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.
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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.
Let us know what you think below.
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More from THN Columbus
Blue Jackets Should Consider Taking Advantage Of WaiversAs we get closer to the start of the NHL season, waiver activity is picking up as teams finalize their opening night rosters.
NHL Analyst Believes Greaves Is A Breakout Candidate This SeasonRecently on an episode of Real Kyper and Bourne on Sportsnet, they had NHL analyst Steve Valiquette on the show, who specializes in goalies.
Blue Jackets Lose Daemon Hunt To WaiversChris Johnson of TSN has reported that the Minnesota Wild have claimed Daemon Hunt off the waiver wire from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets were hoping he'd clear so he could return to Cleveland, but sadly, that didn't happen.
NBA season 2025-26 preview: Five bold predictions
The NBA is unpredictable. It's why we love it.
That unpredictability can come on the court — nobody was picking Indiana to make the Finals at this time last season. However, the wilder swings come off the court in trades — Luka Doncic to the Lakers? That was impossible, yet here we are.
Here are my five bold predictions for this season.
1) Lauri Markkanen traded to Pistons
Detroit is a young team on the rise. Cade Cunningham made the leap to All-NBA last season, and he seems poised for another step forward. Detroit is betting on a few things to help the team take the next step. First, Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson need to replace the production off the bench that Michael Beasley gave last season. Second, the young core — Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ron Holland II and Ausar Thompson, among others — to take the next step in the evolution of their games.
All that's still not enough to contend. If the Pistons want to compete with the top teams in the East, they need another high-level scorer and shot creator, ideally one in the frontcourt.
Enter Lauri Markkanen.
Markkanen is a shot-creating, floor-spacing spacing scoring power forward who would be the kind of upgrade over Tobias Harris at the four that could make the Pistons to a genuine postseason threat. The Finnish All-Star is on a rebuilding Jazz team, and while he wants to be in Utah and the Jazz haven't seriously shopped him yet, the door is open.
The challenge for Detroit (or any team looking at him) is matching Markkanen's $46.4 million salary. Well, that and knowing that the Ainge family will have Utah asking for the world. It's not that hard to make the salaries fit for a trade (Tobias Harris, one player making around $8-10 million, and one player on a minimum contract) and the Pistons have first-round picks they can throw in. The sticking point: Utah will ask for Jaden Ivey. The Pistons would try to make the young player going back maybe Holland II or Thompson. Would Detroit give up Ivey for Markkanen? Also, for the Jazz to take on three players for one, some other roster moves have to be made.
It would not be easy, but in the end, it just makes too much sense: Detroit needs one more high-level shot creator and an upgrade at the four, Utah is rebuilding and needs young players and picks. It's going to get done.
2) Giannis Antetokounmpo wins MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the favorites to defend his MVP title, he is the head of the snake on the best team in the league. Nikola Jokic was a close second in the minds of voters last year and this season has a better team around him (any slight dip in stats is balanced out by the added wins). "Skinny" Luka Doncic is ready to lead the Lakers and showed at EuroBasket just how sharp he is.
Ignore those favorites, give me Giannis Antetokounmpo for MVP.
This isn't an out-of-nowhere bold prediction. Antetokounmpo is a former MVP who averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists a game last season. This season, with Damian Lillard recovering in Portland, even more shot creation will be asked of Antetokounmpo — who else on this roster can handle the rock? That's not good for the Bucks when we're talking playoff runs, but in the regular season in a down East, the Bucks will win enough to be top six and Antetokounmpo will put up undeniable numbers.
The competition is tight, but this is Antetokounmpo's year to get back to the top of the mountain.
3) Rockets trade for point guard
Houston coach Ime Udoka is leaning into the franchise's young stars in the wake of veteran Fred VanVleet tearing his ACL (he is out for the season). Udoka is expected to put the ball in Amen Thompson's hands at the point, but second-year guard Reed Sheppard is going to get his chance, too.
