Here's what to know and how to tune in to Monday's NCAAF game between between TCU and North Carolina.
After losing to Ohio State, Texas is one of a select group of No. 1-ranked teams to lose their season openers
The Longhorns are just the seventh team to lose their first game of the season after being the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25.
Justin Verlander gives Giants vintage performance with gutsy win over Orioles
Justin Verlander gives Giants vintage performance with gutsy win over Orioles originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – After getting plenty of swing-and-misses from the Baltimore Orioles through the early part of his outing Sunday, Giants starter Justin Verlander opted to pitch more to contact as his afternoon was ending.
With a pitch count that had risen like a good tech stock, Verlander didn’t have much other choice.
“Toward the end there I was really just making pitches and trying to put the ball in play, and still got a lot of foul balls,” Verlander said after throwing 121 pitches over five scoreless innings in a 13-2 win over Baltimore in the final game of San Francisco’s homestand at Oracle Park. “You could definitely tell there was a little hit of fatigue setting in, but overall everything felt fine physically. Just tried to tone things down a little bit and tried to force some contact.”
Verlander looked a lot more like the pitcher with three Cy Young Awards at home rather than the guy whose first Giants season has had more ups and downs than an elevator.
Against the Orioles, Verlander had a day for the record books.
With 10 strikeouts, the 42-year-old became the oldest pitcher in franchise history to reach double-digit K’s, a title formerly held by Giants great Vida Blue.
Verlander also is the oldest pitcher in MLB to have 10 strikeouts and go five innings or longer since Roger Clemens did it with the Houston Astros in 2005.
The last pitcher in MLB to achieve that milestone was one-time Giant Randy Johnson, who was 18 days away from his 45th birthday when he did it for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.
Giants manager Bob Melvin didn’t sound surprised at all by what he saw from Verlander.
“In a day when you feel like you’re penalizing somebody if they throw 100 pitches, to throw 120 in five innings … he didn’t want to hear anything about coming out,” Melvin said. “Here we are knocking on the door in September, and to do it like he’s doing it now, and throw that many pitches, it’s hard work. There’s a competitiveness to him that very few have.”
That same competitiveness probably is why Verlander didn’t make a big deal about his day.
The high pitch count and short outing was a bigger concern.
“It’s hard for me. The old school in me is like, ‘It was only five innings,’ ” Verlander said. “I’m not sure I’ll go home and say that was a great start.”
It might not have been great, but it definitely was vintage Verlander for much of the afternoon.
He gave up just three hits, pitched out of jams in the first two innings and overcame four walks. His fastball clocked in faster than it has been in recent games, and he generated a season-high 23 swing-and-misses out of the Orioles’ lineup.
It’s the first time this season that Verlander has won back-to-back starts, and it certainly sparked renewed belief from Giants fans.
San Francisco already has a solid one-two punch atop the rotation with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Verlander now is firmly locked in as the No. 3 starter, which could give teams all kinds of problems if the Giants make it to the MLB playoffs.
Beyond the boxscores, Verlander’s season has been a good example for some of the Giants’ other pitchers.
Despite an arsenal of accolades that surely will land him in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Verlander suffered through some rough times earlier in this season but stayed committed to what he knew.
He didn’t flip out when things got tough and stuck to his process of trying to improve.
“It’s inspiring,” Carson Seymour toldNBC Sports Bay Area. “The best players, especially Justin, they’re always working on something, always trying to get better. That’s why he’s had the career he’s had.”
Verlander had to change things up to get this win. Normally heavily reliant on his fastball, the veteran pitcher went to his off-speed and breaking pitches to dazzle Baltimore’s hitters.
Even then, his pitch count kept steadily rising.
“They really battled [and had] a lot of foul balls,” Verlander said. “I’d rather not throw 120 in five innings. I’d rather it be seven, eight or nine.”
On Sunday, it didn’t really matter. It was the type of game that Verlander and all Giants fans have been hoping for since the day he signed with the team.
