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Paul Blackburn is giving the Yankees exactly what they need

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 09: Paul Blackburn #58 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 09, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Paul Blackburn had posted a 5.28 ERA in 15.1 innings with the Yankees in 2025. The team, however, saw something in him, something that persuaded them to keep him around despite that ugly number. Then, 2026 came around. The right-hander alternated good and bad outings, but even at his worst, the Yankees were patient. And their patience is paying off big time now.

Blackburn is sporting an amazing 2.22 ERA in 48.2 frames with the Yanks this year, one of the most improved Yankees of the season. If we zoom in closer, we see that his run since the start of June has been unbelievable, with a 1.11 ERA and a 60.3 percent groundball rate. Basically, Blackburn went from being on the roster bubble at one point to one of the most indispensable relievers in the organization. He is now an excellent multi-inning weapon for manager Aaron Boone, and even though the bullpen remains an area of focus ahead of the deadline, having Blackburn pitching like this allows the club to focus on other, more pressing needs.

Blackburn can throw seven pitches, but four of them are key to his success: the sinker, the cutter, the changeup, and the curveball. It just seems that every one of those four serves a specific purpose: the sinker helps him get that GB% up (it is, after all, 56.4 percent for the year as a whole, up from 43.8 percent in 2025), the cutter throws hitters off balance and forces them into weak contact (87th percentile 32.1 hard-hit rate), and the curveball and the changeup help him miss bats.

The curveball has a beautiful 45 percent whiff rate, an increase on the 38.5 percent he had last year with the offering. The changeup misses bats at a 28.6 percent rate, up from 26.2 percent in 2025.

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Of course, the increase in velocity from year to year is of immense help. Blackburn’s sinker is averaging 94.2 mph this season, better than the 92.6 mph of 2025. Throw harder, and everything else will play up. Becoming a full-time reliever helps, that’s for sure. The Yankees have helped Blackburn reinvent himself and resurrect his career, and the pitcher is giving them a nice multi-inning option in their bullpen.

Sure, Blackburn’s 37/15 K/BB ratio isn’t really anything to write home about, but he limits the long ball (0.74 HR/9 in 2026) and doesn’t hurt himself with walks too often. He goes out there, throws strikes, and gets the job done almost every time he takes the mound. As you can see in the chart, Blackburn has actually improved his xwOBA against every year since 2024, until reaching a very solid .291 in 2026.

I can’t say I’m not surprised to watch him enjoy this kind of success. We all knew there was some talent in his right arm, but probably not to this extent. Sit back and enjoy the ride while it lasts, but even though he probably won’t finish the season with an ERA in the low 2.00s, the foundation is there to make this the new norm: Blackburn is probably here to stay as a reliable MLB reliever.

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Ranking Mets' trade candidates from most to least likely to be dealt

As the second half of the 2026 MLB season begins, the Mets are in sell mode as they look to retool before attempting to bolster their roster this offseason in an attempt to quickly return to contention in 2027.

Who are the players most likely to move between now and the Aug. 3 deadline? And who should the Mets be careful about parting with?

We already went through the keepers.

Here are the players likely to be available, broken down one-by-one...

Freddy Peralta

Should Mets trade him? Yes
Will Mets trade him? Yes

A pending free agent, Peralta could be the most established and highest-upside starting pitcher available at the deadline if the Tigers don't deal Tarik Skubal. Peralta's poor season to this point shouldn't be a hindrance when it comes to the Mets getting something of serious value back. 

Brooks Raley

Should Mets trade him? Yes
Will Mets trade him? Yes

A free agent at the end of the season, Raley has a 2.04 ERA and 1.13 WHIP this year and has been one of the most reliable relievers in baseball since 2022 -- with a 2.45 ERA (2.99 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP in 176.1 innings. He should net the Mets a nice package, especially in what is expected to be a sellers market. 

A.J. Minter

Should Mets trade him? Yes
Will Mets trade him? Yes

Like Peralta and Raley, Minter is set for free agency after the season. Unlike Raley, though, there is a big question about Minter due to the reduced velocity on his four-seam fastball since he returned from last season's lat surgery. But Minter has been excellent in limited action this season, posting a 1.42 ERA and 0.84 WHIP while walking just one batter in 19.0 innings.

New York Mets pitcher Luke Weaver (30) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Citi Field.
New York Mets pitcher Luke Weaver (30) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Luke Weaver

Should Mets trade him? Only for a haul
Will Mets trade him? 50/50

Weaver is under contract for the 2027 season, when he'll count for $11 million toward the luxury tax payroll. So the Mets should set a high price and only budge if it's met. Though Weaver has been phenomenal this season, relievers are volatile. It would be tough to part with Weaver, but if the price is right, the Mets should sell high.

Clay Holmes

Should Mets trade him? No
Will Mets trade him? It's complicated

There is mutual interest in an extension that would keep Holmes with the Mets beyond this season. And when you consider Holmes' leadership, his ability to thrive in New York, and the Mets' need in the rotation, it makes all the sense in the world for them to get an extension with Holmes done. If they can't for some reason, it will be a no-brainer to trade him, with Holmes all but certain to decline the $12 million player option he holds for 2027.

Luis Robert Jr.

Should Mets trade him? Yes
Will Mets trade him? It's complicated

Robert is on a rehab assignment as he works toward a return from a back injury that has kept him out since April 26. And he's owed roughly $10 million for the remainder of the year. But with the Mets set to decline his player option for next season and nowhere to play him upon his return, they should make every effort to deal him.

