CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 03: Patrick Bailey #16 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a single in the seventh inning during Game One of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As we all process our playoff anxiety for the day, let’s look at some keys and prominent storylines for the Guardians-White Sox ALDS Game Two at 5PM ET today.
Top Storylines:
-Anthony Kay and Sean Burke have dominated the Guardians this season (1.35 ERA for Kay, 1.04 ERA for Burke). Can the Guardians get to them? -Will Gavin Williams be negatively affected by a lengthy layoff? -Will the afternoon shadows surpress offense at the beginning of the game? -Will Game Two be a sellout for the Guardians as fans struggle to get time off work and deal with turbulent economic times (plus, perhaps playoff burnout?)?
Keys for a Guardians’ Victory:
–Hit Burke’s fastball/cutter combination. This season, Burke has thrown the Guardians 98 four-seamers allowing a .278 wOBA, 45 cutters allowing a .077 wOBA, 27 sinkers allowing a .787 wOBA, and 59 sliders allowing a .318 wOBA. The Guardians who have hit him decently: Austin Hedges 1.164 wOBA, Petey Halpin .890 wOBA, Steven Kwan .508 wOBA, Patrick Bailey .445 wOBA, Brayan Rocchio .334 wOBA, and Chase DeLauter .318 wOBA. If the Guardians want to win, they need to be ready to hit Burke’s four-seamer which is gonna be their steady diet today. He doesn’t have a changeup, Guardians. Take solace in that. –Finally get to Anthony Kay. They, somehow, haven’t done it yet this season. Now, Kay is going to be more effective in shorter stints, like most pitchers, but he does have a 4.44 ERA and a 4.75 FIP. Those are not good numbers. The Guardians’ lefty-mashers – Chase DeLauter, Jose Ramirez, Jo Adell, David Fry and Angel Martinez – are going to need to go into this game ready to put up a good at-bat and do damage on pitches to hit. If they don’t make Kay’s life tough in the first or second inning, I don’t like their chances to win this game. –Gavin Williams Needs to Make Effective Strikeout Pitches. The White Sox managed to bug Williams by spoiling third strike pitches over and over the last time out. Gavin, trust your stuff, maintain a consistent delivery, and go after these dudes because it’s basically now or never. –Vogt, Don’t be Afraid to Use Foster Griffin. If Williams runs into some trouble in the fourth or fifth, the White Sox will have a lineup with a good amount of lefties. If Griffin can pitch without running into Miguel Vargas right away, today is a good day to let him use his groundball abilities and lefty-neutralizing skills to your advantage. They’ve seen Herrin and Sabrowski a LOT this year. Let Griffin help.
Overall, the Guardians need to remember that this is YOUR homefield and YOUR division. Come out with a consistent approach at the plate, forcing the pitchers to be in the zone and taking advantage of any pitch to hit you see. I’d predict that if they don’t manage to take at least four walks and hit at least one home run, they will not head to Chicago with a win in hand. But, they’ve got the talent and the experience to redeem a disappointing game one loss. Let’s root them on to make it happen!
Responding to articles on the team’s breaches of financial regulations, Mike Alhadeff says Man City got remarkably little for their money, Ed Barrett says Liverpool were robbed of titles, while Neil Smith warns against triumphalism
Yes, you can look at the six league titles in seven years and the “Centurions” team in 2017-18, all under the aegis of Pep Guardiola. But take a closer look and they were run remarkably close on multiple occasions.
Jul 29, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Ty France (13) hits a single during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
We’re already through the Wild Card round and halfway through the Division Series in the playoffs and there are plenty of former Twins making the news in the playoffs. Old friend Ty France almost helped the Padres upset the Brewers in Game 1, but hit a moonshot of another old friend, Trevor Megill, that doinked off the American Family Field retractable roof right into the glove of Jackson Chourio. Meanwhile, old friend Sonny Gray was annoyed that manager Chad Tracy pulled him in the 5th, down 1-0, with two outs and two men on base. Some things never change.
Not much has happened in Twins Territory, other than a final press conference from Tom Pohlad, Jeremy Zoll, and Derek Shelton where Pohlad promised that the Twins would raise payroll in 2027. I’ll believe it when I see it.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
It’s been a busy week in baseball, with the Phillies, Cubs, Red Sox, and Astros eliminated from the wild card round and with each Division Series underway.