Shocking Ratings And Stats In NHL 26
Throughout this past week, EA Sports NHL 26 released the ratings of each team’s top 10 players. In other words, they revealed 320 player ratings.
Along with these overall ratings, EA Sports has also released six attribute ratings for each player so far: speed, acceleration, deking, passing, slapshot power, and wrist shot power.
Some ratings just make sense, like Connor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers’ No. 97 - being the highest-rated player in the game at 97 overall. Other ratings might leave fans scratching their heads.
Here are a few of the most surprising or shocking ratings that NHL 26 have released so far. For more NHL 26 coverage, check out The Hockey News' dedicated gaming site.
Jake Walman, 87 Overall
Oilers defenseman Jake Walman has received a significant upgrade to 87 overall in NHL 26, compared to his original rating of 83 in NHL 25. The best attribute he’s received so far is his slapshot power, a 92 rating. NHL EDGE can vouch for Walman’s powerful shot as he sits in the 94th percentile in that category.
However, does Walman’s play on the ice justify his 87 overall rating? His overall equals defensemen such as Jakob Chychrun, Brock Faber, Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones and teammate Mattias Ekholm.
Last season, Walman scored seven goals and 40 points in 65 games between the Oilers and the San Jose Sharks. There’s no denying that the 29-year-old has an offensive upside and a powerful shot, but for an overall rating, he might be too high.
Ivan Demidov, 85 Overall
In the coming years, Ivan Demidov is destined to be one of the most exciting players in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens. However, the 19-year-old Russian has only played seven regular-season and playoff games in his young career.
Among wingers in the NHL, Demidov matches the rating of Alexis Lafreniere, Jake DeBrusk, and Pavel Buchnevich, as well as teammates Patrik Laine and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Not to mention his 92 deking rating that puts him ahead of star players like JT Miller, Jordan Kyrou, and Patrick Kane.
Sophmore Jump
With Demidov as an example, EA Sports has shown that they are not afraid to boost player ratings, even if that player hasn’t been around for much time.
The Mt. Rushmore of 2024-25 rookies - Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson, Dustin Wolf and Matvei Michkov - all received massive upgrades for NHL 26.
Celebrini, Hutson, and Michkov all received an overall rating of 88 after one season in the NHL. In terms of individual attributes, Hutson has the highest deking rating of 94. Remarkably, that suggests the defenseman has better deking than Kane, as mentioned, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Mitch Marner and plenty more.
Celebrini’s best stat is also his deking, which is rated at 93, and Michkov is given a 92 passing rating.
Celebrini's 'Earned The Right To Be In The Conversation' For The Olympics, But Whose Spot Does He Take?Is Macklin Celebrini better than Connor Bedard?
As for Wolf, he was awarded an 87 overall rating. He beats out goaltenders such as Logan Thompson, MacKenzie Blackwood and Anthony Stolarz, all of whom either matched his .910 save percentage from last year, or better.
All these players show great promise, but only once the season rolls along will it be clear if EA Sports got these ratings right.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech: College football live scores, games, highlights
After a drama-filled Saturday, college football's opening weekend rolls on with two marquee matchups Sunday.
Who is FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos?
Florida State University's quarterback Tommy Castellanos was thrust into the spotlight as FSU football took down the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Walker Buehler signing highlights busy Sunday of transactions for Phillies
Walker Buehler signing highlights busy Sunday of transactions for Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies signed veteran right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler to a minor league contract.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced the move prior to Sunday night’s game against the Braves.
The plan is for Buehler to start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley next Saturday before starting for the Phillies on September 12 against the Royals, at which point the Phillies will go to a six-man rotation.
The Phillies had planned to go to a six-man rotation in mid-August to give their starters extra rest. But the team abandoned that plan following Zack Wheeler’s season-ending injury.
“We’re very excited to have him,” Dombrowski said of Buehler. “We think he makes us better.”
Dombrowski was asked what specifically he likes about Buehler.
