There’s no longer a chance — however Slim (pun intended) it ever was — of Isaiah Evans remaining in the NBA draft process. Evans has withdrawn from the NBA draft process and will not participate in the NBA Draft Combine, which begins in Chicago this week. The 6-6, 175-pounder remaining in the NBA draft always seemed to be a longshot.
Jets' Road Woes Continue; Drop Game 3 5-2 To Stars
The Winnipeg Jets continue their road woes, dropping Game 3 to the Dallas Stars 5-2.
The Stars broke the ice in Game 3 and went into the first intermission with a one-goal lead. Roope Hintz recorded his fifth goal of the playoffs on the power play. Mikko Rantanen was once again involved in the scoring, picking up an assist on the goal. Kyle Connor added his fifth of the playoffs to tie the game, but Thomas Harley, who continues to evolve, scored his third of the postseason to regain the lead.
Harley's goal was the first Stars goal that Rantanen had not picked a point on since Apr. 28. Rantanen had picked up points on 14 consecutive Stars goals.
The Jets were able to tie the game in the second period after Josh Morrissey danced around the blue line before setting up Nino Niederreiter for his fourth goal of the playoffs.
In the third period, a lengthy review determined that Alexander Petrovic did not kick the puck, but also that Connor Hellebuyck knocked it into his net, giving the Stars the 3-2 advantage. Rantanen added to the lead less than a minute later, scoring his ninth goal of the playoffs and fourth of the series. Wyatt Johnston gave the Stars a three-goal lead with his fourth of the playoffs.
Lulls in focus have hampered the Jets at home, giving up consecutive goals in periods for the fourth straight game. Hellebuyck has now allowed five or more goals in all four road games, and Mark Scheifele has not recorded a point on the road.
The Jets will attempt to tie the series at two games apiece on Tuesday when the teams play Game 4.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 25 points and leads Thunder past Denver 92-87 to tie series 2-2
DENVER — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder finally outplayed Denver in crunch time, beating the Nuggets 92-87 on Sunday to knot their second-round series at two games apiece.
The Thunder trailed 69-63 after three quarters and fell behind by eight when Peyton Watson started the fourth quarter by swishing a hook shot. But Oklahoma City used an 11-0 run fueled by reserves Cason Wallace, who had a pair of 3-pointers, and Aaron Wiggins, who added another, to take control.
Wallace's second 3-pointer put Oklahoma City ahead for good at 75-73.
The Nuggets had outlasted the youngest team in the NBA with wins in Games 1 and 3, crediting their playoff experience and championship pedigree. And they looked poised to put the top-seeded team in the West on the cusp of elimination when Aaron Gordon's turnaround jumper made it 73-66.
This time, however, it was the Thunder who came up big down the stretch and the Nuggets who fumbled away the chance to put OKC in a 3-1 hole.
Game 5 is Tuesday night back in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder had a 43-point blowout of the Nuggets in Game 2.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Christian Braun and Jamal Murray each had 17 points and Gordon scored 15. Michael Porter Jr. scored just three points after scoring 15 Friday night.
Wiggins and Wallace each added 11 points and Alex Caruso and Jalen Williams each scored 10. Williams was 2 for 13 from the floor after scoring 32 in Game 3.
The teams played a physical, overtime game Friday night, not leaving Ball Arena until the early morning hours on Saturday. And the early Mother's Day start - 1:30 p.m. local time - led to some tired legs and a ton of errant shots.
Both teams went 3 for 22 from deep in the first half and they slumbered through a combined 25-point first quarter, which tied an NBA playoff record for fewest points in the opening quarter.
Oklahoma City was ahead 42-36 at the half.
Tony Gonsolin, Freddie Freeman help Dodgers complete successful trip
At the end of a grueling 10-game trek around the country, and in search of their first winning trip this season, the Dodgers got exactly what they needed Sunday afternoon.
A strong start from right-hander Tony Gonsolin. A huge performance from the top of their lineup. And a thorough 8-1 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks, splitting a four-game series at Chase Field this weekend to return home from this week-and-a-half-long trip with a 6-4 record that keeps them in first place in the National League West.
