Get ready to stay up late, Cubs fans. Major League Baseball announced the TV schedule for the Wild Card Series Sunday and the Cubs, at least for Games 1 and 2 Tuesday and Wednesday, will be playing at 9 p.m. Central time.
Here’s the entire schedule for the first two days of Wild Card baseball:
There are various scenarios for Thursday, Oct. 1, depending on how many games are being played. If the Cubs are playing a Game 3, here’s how it would shake out.
If there are three games Thursday, the Cubs would again play at 9 p.m. Central time. But here are other three-game scenarios for Thursday:
Now, here are the scenarios for two games, if the Cubs are still playing Thursday:
And if the Cubs/Padres series is the only game on Thursday, it would start at 7 p.m. CT and be televised on NBC and Peacock.
Thus, note: You will have to have a TV subscription that includes Peacock and/or NBC Sports Network to watch the Cubs’ first two games of this series.
UPDATE: The games listed as being on Peacock and NBC Sports Network are being carried only on those channels and will NOT be on any over the air TV channels.
For the second time in a week, veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield has been traded.
Charlotte, which acquired Hield on Tuesday in the Dorian Finney-Smith trade, has now moved him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Rob Dillingham and cash, a trade both teams confirmed Sunday morning.
The cash in the trade covers that Hield makes $2.8 million more than Dillingham this season. Hield is set to make $9.7 million this season, but only $3.1 million of his potential $10.1 million for next season is guaranteed. Dillingham, entering his third NBA season, is on his rookie contract and will make $6.9 million this season, and the Bulls can choose to pick up his $8.8 million option for next season.
Chicago adds a veteran shooter to a roster that could use more floor spacing. Last season, in 51 games between Golden State and Atlanta, Hield averaged 7.6 points per game while shooting 34.9% from 3-point range (the lowest percentage of his career, for which he has averaged 39.5%).
Charlotte still has 17 players on its roster heading into camp and will have to cut a couple of players before the start of the season — this trade saves the Hornets money under the cap for the salaries they may have to eat (something they already did with Ryan Nembhard). Dillingham could be one of the players waived.
Dillingham, 21, was the No. 8 pick of the Spurs in 2024 and was traded to Minnesota on draft night with the hope that he would develop into the replacement at point guard for the aging Mike Connolly. That didn't work as either side hoped, and Dillingham was traded to Chicago near the deadline last season, and now the Bulls have moved on from him, too. In his two NBA seasons, Dillingham has averaged 5.5 points and 2.1 assists per game, shooting 32.4% from 3-point range.
The nor'easter that has hit the Northeast United States has thrown some wrenches in Major League Baseball's final week, with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs scheduling a doubleheader on Friday – then playing Sunday's game in Florida – to avoid rainouts.
Originally all of MLB's Sunday finales had a synchronized start time of 3 p.m., but two games without playoff implications – Yankees-Orioles and Nationals-Mets – were bumped to earlier in the day with rain forecast in the areas.
The Phillies looked to be a lock for the MLB playoffs but have fallen apart in recent weeks while being chased down by the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks. But Philadelphia controls its own destiny and will clinch the NL's final wild card spot with a win or an Arizona loss.
Should the Phillies lose and Diamondbacks win, Arizona would get into the postseason via the intradivision record tiebreaker since the two teams split the seasons – and Philadelphia would miss the postseason for the first time since 2021.
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: A.J. Ewing #9 of the New York Mets celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a three run home run in the seventh inning during the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS Juan Soto – LF Bo Bichette – 3B Carson Benge – RF Marcus Semien – 2B Brett Baty – 1B Luis Torrens – C A.J. Ewing – CF Ronny Mauricio – DH
SP: Sean Manaea – LHP
Nationals lineup
James Wood – DH Andres Chaparro – 1B Brady House – 3B CJ Abrams – 2B Dylan Crews – RF Jacob Young – CF Daylen Lile – LF Harry Ford – C Nasim Nunez – SS
SP: DJ Herz – LHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:05 PM ET TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins moved a handful of players to injured reserve ahead of Monday's 5:00 p.m. final roster deadline.
