Australian coach Andrew McDonald has said that the team hierarchy will afford teenage opening batter Sam Konstas “patience and time” after a difficult opening Test against the West Indies in Barbados.
Mets call team meeting after another disappointing loss to 'just put things out there'
Following another disappointing loss on Saturday -- their 12th in their last 15 games -- the Mets called a player's-only team meeting in hopes to revive what started off as such an impressive season.
What was said in the meeting is being held close to the chest, however, Pete Alonso described it as "a productive gathering."
Brandon Nimmo mentioned that while he didn't speak, about six or seven guys spoke, including Alonso and Francisco Lindor.
"I mean, we're not playing well,"Nimmo said after the 9-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. "We’ve won a couple games, but we haven't been able to put it together. So, you know, just put things out there, talk about it as a team and move on. But it just felt like, you know, we weren't really putting it together. So we ended up calling a team meeting."
Lindor told reporters that it wasn't one person's idea or anything like that. Instead, after the game, players just sat around and started talking "organically."
"It just happened," he said. "You know, collectively as a group we decided to start talking to each other and that's what good teams do. We all rely on each other, we all bounce ideas from each other and yeah this is a big team thing."
Last year, New York notably called a team meeting at the beginning of June after falling 11 games below .500 which kickstarted the team's complete reversal. Although this meeting came at the end of June (and with the Mets 12 games over .500 and only 0.5 GB of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the division), both were similar in tone and messaging.
"It was similar because I feel like that meeting last year was an open floor, too," Nimmo said. "So I feel like it's similar. And it's similar to other meetings I've had as well. I mean, this is not the first season that I've I've gone through a time like this.
"In fact, I think I've been here long enough to have seen a June like this, maybe even worse. So, it definitely felt, you know, good, productive and I think we'll look to build on that one step at a time. It's not going to be fixed overnight. I'd love it if it was, but it's not going to be fixed overnight."
Even though the players wouldn't go into specifics, Lindor did mention that "everybody is pulling for each other" and that "there is a sense of urgency."
"Everybody's on the same page," he said.
While that's all nice to hear, it won't mean much unless New York starts to turn things around. It has a chance to do that on Sunday in the series finale against the Pirates, a team that has outscored the Mets, 18-3, in the first two contests.
Step one of turning things around is starting with a clean slate, wiping away what's gone wrong in recent weeks. However, there's a fine line between starting fresh and ignoring what the problems have been.
"I think it's obvious we're not playing our best baseball," Alonso said. "Just collectively as a group, whether offensively, defensively, base running -- we're not playing our cleanest baseball. We're not playing to our maximum potential right now and it shows with the record.
"Yeah, we're definitely not playing consistent. We’re playing good games or staying in games, but I think we need to do a better job finishing, for sure. Playing a complete nine innings. And overall, just like playing our most clean baseball on a consistent basis. I mean, that was our identity. We did a great job. That was our identity the first while there when things were excellent. But yeah, we've gotten away from playing our cleanest baseball for sure."
Of course, part of the struggles lately have been injuries to key players at a rather inopportune time like playing 10 straight games against division rivals. But perhaps another part of the problem is players putting too much pressure on themselves to pull the team out of it.
"It's natural, you know," Lindor said. "We’re all professionals here, but we're human as well. Everybody wants to get it done. We all want it just as bad. It's just we go through ups and downs in the season. This is adversity and we got to deal with it and try to come out and try to win us many games as we can."
Whether this team meeting sparks a change remains to be seen and even if change does come about, it'll be hard to say that the team meeting was the cause. But sometimes it's just good to talk about how you're feeling or what you're thinking, especially when things aren't going your way.
"This is a good group and the reason why we have those discussions is because A) we expect a lot, and then also we care for each other. We want to win not just individually, but collectively for each other as a group," Alonso said.
NHL Trade Rumors: Canadiens Interested In Blues Star
St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou has been the subject of trade rumors this off-season. The 27-year-old's full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, so there have been plenty of questions about whether or not the Blues will move him before it starts.
While there certainly is a chance that the Blues will keep Kyrou in St. Louis, he is generating interest. That includes from an Original Six club.
During a recent episode of TSN Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun reported that the Montreal Canadiens are interested in acquiring Kyrou from the Blues.
"Montreal hopes not to be done," LeBrun said. "They'd like to add to their top six up front. It's been hard to find a No. 2 center, but they're opening that to perhaps a winger. Jordan Kyrou is a player that Montreal is among several teams that have shown interest in him."
Insider Trading: Signings, trades and more as free agency approaches - Video - TSNAs trades and signings continue to flow in ahead of Free Agent Frenzy on July 1st, TSN Hockey Insiders Chris Johnston, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger have the latest on Toronto RFA Matthew Knies, UFA Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett re-upping in Florida, teams checking in on Jordan Kyrou and more.Hearing that the Canadiens are interested in Kyrou is understandable. After getting back into the playoffs this spring, they are looking to get better and have proven that by acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. Adding a star like Kyrou to their top six would only make them better.
The Blues would need a significant return for them to truly consider moving Kyrou, whether it is to the Canadiens or another club.
