This is the kind of goaltending the Detroit Red Wings were envisioning when they acquired John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason.
Gibson turned back the clock and delivered a vintage performance, his best since joining the Red Wings, by making 39 saves and earning his first shutout of the season over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday evening.
Gibson held the fort down for Detroit, who were often hemmed in their own zone for much of the opening 20 minutes of play with several key saves. He would continue his mastery in the second period, continuing to keep the Canucks off the scoreboard while his teammates took care of the rest.
James van Riemsdyk broke a scoreless tie late in the first period with his fourth goal in as many games, the most consecutive games in which he's scored in his NHL career.
Detroit would strike twice more in the second period, as Andrew Copp tallied his second goal in as many games by capitalizing on a beautiful four-way passing play that also saw Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Alex DeBrincat, and Patrick Kane touch the puck.
Less than a minute later, rookie Nate Danielson deflected a shot past goaltender Kevin Lankinen, increasing Detroit's lead to 3-0 and giving him his second career goal.
Gibson continued to turn aside everything the Canucks threw at him in the third period, and it would be Dylan Larkin who sealed the victory with an empty net tally.
Gibson finished with 39 saves, earning his first shutout since Jan. 4,2023 against the Dallas Stars while still a member of the Anaheim Ducks.
Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen was chased from the net after the second period after allowing three goals on 13 shots against; he was replaced for the third period by Nikita Tolopilo.
The Red Wings, who are now halfway through their six-game road trip, have now moved into the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
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We have reached the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the eight-team knockout round — now things get serious. Especially for the players on those teams, because the money is now very real.
"I think half a million dollars is still a good amount of money to be able to motivate you to want to win games," the Lakers' Jake LaRavia told NBC Sports recently.
Here is everything you need to know about the NBA Cup quarterfinals matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday, and what happens from there.
What’s the NBA Cup 2025 format?
This is the one thing that has remained largely the same through the three years of the NBA Cup. First, all 30 teams were drawn into one of the six five-team groups (three East groups and three West groups). Each team plays the other teams in its group once — four games total — and those games count double as both regular-season and NBA Cup games.
The six group winners plus a wild card from each conference advance to the quarterfinals, where we are now. Those teams are placed in an eight-team knockout bracket (East vs. East, West vs. West, until the Finals). Starting with Tuesday's games, they are single-elimination.
What are the quarterfinals matchups?
Eastern Conference
Dec. 9 (on Amazon Prime)
Miami Heat at Orlando Magic
Game Analysis: After a slow start to their season, Orlando found its footing just as the NBA Cup got rolling. Not only did the Magic sweep into the quarterfinals, but it also comes in hot, having gone 7-3 in their last 10 with a top-10 offense and defense over that stretch. However, the Magic will enter the game without their best player this season, Franz Wagner, who suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday.
Miami has been one of the great surprises of the season, with Erik Spoelstra flipping the Heat offense on its head, putting in an up-tempo, fast-decision offense that shuns picks in favor of isolation attacks. The good news is that the Heat are basically healthy for this game, with Norman Powell and Tyler Herro ready to go. The bad news is they come in cold having dropped three in a row, and in the past couple of weeks their defense and offense have fallen off.
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors
Game Analysis: Watch the tempo of this game to get a clue how it is going. Toronto wants to run — it starts more of its possessions in transition than any team in the league, and it's got the athletes who can finish in space with Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. Toronto relies on a pressure defense to fuel its transition offense, but when forced into the half-court, it banks on Brandon Ingram and his midrange game to power things (Toronto as a team loves the midrange).
The Knicks will run when they get the chance, but this is the team with the league's sixth-best first-shot half-court offense behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. New York comes in red hot, having won 7-of-8.
Western Conference
Dec. 10 (on Amazon Prime)
Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder
Game Analysis: Oklahoma City has been a juggernaut so far this season — 23-1 with a 15.9 net rating that is on pace to set an NBA record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the headlines — he appears the early frontrunner to repeat as MVP — and they have Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, but what really drives the Thunder is their league-best defense. OKC's 104.1 defensive rating is 6.5 points per 100 possessions better than any team in the league.
That said, just more than a week ago the Suns gave the Thunder all they could handle in a 123-119 loss. Phoenix has been one of the great stories of the young season and three people deserve a lot of credit for that. One is coach Jordan Ott, who, in his first season, has given this team an identity — which starts with an aggressive, pressing defense — and has them playing hard every night (something the Suns didn't do consistently over the past couple of years). The second is Dillon Brooks, who came to Phoenix this summer in the Kevin Durant trade as a defensive stopper and an energy and intensity guy, but is breaking out on offense averaging 22.3 points per game. The other is Devin Booker, who remains one of the best two guards in the game, but his status for this game is questionable.
