Jun 6, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) steals third base against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
In a battle of tough lefties, Chris Sale and the Braves faced Kyle Harrison and the Brewers for game 2 in Atlanta.
After 1-2-3 frames from each lefty to start the game, Sale worked around some traffic to keep things scoreless in the second. From there things settled in for a pitching duel, as Harrison carried a perfect game into the fifth. Fortunately, righty Ozzie broke the perfect game, no-hitter, and shutout in one swing with a solo homer. Eli White legged out an infield single in the same frame, but was unable to score.
In the sixth, Chris Sale came out for what was presumably his last inning. Ozzie Albies fumbled a double-play ball with one out that would have ended the inning, but Contreras singled on the next AB, loading the bases. A sac fly tied the game and left runners on the corners with two outs. A brutal bloop single gave the Brewers 2-1 lead, as that Albies error became incredibly costly, as he could likely have even salvaged that play with an out at first, but instead went for the double-play despite the fumble, resulting in a 1-0 lead turning into a 2-1 deficit. At this point, Didier Fuentes took over for Sale (who had thrown 101 pitches) and struck out Bauers to mercifully end the inning. Sale ended his day with 5.2 innings of “2-run ball” on 7 strikeouts and 1 walk, another good day for the veteran ace.
Two singles and a fielder’s choice scored an insurance run against Fuentes in the seventh. Still facing Harrison, Ozzie and Mike singled and doubled with one out in the seventh, giving Atlanta a huge chance to tie the game up or more. Austin traded an out for a run with an RBI fielder’s choice of his own, giving Dom Smith the next chance with two outs. Unfortunately, Dom was unable to deliver and the game went into the eighth a 3-2 Brewers ballgame. James Karinchak and Dylan Lee did their job in the eighth and ninth to give Atlanta a chance and Matt Olson represented the tying run with a bloop single in the home ninth. Ozzie Albies was next at bat, batting from the right side again and he pulled on just fair and just into the Chop House for a massive walk-off and redemption of his error, as his early homer, error, and walk-off homer really defined this game.
Join us again tomorrow at 1:35 PM ET, as the Braves go for what would be a very impressive sweep against this quality Brewers club with Bryce Elder on the mound.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 22: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Raptors 120-98. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The offseason is officially underway in Phoenix, and the Suns are off to a good start.
Free agent guard Collin Gillespie agreed to an extension with Phoenix after the two sides became eligible to begin negotiating with their own free agents last weekend. The deal is roughly 4 years and $48 million, although we do not have the exact financial details yet.
Free agent guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Gillespie spent three straight seasons on two-way contracts after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 and now earns a lucrative long-term deal. pic.twitter.com/HIBFG0dDMU
ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the deal and added that his agents at Excel Sports Management, Jordan Gertler and James Dunleavy, handled the deal with Suns executives during this window.
The extension caps a breakout season in which Gillespie set a Suns franchise record with 232 three-pointers while posting career highs in points (12.7), assists (4.6), rebounds (4.1), steals (1.2), and games played (80). He was also a pest defensively, picking up opponents full-court and applying constant pressure while creating chaos with Jordan Goodwin.
He was a steady force in the Suns’ guard rotation and a major reason why they exceeded expectations last season.
Gillespie went undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 despite winning the Bob Cousy Award and two Big East Player of the Year honors. He spent two seasons in Denver on two-way deals before signing a two-way contract with Phoenix in July 2024. A strong finish to that season earned him a standard guaranteed deal last summer, and the breakout followed.
After Phoenix’s first-round exit against Oklahoma City, Gillespie said publicly his desire to stay had not changed. The Suns made it official before free agency opens June 30.
All in all, this feels like a great deal for the Suns. A well-earned contract from mister Gillespie as well.
Jun 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) hits a three-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Through the first 15 innings of this series, the Chicago Cubs had outscored the Toronto Blue Jays by a margin of 21-2. Which is not what you’d consider ideal as a Jays fan. Things turned a corner in the bottom of seven, though, and an 8-1 stretch gives them the win and the chance to take the series tomorrow.
