What's next for Knicks in free agency, and how much salary cap space is left?

A few notes as we head into Day 3 of NBA free agency:

What’s next for the Knicks after the Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele signings?

As things currently stand, they probably only have enough money for another veteran minimum contract.

According to Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron podcast, the Knicks would be slightly over the second apron ($207.8 million) if they added a veteran to the roster.

(New York will be hard-capped at the second apron after it uses the tax-payer midlevel exception to sign Yabusele).

I believe the Knicks do want to add another veteran free agent. To do so, they’d need to sign a player to a rookie free agent deal and trim around $36,000 in team salary. This theoretically can be done if Yabusele takes slightly less than the full taxpayer midlevel exception. If Yabusele has the full midlevel, the Knicks would need to shed salary via trade to get under the second apron.

As noted earlier, they have had interest in bringing back Landry Shamet. Shamet also has interest from contenders in both conferences. The Knicks have also checked in on free agent Ben Simmons, per sources familiar with the matter. But people briefed on the matter say a decision on that roster spot isn’t expected until after the head coach is hired.

Simmons has met with three other teams and is expected to make a decision soon, per people familiar with the matter.

KNICKS VS. NUGGETS FOR YABUSELE

The Knicks and Nuggets were the finalists for Yabusele, who had a strong season in Philadelphia last season. As Jeremy Cohen of KnicksFilmSchool notes, the Knicks actually benefitted from the Sixers bottoming out at the end of the season. The salary for the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft (V.J. Edgecombe) left Philadelphia hard-pressed to re-sign Yabusele and Quentin Grimes.

The Knicks, as you could imagine, were thrilled to land Yabusele. Entering free agency, it seemed unlikely that the midlevel exception would be enough to land the big man. But the player option probably helped the Knicks’ push for Yabusele. Denver was aggressive in its pursuit with Nikola Jokic said to be a big fan of the potential Yabusele addition.

Also, something I found interesting: the Knicks value Yabusele’s versatility off the bench, particularly behind a starting lineup featuring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Obviously, the Knicks’ next head coach will ultimately decide the starting lineup/rotation for New York. But the fact that the Knicks factored in Yabusele’s role behind a starting lineup featuring Towns and Robinson tells you that there is some internal support for that starting five.   

Twins at Marlins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Twins (40-45) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (38-45). Simeon Woods Richardson is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Janson Junk for Miami.

Miami is on a season long eight-game winning streak that continued with a 2-0 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday. Miami has outscored its opponents 54 to 34 during this stretch.

Minnesota has lost three consecutive games and is 4-14 over the previous 18 games. The Twins follow up this road series with a nine-game home stand versus Tampa Bay, the Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh before the All-Star break.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Twins at Marlins

  • Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: LoanDepot Park
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, FDSNFL

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Twins at the Marlins

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (-125), Marlins (+105)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Marlins

  • Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Simeon Woods Richardson vs. Janson Junk
    • Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson, (3-4, 4.63 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Marlins: Janson Junk, (2-0, 3.73 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.2 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 1 Strikeout

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Twins and the Marlins

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Twins and the Marlins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Twins on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Marlins

  • The Twins have won 7 of their last 10 away games against teams with losing records
  • Minnesota is 6-6 in Simeon Woods Richardson's starts
  • 13 of the Marlins' last 15 home games stayed under the Total
  • The Marlins have covered the Run Line in 14 of their last 17 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Padres at Phillies Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Padres (45-39) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (50-35). Nick Pivetta is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Mick Abel for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia took the series opener 4-0 in Bryce Harper’s return and the strong pitching of Zack Wheeler. Harper recorded a walk and two outs in three at-bats, while Wheeler recorded 10 strikeouts to zero walks over 8.0 shutout innings of work.

The Phillies have won three out of the last four after dropping three consecutive games. San Diego is the opposite having lost three of the past four outings to follow up a 4-1 stretch.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Padres at Phillies

  • Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
  • Time: 1:05PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: SDPA, NBCSP, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Padres at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (-108), Phillies (-111)
  • Spread:  Phillies 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Nick Pivetta vs. Mick Abel
    • Padres: Nick Pivetta, (8-2, 3.36 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 10 Strikeouts
    • Phillies: Mick Abel, (2-1, 3.47 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 1 Strikeout

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Phillies

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Padres and the Phillies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Phillies

  • The Padres are 10-6 when Nick Pivetta starts
  • The Phillies have won 4 of their last 5 home games against National League teams
  • Each of the Padres’ last 3 road games with the Phillies have stayed under the Total
  • The Phillies are up 3.92 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at Citizens Bank Park

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Vinni Lettieri To One-Year Deal

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Vinni Lettieri to a one-year deal, it was reported Tuesday. 

The deal will see Lettieri take home $775,000. 

Lettieri, who hails from Excelsior, Minn., spent the 2024-25 season splitting time between the Boston Bruins and Providence Bruins. Over 26 NHL games, he collected three goals and five points while putting up 21 goals and 29 assists for 50 points in 47 AHL games. 

Having turned pro at the end of the 2016-17 season, Lettieri has appeared in 155 career NHL games with the Bruins, New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild. During that time, he accumulated 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points. 

With Lettieri joining the Maple Leafs, they've added another solid depth forward to their system. Although he likely won't begin the year with the Maple Leafs, Lettieri's NHL experience will make him one of the first to be called upon in case of injury or suspension. 

