It was the worst kept secret in the Montreal Canadiens’ history that they had traded picks 16 and 17th overall to the New York Islanders, but once the Vancouver Canucks had picked Braeden Cootes, the NHL still put the Habs as “On the clock”. Commissioner Gary Bettman took to the stage with NBA champion and Montreal-Nord native Luguentz Dort, who was initially supposed to make the pick, and finally announced the trade while Dort smashed the button to set off the trade alert.
Given the fact that Carter Bear, Jack Nesbitt, Radim Mrtka, and Roger McQueen were all off the board by that time, the two first-round picks and Emil Heineman to the New York Islanders for the Noah Dobson deal looked even better. Levis native Justin Carbonneau was still on the board, but as Jeff Gorton had said on Thursday, the Canadiens didn’t feel under pressure to select a player from Quebec. Carbonneau landed on his feet in St. Louis, two picks later becoming the second Quebecer drafted after Caleb Desnoyers, who was picked fourth overall by the Utah Mammoth.
Speaking to the media after his brief appearance on stage, Dortz confirmed that the Canadiens had approached him during the NBA playoffs, but he waited until the Thunder won to prove that he would be doing it. Dortz also explained that he had played hockey briefly as a kid, but that it wasn’t for him. When asked if he could potentially be the Canadiens’ next second-line center, he laughed and dismissed the possibility.
About the Dobson trade, it was widely believed that the Islanders had pulled the trigger to package the Canadiens’ pick to move up in the draft and pick James Hagens, but if that was indeed their end game, they couldn’t pull it off. Hagens, a New York native and Boston College player in the NCAA, landed with the Boston Bruins.
As for Montreal native Bill Zonnon, he was drafted 22nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the third player from the QMJHL selected. This first remotely held NHL draft isn’t likely to become a regular occurrence. The event dragged on much longer than when held in person, and the hype just wasn’t the same. Earlier in the day, the league had announced that teams had voted overwhelmingly in favor of this option, with 26 clubs supporting the idea and six opposing it. Judging by the reaction on social media, I expect the league to revert to the former formula swiftly.
As for the media members gathered at the Bell Centre, we were rewarded for our patience with a media opportunity with Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes late in the evening.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.
For the second time in its franchise history, the Senators were involved in a draft day deal that involved a swap of first-round picks with the Nashville Predators.
In 2008, the Senators infamously moved up from the 18th overall selection to Nashville's 15th overall pick to draft Erik Karlsson. Hopefully, the good vibes will continue since that trade worked out well. Although, there is still time for Chet Pickard to pan out.
On Friday night, the Senators moved the 21st overall selection for the 23rd overall pick and the 67th overall selection. They used their first-round pick to select defenceman Logan Hensler out of the University of Wisconsin.
Hensler is a right-shot defenceman who is listed at 6'2" and 190 lbs, and he was a product of the USNTDP. In 32 games for the Badgers, the freshman contributed two goals and 12 points. Hensler's offensive production was relatively modest for a player some analysts projected at the beginning of the season to be one of the first defencemen taken in the 2025 NHL Draft.
"After a slow start to his freshman season at Wisconsin, Hensler began to showcase the quality that had some believing he could be the second-best defender in the draft coming into the year. Hensler is a mobile, right-shot blueliner who showed he can be a responsible, two-way defender as the season wore on. On most shifts, he plays mistake-free hockey, but every once in a while, Hensler shows the puck skill and playmaking ability to be a catalyst from the back end."
Hensler is described as a big and mobile defenceman, which is an incredibly difficult asset to acquire around the league right now.
"You don't have enough defencemen," Senators head scout Don Boyd explained after Hensler's selection. "You can never have enough defenceman. Right-(shot) defenseman are a premium.
"To select him, (there's) so much room to grow and so much potential. I think there's more offense in his game than if you look at the numbers this year, he's a real good skater. He moves pucks."
There is a good reason for optimism for more offence because Hensler demonstrated at the U17 and U18 levels with the USNTDP that he can produce. In 121 games across two seasons, he recorded nine goals and 60 points.
There is also the added context of Hensler experiencing collegiate hockey as a true 18-year-old freshman while playing for a retooling Wisconsin program that finished second last in the Big Ten. Playing on a weaker team against older and more physically developed competition can be a challenge for any young player. Therefore, the hope is that with time and more development, Hensler can apply the consistent two-way performances that scouts grew accustomed to while he was on the USNTDP.
"The team itself in Wisconsin may have struggled a little bit," acknowledged Boyd. "He's part of the rebuilding program there. We've known him for a long time at a high level of competition."