The lineup could not lay a finger on Colin Rea early. He sat the first dozen Jays batters down in order, and following a Brandon Valenzuela line single to open the fifth looked to be back in control as he retired the next three as well. It was the bottom of the order that rallied to knock him out of the game in the sixth, with Andres Gimenez and Myles Straw opening the frame with back to back singles. Rea got George Springer to fly out, though, and reliever Ryan Rolison induced a double play off the bat of Nathan Lukes to preserve the Cubs’ shutout. The offense would have to wait one more inning to wake up.
Meanwhile, Patrick Corbin started well. He worked around a single in the first with a K and a pop up. It fell apart right away in the second though. Alex Bregman and Ian Happ singled, setting the table for a three run Matt Shaw blast to left field. Corbin Rallied to get the next three batters and then worked around a walk and a single in the third. In the fourth, though, a Dansby Swanson double and back to back walks by Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner forced him out of the game.
Lazaro Estrada took the reins. He got out of the fourth, and managed a clean fifth with the help of a double play to erase a Michael Busch walk. In the sixth, though, a walk to Swanson and a Crow-Armstrong homer to right increased Chicago’s margin to five.
That’s where things stood when Vladimir Guerrero jr. stepped to the plate to open the seventh, facing old friend Trent Thornton. He lined a single, and one batter later was followed by a hit by pitch to Kazuma Okamoto. Daulton Varsho brought the runners home with a line drive down the right field line and out, putting the Jays on the board, 5-3. Thornton got Davis Schneider and replacement Caleb Thielbar got Ernie Clement (pinch hitting for Gimenez) to hold it there for now.
They gave the Cubs a chance to rebuild the lead with some mistakes in the bottom of seven. First, Ernie Clement misplayed a Seiya Suzuki soft liner, allowing him to reach. A double play erased that runner, but then Jeff Hofman hit Bregman, advanced him to second with a wild pitch, and walked Happ. He recovered to strike Shaw out looking to keep the Jays within two.
That was all the offence needed. Myles Straw opened the eighth with a walk. Springer singled the tying run aboard. Both managers made moves at that point. John Schneider called Alejandro Kirk to hit for Nathan Lukes, and Craig Counsell swapped Jacob Webb for Thielbar. Schneider won the exchange, as Kirk ripped a single through the gap to score Straw and put the go ahead runner on. Guerrero followed with a soft line single of his own that plated Springer and tied the game. One out later, Okamoto launched one into the left field bleachers, putting the Jays out in front 8-5.
Mason Fluharty gave the Cubs yet another chance, walking Miguel Amaya and giving up back to back line singles to Swanson and Crow-Armstrong to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth with none away. That forced the Jays to ask Louis Varland for a six out save. He was more than up to the task. He traded an out for a run on a Hoerner grounder, punched out Suzuki, and got Busch to fly out softly in foul territory. Straw made an impressive leaping catch for that last out, leaning into the stands to bring the ball back. He got a pop out from Bregman to open the ninth. Happ reached on Varland’s throwing error and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Louis sat Shaw down looking and got a routine grounder from pinch hitter Pedro Ramirez to end the game.
Jays of the Day: Varland (0.36, which jumps him in front of Jacob Misiorowski for the MLB lead with +2.84 on the season), Okamoto (0.32), Vlad (0.20), Straw (0.12), Kirk (0.12)
Less so: Fluharty (-0.27), Corbin (-0.19), Lukes (-0.14), Valenzuela (-0.10)
Same time, same place tomorrow (2:20pm ET, Wrigley Field, Chicago, Il., for those who weren’t paying attention). Dylan Cease (4-3, 2.71) will hope for an easier ride after an effectively wild outing last time in Boston, while the offence takes on Shota Imanaga (4-6, 4.26).
