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Welcome Back, Brock: Reflecting On Boeser’s Beginning With The Vancouver Canucks

In a shocking twist only 30 minutes into the 2025 NHL Free Agency period, Brock Boeser signed a seven-year, $7.25M AAV contract with the Vancouver Canucks. His signing came after a tumultuous season of uncertainty regarding his fate. Many thought he would be traded at the Trade Deadline, while signs leading up to free agency implied that he would be moving on from the team. With his signing, Boeser will extend his streak as the Canucks’ longest-tenured active skater.  

The Canucks came into the 2015 NHL Draft with the 23rd selection in the first round. While some players were obvious selections (Connor McDavid), realistically, the talent pool provided by this draft class meant that nearly any pick would be profitable. At the time, only three of twelve prospect draft rankings had Boeser going higher than 23rd overall. The general consensus seemed to be that he would not be picked higher than 25th. With that being said, it wasn’t shocking when former Canucks General Manager Jim Benning decided to select Boeser 23rd overall. 

Boeser’s addition to Vancouver’s prospect pool was a bright sign, as some of the only other names in the Canucks’ ranks were Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann, and Hunter Shinkaruk — with only one of these three still playing in the NHL. He was given the expectation of 30-goal scorer in the NHL early on and nearly broke this milestone in his first full season. 

On March 25, 2017, Boeser signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Canucks, making his NHL debut the same day against his hometown Minnesota Wild. In the same game, he scored his first NHL goal. By the end of his first nine games in 2017, he scored four goals on 25 shots and added one assist. For an early campaign, Boeser’s four goals left fans very optimistic about the upcoming season. 

Boeser’s first full season with the Canucks was one to remember. It seemed as though he was shot out of a cannon to start the season, as he scored two goals and three assists in his first four games. It only took him 10 games to get his first hat trick of the season, and the first of his NHL career, which he scored against Matt Murray and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Within the first 10 games of his rookie season, Boeser had five goals and eight assists. 

“The most natural goal scorer I’ve ever played with,” former Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said of Boeser back in 2017. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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An array of goal-scoring streaks, impressive play, and a Rookie of the Month title in November earned Boeser a nod to the 2018 NHL All-Star Game. There, he won the accuracy shooting event, beating out players such as Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand, and Steven Stamkos, and took home the award for MVP of the game. 

Despite playing at a near 40-goal pace in his rookie season, injuries sidelined Boeser for 20 of the team’s games. He finished the year with 29 goals and 26 assists in 62 games played, putting him fifth in points among all rookies that season. Boeser finished second in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy to Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders. 

Jan 21, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) passes a puck to a fan during warm up prior to a game against the Buffalo Sabres at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The start of Boeser’s career in Vancouver was certainly memorable, and with his re-signing, he’ll add even more goals on top of the 204 he has already scored as a member of the Canucks. 

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, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw joins MLB's 3,000-strikeouts club. Here's the full list

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw joins MLB's 3,000-strikeouts club. Here's the full list originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Clayton Kershaw’s longevity has seen him reach another milestone.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star threw the 3,000th strikeout of his career against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, joining an exclusive list of MLB pitchers.

The 37-year-old Kershaw entered the game just three strikeouts away from the milestone, and is now the 20th pitcher to reach the mark. He’s also the third active player in that category alongside two other all-time greats.

Here is the full list of MLB pitchers who have thrown 3,000 strikeouts or more:

Who has the most strikeouts in MLB history?

Nolan Ryan has the most strikeouts in MLB history with 5,714 tallied across 27 seasons. He played for the New York Mets, Houston Astros, the then-California Angels and Texas Rangers.

Which MLB pitchers are in the 3,000-strikeouts club?

