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Blue Jackets Acquire Brendan Gaunce From Wild

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have acquired Brendan Gaunce from the Minnesota Wild today in exchange for forward Cameron Butler. 

This is Gaunce's second stint with the Jackets.

Gaunce played a total of 59 games for the CBJ from 2021-24, scoring 7 goals and totaling 12 points. For the Cleveland Monsters, he scored 42 goals and had 85 points. 

Cameron Butler played one career game for Columbus, but spent most of his time in Cleveland. He played 91 games and 11 points. 

This is second move today as Columbus also sent Daniil Tarasov to Florida. 

What else is Don Waddell planning?

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Daniil Tarasov Traded To Florida PanthersDaniil Tarasov Traded To Florida PanthersPierre LeBrun has reported that goalie Daniil Tarasov has been traded to the Florida Panthers today.  REPORT: NHL, NHLPA Set To Announce New CBA On FridayREPORT: NHL, NHLPA Set To Announce New CBA On FridayIf you're an old NHL fan like me, when CBA's are brought up, it immediately gives me anxiety. In 2004, an NHL lockout resulted in the cancellation of the entire season, which revolved around a salary cap. That lockout is the reason the Blue Jackets are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 25-26, instead of last season.  Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 NHL Mock DraftColumbus Blue Jackets 2025 NHL Mock DraftWelcome to the Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Mock Draft.
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Canucks Rookies Making Their Mark In Abbotsford’s 2025 Calder Cup Win

There are a number of pieces that combined to make the Calder Cup-winning puzzle that is the Abbotsford Canucks. One of the things that may fall to the wayside is the remarkable play of the team’s first-year members. All of the AHL Canucks’ postseason rookie players made their NHL debuts this season, with all of them factoring into the team’s 2025 Calder Cup victory. Let’s take a look at some of these remarkable rookies. 

Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Lekkerimäki, the 15th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, made his AHL debut on March 30, 2024, and scored his first AHL goal around a week after. 2024–25 was his first full season with Abbotsford, during which he earned a call-up from the Vancouver Canucks. He made his NHL debut on November 12, 2024 against the Calgary Flames, and ultimately finished his 2024–25 season with Vancouver with three goals and three assists in 24 games played. 

In Abbotsford, Lekkerimäki led all AHL Canucks rookies in scoring with 19 goals in 36 games played, also adding nine assists to his point total. He was in and out of the lineup during the team’s Calder Cup Playoff run, skating in 16 of Abbotsford’s 24 postseason games. Most notably, he missed the back half of the Western Conference Finals and the first two games of the Calder Cup Finals, but made his return in a big way back on home ice. Lekkerimäki scored two goals in his second game back during the Finals, making the difference in a narrow 3–2 victory. 

“To me that sums up Lekky,” Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra said regarding Lekkerimäki’s returning performance. “The kid has ice in his veins. He doesn’t shy away from these big moments. And you could see tonight he had two quality looks. And then he made them count, so that that kind of sums up the type of player that he is. When given the opportunity and put in the right spot, he’ll make good.”

Ty Mueller

Mueller has been a force for Abbotsford throughout the regular and post-season. The 105th pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, Mueller spent three seasons with the University of Nebraska-Omaha before making his AHL debut in 2024. He impressed during the regular season by registering 12 goals and 27 assists in 64 games, even earning himself a spot at the 2025 AHL All-Star Challenge in place of defenceman Elias Pettersson. Mueller was called up by Vancouver in April 2025 and skated in his first NHL game on April 12 against the Minnesota Wild. 

In a time when rookies may become more sheltered due to the stakes of each game, Mueller was called on even more so by his coach. The rookie forward was a consistent presence in the defensive zone during Abbotsford’s Calder Cup run, even taking own-zone draws while defending leads late into games. Mueller flourished offensively as well, posting three goals and nine assists in all of the AHL Canucks’ postseason games. 

