The 2026–27 season has gotten off to a slow start for the Vancouver Canucks, and this particular stat only emphasizes it.
In a 3–2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, Vancouver surrendered their third hat-trick of the 2026–27 season to take sole-possession of the league’s lead in hat-tricks allowed. Brady Tkachuk became the third player to score a hat-trick against the Canucks this season with his three-consecutive goals for Florida.
Vancouver began the 2026–27 season by allowing a hat-trick against in their season-opener. Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard put three goals past the Canucks in a 6–5 overtime win for Vancouver. Five games later, Vancouver surrendered their second hat-trick against, with Logan Stankoven of the Carolina Hurricanes being the one to score three this time around. Carolina won that game by a score of 7–2.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Vancouver sat tied for first in the NHL in hat-tricks allowed, with the New York Islanders being the other team to allow two. So far, the Islanders have surrendered hat-tricks against Alexis Lafrenière and the New York Rangers, as well as Brandon Hagel and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In 2025–26, Vancouver surrendered a total of five hat-tricks throughout the year. The first came on November 5 against Tyler Bertuzzi and the Chicago Blackhawks. They allowed their third hat-trick of the season on March 4 against the Hurricanes, with Nikolaj Ehlers putting three past Vancouver. The first team to allow three hat-tricks in 2025–26 was the St. Louis Blues, who did so in their 33rd game of the year — a 7–2 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Oct 1, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) and goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) react as Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) and forward Vasily Podkolzin (92) celebrate a goal scored by defenseman Evan Bouchard (2) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Boston Celtics (3-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-2) Friday, October 16, 2026 7:00 PM ET Preseason Game #4 Road Game #2 TV: NBA-TV Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, Sirius XM Xfinity Mobile Arena
The Celtics come to the end of their preseason slate as they travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers for the second time in this preseason. These 2 teams played in Boston on Wednesday when the Celtics won 144-106. In that game Brown, Embiid, and James all sat out the game while the Celtics played all their starters and the Celtics dominated.
The 76ers made one of the biggest moves of the off season, trading Paul George to the Celtics to get Jaylen Brown. They also signed LeBron James, Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti and Anfernee Simons as free agents. They drafted Labaron Philon, Jr with the 22nd pick in the draft. Along with Paul George, they lost Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Jr and Andre Drummond.
The Celtics rested their starters in the first game against the Cavaliers and then played them in the second and third games against the 76ers and the Hornets. I expect that the Celtics will once again rest their starters in this game. The 76ers rested their starters except Brown in their first game against the Knicks, which they won. They played all their starters against the Nets and lost. They sat most of their starters, except Edgecombe and Maxey against the Celtics and lost. I expect them to play their regular rotation in this game.
The Celtics have just one player on the injured list for this game. After a big game against the Cavs, he missed the past 2 games due to an illness. He is listed as a game time decision for this game due to an illness. After the first game, he was considered to be the frontrunner to win the open 2-way spot and hopefully we will get to see him play in this game. I expect the top 6 or 7 players to be added to the injury report for rest.
For the 76ers, Dominick Barlow missed the first 3 games with a back injury and is listed as doubtful for this game. Adem Bona missed all 3 preseason games so far with a foot injury and is expected to miss this game as well. Ariel Hukporti tore his Achilles in their first preseason game and is out for this game. Anfernee Simons missed the first 3 preseason games with a hamstring injury but has returned to practice. He is expected to miss this game, however. Tacko Fall is listed as questionable with a hip injury.
I’m expecting the Celtics starters to sit out this game. I really don’t know who will start but I expect to see some of the Exhibit 10 guys as Joe Mazzulla makes his decision for the final 2 way spot and possibly the open roster spot as well. The Celtics started Conley, Scheierman, Walsh, Gonzalez and Garza in the first game but I’m thinking he goes with a different lineup in this game. I expect the 76ers to start Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid, but they also may experiment with another lineup for their final preseason game.
Prior to this game, the 76ers made a few small changes to their roster. They waived Duke Miles and Saint Thomas, who were on Exhibit 10 contracts. After waiving those two players, they signed Cris Carroll and Taye Fields to Exhibit 10 contracts, which will then give them a chance to later join the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. But first, they have a shot at playing some late preseason minutes in the finale.
The preseason isn’t just a time to experiment with the players. It’s also a time to experiment with coaches. In the first game against the Cavaliers, Joe Mazzulla turned the coaching reigns over to two of his assistants. Tony Dobbins handled the lead coaching responsibilities for the first half, and DJ MacLeay took over for the second half. Against the Hornets, Mike Conley took over some of the coaching responsibilities, notably the substitutions. Sam Cassell is expected to handle the head coaching duties for this game.
Boston Celtics Roster Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley Luka Garza Paul George Hugo Gonzalez Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Neemias Queta Mitchell Robinson Baylor Scheierman Jayson Tatum Jordan Walsh Derrick White
2-Way Players Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Exhibit 10 Players Devin Carter Tucker DeVries Hayden Gray Gabe MccGlothan Milos Uzan Injuries Devin Carter (illness) game time decision
Players to Watch Devin Carter and Milos Uzan Which player will impress enough to win the final 2-way spot?