“A lot of things,” he said. “He’s been a very successful major league pitcher, he still has a good arm, has a variety of pitches at this point. This year hasn’t been as good for him as other years but we still like a lot of his stuff. We think we see some things that can hopefully help him.”
The 31-year old Buehler was released by the Red Sox on Friday after posting a 5.45 ERA in 22 starts and one relief appearance this season.
“He’s willing to work with us,” Dombrowski said. “We have a very good pitching coach in Caleb (Cotham). We spent some time on a zoom visit with him going over those things (that he can improve).
“You don’t have to worry about him being concerned about any type of anxiety in pitching in a postseason game if we get to that point.”
Signing Buehler before September 1 means he will be eligible for the postseason roster. He has vast postseason experience, sporting a 3.04 ERA in 19 career postseason games, including 18 starts. He recorded the final out of the 2024 World Series for the Dodgers.
This is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move that will cost the Phillies less than $1 million for the rest of the season.
Buehler signed a one-year deal worth more than $21 million with Boston prior to the 2025 season after spending the first seven years of his career with the Dodgers.
Buehler was one of the best starting pitchers in baseball earlier in his career. He was selected to the National League All-Star team in 2019 and 2021, finishing in the Top 10 of the Cy Young voting each of those seasons.
Phillies announce Tim Mayza signing
It was a busy Sunday for the Phillies front office. The club claimed left-handed reliever Tim Mayza off waivers. To make room for Mayza on the 40-man roster, the Phillies transferred Wheeler to the 60-day injured list.
Mayza will be added to the Phillies active roster on Monday when MLB rosters expand to 28 players.
“In the Mayza case, a couple things happen,” Dombrowski said. “One is that (Jose) Alvarado cannot pitch in the postseason. If (Mayza) pitches as we anticipate, he’s in a position where it could give us three left-handers in the bullpen.”
Mayza would potentially join Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks as the three left-handers in the Phillies’ postseason bullpen.
“In the past we talked about moving one of our starters (to the bullpen in the postseason),” Dombrowski said. “But without having Wheeler, I’m not sure how that’s going to mesh. So we have the potential to use the three left-handed starters (Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo) in addition to (Aaron Nola) being our big four (in the postseason). That’s all just looking ahead, I don’t what’s going to happen in that regard.”
The 33-year old Mayza posted a 2.89 ERA in seven appearances for the Pirates this season. He went on the injured list in mid-April with a lat strain and has not pitched in the big leagues since.
Mayza had a 1.93 ERA in four rehab appearances before Pittsburgh placed him on waivers Sunday morning.
Mayza has a 3.85 career ERA in eight MLB seasons. He’s an Allentown native who attended Upper Perkomien High School and Millersville University.
The return of Garrett Stubbs
Dombrowski announced that Garrett Stubbs will also join the Phillies roster on Monday. The Phillies want to add a third catcher to give Rob Thomson the flexibility to use J.T. Realmuto as a pinch hitter in games that Rafael Marchan starts.
The 32-year old Stubbs hit .265 with eight home runs, 50 RBI and a .754 OPS in 71 games in Triple-A this season.
Stubbs was Realmuto’s backup catcher from 2022 through 2024. He has a .222 batting average with a .628 OPS in 141 career games with the Phillies.
Jonas Vingegaard powers to Vuelta stage nine win with Valdezcaray climb
Dane cuts nearly two minutes off gap to leader Træen
Tom Pidcock and João Almeida finish second and third
The twice Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard won stage nine of the Vuelta a España with a solo attack on the climactic climb to Valdezcaray on Sunday, shaving nearly two minutes off the gap to the overall leader Torstein Træen, who is ahead by 37 seconds.
Visma-Lease a Bike’s Vingegaard dominated the 13.2km category one climb at the end of the 195.5km ride from Alfaro to the Valdezcaray ski resort and although Tom Pidcock and João Almeida tried to chase, they finished 24sec off the pace.
