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O’Hare lands last blow on Bristol City as Sheffield United barrel into playoff final

For a side with such a horrendous record in the EFL playoffs, the way Sheffield United coasted through their semi-final’s two legs into the Championship’s showpiece game at Wembley did little to suggest they are a team with a hoodoo hanging over their heads.

In many ways, history is stacked against the Blades: nine previous attempts at the playoffs, five semi-final defeats and four heartbreaking final losses. But if there was one crumb of comfort for manager Chris Wilder and his side in missing out on automatic promotion with a couple of games to spare, it was the fact that they had time to regather themselves and prepare for the playoffs.

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10 Former Ottawa Senators Still Alive In Stanley Cup Playoffs

With Ottawa Senators fans now neutral observers in these playoffs, it's always a fun exercise to find non-financial reasons to cheer for certain teams. If you're looking to support players who used to play for the Senators, look no further than the Dallas Stars, who have an NHL-leading three ex-Sens playing regularly.

Washington Capitals defenceman Jakob Chychrun (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

Here's a list of ten ex-Senators who still have a chance at getting their hands on The Precious.

Connor Brown, Edmonton Oilers, 6 points

The Oilers briefly thought that maybe The Connors could rekindle their Erie Otter magic of a decade ago when Brown had 128 points in a season, and McDavid had 99. Instead, Brown gave them a 55-game goalless drought to start the season. But Brown has turned it around this season, posting 30 points in 82 games, and so far in 9 playoff games, has 4 goals and 6 points.

Josh Brown, Edmonton Oilers, 0 points

We'll also tip our cap to former Senator defenceman Josh Brown, who's only played in one playoff game for the Oilers so far. Brown was dealt to Boston for Zachary Senyshyn and a 2022 fifth-round pick, which turned into promising Swedish goalie Kevin Reidler.

Memories of Connor and Josh remind us of the various grim seasons of the Ottawa rebuild when, along with Logan Brown and Patrick Brown, the Sens kept themselves distracted from the darkness by trying to set a record for having the most guys named Brown.

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

Cody Ceci, Dallas Stars, 3 points

Ceci has had his detractors, but he's gotten north of 20 minutes of ice time everywhere he's been, and since leaving Ottawa in 2019, he's played in the playoffs every year – first with Toronto, then Pittsburgh, Edmonton, and now Dallas. His streak was ready to end this year until San Jose traded him to the Stars at the deadline. Ceci is something of an iron man, rarely spending time on the injured list. In fact, he had the rare 85-game regular season this year. He has three points in 10 playoff games for Dallas.

Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals, 3 points

When Chychrun arrived at the 2023 trade deadline, it made for exciting headlines in Ottawa, where another top-four defenceman had been on the wish list for a long time. But as a left-shot, offence-first defenceman, Chychrun wasn't the kind of defenceman they lacked.

It's been a better fit in Washington, where Chychrun posted a 20-goal season, third-best among NHL defencemen. He also had a remarkable capital gains in the plus-minus department, going from -30 in Ottawa to +17 in Washington. He has 3 points in his first 8 playoff games.

Evgeny Dadonov, Dallas Stars, 4 points

This season, Dadonov's stat line read 20-20 for 40 points on the year. Hindsight is also 20-20. And if Pierre Dorion had some right now, he'd certainly have handled the Dadonov trade differently. Dadonov will forever be known to Senator fans for his connection to Dorion getting fired in Ottawa.

When the Sens traded Dadonov to Vegas, they didn't accurately report the details of his limited no-trade clause. The league punished the Sens by taking away a first-round draft pick. Barring a change of heart from the NHL, it looks like the pick will be surrendered in the 2026 Draft. Dadonov has 4 points in 10 playoff games.

Dylan DeMelo, Winnipeg Jets, 4 points

DeMelo has already hit a career high with 4 points in his first 9 playoff games. He's been rock solid for the Jets, on and off the ice, and when the Sens traded him away in 2020, there wasn't much vision there either. DeMelo was about to become a free agent, so the Sens dealt him to Winnipeg for a third-rounder. The Jets signed him to a four-year deal worth $12 million. And when that deal ended last summer, they signed him again to another four-year deal worth almost $20 million. Not bad for a guy who only cost the Jets a third-rounder.

The silver lining? The Sens used that third-rounder to select goalie Leevi Merilainen. But getting lucky with a mid-round pick doesn't excuse the mishandling of that asset. They finally filled that void by acquiring Nick Jensen last summer.

