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Senators Prospect Watch: Seven Future Sens Who Are Getting Noticed

The Ottawa Senators haven’t drawn many rave reviews for their prospect pipeline of late.

With centre Stephen Halliday (4th round pick in 2022) registering his first NHL game and first NHL point last week, let’s see what kernels may be about to pop among Sens prospects 22 and under.

1) CARTER YAKEMCHUK (20 yrs) – RD BELLEVILLE SENATORS

There are already six players picked after Yakemchuk in the 2024 NHL draft who are playing regularly in the NHL, and three of them are defensemen. So, some fans may have already pushed their panic buttons, thinking that the Senators may have missed out.

However, Yakemchuk is playing top-pair minutes with the B-Sens alongside veteran Scott Harrington. He's playing all situations and is logging an average of 22:30 per game this season, and his ice time has been increasing. His 13 points in 18 games lead all defencemen on the team, though his -12 rating (a team low) isn’t aesthetically pleasing. However, it was -8 and improving until the 7-2 loss to the first-place Rocket in Laval.

Clearly, Yakemchuk is being groomed slowly to ensure he plays a meaningful role when he ascends to the NHL. The Senators didn’t miss on anything. Don’t be surprised if he plays his first game at some point this season.

2) JORIAN DONOVAN (21 yrs) – LD BELLEVILLE SENATORS

Even before Thomas Chabot went down with an injury for the first time in recent memory, people had started to wonder about the left shot depth at defence within the Senators organization. Obviously, a trade was made to bring back Dennis Gilbert from the Flyers organization.

This would indicate that Donovan, the Senators' 2022 fifth-round selection, isn’t ready to take on a job in the NHL just yet. However, his stat line would indicate that he is trending in the right direction. He isn’t a top-pair defenseman. However, he has almost eclipsed his point total from the 2024-25 season (12 in 64 games) with nine in the first 18.

His 6’2” 200 lb frame is an asset, and his penalty minutes would suggest he isn’t afraid to use it.

He comes with some pedigree, being the son of former Senator Shean Donovan, representing Canada at the WJHC and winning a Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit in 2024.

Point being, don’t sleep on this guy.

3) OWEN BECKNER (20 yrs) – C COLORADO COLLEGE TIGERS

The Senators didn’t pick until the fourth round of the 2023 draft, and Beckner wasn’t chosen until the seventh round.

Beckner has progressed steadily at Colorado College with a respectable freshman campaign of 27 points in 37 games last season. He picked up where he left off and is now leading the Tigers with 15 points in just 14 games.

His performance has earned him a spot on the U.S. Collegiate Selects team that will be playing in the Spengler Cup over the holiday season.

Don’t look for him in an Ottawa uniform in the next couple of years, but don’t rule out seeing him signed early out of college either.

4) LUKE ELLINAS (19 yrs) – LW KITCHENER RANGERS

While a shoulder injury has limited Ellinas to only six games played thus far, his performance since being chosen by the Senators in fourth round in 2024 has been enough to earn himself an entry level contract.

Ellinas appears to do his best work in the post-season, where his points per game increased dramatically in both his draft year and last season. He was instrumental in the Rangers' 3-0 series comeback to defeat the Windsor Spitfires last season.

Again, don’t look for Ellinas in Ottawa next year, but don’t forget about him either.

5) BLAKE MONTGOMERY (20 yrs) – LW UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BADGERS

Montgomery was passed over in his inaugural NHL Draft year in 2023 and still ended up being a later pick in 2024. The Senators took him in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft, and his ascension has been quick. He was enticed to leave Lincoln in the USHL and join the eventual Memorial Cup champion London Knights.

Even with the move to the OHL, Montgomery made it clear he was going to head to Wisconsin and take advantage of the rule change allowing CHL players to play Division I NCAA hockey. After a slow start, he seems to have found the range with nine pts in his last nine games.

This one could be worth waiting for.

6) JACKSON PARSONS (20 yrs) – G ALLEN AMERICANS/BELLEVILLE SENATORS

Normally, when a player is assigned to the ECHL, the team that holds his NHL rights isn't waiting for him with great anticipation. This is not always the case for goaltenders.

