To go 16-3 in the playoffs, the Knicks needed the entire roster, after depth was one of New York’s largest weaknesses the past few seasons. Last season, the Knicks were dead last in bench scoring during the regular season, and ranked 15th out of 16 teams in the postseason.
During this year’s regular season, New York’s bench was slightly better, ranking 28th out of 30 teams. But during the postseason, the Knicks reserves became more of a significant factor, ranking eighth out of 16 teams.
Role players came up big in every game of New York’s 4-1 NBA Finals win against the San Antonio Spurs. Landry Shamet scored 13 points with three trifectas in Game 1. Mikal Bridges stepped up with 20 points in Game 2.
Josh Hart had 16 points with four three-pointers, and Jordan Clarkson put up 10 points in New York’s lone loss in Game 3. Jose Alvarado was the unsung hero of Game 4, scoring all of his eight points in the fourth quarter. The backup also gave New York another point guard capable of breaking San Antonio’s amped up defensive pressure on Brunson.
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; The New York Knicks celebrate after they defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. / Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
And in Game 5, the Knicks needed Brunson to carry them over the top.
Brunson scored 45 of the club’s 94 points in the championship clincher. But there was still a memorable contribution from the supporting cast. With Towns in foul trouble, Mitchell Robinson played 20 minutes and had 10 rebounds, including an offensive rebound on a missed free-throw in the closing moments. Even third-string center Ariel Hukporti had a key block in the third quarter of the title clincher.
It was like a game of whack-a-mole. One or two Knicks would struggle for a game, but then another role player would emerge. That was the case for New York during the entire playoff run.
There was Miles McBride’s 25-point eruption against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of the second round. Hart emerged with 26 points and seven assists in a signature Game 2 win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Bridges played like a two-way All-Star in the second round and Conference Finals.
The importance of each role player is a reflection of Knicks head coach Mike Brown’s trust of the roster. He wasn’t afraid to go deep into the bench. Second-year point guard Tyler Kolek had a significant role in New York’s NBA Cup championship win against the Spurs in December. Rookie Mohamed Diawara was in the rotation for portions of the regular season.
And after testing different lineup combinations throughout the regular season, Brown was ready to roll with many different players throughout the playoffs. With the grueling NBA schedule and the shift to a faster pace in the league, there’s a need for depth -- and Brown wasn’t afraid to rely on it.
New York’s success is a reflection of the current NBA. Star power is the base from which a title contender can be constructed, but to win big, you need contributions across the entire depth chart.
Clips went viral on social media of Brind’Amour celebrating his first Cup win as a head coach, including one of him taking his shirt off in the locker room before lifting the Cup with his players celebrating around him.
A shirtless Rod Brind’Amour holds the Stanley Cup during the Hurricanes’ locker room celebration in Las Vegas on June 14, 2026. NHLI via Getty ImagesCarolina Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour raises the Stanley Cup in the locker room after winning the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NHLI via Getty Images
Brind’Amour, nicknamed “Rod the Bod,” is no stranger to the Stanley Cup.
The 55-year-old, who spent parts of 10 years playing for the Hurricanes in the 2000s, was named Carolina’s captain prior to the 2005-06 season, and he would lead the team to their first Cup in franchise history. Brind’Amour’s No. 17 jersey is retired by the Hurricanes.
Brind’Amour’s Cup lift in 2006 is often regarded as one of the more iconic in NHL history. Back then, Brind’Amour couldn’t wait for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to hand him the Cup, and took it off the table himself before hoisting it in the air.
Brind’Amour’s second time with the Cup was memorable too. After Pyotr Kotchetkov handed his coach the Cup, Brind’Amour tossed the trophy in the air before catching it and wrapping it in a bear hug.
“That was just a little bear hug, I don’t know,” Brind’Amour said laughing.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes lifts the Stanley Cup after Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Carolina Hurricanes won 3-0. Getty Images
“I wasn’t sure I was going to raise it over my head because that’s more of a player thing, but I had no choice,” Brind’Amour said.