New York Mets designated hitter Francisco Alvarez (4) hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth inning at Rogers Centre.
New York Mets designated hitter Francisco Alvarez (4) hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. / Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Francisco Alvarez

Should Mets trade him? No
Will Mets trade him? Unlikely

Alvarez is under contract through 2029, makes relatively little, is just 24 years old, possesses huge power, and has been an above average hitting catcher during his five-year career. If a team blows the Mets away with an offer, they should accept it. If not, there's no reason to seriously consider trading Alvarez.

Luis Torrens

Should Mets trade him? No
Will Mets trade him? Unlikely

The Mets just extended Torrens through 2028, and he's one of the best defensive catchers in baseball. So dangling him right now makes little sense.

Francisco Lindor

Should Mets trade him? No
Will Mets trade him? No

A relatively rough first 40 games for Lindor, whose season was interrupted for two months because of a calf injury, has apparently led to people forgetting that he was an MVP-level player for the Mets from 2022 to 2025. Beyond that, the Mets would be selling incredibly low if they dealt Lindor now. Depending on the return, they could also be creating a massive hole in their lineup ahead of an offseason where the free agent crop isn't very enticing. It is not impossible to see the Mets eventually dealing Lindor, but now is not the time to do it.

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Thursday Jays Notes

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Louis Varland #77 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the eighth inning during the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Out last off-day of the All-Star break. There is an MLB game today, the Mets and Phillies are playing tonight.

The Jays play tomorrow night, it is an Apple TV game, only of those things I hate.

The Jays have Spencer Miles starting tomorrow. I don’t understand why we have a bullpen type day after several days off, but then there are many things I don’t understand about this season. I guess Miles has gone 4.1 innings in three outings, so maybe he could do five tomorrow? He’s had six days off. And, you know, the pen is rested.

But still, would you not go with one of your ‘real’ starters, who have also had time off?

Saturday Shane Bieber starts and Sunday it is Trey Yesavage. Kevin Gausman gets the Monday start against the Rays and then we have Dylan Cease.

A seven game home stand and, you know, seven wins would get us back over .500. Just saying. The Jays are 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, but personally, I don’t think any team under .500 will make the playoffs, even if the last wild card spot is a game under .500 at the moment.

Hey, look I got a poll to embed!

MLB.com has a list of best draft picks by round and they picked the Jays Will Brick for the best pick of the fourth round saying:

Mayo: “He’s the best high school catcher in the class. There’s power there, he’s a really good defender behind the plate. I think what makes it stand out additionally is that the Blue Jays did not have a second-round pick, so to get a talent like Will Brick in the fourth helps offset the fact they didn’t have a second-rounder, cause he’s at least a second-round talent.”

Nice to hear, since we didn’t have a pick until #39 and then not again until #103. Brick was our third pick.

Rotowire has a list of the 25 unluckiest batters of the first half. Number 25 on the list is Vladimir Guerrero. To come up with the list they compared expected batting average, expected slugging average and expected wOBA to what the players actually posted. Vlad’s batting average is .025 below expected, slugging .049 and wOBA is .031 below expected.

Also on the list is Bo Bichette at 20th. Top of the list is Austin Wells from the Yankees (.052 below expect BA, .097 below expected slugging and .056 below expected wOBA.

I guess the hope is that hope is that luck has to even out at some point. But then I don’t know that it likely to even out this season.

This is interesting, teams are using AL on iPads to, let’s say, consult on managerial decisions, like pinch hitting, pitch calling, etc.

I’m ready for baseball to start up again.

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Notable Games From Golden Knights’ 2026-27 Schedule Release

The Vegas Golden Knights have released their schedule for the 2026-27 regular season. They’ll begin at home on September 29th against the Chicago Blackhawks, and end at home on April 10th against the Los Angeles Kings.

This year, the league is shortening the preseason and adding two more regular season games. However, there also isn’t a month-long Olympic Break this year, so the regular season schedule isn’t as condensed.

The Golden Knights will play eight back-to-backs this season, a step up from 12 in 2025-26. Five of the back-to-backs will both take place on the road; none of the back-to-backs will both be at home.

During the 2026-27 season, the Golden Knights have two separate five-game homestands. Both homestands will be played over eight-day periods.

This season, the Golden Knights don’t have any two-week-long road trips. Instead, they’ll have five different four-game road trips. Two of the five road trips will span seven days, one will run for six days, and the other two will last five days.

Notable Dates & Games

The first away game of the season is on October 4th against the Vancouver Canucks. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.

Gavin McKenna, the 2026 first overall pick, comes into town with his Toronto Maple Leafs on October 8th. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.

The annual Nevada Day game on October 30th is scheduled for 3 p.m. PST against the New Jersey Devils.

The Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes will be on December 21st in Raleigh. The Golden Knights will also host the Hurricanes on January 17th. 

The Keegan Kolesar return game is on February 15th, when the Golden Knights host the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. PST. 

The Golden Knights will head to Texas to play a Stadium Series game against the Dallas Stars at AT&T Stadium on February 19th. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST.

The Pavel Dorofeyev return game is on March 13th, when the Golden Knights host the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. PST.

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Senators Release 2026-27 NHL Schedule: Includes 84 Games, Trip To Germany, And Brady Tkachuk Return

The Senators have announced their new 84-game regular-season schedule for 2026-27. 