Forward Blake Lizotte (upper-body, day-to-day), forward Justin Brazeau (lower-body, week-to-week), forward Ben Kindel (lower-body, week-to-week), and defenseman Ryan Graves (lower-body, indefinitely) were placed on injured reserve, clearing up four roster spots for the Penguins ahead of opening night on Sept. 30 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
In addition, the team announced that forwards Bryan Rust (upper-body) and Tristan Broz (lower-body) - presumably, both injured during Saturday's 3-1 pre-season finale win over the Buffalo Sabres - would not practice with the team Sunday are being evaluated.
Lizotte practiced with the team Sunday.
The news came after three more players were re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), which were forward Bill Zonnon, defenseman Harrison Brunicke, and goaltender Joel Blomqvist. Taking out the players placed on IR, the Penguins are down to 25 players on their active training camp roster.
If Rust and Broz are added to injured reserve, that would trim the NHL active roster down to the set maximum of 23.
Of note, forwards Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and Filip Hallander all remain part of the active camp roster, as does defenseman Ilya Solovyov, who figures to occupy the seventh and final defensive slot to start the season. With Brunicke sent back, it appears the Penguins will elect to keep 14 forwards as opposed to eight defensemen if they decide to max out their roster.
The Penguins will have a day off Monday, which is when the final NHL roster will likely be submitted to the NHL's Central Registry.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We so back the Bulletin is already here.
Meanwhile, JB was doing his thing on SNL and Deuce McBride has some saucy comments to share with a fellow Knickerbocker scribe ahead of his contract year.
Here’s the latest from around some places, and remember, we’re just 24 hours from Knicks Media Day!
NEW: Miles McBride wants to stay in New York long-term. The Knicks won't cross the second apron to make it happen — making his future in NYC cloudy at best.
"I'm a little disappointed… I hope we come to some type of agreement. I’ve played thru injury.”https://t.co/sLk51kvAkX
On his contract situation and wanting to remain with the Knicks:
“I love being in New York. Obviously, I’ve been here my whole career. I’m a little — I’m a little disappointed. Of course, you want to obviously come to the right terms, and I want to be in New York. So yeah, it’s a little hard at times, but I’m gonna be a professional. I want to go out and do my job. So that’s in my ability, and to help the team win for as long as I’m with the team.”
On handling the uncertainty surrounding his future and hoping to reach an agreement:
“Not just Quick, but in the NBA, you see it all the time with [contract disputes leading to trades], and you just have to be a professional. You can’t worry about those things. I hope we come to some type of agreement. I’ve played through injury. I’ve been through a lot with this team, and I’ve worked my way into being a key guy. So you know, I’d love to get something done.”
On enjoying the championship summer and preparing to defend the title:
“It’s been a blessing. The whole summer’s been nothing but love. But getting back to it, getting ready to defend that championship — and hopefully bring home another one.”
On becoming the longest-tenured Knick following Mitchell Robinson’s departure:
“Oh, man. I miss my guy Mitch. But it’s crazy, honestly. Just thinking about coming in as a rookie, just trying to survive and trying to make it to the next deal and things like that. So it’s been it’s been cool.”
On continuing to expand his game:
“It’s a big recency bias type of thing when it comes to the NBA. I know I’m capable of a lot of things, but sometimes, the game is: it’s only one thing and you got to play different roles. So, I’m ready to always expand my game.”
On showing what he can do when given opportunities:
“I feel like in times where guys have been out, I’ve been able to show a lot. So it’s always — to me — it’s about opportunity. I feel like I’ve continued to grow and improve every single year.”
Jalen: "Questions?"
OG: "Remember in Game 4 when you took that shot in the end and you missed it?"
On approaching the new season after winning the NBA championship:
“Is it cliché if I say it’s 0-0 again? That’s kind of the same thing we said every playoff game, and when we won and kept winning it was great. But this season is about us going out there and starting again at 0-0. Bringing that same hungry team, that team that’s hungry to prove everyone wrong. The underdogs.”