The Next Big Thing? A Glance At How Top Senators Prospect Carter Yakemchuk Fared This SeasonThe Next Big Thing? A Glance At How Top Senators Prospect Carter Yakemchuk Fared This SeasonFor Ottawa Senators fans, the sting of their team’s first-round elimination is starting to fade. Soon, that disappointment will give way to excitement for the future, and much of that excitement centers around young NHL prospects.

Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars, 4 points

With 30 goals (Patrick Roy is scowling somewhere) and 82 points in 82 games, Duchene had the second-best season of his career. He has 4 assists but remains goalless in 10 playoff games so far.

As with Mark Stone, Ottawa traded Duchene at the 2019 deadline, and the deal was supposed to yield some key pieces for the Senators' rebuild. After Lassi Thomson left to sign in Sweden last spring, there's nothing left. The Senators effectively traded Duchene for three non-NHL players – the pick they used on Thomson, and forwards Jonathan Davidsson and Vitaly Abramov.

Matt Murray, Toronto Maple Leafs

Still only 30, it's hard to believe this is a goalie who won back-to-back Cups. The Sens got him in 2020, just in time for his career meltdown, a run of injuries and eventual double hip surgery. But until Anthony Stolarz returns in Toronto, Murray is wearing the backup's ballcap on the Leafs' bench. Unless he doesn't feel good.

Vladislav Namestnikov, Winnipeg Jets, 4 points

A year after the Jets took DeMelo off Ottawa's hands for a third-rounder, they acquired Namestnikov from the Sens for a fourth-round pick. Again, the Sens made something of it, sending the pick to Nashville, straight up for Austin Watson.

Namestnikov isn't what you'd call an elite NHL player, but he manages to have an impact on whatever line the Jets need him to play on. Three months ago, they rewarded him with a two-year, $6 million extension. He has 4 points in 10 games so far.

Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights, 8 points

We've saved the best for last (also an alphabetical coincidence). When the Sens traded away Mark Stone, it ended up being one of the worst trades in Sens history. They traded him with Tobias Lindberg to Vegas in exchange for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg, and a 2020 second-round pick, which became Egor Sokolov, who became Jan Jenik, who's now an RFA. If the Sens fail to qualify Jenik, that will be the end of the Stone trade tree. But let's be honest, the Ottawa branch on that tree began to wither the day it was planted. Unless you consider it a win to upgrade your Lindberg.

When Stone signed his long-term contract in Vegas, many pundits warned that the back half of that deal would eventually look terrible. Seven years into his eight-year deal, we're still waiting. The Vegas captain has 8 points in 9 playoff games.

So, there's the Big 10, still in hot pursuit of a Cup this year. While the hockey itself has been the star, it's still exciting to follow players like these and see the direction their careers have taken after their time in Ottawa.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

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The Wraparound: Will The Edmonton Oilers Overcome Their Goaltending Struggles Again?

Stuart Skinner (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

Welcome to a new set of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics with The Hockey News Wraparound.

Will The Edmonton Oilers Overcome Their Goaltending Struggles Again? by The WraparoundWill The Edmonton Oilers Overcome Their Goaltending Struggles Again? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: What’s been the most concerning part of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ performance in Games 3 and 4 against the Florida Panthers?

8:18: Will the Winnipeg Jets be able to shut down Mikko Rantanen?

12:15: Can the Edmonton Oilers overcome their goaltending struggles after a heartbreaking loss in Game 3 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights?

15:35: Has Frederik Andersen been the best goaltender of the Stanley Cup playoffs?

20:09: What to make of Connor Bedard’s decision not to join Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship

23:48: Could Joel Quenneville help the Anaheim Ducks potentially be competitive as soon as next season?

26:48: Will David Carle ever leave the NCAA to coach in the NHL?

29:06: Could Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom be the most sought-after prospect for NCAA teams this summer?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Mets' Sean Manaea takes huge step toward return from injury

Mets left-hander Sean Manaea continues to progress well from his right oblique strain after experiencing discomfort while ramping up his throwing that caused him to be shut down for two weeks.

Manaea threw off the mound for the first time in his recovery process, getting up to 15 pitches, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters before Monday's game between the Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates.

It's a huge step toward a return to the big league club for Manaea, who signed a three-year, $75 million deal to return to New York during the offseason.

