Best NBA Player Props Today for April 30: Lean on Murray

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Three teams will have the chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs in tonight’s NBA slate, with some great player props available in all three games.

My NBA predictions for tonight include seeing OG Anunoby and Payton Pritchard helping their teams finish off their opponents, while I also like Jamal Murray to help force a Game 7.

Read on below to see why I’m backing these player props and get my free NBA picks for Thursday, April 30.

Best NBA player props today

PlayerPickbet365
Knicks OG AnunobyOver 7.5 rebounds-105
CelticsPayton PritchardOver 4.5 assists+120
NuggetsJamal MurrayOver 38.5 points + rebounds + assists-110

Prop #1: OG Anunoby Over 7.5 rebounds

-105 at bet365

The New York Knicks have regained control of their series against the Atlanta Hawks behind outstanding performances by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. But OG Anunoby has also been key to New York’s success, averaging 20.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in the series.

So far, Anunoby hasn’t had fewer than eight rebounds in a game in the series, grabbing 10 in both Game 4 and Game 5. That’s way up from his regular season average (5.2 rebounds per game), but there are two good reasons for the increase.

First, Anunoby is playing more, getting 37.6 minutes per game in the series. The Hawks are also a relatively poor rebounding team, ranking 20th this season in rebound rate (49.0%). I expect Anunoby to keep crashing the boards as the Knicks likely put away this series tonight.

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: ESPN

Prop #2: Payton Pritchard Over 4.5 assists

+120 at bet365

Payton Pritchard had a rough game shooting from deep in Game 5, going just 1-for-5 from beyond the arc in the Philadelphia 76ers 113-97 win over the Boston Celtics. Pritchard has been up-and-down in his scoring, averaging 15.0 ppg in the series with a high of 32 points and a low of just four.

One place where Pritchard has remained consistent, however, has been as a distributor. In four of the five games of this series, the Celtics guard has had 5+ assists, a reminder that he dished out an average of 5.2 assists per game during the regular season.

Pritchard will always be a key third option in the Boston offense, but with Jaylen Brown (25.8 ppg) and Jayson Tatum (24.6 ppg) both putting in strong performances, he’s going to do more work in a support

role than as a leading scorer. That role should continue in Game 6, which is why I’m taking Pritchard to hit his assists total again tonight.

  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBC, Peacock

Prop #3: Jamal Murray Over 38.5 points + rebounds + assists

-110 at bet365

While Nikola Jokic has been inconsistent – at least by his standards – in this series, Jamal Murray has been a constant force keeping the Denver Nuggets alive against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the first five games of the series, Murray is averaging 26.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, and outside of a dip in Game 3, his numbers have been similar every night.

Murray and the rest of the Nuggets have a bit of a break for the remainder of the series, as Anthony Edwards (28.8 ppg in the regular season) is done after his knee injury in Game 4. And while it’s not as big a loss, the fact that Donte DiVincenzo is out with an Achilles injury won’t help Minnesota either.

Murray has put up 40+ PRA in three of the first five games of this series. I expect Denver to lean on him and Jokic heavily to make sure they can win the final two games of this series and keep their postseason run alive. In Murray’s case, that means another all-around performance that allows him to hit the Over on his PRA total.

  • Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: ESPN

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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Minor League roundup, April 29: Bryce Eldridge dominates

Bryce Eldridge holding a bat, watching a home run.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 23: Bryce Eldridge #8 of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run during the game at Oracle Park on March 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For the second day in a row, the San Francisco Giants only had three Minor League Baseball games, as AA Richmond had their contest against Altoona rained out. Those teams will play a doubleheader on Friday.

Let’s jump into the games that did happen!

Link to the 2026 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)

All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.


News

AAA Sacramento had a little shifting of inventory. On Wednesday, the Giants purchased the contract of RHP Gregory Santos, who presumably had a May 1 opt out. In exchange, RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 9 CPL) was optioned back to Sacramento after his successful stint in the Majors. And on Thursday, the Giants brought up RHP Trevor McDonald (No. 12 CPL) as the allotted 27th player for their doubleheader. The Giants can keep McDonald on the roster past Thursday and option/release someone else, but I’d assume that he’ll be headed back to Sacramento.


AAA Sacramento (16-11)

Sacramento River Cats beat the Salt Lake Bees (Angels) 17-7
Box score

It’s not exactly news to anyone, but first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) is one of the top prospects in the sport. But hey … just because it’s not news, doesn’t mean we don’t like to be reminded about it, right?

And remind us he did.

The tall lefty had an eye-popping showing on Wednesday — the type of game that will have KNBR callers losing their minds if the Giants offense doesn’t do much during today’s doubleheader.

In his 1st plate appearance of the day, he worked a walk.

In his 2nd plate appearance of the day, he worked the count full and then, against a left-handed pitcher, blasted an absolutely sensational 2-run home run that measured out at 434 feet, and left the bat at 110.1 mph.

In his 3rd plate appearance of the day, he ripped a 103.6-mph single, again off of a lefty.

In his 4th plate appearance of the day, he hit yet another single off of a left-hander.

In his 5th plate appearance of the day, he was finally retired, but on a hard-hit ground out.

And in his 6th plate appearance of the day, he capped his superstar showing with a 3-run home run, hit 103 mph and 401 feet. Not only that, but it came in an 0-2 count and, you guessed it, against a lefty.

Yes, it was a 4-5 day with 2 dingers and a walk, and all 4 of his hits coming off of same-handed pitching. Even when you account for the Salt Lake environment — the Bees play in a park that is basically the Great American Ballpark of the Coors Field League — it was a mesmerizing showing, and one that raised his OPS all the way up to .955 and his wRC+ to 155.

That’s about as good of a day as you can have, and about as encouraging of a day as you can have, though fans clamoring for his call-up will probably be disappointed. There are still things to work on — mainly making contact, as his in-zone contact rate remains in the 32nd percentile, while his whiff rate is in the 18th percentile — but yeesh. Sometimes a player reminds you of what they’re capable of, and when that player is the best power prospect the Giants have had in many decades, it’s pretty exciting!

