College football’s 2025 season has become a fraud fest. Texas and Penn State auditioned for the starring roles. Clemson would like a word, too.
Phillies vs. Dodgers NLDS Game 2 betting guide: Best bets and props
Phillies vs. Dodgers NLDS Game 2 betting guide: Best bets and props originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
It’s Game 2 of the NLDS, and the Phillies will need to bounce back following a tough 5-3 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday night. Let’s dive right in.
Odds as of 1:30 PM ET on FanDuel
Game 2 Odds
Philadelphia Phillies (+110): +1.5 (-154)
Los Angeles Dodgers (-130): -1.5 (+128)
O/U: 7.5
The Phillies will send out Jesús Luzardo to make his fourth career postseason start and fifth overall appearance. In 14 ⅔ playoff innings, the left-hander has allowed 10 earned runs on 20 hits. Despite those rough career numbers, Luzardo enters hot — over his last five starts, he’s posted a 2.60 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 34 ⅔ innings. In the second half of the season, Luzardo held opponents to just a .194 average.
Fellow southpaw Blake Snell takes the ball for Los Angeles. The Phillies saw him once this season, and he dominated — seven scoreless innings, 12 strikeouts. Snell was lights-out again in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series vs. Cincinnati, spinning seven innings of two-run ball with nine Ks.
It’s hard to predict what Luzardo will look like in his first postseason start as a Phillie, but after Saturday’s offensive showing, Philadelphia ais going to be hunting fastballs early and often. I’d stay away from either moneyline or run-line bets and instead lean toward Over 7.5 runs (-108).
Series odds (to win the NLDS)
Phillies: +260
Dodgers: -330
If you stayed off the series line after Game 1, your patience paid off — the Phillies’ odds have more than doubled. I’d still avoid picking a winner, but if you’re confident in the Fightins, consider Over 4.5 total games (+180). The Phillies have shown they can win at Dodger Stadium, and a Game 2 victory would cause those odds to shrink dramatically.
My favorite props
Edmundo Sosa to record a hit (-120)
Sosa’s track record against Snell is solid. The last time they faced off — May 2023 at Oracle Park when the southpaw was with the Giants –he ripped a fastball to the opposite field for a triple. In his career, Sosa is 3-for-8 off Snell. Slotting him at the bottom of the order gives the lineup a different look, and after a .276/.776 season with 11 homers, he’s a sneaky value play.
Trea Turner to record 2+ total bases (+115)
The Phillies need a spark at the top after their 1-3 hitters (Turner, Schwarber, Harper) combined to go 0-for-11. The National League batting champion hit .349 against fastballs this season. With Snell’s heater being his most hittable pitch and two dangerous bats behind him, Turner’s primed to make noise with both his bat and his legs.
Jesús Luzardo Over 15.5 outs (+130)
Luzardo has cleared this line in 12 of his last 15 starts, including each of his past five. Even when he allowed four runs to the Dodgers earlier this year, he reached 100 pitches and completed seven innings. Thomson mentioned Ranger Suárez being available in relief, but with middle-relief struggles and Suárez likely slated for Game 3, the Phillies will likely ride Luzardo deep again.
1st Inning Over 0.5 Run (+114)
Expect early aggression on both sides. Luzardo’s postseason ERA in the first inning sits at 6.00, and he’s yielded 16 earned runs in 32 first-inning frames this year. Snell’s been better early in the postseason (2.45 ERA), but he’s surrendered two homers in the opening frame. With both lineups attacking fastballs, a run in the first feels likely.
My long shot
Alec Bohm to record 2+ RBIs (+700)
RBI bets can be tricky — you’re counting on guys in front and the hitter — but this one offers good flexibility. First, Bohm’s anytime home run is also at 7-1, so you’re better off here. Next, Bohm’s a career .305 hitter vs. lefties and owns two extra-base hits in 13 at-bats against Snell. Lastly, with expected improvement from the top of the order, Bohm should see RBI opportunities. If he catches a Snell fastball early with runners on, this long shot could cash.
Minnesota Wild Claim Defenseman Daemon Hunt Off Waivers
ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced on Friday that defenseman Daemon Hunt has been claimed off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Hunt, 23, was drafted by the Wild with the 65th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. He spent parts of five seasons in the Wild's organization before he was traded to the Blue Jackets.
The 6-foot-1 defenseman played 13 NHL games with the Wild the last two seasons. He was traded along with four draft picks to the Blue Jackets for David Jiricek in November of last year.