“Really good team win,” manager Dave Roberts said.
In a battle of two former All-Stars on Sunday, Gonsolin outdueled Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen, tossing five scoreless innings to earn his second win in three starts since returning from Tommy John surgery — and a back injury that forced him to miss the first month of the season — this year.
“His delivery looks really good,” Roberts said of Gonsolin, who has a 2.80 ERA in his first three starts this season while looking much closer to the 2022 All-Star version of himself than he did while pitching through his elbow injury in 2023.
“I think that what he's doing right now is signs of 2022,” Roberts added. “You have the experience of a guy that is seasoned [and] really knows what he's capable of.”
Gonsolin faced little stress Sunday, scattering three hits and two walks while striking out four. Only twice did the Diamondbacks (21-20) get a runner in scoring position against him, stranding two runners aboard in the first and third. After that, Gonsolin finished his 84-pitch outing — one shortened given his recent return from injury, and because he was the first Dodgers pitcher this year to make a start on four days’ rest — by retiring six of his final seven batters.
“I'm feeling pretty good,” Gonsolin said, noting that “the shapes and the velos and everything around my stuff have really come around” after spending much of the last two years rehabbing from his Tommy John procedure.
Gallen, on the other hand, had trouble with the Dodgers (27-14) and the three superstars at the top of the their lineup.
Read more:Dodgers continue ‘to bet on’ Michael Conforto, but can he break unthinkable early slump?
In the first inning, Mookie Betts singled and scored all the way from first on a Freddie Freeman double in the gap. In the fifth, Shohei Ohtani and Betts led with consecutive singles, setting up Freeman for a sacrifice fly and Will Smith for an RBI single through a drawn-in infield.
The next time the top of the order came up, with a runner on third and two out in the sixth, Arizona manager Torey Lovullo went to his bullpen, summoning left-hander Joe Mantiply to face Ohtani. It didn’t work, with Ohtani roping an RBI single to right to make it 4-0. When Mantiply returned to the mound in the seventh, it was Freeman’s turn to tee off, hitting his ninth home run of the year into the Chase Field pool for a 5-0 lead.
In a three-run ninth, Betts tacked on another home run before Freeman completed a four-for-four day with a single, later scoring on Smith’s RBI double.
“It was a long road trip. A lot of late flights, late ‘get-ins.’ And to have a winning road trip, that was good,” Freeman said. “Especially after getting shut out yesterday, to come out and score some runs.”
In all, the Dodgers' Big 3 went nine for 14 with six runs scored and five runs driven in. Freeman’s four hits raised his batting average to .376 and his OPS to 1.171 — both second in the majors, among hitters with 100 at-bats, behind only Aaron Judge.
“Just seeing strikes and hitting them,” Freeman said of his hot start, which has come even with the right ankle he had surgery on this offseason still not 100%. “I wish there was more I could give you. I do the same routine every day, try to hit strikes. And they’re just falling right now.”
Check-ins for Snell, Glasnow
When Blake Snell accompanied the Dodgers on this 10-game trip, the expectation was that he would begin a throwing progression after missing the last month with shoulder inflammation.
But after having the start of his catch play pushed back once last week because he was feeling under the weather, Snell did not play catch as expected Sunday, either, because of continued discomfort in his left throwing shoulder.
“We felt that it was best to let him see our team doc before we make any other moves,” Roberts said.
That check-in with head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache will come Monday, in what had been a pre-scheduled evaluation. Tyler Glasnow, who is also on the injured list with shoulder inflammation but did begin playing catch again this week back in Los Angeles, will have a check-in Monday as well.
Read more:Hernández: Shohei Ohtani pitching this season initially felt like a luxury. Now it's a necessity
Since first getting hurt, Snell attempted to restart his throwing program once last month, but stopped because of continued shoulder pain. He had one pain-relieving injection after that, but has evidently not improved enough to begin working his way back to action yet.