Tigers at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Tigers (53-32) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (35-49). Tyler Holton is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Trevor Williams for Washington.

Game 1 between the Tigers and Nationals was postponed yesterday, so we have a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Detroit is coming off a series win over the Twins, while the Nationals took their series against the Angels. Both teams won two of three. This is the first game of a four game series.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Tigers at Nationals

  • Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
  • Time: 1:05PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, MASN2

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Tigers at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (-170), Nationals (+142)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Tyler Holton vs. Trevor Williams
    • Tigers: Tyler Holton, (3-3, 4.34 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hit Allowed, 0 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts
    • Nationals: Trevor Williams, (3-9, 5.65 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Tigers and the Nationals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Tigers and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Nationals

  • The Tigers have won 4 of their last 5 at National League teams
  • The Tigers' last 3 road games have gone over the Total
  • The Nationals have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.47 units
  • Washington is 1-4 in the last five Trevor Williams' starts
  • Washington is 6-10 on the ML when Williams pitches this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Cardinals at Pirates prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Cardinals (47-40) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (37-50). Sonny Gray is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates continued its hot play with a 1-0 win on a Henry Davis sacrifice fly in the eight inning of Game 2 in the series. Pittsburgh has a chance to sweep the Cardinals — revenge for St. Louis sweeping Pittsburgh earlier in the season.

Pittsburgh has scored 38 runs during their season-long five-game winning streak and 55 runs during the current 7-2 stretch they're on. St. Louis is 10-5 in the last 15 games despite losing the past two games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Cardinals at Pirates

  • Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
  • Time: 12:35PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, SNP, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Cardinals at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Cardinals (-140), Pirates (+118)
  • Spread:  Cardinals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Pirates

  • Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Sonny Gray vs. Mitch Keller
    • Cardinals: Sonny Gray, (8-2, 3.36 ERA)
      Last outing: 9.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hit Allowed, 0 Walks, and 11 Strikeouts
    • Pirates: Mitch Keller, (2-10, 3.90 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Cardinals and the Pirates

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Cardinals and the Pirates:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the St. Louis Cardinals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cardinals at Pirates

  • The Pirates have a losing record (10-17) in divisional matchups this season
  • The under has cashed in the Pirates' last three head-to-heads against the Cardinals with Mitch Keller starting
  • The Pirates have covered in three straight games with Mitch Keller as their opening pitcher
  • The Pirates are 1-5 on the ML in the last six games that Mitch Keller pitches
  • The Cardinals are 8-1 in the last nine Sonny Gray starts
  • The Cardinals are 3-2 on the ML against the Pirates

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Mets vs. Brewers: How to watch Game 1 of doubleheader on SNY on July 2, 2025

The Mets open a three-game series against the Brewers at Citi Field in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

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


Mets Notes

  • Juan Soto is hitting .330/.476/.742 with 12 homers, four doubles, 26 walks, 22 RBI, and 27 runs scored over his last 29 games
  • Jeff McNeilhas an .859 OPS in 43 games dating back to May 7
  • Edwin Diaz has a 0.41 ERA over his last 22 games

BREWERS
METS
Sal Frelick, RFFrancisco Lindor, SS
William Contreras, CStarling Marte, DH
Christian Yelich, DHJuan Soto, RF
Jackson Chourio, RFPete Alonso, 1B
Brice Turang, 2BBrandon Nimmo, LF
Isaac Collins, LFMark Vientos, 3B
Jake Bauers, 1BJeff McNeil, CF
Joey Ortiz, SSLuis Torrens, C
Anthony Seigler, 3BBrett 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

Islanders Bolster Bridgeport's Depth To Close Out Day 1 Of NHL Free Agency

When Mathieu Darche was named general manager of the New York Islanders, he emphasized that improving Bridgeport, the team’s AHL affiliate, would be a priority.

Bridgeport finished the 2024-25 season with a 15-50-4-3 record, the worst in the AHL.

Following the first day of free agency, Darche has already taken steps to improve Bridgeport’s roster.

Up front, he signed center Matthew Highmore, a veteran of 197 total NHL games.

More importantly, he bolstered a defense that conceded 294 goals, 43 higher than the next-worst AHL team, by bringing in Ethan Bear and Cole McWard.

All three players were signed to one-year, two-way contracts.

Darche also handed out one-year, AHL contracts to forwards Chris Terry, Max Dorrington, Cam Berg, Ross Mitton, and Hunter Drew, as well as defenseman Luke Rowe.

Terry, Dorrington, Berg, and Mitton were all with Bridgeport for all or parts of the 2024-25 season, while Drew and Rowe are new.

In addition to the player signings, Darche overhauled Bridgeport’s coaching staff, bringing in Rocky Thompson, a former NHLer and assistant coach under John Tortorella in Philadelphia, as the new head coach.

Rocky Thompson's Plan To Building A Winning Culture In BridgeportRocky Thompson's Plan To Building A Winning Culture In BridgeportLOS ANGELES -- On Thursday afternoon, Bridgeport Islanders head coach Rocky Thompson addressed the media for the first time since the New York Islanders announced his hiring on June 23. 

Although meaningful hockey is still months away, the Islanders’ focus on Bridgeport is a reason for optimism.

