past season, Perbix scored 19 points in 74 games and logged 20 penalty minutes. He has primarily played on the second and third pairings during his three seasons in Tampa.
Perbix will also join former Lightning teammate Steven Stamkos in Nashville.
Perbix was drafted 169th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Lightning. The past two seasons he played the entirety in Tampa.
Taking on Perbix, the Predators now have about $9.3 million in the salary cap to work with.
On Sunday, Nashville traded defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons to the Vegas Golden Knights and a conditional third-round pick in the 2027 draft. The Predators also maintain 50% of Sissons' salary.
Hauge signed a four-year, $22 million contract, with a annual hit of $5.5 million.
The Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly interested in trading for defensemen Rasmus Andersson and Bowen Byram.
Andersson is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and the Calgary Flames are looking to offload him both to open space for younger defenseman like Zayne Parekh, but also to avoid losing Andersson for free in free agency.
The Flames have been engaged in discussions, and despite their efforts, nothing has formulated. Part of the reason is that Andersson has a modified six-team no-trade clause, but also because Andersson has been very picky about which teams he'd be open to signing an extension with. According to Pierre LeBrun, the Golden Knights are one of those teams.
LeBrun stated that the Golden Knights and the Flames have had numerous discussions over the past week, but the Flames haven't been impressed by the Golden Knights' offers. Unfortunately for the Flames, it sounds like it's just Vegas for him, despite interest from the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Los Angeles Kings.
Byram is in a different situation from the 28-year-old right-handed defenseman. Byram is a restricted free agent at the moment, who is destined to be moved from the Buffalo Sabres either via offer sheet or trade. The Golden Knights likely don't have the assets to make an offer sheet, but can put together a package for the 24-year-old smooth-skating left-handed defenseman.
Darren Dreger said things are "percolating" around Byram, with the Golden Knights, Kings, Flames and the St. Louis Blues looking to work out a deal.
Feeling is the sweet spot on this falls at the $7,020,113 mark on the scale. If deal comes in under that, the compensation would be a 1st- and 3rd-rounder. https://t.co/YlPbuRlTLV
Byram scored seven goals and 38 points in 82 games this season, playing his first complete 82-game season in his career. The former fourth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft has dealt with several injury issues throughout his young career.
Byram's fit with the Golden Knights isn't as clear as Andersson's. Andersson would be used as a replacement for Alex Pietrangelo, but Byram is very similar in play style to Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin.
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Petry has spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, racking up four goals and 28 points in 117 games in Hockeytown.
Throughout his career, Petry has been valuable both on the power play and the penalty kill.
While Florida may call on him to join their PK unit, Petry will probably be far down the depth chart when it comes to the power play, behind the likes of Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones and Gus Forsling.
While the Panthers have been busy signing players to extensions, Petry is the first unrestricted free agent to ink a deal with Florida.
Over the past several days, the Panthers have extended Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Tomas Nosek while signing restricted free agent Daniil Tarasov to a new deal as well.
Florida is now $2.95 million over the salary cap, which they can exceed by 10% ($9.5 million) until Opening Night.
As it stands, they have 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders under contract.
We’ll see what other moves the Cats have up their sleeve as we get deeper into the free agency period.
Photo caption: Nov 18, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry (46) skates with the puck during the second period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. (Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images)
PHOENIX — Bob Melvin is in his 22nd season as a manager for his fifth different organization. He knows as well as anybody that it can be an unpredictable job, one that has you on top of the baseball world one year and on the hot seat the next, and this season he has experienced plenty of highs and lows.
Through it all, he tried not to think about his future, and he had no expectation that his contract would be discussed in July, or anytime soon. That changed Monday, when president of baseball operations Buster Posey informed him that the Giants were picking up an option for 2026 that will bring Melvin back for a third season.
The move was not made hastily, Posey said. He has been evaluating Melvin since the start of spring training and had spent several weeks discussing his status with ownership and other members of the front office, but the timing was certainly fascinating.
The press release came a day after the Giants lost for the sixth time in seven games. This is the low point of the Posey Era so far, but he certainly made a statement Tuesday. Posey claimed it wasn’t intentional, but it did mean a lot to Melvin.