“Not only as the playoffs have gone on, but throughout this whole year, his game has continued to grow,” Malhotra said of Mueller’s progression throughout the season. “He’s developed and becoming more and more of one of our more reliable guys in key moments.” 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Reliving The Abbotsford Canucks’ 2025 Calder Cup Win

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Could One Of Canucks Goaltenders Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen, Or Artūrs Šilovs Be Traded Before The 2025–26 Season?

Kirill Kudryavtsev 

Kudryavtsev was a steady presence on Abbotsford’s blueline this season, chipping in offensively and locking things up defensively. The Canucks’ seventh-round pick of the 2022 NHL Draft has shown fans that draft position doesn’t matter when you can play well. In his first season with the AHL Canucks, Kudryavtsev scored five goals and 21 assists in 65 games played. At the end of Vancouver’s regular season, he and fellow AHL Canuck Nikita Tolopilo were called up to the NHL club. Soon after, Kudryavtsev made his NHL debut on April 14. 

During the postseason, Kudryavtsev stepped up when it mattered most. He dominated opponents in terms of generating offensive chances for Abbotsford on 5-on-5, finishing playoffs with a league-leading +18 on-ice rating. He scored his first AHL playoff goal against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and also potted nine assists throughout the postseason. 

“It was really hard, as I expected, a really tough couple of first games,” Kudryavtsev said about adjusting to the AHL’s playoffs. “It’s still very different from the OHL playoffs. The guys are coming really hard at you, and you know that you need to bypass that pressure and that stress. But I’ve got lots of trust from my coaches, and I hope I’m doing good now.” 

Abbotsford Canucks defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev (59) salutes fans at the Abbotsford Centre. (Photo Credit: @AbbyCanucks/X) 

Manny Malhotra 

Technically, Malhotra is an AHL rookie — just not in the same way that Lekkerimäki, Mueller, and Kudryavtsev are. The 2024–25 season was Malhotra’s first as an AHL head coach, and what a debut it was. During the regular season, he coached his team to a 44–24–2 record that was capped off with a historic 13-game win streak. In the playoffs, he helped Abbotsford win 16 of their 24 postseason games, with the team never losing back-to-back games during their Calder Cup chase. One of the biggest changes for this team, however, may have been their commitment to sticking to their systems. 

Malhotra has noted the significance of the word “resilience” to the team, as well as their “committee mentality” that has led them to success. Every player forechecks hard, blocks shots, and puts themselves in the best position to get in the way of an opposing team’s chances. This belief stems from the system Malhotra and his staff have curated for this specific roster. 

“When you have a coach that played the game, I think you’ve got more respect for him,” Sammy Blais said of Malhotra’s impact on the team. “He’s been really good. He keeps us honest, even after wins. He tries to keep us even. We’re really happy that he’s our coach, and he’s been a big factor for us for sure.” 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft

These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The second year of the NBA’s two-night draft is in the books.

Compared to the beginning of the first round, there were much more trades at the front as teams scrambled to add some of the better prospects left.

Still, there were a couple of possible steals coming beyond the 30s, including a stretch center and a Duke product.

Let’s analyze the second round of the 2025 draft further with some of the best picks on the night:

Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings picked arguably one of the more intriguing center prospects in the draft at No. 42. Raynaud is a 22-year-old 7-foot-1 French center who has close ties to Victor Wembanyama off the hardwood. In some ways, their games are similar. Raynaud is a strong rebounder on both ends of the court, while having the prized trait of shooting at his size. The Stanford product hit 34.7% of his 3s this past season on 5.5 attempts. That gives a rebuilding Sacramento something key to work with as he looks to get good minutes behind Domantas Sabonis.

Chaz Lanier, G/F, Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are coming off a promising season of their own, making the playoffs after a disastrous run under Monty Williams. They added to their young core with 6-foot-4 guard Chaz Lanier at No. 37. The one-season Tennessee Volunteer played four seasons at North Florida before making the switch, averaging 18 points per game. His biggest trait is the mix of his 3-point volume and percentage. Lanier, 23, shot 39.5% from deep on 8.2 attempts, which could help him with minutes early as a catch-and-shoot option for Cade Cunningham.