The AHL club already features several of the organization’s top prospects in Calle Odelius, Jesse Pulkkinen, Alex Jefferies, and Matthew Maggio, and will be home to current college and junior players entering the pro level in the coming years.

“I think we have the better team this season,” Pulkkinnen told The Hockey News. “Because we have the good young guys. And, yeah, I think this is the good team next season.”

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Michael Ostrower wrote this story. 

PHOTO: Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bruins roster reset, projected lineup after free agent moves, Arvidsson trade

Bruins roster reset, projected lineup after free agent moves, Arvidsson trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins announced nine signings and one trade on Day 1 of NHL free agency. They were among the league’s busiest teams. But did any of these moves make the team significantly better?

Probably not.

Instead of chasing high-end talent with goal-scoring ability — the Bruins were one of the league’s worst offensive teams last season — general manager Don Sweeney added a bunch of bottom-six forwards with limited scoring potential.

The Viktor Arvidsson trade with the Oilers made sense, especially when the cost was only a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. Many of the other pickups were puzzling, though.

The Bruins do have a lot of depth now, and there will be plenty of internal competition for roster spots and roles in the coming months.

“We expect to be a much more competitive team,” Sweeney said Tuesday at a press conference. “The improvements now come from within. But make no mistake: If a younger player has the opportunity to make our team, he’s making our team.”

It’s hard to see how this roster, as currently put together, would be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference next season. This team is not as talented or as deep as the Panthers, Maple Leafs and Lightning in the division. So it’s probably wild card or bust for Boston.

But it’s still very early in the offseason and more moves could be made.

Let’s take a look at some potential line combinations after the Bruins’ flurry of activity Tuesday.

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Also in the mix: Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Sean Kuraly, Matej Blumel

Let’s get this out of the way: The second, third and fourth lines could be constructed in 15 different iterations (maybe more), and our projections will change plenty of times between now and the end of training camp. After the Bruins signed a bunch of bottom-six forwards Tuesday, the possible line combos for new head coach Marco Sturm are seemingly endless.

However, the first line should be set in stone. The Morgan Geekie-Elias Lindholm-David Pastrnak trio played 88:58 of ice time after the trade deadline, and the B’s had a 56-33 edge in shots, a 65-33 advantage in scoring chances and a 17-6 goal differential during those minutes, per Natural Stat Trick.

Fabian Lysell deserves a real chance to prove himself. The 2021 first-round pick plays with a level of offensive skill and speed that Boston desperately needs. But for some reason, he hasn’t been given a real opportunity to earn a consistent NHL role.

The third-line center spot will be a fascinating position battle. The ideal scenario for the Bruins would be Fraser Minten or Matt Poitras — two of the team’s best and most NHL-ready prospects — taking the role.

One theme from the Bruins’ Day 1 free agent signings was that most of the players brought in all shoot the puck at a high rate. For example, there were 380 forwards last season who logged at least 500 even-strength minutes, per Natural Stat Trick, and Arvidsson ranked 19th with 9.56 shots per 60 minutes.

Boston ranked 31st in shot attempts and 29th in shots on net at even strength last season, so firing the puck on net as much as possible would be a welcome change for this team. That said, how many of these forwards can bury scoring chances consistently? Only two players listed above — Pastnak and Geekie — scored more than 17 goals last season.

Sweeney doesn’t seem concerned about his team’s ability to score, though.

“I do believe when you put the full group together, what they’re capable of doing, we’ll score enough if we play the right way, and we’ll defend a hell of a lot better, and I expect our goaltending to be significantly better,” Sweeney said Tuesday at a press conference.

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Also in the mix: Michael Callahan, Jordan Harris

Losing Hampus Lindholm for most of the 2024-25 season and then losing Charlie McAvoy for the final two months of the campaign was a massive setback for the Bruins. They could have missed the playoffs anyway, but not having two top-pairing caliber defensemen due to injuries is a tough blow.

Lohrei has a lot to prove after signing a two-year bridge deal last week. He has impressive playmaking ability and skates really well, but he needs to make a substantial improvement defensively.

The right side of the blue line after McAvoy is a bit of a wild card.

The B’s still haven’t found a real replacement for Brandon Carlo after they traded him to the Maple Leafs in March. Andrew Peeke has been a nice find by Sweeney as a reliable third-pairing blueliner. Henri Jokiharju on the second pairing isn’t the most ideal situation, but he played fairly well after Boston acquired him from the Sabres at last season’s trade deadline. Still, upgrading on the right side of the second pairing needs to happen at some point.

The Bruins need Nikita Zadorov to bring physicality without taking too many penalties. He led all defensemen in penalty minutes last season, and he took 12 more minor penalties than any other player at his position.

Goaltenders

  • Starter: Jeremy Swayman
  • Backups: Joonas Korpisalo, Michael DiPietro

The most effective way for the Bruins to get back in the Eastern Conference playoff mix is for Jeremy Swayman to play at the level of a top 10 goalie again. He’s done that most of his career, so it’s definitely possible. After playing fantastic as Team USA’s No. 1 goalie at the World Championships in May and helping lead the Americans to their first gold medal at the tournament since 1933, Swayman should bring some positive momentum into camp.

The backup role will be another fun battle to watch. It would benefit the Bruins tremendously if they could trade Joonas Korpisalo and get rid of his contract that has three more seasons remaining and a $3 million salary cap hit. But given Korpisalo’s lackluster stats over the last two years, trading him could prove difficult.