Eldridge didn’t have the only good day in the batter’s box, as you could probably surmise by the 17 runs, which came via 15 hits, 10 walks, 3 hit batters, and 2 Salt Lake errors. Center fielder Grant McCray had a fantastic game and would have been the headliner had Eldridge not stolen the show.

McCray had a brutal start to the year but has been turning things around lately, and Wednesday was his best game yet, as he hit 2-5 with a grand slam, a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout.

The grand slam was beautiful, but it’s the stolen base that the Giants are probably happiest to see. If McCray wants to get back to the Majors soon, it will likely be in a Jared Oliva-esque role, and we saw during the spring the difference in how those two attack the bases, despite having similar speed. McCray had 52 thefts in 2023, but swiped just 14 bags in the Minors in 2024, and 5 more in the Majors. He bounced back a little with 27 stolen bases last year (but none in 22 Major League games). So far this year, he has 3, but has been caught stealing twice.

As for the bat, though, it’s thankfully coming around, as he’s up to a .718 OPS and a 101 wRC+. McCray started the season with a great game, hitting 3-3 with a walk, but then hit a huge slump: over the next 15 games, he hit just 5-46 with 0 home runs, 2 doubles, 12 walks, and 17 strikeouts. But since then, he’s hit 10-32 with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. A big step in the right direction.

The other nice hitting days belonged to right fielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) and third baseman Buddy Kennedy. Bericoto hit 2-5 with a walk, and smashed a 2-run home run.

The 24-year old is holding his own in his 1st real look at AAA (he had a brief stint there last year), as he has a .803 OPS and a 113 wRC+. The big power in his right-handed bat hasn’t been too on display — this was his 1st home run since April 8, and just his 2nd extra-base hit in that time — but the 18.3% strikeout rate is extremely encouraging. Bericoto has some really nice exit velocities (he’s 83rd percentile in 90th percentile EV), so if he can keep limiting strikeouts, that will be a very good thing.

As for Kennedy, he kept his excellent season going by hitting 3-4 with a double, a walk, and a hit by pitch, which raised his OPS to .933 and his wRC+ to 154. He’s done absolutely everything that the Giants have asked of him when they signed him to a Minor League contract to be AAA depth.

On the pitching front, it was a pretty nice start for RHP Carson Seymour, who you have to imagine the organization was considering calling up for Thursday’s MLB doubleheader before landing on RHP Trevor McDonald (No. 12 CPL). Seymour went 5 strong innings, most notably not issuing any walks while striking out 5 batters. He gave up 6 hits (honestly not bad given the environment) and 2 runs, which came on a 2-run home run by former Giant Donovan Walton. AAA baseball, baby!

Mostly it was just nice seeing Seymour strike some batters out, as that has been mysteriously absent from his game this season. The 27-year old, who made his MLB debut last year, has struck out just 7.7 batters per 9 innings, though he’s only walked 2.0 (he also has a very high 58.5% groundball rate at the moment). The overall package has been so-so, as he has a 4.03 ERA and a 4.76 FIP on the season. But games like this, especially against a Salt Lake roster with so many former Major Leaguers on it, certainly help him state his case.

A pair of Sacramento’s more high-profile relief prospects really struggled, as LHP Juan Sánchez (No. 41 CPL) gave up 2 hits (including a home run), 2 walks, and 3 earned runs while recording just 2 outs, and RHP Trent Harris (No. 29 CPL) allowed 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs while also recording just 2 outs. Sánchez has a 4.76 ERA and an 8.36 FIP through 5.2 innings, while Harris has a 9.45 ERA and a 7.52 FIP in 6.2 innings.

RHP Marques Johnson had a great game though, retiring all 5 batters he faced and striking out 2 of them. The 2022 11th-round pick, who came to the Giants in the Mauricio Llovera trade, has a 4.50 ERA and a 5.37 FIP in his debut AAA season.

High-A Eugene (17-5)

Eugene Emeralds beat Spokane (Rockies) 3-1
Box score

The Emeralds continued their great season, and they did so with a stellar pitching performance. A quartet of arms took the mound for Eugene, and all 4 pitched very well … but none better than the starter, LHP Charlie McDaniel. The 24-year old southpaw isn’t the most heralded pitcher in the system, as he was an undrafted free agent who is in his 2nd season. But there aren’t many pitchers in the organization who have been better to start the year.

Wednesday was McDaniel’s 4th start of the season, and he went 5.1 strong, strong innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. Most impressive, though, was his strike-throwing ability: McDaniel threw a gorgeous 53 of 70 pitches for strikes, didn’t walk a single hitter, and struck out 8 batters on the day. Glorious!

McDaniel’s numbers are nothing short of excellent this year, as he has a 1.10 ERA and a 2.38 FIP. The really nice thing has been the control, though, as McDaniel has 18 strikeouts to just 3 walks in 16.1 innings. Control has always been McDaniel’s strength, though he’s taken it up a notch this year by improving both his walk and strikeout rates … and he’s also upped his ground ball rate from 42.2% last year to 54.3% this season. While McDaniel doesn’t have overpowering stuff, he certainly fits into the Giants big bucket of funky and intriguing bulk inning southpaws.

But McDaniel wasn’t the only undrafted pitcher to shine in this game, as RHP Ben Peterson earned the save with 2 no-hit innings, walking 1 and striking out 1. Like McDaniel, Peterson — who has a 1.80 ERA and a 3.15 FIP — has been tremendous with his control so far this year, with 13 strikeouts against just 2 walks in 10 innings. A fantastic start to his 2nd season for the 24-year old North Carolina alum.

It was a mild day on offense, but there were a pair of stars: first baseman Zander Darby and left fielder Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL). Darby continued his awesome season, hitting 1-3 with a beautiful home run and a strikeout.