The Sens' season will open up with a three-game road trip in Toronto (Oct. 3), followed by games in Boston and Detroit, before they return home to play their home opener on Oct. 8 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The season includes another mid-season trip overseas. The Sens will play two games against the Chicago Blackhawks in Germany, which will probably be extra taxing on Tim Stutzle, one of the greatest players the country has ever produced.

This is the third time in nine years (2017, 2023) the Sens have participated in the NHL Global Series, and in each of the previous two appearances, they completely fell apart on their return home.

In The Tough Atlantic, Senators Don’t Need Midseason Trip To GermanyIn The Tough Atlantic, Senators Don’t Need Midseason Trip To GermanyThe NHL announced on Friday the Senators will play two games in Germany against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Related: In The Tough Atlantic, Senators Don’t Need A Midseason Trip To Germany

Other highlights (from the Senators website):

- The Senators will face Brady Tkachuk for the first time when the Florida Panthers visit Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

- The Senators will face Atlantic Division rivals Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Toronto four times respectively.

- Division rival Toronto will visit Canadian Tire Centre twice, on Wednesday, Jan. 20 and on Saturday, Feb. 13 while the Montreal Canadiens will visit twice on Saturday, March 13 and on Saturday, April 10.

- The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will visit Canadian Tire Centre on Monday, Jan. 25.

- The Senators will host the reigning Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Dec. 10.

- The Senators will play back-to-back games on 14 occasions. That’s the same number as last season. In 2025–26, they posted an 8-5-1 record in the first half of games played on consecutive nights and a 9-3-2 record in the second half of games played on consecutive days.

- The team will host its longest home stand (six games) at Canadian Tire Centre between Wednesday, Jan. 20 and Tuesday, Feb. 9.

- The Senators will play four separate stretches of five consecutive games on the road. The first will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

- The Senators will have a bye week from Sunday, Jan. 31, through Monday, Feb. 8. 

- The 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend will be held at the UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., from Feb. 5 through 7.

The Senators leaned hard on the Ottawa media's acting ability in a seven-minute schedule release video on Thursday.

2026-27 Ottawa Senators regular-season schedule (all times Eastern and subject to change)

Saturday, Oct. 3 at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 5 at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 8 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Nashville, 7 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 12 at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 13 vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 15 vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 17 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 21 vs. Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22 vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Vegas, 10 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 29 at Los Angeles, 10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31 at San Jose, 4 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 1 at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. Utah, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 10 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 12 vs. Colorado, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 19 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Los Angeles, 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 23 vs. Calgary, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Florida, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 27 at Tampa Bay, 3 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28 at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 30 at Nashville, 1 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 3 vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5 vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 6 at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 8 vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 10 vs. Vegas, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12 vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 14 vs. Buffalo, 2 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18 at Chicago (in Düsseldorf, Germany), 1 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 20 vs. Chicago (in Düsseldorf, Germany), 8 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 27 at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 31 vs. Pittsburgh, 2 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 2 at Washington, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Utah, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 6 at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 8 at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 14 vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16 at Tampa Bay, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 18 at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 20 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23 vs. Columbus, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 25 vs. Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 28 vs. Boston, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb 11 at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 13 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 15 at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Seattle, 9:40 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 18 at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 21 at Calgary, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Edmonton, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 25 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 26 at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 2 at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 4 vs. Boston, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 6 vs. Seattle, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 7 vs. Buffalo, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, March 9 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 11 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 13 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 14 vs. Vancouver, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, March 16 at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 18 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 20 vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 24 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 25 at Boston, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 27 at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 30 at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Friday, April 2 at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 4 vs. Detroit, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 7 at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 8 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 10 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

Tickets for the home opener on October 8 will go on sale in the next few hours. Season seat members will be able to purchase them starting at 1 p.m. Sens Insiders will follow at 2 p.m. The general public will be able to purchase tickets starting at 3 p.m.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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NBA Summer League notebook: Thoughts on AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, hot topics in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — I have a lot of notes.

After spending nine days watching Summer League basketball in Salt Lake City and then Las Vegas, talking to people around the league and players, I had a lot of notes that didn't neatly fit into the other stories I wrote or videos I was a part of. Observations, thoughts on players, quotes from coaches and players, and a lot more.

So here are my notes on some of the things I saw and heard. One bit of caution: I didn't see everyone and certainly not every game, and I am no scout. As with everything in Summer League, take it with a grain of salt.

• Top four picks all looked very good. It's just Summer League, but you can see why the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies and Bulls did not want to trade out of the top four spots in this draft. AJ Dybantsa is an incredibly fluid athlete who just glides past defenders and makes it look effortless, and he also showed some defensive chops. He's got to work on his outside shot (1-of-11 from 3), but he lived up to the billing.

After watching Peterson in Utah, where he masterfully handled the Grizzlies' blitzing defense, he seemed to press in his Vegas debut against Dybantsa. That said, Jazz fans should be excited. Peterson showed exactly why Utah was not worried about what Washington did with the No. 1 pick, they were going to get an elite player.

Carlos Boozer was exactly as advertised — just so polished and smooth, versatile, and his passing has dramatically improved in the past year. He is going to play a big role for Memphis starting this season. Caleb Wilson might have the highest ceiling of any of the top four, there is a lot to like, but don't read too much into his hot-shooting opener when he hit as many 3-pointers in one game as he did during an entire season at North Carolina (seven). He is more of a project than the other three, but Tiago Splitter is a great fit for him as a coach.