The Bruins signed Michael DiPietro to a new contract last week. He’s coming off the best season of his career in Providence during which he went 26-8-5 with a .927 save percentage and a 2.05 GAA. DiPietro deserves a chance to compete for the backup job in Boston, and if he does make a strong case in camp and the preseason, it’ll be interesting to see how the Bruins react.

2025 NBA Free Agency: Top 10 free agents still available

We're two days into NBA free agency, and we've seen some moves that have turned the NBA on its head — Myles Turner to Milwaukee, with Damian Lillard getting waived, was one nobody saw coming. Also, most of the players at the top of free agent boards — James Harden, Julius Randle, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Ty Jerome — quickly had their names taken off the list, usually re-signing with their own team.

Still, there are good players available. Here are the top 10 free agents still on the board heading into Day 3 of free agency.

1) Damian Lillard

The name at the top of this list is the shocking new addition. On one hand, Lillard has Hall of Fame credentials — seven-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Star, member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team — who averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists a game last year. On the other hand, this is a guy about to turn 35 who is going to miss most — and likely all — of next season recovering from a torn Achilles. His buyout means Lillard is still getting paid $112.6 million over the next two years, allowing him to land where he wants and not worry about financial concerns. Don't expect him to make a quick decision, and even when he does, it may be a situation where he doesn't sign with the team until next summer, just to help out the team's cap situation. One team name that frequently surfaces in rumors is Miami — there has long been mutual interest — but Lillard can and will take his time with this decision.

2) Josh Giddey (restricted)

There's not a lot of drama here. Giddey is going to re-sign with the Chicago Bulls, the only questions are years and money. It took Giddey a little while to find his footing with the Bulls after being traded from Oklahoma City (for Alex Caruso), but after the All-Star break, he averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game.

He's now the hub of the offense in Chicago, and he's not going anywhere

3) Jonathan Kuminga (restricted)

It was one of the more interesting questions entering free agency: Kuminga and the Warriors were mutually ready to part ways, but that was almost certainly going to happen via a sign-and-trade (the only team with cap room to sign him was Brooklyn, and that's not the direction the Nets were heading). There are teams interested, but putting together a sign-and-trade for a guy coming off his rookie deal is challenging because it hard-caps the team that gets him at the first apron, and the sides have to navigate the complex and arcane base-year compensation rule. Nobody has stepped up yet, but we're talking about an athletic young player who averaged 15.3 points a game despite spending a chunk of his season in Steve Kerr's dog house. Kuminga re-signing with the Warriors is not out of the question.

4) Cam Thomas (restricted)

For a team looking for someone to come off the bench (or start) and just get them buckets, Thomas is the guy. He averaged 24 points a game last season in Brooklyn, although he's not the most efficient scorer out there (34.7% from 3) and there's not a lot of defense. The Nets hold his rights and are willing to discuss a sign-and-trade deal, or alternatively, he could just end up back in Brooklyn.

5) Mo Wagner

The Magic chose not to pick up his $11 million player option, making him an unrestricted free agent, however, Orlando still retains his Bird rights, and the expectation is that the young center will stay with his brother in Florida. Wagner is coming off an ACL tear from December, which cut his season short last year and likely limits him at the start of the next one. Before the injury, Wagner averaged 12.9 points a game and is a solid backup five.

6) Quentin Grimes (restricted)

The two guard thrived after being traded from Dallas to Philadelphia at the deadline, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game for the 76ers. There is not much drama here. Grimes is expected to re-sign with Philadelphia in the coming days. The Sixers prioritized him over keeping Guerschon Yabusele, and the only questions are money and years.

7) Deandre Ayton

Ayton has the talent to be at the top of this list, he averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season. However, well-known questions about his focus and off-court concerns — a story at The Athletic detailed him being late for team flights, being late for rehab assignments, throwing tantrums in the locker room, and largely being a diva — have teams cool on the idea of having Ayton in their locker room. Including Portland, which drafted centers the past two years and just bought out Ayton, essentially paying him $35 million not to be around its young players. Ayton has been linked to the Lakers in free agency, and if LeBron James and J.J. Redick can find a way to keep Ayton engaged and not a distraction, he is exactly what Los Angeles needs. That they haven't jumped at him to sign him — nor has anyone else — speaks to the concerns.

8) Al Horford

In a limited role, he can be an impactful, winning two-way player — he can score inside, knock down corner or trail 3s, and is a quality defender still. However, at age 37, he can't bring that for big minutes nightly. Horford has primarily been linked to the Lakers and Warriors, he likely signs with one of those two teams unless another team with deep run playoff aspirations emerges.

9) Russell Westbrook

When he is at his best, Westbrook and his energy are still game-changing. However, when the inconsistent Westbrook is bad, his decisions can be head-scratching. He averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 assists per game for the Nuggets last season and had a good chemistry with Nikola Jokić, but he turned down his $3.5 million player option to return to the Mile High City, looking for a larger deal and a larger role on a team. He has been strongly linked to Sacramento.

10) Chris Paul

The future Hall of Fame point guard is still an elite floor general and wants to play at least one more season, somewhere he can help a team win (and if he serves as a mentor, like he was to Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama last season in San Antonio, all the better). But Paul wants to be close to his family in Los Angeles again. That has sparked rumors of him reuniting with the Clippers, as well as the Suns.

