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Worldwide Sports News

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Nick Robertson, Maple Leafs Avoid Arbitration With $1.825M One-Year Contract Agreement

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson have reportedly reached a settlement ahead of their arbitration case that was scheduled for Sunday.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, both sides agreed to a contract with a $1.825 million average annual value.

The Leafs confirmed it is a one-yeal deal. When a player elects for salary arbitration, the team can choose whether it would be a one or two-year deal, except in the case when the second year eats into the eligibility of unrestricted fee agency. Toronto could have opted for two years in Robertson's case.

According to Puckpedia.com, it's a one-year deal, which reduced the available cap space on Toronto's books to $1,107,222 based on a roster of 24 players.

Robertson was the last of the 11 player-elected salary arbitration cases in the NHL to be settled, thereby avoiding a hearing. On Friday, Friedman reported that the Leafs submitted comparables with an ask of $2.25 million while the team came in with $1.2 million. Had the case not been settled ahead of the hearing, an arbitrator would have had the final say on Robertson's compensation for the 2025-26 season.

Toronto Maple Leafs News and CommunityToronto Maple Leafs News and CommunityToronto Maple Leafs news, video, analysis and community on The Hockey News Follow all Leafs news at https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/

The deal gives Robertson a massive $950,000 raise from his 2024-25 salary. The player signed a one-year, $875,000 deal in September after a summer that included a trade request away from Toronto.

'He's Gone Through Some Stuff Here': Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Excited to Have Nick Robertson Back'He's Gone Through Some Stuff Here': Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Excited to Have Nick Robertson BackA new coach and a clean slate await Nick Robertson who reports to Maple Leafs training camp next week.

Robertson established career highs in goals (15) and games (69) last season but was limited to just three of Toronto's 13 playoff games due to lineup decisions.

With star forward Mitch Marner departing the Leafs for the Vegas Golden Knights this summer, players like Robertson will be counted on to fill the void Marner leaves behind on a by-committee basis.

Drafted by the Leafs in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, Robertson has 32 goals and 24 assists in 156 career games spread over five seasons. 

(Top image credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

Maple Leafs Risk Major Mistake If Nick Robertson Isn’t Signed Or Traded Before ArbitrationMaple Leafs Risk Major Mistake If Nick Robertson Isn’t Signed Or Traded Before ArbitrationIt should come as no surprise that Nick Robertson’s pending player-elected arbitration case is the last of all cases this offseason to reach a conclusion. After all, Robertson’s tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs has undeniably been complicated. Drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, his six years in Toronto have been filled with more downs than ups. Maple Leafs Forward Nick Robertson Files For Salary Arbitration, Timeline, Reasons And What’s Next?Maple Leafs Forward Nick Robertson Files For Salary Arbitration, Timeline, Reasons And What’s Next?For the first time in his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nick Robertson has leverage. The forward filed for salary arbitration on Saturday, which allows a third party to decide his compensation for the upcoming season. 'The Puzzle Has Got To Come Into Play': Maple Leafs Not Rushing Contracts Of RFAs Nick Robertson And Pontus Holmberg'The Puzzle Has Got To Come Into Play': Maple Leafs Not Rushing Contracts Of RFAs Nick Robertson And Pontus HolmbergWhile the talk of the town might be whether the Toronto Maple Leafs can sign John Tavares before July 1 rolls around, you cannot forget about their younger restricted free agents.
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Blackhawks Have the Most Projected Top-100 Drafted Prospects

Kyle Davidson has done an excellent job drafting and developing as the Chicago Blackhawks' future looks very bright. In a projected top-100 drafted prospects ranking, the Blackhawks have the most prospects to appear with seven.

There are two teams with six prospects, the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators, and then five teams with five prospects, including the Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, and Utah Mammoth.

The seven prospects and where they sit are as follows - Artyom Levshunov (7), Anton Frondell (12), Sam Rinzel (26), Kevin Korchinski (62), Oliver Moore (71), Nick Lardis (83), and Sacha Boisvert (87).

Besides the Islanders with five in the top-50, the Blackhawks are tied with the Wild , Mammoth, Blues, and Capitals with three in the top-50.

Levshunov and Frondell are top-3 picks from the last two years and Levshunov will make an impact already next season. Frondell is soon to follow, but compared to some of the other top prospects, he isn't as offensive.

Rinzel was drafted 25th overall the same year Korchinski was taken seventh. Based on how Rinzel looked and the fact that he will be playing top minutes next season for Chicago while Korchinski might start in the AHL again, this flip and separation between the two makes a lot of sense.

While Korchinski may need a change in scenery to get the reps he needs to improve quicker, I think he is a bit too high in the rankings right now. Next season will tell a lot and is a big year for him and the decision the Blackhawks have to make.