San Antonio at Los Angeles Lakers
Game Analysis: The big question heading into this one is whether Victor Wembanyama returns to play for the Spurs. He has been practicing with the team, but there is no word from the team (as of this writing), and the reports out of San Antonio make it sound like Wemby may sit this one out, too (Stephon Castle did return Monday night). San Antonio has gone 8-3 with Wembanyama out (calf strain), and in that time, the Spurs have gotten All-Star-level scoring and leadership from De'Aaron Fox, and keep an eye on rookie Dylan Harper, who has been brilliant.
The Lakers have been one of the best teams in the West, led by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level, Austin Reaves proving he is ready to be a second scoring option, and LeBron James returning and fitting in, doing whatever the team needs to win on a given night. One thing to watch: the Lakers are 8-0 in clutch games this season (within five points in the final five minutes).
When are the NBA Cup quarterfinals, Finals?
Here is the schedule for the quarterfinals and beyond: Quarterfinals: Dec. 9 and 10 Semifinals: Dec. 13 (Las Vegas) Championship: Dec. 16 (Las Vegas)
NBA Cup 2025 odds
Here are the odds for the eight teams remaining to win the NBA Cup, via our partners at DraftKings:
Oklahoma City (-120) New York (+475) Los Angeles Lakers (+500) Orlando (+1200) Miami (+1200) Toronto (+1400) San Antonio (+1800) Phoenix (+9000)
How much money does the champion get?
As the Lakers' LaRavia said above, the prize money motivates the players — and every roster player in the quarterfinals will get a bonus check out of this. However, they all have their eyes on the big prize.
How big? This is how the payouts break down:
• Each player on the team that wins the championship: $530,933 • Each player on the team that loses in the championship: $212,373 • Each player on a team that loses in the semifinals: $106,187 • Each player on a team that loses in the quarterfinals: $53,093
Who won the 2024 NBA Cup?
Milwaukee bounced back from an ugly 2-8 start to the season to find its footing in NBA Cup games and went on a run behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. He lifted them to the Cup Finals against Oklahoma City, where Antetokounmpo had a 26-point triple-double, completely controlling the game on both ends of the court.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
The Calgary Flames continued their strong run at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday night, knocking off the Buffalo Sabres 7-4 and extending their home streak to 5-0-1 in their last six. Entering the night tied in points (26), both teams knew the matchup carried weight — and Calgary responded with one of their most assertive showings of the season.
Yegor Sharangovich scored twice, as he opened the scoring for the second straight game and added an an empty-netter and an assist, Rasmus Andersson ripped home his seventh of the year, and Jonathan Huberdeau buried his second power-play goal of the season. Meanwhile, Nazem Kadri led the offensive charge with a three-point performance (1G, 2A), and Yan Kuznetsov added his second goal of the season. Mikael Backlund rounded out the Flames scoring with an empty net goal.
Dustin Wolf battled through a chaotic night in the crease to secure his ninth win.
Calgary wasted little time establishing momentum. Sharangovich’s net-drive-first mentality paid off again when a point shot deflected off him and in. The Flames kept their foot down early, converting on a 5-on-3 powerplay when Andersson navigated traffic and wired one home, with Kadri setting up both first-period goals.
The Sabres clawed back in the second. Tage Thompson used his lethal release to beat Wolf on the power play, but Calgary responded with another powerplay marker — this time Huberdeau tapping in a slick Matt Coronato setup at the side of the net.
Buffalo briefly thought they tied it when Thompson snuck one past Wolf from a sharp angle, but an offside challenge wiped the goal off the board. The Sabres did eventually break through again when Owen Power’s point shot found a body in front and redirected in, cutting the lead to one.
However, every time Buffalo pushed, Calgary countered. Just 31 seconds after the Sabres scored, Sharangovich sprung Joel Farabee who found Kadri streaking towards the net, who finished off a clean passing sequence to restore the two-goal cushion. Rasmus Dahlin answered quickly for Buffalo, but Calgary scored quickly after — finished by Kuznetsov after a hard-working shift by Blake Coleman — re-establishing control at 5–3 heading into the third.
Sabres netminder Alex Lyon entered to start the final frame. Late in the third, with the net empty, Dahlin spotted Alex Tuch in front who redirected the shot past Wolf. Backlund responded moments later with an empty net goal, as did Sharangovich to seal it for the Flames.