• Peterson is feeling better with the ball in his hands. After watching every one of his Summer League games in person, I was baffled that Bill Self didn't put the ball in Darryn Peterson's hands as a creator more often at Kansas. I know there were the cramping and injuries, but sometimes basketball is as simple as "give your best player the ball." Peterson was open about feeling better on ball with the Jazz this summer.

"I'm back having fun," Peterson said in Las Vegas. "I wasn't really experiencing it that much at Kansas. I was off [the ball] a ton. So just, I feel like myself again."

• Early Rookie of the Year thoughts? Usually, I leave Las Vegas with a sense of who is going to be in the running for Rookie of the Year. After this summer, all I know is that we might have the deepest ROY field we've seen in years.

• What was everyone talking about? What were the biggest topics of conversation among media and teams? The Jaylen Brown trade still has everyone shaking their heads early on, but other topics started to dominate the conversation: The pause in the Kawhi Leonard trade, and then especially the Gary Trent Jr. contract (which the league is now investigating). Also, the second apron and its impact on the league and team building were constant topics.

• One player who really impressed me: Kingston Flemmings. We knew he could score, but Atlanta's No. 8 pick showed off his skills as a quality floor general — he just gets the ball to the right man at the right time and orchestrates things. Also, he has a fantastic hesitation dribble, the ability to create space, and makes a lot of smart decisions. Fantastic vision and hits the open guy. Atlanta has a winner here and a guy who could fit right in with what they need.
• Also in Atlanta, Henri Veesaar — the big man out of North Carolina — has good instincts and a smooth jumper, he has potential as a stretch five. However, he needs to hit the gym and get a lot stronger, he was getting pushed around in Las Vegas the guys are only going to get stronger come the NBA season.

• Labaron Philon has the ball on a string, and he is lightning quick. He struggled a little finishing in the parts of the games I saw, but he's got the skills to create space in the NBA and that matters. He could be a steal at 22 for Philly.

• Speaking of later first-round steals, Cameron Carr looks like that for the Lakers. He is very athletic, has great elevation on his jumper, moves and cuts well off the ball, and just has a good feel for how to play the game. It's easy to see him stepping in and giving the Lakers 10-15 minutes a night right at the start of the season.

• Yaxel Lendenborg is a hand-in-glove fit with Golden State, he can step in right now and give them quality minutes, and a needed burst of youth and athleticism. His decision-making and processing of the game were just way ahead of the guys in Summer League, and he looked NBA-ready. He hit 4-of-4 from 3 in his Las Vegas opener, and if he can be a quality shooter from deep, that is a bonus.

• Bennett Stirtz is a very Thunder player, always making smart decisions, in the right place.

• Aday Mara knows how to be big on defense and you can see him contributing on that end right away (which is part of why the Thunder wanted him). He's got to become a better finisher around the rim, but he has his moments.

• Really liked Detroit rookie Ebuka Okorie, the point guard out of Stanford, who put up 20 in his NBA Summer League debut. As advertised, he is able to get downhill against anyone. He showed that across a couple of games.

• Spurs rookie big man Tarris Reed is a physical force inside. Not the most skilled guy, but he walks in the door with NBA size.

• Not that Toronto needs another athletic wing, but Allen Graves looks like a good pickup at No. 19, shows a lot of potential to develop into a solid rotation player.

• Chicago two-guard Dailyn Swain had the ball in his hands in Las Vegas, and there were moments when you could see all the potential and moments when you were left scratching your head. He was thrown into the fire and had the maturity to understand that mistakes would come, he had a great attitude about it. If he learns from his mistakes over the course of the next year, the potential to be a quality NBA player is there.

• Morez Johnson is another of the Michigan crew who looks like he could step in and play meaningful minutes right away in Dallas. Clearly an NBA build already, he showed some potential as a short-roll guy who can distribute and score, and his 3-point form looks good. A lot of potential here.

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Complete Guide To When Current And Former Leafs Meet Their Former Clubs In 2026-27 As Maple Leafs Schedule Is Released

The Toronto Maple unveiled their 2026-27 NHL schedule on Thursday. 

Some facts about the schedule provided by the club:

• Longest home stand: Six games (3x) – November 3 to November 14

• Longest road stretch: Seven games (2x) – December 22 to January 7

• Number of back-to-back games: 11

• Busiest month: 16 games – March

• Busiest home month: Nine games – November

• Busiest road month: Eight games (3x) – November, December, March

• Busiest day of the week: Saturday – 27 games

When the newest Leafs will play against their former clubs.

Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit went to Philadelphia in the same trade, so they'll make their Toronto return together on the same night (Nov 30).

  • Raddysh and Nick Paul both came from Tampa Bay and will make their first trip back to Amalie Arena on the same night (Feb 20) — and Hildeby, who went the other way in the Paul trade, get

Newest Leafs — first meetings vs. their old team

New Leafs head coach Jim Hiller will take on the his former Los Angeles Kings club at Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 19. He'll return to Crypto.com Arena for the first time in LA on Dec. 30.

New Leafs associate coach Daniel Alfredsson will coach against the Ottawa Senators for the first time on Oct. 3. He will return to Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa for the first time as a visiting coach on Jan. 20.

Departed Leafs — first return to Toronto

Former Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock will coach against his former club for the first time when his Edmonton Oilers host the Leafs on Oct. 24. He'll return to Scotiabank Arena for the first time behind the bench on Nov. 14.