Meanwhile, Paul Blackburn is also nearing a return to the Mets as the right-hander will pitch again on Friday for Triple-A Syracuse, per Mendoza.

"I think he was four [innings], 65 [pitches]," Mendoza said. "I’m not sure what’s the pitch count, we’re waiting to check with him when he gets in here today and tomorrow. But the plan is for him to make another rehab [start] on Friday."

Blackburn is coming off his second rehab start for Triple-A on Sunday where he allowed three earned runs on four hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out two.

When asked if Friday's start will be the last one before Blackburn returns to the majors, Mendoza said "we'll see."

"We gotta see how he’s feeling today and the next couple of days and then we’ll go from there," the skipper added.

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When The Canadiens Draft Twice (Or More) In The First Round…

Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Michael Hage is selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

On Monday, RDS pointed out what had happened in the past when the Montreal Canadiens selected twice in the first round. While the Habs have sometimes struck gold, they’ve also had their fair share of “swing and a miss”. Let’s take a walk down memory lane…

 Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Arber Xhekaj
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Lane Hutson
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Goaltending Edition

2024: Ivan Demidov (fifth) and Michael Hage (21st)

It’s much too early to know how this double selection will pan out, but so far, so good. Demidov has made an impact since he joined the Canadiens at the tail end of the season, and Hage has had a great rookie season in the NCAA with Michigan, and he was named Big 10 Rookie of the Year.

2022: Juraj Slafkovsky (first) and Filip Mesar (16th)

Despite the criticism Slafkovsky has generated this season, 51 points in 79 games as a 21-year-old is pretty good. The young Slovak has already played 200 NHL games, and he’s still maturing. The future looks bright for the power forward. As for Mesar, he has yet to make a real impact in the AHL. After 45 games, he only has 19 points, but just like Slafkovsky, he’s still young.

2007: Ryan McDonagh (12th) and Max Pacioretty (22nd)

McDonagh is the one that got away, an incredibly talented young defenseman. He was sacrificed to obtain forward Scott Gomez and had a great career. 1010 NHL games, 420 points, two Stanley Cups, and he wore the “C” for the New York Rangers, no need to say which team won that trade.

Pacioretty has played 939 NHL games, 681 points, worn the “C” for the Canadiens, and landed them their current captain, Nick Suzuki. Those two picks were a home run. It's a shame that one of the two players never suited up for the Sainte-Flanelle.

2001: Mike Komisarek (seventh) and Alexander Perezhogin (25th)

Komisarek looked very good patrolling the Canadiens’ blueline with Andrei Markov. Still, once he went off on his own, signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent, his play dropped dramatically. Did he miss Markov, or did Milan Lucic “break him” in that fight? We’ll never know.

As for Perezhogin, he skated with the Canadiens in parts of two seasons, playing 128 games and picking up 34 points before deciding to head back to Russia.

2000: Ron Hainsey (13th) and Marcel Hossa (16th)

Hainsey played 1132 games in the NHL, putting up 311 points and picking up 443 penalty minutes, but only 32 were played with the Sainte-Flanelle. No, he wasn’t traded…he was lost on waivers on Bob Gainey’s watch when the Columbus Blue Jackets picked him up.

Hossa lacked his brother Marian’s talent, and he was unable to establish himself in the NHL. He skated in 237 games and scored only 61 points.

1985: Jose Charbonneau (12th) and Tom Chorske (16th)

The PQ-born Charbonneau looked good in the LHJMQ and the minors, but he couldn’t jump to the pros, playing 71 games in the NHL, and ended his career in the German league.

Meanwhile, Chorske was packaged with Stephane Richer and sent to the New Jersey Devils for Rolland Melanson and Kirk Muller, who was a key cog in the Canadiens' 1993 championship. Chorske won his own Stanley Cup with the Devils a couple of years later, however, and hung up his skates after 596 NHL games.

1984: Petr Svoboda (fifth) and Shayne Corson (eighth)

Svoboda skated with the Canadiens for eight seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 1985-86 and playing 1028 games with the Habs, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Corson missed out on both the 23rd and 24th Stanley Cups. He hadn’t made the team for the former, and he was packaged to the Edmonton Oilers for Vincent Damphousse before the latter. Still, he would be back in Montreal for a second tour of duty when the Habs brought him back in the Pierre Turgeon trade with the St. Louis Blues.