A 23-year old taken in the 12th round of the 2024 draft, Darby really struggled when he got to Eugene late last year, posting just a .489 OPS and a 45 wRC+ in 21 games … which came after a delightful .862 OPS and 136 wRC+ with Low-A San Jose. But he’s made the adjustments this year, and looks much more like the hitter who earned the promotion than the one who struggled with it. Through 19 games this year, Darby has a .892 OPS and a 147 wRC+. He’s still striking out too much … his rate is 29.9% this year, after 42.0% in Eugene last year, which followed a very good 18.4% rate in San Jose.

Darby’s a little bit of a fill-in-wherever option for the Ems, as he’s started at least 5 games at first, second, and third base this year. He’s not the highest-regarded prospect, but if he keeps hitting he’ll keep playing!

As for Gutierrez, he went 2-3 with a walk and a stolen base. That’s more like the Gutierrez we’ve grown accustomed to! The 21-year old lefty broke out last year with a high-contact approach — he had a .351 average and just a 13.7% strikeout rate, but with limited power with San Jose — but this year has flipped the script a little bit. He’s had more power than we’re used to, but with a lower batting average and higher strikeout rate. So this performance was nice to see, as it was a return to the norm!

Gutierrez is still settling into the level, as he has just a .215 average … but thanks to that increase in power and a 10.8% walk rate, he’s still hitting right at league average, with a .711 OPS and a 102 wRC+. He’s also up to 5 stolen bases on the year, without yet being caught.

Not very good days for the other high profile hitters in Eugene: center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) went 0-4 and struck out twice, lowering his OPS to .897 and his wRC+ to 147; shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) hit 0-2 with a walk, a sacrifice fly, and a strikeout, and now has a .756 OPS and a 109 wRC+; designated hitter Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL) hit 1-4 with a double, but struck out 3 times and saw his OPS move to .683 and his wRC+ to 105; and third baseman Walker Martin went 0-2 with a walk, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts, lowering his OPS to .780 and his wRC+ to 122.

Low-A San Jose (15-8)

San Jose Giants lost to the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) 9-8
Box score

A rough loss for the Baby Giants, who took an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning, only to get walked off later that inning. Ouch!

The struggles began with RHP Cooper McGrath. Last year’s 18th-round pick cruised through the 8th inning, but couldn’t find the strike zone in the 9th, issuing a 4-pitch walk, a 5-pitch walk, and a hit batter (in a 3-ball count) to load the bases without an out.

He then gave way to RHP Alix Hernandez, who preceded to hit a batter, bringing in a run. After recording a strikeout, Hernandez allowed a run-scoring single, and then a sacrifice fly, before ceding a walk-off 3-run home run.

That’s a painful way to go out, and it raised McGrath’s ERA to 14.14 and his FIP to 11.29, and Hernandez’s to 5.06 and 4.99, respectively. After giving up no earned runs in his 1st 5 games of the year, Hernandez has allowed 3 runs in each of his past 2 games.

The bullpen collapse came after a decent start by RHP Jordan Gottesman. The team’s reigning 6th-round selection threw 50 of 73 pitches for strikes while giving up 5 hits (including a home run), 1 walk, and 2 earned runs in 4.2 innings, while striking out 4.

That’s not a great outing, but it’s a solid enough one, and it moved his ERA to 3.60, though his FIP sits at just 6.46. The long ball has been dooming the Northeastern product in his debut season, as he’s limited hitters to just 16 hits in 20 innings … but 4 of them have cleared the fence.

San Jose had a funny day on offense, netting 8 runs without recording an extra-base hit. You don’t see that very often … in fact, I looked it up out of curiosity, and the last time the Major League team did that was 1979!

A trio of hitters had really nice games though: right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL), catcher Junior Barajas, and left fielder Damian Bravo.

Maldonado hit 2-4 with a sacrifice fly and a stolen base, moving his OPS to 1.107 and his wRC+ to 166, with 9 stolen bases in 11 attempts. Last year’s 7th-round pick has come back to earth following his other-worldly week of baseball destruction, but is still having one of the best seasons on the farm this year. Barajas hit 3-5, which raised last year’s 11th-round pick’s OPS to .940 and his wRC+ to 134. And Bravo, a 15th-round pick a year ago, went 1-3 with 2 walks, a stolen base, and a strikeout, boosting his OPS to .867 and his wRC+ to 112, with 2 stolen bases in as many attempts.


Home run tracker

5 — Bryce Eldridge x2 — [AAA]
4 — Zander Darby — [High-A]
3 — Victor Bericoto — [AAA]
2 — Grant McCray — [AAA]


Thursday schedule

Sacramento: 5:35 p.m. PT at Salt Lake (SP: TBD)
Richmond: 8:05 a.m. PT at Altoona (SP: Joe Whitman)
Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Spokane (SP: Tyler Switalski)
San Jose: 6:35 p.m. PT at Visalia (SP: TBD)

Seattle Kraken say assistant coach Jessica Campbell will not return next season

SEATTLE (AP) — Jessica Campbell, the first woman to be an on-bench assistant coach in NHL history, will not return to the Seattle Kraken next season, the team said Thursday.

General manager Jason Botterill said Campbell’s contract is expiring and she expressed a desire to explore other roles around the league.

“We support her in this process,” Botterill said in a statement. “Jessica has been an important member of our coaching staff for the past four years, demonstrating deep knowledge and a unique ability to connect with and develop players. We respect her decision and believe strongly in her as a coach in this league.”

Campbell was promoted from the American Hockey League’s Coachella Firebirds along with Dan Bylsma in 2024 after he became the organization’s second head coach. She was retained after Bylsma was fired a year ago and replaced by Lane Lambert.

The Kraken missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons and only qualified once since their debut in 2021-22. The Firebirds made back-to-back trips to the Calder Cup Final when Campbell was on Bylsma's AHL staff.