Brind’Amour, who has led Carolina to the playoffs in all eight of his seasons at the helm, is only the fourth person in NHL history to win a Cup with the same franchise as a player and coach, and 14th person to win as a coach and player for any team.
NHL insider and former goalie, Kevin Weekes, tweeted out ahead of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final that he is under the impression that the Philadelphia Flyers have extended goalie Dan Vladar for five seasons.
Weekes' tweet lends credence to many other posts from people who closely follow the Flyers, who have been saying for some time now that the former Calgary Flames netminder was going to stay in Philadelphia.
👀 Per sources, I’m told G Vladar and the @NHLFlyers are working towards closing in on a 5 Yr Contract Extension that’s likely to land in the mid 5M AAV range. #HockeyXpic.twitter.com/V0ubAjFEx1
Two weeks ago, another NHL insider, Elliotte Friedman, also went on record to say he had heard that Vladar and the Flyers had already agreed to the extension. Still, the club was waiting until the start of free agency on July 1 to announce it officially.
Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the third round (75th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft, Vladar played only five games with the organization before a trade to the Flames in July 2021 gave him a chance to land a legit back-up role.
For four seasons, he split time (not evenly) with Jacob Markström and Dustin Wolf, compiling a 47-32-15 record with the Flames in 100 games. Once he became a free agent in July 2025, he found a home with the Flyers.
Thanks to a 29-14-7 record in 52, Vladar helped the Flyers back into the Stanley Cup playoffs, upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round before a sweep at the hands of the eventual champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. Because of his strong campaign, Vladar finished 6th in Vezina Trophy voting and earned some votes for the Hart Trophy, finishing 18th on the ballot.
At this time, there is no official word on what his new contract will be worth, but several insiders believe the annual salary will be between $5 and $6 million. For comparison, Wolf will start making $7.5 million this season, while Markström is making $6 million.
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 31: Alperen Sengun #28 and Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets high five during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This week’s question asked you to pick a Houston Rockets player to part with. NBA trade rumors are flying now that it is the offseason, and the Rockets always find themselves connected to these things. In addition, we’ve talked endlessly here at TDS about having two non-shooters in Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson in the lineup. We love both of those guys, but if one of them doesn’t develop a jumpshot soon, the Rockets may have to move one of them. So we asked you which one goes.
Sengun take this in a landslide, and I probably agree. I think if you end up having to choose, you choose Thompson for his capability to defend at a top level. And I think this could be a make or break year for Sengun. He needs some progress with his efficiency, his defense and his shooting, or all bets are off if he remains a Rocket or not.
Even though the season is over, don’t forget to check out our friends over at FanDuel. Odds are already out for next year’s NBA Champion. The OKC Thunder sit at the top with a +250, meaning if you wage $100 and they win, you’ll get $250 back. Our Rockets currently sit as the 10th-best odds at +4000. That’s a juicy bet if you’re feeling positive about the team this year. The defending champion New York Knicks sit at just the fourth-best odds at +750. The Thunder, Spurs and Celtics all sit in front of them.
Thanks for voting! We’ll be back soon with more Reacts!
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Miles McBride #2 and Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Saturday night, the New York Knicks snapped their 53-year title drought.
Nick Nurse and the Sixers—whose own championship drought has now reached 43 years—could learn some valuable lessons from their Atlantic Division rivals.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby led the way for the Knicks on their incredible championship run, but they were hardly the only players who made a major impact. Throughout the playoffs, the Knicks had a handful of reserves come up big in key moments.
Landry Shamet—who wasn’t even a sure thing to make the Knicks’ roster at the start of the season—averaged 11.5 points per game between Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Jose Alvarado had eight points, three assists and two rebounds as the Knicks rallied from an NBA-record 29-point deficit in Game 4 of the Finals. Miles McBride buried the Sixers with seven triples in Game 4 of the conference semifinals. And Mitchell Robinson averaged 4.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in only 13.9 minutes per game throughout the playoffs.