Tyrese Proctor, G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland finished as the No. 1 seed out East and finally built an identity in the post-LeBron James era(s). But the Cavs disappointingly fell short in the playoffs in the second round, still needing some areas of growth. They added to their wing department at No. 49, nabbing Duke’s Tyrese Proctor. Proctor, 6-foot-5, can play on and off the ball and averaged 12.4 points on a stacked Blue Devils team that had three top-10 picks this draft. Proctor, 21, had a solid shooting split of 45/40/68. The free-throw percentage is likely a one off given he went 87% as a freshman and 75.5% as a sophomore, though the downward trend is something to watch.

Rasheer Fleming, F, Phoenix Suns

The Suns were aggressive in the second round and moved up to pick first. With Kevin Durant gone, Phoenix took 6-foot-9 forward Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph’s. The soon-to-be 21-year-old averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.3 assists on a 53/39/74 shooting split. Of course, he’s nowhere near Durant’s level and longevity, but with the Suns desperately needing more young talent at cheaper costs, there’s no wonder they went all out for someone like Fleming. He should get key minutes from the get go.

Kam Jones, G, Indiana Pacers

The reigning Eastern Conference champs added to their wing core at No. 38, taking Marquette wing Kam Jones. The 23-year-old played all four seasons with the program, most recently averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 assists. 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals, all college bests. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 48% from the floor, 31% from deep and 64.8% from the charity stripe. He did shoot 39% from deep as a freshman and 40.6% as a junior both on strong volume, but his free-throw percentages have typically been in the 60s. Still, with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss significant time with his torn Achilles, Jones could get his moments to show what he can bring to a hopeful contender.

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Connecting Across The Realm, Vegas Prepares For Annual Road Trip

As the off-season is underway, the Golden Knights are looking to make sure that the fandom doesn’t dry out this summer.

The Knights announced earlier this month that the team’s annual road trip presented by A1 Garage Door Service is set to take place July 12-17. This trip features 6 different stops: South Lake Tahoe, California; Reno, Nevada; Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Phoenix, Arizona.

Over the span of those 5 days there will be a series of free youth on-ice hockey clinics for players ages 6-13 and meet-and-greets with fans. The Knights mascot, Chance, members of the VGK cast, and team broadcasters are a few key people in attendance on this trip.

“The VGK Road Trip is eagerly anticipated each year as we look forward to connecting in person with our fans across The Realm,” said President Kerry Bubolz. “This is a great chance to celebrate our brand and the sport of hockey as we prepare for the 2025-26 NHL season.”

Northern Nevada has been a stop for the Knights for the past three summers, always between Tahoe and Reno. It will also be the Knights' fourth visit this year to the Grand Canyon State since Arizona was added to the Golden Knights’ television territory this past season. All stops on this trip are where VGK games will be broadcast locally on Scripps Sports and KnightTime+ in the upcoming season of 2025-26.

As July approaches, this trip offers more than just an off-season connection. It serves as a chance to strengthen the ever-growing bond between the team, its fans, and the future of hockey.

PHOTO COURTESY: Golden Knights

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Mets' Mark Vientos confirms he'll be activated Friday, discusses being 'humbled' by slow start

The Mets welcomed a familiar face back into the clubhouse on Thursday, as Mark Vientos rejoined the team following a rehab assignment as he recovered from a hamstring strain.

And while the third baseman confirmed he won’t be activated until Friday against Pittsburgh, Vientos, who has been on the IL since June 3, said he’s glad just to be back around his teammates.

“It’s good to be back with the guys and seeing a bunch of faces that I missed and officially playing with the team pretty soon,” Vientos said. “It’s good to be back.”

In six rehab outings with Triple-A Syracuse, Vientos collected four hits, including a pair of doubles.

And while building up strength in his hamstring and getting his swing timing back was the primary focus of his rehab, Vientos and the team also put a plan in place to try to ensure that the 25-year-old stays healthy for the remainder of the season.

