Posts

Posted on

The NHL Buyout Window is now Open, Anaheim Ducks May Need to Use It

Now that the Stanley Cup has been awarded, the NHL offseason is in full swing. The month-long window between now and mid-July is when the vast majority of business will be done prior to the 2026-27 season.

Trades have already taken place, the NHL Draft is less than two weeks away, and unrestricted free agency will soon follow. Between those marquee dates on the calendar, the NHL buyout window looms for players whose teams view them as having vastly underperformed relative to their contracts. 

The NHL buyout window is now open, as it is over 48 hours following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final, and will run through June 30 at 5 PM EST.

Note: For buyout explanations and calculations, head to puckpedia.com’s buyout calculator tool

2025-26 Anaheim Ducks: By the Numbers, Part 1

Report: Defenseman John Carlson will not Re-Sign with Anaheim Ducks, Set to Hit UFA Market on July 1

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Anaheim Ducks are a competitive NHL team who is projected to at least threaten the $104 million salary cap ceiling. Cap hits are no longer irrelevant to the Ducks, and every dollar on the books will matter very soon. 

When examining the Ducks’ cap sheet, one player jumps off the screen: Frank Vatrano. His production dropped off a cliff, and he had a difficult season in 2025-26, on and off the ice.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek typically holds the meat of his contract negotiations for the offseason, but on Jan. 5, 2025, he extended Vatrano on a creative three-year deal. Vatrano was in the middle of his third straight 20-goal season for the Ducks, a year removed from a 37-goal All-Star campaign in 2023-24, and had become an identity piece for the organization as they were attempting to put the finishing touches on an extended, painful rebuild. 

Vatrano’s deal is worth a total of $18 million, but due to ten years of deferred money ($900k annually between 2035 and 2044), his yearly cap hit dropped from $6 million to $4.57 million. The deal includes a seven-team NTC.

Vatrano was Verbeek’s first UFA signing after he took the job in 2022, and Vatrano outperformed expectations in an elevated role due to the Ducks’ lack of talent and rebuild timeline. Following 2025’s hiring of Joel Quenneville as Anaheim’s next head coach, Vatrano had a difficult time carving a role in the newly implemented system, was injured for a stretch with a fracture in his shoulder, and stepped away from the team for personal reasons. 

His final stat line for 2025-26 included just nine points (5-4=9) in 50 games, and he served as a healthy scratch for multiple games, including the Ducks’ entire two-round, 12-game playoff run.  It’s safe to question Vatrano’s future with the Ducks.

If Vatrano were to be bought out during the current window, his cap hit would drop to $571,189 for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons, and would be $2 million in 2028-29 and 2029-30. Vatrano would receive $8 million of the $12 million in remaining money he’s owed on the contract. 

The possibility remains that the Ducks simply keep Vatrano and allow him to work past the issues he faced in 2025-26. There’s also the possibility that they are able to trade him. The 2026 NHL unrestricted free agency class is notoriously weak, the salary cap continues to rise, and teams will likely attempt to improve their teams via the trade market. 

Former Ducks center Ryan Strome went through similar difficulties to Vatrano in 2025-26, and the Ducks were able to move him and the entirety of his $5 million AAV contract to the Calgary Flames at the trade deadline in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Vatrano had a higher ceiling than Strome did during the duo’s time together in Anaheim, and teams may believe they can recapture that magic. They’d have to be willing, however, to assume the responsibility of paying Vatrano through the year 2044.

The next few weeks will be very telling when examining the immediate and long-term future of the Anaheim Ducks. This is a pivotal offseason following their first success in nearly a decade, and a buyout may unfortunately be seen as necessary.

The last time the Ducks bought out a player was when they bought out the final two years of former cornerstone forward Corey Perry’s eight-year deal on June 19, 2019. 

Former Anaheim Ducks Goaltender Frederik Andersen is a Stanley Cup Champion

San Diego Gulls Goaltender Calle Clang Signs Two-Year Contract with SHL Club

Anaheim Duck Prospect Maxim Masse Wins CHL Player of the Year Award

Posted on

JJ Redick’s successful second season leaves no doubt about his Lakers’ future

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we wrap our series with a shift away from the players and towards the head coach, JJ Redick.

Maybe it’s a product of the internet-fueled brain rot that distorts the passage of time these days, but it feels like five years have passed since the debates about JJ Redick’s qualifications to be an NBA head coach, spurred on by his post-playing days podcast career and never having coached at any level beyond his grade-school-aged sons’ teams.

Or maybe it’s the fact that after two full NBA campaigns under his belt, Redick has so quickly and thoroughly dismissed those concerns as irrelevant, it seems like ancient history that ever mattered in the first place.

Either way, it’s no small feat that Redick has put all of that talk behind him to the point that it is hard to imagine him doing anything else besides coaching now. Consecutive 50-win seasons and playoff appearances with home court advantage in the first round do have a way of shifting the perception of a coach under the type of scrutiny Redick was just two years ago.

The degree to which this matters at this point may not be very much at all.

After all, I think JJ would be the first to tell you that, beyond even the wins and losses, he simply wants to be judged on whether he has maximized the group of players he coaches in a specific season. But the fact that we’ve gotten to that point with Redick at all this early into his career is worth mentioning as meaningful — and the fact that this seems to be the only standard he’s being held to at all now even more so.

Yes, there have been growing pains and things have been far from perfect, but I think it’s abundantly clear now that Redick is viewed only as a coach. And, after two seasons, it’s fairly clear he’s a pretty good one.

How did he coach?

Coming off a rookie season that saw his roster upended by a franchise-altering trade, Redick’s second year was also a challenging one due to injuries and player availability impacting a roster that, even with multiple holdovers, did introduce three new rotation players, including two starters.

Whether it was LeBron missing all of training camp and the team’s first 14 games with sciatica, Austin Reaves missing substantial time with two calf strains and an oblique injury, and Luka Dončić missing the team’s final five games and the entire playoffs with a hamstring strain, Redick had to navigate a season where his best three players rarely played together and, when they did, were adjusting to the ever-shifting roles borne from that lack of shared court time.

