Ronny Mauricio | (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Mets made another round of major league spring training roster cuts, optioning infielder Ronny Mauricio and right-handed pitcher Joey Gerber to Triple-A Syracuse and reassigning right-handed pitcher Mike Baumann and left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell to minor league camp. None of those names are particularly surprising, as Francisco Lindor’s return to the field has put him on track to be the Mets’ Opening Day shortstop.
Mauricio made 184 plate appearances at the major league level last year, but he hit just .226/.293/.369 with an 88 wRC+ and was worth 0.7 fWAR in that time. He began last season in St. Lucie as he returned from a knee injury that cost him the entire 2024 season and quickly worked his way up to Binghamton and Syracuse during his rehab process. In his very brief stop in Triple-A, he tore the cover off the ball, hitting .515/.564/.818 in 39 plate appearances.
That earned Mauricio a spot with the Mets, but he didn’t thrive with inconsistent playing time over the remainder of the season. It seems best for both the player and the organization that he’ll get to play every day to begin the 2026 campaign.
Gerber spent the 2025 season with the Rays, and the vast majority of his innings came in Triple-A. The 28-year-old had a 6.09 ERA and a 4.94 FIP at that level, though he fared better in a very small sample of major league innings.
Baumann is attempting to return to the big leagues after pitching for five different major league teams in 2024 and throwing 15.0 innings last year in Japan. He has a career 4.95 ERA and a 4.59 FIP in 167.1 MLB innings.
And last but not least, Waddell made eleven appearances for the Mets last year and fared better in his time in the big leagues than in the majority of his season in Syracuse. The 31-year-old had a 3.45 ERA and a 4.54 FIP in 31.1 innings with the Mets last year as he returned from a three-year stint pitching in Korea.
Feb 27, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar (17) bats in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
As expected, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season after his PED suspension was upheld following an appeal. The ban covers 162 games and also renders him ineligible for the postseason.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season after his appeal of a positive PED test was resolved. He will serve a 162-game suspension for testing positive a second time and will be ineligible for postseason play.
Major League Baseball announced earlier this month that Profar tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. This marks his second violation, as he previously served an 80-game suspension for a similar offense in 2025.
The Major League Baseball Players Association filed an appeal on Profar’s behalf, but the decision ultimately stood. With the suspension now finalized, the Braves have some added financial flexibility, clearing several million dollars from the payroll.
Profar was expected to be in the Braves’ outfield mix this season, so his absence leaves the club with additional questions as they finalize roster decisions heading into Opening Day.
More Braves News:
All eyes are on Didier Fuentes after his performance this spring, but does he have a shot at the Opening Day roster?
The end of spring training is filled with various forms of lists. Which teams have the best lineup/pitching staff/bullpen/roster? Who are the best veterans who failed to crack the Opening Day roster and found themselves on waivers or as free agents? Who looks primed for a breakout season? And conversely, who struggled the most, and is now a cause for concern?
Among these many lists are, of course, preseason prospect rankings. Over the last few years, the Yankees have not exactly fared well in this category — this year, for example, ESPN ranks them 23rd in baseball, while FanGraphs states that the Yankees farm “resides among the bottom handful in baseball.” The thing about prospects, though, is that ranking them while they’re still prospects only tells part of the story; to get the full picture, you need to return years later, and analyze them once more, this time with the benefit of hindsight.
In that regard, let’s turn the clock back five years, and take a look at the Yankees’ top prospects at the start of the 2021 campaign, using MLB.com’s Top 30 list as a starting point. Of the players on this list, almost two-thirds have cracked an MLB roster at some point, including 9 of the top 10, and 13 of the top 15. But what is more interesting, in my opinion, than just where they ended up, is how the Yankees opted to employ them. To that end, rather than list the players according to their rankings, I’ve opted to organize them according to, well, how their careers have gone.