Continue reading...Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey makes bold claim after his alma mater suffers an early loss to FSU
Alabama suffered an early and embarrassing loss, but Marlon Humphrey isn't shaken by the result.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, hits second hole-in-one in 12 months at Junior Players
16-year-old also hit ace at 2024 PNC Championship
Woods has had impressive junior season so far
Charlie Woods carded his second recorded hole-in-one after firing an ace on Sunday during the third and final round of the Junior Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Starting the round on the back nine, Woods was even-par through 11 holes on Sunday before he covered the par-three third with one shot from 177 yards out at TPC Sawgrass.
Continue reading...Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer after loss to Florida State: ‘We’ve got to do a better job’
DeBoer said "I choose to believe we've got a good football team." which may lead Alabama fans to ask why the results haven't reflected that.
Predicting The NHL's Metropolitan Division Rankings In 2025-26
Where it once was the NHL’s most competitive division, the Metropolitan Division is now on a level with the Pacific Division as the league’s two least competitive divisions. But this shouldn’t be interpreted as a total rip job on the Metro division. Because when you read this article, you’ll see that the Metro is going to be a tougher division this coming season than it was last year.
In this short THN.com series, we’re taking an educated guess at how each NHL division will play out in this regular season. Below, you’ll find this writer’s rankings of the Metropolitan Division; You’ll also see where each Metro Division team was placed in The Hockey News’ Yearbook & Fantasy Guide 2025, and their odds of being Metropolitan Division winners, per BetMGM.
1. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 1st
BetMGMMetropolitan Division Winner Odds: 2.55 (+120)
Why I've Ranked Them First: For a good long while now, the Hurricanes have been a favorite of media and fans to go far in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Unfortunately, the furthest Carolina has gone in the playoffs has been the Eastern Conference final. And when they got there, the Hurricanes have not performed well, winning exactly one game in three third-round series combined since 2018-19.
You can see why the pressure on ‘Canes GM Erik Tulskly is intense, and why he went out and spent his salary cap space wisely; first, he signed a high-end scoring winger in former Winnipeg Jets sniper Nikolaj Ehlers. And with some veteran departures on defense (Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov), Tulsky traded for New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller. These two acquisitions will add to Carolina’s depth, but the bar for the team is now extremely high. And they still have $10.6 million in cap space. The Hurricanes are fast, slick and serious, and this is a year that could very well see them winning the Metro Division and getting past the third round. They’re an ongoing experiment of Tulsky’s, and they need to break through – and make it past the conference final – if they’re to justify Tulsky’s experiment.
Why I Could Be Wrong: The Hurricanes may be playing with fire if Ehlers is injured – and that’s often, as he’s only played one 82-game season since 2018-19. And there may not be any difference-maker player available to them via trades and free agency. And this ‘Canes group – even with the terrific coaching of Rod Brind’Amour – simply hasn’t delivered as it tried to make the jump into the Stanley Cup championship round.
Also, we’re not 100 percent sold on Miller being the top-paid defenseman on a Cup-winning team. True No. 1 D-man Jaccob Slavin earns $6.39-million for the next eight years – an astonishingly great number from a team-friendly perspective – and somehow, Miller signed for $7.5-million-per-season. And now you know why some are seeing cracks in the structure of the Hurricanes. Carolina can’t afford to struggle all year and flip a switch at the start of the post-season. And they sure can’t afford to lose early in the playoffs or once again fail to produce in the Eastern final. They’re a great team, but they now need to prove they’re as great as they’re made out to be.
2. Washington Capitals
The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 3rd
BetMGM Metropolitan Division Winner Odds: 5.75 (+475)
Why I've Ranked Them Second: The Capitals surprised more than a few observers last year by storming out of the gate. They went 8-2-0 at the start of the season; then, they went 21-6-2 by mid-December; and by the third week of March, they went 47-15-8. Led by the reigning Jack Adams Award winner Spencer Carbery, the Caps have proven to be relentless on offense, and mobile on defense.