Here’s the list of the pitchers above 3,000 strikeouts in chronological order (year achieved in parentheses):

  • Walter Johnson, Washington Senators: 3,508 (1923)
  • Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals: 3,117 (1974)
  • Gaylord Perry, San Diego Padres: 3,534 (1978)
  • Nolan Ryan, Houston Astros: 5,714 (1980)
  • Tom Seaver, Cincinnati Reds: 3,640 (1981)
  • Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies: 4,136 (1981)
  • Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago Cubs: 3,192 (1982)
  • Don Sutton, Milwaukee Brewers: 3.574 (1983)
  • Phil Niekro, New York Yankees: 3,342 (1984)
  • Bert Blyleven, Minnesota Twins: 3,701 (1986)
  • Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays: 4,672 (1998)
  • Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks: 4,875 (2000)
  • Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs: 3,371 (2005)
  • Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox: 3,116 (2006)
  • Pedro Martinez, New York Mets: 3,154 (2007)
  • John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves: 3,084 (2008)
  • CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (2019)
  • Justin Verlander, Houston Astros: 3,471 and counting (2019)
  • Max Scherzer, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3,419 and counting (2021)
  • Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3,000 and counting (2025)

Which active MLB pitchers are in the 3,000-strikeouts club?

Alongside Kershaw, Justin Verlander of the San Francisco Giants and Max Scherzer of the Blue Jays are the active pitchers in the club.

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Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw joins MLB's 3,000-strikeouts club. Here's the full list

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw joins MLB's 3,000-strikeouts club. Here's the full list originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Clayton Kershaw’s longevity has seen him reach another milestone.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star threw the 3,000th strikeout of his career against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, joining an exclusive list of MLB pitchers.

The 37-year-old Kershaw entered the game just three strikeouts away from the milestone, and is now the 20th pitcher to reach the mark. He’s also the third active player in that category alongside two other all-time greats.

Here is the full list of MLB pitchers who have thrown 3,000 strikeouts or more:

Who has the most strikeouts in MLB history?

Nolan Ryan has the most strikeouts in MLB history with 5,714 tallied across 27 seasons. He played for the New York Mets, Houston Astros, the then-California Angels and Texas Rangers.

Which MLB pitchers are in the 3,000-strikeouts club?

Here’s the list of the pitchers above 3,000 strikeouts in chronological order (year achieved in parentheses):

  • Walter Johnson, Washington Senators: 3,508 (1923)
  • Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals: 3,117 (1974)
  • Gaylord Perry, San Diego Padres: 3,534 (1978)
  • Nolan Ryan, Houston Astros: 5,714 (1980)
  • Tom Seaver, Cincinnati Reds: 3,640 (1981)
  • Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies: 4,136 (1981)
  • Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago Cubs: 3,192 (1982)
  • Don Sutton, Milwaukee Brewers: 3.574 (1983)
  • Phil Niekro, New York Yankees: 3,342 (1984)
  • Bert Blyleven, Minnesota Twins: 3,701 (1986)
  • Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays: 4,672 (1998)
  • Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks: 4,875 (2000)
  • Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs: 3,371 (2005)
  • Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox: 3,116 (2006)
  • Pedro Martinez, New York Mets: 3,154 (2007)
  • John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves: 3,084 (2008)
  • CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (2019)
  • Justin Verlander, Houston Astros: 3,471 and counting (2019)
  • Max Scherzer, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3,419 and counting (2021)
  • Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3,000 and counting (2025)

Which active MLB pitchers are in the 3,000-strikeouts club?

Alongside Kershaw, Justin Verlander of the San Francisco Giants and Max Scherzer of the Blue Jays are the active pitchers in the club.

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Jordan Thompson shows fighting spirit in another Wimbledon five-setter

  • Australian beats Benjamin Bonzi 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4

  • He next meets Luciano Darderi, ranked No 59, or Arthur Fery

Jordan Thompson came into Wimbledon with a large box of painkillers, a thick black brace for his back, and a dream that somehow he would defy his body long enough to make an impact at the tournament he loves so much. Two titanic five-set matches later, the Sydneysider is still standing on the green lawns of SW19, just.

With Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, the last Australian man to win at Wimbledon, watching on, Thompson beat Benjamin Bonzi 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in nine minutes shy of four hours. After Bonzi hit a return into the net on the second match point, Thompson let out a primal scream into the evening sky, smiled and pointed to his heart.

