The Toronto Maple Leafs took a big swing at improving their blue line before the start of free agency, acquiring Darren Raddysh's rights from the Tampa Bay Lightning and signing the defenseman to an eight-year contract.
The contract is worth $68 million, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because financial terms were not disclosed.
Raddysh will count $8.5 million against the salary cap through the 2033-34 season. He had never made more than a million dollars a year until now.
The 30-year-old late bloomer cashed in on a breakout season in which he set career highs with 22 goals, 48 assists and 70 points in 73 games. That's the same amount of points he put up in the previous two seasons combined since becoming a full-time NHL player as recently as 2023.
Raddysh provides an immediate upgrade for the Leafs, who have a new coach in Jim Hiller and a new front office led by general manager John Chayka and franchise legend adviser Mats Sundin. Getting Raddysh's rights from the Lightning for a fifth-round pick before he could hit the open market is Chayka's second trade after clearing cap space earlier this week by sending goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to Philadelphia.
“We are thrilled to add a defenseman of Darren’s caliber to our organization,” Chayka said. “Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness and strong play in all three zones. He strengthens our blue line in every situation and is exactly the type of player we want helping lead this team.”
Raddysh was undrafted despite helping the Erie Otters win the Ontario Hockey League at the junior level in 2016-17. He signed with Chicago, got traded to the New York Rangers and inked a free agent deal in 2021 with the Lightning.
He spent a vast majority of that time in the minors and was an All-Star in the American Hockey League before earning a job with Tampa Bay. He thrived this past season while the team dealt with injuries all over and led all players in the league at the position with 10 power-play goals.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jonathan Toews announced his retirement Friday, ending a decorated NHL career that included three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and a comeback season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
The 38-year-old center returned to the NHL in 2025-26 after a two-year absence related to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID, recording 11 goals and 18 assists while appearing in all 82 games for Winnipeg.
Toews spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, captaining the franchise to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.
He finished his NHL career with 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 regular-season games and was recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way forwards.
Toews also starred for Canada on the international stage, winning Olympic gold twice in 2010 and 2014, the World Cup in 2016, a world championship in 2007 and consecutive world junior titles in 2006 and 2007.
His final season allowed one of Manitoba’s most accomplished hockey players to complete a full-circle return home before stepping away from the game.
Jun 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement (22) makes a catch for an out slides into against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Good Morning.
And Happy Birthday Tyler Heineman, who turns 35 today. He was very likable when he was here. That’s an important skill for a backup catcher, but he seemed like a great guy. And he had an excellent season last year. I hope things go will with the Angels.
We have a day game. I really don’t like weekday day games, but Wrigley Field is a special place. I’ve been to Chicago to watch games against the White Sox, but the Cubs weren’t in town and they weren’t doing tours of Wrigley. One day I might get there, not for the next three years, but one day.
The Score has a list of twenty players who are deadline trade candidates. No Jays on the list, but Bo Bichette is on the list. I guess is the is the rumour that he’ll opt out of his contract after this year. He could be a good pickup for some time. But then, he might not opt out and you’d be paying Bo $42 million in each of the next two years. I’m trying to imagine a world where someone was going to pay me $82 million over the next two years and I’d say nah, let’s roll the dice and see if I can get more. I guess I don’t have Bo’s range at short, at least not until my foot heals.
I can’t see the Jays being sellers while they are still on the edge of a Wild Card spot. I don’t know that they would be buyers either.
I can’t imagine any way that Shane Bieber won’t be making his next appearance with the Jays, even if we are 7-1 in bullpen day game. Will he be good is a separate question, but he threw 80 pitches for Buffalo Wednesday. I don’t think we have anyone else who is likely to throw 80 pitches the next time that spot comes around (well, maybe SWR, but we seem to like him as a long reliever.
Shane Bieber says he's happy with how he felt during and after his last rehab outing, throwing 80 pitches for Buffalo on Wednesday. Called it a funky outing results-wise but liked how stuff held.
