After slow start to free agency, where do Lakers, LeBron James go from here?

Two things have made the first 48 hours of free agency unusual for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

First, the Lakers have started slowly. It's no secret Los Angeles entered free agency looking for a center, but players it was linked to have already found new homes with more aggressive teams — Brook Lopez is just across town with the Clippers. Nobody was as aggressive as the Bucks in finding a way to get Myles Turner out of Indiana. Clint Capela is back in Houston.

The Lakers are talking to agents. The names we hear now, maybe they get Al Horford, or maybe Deandre Ayton. You can feel Luka Doncic's eyes rolling.

LeBron not Lakers’ focus

Second, for the first time in his career, LeBron James and his wishes are not the most important thing to his team during the offseason. The Lakers' focus is on transitioning to a team built to optimize Doncic's skills — LeBron is a part of that, but not the primary focus.

In years past, LeBron opted out of the player option at the end of his contract and used that as leverage to persuade the team to add talent. Passive-aggressive statements from him or those around him are the norm.

This year, LeBron opted in to the $52.6 million he is owed — he's a Laker. The franchise doesn't have to do anything to appease him. When opting in, his longtime friend and agent, Rich Paul released this statement to ESPN:

"LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."
That's a little more than passive-aggressive.

Where do Lakers, LeBron go from here?

Combine Paul's statement with the slow start to free agency and…

Probably nothing. LeBron can be frustrated with the Lakers, with the team's transition to a Doncic focus (even if he gets why), and especially with the slow start to free agency, but there isn't some utopia out there, nor is there a simple trade that would get him to a contender at full price.

LeBron wants to be on a contender, he wants to play meaningful games — and meaningful playoff games — and be in the heart of the conversation. Additionally, LeBron has consistently sought to maximize his revenue. LeBron opted and will get paid. That means if he asks for a trade, his new team would have to match LeBron's salary. For example, a lot of fans tried to link him to a return to Cleveland (league sources told NBC Sports the Cavaliers are not that interested, but let's use them as a hypothetical): With a third team, a deal can be made if it's LeBron for Darius Garland and Max Strus Why would the Cavs do that, giving up young players and getting 15 years older (and arguably worse) in the short term to rent LeBron for a year or two. And trading LeBron to Cleveland is a lot less complicated than most other destinations.

LeBron, Paul, and the rest of LeBron's camp reportedly are monitoring the situation. They have every right to be frustrated with how the Lakers have moved through the first 48 hours of free agency.

But where is there a better option?

Which is why, come media day in the fall, expect LeBron in purple and gold, talking championship.

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025

NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-07-02 17:04:03

July 2, 2025

Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers cruise past the White Sox

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 1, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) pitches against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on July 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, shown here earlier this season, had a strong outing Tuesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

For the Chicago White Sox, it was not a question of whether Shane Smith was the best pitcher they had to offer against the Dodgers — he was very likely their best.

Among White Sox pitchers with 10 or more starts, the rookie right-hander had the best strikeout-per-nine inning rate (8.2), as well as the lowest earned-run average (3.38) entering the game. Smith had been respectably good on a young White Sox roster that has been anything but.

Yet, Smith couldn’t make up the gulf in quality between the best-in-the-National-League Dodgers (54-32) and the worst-in-the-American-League White Sox (28-57). The Dodgers would make sure of that in quick fashion. A four-run, two-out rally in the first inning separated the teams quickly in a 6-1 victory to begin the six-game homestand.

“I think we’re really pitching well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We’re getting a lot of contributions from guys in the middle to the bottom of the order which is huge. We’re getting timely hits.”

“Obviously, that gauntlet of going through 26 games of some really good opponents record-wise, getting through that, not letting down, staying on the gas — I think that’s good, and finishing strong going into the break.”

Whereas Smith was chased from the game in the fifth inning, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was excellent again. A week after being pulled after five innings in Denver — because of a lengthy rain delay — Roberts called on the sure-to-be All-Star to pitch with an extended leash.

Yamamoto gave up one run, a two-out RBI double to Lenyn Sosa in the fourth inning, but twirled his way through an otherwise overmatched White Sox lineup, retiring the final 10 batters he faced. The right-hander tossed seven innings, gave up one run and three hits, while striking out eight, walking one and bringing his earned-run average down to 2.51.

“Any given night, a big league team can get you,” Roberts said, “and I was just happy that he was still aggressive and using the split, putting hitters away, but he's doing what he needs to do."

Across his last 12 innings, Yamamoto has given up just four hits.

Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting his 30th homer of the season. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“I think I’m pitching with really good form,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter after the game. “I think it’s becoming very clear what I have to do.”

White Sox first baseman Miguel Vargas — the former Dodgers top prospect who the franchise parted ways with at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for Michael Kopech and Tommy Edman — represented the heart of the Chicago lineup, batting cleanup with his .229 batting average and 10 home runs entering the game.

Vargas, who failed to bring the power in an 0-for-4 effort, received a 2024 World Series ring from Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes during pregame batting practice. Yamamoto set him down his first three times at the plate Tuesday.

“Yoshinobu did spectacular work today,” Shohei Ohtani told NHK, a Japanese television station, after the game.

Of more promising White Sox prospects, rookie Chase Meidroth faced a potential NL Cy Young award candidate. In the third inning, Yamamoto struck out Meidroth with a three-pitch combo: 95-mph fastball on the edge of the strike zone, a 92-mph cutter on the outside corner and a splitter down and in, forcing a swing more than a foot above where the pitch landed.

Andy Pages struck two run-scoring hits — a double and a single — en route to a two-for-four day at the plate. The 24-year-old Cuban slugger sits in sixth in the most recent NL All-Star outfielder voting, and ended Tuesday with a .294 batting average and 57 RBIs, the latter statistic being the best on the Dodgers.

"He's earned it,” Michael Conforto, who struck the two-RBI single that capped off the four-run first, said of Pages’ All-Star candidacy. “What you may or may not see is just how hard he works… really just doesn't seem to take days off.”

Ohtani, who was not a part of the Dodgers' hit parade that led to their first five runs across three innings, joined the run-scoring effort in the fourth with a no-doubt solo home run — 408 feet and 116.3 mph, halfway up the right-field pavilion — off of Smith, his 30th this season. As fireworks unexpectedly shot up from the Dodger Stadium parking lot during the ninth inning — it was a reminder that Wednesday could bring fireworks on the field as Clayton Kershaw takes the mound three strikeouts away from being the 20th MLB player to reach the 3,000-strikeout milestone.

Etc.

Kopech returned to the 15-day injured list — of which he recently returned from on June 7 — with right-knee inflammation. He said before Tuesday’s game that he wasn’t sure what caused the injury, and would characterize the ailment as discomfort rather than pain.

Roberts said there isn’t a timeline for Kopech’s return, but said it was a short-term issue. The 29-year-old, who received a cortisone shot in his knee, had yet to give up a run in eight scoreless appearances out of the bullpen.

In pitchers on their way back from injuries, Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder inflammation) will throw his third rehabilitation with triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. The expectation is that Glasnow will pitch five innings/75 pitches, Roberts said.

The Dodgers manager added that Blake Snell (left shoulder inflammation) and Blake Treinen (right forearm sprain) will throw to live hitters Wednesday, the next step in their recovery progression.

“Hopefully we're starting to turn the corner a little bit,” Roberts said.

Next Ohtani start

Ohtani will next start on the mound Saturday against the Houston Astros — a 4:05 p.m. start — and southpaw Justin Wrobleski will again piggyback off the two-way star’s opening effort.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

July 2, 2025

Rangers Sign Taylor Raddysh, Adding Forward Depth

The New York Rangers have reportedly signed forward Taylor Raddysh to a two-year, $3 million contract.

Raddysh’s new contract holds an average annual value of $1.5 million.

Through his four seasons in the NHL thus far, Raddysh has played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, and most recently the Washington Capitals.

This past season with the Capitals, the 27-year-old recorded seven goals, 20 assists, and 27 points in 80 games while averaging 12:22 minutes.

His best statistical season came during the 2023-24 season when he scored 20 goals for the Blackhawks.

The addition of Raddysh provides the Rangers with some bottom-six forward depth.

July 2, 2025

3 Trade Destinations For Penguins’ Winger Bryan Rust – And What The Return Should Look Like

According to many, Day One of free agency has been a bit of letdown.

Many of the biggest names on the market - names such as Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser, Brad Marchand, and K’Andre Miller (RFA) - have either been re-signed by their current teams (Boeser and Marchand) or were packaged as part of trade-then-sign deals (Marner and Miller). In other words - unless your name is Nikolaj Ehlers - there are very few big-name free agents left on the market.

So now that contending teams are running out of options? Well, that’s where the Pittsburgh Penguins come in.