Three Takeaways:
1. Flames Playing With Swagger
Confidence is a powerful thing, and Calgary showed plenty of it. Their pace was high, their puck movement sharp, and their response game was immediate — every time Buffalo scored, the Flames answered on the very next shift or within minutes. They didn’t let the Sabres build momentum, and that maturity showed throughout the night.
2. Power Play Delivers
The Flames’ power play has been searching for consistency, and it found it Monday. Calgary went 2-for-5, converting on a 5-on-3 opportunity and striking again late in the second. Andersson and Huberdeau cashed in. More importantly, the unit played with purpose — quick puck movement, strong retrievals, and decisive shooting.
3. Kadri Remains the Offensive Catalyst
Nazem Kadri continues to quietly pace the Flames’ attack. With another three-point night, he now leads the team with 26 points (6G, 20A). Beyond the numbers, Kadri is driving Calgary’s pace, dictating shifts, and elevating whoever plays on his line. When the Flames need a stabilizing presence or a momentum swing, he’s providing it.
The Los Angeles Kings (14-8-7) traveled to Utah to take Mammoth (14-14-3) for the first time this season. After scoring a season-high six goals in their victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, the Kings looked to carry over their offensive success as they face another Western conference foe.
After starting the season 9-1-2 on the road, the Kings had lost their last three road contests going 0-1-2 in that span. They managed to get back on track away from home with a 4-2 victory over the Mammoth on Monday night. Thanks to a great start and solid goaltending, the Kings pick up two points with their second straight victory.
The Mothers of the Los Angeles Kings might be good luck as they are now 2-0-0 with the Mom's in the building. They're even averaging a whopping five goals per game. Whatever they said to their sons it has worked and further proves the theory that Mom always knows best.
Strong Early Effort Gives Kings First Period Lead
Just over two minutes into the game, the Kings were headed to the power play after Mammoth rookie Daniil But was sent to the box for the first time in his young NHL career for hooking Quinton Byfield. However, the Kings power play struggles continued as they failed to get anything going on the man advantage once again.
Although they were unable to capitalize on an early opportunity, the Kings were bound to score as they were controlling the play early on. Surely enough, LA opened the scoring thanks to $10 million dollar man, Adrian Kempe. With just over 12 minutes remaining in the period, Kempe scored a gorgeous goal as he beat Karel Vejmelka with a slick backhand move as he came in with immense speed. The Kings leading scorer gave his team a 1-0 with his 10th goal of the season. Kevin Fiala picks up his first of two assists on the evening.
About two minutes later, the Kings doubled their lead thanks to a tremendous pass by Fiala that found Joel Armia who beat Vejmelka on a breakaway. Armia's sixth goal of the season gave the Kings a 2-0 lead as the first period came to a close.
The Kings did have a brief scare however as Brandon Tanev seemingly scored a tremendous breakaway goal, but Jim Hiller and the Kings decided to challenge and Tanev's goal was offside.
Mammoth Cut The Lead In Half
After fending off a late Utah push in the first, the Kings lead was eventually cut in half. LA began the second period on the penalty kill due to Andrei Kuzmenko being assessed an interference penalty late in the first. Just 34 seconds into the middle frame, Dylan Guenther made the Kings pay as he fired a rocket of a shot past Darcy Kuemper.
Aside from Guenther's tally, the action was limited. Both LA and Utah had their opportunities but the goaltenders stood tall to keep the score at 2-1 entering the third. With how the period started, a 2-1 score was a major win for the Kings.
The Kings wasted little time when it came to building upon their lead. Early in the final frame LA added a much needed insurance marker thanks to their captain. Anze Kopitar scored his sixth goal of the season as he was in the right spot at the right time and buried a rebound shot by Vejmelka, doubling the LA lead. Adrian Kempe and Joel Edmundson record the assists.
Once again, the Mammoth managed to cut the Kings lead in half. This time it was Utah's captain who got on the score sheet. Clayton Keller made it a 3-2 hockey game with a gorgeous backhand shot off a nice feed from Nick Schmaltz.
Joel Armia iced the game with his second of the game as he managed to find the back empty net from inside the Kings end.
Two Huge Points
They didn't score six goals again but the Kings pull off another impressive victory for their second straight win. A solid 60 minute effort moves the LA to 14-8-7 as they continue to battle for the lead in the Pacific division. The Kings are now a perfect 4-0-0 all time against the newly created Utah Mammoth franchise.