Players Allowed to Develop
Players in this category: Jasson Domínguez (1), Clarke Schmidt (2), Deivi García (3), Oswald Peraza (4), Luis Gil (5), Austin Wells (6), Yoendrys Gómez (8), Estevan Florial (10), Anthony Volpe (11), Alexander Vargas (13), Antonio Gomez (21), Anthony Seigler (22), Ryder Green (25), Matt Sauer (26), Jake Sanford (29)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Yankees attempted to develop the majority of their top prospects into big league contributors, with mixed results. Clarke Schmidt has arguably been the most successful of the bunch, as he has flashed No. 2 starter potential in his five years in pinstripes. Across his last 30 starts, in fact, he has a 3.07 ERA and has been worth 3.7 rWAR; unfortunately, that spans two seasons (2024 and 2025), and due to elbow surgery, he will not return to the mound until this summer at the earliest. Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe, meanwhile, established themselves as strong defenders and put together strong stretches at the plate in 2024, but their 2025 performance raised more questions than they answered (though Wells remained a stalwart with the glove behind the plate). Injuries and inconsistency have similarly marred Luis Gil’s career to date despite a 2024 AL Rookie of the Year win.
While these players’ futures may have questions, they were undeniably key components of the Yankees’ most successful season since the 2009 World Series: the 2024 American League pennant winners. That’s more than can be said for, well, pretty much everybody else on the list.
Oswald Peraza flashed in a cameo at the end of 2022, lost the starting shortstop job to Volpe in spring training in 2023, and pretty much bottomed out afterward; in 106 games between the Yankees and Angels last season, he posted an OPS+ of 33. Following a strong stint with the Yankees during the later parts of the shortened 2020 campaign, Deivi García posted an ERA of almost seven in Scranton in 2021 and 2022, was demoted to Double-A Somerset, turned into a reliever, and eventually designated for assignment; he was claimed by the White Sox, continued to struggle, and is now out of organized baseball. Yoendrys Gómez made all of 12 appearances for the Yankees as a reliever, was designated for assignment by the Yankees and Dodgers last season, and then traded by the White Sox to the Rays this past winter (coincidentally, for another former Yankees farmhand). The toolsy Estevan Florial never resolved his contact issues and has since been dealt to Cleveland, traveled to the KBO, and, most recently, signed on in the Mexican League.
Then you have Jasson Domínguez. The much-hyped prospect, still just 23 years old, made a splash when he made his debut at the end of 2023, missed most of 2024 due to injuries, and had mixed results as a part-time player in 2025. He appears ticketed to Triple-A Scranton to start this season, which would be alarming for a prospect who has been around as long as he has been, except for the fact that he is still just 23. Five years after he was the organization’s top prospect, the Martian’s story has hardly been written.
The 2021 Trade Chips
Players in this category: Alexander Vizcaíno (9), Kevin Alcántara (12), Josh Smith (14), Ezequiel Duran (15), Trevor Hauver (23), Glenn Otto (28)
Despite having just a 46-43 record at the All-Star Break, the 2021 Yankees opted to be buyers at the trade deadline, sending Josh Smith, Ezequiel Durán, Glenn Otto, and Trevor Hauver to the Rangers for Joey Gallo and Joely Rodríguez, Alexander Vizcaíno and Kevin Alcántara to the Cubs for Anthony Rizzo, and some low-level prospects for Andrew Heaney and Clay Holmes.
Mathematically, these deals turned out to be disasters for the Yankees (save for Holmes), even if they were generally praised at the time — including by yours truly. Gallo lost the ability to hit when he came to the Yankees, accrued just 0.5 rWAR between his acquisition at the 2021 deadline and his trade to the Dodgers at the 2022 one, and has now tried to make a comeback as a relief pitcher. Rizzo was much better, spending parts of four seasons in the Bronx after re-signing and becoming a leader in the clubhouse beside Aaron Judge; and if he had not played through a 2023 concussion he didn’t know he had for months, he likely would have put together more value than the 3.7 rWAR he did in pinstripes.
Of the players traded, there are really only two the organization truly misses: Smith and Alcántara. Smith has been a solid starter for the Rangers the past two seaesons, putting together a .254/.336/.380 slash line while playing adequate defense throughout the infield; for an organization which has been cobbling together the hot corner for a few years now, that would have been a welcome improvement. Vizcaíno only pitched six games for the Cubs before a 2022 spring training dispute led to him leaving MLB, but Alcántara has become one of Chicago’s top prospects, and is currently ranked 60th on the FanGraphs prospect list. Duran was good in a versatile role for the Rangers’ 2023 World Series champions, but has since regressed to replacement-level.