Brunson, Anunoby, Towns, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart shouldered most of the load for the Knicks, but they wouldn’t have won a title without those contributions from their bench. That should be a valuable takeaway for Nurse and the Sixers, who leaned far too heavily on their starters throughout the regular season at the expense of developing their reserves.
In today’s NBA, depth is king
Under then-head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks were overly reliant on their starters, much like the Sixers have been under Nurse.
In 2024-25, Hart led the league with 37.6 minutes per game. Bridges was third at 37.0, while Anunoby was fifth at 36.6. Brunson was tied for 14th at 35.4, while Towns was tied for 19th at 35.0. The Knicks were the only team with even three players in the top 20 of minutes per game, much less five.
After the Indiana Pacers ran circles around the out-of-gas Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Knicks parted ways with Thibodeau and hired Mike Brown as his replacement. They did so in part because he worked under Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who made a habit of going deep into his bench.
“In terms of the minutes, it’s a philosophy I had,” Brown told reporters ahead of the NBA Finals. “One of the many things I learned from Pop and Steve [Kerr]. Steve was really good at trying to play a lot of different guys. Not only that, a guy that hadn’t been in the rotation for a while, one game [a coach] might throw him out there as a starter. That kept guys engaged or on their toes.”
That wasn’t always a smooth process.
“No, I definitely didn’t see the bigger picture in those moments,” Hart told reporters ahead of the Finals when asked about being benched at times in the fourth quarter. “There was moments I went home and I’m like, ‘Damn, am I ass? Do I suck as a basketball player?’ There was a lot of those moments. Whenever your minutes go down or you get benched, you have that thought process. But for me, it was, okay, how can I build off of it?”
But it did pay off for the Knicks in the long run.
“Now I’m cool with it, sometimes,” Hart added. “Game 1 [of the Eastern Conference Finals], I got benched because Landry was out there hooping, and I was happy about it. But that took a little bit of time and self-reflection to get to that point.”
The Sixers haven’t reached that point yet.
Will the Sixers follow the Knicks’ lead?
Much like the Thibodeau-led Knicks, the Sixers played Tyrese Maxey a league-leading 38.0 minutes per game this past season. He averaged a career-high 28.3 points per game en route to his first All-NBA nod, but that type of workload is not sustainable in today’s NBA, particularly in the regular season.
VJ Edgecombe was second on the Sixers with 35.0 minutes per game. Brunson, who was named both Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP, led the Knicks with 35.0 minutes per game during the regular season.
Joel Embiid (31.7 minutes), Kelly Oubre Jr. (31.5 minutes) and Paul George (30.7 minutes) all had their playing time kept relatively in check during the regular season, although that was partially due to injuries. However, Quentin Grimes (29.4 minutes) and Dominick Barlow (23.8 minutes) were the only other Sixers to play at least 20 minutes per game in the regular season.
Jared McCain, whom the Sixers sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of the trade deadline, played only 16.8 minutes per game prior to that trade. Despite landing on a Thunder team with significantly more backcourt depth than the Sixers, he averaged 18.0 minutes per game for them across 30 regular-season appearances and wound up playing a major role for them in the playoffs because Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf) got injured.
Nurse seemingly had McCain on a short leash even though he was working his way back from both a torn meniscus and torn UCL in his right (shooting) hand. He never regained the form that briefly made him the Rookie of the Year favorite in Philadelphia, but with more freedom to make mistakes in OKC, he quickly found his footing again.
The Sixers don’t get take-backs on the McCain trade, but it should teach them a valuable lesson about empowering their reserves more throughout the regular season. They’re going to be top-heavy as long as they have Paul George and Joel Embiid under contract, but they can’t just rely on a six- or seven-man rotation and expect to go on a deep playoff run.