Moore, Lardis, and Boisvert are in relatively good spots, with Moore just coming out of college and likely having a spot on the Blackhawks next season, Lardis stepping into pro after a 71 goal, 117 point season in junior, and Boisvert still in college.

There is no Marek Vanacker, Vaclav Nestrasil, Mason West, or Roman Kantserov on the list, but the Blackhawks are still hopeful for these higher draft picks and solid prospects they have.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game day coverage, player features, and more.

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NHL Agent Explains Draft Loophole That Saves Teams Money

There are important factors that go into every pick in the NHL draft. You’ve got the measurables like height and weight, intangibles like character and work rate, not to mention individual skill. However, there are often political reasons as well that could explain why players from some leagues, such as the QMJHL, aren’t selected as often as players from other leagues and vice versa.

Recently, on a Russian podcast, NHL player agent Dan Milstein broke the fourth wall on why teams like the Carolina Hurricanes draft as many Russians as they do. Surprisingly, it isn’t because their scouts enjoy the weather. 

He explained that if a player is drafted to the NHL out of the OHL, WHL or QMJHL, teams have two years to sign them before losing their rights. In the NCAA, it is four years.

“That’s why teams, unfortunately, hand out three-year contracts to these kids at 19 to 20 years old,” Milstein explained in Russian. 

For players drafted out of Russia, however, the signing rights remain with the NHL team until age 27. That’s a huge difference.

Milstein said most drafted players won’t make the NHL in their first entry-level contract, resulting in the team paying out three years at the AHL rate of $85,000, or $255,000 total. 

Whereas if a player was drafted out of Russia, the team could save all that money by delaying signing the player until their age-24 season, when they should be close to making an immediate impact.

How Has The Method Fared?

Over the past six drafts, 40 percent of players Carolina has drafted (22 of 55) were selected out of Russian pro or junior leagues. Among them, only four have signed entry-level deals.

Alexander Nikishin (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Despite playing just four games in the NHL, 2020 third-round pick Alexander Nikishin stands as the prime example of why this method has worked. Nikishin has been among the best defensemen in the KHL for the past three seasons, leading blueliners in points twice in that span.

However, detractors and Hurricanes fans would argue that, given his dominance at that level, he should’ve made the jump to the NHL sooner.

The other examples are less flattering. 

Gleb Trikozov, a 2022 second-rounder, has struggled to break into a full-time KHL role, leading to him signing with Carolina at 20. His rookie season was a nightmare, starting slow with three points over 20 games in the AHL before a lower-body injury took him out for the remainder of the season.

Alexander Pashin, a 2020 seventh-round pick, was signed at 21 in 2022-23, as he wasn’t able to break through as a KHL regular. Pashin and the Hurricanes agreed to a mutual contract termination after one AHL season, and he is now a prolific KHL scorer, however, his rights are no longer owned by the Hurricanes.

More recently, the Hurricanes signed their 2023 fifth-round pick, Ruslan Khazheyev, to a rookie deal, as the goaltender was not guaranteed pro minutes in Russia. He’s coming off an underwhelming rookie season in the AHL, posting a .876 save percentage through 30 games with the Chicago Wolves.

However, the Hurricanes still have some solid prospects in Russia, namely Semyon Frolov (2025 second round), Nikita Artamonov (2024 second round), Kurban Limatov (2025 third round), Alexander Rykov (2023 fourth round), Vladimir Grudinin (2022 fifth round) and Timur Kol (2024 sixth round).

As this is a money-saving method, the Hurricanes have theoretically saved $1.53 million by selecting the Russian-based players over CHL players. At the absolute most, over this span, the team can save up to $61.2 million assuming the 18 unsigned players do not sign until age 24, four years after CHL rights would otherwise expire.

The Future

For teams just learning about this strategy, they’ll be upset to know that rule changes confirmed in the next collective bargaining agreement will eliminate this loophole.

The new CBA, which goes into effect in 2026-27, will have NHL teams retain the signing rights of drafted players until the player turns 22, regardless of what country they were drafted out of.

While this change will effectively close this loophole, with enough time, teams will find new ways to exploit the new rules.

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Devils Stars Eye 2026 Winter Olympics as Camp Invites Roll In

With the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan fast approaching, national teams have begun announcing training camp rosters, and several New Jersey Devils players are in the mix.

For the first time since 2014, NHL players will officially participate in the Olympics. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the news to NHL.com earlier this year:

“We are pleased to confirm that NHL players will be participating in the 2026 Olympic Games,” Bettman told NHL.com. “Olympic participation will showcase the skill and talent of NHL players on an international stage. We are proud to collaborate with the IIHF, NHLPA, and IOC to bring the best hockey players in the world to the Olympics and make this happen in a way that benefits the game globally.”

