Game one of four in Baltimore.
There have been moves. McAdoo is up. Sosa is on the Il. I bet you didn’t know that inability to take a walk was something that could land you on the IL.
Seabold is on the roster, Chase Lee is headed to Buffalo.
NHL and Avalanche great Joe Sakic joined the hockey world in mourning the death of four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux, who reportedly took his own life on Thursday.
Sakic was teammates with Lemieux for parts of five seasons in Colorado from 1995-96 to early in the 1999-2000 season, when Lemieux was traded to the Devils
The two won a Stanley Cup together in 1996. The Avs legend described Lemieux as a “fierce competitor and a champion.”
“We are devastated to learn of Claude’s passing,” Sakic said in a statement released through the Avalanche. “‘Pepe’ was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way. He was also a loyal friend who would do anything for his teammates and someone you could always count on. Most importantly he was a wonderful family man and there is nothing he enjoyed more than spending time with his grandchildren.
“Today is a very sad day for the Avalanche family and Claude will be greatly missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. On behalf of the entire Avalanche organization, we send our love and prayers to Deborah and the Lemieux family. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.”
Lemieux played 21 years in the NHL, spending time with the Canadiens, Devils, Avalanche, Coyotes, Stars and Sharks.
He won his first of four Cups in 1986 with the Canadiens and helped the Devils win the franchise’s first championship in 1995.
Lemieux arrived in Colorado before the start of the 1995-96 season via trade and became the 10th player in NHL history to win back-to-back Stanley Cups when he lifted hockey’s greatest prize again in 1996.
His fourth came during his second stint with the Devils in 2000.
The hockey agitator recorded 379 goals and 407 assists in 1,215 regular-season games, and had 158 points in 234 playoff games during his memorable career.
According to multiple reports, Lemieux died by suicide and was discovered in a furniture store that the ex-NHL player and his wife owned in Lake Park, Fla.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide attempt at the showroom and the business was secured in order for an investigation to be conducted, authorities office told The Athletic.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release any records to the outlet due to a Florida statute that exempts suicide cases from public record requirements.
NHL and Avalanche great Joe Sakic joined the hockey world in mourning the death of four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux, who reportedly took his own life on Thursday.
Sakic was teammates with Lemieux for parts of five seasons in Colorado from 1995-96 to early in the 1999-2000 season, when Lemieux was traded to the Devils
The two won a Stanley Cup together in 1996. The Avs legend described Lemieux as a “fierce competitor and a champion.”
“We are devastated to learn of Claude’s passing,” Sakic said in a statement released through the Avalanche. “‘Pepe’ was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way. He was also a loyal friend who would do anything for his teammates and someone you could always count on. Most importantly he was a wonderful family man and there is nothing he enjoyed more than spending time with his grandchildren.
“Today is a very sad day for the Avalanche family and Claude will be greatly missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. On behalf of the entire Avalanche organization, we send our love and prayers to Deborah and the Lemieux family. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.”
Lemieux played 21 years in the NHL, spending time with the Canadiens, Devils, Avalanche, Coyotes, Stars and Sharks.
He won his first of four Cups in 1986 with the Canadiens and helped the Devils win the franchise’s first championship in 1995.
Lemieux arrived in Colorado before the start of the 1995-96 season via trade and became the 10th player in NHL history to win back-to-back Stanley Cups when he lifted hockey’s greatest prize again in 1996.
His fourth came during his second stint with the Devils in 2000.
The hockey agitator recorded 379 goals and 407 assists in 1,215 regular-season games, and had 158 points in 234 playoff games during his memorable career.
According to multiple reports, Lemieux died by suicide and was discovered in a furniture store that the ex-NHL player and his wife owned in Lake Park, Fla.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide attempt at the showroom and the business was secured in order for an investigation to be conducted, authorities office told The Athletic.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release any records to the outlet due to a Florida statute that exempts suicide cases from public record requirements.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Saturday morning for the show where we’ll dive into the Pistons’ offseason. Who’s your dream target? What should a Jalen Duren and/or Ausar Thompson extension look like? And, most importantly, would the Pistons have put up a better fight against the Knicks than the Cavaliers did?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
When: Saturday May 30 at 11 a.m. ET
Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel
How to submit questions:
As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.
It didn’t look like the feeble-hitting Twins would have much chance against Davis Martin, and that turned out to be right.
And it didn’t look like the Sox would struggle against an emergency starter rushed into action very shortly before game time, and that turned out to be right, too. Especially thanks to the incompetence of Twins manager Derek Shelton.
The Twins offense, which had scored only five runs in regulation in three games against lesser Sox pitching, looked hopeless against Martin, who holds the key to success against Minnesota: complete ownership of Byron Buxton. He did walk Buxton once, but got a K on a pitch around eye-high, running the star’s career against him to 1-for-12 with six strikeouts. He also held the rest of the Twins to two hits, both by Tristan Gray, who drove in the only run on Martin’s tab with a double long after the game was essentially over.
Just to show he’s not just all-throw-and-no-catch, Martin even made a nifty play on Trevor Larnach in the sixth.