The NHL's all-time goals leader is officially retiring. On Monday, Alex Ovechkin announced that the 2026-27 campaign would be his last in the NHL. The 41-year-old is playing in his 22nd season, in which he has scored 929 goals and recorded 1,688 points in 1,575 games.
With this being Ovechkin's final year, that means his retirement tour has already begun. If he stays healthy, his final game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena will be on December 7. Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals also play Vancouver the week prior, on December 1, at Capital One Arena.
Over his career, Ovechkin has had no problems finding the back of the net against Vancouver. In 30 career games, he has scored 16 goals while recording 28 points. Ovechkin also set an NHL record while playing the Canucks as during a matchup in 2022, he surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most road goals in league history.
Ovechkin has had a career that will instantly make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has captained Washington to a Stanley Cup, won nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and has scored over 1,000 goals combined in the regular season and playoffs. Ovechkin has also won three Hart Trophies and was named to the NHL's "100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years" team.
Mar 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) and forward TJ Oshie (77) celebrate Ovechkin’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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.
The NHL's all-time goals leader is officially retiring. On Monday, Alex Ovechkin announced that the 2026-27 campaign would be his last in the NHL. The 41-year-old is playing in his 22nd season, in which he has scored 929 goals and recorded 1,688 points in 1,575 games.
With this being Ovechkin's final year, that means his retirement tour has already begun. If he stays healthy, his final game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena will be on December 7. Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals also play Vancouver the week prior, on December 1, at Capital One Arena.
Over his career, Ovechkin has had no problems finding the back of the net against Vancouver. In 30 career games, he has scored 16 goals while recording 28 points. Ovechkin also set an NHL record while playing the Canucks as during a matchup in 2022, he surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most road goals in league history.
Ovechkin has had a career that will instantly make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has captained Washington to a Stanley Cup, won nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and has scored over 1,000 goals combined in the regular season and playoffs. Ovechkin has also won three Hart Trophies and was named to the NHL's "100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years" team.
Mar 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) and forward TJ Oshie (77) celebrate Ovechkin’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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.
The NHL's all-time goals leader is officially retiring. On Monday, Alex Ovechkin announced that the 2026-27 campaign would be his last in the NHL. The 41-year-old is playing in his 22nd season, in which he has scored 929 goals and recorded 1,688 points in 1,575 games.
With this being Ovechkin's final year, that means his retirement tour has already begun. If he stays healthy, his final game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena will be on December 7. Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals also play Vancouver the week prior, on December 1, at Capital One Arena.
Over his career, Ovechkin has had no problems finding the back of the net against Vancouver. In 30 career games, he has scored 16 goals while recording 28 points. Ovechkin also set an NHL record while playing the Canucks as during a matchup in 2022, he surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most road goals in league history.
Ovechkin has had a career that will instantly make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has captained Washington to a Stanley Cup, won nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and has scored over 1,000 goals combined in the regular season and playoffs. Ovechkin has also won three Hart Trophies and was named to the NHL's "100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years" team.
Mar 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) and forward TJ Oshie (77) celebrate Ovechkin’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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.
Jalen Duren's contract extension talks with Detroit dragged out all summer and right up to the Oct. 1 qualifying offer deadline. These were widely reported contentious talks that league sources at one point had described to NBC Sports as "noxious."
Jalen Duren said none of that came from him and — after signing a five-year, $200 million new deal that keeps him in Detroit — pushed back on the idea that there is any issue between him and the Pistons when he sat down in front of the media Sunday.
"There's been a lot of talk, speculation, false narratives around my name throughout the entire summer..." Duren said. "I've never spoken to anyone in the media, made any statements or comments about anything or everything that's been out there. So you can accept those as rumors....
"I am a Detroit Piston. I want to be a Detroit Piston for life. I want to give everything I got for this city and the fans... I want the city to know that I truly do believe in what we're building. I truly do believe in the players and the organization and the coaches that we have, and I want y'all to believe in me and my work ethic and my ability to want to grow as a man and a player."
Duren also talked about coming off some of the greatest highs of his career, but also a bitter taste about how things ended. Duren is coming off a breakout regular season where he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, played high-level defense in the paint, and was at the heart of how Detroit bullied teams to 60 wins. He was named both an All-Star and All-NBA player.