Toronto Maple Leafs 2026-27 Schedule

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Jordan Walker won the Home Run Derby. He wants to lead the next wave of Black athletes into baseball

PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Walker rooted for Chipper Jones as a young Braves fan raised in suburban Atlanta and used to beg his family to take him to baseball games at Turner Field.

Walker’s parents -- “Jordan’s Dad” and “Jordan’s Mom,” as known by their customized jerseys at the Home Run Derby — often obliged. Derrick Walker and his 7-year-old son were out in left field seats for an April series in 2010 when Braves slugger and future Gold Glove winner Jayson Heyward made his debut.

Oh, for sure the younger Walker still cheered for Jones.

But to see a young Black star such as Heyward command the outfield the way Walker wanted to play, a new favorite player was born.

“As soon as Jayson Heyward debuted,” Walker said. “I was like, oh yeah, that’s the guy. That’s who I want to be like.”

The significance of representation in the Black community was never lost on Walker.

So when Walker, a former St. Louis Cardinals’ first-round pick once on the cusp of bust territory after several demotions over the last few seasons, had his breathtaking, breakthrough moment with a six-swing, six-homer rally past Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber to win the Derby, he hoped his star-making turn would inspire more young Black athletes to follow in his footsteps and choose baseball.

Just as he was inspired by Heyward.

“For Black kids, I want to kind of be a role model for them,” Walker said, “like he was for me.”

With each prodigious blast off his customized Iron Man bat, the 24-year-old Walker silenced the Philly boo birds clamoring for a home team Schwarber victory and shined in his coming-out party beyond the St. Louis bubble and to the entire baseball world.

He flashed the kind of swag that appealed to a younger generation much in the way Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. did in his heyday. Walker wore his Cardinals hat backward, chewed a big wad of bubble gum and reveled afterward in flashing his imitation Liberty Bell bling, the champions’ chain presented by Ryan Howard.

None other than career home run leader Barry Bonds gave Walker his stamp of approval — “you got my trophy, too” — for winning the greatest Derby he’s ever seen.

“That means the world to me,” Walker said.

Walker is among the scores of All-Star talents leading a modest uptick of Black baseball players in the major leagues. When Houston and Philadelphia played the 2022 World Series that featured no U.S-born Black players, Astros manager Dusty Baker noted, “It looks bad. But there is help on the way.”

They’re here — with Walker as the All-Star weekend centerpiece.

“I think once kids see more people to look up to,” All-Star Nationals outfielder James Wood said, “the more kids will get back into baseball.”

Baseball has seen modest gains with Black baseball players

Take a look around the All-Star clubhouses and it was clear — while not at the pace perhaps MLB would like — Walker helped represent a new wave of emerging Black talent.

Three-time AL MVP and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge sat out with an injury, but Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams and outfielder Wood, Cincinnati Reds ace Chase Burns and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin ushered in the next, young group of future Black stars. The game also featured Minnesota Twins veteran Byron Buxton.

“I feel like there’s been like a little surge in getting more Black players in the game,” Wood said. “We’ve got four on our team right now. Last year at one point, we had five. I think you’re seeing it come back.”

MLB said that 6.8% of players on opening day rosters, injured lists and the restricted list were Black, up from 6.2% at the start of the 2025 season and 6.0% at the beginning of 2024. This year’s 0.6% increase was the most in a season since a 0.7% rise from 2017 to 2018.

Twenty of the 64 Black players had been in MLB-sponsored programs such as the MLB Youth Academy, Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Nike RBI and the Hank Aaron Invitational.

MLB said the total included 22 players 25 or younger and eight older than 32. The average age of Black players was 27.8 and the overall average 29.25.

The 23-year-old Burns, 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA with the Reds, was proud to hear Walker champion a Black youth movement at the Derby.

“You don’t see a lot of Black athletes in baseball,” Burns said. “I don’t know why that it is. I think it’s great for guys like me and him to strive to get Black athletes into the game of baseball, whether it’s talking about it or doing stuff in the community. I think it’s great he pointed it out.”

Walker hopes he can keep leading the way

The best chance, naturally, for Walker to serve as a role model for the next generation is to make sure he’s not just a one-Derby wonder.

Walker has 22 home runs, leads baseball with 74 RBIs and is a solid 13th with an .886 OPS — Wood is second at .985 — for a Cardinals team in the NL wild-card hunt. The Cardinals finally are getting the production expected out of the right fielder they drafted with their first-round pick in 2020.

Walker, who signed out of high school after he had committed to Duke, skipped Triple-A and made the opening day roster as the youngest player in baseball in 2023 and tied Eddie Murray’s under 21-rookie record with a 13-game hitting streak.

He was sent down later that season; was the 2024 opening day right fielder and demoted again with a .155 batting average. Walker suffered a variety of injuries in 2025 and played in just 111 games that suddenly put his future as a key Cardinals’ contributor very much in doubt.

Leaning on the same convictions that made him believe he could overtake the mighty Schwarber in the Derby championship round, Walker said a day after his win he never wavered in his belief that he would blossom into an everyday player and All-Star with the Cardinals.

He tinkered with his swing during an extend rehab assignment last season and the results were on full display in Philadelphia with 12 home runs in the final round.

“When my swing’s fluid and easy, that’s when it’s at it’s best,” Walker said. “That’s really what it is.”