On the Knicks still viewing themselves as hunters after winning the championship:
“I don’t think we have a big target because I don’t think anyone is picking us to win again. We’re using it as fuel, we’re still the hunters, we’re not satisfied with one.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 6: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to the media at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center on August 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Since being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in July, Jaylen Brown has embarked on a global series of side quests.
Not to mention his trip to a Shaolin Temple in China to learn Kung Fu prior to the trade, Brown has made it abunadntly clear that he moves to his own rhythm, and cultivates his own voice on his livestreams to push back against the mainstream sports media take environment.
While the dust settled on Brown’s divorce from the Boston Celtics, anonymous league insiders attacked Brown’s intelligence, speaking on it as a “disease” for the rest of his teammates.
Colin Cowherd says NBA sources told him Jaylen Brown became the "smartest guy in every room" — and the Celtics had enough 👀 Brad Stevens made his move. #NBA#JaylenBrown#Celticspic.twitter.com/9UcK2lLpw6
— The Volume Basketball (@volumebball) July 2, 2026
Brown has made it known he felt disrespected by the manner in which the Celtics split unfolded.
“There was definitely a message being sent, and that message was received. I wasn’t thrilled with the amount of respect that was shown during this process,” he said during a Twitch live stream in July. “I did feel like it was a lack of respect.”
It is hard to imagine another sports city for Brown to silence the doubters, stick it to his former team, and be a leader on and off the court outside of Philadelphia.
Coming off his best season as a pro, Brown averaged a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rrebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference’s second seed in a pre-determined ‘lost season’ due to the absence of Jayson Tatum (Achilles). The campaign earned him All-NBA second team honors.
As we saw in the first round matchup between the Celtics and Sixers, Brown was inconsistent as the main cog of the offense, shrinking into a one-trick bag which utilized a controversial push-off move to create space from the defender. It resulted in 10 offensive fouls called on Brown in the series, as the Sixers came back to win it after trailing three games to one.
While the push-offs are a valid concern come spring for the Sixers, it is safe to say Brown should never be in a situation where the offense boils down to him beelining a drive through the thick of the defense. With the supporting cast (on paper) of LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, Brown will never be left alone on an island like he was last postseason.
In fact, the Sixers roster this season is comparable to the Celtics championship roster in 2024. A deep, defensively capable wing position, dynamic combo-guards who can pass, shoot and hold their own defensively. The only difference is the center position, which Joel Embiid remains incomparable to the likes of Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis for a multitude of reasons.
Brown is expected to fit in a crucial leadership role the Sixers have not had since The Process began — the insight championship experience can bring. His subdued tone and demeanor could be a strong foil to the shining pillar of basketball knowledge James will bring to the table. He could offer perceptive hands-on tips for guys like Edgecombe, Labaron Philon, Justin Edwards and Dominick Barlow, especially if James were to naturally focus more on guys like Maxey and Embiid.
As James recently said on the Mind the Game podcast, helping players like Embiid, who’s resume is really only missing a ring, was part of the reason he chose Philadelphia. Although Brown did not chose the Sixers, his breadth of valuable winning experience could be another wave of support in the right direction.
Brown has displayed a knack for cutting off-ball, and it should continue to be a point of emphasis for the Sixers. If Maxey or James is penetrating and drawing multiple defenders or Embiid is being doubled, expect to see a lot of timely slashes to the rim and decisive passing from the other playmakers. Head coach Nick Nurse could get uber creative on this front.
Brown’s addition in transition will be lethal. The Sixers are now equipped with three of the four highest fastbreak scorers in the league with Maxey (7.2 transition points per game), James (7.1) and Brown (6.7). The question will be if they can close out possessions on defense to utilize their super power on the open floor, with rebounding being the big question mark.
Brown shot 34.7% from deep in the regular season, and 40% in the playoffs last season. If Brown can adjust to more off-ball opportunities, expect to see the regular season percentage go up, even if the volume of shots moves back a notch.
Brown has been a consistent wing defender throughout his career, utilizing active hands to catch drivers off-guard and his sneaky length to tightly contest pull-up jumpers. How much he helps the frontcourt defensively, both at the rim and rebounding, will be a focal point heading into the season. If he can help ease the load on Embiid and James on that end, it could do wonders for the team’s health in the back half of the campaign.