Parsons was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Senators, and this means that despite winning the Goaltender of the Year in the CHL in 2024-25 as a member of the Kitchener Rangers, he will have to go through all the rungs on the ladder to get to the NHL.

That said, in his limited time thus far, Parsons has let it be known that last season wasn’t a fluke but rather a sign of things to come. He is 3-1 in his brief AHL tenure in place of the injured Mads Sogaard and even recorded a shutout.

With Sogaard back, Parsons may return to the ECHL at some point. But if he continues to develop at this rate, we'll hear from him again before long.

7) LOGAN HENSLER (19 yrs) – RD UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BADGERS

The 23rd overall pick in the 2025 draft isn’t hard to find on highlight reels on X. With seven points, Hensler should easily eclipse his 12 points in 32 games in his freshman season in 2024-25.

His combination of size at 6’2” and mobility makes him an intriguing prospect to follow as Wisconsin becomes what North Dakota was in the Jake Sanderson, Shane Pinto, Tyler Kleven and Jacob Bernard-Docker era.

Like all of those players, Hensler already has a WJHC appearance under his belt, winning gold in 2025. Like Kleven, he will be playing in his second tourney in his home state of Minnesota this holiday season, where he will be expected to play a more prominent role with the likes of Zeev Buium having graduated to the NHL.

Like Yakemchuk, Hensler represents the future of the right side of the defence in Ottawa. Yakemchuk is the closest thing to a blue-chip prospect in this list, and Hensler has that potential as well.

Does the Cup runneth over in the Senators' prospect pipeline? No. Their former blue-chip prospects – players like Tkachuk, Stutzle, Sanderson, Batherson, and Pinto – graduated to the NHL a long time ago, as have support players like Greig, Kleven, and Merilainen.

There probably aren’t too many more blue-chip seats at the Senators' table. They need players who can support the young core; foot soldiers, if you will. And that's not a bad scenario, because while they're a little shy on future superstars, there are plenty of players in the Senators' system who can fit the foot soldier mould.

Pat Maguire
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:

Former Senators Prospect Finally Finds NHL Home With Rival Boston Bruins
Without His Wingman, Sens Top Gun Tim Stützle Continues Relentless Drive To Improve
Report: Ottawa Senators Place Swedish Winger On Waivers
NHL Insider Says Senators Are 'Looking To Hit A Home Run' On The Trade Market
Former Senator Returns To Ottawa In Monday Trade With Philadelphia
Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)

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Avalanche Edge Blackhawks 1–0 Behind Wedgewood’s Shutout

Scott Wedgewood turned aside all 22 shots he faced, backstopping the Colorado Avalanche to a 1–0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Sunday and stretching Colorado’s winning streak to nine games. 

The shutout marked Wedgewood’s first of the season and the ninth of his NHL career. 

Cale Makar supplied the lone goal for the Avalanche (16-1-5), who have now collected points in 13 straight contests (11-0-2) and completed a polished back-to-back after blanking the Nashville Predators 3–0 the previous night. 

Spencer Knight made 25 saves for Chicago (10-8-4), but the Blackhawks dropped their third consecutive game. 

First Period 

Much like Saturday’s game against Nashville, the Avalanche were largely not in control of the puck. The only thing different was that there was not a goal within 15 seconds of the game. With under five minutes to go in the first, the Blackhawks held the Avalanche to just one shot on net. 

After killing an earlier penalty, Colorado received their second infraction of the period when Brock Nelson roughed up Frank Nazar, spinning him around and knocking his helmet off in the defensive zone. It would have been a clever move if Nelson didn’t get caught, but unfortunately, the officials were not fooled by the move and the Avs were shorthanded once again. 

Colorado killed the penalty, but the Hawks weren’t out of the fight just yet as Ryan Donato got his hands on a loose puck in front of the net and spun around and fired, but Wedgewood made the kick save. 

Avs Score and Win Again 

Burns drove the puck down the right wing in the early stages of the period, but he was turned away by Knight.  