Catch the Kings next on Wednesday, December 10th when they take on the Seattle Kraken (11-9-6) at Climate Pledge Arena with puck drop at 7:00 PM ET/10:00 PM PT.
Kings Three Stars
1st Star: Kevin Fiala (2 A, +2, 1 HIT)
2nd Star: Adrian Kempe (1 G, 1 A, +2)
3rd Star: Joel Armia (2 G, +2, 4 SOG)
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Right-hander Drew Anderson and the Tigers agreed to a one-year contract, $7 million. Detroit general manager Scott Harris said Monday.
The deal includes a $10 million team option for 2027.
Anderson, 31, spent spring training with the Tigers in 2024 on a minor league contract and struck out 14 over eight innings while allowing seven runs and nine hits. He had a 3.86 ERA in nine games with Triple-A Toledo, then asked to be released and signed with SSD Landers in South Korea.
He went 23-10 with a 2.91 ERA over parts of two seasons in South Korea, striking out 403 and walking 104 in 287 1/3 innings.
Anderson last pitched in the major leagues with Texas in 2021 and then spent two seasons with Hiroshima in Japan's Central League.
He is 1-3 with a 6.50 ERA in two starts and 17 relief appearances over five big league seasons with Philadelphia (2017-19), the Chicago White Sox (2020) and the Rangers.
While it was a slower start to his first season with the Detroit Red Wings than he would have liked, veteran forward James van Riemsdyk is more than making up for lost time thanks to his recent hot streak.
Entering Monday evening's game against the Vancouver Canucks, van Riemsdyk had goals in three straight games, and had tallied in five of his last six games.
Now, the second overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft (one pick behind his now-current Red Wings teammate Patrick Kane) has officially set a new career mark. With his first period goal against the Canucks, he now has goals in four straight games, the longest of his career.
van Riemsdyk, who went a span of 16 games without finding the back of the net after he scored in his Red Wings debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been a scoring machine of late.
He now has goals in six of his last seven outings, and a total of 334 for his NHL career.
He was signed by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman not only for his veteran leadership and savvy play around the net, but to provide secondary scoring. Right now, he's the hottest scorer on the team.
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Ahead of the MLB Winter Meetings, the chatter was that the Detroit Tigers would be listening to offers for potential Mets target Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner and a free agent to be after the 2026 season.
On Monday, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris gave a clear indication that there will indeed be "listening" and "exploring" when it came to the left-hander (and any player in the organization), but that might be as far as it goes.
“I’ve been pretty clear since I’ve been here,” Harris said in Orlando. “I don’t believe in untouchables at any level. So anyone in our organization, at any level. It’s not a commentary on Tarik specifically. Sort of a blanket team-building approach. I think I can’t do my job without listening.
“I can’t do my job without exploring anything that may or may not have legs. Some are maybe very likely moves, and some are going to be extremely unlikely. But you can’t actually fully vet those opportunities unless you are willing to listen. So that’s how we’re doing it.”
Harris, speaking on MLB Network, added later, "My job is to make this organization better. I need to find ways to make this organization better, which means that I need to listen to every opportunity."
On the eve of the meetings, ESPN's Buster Olney reported Detroit would "continue to be engaged" with teams interested in acquiring the ace, and that the asking price would be "enormous."
Enormous because the talent is so immense. Over his last two seasons, he's posted a 2.30 ERA (2.47 FIP) and 0.906 WHIP with 469 strikeouts and 68 walks in 387.1 innings over 62 starts.
If acquired, the Mets would face another hurdle in working on keeping the 29-year-old around for the long term: Skubal is represented by Scott Boras.
When the Tigers attempted to extend Skubal, it was reportedly not just a non-competitive offer, but one that was relatively insulting. Safe to say that while that isn't much of an indication of the starter's asking price, it is something the Mets would certainly be able to avoid.
In the meantime, Skubal is relatively inexpensive, expected to make roughly $18 million for his final season of arbitration.
SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported earlier this offseason that the Tigers have expressed interest in Brett Baty in the past.
Mackenzie Blackwood has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the NHL.
The 28-year-old earned that respect from NHL insider and former goaltender Kevin Weekes, who praised him Monday on NHL Tonight.
Blackwood was selected 42nd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, where he spent four seasons. His standout campaign came during the shortened 2019–20 season, posting a 22-14-8 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. On the show, Weekes elaborated on why he has long admired Blackwood’s game.