The 2022 Trade Chips
Players in this category: Luis Medina (7), T.J. Sikkema (16), Albert Abreu (18), Beck Way (24), Ken Waldichuk (27), Hayden Wesneski (30)
At the time, the Yankees’ Trade Deadline in 2022 looked like a masterclass, as the Yankees added a top-of-the-rotation starter under contract in 2023 in Frankie Montas, a former closer in Lou Trivino, a dominant reliever with years of team control in Scott Effross, and the lefty outfielder they needed in Andrew Benintendi to a squad that was 64-28 and already running away with the AL East at the All-Star break. Montas, however, turned out to be damaged goods and only made nine appearances in pinstripes, Benintendi and Effross both got injured and were unavailable come playoff time, and though he was fine down the stretch, Trivino joined the walking wounded as well at the start of 2023 and never pitched again for the big-league club. Effross’ years of control were for naught by the way, as he was a shadow of his former self upon returning from injury and threw just 14 total innings for them from 2023-25 before being nontendered.
Of the prospects traded away, well, most of them were pitching prospects, and that means most of them have also spent extensive time on the shelf: Medina, Waldichuk, and Wesneski have all undergone Tommy John surgery, for example. Rather ironically, the biggest contribution any of these players has made to this point may belong to Wesneski, who was one of the pieces the Cubs sent to the Astros to acquire Kyle Tucker … thus opening the door to the Yankees’ acquisition of Cody Bellinger.
Special shoutout here to Albert Abreu, who netted the Yankees Jose Trevino right before the season, then returned to the squad later that June.
The 2024 Trade Chips
Players in this category: Brandon Lockridge (20)
The Yankees used a number of prospects at the Trade Deadline in 2024 to reel in Jazz Chisholm Jr., Mark Leiter, and Enyel De Los Santos. However, the only prospect traded who had been among the top prospects in 2021 was Brandon Lockridge, who was sent to the Padres for De Los Santos in what was a lose/lose trade. Lockdrige made his debut with San Diego later that season, had just two hits in 12 games, and was traded to the Brewers at the 2025 deadline for Nestor Cortes, who then made six starts for San Diego before requiring surgery on his throwing arm.
And somehow, that was the better end of the deal. De Los Santos was an absolute disaster for the Yankees and was designated for assignment in less than two weeks.
The 2025 Trade Chips
Players in this category: Everson Pereira (17)
For the second consecutive season, the Yankees made a number of moves at the deadline to fill holes, trading away a small army of prospects in order to acquire Ryan McMahon, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Jake Bird, and José Caballero. Once again, only one of those prospects had been highly-regarded in the organization since 2021: Pereira, who was flipped to Tampa Bay for Cabby.
To date, Pereira has been the quintessential Quadruple-A player, capable of mashing Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .271/.362/.519 career slash line, while being unable to hit big league pitching. After just half a season, the Rays have seemingly given up on him, sending him to the South Side of Chicago in a deal to acquire aforementioned fellow former Yankees farmhand Yoendrys Gómez.
All in all, looking back at this list, we can maybe begin to push back against the idea that the Yankees’ farm has failed them in recent years. While it would be nice for the farm to develop a top-of-the-rotation starter or another big bat to slot in front of or behind Judge (fingers crossed that Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice continue on their trajectory to do just that), the Yankees have been able to build their MLB roster by developing and trading away prospects for big-league talent. Has every trade worked out? Absolutely not! But just the fact that the farm has been able to develop players desired by other teams is, at the end of the day, a sign that the farm is doing what it needs to do.
Teenager files application to prevent fake products
Littler defies boos to fight back and defeat Gerwyn Price
Luke Littler has made an application with the Intellectual Property Office to trademark his face. It is understood the application will prevent fake products powered by AI using his picture without permission and breaking copyright laws.
The teenager, who has won back-to-back World Darts Championship titles, is highly marketable and his face appears on a wide variety of branded products, from his own dart board to video games and bags of nuts. Littler has already trademarked his “the Nuke” nickname in the US.
Mar 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the game winning shot over Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
If Jared Weiss from The Athletic is right, this will be the game we remember for years to come, because it is the night Victor Wembanyama took his next step toward greatness.
With 11 ticks left in the game, the ball went into Wemby’s hands, a for a brief moment it felt like time stood still.
There were no unsure moves, there was not even a hint of unassuredness on the court. There was a calmness in the arena considering what a truly nail-biting situation it was.
But Victor Wembanyama put 18,000 people at ease. And as soon as the ball hit the hoop, the collective of devout fans simultaneously screamed.
For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, the San Antonio Spurs are going to the playoffs.