Makar delivered the breakthrough at 18:21 of the second period. After Spencer Knight turned aside Tristen Nielsen’s initial attempt, the rebound caromed directly into Makar’s path, and he snapped it home from the left face-off circle. 

The entire sequence unfolded off a miscue by Knight, whose attempted outlet pass found Nielsen in the slot. Nielsen’s quick shot not only generated the rebound that led to the goal but also earned him his first NHL point. 

Wedgewood preserved the slender 1–0 advantage in the dying moments, stoning Frank Nazar from point-blank range with 43 seconds left. 

And after absorbing an 11–2 shot deficit in a sluggish first period, Colorado wrested back control of the game, outshooting Chicago 24–11 over the final 40 minutes to maintain their dominant ways. 

On Saturday, Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 35 saves en route to a 3-0 Avs win and now Wedgewood has followed up with another shutout. We've run all out of superlatives.

Next Game 

The Avalanche are back at Ball Arena on Wednesday to face the San Jose Sharks. Coverage starts at 7 p.m. local time.  

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Australia no guarantee to pick Usman Khawaja for second Ashes Test even if injury-free

  • Opener dealt with back spasms in Perth as Travis Head excelled

  • Josh Hazlewood’s injury not bad enough to sideline him for series

Australia coach Andrew McDonald has failed to guarantee Usman Khawaja will be selected for the second Ashes Test, even if the under-pressure veteran opener is fit, while Josh Hazlewood is expected to take “some part” in the series despite speculation hovering over the severity of the star quick’s hamstring injury.

Khawaja dealt with back spasms during the series opener in Perth, batting at No 4 in the first innings, then wasn’t required in the stunning day two run chase.

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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Vince Williams soars with Ja Morant sidelined

In the blink of an eye, we’re heading into Week 6 of the NBA season. Key injuries continue to mount, and fantasy managers should have a “next man up” mentality when scoping out the waiver wire.

Players featured in previous columns continue to thrive, and this week’s iteration features some familiar names as well as some new additions.

Here are the best waiver wire adds heading into the new week!

NBA: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers
Fantasy Basketball Week 6 Schedule Primer: How much will Kawhi Leonard play?
The Clippers star will reportedly return from injury on Sunday, which is great news for fantasy managers.

Priority Adds

1. Vince Williams Jr.
2. Derik Queen
3. Kon Knueppel
4. Reed Sheppard
5. Collin Gillespie
6. Moussa Diabate
7. Peyton Watson
8. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
9. Anthony Black
10. Harrison Barnes
11. Bobby Portis
12. Jaylon Tyson

Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets (47 percent rostered)

This will surely be the last week I’m able to feature Knueppel in this article, as his roster percentage will rise above the 50% cutoff. I’m shocked that he’s still available in more than half of all Yahoo! leagues, but there’s still time to snag him before it’s too late. The rookie’s numbers speak for themselves, as he’s proven to be more than just a specialist in the points and three-pointers categories.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks (42 percent rostered)

NAW is averaging a career-best 19.7 points per game this season, and he’s stepped it up on offense even more over the last week. He posted 26 points against the Suns on Sunday before going for 24 against the Pistons on Tuesday and erupting for 38 points against the Spurs on Thursday. Alexander-Walker cooled off on Saturday, but with Trae Young sidelined, NAW is going to see a ton of run for the foreseeable future, making him a strong add.

Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets (40 percent rostered)

Sheppard is another holdover from last week’s column, and like Knueppel, I’ll keep including him until he’s over 50% rostered. Sheppard continues to shine off the bench, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. Over his last seven, he’s averaged 17.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 3.6 triples. His marvelous run culminated with a career-best 27 points in Friday’s narrow win over Denver.

Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans (36 percent rostered)

Queen was the No. 1 pickup in last week’s Waiver Wire article, and fantasy managers who picked him up were handsomely rewarded. Queen’s production over his first two starts was solid, yet relatively modest, but he erupted in his next two starts, averaging 25 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocked shots. Make no mistake about it, Queen is a MUST-ROSTER option with a sky-high ceiling who should be picked up now before he is snatched off the waiver wire.

Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks (27 percent rostered)

Big Bobby P has consistently stepped up in a big way when Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed time, and fantasy managers should pick him up while the Greek Freak is sidelined. Portis started Thursday’s loss to the 76ers, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds, a steal and a triple across 28 minutes. He delivered an 18/7/2 line with four triples on Saturday, logging just 25 minutes. He'll be a strong source of points and boards until Antetokounmpo returns.

Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets (26 percent rostered)

Diabate was trending up heading into Saturday's matchup with the Clippers, contributing meaningful production off the bench behind starting center RyanKalkbrenner. Kalkbrenner suffered an ankle injury after just 11 minutes on Saturday, and Diabate's fantasy value is far higher, as he has the potential to join Charlotte's starting lineup. He's averaged 10.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks across 22.9 minutes per game, so he has the potential to average a double-double with two blocks if given starter's minutes.

Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs (22 percent rostered)

Barnes can burn you - there’s no denying that. We’ve seen him heat up in a hurry only to cool down just as quickly. His recent hot streak feels more sustainable, however, with Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Steph Castle sidelined. Barnes has been a starter all season, but his production has seen a noticeable spike since Wemby hit the sideline. Across his last three games, Barnes has averaged 19.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.0 triples. Luke Kornet was a popular pickup when Wemby’s injury was announced, but Kornet just hasn’t been great in his three starts. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues, but don’t get too excited if you play in a standard league.

Vince Williams Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (20 percent rostered)

Ja Morant logged just six total minutes across Memphis’ last four games heading into Saturday’s matchup with Dallas, and the VW Bus was rolling all week. Williams Jr. averaged 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 triples in that span, dishing 15 assists in Thursday’s win over Sacramento. Williams Jr. stayed productive on Saturday, producing a double-double with a 10/10/5/2 line. He didn't pop off as a scorer, but he provided solid fantasy value thanks to elite rebounds, assists and steals. Williams Jr. doesn't need to score at a high level to be relevant in standard leagues, but he has flashed upside in that department, too.

Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns (20 percent rostered)

Phoenix has dealt with multiple backcourt injuries this season, and Gillespie has stepped up to answer the call. Over his last three games (all off the bench), Gillespie has contributed 18 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 3.0 triples. Despite coming off the bench, he’s been trusted in late-game situations, highlighted by his go-ahead jumper with 6.4 seconds to play in Friday’s one-point victory over the Timberwolves.

Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets (18 percent rostered)

Christian Braun is out for multiple weeks, and Aaron Gordon re-aggravated his hamstring injury in Friday’s loss to Houston. That means Watson should see plenty of run moving forward. He’s seeing big minutes, and he’s been the most consistent of the replacement options for Braun and Gordon, offering a bit more in the box score than Cameron Johnson or Tim Hardaway Jr. THJ is worth a look if you need points and triples, but Watson’s stat lines are more well-rounded and better suited for category leagues.

Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (16 percent rostered)

Black is enjoying the most productive campaign of his brief NBA career with averages of 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks and a triple across 27 minutes. He’s stepped it up on both ends of the court as of late, offering microwave offense and hounding defense, both of which have been beneficial for fantasy managers, particularly in category leagues.

Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers (10 percent rostered)

Tyson has started seven of his 12 appearances this season, and the second-yar man out of Cal has put up strong numbers for Cleveland. He returned from a five-game absence on Friday and provided a 14/8/3 line with two triples, no turnovers and a 6-of-7 shooting mark. Tyson should continue to see meaningful minutes, and he’s worth rostering in standard leagues whether he’s starting or coming off the bench.