Once the postseason began, the Sixers began leaning even more heavily on their starters. Grimes was the only bench player to play at least 15 minutes per game. Perhaps Nurse didn’t trust the options at his disposal this season, but that can’t happen again next year.
The Sixers might not be as well-balanced as the Knicks’ starting five, but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn lessons from their division rivals. New team president Mike Gansey, who helped build a deep bench in Cleveland, should be emboldened to replicate that strategy in Philly after seeing how much the Knicks’ reserves contributed to their title run.
The Knicks clinching their first championship since 1973 on Saturday brought joy to many, but one of their most recent acquisitions might’ve been the happiest of them all.
Following the Knicks’ Saturday Game 5 victory over the Spurs, 94-90, which sealed their first NBA championship win in 53 years, several clips of Jeremy Sochan celebrating went viral.
One clip showed Sochan, while shirtless, nearly toppling over after trying to climb the giant Larry O’Brien trophy on the floor at the Frost Bank Center, all while his teammate Jalen Brunson was recording an interview with Craig Melvin.
Jeremy Sochan #20 of the New York Knicks and Patrick Ewing high five after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
While Jalen Brunson does his GMA interview, Jeremy Sochan nearly eats it trying to climb the Larry O’Brien trophy pic.twitter.com/mhs4RqHN45
When a shirtless Sochan first tried to climb the display, it began wheeling away, almost sending him to the floor and igniting gasps from the surrounding crowd.
Sochan then successfully climbed the display and posed for a camera before realizing that Brunson was in the middle of an interview.
Sochan then greeted a laughing Brunson and cheered him on for the rest of the interview.
Jeremy Sochan partied as hard as anyone after the Knicks won the NBA Finals.
Another clip showed Sochan, still shirtless, and his teammates dancing in the locker room after the game. The camera pans to Sochan eating steak right off the bone.
The party didn’t end on Saturday night. Upon returning to New York on Sunday, Sochan posted a series of stories on his Instagram in the car, still shirtless and wearing his NBA Champions hat and goggles. In one clip, Sochan sticks his head out the window and lost his goggles while not wearing a shirt.
Sochan had limited playing time in the Finals, only on court for the first three minutes of the first half in Game 4 and briefly entering Game 5.
Sochan was guaranteed a ring regardless of who won the Finals, since he was waived by the Spurs in February before inking a one-year contract with the Knicks shortly after.
“Here’s Taylor Hall breaking in. Hall scores! Taylor Hall, and it is 1-0, Carolina!”
With his head up, Hall’s wrist shot beat Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart a little over three minutes after the puck dropped, signaling the start of Game 6. It marked the 34-year-old’s seventh goal of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He, along with his Carolina Hurricanes’ linemates Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, were one of the Hurricanes’ strongest lines in the postseason, combining for 55 points.
At 10:57 p.m. Eastern Time, the final horn sounded at T-Mobile Arena, and Hall threw his gloves, stick, and helmet in the air as he and his teammates swarmed their goaltender, Brandon Bussi, behind his net.
The Hurricanes defeated the Golden Knights, 3-0, clinching their second Stanley Cup in their history.
And Taylor Hall became a Stanley Cup champion.
“It is incredible,” he told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. “I have been kind of everywhere and got here (to Carolina) and felt really at home within a couple days. I think that is a credit to (Rod Brind'Amour) and the coaching staff, and to the guys who have been here for seven or eight years and have really put in the work to make this a special place to play. I am so happy for them. I am just ecstatic. This is an amazing group to do it with. I couldn't have asked for anything more.”
Drafted first overall in 2010 by the Edmonton Oilers, Hall went on to play for the New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks before landing in Carolina.
“You never know what kind of turn your life is going to take,” Hall continued. “I got fortunate coming here. Like I said, special group to do it with, and they allowed me just to come in and have success, and that says a lot.”
During his three and a half season stint with the Devils, Hall captured the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2018, given "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team."
