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Second-round pick trades already started, setting up Suns with No. 31 pick, expected to take Rasheer Fleming

In the wake of a series of trades before the start of the second round of the NBA Draft Thursday night, the Phoenix Suns have set themselves up to select Saint Joseph’s 3&D wing Rasheer Fleming, who unexpectedly fell to the second round.

There have been three second-round pick trades already, and two of them set up the Suns with the No. 31 pick. First, Brooklyn traded the No. 36 pick to Phoenix for two future second-round picks, a story reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Then the Suns traded the No. 36 pick and two future second-round picks to Minnesota for the No. 31 pick, also reported by Charania, who added the Suns are targeting Flemming.

Flemming is a 21-year-old, 6'8" wing who averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks a game for St. Joseph's last season.

There was one more second-round pre-draft trade, where the Suns sent the No. 52 and No. 59 picks in the 2025 draft to the Golden State Warriors for No. 41, a deal also reported by Charania.

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Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract

Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers reportedly agreed to sign Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract minutes after the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday night. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Sallis is set to join the team on a two-way deal.

Sallis, 22, averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals last season at Wake Forest. He was a heavy-minute, high usage player for the Demon Decons after two years at Gonzaga, playing nearly 36 minutes per game. 

Sallis measured at 6-foot-3.75 inches without shoes and 181 pounds at the NBA draft combine. His wingspan is 6-10. 

As an outside shooter, Sallis had one excellent year in college — 40.5 percent from three-point range as a junior — and three seasons below 30 percent. He made 78.7 percent of his college free throws and is quite comfortable in the mid-range. 

Draft expert Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote that Sallis is “absolutely worth a two-way contract to see what he can become, as he’s very silky and smooth with the ball in his hands and has a nasty midrange game that could continue to develop over the coming years. But he probably needs to put at least 15 pounds on his frame in the next few years to have success on both ends.” 

The Sixers also reportedly came to agreements with several other undrafted rookies late Thursday night. 

PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson reported that the team will sign Izan Almansa to an Exhibit 10 contract, which is a one-year, non-guaranteed deal that can be converted into a two-way contract before the start of the regular season. Players on Exhibit 10 contracts can receive a bonus if they begin the season with an organization’s G League affiliate and stay there for at least 60 days.

Almansa is a 20-year-old Spanish frontcourt player who averaged 7.2 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League last season. 

DraftExpress’ Jon Chepkevich reported that Igor Milicic Jr. has agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Sixers. Milicic, who was listed at 6-10, 225 pounds by Tennessee, posted 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game as a Vol in his senior year of college. 

Chepkevich reported that Saint Thomas will join the Sixers at summer league.

Along with Sallis, the Sixers currently have Alex Reese on a two-way contract. They drafted VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 overall and Johni Broome at No. 35.

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Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract

Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers reportedly agreed to sign Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract minutes after the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday night. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Sallis is set to join the team on a two-way deal.

Sallis, 22, averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals last season at Wake Forest. He was a heavy-minute, high usage player for the Demon Decons after two years at Gonzaga, playing nearly 36 minutes per game. 

Sallis measured at 6-foot-3.75 inches without shoes and 181 pounds at the NBA draft combine. His wingspan is 6-10. 

As an outside shooter, Sallis had one excellent year in college — 40.5 percent from three-point range as a junior — and three seasons below 30 percent. He made 78.7 percent of his college free throws and is quite comfortable in the mid-range. 

Draft expert Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote that Sallis is “absolutely worth a two-way contract to see what he can become, as he’s very silky and smooth with the ball in his hands and has a nasty midrange game that could continue to develop over the coming years. But he probably needs to put at least 15 pounds on his frame in the next few years to have success on both ends.” 

Along with Sallis, the Sixers currently have Alex Reese on a two-way contract. They drafted VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 overall and Johni Broome at No. 35.

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Where key undrafted rookies signed after 2025 NBA Draft

Where key undrafted rookies signed after 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NBA Draft is still going on for those who didn’t hear their names called.

Fifty-nine players were selected in the two-night draft, with Jahmai Mashack being the last pick going to Memphis. The New York Knicks had a second-rounder docked for tampering violations in 2022 when signing Jalen Brunson,

Ryan Nembhard, Caleb Love and Hunter Dickinson were among the notable undrafted rookies who now have a new home.

