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Six Former NHLers Living Incredible Lives After Hockey

Longtime NHL players have nearly endless options once they retire from the pro game.

Many former players transition into broadcasting or coaching roles. Sometimes, they join the front office of an NHL team and work their way upward.

That said, some paths stand out for being different or quite impressive. Here is a short list of six former NHL players who have taken on an interesting path beyond their careers.

Zdeno Chara

During his time in the NHL from 1997 to 2022, Zdeno Chara was one of the most feared defensemen in the league. At 6-foot-9, the Slovakian mutant dominated the ice from the back end.

However, when he retired from the NHL after the 2021-22 season, he continued his ways of being a physical force, but not on the ice. 

Chara has participated in a number of marathons following his retirement. He had run in multiple Boston marathons, the London marathon (six days after his second Boston marathon), and the New York marathon.

Most recently, the 48-year-old completed the Czech Republic Iron Man triathlon. The challenge consisted of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run. He completed the triathlon in an impressive 4:56:47.

Zdeno Chara reacts to finishing the 2024 Boston Marathon. (Eric Canha-Imagn Images)

Joe Pavelski

Joe Pavelski, who retired from the NHL just last summer, wasted no time seeking glory in the next chapter of his life.

In mid-July, Pavelski participated in the American Century Championship, a celebrity golf tournament consisting of several athletes, actors, comedians and more. This was Pavelski’s ninth attempt at the championship in Edgewood Tahoe Resort, Nev.

The 41-year-old came close to winning the tournament several times in previous years, including a runner-up finish in 2024.

However, he finally took home the American Century Championship title, and in dramatic fashion. On the 18th hole, the former San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars center connected on a walk-off eagle to win the tournament.

Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips holds the record for most games played by an Ottawa Senator. The former defenseman played 17 seasons for the Sens, but in the meantime, he opened up a brewery and restaurant.

In 2012, Big Rig Brewery was born and co-owned by Phillips. The Brewery is named after him – Big Rig was his nickname during his playing career.

Just one year later, Big Rig was recognized as the New Brewery of the Year in Ontario, awarded by the Ontario Brewing Awards.

In 2014, his brewery and restaurant became the fastest-growing microbrewery in Ottawa, according to the Ottawa Citizen. 

In addition to the quick success and demand for Big Rig beers, the company has an impressive resume when it comes to the quality of its product. In the 2016 Ontario Brewing Awards, Big Rig took home five medals, including four gold medals in the Hefeweizen, Dark IPA, Scotch Ale and Doppelbock categories.

Ken Dryden

Once a legendary goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens between 1970 and 1979, Ken Dryden took his talents to the House of Commons and became a member of Parliament, elected in 2004.

The six-time Stanley Cup champion was a member of several committees, including National Defence, Library of Parliament, Health, Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Furthermore, he was a Minister of Social Development from 2004 to 2006.

In 2013, Dryden was made an officer of the Order of Canada, the highest level of distinction in the Canadian Honours System. He earned this status for his contributions to Canadian life as a hockey player, lawyer and public servant.

Stu Grimson

After 14 seasons in the NHL across seven different teams, Stu Grimson is spending his retirement as a lawyer. 

Grimson, known as ‘The Grim Reaper,’ has accumulated 2,113 penalty minutes during his NHL career. Following his retirement in 2003, the former enforcer returned to school, completing his undergraduate studies in economics and earning his law degree at the University of Memphis.

Since then, he’s worked as a labor lawyer for the NHLPA’s union and later became a defense attorney at Kay Griffin PLLC.

Now, Grimson is the vice president of business development for the company ‘ThirdHome’ and is a member of its corporate counsel.

In addition, he is a hockey analyst for the NHL Network, and has a biography book published called The Grim Reaper: The Life and Career of a Reluctant Warrior.

Randy Gregg

Randy Gregg, a former defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks from 1982 to 1992, has transitioned into a physician. 

Gregg, now known as Dr. Gregg, is a primary care physician at the Lifemark Sport Institute in Edmonton. The Canadian-based company offers multidisciplinary rehabilitation services. 

Dr. Gregg specializes in evaluating sports-related injuries, specifically musculoskeletal injuries and has done so for over 25 years.

The former D-man played 474 games in the NHL, scoring 193 points while contributing to five Stanley Cup victories as a member of the Oilers.