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Philadelphia 76ers Roster Jaylen Brown Kentavious Caldwell-Pope VJ Edgecombe Justin Edwards Joel Embiid LeBron James Tyrese Maxey Labaron Philon, Jr Dean Wade Jabari Walker
2-Way Players Caleb Love Rayan Rupert
Exhibit 10 Players Tacko Fall Dillon Jones Jameer Nelson, Jr Cris Carroll Taye Fields
Injuries Tacko Fall (hip) game time decision Dominick Barlow (back) doubtful Adem Bona (foot) out Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) out Anfernee Simons (hamstring) out
Players to Watch Jaylen Brown and LeBron James How will these 2 alpha players mesh and fit together?
Head Coach Nick Nurse
What to Watch Exhibit 10 Guys – This will be the last opportunity for Devin Carter, Tucker DeVries, Hayden Gray, Gabe McGlothan, and Milos Uzan to make an impression and to make their case for the final open 2 Way spot. So far, Devin Carter has played the best of the 5 but he also missed the last 2 games and is questionable for this game. Milos Uzan has also made a good impression with his play. Gray, DeVries, and McGlothan all had moments but I believe they are behind both Carter and Uzan for that final spot.
Offensive Rebounding – The Celtics dominated the boards on Thursday against the Cavaliers. They had 21 offensive rebounds to just 6 for the Cavs. The Celtics beat the 76ers 19-7 on the offensive boards. They had 9 offensive rebounds to 7 for the Hornets. The Celtics need to dominate the offensive glass in this game also.
Defense – Defense is the key to winning each and every game. In the 3 games so far, the Celtics have shown that they are making the effort to dominate on the defensive end of the court. If that effort continues, the Celtics could very well have the best defense in the league. Hopefully we will see them to continue to make defense a priority.
Depth – If the Celtics do sit their starters for this game, they will need their depth to shine once again. In the first game, with the Celtics sitting their starters and the Cavs playing theirs, the Celtics reserves won the game. In all 3 games so far, the Celtics have gotten strong play from their reserves and hopefully, that will continue in this game.
X-Factors It’s the Preseason – The preseason is a time for the coaches to get a look at players who may or may not make the team, to experiment with lineups and different plays. Wins and losses are not as important as learning things about the players and the team. We certainly won’t see the regular rotation for the Celtics and that’s ok.
On the Road – The Celtics will close out their preseason on the road. Many times, young players struggle more on the road than they do at home. The Celtics young players did just fine in Cleveland and hopefully they can play as well in Philly. The 76ers will have the crowd behind them and we know that Brown will be extra motivated to impress his home fans.
The 2026 Yankees won 93 games in a year in which superstar Aaron Judge played just 66 games. That’s not a bad total, but it feels like it could, and should, have been more. General manager and Senior VP Brian Cashman routinely builds contending teams, and he should get credit for that, but he and his staff should be aiming higher and doing more to bring the title back to the Bronx.
A Wild Card Series win against the Boston Red Sox was a nice way to start the postseason, but the sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays exposed many harsh realities that are directly tied to Cashman and his decisions.
For the Yankees, 93 wins is not enough. They need to be the best team in the division, because that would bring them additional benefits in postseason play, such as home-field advantage and a ticket straight to the AL Division Series. Everybody in the organization is responsible for how the season plays out, but the spotlight will always point to the head of baseball operations.
Offseason moves and decisions
Cashman didn’t have a particularly bad offseason, but there were some notable holes when the season started. He didn’t find proper replacements for the rehabbing Anthony Volpe and the underwhelming Ryan McMahon: the former ended up being demoted in early August when the organization promoted George Lombard Jr., and the latter posted a 78 wRC+ and just 0.5 fWAR in 124 games. Volpe eventually returned and played an important role in the stretch run and during the postseason.
Extending Trent Grisham a qualifying offer was seen as a moderate risk when it happened, but it was a reasonable one since the outfielder had hit a career-high 34 homers in 2025. The outfielder declined this year, particularly on defense, but at least it wasn’t a long-term commitment.
The trade for Ryan Weathers was universally acclaimed, and it was a good piece of business on Cashman’s part. He ended up posting career-bests in ERA (3.60), fWAR (2.5), and innings pitched (137.1). The executive also brought back Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger.
Some of them were nice additions, particularly the 2019 NL MVP, but Cashman left the roster exposed to injuries and underperformance in many spots, and that’s on him, too. The bullpen was a bit thin, as some of his past trade experiments, such as Jake Bird, Ángel Chivilli, and Camilo Doval, just didn’t work. The same can be said about Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest. We are more than willing to give Cashman a pass in the bullpen, since the unit finished with the second-best ERA in MLB, though.
Trade Deadline activity (or lack thereof)
The Bombers entered the deadline with a few notable needs, which Cashman was very much aware of. They could have used a catcher given Austin Wells’ season-long slump up to that date, a reliever or two, a starter, and a right-handed outfielder.
They flirted with several backstops, but ended up empty-handed on that front to the frustration of fans. They did bring in Luis García Jr., who had been enjoying an amazing year in Washington with 23 homers and a 133 wRC+.
Heliot Ramos’ arrival was met with mixed reviews, and he posted a disappointing 93 wRC+ in pinstripes. He did have a 184 wRC+ vs. lefties during his time in the Bronx, which was one of the main reasons behind his acquisition. Giving up left-handed pitching prospect Henry Lalane to get him hurt, though. Speaking of…
Prospects and young core
Yes, you could say that the Yankees’ deadline was a disappointment, although some might disagree. However, they managed to keep most of their top prospects, including Lombard, Dax Kilby, Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodríguez, and Ben Hess. The promising Lalane was the lone exception.