Asked if his concern with Snell’s injury has risen amid the pitcher’s continued shoulder pain, Roberts was coy.
"I guess I'll know more [after tomorrow],” Roberts said. “I can answer that question more once he sees our team docs."
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
From Boston To Florida, Brad Marchand’s Reign Of Terror Over The Leafs Lives On
Sometimes, an NHL player more or less owns a particular opponent. Whether it’s happenstance or deliberate dominance, there are unquestionably powerful performances made by certain NHLers against certain teams. And there’s probably no better example of a player laying the boots to one franchise than Florida Panthers left winger Brad Marchand’s amazing play against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Whether it’s been in his time as a member of the Boston Bruins or his current stint with the Panthers, Marchand has been as prickly a thorn in the side of the Maple Leafs as they come. And after Marchand’s game-winning overtime goal in Game 3 of Toronto’s second-round series against Florida, Marchand now has 33 points in 31 career playoff games against the Leafs.
That’s the third-highest career total of any opponent in Maple Leafs history – only Detroit Red Wings legends Gordie Howe (53 points) and Alex Delvecchio (35) have more post-season points against Toronto. And those players put up those points at a time when there were far fewer teams in the league, making it all the more remarkable that Marchand has been so devastating to the Leafs’ aspirations in a 30-plus-team NHL.
But the 37-year-old Marchand has been a not-so-silent assassin since he began his NHL days in 2009. Marchand’s Game 3-winner against Toronto was his 14th career game-winning goal in the post-season – the most among active NHL players. And Marchand’s game-winner against the Maple Leafs was his fifth career post-season game-winner against Toronto. That ties him with Montreal Canadiens icon Jean Beliveau for the most game-winning playoff goals against the Buds.
In some respects, you could’ve forgiven Leafs GM Brad Treliving if he went out at this year’s trade deadline and acquired Marchand. Of course, the best way you can contain Marchand is to have him on your team. But Marchand wanted to be dealt to the Panthers, and that’s the best stroke of good fortune Florida could’ve asked for.
The Panthers didn’t trade for Marchand strictly because they envisioned a playoff showdown against the Leafs, but you’d be fooling yourself if you believed that Marchand’s success against Toronto didn’t cross the mind of Florida GM Bill Zito when he decided to acquire Marchand.
There’s still lots of the Leafs/Panthers series to be played, and let’s not forget, Toronto did win the first two games of the series with Marchand being on the losing end of things. But the Maple Leafs have been haunted by Marchand for a very long time now, and the prospect of Marchand continuing to thrive against Toronto has to be driving Leafs fans crazy.
The Leafs were within one goal of going up three games to none in the series against Florida, but Marchand stopped that from happening with his latest timely goal. Time will tell if Toronto can shake off the Marchand-related demons of the past and get to the Eastern Conference final this spring, but one thing is for certain – Marchand will go down in history as one of the Maple Leafs’ toughest opponents.
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Duke guard Isaiah Evans to withdraw from NBA draft, return for sophomore year
Isaiah Evans averaged 6.8 points and 1.1 rebounds on 41.6% shooting from 3-point range in 36 games this past season.
Ben Rice cracks grand slam, Aaron Judge adds four hits as Yankees pound A's
The Yankees’ batters continued to stay hot with Aaron Judge adding four hits and Ben Rice smacking a grand slam, and Ryan Yarbrough delivered five strong innings in New York’s 12-2 shellacking of the Athletics Sunday in West Sacramento.
In the three games, the Yanks pounded out 29 runs and took two of three to improve to 23-17 on the year. The A's fell to 21-20 (8-13 in their minor-league accommodations). The Yankees hit 16 balls with exit velocities over 99.8 mph, with 11 going for hits (five for extra bases).
Here are the takeaways...