Redick, though, handled this deftly, creating an environment where roles were backed by communication, understanding, and belief in the players’ abilities to take on whatever was put in front of them. This was exemplified both by the team’s incredible month of March and then in the team’s playoff upset of the Rockets.

In the former, a string of good health was backed by a redefined pecking order that saw Redick cater to Dončić and Reaves as his primary ball handlers and shot creators while LeBron took on a more supportive role as an off-ball worker who focused on doing more with less. Credit the players — particularly LeBron — for being able to adapt on the fly, but Redick also deserves his flowers for formulating this sort of plan and for having the wherewithal to organize the team in a way that, in one stroke, optimized the group while also diminishing the role of a player whose reputation and cachet is as substantive as LeBron’s.

And then, in the latter playoff stretch, with both Dončić and Reaves injured, Redick not only turned back to LeBron as an on-ball creator and primary leader, but crafted offensive game plans that prominently featured Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard as primary scorers and ball-handlers and defensive schemes meant to play into Houston’s lack of experience and guard play by pressuring the ball and forcing turnovers.

In essence, Redick took two totally different groups with different strengths on both sides of the ball and created environments where both experienced great success. Because this is a player’s league and the Lakers were obviously led by historically great individual players, Redick really did not get the credit he deserved in real time. But hindsight really does reveal how much of a strong coaching job the dichotomy of these two stretches required.

Overall, then, it’s more than fair to say that Redick had an excellent year coaching.

He wasn’t perfect by any means and you could certainly nitpick some of the decisions he made over the course of the year, but there were very few, if any, times where I could honestly say I didn’t understand a choice he made, even if I disagreed with it. Which, honestly, is all you can ask for from a coach as an outsider. Can this be explained rationally? If the answer is yes, you don’t have to agree.

Further, I’d argue there was a general adaptability and willingness to change course when something wasn’t working, which really mattered towards the team’s success this year.

Whether it was the aforementioned reorienting of the team’s hierarchy around Luka and Austin or the ultimate shift he made to bring Rui off the bench in favor of Smart, Redick often got to where he needed to be with this roster rather than stubbornly sticking to ideas that would have been easier to stomach politically. And while it’s fair to wonder if he could have done some of these things sooner, I think it’s more important you get there eventually — because some coaches never do.

So, credit to Redick. He still has learning and refining to do, but the trajectory he’s on is positive and I believe in where this team can go with him as the head coach.

What is his contract situation moving forward?

By all accounts, Redick is under contract for several more seasons after receiving a contract extension following his first season that reportedly tacked on two more years to what was originally a four-year deal. That would leave Redick with four years still on this deal now, which positions him well to be the Lakers’ coach for the foreseeable future.

Even beyond that contractual security, though, it is also clear that Redick has a strong relationship not only with Dončić, but with LeBron and Austin. This sort of alignment with your team’s best players can often mean more than the number of years left on your deal or even the sort of support you might have from your general manager.

Should he be back?

Unequivocally, yes. While this is clearly Luka’s team from the player side of things, Redick feels nearly as indentured as the team’s head coach. And just as the team will clearly try to acquire the sorts of players who best complement Dončić and his skill set, I also believe the team will target players who fit into how Redick wants to play while possessing the character and skill set that Redick has established as pillars for the team.

You can follow Darius on BlueSky at @forumbluegoldand find more of his Lakers coverage on the Laker Film Room Podcast.

Posted on

What Will Jim Hiller Bring To The Maple Leafs, What Could Make Him A Good Fit?

The Toronto Maple Leafs' head coach search officially concluded on Wednesday when the organization announced Jim Hiller as the 41st head coach of the franchise.

This decision certainly turned heads and shocked many for a couple of reasons. Hiller's name never really came up in the build-up to this hire, and he's coming off a tenure with the Los Angeles Kings that wasn't particularly impressive.

However, this is a new page for Hiller in his head coaching career, and the Maple Leafs' current situation is very different from the Kings team Hiller led for parts of the last three years.

When Hiller was with the Kings, he had his team play very defensively. From Feb. 2, 2024, to March 1, 2026, Hiller's official tenure, Los Angeles averaged 2.86 goals per game. That puts the Kings tied for the ninth-worst offense in the NHL over that span.

The Kings did not play an exciting brand of hockey under his guidance, but that could be partly because of the makeup of the team.

Hiller coached an aging Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, leaving his top offensive producer to be Adrian Kempe, who has never scored more than 75 points in his NHL career. Not to mention, Quinton Byfield has yet to blossom into the high-flying center that he is expected to be.

Maple Leafs Announce Jim Hiller As Franchise's 41st Head CoachMaple Leafs Announce Jim Hiller As Franchise's 41st Head CoachThe Toronto Maple Leafs have announced Jim Hiller as their 41st head coach in franchise history and the successor to former bench boss Craig Berube.

When a team like the Kings has a veteran core, most of the time, the organization will want to find ways to always be competitive. Another example of that is the Pittsburgh Penguins, who seemingly refuse to go through a complete rebuild as long as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are around.

And with a team that lacks offensive prowess, the way to win games is to keep the other team from scoring. In that sense, Hiller was very good at getting the Kings to buy in defensively, and the numbers prove it.

In that same span in which Hiller led Los Angeles from behind the bench, no team in the NHL was better than the Kings at keeping the puck out of their net.

The Kings averaged 2.60 goals against, marking them with the best defense in the league. They also have the fifth-most shutouts in the NHL with five, and while Darcy Kuemper was solid and a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2024-25, those numbers are a nod to Hiller's system.

Berube, Keefe, Babcock: How The Maple Leafs' Last Three NHL Head Coaches Fared In TorontoBerube, Keefe, Babcock: How The Maple Leafs' Last Three NHL Head Coaches Fared In TorontoHow have the previous three head coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs - Craig Berube, Sheldon Keefe, and Mike Babcock - fared in their respective tenures?

Even though Hiller has only really presented a defensive system for his team as a head coach in the NHL, that doesn't mean that's all he can provide. After all, when he was an assistant coach in the NHL, including with the Maple Leafs for four years, he looked after the power play.

As Toronto's power-play operator from 2015-16 to 2018-19, Hiller had success with the Leafs special teams. In that span, the Maple Leafs have the fifth-best power play in the NHL, registering a 21.3 percentage rate.