They represent, together with Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice, Spencer Jones, Weathers, and Will Warren, the next wave of young talent that will, theoretically at least, keep the team highly competitive for the next 3-7 years. Keeping them all, particularly Lombard when half the league was asking for him in trade conversations, was a win for Cashman.
The rest of the farm, however, needs work. A lot of work. The Yankees will need to draft well and be active in the international market in the next couple of years to revamp their depleted system. At least Cashman took a step towards solving the situation, dismissing longtime international scouting director Donny Rowland and replacing him with Mario Garza in January.
Player development wins and losses
As every general manager, Cashman had some player development wins and losses when looking at the final picture of the 2026 campaign. He and his staff managed to turn Blackburn into a very useful reliever with his 1.59 ERA in 85 innings, and he got a nice season from Weathers, too.
Schlittler took a step forward into stardom, and Brent Headrick and Warren also improved in 2026. On the other hand, they couldn’t fix Doval, Luis Gil, McMahon, or Volpe, and Jasson Domínguez remains a fringe player. Grisham and Wells were also subpar for their standard.
The offense, generally speaking, had a mediocre year with a 101 wRC+ that ranked 14th in MLB. Yes, injuries to Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and other key hitters certainly hurt, but the feeling is that Cashman could have done better, or more.
Bottom line
We have said it multiple times in this space: the Yankees need new voices. They need to listen to more prepared people. They can’t keep doing the same things in personnel decisions, player analysis, research and development, and scouting and expect different results. Unless the ownership decides to part ways with their longtime executive, it will be on Cashman to push that change within the organization: does he have that in him, though? It’s at least a fair question.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts to a team basket against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 15, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Overreacting to preseason games is one of the least productive thing that basketball fans and media do, and yet, it’s hard not to draw certain conclusions from two teams matching up, whether or not such games count for regular season standings.
In particular, the Raptors’ two-point loss against the Knicks last night has exemplified an ongoing problem with two matchups against against Atlantic Division rivals, the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
Starting in December of 2023, the Raptors have dropped 15 regular season games in a row against the New York Knicks, meaning that for almost three years now, across various iterations of both franchises, Toronto has not been able to win a single game against the Knickerbockers.
TORONTO, CANADA – JANUARY 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts to a team basket against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 15, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A similar situation arises regarding the Boston Celtics, who, since December 2022, have won 15 of 16 games against the Raptors, winning four season series in a row, dropping only one game early in 2025. Adding insult to injury, the Celtics also beat the Raptors in their only playoff matchup back in 2020.
When the Raptors were middle-of-the-pack or losing, falling apart to some of the best teams in the league is not a particularly big issue, but now that the team is trying to contend in a meaningful way, these patterns emerge as a real problem.
After defeating the Knicks’ bench squad by 50 points on October 13th, Barnes expressed lukewarm feelings about the victory: “Obviously, they didn’t really have their guys out there on the floor,” he said. He continued, explaining that it ”felt solid though, win the game, but, you know, we got a game, we got tomorrow.”
The day before, Barnes was asked about his feelings on the matchup in Toronto, to which he seemed to struggle to find the words. After the reporter clarified, asking whether being at home “gave it some added juice,” Barnes finally settled on his response, putting it simply.
“Got to get better.”
Barnes’ honesty is refreshing, and after the matchup against the Knicks’ starters went awry, it does demonstrate that the Raptors are doing just that: getting better. But, a loss is still a loss, and from a morale perspective, dropping yet another game against the Knicks must be a difficult thing to stomach. However, this loss should serve as a turning point for Toronto, from which the team can turn around and rally, taking, or at bare minimum splitting, both season series against New York and Boston.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors puts a shot up over Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks during first half of their Pre-season NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As journalist Noah Curitti noted, Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns had a monster double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds, dishing out nine assists as well, posing a lot of trouble for the Raptors. Being able to contend with Towns’ combination of size and skill is one of the major factors the Raptors will have to manage if they want to be able to consistently defeat the Knicks this season, and in seasons to come.
Against the Celtics, the Raptors have upgraded both their offence and defence by signing Kawhi Leonard, and while the Klaw has not been the Defensive Player of the Year for a long time, he’ll match up well with Paul George if Scottie can take on the Jayson Tatum assignment. All together, the Raptors should be able to handle the Celtics’ wings effectively, but the firepower of Boston’s point guard Payton Pritchard makes him fearsome for the Raptors’ starters, potentially forcing a more defensively oriented lineup from Toronto.
The Raptors are at a turning point where they may be finally equipped to handle the Eastern Conference’s best teams. Albeit one move away from being at that level themselves, Toronto will never get there if they don’t get over the hump — both on the court, and in the mind. Losing the same matchups over and over again can be extremely demoralizing, the negative effects of which is compounded by the fact that it’s extremely likely the Raptors will play one, if not both, of these teams in the playoffs this year.
Scottie Barnes, and the Raptors, know what they have to do. The question remains: when will they?
Note: This is a sappy post about my love of the Utah Jazz, not an analysis, or breaking news or reaction to anything Jazz related. If that doesn’t float your boat, feel free to click away. If you decide that you’d still like to read, welcome in!