In 48 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Cleveland Monsters, Hunt recorded two goals and 14 points.
Because the Wild claimed Hunt, they have released defenseman Jack Johnson from his professional tryout (PTO).
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Minnesota Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An 8-Year Contract ExtensionST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced on Tuesday an eight-year contract extension worth $136 million ($17 million AAV) for its superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov.
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Daria Kasatkina, Australia’s No 1 women’s tennis player, takes career break citing ‘mental stress’
Russian-born star has ‘hit a wall and can’t continue’
She promises to be back in 2026 and ‘ready to rock’
Australia’s women’s tennis No 1 has put her career on hold for the rest of the year stating “mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point”.
Daria Kasatkina, who switched nationality from Russia to Australia earlier this year, immediately becoming national No 1, blamed the “emotional and mental stress” related to that change, the strain of not seeing her family and the relentless schedule of the tennis circuit.
Continue reading...How Warriors' Moses Moody used offseason thumb surgery to improve his jump shot
How Warriors' Moses Moody used offseason thumb surgery to improve his jump shot originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors fans might have a doctor or two to thank if Moses Moody breaks out this upcoming season.
Moody, speaking to reporters after scoring a team-high 19 points in Golden State’s 111-103 preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at Chase Center, credited his offseason surgery to repair a torn UCL in his thumb for allowing him to re-work his shot, resulting in a repeatable and effective motion that the 23-year-old believes will lead to success in 2025-26.
“I think the surgery and everything ended up being like really a good thing for me,” Moody said. “I was in rehab, and bringing my thumb back into my shot made me really slow down and notice everything about my jump shot. That helped me a lot.”
Moody struggled with his jumper in the 2025 postseason, shooting just 35 percent from the field. Shortly after the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals, he underwent a procedure to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb.
As Moody explained, that surgery and the subsequent rehab also forced him to focus on his non-dominant left hand and how it could be used to stabilize his shot.
“It was stuff about teaching myself how to shoot with my left hand [that] made me be really detail-oriented on how to shoot,” Moody added. “And I think that helped bring back my right.”
Moody’s teammates see the difference, not just in how he shoots the ball but also the swagger that comes with it.
“It’s just confidence,” Steph Curry said of Moody on Sunday. “I would say … this is probably the best summer [Moody’s] had—health-wise, obviously—but just the idea of he knows what he needs to do to impact the game when he’s on the floor, where his shots are going to come and all that. That comes over time. It’s good to see him out there. You can kind of tell the way he’s carrying himself he has clarity on what he needs to do.”
NHL Insider Says Cap Could Hit New Heights, Boosting Red Wings' Options
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reports the salary cap could rise more than expected in the coming seasons, potentially giving the Detroit Red Wings significantly more flexibility to make future roster moves.
The NHL is continually growing as each NHL franchise has seen their value grow exponentially over recent years (Detroit almost doubling in the last four seasons) and with that comes new changes. Insiders have given rough estimates for how much the salary cap is expected to grow over the next two seasons with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman bringing up a new, bigger number.
On his podcast '32 Thoughts' Friedman explained that he's heard from more than one source that the salary cap next season could potentially rise to $107 million. This would be a sizeable $11.5 million jump from this years cap at $95.5 million and could open open up several avenues for teams around the league like the Detroit Red Wings.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
Red Wings Waive Holl, Gustafsson To Open Roster Spot For Top ProspectThe Detroit Red Wings waive defenseman Justin Holl and Erik Gustafsson on Sunday, clearing space for a top prospect to potentially make the team.
If GM Steve Yzerman opts to not re-signing aging veterans in Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk, Ben Chiarot, Travis Hamonic and Cam Talbot, they would free up $12.25 million in cap space plus another million with this season being the final year of Justin Abdelkader's buyout. This on top of Detroit's current $13.2 million in cap space as of today will give them a lot of flexibility heading into next July as they could make lengthy extensions to young talent like restricted free agents Simon Edvinsson and Jonatan Berggren or taking a run at a big ticket free agent like Winnipeg's Kyle Connor.
"I've had a couple people mentioned the number 107 to me, as you mentioned, supposed to be 104 next year, I'm hearing the number 107 come up," Friedman explained to co-host Kyle Bukauskas "I think there are some people who really think, even the year after, where it's temporarily at least it's in pencil for 113 that that could go even higher."