There is confidence from Boyd and Hensler himself that he can unearth that potential in his sophomore year.
"We do (have confidence)," Boyd stated confidently with a grin. "He's going to get a lot of ice time. His coaches say he's going to get a lot of ice time. The character of the kid is tremendous."
"I'm a two-way, mobile defenseman," Hensler said while describing his skills to the media following the conclusion of the 2025 NHL Draft's first round. "I use my skating to my advantage to get up and down the ice. I also have an offensive side to me that this upcoming year will definitely be unlocked.
"I think this next year will be huge for me, just confidence-wise. I think we've got a lot of skill coming in this year for Wisconsin and I'm so excited and ready to develop (my offensive side of the game)."
One of the players who will arrive in Madison, Wisconsin, next season is Senators prospect Blake Montgomery.
Hensler believes his offensive production will continue to grow but also wants to play on the penalty kill and develop into a complete two-way player.
On the defensive side of the game, Boyd stressed how Hensler's skating ability allows him to close quickly.
"Defensively, he can he can meet the rush and stop it," stated Boyd. "He can get a puck. He can go back and get pucks very quickly, turn and move it up the ice very quickly.
"The fact of the matter is that he's, he's a right-handed shot that's that's a real good skater and can move pucks, and we have to have people with that kind of skill to get the puck out of our zone."
Interestingly, when asked which player he would model his game after, Hensler quickly dropped the name of a player Senators fans will be familiar with.
"It is Jake Sanderson. I think we have very good skating. I think just a big piece I'm trying to take is just how simple and efficient is. He's overall an elite defenceman. That's a goal I'm chasing and I think I can reach it."
That would be music to Senators fans' ears. The strongest teams seem to build from the net out and with the addition of Hensler to a group of under-30 defencemen that already includes Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Tyler Kleven, and Carter Yakemchuk, the Senators are in great shape.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington will miss the rest of the season because of an unspecified medical issue, the team said Friday.
Washington, the oldest manager in the major leagues at 73, has been sidelined for the past week.
He experienced shortness of breath and appeared fatigued toward the end of a four-game series at the New York Yankees that ended on June 19. Washington flew back to Southern California, underwent a series of tests and was placed on medical leave.
Angels bench coach Ray Montgomery, who has filled in for Washington for the past week, was named interim manager. Infield coach Ryan Goins was promoted to bench coach.
Washington is 664-611 in 10 seasons as a major league manager, eight with Texas and two with Los Angeles.
He led the Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011 before stepping down abruptly in September 2014. Washington returned to the sport as a coach with the Athletics and the Atlanta Braves, who won the World Series in 2021, before landing a second managerial job in Orange County.
The Angels were 40-40 entering Friday night's game against the visiting Washington Nationals, winning three straight under Montgomery and seven of 10 overall. Los Angeles has played better than most expected from a team with major league-worst streaks of nine straight losing seasons and 10 straight non-playoff seasons.
The 55-year-old Montgomery is getting his first job as a major league manager. The native of New York's Westchester County is a former Houston Astros outfielder who served as the scouting director for Arizona and Milwaukee before joining the Angels as their director of player personnel for the 2020 season.
Montgomery became Los Angeles' bench coach in 2021 after general manager Perry Minasian took over the front office, and he stayed with the Angels while Joe Maddon, Phil Nevin and Washington managed the club.
Goins played eight seasons in the major leagues before Washington hired him as the Angels' infield coach before the 2024 season.
Clippers guard James Harden and Lakers forward LeBron James, chasing after a loose ball during a game last season, have until Sunday to inform their respective teams if they will pick up contract options for next season or test free agency. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers and Clippers put in the work during the NBA’s two-day draft that was completed Thursday night and now they will turn their attention to shaping their rosters.
The first key dates are Sunday, when LeBron James and Dorian Finney-Smith have to inform the Lakers and when James Harden has to inform the Clippers of their decisions to opt in or out of their contracts, and Monday, when the NBA free-agency period begins.
James has a player option for $52.6 million and Finney-Smith has one for $15.3 million.
“At that point, we’ll know the tools we have to go out into free agency and fill out the roster with the draft ending tonight,” Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, told Spectrum SportsNet after the second round of the draft Thursday. “The work for that has already begun, but the focus now will turn from draft focus to free agency and we won’t rest until we get it right.”
Harden, who has a player option of $36.3 million, also has the same day to let the Clippers know his desires.