Therefore, Hiller does have the ability to create offense out of his team. But what gives him an even greater chance to be successful as the head coach of the Maple Leafs is his history with the team.

Could Morgan Rielly And Matthew Knies Be Next Out The Door For Maple Leafs?Could Morgan Rielly And Matthew Knies Be Next Out The Door For Maple Leafs?Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka has made his imprint on the roster with a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. If he plans on making another big move this off-season, Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies are likely next in line.

Toronto's roster has certainly changed a lot since Hiller moved on from the Maple Leafs' coaching staff. However, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly have remained on the team since.

It may not be a coincidence that Hiller's last year with the Maple Leafs, Tavares and Rielly had the best campaigns of their NHL careers. Tavares scored a career-high 47 goals and 88 points while Rielly recorded 20 goals and 74 points, as well as Norris Trophy recognition, finishing fifth in the award's voting.

Not to mention, Hiller was a teacher to Matthews and Nylander in the early parts of their career, a critical moment in their development and a factor in how talented they have become over the years.

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Maple Leafs hire former LA Kings coach Jim Hiller to replace Craig Berube

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday hired Jim Hiller as the 41st head coach in franchise history, bringing back an assistant with the club from 2015-19.

The 57-year-old Hiller replaces Craig Berube as part of an offseason overhaul led by new general manager John Chayka.

Most recently, Hiller served as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, compiling a 93-58-24 record over parts of three seasons. The Kings fired Hiller on March 1 following an 8-1 loss to Edmonton.

“(Hiller) has worked with successful teams throughout his career, connects well with players and brings a clear approach behind the bench,” Chayka said in a news release. “We believe he’s the right person to lead our team and help us reach our goals.”

Hiller served as an assistant coach with the Kings for two seasons before being promoted to head coach.

A native of Port Alberni, British Columbia, Hiller spent 11 seasons coaching junior hockey, including stints with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans and several teams in the British Columbia Hockey League, before moving to the NHL ranks.

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to return to Toronto and lead the Maple Leafs,” Hiller said in the release. “This is a special organization with great players, passionate fans and high expectations. I’m looking forward to getting to work with our players and staff and doing everything we can to help this team reach its full potential.”

The Leafs fired Berube on May 13 after two seasons, following a first-to-last turnaround this past season. After finishing atop the Atlantic Division in 2024-25 and making it to the second round of the playoffs, Toronto fell to last in the division and 28th in the NHL.

His firing came 10 days after Chayka was brought on board to replace Brad Treliving. Chayka called the Berube firing “an opportunity to start fresh,” and said the team would go through a wide-ranging search.

Along with making some new front-office additions, Chayka traded goaltender Joseph Woll and depth defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for blue-liner Emil Andrae, goalie Samuel Ersson and a third-round pick at next week’s NHL draft.

Toronto owns the No. 1 pick in the draft, a first since taking Auston Matthews atop the 2016 draft.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Posted on

2025-26 Season in Review: Filip Hallander

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 11: Filip Hallander #11 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates during the game against the New York Rangers at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 11, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Vitals

Player: Filip Hallander
Born: June 29, 2000 (25 years old)
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 203 pounds
Hometown: Sundsvall, Sweden
Shoots: Left
Draft: 58th overall (second round) in the 2018 NHL draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins
2025-26 Regular Season Statistics: 13 games played; one goal; three assists; four points
Contract Status: Entering second year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $850,000. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Story of the Season

Now back in the fold after two successful seasons with Timra IK, Hallander earned a spot on the opening night roster for the 2025-26 season under new head coach Dan Muse.

On Oct. 16, 2025, he scored his first NHL goal, a shorthanded game-winner over the Los Angeles Kings, some seven years after being drafted.

Hallander’s impressive October and 2025-26 season would come to a screeching halt after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg in November 2025. The diagnosis forced Hallander to miss several months, but he successfully progressed through his recovery enough to rejoin his teammates for practice by mid-February.

He was loaned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on a conditioning assignment on Feb. 18.

In three games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hallander recorded a lone goal, but was recalled from his conditioning assignment Feb. 27.

He did not appear in a game for the remainder of the season.

Monthly Splits

Via Yahoo! Sports

Hallander notched an assist on opening night in the 4-3 win over the New York Rangers, and three games later, recorded his first-career NHL goal against the Kings.

He’d go pointless after that game, but saw his ice time dramatically increase from 10:58 in a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Oct. 23 to 16:09 the next game against the Blue Jackets.

He recorded assists in back-to-back games against the St. Louis Blues and the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28, respectively.

Regular season 5v5 advanced stats

Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 18 forwards on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.

Corsi For%: 48.00 (16th)
Goals For%: 63.64 (1st)
xGF%: 49.13 (17th)
Scoring Chance %: 49.11 (13th)
High Danger Scoring Chance%: 57.33 (2nd)
5v5 on-ice shooting%: 9.21 (15th)
On-ice save%: 95.06 (1st)
Goals/60: 0
Assist/60: 1.18
Points/60: 1.18

Hallander barely qualifies for this data set, playing just over 152 minutes of ice time, the lowest of any eligible forward. The numbers are somewhat volatile and should be treated more as a snapshot of a few shifts than as a reliable assessment of his true performance this season.

The on-ice save percentage and goals for percentage almost certainly regress if Hallander logs more substantial ice time, and in that same breath, he probably generates a better Corsi for percentage, for example, than his 16th-ranked finish indicates.

Ultimately, Hallander showed encouraging flashes as a defensively responsible depth forward. The question is whether he can translate that effectiveness over 700-900 minutes, where the luck factors disappear, and his true impact becomes clearer.

Highlights

Questions to ponder

What is Hallander’s health status heading into next season? Will he have to earn another role within Pittsburgh’s bottom-six? What does Dan Muse make of a soon-to-be 26-year-old with just 16 NHL games under his belt?

Ideal 2026-27

Hallander is still under contract for the 2026-27 season, and players like Noel Acciari, Kevin Hayes, and Anthony Mantha are more likely than not to depart the organization, creating a few openings for the remaining forwards.

Still just 25, Hallander may yet have some untapped bottom-six potential, but his long-term outlook and health status remain in question. While injuries are unpredictable, durability remains just as much of a desired trait as goalscoring.