Meanwhile, Minnesota had a problem — an even bigger problem than just being the Twins. Shelton, for some reason, decided to give hurler Taj Bradley (5-1) an extra day of rest, even though his last three starts had been excellent, rather than having him face a division rival. Then opener+ Kendry Rojas, ERA 1.26, was pulled due to elbow soreness, and Simeon Woods Richardson was rushed into duty on little warning.
Woods Richardson is mostly a starter, but he’d just pitched two relief innings on Monday and was in no way ready to go. He gave up a run on a Colson Montgomery single after Miguel Vargas walked and stole second in the first. Then Shelton left Woods Richardson in well past his sell-by date in the fourth, even after he’d loaded the bases on two walks and another Montgomery single. To no one’s surprise — except maybe Shelton’s — Tristan Peters then drove in a run on an infield single to give the Sox a 2-0 lead, and Randal Grichuk effectively put the game away with a double to the corner against a Twins offense too lousy to mount a comeback.
That made it 5-0 Sox, and after a Sam Antonacci single and an errant pickoff attempt, a Munetaka Murakami pop-up double stretched the lead to 6-0 after five.
The Twins finally scored on Martin in the sixth on a walk and Gray’s double. Will Venable decided to be kind to them in the seventh and inserted Jordan Leasure, but even he only gave up one run despite being hit hard by four straight batters. Tyler Davis and Grant Taylor each threw a scoreless inning to keep the final 6-2.
The win moves the White Sox to 29-27 and actually gets their run differential back to even for the first time since Opening Day. The Tigers, who haven’t won a game since roughly April Fool’s Day and got clobbered by the Angels today, are headed to town for a three-game series starting with Troy Melton making his second start of the year, going for Detroit vs. Erick Fedde for Chicago tomorrow night.
If I had a dollar for every time someone has brought up the Earl Weaver quote that momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher, I could probably take a nice vacation. It comes up so often it is kind of a joking cliche. Yet the reason it is deployed so often is there is an obvious truth to it. If your starting pitcher gets his butt kicked, then it probably doesn’t matter what you did the last three games. That winning streak is over. If your starting pitcher goes out and throws a gem, you’ve got a pretty good chance to keep the good times rolling.
The Orioles open up a series against the Blue Jays here on Thursday night with Chris Bassitt on the mound. Amazingly, he is kind of a defiance of the Weaver cliche. Bassitt has been pretty much terrible so far, with about three of his ten outings being anything like good. He has thoroughly earned the 5.51 ERA that he currently possesses. He is not on the path to looking like the $18.5 million contract that Mike Elias handed him for 2026 will pay off for the Orioles. He is neither pitching well nor eating innings.
Somehow, the Orioles are 7-3 in games that Bassitt pitches. Bassitt himself has come away with a 4-3 win-loss record, grabbing wins in games where he gave up five runs in 5.1 innings and three runs in 4.1 innings (relief outing). Always remember that pitcher win-loss records are not indicative of all that much.
Maybe Bassitt will surprise me and pitch well. The Blue Jays are not hitting very well over the last two weeks, with a .231/.298/.374 team batting line. Annoyingly, they are 9-5 in this time, because their pitchers are doing even better. In the same time, the Jays have allowed a .599 OPS and 2.65 ERA. Tonight’s Jays pitcher, Patrick Corbin, who has netted -3.4 bWAR since the start of the 2021 season, is worth more than any Orioles starting pitcher! No one would have been happy at the time if Elias had signed this guy. Two months into the season, though, those are the results.
Obligatory Orioles roster move of the day: The team optioned yesterday’s starter, Trey Gibson, back to Norfolk. They selected the contract of Cameron Weston from Norfolk. He has not been pitching well down there, or at least not getting good results. Good luck to him if he debuts. Also today, the Orioles activated Heston Kjerstad from the injured list and optioned him to Norfolk.
If the question is “Why is Tyler O’Neill playing?” the answer is probably that the team has zero confidence in Colton Cowser against lefty pitchers, but also I have zero confidence in O’Neill against any pitcher so, you know. Sunk cost time is approaching, if it has not already arrived.
The Jays signed the Japanese infielder Okamoto as a free agent this offseason to hit home runs and he already has 11 home runs. Must be nice.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from the NBA Finals, while the San Antonio Spurs try to keep their season alive in a pivotal Game 6 tonight.
With stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama taking center stage, there’s no shortage of intriguing betting angles to attack.
Before locking in your Thunder vs. Spurs predictions, let’s break down the top NBA player prop projections and the NBA picks our model sees the most value on.
 Thunder |  Spurs |
|---|---|
| Gilgeous-Alexander u7.5 assists +115 | Wembanyama o12.5 rebounds -112 |
| Williams o12.5 points -128 | Harper o9.5 points -110 |
| Holmgren o13.5 points -115 | Fox o14.5 points -112 |
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Projection: 6.58 assists
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still going to have the ball a ton, but this feels more like a scoring game than a playmaking one. The Spurs have done a decent job forcing OKC into isolation offense, and if SGA starts hunting his own shot late, the assists can dry up quickly.
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Projection: 15.64 points
Jalen Williams hasn’t played in the last three games, but if he’s back in the lineup, this number still feels short. He’s cleared 12.5 points in five of his last six appearances, and Oklahoma City badly missed his downhill scoring ability. With defenses loading up on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams should find plenty of clean looks if active.