The forward and the rest of his Hurricanes teammates were celebrating their Stanley Cup championship during the team’s parade on Saturday when the NHL veteran attended to a pressing matter.
The 35-year-old, who joined the team in March via trade, was a free agent following the team’s impressive run — but that’s no longer the case.
As seen in a video posted to the franchise’s X account, general manager Eric Tulsky pulled out a contract before Tulsky stepped up to sign it.
The forward high-fived a teammate before putting pen to paper and proudly shouting a message to the fans.
Deslauriers played sparingly during the Hurricanes’ championship run, as he appeared in just one game during the first round against Ottawa.
According to WFMY News 2, Deslauriers will be paid $850,000 in the 2026-27 season and $900,000 in 2027-28.
Deslauriers began the season with the Flyers, with whom he played 24 games before being traded to Carolina for a conditional seventh-round pick on March 6.
Nicolas Deslauriers of the Carolina Hurricanes raises the Stanley Cup at T-Mobile Arena after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NHLI via Getty Images
The Quebec native was a third-round pick by the Kings in 2009, but ultimately began his NHL career with the Sabres in 2013-14.
He spent four seasons in Buffalo before moving on to stints with the Canadiens, Ducks, Wild and the Flyers.
He has 53 goals and assists apiece in 708 regular season games.
The Hurricanes won the franchise’s second Stanley Cup by defeating the Golden Knights in six games.
Jordan Staal was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for the MVP of the playoffs with 12 points (eight goals, four assists).
"Syracuse tomorrow," Mendoza said of Lindor. "Yeah, he's going to Syracuse tomorrow -- him and Tyrone Taylor. Same thing with (Ronny) Mauricio. But with Lindor, off today and then he's playing for Syracuse tomorrow."
Mauricio (left thumb fracture) is set to bat leadoff and start at shortstop for Syracuse in Saturday's 6:35 p.m. game against Norfolk. Taylor (right hip flexor strain), who homered and singled in Friday's game, is not in Saturday's lineup but figures to join Lindor.
"Then we'll see where we're at," Mendoza said of Lindor. "We'll see where we're at after Sunday night."
Lindor responded well to Friday's game, Mendoza added.
"Good, good," Mendoza said. "He was good, good day. Yeah, checked in today at Citi Field, feeling fine. So, back at it tomorrow."
Christian Scott's bullpen 'went well'
Scott (right hip impingement) threw a bullpen Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, and "it went well," Mendoza explained.
"Full bullpen," Mendoza said. "High intensity. Yeah, so, just got to wait how he responds the next couple of days and go from there."
What is next for Scott?
"Then he's going to be facing batters, throwing a live BP, multiple ups that will put him in line for the next step," Mendoza said. "But, again, I don't want to get ahead of myself here. But good thing is it was good to watch him today, just throwing his baseballs with no hesitation and he looked normal, he looked fine."
Skipping a rehab assignment is "possible" for Scott, Mendoza added.
"It's possible, it's possible," Mendoza said. "Like I said, if he responds back from this bullpen session, there's a good chance he's going to throw an intense live BP with multiple ups ... and then we'll go from there."
Clay Holmes' 'light throwing'
Right-hander Clay Holmes is doing "light throwing" a month since he went on the injured list with his right fibula fracture, Mendoza explained.
"Just light throwing," Mendoza said. "But not much there. Just got to continue to wait. Another imaging -- I'm not sure when -- before he can start doing more high-intensity stuff. But just light catch."
Jorge Polanco's mixed days
Infielder and designated hitter Jorge Polanco went on the 60-day injured list this past Monday with a right wrist contusion. Is he not close to restarting his rehab assignment, which saw him start stints with Binghamton May 27 and Syracuse June 2?
"I wouldn't say that," Mendoza said. "He's still hitting. He ran the bases today, but he's just one of those where -- going back to three, four weeks ago where there's days where he feels good and then he flares up again and then we have to slow things down. So, it's kind of like the same thing. But he's hitting, he's still running. But, again, good days and then some other days where it's not as good."