“Obviously, the hamstring was the main thing, but there were a couple of little things that I needed to take care of with my body,” said Vientos, noting that the team helped him work on his hips, ankles, and shoulder, as well as his hamstring. “I talked to the trainers here, the strength coaches, and we put together a good routine for me to do on the daily, because the last thing I want is something like that to happen again, and my job is just to prevent that from happening.”

“Just focusing on doing my workload, sprinting, checking the boxes of running around, playing defense,” He added. “Obviously getting my swing, my timing back was a thing to. Felt good, got a couple of hits yesterday, had a couple of good at-bats, and ready to be back.”

Coming off a breakout, 27-home run year in 2024, Vientos got off to a rough start this season, slashing .230/.298/.380 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 53 games.

Vientos admitted that he was “humbled” by his tough start, but he knows that the long baseball season offers plenty of time to turn things around.

“I felt like I kind of got humbled a little bit,” he said, “and I appreciate that because I love this game so much and [things] like the first couple months of the season are the reason why I love it so much, because it keeps me on my toes, it keeps me wanting to work harder and harder and get better.”

The Mets certainly hope that their 7-3 win over the Braves on Wednesday night is a sign that the tide is starting to turn following a 1-10 stretch that some them drop out of first place.

And having Vientos back in the lineup should certainly help.

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Grading Warriors' Alex Toohey selection at No. 52 overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft

Grading Warriors' Alex Toohey selection at No. 52 overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy isn’t afraid to make moves, even in the second round of the NBA draft. 

It was just a year ago that Dunleavy traded the No. 52 overall pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Lindy Waters III the morning of the second round, just to then reacquire the pick to select Quinten Post later in the day during the draft.

Dunleavy was back to his ways this year when he reportedly traded the No. 41 overall pick to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 52 and No. 59 overall picks less than an hour before the second round began.

Instead of going the college route as Dunleavy previously had in his first two drafts, the Warriors selected Alex Toohey at No. 52 overall out of Australia.

Toohey, 21, played professionally the last two years in the NBL for the Sydney Kings. He stands 6-foot-8 and 223 pounds with a wingspan that’s nearly 6-foot-11.

Throughout the draft process, Toohey kept moving up big boards and wasn’t expected to be available this late. He was awarded the NBL’s Next Generation Award last season when he averaged 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. There isn’t one skill that jumps out when watching Toohey. He doesn’t wow with his athleticism, but he is a skilled young player who has a clear feel for the game. 

That should fit in Steve Kerr’s pass-heavy offense. Toohey is known to push the pace and won’t stop the ball. Though he’ll need to improve as an outside shooter, he made teams feel a lot more comfortable with that part of his game at the combine. Australia is a basketball country on the rise, and Toohey could be the next in line to make an impact in the NBA. 

As Toohey’s game keeps growing, he should bring versatility and tenacity from the start. Having experience in the pros at a young age is a plus as well. 

There’s no telling yet if trading down for Toohey was worth it for the Warriors compared to the players they could have added at No. 41 overall, their original slot coming into the second round. This late in the draft, though, Toohey could be the latest second-round pick to make an impact for the Warriors as a rookie. Golden State has an open two-way spot, too.

If his shot continues to improve and his strong fundamentals bring solid results, Toohey has the chance to fit the mold of a modern stretch-forward who isn’t going to make many mental mistakes on the floor. The fact that he’s an active defender who enjoys that side of the ball should help him find minutes sooner than later, and that’s the best way to make friends within a locker room that has star veterans.

Grade: B+

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Canadiens Release Their Preseason Schedule

While everyone and their mothers are talking about the upcoming draft and free agency, the Montreal Canadiens released their preseason schedule on Wednesday. This time, Martin St-Louis’ men will be playing six preseason games.