I started my first full-time, real, big boy job this week. Not a part-time gig, not an internship, not a job where I’m capped off at 39 hours so I don’t get benefits. An actual, legitimate, genuine job.
Now, for the sake of this article, I won’t say where and what I am doing — although, if you search me up on twitter or LinkedIn, it’s not secret information by any means — but it has caused me to move away from Utah, the state I’ve lived in since 2008. For the first time since I was in Kindergarten, I am no longer a Utah resident. It still feels weird to say.
As my dad and I packed our cars full of all my belongings and trekked through a narrow and scarily wet Parley’s Canyon, I realized something: I will likely not attend a Utah Jazz game this year.
I’m sure many of you reading this have never been to a Jazz game, or maybe have only seen a handful in your lifetimes. Many of our readers aren’t even from the United States, much less Salt Lake City. I’ve been fortunate enough to live within a couple of miles of an NBA arena my whole life, and I’ve taken it for granted until this very moment, now that I can no longer make it to a meaningless Tuesday night game against the 13-22 Hornets just because tickets were cheap.
Like a lot of Jazz fans from the Beehive State, my first experience seeing the Jazz live was from the complimentary tickets I got from Jr. Jazz, the rec league basketball program in Utah. My dad took me to the then Energy Solutions Arena to watch the Deron Williams-led Jazz play the Phoenix Suns.
“You see that player right there,” my dad said pointing to an aging Shaquille O’Neal, “that’s Shaq. He’s 300 pounds and over seven feet tall.” My dad knew all the players, and I tried my best to keep up with all the information that he spewed at me over the next four quarters.
Over the years, my dad had to keep up with my knowledge of the Jazz. Back when the Jazz had physical programs at the games — let’s bring those back! Physical media is awesome! — my dad would quiz me on which college each player went to.
“Alec Burks went to Colorado Jeremy Evans went to Western Kentucky AlJefferson… didn’t go to college. Trick question.”
Since that 2008 game, the Jazz have changed their colors to blue, yellow and green, to black and neon yellow — AGGGGGGGGHHHHH — and back to the beloved purple mountains. They also came out with the greatest city edition jerseys in NBA history, and the arena has changed its name multiple times.
Utah is coming off of its second rebuild of my fan life, once happening in the years following the Williams-Sloan debacle, and once after the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell experiment ran its course. The infamous 2021 Terance Mann game sent me into a weeks-long depression, one where I’d hop into my Jetta and go on long, silent drives throughout the valley, questioning how a supposed “loving” God could curse me with being a Jazz fan.
Through all the changes over the past two decades, I’ve been at my spot up in the nosebleeds, watching as history unfolded on the hardwood court below. I saw Mitchell put the clamps on Jayson Tatum in Summer League, I saw Tyrone Corbin’s first game as a head coach, I saw the first full-capacity game after COVID-19, I saw a Derrick Favors career-high, I saw an all-purple court, I even saw Tacko Fall wearing a neon yellow summer league jersey as the Jazz’ starting center.
I saw Gordon Hayward, Carlos Boozer, Joe Ingles, Lauri Markkanen, Paul Millsap, Danté Exum, Rodney Hood, Talen Horton-Tucker, Earl Watson, Tibor Pleiss, Jeff Withey, Justin Wright-Foreman, Rayjon Tucker, Francisco Elson and the list goes on and on.
And now, I will watch from afar, as a new era of Jazz basketball takes place.
If my boss is reading this: I will be taking a month off work if when the Jazz win the NBA Finals.
Note: This is a sappy post about my love of the Utah Jazz, not an analysis, or breaking news or reaction to anything Jazz related. If that doesn’t float your boat, feel free to click away. If you decide that you’d still like to read, welcome in!
I started my first full-time, real, big boy job this week. Not a part-time gig, not an internship, not a job where I’m capped off at 39 hours so I don’t get benefits. An actual, legitimate, genuine job.
Now, for the sake of this article, I won’t say where and what I am doing — although, if you search me up on twitter or LinkedIn, it’s not secret information by any means — but it has caused me to move away from Utah, the state I’ve lived in since 2008. For the first time since I was in Kindergarten, I am no longer a Utah resident. It still feels weird to say.
As my dad and I packed our cars full of all my belongings and trekked through a narrow and scarily wet Parley’s Canyon, I realized something: I will likely not attend a Utah Jazz game this year.
I’m sure many of you reading this have never been to a Jazz game, or maybe have only seen a handful in your lifetimes. Many of our readers aren’t even from the United States, much less Salt Lake City. I’ve been fortunate enough to live within a couple of miles of an NBA arena my whole life, and I’ve taken it for granted until this very moment, now that I can no longer make it to a meaningless Tuesday night game against the 13-22 Hornets just because tickets were cheap.
Like a lot of Jazz fans from the Beehive State, my first experience seeing the Jazz live was from the complimentary tickets I got from Jr. Jazz, the rec league basketball program in Utah. My dad took me to the then Energy Solutions Arena to watch the Deron Williams-led Jazz play the Phoenix Suns.
“You see that player right there,” my dad said pointing to an aging Shaquille O’Neal, “that’s Shaq. He’s 300 pounds and over seven feet tall.” My dad knew all the players, and I tried my best to keep up with all the information that he spewed at me over the next four quarters.