“It kind of speaks to who Buster is, that he knows what a grind this is and he knows how hard we wear it — myself and the coaching staff — so it doesn’t surprise me,” Melvin said. “It’s probably unique as far as the timing goes, but it doesn’t surprise me with him. He’s been very supportive of us as a staff. Our dialogue has been very good from spring training to now. We’re aligned on how we see things and where this team and where this organization are going, so it’s very much appreciated by me and by the staff, as well.”
That latter part was notable given how the last couple of weeks have gone. This was a vote of confidence in Melvin, but also his hand-picked coaching staff.
Third base coach Matt Williams and hitting coach Pat Burrell have come under fire from segments of the fan base and media lately, but Posey said he has faith in the group. Four years removed from his own playing career, Posey shifted most of the blame to other parts of the organization.
“From my perspective, and also my perspective as a player, sometimes when you’re going through a rough patch there’s a tendency to want to point the finger at coaches, and ultimately I believe we have great players, and I still believe in that group of players, but it boils down to them needing to play better baseball,” Posey said. “If anybody deserves any blame from the top, it should be on me, it shouldn’t be on the manager or coaching staff. I’m the one who sets the roster. I felt like with all those things considered, this was a good time for me to show my belief in Bob and this coaching staff.”
Posey’s words on Tuesday brought back memories of his “it’s go time” declaration last month. He reiterated that he strongly believes in this group, but at some point, the production needs to be there. That’s not a message that will upset any players. The team leaders feel the same way.
“Hundred percent, hundred percent,” Logan Webb said. “At the end of the day, it’s us players that go out there and throw the ball and catch the ball and hit the ball. The coaching staff is there to help out, and these guys work their asses off every single day. They’re the first here and the last to leave.
“When we’re on a plane ride, you’ll see us players in the back playing cards or watching movies or something and those guys are up in the front scouting the next team … these guys put a ton of work in and at the end of the day it’s our jobs to go out there and be better and play better and ultimately win the game.”
Webb said he was hopeful the Giants would pick up Melvin’s option, adding that the clubhouse always has had his back. Fellow team leader Matt Chapman said his longtime manager deserved another year.
“I’m so pumped for him,” Chapman said.
Melvin is 125-122 as the manager of the team he grew up rooting for. He has 1,642 career wins, but he is still looking for his first World Series title. That pursuit will continue in orange and black.
“We have a nucleus going forward,” Melvin said. “To be able to be part of that is a big deal for me, especially in the Bay Area and San Francisco.”
The Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Christian Jaros to a one-year, two-way contract today.
Jaros played the last three seasons in the KHL after playing a season with the New Jersey Devils.
Jaros has played 94 NHL games has 14 points. In the AHL, he's played 90 games and has 34 points.
The signing of Jaros is no doubt for depth with the Cleveland Monsters. The Jackets didn't QO a couple defenseman and needed to bring in some guys to fill those gaps.
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More details are coming out about what may be involved in the potential trade between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes involving K’Andre Miller.
Now, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reveals the Miller trade return will center on draft-pick compensation with the Blueshirts reportedly eying one of the Hurricanes' first-round picks.
It’s unclear if the Rangers are also targeting any specific players.
Miller is a restricted free agent, and according to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the Hurricanes are working on finalizing a contract extension with Miller.
As part of his postseason debrief, Stan Bowman identified two areas of growth: goaltending and forward depth. Part of the forward depth issue, Bowman identified as needing to get “faster and younger.”
Obviously, this all hinges on several details. The first being, Hart would need to be found innocent regarding the 2018 Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Trial. Additionally, he would need to undergo whatever discipline the league decides to impose on the five players who are defendants in the case.
My Take
Insiders connecting the Oilers to a young, good goaltender like Hart makes sense, at least from an insider’s perspective. He grew up around Edmonton and is friends with Stuart Skinner (another local kid).
However, it is nothing short of a PR nightmare if the Oilers consider signing him. It’s one thing for the Oilers to hire Bowman, considering the part he played in the Kyle Beach situation with the Chicago Blackhawks; it’s another thing for the team to sign a player who has been accused of a group sexual assault.
Hart last played in the NHL in the 2023-24 season. He started 25 games, producing a record of 12-9-3, with a 2.80 goals against average (GAA), a .906 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout. He has played 227 games in his career, boasting a 2.94 GAA and a .906 SV%.
Regardless of how he was performing before needing to step away from the NHL, the Oilers would be best served by staying away and pursuing other options.
This is all speculation, so we will need to wait to see how the summer unfolds.