The first exhibition tilt will take place in Montreal on September 22, when the Habs will face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who could look much different come September. Kyle Dubas is set to embrace a rebuild and is actively shopping Erik Karlsson. Will he get the go-ahead to move more veterans who have no movement clauses? Time will tell.

The next day, the Tricolore will host Trevor Zegras and the Philadelphia Flyers before playing a home-and-away series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In case you’ve forgotten, it was in similar circumstances that Montreal lost both Patrik Laine and David Reinbacher to serious knee injuries last preseason. Chances are, the Canadiens will think twice before using members of the core until rosters have been trimmed down and AHL-dedicated tough guys have been weeded out.

The Tricolore will wrap up its preseason with a home-and-away series against the Ottawa Senators, with the away game set at the Centre Videotron in Quebec, where the Sens will be hosting. Just like the Canadiens, Ottawa qualified for the playoffs last season and will be looking to take another step forward this season. Thanks to acquiring Dylan Cozens at the deadline, the Sens now have a much deeper center line and have filled a need the Canadiens are still looking to plug.

When the puck drops on those preseason games, all eyes in Montreal will be fixed on Ivan Demidov as he sets out to embark on his rookie season. Having just witnessed Lane Hutson’s historic first year, the fans will likely have big expectations. Still, it would be worth remembering that the Russian winger only has limited experience in North American play and may need a bit of time to find his footing.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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NHL Trade Rumors: Jordan Kyrou Linked To 4 Teams

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou finds himself right back in the rumor mill now that the off-season is here. This comes after the 27-year-old forward was discussed as a trade candidate leading up to this season's deadline. 

With Kyrou being an important part of the Blues' roster, there is certainly a clear argument to be had for keeping him around. However, his full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1 and lasts until the completion of the 2029-30 season. Thus, if the Blues want to move him, now would be the time. 

Kyrou is reportedly starting to generate some interest around the league, too. According to The Fourth Period, the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Columbus Blue Jackets are four teams linked to the Blues star. 

The Islanders reportedly having their eye on Kyrou is not necessarily surprising, as they desperately need more scoring if they hope to be a more significant threat next season. The Sabres recently traded JJ Peterka, so they have a hole in their top six that Kyrou could fix. The Canadiens and Blue Jackets are also two young teams on the rise, so they would benefit big time by adding a player like Kyrou. 

It will be interesting to see what the Blues end up doing with Kyrou this off-season. With the Blues taking a step forward and getting back into the playoffs last year, it would be understandable if they kept him around. Yet, if they get offered a nice haul for him, it is fair to wonder if they would consider it. 

Ex-Blues Forward Expected To Re-Sign With Current TeamEx-Blues Forward Expected To Re-Sign With Current TeamAccording to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, former St. Louis Blues forward Brandon Saad is expected to re-sign with the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Photo Credit:  © Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

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Australia regain initiative as West Indies dismissed for 190

  • Hosts rue controversial dismissals at crucial moments

  • Beau Webster impresses with two wickets in fight back

Australia’s bowlers have hit back after a poor morning session to bowl out West Indies for 190 and regain the initiative in an absorbing and fluctuating first Test at Bridgetown.

But while the hosts grabbed a 10-run first-innings lead, they were again left unimpressed by two controversial dismissals of their key batters, captain Roston Chase and white-ball skipper Shai Hope, which may have tipped the game in Australia’s favour.

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Warriors pick Australian wing Alex Toohey at No. 52 overall in 2025 NBA Draft

Warriors pick Australian wing Alex Toohey at No. 52 overall in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors made their first move in the 2025 NBA Draft by selecting Australian wing Alex Toohey with the No. 52 overall pick.

Golden State traded its No. 41 overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the No. 52 and No. 59 selections.

Toohey is a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Sydney Kings in the National Basketball League. He is 21 years old.

Following a second NBL season with Sydney, Toohey was excited to take his talents to the NBA, and he was among the 75 prospects invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine.

Multiple NBA teams travelled to Australia over the course of the NBL season to lay eyes on Toohey, per ESPN.