Not sharing next steps yet other than he'll throw a bullpen in Chicago on Saturday.
Everyone is the media expects and hopes GM Don Waddell does something to bolster the lineup. From trading up to trading down, to trading players, everything seems to be on the table.
Just recently, a national NHL talking head suggested that anyone who plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets is a trade target. I'm not sure if he was joking or not, but you can see where we're at.
Someone even suggested that Kirill Marchenko is on the trade block? Yeah, I'm not so sure about that one.
Yesterday, though, Dave Pagnotta of The 4th Period reported that Jake DeBrusk doesn't want to sit through a Vancouver rebuild. He even mentioned that the CBJ were interested in the 29-year-old left winger.
It's intriguing to think about. He's going into year three of a seven-year, $38.5 million contract. At $5.5 million AAV, that's not a bad contract.
He's coming off of a season where he scored 23 goals and totaled 42 points. His career high in goals and points is 27 and 50, set when he played for the Boston Bruins during the 2022-23 season. The Bruins had the best regular season in NHL history, winning 65 games and finishing with 135 points. Everyone on that team had good seasons.
DeBrusk has played the last couple of seasons with Conor Garland, and before that, played with Charlie Coyle in Boston, so the familiarity is there.
But would a DeBrusk trade move the needle for the CBJ fans? And more importantly, would he provide a spark enough to get this team over the hump and into the playoffs?
I guess it depends on what Don Waddell would need to give up to get him. Personally, I don't think he's worth the #14 pick alone. What about a player in return? The Canucks are all about getting picks back, I'm assuming, unless it's a young prospect.
I think landing DeBrusk is a start, but I don't think it's enough to get the team over the hump. There would need to be other moves made.
As long as were looking at Canucks, might I interest you in one Brock Boeser.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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FIVE AND TWO: The Cubs are 5-2 in their last seven games. This is their first 5-2 span of the season that did not include any games during their two 10-game winning streaks. They were 5-2 through the first four wins of the first streak, beginning with the sixth win of that streak, and beginning with the sixth win of the second streak. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STARTING OFF RIGHT: The Cubs have won the first game of their last two series, after having lost the opener of the previous seven. They won the last two series after having lost the previous seven. They are 7-3 in winning series after winning first games; 3-10-1 after losing first games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
AFTER AN OFF DAY: The Cubs are 4-5 in games after a day off but have lost their last three, two at home. They are 3-3 in all games at home following a day of rest. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
CAMPAIGNING FOR PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 16 games in June: .406/.435/.906 (26-for-64) with four doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored and four stolen bases.
I wouldn’t say Ben Brown has been the savior of the Cubs starting rotation but… yeah, he pretty much has been. Since he joined the rotation May 8, he has a 1.49 ERA, 0.936 WHIP, 2.13 FIP and still no home runs allowed this season after he gave up one to the first batter he faced in 2026 (Jacob Young of the Nationals), now 243 batters. In seven starts he’s allowed only one hit in three of them.
Good stuff, Ben. He threw four innings of one-run relief against the Jays last year, Aug. 12, 2025 in Toronto, his only career outing against them.
Kevin Gausman has been an underrated, consistent starter in MLB for over a decade. This year at age 35, he’s having another good year, and in his last start, June 13 vs. the Yankees, he allowed one hit over seven innings.
Gausman threw seven innings against the Cubs Aug. 13, 2025 in Toronto and allowed two runs — both on solo homers, one by Michael Busch, the other by Matt Shaw.
This will not be an easy afternoon for Cubs hitters.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Kendry Chourio #33 of the Kansas City Royals throws a pitch during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked which kinds of players the Royals should target during the upcoming trade deadline.
Well, I’ll say this about the poll results. Only 1% of Royals fans were willing to wait/pessimistic enough to believe that the Royals should try to target players who may not be ready to contribute until the 2030s. And, honestly, I think they’re correct in that. This is still a team that not only has Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia but also Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone, who seem to have started coming into their own in the month of June after each slumped a bit through May.