Devils Already Locked In

Each participating country was allowed to name the first six players to their Olympic roster earlier this July. Five Devils have already secured their spots:

  • Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jonas Siegenthaler - Switzerland
  • Ondrej Palat - Czechia
  • Simon Nemec - Slovakia

Canadian Devils Left Off Camp List

Hockey Canada recently released its 42-man orientation camp roster ahead of the Games. While stars like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Cale Makar headline the list, no current or former Devils were invited, despite nine Canadian players on New Jersey's roster.

The NJ Devils team’s current national breakdown is:

  • 36% Canadian
  • 20% American
  • 12% Swiss
  • 8% Finnish
  • 8% Russian
  • 8% Swedish
  • 4% Czech
  • 4% Slovak

Sweden: Bratt and Markstrom in the Mix

Two Devils are widely expected to represent Sweden:

  • Jesper Bratt
  • Jacob Markstrom

Despite not being named among Sweden’s first six roster players, both are projected by most analysts to make the final team. Bratt made a strong impression in the Four Nations Face-Off, though he’ll still need to earn a spot in final selections.

Markstrom’s case is more complex. He suffered a knee injury during the Four Nations tournament and didn’t appear in any games, which could impact his chances of being named Sweden’s starting goaltender.

While he’s never played in the Olympics, Markstrom has represented Sweden in both the IIHF World Championship and World Junior Championship, and has publicly said that playing in the Olympics is a lifelong dream.

He’s expected to compete for the starting role against:

  • Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild) – Started in the Four Nations tournament in Markstrom’s absence
  • Linus Ullmark (Ottawa Senators)
  • Samuel Ersson (Philadelphia Flyers) – Unlikely to make the Olympic roster

What About Jack Hughes?

Team USA has yet to announce its Olympic camp roster, but it’s widely expected that Jack Hughes will be among those selected.

Looking Ahead

Whether already selected or still competing for a spot, several New Jersey Devils are on track to represent their countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. With NHL talent returning to the Games, fans can expect a highly competitive, and star-studded, tournament.

Photo Credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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Mets vs. Giants: How to watch on SNY on Aug. 2, 2025

The Mets and the New Yorkers-turned-San Franciscans play the second of the three-game set at Citi Field on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Kodai Senga will make his 17th start of the year and brings in a 2.00 ERA and 1.214 WHIP over 85.2 innings with 82 strikeouts to 41 walks. He is looking to bounce back after a tough outing against these same Giants: three runs on four hits over 5.0 innings with five walks allowed
  • Pete Alonso smashed his 249th career home run on Friday, moving him three away from tying Darryl Strawberry's franchise record. The dinger, his 29th of the year, snapped an 0-for-19 cold spell
  • Cedric Mullins gets his first start with the Mets in center field. In his last 16 games with Baltimore, he slashed .321/.333/.547 for an .881 OPS 
  • The Mets are 37-17 at Citi Field this season, their .685 winning percentage is the best in the majors
  • Mark Vientos extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is slashing .343/.361/.486 for an .822 OPS over his last 16 games
  • Giants right-hander Kai-Wei Teng will make his season debut. The Taiwan native tossed 11 innings over four relief appearances last year, allowing 12 runs on 15 hits with seven strikeouts to eight walks. He has pitched to a 3.67 ERA over 54 innings at Triple-A in 2025
GIANTS
METS
Heliot Ramos, LFBrandon Nimmo, LF
Rafael Devers, DHFrancisco Lindor, SS
Wukky Adames, SSJuan Soto, RF
Matt Chapman, 3BPete Alonso, 1B
Dominic Smith, 1BJeff McNeil, DH
Casey Schmitt, 2BRonny Mauricio, 3B
Jung Hoo Lee, CFCedric Mullins, CF
Andrew Knizner, CFrancisco Alvarez, C
Grant McCray, RFBrett Baty, 2B

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: New faces meet moment, but bats remain shy

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Friday, in case you missed it...

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Canadiens: Montembeault In Great Position To Make Team Canada

Team Canada announced the 42 NHLers invited to its orientation camp for the upcoming Olympics in Milano Cortina on Friday, and the list includes three Montreal Canadiens. Of the three Habs invited, two weren’t part of the national team for the 4 Nations Face-Off: Nick Suzuki and Noah Dobson. Dobson did, however, play for Canada at the World Championships in May. The final Montreal player invited was Samuel Montembeaul, who acted as Canada’s third-string goalie at the 4 Nations.

What’s surprising, however, is the fact that out of the 42 players invited, only three are goaltenders. The netminding job sparked great debate ahead of the 4 Nations, with no one particularly standing out. In the end, the Canadian outfit elected to go with St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Binnington, Vegas Golden Knights’ Aidan Hill, and, of course, Montembeault.