By February, Houston is going to be trading for a point guard.
The Rockets were title contenders with VanVleet, and will realize they need some of what he brought to the table the young stars can't replace. VanVleet provided a steady hand, limiting turnovers and putting players in advantageous positions. Thompson has the explosiveness to score, and Sheppard can shoot, but neither is an experienced floor general.
The question is, who is out there for Houston to trade for? Jrue Holiday in Portland is available and exactly the kind of point guard that would fit, but the three years and $104 million on his contract is going to be too steep a price for the Rockets. The cost in assets to get Derrick White or Payton Pritchard out of Boston is going to be steep. The Rockets should monitor how things go with Andrew Nembhard in Indiana. There are other guys, like Jose Alvarado or CJ McCollum, who the Rockets can consider, and likely another point guard name or two will shake loose.
One way or another, expect Houston to decide they need to chase someone.
4) Anthony Edwards leads NBA in scoring
This doesn't feel like that bold a statement or a stretch, but it might surprise some people.
Edwards finished fourth in scoring last season with 27.6 points per game. This season, with an aging Mike Conley at the point, more offensive responsibility will likely fall to Edwards. Julius Randle will get points in the paint, while role players such as Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo will also get theirs. Perhaps Rob Dillingham takes a step forward off the bench. However, ultimately, everything the Timberwolves do on offense runs through Edwards.
Plus, Edwards is the kind of young star and personality to chase this if he's close to it. These kinds of personal accolades seem to matter to him.
5) Clippers still finish top six in West
The Kawhi Leonard “no-show” endorsement deal scandal is the kind of distraction that can sink a ship. Or a young team.
Except, the Clippers are not a young team — they are stacked with older veterans who have seen it all, done it all and know how to focus on the task at hand.
Tyronn Lue has played through and then coached through enough distractions to fill two books. James Harden has been at the heart of rumors and distractions for so long that these latest allegations will be water off a duck's back… or tight beard, to him. Leonard is going to be Leonard, and on the court, when healthy, that's still an All-Star (if not All-NBA) level player. Chris Paul is the kind of veteran leader a team needs in times like these. Ivica Zubac is at his peak and has been around the block. Newcomers Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez and John Collins are not going to be rattled. The same is true of Derrick Jones Jr. and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
This is a quality Clippers roster that, despite losing Norman Powell, should be as good or better than last year's 50-win regular season team. The playoffs are another matter, but for the regular season this is still a top-six team in the West that avoids the play-in.
Honorable mention: Victor Wembanyama finishes top five in MVP voting. He's going to make a massive leap this season, which should scare the league.
Why Having Ritchie & George On Islanders’ Team-Bonding Trip Matters
CALVERTON, NY -- When the New York Islanders left for the Hamptons on Friday afternoon to begin their three-day team-bonding trip, Isaiah George and Calum Ritchie boarded the bus.
The two youngsters aren't likely to make the Islanders' roster, but the organization felt it was essential to have them on the trip.
"It's important to have them. I mean, are you kidding me?" Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said with a huge smile on his face. "To be around the guys who've been here for a long time, or even less, it's good bonding. It's good for them to be with the club and have a bit of a taste of what it is. I think that's great."
George had a great camp, but with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer cracking the starting lineup and Adam Boqvist having the ability to quarterback a power play, there isn't yet room for him to get valuable minutes at the NHL level.
It makes more sense for his development to be playing big minutes for Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.
When it comes to Ritchie, the main return piece in the Brock Nelson trade, he proved that he's NHL-ready and did everything possible to make the Islanders' decision tough. However, a lower-body injury sustained in their final preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers last Thursday will keep him out 1-2 weeks, making that once-difficult decision an easy one.
Injured players cannot be sent to the AHL, so, in theory, he'll likely remain up with the club to rehab before he's optioned to Bridgeport.
Both will play big roles or this team sooner than later, so why not get them acclimated with their future teammates.