They eventually wilted in the second round of the playoffs against Carolina, but Washington managed to be excellent for a long stretch of time last season. They didn’t finish the season well, but you can say that about 30 other teams in the league. So the Capitals need a statement season, announcing that last season’s dominance is going to be expected throughout every season moving forward. And the way you start doing that is to thrive in the regular-season and set up home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Even if the Caps slip a little in the Metro standings, they’re still going to be a team to keep your eyes on.
Why I Could Be Wrong: Washington’s defense corps is regarded as one of the NHL’s best, and they’ve got solid depth just about everywhere. But the Capitals are like most other teams in that they can’t afford to be bitten hard by the injury bug. Washington indeed had nine players with at least 14 goals last year – and seven players with 20 goals or more – but a catastrophic injury to one of the Caps’ key players, and Washington could find itself slipping down the Metro standings.
As well, while the Capitals had strong goaltending in particular from Logan Thompson, who went 31-6-6 last year and who posted a .910 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average. Meanwhile, Thompson’s tandem-mate, Charlie Lindgren, put up sub-par individual numbers (including an .896 SP), but still went 20-14-3. What happens if Thompson’s SP falls below .900? You’d have to think a slide down the standings could happen for Washington in that scenario. So the Caps might fall to third or fourth in the Metro, but Washington is all but guaranteed to be a playoff lock.
Can Ovechkin Break Gordie Howe's Single-Season, Age-40 NHL Record?Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals’ ageless wonder, seems to set a different scoring record every year.
3. New Jersey Devils
The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 2nd
BetMGM Metropolitan Division Winner Odds: 4.60 (+360)
Why I've Ranked Them Third: After last season’s disappointing end – losing meekly to the Hurricanes in a five-game Round 1 victory for the Hurricanes – the Devils had some soul-searching to do. But while New Jersey GM Tom Fitzgerald promised change, he also kept much of the lineup together. Signing free agents, including former Edmonton Oiler Connor Brown and former Dallas Stars winger Evgenii Dadonov, and re-signing backup goalie Jake Allen were important moves, and the type of moves that show Fitzgerald still believes in his core.
We’re not here to tell you Fitzgerald hit home run after home run with his lineup changes. But when healthy, he’s still got a lot of talent to work with in New Jersey. Whether it’s Jack and Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Nico Hischier or Jesper Bratt, the Devils benefit from some Grade-A talent, and they’re undoubtedly a playoff team this season. But that won’t be enough to satisfy Fitzgerald. The Devils need to play with conviction and lay it all on the line, because if things don’t go well for them in the post-season, they’ll be facing significant roster change. That should motivate them to be a lock for the playoffs, even if they don’t finish with home-ice advantage.
Why I Could Be Wrong: The injury bug has proven to be this Devils team’s biggest adversary in recent memory, with Jack Hughes, Hamilton and winger Ondrej Palat all missing a considerable amount of time. If any of those players – or any of New Jersey’s other top talents – is knocked out of the lineup for weeks or months, the Devils’ hold on third place could slip, and they could be faced with earning a wild card berth. Not ideal, but that’s what injuries do to you.
We could be wrong about New Jersey’s resilience in the face of cornerstone players on the injury reserve, but the Devils have managed to be a playoff team regardless of who’s been on the ice. Even if we’re wrong about New Jersey finishing third in the Metro, we still see them as being deep enough and skilled enough to assert themselves as a year-in, year-out playoff team.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 6th
BetMGM Metropolitan Division Winner Odds: 31.00 (+3000)
Why I've Ranked Them Fourth: Every year, there’s one team you feel compelled to take a chance on in your NHL predictions. And for us, that team is the Blue Jackets. Columbus may not jump out as a full-on Cup threat at this point in their competitive trajectory, but from this writer’s perspective, they look good to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20.