Others to consider:Jaden McDaniels (46%), Santi Aldama (44%), Dillon Brooks (42%), Neemias Queta (36%), Daniss Jenkins (28%), Moussa Diabate (25%), Jeremiah Fears (25%), Noah Clowney (20%), Tristan da Silva (18%), Luke Kornet (12%), Jay Huff (7%), Tim Hardaway Jr. (6%)

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Sabres Place Goalie On Waivers For Contract Termination

Alexandar Georgiev (© Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images)

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Buffalo Sabres have placed goaltender Alexandar Georgiev on waivers for the purpose of contract termination. Georgiev is also expected to join Spartak of the KHL. 

Seeing the Sabres and Georgiev move on from one another is understandable. With the Sabres having Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis on the NHL roster, there was simply no room for Georgiev. This is especially so when noting that Georgiev was also behind Devon Levi on the depth chart. 

Georgiev played in just two games this season with the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, where he posted a 0-2-0 record, a .874 save percentage, and a .896 save percentage. This is after he had a 15-26-4 record, a .875 save percentage, and a 3.71 goals-against average in 49 games this past season split between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks. 

Now, after a brief stay with the Sabres organization, Georgiev will be taking his talents to the KHL. 

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Nets get season-high 26 from Tyrese Martin, but fall 119-109 to Raptors

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes scored 17 points, Ja’Kobe Walter added a season-high 16 and the Toronto Raptors won for the 11th time in 12 games, beating the Brooklyn Nets 119-109 on Sunday night.

Brandon Ingram had 14 points and Immanuel Quickley scored eight of his 13 in the fourth quarter to help Toronto extend its winning streak to seven.

Toronto’s RJ Barrett scored 16 points before leaving midway through the third because of a sprained right knee. Barrett landed awkwardly after his steal led to a fast break dunk.

Brooklyn’s Tyrese Martin scored a season-high 26 points. Michael Porter Jr. had 25 and Noah Clowney added 22.

Nic Claxton had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets. Claxton had his first career triple-double in Friday night in a win at Boston.

Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 12 points in his first start of the season, Gradey Dick also scored 12 points and Jamal Shead had 11.

Porter’s layup with 4:24 left in the fourth tied it at 104, but Quickley made two 3-pointers as Toronto replied with a 10-0 run over the next 2 1/2 minutes.

Ingram reached 10,000 career points with a 3 in the second, his only basket of the period. Toronto led 65-58 at the intermission.

Mamukelashvili started for center Jakob Poeltl, who sat because of a sore lower back. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles returned after missing two games because of a sore right knee.

Up next

Nets: Host New York on Monday night.

Raptors: Host Cleveland on Monday night.

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NHL Insider Speculates On Connor Bedard’s Next Contract

The Chicago Blackhawks are seeing Connor Bedard go from a great teenager to an NHL superstar quickly. He has been amongst the league leaders in points for most of this season now, and shows no sign of slowing down. 

During the summer, there was a lot of speculation about what Bedard's first non-entry-level contract would look like. The conversations surrounding that softened once the puck dropped for the regular season.  

Now, thanks to speculation by NHL Insider Frank Seravalli on CHSN's Blackhawks pregame show, the talk about it is back. According to Seravalli, if the contract is eight years, it will be a deal that pays him somewhere in the range of $12.5 to $15 million against the cap. 

Bedard was eligible for an extension on July 1st, but everyone involved opted to wait. Now, it is going to be a bit more expensive than it would have been back then due to his success on the ice. This will now be a tremendously lucrative contract for a premier player.

On July 1st of 2026, Bedard will become a restricted free agent. Kyle Davidson would almost certainly rather have it done before they reach that point. 

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Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri score in shootout to back Kevin Rittich in Islanders' 1-0 win over Kraken

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Horvat kept New York alive in the third round of a shootout and Kyle Palmieri scored in the fourth to back David Rittich in the Islanders' 1-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Sunday night.

Rittch made 19 saves for his first shutout with the Islanders and the eighth of his NHL career, allowing only Freddy Gaudreau's opening goal in the shootout. The 33-year-old goalie is 6-2-0 as the backup to Ilya Sorokin after playing for Los Angeles the past two seasons.

Palmieri scored after Rittich stopped Seattle's Chandler Stephenson.