At 34, Hall played 1,062 games before celebrating his first Cup win. Per NHLPr, he had the second-most contests by a number one pick before his first championship behind Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin, with both players clinching their title against the Golden Knights in Vegas.
“I love the game, man,” Hall said. “I will keep doing this as long as I can. The Stanley Cup was the ultimate goal, but just playing hockey and being around my buddies doing it is incredible.”
Hall earned votes for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP for their all-around role in helping the team win the Stanley Cup. He finished second behind Hurricanes’ captain Jordan Staal.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks smiles after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Indiana men’s basketball alumnus OG Anunoby’s storied NBA career added another accolade this past weekend when the New York Knicks won game five of the NBA Finals to seal a 4-1 series win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Anunoby played a crucial role for the Knicks, averaging 21.2 points per game against the Spurs with a 33-point performance in game four that was capped by the late go-ahead tip-in to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, not to mention his impact on the defensive end of the court.
Tom Crean was in San Antonio to see his former pupil win his second ring too:
Stokes and Gus Atkinson left out for Oval Test after curfew breach
McCullum speaking to Stokes daily, not pushing him to return to cricket
Brendon McCullum has spoken of his concern for Ben Stokes’s wellbeing as the England captain sits out this week’s second Test against New Zealand as a result of his breaking the team curfew after the first Test at Lord’s.
The fallout from Stokes and his teammate Gus Atkinson deciding to spend the early hours of last Monday morning at a Chelsea nightclub rather than the team hotel has dominated the week between the two matches. While McCullum, the England head coach, admitted he initially had a strong negative reaction to learning about the curfew breach, he said this quickly changed. He has spoken to Stokes every day since the story broke, and said those conversations had left him feeling worried.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Isaiah Evans shoots the ball during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you’re Cameron Boozer, you can more or less relax in the run-up to the draft, because you almost certainly won’t go any lower than #4, and there’s a chance you could go #1.
For anyone outside of the projected lottery picks though, you have no certainty whatsoever. Some guys are going to slip while others are going to rise, and there’s often one guy who got invited to the Green Room who just sits and waits. The saddest example of this may be Florida’s Dwayne Schintzius. Expected to go early in the 1990 draft, he lingered until the 24th pick, finally taken by San Antonio, just one pick ahead of Duke’s Alaa Abdelnaby (keep in mind there were only 28 picks, and that he nearly fell out of the first round).
Since former Blue Devil Isaiah Evans is expected to go somewhere after the 20th pick, there’s just no way to begin to know where he will end up, and of course, he could always be part of a draft-night trade.
For any player, the most important thing is not necessarily how high you are picked, but rather being picked by a stable franchise that has a plan for you.
This story links to a Boston Celtics-focused podcast that talks about Evans being a possible pick for the C’s. Really, that could be a great situation or him. First, he already knows Jayson Tatum, who of course is Duke’s Chief Basketball Officer. He could be an excellent mentor for Evans.
Secondly, Brad Stevens is one of the smartest executives in the league and the Celtics are consistently one of the better teams in the league.
Thirdly, Joe Mazzulla has emerged as an excellent coach, and finally, Boston loves the three-point shot which is Evans’ calling card. He could be a great fit.
The former Vancouver Canucks defenceman was part of the Carolina Hurricanes squad that rode a dominant performance through the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs to win their first championship since 2006, doing so by taking down the Vegas Golden Knights in six games.
Carolina capped off their remarkable 16–3 post-season run with a 3–0 win in Vegas, with goaltender Brandon Bussi backstopping them to the victory only three games after he officially took the starting role after Frederik Andersen sustained a knee injury in Game 2 of the series. The 22-save shutout was his first of the post-season and third all-time in the NHL.
The journey to the Hurricanes franchise’s second Stanley Cup began after suffering three Conference Final losses through the prior seven seasons, during all of which they made the playoffs.