There was more fandom on the court after the final buzzer. The team mobbed Wemby while he was roaring along with the crowd. The drum was immediately brought out and Victor launched into the Jackal-designed call-and-response-celebration that has become a new tradition at the Frost Bank Center. And then Keldon took the mic and got the crowd shouting “MVP” chants for Wembanyama. Finally, Wembanyama took the mic and lead everyone in night-ending “Go Spurs Go!”
In the postgame press conference, Victor broke down the shot:
“We ran the play and De’Aaron reacted well. I anticipated what the defense would do, so that told me what to do. In these situations, the key is not to overcomplicate…we hadn’t had this type of situation for a while and it was good test, and we passed it. It doesn’t mean that our game is perfect, far from that…
He broke down how the he looked at the eleven seconds as far as when to time his release allowing for optimum opportunity for a quick rebound or tip in if the shot was missed, and not to give the opponent enough time to get a shot off, which is exactly what happened.
“It’s a shot I’ve worked on. Our game plan is not inventing things, some things we’ve been working on. This shot especially is a shot I’ve been woking on with (Spurs Assistant/Player Development Coach) Tim Martin, five or six years ago, so it’s not something new.”
He admitted his only fear moving forward.
“I’m scared to become complacent.”
Mitch Johnson also addressed how he was facing the new reality of a playoff berth by stating “the North Star is just keep getting better,” allowing the moment to dictate the need. That statement comes from building trust with the team.
That trust was echoed by Keldon Johnson, the longest tenured member of the Spurs, who game shouts out to everyone in the Spurs organization from the front office to the coaching staff, teammates. equipment managers, videographers, through everyone who dedicated themselves to the picture. His passion was reflected in his relationship with Devin Vassell, who Johnson referred to as his “brother,” the guy who he calls after the game to discuss.
They have been partners in crime since 2020 when Vassell was drafted by the Spurs and KJ was kicking off his second season.
Now, after six years together, they will experience the postseason with the team that drafted them, the only NBA home they’ve known.
Johnson honed in on how what they have built is taking shape, and the hopes and dreams that were seeded as he entered into the league are now budding.
Keldon can feel it.
And if Keldon can feel it, then everyone can feel it.
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Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. Opening Day is now just six days away!
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.
A few quick ideas for conversation this week: Dealing with traffic around the ballpark, best parking spots, best tailgate menu.
1918 – Although the major leagues optimistically keep the schedules at 154 games, the owners agree to halve the spring training time in an attempt to save money with the United States now engaged in World War I, as the St. Louis Cardinals open their camp at Hot Springs, Arkansas. In fact, the season’s last month will never be played, with the World Series starting at the beginning of September.
1934 – Mildred Didrikson* (also known as Babe Zaharias), the renowned all-around female athlete, pitches the 1st inning for the Philadelphia Athletics in a spring trainingexhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. She gives up one walk but no hits. Two days later she pitches again, this time one inning for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox. Didrickson is less successful the second time, giving up four hits and three runs. Bill Hallahan relieves her, as she does not have an at bat in either game. She will also play several games for the House of David this season. Didrickson is the second female to play exhibitions with a major league team. Previously, first baseman Lizzie Murphy played for an American LeagueAll-Star team on August 14, 1922.
1953 – U.S. Senator Edwin C. Johnson offers a bill to give clubs the sole right to ban radio-TV broadcasts of major league games in their own territory. The antitrust division of the Justice Department outlawed this practice in 1949. Johnson believes that it started the decline of baseball in small towns and cities throughout the country. His bill aims to restore the equity between large communities and the small areas.
1976 – Leo Durocher, hired to manage the Yokohama Taiyo Whales (Japanese League), is sick with hepatitis and asks for a five-week delay in reporting. The Lip receives a telegram from the Whales stating: “Since the championship starts in twenty days, it’s better if you stay home and take care of yourself for the remainder of the season.“
2019 – The Major League season opens at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, with the A’s hosting the Mariners in the first game of a two-game series. While most of the early attention is directed at 45-year-old Ichiro Suzuki, who starts in right field for Seattle, it’s the sluggers who define the game as the Mariners prevail, 9-7. Stephen Piscotty, Khris Davis and Matt Chapman all homer for Oakland, but the M’s reply with long balls by Domingo Santana — a grand slam — and Tim Beckham. Marco Gonzales pitches six innings for the win.
1345 – Conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, thought by scholars at the University of Paris to be the “cause of the plague epidemic” known as the Black Death. Actual cause was the bacterium yersinia pestis spread by fleas, rats and other animals.