1981: Mark Hunter (seventh), Gilbert Delorme (18th), and Jan Ingman (19th)

Hunter spent four seasons in Montreal but couldn’t make much of an impact. He was traded to the Blues in a big swap of picks and would come out of his shell there before beating the Canadiens in the 1989 Stanley Cup final as a member of the Calgary Flames. He ended his career after 628 NHL games in which he scored 384 points.

A right-shot defenseman, Delorme played for two seasons with the Canadiens before moving to St. Louis with Doug Wickenheiser and Greg Paslawski for Perry Turnbull. These days, Delorm is still a panelist on RDS’s Antichambre.

Ingman was drafted but never came to this side of the pond, electing to stay in the Swedish league, Farjestads BK Karlstad.

It remains to be seen if the Canadiens will use the two picks they currently hold in the first round, but one thing’s for sure: drafting is far from an exact science.

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

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Sheffield United 3-0 Bristol City (6-0 agg: Championship playoff semi-final, second leg – as it happened

Blades made no mistake in the second leg, completing the job and will head to Wembley after a record aggregate scoreline

3 min: Early snap shot from Twine, the ball falling loose after Ahmedhodzic’s touch. This time the forward can’t get enough purchase but a moment to get people wondering.

1 min: It’s a slow start. Tommy Cannon is the straight man to Kieffer Moore, rather than Bobby Ball.

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‘Rigged': NBA fans react to Mavericks winning draft lottery, Cooper Flagg

‘Rigged': NBA fans react to Mavericks winning draft lottery, Cooper Flagg originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

From trading away a franchise cornerstone in Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks have been rewarded.

In a stunning moment, the Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery Monday despite having just a 1.8% chance at doing so…the fourth-worst odds. Dallas now has first dibs at Duke star Cooper Flagg, the best prospect in the class.

The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets all had the best odds for having the worst records in the campaign, but none of them got within the top three. Charlotte at No. 4 was the closest.

Jumping was the Philadelphia 76ers to No. 3, but Flagg will not form a triumvirate with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The San Antonio Spurs also rose once again to No. 2, but Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Co. will also not have Flagg.

Instead, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison gets an instant shot at redemption by pairing Flagg with Anthony Davis and potentially Kyrie Irving.

Here are some of the best reactions on social media following the reveal:

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‘Rigged': NBA fans react to Mavericks winning draft lottery, Cooper Flagg

‘Rigged': NBA fans react to Mavericks winning draft lottery, Cooper Flagg originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

From trading away a franchise cornerstone in Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks have been rewarded.

In a stunning moment, the Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery Monday despite having just a 1.8% chance at doing so…the fourth-worst odds. Dallas now has first dibs at Duke star Cooper Flagg, the best prospect in the class.

The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets all had the best odds for having the worst records in the campaign, but none of them got within the top three. Charlotte at No. 4 was the closest.

Jumping was the Philadelphia 76ers to No. 3, but Flagg will not form a triumvirate with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The San Antonio Spurs also rose once again to No. 2, but Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Co. will also not have Flagg.

Instead, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison gets an instant shot at redemption by pairing Flagg with Anthony Davis and potentially Kyrie Irving.

Here are some of the best reactions on social media following the reveal:

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Sabres Summer Dilemmas – Bowen Byram

Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram had a career-high 38 points last season. 

The Buffalo Sabres have a number of roster dilemmas to address this summer, and the players whose contracts are up pose the biggest problem for GM Kevyn Adams. Defenseman Bowen Byram, who scored a career-high 38 points playing a good chunk of the season with Rasmus Dahlin, is someone with the talent to be a #1 defenseman, but may see his path to that role blocked by Dahlin and Owen Power. 

The Sabres acquired Byram from the Colorado Avalanche last March for center Casey Mittelstadt. That deal was partly made because Mittelstadt was an RFA one year away from hitting the open market, and Buffalo did not want to extend Mittelstadt after signing Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens to long-term deals. Byram still had a year left on a deal signed with the Avs and two years before qualifying for unrestricted free agency. 

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?

Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The Athletic

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change

The 23-year-old has encountered injuries throughout his young career, but played a full 82 games last season, which was important for him going into a contract year. Byram’s situation in Buffalo is up in the air, because he never fully realize his full potential playing behind or with a pair of top overall picks signed to long term deals. 