Duren's lows came in the playoffs, where he struggled on both ends of the court, averaging 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and he had a negative plus/minus for the postseason. Duren owned that.
"It was humbling, I just need to get better..." he said. "I'm man enough to acknowledge my flaws, and I'm man enough to acknowledge that I'm not perfect. And I'm also man enough to get my ass in the gym and work on those things and get better. I'm not trying to run from anything."
While the postseason was rough, Duren is 22 years old, and pigeonholing him as a guy who cannot grow from his first real postseason experience would be a mistake.
Duren's contract issue is that he was a restricted free agent, a situation where the team has almost all the leverage in negotiations. Combine that with the playoff struggles, and the Pistons were looking to save money in a tax-apron world where they also have to pay Ausar Thompson (a new five-year, $155 million extension) and MVP-candidate Cade Cunningham. Finding a number both sides could accept took time and wasn't easy.
One thing professional athletes do very well is move on from rough situations and not get dragged down by them. Duren isn't mad about how it all went down.
"I never looked at it as a dreadful situation because people are going through way worse," Duren said. "We're talking about negotiating a lot of money. There's no way I could be upset with that."
A former Montreal Canadiens forward has already suffered an injury during the early stages of the season.
Former Canadiens forward Joe Veleno left the New York Rangers' most recent game against the Utah Mammoth early due to a lower-body injury.
This is certainly tough news for Veleno, as the 26-year-old is looking to cement himself as a key part of the Rangers' bottom six. Yet, for now, the former Canadiens forward is going to be sidelined for the time being.
Veleno did not practice with the Rangers on Monday after exiting their most recent game against Utah. An update on Veleno's specific injury has not been provided at the time of this writing.
Veleno signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Rangers this off-season after the Canadiens decided not to bring him back. In 61 games last season with the Canadiens, Veleno posted two goals, five points, and 166 hits. He also recorded one assist in nine playoff games for Montreal during the playoffs.
A former Montreal Canadiens forward has already suffered an injury during the early stages of the season.
Former Canadiens forward Joe Veleno left the New York Rangers' most recent game against the Utah Mammoth early due to a lower-body injury.
This is certainly tough news for Veleno, as the 26-year-old is looking to cement himself as a key part of the Rangers' bottom six. Yet, for now, the former Canadiens forward is going to be sidelined for the time being.
Veleno did not practice with the Rangers on Monday after exiting their most recent game against Utah. An update on Veleno's specific injury has not been provided at the time of this writing.
Veleno signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Rangers this off-season after the Canadiens decided not to bring him back. In 61 games last season with the Canadiens, Veleno posted two goals, five points, and 166 hits. He also recorded one assist in nine playoff games for Montreal during the playoffs.
A former Montreal Canadiens forward has already suffered an injury during the early stages of the season.
Former Canadiens forward Joe Veleno left the New York Rangers' most recent game against the Utah Mammoth early due to a lower-body injury.
This is certainly tough news for Veleno, as the 26-year-old is looking to cement himself as a key part of the Rangers' bottom six. Yet, for now, the former Canadiens forward is going to be sidelined for the time being.
Veleno did not practice with the Rangers on Monday after exiting their most recent game against Utah. An update on Veleno's specific injury has not been provided at the time of this writing.
Veleno signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Rangers this off-season after the Canadiens decided not to bring him back. In 61 games last season with the Canadiens, Veleno posted two goals, five points, and 166 hits. He also recorded one assist in nine playoff games for Montreal during the playoffs.
In an offseason full of surprises for the Anaheim Ducks and the NHL as a whole, one of the most underdiscussed stories is the signing of 18-year-old Nikita Klepov to his entry-level contract in late July.
During the first round of the 2026 NHL draft, the Ducks traded young center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the 15th overall pick (Klepov) and the 29th overall pick. Following the draft, general manager Pat Verbeek remarked that Klepov could be on a “fast track” to the NHL despite his commitment to Michigan State University, where he was slated to begin his collegiate career in 2026-27.
Klepov decided his development had advanced beyond the CHL; in his first year in the OHL, he led the league in scoring with 97 points (37-60=97) in 67 games. The Ducks seemed to agree and took it a step further by signing him to his ELC.