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The MLB All-Star break is rapidly approaching, which means it’s almost time for the 2025 MLB T-Mobile Home Run Derby. The annual slugfest will take place at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 14 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
The full group of eight competitors was announced on Thursday, July 10. Check out the full list of sluggers below, as well as highlights of each competitor's power exploits.
Where do the surging Astros and Blue Jays rank this week?
D.J. Short
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Ronald Acuña Jr. - 11 home runs
The hometown favorite, Acuña has been one of the best hitters in the majors since returning from his second ACL surgery. This will be his third career Home Run Derby; he lost to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso in both 2019 and 2022. With the event taking place in Atlanta, the timing is right for him to finally take the prize.
Raleigh has put together a historic first half, both as a catcher and a switch-hitter. On a related note, Raleigh will be the first switch-hitter to participate in the Home Run Derby since Adley Rutschman in 2023. Caleigh’s father, Todd, is slated to throw to the Seattle slugger.
After a solid rookie campaign, Wood has arrived as a superstar and franchise centerpiece for the Nationals this season. The 22-year-old outfielder is elite in the areas of average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage. Tape measure blasts have become the norm for him.
Talent has never been the question for Buxton, but his health hasn't cooperated over the years. So far in 2025, though, he's stayed on the field while showing off his extreme athleticism and power. He's posted the highest hard-hit rate of his career so far this season.
Cruz is not an All-Star, and he has actually underwhelmed so far this season, but he still hits the ball extremely hard and ridiculously far. The 26-year-old ranks first in the majors in average exit velocity this season. You can see why he's tailor-made for an exhibition like this one. Get ready for "Cruz Missles."
Similar to James Wood, Caminero is finding another level during his first full season in the majors. The 22-year-old third baseman has one of the quickest bats in the majors and his power quite literally plays all across the field. It will be fun to see how that approach matches up with this power exhibition.
Junior Caminero hits a LOUD home run off the batter's eye
A stage like the Home Run Derby is a perfect match for Chisholm, who is one of the more exciting and flamboyant players in the game. The 27-year-old has been on a tear at the plate since returning from an early-season oblique injury. He'll try to continue that level of success in Atlanta.
After an unexpected breakout in his age-28 season. Rooker has become one of the game's preeminent sluggers. He's well on his way to his third-straight 30-homer season. We're seeing a reboot of the "Bash Brothers" in Sacramento with rookie slugger Nick Kurtz's arrival.
Nic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The forward is a couple of weeks away from getting married, so it's an exciting time for the newest Leaf, who was part of the trade that saw the end of Mitch Marner's tenure with the blue and white.
"It was a good feeling. Obviously, shocked a little bit at first, but kind of learned about it a couple of days ago. So now I feel really good about it. I've got time to reflect and look at everything and really excited to join the Leafs for sure."
The newest Maple Leafs met the media via Zoom where he discussed the new opportunity to play in Toronto and even revealed that he grew up cheering for the Maple Leafs, despite growing up in Quebec.
Q: What excites you the most about the Leafs? What stands out about this team?
Roy: I want to be part of a team that's winning and obviously watching just the playoffs last year. I think for the (Florida) Panthers, their biggest challenge was the Leafs. And I think this group is ready to win right now. And that's why I want to be part of a team like that for sure.
Q: You played a pretty pivotal role on a Stanley Cup-winning team in 2023. What was it about that run and that experience that you think you can bring to Toronto?
Roy: I think just the full experience. Every time you win with a team, you know what it takes. There's always going to be ups and downs. Just the pressure of the moment. I think it's really what I enjoy. I really like to play in those big moments. That's what we play for as hockey players. So obviously I'm bringing the Stanley Cup experience that I got with me, but I got a lot of experience in the playoffs as well.
Q: I'm just wondering about your run to the Stanley Cup. Is there a specific aspect that you can point to that is absolutely crucial for a team to have in order to get to that point?
Roy: I mean, there's a lot of things that come to mind, but I think everybody has to accept their role, whatever it is. I think obviously you've got their skilled players, you've got the guys that are going to play eight to ten minutes and got to be willing to play those physical minutes. So wherever you are in the lineup, or even if you're not in the lineup, you've got to be ready to jump in when you're getting asked. So I think I would say it's probably the biggest thing. Be there for your teammates and be ready to play any roles you're asked to play.