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A sharp Suárez sets career-high in strikeouts, Phillies take series vs. Nats

A sharp Suárez sets career-high in strikeouts, Phillies take series vs. Nats originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There may be no one on the Phillies who embodies the ebbs and flows of a 162-game baseball season better than pitcher Ranger Suarez. Because when he is on his game, he is simply spectacular. And because of that, when he’s a little off, it seems all that much worse.

Well, sit back and enjoy the goodness of Suarez because he appears to be in the middle of one his lights-out streaks.

The lefthander completely muffled the Washington Nationals Sunday at Citizens Bank Park and also muffled many who were starting to build a little anxiety over some inconsistent outings.

Suarez recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in his seven innings of work and allowed just three hits as the Phillies beat the Nationals, 3-2. It was the second straight double-digit strikeout performance for Suarez, who had 10 in his win over the Seattle Mariners Monday.

“It was about getting ahead in the count and attacking the hitters early,” said Suarez. “Getting ahead of the count helps in getting a lot of chase because they think that any pitch can come through the strike zone. I’ve had great command of my pitches for the last two outings and I think that’s one of the keys that have made me have good starts.

“It’s about learning from the rough starts and lately I’ve been watching videos from the past starts before the last outing that I had and I didn’t think I was myself on the mound. It looked like I was battling myself on the mound. I think it’s just relaxing a little bit more and enjoying the game a little bit more.”

It’s more enjoyable for everyone when you consider the past two outings by Suarez has resulted in those 21 strikeouts, no walks and two wins.

It could have been a little easier for the Phillies, who chased Washington starter Jake Irvin after just 2 1/3 innings. But they left 10 on base throughout the game and never added on to the early 3-0 lead.

They got that thanks to backup catcher Rafael Marchán.

In the second he doubled home Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott with two outs on a liner to right-center field. Then in the third, he coaxed a bases-loaded walk off reliever Shinnosuke Ogasawara on an eight-pitch at-bat.

The Nationals mounted a threat in the eighth inning when Jose Alvarado came in for the Phillies. He gave up a leadoff single to Brady House and proceeded to walk Robert Hassell III and Jacob Young. Thomson called for Tanner Banks out of the bullpen and he got a double-play ground out from James Wood, which scored a run, and a lazy flyout by CJ Abrams to end the inning.

“Huge,” said Thomson of Banks’ performance. “Alvy didn’t have it today. We were trying to get through the game without using Banks but we had to do it to win the ballgame. He did a heck of a job. He’s throwing more strikes, the slider’s better. A lot of confidence. He’s been huge for us.”

Orion Kerkering pitched the ninth, as normal closer Jhoan Duran had pitched the previous two games, and gave up a home run to Andres Chaparro before retiring the final two batters and helping the Phillies to their seventh win in their last nine games.

And it was enough to hold on for the win on Marchán’s big day.

“He does a lot of cage work for his offense,” said Thomson of Marchán. “It’s tough for him because he’s a switch-hitter and he has to do extra work from both sides. He does a lot of work with the catching coaches and he studies a lot. He was in his locker yesterday, when he wasn’t catching, and working a game plan for yesterday’s game even though he wasn’t catching. That’s how tuned in he is. I think part of it is just natural and part of it is that J.T. (Realmuto) has kind of groomed him a little bit. Big day today. All three of our RBIs, a couple of key blocks behind the plate. People don’t like to run on him because they know he can throw. For the fact that he doesn’t play everyday, that’s a tough thing to do. And he’s doing a great job of it.”

While the Phillies took two of three from Washington to improve their record to 76-54 and upped their lead in the NL East to seven games as the Mets lost to the Braves, they did see a streak come to an end.

Kyle Schwarber went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. It snapped a streak of 15 consecutive series for Schwarber with a home run.

But the story Sunday was Suárez, who seems to be back to his early-season form as he upped his record to 10-6 and lowered his ERA to 3.07.

“The velocity has jumped up a little bit but so has the command,” said Thomson. “And that’s really the thing for him. When he can get the ball to his glove side he’s really effective. Everything else plays off of that. And that’s what he’s doing right now.

“I think it was probably just a little bit or normal fatigue that every pitcher, every starter goes through over the course of the year and it looks like he’s recovered.”