1616 – Walter Raleigh released from Tower of London to seek gold in Guyana.
1703 – Akō incident: 46 of the 47 surviving Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master’s death in Edo.
1800 – Alessandro Volta reports his discovery of the electric battery in a letter to Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society of London.
1815 – Napoleon enters Paris after escape from Elba, begins 100-day rule.
1854 – Anti-slavery activists within the US Whig political party opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska Act form a new Republican Party; notable politicians who switched allegiance include Abraham Lincoln, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, and Benjamin Harrison.
1942 – General Douglas MacArthur vows “I came through and I shall return” after escaping Japanese-occupied Philippines.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 17: Kyle Brnovich (19) of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a minor league spring training game against the Detroit Tigers on March 17, 2026 at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Less than one week remains until Phillies baseball is back. Nuf Ced.
The Phillies have announced the new concessions items for fans to enjoy in 2026. This includes eight new ice cream helmets, for anyone who likes those (which has to be everyone, right? is there a soul on planet earth that doesn’t smile at the thought of an ice cream helmet?)
Feb 20, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) bats in the first inning against the New York Yankees during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Spring training is winding down and the Orioles are inching toward their season-opening roster. And with the World Baseball Classic now finished, that roster is looking close to complete, as the Orioles’ WBC-participating players have rejoined the team for the final stretch of Grapefruit League games. The last to return to camp was Gunnar Henderson, fresh off a stint with Team USA in which he performed great but was painfully under-utilized. That won’t be a problem for him with the Orioles.
With Gunnar back in the fold, the Orioles unveiled a very Opening Day-ish kind of lineup in the first of their two split-squad games yesterday. That group fared decently against Yankees ace Max Fried, with nearly every starter reaching base at least once, but one change I’d like to see before the actual Opening Day is Samuel Basallo being included in that lineup. Basallo proved why in the second split-squad game, powering two home runs off the Pirates as part of a 3-for-3 day. Samuel is OPS’ing 1.225 this spring. I think he’s ready for the season to start.
Orioles starting pitchers, too, continue to look sharp this spring. Dean Kremer held the Yankees to one run in 4.1 innings, striking out eight, and Trevor Rogers struck out seven Pirates in 5.1 innings in the late game. In six days, Rogers will take the mound for the Opening Day assignment against the Twins. It’s gonna be fun.
What’s also gonna be fun is tonight’s Spring Breakout game, featuring a team of Orioles prospects taking on Red Sox prospects in Sarasota. The Birds’ squad consists of most of the club’s top prospects who aren’t in big league camp, including Enrique Bradfield Jr., Nate George, Trey Gibson, Aron Estrada, Ike Irish, and Wehiwa Aloy. The game will air on MASN. And the big league Orioles will be in action a half hour later, again playing the Yankees, with a local broadcast on WBAL Radio. So if you’d like, you can get more than your fill of spring training action tonight.
Keith Law is practically glowing about the Orioles, saying he’s “pretty bullish” about their 2026 outlook and including both Baz and Coby Mayo on his list of breakout candidates. Not bad for a noted Orioles hater!
A reader theorizes that some O’s hitters are struggling because they keep getting moved around to different positions, including guys who are literally utility players. Defensive versatility is not a bad thing, buddy.
Poor Grayson’s Angels career is starting the same way his Orioles career ended. Will this guy ever catch a break?
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 26th birthday to the Orioles’ starting center fielder, Colton Cowser. Because it’s his birthday, I won’t mention how he’s been doing at spring training, and we’ll just have to hope his 2026 season will be more like his 2024 Rookie of the Year runner-up campaign.
Happy birthday also to Orioles Hall of Famer Chris Hoiles, the best-hitting catcher in O’s history, who turns 61. Other former Orioles born on March 20 include infielder Manny Alexander (55), left-hander Paul Mirabella (72), and the late outfielder Mike Young (b. 1960, d. 2023).
On this date in 1995, the Orioles canceled the remainder of their spring training games after refusing to field replacement players. Owner Peter Angelos had long been adamant that the O’s wouldn’t follow the lead of the rest of baseball by using replacement players during the MLBPA strike, and, in one of the rare bright spots on his ownership, he followed through on that promise. MLB’s replacement-player plan was ultimately scuttled as the strike ended and a shortened season began April 26.