James also explained how he empathizes with Brown, and what their joint force can bring the team.
“I love the way he approaches the game, too,” he said. “Both sides of the floor, what he brings to the game. His insight on the game. I’ve watched him. Kind of misunderstood. And that is absolutely OK. I think we are all individuals for a reason. Everyone’s always trying to put everybody in the same box. And I love what he stands for and what he brings to the table in that fashion.”
“We’re two of the guys on the team that’s been through the foxhole and been through the wringer of what it takes from the moment we step on the court for training camp to the moment we raise that Larry O’Brien Trophy,” LeBron said. “We know what it takes. Just trying to make sure we’re on the same page and have everybody else on the same page.” – Mind the Game on YouTube
A Finals MVP, five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA second team, the man knows how to win on the court, and be a vocal philanthropist off of it. Just days after the trade, Brown was back in Boston at MIT to launch his foundation’s annual STEM and leadership program targeting underserved high school students. The man follows through, and embodies everything that Philly stands for.
It is almost time to see the side-quest king do it on the court. Whether you believe that skydiving, boxing and fencing are proper activities to get prepared for the long season or not, Brown does not care. He is one-of-a-kind and will be at the forefront of the Sixers push to get over the second-round hump, and bring the Larry O’Brien back to South Philadelphia.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 4 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Jersey #4 is one of the more popular numbers to be worn.
Let's take a look at who wore 4, and where they are now
Lyle Odelein - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Montreal in 1986.
The first-ever Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Odelein played 146 games and had 33 points. He retired in 2006 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bryan Berard - 2006-2007 - Drafted by Ottawa in 1995.
Berard played 55 games as a Blue Jacket and had 35 points. The former #1 overall pick in 1995 had an up-and-down career and retired in 2009 after playing a year in the KHL.
Clay Wilson - 2008-2009 - Undrafted out of
Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota.
Wilson played 7 games in Columbus and had three points. He retired in 2020 after playing one season in Ukraine.
Nathan Paetsch - 2010 - Drafted by Washington in 2001 and then drafted by Buffalo in 2003. (re-entry)
He played 10 games as a Jacket and had zero points. He never played another NHL game after Columbus and retired in 2019 after spending several seasons in the AHL.
Sami Lepistö - 2011 - Drafted by Washington in 2004.
Lepistö played 19 games and had 5 points. He left for Europe in 2012 and played there until he retired in 2023.
John Moore - 2012-2013 - Drafted by Columbus in 2009.
Moore played only 86 games in Columbus and scored 8 points. On April 3, 2013, the New York Rangers included Moore in the deal that brought Marián Gáborík to Columbus.
He last played for the Anaheim Ducks.
On March 19, 2022, Moore was involved in a trade that sent him to the Anaheim Ducks along with Urho Vaakanainen in exchange for Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks then attempted to trade both Moore and the rest of Ryan Kesler's contract to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Evgenii Dadonov and a conditional second-round pick at the NHL trade deadline on March 21, 2022. However, the deal was disputed due to a no-trade clause in Dadonov's contract. On March 23, the NHL officially cancelled the trade; therefore, Moore remained in the Ducks' organization.
Kevin Connauton - 2015-2016 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2009.
Connauton played 81 games and has 27 points as a CBJ. He currently plays for the Tucson Roadrunners in the AHL.
Scott Harrington - 2018-2022 - Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2011
Harrington played 185 games for the Blue Jackets after being traded to Columbus by Toronto with a conditional pick in the 2017 NHL Draft for Kerby Rychel on June 25, 2016. Those 185 games would be spread out over six seasons, with 2018-19 being the year he played the most games at 73. He scored 7 goals and totaled 37 points in his career with Columbus, with the 18-19 season being his most productive with 17.
During his time in the Columbus organization, he would also play 52 games for the Cleveland Monsters, scoring 7 total points.
Harrington signed with San Jose in 2022 and was then traded to New Jersey in February of 2023. New Jersey would then put him on waivers a few days later, where he would be picked up by Anaheim and play 17 games.