“He’s our No. 1 priority,” Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, told the media after the first round of the draft Wednesday night. “We’re super hopeful that James is here and he’s here for a long time. He has a player-option, so he can opt-in … or he can opt-out and hopefully we can do a deal that makes sense for both sides. But James, as you guys know, was phenomenal and we hope to continue to see his play.”
The Lakers were able to add an athletic wing player when they acquired Adou Thiero in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who picked him with the 36th pick of the second round.
The most pressing need for the Lakers remains a center, and they’ll have to look into free agency or via trade to acquire one.
The top big men are Indiana’s Myles Turner, Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez and Atlanta’s Clint Capela.
Turner, who made $19.9 million last season, is probably headed back to the Pacers and will do so at a price the Lakers can’t offer him. The Lakers have the taxpayer mid-level exception of about $5.65 million to spend.
“As I said at the end of the year, we know one of the things we have to address is the center position and that’s clearly going to be one of our focuses as we begin the free-agency period,” Pelinka said on the Lakers’ TV show. “And that’s right around the corner.
"So, we’re looking forward to just putting in the hard work and making sure we take care of all the needs on the roster to give [Lakers coach] JJ [Redick] the tools he needs for this team to be great next season.”
Though the Clippers drafted a center in the first round with the 30th pick, getting Yanic Konan Niederhausher of Penn State, Frank said his team “probably will have at least three centers.”
The Clippers can use their non-taxpayer mid-level exception that’s projected to be about $14.1 million on a player or two, and perhaps even find a center.
They will also perform due diligence by calling other teams to see about trade opportunities.
“You’re always in constant contact with all the teams,” Frank said. “You have a good sense of the things that you can be involved with and other things that you’re not.”
Free agency begins Monday at 3 p.m. PDT, but players can’t sign contracts until July 6.
Also, Clippers wing Norman Powell is eligible for a contract extension. He has one year left on his deal that pays him $20.4 million next season.
“At the appropriate time, we’ll sit with Norm and his representatives to talk about what kind of an extension and what it would look like and how it would fit in the bigger picture,” Frank said.
Gary Payton II, a fan favorite beloved by his teammates, might have played his last game with the Warriors.
Payton will become an unrestricted free agent on Monday, and his return to Golden State is in serious jeopardy, multiple NBA sources told NBC Sports Bay Area on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s looking doubtful,” one source said Friday.
“Golden State still likes him, and there’s still a chance he’s back,” another source said of the Warriors. “But they have a lot of moving parts as they work through the Jonathan Kuminga situation, so Gary could land elsewhere next season.”
A key member of Golden State’s 2022 NBA championship team, Payton is coming off a season of inconsistency while battling several nagging injuries. The 6-foot-3 forward appeared in 62 games (11 starts), with per-36-minute averages of 15.5 points (on 57.4-percent shooting from the field, including 32.6 from distance), 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals.
Payton made $9.1 million in salary last season, the final year of a three-year $26.1 million contract he originally signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in July 2022. The Warriors reacquired him seven months later and he has since been a fixture in the rotation.
A superior athlete on a roster lacking athleticism, GP2 has been the team’s best point-of-attack defender. He routinely is assigned to such stars as Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard and Phoenix’s Devin Booker. But availability has been an issue with Payton. He missed 20 games last season and 38 games in 2023-24.
If Payton is not re-signed, Golden State will prioritize adding an elite perimeter defender.
NBA free agency officially begins at 3 p.m. Monday, when teams can negotiate with those on the market. The direction the Warriors take with their rotational unrestricted free agents – Kevon Looney is the other — will be influenced by the outcome of Kuminga’s restricted free agency.
After drafting top winger Porter Martone over center James Hagens at the top of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers will have to wait a little longer to find the No. 1 center of their future.
In fact, the Flyers themselves even insisted they needed centers after electing to choose Martone over Hagens.
So, what compelled them to do that? The answer, according to Flyers GM Danny Briere, was as simple as Martone being the better, more impactful player.
"We said it all along, yeah, we would've preferred a center, but we felt we couldn't pass up on the chance to bring a difference-maker like Porter Martone to the team," Briere explained at the end of the first round of the NHL Draft.
The 18-year-old Martone, already a captain of Canada's U18s and his Brampton Steelheads, finished second only to Michael Misa in goals (37 to Misa's 62) and total scoring (98 points to Misa's 134) amongst draft-eligible forwards in the OHL this year.
Martone's future Flyers teammate and draft classmate, Jack Nesbitt, finished seventh in goals (25) amongst OHL draft-eligibles and sixth in points (64). That's to give an indication as to how good Martone really is at his age with his natural talents and leadership.