This year’s run began with a quick sweep of the Ottawa Senators in the first-round, during which former Canuck Chatfield recorded one assist in the team’s series-winning Game 4. Carolina went on to also sweep the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring three or more goals in each of their games against Philadelphia. Chatfield scored his first goal of this year’s post-season in Game 3 of this series.
The Hurricanes met with the Montréal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final — their fourth in the past eight seasons. Despite a dominant Game 1 performance for the Canadiens that saw Montréal put five goals past Andersen, Carolina continued rolling, winning four straight to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since their 2006 championship win. This was the third time the Hurricanes made the Final since relocating.
Vegas put up a valiant effort, but ultimately, Carolina was able to take the win in this year’s Stanley Cup Final. Both of the Hurricanes’ losses were separated by only one goal, with a thrilling Game 1 ending in a 5–4 score, and Game 3 featuring a shocking 4–0 comeback from Carolina cut short by an overtime goal scored by Shea Theodore.
Jun 14, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Carolina Hurricanes players celebrate the win against the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Offensively speaking, Chatfield hit another gear during Carolina’s 2025–26 playoff run. The defenceman recorded a career-high of seven assists in a single post-season and doubled his previous points-high by recording eight in 19 games. He was also relied on heavily by his team through this run, recording a career-high average of 22:32 minutes played per game.
Chatfield’s time with the Canucks was spent mostly in the AHL. The defenceman played in a total of 18 games with Vancouver, recording his first-career NHL point with the team, before he was not extended a qualifying offer and became a free-agent. In his first season with the Hurricanes organization, the defenceman won the 2022 Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves. He has since powered his way to a full-time NHL role with Carolina.
Carolina’s Stanley Cup win officially makes Chatfield a champion at the NHL, AHL, and OHL level, as he also won the Memorial Cup in 2017 as a member of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: A fan takes their seat during the Rothesay County Championship Division 1 match between Nottinghamshire and Somerset at Trent Bridge on June 15, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hickory starter Evan Siary went four innings, allowing five runs, striking out one and walking one while allowing a pair of homers. Owen Proksch gave up a run in an inning of work. Michael Trausch walked one and struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings. Geury Rodriguez struck out both batters he faced.
Angel Arredondo was 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. Daniel Flames was 2 for 4 with a double. Yolfran Castillo had a hit, two walks and a stolen base.
Hub City starter D.J. McCarty threw six shutout innings, striking out eight and walking two.
Malcolm Moore was 2 for 5 with a double. Hector Osorio had a hit and a pair of walks. Maxton Martin homered. Paxton Kling had a walk and a hit by pitch before leaving the game for Chandler Pollard after the HBP. Pollard had a hit, a walk and a stolen base. Yeison Morrobel had a hit and a pair of walks.
Dylan MacLean started for Frisco, throwing 6.1 shutout innings, striking out five and walking one. Joey Danielson struck out both batters he faced. Josh Trentadue allowed three runs in 0.2 IP, striking out two and walking one. Eric Loomis allowed three runs in 0.2 IP, including a walkoff homer.
Ian Moller homered and walked. Rafe Percih had a hit and two walks.
Round Rock starter Josh Stephan allowed three runs in 5.1 IP, striking out five and walking three. Wilian Bormie struck out three and walked one in 1.1 IP, allowing one run. Gavin Collyer walked two of the three batters he faced. Alexis Diaz retired the one batter he faced. Luis Curvelo retired the two batters he faced, one via strikeout.
Rehabbing Josh Smith was the DH and went 1 for 3 with a double and two walks. Jarred Kelenic had a hit and a walk. Blaine Crim had a hit.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sixers fans weren’t quite sure what to expect when the organization first signed Kelly Oubre Jr. very late in the 2023 offseason. Ultimately, at just a veteran’s minimum salary, it was a home run deal for Philadelphia, as Oubre went on to start in 52 of his 68 regular season appearances that season, plus all six playoff games against the New York Knicks. Oubre’s season earned him a two-year, $16.3 million deal to remain with the Sixers. Although his status as one of the few middle-of-the-road contracts on the roster earned him plenty of spots in hypothetical trade machine scenarios, Kelly has remained a rotation fixture these past couple years.