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run, to take a 1-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani missed Friday night’s series opener for the birth of his second child, but he’s back in the Dodgers lineup against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night, batting in his usual leadoff spot as the designated hitter.
We are again overjoyed to experience this wonderful day in our lives together. Thank you for being born safely. We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us throughout this journey.
The Dodgers this time around did not use the paternity list, which allows for teams to replace a player on the roster for between one and three days. Instead, they played one man short on Friday.
The Ohtanis had their first child, a daughter, in April 2025, and then they called up Eddie Rosario to start at designated hitter for the two days Ohtani was away from the team.
There is a lot of uncertainty swirling around the Lakers now.
The team is coming off a 2025-26 campaign that ended with it getting swept by the Thunder in the second round of the NBA playoffs. What’s more, superstar forward LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent. Standout guard Austin Reaves is expected to decline his player option but can agree to a deal with LA prior to the start of free agency July 1.
LeBron James still is deciding what he wants to do: stay with the Lakers, play elsewhere or retire. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
There’s a case to be made that even though the Lakers haven’t made a deep playoff run since Luka Doncic was traded to Los Angeles, there are few better places for LeBron to succeed than with the Lakers, especially because he has a good dynamic with Doncic on and off the court.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic have a great relationship on and off the court. AP
As for Doncic, he’s under contract with the Lakers for two more seasons and therefore isn’t going anywhere. Well, he did go back to Slovenia, his home country, for the offseason to spend time with his family.
And comments he made in a recent interview with prominent Slovenian news site 24ur.com are catching attention.
At one point in the interview, Doncic was asked in Slovenian whether he and LeBron had ever played golf 1-on-1.
“We played once or twice. Right now, [it’s] a bit harder cause we ain’t close,” Doncic said. While his answer was in Slovenian, it was translated to English by X user @LukaUpdates, where it has now gone viral on social media.
Interviewer: "What impressed you about golf? We see you posted a lot. Also LeBron. Do you play eachother ever?"
Luka: "We played once or twice. Right now a bit harder cause we ain't close, but… Like you're in nature 4 hours, sometimes even 8 hours. I play 36 holes, which they… pic.twitter.com/ZgrtIOV3ER
It’s important to note that Doncic is referring to the literal distance between he and LeBron, given that he’s in Slovenia while LeBron is still in the United States. This is what he meant when saying a translated version of “we ain’t close.”
Luka Doncic is spending time with his family this summer in Slovenia. 24 UR
Still, this answer has already drawn a lot of attention. Lakers fans will hope these two can reconnect for a round of golf at some point, if only so Doncic can help convince LeBron to re-sign with Los Angeles.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 03: Freddy Peralta #51 of the New York Mets pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 03, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
Carson Benge – CF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Juan Soto – LF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Eric Wagaman – RF
Francisco Alvarez – DH
Mark Vientos – 1B
Luis Torrens – C
Zack Short – SS
Freddy Peralta – RHP
Phillies lineup
Trea Turner – SS
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Bryce Harper – 1B
Brandon Marsh – LF
Alec Bohm – 3B
Bryson Stott – 2B
J.T. Realmuto – C
Gabriel Rincones – RF
Justin Crawford – CF
Cristopher Sánchez – LHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:15 PM EDT TV: FOX Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies gets set to throw a pitch in the fifth inning during a regular season game against the Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a game that got a little too close for comfort in the later innings, the Colorado Rockies escaped with a series-opening 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates last night. The second game of the series and the homestand provides the Rockies with another shot at Paul Skenes this season in a top notch pitching matchup against Tomoyuki Sugano.
The Rockies last faced Skenes back on May 12th in a 3-1 loss out at PNC Park. Skenes dominated in that one, working six hitless innings to start the day before ending things after eight innings pitched with 10 strikeouts to just two hits. Michael Lorenzen held his own, but the Rockies offense couldn’t overcome a Skenes masterpiece.