Walker, who struck out in his lone at bat in the All-Star Game, earned a $1 million prize for winning the Derby, which is more than his 2026 salary of $799,400.

(Here’s a fun fact: Walker has 49 career homers off 49 different pitchers.)

As for the backward hat, “I call it the Griffey because no one did it better than him.”

No one did it better than Walker at the Derby.

He just hopes his win can be a launching pad for a next generation of Black athletes into the big leagues.

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NBA probing Gary Trent Jr.'s $64 million free agent contract with Bucks

The NBA is looking into the free agent deal signed by Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr., according to multiple media reports.

Trent Jr. signed a four-year, $64 million free agent deal to return to the Bucks. It is not known why the league is conducting the probe, but if it is looking into any signed contract, it is most likely due to issues related to salary cap circumvention. The league is currently looking into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for their alleged salary cap circumvention.

The last time the NBA punished a team for toying around with the cap was in 2000, when the Minnesota Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million and forfeited five first-round draft picks after signing forward Joe Smith to a secret deal. Smith's Bird rights were stripped, making him a free agent, and the league suspended owner Glen Taylor.

Trent Jr. signed a one-year, $2.6 million deal with Milwaukee in 2024, then inked a two-year, $7.58 million contract with a player option, which he declined, allowing him to sign the most recent lucrative deal. That deal allowed the Bucks to exceed the salary cap for their own free agents, provided they have spent two years with the team.

The 27-year-old Trent averaged 8.1 points on 38% shooting in 65 games last season, his lowest scoring average since his second year in the league in 2019-20 with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Trent has career averages of 13 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in eight NBA seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA probing Gary Trent Jr.'s $64 million free agent contract with Bucks

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Patrick Kane Facing Decision Between Two Homes

The Buffalo Sabres have had an unspectacular offseason after snapping their playoff drought and advancing to Game 7 of the second round, moving on from veteran winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram. The departures have subtracted 44 goals from last season, and it appears at this point that GM Jarmo Kekalainen is relying on internal improvement to fill the gap, but one of the external options that seemed to be realistic was the signing of future Hall-of-Famer and Buffalo native Patrick Kane.

Kane remains unsigned after the first two weeks of free agency, but Hall-of-Fame blueliner and TNT commentator Chris Chelios indicated on a Chicago radio show that a return to the Blackhawks is a possibility. 

"I am not gonna lie to you guys, it is down to Buffalo and Chicago. I know that." Chelios said on 104.3 The Score on Wednesday.  “I spoke to (Patrick), it’s a tough decision for him, whether to go home and make it easy on his parents, his family and his friends and finish like (Jonathan Toews) tried to do, or he comes back (to Chicago). In my opinion, he’s a Blackhawk.”

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

Where will Patrick Kane end up?

Kane spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, but rumors of the Buffalo native heading to his hometown team have circulated ever since he was dealt by the Blackhawks to the NY Rangers in 2023. The circumstances with the Sabres as a playoff team could be a good fit. Kane being added for secondary offense and as a Tuch replacement on the power play would be beneficial, since he posted 79 assists over the last two seasons. It is just a question of whether he wants to play in his hometown at the end of his career or return to the place where he won three Stanley Cups. 

The Hawks are in need of help, especially at the start of the regular season with star center Connor Bedard out until Thanksgiving with a shoulder injury. After the signing of Peyton Krebs, the Sabres have just over $5 million in cap space, while Chicago has over $29 million in cap room and could afford to give the veteran winger one final big pay day on a short-term deal. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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NBA investigating Gary Trent’s head-scratching $64 million Bucks contract

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Gary Trent Jr. driving with the basketball as Danny Wolf gives chase

The NBA is “probing” the Bucks signing of Gray Trent Jr., according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Trent signed a four-year, $64-million deal with Milwaukee on Saturday, raising eyebrows across the league.

Last season, the guard averaged his fewest minutes per game since his rookie season, putting up an inefficient 8.1 points and shot just 38.7% from the floor.

Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives down court as Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets gives chase. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Trent even fell out of the Bucks rotation entirely at times.

Despite that, the Bucks rewarded the shooting guard with a gargantuan raise and guaranteed salary for four years.

While some called it an offseason blunder, others claim it’s circumstantial evidence that the Bucks circumvented the salary cap to get the most out of the final years of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Coming off a $51.8 million contract with the Raptors in 2024, Trent signed for a league-minimum $2.6 million with the Bucks.

This was the only contract the Bucks could afford as they paid heavy prices on Antetokounmpo and Damien Lillard and were deep into the luxury tax apron.

Cam Thomas #24 of the Brooklyn Nets drives down court as Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks defends in the second half. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Trent’s numbers dropped in Milwaukee, no longer starting as he did at times with the Raptors, but the Bucks re-signed him last offseason with the 20% Non-Bird raise.

The extreme drop-off followed by a jump in salary that doesn’t match on-court performance, could potentially hint at a handshake deal made that promised a certain salary in the future for a short-term pay cut.

Such deals are banned in Article XIII, Section 2 of the NBA collective bargaining agreement.

“At no time shall there be any agreements or transactions of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), express or implied, oral or written, or promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), between a player … and any Team … concerning any future Renegotiation, Extension, or other amendment of an existing Player Contract, or entry into a new Player Contract.”

The probing comes after just about everyone in the NBA world questioned the signing.

NBA salary cap expert Nate Duncan said on X that the contract “would fall under the provision that there is no possible explanation other than circumvention.”