As 2026-27 is his draft+1 season, Klepov is ineligible to play in the AHL and is now ineligible to play in the NCAA. He must either play in the NHL or head back to the OHL this season. The Ducks have the option of sending him to the San Diego Gulls in the AHL for a 14-day (maximum) conditioning stint if the team scratches him for five consecutive games.
To begin his NHL career, Klepov has been healthy-scratched through the Ducks’ first two games of the season. They opened their schedule on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights and traveled home to host the Florida Panthers. Those first two opponents represent not only cup-contenders, but two of the more physical teams in the NHL.
In a season where the Ducks moved on from McTavish and fellow top-six forward Chris Kreider, compounded by the fact that they’ll be without forward Troy Terry for the first 2-3 months of the season, they’ll be relying on young pieces to step into scoring roles. Klepov presently has clear top-six skill, and if he can mitigate some of what the Ducks will be without, his services would be a welcome addition.
However true that may be, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville and (presumably) Verbeek felt it best for him not to make his debut this past weekend against Vegas or Florida.
“Well, it's early, and we're going to get him in a game here real soon. And, I think that offensively, I think he's got some great feel to the game,” Quenneville said before their season-opener in Las Vegas on Friday. “He's got a great understanding of the game. You know, he's 18. There's some big guys on our opponents tonight. It's a different night than maybe some other teams.
“And so, watching's not a bad thing, and getting to observe and watching some situations that put yourself in that spot: what would you do, and how would you handle it? But we'll get to see him play.”
Verbeek and the Ducks are no strangers to playing their young future stars in the NHL right away or sooner than perhaps anticipated. A year ago, there were heavy assumptions and speculation that now-star Beckett Sennecke would play his 2025-26 (his D+2) season in the OHL and return to the Oshawa Generals. Under Quenneville and due to injury elsewhere on the depth chart, he played early and often and was allowed to make mistakes, learn on the fly, and ultimately became a Calder Trophy finalist.
After Leo Carlsson’s draft year, it was speculated he’d return to the SHL to play for Örebro again in 2023-24. Instead, Verbeek, the Ducks front office, and the coaching/development staff concocted a game-management plan for their future franchise player that would let him play two games per week, build strength on off days, and avoid burning out halfway through the season, as is common among young rookies.
The fruits of the development plan were never fully realized, as Carlsson spent a significant amount of time injured during his rookie year. However, the blueprint is well-regarded league-wide, and Carlsson is now flourishing into the next generation of NHL stars. The Ducks seem to be eyeing a similar development model for Klepov in his D+1 season.
When asked about it, Quenneville said, “I would say there's some balance to that thought process, exactly like that.”
The Ducks won their first two games against the Knights and Panthers, so it will be curious to see if the coaching staff decides to insert Klepov anywhere in the lineup. It’s too early to draw conclusions regarding Anaheim’s possession numbers just two games into the year, but sliding him into the middle six (or top nine), as presently constructed, would give the depth chart a boost beneath Carlsson, Sennecke, and Cutter Gauthier, who are driving the entirety of the early offense for the Ducks.
Next on the Ducks’ schedule is another cup-favorite team: the Edmonton Oilers, who will travel to Anaheim for a matchup on Wednesday. Their roster has had an early run in with the injury bug, as they’ve been incredibly top-heavy up front, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jason Dickinson, Mattias Janmark, and Matthew Savoie all on IR.
With Edmonton running a lineup with little to no depth, and with the Ducks having the benefit of last change, the game on Wednesday may be as good a time as any for Klepov to make his NHL debut. However, Quenneville has made a habit of being reluctant to alter a lineup that won the game prior in any meaningful way.
Following their game against the Oilers on Wednesday, the Ducks will head to Winnipeg to take on the Jets on Friday, followed by a home-and-home against the Calgary Flames. One would be surprised if Klepov returned to Anaheim on Saturday, Oct. 13, having not made his debut. Beyond that, it’s conceivable his usage will be driven by performance vs. development.
In an offseason full of surprises for the Anaheim Ducks and the NHL as a whole, one of the most underdiscussed stories is the signing of 18-year-old Nikita Klepov to his entry-level contract in late July.