Bottom line

Some flashes of a decent NHL player were there early on, before injury derailed his season. If he can stay healthy, Hallander could offer cheap, effective bottom-six depth for a Penguins team that is once again primed for a bit of a facelift this offseason with cap space at Kyle Dubas’ disposal to go big-game hunting.

Final Grade: C

Some may view a “C” grade as too generous, but considering his solid October, I am going to grade him based on what he offered when he was in the lineup.

Posted on

Toronto Maple Leafs hire Jim Hiller as next head coach

The Toronto Maple Leafs are turning to former Los Angeles Kings coach Jim Hiller to get them back to the playoffs after the end of their nine-year streak.

Hiller, 57, replaces Craig Berube, who was fired after two seasons.

Hiller was fired by the Kings in March but is familiar with the Maple Leafs organization, serving as an assistant coach from 2015-19, making the playoffs three times in that four-year span.

He had a 93-58-24 record in the regular season with the Kings, including tying a franchise record for wins and points, but he lost in the first round in his two trips to the playoffs.

“Jim is an experienced coach with a strong understanding of what it takes to win in today's NHL,” general manager John Chayka said. “He has worked with successful teams throughout his career, connects well with players and brings a clear approach behind the bench. We believe he's the right person to lead our team and help us reach our goals.”

This is a crucial year for the Maple Leafs. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. But they landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft by winning the draft lottery.

They are expected to take Gavin McKenna with that pick, and Hiller would be his first NHL coach.

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to return to Toronto and lead the Maple Leafs,” Hiller said. “This is a special organization with great players, passionate fans and high expectations. I’m looking forward to getting to work with our players and staff and doing everything we can to help this team reach its full potential.”

Jim Hiller's coaching experience

Before becoming the Kings' head coach, he had been an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings, Maple Leafs and Kings. He was interim coach or head coach of the Kings for 175 regular-season games. He began his coaching career in junior hockey in the Western Hockey League.

Jim Hiller as Kings head coach

He was promoted to interim coach in February 2024 after the Kings fired Todd McLellan. He got the Kings to the playoffs, where they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.

The Kings removed the interim title and he led the team to a franchise-record-tying 48 wins and 105 points. They faced the Oilers in the first round for the fourth time in four years and lost for the fourth time, despite taking a 2-0 series lead.

They led in Game 3 when Evander Kane scored to tie the game. The on-ice officials initially ruled he kicked in the puck but a review overturned that. Then Hiller challenged for goaltender interference and lost, giving the Oilers a power play. Evan Bouchard scored 10 seconds later for a 5-4 lead and eventual 7-4 victory.

"We felt like it was goalie interference, so we challenged it," Hiller told reporters after that game. "Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose on those and tonight (we) lost and it cost us big time. No other way around it."

The Kings' collapse cost general manager Rob Blake his job, but new GM Ken Holland kept on Hiller.

"Jim Hiller did a fabulous job in leading the team to 105 points," Holland said. "They were good defensively. They were good on special teams. The team played hard. ... He'll be a better coach next year for the experience he went through this year."

Holland fired Hiller and naned D,J, Smith interim coach on March 1. The Kings had a five-game losing streak around the Olympic break, including an 8-1 loss to the Oilers.

Other NHL coach hirings and openings

The Vancouver Canucks hired Manny Malhotra on June 1.

The Kings hired Peter Laviolette on June 8.

The Oilers are looking for a coach after firing Kris Knoblauch.

The Vegas Golden Knights are looking for a coach after saying John Tortorella isn't returning.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maple Leafs hire Jim Hiller as head coach

Posted on

Know the draft prospect: Sergio de Larrea

BADALONA, SPAIN - JUNE 14: Sergio de Larrea of Valencia Basket warms up during the Spanish League, Liga ACB Endesa, basketball Semi Final Game 3 match played between Asisa Joventut and Valencia Basket at Olimpic Arena on June 14, 2026 in Badalona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images

Depending on how the board falls, Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea could be available when New York is on the clock on draft night next week. Should the Knicks consider him with their 24th or 31st selection?

The Basics

  • Team: Valencia Basket (Spain’s Liga ACB)
  • Position: Guard
  • Height: 6’6″
  • Weight: 204 lbs
  • Age: 20
  • 2025-26 Stats: 8.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 40.9% FG, 36.7% 3PT, 81.3% FT (in ACB play)
  • Projected Draft Range: Late first to early second round (Picks 25–35)

The Numbers

De Larrea has built one of the cleaner international profiles heading into the 2026 NBA Draft. He played meaningful professional minutes for Valencia Basket in Spain’s ACB and a bit smaller role at the EuroLeague. In any case, he gave scouts more than a large sample against professional, older, stronger, and truly more experienced competition for the past few months.

His ACB production stands out because it came in a rotational role, with De Larrea averaging around 18 minutes per game while shooting 36.7% from three and 81.3% from the free-throw line. At the end of the day, however, this is a guard whose value is found in his passing and decision-making.

De Larrea averaged 3.6 assists per game in ACB action, showing good court vision and building him into one of the more intriguing bigger guards in the class, and the best guard outright coming from overseas. That said, De Larrea is not a high-volume scorer or explosive downhill athlete. But he has size, polish, shooting indicators, and something the Knicks might like in his professional experience, giving him a strong baseline.

Making things more intriguing is the fact that the Knicks have already been linked to him, as Jake Fischer reported New York’s interest in the Spanish guard, writing, “I’m told that the Knicks, like the Timberwolves, have interest in Spain’s Larrea.”

What Does He Do Well?

  • Advanced Playmaking: De Larrea’s biggest appeal is his feel. He sees passing windows early, plays with pace, and can operate in ball-screen actions without rushing. At nearly 6’7”, he can see over smaller guards and make live-dribble reads that many late-first prospects cannot consistently make yet.
  • Reliable Shooting: The shooting profile looks a bit of a work-in-progress, but his three-point shooting in ACB play, combined with his free-throw touch, gives him a strong foundation as an NBA spacer in time. He can punish defenders who go under screens, hit spot-up looks, and operate away from the ball.
  • Positional Size: De Larrea has legitimate guard size. He is big enough to play next to a smaller lead guard and skilled enough to handle secondary creation duties.
  • Professional Polish: He has already played in a structured European system against veteran competition, both at the domestic and continental levels. That does not guarantee immediate NBA success, as we very well know around these places, but it lowers the developmental risk compared to prospects who still need to learn some basics of the pro game.