Mar 18, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon (5) passes the puck in the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“The Hockey Hall of Fame said it will not give Jack Hughes the puck from his gold-medal-winning goal for Team USA in the Milan Cortina Olympics. ‘Unfortunately, in the easiest words, it was never Jack’s puck to own,’ Philip Pritchard, vice president of the resource center and curator for the Hockey Hall of Fame, told ESPN on Wednesday.” [ESPN]
Jack Hughes tallied a goal and two assists and helped to push the Devils to a glorious 6-3 win over the Rangers on Wednesday. [Devils NHL]
“Dougie Hamilton is still the closest thing (the Devils) have to a true No. 1, but he is not the player he was in his prime. That’s why the Devils need Luke Hughes to take a step forward in his development. He has not had the best season, but these final 15 games offer him a chance to build some momentum heading into the offseason.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
FWIW: “Teams that showed serious interest in Matthew Knies included Anaheim, Chicago, Montreal, New Jersey and Utah. Everyone has denied that the Canadiens went far down the road, but … we’ll see. There were some teams who didn’t believe the Maple Leafs were serious about it, but now recognize the possibility.” [Sportsnet]
Hockey Links
“As if we needed more proof that Matthew Schaefer is well on his way to becoming a generational talent, he just etched his name in the NHL history books. With his game-opening goal against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, the New York Islanders blue-liner became the youngest defenceman in NHL history to record 50 points at 18 years, 195 days.” [Sportsnet]
“NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the league’s chief decision maker when it comes to, well, everything, has long been the most vocal proponent of the current playoff system, which doesn’t seed teams 1 through 8 in each conference. After this week’s three-day general manager meetings wrapped up on Wednesday, Bettman maintained his satisfaction with the current format.” [The Athletic ($)]
“Eric Tulsky declined comment, but it was Carolina’s general manager who had an exchange with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about head contact during this week’s GMs meetings. (Bettman wouldn’t comment, either.) It happened Tuesday. According to several sources, Bettman raised the topic, saying there is an owner who feels strongly the league needs stronger enforcement on this issue. He asked the GMs if they agree with the current standard/interpretation of Rule 48: Illegal Check to the Head. There was a second or two of silence before Tulsky said he supported the owner’s position, leading the commissioner to say something along the lines of, ‘Well, I guess we know which owner this was.’” [Sportsnet]
Forward Alex Debrincat scored the game-winning goal late in regulation of Detroit's 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena, which was his 34th tally of the season.
Detroit badly needed a regulation victory over Montreal, who entered the contest with a two-point lead in the tightly-packed divisional standings.
DeBrincat, who has become one of the most clutch goal scorers for the Red Wings, took advantage of a fortuitous bounce when Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson misplayed the puck in the waning moments of the third period.
DeBrincat then took the puck, deked goaltender Jakub Dobes, and roofed a backhander for his 34th goal of the season.
Having grown up in the nearby Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, DeBrincat knows all too well the history of the Red Wings, and he's doing his part to ensure that postseason hockey returns to Detroit for the first time since before his NHL career began.
As far as his game-winning goal is concerned, he'll chalk it up to being in the right place at the right time.
“I was just trying to pressure the D, I think he (Mike Matheson) caught an edge or something, and it came right to me, so after the breakaway, I think I was coming from the right side," DeBrincat said in the dressing room after his game-winning goal. "I was trying to get it to my backhand."
"A lot of times, goalies overextend that blocker, so you can go right under it,' he continued. "I’m lucky it went in, and it was kind of a lucky bounce to get that puck anyway.”
Thanks to Detroit's win, they won their three-game series against the Canadiens and also exacted some revenge for Montreal's 5-1 win on Oct. 9.
The work continues for the Red Wings, who will host the Boston Bruins on Saturday evening.
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Lakers star Luka Doncic walks off the court after scoring 60 points in a 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night. (Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)
The chants started in a purple-and-gold-clad cluster in the upper deck at Kaseya Center. As Luka Doncic’s scoring total crept up with each step-back three, free throw or fadeaway shot, the cheers grew louder, coming from every corner from fans dressed in every color.
“M-V-P! M-V-P!”
“That’s what I think every player wants to hear,” Doncic said.
Doncic’s season-high 60 points — the first 60-point game for a Lakers player since Kobe Bryant’s swan song in 2016 — led the Lakers to a 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday. It was another exceptional feat in Doncic's late-season campaign for the NBA's most valuable player.