During the first round of the 2026 NHL draft, the Ducks traded young center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the 15th overall pick (Klepov) and the 29th overall pick. Following the draft, general manager Pat Verbeek remarked that Klepov could be on a “fast track” to the NHL despite his commitment to Michigan State University, where he was slated to begin his collegiate career in 2026-27.
Klepov decided his development had advanced beyond the CHL; in his first year in the OHL, he led the league in scoring with 97 points (37-60=97) in 67 games. The Ducks seemed to agree and took it a step further by signing him to his ELC.
As 2026-27 is his draft+1 season, Klepov is ineligible to play in the AHL and is now ineligible to play in the NCAA. He must either play in the NHL or head back to the OHL this season. The Ducks have the option of sending him to the San Diego Gulls in the AHL for a 14-day (maximum) conditioning stint if the team scratches him for five consecutive games.
To begin his NHL career, Klepov has been healthy-scratched through the Ducks’ first two games of the season. They opened their schedule on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights and traveled home to host the Florida Panthers. Those first two opponents represent not only cup-contenders, but two of the more physical teams in the NHL.
In a season where the Ducks moved on from McTavish and fellow top-six forward Chris Kreider, compounded by the fact that they’ll be without forward Troy Terry for the first 2-3 months of the season, they’ll be relying on young pieces to step into scoring roles. Klepov presently has clear top-six skill, and if he can mitigate some of what the Ducks will be without, his services would be a welcome addition.
However true that may be, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville and (presumably) Verbeek felt it best for him not to make his debut this past weekend against Vegas or Florida.
“Well, it's early, and we're going to get him in a game here real soon. And, I think that offensively, I think he's got some great feel to the game,” Quenneville said before their season-opener in Las Vegas on Friday. “He's got a great understanding of the game. You know, he's 18. There's some big guys on our opponents tonight. It's a different night than maybe some other teams.
“And so, watching's not a bad thing, and getting to observe and watching some situations that put yourself in that spot: what would you do, and how would you handle it? But we'll get to see him play.”
Verbeek and the Ducks are no strangers to playing their young future stars in the NHL right away or sooner than perhaps anticipated. A year ago, there were heavy assumptions and speculation that now-star Beckett Sennecke would play his 2025-26 (his D+2) season in the OHL and return to the Oshawa Generals. Under Quenneville and due to injury elsewhere on the depth chart, he played early and often and was allowed to make mistakes, learn on the fly, and ultimately became a Calder Trophy finalist.
After Leo Carlsson’s draft year, it was speculated he’d return to the SHL to play for Örebro again in 2023-24. Instead, Verbeek, the Ducks front office, and the coaching/development staff concocted a game-management plan for their future franchise player that would let him play two games per week, build strength on off days, and avoid burning out halfway through the season, as is common among young rookies.
The fruits of the development plan were never fully realized, as Carlsson spent a significant amount of time injured during his rookie year. However, the blueprint is well-regarded league-wide, and Carlsson is now flourishing into the next generation of NHL stars. The Ducks seem to be eyeing a similar development model for Klepov in his D+1 season.
When asked about it, Quenneville said, “I would say there's some balance to that thought process, exactly like that.”
The Ducks won their first two games against the Knights and Panthers, so it will be curious to see if the coaching staff decides to insert Klepov anywhere in the lineup. It’s too early to draw conclusions regarding Anaheim’s possession numbers just two games into the year, but sliding him into the middle six (or top nine), as presently constructed, would give the depth chart a boost beneath Carlsson, Sennecke, and Cutter Gauthier, who are driving the entirety of the early offense for the Ducks.
Next on the Ducks’ schedule is another cup-favorite team: the Edmonton Oilers, who will travel to Anaheim for a matchup on Wednesday. Their roster has had an early run in with the injury bug, as they’ve been incredibly top-heavy up front, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jason Dickinson, Mattias Janmark, and Matthew Savoie all on IR.
With Edmonton running a lineup with little to no depth, and with the Ducks having the benefit of last change, the game on Wednesday may be as good a time as any for Klepov to make his NHL debut. However, Quenneville has made a habit of being reluctant to alter a lineup that won the game prior in any meaningful way.