- In the second, Paul Goldschmidt got the Yanks going with a leadoff double off ex-Yank Luis Severino. A wild pitch moved Goldschmidt to third as Jasson Dominguez worked a walk and Anthony Volpe’s single through the left side of the inning plated the first run of the game. Austin Wells stayed on a low and away 0-2 changeup for a single to load the bases and Oswaldo Cabrera tallied an RBI walk, leading to a mound visit. After Jorbit Vivas traded an out for a run on a grounder to short, Severino hit Rice on the back foot, missing on a 1-2 sweeper.
Judge, who struck out his first time up, ripped a two-RBI single to right on a sinker that leaked right over the plate. Cody Bellinger’s soft liner to second and Goldschmidt’s liner to right ended the frame with the visitors up 5-0.
- After Severino’s 37-pitch second, Dominguez smashed a single off the glove of a diving second baseman for a first-pitch base hit in the third. Severino got Volpe to line out and Wells swinging, but on Cabrera's double to the left-center gap, Dominguez ran through a late stop sign at third and got in with a head-first dive, beating the tag to score from first.
- The Yanks chased Severino in the fifth with Dominguez singling to right and Volpe to left that put runners on the corners with nobody out. Mitch Spence would hit Wells to load the bases. Cabrera grounded out, Vivas went down swinging, but Rice took a 3-1 cutter down and in and clobbered it 398-feet (111.2 mph off the bat) down the right field line for a grand slam, the first of his career.
After Judge and Bellinger singled, Goldschmidt lined a double off the left field wall for an RBI double before Dominguez couldn’t check his swing to end the inning with two in scoring position. But the damage was done; it was 11-1 Yanks.
- Ryan Yarbrough needed eight pitches for a 1-2-3 first. The lefty surrendered a bloop single, but cleaned up his mess with a room service 6-4-3 double play and a comebacker meant another quick inning on 10 pitches. He walked ex-Yank Gio Urshela with two down, but got Jacob Wilson, who entered the game batting .358, swinging on a half swing.
A seeing-eye single past Cabrera and Volpe and a first-pitch single to left put two runners on off Yarbrough in the fourth. A flyout to right saw the runner tag and take third as the ball carried a bit on Bellinger. Miguel Andujar lobbed an RBI bloop single to center, but Vivas made a diving stop on a grounder to second and a pop fly to right ended the threat with two in scoring position.
With the lead at 10, Yarbrough got the fifth to look for a chance to earn a win, as his pitch count was 59. JJ Bleday launched a first-pitch homer to right and Urshela singled to left, but the lefty got around that without any further damage.
It looked like this would be the second start as an opener on the year, but thanks to some efficient work, Yarbrough did the business. His final line: 5 innings, two runs, six hits, one walk, two strikeouts, on 67 pitches (43 strikes).
- New York tacked on another run in the seventh, after Rice got plunked for the second time, Judge cracked a single and with one out, Goldschmidt plated a run with a ground-rule double to right.
Judge, who added a hustle double in the alley in left-center in the fourth, finished the day 4-for-5 with two RBI and saw his slashline balloon to .409/.494/.779 for a 1.273 OPS.
Goldschmidt finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and is now batting .349 with a .898 OPS. Dominguez (2-for-4) with a walk and three strikeouts and Volpe (2-for-5) with an RBI and a strikeout also had multi-hit days.
- Out of the bullpen, Yerry De Los Santos pitched three scoreless frames with two walks and a strikeout on 34 pitches (22 strikes). Lefty Tyler Matzek, with Rice working behind the dish, allowed a hit and added a strikeout in the ninth, needing 21 pitches (14 strikes).
Game MVP: Aaron Judge
Last year's AL MVP continues to be a menace in the batter's box through 40 games this year.
Highlights
Anthony Volpe gets the Yankees on the board with an RBI single! pic.twitter.com/8UHaEy0dEP
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 11, 2025
Aaron Judge with a 2 RBI single to extend the lead! pic.twitter.com/atRllDXEnA
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 11, 2025
BEN RICE GRAND SLAM 💣
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 11, 2025
First of his career! pic.twitter.com/BB8uQPwLfH
RBI double for Goldschmidt makes it 12-2! pic.twitter.com/c1oTYCykqk
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 11, 2025
What's next
New York continues the road trip heading up to Seattle for a three-game series with the Mariners. The Yanks have yet to name starters for the series.