NHL Trade Rumors: Blues Interested In Sabres StarAfter taking a nice step forward this season, the St. Louis Blues should be active this off-season. One area on their roster that could use a boost is their defensive group, and they have been connected to New York Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson because of it.
Photo Credit: © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Ducks Select Nine Players on Day 2 of 2025 NHL Draft
After coming away with Roger McQueen on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Ducks made nine selections on Day 2, adding 10 players in total to their pipeline.
Anaheim used their bevy of picks—which included two in the second, fourth and fifth rounds—to select players that they were “passionate” about, as Ducks assistant general manager and Director of Amateur Scouting Martin Madden noted in his post-draft media availability.
“You can't be too sticky on shooting side or position,” Madden said. “Yes, we try to balance things out and not make it so one-sided. But, at the end of the day, the odds are already so much against most of these kids. It’s tough to make it to the NHL and you need somebody pushing hard for you, supporting you all throughout the process—the next four or five years. And that comes down to the development staff, but it also comes down to the local scout, so that's how it happened.”
Here’s a brief look at each prospect that the Ducks selected on Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft:
Eric Nilson - Djurgårdens IF, Forward (selected 45th overall)
Nilson was “their guy,” according to Madden. Attempts to move up from 45th overall were made, with concern that Nilson might not be available when the Ducks were on the clock for their first pick of Day 2. Luck was on their side as Nilson was still available when pick no. 45 came around.
After playing for Djurgårdens’ J20 team this past season, Nilson will be heading stateside to play hockey at Michigan State.
“It’s kind of different, how we play in Sweden from playing (in the U.S.),” Nilsson said. “(Playing at Michigan State will) change that and (help me) come into the American style of play.”
Lasse Boelius - Ässät, Defenseman (selected 60th overall)
Boelius is a puck-moving defenseman from Finland who Madden likened to the profile that they’ve drafted on numerous occasions throughout the past decade.
He had a strong performance for Finland at the U18 World Juniors and even played several games for Ässät’s first team this past season.
Noah Read - London Knights, Forward (selected 72nd overall)
Read had quite the rookie season in the OHL, playing the role of jack of all trades on a stacked Knights squad. He found himself on nearly every line at least once throughout the season while moonlighting as both a center and a wing. To top it all off, he ended the season as both an OHL champion and a Memorial Cup champion.
He could have the opportunity to seize a bigger role next season with London graduating several of their top forwards.
Drew Schock - U.S. NTDP, Defenseman (selected 101st overall)
A Michigan University commit, Schock continues the archetype of puck-moving defensemen that the Ducks have sought in the draft. He spent the last two seasons with the NTDP and was an alternate captain for Team USA’s U18 World Juniors squad, where he averaged a point per game.
Elijah Neuenschwander - HC Fribourg-Gottéron, Goaltender (selected 104th overall)
Hailing from Biel-Bienne, the city where former Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller concluded his professional career, Neuenschwander is a big kid at 6-foot-4.
Like Damian Clara two years ago, albeit in the second round, the Ducks went slightly off the board to select a mammoth goaltender. But, Neuenschwander has performed well at the domestic level and held his own internationally.
Alexis Mathieu - Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Defenseman (selected 136th overall)
Like Neuenschwander, Mathieu also towers over many of his peers at 6-foot-4. He is an aggressive defender who uses his physicality to erase opposing players with ferocity.
Mathieu was also the only Ducks draft pick besides Nilson who attended the draft. Congratulations from his family and friends was coupled with cheers and applause from what remained of the Peacock Theater crowd.
Émile Guité - Chicoutimi Saguenéens, Forward (selected 159th overall)
A teammate of 2024 Ducks draft pick Maxim Massé, Guité was projected to be a top-64 pick in this year’s draft prior to the 2024-25 season. However, inconsistent performances dropped his stock tremendously, causing him to fall to the fifth round.
There is belief though in the Ducks’ organization that Guité can put the pieces together and show why he was once projected to be a high-round draft pick.
Anthony Allain-Samaké - Sioux City Musketeers, Defenseman (selected 168th overall)
One of the youngest players in his draft class, Allain-Samaké will play alongside 2024 Ducks draft pick Alexandre Blais at the University of Connecticut next season.
The early transition to collegiate hockey offers a huge opportunity for Allain-Samaké, with his late birthdate also giving him a long runway for his development.
Brady Turko - Brandon Wheat Kings, Forward (selected 200th overall)
McQueen’s juniors teammate, Turko is younger than Allain-Samaké. While undersized, he has displayed good offensive instincts and could benefit from having a bigger role with Brandon next season.
Featured image caption: Jun 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Eric Nilson fields questions after being selected as the 45th overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Derek Lee-The Hockey News
‘Got to walk for that’: Sportsmanship stir as SA teen smashes record-breaking Test debut 150
Teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius hit a dazzling 153 on debut and transformed South Africa’s fortunes on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Saturday.
Here are 3 takeaways from Nashville Predators 2025 NHL Draft
At the start of the 2024-25 season, the Nashville Predators didn't think they'd be in a position to have nine draft picks, one of them being in the top five.
They were fresh off their fourth playoff appearance in five years and had just signed two of the top free agents in the market: Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos.
However, a 30-44-8 record in the 2024-25 season suddenly put Nashville in a position to look toward the future, specifically needing more depth down the middle.