“I think Mackenzie Blackwood going back to his time in (Juniors) always had the goods,” he stated. “He has the size; he has the skillset. I liked him a lot when he was with the Devils (Weekes’ former team), but he was a young goalie...but he’s really found his footing since going out West.”
On June 27, 2023, as a pending restricted free agent, Blackwood was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. He promptly signed a two-year contract with San Jose. Blackwood made his Sharks debut early in the 2023–24 season on October 14, recording 51 saves in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche—ironically, the team that would acquire him the following season.
That move, however, is what Weekes said allowed Blackwood to truly hone his skills and demonstrate that he has what it takes to perform under pressure.
“And first going to San Jose and proving he can play under duress and then coming to Colorado, he’s been fantastic,” Weekes continued.
“But (against the Philadelphia Flyers) specifically and (the New York Rangers), he was absolutely outstanding. But again, keep in mind, the fact that just up the street from here, he played in New Jersey. He’s familiar with these buildings, so maybe that had something to do with it.”
Blackwood Started Season Nursing Injury
The start of the season did not unfold as Blackwood had hoped. He underwent offseason surgery to address a persistent lower-body injury, and his recovery progressed more slowly than anticipated. Having missed both training camp and the preseason, he only began taking reps once the regular season commenced, leaving it evident that he still had significant ground to make up.
After a somewhat shaky start, Blackwood has not only regained his footing but appears to be performing at the peak of his career. He currently holds an 8-1-1 record, boasting a career-low 2.21 goals-against average and a career-high .920 save percentage. While some might attribute his success to playing on a strong team, that perspective overlooks his individual contributions—most notably on Sunday, when the Avalanche defeated the Flyers 3-2 and Blackwood made several critical saves to preserve the one-goal margin. He deserves all of the credit.
Blackwood Is Elite
“I think he’s become a really complete goalie,” Weekes said. “I’m a big fan of his. What I would also say about Mackenzie Blackwood is like a lot of young people and young goalie players, he’s matured a lot, too.
“He knows Colorado is an elite team, but to me, the way he played...he played back-to-back. And I love that he played back-to-back because it’s kind of a rare thing nowadays, but I love seeing it, so good on him for the back-to-back performances.”
Blackwood recorded 25 saves against the Rangers on Saturday, helping secure a 3-2 overtime victory capped by Nathan MacKinnon’s deft backhand that eluded Igor Shesterkin. The following day, he added 23 more saves—including several highlight-reel stops—to propel the Avalanche to a second 3-2 triumph, this time in regulation.
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David Stearns said Monday at the Winter Meetings that rehabbing Mets pitchers Christian Scott and A.J. Minter have been progressing well this offseason.
Scott is wrapping up his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the entirety of last season, and he’s in line to be a full participant by the time spring training comes.
That’s certainly encouraging news for the Mets’ pitching depth.
The 25-year-old was the first of New York’s influx of young talent to crack the majors, and he showed some of his high upside before going down to injury.
Scott pitched to a 4.56 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over his first nine big-league outings.
Minter, meanwhile, remains a bit less certain for the beginning of the season.
The veteran left-hander continues recovering from a lat injury that sidelined him for the season in late May, but if he does miss time, it is only expected to be brief.
Minter looked strong in his 13 appearances prior to the injury, and he is expected to play a key role in New York’s bullpen again after picking up his $11 million player option.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answers questions during a news conference at the MLB winter meetings in Orlando on Monday. (John Raoux / Associated Press)
It’s been an offseason of few acquisitions thus far for the Dodgers.
So much so that, on the first day of MLB’s annual winter meetings at the Signia by Hilton Orlando on Monday, the most intriguing rumor surrounding the team had to do with a potential subtraction from their big-league roster.
According to multiple reports, Teoscar Hernández has come up in the Dodgers’ trade talks with other teams this winter. USA Today went as far as saying the club was “shopping” the two-time All-Star, who is entering the second season of the three-year, $66-million deal he signed last offseason.
Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández hits a sacrifice fly to score Dodgers' Will Smith during the Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 1. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
“Teo certainly fits [our roster still],” Roberts said. “He’s helped us win two championships. He’s one of my favorites.”
“That doesn't feel likely,” Gomes added of the possibility of trading Hernández. “Obviously, you can never say never on those types of things. I know that's come up [in reports]. But that's not something we anticipate at all."