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Gambo: Goodwin and Gillespie are a top priority this offseason

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 17: Collin Gillespie #12 & Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns hug before the game against the Golden State Warriors during the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

With the offseason officially underway for the Phoenix Suns, discussion on offseason plans will begin to run rampant over the next few weeks. Many have already started with fake trade proposals, and we will explore that here, too, but not today.

Instead, we will discuss the recent tweet from known Suns insider John Gambadoro, as he said this early this morning (for us East Coast people) and late last night for Suns fans.

Gambadoro stated that two of the Suns’ four free agents should be top priorities to retain. Those would be Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin. This would make sense for the Suns as both players were key pieces to the new culture and identity Phoenix wants to present, and both were hidden gems for the franchise as well.

Gillespie coming from the Denver Nuggets on a two-way deal and then Jordan Goodwin being waived by the Los Angeles Lakers allowed the Suns to get this dynamic duo. Early this week, I wrote about Collin Gillespie’s exit interviews, in which he stated that he and the franchise knew he wanted to be back in Phoenix next year. So hearing the news from Gambadoro is not much of a surprise, but the other name is nice to see as well.

As I stated earlier, Goodwin came over from the Lakers after being waived and had to compete for his roster spot at the beginning of the year against Jared Butler. He ended up winning that battle, and, luckily for both parties, that was a great benefit. Goodwin had a career year in his return to the Valley, averaging 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 41/37/70 in almost 23 minutes per game.

He had a career-high 6 threes in one contest vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, allowing them to win that game while also being a key disruptor on the defensive end for Phoenix. His energy and hustle also earned him the Dan Majerle Hustle Award, which he was definitely the most deserving of. Goodwin would always throw his body on the line to make a winning play, and Jordan Ott fell in love with that from the get-go.

For Goodwin retaining him, like Gillespie, makes sense for the Suns, as he fits everything this team stands for and has carved out bigger roles for himself with this franchise. Both will have a market in free agency, but with the Suns knowing how much they mean to the core, it would make sense for them to come back on long-term deals.

Now, there is another free agent that Gambo mentioned as well, and that was Mark Williams.

It seems Williams is still on the Suns’ priority list, and that is a good sign. Even if Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach may be the future of this frontcourt, Williams is a great starter who can still help bridge the gap for the young bigs next year. The one issue the Suns may run into with him, though, is that he is a restricted free agent.

This allows the Suns to match any offer the team makes to Williams, unlike with Gillespie and Goodwin, but it also means a team could price the Suns out to secure him. That being said, last year, most restricted free agents did not get long-term deals; many just received the qualifying offer. Will Williams get that? I don’t think so. Even if he was injured for the last third of the season, he did play a career-high 60 games and was a nice change of pace for Phoenix in the front court. He will find himself with Phoenix, a team friend who also makes sure he can still develop here long term.

Phoenix likes most of its pieces and will retain their major features. Does that mean there are things they do not need to address? No, they will find a larger size, but it also shows that this internal development still has some ways to go. It’s exciting to see the team sticking together and buying back into a winning culture.

Lakers G League affiliate moving to Coachella Valley

EL SEGUNDO, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Drew Time #11 and Bronny James #9 of the South Bay Lakers smiles during the gameduring the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 28, 2026 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Change is coming to the Lakers’ G League team. The South Bay Lakers will become the Coachella Valley Lakers in 2026 as they move their games to Acrisure Arena.

The Lakers have had their G League team playing in South Bay since 2017, and before that, in 2006, they played at Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) before moving to El Segundo.

In a press release, the Lakers’ new President of Business Operations, Lon Rosen, talked about the move for the franchise’s G League team.

“Moving the Lakers G League team to the Coachella Valley is an incredible opportunity for the organization,” said Los Angeles Lakers President of Business Operations Lon Rosen. “The Lakers have had a strong presence in the region for decades, from the Showtime Lakers holding training camp in the 1980s to more recent preseason games. We are looking forward to extending that experience and becoming a staple for Coachella Valley sports and entertainment. Acrisure Arena is the perfect modern venue that provides an incredible fan-first experience, while ensuring players have the premium facilities and space they need on game day.”

There is no question that this is an upgrade for the Coachella Valley Lakers. This past season, they played games at the UCLA Health and Training Center, which is essentially the Lakers’ practice facility. While there were advantages to having them play near and around the main team, they couldn’t even seat 1,000 people during games.

Now, at Acrisure Arena, they can have as many as 11,000 people attending G League matchups.

In a press release, Acrisure Arena Senior Vice President John Page shared his enthusiasm for this partnership.

“Opportunities like this are simply not possible without the support and assistance of incredible partners,” said Acrisure Arena Senior Vice President John Page. “We would like to recognize the efforts put forth by Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and Visit Greater Palm Springs, who have worked in conjunction with Oak View Group, the Lakers organization and many others in order to welcome the G League to our town. We look forward to expanding upon our growing connection to the sports community with the addition of this storied franchise.”

The Lakers have already had a relationship with Acrisure Arena. LA played against Phoenix at the stadium for a preseason game, and clearly, that was a positive experience.

In a statement released to the press, Oak View Group Senior Partner Irving Azoff talked about the connection he has had with the most powerful members of the Lakers organization, including Jeanie Buss, Linda Rambis and Rosen.

“I have enjoyed a long-time relationship with Jerry and Jeanie Buss, Lon Rosen and Linda Rambis,” said Oak View Group Senior Partner Irving Azoff. “And I am beyond thrilled to have the Coachella Valley Lakers call OVG’s Acrisure Arena their home. Go Lakers.”

The Lakers have had plenty of success developing talent in the G League.

Bronny James had played games with South Bay, and players like Alex Caruso and Mac McClung played with the team during the early parts of their professional careers.