What Are the Concerns?

  • Limited Burst: De Larrea is not an explosive athlete. He does not consistently win with a lightning first step, and NBA defenders may test whether he can create separation without a screen.
  • Physical Strength: He still needs to add a good deal of strength, which matters as a finisher, ball-handler under pressure, and defender against bigger NBA guards and wings.
  • Defensive Ceiling: His size will help on D, but he is not a high-level defensive disruptor for now. De Larrea projects as a smart positional defender more than someone who blows up actions with elite athleticism.
  • Scoring Creation: De Larrea is more of a connector than a takeover scorer. He can shoot, pass, and make smart reads, but he is unlikely to become an offensive engine.

The Knicks Fit

The Knicks enter the 2026 NBA Draft with picks No. 24, No. 31, and No. 55, and there has already been reporting that New York could look to move one of its first-rounders if only to save themselves some dough.

If the Knicks keep one of their late first-round picks, de Larrea fits the type of cost-controlled, high-IQ contributor who makes sense for a team smacked right in the middle of their contending window and coming off winning a championship. De Larrea would not need to dominate the ball at all, could play next to Brunson, splitting minutes with Deuce McBride and Tyler Kolek, and function with the second unit while honing his skillset in Tarrytown and watching from the pine most of the time.

The most obvious angle to consider regarding the little Spaniard has to do with the Knicks’ long-term roster building. If New York wants to maintain some flexibility while managing an expensive championship core, a late-first/early-second rookie who can provide guard depth on a controlled contract has real value.

NBA Comparison

  • Best-Case Comparison: International Malcolm Brogdon (Steady guard who wins with strength and decision-making but lacks burst)
  • Median Outcome: Tomas Satoransky (Tall European guard who can pass, organize, play on or off the ball, and survive as a rotation player without scoring that much)
  • Low-End Outcome: Frank Ntilikina (Welp)

The Verdict

Pass at 24. New York may have access to higher-upside prospects, especially if someone like Meleek Thomas, Isaiah Evans, Chris Cenac Jr., or Morez Johnson Jr. slips. But at No. 31, de Larrea’s combination of size, shooting, passing, and professional polish is hard to ignore.

Think twice at 31. If Sergio de Larrea is still on the board when the Knicks pick early in the second round, he makes some sense. The Spaniard may not have star upside nor a legit role during his first days in Manhattan, but that is not necessarily what the Knicks need right now. De Larrea profiles as a smart, skilled, low-maintenance guard who can help a good team stay organized, space the floor, and develop into a reliable rotation piece. We don’t know what will happen to Deuce McBride once his deal expires, and the only long-term option at the point is Tyler Kolek. Considering de Larrea will likely be gone at No. 55, the Knicks would need to make a tough decision here.

For our other Draft Profiles, go here.

Go Knicks!

Posted on

Everything to know about the Knicks Championship Parade: live stream info, route, start time

The New York Knicks made history last Saturday, capturing the franchise's first NBA championship in 53 years. This Thursday, June 18, New Yorkers will get to celebrate the milestone in the franchise's first ticker-tape parade.

“For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have waited for this moment. Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. And this team fulfilled that hope with grit, resilience, and heart — just like the five boroughs itself,” said New York City Zohran Mayor Mamdani in a statement. “New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it’s time for our city to celebrate together. Bing bong.”

See below for everything you need to know about the 2026 Knicks championship parade.

2026 NBA Finals - Game Five
Knicks end 53-year title drought behind masterpiece by Jalen Brunson
The New York Knicks rallied once again thanks to a 45-point performance from Jalen Brunson to beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5, winning the team’s first title since 1973.

When and where is the New York Knicks’ championship parade?

The Knicks' championship parade will take place this Thursday, June 18 in lower Manhattan, beginning at 10 AM ET.

How to watch the New York Knicks championship parade:

Live coverage of the parade will be available across local broadcast networks, including MSG Network, ABC7 New York, and NBC 4.

New York Knicks Championship Parade Route:

The parade is expected to start at Battery Park and travel North along Broadway, through the Canyon of Heroes, and conclude at City Hall.

SpursKnicksG5 2026
Knicks title highlights shift from ‘big three’ championship model to depth, patience
Winning in today’s NBA is not about compiling superstars, it’s about surrounding a star with depth that fits.

Did the Knicks have a ticker tape parade in 1973?

The last time the Knicks won the NBA championship in 1973, they did not have a ticker-tape parade, only a ceremony at City Hall.

Bridges Reflects on Knicks’ 2026 Championship Run:

2026 NBA Finals - New York Knicks v San Antonio Spurs
Jalen Brunson’s Finals MVP run started two years ago with team-friendly contract, ended with 45 points, ring
Brunson’s financial sacrifice made it possible to build a contender around him.

Posted on

Celtics reportedly looking to move up in first round of NBA Draft

Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Celtics may not be sitting still at No. 27.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Boston is looking to trade up in the first round of next Tuesday’s NBA Draft. The Celtics currently hold the No. 27 pick and the No. 40 pick, but Fischer reported that they have been exploring a move higher on the board.

There are two obvious ways to read that.

The first is pretty straightforward: Brad Stevens and the Celtics may have found a player they like and do not believe he’ll be there at 27. That is the normal draft-week explanation.

The louder version is the one you’re probably already sick of hearing about. We’ll get to…him…later.

Maybe the Celtics are trying to jump a few spots for a frontcourt prospect they think fits the next version of the roster. Or perhaps they’re trying to improve their draft capital before the rest of the offseason starts moving. Maybe they are doing both, because Brad Stevens has never seemed like someone who enjoys having only one door available to him.

Either way, Boston exploring a move up feels like the first move in what figures to be a busy offseason.

Who could Boston be targeting?

Henri Veesaar feels like the cleanest name to watch.