"If there's one thing I would say, it's, in this draft, in the first round, [Martone is] pretty close to being the most ready out of that group," Briere continued. "To be able to select him at six, I don't want to say steal, but we had him higher on our board.
"We felt if Porter was there at six, even though he wasn't a center, that it would be really tough to go by him. . . Porter, in that range, was the one guy we felt we just couldn't let go by."
So, that's the story of how Porter Martone overtook James Hagens and ended up on the Flyers by the end of Friday night.
Briere knows how many right wings the Flyers have just as much as you and I, which should illustrate just how highly this team and these scouts valued this player.
It should be noted that Martone is an Oct. 26 birthday, too, which means he'll be 19 years old fairly early into the 2025-26 season.
Martone aspires to make the team out of camp, while Briere, cautiously, wouldn't completely rule out the possibility of his newest top draft pick playing NHL games at some point.
After all, a barely 18-year-old Jett Luchanko played four NHL games at the start of last season.
So, by that logic, Martone is closer to the big leagues than we think both from a time perspective and from a skill perspective. Come this time next year, would there be any value in him playing nearly a full OHL season as a 20-year-old? Probably not.
This is a rare occasion where an early birthday and talent intersect to a team's advantage as the Flyers gear up to take the next step in their rebuild.
The brand-new Montreal Canadiens’ player, Noah Dobson, spoke to the media on Friday night for the first time since the trade was made and explained that it was a no-brainer for him to sign a long-term contract with the Habs, even though he hadn’t played for them yet. He called it an honour to have the opportunity to play for the best hockey market in the world and added he was excited to be joining a team with so many talented players on the roster.
The blueliner was impressed by what’s been accomplished in Montreal yet and the steps they’ve taken this year, which made it impossible for him not to be excited. He comes with a great attitude and a willingness to learn and improve his game, words that will likely be music to the ears of coach Martin St-Louis. The player praised the coach’s reputation and the team’s positive attitude, as well as the joy they experience coming to the rink and spending time together as a group.
In the last season, he said it was a tough one personally and for the New York Islanders, given their difficulties in producing offensively. Speaking of the Canadiens’ blueline, he said there were many good players back there, and it would be a question of seeing who the coaches felt would be the best fit. He hasn’t given thought to his likely partner yet.
About the pressure that comes in this market, he said it wouldn’t be any harder than the pressure he puts on himself every day to perform. He also added that Montreal has always been his favourite away game and that he’s looking forward to stepping on the ice wearing the Tricolore’s jersey.
Dobson explained that once his agents started talking with the Islanders’ organization, both parties were unable to find common ground, and they decided to look for a trade instead. he had nothing but good things to say about the Islanders’ organization. He added that he had a great time on Long Island and would miss it, as well as his teammates.
Finally, he called the last few days crazy, since he knew something was in the works. Things started picking up this morning, which was a brand-new situation for him, and he’s also getting married on Monday. He was informed about the trade by Isles’ GM Mathieu Darche, but was also contacted by Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton, and St-Louis.
This trade is huge for the Canadiens, not only because of the kind of player they acquired on the ice, but also because Dobson wanted to come to Montreal. He chose to commit long-term to this town and market, despite the challenges and taxes. What that says to me is that the league is starting to notice what the Canadiens are building, and that players are willing to be on this organization.
Photo credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.
The Vancouver Canucks added an intriguing prospect to their organization during the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, as they drafted center Braeden Cootes with the 15th overall pick. The Seattle Thunderbirds captain recorded 63 points in 60 games during the WHL season, before guiding Canada to a Gold Medal at the U18s. A two-way center who has what seems like a never-ending motor, Cootes became the first WHLer in over a decade to be drafted by the Canucks in the first round.
After the selection, General Manager Patrik Allvin met with the media to discuss Vancouver's newest prospect. Cootes had long been rumoured as a player who the Canucks had interest in, as he was even taken out for dinner by team representatives during the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine. Ultimately, Allvin and his management group decided that Cootes was an ideal pick for Vancouver, as they selected him with the 15th overall pick in this year's draft.
"Braeden Cootes, captain in Seattle, our guys were very excited about him leading up to the meeting today," said Allvin. "And we had a couple of guys that we were hoping were going to be available at 15. You never know when you're picking there, but when we're getting closer to the pick there, and Braeden was a guy the scouting staff was definitely very excited, and so am I to get a right-shot center, captain of Team Canada's Gold Medal team in Dallas earlier. And believe there is upside for him to be a mid-six center."