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Projection: 14.95 points
Chet Holmgren’s skill set is a nightmare matchup in this series. He can space the floor, attack closeouts, and finish around the rim, which makes him tough to scheme against. If he gets his usual minutes, there are enough scoring paths here to clear this number.
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Projection: 15.49 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama has been vacuuming rebounds lately, and the pace of this matchup only helps. There should be plenty of missed shots on both sides, and his length gives Oklahoma City problems every time the ball goes up. If the Spurs keep this competitive, the rebounds should pile up.
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Projection: 10.85 points
Dylan Harper looks more comfortable every game, and San Antonio clearly trusts him offensively right now. He’s getting downhill, attacking the rim, and finding ways to score without needing a ton of touches. Ten points isn’t asking for much if his role stays intact.
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Projection: 16.44 points
De'Aaron Fox still feels like San Antonio’s biggest pressure point offensively. His speed creates problems even in slower playoff games, and he’s aggressive enough to get to the line when the jumper isn’t falling. In a must-win game, expect the Spurs to lean heavily on him offensively.
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| Location | Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX |
| Date | Thursday, May 28, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Peacock/NBC |
Not intended for use in MA.
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One of Claude Lemieux’s longtime rivals had touching words for the four-time Stanley Cup winner, who died by suicide at the age of 60.
“This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold,” former Red Wings forward Darren McCarty wrote on X. “My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on.”
McCarty and Lemieux are central figures to the Avalanche-Red Wings rivalry of the late 1990s, with Lemieux infamously injuring Detroit’s Kris Draper with a vicious check from behind in Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference Final, breaking multiple bones in Draper’s face and requiring reconstructive surgery.
McCarty and his teammates watched Lemieux raise the Stanley Cup — the third of his career — that spring. The following season, in their fourth matchup of 1996-97 and what would later become known as “Fight Night at the Joe,” the McCarty cold-cocked Lemieux and proceeded to rain down punches on him as he lay on the ice at Joe Louis Arena, and later dragged him to where Draper stood on the Red Wings bench.
The game — the regular season finale — served as a rallying point for Detroit, which went on to win the first of back-to-back Cups.
Any ill will between the pair dissipated over the years, with McCarty and Lemieux becoming friends and using their feud to fundraise for charity.
“As I’ve said and will always call it as I see it,” McCarty opined on X, “‘If your on the ICE with Claude Lemieux and your turn your back. YOU Are an IDIOT. But off the ICE I’ll turn mine.'”
Lemieux’s death was announced Thursday, with TMZ reporting the Devils icon was found after committing suicide by one of his adult sons in the family’s furniture store in Florida.
It came days after he returned to Montreal, where he won his first Stanley Cup in 1986 with the Canadiens, to amp up the crowd ahead of the franchise’s Game 3 against the Hurricanes on Monday.
“If you are struggling at all please reach out and talk to someone,” McCarty wrote.
“Godspeed my friend.”
One of Claude Lemieux’s longtime rivals had touching words for the four-time Stanley Cup winner, who died by suicide at the age of 60.
“This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold,” former Red Wings forward Darren McCarty wrote on X. “My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on.”
McCarty and Lemieux are central figures to the Avalanche-Red Wings rivalry of the late 1990s, with Lemieux infamously injuring Detroit’s Kris Draper with a vicious check from behind in Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference Final, breaking multiple bones in Draper’s face and requiring reconstructive surgery.
McCarty and his teammates watched Lemieux raise the Stanley Cup — the third of his career — that spring. The following season, in their fourth matchup of 1996-97 and what would later become known as “Fight Night at the Joe,” the McCarty cold-cocked Lemieux and proceeded to rain down punches on him as he lay on the ice at Joe Louis Arena, and later dragged him to where Draper stood on the Red Wings bench.
The game — the regular season finale — served as a rallying point for Detroit, which went on to win the first of back-to-back Cups.
Any ill will between the pair dissipated over the years, with McCarty and Lemieux becoming friends and using their feud to fundraise for charity.
“As I’ve said and will always call it as I see it,” McCarty opined on X, “‘If your on the ICE with Claude Lemieux and your turn your back. YOU Are an IDIOT. But off the ICE I’ll turn mine.'”
Lemieux’s death was announced Thursday, with TMZ reporting the Devils icon was found after committing suicide by one of his adult sons in the family’s furniture store in Florida.
It came days after he returned to Montreal, where he won his first Stanley Cup in 1986 with the Canadiens, to amp up the crowd ahead of the franchise’s Game 3 against the Hurricanes on Monday.
“If you are struggling at all please reach out and talk to someone,” McCarty wrote.
“Godspeed my friend.”
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The “Summer of George 3.0” is underway.
For the third straight season, the New York Yankees are giving away “Seinfeld”-inspired George Costanza bobbleheads.
This year, they’ll be handing out 18,000 tiny Jason Alexander statuettes — where he’ll likely be polishing off a calzone — on Thursday, Aug. 27 when Aaron Judge’s Bronx Bombers go toe-to-toe with Yordan Alvarez’s Houston Astros.