Over the years, my dad had to keep up with my knowledge of the Jazz. Back when the Jazz had physical programs at the games — let’s bring those back! Physical media is awesome! — my dad would quiz me on which college each player went to.
“Alec Burks went to Colorado Jeremy Evans went to Western Kentucky AlJefferson… didn’t go to college. Trick question.”
Since that 2008 game, the Jazz have changed their colors to blue, yellow and green, to black and neon yellow — AGGGGGGGGHHHHH — and back to the beloved purple mountains. They also came out with the greatest city edition jerseys in NBA history, and the arena has changed its name multiple times.
Utah is coming off of its second rebuild of my fan life, once happening in the years following the Williams-Sloan debacle, and once after the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell experiment ran its course. The infamous 2021 Terance Mann game sent me into a weeks-long depression, one where I’d hop into my Jetta and go on long, silent drives throughout the valley, questioning how a supposed “loving” God could curse me with being a Jazz fan.
Through all the changes over the past two decades, I’ve been at my spot up in the nosebleeds, watching as history unfolded on the hardwood court below. I saw Mitchell put the clamps on Jayson Tatum in Summer League, I saw Tyrone Corbin’s first game as a head coach, I saw the first full-capacity game after COVID-19, I saw a Derrick Favors career-high, I saw an all-purple court, I even saw Tacko Fall wearing a neon yellow summer league jersey as the Jazz’ starting center.
I saw Gordon Hayward, Carlos Boozer, Joe Ingles, Lauri Markkanen, Paul Millsap, Danté Exum, Rodney Hood, Talen Horton-Tucker, Earl Watson, Tibor Pleiss, Jeff Withey, Justin Wright-Foreman, Rayjon Tucker, Francisco Elson and the list goes on and on.
And now, I will watch from afar, as a new era of Jazz basketball takes place.
If my boss is reading this: I will be taking a month off work if when the Jazz win the NBA Finals.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward David Perron is officially set to play his 20th NHL season after spending over three months as a free agent.
This is because the Dallas Stars have signed Perron to a one-year, $850,000 contract for the 2026-27 season.
The Stars signing Perron comes with them dealing with multiple forward injuries. Now, the former Penguins forward will provide the Stars with more forward depth as they look to bounce back from their slow start to the season.
Perron appeared in 65 games this past season split between the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings, where he posted 13 goals, 15 assists, 28 points, and 90 hits. This included him recording 10 goals and 25 points in 49 games for Ottawa before being traded to the Red Wings.
Perron spent two seasons with the Penguins from 2014-15 to 2015-16. In 86 games with the Penguins over that span, he recorded 16 goals, 22 assists, 38 points, 202 hits, and a minus-21 rating.
In an effort to combat illegal sports gambling scandals, the NBA and its sportsbook partners have banned wagers the league deems problematic and susceptible to manipulation, per a pair of memos obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
The bets that will no longer be permitted are parlays wagered on a series of under bets for the same player; any under wagers for players who average fewer than 12 minutes per game; and first basket, opening tipoff winners and wagers for players to miss any specific shots.
These restrictions are in addition to previous limitations on wagers from prior seasons, such as bets on any 10-day contract or two-way player; player props on turnovers; any wagers related to player and team fouls; and any wagers related to missed free throws.
“Protecting the integrity of our games remains the NBA’s top priority," an NBA spokesperson said, Friday, Oct. 16. "Building on existing safeguards, we are strengthening betting education and monitoring, working with operators to expand limits on bets that are more susceptible to manipulation, and improving protections against betting-related harassment to help safeguard our competition, players and personnel.”
The NBA collaborated with sportsbooks to arrive at these measures after evaluating the markets that had been used to launch some of the scandals that had rocked the league in previous seasons.
For example, the NBA levied a lifetime ban on former Raptor forward Jontay Porter, after it was revealed he intentionally manipulated his performance to hit a series of under wagers in order to win parlay bets.
The league sent out two different memos Friday, Oct. 16, detailing the measures. The first memo went out to official and authorized gaming partners, indicating the bans on those bets. While DraftKings and FanDuel are the official gaming partners, there are 10 other sportsbooks that comprise authorized partners, such as Fanatics, Caesars, BetMGM and bet365. In total, the NBA estimates that its official and authorized partners comprise the overwhelming majority of the total market.
“The NBA’s guidance formalizes many of the market restrictions already reflected in DraftKings Sportsbook’s practices,” a DraftKings spokesperson said Friday in a statement emailed to USA TODAY Sports. “DraftKings supports the NBA’s efforts and is committed to continued collaboration with the league to maintain game integrity, including through appropriate limits on betting markets. DraftKings’ Code of Responsible Engagement is fully aligned with the league’s stance on the harassment of athletes, coaches or officials.”
The league essentially leveraged the use of its data on platform to work with the sportsbooks to come to these bans. The NBA’s agreements with its gaming partners furnish the right to limit the types of wagers and markets sportsbooks can offer its client base.
“The legalized sports betting industry is built on a foundation of dialogue and collaboration with our league partners and the states in which we operate,” a FanDuel spokesperson said Friday in a statement emailed to USA TODAY Sports. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to building a legal and regulated market that roots out abuses by those who seek to undermine fair competition and damage the integrity of the games we love.”