Cootes' leadership was one of his attributes that really stuck out this season. He was the youngest captain in the WHL and wore the "C" for his country at this year's U18s. According to Allvin, his ability to be a leader was one of the many reasons why the Canucks were keen to add him to the organization.
"Well, I think his demeanor of being fairly mature 18-year-old here. How he led Seattle through a tougher year and were able to get them in the playoffs and how he was able to get a Gold Medal for Canada down at the U18. I think he's a leader by example, on and off the ice, and our staff was really impressive with him during the process of their due diligence, meeting him in Seattle and in Buffalo as well."
As for on-ice play, Cootes is the exact type of player Vancouver needed to add to their prospect pool. He is a right-shot center who can transition the pucks well and plays in every situation. As Allvin explained, players like Cootes are not easy to acquire, which is why the organization is pleased with their selection.
"Well, I think that along with his position, where he plays, and being a right-shot center, which is extremely hard to get in the league, and for a young player like him, what he brought to the team in Seattle and around Hockey Canada too, is impressive, young man. So, definitely for us, we felt that we have a lot of good younger defensemen in our system, so adding forwards and centers was important for us."
In the end, the Canucks made the right decision by adding Cootes to their organization. He is one of the hardest working prospects available in this draft and, as Allvin pointed out, has the potential to develop into a middle-six center. Overall, this is a prospect fans in Vancouver should be excited about, and can keep tabs on as he is expected to return to the WHL next season.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.
A Dodger Stadium scoreboard encourages fans to be loud as Shohei Ohtani prepares to bat against the San Diego Padres on June 16. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
As someone who has permanent ringing in the ears (tinnitus) as a result of hearing damage from concerts, I must take exception to how loud the music is played at sporting events these days. Despite quotes from Dodger players and executives stating how "great" the loudness at Dodger Stadium is, they are putting the paying customers and employees at risk for hearing loss with the excessive volume. Entertaining the fans is one thing, assaulting the delicate instrument that is our ears is quite another. I'm sure they could turn it down to safer decibel levels and everyone will still have a good time.
Mark Furcick San Pedro
Dodger Stadium hosts a Military Appreciation Night, a Salvadoran Heritage Night, and a Guatemalan Heritage Night. But we will never see an Autism Spectrum Night. The ear-shattering sound system would cause fans to run from the stadium screaming in pain and terror.
I suffer from a condition called hyperacusis, where loud noises can cause ear pain lasting for days or even weeks. It's rare in the general population, but more common among autistic people. I love baseball, and used to love going to Dodger Stadium from the year it opened until 20-something years ago. But now I'd have to wear industrial-strength ear protection.
Russell Stone Westchester
I used to like bleacher seats but won’t sit there again — way too loud right under the sound system.
Bob Wieting Simi Valley
Sure it’s “entertainment.” Sure the players like the enthusiasm. But there are seats located beneath or near speakers that are simply painful to the ears.
Richard Melniker Los Angeles
Pain at Pauley Pavilion
Thanks for the excellent article on loud music at Dodger Stadium, which reminded me of how annoying it was to watch UCLA basketball at Pauley Pavilion last season. Constant painfully loud rap and techno-music, measured at 90 decibels, which according to OSHA, can cause hearing damage from two hours of exposure. As an older alum, I would prefer to hear just the sound of the band playing and the cheers from the crowd.
Tony DeRiggi Sacramento
Go to the bullpen
What genius decided to use position players to pitch in the ninth inning when the team was either way ahead or way behind in a game? It's embarrassing to see lousy pitching, bases loaded, and hitters scoring. Use a regular bullpen pitcher, and spare us, your fans, from flinching.
Deborah R. Ishida Beverly Hills
Ace in the hole
Considering his recent outings and record, you'd have to say Clayton Kershaw is now the Dodgers’ staff ace. Great story for him, maybe even worthy of comeback player of the year, if he keeps it up. Also more than a bit ironic, given the big money paid to the Dodgers’ underwhelming three free agent starters. Kershaw might be barely hitting 90 mph on the radar gun, but he’s pitching effectively, and more important, taking his turn in the rotation — which is a noteworthy achievement on this staff.
John Merryman Redondo Beach
Envision it
Ever since he got his vision corrected in April, Max Muncy has been on a hitting tear! Which has me wondering … when can we expect a bobblehead night for his ophthalmologist?
Nick Rose Newport Coast
Memo to the Los Angeles Dodgers:
Find out who Max Muncy’s eye doctor is and send the rest of the team to him.