Here’s what to know as players sign different deals, such as two-way contracts or Exhibit 10 deals and more:

2025 NBA Draft undrafted rookies tracker

Nembhard, Dickinson and Love are all headed to the Western Conference. Here’s a running list:

  • Ryan Nembhard, G, Gonzaga: Dallas Mavericks (two-way)
  • Hunter Dickinson, C, Kansas: New Orleans Pelicans (two-way)
  • Caleb Love, G, Arizona: Portland Trail Blazers (two-way)
  • Eric Dixon, F, Villanova: Los Angeles Lakers (two-way)
  • Mark Sears, G, Alabama: Milwaukee Bucks (two-way)
  • RJ Luis Jr., F, St. John’s: Utah Jazz (two-way)
  • Hunter Sallis, G/F, Wake Forest: Philadelphia 76ers (two-way)
  • Vlad Goldin, C, Michigan: Miami Heat (two-way)
  • Miles Kelly, G, Auburn: Mavericks (two-way)
  • Dylan Cardwell, C, Auburn: Sacramento Kings (two-way)
  • Steve Settle III, F, Temple: Heat (Exhibit 10)
  • RJ Davis, G, UNC: Lakers (Exhibit 10)
  • Augustas Marčiulionis, G, Saint Mary’s: Lakers (Exhibit 10)
  • Payton Sandfort, F, Iowa: Oklahoma City Thunder (Exhibit 10)
  • Chucky Hepburn, G, Louisville: Toronto Raptors (two-way)
  • Moussa Cisse, C, Memphis: Mavericks (Exhibit 10)
  • Igor Miličić Jr., F, Tennessee: 76ers (Exhibit 10)
  • Chance McMillan, G, Texas Tech: Golden State Warriors (Exhibit 10)
  • L.J. Cryer, G, Houston: Warriors (Exhibit 10)
  • Grant Nelson, F, Alabama: Brooklyn Nets (Exhibit 10)

This is a developing story and will be updated…

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NHL Trade Rumors: Blues Interested In Sabres Star

After taking a nice step forward this season, the St. Louis Blues should be active this off-season. One area on their roster that could use a boost is their defensive group, and they have been connected to New York Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson because of it.

However, based on a new report, Dobson is not the only notable defenseman who is rumored to be on the Blues' radar. 

During the latest episode of TSN Insider Trading, NHL insider Darren Dreger reported that the Blues are one of the teams interested in Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram. 

"I'm looking at LA, Vegas, St. Louis, Vancouver, Colorado, maybe longshot, the Toronto Maple Leafs as teams with interest in Bo Byram," Dreger said.

Hearing that the Blues are among the teams are interested in Byram is not particularly surprising. The 24-year-old would be a significant addition to the Blues' roster, as he is a proven top-four defenseman who is solid defensively and chips in offensively. In addition, he can play the right side as a left-shot defenseman, which adds to his appeal. 

When looking at the Blues' current roster, Byram could be a strong fit on their top pairing with Colton Parayko if acquired. However, he also could be an option for their second pairing on the right side, with Philip Broberg as his defensive partner. He is also capable of being used on the power play and penalty kill because of his two-way play, so he could help the Blues' in these areas, too. 

In 82 games this season with the Sabres, Byram recorded seven goals and set new career highs with 31 assists, 38 points, and a plus-11 rating. With numbers like these, Byram would be a very good pickup for a Blues club looking to get closer to being true contenders, especially when noting that he still may not have hit his ceiling yet. Let's see if their interest leads to them landing him from here.

NHL Trade Rumors: Jordan Kyrou Linked To 4 TeamsNHL Trade Rumors: Jordan Kyrou Linked To 4 TeamsSt. 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. 

Photo Credit:  © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

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Ace Baily's representiatives reportedly told team with top five pick he would not report if drafted

Ace Bailey's representative reportedly told one team with a top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft that if it selected Bailey, he would not report to them, according to a new story from Jonathan Givony and Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

Whether or not they were told that — and despite not working him out — the Utah Jazz selected Ace Bailey with the No. 5 pick Wednesday night. It was not a reach by the Jazz — Bailey has arguably the second highest ceiling of any player in this year's draft and Utah needs high-level talent — but the sense in league circles heading into the draft was that Bailey and his representative, Omar Cooper, had a promise and/or were trying to steer the Rutgers star to Washington or Brooklyn. Cooper denied that in the same ESPN report.

"Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago," Cooper told ESPN. "He did 18 interviews. Everyone got his medical. They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements... There is nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey's pre-draft process was handled."

Bailey, for his part, echoed the same idea at the draft, stating that he was not worried about where he was selected or what people thought about his unusual pre-draft strategy of avoiding workouts.