"It's great. When I was a young guy, coming on these things, it really feels like you're part of it," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. "You're part of the organization, you're part of the team, and you get to start to know everybody, so when the time comes and they're here with us, they feel comfortable. It's like they're one of us. And I think that stuff's great. We get to know them, like I said, look out for them, take them around, show them the ropes, have some fun, and really begin that relationship."
While both George and Ritchie, playing 33 and seven NHL games, respectively, have some experience, feeling as comfortable as possible off the ice with this specific team will translate to on the ice.
"It's cool [to be a part of this]," George said. "I mean, obviously, to be with the guys, to be a part of the team like this is great, no matter what happens. "This helps build camaraderie amongst the group, and I think that helps us when we're out on the ice."
The Islanders' future is bright, and whether it's the team-bonding trip or participating in a training game with NHLers, having the organization's top prospects feel comfortable is a priority under general manager Mathieu Darche, and it makes all the difference.
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Canadiens: St-Louis Pleased With Intense Training Camp
While the Montreal Canadiens lost their last preseason game on Saturday night, you would have been hard-pressed to get a negative comment from coach Martin St-Louis. The bench boss came to camp, acknowledging that his team wasn’t ready for the start of the season last year, but with a clear message for his team: there was no waiting for October 8 to turn up the intensity level, and he was heard loud and clear.
Speaking after the club’s last preseason game, the coach said:
I think that since we started together, this has been our best camp. I guess it comes with the evolution, where we are, the continuity, the players’ buy-in. I’m proud of the camp and how we handled ourselves, how we worked. I’m proud of the youngsters’ progression and the buy-in from the veterans. Honestly, I feel this is the most prepared we’ve been to take on the marathon that is the season since I’ve been here.- St-Louis on his team's training camp
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It's easy to understand what the coach means when he speaks about the youngsters’ progression. At last camp, Emil Heineman stood head and shoulders above everyone, but this time around, there was a good battle up front. Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Joe Veleno, and Samuel Blais didn’t make things easier for the coach, and that’s a good problem to have.
On the blueline, Adam Engstrom showed just how much he progressed last season and what Pascal Vincent meant when he said during the rookie camp that he believed the blueliner was ready for the show. There may not be room for him in Montreal just yet, but never say never; he could force his way into the lineup or even be used in a trade to fetch more help up front.
Of course, it’s hard to know just how ready the young Canadiens are before the first game of the season, but that test is getting dangerously near now. The Habs will open their season on Wednesday, October 8, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While it seems clear that St-Louis has no intention of separating his first line, the rest of his lineup remains somewhat unclear. Ivan Demidov started shining at even strength when he was separated from Kirby Dach and Patrick Laine. The young Russian shone brightly in his one game alongside Kapanen and Alex Newhook, but that’s only one game. Can they keep it up?
As for Dach, he also looked better away from Laine and alongside Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno, but Jake Evans and Josh Anderson were less impactful as a line with Laine as their third piece. While the big Finn is a tremendous weapon to have on the power play, he remains hard to figure out at even strength. You can see that he’s making an effort out there, but it’s just not coming naturally to him. Trying to reprogram a player that has focused on offense solely for so long is no easy task, but the Canadiens do need Laine if only for how clutch he is on the power play. Given that he’s entering a contract year, this will be an essential campaign for Laine. If he genuinely loves Montreal and wants to stay, the two-way play will have to come naturally.
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It's going to be a busy day for Florida Panthers on eve of Opening Night
There will be quite a bit to keep track of in the world of the Florida Panthers on Monday.
Florida will set its Opening Night roster, and several questions will be answered in the process.
We’re still waiting to hear the status of Aaron Ekbald and Carter Verhaeghe, both of whom were on the receiving ends of illegal hits that garnered disciplinary action from the NHL Department of Player Safety.
It’s all stemming from Florida’s preseason finale against Tampa Bay on Saturday in which the intra-state rivals called for a combined 322 penalty minutes in a game Florida won 7-0.