Q: I know it's a more complicated deal than a straight up one for one, but what did you think when you heard you were being traded so that for Mitch Marner, basically? How did you take the trade?
Roy: Well, obviously, knowing what Mitch has been in this league for a long time, what he means to the organization. Like I said, he's been a big part of this group. I played with Mitch on Team Canada when we were younger. He's an awesome player. So obviously brings a little bit of pressure knowing obviously what is meant to the team. But at the same time, there's only one thing I can control, and it's getting ready for a season, getting ready this summer, working out and skating and getting ready for a season. So that's what I'm focusing on right now.
Q: What are your impressions of playing with guys like Auston Matthews and William Nylander?
Roy: I mean, two dynamic players. Obviously, really fun to watch both of them. Really excited to see what they do on a daily basis, what their routine is, and learning from them. So, yeah, pretty exciting to see them and work with them.
Q: A bit of a two-parter. First, growing up in Quebec. Who was the team you grew up watching? And secondly, what have the conversations been like for you with management about the role? I know it's a little bit early, but have you had any of those discussions?
Roy Well, first of all, it's kind of funny because growing up, I was actually, until I was maybe 11 or 12, I was actually a Leafs fan because my favorite player growing up was Mats Sundin. So I was cheering for the Leafs until I was 11 or 12 and then he signed with Vancouver. So I kind of switched to Montreal. But I guess we don't have to think about that second part. But as far as the role, I mean, it's been pretty quick, right? I've talked to a coach in GM in discussions, but mostly just welcoming me to the team and really excited to have me. So yes, it's we haven't really talked about a role or anything like that.
Mets left-hander Sean Manaea, whose rehab was delayed a bit due to a loose body in his elbow, is set for his next rehab start.
Manaea will take the ball on Tuesday night for Double-A Binghamton, one week after he was shut down for 48-to-72 hours due to the elbow issue.
At the time, president of baseball operationsDavid Stearns said "the goal" was for Manaea to be back pitching in a rehab game either this Tuesday or Wednesday.
"This sets us back a couple of days, but at least right now we don’t anticipate this resetting anything," Stearns noted.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said on Tuesday that Manaea is expected to throw around 45-to-50 pitches during Tuesday's outing.
While the Mets expect Manaea to be able to pitch through the issue after he received a cortisone shot, it's possible he'll need surgery during the offseason.
Manaea has been out all year due to an oblique injury.
The Mets' starting pitching -- which was excellent for the first two months of the season -- has been ravaged by injuries over the last few weeks.
May 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) waves to the crowd after getting taken out in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images
In rapid succession, the Mets lost Kodai Senga (hamstring), Tylor Megill (elbow), and Griffin Canning (season-ending Achilles tear).
The rotation has recently featured regular members Clay Holmes and David Peterson and just got Frankie Montas back, but has also been relying on an inefficient and ineffective Paul Blackburn and rookie Blade Tidwell.
Manaea returning the next time through the rotation would be a big help, and Senga -- who could soon start a rehab assignment -- might follow before too long.
The Mets could also possibly turn to prospects Nolan McLean and/or Brandon Sproat at some point this summer.
Winker will be joining Manaea in Binghamton on Tuesday, as his rehab assignment moves from High-A Brooklyn.
He served as a designated hitter on Sunday for Brooklyn, reaching base three times.
Mendoza said that the plan for Mendoza is for him to play on Tuesday and Wednesday before getting a day off on Thursday. After the day off, Winker could potentially advance to Triple-A Syracuse for the final step of his rehab.
It's possible Winker is used as a designated hitter only while working his way back, which would seemingly mean a relatively quick rehab assignment and return to the Mets.
On Tuesday, the New York Islanders announced that they signed goaltender David Rittich and right-shot defenseman Ethan Bear to one-year deals.
The AAV on Rittich's deal is $1 million annually, per PuckPedia with Bear signing a two-way deal with an NHL AAV of $775,000, with a minor salary of $325,000.
Rittich, 32, posted a 2.84 GAA and a .887 SV% in 34 games with the Los Angeles Kings last season. The Czech goaltender earned a record of 16-14-2 as backup to Darcy Kuemper.
The signing comes in the wake of Semyon Varlamov’s rehab, which has seen no setbacks since undergoing lower-body surgery.
Rittich will likely fight with goalie Marcus Hogberg, who struggled with consistency towards the end of last season.