At the 2025 NHL Draft, the Predators drafted six players: four defenseman, a winger, a goalie and a center. They also traded away five picks, two of which were for future considerations.
With all that has conspired over the last two days, here are three takeaways from the Predators' transactions in Los Angeles.
Nashville Predators 2025 NHL Draft transactions
Round 1, Pick 5 - Brady Martin, Center, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
*Traded 23rd and 67th picks to Ottawa Senators for 21st pick
Round 1, Pick 21 - Cameron Reid, Defense, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Round 1, Pick 26 - Ryker Lee, Forward, Madison Capitols (USHL)
Round 2, Pick 35 - Jacob Rombach, Defense, Lincoln Stars (USHL)
*Traded 55th pick to Vegas Golden Knights for 58th and 122nd picks
Round 2, Pick 58 - Jack Ivankovic, Goalie, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Round 4, Pick 122 - Alex Huang, Defense, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
*Traded 131st pick to Edmonton Oilers for 2026 fifth round pick
Round 6, Pick 163 - Daniel Nieminen, Defense, Pelicans (SM-liiga, Finland)
*Traded 182nd pick to Utah Mammoth for 2026 sixth round pick
Trotz believed Martin had an 'it' factor, drafting him over Hagens, Martone
Fans were left a bit confused when the Predators selected 6-foot, 178-pound center Brady Martin. Nashville needed a center, but more so on the scoring end of things than anything else.
While Martin had 72 points in 57 games with the Soo Greyhounds, he also had 68 penalty minutes, showing a more physical side to his game than an offensive one.
The Predators picked him over Boston College center James Hagens, who had 37 points in 37 games, and Porter Martone, who is a winger but had a whopping 98 points in 57 games.
However, general manager Barry Trotz explained that Martin had an "it" factor that you don't see in many players.
"A guy shows up and has all those intangibles, the work ethic, all those things," Trotz said. "There are not a lot of things that are going to get in this guy's way. We had some tough decisions, but there was total passion on this pick...He's got that whatever it is."
Trotz added that Martin will set a tone of competing for a roster spot when training camp arrives.
"I definitely want to try and crack that roster if I can," Martin said. "If I don't, it's meant to be. I'll go back to the Greyhounds, work hard and try to crack the [Predators] roster as soon as I can."
Predators had trade for top 12 pick that 'fell through'
There was so much chatter ahead of the chat about the number of trades there'd be in the top 15. There was only one, with the Flyers trading up to get the Rangers' pick at 12th overall.
However, that doesn't mean teams didn't try to make that happen. Trotz told the NHL Network that he was on the phone for picks 7-18, trying to orchestrate a trade for a top-12 pick.
Nashville didn't end up getting a second top 15 pick of the night, but was able to trade up to 21st overall and land defenseman Cameron Reid.
"I actually had a deal and our player fell through," Trotz told NHL Network. "We were trying to get another player in the top 12, 13 picks. We had the deal in place, and one team grabbed the player, and we had to move on."
It's speculated that this player may have been Brandon Wheat Kings center Roger McQueen, who was one of the prospects forecasted to be taken at 5th overall. He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks 10th overall.
He's a tall center who is coming back from injury and showed a lot of promise in the few games he played.
Predators drafted 4 defensemen despite need for scoring
The Predators scored the fewest goals in the league last season, with 130, which is 10 fewer than the second-worst scoring team in the NHL, the Ottawa Senators.
Nashville had a ton of success scoring on the power play, ranking seventh in the league, but as a cohesive unit, it struggled to find the back of the net. With there being a need to score, the Predators selected only two forwards in the draft, both in the first round.
It's possible that the Predators believe their offense just needs to find its rhythm or will make some signings by July 1, but the Predators remain committed to the idea that they are a team composed of big and physical players.
"It is called Smashville, correct?" Trotz said when asked about the Predators being known as a team that is big and physical.
Nashville didn't shy away from drafting "big" players. Defenseman Jacob Rombach is 6 feet 6 inches, and five of the other draft picks are at least 6 feet tall. Goalie Jack Ivankovic is the exception, at 5-foot-11-inches.
When it comes to the physical factor, the draft picks averaged 30 penalty minutes, with Martin leading the way with 68 minutes. Even Ivankovic got into a goalie fight this season in the OHL.
Jim Harbaugh added to lawsuit against former Michigan co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss
The former Michigan assistant coach is accused of hacking thousands of students' intimate photos.
Colorado Avalanche: NHL Draft Weekend Overview
Denver, Colo. - While they might not have had as many draft picks as the Pittsburgh Penguins (13!), the Colorado Avalanche still made the most of their three picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Francesco Dell'Elce, Linus Funck, and Nolan Roed all had their life-changing dreams come true on Saturday as they were drafted in the 3rd, 4th, and 7th rounds, respectively. But... How did the Avalanche only have three picks?
Fun fact: They only had two - up until Friday afternoon.
Their 3rd round pick (77th overall) came by way of the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade that saw the departure of Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood. With zero salary retained on both of those players, the Avalanche received forward prospect Gavin Brindley, a conditional 2nd-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and the 3rd-round pick that turned into Francesco Dell'Elce on Saturday.
Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood Traded to Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche Get Picks and Prospect Gavin Brindley in ReturnDenver, Colo. - With just $1.2 million in cap space, the Colorado Avalanche were slated to head into this year's free agency period with a bit of a handicap.
Francesco Dell'Elce
- Drafted: 2025, 3rd round, 77th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
- Age: 20 (June 23, 2005)
- Birthplace: King City, Ontario, Canada
- Position: Defense
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 6'1" / 185 cm
- Weight: 185 lbs / 84 kg
Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Dell'Elce was ranked ~96th among draft-eligible prospects.
With their 3rd round, 77th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche have selected Francesco Dell'Elce, a 20-year-old defenseman from Ontario.
— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025
In his freshman year at UMass last year, he tallied 24 points (7g/17a) in 40 GP.
Via Elite Prospects: "Dell’Elce’s an…
Linus Funck
- Drafted: 2025, 4th Round, 118th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
- Age: 18 (May 10, 2007)
- Birthplace: Luleå, Sweden
- Position: Defense
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 6'3" / 190 cm
- Weight: 183 lbs / 83 kg
Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Funck was ranked 109th among draft-eligible prospects.
With their 4th round, 118th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Avalanche select Linus Funck, an 18-year-old defenseman from Luleå, Sweden.
— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025
With Luleå HF J20 last season, he collected 28 points (5g/23a) in 48 GP.
From Elite Prospects: "Funck uses his reach to kill rushes…
Nolan Roed
- Drafted: 2025, 7th Round, 214th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
- Age: 19 (October 25, 2005)
- Birthplace: White Bear Lake, Minnesota, USA
- Position: Center
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 5'11" / 180 cm
- Weight: 185 lbs / 84 kg
Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Roed was ranked 164th among draft-eligible prospects.
With their 7th round, 214th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, their final pick in this draft, the Colorado Avalanche have selected Nolan Roed, a 19-year-old center from White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025
Last season with the USHL's Tri-City Storm, he collected 60 points (27g/33a) in…
More Information From Draft Day
Per Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting Nick Pryor following the draft, Funck and Roed are still question marks regarding their attendance at Prospect Development Camp starting on Tuesday, July 1st, but Dell'Elce is expected to be there.
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Rain delay kills Mets' momentum, bullpen melts down late in 9-2 loss to Pirates
The Mets' woes continued on Saturday as they dropped another game to the Pittsburgh Pirates in blowout fashion, losing 9-2. New York has now lost 12 of their last 15 games.
Here are the takeaways...
-A day after getting embarrassed offensively and scoring just one run in a lopsided loss, New York returned with a vengeance and got straight to work in the first inning against Pirates starter Bailey Falter. The Mets hit some ropes against the lefty, starting off with Francisco Lindor's leadoff double. Funny enough, the softest hit ball of the inning, a Juan Soto single that snuck through the drawn-in infield, was the one to drive in a run.
-The Mets had a chance to tack on in the inning with runners on second and third, but Starling Marte struck out to end the inning. Still, the second inning saw some more traffic after Luis Torrens singled and Lindor walked with two outs. Suddenly, New York had another opportunity to do damage, but the momentum gained was cut short as the game was paused for a rain delay.
-Following an 89-minute delay, the Mets' offense went back out there but, now facing RHP Braxton Ashcraft, they couldn't re-capture the energy they had before the rain came and the inning ended without a run.
-Meanwhile, New York's starter, Paul Blackburn (who pitched a scoreless first inning with two strikeouts on 17 pitches) surprisingly came back out to start the second inning, highlighting the Mets' need for length from their starting pitchers right now. The decision backfired, though, as the right-hander allowed five straight singles before exiting the game with the bases loaded and his team down 2-1.
-Jose Buttó came in to clean up Blackburn's mess and did well by allowing just one run to score on a sac fly. Buttó was put in even more danger in the inning after a catcher's interference loaded the bases yet again. But the right-hander escaped untouched with a strikeout and groundout.
-As for Blackburn, perhaps he got unlucky with the rain and the decision to send him back out to the mound, but his final line was not pretty: 1+ IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 K. It raised his ERA to 7.71.
-New York's bullpen, particularly Brandon Waddell, stepped up in a big way after Blackburn's departure. After Buttó ended up going two scoreless innings,Waddell pitched the bulk of the game with his three innings of work. The left-hander struck out three and gave up one hit on 38 pitches (25 strikes) to keep his team in the game as he continues to impress every chance he gets. He now has a 2.45 ERA (0.95 WHIP) in 14.2 innings.
-Offensively, the rain delay took the wind out of the Mets' sails and their struggles with RISP are still prevalent. They were able to get closer in the fifth on Brandon Nimmo's RBI single that drove in Pete Alonso who doubled right before to cut the deficit to 3-2. Alonso and Nimmo each finished with two hits. Overall, though, New York went 2-for-8 with RISP and left nine runners on base.
-After Reed Garrett pitched a perfect seventh, Huascar Brazoban entered the eighth to try and keep it a one-run game and give New York a chance. But Brazoban's recent struggles continued after he gave up two hits and walked two more in 0.1 innings -- he's now walked 10 batters in his last 4.0 IP.