The Islanders won a shootout for the first time in just over a year. They have seven victories in their last nine games, rebounding from a 2-1 home loss to St Louis on Saturday after a 6-1-0 trip.

Joey Daccord made 34 saves for Seattle for his second shutout of the season and seventh overall. He stopped Horvat and Matthew Schaefer with the Islanders on a power play late in overtime.

The Kraken were coming off a 3-2 overtime win at Pittsburgh on Saturday night. Seattle is 4-1-1 in its last six games and 11-5-6 overall under former Islanders coach Lane Lambert.

The Islanders are 9-3-1 in their last 13 games and 13-5-2 since they started 0-3-0.

The Islanders said before the contest that defenseman Alexander Romanovwill be out for five-to-six months following surgery on his right shoulder.

Up next

Islanders: Host Boston on Wednesday night.

Kraken: Host Dallas on Wednesday night.

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MLS playoffs: Messi leads Miami to East final as NYC FC ends Philadelphia’s season

  • Luis Suárez benched for Matteo Silvetti, who scored twice

  • Union’s Supporters’ Shield-winning season ends

Tadeo Allende scored a second-half brace, Lionel Messi scored and picked up three assists and Inter Miami pulled away to a 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati in Sunday’s MLS Eastern Conference semi-final.

Mateo Silvetti, 19, also had a goal and an assist for No 3 seed Miami, who continue their deepest MLS playoff run in club history by advancing to their first East final. Miami will play NYC FC at home after they beat the Philadelphia Union 1-0 later on Sunday.

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Canadiens Call Up Surging Prospect From AHL

Adam Engstrom (© David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens have made another roster move, as they have called up defenseman Adam Engstrom from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket. 

Engstrom undoubtedly has earned this opportunity on the Canadiens' NHL roster, as he has had a strong start to the 2025-26 season with Laval. In 18 games so far this season with the AHL squad, he has recorded five goals, nine assists, and 14 points.

Yet, what's more encouraging is that Engstrom is only getting better as the season rolls on. The Canadiens prospect has recorded three goals and seven points over his last three games alone. This included him scoring a goal and posting four assists in Laval's most recent contest against the Belleville Senators on Nov. 22. 

With all of this, it makes all the sense in the world that the Canadiens are giving Engstrom the chance to play on their NHL roster. He has been playing some excellent hockey lately in the AHL, and it will be fascinating to see how much of an impact he can make with the Canadiens after landing this call-up from here. 

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Brandon Nimmo leaves behind distinguished Mets career in revealing trade

What could be a seismic offseason for the Mets had its first really loud moment late Sunday afternoon when the news broke that the club had tradedBrandon Nimmo, a drafted-and-developed cog in their core, to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien, a three-time All-Star. 

If you did not believe David Stearns’ end-of-season proclamation about the Mets improving their run prevention, well, this should convince you and the rest of baseball, too. Semien, who won the AL Gold Glove at second last season, instantly improves the Mets’ defense, a big weakness in 2025. 

It’s a one-for-one trade, sure, but no move like this is made in a vacuum, and the real read on this deal will come once we see what’s next. The club’s core, which probably needed refreshing this winter, is officially shaken up now, and all kinds of other roster reverberations are looming going forward.

After the crushing disappointment of last season, that’s probably not a bad thing.

Left field is now open for the Mets to acquire a better defensive player and, potentially, a bigger hitter than Nimmo. Free agent Kyle Tucker, the best position player on this year’s market, comes to mind. Let’s see if the Mets go there, or perhaps try to sign Cody Bellinger and take an outfield star from the Yankees for a second straight winter. 

The Mets also have so many other second base possibilities on their roster – Jeff McNeil, Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña and Ronny Mauricio – that Semien’s presence probably means some of those will be traded, too. And the Mets now seem at least likely to part with some of their highly-regarded prospects as they seek to add an ace and fill gaping divots in the rotation and bullpen. 

Semien, 35, has had two ordinary – at best – years on offense the past two seasons. In 2025, he hit 15 homers, batted .230 and had a .669 OPS. His OPS-plus was 97, below league average. Semien hit 45 homers in 2021 and 29 two years later, so he’s shown pop in the past. The Mets better hope there’s some left.