It isn’t just that the Blue Jackets have youngsters maturing into needle-movers at the NHL level. It’s that there’s a genuine competition for top spots on the team, and that leads to a team actively pushing itself to be better. Columbus’ defense corps is quietly quite formidable with superstar Zach Werenski leading the way, and if starting goalie Elvis Merzlikins has a rebound year – not a guarantee, but still a possibility – the Jackets can end their playoff drought and send a public message that they’re headed to new levels. That journey actively begins with finishing in a playoff spot this season. And that’s our hunch for Columbus.
Why I Could Be Wrong: For one reason or another, the Blue Jackets haven’t spent to the salary cap upper ceiling, leaving themselves $15.5-million in cap space. Does that frustrate Columbus fans? We believe it should. If you’re a young team trying to take that next competitive step, you want all the help you can get. And leaving so much cap space on the table speaks to one of two situations – either ownership doesn’t want to spend to the ceiling, or GM Don Waddell is strategically hanging on to the cap space to spend at next year’s free-agent bonanza. Needless to say, one of those situations is a lot better than the other one.
Making a major jump in any NHL division is extremely difficult. And if that attendant pressure overwhelms Columbus’ youngsters, the ensuing results won’t be pretty this year. The Blue Jackets have struggled to put it all together and find a way to thrive in the East, but our guesstimate on the Jackets is exactly that – a guess. It’s as possible as anything that Columbus falters and continues its playoff drought, but the optimistic side of us still believes the Blue Jackets will take an important step next year.
5. New York Rangers
The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 4th
BetMGM Metropolitan Division Winner Odds: 6.50 (+550)
Why I've Ranked Them Fifth: The Rangers did have a solid off-season, adding veteran first-pair defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov via free agency. But is Gavrikov going to put this Blueshirts team on his back and carry them back to the top of the Metro? No, no, he won’t. So while the Rangers won’t be as bad as they were last season, it’s going to be extremely difficult for them to quickly and easily be a playoff team again. And in fact, they may fall short of that goal.
Although most Rangers players are under contract for at least the next two seasons, there’s a sense of uncertainty about this Rangers team. It could be because one player who will be a UFA next summer is superstar left winger Artemi Panarin. The Russian sniper had a down season by his standards last year, and although he’s got all the motivation in the world to turn things around, he could struggle again. And that would almost certainly spell doom for the Rangers’ playoff hopes.
Why I Could Be Wrong: Rangers GM Chris Drury got a contract extension at the end of last season. So he’s convinced team ownership that he can turn around the Rangers’ fortunes and get the team back to its level in 2023-24. So who knows – perhaps Drury has gotten it all right, and the Blueshirts will be a playoff team once again.
And maybe this new iteration of the Rangers has more grit and determination to it than recent Rangers teams have had in them. Maybe star goalie Igor Shesterkin ratchets his game back to his 2021-22 level, when he posted a .935 SP in 53 appearances. That’s the kind of play that would make life much easier for Shesterkin’s Rangers teammates. And with new coach Mike Sullivan providing structure and discipline in his players, the Rangers could surge in the standings and return themselves to a truly elite level.
The New York Rangers Have A Very Tough Task Of Bouncing BackThe New York Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy two seasons ago, then plummeted to 11th in the Eastern Conference last year. That's quite the change.
6. Philadelphia Flyers
The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 5th
BetMGM Metropolitan Division Winner Odds: 36.00 (+3500)
Why I've Ranked Them Sixth: The Flyers have been an intriguing experiment for GM Daniel Briere, with the former star Flyers center patiently doing the right thing and building slowly through the draft. That means accepting holes in the roster and finding ways to mitigate problems as Philadelphia brass keeps its eyes on the long term.
Briere was one of the more active GMs this summer, signing former Montreal Canadiens center Christian Dvorak to a one-year deal and trading with the Anaheim Ducks for center Trevor Zegras. But while the Flyers are a team to keep your eye on, they’re still well behind the majority of the Metro, and they’re going to need another couple of years of growing pains before they can reliably be a playoff squad.