The second memo went to all 30 NBA franchises, detailing additional monitoring methods and enhanced training requirements and some additional harassment supports for when fans negatively interact with players over gambling losses. The league also disclosed an AI monitoring tool which analyzes injury reports and troves of player availability and performance data to flag irregularities.
As part of the initiatives, former NFL player and retired FBI agent Charles Tillman will conduct live, in-person training on the NBA’ sports gambling rules for each franchise.
This is an effort the league has been undertaking for several months and goes into effect immediately.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 27: Travis Bazzana (37) of the Cleveland Guardians tries to hold onto the ball as James Wood (29) of the Washington Nationals steals second base during an MLB game on May 27, 2026 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For Nationals fans accustomed to watching promising innings disappear on the basepaths, 2026 offered a welcome change. The Nats played aggressive baseball, but with better results. Stealing bases and taking the extra bag became meaningful strengths, giving them another way to generate offense.
The improvement also deserves to be counted among the successes of manager Blake Butera’s coaching staff, particularly first-base and baserunning coach Corey Ray.
The Nats finished with 178 stolen bases and 40 caught stealings, succeeding on 81.7% of their attempts. In 2025, the Nationals stole 132 bases and were caught 48 times, a 73.3% success rate. That means they added 46 steals while making eight fewer outs trying to steal. More attempts produced substantially better efficiency.
The comparison with 2024 is revealing, too. That team piled up 223 steals but was caught 73 times, converting 75.3% of its attempts. The Nats 2026 club finished with fewer steals, but its success rate was more than six percentage points higher. There is value in putting pressure on the defense. There is also value in keeping a runner available for the next hitter.
Nasim Nunez just broke the Nationals' record for stolen bases in a season with his 48th. He swiped third moments later for his 49th bag of the year.
The progress extended beyond stealing. Baseball-Reference’s extra-base-taken percentage measures how frequently runners advance more than one base on a single or more than two on a double when opportunities arise. The Nats rate climbed from 40% in 2025 to 47% in 2026, exceeding its 45% mark from 2024 as well. Those advances can turn an ordinary single into a first-and-third situation or bring a runner home without requiring another hit.
Advanced metrics reinforce the picture. Baseball-Reference credited the Nationals with nine baserunning runs above average in 2026, with another six runs credited separately for avoiding double plays. These measures put a run value on contributions that batting average and home run totals miss. The Nats were creating advantages between contact and the next plate appearance.
FanGraphs’ BsR, which expresses baserunning value in runs above average, also shows how widely those contributions were distributed. CJ Abrams finished at +4.7, Dylan Crews at +3.6, Jacob Young at +3.5, Daylen Lile at +2.0, and James Wood at +1.6, as the Nationals finished first in baseball in total BsR at +15.7, all the way up from -0.6 in 2025.
CJ Abrams stole his 25th base of the season in the first inning. He joins Pete Crow-Armstrong as the only two players in Major League Baseball this season with 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Additionally, Abrams has now stolen at least 25 bases in each of the last four… pic.twitter.com/RyMd7JwEMX
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) August 24, 2026
That is where the coaching deserves attention. In February, Mark Zuckerman reported in Nats Journal that Ray was physically positioning himself near first base during drills, requiring runners to make tighter turns around the bag. Butera emphasized foot placement, efficient routes, and the difference even an unnecessary extra foot could make. The staff was teaching specific, repeatable details from the beginning of camp.
No statistic can assign an exact share of the improvement to Ray, Butera, or third-base coach Víctor Estévez. The players deserve the largest share of the credit for executing. Still, the connection between the staff’s documented emphasis and the season’s results is a reasonable one. Better baserunning was an explicit priority, and the Nats delivered it.
There were rough edges. The Nats recorded 59 non-steal outs on the bases, up from 47 in 2025, so this was hardly a mistake-free team. But the broader gains were substantial: more successful steals, fewer failed attempts, and more extra bases taken. For a young club trying to establish better habits, that represents tangible progress—and something worth carrying into 2027.
Here's the latest episode of the Sens Nation Podcast, the official Senators podcast of the Hockey News.
The Senators have had a roller-coaster week, with a win over New Jersey, an ugly loss to St. Louis, and a shootout victory over the Islanders. Now Travis Green has thrown his forward lines into a blender. Was it a necessary shakeup or an maybe an overreaction after a bad loss in part two of a back to back situation?
Stephen Halliday gets a shot alongside Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson, while some familiar top-six faces find themselves on the fourth line. Meanwhile, William Eklund is out 10–12 weeks, Artem Zub is finally back, and Jake Sanderson is getting closer to returning.
Should Samuel Ersson get the start in Philadelphia? And have the Senators already used more defencemen than any other NHL team?
Plus, former captain Brady Tkachuk is heating up in Florida and making comments that might not sit well with Senators fans ahead of his return to Ottawa. Also on the former Senator front, we discuss Alex DeBrincat's seven-year, $91 million extension, David Perron's latest move, and James Reimer signing a minor-league deal.
All that and more on this edition of the Sens Nation Podcast!
It’s been 44 years since the Brewers went to the World Series, a fact Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito will recall.
It might seem like a random connection.
When the Brewers were last in the Fall Classic in 1982, Zito was a bat boy for the team, NHL writer Matt Larkin revealed. Zito spent the 1981 and 1982 seasons working for Milwaukee while he was in high school.