Semien has $72 million and three years left on his contract, which means the Mets cleared two years of commitment. Nimmo, who will play next season at 33, has five years and more than $100 million left on the eight-year, $162-million contract he signed after the 2022 season. 

For all the benefits the Mets could reap from this deal, there’s a bittersweet quality to it, too. Has to be, considering Nimmo’s significance as a Met since he was taken with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He bloomed into a great Met, if probably not for as long as he once thought.

Nimmo played the game with evident joy, all smiles, and delivered energy and hustle to the Mets and not just on his trademark sprint to first on walks. He was a reliable, respected voice in the Mets clubhouse, willing to dissect the highs and lows of 162 games – and beyond – and was always accountable, even as seasons spiraled.

The early part of Nimmo’s career was stalled by injury, but he has been ultra-reliable the past four seasons, never playing fewer than 151 games. He had an .802 OPS and a .364 on-base percentage and slugged 135 homers in 1,066 games for the Mets.

In a career-best 155 games in 2025, Nimmo had personal highs in home runs (25) and RBI (92). His offensive profile changed over the years as his power developed and his on-base percentage dropped as more balls sailed over the fence. Still, he was one of the Mets’ best offensive players for years.

He was so much a part of the club’s fabric that Mets owner Steve Cohen included Nimmo when he dubbed his top players the “Fab Four,” a play on the Beatles’ nickname last season. Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Juan Soto once seemed likely to be core Mets for years to come. When Nimmo signed his big contract, he talked about the idea of being a Met for life, about how it felt good to put the jersey on and “know it’s not coming off.” 

But big changes wallop teams that fail, especially when there were such high expectations for the 2025 Mets. Stearns vowed to upgrade the run prevention. Nimmo-for-Semien is the first step in that quest. Won’t be the last.

A part of the Mets' core is gone, and an offseason of change in Queens, some of it uncomfortable, is on. 

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Sabres Win Again, But Buffalo Fans Need To See Many More Wins Before Getting Excited

Mark Konezny, USA TODAY Images

The Buffalo Sabres came into the weekend trying to climb out of the Eastern Conference’s basement, and they kicked things off Friday with a 9-3 stomping of the Chicago Blackhawks. Then, Sunday, they beat a legitimate playoff team by claiming another ‘W’ in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Combined with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ continuing slump, the Sabres now sit in 14th place in the East, and they’ve won four of their past five games. But here’s the problem – there’s still six teams currently sitting between Buffalo and the eighth and final Stanley Cup playoff spot. And most of those teams are usually playing one another, so gaining ground is difficult if you’re 10th or 11th in your division, let alone 14th or 15th.

And now, as a thanks for their recent hot streak, the Sabres get two days off before they play four games in six days. And their opponents in those four games – the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets – are either in a playoff position, close to one, or they’ve been on a hot streak of late.

Meanwhile, once that stretch is over, the Sabres head out on a six-game road trip, with the only “gimme game” coming against the Calgary Flames. Every other game comes against a solid team like the Jets, or against a win-desperate team like the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. 

(And as a reminder, Buffalo’s road record this season is 1-5-2. So that road trip could prove disastrous to the Sabres’ playoff aspirations.)

Sabres Defenseman Escapes Serious Injury Sabres Defenseman Escapes Serious Injury Byram left the Sabres 9-3 win over Chicago in the second period, but returned soon afterward.

Give Buffalo credit for having at least a little fight in them. The question is, has this fight arrived too late in the season? And while the answer to that right now is ‘no’, before you know it, the answer will be ‘yes’. 

Thus, to dig out of the crater they created in the first quarter of the season, the Sabres are going to need a prolonged series of wins. Another stretch of four wins in five games will go a decent way in that regard, but the sobering reality is it’s going to take many more wins than that to make any serious headway.