Pittsburgh has a few “backup” options - if they should even be called that - for teams that need help in their push for contention. Wingers Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell - as well as defenseman Erik Karlsson - have all generated interest on the trade market, and Penguins’ general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has even said as much.

And there is perhaps no trade target more interesting to teams than Rust right now.

Rust, 33, is fresh off of a career year, when he registered 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games. His contract comes in at a very team-friendly cap hit of $5.125 million for three more years, which - when put up against player comparables like Boeser at $7.25 million for seven years - looks like a bargain. And, his veteran leadership and clutch gene make him a valuable locker room presence, too.

Pittsburgh quite likes Rust for all of the aforementioned reasons, and they are also a team that - as Dubas has reiterated time and time again - is trying to compete again “as urgently as possible.” For the Penguins, there is value in keeping Rust, even beyond nostalgia.

Apr 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) warms up before a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

And Dubas was very clear on what type of offer would need to be made in order for Rust to be dealt.

“Unless it’s something that blows us away in terms of what it returns - that it can very easily be looked at to help us return to contention - that would be a tough one,” Dubas said Monday of a potential Rust deal. “But, we’ve got lots of calls on him, he’s a great player, he’s signed… but he’s also a massive member of the Penguins. So, we’ll continue to be open for business, but the price will be very high.”

So, if a desperate team comes knocking, they better be prepared to pay a steep price - and likely an overpay.

And, as of Jul 1, there are three teams - the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Edmonton Oilers - who are rumored to be interested in Rust, with several likely to follow once they miss out on free agent targets.

What kind of haul - operating from the perspective of Dubas and the Penguins - should be expected from each of these three teams in any potential Rust trade?

Buffalo Sabres

To Buffalo: RW Bryan Rust
To Pittsburgh: RW Isak Rosen, 2026 first-round pick, 2027 third-round pick

First thing’s first: Let’s just assume that a first-round pick is, likely, a starting point in terms of asking price for Rust. The same can be said about Rakell, who has similar value but isn’t quite as multidimensional as Rust.

Is a first-round pick and one of the Sabres’ top prospects an overpay? Absolutely. But, it’s likely the only type of “blow us away” offer that Dubas would accept in exchange.

Rosen, 22, is a top-nine scoring winger with hands like butter and a devastating release. He is - in some ways - a younger version of Rakell in terms of craftiness and his ability to evade defenders to set himself up for scoring opportunities.

Although he has just one point in 15 total NHL games, he put together consecutive seasons of 20-plus goals with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, including 28 goals and 55 points in 61 games last season. He is the exact kind of young player the Penguins would be looking for in a trade, and - for Rust - they won’t accept anything less.

Penguins Trade Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic To San Jose For Third-Round PickAfter much anticipation about the Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltending situation heading into the 2025-26 season, the dam has finally broken.

Columbus Blue Jackets

To Columbus: RW Bryan Rust
To Pittsburgh: RW Yegor Chinakhov, LD Stanislav Svozil, 2027 first-round pick

In this scenario, Pittsburgh still fetches that first-round pick - albeit a year later - but instead of receiving one top-three prospect, they get a young, high-upside NHL player and a B-level prospect in return.

Chinakhov, 24, spent much of the season on Columbus’s second line - that is, when healthy. A back injury kept him out for much of last season, limiting him to 30 games in which he registered seven goals and 15 points. He will be an RFA in 2026, Columbus has plenty of forward talent in their system, and they’re trying to improve this summer.

Columbus To Activate Forward Yegor Chinakhov From Injured ReserveThe Blue Jackets will activate forward Yegor Chinakhov from injured reserve. He will play tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Chinakhov played in 21 games before suffering a back injury. In those 21 games, he scored 7 goals and had 14 points.

His injury history is questionable at best - he’s never played in more than 62 games across his four NHL seasons - and that comes with risk. But it might make him expendable enough to the Jackets and intriguing enough for Pittsburgh to take a chance on him. He is a high-IQ player with great vision, which seems to be the type of young player Dubas has been targeting.

Pittsburgh is also in heavy need of left defensive help, and - although Svosil isn’t an A-grade defensive prospect - it’s never a bad idea to have an abundance of defensive depth. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked the 22-year-old, 6-foot blueliner as Columbus’s sixth-best prospect, and he racked up 11 goals and 78 points in 56 points playing with Connor Bedard for the Regina Pats (WHL) in 2022-23.

He is raw, and he has worked on qualming the risk in his game. But he has the potential to be an effective NHL defenseman on the left side, something the Penguins surely need.