Things have taken a turn for the worse for the Pittsburgh ace since that point in the season. That win against Colorado in May put Skenes at 6-2 on the year with a 1.98 ERA. A month and a half later, he now sits at 6-6, including three straight losses after the Rockies matchup. He’s still finding strikeouts, averaging over seven a game in that span, but he’s also giving up his fair share of hits, averaging nearly six a game during that same stretch, a noticeable jump up from his early season outings.
Skenes’ “struggles”, relatively, highlight his dominance. Even during this winless stretch where his numbers aren’t up to par, he still boasts a 2.85 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP on the year, with the latter good enough for fifth-best in the majors. His 99 strikeouts are top-10, as is his .199 batting average against. Although the Pirates are struggling and the pitching wins aren’t coming, he remains ever dangerous.
Sugano is riding a different wave of fortune into tonight’s matchup, logging wins in his last three starts. Aside from surrendering eight runs in a weird 23-9 win over the Athletics out in Las Vegas, Sugano has looked sharp as of late and has limited runs, giving up three or fewer in five of his last six starts. He enters tonight with a 7-4 record in 14 starts, a 4.54 ERA, and a 1.336 WHIP.
With two strong starters scheduled for this game, and with last night’s affair being decided by one run, the Rox and Bucs could be in for another tight one. Sugano looks to keep things going, while Skenes looks to turn things around. Both have the ability to keep runs off the board early. Like May’s Skenes vs. Lorenzen battle, tonight may come down to whichever offense can string together a slight edge first.
Rory McIlroy leaves himself another monster putt, this time on 3. He doesn’t judge this 70-footer particularly well, leaving himself a ten-foot tester for his par. It’s always dying to the right of the cup, and he drops to +1. Emiliano Grillo also takes a step backwards, finding the bunker to the right of the par-three 17th, and having found himself shortsided, leaving himself too much to do after the chip out. Grillo slips back to level par for the tournament.
Emiliano Grillo birdies the par-five 16th – statistically the second-easiest hole on the course today – and he moves into red figures for the week at -1. The 33-year-old Argentinian, whose best finish by far at an US Open was his tie for 19th last year, is now four-under par for his round today.
Kyle Jamieson took three wickets as New Zealand pressed for a series-levelling win, despite another landmark day for Joe Root, after leaving England with a record-breaking run-chase at the Oval.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 2: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A year-and-a-half into the Luka Dončić era and the Lakers, despite a pair of 50-win seasons, have been far from title contention.
It’s not entirely inexcusable as acquiring a franchise-altering superstar in the middle of a season is going to drastically change the outlook of a team. After being built around someone they viewed as the center of the future in Anthony Davis, the Lakers have had to change their identity on the fly over the last two seasons.
But with relatively clean books, picks to trade and an offseason to tackle it on, the Lakers will be out of excuses after this summer. While it’s unlikely they make the leap all the way to a title in one summer, reasonable improvements need to be made, and that’s not just the opinion of the fans, but Luka himself.
This past week, Dave McMenamin of ESPN wrote a lengthy piece with plenty of reporting, including a tidbit about the expectations from Luka for the Lakers next season.
The team has kept Doncic informed as the draft and free agency approaches; there is an expectation from the six-time All-Star for the Lakers to present a near-immediate path to championship contention.
“Luka wants to be a championship team yesterday,” a source close to Doncic said. “Ever since the trade, they’ve always told us: ‘summer of ’26. We’ll show you in the summer of ’26.’ So, we are so excited that the summer of ’26 is here.”
Honestly, this is more than fair.
As understandable as it was for the Lakers to not have a competitive team around Luka the last season-and-a-half, it’s also fully understandable to expect them to have a competitive team after this summer.
Even before Luka the summer of 2026 has been circled on the Lakers’ calendars. They have focused on this summer for some time, so there should be expectations of them coming out of it a better team.
When you have a superstar in their prime, the clock is always ticking. And when you aren’t fielding a title-contending team, that ticking is going to be extremely loud.