As “Seinfeld” fans may recall, George’s infamous run-in with the Italian delicacy comes from the Season 7 episode “The Calzone” where he accidentally gets his boss George Steinbrenner (voiced by Larry David) hooked on the folded pizza.
A minute into the episode, Steinbrenner asks Costanza “what is that you’re eating there? It looks pretty tasty?” before having his underling hand his lunch over.
“Big Stein wants a little taste” he adds before taking a sizable bite of the meal that comes complete with cheese, pepperoni and eggplant.
If you’d like to get a taste of your very own Costanza calzone bobblehead, tickets are available for the late August, dog days of summer contest.
Better yet, they’re surprisingly cheap.
At the time of publication, we found seats going for as low as $41 including fees on SeatGeek.
100-level seats start at $98 including fees.
In the event “Seinfeld” isn’t your thing, the Yankees have a number of other exciting giveaways coming up these next few months.
Personally, we’re most excited about the Aaron Judge MVP bobblehead (June 20), Cody Bellinger bobblehead (Aug. 21) and Josh Hart bobblehead (Sept. 25).
Also, we’d be absolutely remiss if we didn’t mention that other than the Pinstripers playing well this season, fans are lining up for the $10.99 ice cream fried chicken bucket at games.
“…what looks like a pair of fried chicken drumsticks is actually ice cream with a chocolate-covered cookie ‘bone’ center with a coating of white chocolate and candied corn flakes to give it that fried chicken look [and] is served in a souvenir mini ‘chicken’ bucket,” MLB.com reports.
Need a calzone bobblehead…and maybe an ice cream fried chicken bucket too?
We’re here to help.
Our team has everything you need to know and more about getting tickets for the Yankees George Costanza Calzone bobblehead giveaway game below.
A complete breakdown of all Yankee Stadium section ticket prices for the Aug. 27 Yankees-Astros game with the George Costanza calzone bobblehead giveaway can be found here:
| Yankee Stadium sections | Ticket prices start at |
|---|---|
| 400-level | $41(including fees) |
| 300-level | $65(including fees) |
| 200-level | $84(including fees) |
| 100-level | $99(including fees) |
| Lower level | $321(including fees) |
At the moment, Aaron Boone’s Yankees are sitting at 34-22 just behind the scrappy Tampa Bay Rays in the competitive AL East.
And, while that’s certainly exciting, we’re most jazzed about all the amazing giveaways the team has planned for the rest of the year (along with the Costanza bobblehead).
To make sure you’re fully up to speed on which games include special trinkets with your tickets (and Old-Timer’s Day!), here are all the remaining 2026 Yankees giveaways and special dates.
| Yankees 2026 giveaways |
|---|
| Guardians vs. YankeesTuesday, June 2 Charles Fazzino’s America250: A New York Yankees Celebration Poster Night |
| Red Sox vs. YankeesSaturday, June 6 Military Appreciation Night – Red, White & Blue Yankees T-shirt |
| White Sox vs. YankeesThursday, June 18 Yankees Soccer Jersey Night |
| Guardians vs. YankeesSaturday, June 20 Aaron Judge MVP Bobblehead Day |
| Twins vs. YankeesFriday, July 3 Fireworks Night |
| Twins vs. YankeesSaturday, July 4 Yankees 4th of July Cap Day |
| Pirates vs. YankeesMonday, July 20 Yankees T-Shirt Night |
| Braves vs. YankeesSaturday, Aug. 8 Old-Timers’ Day |
| Blue Jays vs. YankeesFriday, Aug. 21 Cody Bellinger Bobblehead Night |
| Blue Jays vs. YankeesSaturday, Aug. 22 Hello Kitty Yankees Bobblehead Day |
| Orioles vs. YankeesFriday, Sept. 25 Josh Hart Yankees Bobblehead Night |
| Orioles vs. YankeesSaturday, Sept. 26 CC Sabathia Night |
Note: Most freebies will be given to the first 18,000 fans. There are exceptions so make sure to arrive at the ballpark early.
Prefer a home game without giveaways? You can find the Yankees’ complete 2026 schedule here.
Starting Oct. 24, Jerry Seinfeld resumes his ongoing Beacon Theatre residency.
As of now, the funnyman has ten shows booked at the classy Upper West Side performance space. To find the one that makes the most sense for you, you can find all Jerry Beacon dates below.
| Jerry Seinfeld Beacon Theatre dates |
|---|
| Friday, Dec. 117 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 125 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 128 p.m. |
Want to see Jerry elsewhere? You can find Seinfeld’s complete 2026 tour calendar here.
In the off-chance it’s been a few years since you’ve caught “The Calzone” — which originally aired April 25, 1996 and features subplots where Jerry dates a woman and Elaine goes out with a guy whose found “dating loopholes” — you can stream the fan-favorite episode on Netflix.
Note: “The Calzone” is Season 7 Episode 19.
Hoping to catch a concert or three this year, too?
If the answer is a resounding yes, here are just a few you won’t want to miss these next few months.
• RUSH
• Bon Jovi
• Phish
• Gorillaz
• Wu-Tang Clan
Want to see who else is touring this year? Check out our list of all the biggest concert tours in 2026 to find the show that makes the most sense for you.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
Following the emphatic series loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers profile as one of the most interesting teams this offseason. The Cavs are thoroughly in “win-now” mode, and they have linked to a player that fits that timeline in Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the Cavs have had interest for several months now, Antetokounmpo may not be reciprocating those feelings.