The perception of Oubre’s game upon arriving in Philadelphia was a good stats on a bad team type of gunner, formed largely from his previous two seasons in Charlotte. Having to accept a veteran’s minimum deal that 2023 summer seemed to awaken something in Kelly. He has since reinvented himself as a complementary, two-way wing. Over the past three seasons, Oubre has defended well across multiple positions, often taking on the toughest perimeter defensive assignment. He rebounded adequately for his position and showed a real knack for finding seams as an off-ball cutter offensively. His “gunner” past also came to serve as a feature, not a bug. During the many occasions when the team was beset by injuries, Kelly was able to scale up his offensive usage to assume more of the scoring burden.
The wrinkle in Oubre’s player profile is his inconsistency as an outside shooter. To his credit, Kelly had the best three-point shooting season of his career last year, finishing 36.0 percent from behind the arc. However, that average mark belied a high level of streakiness to his game. Oubre has a tendency to go through some severe cold spells, something which became an issue during the Boston series this past postseason when he shot 16.0 percent across the seven games and the Celtics defense continued to give him more and more space in order to limit drivers. Whether the Sixers feel there’s still room for Kelly to improve his shot or if they’re willing to live with the inconsistency will be large factors in any decisions to re-sign him.
With Oubre hitting unrestricted free agency, he’ll be one of the more impactful early decisions for Mike Gansey and the new Sixers front office. More than likely, the open market will dictate how the Sixers act. If another team opts to blow their budget to bring Kelly aboard, Philadelphia may be content to let him go and try a younger option with a higher shooting upside. However, if the Sixers can sign him for somewhere around the mid-level exception, it seems like a low-risk move to bringing him back. The team is already thin on the wings even with Kelly, he gets along well with the current group, and meets Gansey’s criteria as a competitive guy who wants to be in Philadelphia. I certainly feel Oubre is a fountain, not a drain.
Kelly is an interesting personality and I admired his ability to do some serious self-reflection and adapt his game to carve out a more sustainable NBA career for himself. We’ll see how the market for him plays out, but I’m hoping he and the Sixers can come to terms to keep him in red, white, and blue.
How about you? Are you ready to part ways with Oubre or hoping he remains a Sixer heading into next season? Let us know in the comments.
When Sergei Bobrovsky decided that he didn’t want to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets any longer, fans were gutted. How could the best goalie to ever wear the Union Blue want to leave? He owns just about every organizational record there is for goalies, including games played, wins, goals-against, saves, shutouts, minutes played, and points scored.
Well, we soon got our answer. GM Jarmo Kekalainen came out publicly and stated that Bobrovsky came to the front office and said he was done with the organization. But why? Was it money? Was it Torts? Was it the city itself? Seems to be a combination of all of the above, and some fans were not happy.
And then, after the CBJ swept the Tampa Bay Lightning, that was it; he was gone. But let’s be honest: the time he spent there was historic in terms of team records, and it was fun to watch.
On June 15, 2013, Sergei Bobrovsky won his first and two Vezina Trophy following the 2012-13 season.
Bobrovsky played in 38 games, compiling a record of 21-11-6. He had 4 shutouts, the first of 33 in his CBJ career. His GAA was 2.00 with a save % of .932. The man played stellar.
But he had shown flashes in the previous two seasons with the Flyers. And with the 2012-13 season being shortened due to a labor dispute, he played for SKA St Petersburg of the KHL. He did really well there too, going 18-3-2 with a sub-2.00 GAA. And with all of that, the Jackets missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker. They finished with 55 points, tied with the Minnesota Wild. They went 24-17-7 and deserved to be in the playoffs that year, in my opinion.
John Davidson revealed that Bobrovsky refused to waive his no-trade clause leading up to the 2019 NHL trade deadline. Davidson made the following comment about Bobrovsky, who left Columbus to sign a 7-year deal with the Florida Panthers.