Brady Tkachuk, left, #8 of the Florida Panthers, and Bill Zito, General Manager of the Florida Panthers, pose for a photo at a press conference introducing Tkachuk at FTL War Memorial in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Getty Images
In a past interview with Larkin, Zito discussed the impact of then-Brewers general manager Harry Dalton on his career.
“He took me under his wing,” Zito said. “It was the 1982 Brewers, who went to Game 7 of the World Series. He was so kind to me and afforded me the opportunity. I could go up to his office whenever I wanted, I could learn scouting. He took the time to explain everything to me and always encouraged me to get into the management side.”
Zito’s background in sports started long before he won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Panthers in 2024 and 2025.
His father, William Zito Sr., played football for the University of Pittsburgh and the Steelers before the family moved to Wisconsin.
The Milwaukee Brewers pose for a team photo after Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Bill Zito then played college hockey at Yale before returning to the Midwest and completing law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He then spent several years as an agent before moving into team management, joining the Blue Jackets in 2013.
He was hired by the Panthers in 2020 and has been a four-time finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.
The Brewers are chasing their first World Series title in franchise history after sweeping the back-to-back defending champion Dodgers in the NLCS.
While not at the absolute top of the list of their issues at the moment, the Philadelphia Flyers will, at some point, need to find a permanent solution for their dreadful fourth line, which has cost them dearly with their poor play multiple times over the last week.
After Thursday night's narrow, uninspiring 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet spoke about moments.
"It could be a big chance, anything. It's just, we're lacking the big moments. We got to find them somehow. We got to keep coming in every day to try and find them," he said.
Moments in a game when the team should rise above, come out on top, and show some killer instinct to make a big play, even when momentum is against them.
Whether or not the Flyers' frail mentality on the ice falls on Tocchet's shoulders has been the subject of fiery debate, but regardless, the team hasn't come through, and they're losing games as a result.
Take the fourth line as a microcosm of an entire roster failing to come through in those said moments.
In a 2-1 loss to Ottawa last week, newcomer forward Michael Bunting took a hooking penalty that put the Senators on the power play, leading to the game-winning goal, and Bunting played just 10:56 in that game, including a full two minutes on the power play.
On Tuesday, the story was similar.
Jack Studnicka took a tripping penalty against Seattle, and Bobby McMann went on to open the scoring on the power play. The Flyers mounted a furious two-goal comeback at the start of the second period, but they tailed off and eventually lost 3-2 in the shootout.
And then again on Thursday night, Noel Acciari and defenseman Simon Benoit couldn't stop Michael Rasmussen in front of the net, and a point-blank scramble in front of Joseph Woll ended in the game-winning goal for the Red Wings.
These were three games, in the span of one week, decided by one goal, with the fourth line at the scene of the crime each time.
For as poorly as the Flyers have played all year long, they very well could have their first three wins of the year, instead of being 0-2-1 in those games.
Adding five more points to their current total of three would have the Flyers tied with New Jersey and Toronto, one point outside the second wildcard spot with plenty of hockey left to play.
Instead, the Flyers are one of two remaining winless teams in the NHL, and the other, Los Angeles, has played four fewer games.
If the Flyers are going to be that bad, at least they have more opportunities to develop their young players, right?
Well, that hasn't happened either.
Matvei Michkov, for example, ranks ninth amongst all Flyers forwards with his 19.1 shifts per game, narrowly trailing Acciari's 19.2 and Denver Barkey's 20.2.
Even worse, rookie Porter Martone is just 11th, averaging 16.9 shifts per game, placing him above only Carl Grundstrom (AHL), Alex Bump (AHL), Michael Bunting, Garrett Wilson, and Jack Studnicka.
In terms of raw ice time, Michkov is averaging just 14:55 a game, seventh amongst Flyers forwards and nearly two full minutes behind the sixth-ranked Tippett, who averages 16:26.
Michkov and Martone (13:14) are closer to Noel Acciari (14:07) than they are to the Flyers' de facto top-six, and that's a major issue, regardless of wins and losses.
Now, without making the likes of Michkov and Martone the main characters of the show, the Flyers are winless, with the dreadful fourth line instead finding itself at the heart of these key "moments", including in a tied game in Detroit with under five minutes left in regulation.
Left-hander Tarik Skubal, who joined the Dodgers at the trade deadline and fortified the team's starting rotation, is set to hit free agency. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell, sitting next to soon-to-be free agent Tarik Skubal at their lockers in the aftermath of their team’s elimination from the National League Championship Series elimination, made a promise:
“I’ll be recruiting,” he interjected with a smile, as Skubal declined to comment on free agency, saying it was too soon to try to predict what the future would hold for him.
That would be Snell’s side project between rounds of video games — 2K specifically. (Skubal admittedly “sucks” at the game, but Snell says his teammate “has heart, though.” The rest can be taught.)
The expected lockout, and MLB’s insistence on a salary cap in their CBA proposals have also cast doubt on what the system will look like next year — whenever the season begins.
Not to mention, the stars in the Dodgers lineup, already the oldest in the majors (weighted by at-bats and games played), will be another year older.
Could this be the end of an era?
“I don’t feel that at all,” Skubal said. “It’s hard to win the World Series, and this group has done it the last two seasons. Obviously, not this year, but … I think that this group is incredibly talented. And the preparation and the work ethic that this group has — I don’t buy into that narrative.”
Said Snell: “We’re only getting better.”