That said, they were pretty evenly split on whether the Royals could compete next year or might need to wait until 2028/2029 when the top prospects in the low minors should be really establishing themselves as the new core of the team. 2027 got 25% of the vote, while 2028-2029 got 29%. That, of course, means the plurality voted that the Royals should just target the best talent available, regardless of when that talent might be able to contribute.
Given that we accept that the answer doesn’t include guys who would try to seriously contribute to the 2026 roster, I think we can accept that this represents a block of people who don’t know whether the team can compete next year, but think they should be able to compete sometime within the next three. If that’s the understanding, then yeah, it makes sense to not lock out any options in those three years by refusing someone who is ultra-talented but only in AA because it doesn’t fit the window, or vice versa with a guy knocking on the door of the big leagues now.
Of course, as guys continue to get hurt, there are a lot of questions about who the Royals might even be able to trade. Let’s all cross our fingers that people can get healthy in time to bring us back some fun prospects to dream about in August and September.
Last summer, the Buffalo Sabres faced a dilemma in getting defenseman Bowen Byram signed to a contract extension. The Stanley Cup winner went into mid-July as a restricted free agent while reportedly Sabres GM Kevyn Adams pondered trading the young blueliner, but after not finding a satisfactory return, the Sabres inked the British Columbia native to a two-year, $12.5 million deal in mid July. Less than a year later, after posting career-high numbers and helping Buffalo reach the postseason for the first time in 15 years, Byram’s name has popped up again in trade chatter.
The 25-year-old put up 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) in 82 games, and seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 13 playoff games last season, and in his season-ending comments to the media last month, Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen expressed a desire to get Byram signed to a long-term extension when he becomes eligible on July 1.
"(Keeping that top four intact as long as possible is) very important. I said that to Bo today. I'd like to lock him up for a long time," Kekalainen said. "I think the top four of our defense is our driver, our engine, and their mobility, ability to move the puck, ability to support offense, but also play good defensively. There's a lot of untapped potential there too. I think Bowen is still a young defenseman. He can get better."
Byram switched agents to Darren Ferris last summer, the same agent as Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner. Ferris is a tough negotiator who usually recommends players to go to unrestricted free agency, as Marner did by orchestrating his exit from the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Entering the walk year of his bridge deal and with the salary cap projected to going up again next season, it likely would necessitate the Sabres to pay market rate to get him extended.
TSN’s Darren Dreger said that multiple teams are exploring a trade for Byram, and NHL reporter Frank Seravalli indicates that Byram likes playing in Buffalo, but that the opportunity to be a #1 defenseman and hitting the jackpot in free agency may be foremost on his agenda.
The bridge deal signed by Adams last summer pushed the issue down the road, and that paid off this season with him being an integral part of their success, but the issue has returned and Kekalainen must deal with it. Offers from potentially interested teams will be less due to the fact that acquiring Byram will likely be a one-year rental, and that could manifest itself in the Sabres getting a package of futures or keeping him for another playoff run and potentially losing him for nothing next July, as it appears they will be losing Alex Tuch next month.
Carels is coming off of a season with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League, in which he recorded 20 goals, 53 assists, and 73 points in 58 games.
The 17-year-old defenseman is committed to playing NCAA hockey this upcoming season for the University of North Dakota.
Ranked third among all North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Rankings, Carels is known as a defenseman who plays a strong two-way game, capable of producing offense while also playing a shutdown role against the opposition's best forwards.
“Carels is a unique all-around defenseman who has offensive talent and brings a physical element while playing sound defensively,” via NHL Central Scouting. “He can play big minutes and is deployed in all situations with the ability to run a power play.
“An excellent puck transporter and distributor who drives offence and shows some elite offensive skill. He skates very well with excellent mobility and agility and can defend with speed. A potential top-pairing defenseman.”