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Dodgers' All-Star lineup record quest fizzles with 3 of 8 finalists voted as starters

From left, Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani, Freddy Freeman and Will Smith were voted to start in this year's MLB All-Star Game.
From left, Dodgers Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith were voted to start in this year's MLB All-Star Game. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Poised to set a record for player popularity and elite production, the Dodgers had eight finalists for the National League starting lineup in the 2025 All-Star Game as voted by fans.

Voters had 48 hours to choose between the two players at each position who had accumulated the most votes over the last month in what MLB called Phase 1. Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani already was in the starting lineup because he led NL players in Phase 1 votes.

Who in Blue would join him after Phase 2?

MLB announced the winners Wednesday afternoon, and Dodgers catcher Will Smith and first baseman Freddie Freeman will start along with Ohtani. The other five Dodgers finalists — second baseman Tommy Edman, shortstop Mookie Betts, third baseman Max Muncy and outfielders Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages — were outvoted and won't start.

The record of five starting players held by the 1976 Cincinnati Reds, the 1956 and 1957 Cincinnati Redlegs, and the 1939 New York Yankees still stands. The Dodgers fell short, despite the bevy of finalists.

It is the ninth All-Star berth for Freeman, who is batting .308 with 21 doubles, and the third for Smith, who leads the NL with a .320 batting average and .419 on-base percentage. Both players have 10 home runs.

Read more:Hernández: The Dodgers have the best record in baseball. Why they still have room to improve

Eleven-time All-Star Mike Trout was the only Angels player among the American League finalists, and he did not finish among the top three outfielders in Phase 2. Thousand Oaks High product and Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson was voted the AL starter at shortstop, beating out Bobby Witt Jr.

Finalists not voted as starters have no guarantee of making the All-Star Game as a reserve. Pitchers and reserves for the 32-man rosters will be determined by a vote of MLB players and the commissioner’s office.

Complete rosters of 20 position players and 12 pitchers will be announced at 2 p.m. PDT Sunday on ESPN. The All-Star Game will take place July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta. Managers Dave Roberts of the Dodgers and Aaron Boone of the Yankees have no say in the selections.

Before the Dodgers faced the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night, Roberts did say he hoped the number of All-Stars from his team would increase.

"I think they've all had great first halves, and it's great to know that three guys are starting," he said. "And so hopefully we get a couple, two or three more. Really, good, really good."

The teams that boasted a record five starters included Hall of Famers and also lesser-known players.

The '39 Yankees had All-Star starters Joe DiMaggio, George Selkirk, Bill Dickey, Red Rolfe and Joe Gordon. Red Ruffing was named the starting pitcher by manager Joe McCarthy, making the '39 Yankees the only team with six starting players.

The most recent team to land five All-Star starters was the '76 Cincinnati Reds, known as the Big Red Machine, led by future Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan. Pete Rose, Dave Concepción and George Foster also started.

Read more:Pete Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson reinstated by Major League Baseball, making Hall of Fame election possible

The Reds were called the Redlegs from 1953 to 1959 because of a period of intense anti-communism in the U.S. To distance themselves from the Red Scare, the Reds temporarily changed their name.

Cincinnati fans loved their team by any name, casting a deluge of last-minute votes two years in a row that eventually required intervention from MLB commissioner Ford Frick and caused MLB to eliminate fan voting for more than a decade.

Frick stood by the voting in '56 despite complaints that five Redlegs were voted in, saying, "Everybody had a chance to vote, so there should be no squawks.”

A year later he changed his tune when last-minute voting — remember, all votes were handwritten and manually tabulated — resulted in an all-Redlegs lineup. Frick swiftly stepped in and replaced three Redlegs with future Hall of Famers Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.

Read more:Clayton Kershaw moves three strikeouts away from 3,000 as Dodgers finish sweep of Rockies

Redlegs fans were incensed, some making an effigy of the commissioner and driving it through Cincinnati tied to a truck. The reaction from players was more muted, with Redlegs center fielder Gus Bell saying, "I’m not exactly burned up about being replaced by Willie."