"They feel how they feel," Bailey said. "But my team and me, are focusing on basketball and them doing what they're doing, so it happens."

If the report is true, Bailey's options were always limited if a team called his bluff. He can choose not to report to the Jazz (or whoever drafted him), but he cannot return to college after staying in the draft. Additionally, if he plays professionally overseas next season, the Jazz retain his draft rights. The only way to end up with another team is to sit out an entire year, not playing professionally anywhere, then re-enter the draft. However, that is a crap shoot because who knows what the draft order will be a year from now and what team's priorities will be.

Bailey, a 6'8" wing, was projected as a top-three pick for much of the year. Bailey looks like a prototypical NBA wing on paper: Great positional size, a high-level athlete, high motor, shot 36.7% from 3 in college, can create his own shot, and is a tough shot maker who averaged 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. However, not all scouts were convinced he would come close to reaching that potential in the NBA. Those concerns, plus his pre-draft strategy of no workouts and some interviews that left teams confused, saw him slide a couple of spots to No. 5, where the Jazz snapped him up before Washington or Brooklyn had the chance.

Bailey is likely to make his Jazz debut at the Utah Summer League, which starts on July 5 in Salt Lake City.

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What fans need to know about Celtics second-round pick Max Shulga

What fans need to know about Celtics second-round pick Max Shulga originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

After trading down from No. 32 overall, the Boston Celtics used the No. 57 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to select VCU guard Max Shulga.

Shulga played the last two seasons with the Rams after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Utah State. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 38.7 percent from 3-point range last season.

Shulga’s 3-point prowess fits the Celtics mold, but he’s also a smart, decisive passer. The 23-year-old guard’s balanced skill set helped him earn First-Team All-Atlantic 10 nods twice at VCU.

The C’s focused on international talent with all three of their draft picks. They selected Spanish guard Hugo Gonzalez at No. 28 overall, British center Amari Williams at No. 46, and the Ukraine native Shulga at No. 57.

Shulga will reunite with one of his former college teammates when he joins the Celtics. He and Boston big man Neemias Queta played together for one season at Utah State.

Williams and Shulga are expected to join the Celtics on two-way contracts.

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2025 NHL Draft: Islanders, Canadiens, Penguins Hold Pivotal Points In Round 1

Every NHL draft, there are pivot points that affect what happens next. 

What one team does with its pick, whether it drafts a certain player over another or it trades the pick, alters the way other squads approach the rest of the draft. 

This year, there are a handful of key points in the first round that could change the way things go directly after them. They could start a run or cause a player to fall. It could be that when a player falls, teams look to trade up. 

Let’s look at a few key points that we can identify heading into the first round on Friday night. 

Islanders’ Big Decision

The New York Islanders will choose between the potential elite-level prospect in Matthew Schaefer or Michael Misa or the hometown kid in James Hagens. The word around the campfire is they will go with Schaefer, but Hagens grew up an Isles fan, going to games on a regular basis. Maybe they'll be extra aggressive and get Schaefer and Hagens.

It’s a tough decision for a team that has had some issues in the past with high-end players leaving but the reality is that they should go with Schaefer, build out their defense group and look to make the best long-term decision. 

2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And More2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And MoreThe 2025 NHL draft kicks off Friday evening, so it’s time to get in the spirit by conducting the final mock draft of the season. 

Top Three Seem Set – Where Do The Mammoth Go?

There seems to be some level of consensus that Schaefer, Misa, and Swedish forward Anton Frondell are going to be the first three names off the board, although the order is a bit up in the air. 

That means the direction the Utah Mammoth take at fourth overall will set the course for the next six picks of the draft. 

There are plenty of options for the directions they could go. They could go with a big, hulking player as they’ve done in recent years by drafting someone like Radim Mrtka or Roger McQueen. They could go with a high-skill player like Hagens. They could continue the trend of taking forwards, or they could grab their pick of the defensive class.

Five NHL Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis? Five NHL Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis? With the 2025 NHL draft quickly approaching, teams around the league are finalizing their draft boards in hopes of landing the best young talent from around the hockey world.

Where Does The No. 2 Defenseman Go?

Speaking of the defenders in the class, when is the run on defenders going to start? 

Aside from Schaefer, the top of the draft is very forward-heavy. There could reasonably be eight forwards that go in the top 10. 

What usually happens, though, is that once the league feels the quality blueliners dwindle, teams clamor to grab their defender so that they don’t miss out. With a group of five or six defenders that seem solidified as first-rounders, once one goes, teams could start a run.