Now those moments won’t be happening in El Segundo and will instead take place in the Palm Desert.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Astros vs. Orioles Game Thread: Game 32, 4/30/2026

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As a result of last night’s rainout, the Houston Astros (11-20) and Baltimore Orioles (15-15) will play a traditional doubleheader today at Camden Yards.

Game Two:RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75 ERA) will make his 6th start of the season of the season as he takes on Orioles RHP Brandon Young (2-0, 2.53 ERA).

TODAY’S GM 2 STARTER: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. will make his 7th career start and 9th overall app. vs. BAL in Game 2. He is 3-0 in his career vs. the O’s with a 3.34 ERA (13ER/35IP) and 41 strikeouts.

Déjà Vu: McCullers pitched in relief in Game 2 of the last doubleheader between HOU and BAL, which was on Sept. 29, 2018 at Camden Yards (0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 SO).

Last Start: Prior to today, McCullers last start was on Friday vs. NYY (5 IP, 5 ER).

Innings Milestone: McCullers needs just 0.2 IP to reach 800.0 for his career.

Fun Fact: He and his father, Lance McCullers Sr., were both the 41st overall pick in their respective MLB Drafts (1982 and 2012). Lance Sr. pitched 7 seasons in the Major Leagues

DOUBLEHEADER INFO: Today will be the first doubleheader for the Astros since July 21, 2022 at home vs. NYY, which resulted in an Astros sweep of the Bronx Bombers. That DH was scheduled as a result of the delay to the start of the 2022 season due to the work stoppage.

Doubleheaders are a rarity at Daikin Park since the Astros have a roof.

The Astros last doubleheader played vs. BAL was Sept. 29, 2018 at Camden Yards, which also resulted in an Astros sweep. In Game 2 of that DH, today’s Game 2 starter, RHP Lance McCullers Jr., hurled 0.2 scoreless in relief, earning a hold in the Astros 5-2 win.

VS. THE O’S: Today’s doubleheader will wrap up this 3-game series vs. the Orioles.

The Astros were 4-3 vs. BAL in 2025 with a 3-1 mark here at Camden Yards, Aug. 21-24. The two clubs will next meet for a 3-game set at Daikin Park, July 17-19.

HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY: To Phil Garner, who would have turned 77 years old today.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1982 – At Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburth, Phil Garner hits a 3-run HR on his 33rd birthday to help defeat the Pirates, 4-3. Garner, who was voted into the Astros Hall of Fame earlier this month, had played for the Pirates (1977-81) prior to being traded to HOU on Aug. 31, 1981.

1979 – At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Terry Puhl’s 2-run HR in the top of the 9th lifted the Astros to a 6-5, comeback win over the Cardinals. The Astros had entered the 9th, trailing, 4-2. Puhl’s HR capped a dramatic, 4-run 9th-inning rally.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 30, 30 minutes after completion of Game 1

Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Playoff Game Preview: Knicks vs Hawks, Game 6, April 30, 2026

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks celebrates a three point basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

A 3–2 series is maybe the trickiest one to gauge in sports. One team clearly has the advantage of needing to win just one of the remaining two games, and if said team was the winner of Game Five, as the Knicks were, then their confidence is likely high. But New York will be heading into an Atlanta arena that should be more hostile than Games Three and Four, which saw their fair share of Knicks fans. Not to mention the Hawks are also playing with their season on the line, making it the hardest game of the series to win. Despite having a one-game lead in the series, it oddly feels close to a must-win, seeing as a loss tonight means a Game Seven, where anything can happen.

That being said, the momentum and stats do side with the Knicks. Outside of the fourth quarter in a blowout Knicks win, and the second and third quarters of an even bigger blowout in Game Five, the Knicks have comfortably won each quarter. Not only have they won back-to-back games by 15+ points, they’ve outscored the Hawks by seven or more points in five of the last eight quarters. While starting guard Josh Hart is currently listed as questionable for tonight’s game, the Knicks have seemingly figured out how to slow down the Hawks’ offense while also solving the issues their defense caused.

It took close to 200 minutes of basketball longer than fans might have liked, but Mike Brown, Jalen Brunson, and the rest of the team have learned from their Game Two and Game Three transgressions and have arrived at a game plan that has been simple: take what the defense gives them and attack.

It’s hard to fathom what overtook them and their minds in their losses earlier, but it’s as if they were reminded that they are the more talented and more experienced team, and regardless of what the Hawks do, it’s on them to not shoot themselves in the foot. Atlanta is a capable team that deserves its flowers, but New York has a myriad of weapons it can use to dismantle its opponent.

Want to hone in on limiting Brunson? Play through Karl-Anthony Towns. Pivot and put Dyson Daniels on Towns? Let Brunson go to work. Face-guard both and pray? Look for OG Anunoby on the perimeter and let him knock down threes or attack closeouts. The Knicks currently have all the answers to what Quin Snyder and the Hawks have thrown at them.

But with how unpredictable the first round of this year’s playoffs has been, it would behoove the Knicks to continue putting their first-quarter struggles behind them and come out ready to match, if not exceed, the Hawks’ energy and fight. Regardless of Hart’s status, they must be prepared to withstand not just one or two, but multiple punches (theoretical, of course) from Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, McCollum, and anybody else capable of providing them with a memorable playoff spark. Doing so would not only advance them to the second round, but also serve as a statement game from a team that has repeatedly been labeled inconsistent and not good enough.

If Hart goes, expect an at-times ugly but gutsy performance from the wing. Other than that, I expect business as usual from Towns and Anunoby, who have continued to stand out as the two best players in the series. And while Brunson has had his share of ups and downs this series, the captain often saves his best for last. I’m predicting, and also hoping, he comes out just as patient, composed, and confident as he looked in Game Five to deliver another memorable performance. Manifesting a double-digit win for a Knicks team that will struggle to put away the Hawks early, but come alive in the second quarter.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (3-2) at Atlanta Hawks (2-3)
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Place: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
TV: ESPN
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Ottawa's Jake Sanderson One Of Three Finalists For Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

Jake Sanderson has been named as a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

The annual award is presented each year to the NHL "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

Sanderson, who's still only 23 years old, was one of the top defensemen in the league this season, putting up 54 points in 67 games and helping Team USA win an Olympic gold medal in Milan back in February.