Dodgers who finished second likely will have little quarrel with the results. Players who edged them out in voting are having excellent seasons: third baseman Manny Machado, shortstop Francisco Lindor, second baseman Ketel Marte and outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr., Kyle Tucker and Harvard-Westlake High product Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-6, 2.51 earned-run average) of the Dodgers is a strong candidate to make the NL pitching staff. At least one Angels player must be chosen as a reserve or pitcher, and the nod could go to Trout, who has 13 home runs but is batting .230.

Other possibilities for the resurgent Angels are catcher Logan O'Hoppe (17 home runs), shortstop Zach Neto (12 home runs, team-high 2.7 WAR), outfielder Jo Adell (18 homers, 44 runs batted in) and starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (2.79 ERA in 96.2 innings).

MLB All-Star Starting Lineups

National League
C: Will Smith, Dodgers
1B: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
2B: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks
SS: Francisco Lindor, Mets
3B: Manny Machado, Padres
OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs
OF: Kyle Tucker, Cubs
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

American League
C: Cal Raleigh, Mariners
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
2B: Gleyber Torres, Tigers
SS: Jacob Wilson, Athletics
3B: Jose Ramirez, Guardians
OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees
OF: Riley Greene, Tigers
OF: Javier Baez, Tigers
DH: Ryan O'Hearn, Orioles

Times staff writer Kevin Baxter contributed to this story.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Sabres Add Depth On Opening Day Of Free Agency

The Buffalo Sabres made a pair of trades during and after the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles that opened up more cap space in advance of the beginning of free agency on July 1, but the club did not make any kind of splash as the market opened on Tuesday, re-signing three players on multi-year extensions and signing free agent winger Justin Danforth and goalie Alex Lyon to two-year deals. 

Danforth had 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists) in 61 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season and signed for an AAV of $1.8 million, while Lyon, who went 14-9-1, with a 2.81 GAA and .896 save %  in Detroit last season signed for $1.5 million per season. 

“(Lyon is) a proven goaltender, ” Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said on Wednesday. “I think he's a really good veteran. A high character guy. He's proven in the league. He's played well in his time in the National Hockey League. He's going to challenge and push. We just think he helps us win hockey games.” 

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Danforth is expected to play a fourth line role, replacing Sam Lafferty, who was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Lyon, 32, will be in the mix to challenge for playing time behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and with youngster Devon Levi. Luukkonen, who did not have much of a threat to his starting role after Levi was demoted to Rochester early last season, had a subpar campaign (24-24-5, 3.20 GAA, .887 save %) in the first year of a five-year deal. 

Levi, a restricted free agent this summer, still has an exemption to waivers that will allow him to be demoted to AHL Rochester next season. If Levi plays well in training camp and earns a roster spot, it is likely that the Sabres will carry three goalies on their NHL roster, as they did at the start of the 2023-24 season with Luukkonen, Levi, and Eric Comrie.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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With Mets in tailspin, slumping Francisco Lindor dropped from leadoff spot

NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor was dropped from the leadoff spot Wednesday night with the New York Mets in a major tailspin.

After making 191 consecutive starts at the top of the lineup, Lindor was listed in the No. 2 hole as the designated hitter for the second game of a day-night doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers and their rookie sensation, hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.

The slumping Lindor went 0 for 4 as New York mustered only two hits during a 7-2 loss in the opener, leaving him 2 for 29 with one walk in his past seven games. He is 8 for 60 (.133) in 15 games since June 15 and his batting average has plummeted from .289 with an .858 OPS on June 7 to .255 with a .766 OPS through Game 1 of the twinbill.

Brandon Nimmo was bumped up to leadoff, a role he was accustomed to before Mets manager Carlos Mendoza moved Lindor from third in the order to first in May 2024, citing the success the switch-hitter enjoyed atop the lineup earlier in his career with Cleveland.

The move led to Lindor breaking out of a prolonged slump and the Mets taking off following a miserable start. The star shortstop finished runner-up to Shohei Ohtani for NL MVP last year, and New York made a surprise playoff run before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Lindor and the Mets both got out of the gate much better this season, but New York (48-38) had lost four straight and 14 of 17 heading into the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.