Other names to watch: Spencer Dinwiddie, Chris Boucher, Amir Coffey, Precious Achiuwa.

Not on this list: Malik Beasley, who is an unrestricted free agent, but nobody will go near him in light of the ongoing gambling investigation.

Tour de France 2025: stage-by-stage guide to this year’s race

On the 50th anniversary of the first Tour finish on the Champs-Élysées, we could be in for a cliffhanger finish

The climbs of Mont Cassel and Le Mont Noir won’t be enough to split the peloton, so this is almost guaranteed to be a bunch sprint, unless it gets windy. A strong westerly would make this a nightmare with more than 140km of crosswinds, but if it stays calm it’s a first big test for Jasper Philipsen, Tim Merlier and the other fast men. For the favourites, a first day of trying to stay upright.

Continue reading...

Dennis Schroder reacts to Kings contract agreement on Twitch live stream

Dennis Schroder reacts to Kings contract agreement on Twitch live stream originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Dennis Schröder is looking forward to new beginnings in Sacramento.

The veteran NBA point guard, whom the Kings reportedly signed to a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency, shared a live reaction to the signing on a recent Twitch stream.

“I heard the city of Sacramento is pretty nice,” Schröder said. “Warm weather, so we’re going to be straight. Heard there’s a family affair over there. Three years. Three big years. Shout out to the Sacramento Kings, man. I appreciate it. That’s big time.”

Schröder, who turns 32 in September, has averaged 13.9 points on 43.2-percent shooting from the field and 34.2 percent from 3-point range, with 2.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 27.3 minutes.

He bounced around three different teams last season, beginning with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Golden State Warriors and then finishing the season strong with a playoff run with the Detroit Pistons.

During Detroit’s first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Schröder was a strong contributor for a fairly young and inexperienced Pistons squad. In 27.3 minutes through six games, he averaged 12.5 points on 49.1-percent shooting from the field and 47.6 percent from long range, with 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals.

“To Detroit, appreciate them for having me, embracing me,” Schröder said. “It was great.”

But now, he’s ready to apply his services to where they’re needed with the Kings.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Dennis Schroder reacts to Kings contract agreement on Twitch live stream

Dennis Schroder reacts to Kings contract agreement on Twitch live stream originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Dennis Schröder is looking forward to new beginnings in Sacramento.

The veteran NBA point guard, whom the Kings reportedly agreed to sign to a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency, shared a live reaction to the agreement on a recent Twitch stream.

“I heard the city of Sacramento is pretty nice,” Schröder said. “Warm weather, so we’re going to be straight. Heard there’s a family affair over there. Three years. Three big years. Shout out to the Sacramento Kings, man. I appreciate it. That’s big time.”

Schröder, who turns 32 in September, has averaged 13.9 points on 43.2-percent shooting from the field and 34.2 percent from 3-point range, with 2.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 27.3 minutes.

He bounced around three different teams last season, beginning with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Golden State Warriors, and then finishing the season strong with a playoff run with the Detroit Pistons.

During Detroit’s first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Schröder was a strong contributor for a fairly young and inexperienced Pistons squad. In 27.3 minutes through six games, he averaged 12.5 points on 49.1-percent shooting from the field and 47.6 percent from long range, with 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals.

“To Detroit, appreciate them for having me, embracing me,” Schröder said. “It was great.”

But now, he’s ready to apply his services to where they’re needed with the Kings.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Mitch Marner Reveals When He Knew He’d Test NHL Free Agency While Under Maple Leafs Contract

Mitch Marner is a Vegas Golden Knight, officially unveiled on Tuesday in an introductory news conference with the Vegas local media.

While a majority of the  18-minute session revolved around his excitement and interest in joining the Golden Knights, the player did reflect on his time in Toronto. 

After spending his first nine NHL seasons with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, Marner revealed the moment he'd come to realize that he intended on taking his contract all the way to free agency.

"Last year in Toronto or two years ago, really,  we didn't win, obviously. We didn't do what we wanted to do.  Stuff started kind of going a little north, a little south. We didn't know what was going to happen. A lot of trade rumors all last summer and didn't know what was going to happen in that regard either. As soon as the year started up, we were ready to commit and play hockey and see what would happen. But at the same time, we're willing to take it to the distance and kind of told Toronto that was our plan," Marner said. "And I was so grateful to play there for nine years. I said it at my end-of-the-year interview there that I took a risky pick on a small kid from Toronto who was forever grateful to be able to wear a Maple Leaf jersey and forever to be able to play in front of some of the greats that ever wore that jersey. But just now it's being a family man, a father, we thought our time was ready to look somewhere else and find a new home and find a new place to grow our family. And like I said, I'm so grateful to be here and so happy to be a part of this team."

Two years ago was before Marner was eligible for a contract extension. But when the Leafs were eliminated in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, Marner was asked if he was concerned about being traded.

Although he dismissed the notion, the Leafs did have a window before his full no-movement clause was set to kick in July 1, 2023. The Leafs never exercised that option, but that could be the point where the relationship between the Leafs and Marner began to fracture.

Marner discussed other topics including Vegas' earlier interest in the player and cited the trade deadline as one of those moments that has been widely reported as deal between the Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Toronto.