Right-hander Emerson Hancock (5.70 ERA, 1.563 WHIP in 23.2 innings) gets the ball for the M's in the series opener on Monday, 9:40 p.m. EDT first pitch.
Miami LB Adarius Hayes was driver in two-car crash that killed three in other vehicle, police say
The three who died as a result of the crash were all in a Kia Soul, which collided with a Dodge Durango being driven by Hayes on Saturday afternoon, police said. No tickets or criminal charges have been filed, though the investigation is continuing.
Rangers’ Josh Jung hits home run for mom while facing brother Jace on Mother’s Day
DETROIT — Josh Jung delivered a special Mother’s Day gift to his mom, Mary.
The Texas Rangers third baseman hit a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth inning of his team’s 6-1 win at Detroit on Sunday. Jung’s brother, Jace, was in the Tigers’ lineup at the same position.
Before the game, Mary Jung delivered the game ball to the mound and her sons joined her on the field.
“My heart is just exploding. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better Mother’s Day gift,” Mary Jung said in an interview on the Rangers’ telecast. “We’re all in the same place, to begin with. But then to watch them live their dream, do what they love to do, I couldn’t be more proud.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time since the first national Mother’s Day in 1914 that a major league player homered against his brother.
“It’s a pretty cool feat, pretty rare,” Josh Jung said.
The Jungs’ parents, Mary and Jeff, were in attendance throughout the three-game series. The brothers also started on Saturday when Texas won 10-3.
“To everybody involved — parents, my brother and I, his girlfriend — all encompassing, I think everyone had a great time, a great moment,” Josh Jung said. “Any time we all get to be in the same city, which is kind of rare now, it’s special. To be able to play against each other, I know my parents are super proud. All the emotions come out because of all the sacrifices they’ve made for us. There’s no way to say thank you, but hopefully they were super proud watching us both going out there and playing the same position for these last two days.”
The Jung brothers gave their parents jerseys prior to the game — half with Texas blue, the other side with Detroit white. Their mom had already purchased a similar jersey.
The Jung brothers escorted Mary to the mound and she placed the ball there before Tigers starter Reese Olson’s first pitch.
“Super cool moments, pinch-me moments,” Josh Jung said. “It will probably never happen again.”
Colorado Rockies fire manager Bud Black a day after losing 21-0 to San Diego
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies have fired Bud Black, the winningest manager in franchise history, after a 7-33 start that’s one of the worst in Major League Baseball history.
Colorado promoted third base coach Warren Schaeffer to be the interim manager, the team announced Sunday after a 9-3 win over San Diego. That victory wasn’t enough to save Black’s job after the Rockies lost 21-0 to the Padres on Saturday. They also fired bench coach Mike Redmond. Hitting coach Clint Hurdle takes over as interim bench coach.
The Rockies have the worst 40-game start since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who were 6-34.
The NL's top pitcher and power hitter lead Phillies to series win in Cleveland
The NL's top pitcher and power hitter lead Phillies to series win in Cleveland originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The best pitcher in all of Major League Baseball since the day he signed with the Phillies in December 2019, Zack Wheeler showed again Sunday night how much of an advantage his dominance can provide in the deciding game of a series.
And just like Tuesday in Tampa to begin this week’s road trip, the Phillies broke through in the eighth inning to turn a one-run game into a more comfortable lead, winning 3-0.
Kyle Schwarber went solo in the top of the second to extend his on-base streak to 46 games, then provided the insurance with a two-run shot in the eighth. His 14 home runs are tied with Aaron Judge for the most in MLB.
Wheeler bookended the 5-1 road trip with wins. He went seven innings on Tuesday and exited after just 84 pitches because the Phillies scored four times in the eighth inning to open up a five-run lead. He threw 93 on SUnday.
The pitches Wheeler saved in Tampa helped in Cleveland, an example of why a manager must consider more than just that night’s game.