Inconsistent Sabres Break Out In Rout Of BlackhawksInconsistent Sabres Break Out In Rout Of BlackhawksBuffalo scores season-high nine goals against Chicago backup Arvid Soderblom

That means the biggest challenge is still ahead for Buffalo. So you can see why many, if not most Sabres fans are withholding their excitement until such time that the team earns their appreciation. 

There’s a lot of hockey still to play. But Buffalo needs a lot of help, and a lot more winning, to truly turn their season around. 

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Mets, Rangers reportedly agree to Brandon Nimmo/Marcus Semien trade: Roster impact, fantasy fallout

The New York Mets claimed they wanted to improve their team defense this offseason, and they took a big step towards doing that on Sunday, acquiring 2025 Gold Gove second baseman Marcus Semien from the Rangers for outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

The trade still needs to be approved by Major League Baseball, but it appears to be a one-for-one trade for now. The deal was also contingent on Nimmo waiving his no-trade clause, but it's been reported that Nimmo did do that to facilitate the trade.

Why would the Mets make this trade?

Semien, 35, is coming off one of the worst offensive seasons of his career and is due $72 million over the next three years. In that sense, you can see why the Rangers wanted to move on from Semien, but perhaps not why the Mets wanted to acquire him.

Semien has now seen his offensive production decline in each of the last two seasons in terms of power production, contact rate, and swinging strike rate. Over the last two seasons, he’s been challenged with far more sinkers and cutters, and pitchers appear to be effectively getting in on his hands. His infield fly ball rate, which was 7.6% in 2023 and 8.5% in 2022, skyrocketed to 13.8% in 2024 and 13.1% in 2025.

Semien is still making above-average contact overall and has remained consistent with a barrel rate around 6.6%, so there is an argument that he could be closer to a .250 hitter with 15+ home runs and 10+ steals. While that is not exciting on the surface, it’s better than what he produced last year.

However, the reason the Mets wanted to make this deal is for defensive purposes. Semien still produced an Outs Above Average of 7 last season and remains a solid defender at second base. Semien would be a significant improvement there on players like Jeff McNeil or Brett Baty and would create a strong double play combo up the middle with shortstop Francisco Lindor. The deal also removes Nimmo from the outfield, where he posted a -1 Outs Above Average on the season, and allows the Mets to improve their outfield defense as well.

It seems that the Mets were happy to take an offensive hit for the potential defensive gain. The club also has more flexibility for their offseason plans for the outfield, which again, could be an upgrade to Nimmo defensively.

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Why would the Rangers make this trade?

Offensively speaking, Nimmo was clearly superior to Semien last year. He hit .262/.324/.436 with 25 home runs and 13 steals. It seems likely that the Rangers would use Nimmo as their primary left fielder, which means he’d be replacing the non-tendered Adolis Garcia, who posted a .227/.271/.394 line last year with 19 home runs and a 24.7% strikeout rate. That’s an improvement in almost all facets.

The Rangers could also choose to use Nimmo at designated hitter and play Alejandro Osuna in the outfield with Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter.

Nimmo is due $102.5 million over the next five seasons, which is a significant contract for the Rangers to take on, but they clearly believe Nimmo is a better fit at the top of their lineup than Semien.

What’s the fantasy baseball impact?

It's hard to see much of a change for Semien. He goes from hitting at the top of a good lineup in a pitcher's park to hitting atop a good lineup in a modest pitcher's park. Yes, in some respects, Citi Field is better for right-handed hitters, but in terms of just hits for right-handed hitters, Globe Life Field ranked 23rd and Citi Field ranked 26th, according to Statcast Park Factors. Citi Field does rank 7th for right-handed pull power, but Globe Life was 10th, so, again, it's just a modest upgrade. If anything, you'd wonder if the fresh start gives him a mild boost.

Same goes for Nimmo. Citi Field and Globe Life are nearly identical in park factors for left-handed hitters. Globe Life does rank 12th for left-handed pull power while Citi Field ranks 16th, so it's a mild improvement. However, you could make the argument that the Rangers' lineup is slightly worse than the Mets.

At the end of the day, I wouldn't approach either one of these players much differently in fantasy than you were planning to two days ago.