"I've been lucky enough to come in and get a really good opportunity and play important minutes and meaningful minutes, and I've really enjoyed that. I've taken some strides in my game, and I'll continue to try to improve and turn it to be the best version of myself as possible." Byram said at locker cleanout last month. "I'll talk to my camp (about a new contract)  and talk to Kevin, and we'll figure out what the next step is. I'm excited for that process."

Byram recently switched to Darren Ferris, the same agent as Toronto’s Mitch Marner. Ferris is a tough negotiator who usually recommends players to go to unrestricted free agency, as Marner is likely to go this summer. The blueliner is eligible for salary arbitration this summer, and could choose to slow walk the Sabres and sign another bridge deal, but with Adams and Buffalo looking to make a move to end their long playoff drought, there has been increasing speculation that the Vancouver native could be moved in a trade before next season.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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MLB Power Rankings: Freddie Freeman leads Dodgers, the Cardinals and Twins are rolling

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, Tarik Skubal is close to perfect, Jasson Dominguez makes history, the Cardinals and Twins are streaking, the Jung brothers square off on Mother’s Day Weekend, and the Pirates and Rockies change managers.

Let’s get started!

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

MLB: Chicago Cubs at New York Mets
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Cade Horton is here, Evan Carter is back
Eric Samulski breaks down some of the top waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of fantasy baseball.

**Rankings are from the morning of Monday, May 12**

1) Los Angeles Dodgers

Last week: 1

Freddie Freeman is the hottest hitter on the planet right now. Despite an ankle injury that isn’t 100 percent, the 35-year-old is hitting .475 with five homers and 22 RBI over his last 16 games. He has 10 multi-hit games during that span and has raised his season batting average from .250 to .376 along the way.

2) San Diego Padres

Last week: 2

On Saturday night, Stephen Kolek threw a shutout at Coors Field as the Padres crushed the Rockies 21-0. It was the largest margin of victory for the Padres in franchise history and one of the most lopsided shutout wins of all-time.

3) Detroit Tigers ⬆️

Last week: 4

After running away with the Cy Young Award last season, Tarik Skubal has been even better so far this season. The southpaw owns a 2.08 ERA through eight starts and carried a perfect game into the sixth inning in his most recent start against the Rangers on Friday.

4) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 3

New York sports talk radio was having a cow over the first few weeks of the season, but it turns out that Juan Soto is going to be just fine. What a concept! Soto is slashing .282/.383/.718 with five homers through 10 games this month.

5) New York Yankees ⬆️

Last week: 8

Joe DiMaggio was the youngest player in Yankees history to hit three home runs in a game…until Jasson Dominguez pulled off the feat against the Athletics on Saturday.

6) Chicago Cubs ⬇️

Last week: 5

The Cubs have cooled a bit over the past week having lost back-to-back series. Their high-powered offense has been held to two runs or fewer in three of out their lost four games, but the back-end of the bullpen is the real concern here.

7) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 9

I already deemed Freddie Freeman as the hottest hitter on the planet, but Kyle Schwarber is in the middle of something special right now. After his two-homer game on Sunday against the Guardians on Sunday, he’s now reached base in 46 consecutive games. That’s the longest such streak by a Phillies player since Bobby Abreu from 2000-2001.

8) San Francisco Giants ⬇️

Last week: 6

The Giants were swept by the suddenly red-hot Twins over the weekend despite Heliot Ramos’ best efforts. The 24-year-old has homered in back-to-back games and is slashing .419/.500/.767 over his last 13 contests.

9) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️

Last week: 10

Awesome moment from the Mother’s Day edition of the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, as Stephen Vogt’s wife, Alyssa, asked him a very important question.

I so felt that pause and momentary panic from Mr. Vogt. Also, how cool is it that the manager also gets the sunflower seed treatment from his players/coaches? It’s good to be humbled.

10) Kansas City Royals ⬆️

Last week: 12

The Royals remain one of the hottest teams in the majors despite dropping back-to-back games to the Red Sox to close out the weekend. Led by a pitching staff with the second-lowest ERA in the majors, Kansas City is 16-4 over their last 20 games.

11) Seattle Mariners ⬇️

Last week: 7

The Mariners were swept by the Blue Jays over the weekend, including another distressing start from Bryce Miller. The good news is that George Kirby is inching his way back to the Mariners’ rotation as he returns from shoulder inflammation. He made his second rehab start on Saturday and could be back with the Mariners next week.