In Pronman’s latest mock draft, Carels is the second defenseman off the board, with Chase Reid being slotted to be selected by the Chicago Blackhawks at the No. 4 overall pick.
Standing at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, some scouts described Carels as the most physical defenseman when compared to some of the top blueliners in the draft class, according to The Athletic’s Vincent Mercogliano.
During his time in the WHL, Cougars head coach Brad Lauer relied heavily on Carels, who led the league in ice time, averaging 27:39 minutes per game.
Other defensemen the Rangers could look to draft with the No.5 pick include Alberts Šmits and Keaton Verhoeff.
That is far from ideal going up against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who excel against lefties and project to have seven or eight batters hit from the right-side on Friday night.
The Diamondbacks rank fourth in OPS vs. left-handed pitching this season. Isolating matchups against Top-15 opponents in that category, Prielipp owns an 8.44 ERA and has allowed at least four earned runs in all four starts.
Michael Soroka should get all the run support he needs in this one.
Twins vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
This total is half a run too low for me.
The Diamondbacks possess a highly productive offense against left-handed pitching, especially at home. They rank fifth in wOBA and third in ISO vs. lefties in Arizona.
When they inevitably chase Prielipp from the game, they will face an underwhelming bullpen that sits 28th in xFIP this season.
Minnesota also enters with a red-hot offense, slotting third in OPS vs. righties in June.
Play the Over to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 34-27, -0.65 units
Over/Under bets: 32-27-2, +1.69 units
Twins vs Diamondbacks weather
Temperatures could clear 100 in Arizona today. The heat creates a better envrionment for hitters and will help the ball carry.
Twins vs Diamondbacks odds
Moneyline: Minnesota +145 | Arizona -170
Run line: Minnesota +1.5 (-140) | Arizona -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
Twins vs Diamondbacks trend
Minnesota has hit the Game Total Over in 16 of their last 22 games (+10.50 units, 44% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Diamondbacks.
How to watch Twins vs Diamondbacks and game info
Location
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Friday, June 19, 2026
First pitch
9:45 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV
Twins starting pitcher
Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA)
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11 ERA)
Twins vs Diamondbacks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jun 16, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) reacts after hitting a two RBI single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The New York Yankees’ offense has looked solid all year, and currently ranks second in MLB with a 115 wRC+. Cody Bellinger has been a big part of that success, and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been able to overcome a rough start to his season and remains a key cog in the Bombers’ World Series dreams.
A few days ago, we asked you, the Yankees fan reading this piece, whether Bellinger and Chisholm have done enough to make the All-Star roster in the American League. The response was clear.
A whopping 98 percent of Yankees fans believe Bellinger should be in Philadelphia next month, playing the Midsummer Classic with the American League. And to be fair, the numbers don’t lie: he is definitely deserving of a spot on the team.
Only four outfielders in the Junior Circuit have a higher wRC+ than Bellinger’s 136: Byron Buxton (149), Aaron Judge (148), Randy Arozarena (139), and Mike Trout (139). Bellinger is also second in fWAR with 2.6, right behind Buxton’s 2.8. These stats tell you that Bellinger, who is slashing a cool .275/.369/.479 with 11 homers and eight stolen bases, is among the very best outfielders in the American League and can’t be left out of the party. The Yankees re-signed him to a five-year, $162.5 million deal primarily with the hope that he could help them win right away; he’s absolutely done that in the first half of 2026.
The first MLB All-Star voting update had Bellinger and Judge among the top five vote-getters in the AL outfield, so they would both be in position to at least advance to the more run-off-focused Phase 2 of the process. Regardless of whether or not he gets a starting spot, he’s likely in good shape to make his third career All-Star team—and first since his MVP-winning 2019—in some capacity. (It’d be a stunner if teammates Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler weren’t there with him, but their cases are clear-cut enough that we did not ask about them or Judge, who might also make it despite his injury).
Now, let’s examine Chisholm’s case.