According to Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes, Cleveland is not seen as a preferred destination for Antetokounmpo. “I haven’t heard of Cleveland as a potential team that he’d be interested in,” Haynes said via NBA on Prime. “It has to be the right team that he wants to go to, and the right fit. I just haven’t heard Cleveland.”
Part of what makes a trade for Antetokounmpo tricky, other than what would need to be given up to acquire him, is the fact that he does not have to sign an extension with his new team. His representation could say, similar to Kawhi Leonard in 2018-19, that he will accept a trade to a team but forgo an extension in favor of signing with someone else in free agency.
“One thing about Giannis, he has 1 more year left remaining on his contract for next season,” Haynes continued. “He can tell teams ‘listen, if you trade for me, you only get me for a year cause I’m opting out and going somewhere else.’ That’s going to deter teams from pursuing him.”
For a team like the Cavs, who are desperately trying to keep their faint championship window open, a swing for someone like Antetokounmpo may be too enticing to pass up, even if it means he leaves next summer. The Toronto Raptors certainly do not feel any buyer’s remorse after acquiring Leonard, who led the team to the championship in his lone season in Canada. If the threat of him leaving lessens the price (as unlikely as that may be), the Cavs will understandably be open to talking about a potential trade.
The entire hockey community was stunned at the news of the tragic passing of four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux at the age of 60 on Thursday.
Lemieux, who won the Stanley Cup twice with the New Jersey Devils and once each with the Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens, was one of the central figures in the iconic rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and Avalanche starting in 1996.
While Lemieux was a fierce rival of the Red Wings during that time, he and Darren McCarty mended fences and routinely held joint autograph sessions with one another.
McCarty himself reacted to the tragic news on Thursday with a touching tribute on social media.
"Just heard the news on Claude Lemieux," McCarty wrote on X. "This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on. As I’ve said and will always call it as I see it 'If your on the ICE with Claude Lemieux and your turn your back. YOU Are an IDIOT. But off the ICE I’ll turn mine' And please. If you are struggling at all please reach out and talk to someone Godspeed my friend."
Just heard the news on #ClaudeLemieux
— Darren McCarty (@DarrenMcCarty4) May 28, 2026
This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on. As I’ve said and will always call it as I…
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Amidst an outpouring of tributes from around the NHL as well as Lemieux former teams, the Red Wings posted a memorial tribute for him.
"The Detroit Red Wings extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and former teammates of Claude Lemieux," the club wrote on X. "Claude was a fierce competitor on the ice who, especially in the playoffs, consistently elevated his play during the game's biggest moments. Our thoughts are with his wife, Deborah, and his four children."
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, who faced Lemieux dozens of times in regular season and playoff competition, also released a statement.
"In his post-playing career as an agent, I got to know Claude on a more personal level and quickly grew to respect his professionalism in our interactions," Yzerman's statement read. "Even more fondly, I will remember and miss the deeper conversations we had beyond the game.
After retiring from the game, Lemieux became an NHLPA-certified player agent, and among his clients was Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.
During his NHL career, Lemieux skated in 1,215 regular season games, scoring 379 goals with 407 assists.
He also contributed 80 goals and 78 assists in 234 career playoff games, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995 after helping the Devils sweep the Red Wings in that year's Stanley Cup Final.
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Following the 2026 NBA Draft early entry deadline, we now know exactly which prospects are turning pro and which players decided to return to college.
A total of 75 players participated during the NBA draft combine in Chicago and others in the G League Combine. Following the events, a dozen players (including Amari Allen, Tyler Tanner, Tounde Yessoufou, Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno) opted to return to college.
Based on the intel following the combine and pre-draft workouts – and key decisions on players opting to return to the NCAA – here is an updated look at the first round projections.
Expect second-round picks to consist of automatically eligible seniors (including Zuby Ejiofor, Alex Karaban, Ryan Conwell, Braden Smith, Baba Miller, Richie Saunders, Jaden Bradley, Trevon Brazile), who we will project on upcoming mock draft updates.
Note: All heights and wingspans (as well as the distance between the two) are listed to the nearest inch and players were measured without shoes.
The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA and benefited tremendously from a lottery win. They had the second-worst offense in the league and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. While the battle for No. 1 is far from over, the former five-star recruit emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. He would be a fascinating fit next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who could help him play alongside veteran talent early in his career.
CBS Sports recently reported that folks at the combine spoke with the "same level of confidence" about Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson going No. 2 overall as they did about Dybantsa hearing his name first. However, this is far from a foregone conclusion. Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year honors. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, though he performed well during athletic testing at the combine in Chicago. He offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set and can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16. It is important to note that his father, former Jazz player Carlos Boozer, currently works as a scout for Utah. Even if this is an awkward positional fit, the Jazz are building a much stronger core after trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. and drafting Ace Bailey.