The NBA’s leading scorer poured in 100 points in less than 24 hours, helping the Lakers extend their winning streak to eight games. Doncic is averaging 40.9 points per game over the streak, shooting 42.2% from three-point range. He became just the seventh Laker to record a 60-point game, joining franchise legends Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Jerry West and Shaquille O’Neal.
Doncic’s dominance has rescued the Lakers, propelling them to season-best winning streak. The team’s previous best winning streak was built by taking down bottom-feeding teams including New Orleans, Utah and Dallas. This streak is against some of the league’s best: Six wins are against teams with a .500 record or better and five were against .600 teams. The Lakers have climbed from sixth to third in the Western Conference in two weeks, netting critical tiebreakers against rivals Minnesota, Denver and Houston.
Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, controls the ball in front of Miami's Bam Adebayo during the first quarter Thursday. (Rich Storry / Getty Images)
Doncic, in his first full season with the Lakers, began the year as one of the betting favorites to win MVP. But the Lakers went through December doldrums losing four out of five. He missed two games while traveling to Slovenia to be present for the birth of his second daughter, Olivia. When he returned, Doncic shot 24.5% from three over the next five games.
Doncic’s defense was criticized, along with his consistent complaining to referees. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder with 31.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists, figures to still be the favorite in the MVP race, especially with the Thunder on a conference-best 10-game winning streak.
Doncic’s productions never dipped — he has maintained the league’s top scoring average for most of the season — but his play still lacked the same zip that made him a must-watch star in Dallas.
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts after making a three-pointer in the third quarter Thursday against the Miami Heat. (Rich Storry / Getty Images)
The Lakers embodied some of their star’s struggles. The team was sorting through injuries while trying to integrate new pieces. The chemistry “wasn’t there,” guard Marcus Smart said.
Finally, it all clicked, starting with Doncic.
“Just trusting my game,” Doncic said of how he’s reached this level at this stage of the season. “I know some games I won’t have it. ... I've been there, so you just got to trust in yourself. I got all the support from my teammates, which helps me a lot.”
Teammates cheered, jumped and raised their fists from the Lakers bench when Doncic made his final free throw to finish off his 60-point night. On a night when LeBron James tied the NBA’s regular-season games played record, appearing in his 1,611th game and notching a 19-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist night, it was Doncic’s final points that seemed to make James smile the widest.
Doncic, who said the crowd’s chants gave him goosebumps, added it “makes my heart happy” seeing the reaction from all of his teammates.
Lakers star LeBron James reacts to a free throw by teammate Luka Doncic in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat on Thursday. (Rich Storry / Getty Images)
“We all know the talent that Luka is,” Smart said. “And when he gets in those modes, man, it's definitely a sight to see, and you don't want to miss it.”
Before the game, Redick sarcastically wouldn’t even utter the name of the award Doncic has positioned himself for, only saying he believed Doncic should be in the "M-word conversation."
If it’s not the cheers from the crowd, Doncic doesn’t care about the chatter either.
“It’s you guys, the media,” Doncic said. “I ain't got nothing to do with it.”
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 18: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after a game against the Chicago Bulls on March 18, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
James Harden put up 36 points in a vintage performance. He did a good job of attacking off the dribble, getting to the line, and facilitating for his teammates. This led to him going 10-23 from the field with nine assists, seven rebounds, and five turnovers.
Harden went 7-13 from three. The step-back triple — which has infuriated “purists” for nearly two decades — was in perfect form. He also did a good job of nailing catch-and-shoot opportunities. Overall, he’s been lethal from the outside since coming to Cleveland. He’s now shooting 46% from three in his 17 gams in a Cavaliers’ uniform.
Harden drew two fouls on three-point shots. One of these fouls resulted in a seven-point possession. According to the FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland broadcast, this was the eighth and ninth times he’s drawn shooting fouls on three-point shots since coming to the Cavs. In total, he’s drawn a league-leading 50 fouls on outside attempts this season.
Harden finished with double-digit free-throw attempts for the second game in a row and the fourth time since the trade. He went 9-11 from the charity stripe in the victory.
Evan Mobley scored over 25 points for the third time in four games. He totaled 26 points on 12-19 shooting. The Cavs are now 4-2 on the season when he registers 25 or more points.
Mobley feasted in the restricted area, converting 10 of his 14 shots at the rim (71.4%).