In 2023, Harrington would leave for Europe and play for the ZSC Lions of the Swiss League. After playing just 14 games in 23-24, he would return to North America for the 24-25 season and play for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL.
Harrington is signed to play with the
Belleville Senators of the AHL for this season.
Vladislav Gavrikov - 2023 - Gavrikov was drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Gavrikov played 256 games for the Jackets over the course of 4 seasons. He totaled 15 goals and 73 points. Gavrikov is widely considered one of the best late-round picks to ever play for the Jackets, despite his short time in Columbus. He played great defense and would always seem to show up on the scoreboard.
After he signed a three-year, $8.4 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets in November of 2020, former GM Jarmo Kekäläinen decided to trade Gavrikov to the LA Kings in March of 2023. A decision that a lot of CBJ hated and wondered why it happened. Kekäläinen knew Gavrikov was going to want a hefty raise and didn't want to pay him.
Gavrikov signed a two-year extension with LA just a couple of months after the trade. In the summer of 2025, Gavrikov would get his big contract. He signed a 7-year, $49-million deal with the New York Rangers, which will take him into his mid-30s.
Cole Sillinger - 2024-2025 -Drafted in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Silinger wore #34 for two years before switching to #4 before the 23-24 season. It's hard to believe that Cole Sillinger is going into his 6th NHL Season already.
After scoring 31 points as a rookie, his second season was anything but good. Totaling just 11 points, he only played in 64 games and was demoted to AHL Cleveland. His third season was definitely a bounce-back year for young Sillinger. He would score 13 goals and total 32 points.
Sillinger has had three career seasons straight after that bad second season. In 25-26, he set a career high with 25 assists and tied his career high in points with 25. He became more of a playmaker last year, playing with Charlie Coyle and Mathieu Olivier. That line was arguably the best line on the team for the majority of the season, and other teams' lines had a really hard time against them.
In July, the CBJ signed Sillinger to a 3-year, $13,875,000 contract to keep him in Columbus.
There are four days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Who was your favorite #4?
With the conclusion of training camp and the preseason behind the Chicago Blackhawks, they are starting to inch closer to cutting their roster down to its opening night state.
On Saturday, they sent Connor Mackey to the Rockford IceHogs on loan. Now, on Sunday, they announced that they have loaned forward Dillon Boucher and goalie Drew Commesso to Rockford as well.
Their roster stands at 26 players, including 16 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders. More decisions are set to be made as they prepare for Tuesday's opener versus the Vegas Golden Knights.
Mackey and Boucher were forwards that the Blackhawks had up with the team to fill some spots in preseason lineups and practice. Players with over 100 NHL games played can only play in 2 exhibition games, but the team also wanted to get its most important pro prospects to AHL camp, so Mackey and Boucher got to stay up with the NHL club a little longer.
As for Drew Commesso, it wasn't as much of a backup battle with Arvid Soderblom as some would have thought. His being on a two-way deal while Soderblom finishes out his one-way deal likely has something to do with it, but Soderblom was also excellent after some off-season adjustments. He will be the backup to Spencer Knight.
It is unlikely that the Blackhawks carry 8 defenders, and some more forward decisions are inevitable too. More transactions are on the way; stay tuned.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a save against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes finished up their preseason schedule with a dominating, 6-0 win in Nashville.
Six different players scored and 11 players had points in the thrashing. Brandon Bussi played very well as he earned the shutout making 22 saves on the 22 shots he faced.
The team looked much like the team that played so well in the playoffs.
Jackson Blake started things off just 5:02 into the game when he scored a powerplay goal from in close.
Two minutes later Jordan Martinook would score and the Canes never looked back.
Later in the opening period, Nikolaj Ehlers stole a pass and broke in alone. He made it 3-0, Carolina in the opening period. The Canes outshot the home team, 9-5 in that decisive period.
Late in the second, Blake would slip a nice pass to Logan Stankoven who made no mistake, making it 4-0. The two linemates had broken in on a 2-on-1 break.
Mark Jankowski and Andrei Svechnikov both had powerplay goals to close out the scoring in the third. The Hurricanes went 3-4 with the man advantage.