One general manager also told Jake Fischer that “every team” is going to have North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson over any one of Dybantsa, Boozer, or Darryn Peterson. Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor reported that some front office executives view Wilson with “similarly high upside” as Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson with “dramatically lower downsides” than the guard. The Memphis Grizzlies are unafraid to draft away from consensus and tend to like analytically-friendly prospects, so they're potentially one of those teams. Wilson did more than enough to earn this placement before his injury. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded and was one of the best vertical athletes who tested at the combine in Chicago. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage.
Bryson Graham, who was recently hired as the new executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, has a simple task: Select whichever of the four players is still available. While he is certainly no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, he has received “largely positive” feedback and was "quiet but serious" during the pre-draft interview process of the combine. Overall, it is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.
The Clippers received this pick from the Indiana Pacers as part of a package involving Ivica Zubac, but Jake Fischer reported that he is "hearing considerable curiosity" about whether or not the Clippers will actually use this pick or potentially trade it for a win-now player. Whether it's their front office or another on the clock at No. 5 overall, look for them to potentially call on Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night. Flemings measured with a 40.5-inch max vertical and elite speed across all his agility testing.
During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. “I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder,” Wagler told USA TODAY Sports. “Just trying to go out each game and prove myself and do whatever it takes to win.” The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini reach the Final Four, finishing with 20 points and eight rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals after scoring 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, hitting 39.7% from beyond the arc as a freshman and connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has some athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season.
The Kings need a potential star and according to Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, folks around the league "widely believe" they are targeting Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. right now.En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory. It's also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college.
With the pick the Hawks received from New Orleans, one potential target is Arizona freshman Brayden Burries. He was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.
The Mavericks had the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and after hiring Masai Ujiri, they could benefit from a player as productive as Yaxel Lendeborg. He showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. While he is older than other players projected in the first round, his impact in college basketball was undeniable. He also had a strong "stocks" (steals plus blocks) rate and a plus wingspan, two things Ujiri often loves.
Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including a 45-point outing against NC State on Feb. 9 in which he hit 10 3-pointers, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness. “I got cleared by the medical staff from the league at the Combine, so we’re all green,” Brown Jr. told USA TODAY Sports. “I feel like myself again.” The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and ranked among the freshman leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, some scouts feel Brown has the highest “upside” of the guards in this range.
Karim López had a low usage rate and played fewer minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros, but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup. López measured well, weighing just shy of 222 pounds and 38-inch max vertical.
After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder could add even more lottery-caliber talent, like Michigan center Aday Mara. While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. Oklahoma City tends to like low-usage big men with high assist percentages as well as high block and steal percentages. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large defenders like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) to guard Victor Wembanyama.
The Heat could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.
The player who improved his draft stock the most during the combine was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. He scored 30 points in a five-on-five scrimmage, recorded a 42.5-inch max vertical and had great physical measurements. This should grab the attention of teams that tend to like athletic prospects like the Hornets. The All-Big 12 wing brings sincere athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA.
The Chicago Bulls received this additional pick because the Portland Trail Blazers advanced past the play-in tournament. This is about the range of German big man Hannes Steinbach, who reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shone during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads.
The Grizzlies will have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade and may have their eyes on Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization. A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the All-Big 12 forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The Grizzlies are not afraid to draft away from consensus and have shown a willingness to pick older, more experienced players in the past. Perhaps they trade back to get him, but he fits their profile.
While the Thunder are not expected to actually use this pick because they have such an abundance of talent on its roster already, this is a fair range for Tennessee freshman Nate Ament. The forward reportedly considered returning to college to aim for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. His decision to declare for this class, instead, suggests he is likely comfortable with the feedback he has received so far. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking this forward with a standing reach exceeding 9-foot-1 near the lottery.
Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He was a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to win the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. Johnson was a big winner during measurements at the combine, recording a 39-inch max vertical and testing with elite agility for his position.
The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz, who reportedly has a workout scheduled with the franchise, on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa.
Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie is an interesting early entry candidate in the 2026 NBA Draft. The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz and should intrigue the Spurs, who often fall in love with players who boast a high assist-to-turnover ratio like he did (2.3) last season.
The Detroit Pistons have drafted several prospects capable of contributing to an elite defense, which could make Arizona forward Koa Peat an appealing option. He is naturally bouncy and athletic with good positional size, a strong frame and a near 7-foot wingspan. Peat is also a solid rebounder and passer for his position. The All-Big 12 forward will need to improve his jumper to carve out consistent, high-impact minutes at the next level, but he’s still worth first-round consideration based on his body of work so far. Peat arguably had the most interesting decisions to make when it was finally his turn to announce if he would stay in college or turn pro.
After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and helping lead the Longhorns to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain emerged as one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed across the board on both ends, scoring efficiently in the paint and in transition. Another appealing element is his effectiveness in isolation, where he can create for himself against defenders. Swain is quick, bouncy and a solid rebounder, and his 81.5% free-throw percentage suggests promising shooting touch. While he has three years of college experience, he’s still just 20 years old, the same age as several NCAA freshmen.
It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston, but he caught fire at the perfect time. In his first NCAA tournament game, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. He followed that up in the Round of 32 by showcasing more scoring touch, finishing cuts to the basket for 17 points against Texas A&M. Cenac was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still pulled down 10 rebounds. He also impressed at the NBA Combine, posting a 37-inch max vertical and strong agility numbers for his size.