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon chimed in saying the contract stunk.

“It smells awful,” he said on “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective.”

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Claude Lemieux’s Final Days Take A Heartbreaking Turn As New Details Surface

Claude Lemieux built his legacy by fighting through adversity.

For more than two decades, the former NHL forward was known as one of hockey’s fiercest competitors — a player who elevated his game when the pressure was highest and became synonymous with playoff success.

But away from the spotlight, Lemieux was facing a battle few people knew about.

New details surrounding his death reveal that the four-time Stanley Cup champion struggled in the months leading up to his passing, including a reported relapse after 12 years of sobriety per TMZ. According to an incident report released following his death, Lemieux’s wife, Deborah, confronted him on May 27 after becoming concerned about changes in his behavior.

The report states Lemieux acknowledged he had relapsed. Deborah then asked him to leave their home that evening and contacted their son, Brendan, to discuss how the family could support him.

Hours later, Lemieux was found dead at the family business. He was 60 years old.

His death was later ruled a suicide.

Lemieux’s career was defined by moments when the stakes were highest.

Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 1983 NHL Draft, Lemieux went on to become one of the most accomplished playoff performers of his generation. Over a 21-season NHL career, he won four Stanley Cups — with Montreal in 1986, New Jersey in 1995 and 2000, and Colorado in 1996.

He developed a reputation as the ultimate big-game player, thriving in the intensity of postseason hockey and becoming one of the league’s most polarizing figures. Opponents hated playing against him, but teammates valued the edge, toughness and confidence he brought when championships were on the line.

Away from the ice, however, longtime friend Réjean Tremblay suggested Lemieux carried emotional struggles tied to how he felt his career was remembered after retirement.

Tremblay, a Montreal hockey columnist who knew Lemieux for more than 30 years, told The New York Post that Lemieux struggled deeply with not being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame following his retirement in 2009.

“He always lived this as an injustice, a heavy burden to bear,” Tremblay said.

Tremblay described Lemieux as someone who was “deeply sensitive to rejection,” saying the former NHL star never fully moved past the disappointment.

“The sense of rejection ran deeper than one might have imagined,” Tremblay said. “He took it very hard.”

In the months before his death, Lemieux made several public appearances celebrating a career that cemented his place in hockey history.

In December, he returned to Ball Arena as part of the Colorado Avalanche’s celebration of their 1996 Stanley Cup championship team — the first major professional sports championship in Colorado history.

Lemieux played an important role in that title run, recording seven goals during the Avalanche’s first Stanley Cup playoff journey after relocating from Quebec. During the celebration, he reflected on how the NHL had evolved since his playing days, praising the league’s increased emphasis on player safety.

Just days before his death, Lemieux returned to Montreal for another emotional moment.

On May 25, he served as a torchbearer before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes. The appearance brought him back to the city where his NHL journey began and where he helped Montreal capture the 1986 Stanley Cup alongside goaltending legend Patrick Roy.

Tremblay later suggested the overwhelming support Lemieux received during that appearance may have brought complicated emotions to the surface.

“It’s possible that surge of love, that wave of love on Monday evening, triggered an emotion that was too intense,” Tremblay told The New York Post, citing conversations with people close to Lemieux.

“It might have reawakened old pains, old suffering.”

According to the incident report, Lemieux’s family had become concerned about changes they had noticed in his behavior over the previous year.

After Deborah confronted him and Lemieux acknowledged the relapse, Brendan went to the family business to check on his father and help determine how the family could support him.

The report states Brendan later found his father inside the building and contacted emergency services.

Lemieux’s family has since mourned the loss of a husband, father and grandfather — not just an NHL legend.

“I love you dad,” Brendan Lemieux wrote in an emotional tribute shared on Instagram. “My son [Luc’s] favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you.”

The NHL also honored Lemieux’s impact on the sport.

“The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.

Claude Lemieux’s career will always be defined by the moments when he delivered under the brightest lights — the goals, the championships and the relentless competitive fire that made him one of hockey’s most memorable postseason performers.

But those who knew him best will remember more than the player who battled through playoff wars. They will remember a husband, a father and a person who faced struggles that were hidden from the public eye.

As the hockey world continues to mourn his passing, Lemieux’s story serves as a reminder that even those who appear strongest on the outside can be fighting battles no one else can see.

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NHL unveils its 2026-27 schedule, the first with 84 games apiece since 1993-94

Brady Tkachuk

Apr 20, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) comes off the ice after the warmups before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

James Guillory/James Guillory-Imagn Images

NEW YORK — The most expansive season in NHL history will begin in September, not October, and limit most teams to four preseason games.

The league’s first 84-game season since 1993-94 opens Sept. 29 as 32 teams will combine to play a total of 1,344 games. The season runs through Saturday, April 10, before the playoffs begin the following week.

The increase from an 82-game slate, which had been the standard since the mid-’90s, was agreed upon by team owners and players in the last round of talks on a collective bargaining agreement. The intent is to provide more space between the end of the Stanley Cup Final and the draft in late June before free agency commences July 1.

When the Panthers and Oilers went the distance in ’24, there just were three days between Game 7 on June 24 in South Florida and the first round of the draft on June 28 in Las Vegas.

After defeating Vegas to win the Stanley Cup, the Carolina Hurricanes will raise their second championship banner on Sept. 29 against Florida.