Plenty of people outside of the Dodgers’ downcast clubhouse Thursday evening saw the Brewers’ four-game sweep of the defending back-to-back champions as the fall of a dynasty. But the players inside fervently disagreed.
“When you have Shohei Ohtani on your team, Yoshinbou Yamamoto, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and the years ahead of these guys, you can never think that it’s going to be the end,” Rojas said. “And I know this organization so well, they’re not going to be satisfied with this loss. I think they’re going to move forward and continue to improve the team in any capacity, and I believe that we’re going to be even better next year.”
Said Hernández: “I don’t know what’s going to happen with me personally, moving forward for next year. But this team is well-positioned to keep winning and keep competing deep into October. So not only is this locker room very talented, but there’s a lot of guys knocking on the door in the minor-league system that can be really impactful players. So the organization is in good hands.”
Rookie Josue De Paula showed down the stretch, and with his plate discipline even in high-octane moments in the postseason, just how impactful the young players in the Dodgers’ system could be. And there are more behind him.
This offseason, the Dodgers front office will try to strike a balance between continuity and fresh faces. For some of their impending free agents, who spoke highly of the organization, that meant uncertainty in the immediate aftermath.
“I love this place,” Hernández said. “I’ve played for three other teams, but every time I look at my career, I obviously go back to this place. I’ve been here the longest. I hope I get back. I feel like I have a lot left. … I would love to have one more try, trying to win another one. But I don’t really know what’s going to happen.”
“From the coaching staff, to the front office, to the players that have taken me under their wing, have helped mold and shape me into who I am and how I carry myself, how I go about my business,” Vesia said of his six years in the organization. “And if it wasn’t for the people in the room in this room, I would not be where I’m at today. So, very thankful. This whole experience has been life-changing.”
Skubal is in a unique situation. In line to be the top free agent pitcher in this year’s class, he held his cards closer to the vest. But he gave a glowing review of his time with the Dodgers.
“It was an honor and a privilege to be here and compete with these guys, and to wear LA across your hat and across your chest,” he said. “It’s something that I took a lot of pride in. And, obviously, didn’t end the way that I wanted it to. But that’s life. That’s baseball. I had a ton of fun here, and I loved competing with these guys.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers did not have a save of at least three innings in 2026, their first full season without one since 2016. They also did not win or reach the World Series this year.
We nearly saw a four-inning save at Dodger Stadium in the National League Division Series, when Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes retired 11 in a row before allowing a two-out home run in the ninth inning. That pulled the Dodgers to within a run, and Atlanta manager Walt Weiss went with his closer Raisel Iglesias for the final out.
The Braves won that night, but never again this season.
The back end of the Brewers bullpen — Trevor Megill, Aaron Ashby, and Abner Uribe — is one of Milwaukee’s great strengths, with that trio this postseason having allowed three runs (two earned) in 24 1/3 innings, with 23 strikeouts. Ashby has pitched in six of Milwaukee’s eight games, totaling 12 1/3 scoreless innings, with 11 strikeouts.
In the NLCS, Ashby pitched two scoreless frames in Game 1, then got a five-out save to close out Game 2. Even before Game 4, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman extolled the virtues of the Brewers bullpen, and specifically mentioned the left-hander.
“Ashby — I don’t understand that. It’s 98 to 100 from up here and sinking and curving,” Freeman said. “They’ve just got a lot of weapons.”
In Game 4 on Thursday, Ashby allowed doubles in the seventh and eighth inning, each of which represented the potential tying run. But he stranded them both.
Then Ashby got the ninth inning as well, his 31st relief appearance involving multiple innings this season, tied for most in the majors. He retired the Dodgers in order in the ninth, with Jackson Chourio making a nice running catch in left field to clinch the Brewers first pennant since 1982.
Working backward retroactively, two other postseason clinchers before 1969 had long saves as well.
Pitcher
Series
Team
Opponent
Innings
Herb Pennock
1932 World Series G4
Yankees
Cubs
3
Ted Wilks
1944 World Series G6
Cardinals
Browns
3 2/3
Vida Blue
1972 ALCS G5
A’s
Tigers
4
Steve Howe
1981 World Series G6
Dodgers
Yankees
3 2/3
Madison Bumgarner
2014 World Series G7
Giants
Royals
5
Lance McCullers Jr.
2017 ALCS G7
Astros
Yankees
4
Aaron Ashby
2026 NLCS G4
Brewers
Dodgers
3
In 2025, there were 49 saves of at least three innings in MLB, 15 more than the previous season and the most in any year since 1999. In 2026, there were 50 saves of at least three innings. This is a new golden age of extended saves, but the Dodgers did not take part this year.
The Dodgers for much of the season didn’t really have a long man in the bullpen, like at times in recent years. Eric Lauer seemed destined for this role, but he kept sticking around in the rotation as various other starters were either injured or optioned.
Jonathan Hernández pitched in a lot of mop-up roles but mostly topped out at two innings. Plus after June, the Dodgers mostly stopped collecting blowout wins, which tends to pave the road toward a three-inning save.
Landon Knack has recorded one save in each of his three major league seasons to date, including an 11-out save on the final day of the regular season in 2025. He had the best shot on the Dodgers for a three-inning save in 2026, as he was warming in the bullpen on August 12 after Lauer pitched six innings at 107 pitches, eight more than his second-most this season.