The idea of the Dodgers trading Hernández has felt like a long shot from the start. Though the 33-year-old slugger suffered an inconsistent and injury-plagued regular season in 2025 — both at the plate, where he had 25 home runs but hit only .247, and especially defensively, where he had several notable lapses after moving to right field — the 10-year veteran has made crucial contributions in each of the Dodgers’ two World Series runs the last couple years, and has served in a mentor role to young players in the clubhouse; none more so than Andy Pages.
Granted, moving Hernández could help the Dodgers get younger, which has been a goal for the front office this offseason as they try to navigate their aging and expensive roster. And his salary could be repurposed if the team were to make a splashier free-agent signing.
But for now, the Dodgers continue to express belief in their current core, with Roberts noting Monday that “we're very confident with where the roster is right now” and that “there's really no big splash we feel needs to be made.”
Plus, moving Hernández would also only further exacerbate the team’s pre-existing need for outfield help, as the club continues to evaluate both the free agent market (where players such as Cody Bellinger or Harrison Bader figure to be better, and more affordable, fits than a likely $400-million signing of top free-agent option Kyle Tucker) and trade possibilities (such as Brendan Donovan or Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox or — in a less likely scenario — Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians).
Roberts did leave the door open to potentially moving Hernández back to left field, where he spent the majority of 2024 for the Dodgers before shifting over to his more natural right field position last year.
Still, in Roberts’ eyes, Hernández’s defense was “at least average” in right after an August series in Colorado when he made a couple particularly glaring mistakes on fly balls. His career-long defensive metrics have also been stronger in right field than left.
“I do think that with the versatility [of our roster] and how we potentially shape this roster, there's some options,” Roberts said. “But right now, he's our right fielder.”
Dodgers continue to assess bullpen options
Padres relief pitcher Robert Suárez celebrates after San Diego defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 27. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
One area the Dodgers do still seem more eager to make an addition this offseason is in the bullpen, even as they voice confidence in improved performances from the returning members of last year’s disappointing group.
“Getting a high-leverage reliever,” Roberts said, “is never a bad thing.”
The Dodgers have attempted to sign some big-name, back-end relievers already this winter, from Raisel Iglesias (who ultimately returned to the Atlanta Braves on a one-year, $16-million deal, despite the Dodgers reportedly making a similar offer to the veteran right-hander) to Devin Williams (who went to the New York Mets on a three-year, $5- million deal, despite the Dodgers’ interest in him dating back to last offseason).
The team had strong interest in Williams, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, even as his bidding reached the level of multi-year offers.
That could offer some insight into the club's pursuit of another current relief target: Former San Diego Padres closer Robert Suárez.
The Dodgers have expressed interest in Suárez, as the Athletic first reported. And, with the hard-throwing right-hander set to turn 35 next March, he has only been projected to sign a two- or three-year contract. Time will tell if that’s out of the Dodgers’ comfort zone.
If the team strikes out at the top of the market — Edwin Díaz still looms as the biggest free-agent closer, but is expected to be out of the Dodgers’ preferred price range — there could be other alternatives.
Pete Fairbanks, the former Tampa Bay Rays closer whom the Dodgers inquired about at last year’s deadline, remains a potential option, although the team has not yet targeted him aggressively. The Dodgers have also expressed interest in re-signing Evan Phillips, despite not tendering him a contract as he recovers from a Tommy John surgery.
Familiar face Michael Kopech could also be a fallback alternative after spending the last year and a half in Los Angeles, though he was unable to pitch in this past postseason because of injuries.
Faith in Tanner Scott, Mookie Betts rebounds
Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott throws from the mound and surrenders a lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 31 at Dodger Stadium. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
One constant message the Dodgers have reiterated when discussing their bullpen this offseason has been their continued faith in Scott, despite his 4.74 ERA and woeful 23 of 33 mark in save opportunities last year.
Both Roberts and Gomes noted on Monday that Scott was potentially hampered by injuries last year.
“I think there were just some things he kept under wraps about his body,” Roberts said of the 31-year-old left-hander, who missed a month in the second half of the season with forearm inflammation. “Some stuff that he just, honestly, he never felt right all year.”
“I think when he went down with the elbow injury, my sense is Tanner is a tough guy and wants the ball, but that was bothering him for a while,” Gomes added, while also noting that “there was a lot of batted ball luck and things that would be very hard to repeat again” that contributed to his disappointing debut season.
“We’ve seen it happen with elite relievers before,” Gomes continued. “So I’m very confident that Tanner is gonna come back and have a great season for us and be a big part of our success.”