"I know that with Bobrovsky, he didn't want to waive his no-trade, so we couldn't trade him. And I get that; he had every right in the world. That's nobody's fault. It's just what it is.
-
Fans have always thought that the Jackets just held on to Bobrovsky and Panarin and went "All-In." But it very well could be that since Sergei Bobrovsky refused to waive his no-trade clause, Columbus had no choice but to go for it that year. It worked out, and it didn't.
Sergei Bobrovsky, still a topic of conversation among Jackets fans. Some good. Some bad. But in the long run, he was one of the greatest players ever to wear a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey.
Bob has also cemented himself as one of the NHL's all-time great goalies by winning playing in three straight Stanley Cup Finals, and winning two straight Cups.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 14: Kyle Higashioka #11 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates after defeating the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 6, Red Sox 4
And…the Rangers don’t get swept!
Yeah!
(fist pump)
Nathan Eovaldi once again comes to the rescue, giving the Rangers a Quality Start to break a losing streak.
Eovaldi gave the Rangers seven innings, and when it came to Red Sox hitters other than Willson Contreras, things went very well for him.
Contreras hit a pair of solo homers off of Eovaldi, accounting for two of the three runs he gave up in the game.
The first of the two was a Fenway special, a high pop fly to left field that is a fly out just about everywhere else but that the dimensions of the Green Monster turn into a homer.
Per Statcast, the only other stadium it would have been a homer in is whatever they are calling the stadium in Houston nowadays.
I’m just going to go back to calling it Enron Field.
The other one was legit, though.
Nonetheless, Eovaldi’s homer tendencies this year are a bit problematic. He has now allowed 17 homers so far this season, the fourth most he’s allowed in any season in his career. Given we are just halfway through June, that’s not what you really want to see.
His six strikeouts leave him just one behind Bronson Arroyo and Jim Whitney, who are currently tied for 210th on the all time strikeout list. Rick Porcello is right behind Eovaldi.
After uncharacteristically walking three batters his last time out, Our Man Nate issued just a single walk on Sunday, indicating the restoration of balance in the universe.
Jakob Junis was supposed to finish out the eighth but ended up getting just two outs and allowing a run in before being pulled for Jacob Latz with two outs in the inning, though it should be noted that another Jake Burger pop fly misadventure on a foul ball contributed to Junis’s problems.
Latz handled things, though, retiring all four batters he faced, so it was all good.
The Rangers started things off with a bang, in the form of a Wyatt Langford leadoff homer in the first, this of the legit variety. Kyle Higashioka hit a three run shot in the second to give the Rangers all the runs they would need in the game. The final two runs came on a Brandon Nimmo bases loaded double, with Nimmo hopefully dispelling the bases-loaded curse the offense has been laden with.
Everyone’s favorite 2020 Rangers draft pick, Justin Foscue, had a 3 for 3 game before Skip Schumaker opted to use offensive catalyst Nicky Lopez as a pinch hitter for him once a righthander came into the game. Foscue is now slashing .268/.321/.451 on the year. That’s pretty good.
And because the Mariners lost, the Rangers are back within a game of first place in the American League West, despite being a game below .500. The Rangers also remain tied with the A’s for WC3, because the American League as a whole hasn’t been all that.
Nathan Eovaldi’s sinker maxed out at 96.2 mph, averaging 94.0 mph. Jakob Junis hit 94.6 mph with his fastball. Jacob Latz’s fastball touched 97.4 mph.
Wyatt Langford’s home run was 106.8 mph. Brandon Nimmo had a 105.6 mph double and a 100.9 mph groundout. Kyle Higashioka had a 104.4 mph single and a 100.2 mph home run. Jake Burger had a 104.3 mph double. Justin Foscue had a 104.3 mph single.
Back home now, for a six game homestand that features a weird off day on Wednesday because of the World Cup.