One of the most under-the-radar prospects in college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who came close to becoming a March Madness hero. The WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year turned heads after posting 30 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals on Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 with a higher box plus-minus, per Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. The Knicks have prioritized scrappy, high-motor players like Josh Hart, capable of winning the possession battle through rebounds and turnovers. That's an area where Graves stands out among the best in this class and is likely one of the reasons he chose to turn pro rather than return to college.
Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Lakers. But health may cause some concern for evaluators. During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers. While his draft stock is not what it once was due to health concerns, his youth and frame give him an opportunity to become a special player in the NBA.
The Denver Nuggets tend to look for players with a strong assist-to-usage ratio because they rely on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement. Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson is a potentially perfect fit. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. Anderson managed to do that while also scoring well on spot-up possessions and handoffs. Even though he is a bit undersized, there are few better offensive creators in this class than Anderson.
Boston tends to favor players with a high effective field goal percentage, low turnover percentage and low usage rate. They also like players who make quick decisions on catch-and-shoot opportunities and on corner 3-pointers. Evans scored 218 points when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranked third-best among ACC players last season. He also matched 30 corner 3-pointers, according to CBB Analytics, which trailed the top-ranked high-major player (34) by just four field goals made. Expect the Celtics to potentially have Evans higher on their big board than other teams might.
Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.2 percent on 3-pointers during his 21 games as a starter last season. He was efficient using off-ball screens and handoffs and occasionally showed some on-ball flashes as a pick-and-roll ball handler as well. He led the SEC in corner 3-pointers made (32) last season, per CBB Analytics, and his plus-four wingspan gives him solid length as a young guard who is still improving on both sides of the court. Thomas answered one of the best questions in college basketball when he decided to turn pro rather than return to college.
We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes will have him high on their priority list. He presumably feels comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered “at least $6 million” in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.
UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke. During the combine, he did the dirty work, recording 5 rebounds with 1 steal and 1 block in his first game and then scored 17 points (7-of-9 FG) with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the second. Reed also tested with elite agility for his position. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner, especially considering his paint dominance, rather than later.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA mock draft: Projecting all 30 first round picks
The Anaheim Ducks saw their season end two weeks ago, on May 14, after losing their second-round series to the now Western Conference Champion Vegas Golden Knights in six games.
The Ducks saw their first success in a very long time, making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018 and winning a series for the first time since 2017.
On their roster, they have an interesting blend of youth and veterans up and down the lineup, and general manager Pat Verbeek will have a handful of key decisions to make between now and when the 2026-27 season begins in the fall.
Lessons the Anaheim Ducks can Learn from the Success of the Vegas Golden Knights
Anaheim Ducks Offseason Dilemma: Right Shot Defensemen
With the Stanley Cup Final matchup nearly decided, the 2026 NHL Draft one month away, and free agency to shortly follow, rumors, ruminations, and rumblings regarding offseason transactions are dominating an increasing percentage of the NHL news cycle.
With a pivotal offseason now underway and after announcing themselves as a young, contending team, the Ducks are no exception to the rumor mill at this moment.
Here’s what’s being said about the Ducks by various NHL insiders:
The Ducks acquired veteran defenseman John Carlson (36) from the Washington Capitals on the eve of the 2026 NHL trade deadline in exchange for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.
Verbeek stated that the intention was to give his club the best chance of making a playoff run in 2026 and to potentially re-sign Carlson when the season concluded. Carlson will see his current contract, which carries an AAV of $8 million, expire on July 1 if an extension is not agreed upon.
The day following their exit from the playoffs, SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman took to his “32 Thoughts” podcast to state, “If Carlson wants to come back, and he seemed like a really good fit, it’s going to have to be on Anaheim’s terms.”
When asked if he’d have interest in returning to the Ducks on a new contract during his exit interview, Carlson said he’s “open, for sure. There’s no bones about that.”
The St. Louis Blues are coming off of one of a dissapointing season, tallying 86 points and finishing 22nd in the overall NHL standings. They were active at the 2026 trade deadline and parted with veteran defenseman Justin Faulk, but reportedly had several more irons in the fire throughout the first half of the 2025-26 season as they look to infuse more youth into their organization.
Now that the offseason is upon us, the Blues are expected to resume talks involving some of their veteran players, and the Ducks are a name that continues to be attached to St. Louis.
“Maybe the Blues will revisit some of the conversations that they had with Buffalo around the trade deadline,” TSN’s Darren Dreger said on the “Hockey Sense” podcast. “There was something big brewing with the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues around that same time. There was something big brewing, and the pieces just didn’t fall into place.”
The names from the Blues roster that continue to surface are center Robert Thomas (26), forward Jordan Kyrou (28), and right-shot defenseman Colton Parayko (33).
With three veteran right-shot defensemen about to see their contracts expire (Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, Radko Gudas), the Ducks are in dire need of help on their blueline, specifically a need for a long-term partner for star Jackson LaCombe.
They have needs, or potentially wants, to add in regards to their forward group as well, so Thomas and Kyrou could be options. However, focus seems to be on Parayko early in the offseason.
“Parayko is interesting because I know they’re going to revisit that in this offseason out there in St Louis, and he wants to stay out West,” The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta said on “Leafs Morning Take." “There was a playoff team that had interested him. I think Anaheim was one of the teams that had interest in Colton Parayko, and I think those discussions are going to be revisited in the summer.”