Neither team could consistently finish at the basket, with both being below the 10th percentile in rim-shooting accuracy. The Cavs converted just 50% of their shots at the rim (4th percentile) while the Bulls converted just 51.3% (7th percentile).
Cavaliers outside of Mobley went just 6-18 (33.3%) on shots in the restricted area. For context, the league average is 66.9%.
Harden assisted on five of Mobley’s 12 made baskets.
Four of Harden’s assists to Mobley came off screens. Their two-man game has continued to grow. After the victory, Harden told sideline reporter Serena Winters that they’ve been forced to use games as practice, given their limited time together. Performances like this show how they’ve been able to develop chemistry. All four baskets are in the clip below.
Mobley led the team in plus/minus by being a +11. The Cavs played their best basketball with Mobley on the floor. Harden wasn’t far behind at +9.
Mobley went 2-6 at the free-throw line. This has become an alarming trend for Mobley, who once again missed two clutch free throws. He’s now shooting just 48.3% from the line in March.
The Cavs went just 21-31 (66.7%) on free-throw attempts.
Cleveland converted 1-9 three-point attempts (11.1%) in the fourth quarter. The Cavs’ inability to consistently score late, combined with shaky defense, led to them almost choking away a 20-point fourth-quarter lead.
The Bulls put up 37 fourth-quarter points. They did most of their damage in the paint during the final quarter as they went 10-14 in the fourth on their paint shot attempts (71.4%).
Chicago’s bench outscored Cleveland’s reserves 43-22. The Bulls had three bench players finish with double-digit points: Rob Dillingham (17), Leonard Miller (10), and Guerschon Yabusele (10). The Cavs had none.
Max Strus found his way into the closing lineup, despite going 0-5 from the field. Strus was held without a point and had a team-worst plus/minus of -7. This wasn’t Strus’s best game despite showing good activity off-ball and being a helpful rebounder.
Cleveland won the second-chance points battle 14-8. The Cavaliers did a good job of controlling the glass, despite opting for several small-ball lineups. It’s worth pointing out that the Bulls are one of the smaller and faster teams in the league.
Chicago was in the 27th percentile for transition offense efficiency. The Bulls picked up two wins against the Cavs earlier this season, largely due to their ability to run in the open floor. Cleveland did a much better job of limiting that this time around.
Keon Ellis provided four stocks. He remains one of the most active defenders in the league for his size. Ellis finished with three steals and a block.
Jaylon Tyson provided 18 points and 11 rebounds. Tyson needed this game after his struggles the last few weeks.
The Cavs are now 5-4 when Donovan Mitchell doesn’t play. The Cavs have been at their best this season when Mitchell is on the floor. Even though this was an ugly win, victories have been hard to come by without their best player. He missed Thursday’s game with a left eye contusion.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 05: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) looks on during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on March 5, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
Kris Letang’s declining performance has become a hot-button topic for Pittsburgh Penguins fans, and for good reason. Despite the workout/exercise regimen and career accomplishments, he is not the player he was five or 10 years ago. Poor decision-making and defensive struggles have made him a liability at even strength and are contributing to some of the Penguins’ worst on-ice results. But is there any solution in sight? [PensBurgh]
The NHL, if nothing else, is a copycat league, as opposing teams look for the best ways for long-term success, on and off the ice. The Penguins’ surprising turnaround under Kyle Dubas has come from a series of moves that have revitalized the roster. However, other rebuilding teams like the New York Rangers may have trouble replicating the Penguins’ model because the “blueprint” isn’t easily repeatable; success relies on multiple moves all working out at once. [PensBurgh]
The Penguins made a few roster transactions on Thursday. First, the team reassigned rookie forward Avery Hayes to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [Trib Live]
They followed that up by recalling defenseman Ryan Graves to the NHL club following the completion of a conditioning assignment with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. [Trib Live]
After being acquired via trade from the Nashville Predators in March 2025, forward Tommy Novak has carved out a valuable, versatile role for the Penguins, contributing offensively and fitting on multiple lines. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews underwent MCL surgery in New York on Thursday. [ESPN]
The New York Islanders plan to relocate their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton, Ontario, bringing pro hockey back to the city for the first time in years. [TSN]
Ryan Johansen has officially retired after 13 NHL seasons, he announced on Thursday. The former fourth overall pick finishes his NHL career with 110 goals and 252 assists for 362 points in 533 games. [Sportsnet]