Brady Tkachuk discusses the ongoing dialogue about his NHL future.

The Whitefish, Montana native plays a game that's bursting with speed and skill, but he also kept his nose clean, as he always does, posting just eight penalty minutes. In four NHL seasons (303 games), Sanderson has amassed a grand total of 55 penalty minutes

The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy has been awarded 90 times to 53 different players, including Ottawa's Frank Nighbor, who was the first to win it in 1925. Over a century later, Sanderson has a chance to be the first modern-day Ottawa Senator to win this award.

But he'll be in tough because LA's Anze Kopitar, who just ended hs 20-year NHL career this week, was probably the heavy sentimental favourite when voting was conducted at the end of the regular season. Kopitar is one of the three finalists, along with Montreal's Cole Caufield.

The universe didn't exactly repay Sanderson for his sportsmanship this season.

He missed almost a month with a shoulder injury after a hard hit from Seattle's Brandon Montour in early March. Eight games after returning, he took a violent shoulder to the head from Carolina's Taylor Hall in Game 3 of the NHL playoffs.

Sanderson missed the rest of the series with a concussion, and the Senators were swept in four. Four days after the concussion, Sanderson still wasn't well enough to be available for the season-ending media availabilities.

Unlike all the current dialogue about the future of his Senator and Team USA teammate, Brady Tkachuk, it's going to be a while before the Sens need to think about Sanderson's contract. He's still signed up for six more seasons at a club-friendly rate of $8,050,000 per season.

The Lady Byng voting trophy will be awarded at the NHL Awards ceremony after the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:  

Did The Senators Actually Improve This Season? And What Has To Happen Now?
One Battle After Another: Brady Tkachuk Addresses Distraction-Filled Season
Staios Admits Senators Goaltending Plan For This Season Was Flawed
Now Facing A Suspension, Ridly Greig Addresses His Game 4 Sucker Punch
Senators’ Offence Never Gets On Track As Hurricanes Complete Sweep

Charlotte's Moussa Diabaté wins NBA's Hustle Award for this season

NEW YORK (AP) — Moussa Diabaté of the Charlotte Hornets was announced Thursday as the NBA’s Hustle Award winner for this season.

Unlike most of the year’s awards, this one was not done by voting. The NBA uses a ranking system that takes nine stats into account — offensive box outs, defensive box outs, screen assists, contested 2-pointers, contested 3-pointers, offensive loose balls recovered, defensive loose balls recovered, deflections and charges taken.

Diabaté ranked 11th or better among qualifying players leaguewide in six of those categories. He also posted career-high numbers in several categories, including points (7.9), rebounds (8.7) and assists (1.9) per game.

Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels was second, Golden State’s Draymond Green — last season’s Hustle winner — was third, Memphis’ Cedric Coward was fourth and New York’s Josh Hart was fifth.

This was the 10th season that the award has been handed out.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Former Kentucky star John Wall named Howard President of Basketball Operations

WASHINGTON, DC -  JANUARY 29: John Wall talks to the media before the game between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks on January 29, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Sabina Shysh/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Former Kentucky basketball star and five-time NBA All-Star John Wall has been named president of basketball operations at Howard University, returning to Washington, D.C., in a major leadership role, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Howard officials confirmed the partnership, which positions Wall at the helm of one of the nation’s top HBCU basketball programs. Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft after one season at Kentucky, played for the Washington Wizards from 2010-20 and now transitions to a front-office role focused on program building.

The idea reportedly began on January 31 when Wall served as Howard’s honorary captain for a game and expressed interest in eventually taking on a basketball operations position at the professional or collegiate level.

In his new role, Wall is already involved in roster evaluation, transfer portal decisions, recruiting discussions, NIL strategy, revenue-sharing planning, and player mentorship. School officials say he will help shape the long-term vision of the program.

Many fans around Kentucky basketball had hoped Wall might eventually take on a similar leadership or advisory role in Lexington after Mark Pope’s arrival, but that has not materialized heading into Year 3 of Pope’s tenure. Across college basketball, programs such as Duke with Jayson Tatum and Davidson with Stephen Curry have incorporated former stars into staff or advisory roles, reflecting a growing trend.

It will be interesting to see if Pope eventually gets a full-time GM and whether he brings in a former player for a similar position to what Wall and others have taken at their alma maters.

Ex-Blue Jackets Forward Has Big Playoff Moment For Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning by a 3-2 final score in Game 5 on Wednesday night. A former Columbus Blue Jackets forward was a major reason for it, as Alexandre Texier had a clutch moment for the Canadiens. 

At the 1:06 mark of the third period, Texier scored the Canadiens' game-winning goal. It was a nice goal for the former Blue Jackets forward, too, as he beat Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy on the rush with an excellent snap shot.

With Texier's game-winning goal, the Canadiens now have a 3-2 series lead over the Lightning and are just one win away from advancing to the second round. 

Texier has also playing some strong hockey for the Canadiens throughout this post-season, too. In five games for the Habs so far during the playoffs, the former Blue Jackets forward has two goals, four points, and a plus-5 rating. 

Texier was selected by the Blue Jackets with the 45th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 201 games over five seasons with the Blue Jackets, Texier recorded 34 goals, 45 assists, 79 points, and 141 hits. He also had two goals and seven points in 18 playoff games for the Blue Jackets.

Knicks vs Hawks Props & NBA Playoffs Game 6 Best Bets

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The Atlanta Hawks have not only squandered a 2-1 series lead, but they have been blown out in the last two games against the New York Knicks.

Those routs create rather distinct Atlanta doubt in these Knicks vs. Hawks player props and NBA picks on Thursday, April 30.