Q: Mitch, welcome to Vegas, first of all. There were reports that you were probably looking at probably taking visits with other teams. What ultimately led to Vegas being the team you wanted to choose?

Marner: I mean, obviously, the winning regimen they've put up through the last five years of really since they've been in the league. Got such a competitive team every year, got such good players here. The living arrangements from talking to (Max) Pacioretty and Revo (Ryan Reaves) just through the last couple weeks. It seemed like everything was a pretty good fit for my wife and I and our new son. Yeah, the winning aspect of this team really helped and everything as well, and the great players they have here. So, lucky enough, it all worked out, and you know, this is where we wanted to be.

Q: Kelly (Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon) had just said that there's always pressure, there's always an expectation ever since his team's come into the league, right? There's been a winning culture, as you've seen. You come from a city and an organization where there's been pressure for decades. What's attractive most to the challenge of going from there to here and running right into this challenge with this roster, this locker room, this culture?

Marner: You want to be in a place where you want to win. That's the whole goal of why we do this. You want to hoist that Stanley Cup. This team has shown that they can do it. I'm lucky enough to now hopefully bring another piece in to help bring it back here. I think we put the most pressure on ourselves as hockey players. That's how we play the game. We want to win every single night, you want to win every battle, you want to win anything you can. All the time. You know, like I said before, this team has, since it's entered the league, really pushed to push the boundaries and be that winning team. Yeah, that's where I want to be. I want to be in a winning situation. I've been lucky enough that I've been on some very good teams that just, you know, haven't. But yeah, I've been very lucky to be with some very good teams and very good players. unfortunately enough, we just didn't we weren't able to get over the hump, and that sucks a lot, to be honest. But you got to look past things. We've got a new great opportunity here with an unbelievable team like I've spoken about the last couple of minutes. We're very fortunate and lucky enough to be here.

'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner Deal'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner DealNic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Q: Your thoughts on Vegas as a city, experiences that you've had being here in Vegas and playing against The Knights and T-Mobile arena.

Marner: I mean, playing in this arena-wise, it's all time. It's crazy. It really is. Just the vibe you get as soon as you walk into the arena to warm ups to the starting of the game. You know, we as athletes never really get to see the start of a hockey game of like how they kind of get the fans into it and how they bring the fans off their feet. Off the seat, onto their feet, get going. My parents, lucky enough, got to see it the last couple of years we've come here. It's a pretty good destination spot for to come watch a hockey game. Just seeing the videos from their phones, seeing the love that the fans give when you come out on that ice, it's pretty special. So the city itself, obviously everyone just thinks of it as the strip and there's so much more to it. Like I said, I got lucky enough to talk to Revo and Pacioretty quite a bit just about everything off the strip, living wise, the schooling wise. Just how tight knit the communities are, the privacy-wise in that aspect too. So yeah, a lot of things just checked our box. My wife and I like to go out and enjoy ourselves and have nice dinners and stuff like that. And we can still do that going down to the strip, or you can do that in the Summerlin area. And that's something that really dragged our attention.

Q: You got a chance to play for Bruce Cassidy at Four Nations. Could you talk about what that relationship was like? What it'll be like in your mind going forward, playing for him full time as a head coach?

Marner: Well, before that, obviously, I played against him a lot, being Toronto, Boston, Rivalry thing. Played a couple playoff series against them. He's always been a high-end coach. Getting to know him very personally-wise at the Four Nations was awesome. You know, just his help with the power play throughout that tournament was amazing. With his power play that was going on here the whole year, how deadly they were really all year, first in the NHL, which is very impressive. And he's just a very down to earth guy, talks very calmly, listens to your points, listens to what you got to say too. That's the conversations you want to have with your coach. You want to be able to express yourself and let him express hisself and find where you can help each other out in great areas. So yeah, looking forward to playing under him. And it's been great success before.

'Leaving Isn't Easy': Mitch Marner Pens Goodbye Message To Maple Leafs Fans After Joining Golden Knights'Leaving Isn't Easy': Mitch Marner Pens Goodbye Message To Maple Leafs Fans After Joining Golden KnightsMitch Marner has officially departed the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Q: You don't hit free agency often as a hockey player. What were the conversations like between you and your agent? To turn down that opportunity to sign this deal ultimately?

Marner: Yeah, it was a wild one. It was unexpected in a way. You know, we didn't know what was really going to happen. I expressed to my agent that we had a couple of teams that we really liked and really wanted to look forward to meeting with and talking with. And I thought through just speculation, stuff might really start falling around Draft night. I think that's when stuff kind of happens, especially with sign-and-trade stuff. So we were kind of just hanging out at home, not knowing really what was going to happen, with a bit of speculation, maybe something might happen eventually. And then, yeah, I don know, my agent called. You know, we kind of got the word on Friday night that something might be going down with Vegas in Toronto and how that feels to my wife and I. Like I said, this was a spot that was very high on my list, and we wanted to come here and kind of went back to my agent and said, you know, I'm open to doing this if we can find a way to do it. A couple of hours later, Kelly called me and said that we got a deal going on. So I was very happy. Very fortunate. I don't know, we thought about going to free agency, but this is the place we want to be. We didn't want to lose that opportunity, and we wanted to join this hockey team.