Canadiens: Against Their Once-Upon-A-Time Big Rivals
Canadiens: Have They Got The Best 25 And Under Core?
3 Canadiens Invited To Canada's 2026 Olympic Orientation Camp

Although Canada is no longer a major producer of goaltenders, 25 Canadian goaltenders played in the NHL last season. One would have expected the national team to keep the door open for alternates in case of injuries, at the very least.

Washington Capitals’ Logan Thompson could have been a viable option. Still, he was reportedly left off the 4 Nations roster because assistant coaches Bruce Cassidy and Peter DeBoer didn’t have a good experience with him in Vegas. Since they will both be part of the Olympics coaching team, the justification must be the same.

Los Angeles Kings’ 35-year-old netminder Darcy Kuemper could also have been a possibility. He started 50 games with the Californian outfit last season and posted a 31-11-7 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage.

Jet Greaves could also have been an intriguing alternative. The 24-year-old almost managed to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to the playoffs last season when he joined them down the stretch. He only played 11 games, but had a 1.91 GAA and a .938 SV. Granted, he wasn’t exactly impressive when he joined the Cleveland Monsters for their playoff run in the AHL, but still.

In any case, the fact that only three goaltenders were invited is good news for the Canadiens’ masked man; he will get plenty of valuable experience by just going to the Olympics, even if he doesn’t get to see any action. The Becancour native was over the moon with his experience at the 4 Nations. Montembeault enjoyed practising with the best-of-the-best and facing shots from the likes of Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby every day.

Making the Olympics is a much more prestigious achievement than being selected for an NHL-created event, though, and Montembeault will be living the dream if he boards the plane to Milan Cortina in February.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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Golden Knights Ignite High School Hockey In The Desert

The Golden Knights are responsible for the widespread attention to hockey to the Las Vegas desert, a place where the sport was once considered unlikely to thrive.

Unlike football, baseball, and basketball, hockey hasn’t traditionally been part of the high school athletics lineup in the area. As a result, young players who had aspirations of taking the ice had to do so in other ways, seeking out club teams, traveling leagues, or settling with never competing at all. That changed this past April, the Knights crafted a league accessible for high school athletes across the Las Vegas Valley to practice, showcase, and compete in a structured system. 

The league featured over 320 high school-aged players spread out among 16 co-ed teams, each representing their areas of home, ensuring regional diversity. The Knights have always thrived on creating opportunities for the youth community to grow their skills. This vision was a work in progress for more than three years, and as a result, game attendance exceeded 100 fans at most games. 

Games were played throughout town at City National Arena, America First Center, and Hylo Park Arena.  On July 25, both Major and Minor divisions took to the ice for their first ever respective championship games. The Shadow Mountain Ravens, representing Summerlin, secured the Minor Division championship with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Red Rock from Summerlin South. 

Just one night later, July 26, the Black Mountain Miners from North Henderson capped off a beautiful undefeated season, finishing 15-0, by overcoming the Redhawks of Enterprise/Anthem in a 4-2 victory to claim the Major Division title.

This league remains as a long-term vision for the Knights organization, and perhaps one day we can see hockey recognized as a letter sport. For now, success is a clear evaluation for this first year, bringing a community of families and players alike to fuel a vision that has evolving potential. 

PHOTO COURTESY: Vegas Golden Knights

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Ledecky wins 800m freestyle world title over Pallister and McIntosh in classic

  • Ledecky wins 800m freestyle in 8:05.62 CR time

  • McIntosh settles for bronze behind Pallister

  • US star extends record with seventh world 800m title

Katie Ledecky once again proved untouchable in her signature event, holding off a star-studded field to win her seventh world title in the 800m freestyle on Saturday in Singapore, a feat no swimmer has ever achieved in a single event.

The 28-year-old American delivered a championship-record 8:05.62 to edge Australia’s Lani Pallister (8:05.98) and Canada’s Summer McIntosh (8:07.29) in one of the most anticipated races of the world swimming championships. The trio are the three fastest women in history over 800m, and the amply hyped final more than lived up to the billing, producing the fastest field ever assembled in the event.

Continue reading...
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Backstroke queen Kaylee McKeown pulls off another golden double

  • Australia reels in US rival Regan Smith

  • Cameron McEvoy storms to 50m freestyle title

Kaylee McKeown, the world record-holder, underlined her status as the undisputed queen of backstroke as she added 200m gold to her triumph in the 100m at the world championships in Singapore on Saturday.

Once again it was American Regan Smith attempting to take down McKeown, only to be reeled in on the last lap as the Australian clocked 2min 03.33sec, the third-fastest of all time. It was nearly a second better than Smith (2:04.29), who had taken silver behind McKeown in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics, and was runner-up to her in the 100m in Singapore.

Continue reading...
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NBA reportedly seeking $500 million or more franchise fee for each team in European league

Anyone wondering why NBA owners seem to be pushing harder for starting an NBA league in Europe than expanding domestically, we have some answers for you.