Another player the Dodgers are banking on improvements from is Mookie Betts, who was a Gold Glove finalist defensively after switching to shortstop last season but suffered a career-worst campaign at the plate (.258 average, .732 OPS and only 20 home runs in 150 games).
“He had a tough, tough offensive year,” Roberts said. “He did. He's human, but it's easy to bet on a bounce-back year for Mookie on the offensive side for sure.”
A big reason why: Betts figures to be able to spend more time this offseason working on his swing and rebuilding the strength he lost following a bout with a serious stomach virus at the start of last season. Last winter, Betts spent the majority of his offseason work preparing for his full-time move to shortstop — a position Roberts confirmed he will play again in 2026.
“I'm sure in some way, he now knows that he is a double-plus shortstop,” Gomes said. “He will put in the work to maintain that. He now probably just has a little more bandwidth to balance it all out.”
Etc.
Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman forces out Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at second base during Game 4 of the World Series on Oct. 29. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
— Gomes said utilityman Tommy Edman’s recent ankle surgery was a debridement procedure to address the injury that nagged him during the second half of last season. Edman’s recovery will likely leave him limited at the start of spring training, but the team does not “expect it to affect a meaningful part of the season,” Gomes added. Edman is also expected to be able to play both the infield and outfield next season, after his injury limited him to mostly infield duties last year.
— Brusdar Graterol is expected to be “full go” next spring, Gomes said, after the reliever missed all of last year recovering from a shoulder surgery. Fellow reliever Brock Stewart “will be a little delayed” after missing the end of last year with his own shoulder surgery, Gomes said, “but we don’t think it’s going to be anything [that lingers] too deep into the season at all.”
— Shohei Ohtani is expected to be making full-length pitching starts from the beginning of next season, but Roberts noted the club could be strategic in giving him extra days off between his pitching outings: “I do feel that giving him six, seven, eight days off to kind of allow him to continue to stay rested and build up, I think that's in our process. But again, we have a long way to go [before making final decisions].”
The Philadelphia Flyers have made another minor trade.
The Flyers have announced that they have acquired defenseman Roman Schmidt from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for blueliner Ethan Samson.
With this move, the Flyers have added a new defenseman with size to their system in Schmidt. The 6-foot-5, right-shot defenseman was selected by the Lightning with the 96th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has spent his entire professional career so far at the AHL level.
In 13 games this season with the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, he recorded one assist and 38 penalty minutes. This was after he had three goals, five points, 79 penalty minutes, and a plus-7 rating in 49 games last season for the Crunch.
As for Samson, the Flyers selected the right-shot defenseman with the 174th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In 10 games this season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before this trade, he posted four assists and a plus-4 rating. This was after he had 12 goals and 24 points in 69 games for the Phantoms this past season.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza discussed a number of topics on Monday at the Winter Meetings…
Nimmo trade, Semien addition
Like everyone else, Mendoza was caught off guard by the Brandon Nimmo trade.
While he only managed the outfielder for the past two seasons, he had to sit back and pause for a moment after David Stearns revealed the deal was completed with the Rangers.
While losing Nimmo is a tough blow, he is excited to add Marcus Semien to the mix.
“I wasn’t an easy decision,” he said. “Because of how much Brandon represented and what he meant to the team. At the same time, when you’re talking a guy coming back like Marcus Semien, there’s a lot of the same traits there.
“The qualities, makeup, he’s a proven winner, and also gives us the ability to improve on the right side of the infield. But it was a tough one, wishing Brandon nothing but the best, because as a manager, he represented everything.”
Williams added to the ‘pen
Mendoza is also excited about the Mets’ other big addition, this one in the bullpen.
While they are still trying to retain All-Star closer Edwin Diaz in free agency, Devin Williams brings experience and a significant boost to the backend of New York’s ‘pen.
“We’re talking about one of the best relievers for the past few years,” Mendoza said. “He’s a guy that is used to pitching in high-leverage and has closing experience -- we’re looking for help there, and the fact that we got one, I was excited.”
Carson Benge’s development
Some of the work the Mets still have in front of them this winter is in the outfield.
They now have openings in left and center after moving on from Nimmo.
Stearns indicated on Monday in Orlando that, as things stand, Jeff McNeil would likely see a majority of the reps in left, but Benge would also be in the mix.
Benge is coming off a strong first full campaign in the organization, in which he hit his way up to Triple-A before season's end.
He finished the year hitting .281 with 15 homers, 73 RBI, and a .857 OPS.