“Pretty much every area a basketball player can show, I feel like I’m gonna surprise some people over there,” Toohey told ESPN last month.

Now he gets a chance to showcase his talents with the Warriors.

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Will The Ottawa Senators Go Shopping To Fill Their Most Underrated Roster Spot?

One of the most underrated positions for the Ottawa Senators this fall will be the backup goalie role.

The number one job obviously belongs to Linus Ullmark, who's about to start a four-year deal worth $33 million with a cap hit of $8.2 million per season. The issue is that Ullmark, who turns 32 next month, has never played much more than half a season throughout his entire career.

In a league where the best goalies play upwards of 55-60 games, Ullmark's games played totals over the past 7 years have been 37, 34, 20, 41, 49, 40, and last season, 44. Sometimes it's due to a platoon situation like he had in Boston with Jeremy Swayman. But last year, it was injuries.

The point of it all is that Ullmark's backup stands to get as much work as any backup in the league next season. But who will it be?

The only other goalie under contract at the moment is Mads Søgaard, who played just 10 hockey games last season. Søgaard will be on a one-way deal, presumably because the club thought he'd be the one to replace Anton Forsberg, who becomes a UFA on Tuesday.

But then Leevi Meriläinen entered the chat.

With Søgaard hurt for much of the year, the Sens had to call on Meriläinen for 12 games, and he was sensational. His stats were considerably better than both Ullmark and Forsberg's.

But less than a week before free agency, Staios wouldn't announce anything official on Forsberg—or, for that matter, any of his three goalies. He was asked if Forsberg had officially declared to him that he's heading for the open market.

"I wouldn't speak on that," Staios said. "I mean, we've kept in touch with Anton. We've talked to all of our free agents, and I guess time will tell."

The follow-up was more direct. Would he like to bring Anton back?

"I've always said I enjoy Anton. I think he's a great pro. And a real good person."

Frankly, that sounds like the kind of thing you say to be nice when you're not that into someone.

So the assumption is that Forsberg will head to market on Tuesday, while Meriläinen is the goalie everyone thinks will get his job.

That would mean Søgaard will need to clear waivers so they can assign him to Belleville. At 6-foot-7, you can't teach big, as they say. So it's possible someone would put in a claim in the spirit of “you can never have too much goaltending.”

The Sens learned that lesson the hard way last year with all kinds of injuries to everyone. They had to lean on Meriläinen way earlier in his career than they ever thought they would, while the Belleville Senators were going out of their minds, trying to patch things up with replacements.

But while Søgaard's stock seems to have fallen, Staios quickly brought up his name while replying to a Merilainen question on Wednesday. The GM was asked by the affable Claire Hanna what his comfort level is with Meriläinen as his backup goalie, and Staios quickly shoehorned Søgaard into the dialogue, perhaps hinting that he's still in the mix.

"Well, we're comfortable with Leevi. You know, I think... and Mads as well. Like, Mads' injuries happened, and there are ups and downs to a player's career. So, we're comfortable with our goaltending depth, and we'll continue to look at other options as well."

In terms of other options in the organization, the Sens have the rights to Kevin Reidler (University of Nebraska Omaha) and Vladimir Nikitin (Nanaimo Clippers, BCHL).

Neither is an NHL option yet, and maybe not even AHL-ready. But time will tell.

Meanwhile, as good as Meriläinen was last season, is Staios's comfort level so high that he's ready to give him 30-40 NHL games next season? As a policy, does Staios think it's a best-in-class kind of move to hand his NHL backup role to a 22-year-old with all of 14 games of experience in the league? There's at least a chance the answer is no, and that Staios may, indeed, "look at other options," possibly one outside of the organization.