The Montreal Canadiens at the 2022 NHL draft in Montreal (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

Penguins Hold Picks 11 And 12, Canadiens Hold Picks 16 And 17

There are quite a few teams with multiple first-round picks this year. The San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators have multiple picks spread out over the first round, with the Preds possessing three. 

With that said, the most interesting teams with multiple picks are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens. The Penguins have been rumored to be looking to move up in the draft, and now that they have the 11th and 12th picks, they have the ammo to do it.

A few picks later, Montreal holds the 16th and 17th selections. They are among the big group of franchises looking to move picks for NHL talent. 

While they may not be able to make that move, the two picks could be used to move up and grab a top-end talent, or they could just make the picks with the players that fall to them and build their already impressive pipeline.

Who Is The Wild Card? 

Every single year, there is a wild card. Some team takes a player no one expects. 

Whether it’s Yegor Chinakhov, who was drafted 21st overall despite being a relative unknown, or Beckett Senecke going much higher than anyone expected, someone will cause a ruckus at the draft. It’s one of the most exciting parts of the event every year. 

The question is who will make the surprise selection. I have a funny feeling it will be Boston, which hasn’t drafted high in quite some time.

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

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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 Boston

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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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 Philadelphia

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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Mets' Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Juan Soto named finalists in 2025 All-Star Game voting

Three Mets are moving on to Round 2 of All-Star Game voting.

Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso were officially named finalists on Thursday night.

Lindor was the top vote-getter among shortstops in the National League during Phase 1 of voting, but he'll now have to beat out Dodgers star Mookie Betts as he looks to land his first All-Star appearance as a Met.

The 31-year-old has slowed down a bit after his scorching start to the season, but he's still produced 16 homers and 43 RBI while swiping 13 bags through 79 games.

Alonso finished second among first basemen behind only Freddie Freeman.

The big man has also cooled off following his spectacular first few months, but he's still launched 18 homers and remains fourth in the National League with 64 RBI.

Soto joins former Mets prospect Pete-Crow Armstrong, Teoscar Hernandez, Kyle Tucker, Andy Pages, and Ronald Acuña Jr. as the six outfield finalists for the National League.

His slow start to the season appears to officially be behind him, as he's put together a historic month of June with an incredible 11 homers and 20 RBI over his last 25 games.

Jeff McNeil (fourth), Francisco Alvarez (fifth), Starling Marte (fifth), Mark Vientos (eighth), Brandon Nimmo (11th), and Tyrone Taylor (15th) all fell shy of cracking the second round of voting.

Phase 2 starts on Monday and lasts until Wednesday.

Here are the rest of the finalists:

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Brad Marchand put up amazing numbers in games after a Panthers loss during Florida's Stanley Cup run

The hockey world is waiting to find out where Brad Marchand decides to lace up his skates next season and beyond.

As it stands, the 37-year-old unrestricted free agent could very well end up re-signing with the Florida Panthers.

Florida acquired Marchand at last season’s Trade Deadline in exchange for what ended up being a first round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

It’s a price that the Panthers are surely pleased to have paid, as Marchand played an instrumental role in Florida’s winning their second straight Stanley Cup.

Marchand was a close second to teammate Sam Bennett in the race for the Conn Smythe Trophy. He racked up 10 goals and 20 points in 23 postseason games, including six goals during the Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton.

Two of those six goals against the Oilers were game-winners.

So yeah, Marchand was electric for the Panthers, and what appeared to be a match made in heaven could potentially go on for the next several seasons depending on how things shake out in free agency.

While we still have a few days to wait for those decisions to start coming in, there was another interesting stat from Marchand’s playoff run that felt important to highlight.

As a team, the Panthers proved to be incredibly strong when it came to bouncing back after a loss.

During Florida’s 23-game playoff run, they only lost back-to-back outings one time: Games 1 and 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Panthers held a 6-1 record after a defeat, outscoring teams 33-20 during those seven outings.

It’s what Marchand did during those seven games that really jumps off the page.

First off, Marchand had at least a point in every one of Florida’s games after a loss.

In fact, he racked up seven goals and 11 points on 22 shots in those seven post-defeat outings, skating to a plus-14 on-ice rating.

Considering Florida’s ability to bounce back and not have to endure any extended periods of losing was a key element to their Stanley Cup victory, it’s clear Marchand played a monumental role in making sure that remained a strength that the team possessed throughout their march to the Cup.

It’s just something else to keep in mind as we inch close to July 1.