12) Boston Red Sox ⬆️

Last week: 13

In the wake of his very public and awkward rejection of playing first base, Rafael Devers is 9-for-15 (.600) with two homers and eight RBI over his last four games. He slugged an absolute bomb of a go-ahead homer on Sunday as the Red Sox cooled down the Royals.

13) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 23

Our biggest riser of the past week, the Cardinals have won eight straight to surge into second place in the NL Central, just one game behind the Cubs. Victor Scott II has been right in the middle of it, as he’s hit safely in 11 straight games. With his elite range in center field and his top-tier speed, the Cardinals have found themselves a keeper.

14) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 11

It was great to see Corbin Burnes bounce back after his recent shoulder scare, but the biggest news to start the week is that top prospect Jordan Lawlar is reportedly on the way to join the big club. The 22-year-old has been quiet with the bat this month in Triple-A, but still owns a healthy .336/.413/.579 batting line with six homers and 13 steals across 37 games on the year. He’ll presumably bounce around the infield to start, giving breathers to Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, and Eugenio Suárez.

15) Atlanta Braves

Last week: 15

The Braves have had a couple of chances over the past week to reach the .500 mark, but have fallen short. Still, they are 19-14 since that 0-7 start to the season.

16) Minnesota Twins ⬆️

Last week: 24

The other big riser of the week, the Twins have also won eight straight to climb over .500. Am I a jinx for saying that Byron Buxton is on pace for a 30-30 season? Unfortunately for the Twins, everyone else in the AL Central (outside of the White Sox, anyway) have also been playing well.

17) Houston Astros

Last week: 17

The Astros have yet to be more than three games over .500 or two games under .500, so they continue to sit in the middle of the pack. Getting a healthy Yordan Alvarez back could help push them back into contention. Alvarez, who is working his way back from a muscle strain in his hand, could potentially return from the injured list this week.

18) Texas Rangers ⬇️

Last week: 14

In a fun scheduling quirk, the Jung brothers (Rangers third baseman Josh Jung and Tigers infielder Jace Jung) squared off on Mother’s Day weekend. The brothers were both playing third base on Saturday, so naturally they played a game of Tic-Tac-Toe. Josh homered on Mother’s Day, so he gets the edge this time.

19) Oakland Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 16

After giving up seven runs or more in all three games against the Yankees this weekend, the Athletics now have a 5.81 ERA (28th in MLB) at home this season as opposed to a 3.74 ERA (sixth-best) on the road.

20) Milwaukee Brewers ⬇️

Last week: 19

In a 4-for-39 slump going into Sunday’s action, Christian Yelich decided to switch it up by using a pink bat to honor his mom. And sure enough, he went yard. Sources say that if he doesn’t keep using it, he’s grounded.

21) Toronto Blue Jays

Last week: 21

The Blue Jays might have something in Addison Barger. While it isn’t apparent from his results so far, the 25-year-old hits the ball extremely hard. Among players with at least 25 batted ball events, he ranks third among hitters in average exit velocity, behind Shohei Ohtani and Oneil Cruz, and ahed of Aaron Judge, Rafael Devers, and Pete Alonso. Not too shabby.

22) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️

Last week: 18

The Reds have lost seven out of nine, as well as their ace Hunter Greene due to a groin strain. Fortunately, the injury shouldn’t keep him on the shelf for long.

23) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️

Last week: 20

Give the Rays some credit for their creativity. They gave out commemorative ponchos for their first-ever rain delay on Saturday.

The Rays took two out of three from the Brewers this weekend, giving them their first series win at home since April 11-13.

24) Washington Nationals

Last week: 24

While the final line didn’t show it, Michael Soroka pitched well in his return from the injured list last Wednesday against the Guardians, striking out eight before running out of steam late. This week, he’ll face the Braves (his former team) for the first time in his career.

25) Baltimore Orioles

Last week: 25

Things aren’t looking a heck of a lot better here even after taking two out of three form the Angels over the weekend, but one bright spot has been the recent progress from 21-year-old Jackson Holliday. With a recent change in his batting stance, he’s hitting .324 with two homers and a double over his last 11 games. He’s starting to earn a more prominent place in the order for a team who needs a boost in the worst way.

26) Los Angeles Angels

Last week: 26

No team has struck out more often than the Angels this season (27 percent). And making matters worse, they also have the lowest walk rate (six percent) in the majors.