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported that, after he rejected a trade to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline, Parayko was willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Ducks or the Los Angeles Kings.
Parayko has four years remaining on his deal that carries an AAV of $6.5 million.
McTavish (23) signed a six-year contract extension roughly halfway through the Ducks’ 2025 training camp, seemingly solidifying his role as the team’s second-line center of the present and future. However, a disappointing season, a move to the wing, a couple of healthy scratches down the stretch of the regular season, and a couple more in the playoffs have caused some to question his future in the Ducks’ organization and have caused opposing GMs to call Verbeek, inquiring about the former third overall pick.
Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic mentioned McTavish, the Ducks, and the potential of a superstar on the move in his latest “Rumblings” column, stating the NHL landscape is ripe for massive trades over the summer.
“One player who fits that criteria is 23-year-old forward Mason McTavish, which is a little obvious after he was scratched for two playoff games,” LeBrun wrote. “I have zero evidence to suggest the Anaheim Ducks are the ones picking up the phone and calling teams about him. But I know for a fact that several teams have inquired about him.”
He went on to speculate on the Ducks’ potential to add a seismic piece over the offseason.
“If Auston Matthews watches the Toronto Maple Leafs’ offseason play out over the next five or six weeks and decides he’s not sure they are still a contender and says he’s open to a move, I would venture to guess Anaheim would be on his list of seven or eight potential desired landing spots,” LeBrun continued. “And the Ducks would have the pieces to make it work in a larger package.
“All things being equal, I think it’s more likely No. 34 stays in Toronto for at least another season, but it’s just an example for the kind of scenario that the Ducks could potentially see come their way.”
McTavish was also featured on Chris Johnston’s NHL offseason trade board for The Athletic on Thursday, coming in at #4 on his list of 25 names that could be on the move this summer.
“While there is no real sense of urgency here from the Ducks’ end of things, that hasn’t stopped other teams from trying,” Johnston stated.
The Anaheim Ducks hired Jay Woodcroft to run their forward group and power play during the NHL’s free agency period before the 2025-26 season. The former Edmonton Oilers head coach was one of the more popular names during the 2025 head coach hiring carousel, and his name has popped up again this year.
There are head coaching vacancies with the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vancouver Canucks, with the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights situations still very much up in the air.
Victory+’s Frank Seravalli confirmed via Twitter on Wednesday that Woodcroft interviewed with the Kings last week and has an interview scheduled with the Maple Leafs for this week.
“Handicapped as ‘one of the front runners’ for the Toronto job. Either spot, solid bet to be an NHL HC again next season,” Seravalli stated on Woodcroft’s future.
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan suggested in her most recent article that the first two selections of the 2023 NHL Draft, Connor Bedard and Leo Carlsson, project to set the market for a slew of young players who will soon see the expiration of their ELCs.
“Whichever side (Bedard or Carlsson) moves first could help define the next tier of superstar contracts,” Kaplan wrote. “If one signs first, that deal immediately becomes a benchmark, not only on AAV, but structure, term, bonuses, and how aggressively teams are willing to pay elite young centers entering their prime. Many around the league are expecting Bedard to go first; there seems to be no rush on Carlsson and the Ducks' side when I checked in this week.”
Carlsson has established himself as the Ducks’ franchise player and found his first taste of sustained success in the NHL in 2025-26, scoring 67 points (29-38=67) in 70 regular season games and adding 11 (4-7=11) in 12 playoff games.
In his previous “Rumblings” column from Tuesday, LeBrun ran through a list of NHL head coaches with one year remaining on their current contracts.
Among those names was Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville, who was hired on May 8, 2025, and led the team to their most successful season in nearly a decade. Though an extension may seem a foregone conclusion, LeBrun wrote, “Quenneville had a very successful first season and was a good fit in Anaheim. But he turns 68 in September, so I’m not sure what the rush would be to extend.”
Last, but not least, it’s been all but confirmed that the NHL and Fanatics will launch a league-wide alternate jersey program, similar to the NHL’s formerly successful “Reverse Retro” campaigns.
Rumors and leaks have enticed interested fanbases, as it’s being reported as comparable to MLB’s “City Connect” and the NBA’s “City Edition” programs.
Some information, like each team’s base jersey color, has seemingly leaked, along with various tidbits and even potential leaks for the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers.
As far as the Ducks are concerned, it appears their “Hometown Remix” base jersey color will be green like the original “District 5” jerseys from Disney’s first “Mighty Ducks” motion picture.
DJ Bean from the “What Chaos” podcast claims to have seen the Ducks jersey and has stated that it will feature the Ducks’ current branding, logo, lettering, etc., in the green, yellow, and purple “District 5” colors.
It sounds as if Fanatics will simply take the Ducks current home jersey template and swap out the coloring accordingly.
Anaheim Ducks Offseason Dilemma: Second Line Center
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet
Pitching Matchup: Colin Rea (4-3, 4.83 ERA) vs. Paul Skenes (6-4, 3.00 ERA)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home hosting the Chicago Cubs today at beautiful PNC Park.
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BD community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!