Based on Friedman's comments, it's safe to say that the hockey world as a whole will be anxiously awaiting for the answer to what the future cap will be and he alluded to when we can expect an answer. The NHL's Board of Governors will meet at some point next week and will again at the start of December with rises in the cap on the list of topics for the meeting, according to Friedman.
NHL Opening Night Betting Angles: Panthers Struggle Against Blackhawks, High-Scoring StartsThe NHL season opens Tuesday with three high-scoring games featuring key matchups between playoff teams and strong betting trends favoring the Avalanche, Rangers, and Blackhawks.
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There are good guys and then there is Lewis Moody – MND has cruelly singled out the bravest of men | Robert Kitson
Moody’s diagnosis with motor neurone disease at the age of 47 is desperate news for all those who know and love him
Back when he was captaining England at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Lewis Moody went canyon swinging near Queenstown in New Zealand. Despite being utterly fearless on the pitch he was not brilliant with heights. That day, he wrote in his autobiography, was “the most terrifying experience of my life”. Or at least it was. A fortnight ago, he and his family were plunged into something infinitely scarier.
Moody’s diagnosis with the incurable motor neurone disease at the age of 47 is, first and foremost, desperate news for all those who know and love him. There are good guys and then there is “Moodos”, about whom nobody in rugby has a bad word. Cruel doesn’t come close to describing it.
Continue reading...Lakers star LeBron James to announce ‘decision of all decisions'
Lakers star LeBron James to announce ‘decision of all decisions' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
LeBron James plans to make a major announcement Tuesday as speculation swirls around the four-time NBA champion’s future at the end of what will be the Lakers star’s record 23rd season in the league.
In a post tagged #TheSecondDecision with the cryptic caption, “The decision of all decisions,” the Lakers’ 21-time NBA All-Star teased an announcement scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. California time.
The hashtag on the open-ended post and video are apparent references to the much-hyped 2010 announcement that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat. The announcement was part of an ESPN special titled, “The Decision.”
The special featured a sit-down talk between James and sportscaster Jim Gray and the dramatic announcement that included the phrase, “taking my talents to South Beach.”
James went on to win back-to-back titles with the Heat in 2012 and 2013 before heading back to Cleveland and winning a third, his hometown franchise’s first. He won the 2020 NBA title with the Lakers.
James, 40, and the Lakers open the regular season Oct. 21 at home against the Warriors, embarking on the team’s first full season with All-Star Luka Dončić. The King, who will turn 41 in December, enters the season tied with Vince Carter for most NBA seasons played at 22.
He was asked about retirement in September and simply said he was excited to play his 23rd season. James has acknowledged that his playing days are nearing an end, but has not offered specifics on a timeline for retirement.
James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds last season. The Lakers were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The league’s all-time leading scorer earned All-NBA Second Team honors for the 2024-25 season.
He enters the 2025-26 season on an expiring contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the spring.
Due to the teasing nature of the post, it’s possible Tuesday’s announcement has nothing to do with retirement. Note that Tuesday also is the start of Amazon’s Prime Day, something James has helped promote in the past.
When might 37-year-old Stephen Curry retire? 'No clue.'
While LeBron James dominates the "when might he retire" discussion around the NBA, the other biggest names of an elite generation of players are facing the same question. Kevin Durant, who just turned 37 a week ago, is one, but he’s close to signing a two-year contract extension in Houston.
Then there's Stephen Curry. He's also 37 but has shown no signs of slowing down: All-NBA and All-Star a season ago who finished in the top 10 in MVP voting, he averaged 24.5 points and six assists a game, and his gravity, shooting and player movement are still at the heart of the Warriors' offense.
Curry has no idea when he will retire, but he knows it's coming, he told Malika Andrews of ESPN.
"No clue. I just know it's closer than it was even yesterday. Acknowledging it is fun, because the more I talk about it, the more I appreciate what all goes into preparing yourself. But all of that stuff is just the privilege that you've earned. I'm trying not to put any timestamps or anything, other than the sense of urgency on it now."
Curry has two years remaining on his current contract (including this season) and could sign an extension a year from now (similar to Durant), but he holds all the cards. Golden State will give him whatever he wants — he's still the guy that drives the business by people and sponsors paying to be associated with him and the Warriors — and it's just a question of how much longer he wants to play. Right now, he continues to produce at an incredibly high level for a team with a chance at a deep postseason run if they can get the core — particularly Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — to the playoffs healthy.