Yankees fans aren’t so confident that Chisholm deserves to play in the Midsummer Classic. Roughly one-third of them think he should be an All-Star, and to be fair, it wouldn’t be right to proclaim a 102-wRC+ hitter an automatic entry.
Chisholm wasn’t himself in the first month of the year, with a 73 wRC+. Then, he turned things around in May with a 124 mark and has kept playing at a high level in June, with a 122 wRC+. He does have 10 homers and 20 stolen bases, though, and his defensive performance depends on which stat you prioritize: his -5 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) says he has been a disaster, yet his 5 Outs Above Average (OAA) think the world of him.
In other words, Chisholm has lacked consistency this year, and the majority of fans don’t think he is an All-Star at this juncture. That can still change, though, especially since the AL field as a whole at the keystone is, to be kind, underwhelming. Someone has to be the All-Star second baseman. It could still be Jazz.
In the MLB-wide survey, we asked you who will win the World Series. The results are not surprising:
A plurality of the public—roughly 39 percent—believe that the Los Angeles Dodgers will get the three-peat. As of Friday morning, they boast an MLB-best 48-27 record and a nine-game lead in the NL West. They still have plenty of offensive and pitching weapons, and they are run by the same people with the same successful philosophy. They have as good a chance as anyone in the league to win it all.
The Atlanta Braves checked in at second place in the survey, and the Yankees were third. They will need to shore up a shaky bullpen to reach those heights, though, not to mention getting Judge back healthy in time. The rebuilding White Sox actually being in the top five is definitely cool to see.
The former Chicago Blackhawks captain had joined his hometown Jets in 2025-26 after missing two years with health issues. He played all 82 games, finishing with 11 goals, 18 assists and 29 points.
Toews, 38, was a standout with the Blackhawks, recording 372 goals, 511 assists and 883 points in 1,067 career-regular season games over 15 seasons. He was named captain at age 20, and "Captain Serious" helped the team win Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
Toews said winning one Stanley Cup — let alone three — was surreal.
"When (Patrick Kane) scored that (2010 overtime) goal, I think I was one of the last guys off the bench," he said during his retirement announcement at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg. "I wasn't ready to let go until I knew for sure that it was over. Next thing you know, you're hoisting the Cup and you have it back home and in your living room and you're just like, 'How is this happening to me right now?'"
Toews won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after leading all postseason scorers with 29 points as the Blackhawks ended a 49-year championship drought.
He won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. The Blackhawks opened that season with a 24-game point streak and captured the Stanley Cup. He had 21 points in 23 games during the 2015 Cup run.
He also won Olympic gold medals with Canada in 2010 and 2014, scoring in both championship games.
Toews' final years in Chicago were marked by health issues.
He missed the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season because of chronic immune response syndrome and also sat out for two months in 2021-22 because of the effects of that and of long COVID. After playing in 2022-23, he skipped two seasons in order to get healthy.
After his comeback season, he was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance.
"Sometimes I catch myself wishing that things had gone differently and I could have finished my career on a different note these last five years or so, but truth be told, I'm grateful for the struggle and learning experience I've been through," he said. "Ironically, I feel I've learned so much more about myself and about life through the low points than I ever did when my career was at its heights."
Is Jonathan Toews a Hall of Famer?
Easily. He was a captain of three Stanley Cup championship teams and won several individual awards.
The Hall of Fame also factors in international play and he won two Olympic gold medals. He's a member of the triple gold club, winning a Stanley Cup, Olympics and world championships.
Top NHL free agent defenseman Darren Raddysh is off the market after being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade deal on Friday, June 19.
Raddysh gets an eight-year deal worth a reported $8.5 million a year. The Lightning received a fifth-round pick in the trade.
The 30-year-old defenseman had a breakout season with 22 goals and 70 points and filled in well while Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman was out with injuries and personal leave. His top season before that was 37 points, so there's some risk with the term in the deal.
"Darren has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, combining elite puck-moving ability with poise, competitiveness, and strong play in all three zones," Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said.
But there are intriguing names left on the board. Here's what to know about NHL free agency:
When does NHL free agency open?