Q: Kelly had said that they've kind of been interested in you for a while, that there was potentially something around the trade deadline 3-team deal. I don't know exactly what it was. When was the first time it actually got on your radar that it was possible that you were going to come here? And when's the first time you actually had real discussions with anyone, family, anyone around you that's like. Should we go to Vegas?

Marner: That really kind of hit trade deadline day. I think it was the day. The day prior we got offered a trade to go somewhere else. My wife was seven or eight months pregnant at the time. We weren't really going to go anywhere that was going to be a short stint. If we were going somewhere we were going to sign for an extension. Raise our child there and grow up there. Then we kind of heard that Vegas might be interested in a three-way deal. From what it sounded like not much really sort of happened going forward process wise between the three teams. But that was when we really started talking saying well it sounds like Vegas has interest in us, we have interest in them. That's when we kind of started sitting there thinking of it in a way but not overthinking it. At that time I was still very committed to playing Toronto hockey and I just wanted to focus on being there and finishing a job there. So I say really when the season ended, I sat down with my whole family, our agent. Kind of went through the discussions of what stuff could look like, how we can figure this out. And lucky enough Vegas came with the deal on Friday. And like we said this was our first destination we'd like to go to and it worked out very well.

Former Maple Leafs Star Mitch Marner To Wear No. 93 With Golden KnightsFormer Maple Leafs Star Mitch Marner To Wear No. 93 With Golden KnightsThe Toronto Maple Leafs made their trade of Mitch Marner official on Tuesday morning.

Q: Just curious, I'm sure it's been a wild little bit for you. You talked about talking to Revo. And Max, about what about the current guys on the roster? How many have reached out or and the relationships you've had, whether it Team Canada or just growing up through your years?

Marner: Stoney (Mark Stone) reached out to me Saturday morning, I want to say it was, Friday night, Saturday morning. And then Jack (Eichel) texted me, I think it was Saturday morning. And then a couple of other guys just kind of texted me throughout the last couple of days. You know, got thrown in the group chat today, just kind of said hello to everyone and saw if anyone was really around town here. Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. I mean, we're just trying to find out living style now, living wise, where we're going to try to find our home and stay for the eight years. Yeah, it's been great. They've been welcoming us with open arms. The wives have been xtremely helpful to my wife, and we're extremely grateful for that. Um yeah, it's a team that has a lot of star power. Getting to meet (Shea)Theodore (Adin) Hill and Stoney this year at the Four Nations was awesome as well. It just kind of, not just for myself, my wife's side of things, just talking to them about the living style and everything like that as well. And for my side of things, it wasn't too much real talk about coming to Vegas at that time. It was more so just trying to win a gold at the Four Nations with those guys and just playing beside them, getting to know them very well. They were very committed, hardworking guys that whatever they got put in front of that they needed to win, they just did what they had to do. That was pretty eye-opening and special.

Q: Mitch, a lot of the guys that have been here well, the three guys have been here for the whole time, and then other guys that we've seen start families here. They've all commented on how It's different. The mindset changes. You go from being a superstar hockey player to a family man, and all of a sudden your priorities change. You talked about the community, talking to Revo and Max, and how that became important. Can you just talk about the progression of being a young superstar in Toronto, growing into your career.And now, how the priorities have changed to also including being a family man and a brand new father.

Marner: Yeah, it's been eye-opening in a way, to be honest. It's been really special being there for my son's birth and, you know, just seeing how strong and amazing a woman's body and my wife was in that moment. It was tough to explain. I mean, if you have a child, I think you know, it's tough to explain that kind of moment. But quickly things change. I mean, we were going into the second round, I believe, right before we had Miles. Hockey's such a priority in all of our minds. But as soon as I kind of got home from the rink immediately after games or anything like that, You know, I was trying to figure out how I can help my wife with my son, and try to, you know, regardless, staying up late some nights, trying to take care of him, or trying to help my wife just get a couple hours of sleep between times of feeding. Yeah, it really changes your mind quickly. And I was fortunate enough to have a lot of guys in Toronto that had children that gave me the rundown multiple weeks beforehand. But as a kid, I guess in a way, or as a person, you just sometimes think, oh, it's not you know, it'll be different or something, and then it happens, and you're thankful for the lessons that other people taught you throughout the way. But your mind definitely changes to being a family man than just a hockey player.

Report: Maple Leafs Trade Mitch Marner To Vegas Golden Knights, Agrees To Eight-Year Deal Worth $12 Million AAVReport: Maple Leafs Trade Mitch Marner To Vegas Golden Knights, Agrees To Eight-Year Deal Worth $12 Million AAVMitch Marner is on his way to Las Vegas.

Q: You know, many hockey fans' reaction when they first saw the news was Mitch Marner's going to get to play with Jack Eichel I know you played on Team Canada. He was on USA, but what do you admire about his game and how do you think you guys could really pair on the ice?

Marner: Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. That's obviously an exceptional player. A guy that really moves well up and down the ice, you know, both ends of his ice, very responsible. At the same time, he's got a deadly shot with his vision and playmaking style as well. I'm very excited to start working with him and try to figure out the chemistry quickly and get that rolling. I've talked to a couple of guys that have been his teammates that have said just unbelievable things about him as a human. So I'm very looking forward. I'm very much looking forward to being in the locker room with him, starting to learn just tendencies of where he likes to be on the ice, where I like to on the ice, how we can work it best and try to figure out ways to score some hockey goals and win some hockey games.