ESPN’s latest mock draft has the North Carolina big going No. 24 to the Knicks, which puts him close enough to Boston’s range for a trade-up conversation to make some sense. At 7 feet, with shooting touch and pick-and-pop potential, Veesaar checks a lot of the obvious boxes for a Celtics team still trying to solve its frontcourt issues.

A big who can keep the floor spaced, rebound enough and do more than simply occupy space would give Boston a better answer than hoping the current rotation solves itself.

Jayden Quaintance is another interesting name if the Celtics are comfortable with the medical risk tied to his knee. If Boston wants to jump higher, names like Chris Cenac Jr., Hannes Steinbach and Morez Johnson Jr. could come into play, but that would require a more aggressive move. Aday Mara is probably the dream version of the idea, though ESPN has him at No. 11, which feels like a different conversation entirely unless something much larger is about to happen.

If the Celtics stay put, Tarris Reed Jr. could still make sense as a more physical, ready-now big. But if Fischer’s report is tied to a specific frontcourt target, Veesaar is the easiest name to connect.

My big fat Greek trade rumors

You didn’t think we were getting through a Celtics offseason report without Giannis Antetokounmpo showing up, did you?

Fischer’s note also mentioned Boston as a team very much still looming in the Giannis conversation, which gives the trade-up report a second layer to consider. Moving up could be about drafting a player. It could also be about improving the quality of an asset before a larger deal takes place.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 03: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks talk after a game at Fiserv Forum on April 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A better first-round pick is more attractive than No. 27 in almost any trade conversation with the Bucks. That does not magically make a Giannis deal realistic, simple or even likely. Nothing about acquiring a player of that caliber is ever straightforward. But if Boston is trying to keep every door open, turning No. 27 into something slightly more appealing would at least fit the larger logic of the offseason.

That is probably the cleanest way to look at this for now. The Celtics are trying to give themselves more options.

Maybe they want to move up for a big who can help answer the frontcourt question. Maybe they want a better asset before taking a bigger swing. Maybe nothing happens, because draft-week rumors have a long history of being just that: rumors.

Still, for a team with limited easy ways to improve, exploring a move up makes sense.

The Celtics can stay at No. 27 and hope the board cooperates. Or they can try to make sure it does.

Posted on

Where Edmonton Is Looking In Place Of Draft Picks

Stan Bowman can't manufacture draft picks.

Believe me, if there was a way to do that, Oilers fans would have found it by now.

Years of questionable trades, a willingness to push chips into the middle of the table and the reality of trying to maximize Connor McDavid's current contract have left Edmonton with something less than a fully stocked cupboard, which isn't exactly a revelation but does present an interesting challenge for a front office that still needs to find younger, cheaper talent.

Fortunately, the NHL isn't the only place players can be found.

That's where Edmonton has stumbled onto something interesting.

The Oilers aren't blessed with endless cap space. They don't possess a surplus of premium prospects. Their first-round exits and coaching drama haven't exactly helped matters, either.

But they do have opportunity.

Lots of it.

And for ambitious players overseas looking to establish themselves in North America, opportunity can be just as valuable as money.

Doesn't Look Like Popular Coach Is Going To Be Made Available to the OilersDoesn't Look Like Popular Coach Is Going To Be Made Available to the OilersVegas appears willing to pay $4.5 million to keep Bruce Cassidy off Edmonton’s bench, choosing to block their rival's pursuit while pivoting toward an AHL coach.

It's why Edmonton's recent interest in European free agents makes so much sense.

Nobody is suggesting Aku Räty or any future signing from Sweden, Finland, Switzerland or the Czech Republic is going to turn into the next Leon Draisaitl. More often than not, these players become depth contributors. Sometimes they don't work at all.

But occasionally, a team gets lucky.

Occasionally, they get more than lucky.

Carolina has built a reputation for finding value in unusual places. The Hurricanes have never been afraid to trust European leagues or invest in players who perhaps weren't viewed as blue-chip prospects by the rest of the league.

Vegas has done much the same.

Option As Oilers Next Coach Will Officially Be Available In Two WeeksOption As Oilers Next Coach Will Officially Be Available In Two WeeksAfter leading Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final, John Tortorella hits the open market, offering Edmonton a battle-tested leader known for demanding accountability and elite performance.

The Golden Knights have made a habit of identifying players before everyone else catches up, and while they've generally been more aggressive in the trade market, they've also understood that talent exists well beyond the NHL Draft.

There's no reason Edmonton can't do something similar.

In fact, one could argue the Oilers are better positioned than most.

If you're a 24-year-old winger coming out of Finland or a defenceman dominating the Swedish Hockey League, where would you rather sign?

With a rebuilding team where playing meaningful games might still be years away?

A real contender who will more likely than not send you the AHL?

Nurse to Penguins A Possibility: What Might a Trade With the Oilers Look Like?Nurse to Penguins A Possibility: What Might a Trade With the Oilers Look Like?As Kyle Dubas hunts for impact trades, a blockbuster swap involving Darnell Nurse and a key piece from both the Oilers and Penguins could reshape both rosters while navigating complex salary cap hurdles.

Or with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on a roster so desperate for depth pieces that they have no choice but to play you?

With a club carrying expectations, national exposure and a realistic chance to contend?

That's not a difficult sales pitch.

And unlike some organizations whose depth charts are overflowing with first-round picks and former high-end prospects, Edmonton actually has room.

A good camp can change lives. Just ask Vasily Podkolzin, who has gone from former first-round disappointment to a player who looks like he belongs in the Oilers' long-term plans.

What Carolina's Win Can Teach The OilersWhat Carolina's Win Can Teach The OilersWhen the Carolina Hurricanes celebrated with the Stanley Cup, did you notice that somewhere between the hugs, the champagne and the endless shots of Rod Brind'Amour hoisting the most prized trophy in sports, Carolina had something Edmonton didn't?

Once an organization develops a reputation for giving players a legitimate chance, word spreads surprisingly quickly.

That's why this strategy feels a little sneaky. It doesn't require winning bidding wars. It doesn't require sacrificing draft picks. And it certainly doesn't require handing out contracts that become headaches three years down the road.

It simply requires being right more often than you're wrong.

Granted, there are risks.

Most European free agents don't become stars. Some don't even become NHL players. The adjustment is significant because the ice is smaller, the schedule is longer, and the pressure in Edmonton is unlike anything most players have experienced.