Retirement isn't in the cards for Curry yet. But it is closer than it was yesterday.
David Gabriel Georges shines in massive win, leading HS football headlines from Week 7
An Illinois state record was broken while a few of the nation's best running backs went off in huge matchups.
Stay or Go: Should the Mets trade Mark Vientos?
Before the 2025 season began,Mark Vientoswas viewed as a potential core piece for the Mets -- someone whose eye-popping power potential shined the previous year and was at his best when the lights were the brightest in October.
By the time the 2025 campaign ended, it was fair to wonder whether Vientos might have played his last game as a Met.
And the question regarding Vientos' future grew the day after the season, when president of baseball operations David Stearnsrepeatedly cited run prevention (both pitching and defense) as the main reason why the team stumbled so badly that they fell all the way out of playoff position.
Of course, Vientos was not alone when it came to New York's defensive deficiencies.
Pete Alonso had an especially poor defensive year at first base, raising questions about his future as he again hits free agency.
Brandon Nimmo was a tick below average in left field.
Francisco Alvarez was near the bottom of the league when it came to blocking balls in the dirt.
Juan Soto, as has been the case for most of his career, was well below average in right field.
But the Mets signed up for this with Soto, knowing he would be one of the best hitters in baseball -- which he was again in 2025. Alonso had the second-best OPS of his career this past season. Nimmo remains an above average offensive player.
What about Vientos?
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO TRADE VIENTOS
While Vientos' 2024 season at the plate was impressive, there were warning signs. That included his high whiff percentage and strikeout rate, as well as bat speed that was just average.
In 2025, those issues were all present again. And the season spiraled out of control for Vientos due in part to his struggles against fastballs. He hit .326 with a .615 slugging percentage against them in 2024, but just .236 with a .441 slugging percentage against them in 2025. He also had issues with offspeed stuff, slugging just .404 this year -- down from .531 in 2024.
Vientos' power cratered along with his batting average and on-base percentage, as he slugged .413 (down from .516 in 2025) and hit only 17 homers over 121 games (he smacked 27 in 111 games in 2024).
At the end of the season, when the Mets badly needed someone to help them lengthen a top-heavy lineup, Vientos slashed .184/.262/.303 with two home runs in 84 plate appearances over 24 games, striking out 27 times.
While there's still reason to think Vientos can make adjustments and again be a plus offensive player, it's hard to believe his defensive issues at third base are something that can meaningfully improve.
He has worked hard on his defense, and deserves praise for how tireless the effort has been. But the results just haven't been there.
Vientos was in the sixth percentile in 2025 when it came to Outs Above Average -- giving him the same mark he had in 2024. The range isn't good enough, and his overall ability at third base -- despite a strong arm -- is not smooth enough.
Before the Mets re-signed Alonso last offseason, they floated the idea that Vientos could slide to first base if Alonso left. They could theoretically consider that again, but it's hard to picture given Vientos' tiny bit of experience at the position (12 career starts), his struggles at third base, and Stearns' goal of seriously improving the defense.
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP VIENTOS
Despite his down year at the plate in 2025, Vientos still has real promise.
He's also young (turning 26 years old in December), inexpensive (he made a shade under $800,000 this past season), and under team control through at least 2028 (he won't hit arbitration until after the 2026 season).
And while he struggled this past season, he continued to hit the ball incredibly hard and barrel it up at a well above average rate.
The power Vientos has to all fields is the kind you can dream on. And when he's right, he can help carry a team -- like he did during the Mets' run to Game 6 of the NLCS in 2024, when he slashed .327/.362/.636 with five homers, two doubles, and 14 RBI in 58 plate appearances over 13 postseason games.
There's also the fact that despite an overall down year in 2025, Vientos helped drive the offense for about a month, when he hit .304/.385/.759 with 10 homers and six doubles in 22 games from Aug. 17 to Sept. 9.
Meanwhile, with Starling Marte and Jesse Winker free agents, the Mets don't have any logical full-time designated hitter candidates on the roster.
If Alonso returns, it's possible he starts getting more at-bats at DH. But of the players on the current roster, no one profiles as a full-time option there unless it's Soto -- and it will be a bit shocking if he slides there so soon into his 15-year deal.
VERDICT
The overall decision with Vientos is a tough one, but the first part of it shouldn't be.
Given Vientos' defensive struggles at third base, combined with the presence of two better hot corner defenders who also offer more positional versatility -- Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio -- Vientos' future as a Met would have to be as mainly a DH.