Felix Unger Sorum did not look out of place while playing with the top line and he finished with an assist. Charles Alexis Legault played 15 minutes on the blueline and finished with a (plus+1) along with a team high four blocked shots.
Blake led the team with 3 points.
The Canes look ready for their season opener against the Panthers on Tuesday night but they still have a couple of roster decisions to make.
The Montreal Canadiens players might have a day off Sunday. Still, the Habs brass will be busy making the decisions that will ultimately shape the Sainte-Flanelle’s roster for opening night on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. By 5 PM Monday, the team must submit its final 23-man, cap-compliant roster. Cap compliance won’t be an issue, but which players will make the roster?
22 players have NHL contracts, which means that, on paper, unless Kent Hughes finds a way to make room, only one extra player can get a spot. It would be surprising to see the Canadiens waive a player to make room for another; Hughes isn't in the business of losing assets for nothing, even ones that have decreased in value.
On Saturday night, Florian Xhekaj played yet another strong game against the Ottawa Senators, skating on a line with Owen Beck and Tyler Thorpe. The younger Xhekaj landed six of the 15 hits the Canadiens gave on the night, including a bone-crushing one that sent Adam Nemec back to the room and ended his worknight after a minute and 39 seconds of action. The Habs’ forward was sent to the box for two minutes for interference, a questionable call based on the result rather than the hit itself.
Xhekaj wasn’t on the ice when Djibril Toure landed a big hit that Alex Newhook felt to his core. Josh Anderson flew to the rescue, but in his eagerness, he flew in, threw his gloves off, lost his balance, and found himself pinned to the ice by Toure. As the Sens 6-foot-7 defenseman was heading to the penalty box, Xhekaj came over to have a word, no doubt telling him he had noted his number. Ultimately, he didn’t follow through on that promise, though, with the Canadiens tying the game and then taking the lead; it wasn’t the right time to get into a tussle, and the winger recognized that, which will no doubt earn him points with coach Martin St-Louis.
All through camp, Xhekaj has performed the same way with remarkable consistency, which didn’t go unnoticed by the coach:
He certainly doesn’t have an identity problem. He knows what he is and what he brings, and he brought it with consistency throughout camp.
- St-Louis on Xhekaj
As for Xhekaj himself, he feels he did everything he could to earn a spot:
I think I did almost everything I could to show them what I can do out there and how I play. So, yeah, I think I did everything.
- Xhekaj on his performance at camp
On the eve of his third professional season, there is no doubt that this has been Xhekaj’s strongest showing. At camp in 2025, he put on so much weight that it felt like he wasn’t fast enough anymore, but this time around, at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he looks like he's found his sweet spot. He’s heavy enough to bring a big physical game, and he’s strong enough to do it with pace and create opportunities by separating his man from the puck on the forecheck.
Xhekaj has shown exactly what he is and how useful he can be. The Canadiens have long needed more sandpaper up front, a line like the New York Islanders had with Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck. Xhekaj could help the Canadiens get there; he could be the first part of an identity line, but for that to happen, the Habs would need to have room.
As things stand, and with Kaiden Guhle’s injury, it stands to reason that the 23rd man will be a defenseman, more than likely David Reinbacher. It’s a shame for Xhekaj; he’s right when he says he’s done everything he could. The rest is not in his hands; it’s in Hughes’ hands. I have no doubt Xhekaj has had a better camp than Kirby Dach, but the latter has an NHL contract, and it’s hard to imagine Hughes putting him on waivers, considering what he had to give to acquire him in 2022.
Still, if Xhekaj doesn’t have a spot on the roster for opening night, it shouldn’t be long before he does. An injury, a trade- things happen during the season, and he should be the first forward recalled should the need arise.
Chris Fagan kept faith in his Lions which meant they could thrive with the weight of the football world upon them – and rip out Fremantle hearts
There is no precedent for what happened at the MCG on Saturday. There have been devastating finals losses before – the Bulldogs losing the 1997 preliminary final to Adelaide and St Kilda losing the 2009 grand final to Geelong immediately spring to mind. A senior St Kilda staffer described the rooms after that game as resembling “a casualty ward following a mass disaster”. Thankfully, we don’t talk about sport like that any more. The modern athlete and the modern sporting club is better able to put their world into some sort of perspective.