27) Miami Marlins ⬆️

Last week: 28

Sandy Alcantara has been speculated as an obvious trade candidate this summer, but the results haven’t been there so far. He actually looked great on Sunday against the White Sox until serving up a go-ahead three-run home to rookie slugger Tim Elko. Still, a step in the right direction for the former Cy Young Award winner.

28) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️

Last week: 27

Derek Shelton took the fall last week for the Pirates’ miserable start to the season. The failure goes well beyond anything Shelton did, but ownership can’t fire themselves. The club took two out of three from the Braves over the weekend under interim manager (and former bench coach) Don Kelly, so the Pittsburgh-area native is off to a good start.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

The White Sox have Pope Leo XIV on their side, which should provide some hope to fans, no?

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

The Rockies made a managerial change of their own this weekend, as they parted ways with longtime skipper Bud Black. The change comes on the heels of an embarrassing 21-0 loss to the Padres on Saturday night, though at least Black got to go out as a winner on Sunday.

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Mavericks win NBA Draft Lottery and Cooper Flagg sweepstakes with 1.8% odds

Mavericks win NBA Draft Lottery and Cooper Flagg sweepstakes with 1.8% odds originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Dallas Mavericks have hit the post-Luka Doncic jackpot.

They’ll have their chance to draft Doncic’s potential successor — Duke star Cooper Flagg — as the new face of the franchise after winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on Monday despite entering with just a 1.8% chance of doing so.

Flagg — a 6-foot-9 forward who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his lone season with the Blue Devils — is the consensus No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.

The 18-year-old from Maine is expected to be join a Dallas team that had a tumultuous season. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison orchestrated one of the most stunning trades in NBA history by dealing Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and other pieces. Davis then suffered an injury in his first game with Dallas, causing him to miss the majority of the regular season. The team then lost Kyrie Irving for the season after he suffered a torn ACL.

The Mavs finished 39-43 and were eliminated in the play-in tournament.

The ping-pong balls then bounced the Mavericks way in stunning fashion as they won the lottery for the first time in franchise history.

The Mavs winning the lottery drew a wide range of reactions on social media, including LeBron James posting a laughing emoji. Others complained of NBA conspiracy theories, with some joking about Harrison and the Mavs trading the pick to the Lakers for Bronny James.

The Jazz, Wizards and Hornets entered with the best odds of winning the lottery, each with a 14% chance. That was followed by the New Orleans Pelicans (12.5%), Philadelphia 76ers (10.5%) and Brooklyn Nets (9%).

The San Antonio Spurs — already with back-to-back rookies of the year in Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle — landed the second pick in the draft and are likely to add Rutgers guard Dylan Harper.

The Sixers, whose pick was top-six protected as part of a previous trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, got the No. 3 pick in the draft. The Hornets dropped to fourth, the Jazz to fifth and the Wizards to sixth.

Those teams will likely select from a group of top-five projected prospects that includes Ace Bailey of Rutgers, V.J. Edgecombe of Baylor and Tre Johnson of Texas.

The NBA draft will be held on June 25 in New York.

What is the NBA draft order?

Here is the full draft order for the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft:

1. Dallas

2. San Antonio

3. Philadelphia

4. Charlotte

5. Utah

6. Washington

7. New Orleans

8. Brooklyn

9. Toronto

10. Houston

11. Portland

12. Chicago

13. Atlanta (via Sacramento)

14. San Antonio (via Atlanta)

15. Oklahoma City (via Miami)

16. Orlando

17. Minnesota (via Detroit)

18. Washington (via Memphis)

19. Brooklyn (via Milwaukee)

20. Miami (via Golden State)

21. Utah (via Minnesota)

22. Atlanta (via Los Angeles Lakers)

23. Indiana

24. Oklahoma City (via Los Angeles Clippers)

25. Orlando (via Denver)

26. Brooklyn (via New York)

27. Brooklyn (via Houston)

28. Boston

29. Phoenix (via Cleveland)

30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Oklahoma City)

How does the NBA draft lottery work?

Teams in the lottery need more than just a lucky bounce to get the top pick. They need four lucky bounces.

A series of 1,000 four-numeral lottery combinations are divided among the 14 teams that failed to qualify for the postseason, including those who were eliminated during the play-in tournament.