Ira M. Friedman Beverly Hills
Thunderstruck
Congratulations to the Oklahoma City Thunder for winning the NBA title. One thing I noticed about this very young team is how mature and classy they are. They don’t make ridiculous gestures like some of the old veteran superstars i.e. "Night Night," "Ice in the Veins," etc. I hope you veterans can learn something from these young champions.
Paul Kawaguchi Rosemead
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
If someone told you a year ago today that the Boston Bruins were going to select Boston College center James Hagens in the 2025 NHL Draft, it would have been easy to assume that the B’s had the No. 1 pick.
But the Bruins were lucky enough to land the Eagles star with the No. 7 overall pick in the first round of Friday’s draft in Los Angeles.
Hagens tallied 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games for BC last season. Even though a point-per-game scoring rate as an 18-year-old in Hockey East is pretty impressive, Hagens didn’t dominate at the level of other recent high draft picks from college, including 2024 No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini. Hagens’ lack of size at 5-foot-11 also might have factored into his draft slide.
But there’s no doubting his offensive talents. Hagens is an elite playmaker, an excellent skater and an underrated goal scorer. He’s been a first-line player at every level he’s played, and he certainly has the potential to fill that role at the NHL level someday.
“You look back at James’ track record, he’s been a prolific point producer,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters Friday night.
What did the experts think of the Bruins taking Hagens at No. 7 overall? Here’s a roundup of grades.
“The Bruins had a clear need for high-end talent in their farm system and a pressing need for top center talent. In Hagens, they address both. He’s an electric skater, puck handler and passer. He becomes the clear top young talent in their organization, and despite how he’s been picked apart at times for his size and physicality, he projects as a potential top-line forward.” — Corey Pronman
“It wasn’t that long ago when Hagens was considered the top prospect in this draft class. Despite his small size, Hagens has incredible skill and will likely end up as one of the better centers of this draft due to his creative and explosive play. This definitely feels like a steal for Boston, that’s for sure.” — Mary Clarke
“This is a huge win for the Boston Bruins who, let’s face it, have not done a great job drafting in recent years. The Bruins are also in the middle of a rebuild (retool, whatever you want to call it), and having a brilliant facilitator like Hagens as a piece of that is a big step forward. You can trust him anywhere on the ice. Boston needs that.
“Although Porter Martone’s potential and high ceiling got him our third spot over Hagens, I feel more confident that Hagens will reach his ceiling. He was the consensus No. 1 last summer, but being No. 4 on our board is not a slight on him, just commentary on how much impressive work we’ve seen from the three players ahead of him this season. He’s going to be an excellent player with development and time.” — Hannah Stuart
The Warriors made the expected move Saturday when they extended a $7.9 million qualifying offer to Jonathan Kuminga, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole confirmed.
Kuminga officially becomes a restricted NBA free agent ahead of Monday’s negotiating period, which begins at 3 p.m. PT.
Kuminga and the Warriors were unable to agree to a long-term contract extension before the 2024-25 NBA season, and he played out the final guaranteed year of his rookie deal.
In 47 games, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds on 45.4-percent shooting from the field and 30.5-percent shooting from 3-point range.
Kuminga’s fourth NBA season was hampered by an ankle injury sustained in early January, sidelining him for 31 games. When he returned to the lineup, Jimmy Butler had been acquired and the Warriors had a hard time fitting Kuminga into the rotation.
By the time the Warriors reached the NBA playoffs, Kuminga was out of the rotation and received four DNPs in their first-round series win over the Houston Rockets.
But Kuminga rejoined the mix against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round when Steph Curry sustained a hamstring injury. In the final four games, the forward averaged 24.3 points on 55.4-percent shooting, showing the Warriors and the rest of the NBA what he’s capable of.
Kuminga believes he can be a “great” NBA player in the right situation, and he understands that might mean leaving the Warriors, who drafted him No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.
But the Warriors still could retain a former lottery pick whom they have invested ample time and effort into.
The new Brad Pitt F1 movie offers a glossy exhilarating ride but its 1960s predecessor Grand Prix goes beneath the bonnet
‘Let’s try to get the season off to a good start, shall we? Drive the car. Don’t try to stand it on its bloody ear.”
Have you watched the movie? It’s about a rule-breaking American Formula One driver, the kind who blows past blue flags and crashes into his own teammate. You must have heard of it. They shot it in real race cars, across some of the most prestigious circuits in the world. It even had contemporary world championship drivers making notable cameos on the track.