The aftermath, which has yet to be completely determined, has seen four Lightning players either fined or facing hearing with the league.
Roman Schmidt and Gage Goncalves were each fined the maxim allowable under the CBA for cross-checking Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues, respectively.
The NHL is calling both Scott Sabourin and J.J. Moser in for hearings on Monday as both could face fines or suspensions.
Sabourin went after Ekblad and was tossed from the game, as was Moser after a boarding incident that Jesper Boqvist was on the receiving end of.
So yeah, lots to keep track of.
But wait, there’s more!
Getting back to Florida’s Opening Night roster, the final spots are still in limbo.
Florida has yet to announce whether they are offering a contract to either or both of the men who came to camp on PTOs (professional tryouts), Noah Gregor and Tyler Motte.
The Panthers can carry as many as 23 players on their active roster, which does not include players on IR.
It’s going to be a busy day for the Panthers, who will begin their second straight title defense the following afternoon.
Stay tuned.
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Photo caption: Dec 2, 2021; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres with defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) and left wing Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the third period at FLA Live Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)
Shaikin: Clayton Kershaw isn't first Hall of Fame-bound pitcher to finish career in Dodgers bullpen
As Clayton Kershaw completed his pregame routine the other day and walked off the field at Citizens Bank Park, I asked him about his postseason debut. That was 17 years and 39 playoff appearances ago, and yet Kershaw remembered it so well that he got his answer out before I got all of my question out.
“I was in the ‘pen,” Kershaw said. “Here.”
The pitching staff of the 2008 Dodgers featured two Hall of Famers: Kershaw, in his first year, and Greg Maddux, in his last year.
When the Dodgers faced the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series, Derek Lowe, Hiroki Kuroda and Chad Billingsley made the cut as starters. Kershaw and Maddux did not.
Read more:Hernández: Dodgers save Shohei Ohtani, not the other way around, in monumental Game 1 NLDS win
“He and I were both kind of the long guys down there,” Kershaw said. “It’s crazy, kind of the similarities.
“Where I am now is kind of where he was. It’s pretty cool.”
For just about every player, baseball tells you when your career is over. Maddux, for all his accolades, was no exception.
In each of his last five seasons, his earned-run average was above 4.00, even as he pitched at least 194 innings in each of them. In his last stint with the Dodgers — seven starts at the end of the 2008 season — his ERA was 5.09.
Maddux knew that postseason would be the end for him. He just didn’t tell anyone.
In his last outing — in the game in which the Phillies eliminated the Dodgers — Maddux was one of six Dodgers relievers. He worked the fourth and fifth innings, left the mound with the Dodgers down by five runs, and quietly asked the plate umpire for a baseball on his way out.
“I’ve got the ball in my room somewhere,” Maddux told The Times in 2014. “It kind of stunk that we lost. But I knew it was the last time I was going to put on a uniform. I was privileged to wear it for as long as I did.”
Kershaw is the rare player that has told baseball when his career is over. He announced his retirement last month, effective at the end of the season, even as he is still mighty effective.
His .846 winning percentage would have led the major leagues, had he thrown another 50 innings. He still threw more innings than anyone on the Dodgers except Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and his 3.36 ERA was his third-worst in a full season. In his final start, he shut out the American League West champion Seattle Mariners into the sixth inning.
In a normal year for the Dodgers, Kershaw would be starting in the playoffs, because a normal year for the Dodgers means scooping up a bunch of talented pitchers with histories of injury and questions of durability, then crossing their fingers and hoping a few are healthy and effective come playoff time.
Last October, the Dodgers ran short: Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and four bullpen games. This October, almost miraculously, the Dodgers have five available starters with an ERA better than Kershaw: Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan.
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, admitted to some trepidation at telling a Hall of Famer that he would be bound for the postseason bullpen.
“But, to Kersh’s credit, he cuts off that timidness in a way by saying, ‘Hey, I'm here to win, whatever it takes,’” Friedman said. “He’s loved watching these guys compete. Obviously he’s done really well this year as well.
“Usually, when a guy’s on his way out, it's like, ‘OK, it's time.’ You can kind of see it. The performance really backs up. That's not the case with Kersh. He was a big part of the success we had this year. But to his credit, he cut it off really early and just said, ‘Hey, I just want to be part of this and help this team win, whatever way I can.’ And so he helped make that conversation way easier.”
If Kershaw works four innings this October, he’ll pass Maddux for sixth place on the all-time list of postseason innings pitched. If he pitches 5⅔ innings, he’ll become the fifth pitcher to throw 200 postseason innings, joining Andy Pettitte, Justin Verlander, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.
In the future, fans will flip over Kershaw’s baseball card — or, more likely, look up his Baseball Reference page — and learn that the greatest starter of his generation finished his career in relief.
A curiosity, at the least, I suggested. Kershaw shrugged.
“The postseason is just its own separate thing,” he said. “You just do whatever you can. Where our team is at with our starters, it makes sense.
“I guess it's weird, but it’s part of it.”
In his postseason debut here in 2008, Kershaw retired the first five batters, not bad when four of them were named Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. In his finale in that 2008 NLCS, Maddux got the last man he faced to ground out: Cole Hamels — in the old days, when pitchers used to bat.
Kershaw might not throw another pitch; the Dodgers have made no commitment to use him in this round, or to keep him on the roster if they advance beyond then.
Read more:Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki showcase Dodgers' bullpen blueprint for playoffs
On Sunday, I asked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts whether Kershaw was here only in case a starter exited in a hurry or a game went into extra innings.
“I trust him,” Roberts said. “I think there’s other opportunities he might have to pitch. But I also do feel that there’s other guys, whether it’s lanes or spots, that I feel we're more comfortable with.
“It’s not a slight on Clayton, but I do think that there's various roles — up, down, early, late — that I could use him.”
The Dodgers are using starters wherever they can: starting, relieving, closing. Given the anxiety-inducing state of the Dodgers bullpen, the notion that they might not be able to find a spot to use Kershaw leaves only one question: Seriously?
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Warriors' Pat Spencer torches NBA teams prioritizing length, athleticism over IQ
Warriors' Pat Spencer torches NBA teams prioritizing length, athleticism over IQ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors veterans Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford have seen the NBA change dramatically over the course of their lengthy careers, and probably have plenty of thoughts and opinions about today’s game.
However, it was one of Golden State’s more junior players that delivered a scathing league-wide critique on Sunday after the Warriors’ 111-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at Chase Center.
Second-year guard Pat Spencer, who scored 12 points with three rebounds and four assists on 3-of-7 shooting from the field and 1 of 2 on 3-pointers in 21 minutes against the Lakers, took aim at some NBA teams over their roster-construction priorities (h/t The San Francisco Standard’s Danny Emerman).
“If you’re a guy who can connect the dots, but also do some other things, knock the 3-ball down, there’s always going to be a place for you in the league,” Spencer said postgame. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of organizations that are stuck in the bottom that continue to value length and athleticism over IQ. And they tend to stay in the lottery every year.”
The 29-year-old Spencer, a former college lacrosse star-turned-hooper, who is on a two-way contract with Golden State, impressed in limited action during the 2024-25 NBA season with his do-it-all, high-IQ-style of play off the bench.
In 39 regular-season games last season, Spencer averaged 2.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game on 40.6-percent shooting from the field in just over six minutes per game before averaging 4.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game on 64-percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range in the playoffs.
Spencer currently does not project to be part of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s rotations this season, but he showed last year that if his number is called, he will bring the intangible traits that he believes are deserving of a roster spot in today’s NBA.
‘This window is upon us': Red Sox discuss offseason priorities after early exit
‘This window is upon us': Red Sox discuss offseason priorities after early exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox held their annual end-of-season press conference on Monday morning, discussing some of their key off-season priorities after making an early playoff exit.
Those speaking included President and CEO Sam Kennedy, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora.
“I want to express huge thanks to our fans for giving us what was a great step in the right direction in 2025,” Kennedy said. “Our fans proved once again why they’re the best in baseball. You guys packed the house night in and night out… We never take that support for granted, we appreciate you guys and we’re excited for 2026. While we fell short of our ultimate goal this year, it was definitely a step in the right direction.”
Breslow echoed those comments, saying Fenway was “electric” this season.
“We’re sitting here in the first week of October, which means we didn’t accomplish what we set out to accomplish — a deep postseason run,” he added. “We fell short of that and I don’t think there’s any running from it or hiding from it. That shouldn’t diminish what the players did, what the staff did… There are a number of things we can point to as reasons for optimism.”
Cora reflected on what he said was one of the most fun groups of players he’s ever managed.
“I’m disappointed at the results — that’s not what I wanted — but as far as the overall season for me, I had a blast,” he said. “We really enjoyed it. I think this place made it special. To come here every single day and win here and to have the energy we had throughout the season, that was special.”
The Red Sox finished the season as the No. 5 seed in the American League, landing the second Wild Card spot. But they lost to the archrival New York Yankees 2-1 in the Wild Card series.
Still, the season was mostly viewed as a success, especially given the development of young players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer and the fact that the team hadn’t qualified for the playoffs since 2021.
Now, the speculation turns toward what the team will do in the offseason, including whether they will re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman, trade one of their four outfielders or sign a top-tier free agent starter to bolster their rotation.
Breslow said he was particularly impressed with the emergence of the organization’s pitching development pipeline this season, but said that won’t stop him from pursuing another front-line starter to augment a rotation led by ace Garrett Crochet.
“I think there are a few things we can point to — most significant is to remind ourselves that there’s no guarantee that we just pick up where we left off at the end of 2025, expecting everyone to take a step forward. That could allow us to be complacent… We’ve talked a lot about how this window is upon us.”
Breslow said one area to look at is improving the team’s defense, and another is hitting with runners in scoring position.
“But right now, we’ll kind of zoom out a little bit and take stock of where we are,” he said. “We’ll be open to all possible pathways to improving the team.”
Breslow was asked about the future of several key players — including Bregman, Trevor Story, Jarren Duran, Tristan Casas and Lucas Giolito — all of whom could move on or be traded this offseason. But he said it is too soon to discuss specifics.
As for whether the team has enough pitching, Breslow said there is always a need for more major league arms, as demonstrated this postseason.
“No one will sit in this seat and say there is enough pitching in the organization,” he said. “I think we saw that in the second half. We can list out pitchers that were on the IL, and it just means that depth is so critically important. When we talk about pursuing opportunities to improve the team, bringing in pitching is certainly one of them.”
Tatum's ‘unprecedented' rehab, and more early thoughts from Celtics camp
Tatum's ‘unprecedented' rehab, and more early thoughts from Celtics camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The first week of the Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 season is in the rearview mirror after training camp officially began last Tuesday.
Some thoughts on the week’s biggest storylines with preseason games on the horizon:
Tatum’s ‘unprecedented’ rehab
The night before the Boston Celtics huddled for Media Day, Jayson Tatum released a rather jarring video of his progress since Achilles surgery. Less than five months removed from the rupture, Tatum showcased his recent return to basketball workouts.
We wondered if Tatum’s teammates, who have seen him grinding away in the weight room throughout the offseason, were as surprised as the rest of us.
“He looks like he’s going to be ready for opening night,” joked superstar running mate Jaylen Brown. “Just somebody with a crazy work ethic and passion for the game. So I’m not surprised.”
Even seeing Tatum’s relentless effort on a daily basis, his teammates still marveled at how far he’s come in a short time. A sampling of their reactions:
- Xavier Tillman: “It is crazy impressive. I mean, I’m seeing this guy do like box jumps and stuff like that. And I’m like, ‘Huh!? What!?’”