It sure does look that way.

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Flyers Should Be All-In On Jack Eichel in 2026 Offseason

(Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers can kick their rebuild into overdrive by making a play for Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel next offseason.

Eichel, 28, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season, and while the former No. 2 overall pick is eligible to negotiate a contract extension with the Golden Knights, there are no guarantees of that happening.

Mitch Marner just signed an eight-year, $96 million ($12 million AAV) contract with Vegas, and captain Mark Stone has two years remaining on his deal at a $9.5 million cap hit.

It's also worth considering that veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo may not play again due to severe injury, and he's got two years remaining on his contract at an $8.8 million cap hit as well.

Basically, the older and more beat up the Golden Knights get, the less likely they are to continue to contend for Stanley Cups.

And if Eichel gets the contract one NHL insider thinks he can get, the task gets that much harder for Vegas.

"We're talking mega primo money for Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights, and, man, I don't know how they can go without him. I don't know how they could move on from him, but, when looking at their cap table, it's hard to wedge in a really big extension and what that looks like relative to the rest of true market value," NHL insider Frank Seravalli said in a recent livestream for Bleacher Report.

Flyers Should Pull the Plug, Trade Ryan Ellis's Contract NowFlyers Should Pull the Plug, Trade Ryan Ellis's Contract NowThe Philadelphia Flyers have officially reached the point where they can't afford to hold onto the rotting contract of Ryan Ellis any longer.

"I think what you're talking about with Jack Eichel is a $15+ million AAV deal. He's been that good. I think then all of a sudden, you crunch some numbers and take out your calculator if you're looking at the Vegas Golden Knights cap situation, which is never easy, and you go, 'How do they do this?'"

For the Flyers, the 2026 offseason will be the perfect time to pounce on Eichel, or any other big ticket free agent.

Players like Christian Dvorak, Nick Deslauriers, Ivan Fedotov, Jamie Drysdale, and Egor Zamula will all be off the books, and Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan Ellis, worth a combined $11.35 million against the cap, will be in the final years of their respective contracts.

If the rebuild is to go anywhere productive, the Flyers must accelerate their efforts to add talent over the next 365 days.

Eichel, one of the very best centers in the game, is coming off a career-best 94-point season, adding 28 goals and getting docked for just eight penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-2 forward has struggled with injuries in the past, yes, but that just means more opportunities for young players like Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, and, potentially, Trevor Zegras in his stead, all while raising the overall ceiling of the Flyers as a team.

Flyers' Travis Konecny Has to Clear One Big Hurdle to Reach True StardomFlyers' Travis Konecny Has to Clear One Big Hurdle to Reach True StardomThe Philadelphia Flyers don't quite have a true star player just yet, but a few adjustments from Travis Konecny could do the trick.

Then, from a cap perspective, the Flyers will be able to afford Eichel, even at a $15 million price point, quite comfortably.

Assuming players like Nikita Grebenkin, Alex Bump, Oliver Bonk, and Helge Grans establish themselves as NHLers, the Flyers will have a war chest of funds to spend on auxiliary upgrades, such as at the goalie position or on defense.

The continually rising salary cap further benefits the Flyers, too, as Matvei Michkov and Tyson Foerster will be due for new contracts the following offseason.

Add a seasoned Porter Martone to the equation, and the Flyers can quickly change their fortunes with Jack Eichel leading the way.

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Where could free agent Malik Beasley land?

Malik Beasley is the best free agent available on the market. Last season, he finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting, averaging 16.3 points a game off the bench in Detroit, shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc.

He is still available in late August because just before the start of free agency he was named as a person of interest in a federal gambling probe, after which no team would go near him. Now Beasley is no longer a target in that U.S. Attorney’s investigation, according to his lawyers, which means the market might open up for him again.

Except that the market now is very different, as most teams have filled out their rosters and don't have the roster or cap space to pay Beasley what he deserves. Detroit is a good example. Beasley reportedly was talking with the Pistons about a three-year, $42 million contract prior to the federal probe, which stalled those talks. Now the Pistons have largely moved on, going out and adding Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson to fill Beasley's role and getting their roster up to 14 players. While the Pistons could sign him, it's unlikely now.