In a world where Alonso leaves, which would create a huge right-handed power void, perhaps it makes sense for the Mets to keep Vientos.
In a world where Alonso stays, it would arguably be wise to make Vientos available.
The Mets shouldn't force a move here.
But if the roster starts to shake out in a way that makes Vientos' presence a bit redundant and the Mets can get something of legitimate value back for him via trade, now could be the time to move on.
Canadiens: No Big Surprise In Last Wave Of Cuts
With the regular season fast approaching, it was time for the Montreal Canadiens to make the final cuts and set their roster for the upcoming season. There was no big shock in the decisions made by the organization; it had been clear for some time that Oliver Kapanen had edged the competition up front.
When he decided to scratch Kapanen along with his linemates Alex Newhook and Ivan Demidov, Martin St-Louis said he had shown enough. Unlike his competitors, Kapanen had spent the previous season playing at the highest level in Sweden with Timrå IK, where he was entrusted with various responsibilities. He scored 35 points in 36 games and received some special team time, which turned out to be key for him. With Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia’s departures, there were empty chairs on the Canadiens’ penalty kill, and the Finnish forward has the skills to fill one of those.
Canadiens: St-Louis Pleased With Intense Training Camp
2 Former Canadiens Placed On Waivers
Canadiens’ Prospects Watch
The other happy camper yesterday was Joe Veleno. His performance in the last game was key. Put on a line with Kirby Dach and Brendan Gallagher, he showed that his elite offensive skills could come in handy. He has never been able to dominate in the NHL, but he does have some flashes of skills that a depth forward like Samuel Blais doesn’t have, and he can be used higher in the lineup than his fellow Quebecer.
As for Blais, he was put on waivers, and the hope is that he will clear. He spent the entire last season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks and was a key player in their Calder Cup championship. After Saturday’s game, Blais stated that we had seen what he could really bring after he had landed six hits against the Ottawa Senators. It felt like it was too little, too late for him, however, and it wasn’t shocking to see him land on waivers. If he clears, he will no doubt be a useful veteran and leader with the Laval Rocket.
The left wing wasn’t the only one to hit waivers; he was joined by backup goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen, who lost his gamble. It’s not that he played poorly, but Jakub Dobes was literally flawless. Samuel Montembeault’s backup featured in two games, and he stopped the 25 shots he faced. There’s literally nothing more he could have done. Meanwhile, Kahkonen gave up four goals on 35 shots, posting a .886 save percentage and a 2.70 goals-against average.
The goaltender only played one game in the NHL last season with the Colorado Avalanche before bouncing around in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, the Manitoba Moose, and the Charlotte Checkers. If everything goes according to plan and there are no injuries in Montreal this season, he won’t be seeing any NHL action either, unless of course he gets claimed on waivers, but that would be surprising. The most likely scenario is that he will form a duo with Jacob Fowler in Laval and serve as a good veteran to guide him through his first professional season.
Unlike Veleno, Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj didn’t have to clear waivers to be assigned to the Rocket, and ultimately, that might have been a factor in the organization. However, even on merit, Veleno won the battle.
Xhekaj performed very well, but he’s still raw, and it shows in the little details. The gritty forward needs to improve his defensive reads, and he’ll get every opportunity to do that under Pascal Vincent in Laval. The AHL coach did say he was planning on giving him a bigger role, and it looks like the scouting staff was right when they said they had captured a unicorn when they drafted him in his second year of availability.
When current contracts to depth forwards like Josh Anderson or Brendan Gallagher run out at the end of the 2026-27 season, Xhekaj is likely to be waiting in the wings and be ready for a full-time role. In his first full season as a pro, he picked up 35 points, including 24 goals, while racking up 175 penalty minutes. He’s got skills and sandpaper, the kind of player you need in the playoffs. He won’t start the year with the Canadiens, but if there are injuries along the way this season, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him be called up sooner rather than later.
As for Beck, he had a good camp, but Kapanen had more experience and played a more mature game. While the centerman did put up 44 points in 64 games with the Rocket last season, it’s hard not to feel he’s been overtaken in the depth chart by Xhekaj. Even though Beck plays a complete game up and down the ice, he doesn’t have as much sandpaper as Xhekaj does, and, ultimately, that makes a difference, especially when the coach says he wants his team to be harder to play against not only strategically but also physically.