But it's all about the money.

Commissioner Adam Silver has been in Europe this past week, talking up the NBA's vision and selling it to potential stakeholders in the new venture, including Real Madrid, reports Joe Varden of The Athletic. Part of what Silver and the league are pitching is a $500 million per team franchise fee to buy in, reports the Sports Business Journal.

The NBA is pursuing franchise fees of more than $500M from teams looking to join the prospective NBA Europe, with multiple sources maintaining the league's preferred number is somewhere between half a billion and $1B....

Franchise valuations are also said to be part of ancillary discussions with banks and private equity conglomerates, as part of an effort to settle on a dollar figure. An official from one EuroLeague franchise had earlier scoffed at a proposed $500M figure, and -- considering the template for NBA Europe includes existing EuroLeague clubs -- it seemed unclear whether teams will be priced out of joining.

See why NBA owners like this idea? They could secure a share of these massive franchise fees — at least 10 teams at half a billion each is $5 billion at minimum, about what the expansion fee would be for a team in Seattle or Las Vegas — without having to give up any of their new national television revenue or equity in the league.

What the NBA envisions is a few current big-name European teams — "A" license-holding, stakeholding teams from the existing EuroLeague — jumping ship to the new NBA league, with Real Madrid seen as the most willing team to make a move (Tony Parker-owned ASVEL Basket also is one to watch). Then the NBA could tap into sovereign wealth funds and private equity — groups limited in how much of a stateside NBA team they can own — to put together expansion teams or prop up smaller existing teams, something Varden details at The Athletic.

The United Kingdom is home to soccer's mighty Premier League and is also another place where the NBA could attract big soccer dollars from Middle Eastern sovereign funds. The British Basketball League's reigning champion, London Lions, is owned by tech giant Tesonet...

Additionally, Silver and his associates met in London this week with representatives from four private equity firms (CVC, RedBird, Bridgepoint and KKR), as well as officials from the Turkish basketball and soccer club Galatasaray.

The NBA believes there is money left on the table in Europe, in areas such as broadcast rights and getting new, larger arenas built. What the NBA touts is its brand name and its business acumen — the ability to squeeze every dollar out of the business of basketball. What Real Madrid and teams such as FC Barcelona or Fenerbahçe Istanbul bring is history and a built-in fan base for the league.

We're still a few years away from an NBA league in Europe, but it has become a growing focus for the league. From an existing NBA owner's perspective, it's easy to see why this is attractive. We'll see if the European clubs (and fan bases) feel the same way.

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Letters to Sports: Why did the Dodgers keep their hands in pockets at trade deadline?

Los Angeles, CA - July 21: Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott meets with catcher Will Smith, manager Dave Roberts and assistant rehab coordinator Greg Barajasafter after sustaining an injury to his pitching arm during the game as the Dodgers take on the Minnesota Twins at Dodger Stadium Monday, July 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott talks to catcher Will Smith, manager Dave Roberts and assistant rehab coordinator Greg Barajas. The Dodgers will be banking on Scott and other pitchers to rebound from injury in time for the playoffs. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

The self-confident, stay-as-they-are Dodgers did right by not panicking at the trade deadline and keeping the roster pretty much intact. This is still the same group of guys picked by most baseball experts to win a second straight championship.

The slumps will pass. The injuries will go away. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and the gang will be there at the end when it counts most.

Marty Zweben
Palos Verdes Estates

Though I don’t agree with his breathless, sky-is-falling sense of urgency, I do think Bill Plaschke is right that the Dodgers should have been more aggressive at the trade deadline. It’s a reasonable gamble to believe that their pitchers will stay healthy enough, their hitters will get untracked and Max Muncy will return and pick up where he left off. But it’s a gamble nonetheless. And if you’ve already sunk $400 million into your payroll, what’s another $10 million to $20 million for a playoff insurance policy: a proven closer and a better outfielder?

John Merryman
Redondo Beach

On Wednesday against the Reds, James Outman attempted to do his best Denzel Clarke-Cedric Mullins imitation by attempting to rob a homer. Unfortunately this last great effort typified Outman’s career with the Dodgers, as it was another case of “so close, but yet so far,” as the ball landed off the heel of Outman’s glove for a two-run triple.

The NL rookie of the month in April 2023 is a great athlete, but it was understandable why the Dodgers traded him.

Ken Feldman
Tarzana

A few hours before baseball's trade deadline Thursday, MLB Network dived into how well top minor league prospects across baseball have succeeded in the major leagues over the years, and it's a pretty dismal percentage. Very few go on to successful big league careers, most just pop back and forth between the minors and majors, move from team to team, while many just fizzle out. They concluded that given the opportunity to garner a quality major league player, let alone an All-Star by just using your draft capital is a no-brainer. The Padres are one team that firmly believes in this while the Dodgers always seem hesitant to do so.