Why I Could Be Wrong: Some teams have the luxury of playing nearly pressure-free, and the Flyers are one of them. With new coach Rick Tocchet coming in and providing confidence to his players, Philadelphia’s core component players are going to experience great growth. There’s lots to like about this Flyers team, but we say that knowing it will take time and seasoning for this franchise to be guaranteed locks for the playoffs year-in and year-out.
The big question right now is the Flyers’ goaltending situation. Briere signed veteran Dan Vladar to come in and help make a difference in net. But the most games Vladar has played in a single season is 30. He’s not going to stand on his head for this team or any other team. Thus, it’s definitely possible that the Flyers fall to seventh or eighth spot in the Metro. It’s a rocky road ahead for them, and even if Briere is making all the right moves to make this franchise relevant again, it’s going to take time and patience to realize this vision.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 8th
BetMGM Metropolitan Division Winner Odds: 101.00 (+10000)
Why I've Ranked Them Seventh: It really is astonishing – and worth a whole chapter in the history books – that the Penguins have employed Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang for their entire careers, and they’ve missed the playoffs for the past three seasons. It takes a special kind of demoralizing sequence like that to make you aware that nothing is guaranteed in professional sports.
With rookie coach Dan Muse hired to help this Penguins team transition into a regular playoff team, Pittsburgh is almost certainly going to stumble for stretches – some of them, lengthy stretches. The Pens are in a taxing situation right now, so imagining they’ll somehow turn it all around and return to the playoffs is also a stretch. Pittsburgh needs to go in one situation or another – either they’re going all-in with Crosby/Malkin/Letang/, or they’re all about the future, because serving two masters is devoting not enough time to either. And that will likely lead to another disappointing season for the Pens.
Why I Could Be Wrong: Can you really bet it all that Crosby is going to end his career playing on a Penguins team that was feeble and not talented enough to keep pace with the league’s true top teams? We’re not sure that he’ll suffer that fate. He may not be ready to be traded just yet, but Crosby does control his future, and he’d command a king’s ransom in any trade, so it would ultimately benefit the Penguins to move Crosby to the highest bidder. Is it a pipe dream? Probably. But never say never.
Meanwhile, if Muse sparks the Penguins to an unexpectedly strong start, Pens GM Kyle Dubas has $13-million in cap space to use to bulk up Pittsburgh’s roster for what will almost surely be the last run with their Hockey-Hall-of-Fame core. The Penguins are desperate enough to pull off a shocker, and the Pens’ players might have enough gas to make this Pittsburgh team a post-season team.
Why The Penguins Should Convince Star Center Evgeni Malkin To Accept A TradeThe Pittsburgh Penguins are essentially two different teams. The first Penguins team is a veteran-laden squad featuring star forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and star defensemen Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson. And the second Pittsburgh team is the one that’s actively being planned for the future, featuring youngsters and prospects including wingers Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen, and defensemen Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke.
8. New York Islanders
The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 7th
BetMGM Metropolitan Division Winner Odds: 31.00 (+3000)
Why I've Ranked Them Eighth: This is one of those picks that at first may look like a condemnation of a franchise or its coaching and management. But we believe the Islanders are on the right road to eventually be a first-rate, constant Cup threat. It’s just going to take a long road for them to get there.
That road more or less began when the Isles won this year’s draft lottery and selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer to be a cornerstone on the blueline for them for the next decade and a half or more. But the Islanders took a hit when new GM Mathieu Darche dealt away star blueliner Noah Dobson to the Canadiens. And the end result, at least, for the moment, is that an already questionable defense corps is going to be not nearly as good. That fact, along with their dog’s breakfast of forwards, will push the Isles far down the Metro standings. That’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler.
Why I Could Be Wrong: There are a number of Islanders veterans – center Bo Hovat, wingers Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee – who didn’t sign up for a full-on rebuild, But if they’re really unwilling to suffer through that pain that’s ahead, Darche is going to oblige them and trade them for a small fortune. Because the truth about the Islanders is that they need to take a few steps back before they can rebuild as a legitimate Cup contender.