That opening night, featuring five games, matches the earliest start date in NHL history and is the first time the regular season begins in North America before October. The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings played games in London on Sept. 29 and 30, 2007.

The most recent — and only other — September hockey outside of exhibitions came during the pandemic playoff bubble in 2020, culminating when Tampa Bay hoisted the Cup in an empty arena in Edmonton on Sept. 28.

Games to watch

Oct. 21: New Florida Panther Brady Tkachuk returns to Ottawa. The former Senators captain plays his first game against his old team since getting traded to Florida to play with his brother, Matthew. It did not end well in Canada’s capital, from Brady bristling at his name being in rumors to asking out and then the team offering to take Tkachuk No. 7 jerseys fans wished to exchange.

Oct 25: Heritage Classic. The Montreal Canadiens visit the Winnipeg Jets in the return of outdoor hockey to Canada for the first time since 2023.

Dec. 21: Stanley Cup Final rematch: The Hurricanes return to the scene of their championship triumph to face the Golden Knights in Las Vegas. The two teams meet again in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 17.

Dec. 31: Winter Classic: Utah takes center stage outside, hosting the Colorado Avalanche in the Winter Classic in Salt Lake City.

Feb. 20: Jerry World hockey: The Dallas Stars host Vegas in at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas.

April 4: Washington hosts Pittsburgh. Alex Ovechkin is back for a 22nd NHL season with the Capitals. If this is it for him at age 41 — and it very well may not be if he wants to shoot for 1,000 career goals — this would be the last regular-season game against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins.

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Zaire Wade, son of NBA legend Dwyane Wade, faces judge on domestic violence charge

Zaire Wade, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of domestic violence during a court appearance in Pasadena Thursday.

Wade showed up in court wearing a gray three-piece suit and pink tie for his arraignment stemming from an altercation last month involving a woman he was dating. 

Zaire Wade pleaded not guilty to felony charges of domestic violence during a court appearance Thursday. Frederick M. Brown for CA Post
Wade wore a three-piece suit during his court appearance. Frederick M. Brown for CA Post

He was warned by the judge to stay 100 yards away from the unidentified victim and told to sign a document saying he doesn’t have additional firearms in his name, after authorities removed a handgun from his home following the incident.

Wade responded “yes, your honor” when asked if he agreed to a Sept. 24 date for a preliminary hearing in the case.

His attorney, Kevin Moghtanei, told The California Post outside the courtroom that his client denies all the charges.

Zaire Wade, pictured with his father, Dwayne Wade.

When asked if Wade had additional guns in his home, Moghtanei said he couldn’t comment.

On June 21, police responded to a Burbank home around 5:30 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing a woman screaming.

When officers arrived, they found Wade and a woman with lacerations to her face and body.

Zaire Wade is the oldest child of Dwayne Wade. NBAE via Getty Images

Paramedics evaluated the woman at the scene, but she was not taken to the hospital. Authorities also removed a handgun from the home after the arrest. 

Following the arrest, an emergency protective order was put in place. Wade posted a $50,000 bond and was released later that day.

Zaire Wade is the oldest child of Dwyane Wade, the first-ballot Basketball Hall of Famer whose decorated NBA career includes three NBA championships, 13 All-Star selections, the 2010 All-Star Game MVP award, eight All-NBA honors and the league scoring title in 2009. The elder Wade has not issued any public comment regarding his son’s arrest.

Years before his arrest, Zaire Wade and LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, played together during the 2019–2020 high school basketball season at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth. 

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NHL Releases 2026-27 Regular-Season Schedule, St. Louis Blues Open With Three-Game Road Trip

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues will open the 2026-27 regular season with a three-game road trip against Central Division foes, the NHL announced on Thursday afternoon.

The Blues will open the season with back-to-back games Oct. 2 against the Dallas Stars and Oct. 3 against the Colorado Avalanche before concluding with a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 6,

The Blues open the home schedule on Oct. 8 against the San Jose Sharks but play six of their first eight games away from Enterprise Center.

It's all part of a newly-formed 84-game schedule with fewer preseason games, going away from the standard 82-game schedule that features 22 weekend home games, including three on Fridays, 11 on Saturdays and eight on Sundays, which is a rarity for St. Louis.

The expanded NHL schedule will see the Blues play two additional divisional games, which means they will play in four matchups with each team of their Central Division opponents. The Blues will still play 24 games against Pacific Division teams and a home-and-home set with each team in the Eastern Conference.

The regular season wraps up for St. Louis on April 10, and for the third season in a row, the Blues will close against the Utah Mammoth at home.

The longest homestand of the season is six games from Nov. 27-Dec. 8, and the longest road trip is five games March 15-23. 

Other highlights include: 

* Sixteen of  19 home games on Saturday or Sunday start at 6 p.m. or earlier.

* The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes visit Enterprise Center early in the season on Oct. 24.

* The Blues play at the New York Islanders on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving on Long Island; they host the New York Rangers coming out of Christmas break on Dec. 27.

* There are seven afternoon home games and another four on the road, including a New Year's Eve tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights.

* There are 12 sets of back-to-back games, including to open season.

* Jordan Kyrou returns to face the Blues for the first time with the Washington Capitals on Nov. 28. It will also be Connor McMichael's first game against the Capitals since the two were traded for one another.

* Mason McTavish and Ross Johnston, acquired via trade and free agent signing, respectively, face the Anaheim Ducks for the first time when the Ducks visit on Nov. 17.

Here's the full schedule: