St. Louis Blues top prospects Justin Carbonneau and Adam Jiricek will return to their respective CHL teams, doing so with the confidence of performing well in training camp and the praise from coach Jim Montgomery.
Carbonneau skated in three pre-season games, notching a goal and an assist. His determination to win the puck back was evident in all three games, and the 18-year-old showed no fear, physically engaging himself. Carbonneau will return to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL for what is likely his final season in juniors before competing for an NHL or AHL spot next year.
"I want him to gain that next-play speed," said Montgomery. "When the puck transitions from offense to defense that he gets above it. Anyone that's been a scorer, they hang and hope for a turnover, so they're in a better offensive position. That's kind of what we talked to him about. Watch McDavid, watch MacKinnon, watch Crosby, Aho... when he was on the ice with our players, he naturally was the last guy coming back into our end every time. That's just next-play speed: 'I've got to do this.'"
Jiricek impressed as well, and he, too, will return to the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs for what should be his final season in juniors. The 19-year-old carries an abundance of skill, mixed with excellent physical tools, but Jiricek's biggest issue so far in his career has been his health.
The Czech defender played just 27 games last year after suffering a knee injury, but after adding muscle to his frame, he's hoping to remain healthy and continue to improve on both sides of the puck. In his two pre-season appearances, Jiricek failed to record any points, but logged big minutes and looked comfortable in each.
"He's elite with the puck. He's just got to learn to move it and not take as many hits as he does," said Montgomery. "He's got the mentality, 'I'm going to take a hit to make the play.' But sometimes just let the puck do the work and jump by the forechecker. Both (Carbonneau and Jiricek) are elite and going to be NHL power-play players. We see all of that. But to get into the NHL as soon as we would like them to be, they've got to improve in those areas."
Including their CHL campaigns, Jiricek and Cabronneau could feature on their countries' World Junior Championship rosters. Jiricek is likely a lock, previously featuring on the roster twice, but Carbonneau will have to compete against several top Canadian forwards. A strong start to his QMJHL campaign could earn him a spot. His ability to play physically could be a trait the Canadian coaching staff are looking for.
Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov reset the market this week, signing an eight-year, $136 million extension that carries a $17 million average annual value.
The deal has the highest total value in NHL history and immediately raises questions about how it will ripple across the league.
Specifically, the immediate question is how it will impact pending UFAs.
“The reality with the cap going up and Kaprizov making $17 million on his new deal is that every good forward's value on an existing contract just went up exponentially. Players like Tage Thompson at $7 million or William Nylander at $11.5 million have to be considered bargains,” The Hockey News’ Michael Augello wrote on X.
Let’s look at big names ready to sign big contracts and how, if at all, the Kaprizov deal will affect their negotiations.
Impacted: Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
One interesting name to watch comes from Los Angeles, where the Kings and winger Adrian Kempe might have been close to an extension, but the Kaprizov deal changes things.
Talks between the Kings and Kempe’s representatives are set to resume this week, and according to Elliotte Friedman on the FAN Hockey Show, his camp was already targeting an ask in the $10.5 million range. How much did that just jump as Kempe watched Kaprizov sign for $6.5 million more per season?
Kempe is not Kaprizov. Kempe’s career high is 75 points, while Kaprizov’s is 108. It’s fair to assume Kempe’s camp knows there’s a difference between the two players, both in terms of their on-ice production and overall value to the franchise. Still, Kempe, a 40-goal scorer two seasons ago, has proven he can drive offense, and the Kaprizov benchmark strengthens his negotiating position.
Impacted: Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets left winger Kyle Connor is another player to watch. A consistent scoring threat and former Lady Byng Trophy winner, Connor has been a critical piece for Winnipeg’s attack. Like Kaprizov, Connor is essential to the Jets’ franchise. Unlike Kaprizov, it’s arguably for a different reason.
Kaprizov is the face of the Wild. He brings in fans. Connor, meanwhile, represents the Jets' ability to retain key players in a market that isn’t always at the top of the list for big stars. If he re-signs, that will help attract other players to Winnipeg.
With Kaprizov’s $17 million average annual value approaching as the new ceiling for elite wingers, Connor’s next deal, which was believed to be hovering around the $12 million mark per season, is almost certain to command more than previously projected.
Not Impacted: Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
For Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights, Kaprizov’s deal has little direct impact.
First, Eichel is a center. Second, he’s playing in a market that almost every NHL player wants to go to. Third, no-tax benefits change what Eichel can ask for and will receive.
Eichel, 28, is finishing up an eight-year, $80 million contract and is expected to ask for more than $13 million annually – surpassing teammate Mitch Marner’s $12 million figure. His case is based on the top of the center market, not the winger market, and he has absolutely no desire to leave Vegas. Eichel’s leverage is more an internal cap thing than it is looking at Kaprizov’s deal and telling Vegas they need to get close.
The Colorado Avalanche are in a tricky situation that only got trickier with the Kaprizov deal.
Martin Necas is locked in at $6.5 million this year and is looking to cash in on a new extension. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos said in June there was a sense Necas wasn’t thrilled with his run in Colorado after joining the team in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes. As such, it is expected that he will ask for every penny he can get. Otherwise, he’ll test the market.
Necas is an underrated talent who doesn’t have the same pedigree as Kaprizov. At the same time, the Avalanche gave up Mikko Rantanen in a deal they might likely look back on and regret. If they aren’t willing to let Necas walk away, too, then they may have to pay more than expected to maintain similar margins in cap hit between Necas and a star like Kaprizov.
Not Impacted: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
If there is one unicorn in the group of free agents that wasn’t named Kaprizov, it’s Connor McDavid. His situation is totally unique from anyone else’s, simply because he’s the best player in the world.
If he chooses to take less so the team he’s on can remain competitive, then the Kaprizov contract means nothing. If he wants to be the highest-paid player in the NHL, he should be, and no one will ask questions or try to negotiate with him. McDavid will simply tell the Edmonton Oilers – or another team in free agency this summer – what he wants, and that team will give it to him.
Some might argue that McDavid will see the Kaprizov deal and feel the need to make more. That said, while McDavid wants to be paid fairly, he doesn’t seem to be motivated by money. He’s motivated by giving himself the best chance to win a Stanley Cup multiple times.
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This will be the second preseason game between the two teams after the Penguins won in Buffalo on Wednesday, 5-3. Filip Hallander, Tristan Broz, Matt Dumba, Ville Koivunen, and Avery Hayes scored for the Penguins.
Friday's lineup will feature a more experienced "A squad" for the Penguins, as the regular season is just a few days away. The coaching staff and management want to get the regulars some reps, while also seeing if some of the younger players (hello Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke) can make one last big push for a full-time spot.
The Penguins have 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders listed for this game, but not everyone will play. There was an optional morning skate on Friday, but no line rushes, so it's anyone's guess as to which forwards and defensemen will be healthy scratches.
In goal, head coach Dan Muse announced after the morning skate that Tristan Jarry would play the first half of the game before Sergei Murashov replaces him for the second half.
Like Wednesday's game, the Sabres will have some of their NHL regulars in the lineup for this game, including Josh Norris, Jason Zucker, Jack Quinn, Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, and Bowen Byram.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and fans in the Pittsburgh region can watch the contest on SportsNet Pittsburgh+ or listen to it on the Penguins' flagship station, 105.9 'The X.'
It was hard to watch. First Boston's Jayson Tatum, then, on the NBA's biggest stage, Tyrese Haliburton of Indiana.
The last two Eastern Conference champions head into this season without their All-NBA stars and anchors of their team's offense. Tatum tore his Achilles in the second round against the Knicks, and Haliburton famously tore his Achilles early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Both are expected to miss this season (although Tatum is leaving the door open to a late-season return).
In the wake of those absences, the preseason focus has been about the East being "wide open," with discussions about who can step into the void. But what about Indiana and Boston this season? Can this be more than a gap year for them? Let's break it down.
Boston Celtics
Changes were coming to the Celtics' roster before Tatum took a wrong step against the Knicks. The dreaded second apron and repeater tax were already coming for them, but the injury opened the door for management to be aggressive in trimming salary: Jrue Holiday is in Portland, Kristaps Porzingis is in Atlanta, Al Horford is in Golden State, and Luke Kornet is in San Antonio. The result is the Celtics' payroll is below $200 million (but still about $4 million over the first luxury tax apron).
Boston still has plenty of talent: Finals MVP and All-Star Jaylen Brown will become the head of the snake on offense, and they still have Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. White, in particular, is going to have a much larger role and be asked to do more than at any point since he was Mr. Everything for the Colorado Buffaloes. He is going to get a lot of the pick-and-roll opportunities that Tatum has usually absorbed.
The hard questions are in the frontcourt, where the starters are likely to be Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta (who had a great EuroBasket), with Chris Boucher behind them.
Joe Mazzulla is going to have these Celtics playing faster and still launching a historic amount of 3-pointers, and that is going to get them wins. This is not a bad team — Vegas projects a team around .500 — but not a contender. Certainly a step back from where Boston was, as should be expected.
The spin out of Boston will be that this is a year for players to grow and evolve in new roles, and then, when Tatum returns — whether late this season or next — they will be better for the experience. That's a nice talking point, but the guys getting experience are role players, not stars. New owner Bill Chisholm said he would do what it takes, spend what it takes for this team to win. That test starts next summer when Boston needs to restock the roster to contend.
For now, Boston looks like a play-in team in the East.
Indiana Pacers
Not only is Haliburton out for the season, but ownership decided to try to get Myles Turner to take a discount on his next deal, and now he is in Milwaukee. That's two of the top three players — including the critical engine that made the Pacers' up-tempo style work in Haliburton — out for the season.
Anyone who watched the Pacers in their limited time without Haliburton last season grasps what's coming: Good players, well coached, but not great defensively and without the offensive spark needed to win consistently in the NBA.
Pascal Siakam becomes the focal point of the offense, and he should put up numbers. He is surrounded by guys who were good role players a season ago but will be asked to do a lot more now: Andrew Nembhard at the point, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, Jay Huff and more.
Some guys will step up, and if you told me Nembhard wins Most Improved Player, I wouldn't be shocked (he looked good as the backup point guard last season). However, it's a lot to ask across the board. This looks more like a team struggling to make the back end of the play-in — even in this East — more than a nightly threat.
A year from now, when Haliburton returns, the show returns and things get interesting. For now, it's a season about growth for role players.
Part of the process of crafting a fantasy basketball team, whether it's in a snake draft or a salary draft, is finding positive value. Can you unearth a potential "diamond in the rough," or pay a lower cost for an elite talent than expected? Doing so can make all the difference between winning a league and finishing out of the money.
However, in addition to seeking those players, fantasy managers need to identify players who should probably be left alone based on their average draft positions. Below is a list of ten players who should not be drafted at their current ADPs, beginning with a player who's led the NBA in rebounding three straight years.
Sabonis' production isn't up for debate. However, his ADP as of October 2 was a bit too high. Last season, he appeared in 70 games, averaging 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.9 three-pointers. While Sabonis' rebounding and scoring output held steady compared to his 2023-24 production, the assists decreased by more than two per game. The Kings added DeMar DeRozan last offseason, but that wasn't the most problematic roster change.
Sacramento traded point guard De'Aaron Fox to San Antonio just before the February deadline, adding Zach LaVine as part of the multi-team deal. From February 6 onward, Sabonis averaged 16.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 three-pointers per game. It's possible that the Kings addressing the point guard position by adding Dennis Schröder helps, but he's another playmaker who needs to have the ball in his hands. That may negatively impact Sabonis' assist value and scoring opportunities.
2. PF/C Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Yahoo! ADP: 16.9
Many expect Banchero to be a breakout player this season after recording career-highs in points, rebounds and three-pointers in 46 games played in 2024-25. However, expecting second-round value from the Magic forward may be a bit ambitious, given Banchero's fantasy history. He's yet to produce a top-100 season in either per-game value or totals, and the same can be said of his per-36 fantasy numbers according to Basketball Monster. Can Banchero produce a top-100 season? Given his talent and the changes made to the Magic roster, absolutely. However, expecting a top-20 season, which is what his current ADP implies, is a bit much.
3. SF/PF LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Yahoo! ADP: 18.3
There's no denying James' greatness, and for him to be as effective as he was last season was nothing short of remarkable. That said, he'll turn 41 in December, which may result in more injury management measures being taken despite the Western Conference being loaded. James has played at least 70 games each of the last two seasons, the first time he's done this since his final three seasons in Cleveland. In 2018-19, James was limited to 55 games played. LeBron did finish last season as a top-20 player, exceeding his Yahoo! ADP of 24.5. Expecting similar production, especially with the Lakers entering their "Luka Dončić era," may prove to be unrealistic.
4. PG/SG De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
Yahoo! ADP: 26.8
Fox's first full season in San Antonio has already gotten off to an inauspicious start, as he'll likely miss the beginning of the regular season with a hamstring injury. Also of concern is the potential production, especially with a healthy Victor Wembanyama set to command touches after missing the post-All-Star break portion of last season due to injury. In 17 games for the Spurs last season, Fox averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 three-pointers. While the rebounds took a slight hit and the assists increased compared to his pre-trade numbers in Sacramento, Fox's scoring decreased by more than five points per game. To approach top-25 value as some expect him to, Fox will need to boost those numbers as part of a lineup that will be more talented (and healthier) than it was last season.
5. SG/SF Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Yahoo! ADP: 30.5
Brown's preseason fantasy value has been boosted by Jayson Tatum being sidelined by a ruptured Achilles tendon and the Celtics losing multiple rotation players by trade or free agency. The roster changes set Brown up to be a more productive player, but this also means opposing defenses will pay even more attention to him defensively. Brown, who underwent knee surgery during the offseason, has just two top-50 fantasy seasons to his credit. And the early ADP does not take into account the possibility of the occasional rest day, especially if the Celtics aren't a factor in the East.
Zubac enjoyed the best season of his NBA career in 2024-25, posting career-best averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals. However, expecting the 7-footer to approach top-30 value for a second straight season is a bit much, especially with the additions the Clippers made during the offseason. The two most impactful moves concerning Zubac were the signings of John Collins, who will likely start at the four, and Brook Lopez to fill the backup center role. Zubac played 32.8 minutes per game, the first time his average as surpassed 30 minutes. It would be unsurprising if his playing time dipped under 30 in 2025-26, thus lowering Zubac's fantasy ceiling.
7. SG/SF Josh Hart, New York Knicks
Yahoo! ADP: 49.8
Hart was likely a league-winning player for many managers who selected him in drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season, as he was nearly a top-25 player in per-game value and nearly top-10 in totals. However, that was under Tom Thibodeau, who was more than willing to have his best players log heavy minutes. Hart moving to the bench during the Eastern Conference Finals may have been a harbinger of what's to come, especially with Mitchell Robinson being healthy. Add in a new head coach in Mike Brown, and Hart's fantasy ceiling may be lower than many managers believe it to be. Also, he underwent surgery on his right index finger in July and aggravated the injury during an offseason workout. Hopefully, that won't be a serious issue during the regular season, but the finger injury is something else for fantasy managers to consider when evaluating Hart.
8. SG/SF RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors
Yahoo! ADP: 77.4
Based on his early ADP numbers, there's no shortage of managers who believe Barrett may have a top-75 season in him. Based on Toronto's roster and Barrett's fantasy history, those expectations are unrealistic. Barrett has yet to finish a season ranked inside the top-150 in per-game value, and he has one such season in roto (2020-21). As for the roster, the Raptors also have Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes healthy, not to mention Brandon Ingram, who's fully recovered from the ankle injury that limited him to 18 games last season (all with the Pelicans). Given the number of players who will command touches within the Raptors system, Barrett's ADP is too high at this point in the preseason.
9. C Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
Yahoo! ADP: 83.7
Ware had a productive rookie campaign, finishing sixth in Rookie of the Year voting and averaging 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game. After moving into the starting lineup in January, he averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.2 blocks in 27.8 minutes while shooting 54.4 percent from the field. However, Ware will have to earn the right to remain in the starting lineup, and Miami's lack of proven bigs behind Bam Adebayo could result in the Heat staggering Ware and Adebayo's minutes more than they did down the stretch last season. Is a top-100 season possible? Absolutely. But betting on Ware to finish safely within that threshold is a serious roll of the dice.
10. PG/SG Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
Yahoo! ADP: 113.0
George recorded improved averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers last season, which was his second in the NBA. However, he was moved to the bench in favor of then-rookie Isaiah Collier, who offered more as a distributor and defender, in late January. Collier may not have done enough to claim the starting point guard job as his own, as evidenced by Utah's decision to use one of its first-round picks on former Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. Unless he's somehow out of the rotation completely, which should not happen, Expecting George to approach top-100 value with Utah's current logjam at the point guard position is overly optimistic.
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers signed coach Kris Knoblauch to a three-year extension, keeping him under contract through the 2028-29 season.
Knoblauch has guided the Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup finals since replacing Jay Woodcroft behind the bench on Nov. 12, 2023.
After a 3-9-1 start in 2023-24 under Woodcroft, Edmonton went on to post a 48-16-5 record under Knoblauch before reaching the final, falling in seven games to the Florida Panthers.
The 47-year-old from Imperial, Saskatchewan, then posted a 48-29-5 record last season, his first full one in charge. Edmonton went 12-4 through three playoff rounds but again lost the final to Florida, this time in six games.
Knoblauch was in his fifth season coaching the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate, when he took his first job running an NHL bench with the Oilers.
He previously had served as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2017-2019, and coached Oilers captain Connor McDavid for three seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters.
Knoblauch also played junior hockey for the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Ice and spent five years playing at the University of Alberta.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts connects on a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds in game 1 of the National League Wild Card series at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
In hindsight, Mookie Betts made the mystery of his worst career season sound rather simple.
Looking back on it now, the reasons were right there all along.
There was a newfound process of having to flush such frustrations, forcing the 12-year veteran to accept failure, concede to a lost season, and reframe his mindset as the Dodgers approached the fall.
“I just accepted failing, so my thought process on failing changed,” Betts said in an introspective news conference on the eve of the playoffs.
“Instead of sulking on, ‘Well, I tried this and it failed, now I don't know where to go,’ I just used it as positive things, and eventually turned.”
Betts' full season, of course, will remain a disappointment. He posted personal low-marks in batting average (.258) and OPS (.732). He spent most of the summer with his confidence seemingly shot.
But from those depths has come a well-timed rebirth.
Amid a year of continuous turmoil, Betts finally found a way to mentally move on.
Over his final 47 games of the regular season, he batted .317 and nearly doubled his home run total, jumping from 11 on Aug. 4 to 20 by the end of the term.
During the Dodgers’ 15-5 finish to the schedule, he was one of the lineup’s hottest hitters, posting a .901 OPS that was second on the team only to Shohei Ohtani.
In the club’s wild-card-round sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, Betts’ production was even more prolific. He had six hits in the two games, including three doubles and three RBIs in the series clincher Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
And afterward, having helped the team book a spot in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he reflected on his turbulent campaign again — attributing his recent success to the grind that came before it.
“I went through arguably one of the worst years of my career,” Betts said. “But I think it really made me mentally tough.”
All year, speculation swirled about the root causes of Betts’ struggles, which saw him miss the All-Star Game for the first time in a decade and bat as low as .231 through the first week of August.
His shortstop play was the most commonly blamed public culprit. The correlation, to many, seemed too obvious to ignore.
But this week, he finally granted some credence to the dynamic, putting the difficulties of the transition in a different, but connected, context.
“It's hard to go back and forth,” he said of the balance between learning the fundamentals of shortstop while also trying to work through his offensive scuffles. “It's a learned behavior going back [and forth] between offense and defense.”
This wasn’t a problem for Betts when he played right field, where he has six career Gold Glove awards.
“When I was in right, I didn't have to do that,” Betts said. “I was just playing right. I didn't have to think about it.”
At shortstop, on the other hand, he “had to think about everything,” from how to attack ground balls, to how to remake his throwing motion, to where to position himself for cutoff throws and relay plays.
“I was making errors I never made before,” Betts said. “I had never been in these situations.”
The Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer is forced out at second base by Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts on a ground ball from Gavin Lux during the first inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series on Wednesday. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
It hearkened back to something teammate Freddie Freeman said about Betts early in the season.
“It’s a lot to take on, to be a shortstop in the big leagues,” Freeman said in late May. “But once he gets everything under control, I think that’s when the hitting will pick right back up.”
Eventually, that prediction came true.
By the second half of the season, Betts finally stopped thinking his way through the shortstop position, and developed a comfort level that allowed him to simply play it.
“Now when I go out and play shortstop, it's like I'm going out to right field,” Betts said. “I don't even think about it. My training is good. I believe in myself. I believe in what I can do. And now it's just like, go have fun.”
“Once short became where I didn't have to think about it anymore,” he added, “I could really think about offense.”
Shortstop, of course, failed to explain the full extent of Betts’ hitting problems. Those started with the stomach virus he suffered at the beginning of the season, which wreaked havoc on his swing as much as his body.
Even after Betts regained the weight he lost, his strength remained diminished. It left his already underwhelming bat speed a tick lower than normal. It rendered his usual swing fixes ineffective as he battled mechanical flaws to which he struggled to find answers.
“It's just hard to gain your weight and sustain strength in the middle of a season, when you've been traveling and doing all these things,” he said.
It felt like one domino kept bumping into the next. To the point where everything was on the verge of falling apart.
“My season's kind of over,” Betts ultimately declared in early August. “We're going to have to chalk [this] up for not a great season.”
That, though, is precisely when everything started to turn.
Moving forward, the 32-year-old decided then, he would commit himself to a new mindset: “I can go out and help the boys win every night,” he said. “Get an RBI, make a play, do something. I'm going to have to shift my focus there.”
Suddenly, where there was once only frustration, Betts started stacking one little victory after another. He would fist-pump sacrifice flies and ground balls that moved baserunners. He turned acrobatic plays on defense that refueled his once-dwindling confidence.
“When he kind of said that the year was lost, when he made that admission, that's when I think it sort of flipped for him,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Just freeing his mind up.”
It helped that, down the stretch, Roberts committed to keeping Betts at shortstop; last year, the Dodgers shifted Betts to the outfield when he came back from injury in August.
“I take a lot of pride in it,” said Betts, who wound up leading all MLB shortstops in defensive runs saved this year. “At the start of the season, I wasn't sure I would end the season there. I thought there may have to be an adjustment at some point, from lack of trust or whatever. I just didn't know. So I'm just proud of myself for making it all the way through the year, and actually achieving a goal that I kind of set out to do: Being a major league shortstop, and say I did it and I'm good at it.”
His bat also started to gradually come around. Part of the reason was simple. “I was just able to finally get my strength back,” he said. But much of it was the result of hard work, with Betts spending long hours in the cage with not only the Dodgers’ hitting coaches, but former teammate and longtime swing confidant J.D. Martinez as well (who worked with Betts during both an August trip to Florida and a visit to Los Angeles for Betts’ charity pickleball tournament a few weeks later).
“I didn't really have to try and add on power anymore,” Betts said. “I could just swing and let it do its thing.”
All of it amounted to one long process of Betts learning to move on. From his early physical ailments. From his persistent mental anguish. From a set of season-long challenges unlike any he’d previously endured.
“Slowly but surely,” Betts said, “started to get better and better.”
And now, entering Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, it has him back in a leading role for the Dodgers’ pursuit of a second straight World Series title: Starting at shortstop, swinging a hot bat, and having solved the mystery of a season that once looked lost.
“Better late than never,” he quipped Wednesday night. “It's just one of those things where, you've just gotta keep going, man … So now, there's just a different level of focus."
The good news is that Boston should get a boost in 2026 from the returns of injured position players Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Triston Casas, as well as pitchers Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford. But if this team is serious about making a deep postseason run, then more investment is needed in a roster that simply had too many holes this season.
So, what moves should chief baseball officer Craig Breslow make this offseason to help Boston take the next step?
MLB reporter Joon Lee joined Boston Sports Tonight from Yankee Stadium after Game 3 on Thursday night to propose two roster-altering decisions for the Red Sox.
Change of scenery for Jarren Duran?
Jarren Duran is one of Boston’s longest-tenured players and can be a tone-setter on offense when he’s at his best. But he’s also prone to offensive cold streaks and defensive lapses. If the Red Sox want to add an impact starting pitcher, perhaps they’d consider trading Duran and rolling with an outfield of Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu in 2026.
“I am curious to see what the future of Jarren Duran on the Red Sox looks like, because that Game 2 mistake is unacceptable,” Lee said, referring to Duran’s costly drop of a fly ball that allowed a Yankees run to score.
“I know that he is a cult hero in Boston at this point, but there’s so many things where there are mistakes on the margins that add up and in big moments really, really expand, and I think that Duran has had so many of those opportunities this season where he has kind of dropped the ball.
“I think it would be good for a change of temperature within the club, given how much weight they’ve put on him and how much I think the team really rides his emotional ups and downs throughout the course of the year.”
All Kyle Schwarber has done since the Red Sox let him walk in 2021 free agency is mash 187 home runs (tied for the second-most in baseball behind only Aaron Judge) and drive in 434 runs (fourth-most in baseball).
And while the 32-year-old should command a relatively large contract this winter after a career year with the Phillies — 56 home runs and an MLB-leading 132 RBI — he can probably be had on a short-term deal.
“I think Kyle Schwarber is a guy that they should go out and try to get, because whether it’s at first base or at designated hitter, we’ve seen him play in Boston already,” Lee said. “We know that he steps up in those big moments and he can hit those home runs.
“He’s at a point in his career where the game has changed and his game is actually going to age pretty well, especially if he continues to only play first base and designated hit. He’s got the power-hitter swing. He’s got the bat speed, he’s not relying on his athleticism, and I think he’s relatively going to age well and not cost $50 million a year. Like, this isn’t a Juan Soto contract situation.
“So, if you can keep a lot of that offensive core that I think elevated this team this past offseason and bring in a guy like Kyle Schwarber, I think that’s what will help take the team to the next level.”
Check out the video below for more from Lee and co-hosts Mike Felger and Tom Giles on the Red Sox offseason:
With just seven races left, drivers must cut out errors and any extra pressure, says seven-time winner Lewis Hamilton
Were it not already a sweltering sauna in Singapore, the increasing intensity of this season’s Formula One world championship would be enough to make all but the most stoic competitor wilt. Withstanding the pressure may yet prove the difference between McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as the title battle ratchets up with every race.
Including this weekend’s meeting in Singapore at the Marina Bay circuit, seven grands prix remain and the championship is finely poised. Piastri leads his teammate by 25 points. Both are free to race each other and with Max Verstappen still a distant 69 in arrears, it is a head-to-head battle, with little to choose between them.
The National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies begins Saturday afternoon in the City of the Brotherly Shove. It is truly a must-watch event for all baseball fans.
The series features teams with storied histories and a litany of current day stars. The biggest of those luminaries is Shohei Ohtani who will start Game 1 on the mound for Los Angeles. In doing so, the right hander will become the first player in the history of the playoffs to start one game on the bump and another as a non-pitcher in the same postseason. Shohei enjoyed a 50-50 season with over 50 home runs and over 50 strikeouts. One of Ohtani’s 14 starts this season was against the Phillies back on September 16. The Dodgers’ all-everything threw five hitless innings that day.
Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.49 ERA) will oppose Ohtani. The southpaw has not allowed a run in his last two starts yielding just five hits over 12.2 innings. The Phillies have won five of his last six starts.
The Phillies won 96 games during the regular season playing especially well down the stretch winning 19 of their final 30 games and averaging 5.1 runs per game to close out the regular season and run away with the National League East crown. Kyle Schwarber had a monster season playing all 162 games and clubbing a team-high 56 home runs and driving in 132 runs.
Lets dive deeper into the numbers and trends and see if we can find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Phillies
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 6:38PM EST
Site: Citizens Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: TBS
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Dodgers at the Phillies - Game 1
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Dodgers (+101), Phillies (-123)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+171)
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Phillies - Game 1
Pitching matchup for October 4, 2025: Shohei Ohtani vs. Cristopher Sánchez
Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87 ERA) Ohtani’s last 2 starts were his longest and best to date as he threw 11 shutout innings allowing just 5 hits while striking out 13
Phillies: Cristopher Sánchez (13-5, 2.49 ERA) Sanchez flirted with contention for the Cy Young this season. He was outstanding in September allowing a total of 6 runs over 5 starts (32.2 innings) with 31 strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Phillies
The Phillies have won 7 of their last 10 games against teams with winning records
The Under has cashed in the Phillies' last 4 games
The Phillies have failed to cover the Run Line in their last 8 games with a rest advantage over their opponents
The Dodgers hit 5 HRs and scored 18 runs in their 2-game sweep of the Reds in the Wild Card round
The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 4 games to 1 in their last postseason meeting (2009)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Phillies
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Saturday's game between the Dodgers and the Phillies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Dodgers at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
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Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers, for all the questions swirling around them, remain the class of the Pacific Division when it comes to success when it matters most.
Sure, McDavid is in the final year of his contract and goaltending remains an uncertainty, but they’ve won the Western Conference to reach the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two years and are favored to do so again.
“They’re a good team — they’re a great team,” Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe said. “They are arguably one of the two best teams the last two years in the playoffs, so they’re tough to beat.”
The Vegas Golden Knights after adding Mitch Marner to a core that already has won a championship figure to be the strongest challenger. Kempe’s Kings, in captain Anze Kopitar’s final NHL season, also could push the Oilers. The Anaheim Ducks look primed to make a major leap forward under new coach Joel Quenneville.
“He’s done it before: He’s won three Stanley Cups for a reason,” Ducks center Mason McTavish said. “Obviously, he’s got a great relationship with his players and he leans on them and we lean on him. Super excited to play for him and give him my all.”
On the rise
Vegas finished atop the Pacific last season with five more standings points than LA and nine more than Edmonton. Getting Marner in a sign-and-trade from Toronto and inking him to a $96 million contract through his prime only makes the Golden Knights more likely to hoist that silver chalice again.
“Tons of credit to management to be able to add a player like Mitch,” said No. 1 center Jack Eichel, who is unsigned beyond this season. “It goes to say a lot about our organization and playing here. Obviously Mitch was going to be a free agent and had, I would assume, his pick of the litter of where he wanted to play, so I think that there’s something to be said for that.”
Quenneville’s hire isn’t the only reason for optimism in Orange County. The Ducks have someone they think is a budding elite goaltender in Lukas Dostal and young talent including McTavish, Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson and Jackson LaCombe.
Add to them the acquisition of veteran forward Chris Kreider, and it’s a mix that might have the Ducks playoff-bound for the first time since 2018.
“I think that’s what we really needed was those veteran guys,” said Dostal, who will get more action in net after the trade of John Gibson to Detroit. “They’re going to really help our young core.”
On the decline
Vancouver — at least for now — has one of the best defensemen in the NHL in captain Quinn Hughes. Brother Jack has made no secret about wanting to play with Quinn, who has two years left on his contract.
The Canucks lost coach Rick Tocchet, promoted Adam Foote to take his place and may need goalie Thatcher Demko to carry them many nights. J.T. Miller plays for the New York Rangers now after a schism with Elias Pettersson led to a trade, and Quinn Hughes just hopes everyone can move on from that drama.
“Our team should be in a position now where there’s no distractions,” Hughes said. “We’ve got a new coaching staff, and hopefully Demko’s healthy and we’ll be ready to go.”
Seattle also has a new coach, Lane Lambert, after the experiment with Dan Bylsma lasted only one season that ended 20 points out of the final playoff spot in the West.
“We really underperformed what we’re capable of,” said captain Jordan Eberle, who believes the Kraken “definitely need to be in the mix” for a playoff spot. That would be a surprise.
On the hot seat
Jim Hiller goes into his second full season as Kings coach, with Ken Holland taking over as general manager. Any kind of slow start could be reason enough for Holland to make a move and Peter DeBoer is available for any team that needs a midseason replacement.
Kris Knoblauch is safe in Edmonton, for now, especially given how well the team has done since taking over for Jay Woodcroft in November 2023. Anything short of another trip to the final makes it a question.
Predicted order of finish
Vegas, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, San Jose.
There is now officially less than a week before the Detroit Red Wings officially begin the 2025-26 NHL season, which will be their centennial campaign.
Multiple decisions still need to be made with regard to how the roster shapes up, and to that end, three more names were included in the latest roster trim by the Red Wings.
The club announced on Friday morning that forward Carter Mazur, defenseman William Wallinder, and goaltender Michael Postava were all returned to the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, which means the Red Wings are now down to 25 names.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have reduced their preseason roster to 25.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Emmitt Finnie, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka currently remain with the club, meaning there's a chance that they could be included on the roster that hits the ice on Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens for the regular season opener.
Mazur will have a chance to get more experience in the AHL, where he performed well before being called up to the Red Wings last March. His experience at the NHL level lasted literally 17 seconds before he suffered a dislocated elbow, which ended his season.
Wallinder, whom the Red Wings drafted 32nd overall in 2020, already has two full seasons of experience in the AHL, while Postava will be starting his first season of professional hockey in North America after being signed as a free agent. He's played the last several seasons in his native Czechia.
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Jackson LaCombe signed an eight-year, $72 million contract extension with the Anaheim Ducks, keeping the rising young defenseman with the club through the 2033-34 season.
After just two full NHL seasons, the 24-year-old LaCombe has emerged as an elite two-way defenseman who is under consideration for the U.S. Olympic team roster.
The Ducks welcomed LaCombe’s eagerness to commit his long-term future to Anaheim before he reached restricted free agency next summer, and general manager Pat Verbeek signed him to the richest contract ever given out by the team, although others had larger average annual values.
“Both sides were looking at long-term deals, so I think it came together pretty quickly,” Verbeek told reporters in Irvine after the Ducks’ practice. “What we’re all trying to gauge the landscape of where salaries are going (with the future NHL salary cap), so I feel really comfortable with the contract and the character of Jackson LaCombe. And the player, and I still think there’s lots of upside and growth in his game. I think the best is still to come from Jackson.”
LaCombe went straight to the NHL from the University of Minnesota in April 2023, and he has recorded 16 goals and 44 assists over 148 games with Anaheim. He emerged as the Ducks’ most dependable defenseman with remarkable speed, leading the roster in ice time last season and filling a major role on their power play.
LaCombe’s teammates doused him with water when he returned to the dressing room after signing his contract at their training complex.
“I love it here,′ LaCombe told reporters. ”I love being here. I love playing here. I love all my teammates here, too, so for me it was an easy decision. ... It’s easy to live here. You could say the weather (is a positive) and the place is so nice, but just the group we have has been great for me. Everybody has been so welcoming for the last two years, so I’m grateful for that and I’m just excited to be here for a long time.”
The Ducks missed the playoffs last spring for the seventh consecutive season, but LaCombe was one of their brightest spots. His responsibilities increased dramatically after longtime Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler was traded to St. Louis last December, and LaCombe responded with exceptional transition play and consistent offensive creation with his dangerous wrist shot.
The Minnesota native’s 14 goals last season were 11th among NHL defensemen and the most by an Anaheim blueliner since Lubomir Visnovsky had 18 in the 2010-11 season.
LaCombe also stood out at the world championships in Stockholm last May, recording two goals and three assists for the gold medal-winning U.S. team.
After the Ducks made him the 39th overall pick in the 2019 draft, LaCombe became a star for the Golden Gophers, growing into a top NCAA defenseman who was physically strong enough and mentally mature enough to jump right into the NHL game.
“I think it all happened quickly,” LaCombe said. “My first year was definitely tougher, and I thought last year I played a lot better and I was happy about that. To get (the contract) done now is great.”
LaCombe is the first player to re-sign in the Ducks’ large class of restricted free agents coming up next summer. LaCombe was slated to be an RFA alongside center Leo Carlsson, left wing Cutter Gauthier and defensemen Owen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov.
“Jackson is the first domino to fall, and we’re working on other stuff as well,” Verbeek said.
Verbeek locked up LaCombe five days after re-signing holdout center Mason McTavish to a six-year, $42 million deal.
Haas and Aston Martin approached by former team chief
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri tops FP2 time sheets in Singapore
The former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been engaged in a concerted effort to make a return to Formula One, with the Aston Martin team principal, Andy Cowell, asserting that Horner had recently been in contact with “pretty much every team owner”.
Horner was dismissed by Red Bull in July and his settlement with the team allows him to return in the early part of next year. Aston Martin are considered a potential destination for Horner, who won 14 titles with Red Bull during his 20 years in charge but Cowell, who is also CEO of the team, insisted they were not interested.
Hockey usually is a young man’s game. Don’t tell that to Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Brad Marchand, Corey Perry and so many others who are still on top of the NHL in their late 30s and beyond.
Crosby produced at a point-a-game pace last season at 37, the same age Marchand was when he scored six goals in the Stanley Cup Final to help Florida repeat against Edmonton, which counted 40-year-old Corey Perry as one of its better players. Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record at 39 and should surpass the 900 mark early this season at 40.
Thanks to changes in sports science, training and technology over the past 20-plus years, the window for stars to remain in their prime is getting longer and longer. And it’s only making the sport better.
“We’re coming into an age of that,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “The science that’s changed over the last 20 years will allow these players to recover faster. ... They’re better fit, conditioned athletes over their entire lives.”
Maurice credited owners for investing a tremendous amount of money and resources into player care. His team is on the leading edge of recovery methods at all ages, which is a big part of why the league’s southernmost team is going for a threepeat.
Everyone is looking for an edge
Patrick Kane is set to turn 37 in November and is on pace this season to pass Mike Modano for the most points by a U.S.-born player. He was the first pick in the 2007 draft, three months before this year’s No. 1 choice, Matthew Schaefer, was born.
A three-time Cup champion with Chicago, Kane credits his and others’ longevity to a decision that there is no longer an offseason.
“It’s incredible the way the guys are almost treating it like a full-year job,” Kane said. “Everyone’s trying to find that edge, whether it’s nutrition or what you do in the summer, how you train, how you recover. Everyone seems to be doing something.”
Sam Reinhart saw that in Crosby and Marchand at Canada’s Olympic orientation camp when they “made it look easy.” The soon-to-be 30-year-old found it inspiring.
“It’s motivating that if you take care of yourself, you work hard, you train, you know when you’re a bit younger, there’s no reason you can’t be at your best when you are a little bit older,” Reinhart said. “It doesn’t look like they are slowing down anytime soon. They’re both machines in the gym and both looking as young and agile as ever.”
Some is luck, but more of it is work
Tampa Bay captain Victor Hedman is on the younger side of this curve with his 35th birthday approaching in December, and yet at 6-foot-7 and 244 pounds, he is still among the best defensemen in the NHL. Hedman should make his Olympic debut for Sweden in February.
Hedman has been healthy for much of his career and stayed durable. He played between 76 and all 82 games over each of the past four seasons.
“I’ve been blessed not being hurt too much, but that’s training going into that,” Hedman said. “It’s a combination of a lot of things. The sports science, you can get so much data of what you need at certain points of the season, so that helps a lot. ... But I think it’s just knowing your body and trying to keep up with these young kids because the game is getting faster and faster.”
Ovechkin caught and passed Gretzky in large part because he is almost never injured. Washington’s captain missed 16 games with a broken leg and still got the job done.
“That’s one of the things that he’ll be remembered by is a lot of people talk about his durability as a player and not getting hurt,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said.
Playoffs are when the old dogs thrive
Maurice acknowledged a quarter-century after the fact that scratching eventual future Hall of Famer Paul Coffey in Carolina’s playoff opener in 1999 was a mistake. Coffey was one of the Hurricanes’ best players on the ice in Game 2, and that provided a valuable lesson on the way to back-to-back titles.
“These older players view the playoffs differently. They understand,” Maurice said. “Older guys have a perspective that young players don’t. Young players can be great, but I think you can almost be assured that you’re going to get the very best out of your older players in playoffs.”
Marchand, who rode the exercise bike in Edmonton prior to his double-overtime Game 2-winning goal in the final, has been a clutch performer his entire career in Crosby’s eyes. But the player known as “Sid the Kid” subscribes to Maurice’s theory about coming up big in the biggest moments.
“Definitely in the playoffs, I think that experience, that type of game probably lends itself to older guys who have been through it and understand it,” Crosby said. “We need us older guys to keep going.”
Blues' Adam Jiricek Continues To Add Weight; Excited To Compete In Training CampSt. Louis Blues defensive prospect Adam Jiricek has continued to add muscle to his frame and hopes to utilize that weight to compete at training camp.
Raphielle Johnson