The prevailing mood in the rooms, in the stands and on the trains on Saturday was a mix of desolation and bewilderment. Part of it was Fremantle’s history. Part of it was the decision to activate Wharfie Time. Part of it was just how quickly it all happened. You establish an identity and for more than three decades you scratch, claw and hope. And in five minutes, your heart is ripped out.
ATLANTA, GA MARCH 01: North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts reacts following the conclusion of the college basketball game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on March1st, 2025 at Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We still have to wait just a little over a month before UNC plays their first meaningful basketball game in the Dean Smith Center, but the anticipation is agonizing. With a brand new squad, a brand new coach, and brand new overall energy in the building, it is hard to keep focus on everything else going on in Chapel Hill. Now that the Heels have had their official practice of the season, there have been some sources that have given first impressions of what they saw or have heard, but there was one guy that I did not expect to hear from, and that is former NC State head coach Kevin Keatts.
Many readers likely know this already, but Keatts hung up his whistle in favor of a gig with ESPN. He ended up creating a practice report from the first UNC practice, and here is what he had to say:
Got a first look at Coach Malone's first team in Chapel Hill. Fast, deep, and they can protect the rim. @UNC_Basketball is built to play uptempo and it shows. pic.twitter.com/sBBCLV32tq
“Mike Malone’s first team at UNC will feature speed, playmakers, and rim protection. Really like the play and leadership of Utah transfer Terrence Brown. Neo Avdalas and Jarin Stevenson have ACC experience and great size at both forward positions. Remember the name Sayon Keita, an elite shot blocker. UNC is built to play uptempo this season.”
Everything that Keatts has had to say tracks with other things that we’ve been hearing this week. It sounds like Michael Malone plans to play with a lot of tempo, which is not shocking given his NBA pedigree. It’s also interesting that Keatts highlighted Sayon Keita, because there has been a lot of talk about how raw the former international player is. That isn’t to say that he isn’t raw — he is certainly a work in progress, and the team is hoping to have Cameron Fens’ eligibility issue cleared up so that he can potentially start — but saying “elite shot blocker” for a raw player is intriguing. It’s hard not to get excited knowing that there may be a Caleb Wilson supplement on the team, because it will be hard to achieve what they want to achieve without some reliable rim protection.
Another interesting note from Keatts was his appreciation for the play and leadership of Utah transfer, Terrence Brown. It really seems like Brown had to play a certain role with the Utes that made him seem like more of a ball-dominant guard rather than a playmaker, but he mentioned on the Carolina Insider podcast that he wants to prove himself as a playmaker this year. It’s still unclear as to who will be the lead facilitator for this team between him and Neo Avdalas, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the two split duties in some manner.
I appreciate Kevin Keatts giving his thoughts about the team, even if he stopped short of giving his prediction for the season. What do you think of Keatts’ assessment, and also, what do you think of all the other intel that has been shared over the last few days from other outlets? Let us know in the comments below.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting closer to finalizing their 23-man roster.
They made three more cuts on Sunday, sending forward Bill Zonnon, defenseman Harrison Brunicke, and goaltender Joel Blomqvist to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
None of these moves should surprise anyone, since they were all expected to start the season in the AHL. They all had great camps, but there's simply no room for them on the NHL roster right now.
The Penguins have assigned the following players to @WBSPenguins (AHL):
F Bill Zonnon D Harrison Brunicke G Joel Blomqvist
That said, there's a good chance you'll see all three of them in the NHL at some point this year. The Penguins already have a ton of injuries to begin the season and could have others pop up during the year.
Brunicke figures to play with Owen Pickering to begin the year in WBS, while Zonnon will play in the top nine. Blomqvist will be the starting goaltender after serving as the 1B behind Sergei Murashov last year.
Speaking of Murashov, he has made the NHL roster and will be behind Arturs Silovs to start the 2026-27 season.
The Penguins will open the regular season on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