-Brazoban left with the bases loaded and Colin Poche, called up on Friday and making his season debut for the Mets, couldn't help him out, allowing all three inherited runners to score. Brazoban's ERA has ballooned to 3.83 after spending so much of the season below 1.00.
-Pittsburgh scored six runs in the nightmare eighth inning and has outscored New York, 18-3, in two games so far. The Mets will hope to salvage the series finale on Sunday.
-Manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz. The ejection wasn't enough to spark his team.
Game MVP: Ke'Bryan Hayes
Hayes finished 2-for-4 and both of his hits came in key spots for his team, producing the go-ahead run in the second inning and pulling them ahead with another run-scoring hit in the eighth which started the avalanche.
Highlights
Francisco Lindor leads the game off for the Mets with a double pic.twitter.com/t9EEaaUifw
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 28, 2025
Juan Soto stays hot and gives the Mets an early 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/F2ketVE3ji
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 28, 2025
Pete Alonso steals his first base of the season pic.twitter.com/use7WHGiXt
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 28, 2025
Brandon Nimmo completes the double play on Oneil Cruz to end the inning! pic.twitter.com/FhZCtKkeNU
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 28, 2025
What's next
The Mets finish their three-game series against the Pirates with a Sunday matinee starting at 1:35 p.m.
RHP Frankie Montas (0-0, 0.00 ERA), makes his second start of the season and will be opposed by RHP Mike Burrows (1-2, 4.45 ERA).
Rangers Believe Drafting Malcolm Smith Was A Steal
The New York Rangers may have not had a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but the team was able to get first-round talent with the 43rd overall pick.
Many NHL analysts predicted Malcolm Spence would be selected in the first round, but he slid all the way to the 43rd pick where the New York Rangers sat and they did not hesitate to draft him.
“Malcolm is an excellent winger, power play, PK (penalty kill), plays the game the right way,” Rangers director of player personnel John Lilley said. “He doesn't cheat the game. We’ve valued him for a few years now… I think he was projected to go quite a bit higher, so when the opportunity presented itself, we were thrilled to get him in that spot, and we think he's got a lot of potential and a high character player.”
The 18-year-old has made a name for himself playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League over the past two seasons.
This past season, Spence served as the team’s assistant captain and had an impressive statistical season, recording 32 goals, 41 assists, and 73 points in 65 games.
Despite the high speculation that Spence would be drafted in the first round, teams passed up on him for whatever reason.
However, his fall out of the draft’s opening round did not discourage him and he’s excited to prove the Rangers right instead of proving other teams wrong.
“I think kind of when you have expectations for yourself, and obviously there's expectations from the media and whatnot of where I was going to get picked, but for me, obviously I believe in myself, and just really I didn't get picked yesterday, I kind of changed my mindset right after and said, ‘well, tomorrow's a new day, and you're in a situation that not a lot of people are in.’ So for me, it was New York's first pick, and I have some family out there, and it worked out really well,” said Spence.
“I'm really excited that they took a chance on me and believed in me when a lot of the other people didn't. So I'm really excited to get to New York City and get to work.”
The next stop for Spence will be at the University of Michigan where he’ll play at one of the best collegiate hockey programs in the country.
Rangers Select Forward Malcolm Spence In Second Round With 43rd Pick The New York Rangers have selected left winger Malcolm Spence with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
While Spence has a lot of natural skill sets, he knows that there’s still a long way to go before he gets to an NHL level both in terms of his body development and transformation as a player.
He strongly believes he’ll be able to accomplish all of his development goals at Michigan in order to be properly prepared for the NHL and the challenges that come with being a professional hockey player.
“I know to play in the NHL, you have to be physically ready,” Spence said. “Maybe there are parts of my game skill-wise that may be ready, but physically I’m not. I know going to Michigan is going to give me more runway time. For me to jump in as an impact player, that’s what I want to do.”
Spence is likely a couple of years away before he could possibly crack the Rangers’ roster, but the potential is certainly there and he has a chance to make a major impact in the future.
After Sabres' Latest Trade, Don't Expect Much From New Buffalo Defenseman
The Buffalo Sabres made a trade Saturday, but it wasn't the trade many were expecting, as star defenseman Bowen Byram remained a Sabre, at least, for the time being. However, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams reshaped his defense corps by sending rugged blueliner Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall pick in this year's draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for D-man Conor Timmins and minor leaguer Isaac Beliveau.
At first glance -- and at second, third and fourth glance, for that matter -- the trade was a salary dump, as Clifton had one year left on his contract at $3.33 million, while Timmins is an RFA who won't earn much more than the $1.1 million he made this past season. But if people are expecting Timmins to be an impact player of any kind, they probably haven't been paying attention to him as he developed into a journeyman defenseman.
The 26-year-old Timmins has played for four teams -- the Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins -- in his five NHL seasons. Timmins averaged a career-best 18:43 of ice time in 17 games with Pittsburgh last season, but prior to that, he played about 16 minutes per game, almost exclusively on his team's third 'D' pairing. And now that he's a Sabre, you can expect Timmins to once again be a third-pair blueliner.
Indeed, after Buffalo's trade earlier this week that sent star winger J.J. Peterka to Utah for young winger Josh Doan and D-man Michael Kesselring, the Sabres' top-two defense pairings appear to be set. Star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson are set to be the top pair, while Owen Power and Kesselring are set to be the second pair. That leaves the third pair to Timmins and...well, we're not quite certain of the other D-man.