Wheeler put just five Guardians on base over seven scoreless innings to improve to 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He’s struck out 74 strikeouts and walked 11 in 58 innings. He snapped an uncharacteristic string of eight straight starts allowing a home run.
Jose Alvarado pitched the eighth and Jordan Romano the ninth to earn his third save, both going 1-2-3. Romano has made five straight scoreless appearances.
The Phillies come home with a 24-16 record and are 9-3-1 in 13 series, the best among any National League club.
Their next three games are against the Cardinals, the only NL team hotter with eight consecutive wins. Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola start in that order, and in the opener, the Phillies will face a left-handed starter (Matthew Liberatore) for the first time in over a week.
Former Penguin Marc-Andre Fleury Named To NHL Quarter-Century Team
Two days after Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were named to the NHL Quarter-Century Team, another longtime former teammate will be joining them.
Future Hall-of-Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury - who officially announced his retirement from the NHL following the first-round conclusion to the Minnesota Wild's season - was named as one of five goaltenders to the Quarter-Century Team, which is a media and fan-voted list in recognition of the top-25 NHL players from the last 25 years.
Fleury, 40, was drafted by the Penguins first overall in the 2003 NHL Draft, and he remained with the Penguins until 2017, when he was selected in the expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights. He won three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017) with Pittsburgh and is the all-time franchise leader in wins with 375.
He won a Vezina Trophy with the Golden Knights in 2020-21 and is second all-time in goaltending wins with 575, behind only Martin Brodeur's 691. He has suited up for the Penguins, Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks, and Wild.
Despite his retirement from the NHL, Fleury is currenty representing Team Canada at the IIHF Men's World Championship in Sweden and Denmark, and he earned his first World Championship win on Sunday in a 7-1 victory over Team Latvia.
Crosby, Malkin Named To NHL Quarter-Century TeamThe votes for the NHL Quarter-Century Team are finally in.
The other goaltenders named to the Quarter-Century Team were Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Carey Price, Henrik Lundqvist, and Roberto Luongo.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
European football: Serie A title race hots up after Napoli draw and Inter win
- Genoa’s Johan Vásquez scores late equaliser
- Dortmund spoil Alonso’s Leverkusen leaving party
Napoli’s Serie A title hopes suffered a late setback on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Genoa, setting up a thrilling season finale as Inter are just one point behind. Napoli remain top on 78 points, holding a slim lead over Inter, who won 2-0 at Torino earlier in the day, with two rounds remaining.
Scott McTominay delivered a perfect pass into the box where Romelu Lukaku got rid of his marker before guiding his shot into the bottom corner to give Napoli the lead in the 15th minute. Genoa equalised in the 32nd minute when the Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret initially parried Honest Ahanor’s header on to the post, only for the rebound to bounce off his body and into the net for an own goal.
Continue reading...Avalanche, Penguins Greats Dominate NHL’s Quarter-Century Team Reveal
Four Colorado Avalanche all-time great superstars and three Pittsburgh Penguins icons led the way as the NHL’s final Quarter-Century Team was revealed this week.
The Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames also had two players each named to the Quarter-Century team, which was selected via a fan vote from Feb. 12 to April 1.
The four Avalanche players named to the team are no surprise. Goalie Patrick Roy, centers Joe Sakic and Nathan MacKinnon, and defenseman Cale Makar made the cut, while Penguins legends Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury also made the team. In addition, Oilers star centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were honored by being named to the team, as were Bruins stars Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron. Finally, Red Wings stars Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom made the team, as did Flames stars Jarome Iginla and the late Johnny Gaudreau.
Otherwise, ten other franchises had one player named to the team, including Washington (Alex Ovechkin), Tampa Bay (Steven Stamkos), Toronto (Auston Matthews), Anaheim (Teemu Selanne), San Jose (Joe Thornton), Montreal (Carey Price), New Jersey (Martin Brodeur), Florida/Vancouver (Roberto Luongo), the New York Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist) and Chicago (Patrick Kane). And really, there’s no arguing any of the choices.