There are teams interested — such as the Cavaliers and Knicks, reports Michael Scotto of Hoopshype — but most contending teams could only offer him a veteran minimum deal. (Knicks reporter Ian Begley added the Knicks had done "background work" on Beasley.)

Other playoff teams with open roster spots that might have interest include the Timberwolves, Warriors and 76ers, however, the money situation is basically the same with all of them, it would be a minimum contract offer.

Beasley may ultimately have to sign a one-year, veteran minimum contract and then play his way into a bigger deal next summer.

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Pat Beverley boldy claims Warriors win more with Paul George than Klay Thompson

Pat Beverley boldy claims Warriors win more with Paul George than Klay Thompson originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Klay Thompson is a foundational pillar of the Warriors’ dynasty, but would Golden State have won even more NBA championships if another star shooting guard took his place?

Twelve-year NBA veteran Patrick Beverley certainly believes so.

During a recent episode of “The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone,” Beverley revealed he thinks Golden State would have won more than four titles if Paul George replaced Thompson.

“If you put Paul George in that role playing as Klay Thompson, playing with [Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala] at a point — obviously we know Paul George a couple years ago, was in the MVP race,” Beverley said.

“If you substitute those two, and we don’t know, we’re just going off what we think in basketball, I think that Golden State probably wins more championships.”

While George is a superstar in his own right, it’s a bold claim to assert that anyone could’ve stepped in and replicated, let alone exceeded the impact Thompson had on the Warriors while Golden State ruled the NBA realm. Particularly when George hasn’t played in an NBA Finals during his 15-year career.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters ever to pick up a basketball, Thompson perfectly complemented Curry’s superhuman perimeter shooting, creating a backcourt tandem the likes of which had never been seen before in the NBA.

Thompson spent 13 years in Golden State, earning five consecutive NBA All-Star selections while playing a pivotal role in ushering in one of the most dominant dynaties the league has ever seen as the Warriors won four championships.

On an individual level, George has the advantage when it comes to All-Star nods (9), All-Pro selections, (6) and All-Defensive honors (4). However, Thompson was a much more efficient shooter during the postseason while nearly equaling George’s playoff-scoring output in their respective careers.

Thompson also earned a reputation for delivering when the lights were brightest in elimination games, an aspect that can’t be overlooked when hypothesizing which player would contribute more to winning at the highest level the NBA has to offer.

Ultimately it’s an interesting thought excercise, but Thompson’s greatness and contributions to Golden State can’t be overlooked.

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Vuelta a España: Jonas Vingegaard recovers from crash to win stage two

  • Visma-Lease a Bike rider left bloodied by spill in the rain

  • Dane recovers to pip Ciccone on mountain finish

Jonas Vingegaard finished strongly to win the mountainous second stage of the Vuelta a España on Sunday, emphasising his status as the general classification favourite in the absence of Tadej Pogacar by outsprinting Giulio Ciccone on the slopes of Limone Piemonte in northern Italy.

Vingegaard had to get off the tarmac to get his hands on the red jersey after being involved in a big crash that included a number of his Visma-Lease a Bike teammates, but he was able to rejoin the peloton with just a bloodied left elbow. The Danish rider went on to triumph in a mass sprint featuring a number of GC rivals on the climb to the town near the Italian border with France.

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'If We Were To Lose That Game, It Could've Been Different': Panthers' Anton Lundell Talks About The Turning Point In Series Win Over The Maple Leafs

It was Game 3 of the second round, and the Florida Panthers were back on home ice, down two games to zero to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs were the better team in the first two games and jumped out to a 3-1 lead early in the second period. 

But the Panthers did what they do best, stayed persistent and worked their way back into the game. The Panthers scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead in the second period, but a goal by Morgan Rielly at the halfway mark of the third period tied the game, sending it to overtime.

The Maple Leafs and Brad Marchand have a long history dating back to his time with the Boston Bruins, and the overtime frame added to it. 

It was a back-and-forth overtime stanza, but a fortunate bounce from a shot by Marchand got the Panthers back into the series.

“I think there was always a little pressure, but I got to say, somehow we were so confident that we were going to turn the series over because we felt like in every game, we were the better team, but we lost. So we believed that in seven games, we should be able to win four,” Anton Lundell said to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas for 32 Thoughts: The Podcast during the European NHL Player Media Tour in Milan, Italy.. 