That said, Sabres fans need to temper their expectations of their newest defenseman. Timmins had a career-high of two goals and 14 points in 25 games with the Maple Leafs in 2022-23, and he's not likely to pile up points and take up room on the scoresheet anytime soon. If he's playing big minutes for your team, it's likely more to do with injuries to the defensemen ahead of him on the depth chart than it is about him having any merit to be promoted above the third pair.
Sabres Blockbuster Trade With Utah Sends Disgruntled Winger To Mammoth For Defensive Depth, Son Of NHL IconAfter watching teams around them make major moves already in the NHL's 2025 off-season, the Buffalo Sabres made a blockbuster deal of their own late Wednesday night, sending disgruntled winger J.J. Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for young winger Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesserling. And immediately after Peterka was acquired by Utah, he signed a five-year contract extensipn with an average annual payday of $7.7 million. That's something Peterka wouldn't do with the Sabres, and that's an unfortunate comment on where Buffalo is at as an organization right now.
Most NHL observers are expecting Buffalo to trade Byram sometime soon. But if and when that happens, it's not going to open up additional oppportunities for Timmins. He's a Sabre because his salary cap hit fits in with Adams' expectations for the blueline, and many people are expecting Adams to eventually use the cap space he's accumulated in the Peterka trade and the Timmins trade on a veteran of consequence.
Because if Adams doesn't do that, and this Clifton/Timmins trade is just a deal to save money and keep Buffalo's financial bottom line as cheap as it can be, Sabres fans are not going to react well. As we've argued repeatedly, Buffalo is a team that should be spending every penny they have available under the cap ceiling. The time to cut costs was long ago, and now, it's the time to utilize the cap space they've accumulated.
As Division Rivals Make Big Moves, Sabres Are Still Making Minor MovesThe Buffalo Sabres made a notable trade this week with the trading of winger J.J. Peterka. But the return on the deal for Peterka -- defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan -- isn't exactly earth-shattering. The Sabres also made news Friday afternoon with the re-signing of center Jack Quinn to a two-year, $6.75-million contract extension; but Quinn isn't yet a top-six forward at this stage in his NHL career, so news of his contract extension didn't garner a lot of headlines.
So whatever you do, don't place any bets on Timmins being an impact player. If he lasts the whole season in Buffalo, some will be surprised, as he's worn out his welcome on every team he's played for.
If you see Timmins eating up minor minutes with the Sabres and being limited in the chances that he gets, that's the proper way to see him. And if you're expecting Adams to trade Byram for some veteran help up front, that's the proper expectation to have for Buffalo management at this point in the off-season.
The Sabres have been taking small swings at the plate on the trade front, and it's well beyond time for them to swing for the fences. And acquiring Timmins is almost the dictionary definition of a small swing.
2025 NHL Draft: The Eight Best Players To Go Undrafted
At every NHL draft, countless talented hockey players go undrafted.
Oftentimes, teams have their list of players, and they didn’t get to a player further down the list. Other times, a player may be undersized, and it’s a long shot that they reach the NHL. Sometimes, it’s simply that teams overlooked them during the draft year.
Regardless of the reason, some of these players will bounce back and put themselves in the conversation the way Charlie Cerrato or Ludvig Johnson did this year. As we take a look at some of the top names to go unselected, remember that we may see them get their name called at the 2026 NHL draft.
Topias Hynninen, C, Jukurit (Finland)
One of the top overage names in this year’s NHL draft, Hynninen produced at an impressive level in the Liiga this year as he became one of his team’s most important players. He was consistently involved in driving their offensive game. He may be undersized at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, but he’s a highly intelligent player who’s proven he can play at the men’s level as a teenager. Now that he’s been passed over twice, maybe he signs as a 24-year-old to join an NHL club.
Luka Radivojevic, D, Muskegon (USHL)
The shifty, skilled and highly mobile defender went undrafted because he’s small. At just 5-foot-10 on the blueline and a defensive game that was questionable at best, it’s not entirely shocking, but I thought some team would draft him late as a project. His puck-moving and offensive instincts were on display at the World Men’s Under-18s. Radivojevic might end up being a name we hear from again next year.
Lev Katzin, C/W, Guelph (OHL)
He’s small, but he’s incredibly feisty, and his playmaking was impressive in the OHL. Katzin started the year in the United States League but jumped to the OHL as the eligibility rules changed regarding the NCAA. His production at the OHL level was impressive with 48 points in 44 games. He’s active at both ends of the ice, never stops moving his feet and seems to understand he has to outwork his physical limitations. He’ll head to Penn State in the fall and could be a coveted NCAA free agent in a few years.
Matej Pekar, C/LW, Seattle (WHL)
A personal favorite of mine, Pekar was a bet on skill and intellect. He played with impeccable timing, consistently popping into zones right as the puck arrived or swooping in to scoop up a loose puck. Pekar played with a swiftness that saw him excel as an off-puck play connector. He wasn’t ever the best on the ice, but he helped make his linemates' lives easier in a very understated way in the WHL.