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Mets' Francisco Lindor named 2025 All-Star Game starter

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is going to Atlanta. No, not to take on the Braves but to participate in the All-Star Game.

Lindor was named the starting shortstop for the National League All-Star team on Wednesday, an honor determined by fan voting. This is the fifth time Lindor has been named to the Midsummer Classic, but it's the first as a starter and as a member of the Mets.

The Mets shortstop has had a solid year. He entered the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader slashing .255/.324/.442 with an OPS of .766 with 16 home runs and 43 RBI as the team's leadoff man. Lindor beat out Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts for the honor.

Wednesday's announcement feels like a long time coming for Lindor. In 2023, he infamously missed out on being a reserve when his peers selected the Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo for that spot. Last season, Trea Turner won the starting gig with CJ Abrams, Elly De La Cruz and Betts being named reserves. Lindor went on to be named runner-up for the NL MVP award that year.

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was a finalist this year but was beat out by the Dodgers' Freddie Freeman.

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Lakers get their center, agree to two-year contract with former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton

The Lakers got their center, and it's the guy drafted two spots ahead of Luka Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The Lakers and Deandre Ayton have come to terms on a two-year contract, with a player option in the second year, a story broken by Chris Haynes and confirmed by multiple other reports.

This is as good a free agent center signing as the Lakers were going to make — he's the best available free agent center and a good fit on paper. Getting Ayton to live up to how good he looks on paper and not to be a disruptive force has been a challenge at all his stops.

Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds a game last season in Portland, and a couple of seasons ago in Phoenix averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds a game. On offense, when focused, he is a very good fit as the kind of big man who thrives next to Luka Doncic as a rim-runner and lob threat (34.4% of his shots last season came at the rim and he shot 82% on them), plus he has a silky midrange jumper from his spots on the floor.

Defensively, he is a big body in the paint, but not a great shot blocker (averaging one block per game last season).

The challenge with Ayton has always been getting him to live up to that potential on paper.

Ayton has had fellow teammates and basketball staff call him "immature," someone overconfident in his contributions despite "inconsistent effort" (often, but not always, off the record). He is seen as a diva, something Jason Quick detailed recently in a story at The Athletic.

"The tardiness to team flights and practices, according to a team source. The skipping of rehabilitation appointments. Fans saw him slam chairs when he was taken out of games. And a team source said there were tantrums in the locker room when he was sidelined for poor effort."

Ayton can't bring that attitude or effort level into the Lakers building — this is LeBron's locker room, and he has built a Hall of Fame career entering its 23rd season based on being prepared and bringing it every night. Doncic will count on him to bring it every night and not be a distraction. Coach J.J. Redick is a younger, former player head coach who can connect with players, which could help in this case. If that trio can all keep Ayton focused — if a team just buying him out rattles his cage a little bit — this will be a terrific signing for the Lakers.

The Lakers are betting they can get the best out of Ayton. They are also doing it on an affordable contract.

Ayton has agreed to a two-year, $16.6 million contract with Los Angeles. The Lakers can afford it because Ayton will take up the approximately $8.3 million remaining in the Lakers' mid-level exception (the other part of it went to Jake LaRavia). This season, the on-paper pay cut from $35 million a season won't impact Ayton because he's still receiving all of it from his buyout from the Trail Blazers (the amount the Lakers pay him will be discounted from that number). However, next season he can opt out and test the market, or re-sign with the Lakers.

How all of that goes will depend on how this season goes, and how close Ayton comes to living up to his on-paper potential.

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Braves' Schwellenbach out with broken elbow. Profar returns from drug suspension and Verdugo cut

ATLANTA — Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach broke his right elbow during a start last weekend and was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday as left fielder Jurickson Profar returned from an 80-game drug suspension and slumping outfielder Alex Verdugo was designated for assignment.

Schwellenbach said he felt tightness while pitching for Atlanta against Philadelphia on Saturday, when he threw 90 pitches. He allowed one run and three hits over seven innings.

He felt sore the following day and imaging Monday revealed a small fracture at the top of the elbow. Schwellenbach said he was told this was a freak accident and said he hopes to be back this season.