A scrappy, smart defensive player in his formative years, a late growth spurt and shrewd coaching have honed the 23-year-old Briton into an opponent others now fear
Towards the end of 2018, a relatively unknown 16-year-old British tennis player took some of his first strides on the professional tennis circuit in a $15,000 (£11,000) tournament in Lagos, Nigeria on the ITF World Tennis Tour. Earlier that summer, Jack Draper had offered a glimpse into his considerable potential with a run to the Wimbledon boys’ final and his encouraging first tussles against adult opposition had earned him a modest ATP ranking of No 623. “I was very different then,” Draper says, smiling. “A bit of a maniac, to be honest.”
Those experiences were key in his development for various reasons. He ended that tournament by winning his third consecutive title, offering him more reason to believe he was on the right path. Along the way, he gained some essential perspective. “I’d have a wet [racket] grip, because it was so humid there. I’d put it in a bin and the kids were fighting over it. Just the energy from the people there, they were really passionate about tennis,” says Draper. “To go to those sorts of places was definitely … going from the UK and having a lot of, I guess, things given to me, it definitely helped the way I saw life.”
Angels right fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. makes a sliding catch during the eighth inning of a 15-9 loss to the Washington Nationals at Angel Stadium on Friday night. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)
Game 81. The halfway point of the 2025 season arrived at Angel Stadium — and the Angels, albeit squarely in contention at .500, were dealing with a bit of organizational uncertainty.
Bench coach Ray Montgomery took over the reins on June 20 as the acting — now interim — manager as the Angels entered Friday as winners in seven of their last 10 games.
The Angels are in a much better spot than 2024. This time last season, after game 81, they were 11 games under .500 — squarely out of the postseason hunt.
Friday, however, even after losing 15-9 in a three-hour, 11-minute slog of a series opener against the Washington Nationals (34-48), the Angels (40-41) still are just two games out of the third American League wild card spot.
In a game where the Angels and Nationals combined for 24 runs and 30 hits — with the 19 hits and 15 runs given up by the Angels’ pitching staff representing season-worst marks — what ultimately separated the teams was the Angels' inability to come through with runners on base.
In the sixth and seventh innings — down one and two runs, respectively — the Angels had opportunities to take the lead or tie the game with runners in scoring position, but failed to capitalize. From there, the Nationals' lead would grow, with Hunter Strickland giving up four runs in the ninth as part of a 10-run barrage against the Angels' bullpen.
In the early innings, the Angels had plenty of opportunities against Nationals starting pitcher Jake Irvin, who struggled against the heart of the lineup.
Jo Adell struck a 92-mph fastball high and away to right field for a solo home run — his 18th overall and 11th in June — in the second. An inning later, Nolan Schanuel and Taylor Ward received hanging breaking balls — a high curveball and slider, respectively — and pulled the ball for short-porch home runs.
Three home runs across three innings helped the Angels build a three-run lead. Across 4 ⅓ innings of work against Irvin, the Angels' lineup continued to click. They tallied nine runs (eight earned to Irvin) on nine hits — just enough for an early lead as José Soriano tossed his worst outing of the season.
Soriano couldn’t exit the fifth against the Nationals. The shutdown pitching he had featured in his last three starts — giving up just two runs across 20 ⅔ innings — looked like a distant memory. The right-hander struck out four and walked two, while giving up eight earned runs and nine hits.
Angels shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) returned to action, striking out in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter.
Before the game, Neto said that he’d likely be able to hit before throwing — something he’s yet to do — after jamming his shoulder on a stolen base attempt Tuesday.
Henry Brzustewicz, left, stands with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman after being selected by the Kings at No. 31 overall in the NHL draft at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
For Ken Holland, the Kings’ decidedly old-school general manager, new isn’t necessarily better. Take the NHL draft, for example.
Holland presided over more than a quarter-century of drafts with the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers, and they were generally held in one place, with everyone from the executives doing the drafting to the players being drafted on site.
On Friday, for the first time in a non-pandemic environment, the draft was conducted semi-remotely, with the top 93 draft-eligible players and their families filling some of the seats in the half-empty Peacock Theater in Los Angeles while team representatives made their selections from their home markets.
And whatever the league was attempting to accomplish with the decentralized format, other than saving on travel, it didn’t work.
After each pick was announced on a giant video board that took up two-thirds of the theater’s massive stage, players made their way up the aisle to be greeted by Commissioner Gary Bettman. They then pulled on a team jersey and hat before being led into the "Draft House" — a small virtual reality room in the center of the stage — for what amounted to a congratulatory Zoom call with the club’s brass.
The Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles hosts the NHL draft. (Juan Ocampo / NHLI via Getty Images)
The young men were celebrating the biggest moment of their lives yet they came off like Dorothy speaking to the Wizard of Oz. Much of it was awkward, especially when James Hagens, the eighth selection, was left waving at Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney after the audio in the Bruins’ war room in Boston went mute. That was just one of multiple technical glitches that included echoes and timing delays that left players and executives talking over one another.
When it became obvious the painfully slow-paced event would plod past 4½ hours, the Draft House was closed to some teams.
Brady Martin, the fifth pick, didn’t even bother to come to L.A. So when Nashville announced his selection — via a celebrity video taped at a golf course — the NHL showed a video of Martin working on his family’s farm. Russian goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov wouldn’t even get that treatment. When he was announced as the 20th overall pick, the NHL had nothing to show, making Andreyanov the first no-show of the no-show draft.
Matthew Schaefer, a 17-year-old defenseman from Hamilton, Canada,, who was taken with the No. 1 pick by the New York Islanders, said being part of video draft did not spoil his big day.
Matthew Schaefer stands between Michael Misa, left, and Anton Frondell after being selected 1-2-3, respectively, in the NHL draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Friday. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
“I'm just honored to be picked,” said Schaefer who cried, alongside his dad and brother, when his name was called. “I dreamt about it my whole life. It’s such an honor. Especially the first pick overall.”
For Holland, however, none of that counts as progress.
“I’m old and I’m old fashioned. So I like the old way,” said the Kings general manager, whose view was shared by other GMs around the league. “You draft some player in the sixth round and all of a sudden you hear ‘yay!’ way up in the corner. It’s him, it’s his family, and they’re all excited to hear [his] name announced by an NHL team.
“This weekend, to me, is about the young players.”
Aside from the technical difficulties, the actual draft went largely to form. The Ducks, as expected, took Roger McQueen, an 18-year-old forward from Saskatchewan, with their top pick, the 10th overall selection. The Kings, meanwhile, traded their first pick, No. 24 overall, to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After moving down seven spots they took right-handed-shooting defenseman Henry Brzustewicz, 18, a Minnesota native, with the penultimate pick of the first day.
Round two through seven of the draft will be conducted Saturday.
Roger McQueen, second from right, poses for photos with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, right, and actors Joshua Jackson, left, and Marguerite Moreau, second from left, after being drafted by the Ducks at No. 10 overall. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
The Ducks, who had a top-10 pick for a seventh straight year, see the 6-foot-5 McQueen as a raw talent who can develop into a top-line center.
“He has a big body. But what goes along with that is his skill and skating ability,” said general manager Pat Verbeek, whose team has 10 picks this weekend.
For the Kings, this draft was the first public move in what could be an intense couple of weeks. Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and winger Andrei Kuzmenko are unrestricted free agents and the team would like to re-sign both before they hit the open market Tuesday.
“If we re-sign Gavrikov, there’s not going to be a ton of change,” Holland said. “If we don’t, then there’s going to be change.”
Gavrikov, 29, emerged as a solid presence on the blue line, playing a career-high 82 games and posting the best goals-against average of the 17 defensemen to play at least 1,500 minutes. Former Kings GM Rob Blake made Gavrikov a contract offer last March, said Holland, who has since sweetened the deal twice. Replacing him, the GM said, could require a couple of signings.
Kuzmenko, 29, reenergized the offense after coming over from Philadelphia at the trade deadline, with the Kings going 17-5 and averaging nearly four goals a game down the stretch.
Kings fans cheer after Henry Brzustewicz is drafted by the team at No. 31 overall. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
“We like Kuzmenko. Kuzmenko likes it here; he likes his role,” Holland said. “I’m talking to him. I talked two, three, four times this week with his agent. So we’ll see.”
Signing both players would put a big dent in the Kings’ $21.7 million in salary-cap space.
“We have a lot of cap space but it doesn’t take much and it’s gone,” Holland said. “We’ve got to figure out how we want to spend our money and they need to figure out how much money they can get.”
Aside from Gavrikov and Kuzmenko, the Kings don’t have many loose ends to tie up. The team is confident it can get forward Alex Laferriere, a restricted free agent, to agree to a short-term deal and it has to decide whether to re-sign David Rittich, an unrestricted free agent, as the backup to starting goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper.
Two players who could be moving on are forward Tanner Jeannot and defenseman Jordan Spence, both of whom are looking for more ice time and may have to leave to get it.