“Obviously, they were such a good team, like, it was a hard series. I mean, they were up in Game 3, 3-1 in the second or something, and when we won that game, that was the game-changer. We were like, ‘Okay, now it’s our time to press the gas, now we go.’ But I got to say, if we were to lose that game, it could’ve been a different series for sure.”

Anton Lundell and Matthew Knies (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)

Lundell finished the series against the Maple Leafs with two goals and five points, playing difficult minutes against both Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner as well as John Tavares and William Nylander. 

Although the series wouldn't have been over if the Maple Leafs had won Game 3, it's extremely difficult to envision the Panthers winning four consecutive games against a Leafs team that looked that confident. The Game 3 loss changed things mentally for both the Leafs and the Panthers. 

That mental edge is why the Panthers are in a situation where they can chase a three-peat. When speaking to Friedman and Bukauskas, Lundell said that winning the third will be the toughest task, mentioning that an even bigger target will be on their back.

Can Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell Take The Next Step If One Really Doesn't Exist?Can Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell Take The Next Step If One Really Doesn't Exist?Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell has continued to improve and is one of the NHL's better two-way centers, but he's almost stuck as a third-line center despite deserving a larger role. 
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A New Era In The Desert: Looking Into Mitch Marner’s MVP Trajectory With The Golden Knights

By Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News intern

Mitch Marner is no stranger to the National Hockey League spotlight. But after eight seasons under Toronto’s unforgiving microscope, his move to the Vegas Golden Knights offers something he’s never truly had: a clean slate and a chance to lead without the noise. And maybe, just maybe, it sets the stage for an MVP-caliber season.

Marner offensively has become one of the league's best, increasing his point total every year since his rookie campaign. This past season, he hit the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. Marner’s value has always extended outside of the box score. He is an elite playmaker, a top penalty killer and a great defensive forward, a rare triple threat in today’s NHL. In Vegas, Marner won’t just be another player – he’ll likely be the center point of this team's success.

Whether he’s playing alongside Jack Eichel, Mark Stone or anchoring his line, Marner will be in a system that rewards speed, structure, and two-way commitment, a tailor-made environment for his style. And unlike in Toronto, he won’t carry the burden of saving a franchise. He joins a roster that knows how to win and knows how to let stars shine. Facing less pressure from the fans in Vegas could unlock a new version of Marner that might take over the NHL.

Marner is leaving the Maple Leafs with a legacy of elite playmaking, unmatched vision, and defensive responsibility, but also the weight of unmet playoff expectations. Now, he enters a Vegas roster with a proven championship core, a deep forward group, and a coaching staff that thrives on structure, speed, and opportunistic offense. For Marner, it’s the perfect storm.

The Golden Knights play a system that demands buy-in on both ends of the ice, a system that Marner thrives in. His defensive awareness, active stick, and transition speed make him a natural fit on both the penalty kill and at 5-on-5. But it's the offensive upside that’s most intriguing.

Slot Marner next to a finisher like Jack Eichel or Mark Stone, and suddenly he’s not just the facilitator, he's the engine of a line that could dominate possession, punish on the rush and break down teams with surgical precision. The Golden Knights are not looking for a savior, they just want him to play his game with freedom, combined with the support of a heavily playoff-based roster, which could unlock a new version of Marner that the NHL has yet to see.

Marner has often been viewed as Robin to Auston Matthews’ Batman, the setup man for Matthews, but now with his move to the Golden Knights, he can reshape the story. In a Western Conference filled with MVP talent like Nathan Mackinnon, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Marner could get the recognition for his type of game. If he can put up 100-plus points leading a top line to charge, special teams and driving Vegas into Stanley Cup contenders, there is no doubt that he should be in the Hart Trophy conversation.

Mitch Marner (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

Marner’s move to the desert is more than just a change of places, it is a huge turning point in his career. No longer in the shadows of Matthews and no Toronto media on his case after every bad game, he has a chance to redefine what elite looks like. The Golden Knights didn’t just add another star – they added a player who is entering his prime with all the tools necessary to become one of the league's best players. Betting on Vegas has worked out before. Betting on Marner? That's a gamble worth taking.

 Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

 

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Jordan & Kobe signed card sells for record $12.9m

An anonymous bidder paid a record £9.56m ($12.9m) at an auction for a basketball card signed by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant making it the most expensive sports collectable card in history.

The card is known as the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant card and was sold by Heritage Auctions in the United States.

It had been in the hands of its previous owner for more than a decade and went into auction with a valuation expecting it to achieve £4.4m ($6m) or above. In total 82 bids were then received as the estimate was more than doubled.

The winning bid beat the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which was sold for $12.6m in August 2022, though the exchange rate at the time meant this was equivalent to £10.8m.

The Jordan-Bryant card is the second most expensive sports collectable ever, behind baseball legend Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series "called the shot" jersey which sold for £18.1m ($24.12) in August 2024.

Heritage's director of sports auctions Chris Ivy told ESPN the Jordan-Bryant card was "the pinnacle" for modern card collectors.

He added that "another one can't be created" and has always been looked at by modern basketball collectors as a "holy grail".

"The pre-auction estimate was $6m-plus. So sometimes if a piece is unique like this, it's really beneficial to let it have its day," Ivy said.

Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player in NBA history winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls between 1991 and 1998.

Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in 2020, is also considered an NBA legend and won five championships during a two-decade stint at LA Lakers between 1996 and 2016.

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One-of-a-kind Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant Logoman card sells for record $12.9 million

How much money are you willing to spend on your hobby of sports cards? Is it $12 million?

A one-of-a-kind, 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant Logoman card — one featuring NBA uniform logos and is signed by both legends — sold for $12.9 million at Heritage Auctions to become the most expensive sports card sold at public auction.

It surpassed the $12.6 million paid for a 1952 Mickey Mantle card sold in 2022. The Kobe/Jordan card shattered the previous record for the highest price paid for a basketball card, $5.2 million for a 2003-04 Exquisite Collection LeBron James Gold Rookie Patch Autograph card. This card is now the second-highest price paid at auction for any sports collectible, trailing only the $24.2 million forked over a year ago for Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series "called shot" jersey.

Heritage's director of sports auctions, Chris Ivy, called it "the finest modern basketball card in the world." When the auction opened, Heritage estimated that the card would sell for $6 million, still an NBA record, but the competitive bidding drove up the price — the auction had 82 bids.

The auction was timed to end on Mamba Day, 8/24.

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Mets' Brandon Nimmo expected to be available off bench Sunday, 'good chance' he returns to lineup Monday

Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo has been sidelined since Wednesday due to neck stiffness, but it sounds like the veteran will be back in lineup in the very near future.

Speaking with reporters ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Braves, Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza explained that while Nimmo is not in Sunday’s starting lineup, he’s expected to be available off the bench, and then likely back in the starting lineup on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“He’s better,” Mendoza said when asked how Nimmo was feeling. “He should be a player for us today."

“There’s a good chance he’s in the lineup tomorrow," he later added.

Nimmo exited Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals after the first inning, as he felt he was being “a detriment on both ends” to the Mets because of the neck stiffness that he woke up experiencing.

"Sometimes, depending on how serious it is, I can kind of tough it out and play through it, but this one was affecting the swing and me running," Nimmo said, explain that the stiffness dates back to him running into an outfield wall in 2019. "I wasn't able to do what I wanted on defense either. I wasn't able to look up... So we decided to go ahead and get out of there... When it pops up, it just takes a few days to get out."

The 32-year-old Nimmo is in the midst of another strong season for the Mets, posting a .761 OPS with 20 homers and 68 RBI. He’s also been hot at the plate as of late, slashing .320/.379/.400 with eight hits and four runs scored over his last seven games.

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Fulham 1-1 Manchester United: Emile Smith Rowe salvages a point – as it happened

  • A Rodrigo Muniz own goal put United ahead

  • Emile Smith Rowe flicked home Alex Iwobi’s cross to level

On the same subject … “So,” says Roger Kirkby, “with most teams now having played two games, only two have won both and only two have lost ’em. If the season carries on in the same manner, we are in for a treat of a season.”

What’s at stake (realistically). Man United are 18th in the table with nul points, so they can either stay there if they lose today, go 16th or 17th if they draw, or leap to somewhere between fifth and ninth with a win. Fulham, currently 14th, can slip a place or two if they lose, stay 14th if they draw, or soar to fifth with a win. All to play for!

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