The free agent market opens at noon ET on July 1.
Who are the top NHL unrestricted free agents?
10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals, though he had 19 in 2025-26. Current cap hit: $7 million.
9. Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken
He had a career-best 29 goals in 2025-26 and took off after his trade from Toronto to Seattle, getting 10 goals and 14 points in 18 games. Current cap hit: $1.35 million
8. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets
He struggled with the Seattle Kraken after his offseason trade, but his trade to Columbus revived his season with 32 points in 39 games. He's also an agitator. Current cap hit: $4.5 million.
7. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's the third-highest-scoring player on the free agent list with 64 points after he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Will a general manager be tempted to think he can do that again or look at his subpar production before that? Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
6. Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
The forward bounced back from a couple subpar seasons and had 25 goals and 54 points after being traded to Boston. Current cap hit: $4 million.
5. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
4. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is expected to either re-sign with the Capitals or retire. Otherwise, he'd be higher on the list. He scored 32 goals at age 40. Current cap hit: $9.5 million.
3. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He totaled 60 points in 71 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.
2. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with one 50-point season and others topping 40 points, including 47 points in 2025-26. He had an average playoffs. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He had 33 goals this season as the Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought. After scoring four goals in the first round, he was held without a point in the second round as the Sabres lost in seven games. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.
Others to watch: Patrick Kane, Frederik Andersen, Mats Zuccarello, Brent Burns
Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is turning a corner, and he profiles extremely well against Chicago Cubs starter Ben Brown to keep the bat warm, making Over 1.5 total bases at a +135 price an attractive play.
Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for this Friday, June 19 matchup.
Blue Jays vs Cubs predictions
Blue Jays vs Cubs best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (+135)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. profiles extremely well against Ben Brown, who gives up hard contact and throws a mix of curveballs and sinkers to right-handed batters at an 81% rate.
Vladdy has crushed these pitch types all season, with a .392 AVG and a .468 SLG.
He’s starting to heat up, too, with hits in five of his last six games, including his first home run in 32 days yesterday, which could be the confidence-builder he needs to get back to his All-Star self.
Guerrero’s hard-hit rate against the curveball and sinker, averaging 58% since June 1 — up from his 47% season average — points to the potential for more extra-base hits in the future.
A Vladdy breakout is coming, and a favorable matchup against Brown makes this bet playable even at +120.
COVERS INTEL: Brown is a contact pitcher who owns an 85.4% zone-contact rating, matching Guerrero’s 85.5% zone-contact rate, making this a favourable matchup for the Jays slugger, who ranks in the 94th percentile in xBA.
Blue Jays vs Cubs same-game parlay (SGP)
Guerrero Jr. owns just an 4.8% strikeout rate against Brown's principle pitch mix, and has gone Under this number in eight of his 13 June games.
Another Toronto Blue Jays batter who profiles well against the Chicago Cubs starter is Nathan Lukes, who owns a .340 AVG against Brown’s pitch mix, and has recorded 1+ hits in 19 of his last 22 games since returning from the IL.
Blue Jays vs Cubs SGP
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Under 0.5 strikeouts
Nathan Lukes Over 0.5 hits
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Blue Jays vs Cubs home run pick: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+675)
Brown has surrendered just one home run through 62 innings of work this season, so a quarter-unit wager is in order on this bet.
Brown has been hit hard, ranking in the 29th percentile with a 42.9% hard-hit rate in 2026.
Perhaps after a 32-day buffer between his last two home runs, Guerrero Jr. digs in and goes deep two games in a row. I’ll make a small wager on the breakout.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 35-37, +2.85 units
SGPs: 14-58, +4.15 units
HR picks: 11-61, -0.1 units
Blue Jays vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Toronto -102 | Chicago -120
Run line: Toronto +1.5 | Chicago -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7 | Under 7
Blue Jays vs Cubs trend
The Blue Jays have hit the Run Line in nine of their last 13 away games (+5.15 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Cubs.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Friday, 6-19-2026
First pitch
2:20 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock, SN
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman (4-4, 3.41 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Ben Brown (3-2, 1.74 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Cubs latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Cubs weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Heading into the 2026 NHL Draft and then Free Agency, many Calgary Flames fans are discussing which direction the 2026-27 team will head and whether they can collectively take a step forward in their rebuild.