Oilers Should Hope the Hellebuyck "Noise" Gets LouderOilers Should Hope the Hellebuyck "Noise" Gets LouderAs trade rumors swirl around Winnipeg’s elite netminder, Edmonton must aggressively pursue Connor Hellebuyck to solidify their crease and maximize the McDavid-Draisaitl championship window.

There certainly will be misses. But misses are easier to stomach when the investment is relatively small. That's the appeal.

The Oilers don't need to find another McDavid. They don't need every European signing to become a top-six forward or a top-four defenceman. They just need to uncover useful players.

Maybe one becomes a reliable third-line winger. Maybe another develops into a penalty killer. Perhaps one eventually turns into something much more.

Those are worthwhile bets.

Because if the last decade has taught us anything, it's that the Oilers aren't going to draft their way out of every problem.

Worth the Wait: Ex-Oilers Star Taylor Hall Wins a Stanley Cup With the HurricanesWorth the Wait: Ex-Oilers Star Taylor Hall Wins a Stanley Cup With the HurricanesSixteen seasons after his debut with the Oilers, the former top pick hoisted the Stanley Cup, netting the championship-winning goal to cap a dominant playoff run with Carolina.

They've chosen a different path. There stars are already here and they've traded away any ones they could have drafted.

Now it's about finding support wherever it exists.

If that means looking beyond North America and building a reputation as the destination for Europe's best unsigned players, well, there are certainly worse markets to corner.

Especially for a team that doesn't have many draft picks left to spend.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Posted on

Maple Leafs Announce Jim Hiller As Franchise's 41st Head Coach

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Wednesday that they have hired Jim Hiller as the franchise's next head coach.

Hiller is coming off a stint with the Los Angeles Kings, which lasted for parts of three years and one full season in that tenure.

In a total of 175 games as an NHL head coach with the Kings, he holds a record of 93-58-24.

"Jim is an experienced coach with a strong understanding of what it takes to win in today's NHL," Leafs GM John Chayka said. "He has worked with successful teams throughout his career, connects well with players and brings a clear approach behind the bench. We believe he's the right person to lead our team and help us reach our goals."

He was fired by Kings GM Ken Holland on March 1 after a 24-21-14 record across the first 59 games of the season. Los Angeles struggled last season under Hiller and nearly missed the Stanley Cup playoffs.

When he was let go, former Leafs assistant coach D.J. Smith was named his successor and got Los Angeles into the post-season.

Nonetheless, Hiller has a strong history with the Maple Leafs. He was an assistant coach in Toronto, a part of Mike Babcock's staff from 2015-16 to 2018-19.

Why The Maple Leafs May Decide To Not Tender Newly Acquired Goaltender Samuel Ersson A Qualifying OfferWhy The Maple Leafs May Decide To Not Tender Newly Acquired Goaltender Samuel Ersson A Qualifying OfferWhile acquiring Samuel Ersson adds an intriguing young goaltender to the pipeline, his looming arbitration rights and Toronto’s crowded crease mean the Maple Leafs might just walk away.

"I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to return to Toronto and lead the Maple Leafs," Hiller said. "This is a special organization with great players, passionate fans and high expectations. I'm looking forward to getting to work with our players and staff and doing everything we can to help this team reach its full potential."

During his time with the Leafs, Hiller ran the team's power play. Across the four years he was behind Toronto's bench as an assistant, the Maple Leafs' power play executed at 21.3 percent, which is the fifth-best rate in the NHL in that span.

Between his time with the Maple Leafs and the Kings, Hiller was also an assistant coach with the New York Islanders from 2019-20 to 2021-22. He also controlled the power play for the Isles, and had them perform at a 19.6 percent rate, which was 19th-best in the league over those years.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Can Paul George build on his strong finish to 2025-26?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers is introduced before the game against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We saw quite the rise in impact from Paul George through 2025-26. The season started in typical Sixers fashion, with their star wing sidelined due to injury for the first 12 games. His play from mid November to the end of January was solid, yet he only averaged 16.0 points per game in this 27-game span. Even with the arrival of VJ Edgecombe to give the team’s offense a major uplift, that’s simply not the kind of production the Sixers expect or pay for from George.

Then came the startling, embarrassing moment: George being suspended 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug policy. It left him just 10 games of availability at the end of the regular season to get back into form and ramp up for the playoffs.

Yet sure enough, he did. He used the time to get right physically and came back with a clear extra spring in his step. From his first game post suspension putting up 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting with six made threes (a scoring tally he’d reached just twice in the previous 27 games), George suddenly hit a higher level than probably anyone saw coming. And he maintained it, putting together the kind of play that showed why the Sixers wanted him — and wanted to pay him star money.

George got started with 10 games to close the regular season after his return. In this stretch, he averaged 21.0 points on 47.2 percent shooting (including 41.5 from three, with his 8.2 attempts being the more notable number), 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and a highly disruptive 2.2 steals per game.

The epitome of George’s performance — and what makes him more important if he can replicate it enough moving forward — was his first-round series against the Celtics. He was phenomenal at both ends of the floor, showcasing his varied offensive skillset and stellar defense against a tough Celtics squad. Like the Sixers as a whole, the steam ran out in the second round against the eventual champion Knicks. But the Celtics series was a perfect example of what George is still capable of.

Through the first round, George averaged 17.4 points on 48.9/55.0/77.8 shooting splits, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

The scoring output didn’t need to be huge with Tyrese Maxey going off and Joel Embiid dominating after his return. George was efficient in the ways he needs to be as a secondary creator and dangerous shooter, all while pairing that with sound playmaking. He reliably made crisp extra passes to keep the offense humming, and composed passes to find cutters or kick out to shooters when initiating or running pick-and-rolls.

His shooting showcase was exactly what you want to see too, with his three-point volume up at 5.7 attempts per game for the series including two games with nine attempts. Quick-trigger threes from anywhere around the arc off movement, step-backs and side-steps when in isolation, smooth pull-ups when operating in pick-and-rolls. His driving downhill still leaves something to be desired, and needs to be an area of improvement next season if he can build on this play/improved health, but everything else was on display.