A 25-year-old in his second big league season, Schwellenbach is 7-4 with a 3.09 ERA and leads the Braves in wins, WHIP (0.967) and innings (110 2/3). He has won six of his last seven decisions.

Atlanta's rotation already was missing Chris Sale (broken rib), AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery) and Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder surgery).

"We’re pushing young guys all the time, and may end up that we have to do it again," Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Schwellenbach was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Sunday.

Right-hander Daysbel Hernández, sidelined from the Braves since June 4 by right forearm inflammation, finished his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett and was activated from the 15-day IL. Left-hander Austin Cox was recalled from the Stripers and right-hander Kevin Herget optioned to Gwinnett.

Profar returned after an 80-game suspension announced March 31 following a positive test for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in violation of the league’s joint drug prevention and treatment program. He missed 93 days, causing him to lose exactly half his $12 million salary. He is ineligible for the postseason.

“I’m responsible,” said Profar, who addressed his teammates Wednesday. “There’s there’s no excuses. I’m responsible for what goes into my body.”

The 32-year-old was an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger last season when he batted .280 and set career highs with 24 homers and 85 RBIs for San Diego. He signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Braves in the offseason.

In his absence, Braves left fielders entered Wednesday last in the major leagues with two home runs and a .523 OPS.

Verdugo agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract late in spring training. The 29-year-old made his big league season debut on April 18 and hit .239 with no homers and 12 RBIs in 56 games.

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Adams Pushes Back On Byram Offer Sheet Speculation

The Buffalo Sabres did not make much of a splash on the opening day of free agency on Tuesday, with the most impactful signing being the two-year contract for goaltender Alex Lyon and the re-signing of center Ryan McLeod to a long-term extension. The item that was the most newsworthy was a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger, that clubs interested in restricted free agent Bowen Byram are contemplating an offer sheet.

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams met with the media during Day 3 of the club’s Development Camp at LECOM Harborcenter on Wednesday and indicated that he is open to bringing back the 23-year-old blueliner, who is two years away from unrestricted free agency on a short- or long-term deal, and is open to a hockey deal bringing back NHL players, but that he would match an offer sheet if it were tabled by another club. 

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“The moves we've made and the position we've put ourselves in, from the cap perspective, has been strategic.” Adams said. “If you leave just enough room in your cap, maybe where you see a projection on a one year deal and someone comes over the top, you're potentially putting your organization in a really tough spot. So the moves we’ve made and the decisions we've made for weeks now leading up to this point (have been) with that in mind. So we'll be matching and have the opportunity to have a player under contract who we think helps us win.”

Dreger indicated that trade conversations have taken place between the Sabres and the Calgary Flames, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, and St. Louis Blues for Byram, who scored 38 points last season. After the trade of defenseman K’Andre Miller to Carolina on Tuesday and unrestricted free agents Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov signing seven-year contracts with the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, the availability for a legitimate top-four defenseman has shrunk to Byram, and Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson, putting Adams in a position to exact the price he’s looking for or bringing back him back on a short-term deal.    

“We believe Bo is an excellent hockey player that can help our team win,” Adams said, “I've maintained the same position that if there's a deal out there that makes sense for us that we think is going to improve our roster we're open to it. If there's not, we're not in a situation where we're looking to move him out or looking to move him for futures and stuff like that, for me we want to help our team win hockey games and he helps us do that.”

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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NHL Free Agency: Flyers Won and Lost on Day 1

Christian Dvorak put a major dent in the Flyers' salary cap situation. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers were the one team that won as much as it lost on Day 1 of NHL Free Agency.

Entering free agency with three needs - a goalie, a center, and a seventh defenseman - the Flyers got to work and took care of business in record time, but at what cost?

Forward Christian Dvorak, expected to take over as the fourth-line center for at least one year, agreed to a one-year deal worth an egregious $5.4 million, making him the fifth-highest-paid forward on the Flyers' roster behind only Trevor Zegras, Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Owen Tippett.