Bruno Osmanis, RW, Bjorkloven (Swe.2)
A late-2006 born forward, Osmanis has stood out for Latvia in international events over the past couple of years. That usually bodes well for players from smaller nations, but unfortunately for Osmanis, he didn’t have his name called this weekend. He’s an intelligent playmaker who reads and reacts quite well. He’s always been able to elevate his game against better competition at events like the world juniors or U-18s.
Nicolas Sykora, LW, Sioux City (USHL)
After a solid Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Sykora had a slow start with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers and eventually found his footing in Sioux City. He is a crafty puckhandler with a very good shot. He’s not big or bruising, but he can throw his weight around at times. When he’s on his game, he is intense and driven to get pucks on net. Consistency was his big issue.
NHL Draft: Boston Bruins Steal James Hagens In 'A Dream Come True'LOS ANGELES – The Boston Bruins pulled off a great feat at the 2025 NHL draft: they got a super-talented player lower than expected, while adding another chapter to the rivalry between Boston sports fans and New York sports fans by snapping up center James Hagens.
Carson Cameron, D, Peterborough (OHL)
A defense-first blueliner, Cameron doesn’t blow the doors off with the puck. He cuts play down, seals off the opposing player along the wall and battles through opposing puck carriers. His play isn’t flashy, but it’s effective. He played for one of the OHL’s bottom-dwellers, but he always found ways to show something positive.
Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, D, Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)
Another defensive defenseman, Rheaume-Mullen was an NCAA freshman this season. He played a sound defensive game with solid gap control and incredible mobility. There’s a good base of physical tools to work with, and he should have been drafted, but people will keep an eye on the defender going into next season. An expanded role on a very good NCAA team will be something to watch.
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza 'protecting the players' after fourth inning ejection vs. Pirates
Mets managerCarlos Mendoza was ejected from Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz.
With one out and New York down 3-1, Brandon Waddell threw a ball inside and off the plate to Adam Frazier for ball one. The pitch was close, but clearly a ball. However, Mendoza's gripe with Ortiz was an inning prior, Ortiz called the exact same pitch a strike against Mark Vientos on a 3-0 count.
With a runner on first, a walk would've put two runners on for Juan Soto. Instead, Vientos ended up lining out to end the inning.
After the game, the skipper recounted what happened.
"Especially after that 3-0 call on Mark, you know, I thought it was ball four," Mendoza said. "You got one of the best hitters in the league coming up with two on and that changed, completely, the whole inning there. I just thought it was time for me to go out there and protect the players as well."
So, when Waddell's pitch wasn't also called a strike, Mendoza voiced his displeasure from the dugout and got rung up. After that, he came firing out from the dugout and gave Ortiz an earful for his inconsistency. It was the first time this season that Mendoza had been tossed from a game.
Bench coach John Gibbons took over the managerial duties after that in what was ultimately a 9-2 loss.
Mendoza was asked if his ejection was meant to rally up his team whose offense has struggled during the two games in Pittsburgh.
"No, I mean, look at that time, all I was doing is just protecting the players," the skipper said. "I thought it was ball four, again, it was probably a different inning there with Soto at the plate, and two runners on. But also understanding that they're human. They’re not going to be perfect, but I just thought at that time, I needed to express my frustrations."
Washington Capitals Trade Chase Priskie To Minnesota Wild For Declan Chisholm
The Washington Capitals announced they have traded defenseman Chase Priskie and the 123rd pick in the NHL draft to the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Declan Chisholm and the 180th pick in the draft.
Priskie recorded 35 points in 61 game with the Hershey Bears in the regular season before adding five points in eight games in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The 29-year-old notched 14 points in 20 games while helping the Bears win back-to-back Calder Cups last season, he played big minutes and powerplay time during the run.
A native of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Priskie has no points in four career NHL games with the Florida Panthers and 164 points in 314 career AHL games. He also has 20 points in 35 career AHL playoff games.
It will be interesting to see if Priskie sees any time with Minnesota or if he will anchor the Iowa Wild blueline.
NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired defenseman Declan Chisholm and the 180th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Chase Priskie and their 123rd overall selection.#CapsDraft | @Shift4pic.twitter.com/tW7utPaZYn
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 28, 2025
Chisholm put up 12 points in 66 games with Minnesota this season, he had five points in six AHL games with the Manitoba Moose last season.
The 25-year-old has 21 points in 99 career NHL games and 91 points in 146 career AHL games. He has 11 points in 10 career AHL playoff games.
He represented the Central Division at the AHL All-Star Game while a member of the Moose in 2023.
Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
Photo Credit: © Travis Boyd/Special to the Daily News / USA TODAY NETWORK
Shohei Ohtani hits 102 mph in another sharp pitching start, but Dodgers fall to Royals
Three batters into his third start of the year on Saturday, Shohei Ohtani showed some brief frustration.
With one out in the first inning — on a day he was trying to pitch into the second for the first time this year — Ohtani gave up a line drive single to Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. Then, he walked Maikel Garcia on five pitches in the next at-bat, pulling four straight throws low and to the glove side to put two aboard.
As Ohtani received the ball back from catcher Dalton Rushing, he wore a stoic look, seemingly displeased with his lack of execution.