Of course, Marchand and the Panthers could always agree to an extension before that.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) reacts after scoring a goal on Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the second period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)

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Sabres 2025 Draft Projection – Justin Carbonneau

Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles this week, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.  

The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.  

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Justin Carbonneau is a player who is ranked just outside of the top 10 on many mock drafts, but has the combination of physicality and skill that might intrigue the Sabres at #9. The 18-year-old debuted in the QMJHL at 16 and in his second season with Blainville-Boisbriand scored 31 goals. Last season, the 6’1”, 192 lb. winger led the Armada in goals (46), assists (43) and points (89).

According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, Carbonneau is a power forward who put up impressive offensive numbers but has issues with consistency. If he can get a handle on that, he’ll have a solid future in the NHL. Some scouts struggle to see a clear identity, but Carbonneau is a good skater, can hit, win puck battles and go to the net, which NHL clubs are looking for, especially in a copycat league where the Florida Panthers have won a pair of Stanley Cups. 

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Yankees' Aaron Judge earns 2025 All-Star selection after becoming MLB's leading vote-getter

Aaron Judge is the American League's first named All-Star.

The Yankees slugger earned an automatic All-Star bid after being the American League's leading vote-getter, MLB announced Thursday. Judge led all players, including the National League, with 4,012,983 votes.

Shohei Ohtani earned his automatic big by leading the National League in votes.

The selection doesn't come as a surprise as Judge is having another MVP-caliber season. Entering play Thursday, Judge is slashing .361/.461/.719 with an OPS of 1.180. He leads the major leagues with his .361 batting average, is second in the majors with 28 homers and is tied for fifth in the league with 63 RBI.

This is Judge's seventh time being named an All-Star and the fifth consecutive year he'll be playing in the Midsummer Classic.

In addition, Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and DH Ben Rice have advanced as finalists.

Goldschmidt is having a resurgent year in his first season in the Bronx. The right-hander is slashing .288/.346/.432 with a .778 OPS.

The Yankees' first baseman will be going up against Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to be named a starter for the American League. If Goldschmidt wins, it'll be his eighth selection and his first since 2022.

As for Rice, the left-handed slugger has had a solid second year with the Yankees. He's slashing .238/.324/.489 with an OPS of .814 to go with his 14 home runs and 29 RBI. Opposing Rice is Baltimore's Ryan O'Hearn. With the trade of Rafael Devers, the field is open for Rice to earn his first career All-Star selection.

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Carlos Mendoza discusses Mets’ plan with Mark Vientos set to return from IL

The Mets will receive a big boost heading into this weekend’s series against the Pirates, as Mark Vientos is officially set to make his return from the IL. 

Vientos has been sidelined since the beginning of the month with a hamstring strain. 

The youngster had gotten off to a bit of a slow start at the plate this season, but there’s no denying that adding him back into the middle of this struggling lineup could provide a huge boost. 

"Mark is a big part of our team," Carlos Mendoza said. "We saw it in the playoffs last year, he drives the ball to all fields, gives you good at-bats, and the power is real -- if we get him going, we’re talking about a deep lineup 1 through 9. He’s a guy who can hit anywhere in the lineup, so it just adds to the quality of our roster."

Vientos’ return also puts the Mets in a bit of a conundrum, as their infield depth suddenly gets a whole lot more crowded and they’ll have to open up another roster spot prior to the 25-year-old’s activation. 

While it’s a tough decision to make, Mendoza says it’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

"This continues to be a puzzle," he explained. "There are going to be a few spots that are going to be rotating and I think that’s a good problem to have -- I’ve been saying since day one, talking about the depth, how good our team is because of the quality and quantity we have. 

"So there will be at-bats for everyone in there who is on the active roster, and we’ll make sure that we are communicating with them on a daily basis and they understand that we’re here to win baseball games."

Ronny Mauricio has been viewed as one of the candidates to go back down -- though the skipper did say there's a possibility we could see him stick around even with Vientos and Brett Baty on the roster. 

Mauricio was brought back up to the big leagues earlier than the team had hoped following Vientos’ injury, and while he’s looked a bit overmatched at times, he’s coming off one of his best showings to this point. 

The youngster picked up three hits, including a solo homer on Wednesday night.

"I’ve been impressed with how he’s handled the adversity," Mendoza said. "I haven’t been around him much because he spent all of last year rehabbing and this year, in spring training he wasn’t really around much just being in the training room and the backfields. 

"Watching him after missing so much time and struggling, he’s being the same guy, continues to work and asks for feedback for help -- it was finally good to see a really good game from him last night, we hope to see that same version moving forward."