At the moment, the Flames have four free agents, Ryan Lomberg, Victor Olofsson, Jake Bean, and John Beecher (RFA), who may or may not be with the team next season. According to PuckPedia, General Manager Craig Conroy has roughly $22.7 million in cap space, giving him plenty of room to swing a deal to boost the lineup or trade a veteran like Blake Coleman or Jonathan Huberdeau.
Although it is way too early to talk about the end of Dustin Wolf's contract or when Yegor Sharangovich's contract comes off the books, it is interesting to see who Calgary has committed to on long-term deals.
Possible Free Agents in 2027
At the conclusion of the final season at the Saddledome, several players may or may not still be in the lineup for that last game, including Ryan Strome ($5 million), Morgan Frost ($4.38 million), Adam Klapka ($1.25 million), Joel Hanley ($1.75 million), Brayden Pachal ($1.19 million), Yan Kuznetsov ($954k), and Coleman ($4.9 million).
Among the future free agents, Coleman's name ranks among the top 25 on most NHL trade boards, as many await to see whether the Flames work on an extension or opt to trade one of their veteran leaders.
If all the previous names depart the organization, Calgary could reallocate possible $20 million in savings to lock up prospects or acquire younger talent on team-friendly deals.
Whose Sticking Around in 2028?
Although the summer of 2028 is two years away, the Flames may be a completely different franchise, with only nine contracts on the books. Those deals include Huberdeau ($10.5 million), Matt Coronato ($6.5 million), Sharangovich ($5.75 million), Martin Pospisil ($2.5 million), Kevin Bahl ($5.35 million), Olli Määttä ($3.5 million), Zach Whitecloud ($2.75 million), Zayne Parekh ($954k), and Wolf ($7.5 million)
Many of the team's core will still be under contract at the conclusion of the first season at Scotia Place, including Coronato, Pospisil, Bahl, Parekh, and Wolf. But the question then will be, which prospects have stepped up and earned a spot in the Flames lineup, and which veterans could be interested in playing in Southern Alberta in the league's newest arena.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Parekh will enter the final year of his entry-level deal. If he turns into the team's best defenseman, he could be in line for a significant pay increase, one that could rival Huberdeau's salary. In addition, 2028 also marks the end of captain Mikael Backlund's current deal, meaning the longest tenured Flames player could hang'em up instead of seeking a new start with another team. Finally, that summer will also be the end of Connor Zary's entry-level deal, and it will be interesting to see whether he blossoms into the player the Flames hope for or becomes trade bait for someone else.
2028 and Beyond
Ahead of the 2029-30 season, the Flames will have five contracts still guaranteed as of today, including Huberdeau, Coronato, Sharangovich, Bahl, and Wolf. In 2030, Sharangovich's deal runs out, followed by Huberdeau and Bahl in 2031, Coronato in 2032, and Wolf in 2033.
During the recent CBA renegotiation, the NHLPA and NHL agreed that teams can re-sign their own free agents for up to seven seasons and free agents for up to six seasons. By that point, which current Flames prospect will be in line for a max deal, or could a high-profile player like Cale Makar come home in a free agency blockbuster?
As mentioned before, thinking about roster construction for 2028 and beyond is a little far-fetched, since the 2026 NHL Draft hasn't taken place yet. However, the moves Conroy makes today could go a long way toward shaping the roster at the end of the decade, a point when long-suffering Flames fans would hope their team is contending.
Will the Flames be a playoff team in 2028? Which prospects are you hoping to be NHL regulars by that time? Let us know in the comments.