They’re not close to that point right now, and once the roster focus moves toward the long-term, Islanders fans will have to be satisfied that Islanders management is employing the safest building strategy. No more “mushy” middle finishes for this group. They need to tear it down to the studs, even if it means trading veterans they’d otherwise hang on to. It’s time for an era of building slowly and steadily on Long Island, and if they can do that, the Islanders will be a strong group. But it won’t be a strong group for the interim. Patience is needed as they discover and develop their new and improved identity.
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Senators Believe Arthur Kaliyev Has A ‘Unique Skillset’
Former New York Rangers forward Arthur Kaliyev is looking to salvage his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators.
This past season the Los Angeles Kings placed Kaliyev on waivers after an up and down stint in Hollywood.
He was quickly claimed off of waivers by the Rangers as the organization believed in his talent and were willing to take a chance on Kaliyev.
However, Kaliyev struggled in New York, only playing 14 games with the Rangers. He was scratched out of the lineup on multiple occasions, while he suffered an upper-body injury in March that kept him out for the remainder of the season.
This offseason, the Senators signed Kaliyev to a one-year, two-way contract, giving him another chance to prove his worth.
The 24-year-old forward is known for his rocket of a shot and he clearly has the talent to become an impactful NHL player.
Senators general manager Steve Staios believes that Kaliyev has a unique trait of skillsets that intrigued him enough to bring the 2019 second-round pick on board.
“Well, (I have) a long history with Artie," Staios said. "He was an exceptional shooter and goal scorer at the junior level. And we still feel like he has qualities that can translate (to the NHL). His game started to develop in LA on the defensive side of things. Obviously, like all players coming out of junior, when you have a knack for scoring and that's how you help your team, you focus on that.
"I think he's been able to round out his game on the defensive side with his time in LA and under Todd McLellan. And then, you watch the transition to New York and then injuries last year. And I think it was an opportunity for us to get a player again with some upside and a unique skillset."
Kaliyev will compete at training camp in hopes to carve out an opening-night roster spot with the Senators.
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Devils Prospect Arseni Gritsyuk Eyes Calder Trophy, Playoff Run
Arseni Gritsyuk is ready for his first season as a New Jersey Devil.
The 24-year-old announced on social media that he was heading to New Jersey to compete for a spot in the Devils’ lineup.
After signing with the Devils in May, Gritsyuk has been one of the franchise’s most anticipated prospects.
In a recent interview with TASS, a Russian media outlet, he shared his expectations for the upcoming season.
“I can’t make any predictions, but I have a score target that I’ve set for myself. To achieve it, I will, of course, have to work hard. But I am not going there to relax, so we will work.”
The 6-foot winger is projected to make an early impact. While he will need to adjust to the North American style of play, his numbers from past seasons suggest he has the potential to be a strong contributor.
When asked if he would fight for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year, Gritsyuk gave a direct answer:
“Well, why go then? I’m not going there as a spectator.”
It’s clear Gritsyuk is coming to New Jersey to win. He’s fresh off a strong season with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he tallied 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 49 games.
Over the past five seasons, Gritsyuk has ranked among SKA’s top five players in points, goals, and assists.
His skill will be on display during the Devils' training camp as he battles for a roster spot. But he has another goal in mind as well, helping the Devils make a deep playoff run. After being eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year, the team is looking for redemption.
When asked about joining the organization, Gritsyuk explained his mindset:
“Well, how can you keep track of what their ceiling is? There will be a different team there now, different guys have arrived, so I can’t say that we will have exactly the same goals,” Gritsyuk told TASS. “First of all, I’m going there to show myself, to help the team and, of course, to set the highest goals for myself. Because every hockey player has a dream of winning the Stanley Cup, to touch it. Therefore, we need to set the highest goals for each season.”
Gritsyuk is expected to arrive in Newark any day now, and Devils fans can begin to get excited about his first NHL season.