George had it all going in a reminder of what he can do.

Defensively, George was everywhere. He played both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum well, using his length, physicality, sharp anticipation against drives, and improved mobility to give them trouble. From guarding effectively on the ball and breaking up passing lanes, to contesting threes or providing timely help rotations around the paint, George was brilliant in all areas defensively.

If this PG can remain healthy and consistent next season, and maybe add a bit more dynamism attacking downhill, great. A healthy offseason could help him continue this momentum. The Sixers would be a better team — and more enjoyable team — for it. But for now, there isn’t enough evidence to show that George can sustain this healthy version of himself longterm at this stage of his career. We can only wait and see if George can show up at this level more often.

Apart from that, the biggest question around George’s future is whether it takes him to a new team. With the Sixers having so much money tied up in their stars, their only real way to find some financial flexibility and add depth is by trading a contract like George’s, which owes him an eye-watering $54.12 million in 2026-27. Finding any team willing to take that much money, when he also has a $56.58 million player option for 2027-28 which he’ll certainly take at that late stage of his career, won’t be easy whatsoever.

Until we see any reports that indicate that’s actually a possibility, though, I’ll keep focused on George as a Sixer and what that could look like. Hopefully for Philly, that’s something like the version we saw in his comeback after suspension. If he can be that kind of player (emphasis on “if”), that makes the Sixers more interesting.

Pair that with continued growth from Tyrese Maxey and the flourishing Edgecombe, who’s sure to take another step to stardom in his sophomore year, and ideally any extra depth they can find in free agency, and maybe the Sixers can take a step forward from being a 45-win level team.

Health depending, of course. Because, you know… Sixers.

Posted on

Ali Brunson shares behind-the-scenes photos from Knicks’ championship run: ‘Soaking up every minute’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows A woman takes a mirror selfie in a bathroom, wearing a beige jacket with black and orange details, Image 2 shows Ali Brunson holding two golden basketball trophies, Image 3 shows A man and woman wearing hats and standing next to each other
Ali Brunson

It’s been a long playoff run for the Knicks’ WAGs, but they surely wouldn’t have it any other way.

After a long playoff run starting in mid-April and culminating in a breathtaking NBA championship, Ali Brunson, wife of Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, unloaded her camera roll.

In a 12-picture Instagram post, Ali shared images of their goldendoodle Kona and rescue Stevie, as well as their 11-month-old baby daughter, Jordyn James Brunson.

Ali, who became a doctor of Physical Therapy in 2021, and the other Knicks WAGs have been in the news lately after James Dolan jokingly asked Knicks players to be celibate during the playoffs in a now-famous speech.

Ali Brunson takes a picture with the mirror. Instagram alibrunson11

“I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” Dolan told the Knicks on April 3 before the playoffs began. “You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks, but like Spartans — do you know what Spartans are? — They denied themselves to gain an edge. Get the edge.”

Ali added pictures of the constant travel by plane she had to do as the significant other of one of the best players in the NBA.

Jalen Brunson was photographed with the Larry O’Brien. Instagram alibrunson11


Ali added a few behind-the-scenes pictures of her and her husband celebrating with the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award Trophy.

The Knicks will be partying in the streets of Manhattan on Thursday for the parade down the Canyon of Heroes, as fans get to soak in the team after it broke the franchise’s 53-year championship drought.

Posted on

Could Morgan Rielly And Matthew Knies Be Next Out The Door For Maple Leafs?

John Chayka made his first big move as the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, sending away Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers for Emil Andrae, Samuel Ersson and a 2026 third-round draft pick.

Chayka checked off multiple boxes for the Maple Leafs in that deal, bringing in a young defenseman who will improve the team's ability to advance the puck up the ice. However, more moves should be expected for Toronto this off-season. 

Matthew Knies has surfaced in trade rumors, but the player who has ramped up in trade discussions is defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Knies has been included in off-season trade boards, and it was even revealed that he was almost dealt at the NHL trade deadline last season. Though nothing has come to fruition yet, teams around the league have been eying the 23-year-old left winger.

Furthermore, at the time of the Leafs and Flyers trade, TSN's Darren Dreger added that teams were "doing their due diligence on Woll and Knies."

Aside from captain Auston Matthews and right winger William Nylander, Knies is probably the next player who would bring in the biggest trade package for the Maple Leafs.

Why Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies, Morgan Rielly Remain NHL Trade CandidatesWhy Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies, Morgan Rielly Remain NHL Trade CandidatesMorgan Rielly and Matthew Knies were recently included on an off-season trade board by The Athletic. Here's why the Toronto Maple Leafs duo continue to be labelled as NHL trade candidates.

The possibility of a Rielly trade, however, seems to be much greater based on recent reports.

The Maple Leafs trading away the veteran blueliner appears to be the next likely scenario for Chayka and the organization this off-season. In fact, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun wrote, "all signs indeed point to a potential trade this offseason," regarding Rielly, and that both the player's camp and the team are working together on making a deal happen.

Rielly, 32, has a no-move clause in his contract, and he's entering the fifth year of that eight-year deal, costing $7.5 million against the salary cap.

Because of that clause in his contract, Rielly cannot be traded without his consent to the team he is going to, or for a trade to happen at all. With that, LeBrun reported that Rielly's agent, J.P. Barry, has given Leafs management a list of teams that the player could be interested in moving to.

Report: Maple Leafs' John Chayka, Mats Sundin Talking With Morgan Rielly's Representative About Off-Season PlansReport: Maple Leafs' John Chayka, Mats Sundin Talking With Morgan Rielly's Representative About Off-Season PlansFor what seems like a possible end for Morgan Rielly's career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, conversations between the defenseman and GM John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin are reportedly "ongoing."

"My understanding is that most of those teams are all in the Western Conference, but there’s also a sense that there could be flexibility as talks evolve," LeBrun wrote. "For instance, if Leafs GM John Chayka comes back to Barry with a team that’s not on the list but that made a decent trade offer, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s a 'no.'"

The NHL insider also said that the San Jose Sharks make plenty of sense as a possible destination for Rielly. He also doesn't believe his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks, is on the list.

Nonetheless, it appears a divorce between Rielly and the Leafs could be in the cards this off-season.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.