Jun 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) celebrates win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Your 2026 New York Mets: It Sucks
“It sucks. It felt like you let the team down. The team has been playing really well the last couple of weeks, too. Definitely a blow to me; it sucks.” -Tobias Myers [New York Post]
Wow, the Knicks, that was awesome. Now to take a big sip of orange juice and see what the Mets have been up to since the NBA playoffs started in mid-April…
“My first time out there on a big-league mound in a little while, I just couldn’t gather it all together in that big inning.” -Kodai Senga [New York Post]
“I think command was my main issue overall — just not locating well, getting behind hitters. It’s tough to face major league hitters when you are behind most of the time. It’s something we have already kind of looked at a little bit. We’re going to dig deeper and get to work.” -Tobias Myers [New York Post]
You know things are going great when we’re got some canned ‘we’re banged up and need guys to step up’ quotes…
“Guys will continue to get opportunities and guys will need to step up. We have got a lot of guys in there that are more than capable, and we need those guys to step up, especially right now when we’re banged up.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
…as well as ‘we needed a win’ in the middle of June quote…
“I don’t know about satisfying, but it felt good. We needed to come out here and win a game.” -Bo Bichette [MLB]
…and a healthy mix of, I don’t know, but quotes where you start with some silver lining and pivot with a hard ‘BUT’ in the middle of your statement ala the Stephen A Smith Tweet…
“I have had some ups and downs so far, but it feels great [regarding his personal season numbers]. I definitely would love to be in a different spot as a team, but I want to help as much as I can to bring them back up.” -Juan Soto [New York Post]
/Stephen A Smith voice/BUT!
“Throughout the year when we get the quality [starting pitching], those guys are going to give us a chance: the offense and the bullpen but we need to be better. We need more from them. We expect more from them and they know that.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
/Stephen A Smith voice/BUT!
“The first three batters of the game, not ideal what you want to see right away. A couple of walks and then the three-run homer … [Senga] found his sweeper and the slider, but they got him early on there.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
This quote doesn’t quite fit the ‘Stephen A Smith BUT’ model BUT; Mendoza is starting to really read to me as getting to the Jerry Manuel level of providing quotes that are fodder for a pre-written narrative for the beat reporters as like a nice treat so they’ll be nice to him and help his job security (not saying he shouldn’t do that).
Cool man, it’s really insightful to acknowledge Juan Soto is a ‘really good player’ but he’s not trying to do too much.
“This is a guy that is more than capable of carrying a team, but he’s not trying to do too much. He’s going to continue to take his walks, he’s going to hit the ball hard, he’s a really good player.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
Along those lines, totally could be true, but I still don’t quite know who is continuing to push the beat writer’s narrative that Soto and Lindor don’t like each other; is it one of them, or their PR team, or someone within the Mets, or just the writers needing easy articles to write
“[Lindor’s] defense and his bat, he’s elite. He’s one of the best defensive players in the game and I think he’s going to help a lot.” -Juan Soto [New York Post]
Nolan McLean continues to remind me of R.A. Dickey and Jacob deGrom as being must watch starts on a dismal team
“Man, that was excellent. [Nolan McLean] dominated that lineup.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
“Awesome. He was attacking with every pitch, and obviously, he’s got what, five-plus pitches? When he’s doing that, he’s pretty good.” -Bo Bichette [MLB]
“I wouldn’t say I put any more pressure or responsibility on myself. Every time I go out there, I’m trying to win a baseball game. I think if everybody’s trying to do that and we’re all pulling the same rope, good things will happen.” -Nolan McLean [MLB]
From your lips to Dickey’s ears
“I think that’s contagious, too. Hopefully, what Nolan did today, now we got Sean [Manaea] tomorrow and Freddy and some of the other guys, we need them to step up. They’re more than capable. So, trust those guys. They’re going to go on a run here.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
あなたのその言葉が神様に届きますように
“As long as I can prepare the way I should prepare between outings, I should be able to be effective.” -Kodai Senga [New York Post]
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