But he climbed back atop the mound, stared down the plate as Vinnie Pasquantino dug in, and absolutely bullied the Royals' first baseman with three straight pitches.
A 99.2-mph fastball on the inside corner for strike one.
A 100.2-mph fastball on the inside black for strike two.
Read more:Why Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have struggled at the plate lately for the Dodgers
And then, a blistering 101.7-mph fastball — the hardest-thrown pitch of Ohtani’s MLB career — that Pasquantino took a helpless hack at, grounding into a tailor-made, inning-ending double-play.
“Overall, I was happy with the fact that I was able to attack the zone,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “There’s some little things that I still need to work on. But overall, pretty happy.”
Though the Dodgers lost 9-5 to the Royals on Saturday, Ohtani turned in his best pitching performance yet this season. After escaping the first-inning jam, he retired the side in the second. Over 27 pitches, he threw 20 strikes and got three swings-and-misses, including on a 100-mph fastball and late-biting slider to strike out Jac Caglianone in the second.
Even over another small sample size, with Ohtani’s workload still limited as he works his way back from a second career Tommy John surgery, the right-hander flashed the dominant potential of his stuff, able to bully hitters with his triple-digit heat and keep them off balance with a flurry of unhittable off-speed offerings.
And that 101.7-mph fastball was Ohtani’s hardest pitch ever in an MLB game.
“It’s nice to be able to hit that velo and see how my body reacts,” he said.
The only harder pitch Ohtani has thrown since coming to the majors in 2018: A 102-mph heater he fired in the 2023 World Baseball Classic — coincidentally, also against Pasquantino.
Things did not go well for the Dodgers (52-32) after Ohtani left the mound. Bulk man Ben Casparius who was battling an illness while pitching through the muggy Midwestern summer heat, gave up six runs in four innings after replacing Ohtani. He now has a 7.82 ERA in his three outings piggybacking with Ohtani over the last three weeks.
“I haven’t been as sharp and executing what I want to do,” Casparius said. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the [piggyback] situation.”
The Dodgers’ defense didn’t offer much help, either. In the third inning, Teoscar Hernández failed to get to a flare down the right-field line with two outs, extending the inning ahead of a two-run double from Garcia in the next at-bat. Andy Pages also booted a ball in center field during a four-run rally from the Royals (39-44) in the fifth, an inning that was punctuated by a three-run, two-out homer from Pasquantino to center.
“I think that if you look at our outfield construction, we're not fleet of foot,” Roberts said. “We knew that as we built the roster. And so there's going to be some cost.”
The Dodgers’ offense, meanwhile, never figured out crafty right-hander Seth Lugo, stranding all nine hitters who reached base against him (four hits and five walks) while striking out eight times.
Even a big day from slumping first baseman Freddie Freeman, who went three for three with two walks and a solo home run in the seventh, couldn’t drag the Dodgers back into the game late, costing them a five-game winning streak and setting up a series rubber match on Sunday.
All of that, however, paled in comparison to the impressiveness of Ohtani’s outing on the mound.
In his four innings so far this year, the 30-year-old has given up just one run and three hits. His fastball has routinely eclipsed 100 mph while his array of breaking stuff has kept opponents off balance.
And though the team remains careful with his buildup — uncertain of when, or if, he will be fully stretched out for normal-length starts — the few innings he has contributed have been promising, quickly erasing any doubts about how his arm would respond from the second reconstructive elbow surgery of his career.
“I felt pretty good about being able to come back and pitch well — especially considering, [compared to] when I first had the surgery, the second time through it was a lot better in terms of recovery,” Ohtani said. “Talking to the doctor, he was very confident that I would be able to come back in full form.”
That much, he has, looking once on Saturday like someone capable of being an impact option on the mound for the second half of the season.
“I do still feel like I have to work on little things on the pitching side in terms of mechanically,” he said. “So in terms of that, it’s still a work in progress.”
But, Roberts countered, ever encouraged by Ohtani’s latest pitching start, “Throwing the baseball the way he did [was] certainly a positive … I thought he was still in control, and it was still good to see triple digits.”
Pitching injury updates
It’ll be a little while longer before the Dodgers get more pitching reinforcements from triple-A Oklahoma City.
On Friday night, Tyler Glasnow gave up five runs on seven hits in his second rehab outing, but more consequentially managed only 2 ⅓ innings, well short of the four-inning goal the Dodgers had targeted for his start. Because of that, Roberts said Glasnow will likely need at least two more rehab starts before returning to the majors. He has been out since April because of a shoulder problem.
Emmet Sheehan’s next start will come in triple A, Roberts said, even after the right-hander pitched six perfect innings with 13 strikeouts earlier this week. Sheehan returned from Tommy John surgery earlier this month with a solid four-inning start for the Dodgers, but was optioned ahead of this road trip to continue building up in Oklahoma City. Sheehan will be a candidate to return to the majors after his next outing, perhaps near the end of the Dodgers’ upcoming homestand.
Back in Los Angeles, Blake Snell (shoulder) and Blake Treinen (forearm) continued their progression of bullpen sessions on Saturday, and are getting closer to throwing live sessions against hitters. Roki Sasaki (shoulder) has also continued to play catch and, according to Roberts, is finally “feeling really good” almost two months into his IL stint.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.