Penguins Sign Defenseman Caleb Jones To Two-Year ContractThe Pittsburgh Penguins stayed busy on Tuesday after re-signing forwards Philip Tomasino and Connor Dewar.

Edmonton Oilers

To Edmonton: RW Bryan Rust, 2026 fourth-round pick
To Pittsburgh: C Matt Savoie, 2027 first-round pick

The Oilers have one of the worst prospect pools in the league, so when it was reported by Darren Dreger on Tuesday that Bryan Rust’s name has been “attached to the Oilers at least in media speculation,” the immediate response by many was that the Oilers had nothing of interest to offer the Penguins.

Darren Dreger: Andrew Mangiapane is on the Oilers radar; Bryan Rust's name has been attached to the Oilers at least in media speculation - OverDrive
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 2, 2025

That is, except for Savoie.

Let’s be clear: In order to get an “overpay” here, a first-round pick would still have to be part of the equation, even if the Penguins target Edmonton’s top prospect. Savoie - while intriguing - is not nearly as coveted as the top prospects in other systems, and he is undersized at 5-foot-9.

He registered 19 goals and 54 points in 66 AHL games with the Bakersfield Condors last season, which was his first in professional hockey. He’s a great skater, he’s deceptive, and he’s got a shot that should play at the NHL level.

The Oilers are in win-now mode, especially with Connor McDavid in the last year of his current contract. Rust will help them toward that goal, and they will have to pay a premium to get him.

If Connor McDavid Feels The Oilers Have A 'Good Window To Win,' Re-Signing Is 'No Problem'Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid says he's in no rush to sign a contract extension.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Feature image credit: Charles LeClaire - Imagn Images

July 2, 2025

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has setback in recovery from broken hand and will see specialist

DENVER (AP) — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has experienced a setback in his recovery from a broken right hand and will see a specialist.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez felt pain when he arrived Tuesday at the team’s spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he had a workout a day earlier. Alvarez also took batting practice Saturday at Daikin Park.

He will be shut down until he’s evaluated by the specialist.

“It’s a tough time going through this with Yordan, but I know that he’s still feeling pain and the soreness in his hand,” Brown said before Tuesday night’s series opener at Colorado. “We’re not going to try to push it or force him through anything. We’re just going to allow him to heal and get a little bit more answers as to what steps we take next.”

Alvarez has been sidelined for nearly two months. The injury was initially diagnosed as a muscle strain, but when Alvarez felt pain again while hitting in late May, imaging revealed a small fracture.

The 28-year-old outfielder, who has hit 31 homers or more in each of the past four seasons, had been eyeing a return as soon as this weekend at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now it’s uncertain when he’ll play.

“We felt like he was close because he had felt so good of late,” Brown said, “but this is certainly news that we didn’t want.”

Also Tuesday, the Astros officially placed shortstop Jeremy Peña on the 10-day injured list with a fractured rib and recalled infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land.

July 2, 2025

Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. on defensive struggles at 3B: 'Everybody knows I'm a second baseman'

When things aren’t going right for a ballclub, theplays on defense that should be made but aren’t get magnified because they seem to be so often swiftly punished. That was again the case for the Yankees' infield on Tuesday as they let a few miscues snowball into a 12-5 loss at the Toronto Blue Jays, their 12th defeat in the last 18 games.

In the loss, two big moments cost them runs. One on another catcher’s interference by JC Escarra and a play on a ball to third that Jazz Chisholm Jr. couldn’t complete for an out.

“We obviously got to play a little bit better,” manager Aaron Boone said of his defense. “We have the people capable of doing that, and we’ll continue to work hard at it. We’ve got to play better overall, we understand that, we know that.”

With Chisholm still playing at a below-average clip at third and DJ LeMahieu appearing very limited at second, the skipper was asked about swapping the infielders: “We’ll talk through that stuff,” he said.

Is it the best alignment the way it is now? “I think both guys are really talented defenders wherever they line up,” Boone said. “But, we’ll continue to look at things like that.”

Speaking to The Athletic's Chris Kirschner after the game in Toronto, Chisholm said that he had "only worked at second base" during offseason drills and that the Yankees explicitly told him he would be their second baseman. That was the position where he began the year, before he was moved to third base, a position he only played last year after arriving in The Bronx in a deadline deal with Miami, when LeMahieu came off the IL in mid-May.

“Everybody knows I’m a second baseman,” Chisholm told Kirschner. “Of course, I want to play second base, but whatever it takes to help the team win. If that’s what the team chooses, that’s what I gotta do. I don’t write the lineups. You feel me?

“I’m playing every day, so it’s hard to be upset. Yes, I know I’m a second baseman. Yes, I know I’m better at second base, but at the end of the day, I still have to play third. I just have to deal with it.”

LeMahieu has minus-1 outs above average through 288 innings at second base. Chisholm has a minus-2 OAA in 198 innings at third base, while he is a plus-3 OAA in 251 innings at second.

For his part, Chisholm said he would be a “team guy” when he was asked to move back to third when he came off the IL at the beginning of June.

"[Boone] told me he wanted me at third base. He really wanted me at third base. I'm a team guy. I'm here to win a ring. I'm not here to fight over positions," Chisholm said in late May. "We've got some of the best players in the world on our team… I'm just here to help us win."

On the play in question Tuesday, with two down in the fourth and the Yanks up 2-1, Davis Schneider hit a slow chopper to third that Chisholm didn’t play too aggressively. After letting it take an extra hop, he fielded and threw off target to first. The official scorer credited the Blue Jays outfielder, who is in the 50th percentile in sprint speed, with an infield hit. After Max Fried issued a walk, he served up a three-run homer to Andres Gimenez to put Toronto ahead.

“I think he went at it, and I think it’s a little bit of just not always playing on turf,” Boone said. “It’s kind of an in-between. So it kind of messed with his rhythm of the throw, so the throw was inaccurate. It’s probably because the hop kind of took him up a little bit, so it wasn’t as smooth.

“But I chalk that up to more just not getting the right hop and probably a little bit of the turf thing.”

July 2, 2025

NHL News: Panthers Sign Former Bruins Goalie

The Florida Panthers have added to their goaltending depth.

The Panthers have announced that they have signed goaltender Brandon Bussi to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season.

We’ve agreed to terms with goaltender Brandon Bussi on a one-year, two-way contract.

📝 » https://t.co/aD8QG1plJQ pic.twitter.com/Awd6UpSAHo
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) July 1, 2025

Bussi, 27, spent each of the last four seasons in the Boston Bruins' system, where he played in the AHL. In 33 games this past season with the Providence Bruins, the 6-foot-5 goaltender put together a 15-14-3 record, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.77 goals-against average. Overall, it was another solid year in the AHL for Bussi, and he will look to build off that with the Panthers organization from here.

Bussi should have a good chance of being the Charlotte Checkers' starting goalie, as he has been solid throughout his AHL career. He has had a .907 save percentage in each of his four AHL campaigns, which includes a .924 save percentage in 32 games with Providence in 2022-23.

Overall, this is a low-risk depth move for the Panthers. At a minimum, Bussi should be an impactful goalie for the Checkers. In 111 career AHL games, Bussi has a 31-12-8 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.62 goals-against average.

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Photo Credit: © Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

July 2, 2025

For Newest Golden Knight Mitch Marner, Family Is Everything

The Vegas Golden Knights’ newest recruit, Mitch Marner, is ready to embrace his fresh start in Las Vegas. But for the star winger, this deal wasn’t just about hockey, it was about finding a home.

WELCOME HOME, MARNER FAMILY 😁 pic.twitter.com/IQcX0pSVlh
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 1, 2025

Hockey is a top priority amongst the league, but for Marner, everything changed earlier in May when he became a father. As previously mentioned, Marner signed an eight-year contract, an undeniable asset for the Knights on the ice. But beyond the rink, that long-term commitment offers his son, Miles, the chance to grow up rooted in one place, surrounded by a close-knit community.

“As soon as I got home from the rink, immediately after games or anything like that, I was trying to figure out how I could help my wife and my son,” Marner said. “Whether it was staying up late some nights, trying to take care of them, or just helping my wife get a couple hours of sleep between feedings. It really changes your mindset quickly. You’re thankful for the lessons that other people taught you along the way, but your mind definitely shifts to being a family man, not just a hockey player.”

Max Pacioretty and Ryan Reaves, both former Golden Knights and former teammates of Marner with the Maple Leafs, have been key confidants for him over the past few weeks. Their insights and experiences played a pivotal role in helping him and his family realize that Vegas was the right fit all around.

Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon attributed the team’s strong culture to its success and highlighted how it plays a role in Marner’s addition to the roster.

“I think we also have the ability here to surround any player with really good players,” McCrimmon said. “Those are things that have been brought to our organization by some people who aren't even in our organization anymore, but have been passed down. And we always say about our culture, don't let it slip. I think he's going to fit into that and flourish.”

As Marner begins this new chapter in Vegas, it’s clear that the Knights are gaining more than just top-tier talent. They’re welcoming a player whose priorities align with the culture they’ve built.

PHOTO COURTESY: Golden Knights

July 2, 2025

Zakai Zeigler drops bid to play 5th college season, but his lawsuit against NCAA will continue

Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee has dropped his bid for a federal judge to let him play a fifth season of Division I basketball in five years, but his lawsuit against the NCAA will continue, his attorneys said Tuesday. Last month, a judge denied Zeigler's request for a preliminary injunction that would allow him to return to the Volunteers. “While we had hoped to see Zakai back in orange and white, he’s embracing the next chapter of his basketball career with optimism and resolve,” the law firm Litson PLLC said in a statement.

July 2, 2025

NHL Free Agency 2025: Five Winners After Day 1

The opening day of the NHL free agency featured no shortage of signings.

As is tradition, we’re ranking our winners and losers based on the signings NHL teams have made and roster departures. But let’s be clear – in this case, we’re only talking in about winners and losers from the free-agent signings, re-signings and departures. That’s why the Montreal Canadiens, which traded for Zack Bolduc and acquired Noah Dobson last week, don’t appear here. Off-season trades are a focus for another day.

With that said, here are the five NHL teams that stood out as winners from the opening bell of NHL free agency to late Tuesday afternoon. In alphabetical order:

Florida Panthers

You can’t accuse the Panthers of not trying to be a first-rate Stanley Cup playoff contender yet again.

In what is now clearly Embarrassment of Riches Territory, by finding a way to re-sign left winger Brad Marchand, center Sam Bennett and defenseman Aaron Ekblad, GM Bill Zito has given a masterclass on roster and salary cap maneuvering.

There’s now no clear weakness for this Florida team. Until someone actually eliminates them from a playoff round, there’s no good reason why the Panthers shouldn’t be considered the favorite to win their third straight Cup.

They convinced players not to leave and to take far less than market value to stick around, whether taxes play a factor or not. It couldn’t have gone better for Zito & Co., and in no small part because of their free agency decisions, we’re likely looking at a modern-day dynasty continuing its success next season.

New Jersey Devils

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald was stark in his 2025 post-season assessment of his team when he said he won’t be coming back with the same group of players.

That was certainly true, as Fitzgerald signed former Oilers plugger Connor Brown and former Dallas Stars veteran Evgenii Dadonov. They also re-signed veteran Jake Allen as Jacob Markstrom’s understudy between the pipes at only $1.8 million per season for five years.

These are subtle tweaks, but they’re important when it comes to New Jersey’s roster composition. You don’t need a high volume of signings or re-signings to make our list, and the Devils got here because they assured themselves of a decent goalie tandem at a bargain rate and slotted in terrific middle-six wingers to shore up their offense. New Jersey is at very least a likely playoff team, and at best, they could vastly improve on this past year’s efforts.

New York Rangers

The Rangers opened the vaults for the best available UFA defenseman, Vladislav Gavrikov, on a seven-year contract that carries a $7-million cap hit. When it came to their own free-agent defenseman, youngster K’Andre Miller, the Blueshirts decided to move on from the RFA. But they did manage to keep another RFA, Will Cuylle.

Gavrikov now likely joins Adam Fox to give the Rangers one of the best one-two punches on ‘D.’ And he left enough money on the table for the Rangers to spend to acquire fourth-liner Justin Dowling. It’s little moves like that one, and big moves like the Gavrikov move, that make you optimistic about the Rangers’ playoff chances next year.

This is already a very different-looking team, and we’re not sure Drury is done making changes. We’ll see how they respond to increased pressure, but the Rangers have taken a step forward with Sunday’s moves.

Brad Marchand (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Utah Mammoth

The Mammoth are itching to be a playoff team, and Utah GM Bill Armstrong targeted a couple of former Winnipeg Jets – left winger Brandon Tanev and former Panthers third-pair D-man Nate Schmidt – as well as backup Vitek Vanecek. They did so for a combined cost of $7.5 million.

Utah will still go as far as its young core of talent carries it, but Armstrong has invested wisely in a pair of guys who will improve on the grit front and goalie insurance in Vanecek. They’re rounding out the depth after already acquiring JJ Peterka. You can’t say Armstrong hasn’t done his part to push the Mammoth into a more competitive era.

NHL Free Agency Frenzy 2025: Live Tracker And AnalysisWelcome to the NHL Free Agency Frenzy of 2025.

Vancouver Canucks

Heading into the summer, it didn’t seem like the Canucks could retain the services of star winger Brock Boeser. However, not only did Vancouver re-sign Boeser, they did so at a not-unreasonable annual pricetag of $7.5 million.

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin also got star goalie Thatcher Demko to sign for an additional three years at $8.5 million per season and slick winger Conor Garland to re-up at $6 million per season through the 2031-32 campaign.

If that felt like a home-run start to summer, it’s because it was. Vancouver brass has firmed up its goalie tandem through 2029, strengthened its depth on the wing and served notice that not making the playoffs won’t be an option in 2025-26.

We expect a big return to form for the Canucks, and if that’s what happens, it will be in part by the reinvestment in their core talents.

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July 2, 2025

‘No denying it’: Michael Hussey’s verdict on Sam Konstas struggles … and what Aussies must do with Cameron Green

Former Australian batter Michael Hussey has called for fans to be patient with the Test side’s new-look top order following last week’s unconvincing performance during the Frank Worrell Trophy series opener against the West Indies.

July 2, 2025

Cool For The Summer: Ottawa Senators Offseason NHL Additions Are 'Most Likely' Complete

Senators general manager Steve Staios didn't do a lot on day one of free agency, but there was something familiar about his performance. For the second year in a row, Staios went out and acquired a free agent veteran role player, who's won a Stanley Cup.

Last year in free agency, the Senators picked up David Perron, Michael Amadio, and, later in the summer, Nick Cousins. All of them are north of 30 and owners of Stanley Cup rings.

Joining that demographic in the Senators locker room is center Lars Eller, who signed a one-year deal on Tuesday worth $1.2 million. Eller is coming off a 10-goal, 22-point season, split between Pittsburgh and Washington.

Eller will likely replace Adam Gaudette, who left the Senators today in free agency. Gaudette got a two-year contract worth $2 million a season with the San Jose Sharks, the biggest payday of his career.

Eller may not be capable of the 19 goals Gaudette had this season, though let's be honest, Gaudette may not be either. But Eller is bigger, a better defender and a better skater. He's got over 1,000 games in the league and he has a Cup winning goal to his credit.

And he can still produce as well, just one year removed from a 15-goal, 31-point season in 2023-24.

"Yeah, we're excited to bring into our group another veteran with experience that's won, a high-character individual that can move around the lineup," Staios said. "And we're looking to continue to build on our depth.

As an aside, Eller was part of two wild moments in games against the Ottawa Senators. The most notable occurred during the 2013 playoffs when he was with the Montreal Canadiens. Senators defenseman Eric Gryba caught him with a brutal hit at the Montreal blue line on a suicide pass from teammate Raphael Diaz, only known to Sens head coach Paul MacLean as Player 61.

Eller had no idea the hit was coming and suffered a broken nose and a concussion after landing face-first on the ice. It led to hard feelings on both sides in the series and a war of words between MacLean and Canadiens coach Michel Therrien.

The other moment was the weirdest of goals two years ago when Eller was playing for the Colorado Avalanche. Mads Søgaard covered the puck up on a dump-in, and for some bizarre reason, the officials refused to blow the whistle, even though Søgaard was surrounded by Avalanche players. When everyone stopped playing, Søgaard lifted his glove off the puck, assuming the play was dead, and Eller tucked the puck in for a goal that they actually let stand.

The Senators also added a depth forward on Tuesday, signing 25-year-old Olle Lycksell, who's been a fine American Hockey League scorer so far in his career, averaging a point a game for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He also got into 19 games for the Philadelphia Flyers, posting five points. He should be a tremendous asset for Belleville this year while providing some NHL depth if required because of injury.

When Staios was asked if he expects any further additions to his NHL roster this summer, he was candid in his answer.

"I guess we'll see... Most likely not. We feel comfortable with where we are," Staios said.

Staios pointed out that the changes for next season were a "slow roll" that started back at the deadline and included Dylan Cozens, Fabian Zetterlund, Jordan Spence, and now Eller.

Beyond that, Staios believes in the core of this team and that its greatest room for improvement will come from the growth of experience and being another year older.

"I'm mindful of this group and their growth and their development. And I think I can't emphasize that enough. They are taking hold of it."

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

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July 2, 2025

New York Rangers Move And Shake To Avoid Another Season Of Disappointment

The New York Rangers are coming off one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory by being movers and shakers on the first day of NHL free agency.

This past season, the Rangers fell out of the Stanley Cup playoff mix one year after finishing with the best regular-season record in the NHL. But on Tuesday, the Rangers signed prized UFA defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, then traded young blueliner K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The contract for Gavrikov – seven years, at an average annual value of $7 million – gives the Blueshirts a 29-year-old first-pair D-man in his prime.

Gavrikov spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, posting a combined 11 goals and 53 points in that span. But you’re not bringing Gavrikov to Manhattan to be an elite point-producer. You’re signing him to be a terrific stay-at-home defenseman, a big body at 6-foot-3 and a solid shot-blocker.

Gavrikov slots in as one half of the Rangers’ top pairing with star D-man Adam Fox. His stabilizing impact will free Fox to have a bounce-back campaign after suffering a 12-point drop in production this past season.

Vladislav Gavrikov and Artemi Panarin (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

But here’s where it gets curious for the Blueshirts: by trading Miller – a rugged physical force and a player under team control as an RFA – the Rangers are shaving off considerable depth in their defense corps.

The price Rangers GM Chris Drury got for Miller Tuesday – up-and-coming defenseman Scott Morrow, a first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft – further alters the organizational chemistry.

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In any case, the Rangers now have Gavrikov in tow as a de facto replacement for Miller. With that potential upgrade and a full season of star center J.T. Miller, the Rangers look like they’ll be back in the post-season next year. They’ve still got $1.4 million in cap space to play with, and they’re a team built to win now, so don’t be surprised if more moves are coming. But are they a better team today than they were yesterday? Absolutely, they are.

July 2, 2025

J.C. Escarra shoulders blame for Yankees loss after catcher's interference leads to big inning for Blue Jays

It's been a rough two days in Toronto for Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra.

The New York backup backstop has burned his team with catcher's interference calls that cost the Yankees the first two games of their pivotal four-game set against the Blue Jays.

After his catcher's interference loaded the bases in the sixth inning of a tie game on Monday -- which led to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s go-ahead two-run single in the Yankees' loss -- Escarra was caught sticking his glove out a little too far again on Tuesday.

In a 4-4 game in the seventh inning, pinch-hitter Addison Barger checked swung and was called out on strikes for what seemed to be the second out of the inning, but a replay review caught Escarra's catcher interference and gave the Blue Jays a bases-loaded situation once again. What followed was a single and a grand slam that blew the game open as Toronto eventually defeated the Yankees, 12-5.

"It’s on me. I intend to get as close as possible, but not let that happen. I was too close today," Escarra said after the game. "Didn’t help my team win today or yesterday. It’s something I can control."

Escarra later said, "It gave them bases loaded, and the big hit came. I could have prevented it. It was in my control."

Escarra now has three catcher's interference calls on him this season, which is tied with Houston's Victor Caratini for the most in baseball.

"We’re incredibly diligent on trying to eliminate that as much as possible," manager Aaron Boone said of the catcher interference after the game. "It is something that we lean into every hitter, who we’re vulnerable with, who we are not, and we do that accordingly with our catchers. It’s something we continue to lean into and eliminate as much as we can and leverage the strikezone as much as we can."

Boone added that he believes catcher's interference shouldn't be called on a check swing, although he admitted that the Yankees benefited from a similar call last season. And Luke Weaver, the Yankees' high-leverage reliever who was on the mound when Tuesday's catcher's interference was called, echoed his skipper's sentiment.

"That was a confusing one. That’s one I didn’t see in real time…it’s pretty devastating, honestly," Weaver, who allowed the grand slam to George Springer, said. "That’s a really unfortunate part of our game, and I don’t personally think it belongs in our game. I understand there are moments where it’s very egregious and they hit the glove on a full swing. I feel like you earned something there, and it was taken away from you. That’s out of my control at that point. Just a really silly thing to happen."

Escarra does agree with Boone, but still, put the onus on himself for being too close to the batter and continues to put Tuesday's loss on himself.

"He wasn’t going to swing. But at the end of the day, I shouldn’t have been too close like that," he said. "Going forward, I really got to make it a priority not to get too deep in there."

The Yankes (48-37) are now just one game ahead of the Rays and Blue Jays in the AL East standings. The loss also dropped the Yankees' AL East record to a measly 10-14, which is the worst in the division.

Every day catcher Austin Wells isexpected to return to the starting lineup Wednesday after getting tested for his circulatory issues in his catching hand. Hopefully, that reset will allow Escarra the time to adjust his pitch-framing and prevent any more extra baserunners from his catcher's interference.