Finally, the sole defenseman cut yesterday was Adam Engstrom, and once again, the fact that he didn’t have to go through waivers to be sent to Laval might have been a factor in that decision. He might not have been a fifth-overall pick like David Reinbacher, but he’s further along the way in his development, and if the Habs’ blueline catches the injury bug, St-Louis won’t hesitate to call him up.
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Prediction Of Blackhawks Lineup Following Preseason Action
The Chicago Blackhawks are now through the preseason. There were some good moments for certain players, but the team also appeared young and inexperienced at times.
Ultimately, they came up with a roster that they were ready to present for opening night. For the Blackhawks, that is the first game in the NHL this season. They will visit the Florida Panthers, who will be raising their second banner in a row as defending Stanley Cup champions.
The Blackhawks made all of their final roster decisions official on Sunday. They are taking two goalies, eight defensemen, and 13 forwards with them for a full 23-man roster.
This is a projection of how the lines, defense pairs, goalies, and extras will look to begin the year:
Burakovsky - Bedard - Donato
Bertuzzi - Nazar - Teravainen
Slaggert - Dickinson - Mikheyev
Foligno - Lafferty - Dach
The first line has been mostly set for a little while now. The Blackhawks acquired Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken to give Bedard a winger with some winning NHL experience. He will get a crack at this job early. As for Donato, he played incredibly well with Bedard last year and will be afforded that opportunity again. Is it an ideal line for the young superstar? No. It will have to do for now, though.
Frank Nazar will get an opportunity to drive his own line down the middle. Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen, who play incredibly different kinds of games, should help complement the strengths that Nazar brings to the table.
The third line of Jason Dickinson, centering Landon Slaggert and Ilya Mikheyev, will be a speedy checking line. All of them have displayed some offense in their careers as well, so it should be one of Chicago’s strengths on the team in 2025-26 if they all play to their strengths.
Colton Dach earned his spot on the team with his play during training camp. Being an impact player on Chicago’s fourth line early can help him elevate his role on the team in the coming months. For now, Nick Foligno and Sam Lafferty are solid veterans for him to skate with.
Lukas Reichel is the 13th forward on the team. He stuck it out while Oliver Moore and Ryan Greene were sent to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs to play big minutes down there. As for Reichel, until he’s traded, expect him to get bottom-six center assignments when he does draw into the lineup.
Vlasic - Rinzel
Kaiser - Levshunov
Grzelcyk - Murphy
Assuming that Alex Vlasic can play despite his lower-body injury, he will be on the top pair with Sam Rinzel. The latter will have his share of rookie mistakes, but all signs point to him being a great top-pair defenseman right away. This duo will see some tough assignments, but they are both qualified to take on the work.
Wyatt Kaiser showed that he deserves to be on this team early and often. 2024 number two overall pick Artyom Levshunov, like Rinzel, will make some typical mistakes that young defenseman make, but his ceiling is a high-end defenseman who will make a difference.
Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Murphy will be the two veterans on the blue line, splitting the third pair. Grzelcyk made the team by signing a one-year deal for $1 million after being on a PTO during camp. Clearly, the powers that be didn’t see enough in the young players who came in battling Grzelcyk for that final spot.
Ethan Del Mastro and Louis Crevier made the team, but don’t expect them in the lineup as often to begin the year. Crevier is a solid defender, and he’s not waiver exempt, so he is the seventh defenseman on the team. Del Mastro not starting the year in Rockford is likely an insurance policy in case Vlasic isn’t ready to go for the first game. Kevin Kofchinski and Nolan Allan will certainly get NHL playing time at times in 2025-26 as well, but they were sent to Rockford on Sunday.
Knight
Soderblom
Spencer Knight is going to be the primary goaltender on the team. If he’s healthy, expect him to start 50-55 games. The rest of the workload will go to Arvid Soderblom, who is a high-end backup that can play any time with no worry. If there is an injury at any point, Drew Commesso is the first in line to get an opportunity.
The Blackhawks are not expecting to be a Stanley Cup contender with this group, but they are expecting to see certain players take strides in their development. Some of that will come in the AHL, and some will come in the NHL.
If they are a lottery team again, their only concern will be how the young players in the organization played, in addition to adding another elite prospect.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
Former Islanders Zdeno Chara To Have No. 33 Retired By Boston Bruins
On Monday, the Boston Bruins announced that Zdeno Chara's No. 33 will take its rightful place in the T.D. Garden Rafters on Jan. 15.
Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) on XTaking its rightful place in the rafters.
On Jan. 15, 2026, Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 will become the 13th number in #NHLBruins history to be retired.
📰: https://t.co/a1vQxhQuZPChara, a Stanley Cup champion with Boston in 2011, was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. In a career that spanned 24 years and 1,680 NHL games, Chara donned the Black & Gold for 14 seasons and 1,023 regular-season games. He was the captain of the team for 13 of those 14 seasons, representing the team and the city like no other.
Originally drafted by the New York Islanders in the third round (No. 56) in the 1996 NHL Draft, Chara signed as a free agent with Boston on July 1, 2006. After calling it a career following the 2021-22 season, his second stint with the Islanders, Big Z signed a one-day contract with Boston on Sept. 20, 2022.
On Sept. 25, the Bruins hired Chara as their new Hockey Operations Advisor and Mentor.
Bruins Hire Legend Zdeno Chara In New RoleZdeno Chara is officially back with the Boston Bruins.
Chara's last moment as an Islander and an NHLer was a magical one. In the final game of the season, a season in which the Islanders were not going to make the playoffs, Chara scored his first goal of the year with 44 seconds left to go against the Tampa Bay Lightning:
What a legendary way to end a legendary career.
7 Days Left Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #7
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 7 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #7.
Let's take a look.
Deron Quint - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Winnipeg in 1994.
Quint played 132 games with Columbus in the early days. He scored 14 goals and had 48 points, and led the Jackets in minutes played per game.
He left for Europe in 2004 and played in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Russia. He retired in 2017.
Scott Lachance - 2003-2004 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1991.
He played 138 games in Columbus and had five total points. He never played another NHL game after leaving Columbus and retired in 2007 after playing a season in the AHL.
Nowadays, He's the Head of U.S. Scouting for the New Jersey Devils.
John Moore - 2011 - Drafted by Columbus in 2009.
Moore only played 86 games in Columbus and had 8 points. On April 3, 2013, Moore was included in the Derick Brassard deal with the New York Rangers 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.
Jeff Carter - 2012 - Drafted by Philadelphia in 2003.
Carter played less than one season in Columbus before forcing his way out via trade to the LA Kings.
On Feb. 23, 2012, the Blue Jackets traded the disgruntled forward to the LA Kings in exchange for Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
Jeff Carter was booed by Columbus fans until the day he retired on April 17, 2024.
Jack Johnson - 2012-2018 - Drafted by Carolina in 2005.
Johnson played 486 games for Columbus after being traded from the LA Kings for Jeff Carter. He scored 36 goals and had 156 points in seven years.
He's bounced around since leaving Columbus, but finally won a Stanley Cup in 2022. He found his way back to Cannon City in the summer of 2024. Unfortunately for Johnson, he only played in 41 games for Columbus last year and had 6 points.
He and Head Coach Dean Evason didn't see eye to eye, leading to Johnson being scratched most of the season. Johnson's family even boycotted the family day held ahead of the 2025 Stadium Series Game at Ohio Stadium.
Gavin Bayreuther - 2021 - Undrafted out of Canaan, New Hampshire.
Bayreuther played 103 games for Columbus and totaled 23 points over three seasons. He also played for the Dallas Stars.
He was made famous in 2021 when he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the NHL Expansion Draft. One week later, he signed a two-year deal with Columbus, marking the end of his long tenure with Seattle.
After playing last season in Switzerland for Lausanne HC, he has come back to North America and will play for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
Sean Kuraly - 2022-2025 - Drafted by San Jose in 2011.
The Columbus-area native has played 292 games for Columbus after coming home. He scored 40 goals and totaled 85 points in four seasons, beating his totals for Boston in 270 games.
After the 24-25 season, Kuraly signed back in Boston, where it all began for him. He played for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets 18U team and spent four years at Miami University in Oxford from 2012 to 2016.
There are seven days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Who was your favorite #7?
The start of the 2025-26 season starts this Thursday, as the CBJ travel to Nashville to play the Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The roster is essentially set with only one thing left to know - Will the Blue Jackets start the season with three goalies? Or will they send Ivan Fedotov to the Cleveland Monsters?
With the loss of Daemon Hunt and Christián Jaroš, the Monsters are very young on the blueline. After Dysin Mayo, who is 29, the oldest defenseman on the team is 22. Four defensemen are 22, and then Luca Marrelli, who is 20.
It's going to be an interesting season in Cleveland.
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