Q: Being able to go back to wearing 93, maybe the significance of that number and how excited you'd be able to put back on ninety three after all those years in 16.

Marner: Yeah, I'm very excited about it. The first actually kind of time I saw it on someone was on my son. So me and my wife and our hotel room put it on him. And you know, it was just a really special moment. It's a jersey that I wore with the London Knights for the three years there and had great success with it and really enjoyed the number. And my dad was a Dougie Gilmour fan growing up, and then I, luckily enough, got to watch some great highlight clips of him and, you know. He was a little guy at the time and was just a little buzzsaw out there that really kind of annoyed people out there. And from that moment on, I wanted to wear 93, and obviously that number is retired in Toronto for great reasons. As soon as I came back to a new team, I was talking to Kelly on Friday night or I think yeah, Friday night I think it was and he kind of gave me the call of what number I want to wear. Said 93, and I think he had a pretty good understanding of me going back there before I even said it. So I'm very happy to be back going to it, and yeah, hopefully, it brings great success.

Q: Well, Mitch, I guess it's full circle since this is the second team you've been on that are the Knights How has that kind of felt like destiny for you almost to be in the seat you're in right now?

Marner: Yeah, it's a full circle moment for sure. Yeah, it's a really cool feeling to, you know, obviously it the Vegas Golden Nights, but to be called a night again, something that I took with great passion when I was in London. It's something I take great passion with being here in Vegas. And yeah, very much looking forward to the start of the season and getting going here and getting around the guys and just really finding our way to how we can help this team win hockey games.

(Photo Credit: Vegas Golden Knights on X)

Why The Maple Leafs Didn’t Qualify Pontus Holmberg As Player Signs With Lightning Why The Maple Leafs Didn’t Qualify Pontus Holmberg As Player Signs With Lightning Pontus Holmberg is moving on from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Why Matthew Knies 'Wanted To Go Long-Term' On Six-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsWhy Matthew Knies 'Wanted To Go Long-Term' On Six-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was never interested in signing an offer sheet. Report: Maple Leafs Sign Former Canadiens Forward Michael Pezzetta To Two-Year, $1.575 Million ContractReport: Maple Leafs Sign Former Canadiens Forward Michael Pezzetta To Two-Year, $1.575 Million ContractThe Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly made their first free-agent signing.

Aleksei Kolosov Must Change Attitude Towards NHL, Legendary Coach Says

The Flyers haven't given up on Aleksei Kolosov just yet. (Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers haven't fully given up on Aleksei Kolosov yet, but has Aleksei Kolosov given up on the Flyers?

This is the seemingly age-old question that will be answered this summer, for better or for worse.

The enigmatic Belarusian goalie prospect is expected to return to the Flyers for training camp, especially now that his local KHL club, Dinamo Minsk, has made two high-profile, high-cost commitments to goalkeepers Zach Fucale and Vasily Demchenko.

Simply put, if Kolosov only wants to play for the Belarusian club and not any other KHL teams, he's out of luck.

Whether or not the 23-year-old wants to or is willing to play in the AHL has been a point of contention, and one that has made waves back home, too.

Legendary Belarus head coach Mikhail Zakharov, for whom Kolosov has played, believes the talented Flyers goalie needs to change his mindset in order to find success abroad in North America.

Flames Sniper Backs 'Excellent' Aleksei Kolosov to Stay with Flyers, Continue NHL CareerFlames Sniper Backs 'Excellent' Aleksei Kolosov to Stay with Flyers, Continue NHL CareerGoalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov has all the talent and experience to stay with the Philadelphia Flyers and forge a successful NHL career for himself, but will he?

"I also have great hopes for Kolosov, he needs to reconsider his attitude towards the NHL," Zakharov told Legalbet.by when discussing a recent trend of Belarusian goalies getting drafted, including recent NHL draft selections Arseny Radkov and Evgeniy Prokhorov. "Philadelphia is a team where he can become the main goalkeeper."

And Kolosov, was, as Zakharov noted, the Flyers' main goalie for a short period of time. Six of Kolosov's 13 NHL starts last season came between Oct. 27 and Nov. 30, but a disastrous December saw the youngster stapled to the press box or stuck in the AHL for extended periods of time.

A hot start quickly faded, and the former third-round pick ultimately finished the year with a .867 save percentage in 17 NHL games and a .884 save percentage in 12 AHL games.

Russian counterpart Ivan Fedotov wasn't much better in his NHL games, but that led to the Flyers signing Dan Vladar Tuesday, effectively closing the door on both Fedotov and Kolosov for the big leagues this upcoming season, barring an injury.

Plus, playing so few games and going up and down between leagues won't help Kolosov improve and adjust to the North American game.

Where is Flyers Goalie Aleksei Kolosov Now?Where is Flyers Goalie Aleksei Kolosov Now?Philadelphia Flyers goalie Aleksei Kolosov dubiously disappeared following the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL regular season, having not been assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to play in the Calder Cup playoffs.

It certainly didn't help that he wasn't available for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms during their Calder Cup run, especially after Parker Gahagen went down with an injury and Cal Petersen self-immolated in Game 4 against Hershey.

If Kolosov is to salvage his NHL career, he'll have to heed Zakharov's advice, starting with the upcoming training camp in a few months.