Now, term was a big part of the deal for the Flyers so as to avoid locking themselves into undesirable future roadblocks for younger players, which drove Dvorak's price upwards, as well as bids from other teams.

But other centers with NHL experience, such as Curtis Lazar, Philipp Kurashev, and Lars Eller, all signed one-year deals with new teams worth no more than $1.25 million.

Lazar, like Dvorak, has played for Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet before. Injuries and adapting to a new coach limited Lazar to just five points in 48 games with New Jersey this season, but last year, he had 25 points in 71 games.

For his efforts, the 30-year-old, a prime bounce-back candidate, signed with Edmonton for one-year and $775k.

Piggybacking off that, new Flyers goalie Dan Vladar was by far the most expensive netminder to come off the market Tuesday, signing a two-year, $6.7 million ($3.35 million AAV) with Philadelphia that included an eight-team no-trade list in both years.

Flyers' Porter Martone Sets Sights on Early NHL DebutFlyers' Porter Martone Sets Sights on Early NHL DebutJust one day into on-ice activities at development camp, the hype around top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone is already growing.

Veteran Anton Forsberg, who signed with Los Angeles for two years at $2.25 million a year, was 11-12-3 last season with a 2.72 GAA, a .901 save percentage, and three shutouts. He was also the only goalie, other than Vladar, to pull in a cap hit north of $1.5 million.

Vladar was comparatively similar but slightly worse, going 12-11-6 with a 2.80 GAA, a .898 save percentage, and two shutouts.

Vladar is 27 and younger than the 32-year-old Forsberg, but does that make up the $1 million difference in cap hit? And, if Vladar isn't a long-term option as a starter or backup, does the age matter at all?

Indeed, much of this is insignificant with the Flyers being a fringe playoff team at best next season, but what is significant is that they have $4.6 million to find a solution to re-sign Cam York, be it a long-term deal or short.

The Flyers insist on not using LTIR to create emergency cap space for themselves, but with Tyson Foerster's status up in the air for opening night, they are pushing the envelope to the fullest, especially in the event further injuries occur during the season.

Speaking of defensemen, journeymen Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert give the Flyers, including York and excluding Rasmus Ristolainen, eight defensemen on the active roster.

One of those eight won't make the roster, and this doesn't account for someone like Helge Grans or Oliver Bonk, who will both be pushing for spots to fill in for Ristolainen.

Looking ahead, the Flyers have one retention slot open to hold onto some salary, with Andrei Kuzmenko off their books and Kevin Hayes and Scott Laughton still on for one more year.

If they want to use that slot to its maximum potential, either in a three-team deal (i.e. Noah Hanifin trade) or retaining salary on one of their own players, they'll have to manage the salary cap extra carefully until Foerster and/or Ristolainen return.

And just imagine how complicated things would have been if they landed Maxim Shabanov.

These free agency signings all address the needs to the Flyers sought out to address, but the relatively poor value of these signings puts the Flyers at high risk of finding themselves in adverse positions for what they want to do later in the season.

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Mets' Sean Manaea pitches into fourth inning in first Double-A rehab start since setback

It came a day later than scheduled, butSean Manaea was back on the mound in another rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday.

The Mets' southpaw tossed three-plus innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, one walk and striking out three batters. Manaea allowed a run in the first off a Kyle Karros single, then a Nic Kent single in the second inning that was aided by a throwing error by Jett Williams. The third run came in the third after a leadoff triple was brought in on a one-out single by Charlie Condon.

Manaea came out to start the fourth inning but walked the leadoff man on seven pitches before he was pulled.

Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza said that they expected Manaea to throw 45-50 pitches and the left-hander eclipsed that, tossing 60 pitches (39 strikes) against the Hartford Yard Goats. The extra length is likely due to Manaea's originally scheduled Tuesday start being postponed due to weather.

Mendoza confirmed that Manaea's next rehab start will be next Tuesday, in what is likely to be his final outing in the minors before being called up to join the Mets rotation.

Although Manaea's start on Wednesday wasn't perfect, it's encouraging to see him on the mound. This was his first rehab start since an elbow issue forced the pitcher to receive a cortisone shot.