Best Knicks vs Hawks props for Game 6

PlayerPickbet365
Knicks Karl-Anthony TownsOver 12.5 rebounds+102
Hawks Nickeil Alexander-WalkerUnder 17.5 points-112
Hawks CJ McCollumUnder 3.5 assists-130

Game 6 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 rebounds

+102 at bet365

The best-shooting center in NBA history has not lost his shot, not by any means. Karl-Anthony Towns has gone 8-of-17 from deep in this series, 47.1%. But taking only 3.4 shots from beyond the arc per game is a worry both for Towns and for the New York Knicks.

More worrying, Towns has taken only eight three-pointers in the last three games. Then again, he has snagged double-digit rebounds in each of the last three games.

Towns recognizes this is the rare matchup where his best advantage comes not on the perimeter against a sluggish big, but in the frontcourt against the undersized Atlanta Hawks. Grabbing 13.7 rebounds per game in the last three games emphasizes that edge.

Game 6 Prop #2: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Under 17.5 points

-112 at bet365

Even when the Hawks were leading this series, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was not pouring in the points. The Most Improved Player of The Year has not cleared this prop yet in five games in this series.

Even when Alexander-Walker went a combined 9-of-19 from beyond the arc in Games 4 and 5, he still scored only 15 and 16 points.

NAW averaged 15.3 shots per game this regular season. That has fallen to 12.6 per game in this series.

Some of that is a credit to Alexander-Walker; he is more focused defensively than on getting his own shot. But regardless of the reason, the drop has not been properly accounted for by oddsmakers.

Game 6 Prop #3: CJ McCollum Under 3.5 assists

--130 at bet365

Perhaps CJ McCollum caught the Knicks by surprise? That would obviously be reprehensible from the New York coaching staff, given McCollum is one of the best shooting guards of his generation and has always been ready to score 30 points on no notice. But perhaps?

He opened the series averaging 27 points per game while taking 20.3 shots per game through the first three games, when Atlanta opened up a 2-1 series lead.

But now that the Knicks coaching staff has been faced with a harsh reminder of his abilities, it is emphasizing getting the ball out of McCollum’s hands. He took only 25 shots total in the last two games.

One might think that leads to assists, but the ball is simply not finding any openings via McCollum. He dished out three assists in Game 4 and then just one in Game 5. Across this whole series, he has cleared this modest prop only once and has averaged 2.4 assists per game.

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Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #30: 4/30 @ Brewers

MILWAUKEE, WI - AUGUST 29: General view of the 'Bronze Fonz' statue of actor Henry Winkler in Downtown Milwaukee at the Milwaukee river on August 29, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Today’s Lineups

DIAMONDBACKSBREWERS
Geraldo Perdomo – SSGarrett Mitchell – CF
Ketel Marte – 2BBrice Turang – 2B
Corbin Carroll – RFWilliam Contreras – C
Adrian Del Castillo – DHJake Bauers – 1B
Ildemaro Vargas – 1BTyler Black – DH
Lourdes Gurriel – LFLuis Rengifo – 3B
Nolan Arenado – 3BSal Frelick – RF
Alek Thomas – CFGreg Jones – LF
James McCann – CDavid Hamilton – SS
Michael Soroka – RHPBrandon Woodruff – RHP

Just a short intro today, given it’s an early game on somewhere toward the East coast, at least. Which means I have to get all this written up, not just before going to work, but before I have breakfast and coffee. My terseness is therefore understandable. It’s the final game of April, and the win yesterday guaranteed Arizona a winning record for the month. Could be as high at 17-13 if they win. Considering the typical sentiment staring into the schedule was, “If the Dbacks can get through this close to .500, there is hope for the season,” or things like, “Surviving brutal early 2026 schedule is key to Diamondbacks’ season”, have to think: mission accomplished.

Of course, there were opponents who turned out not to be as tough as expected. Six games against the free-spending Mets and Phillies, both projected to make the playoffs, turned out to be a cakewalk – those two sides are a combined 20-39 right now. Now we can look back at the schedule, the D-backs only rank tenth by the strength of opponents actually faced. However, it is still the toughest in the division. What is a bit concerning is how Arizona are 16-13 despite being outscored, a result of those blowout losses. They have lost five games by six runs or more: they have just one victory (7-1 over the Mets) by the same margin. The Rockies have a better run differential: indeed, only three NL teams are below our -12.

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The Yankees’ top defensive plays of April

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 08: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees makes a diving catch against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on April 08, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees will end the first month of the season with a modest 1.5-game lead on the American League’s best record. Both the Yanks and the Rays—who are right behind them—are off today, so New York already knows that May will begin with them in front by a game and a half in both the AL East and the Junior Circuit in general. The Rays themselves are three games clear of anyone else, so it’s nearly five for the Yanks.

This success is due in large part to their league-best team ERA, FIP, and fWAR as a pitching staff. Of course, with good pitching comes good defense doing some of the dirty work — something Yankee pitchers enjoyed plenty of during the month of April. So, why not take a look back at the finest leather flashes in the month of showers as we barrel ahead toward the “flowers” part of the year?

Also, they won’t all be profiled here, but give an Honorable Mention to the Yankees’ starting rotation, which executed pickoffs in four consecutive games from April 24-27, with Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Luis Gil, and MLB active career pickoffs leader Max Fried doing the honors.

April 3: Bellinger bobbles, hangs on

On a play that maybe looks only mildly impressive to the naked eye, the wonder in this play must be seen in slow motion. After retreating to make a leaping grab, the ball actually kicked off the heel of his glove, destined for the ground, only for Bellinger to make a no look stab at the ball below his hips. To everyone’s surprise, including his own, the ball found the leather, and Bellinger had recorded a circus-style first out in the ninth inning.