The Lakers should be under pressure this summer to get things right. This is an extremely important summer with added emphasis through their own long-term planning. It’s imperative they get this right and take the team fully into the new era with Luka.
Elmer Rodriguez of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders enters the field before a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
We don’t get an ace-off after all. With the Yankees trying to manage a pitching rotation that’s both played at its highest level and seen its share of injuries, Gerrit Cole will be pushed back a day and make his start with an additional day of rest on Monday in Detroit. The club is trying to avoid three straight turns the the rotation on five days’ rest, especially with a careful eye on Cole’s surgically repaired elbow. Rookie Elmer Rodríguez will be called upon to make his third start of the season in the finale with the Reds tomorrow.
ERC looked every bit the part of a rookie starter during his two previous outings in May, in particular demonstrating a lack of control that needs to be his primary focus in order to be a full timer in the big leagues. A 14.1-percent walk rate is a jump from his already-high 11-percent mark with Triple-A Scranton. Getting the ball in the strike zone will be his task against the Reds.
Boone said Elmer Rodriguez will start Sunday. Desire is to give each of the starters an extra day so the rotation doesn’t go three straight turns on five days rest. Cole will start Monday in Detroit. Jake Bird optioned as the Rodriguez move
The corresponding move for Rodríguez is that the ever-scuffling Jake Bird goes down to Scranton, and frankly that just means that Aaron Boone will no longer be tempted to put him into a game. It’s a win all around as far as I’m concerned.
These kinds of moves are one of the perks of being a first-place team. Everyone in baseball is trying to figure out how to manage the health of their pitching staff, and the Yankees have a chance to inject an extra bit of rest into the group. Losing on Saturday makes things a little more stressful for young ERC, because you want to win series too, but giving a veteran a little extra time isn’t a bad idea in my book.
The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 31-40 this season.
If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.
Calle Clang
Clang had the best season performance of his North American career in 2025-26, posting an 18-9-9 record with an .897 SV% and 2.80 GAA. He missed time at various points of the season due to a leave of absence for personal reasons and two separate injuries. The second injury unfortunately ruled him out for the San Diego Gulls’ first playoff series in four seasons.
Clang’s stellar season earned him his first AHL All-Star selection, as both he and forward Tim Washe were selected to represent the Gulls in Rockford. At the AHL All-Star Game, he took home the honor of top goaltender.
San Diego goalie Calle Clang keeps his eye on the puck as it deflects off of his gear during the second period of their game at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Set to be an RFA this offseason, Clang chose to return home to Sweden and sign with Rögle BK in the SHL, the club he played for prior to transitioning to North American hockey. His contract is for two years, which means that he will likely not receive a qualifying offer from the Ducks.
With Clang expected to depart the organization, defense Tristan Luneau is the only remaining piece left from the Rickard Rakell deal that occurred at the 2022 trade deadline. With Lukáš Dostál and Ville Husso holding things down in net for Anaheim and Tomáš Suchánek, Damian Clara and Vyacheslav Buteyets doing the same for San Diego, there was little opportunity left for Clang moving forward despite his strong season. He will compete with Arvid Holm for Rögle’s starting job next season.
Vyacheslav Buteyets
More well-known as ‘Slava’ by his teammates, Buteyets spent time with all three Ducks affiliates this season. He spent most of the season with ECHL Tulsa as their starter, putting up an 18-19-5 record with a .908 SV% and 3.11 GAA. He made four starts for the Gulls, sporting a 1-3-0 record with an .865 SV% and 4.29 GAA. He also made his NHL debut, coming in in relief of Ville Husso in an eventual 7-0 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He allowed three goals on 10 shots, though it was difficult to fault him on any of them.
Buteyets has now spent two full seasons in North America (mostly in the ECHL) after coming over from Russia. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, he is a pending RFA. There is a possibility that the Ducks simply cut ties with Buteyets and do not tender him a qualifying offer. As mentioned above, there is more than enough quality goaltending depth. But as seen last season, injuries can crop up at any moment, making depth paramount in emergency situations.