They pointed to the Dodgers with an aging Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and a 31-year-old, currently healthy Shohei Ohtani that the time to win is now and that holding onto all their draft capital when it could be used to immediately bolster the roster doesn't historically or statistically make much sense.

Jerry Leibowitz
Culver City

Well the trade deadline passed without much movement from the Dodgers. With their deep pockets, I thought they might have become the first organization in MLB history to trade for an entire team.

Joe Kevany
Mount Washington

Halo hope

When Arte Moreno sells the Angels this offseason, please bring in A.J. Preller, the architect behind the Padres, as the GM.

Dean Connor
Fontana

Life of Riley

So Lincoln Riley gets $80 million if USC lets him go before his contract is up. For that amount of money, I presume he’s also curing cancer at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Marty Cooper
Encino

Redemption road

As a Trojan fan searching for imminent signs of a return to football glory, it's oddly encouraging to see a certain columnist declare USC nationally irrelevant because if history has taught us anything, it's this: when Bill Plaschke buries you, resurrection tends to follow.

Steve Ross
Carmel

Bruins longshot

I don't believe DeShaun Foster was "going full Joe Namath" when he guaranteed a packed Rose Bowl this coming football season. A critical college football playoff game will surely pack the place New Year's Day.

As for his certainty of a jam-packed venue during the regular season — I wouldn't bet the house.

David Griffin
Los Angeles

Role models

What a great article Eric Sondheimer wrote on City section coaches uniting in challenging times. Reading about these new coaches, as well as some new stadiums, it has me quite excited about the upcoming season. They appear ready to lead their young men the right way in developing as players and students first and put the cheating at one unnamed City high school in the rearview mirror. These coaches are to be admired as they take on this arduous task with a lot less resources and financial compensation than many of their brethren at other CIF schools.

Mark Kaiserman
Santa Monica

Clip job

What’s older — a California Giant Redwood or the Clippers’ starting lineup?

Barry Smith
Thousand Oaks

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Email: sports@latimes.com

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Maple Leafs' John Tavares Among Invitees To Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation Camp

John Tavares has received an invitation to Team Canada’s Orientation Camp ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

The 34-year-old is one of 42 players on the men’s side to be invited to the three-day off-ice camp hosted by Hockey Canada in Calgary, Alberta. The country has invited 92 players in total, from both the men’s and women’s teams, plus its para hockey teams.

From August 26 to 28th, players will be at Hockey Canada’s headquarters listening to presentations, participating in team-building opportunities and meetings, plus media opportunities for the upcoming season.

“We are excited to unveil the 92 athletes who will kick off the road to Italy, and to bring our men’s, women’s and para hockey teams together for three days as the first step towards our goal of winning triple gold in February,” said Hockey Canada senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, Scott Salmond.

“While the next several months will bring intense evaluation and difficult roster decisions, we look forward to kicking off the season in Calgary and giving our athletes and staff a chance to come together and start to become one team as we set our sights on February.”

Knights' Coach Dale Hunter Believes Easton Cowan Can Make Maple Leafs Out Of Training CampKnights' Coach Dale Hunter Believes Easton Cowan Can Make Maple Leafs Out Of Training CampLondon Knights head coach Dale Hunter believes Easton Cowan has a shot to make the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp.

Tavares is coming off one of his best seasons as a Maple Leaf, scoring 74 points (38 goals and 36 assists) in 75 games. His 38 goals are tied for the second-most in a season during his career, only behind the 47 goals he scored during his first season with Toronto.

The veteran forward was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but signed a four-year, $17.55 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs. The annual average value of the deal is $4.38 million.

Tavares has represented Canada on numerous occasions, including the World Juniors, World Cup, and 2014 Olympic Games. He’s won gold medals at each level, though he is still looking for the coveted Stanley Cup to put himself into the Triple Gold club.

Nick Robertson’s Arbitration Filing With Maple Leafs Revealed: What Each Side SubmittedNick Robertson’s Arbitration Filing With Maple Leafs Revealed: What Each Side SubmittedJust two days before Nick Robertson and the Toronto Maple Leafs are scheduled to meet with an arbitrator, both sides have submitted their requests and comparable figures. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Robertson is seeking an AAV of $2.25 million, while the Leafs are asking for $1.2 million.

In 1,184 career NHL games split between Toronto and the New York Islanders, Tavares has scored 494 goals and 620 assists for 1,114 points. Tavares has also tallied 53 points (28 goals and 25 assists) in 75 playoff games.

Also invited to the mini-camp is former Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who was part of a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this summer. Marner signed an eight-year, $96 million contract before being acquired by Vegas in exchange for Nicolas Roy.

The 28-year-old has put up 741 points (221 goals and 520 assists) in 647 games, plus 13 goals and 50 assists in 70 playoff games with the Maple Leafs. Marner is fifth all-time on the franchise's points list, fourth in assists, and fifth in Toronto's all-time playoff points.