Meriläinen needs a qualifying offer by Saturday, and he'll get one, but it remains to be seen if the NHL backup role will truly be his this fall or not.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

More Sens Headlines:

Senators UFA Claude Giroux: Still A Clear-Cut Top-Six Talent In Ottawa
Your Handy Ottawa Senators Fan Guide To A Very Different 2025 NHL Draft
Senators Announce Pre-Season Schedule For Next Year
Would Kings Defenceman Jordan Spence Be A Fit With The Senators?
Should The Senators Have Surrendered This Year's First-Round Draft Pick Instead?
Senators Bring Back First-Rounder For Second Tour Of Duty
Rewriting The Draft: A Decade Of First-Round 'What-Ifs' for the Senators

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Jack Draper refreshed after illness and relishing chance for deep run at Wimbledon

  • British No 1 ‘feeling so much better’ after tonsillitis

  • Draper will be seeded No 4 this year at Wimbledon

Jack Draper says he is feeling refreshed before Wimbledon after his bout of tonsillitis and is determined to make Centre Court his own as he prepares for his first championships at the All England Club as one of the top players in the world.

“I think the home support that I’m going to have and people right behind me is going to be amazing,” Draper said. “It’s going to be a privilege to play as the British No 1 and that’s what I’ve always wanted, I’ve wanted to make Centre Court of Wimbledon my environment, and I’m looking forward to hopefully starting that.”

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Penguins Open To Making Significant Trade

The Pittsburgh Penguins currently hold the 11th and 12th overall picks of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. With this, they have the chance to land two very good prospects. That is, of course, if they elect to hold onto both of their picks. However, based on a recent report, this is not a guarantee.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Penguins are open to moving the 11th or 12th pick of this year's draft "for the right young player." 

Hearing that the Penguins are open to the idea of moving one of their first-round picks is not necessarily surprising. There are some intriguing young players who are in the rumor mill right now, with Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram being two notable examples. 

With this year's draft being a bit of a wild card after the first few picks, now could be a smart time for the Penguins to deal one of their first-rounders for an impactful NHL player that would help them both now and in the long term.

Yet, while the Penguins are reportedly open to trading one of their first-rounders, there is also an argument to be had for them to keep them. The Penguins' prospect pool could use a boost, and they would give it just if they decided to keep both picks.

Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what the Penguins do with their first-rounders from here. 

Former Penguins Forward Traded To New TeamFormer Penguins Forward Traded To New TeamFormer Pittsburgh Penguins forward Frederick Gaudreau is on the move. 

Photo Credit: © Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images

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Kings select Stanford center Maxime Raynaud at No. 42 overall in 2025 NBA Draft

Kings select Stanford center Maxime Raynaud at No. 42 overall in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After making a surprise trade into the first round for guard/forward Nique Clifford on Day 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings used their second-round pick to select a center on Thursday.

Sacramento drafted Maxime Raynaud out of Stanford at No. 42 overall, adding a 22-year-old Frenchman who is a skilled 7-foot shooter and can hold his own on the glass.

Raynaud was born and raised in Paris, France, before joining the Stanford men’s basketball program, where he earned Second-Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Most Improved Player honors as a junior. He was a superstar as a senior, averaging 20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals during his final collegiate campaign en route to First-Team All-ACC honors and the Skip Prosser Award for being the top scholar-athlete in the ACC.

With Clifford and Raynaud on their way to Sacramento to join 2024 first-rounder Devin Carter and stars like Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, the Kings certainly are set for the future.

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Mets call up RHP Austin Warren, option RHP Jonathan Pintaro to Triple-A Syracuse

The Mets' edition of bullpen musical chairs continued on Thursday afternoon, with right-hander Austin Warren called up and fellow righty Jonathan Pintaro optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Warren, 29, appeared in one game for the Mets in early May, tossing a scoreless inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.

With Triple-A Syracuse, Warren has pitched to 3.94 ERA over the course of 19 games, holding opposing hitters to a .241 batting average. He's also appeared in big league games with the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants during his career.

Pintaro, 27, made his big league debut on Wednesday night, allowing two earned runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout against the Atlanta Braves.

The Mets have now made a transaction concerning the bullpen in six of the last seven days, as president of baseball David Stearns tries to ensure the Mets have fresh arms available on a daily basis.