- Jordan Walsh: “I mean, the dude’s a machine. He’s recovering at a crazy rate.”
- Josh Minott: “That’s inspiring, seeing his progression. I mean, they’re saying it’s like unprecedented.”
- Derrick White: “It’s been impressive. Just goes to who he is and what type of worker he is.”
- Sam Hauser: “To see him moving like that already is pretty special. And it’s just a credit to all the work he’s been doing behind the scenes, when there’s no cameras around. You watch the way he’s working, rehabbing, it makes you want to do a little extra.”
- Payton Pritchard: “I already expected this from Jayson, to come back like this … I just never put things past certain people, and he’s one of those guys.”
- Joe Mazzulla: “He’s done an amazing job just accepting the journey that he’s on … The work ethic that he’s put in, but also the mentality that he’s shown and the leadership that he’s shown in working and training, it’s second to none.”
Alas, Tatum’s accelerated rehab has caused issues for some inside the Auerbach Center.
“I was a little bit mad at [Tatum] a couple of weeks ago because all of a sudden his next step was he could use the treadmill and I like to use the treadmill,” said Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. “And it just kind of felt like we were on the same timing. So I got kicked off the one machine that I can use in that whole building.
“So I’m glad that he’s making strides and getting back on the court, for my own good.”
Slim Tillman ready for new season
Beyond Tatum’s prognosis, perhaps the most common question we fielded from Celtics fans throughout the offseason centered (pun fully intended) on how the Celtics would patch together their frontcourt after the departures of Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet.
We’d tell the inquisitor about the opportunity in front of Neemias Queta. We’d talk about the additions of Luka Garza and Chris Boucher. We’d even note the addition of Amari Williams on a two-way contract. But we’d routinely forget to include Tillman in the conversation.
Even with an overstocked frontcourt last season, it was jarring that Tillman played just 231 minutes in 33 regular-season appearances. The same player who was a key role player for the 2024 title team after his midseason addition had become a bit of an afterthought.
Tillman’s knee balked for much of last season, leaving him unable to maximize the minutes he received. His playing time evaporated late in the season, and he logged just 35 total minutes after the All-Star break.
Tillman came back to camp 12 pounds lighter and eager to remind people that he can be a key presence as an undersized and versatile big. Even without much playing time last season, he is one of Boston’s more experienced frontcourt players and should get every opportunity to reestablish himself.
The center spot will be in the spotlight as the Celtics kick off preseason play this week with visits to Memphis (Tillman’s old stomping grounds) and Toronto (Boucher’s former home).
Kevin DuCharme/NBC Sports BostonCeltics big man Xavier Tillman lost 12 pounds this offseason as he aims to carve out a role in Boston’s frontcourt.
Harder, faster, stronger
Maybe it’s time to add Daft Punk to the TD Garden playlist, because so much of the talk around these Celtics in the first week of camp is how much harder and faster they yearn to play this season.
From the moment Boston completed its summer overhaul, the suggestion has been that the Celtics would mask some of that talent drain by simply holding the turbo button this season. Payton Pritchard sported a bloody gash on his neck after what he termed a “war”-like practice on Friday.
It’s not a coincidence that Boston aims to play harder and faster when the Pacers and Thunder were the last two teams standing last season. You need talent and skill, but those teams clearly benefited from an all-gas, no-brakes playing style. Now the Celtics will try to match with some sort of controlled intensity.
The harder/faster hype kicked into overdrive when Walsh suggested the Celtics might go with full hockey subs in order to keep the energy level maximized. Mazzulla — and later Walsh — eventually walked back that idea. But the suggestion is undeniable: The Celtics plan to crank up the aggression to mask some of the skill that departed this summer.
Big Ten power rankings: Week 7 should be epic as top teams all play each other
After a week of Big Ten play that had the most shocking upset in college football in 2025, there are three power house matchups in Week 7.