'There's Unfinished Business': Anthony Stolarz's Summer Training In Full Swing Ahead Of Second Season With Maple Leafs'There's Unfinished Business': Anthony Stolarz's Summer Training In Full Swing Ahead Of Second Season With Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz appears to be in peak offseason training mode.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Maple Leafs' John Tavares Among Invitees To Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation Camp

(Top photo of Tavares: Luther Schlaifer / Imagn Images)

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Post-trade deadline fallout and closer rankings

In this weekend edition of the Closer Report, we'll run through an updated post-trade deadline closer rankings and break down the fallout of Thursday's flurry of activity across the league. We'll also highlight some priority waiver additions following the trade deadline for teams looking to supplement saves over the final two months.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1

Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets

Hader remains the top closer in baseball with 28 saves and a 2.22 ERA. Muñoz and Díaz aren't far behind, converting 24 and 23 saves, respectively, with sub-2.00 ERAs. While the Astros and Mariners didn't do much at the deadline to add to their bullpens, the Mets made some significant additions in Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers. Helsley has operated as the Cardinals' closer over the last four seasons, breaking out in 2024 with 49 saves and a 2.04 ERA across 66 1/3 innings. The 31-year-old right-hander brings 21 saves and a 3.00 ERA with his this season from the Cardinals and should slot in as the team's primary setup man and next-in-line behind Díaz, hurting his fantasy value where teams were counting on him for saves. Meanwhile, Rogers has been one of the most consistent high-leverage relievers in baseball over his seven-year career with the Giants. He brings a 1.80 ERA over 50 innings from San Francisco. Aside from Helsley becoming a handcuff to Díaz, there isn't much more action we can take here.

Tier 2

Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres

This next tier consists of the next group of top-end relievers, starting with Chapman, who's had an incredible 16th season in the majors at 37 years old. The veteran left-hander has posted a 1.29 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 62/13 K/BB ratio across 42 innings. The Red Sox added Steven Matz from the Cardinals to help bolster the middle relief group. The 34-year-old left-hander is capable of throwing multiple innings out of the bullpen and has posted a solid 3.44 ERA over 55 innings.

The major mover here is Duran, who goes from Minnesota to Philadelphia. We can stop questioning and trying to chase the Phillies closer as Duran should step in for most, if not all, of the team's save chances. This leaves Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering free to hit the waiver wire in most formats. The hope for Duran is that moving from the Twins to the 62-47 Phillies will bring more save chances for the 27-year-old right-hander. He locked down his first for the team with a perfect inning against the Tigers on Friday.

The Brewers added veteran Shelby Miller at the deadline. Miller had been operating as the Diamondbacks' closer before landing on the injured list in early July with a right forearm strain. Miller has begun a throwing program and, despite an excellent season in Arizona so far with a 1.98 ERA, should pose no threat to Trevor Megill for saves. Megill has been fantastic in his first full year as the Brewers' closer, converting 24 saves with a 2.19 ERA across 37 innings.

Now things get very interesting here. The Padres landed one of the biggest fish in the reliever market, acquiring Mason Miller from the Athletics for a package that included top prospect, Leo De Vries. The 26-year-old right-hander has been dominant since making the transition from starting pitching at the start of last season. Despite some bumps this year in Sacramento, Miller is one of the best pitchers in baseball and gives San Diego perhaps the best one-two punch in the late innings, adding to what was already one of the league's best bullpens. I would imagine that the Padres continue to roll with the MLB saves leader in Robert Suarez in the ninth inning, at least for now. But don't consider dropping Miller in any format, given his ability to help in strikeouts and perhaps fall in line for some wins. There's also a chance Miller gets mixed in for some save chances to keep Suarez and the rest of the bullpen rested over the final stretch. Remember, Suarez struggled late last season, posting a 4.35 ERA in August and a 6.00 ERA in September.

Tier 3

Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Randy Rodríguez - San Francisco Giants
Will Vest/Kyle Finnegan - Detroit Tigers
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates

The Yankees were one of the most active teams at the trade deadline, adding the Giants' and Pirates' closers in Camilo Doval and David Bednar to significantly bolster their bullpen. While Williams should continue to see most save chances in New York, Bednar has had the best season among the three, posting a 2.72 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 53/10 K/BB ratio across 39 2/3 innings. Doval has had a strong season in his own right, albeit with a few more ups and downs. Both Bednar and Doval should initially slot in as high-leverage setup men behind Williams, while Luke Weaver could move to a versatile role in the back end of the bullpen, capable of giving the Yankees five or six outs when needed.