Ville Husso
Husso’s patience and determination paid off for him in 2025-26. After being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations in Feb. 2025, he performed well enough with the Gulls to earn a call-up at the end of the season after John Gibson went down with injury.
With Gibson out of the picture for 2025-26, shipped off to the Red Wings, Husso signed a two-year contract to return to the Ducks and compete with Petr Mrázek for the backup goaltender position. Husso performed well to make a case for the position, but was sent down to the AHL at the very end of training camp.
He was recalled when Dostál suffered a hand injury in November and momentarily took over the starting role after Mrázek also got hurt. During a seven-game stretch in December as the starter, Husso went 4-2-1 with an .893 SV%, though one of those losses was the aforementioned 7-0 defeat to the Mammoth.
May 8, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso (33) defends the goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Husso did enough to keep the Ducks afloat without their No. 1 goaltender and then was passed through waivers (going unclaimed) upon Dostál and Mrázek’s return. A brief recall in January after Mrázek suffered another injury led to a prolonged stay in the NHL after Mrázek underwent season-ending hip surgery. Husso finished the season with a 10-8-2 record and an .884 SV% and 3.25 GAA.
While those numbers may not look particularly convincing, it’s worth noting that Husso’s stats were slightly skewed by his final two starts, which involved him facing less than 20 shots in both games.
It was a very unlucky season for Mrázek, who struggled with injuries and made just 10 appearances (eight starts) in his first and likely only season with the Ducks.
After being acquired from the Red Wings in June 2025, Mrázek entered training camp competing with Husso for the backup goaltender spot. While both goaltenders performed well during preseason, Mrázek ultimately edged out Husso, who was sent down to San Diego.
Mrázek made just two starts through the first 10 games of the season as Dostál carried the starter’s workload, but he began to pick up more starts in November. He was even slated to be the starter when Dostál went down with broken finger, but suffered an injury of his own on Nov. 30 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Nov 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) talks with a team member after being injured during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
This injury sidelined Mrázek for nine games before he returned to action on Dec. 19. He would make two more appearances before suffering another injury on Jan . 5 against the Washington Capitals, which ultimately ended his season. He underwent hip surgery on Feb. 17 and recently resumed skating this past May.
It’s difficult to envision Mrázek getting more than an offer to be an NHL third goalie at this point due to a combination of his age (34) and repeated injuries. Lower-body injuries in particular can impact goaltenders much more, and it was concerning to see how much they impacted Mrázek this past season.
Matthew Phillips
One of the players on an AHL-only deal who got playing time during preseason, Phillips made waves with a two-goal performance against the Mammoth. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, Phillips has minimal NHL experience (34 games), but carries plenty of AHL experience.
His addition to the Gulls was a welcome one, as he finished second on the team in points and tied for first in assists. Though he is just 5-foot-8 (and perhaps actually even shorter than that), he makes up for his lack of height with extended effort and is a force on the man advantage.
With the Gulls expected to undergo several personnel changes after the departures of head coach Matt McIlvane and assistant coach Michael Babcock, along with the expectation that players like Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Colangelo will be up with the Ducks full-time, players like Phillips will be relied on to be the top point producers in 2026-27.
Justin Bailey
Bailey was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in Jan. 2025 in a straight one-for-one swap that sent Pavol Regenda the other way. A speedy forward who’s more of a ‘Quad-A’ than a true NHL depth forward, Bailey provided adequate depth scoring upon joining the Gulls. But he became a more consistent offensive threat this past season as a regular in the Gulls’ top-6 and lead the team in goals with 25.
Another player on an AHL-only deal who played during preseason for the Ducks, Bailey was part of the squad who played against the Kings in Ontario, Calif. as part of the Inland Empire Classic. Coming off a one-year AHL-only deal, bringing back Bailey should be a priority for the Gulls.
Jun 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) is tagged out while trying to steal by New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