“He’s an exciting player,” Mendoza said. “He’s a guy who can impact the baseball, controls the strike zone, a pretty good defender, has the makeup -- there’s just a lot to like about this kid. I keep hearing his name since we drafted him, now here he is putting himself in a position where he’s going to show up ready to compete for a spot on our roster.”
Changes to the coaching staff
Monday presented Mendoza with the first opportunity to address the numerous changes to the coaching staff.
Hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh, first-base coach Antoan Richardson, and bench coach John Gibbons are some of the most notable ones to go.
They've been replaced by a whole new group, including four promotions from within the organization.
"Not a lot of easy decisions," Mendoza said. "Especially with the chair I'm sitting in as the manager, you develop so many relationships with these guys, but at the same time, I'm excited about the guys we were able to bring on board.
"You're talking about continuity and team chemistry, we brought up four guys from player development. Guys who are used to our players, our processes, our system, the relationship with players. I was very proud of the fact that we're not only promoting players, but also giving a chance to some of the coaches that are grinding in the minor leagues."
The Buffalo Sabres may be having a tough 2025-26 season, but former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker has been impactful for them. In 20 games so far this season with the Sabres, Zucker has recorded nine goals, seven assists, and 16 points. This is after he had 21 goals, 32 assists, and 53 points in 73 games during his first season with the Sabres in 2024-25.
Zucker is also continuing to perform well for the Sabres as the season carries on, as he is playing some strong hockey right now for the Atlantic Division club. The truth can be seen with his recent stats.
Zucker has scored a goal in each of the Sabres' last three games, so there is no question that he is heating up big time for Buffalo. With the Sabres looking to climb up the standings, it is certainly good for them that Zucker is producing offensively right now. The former Penguin will now be looking to build on his hot streak for the Sabres from here.
In four seasons with the Penguins from 2019-20 to 2022-23, Zucker recorded 50 goals, 45 assists, 95 points, and 457 hits.
Center Michael Misa and goaltender Josh Ravensbergen were among the 27 players named Monday to Canada’s National Junior Team training camp roster—giving the San Jose Sharks two more prospects with a strong chance to represent their country at next month’s IIHF World Junior Championship.
Misa, 18, the second overall pick in June’s NHL Draft, is one of 15 forwards invited to the camp, set for Dec. 12–22 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Ravensbergen, selected 30th overall and who turned 19 in November, is one of three goaltenders vying for a roster spot.
Assuming no injuries or last-minute changes, both players are projected to be on Canada’s roster when the tournament opens Dec. 26 in Minnesota. Each nation may carry 22 skaters—typically 14 forwards and eight defensemen—along with three goalies.
Misa scored his first career NHL goal on October 26 en route to a 6-5 win over Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild.
The Future Is Here
Misa, a native of Oakville, Ontario, recorded three points in seven games with the Sharks before suffering a right ankle sprain during a Nov. 5 morning skate in Seattle. After steady progress in his recovery, he was placed on long-term injured reserve last week and assigned to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda for conditioning.
He notched an assist in the Barracuda’s 4–3 overtime win over Tucson on Friday and was held off the scoresheet in Saturday’s 6–2 loss in the rematch.
Ravensbergen, a North Vancouver, B.C. native, was named the WHL Goalie of the Month for November after an outstanding stretch in which he won eight of 10 starts and posted a .940 save percentage with the Prince George Cougars. He currently leads the league with 16 wins and ranks fourth overall with a .921 save percentage.
Although Ravensbergen didn’t appear in any preseason games for the Sharks, he made a strong impression at the organization’s development camp in July and again during rookie camp in September, reinforcing his status as one of San Jose’s most promising young goaltenders.
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Former San Jose Sharks star Tomas Hertl has had a solid start to the 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights. In 28 games so far this campaign, the 32-year-old forward has recorded 13 goals, nine assists, and 22 points. With this, he has certainly been one of the Golden Knights' top offensive contributors early on this season.
Hertl is only continuing to make a big impact for the Golden Knights as the season carries on, too. The former Sharks forward is red-hot right now for Vegas, as he has scored four goals in his last four games. This, of course, included him scoring two goals against the Sharks on Nov. 29.
Seeing Hertl putting up good numbers for the Golden Knights is not surprising in the slightest, as he certainly did just that during his days with the Sharks. He also had a strong season for the Golden Knights this past campaign, as he recorded 32 goals, 29 assists, and 61 points in 73 games with the Pacific Division club.
It will now be interesting to see how Hertl builds on his hot streak with the Golden Knights. Clearly, the former Shark is feeling it right now.