The Cubs put their confidence in Palencia, with Andrew Kittredge and Taylor Rogers being their only bullpen additions to fortify the middle innings. The Giants are also rolling with a rookie breakout in the ninth after sending Doval to the Yankees, naming Randy Rodríguez their primary closer. Rodríguez struck out one batter in a scoreless tenth inning on Friday for the save against the Mets and holds a 1.17 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and a 63/10 K/BB ratio across 46 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander has incredible upside over the last two months of the season and should be universally added in every format as one of this weekend's top waiver targets.

The Tigers added Kyle Finnegan into the saves mix in a trade with the Nationals. The 33-year-old right-hander brings 20 saves and a 4.38 ERA across 39 innings. Will Vest has been working as Detroit's primary closer, but was used in the seventh inning on Friday against the Phillies. Manager A.J. Hinch is likely to be more fluid with the closer role now that Finnegan brings some experience to the late innings. He could go with a committee approach. Through, we may just need to see this play out over the next week.

The Reds didn't acquire any outside help for the bullpen at the deadline, but did make an addition to the starting rotation with Zach Littell. The move shifts Nick Martinez into a relief role behind closer Emilio Pagán. And in Anaheim, the Angels added some middle relief depth behind Kenley Jansen, bringing Luis García and Andrew Chafin in from the Nationals.

Not only did the Rays end up keeping Pete Fairbanks, but they also made a significant improvement behind him with the acquisition of Griffin Jax from the Twins in exchange for starter Taj Bradley. Meanwhile, the Guardians' situation wasn't affected by the trade deadline, but rather by Emmanuel Clase's addition to the restricted list as MLB conducts a potential sports-betting investigation. Cade Smith is expected to step in as closer. The 26-year-old right-hander has posted a strong 3.00 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 68/17 K/BB ratio across 48 innings and is among the top waiver adds for saves.

The Blue Jays brought in some depth at the deadline, acquiring Seranthony Domínguez from the Orioles and Louis Varland from the Twins. Both should get work as quality middle relievers behind closer Jeff Hoffman. And while the situation in Kansas City remains the same, Pittsburgh pulled the trigger on a deal that sent closer David Bednar to the Yankees while holding on to Dennis Santana. Santana filled in as closer for a short time early this season during a brief demotion to Triple-A for Bednar. He stumbled in his save chance Friday in Colorado, giving up five runs against the Rockies to take the loss. Still, the 29-year-old right-hander is expected to finish out the season as the Pirates' closer.

Tier 4

Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Jojo Romero - St. Louis Cardinals
Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers
Blake Treinen/Alex Vesia - Los Angeles Dodgers
Cole Sands - Minnesota Twins

The Braves were mostly quiet at the trade deadline as Iglesias remains with the team to continue his closing duties. The 35-year-old right-hander has had a disappointing season, posting a 4.74 ERA and 13 saves across 43 2/3 innings. On the other hand, the Cardinals sent closer Ryan Helsley to the Mets on Wednesday before trading Phil Maton to the Rangers on Thursday, leaving Jojo Romero as the likely closer through the rest of the season. The 28-year-old left-hander has had a strong campaign, recording a 2.04 ERA over 35 1/3 frames. While not the flashiest option with elite strikeout upside, Romero should still be added in most formats where saves are needed.

While Maton takes a 2.29 ERA and a 49/16 K/BB ratio over 39 1/3 innings with him to Texas, Robert García is expected to continue to run with the closer role. García did get Friday's save chance, but blew the opportunity as he surrendered a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth against the Mariners. While García has otherwise had a strong season, it wouldn't be a shock to see Maton get some save chances over the final two months.

The Dodgers should continue to utilize a committee in the ninth inning while Tanner Scott is shelved with an elbow injury. Scott did start a throwing progression earlier this week and should resume closing duties once he returns. In the meantime, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, and potentially new addition Brock Stewart could be in the mix for saves.

Stewart joined the Dodgers in a trade with the Twins, who cleaned house in their bullpen by sending Jhoan Duran to the Phillies and Griffin Jax to the Rays. Manager Rocco Baldelli mentioned Cole Sands and Justin Topa as the likely candidates to work late-inning duties, with Sands presumably getting most of the save chances. Sands should be left for teams in deeper leagues chasing saves.

Tier 5

Anthony Bender/Ronny Henriquez/Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins
Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks
Corbin Martin/Keegan Akin - Baltimore Orioles
Sean Newcomb/Jack Perkins - Athletics
Jose Ferrer - Washington Nationals
Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox
Seth Halvorsen - Colorado Rockies

You really don't want to be shopping for saves in this tier. The Marlins situation has been a hard one to pin down all season. While Calvin Faucher leads the team with ten saves, Ronny Henriquez has had the best season of the bunch, posting a 2.96 ERA over 51 2/3 innings. Seth Halvorsen, with a 4.99 ERA in Colorado, leads the rest of this group with 11 saves and is the only other reliever with more than three.