Winning a Stanley Cup made it easier to make this list, as 16 of the 25 players had won a Cup at some point in their career. But approximately one-third of the list included players who either didn’t win a Cup in their on-ice days or who are still competing for one today.
In total, the 25 players who made the Quarter-Century team combined to win 35 Stanley Cups, 14 Hart Trophies as the league MVP, nine Conn Smythe Trophies as the playoff MVP, 14 Art Ross Trophies as the top point-producer in the game, 19 Rocket Richard Trophies as the top goal-scorer, nine Norris Trophies as the best defenseman, and 10 Vezina Trophies as the top netminder. In short, if you were an NHL star who had their name engraved on one of the NHL’s trophies, you had a good chance to make the Quarter-Century squad.
Twenty-five years from now, when the NHL compiles this kind of list again, you’ll be seeing some of the same names that we saw from this Quarter-Century list. For instance, MacKinnon and Makar are both young enough and successful enough to make the next Quarter-Century team, as are Matthews, McDavid, and Draisaitl. But there will be other youngsters who step up and impose their will on games when they matter most, and for that reason, there will be a new batch of honorees to celebrate in 2050.
For now, though, there’s plenty to appreciate about this Quarter-Century team. You’d want to have any of the 25 players on your side, for good reason. They could (and can) do it all, and they’re all proven winners in their own right.
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After slow start at plate, Mark Vientos back looking like player Mets expected
Mark Vientos’ early-season struggles appear to officially be behind him.
The Mets' young slugger is finally settling into a groove at the plate -- putting together back-to-back multi-hit showings to helpsecure a big three-game series victory over the first-place Cubs.
Vientos’ first knock on Sunday was a huge one -- he put New York back in front in the sixth after Chicago evened things up on a solo shot from former Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong during the top half of the inning.
It was Vientos' seventh homer of the year, which continued his Mother’s Day success.
“That’s mommy power right there,” he joked postgame. “That one was for my mom. Crazy stat for you, but I feel like the past five years I’ve hit four home runs on Mother’s Day, so mommy power is real.”
Real or not, the Mets will certainly take it -- and the rest of the lineup was able to use some mommy power of their own later in the contest to regain the lead after the Cubs evened things up for a second time.
Francisco Lindor crushed a go-ahead home run into the bullpen leading things off, then Pete Alonso laced a double into the left-field corner and Vientos drove him home with a single, before Brandon Nimmo capped off a four-run inning with a two-run shot.
Mark Vientos brings home Pete Alonso on an RBI single!
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 11, 2025
(Via @TheRokuChannel) pic.twitter.com/mWufn8VXEI
Vientos finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of runs driven in.
After looking extremely lost at the plate early on this season, he’s now hitting a strong .311 with five home runs and a .912 OPS over his last 20 games.
“I’ve just been competing,” Vientos said. “I’m just trying not to give away any pitch or any at-bat. It’s contagious that our whole team isn’t giving any ABs away and I’m just going up there trying to do the same thing.”
“His at-bats have been a lot better,” Carlos Mendoza added. “We’ve seen a lot of that this year he just wasn’t getting the results, finally today it was there -- it’s good to see him being the player we know he’s capable of.”
The turnaround comes at a perfect time for Vientos, as Brett Baty has returned to the big leagues with a power surge -- crushing three home runs in two games since being called back up from Triple-A.
Though playing time may become a bit tricky with so many hot bats and only a handful of open lineup spots, the skipper is confident they’ll find way to get it done.
“We’ll find room,” Mendoza said. “I’ve been saying it, there’s 13 guys there. It doesn’t matter the nine that you put out there you feel good about your chances. That’s my job and that’s our job to continue to put these guys in good positions -- we have a lot of good options.”
One of those options is using Vientos as the designated hitter while Baty slots in at the hot corner -- the route they took on Saturday night when Baty hit two of those homers and drove in five runs.
Vientos says he’d absolutely be open to the idea: “Whatever gets the team wins, I’m all for it.”