April 8: Jazz goes full extension

There are few plays as satisfying as an infielder going parallel to the ground beneath them to snare a liner. In a 2-2 ballgame against a fairly potent A’s lineup, Jazz Chisholm Jr. did just that. Nick Kurtz golfed a line drive just short of 100 mph toward the hole on the right side, with the go ahead run on first base, only for Chisholm to go full extension and put a wrap on the A’s half of the sixth, keeping the game tied. Depending on how the ball rolled, there’s a chance his acrobatic play saved a run.

April 11: Something about Cody Bellinger and walls

Although not quite as unique as his first entry in this list, Bellinger made more than one terrific play on the warning track during the month of April. With no outs and a runner on base in a 1-1 game against the Rays, Fried served up a towering fly ball to Yandy Díaz, nearly sending it into the seats. After likely flirting with the upper apparatus of the rebuilt Tropicana Field, the ball found a jumping Bellinger, who secured the ball near the top of the wall in left field, once again helping Fried, and keeping this game tied up.

April 22: RyMac makes a leap in Fenway

In an apt follow-up to Jazz’s diving play to the glove side, his fellow infielder matched him with a similar play to the other side. With the Yanks leading a game in the eighth inning against the Red Sox, old friend Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined a ball down the third base line, well on its way to the corner of the Monster, before the ever-slick Ryan McMahon dove barely above the ground, fully extended, to make the back-handed play. Not only did it help protect New York’s 4-0 lead, but it also preserved Fried’s shutout to that point. Although McMahon struggled to get his bat going across the season’s first month, he remained a humanhighlightreel at the hot corner.

April 28: Fernando Cruz from his back

In yet another tight ballgame, defense once again came through to keep things at bay for the Yankees — on more than one occasion. This time around, with the Rangers threatening with a pair of runners on, Joc Pederson laid down a fairly decent bunt trying to get them into scoring position with less than two outs. Intent on keeping the lead, Fernando Cruz charged, slid to back hand the ball, and in one fluid motion, threw to third base for the force out from the seat of his pants. Beyond the incredible play from Cruz, getting the out also required McMahon to secure a handcuffing one-hopper. It was an all-around terrific play, and helped the Yankees maintain their narrow lead in Texas.

Blackhawks Player Grades: Spencer Knight Led A Solid Goaltending Tandem

There were ups and downs throughout the 2025-26 season, but goaltending was not really an issue for the Chicago Blackhawks. There is still development to go across the board, but the depth within the organization is there. 

On most nights, the net-minders gave the team a chance to win. If there were any major issues, they were largely due to the way the team played in front of them. 

Throughout the season, the Blackhawks had one goalie as the clear starter, a full-time backup, and a prospect who was forced into action a few times due to an illness that swept through the locker room.

Based on their performances against their expectations, these are the grades for each goalie who made at least one start:

Spencer Knight: A

Spencer Knight had the year he's been looking for since coming to the NHL. He has had better overall numbers as a backup in the past, but he was finally allowed to be the number one starter on an NHL team. 

Knight had a bumpy road to where he is right now, both on and off the ice, and that led to him being Chicago's nominee for the Masterton Trophy, which goes to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. 

As the season went along, and the team got significantly younger, the numbers for Knight started to dip. After it all ended, he finished with a 2.82 goals against average and a .902 save percentage in 55 games played. However, he made high-danger saves with frequency, kept his team in most games, and proved that he can be a winning goaltender in the NHL. 

At the mid-way point of the season, Knight was a legitimate candidate to be on Team USA at the Olympics. However, USA Hockey decided to go with the same three that they brought to the 4-Nations Face-Off. It's hard to argue with the organization that eventually won the Gold Medal. 

Next up for Knight is a winning season for himself and the team. He gets an A-grade for this year as he took steps as a starter, but the expectations only go up from here. As the team defense gets better, he has to find a way to elevate his game even more, too. 

Arvid Soderblom: C

Arvid Soderblom had a mediocre season. He only played in 26 games and was clearly the designated backup goalie. He had a 3.80 goals against average and an .880 save percentage. 

There is some context to those lackluster numbers, but he would also admit that he must be better if he wants to be the backup on the team in the long-term. 

He doesn't get a lower grade than a C because of the team in front of him. Soderblom isn't as good as Knight, which is why he's the backup, so he won't keep them in games that they play poorly in front of him as much. 

Throughout the season, Soderblom proved that he can win games when the team does its job, but he must go into the off-season knowing that his role is on the line. There are a handful of other goalies in the organization who are working their way up the depth chart quickly. 

Drew Commesso: A

One of the goalies working his way up is Drew Commesso, who made three starts for Chicago this season. When called upon, it was due to illness suffered by both Knight and Soderblom during a strange time of year. 

Before playing at Boston University and the Rockford IceHogs, Commesso was a second-round (46th overall) pick in 2020. Since then, he's been working to develop his raw talents into skills that allow him to be in the NHL full-time. 

It was just three starts, an extremely small sample size, but he was excellent. He had an NHL save percentage of .918 and a goals against average of 2.31. All signs, both traditional and advanced, showed him to be ready for an opportunity in the NHL. 

He never got it in the way that he'd like, but he was outstanding in 39 starts with the IceHogs, his second in the AHL. In those 39 starts, he had a .911 save percentage and a 2.54 goals against average.

With the work he put in, he Commesso has a chance to grab onto the backup job. Training camp will allow him to reach the NHL full-time. Internal competition at all positions is good for a young team trying to take steps. 

Forward Grades:

Blackhawks Player Grades: Connor Bedard Unsurprisingly Leads All ForwardsBlackhawks Player Grades: Connor Bedard Unsurprisingly Leads All ForwardsThe Chicago Blackhawks had an up-and-down year from their forwards. This is a grade for everyone who dressed.

Defense Grades:

Blackhawks Player Grades: Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier Outshined Everyone Else On DefenseBlackhawks Player Grades: Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier Outshined Everyone Else On DefenseThe Chicago Blackhawks had some good defensive performances over the course of 2025-26.
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