Rittich projects as a strong third string or decent backup option, seeing as the goaltender has experience with 230 NHL games over 10 seasons.
In 2024-25, Bear logged 10 goals with 36 assists for 46 points in 62 games with the Hershey Bears of the AHL.
The 28-year-old defenseman most recently played in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, scoring one goal with three assists for four points in 24 games in 2023-24.
Bear suffered a significant shoulder injury in 2023 and entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program a year later, cutting his 2023-24 season short. Washington then sent Bear down and did not give the defenseman a qualifying offer.
As a right-shot defenseman, Bear will serve as solid depth for the Islanders after losing Noah Dobson.
The Philadelphia Flyers are on a crusade to start NHL free agency, quickly signing multiple players, including Christian Dvorak, to address some big team needs.
The biggest - literally - and perhaps the most important piece of business from the Flyers Tuesday was signing 6-foot-5 goalie Dan Vladar, who is now the only non-prospect to be contracted beyond the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Vladar, 27, should provide some semblance of stability to a position that has had none for the Flyers in recent years, even if he's not quite good enough to elevate the Flyers as a whole.
On the more surprising side, the Flyers also went out and added versatile forward Christian Dvorak on a one-year deal worth $5.4 million.
This was, for all intents and purposes, and overpayment, even in this free agent market, but this was probably the cost the Flyers needed to pay to pry Dvorak away from Stanley Cup contenders.
The 29-year-old played for new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet during their time together with the Arizona Coyotes and has six 30-point seasons to his name at the NHL level. Oh, and he's won more than 55% of his faceoffs in each of the last two seasons.
Additionally, with the salary retained in the Andrei Kuzmenko trade now off the books, the Flyers have one more salary retention available to use this season.
Assuming Dvorak has a good season in Philadelphia, the Flyers can retain half his salary and move him at the NHL trade deadline. Then, if Luchanko's season ends early, he can then replace Dvorak and join the Flyers at the end of the season.
Two moves that made less sense were the additions of journeymen defensemen Noah Juulsen (RHD) and Dennis Gilbert (LHD).
These players could very well be brought in simply to breed competition for NHL roster spots, but fans won't be happy about the possibility two ineffective veterans with limited skillsets block prospects like Emil Andrae and Helge Grans from playing time.
Including Cam York and excluding Grans, the Flyers now have nine defensemen on their NHL roster, so something is going to have to give a few months from now.
It's worth noting that Juulsen was a favorite of Tocchet's on the Vancouver Canucks and is highly regarded for his shot blocking and penalty kill work, but he also didn't record a point in 35 games last season and is coming off a season-ending injury.
If the Flyers really wanted veterans to push for ice time, why not try Adam Ginning, a 25-year-old prospect on an expiring contract running out of time to crack the NHL? Hunter McDonald, Grans, and Louie Belpedio are there, too.
The Flyers also added a depth forward in Lane Pedersen, who briefly played for Tocchet in the past, as well.
With Tuesday's proceedings seemingly coming to a halt with a decision from Maxim Shabanov looming, the Flyers have $5.49 million in cap space with, hopefully, enough room to re-sign York and add Shabanov.
The Seattle Kraken have signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year, $4.5 million AAV contract.
The 27-year-old is a defensive defenseman who's played 405 games in the NHL, scoring 14 goals and 188 points with the New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche. Lindgren was traded from the Rangers to the Avalanche at the trade deadline as a pending unrestricted free agent.
Prior to the trade to the Avalanche, Lindgren was paired with Adam Fox, providing him stability and allowing him to be one of the best defensemen in the NHL.
“Ryan’s a heart-and-soul player who competes every shift,” said general manager Jason Botterill. “He does whatever it takes to win and has been a key fixture on the penalty kill throughout his career. We’re excited to welcome him to the team.”
Lindgren, a left-handed joins a Kraken defence core that consists of Vince Dunn, Ryker Evans, Jamie Oleksiak and Josh Mahura as left-handed defenders. Brandon Montour and Adam Larsson remain the right-handed defensemen. With the addition of Lindgren, the Kraken will likely explore a trade for Oleskiak to free up space on what's becoming a crowded blue line.
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Former Jets Tanev, Schmidt and Coghlan Sign Deals on Tuesday Former two-time Winnipeg Jets forward Brandon Tanev has found a new home in Utah.
D.J. Short