Each team is assigned a collection of four-number combinations, with the teams owing the three worst regular-season records in the league receiving the most with 140 each. The number of combinations assigned to the remaining lottery teams decreases gradually based on record.

Those combinations are used to determine the first four picks in the draft during the lottery. The remaining lottery picks (5 through 14) are then assigned in inverse order based on regular-season records, meaning the team with the worst record in the league can pick no later than fifth.    

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Sixers get some light at end of tunnel, land No. 3 pick in draft lottery

Sixers get some light at end of tunnel, land No. 3 pick in draft lottery  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There’s suddenly some light at the end of the Sixers’ tunnel.

Following an injury-ruined, 24-58 season, the Sixers snagged the No. 3 pick in Monday night’s NBA draft lottery. The Spurs got the No. 2 pick and the Mavs have No. 1. 

The Sixers entered the lottery with a 63.9 percent chance of keeping a top-six pick and a 10.6 percent chance of landing at No. 3. 

Any selection below No. 6 would have conveyed to the Thunder as a condition of the Sixers’ 2020 trade with Oklahoma City. The Sixers’ first-rounder will now be top-four protected for 2026 and, if necessary, 2027. In the unlikely event the Sixers have not conveyed a first-round pick to OKC by 2027, they’ll owe the Thunder their second-rounder that year. 

In addition to No. 3, the Sixers hold the No. 35 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

No one expected a tense, meaningful lottery night for the Sixers at the start of the 2024-25 season. Led by three All-Stars the prior year in Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, the Sixers believed a championship was possible. They set an all-time NBA record by using 54 different starting lineups. 

Who might the Sixers take at No. 3? While Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper are widely projected to be the first two picks, there’s much less agreement among experts after that. 

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s philosophy is to draft the best player available, though it would be surprising if the team selected a center with superstar big man Joel Embiid on the team. It’s also notable that, if the Sixers re-sign Quentin Grimes in restricted free agency, the team will have several guards 6-foot-4 or under in key roles. One of them is 21-year-old Jared McCain, who represented the Sixers at the lottery. 

At the moment, Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe, Rutgers wing Ace Bailey, Texas guard Tre Johnson, Duke wing Kon Knueppel and Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis are prospects generally viewed in the No. 3 through No. 10 range.

The Sixers have not held a lottery pick since 2018. The team drafted Mikal Bridges at No. 10 but traded him to the Suns in exchange for No. 16 pick Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first-rounder. 

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Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year?

Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Dallas basketball has the potential to be set up for the foreseeable future.

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery delivered a twist, predictable or not, that saw the three worst teams in the league — the Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards — not rewarded for their failures.

Instead, the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks surpassed them to form the top three. In the end, Dallas landed the first pick and the chance to take Duke star prospect Cooper Flagg, a versatile forward who can change any team for the better.

The Mavericks’ luck — conspiracy theories and all — timed well with its WNBA counterpart. The Dallas Wings had also won the draft lottery earlier in the year, putting them in pole position to take UConn star Paige Bueckers, which they did.

Following the NBA and WNBA lotteries, Dallas is set to be the second city to draft first overall in the same year. Of course, the Mavericks could still trade the pick, but that won’t be known until late June when the draft is held.

In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Rockers became the first. The Cavs infamously took LeBron James, while the Rockers selected LaToya Thomas before folding operations the season after due to ownership issues.

The Mavericks endured a turbulent year full of injuries, but the main story involved Luka Doncic. Before the February trade deadline, Doncic was stunningly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Dallas fans understandably had all sorts of feelings — sadness, anger, anguish and insert any other emotion here. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison held multiple press conferences — publicly and privately — to attempt to justify his decision.

Mavericks fans rightfully didn’t want to hear it after losing a drafted star they fell in love with, off the heels of an NBA Finals run, among other memories.

But Harrison now has the opportunity to take Flagg and form an intriguing trio with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and more if the rest of the roster is filled out properly and health isn’t as unfavorable.

Whether Harrison is ever vindicated for the trade is unknown. Perhaps it could be if he’s still in the front office and Flagg helps deliver a championship.

Bueckers has the same opportunity on the women’s side, as the Wings are seeking a fourth championship having been on a drought since 2008. Their other two wins include 2003 and 2006.

Not many cities have the luxury of a young men’s and women’s basketball star embarking on parallel journeys. But after the seasons both the Wings and Mavericks had, at least the future is bright.