Following their game against the Oilers on Wednesday, the Ducks will head to Winnipeg to take on the Jets on Friday, followed by a home-and-home against the Calgary Flames. One would be surprised if Klepov returned to Anaheim on Saturday, Oct. 13, having not made his debut. Beyond that, it’s conceivable his usage will be driven by performance vs. development.
In an offseason full of surprises for the Anaheim Ducks and the NHL as a whole, one of the most underdiscussed stories is the signing of 18-year-old Nikita Klepov to his entry-level contract in late July.
During the first round of the 2026 NHL draft, the Ducks traded young center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the 15th overall pick (Klepov) and the 29th overall pick. Following the draft, general manager Pat Verbeek remarked that Klepov could be on a “fast track” to the NHL despite his commitment to Michigan State University, where he was slated to begin his collegiate career in 2026-27.
Klepov decided his development had advanced beyond the CHL; in his first year in the OHL, he led the league in scoring with 97 points (37-60=97) in 67 games. The Ducks seemed to agree and took it a step further by signing him to his ELC.
As 2026-27 is his draft+1 season, Klepov is ineligible to play in the AHL and is now ineligible to play in the NCAA. He must either play in the NHL or head back to the OHL this season. The Ducks have the option of sending him to the San Diego Gulls in the AHL for a 14-day (maximum) conditioning stint if the team scratches him for five consecutive games.
To begin his NHL career, Klepov has been healthy-scratched through the Ducks’ first two games of the season. They opened their schedule on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights and traveled home to host the Florida Panthers. Those first two opponents represent not only cup-contenders, but two of the more physical teams in the NHL.
In a season where the Ducks moved on from McTavish and fellow top-six forward Chris Kreider, compounded by the fact that they’ll be without forward Troy Terry for the first 2-3 months of the season, they’ll be relying on young pieces to step into scoring roles. Klepov presently has clear top-six skill, and if he can mitigate some of what the Ducks will be without, his services would be a welcome addition.
However true that may be, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville and (presumably) Verbeek felt it best for him not to make his debut this past weekend against Vegas or Florida.
“Well, it's early, and we're going to get him in a game here real soon. And, I think that offensively, I think he's got some great feel to the game,” Quenneville said before their season-opener in Las Vegas on Friday. “He's got a great understanding of the game. You know, he's 18. There's some big guys on our opponents tonight. It's a different night than maybe some other teams.
“And so, watching's not a bad thing, and getting to observe and watching some situations that put yourself in that spot: what would you do, and how would you handle it? But we'll get to see him play.”
Verbeek and the Ducks are no strangers to playing their young future stars in the NHL right away or sooner than perhaps anticipated. A year ago, there were heavy assumptions and speculation that now-star Beckett Sennecke would play his 2025-26 (his D+2) season in the OHL and return to the Oshawa Generals. Under Quenneville and due to injury elsewhere on the depth chart, he played early and often and was allowed to make mistakes, learn on the fly, and ultimately became a Calder Trophy finalist.
After Leo Carlsson’s draft year, it was speculated he’d return to the SHL to play for Örebro again in 2023-24. Instead, Verbeek, the Ducks front office, and the coaching/development staff concocted a game-management plan for their future franchise player that would let him play two games per week, build strength on off days, and avoid burning out halfway through the season, as is common among young rookies.
The fruits of the development plan were never fully realized, as Carlsson spent a significant amount of time injured during his rookie year. However, the blueprint is well-regarded league-wide, and Carlsson is now flourishing into the next generation of NHL stars. The Ducks seem to be eyeing a similar development model for Klepov in his D+1 season.
When asked about it, Quenneville said, “I would say there's some balance to that thought process, exactly like that.”
The Ducks won their first two games against the Knights and Panthers, so it will be curious to see if the coaching staff decides to insert Klepov anywhere in the lineup. It’s too early to draw conclusions regarding Anaheim’s possession numbers just two games into the year, but sliding him into the middle six (or top nine), as presently constructed, would give the depth chart a boost beneath Carlsson, Sennecke, and Cutter Gauthier, who are driving the entirety of the early offense for the Ducks.
Next on the Ducks’ schedule is another cup-favorite team: the Edmonton Oilers, who will travel to Anaheim for a matchup on Wednesday. Their roster has had an early run in with the injury bug, as they’ve been incredibly top-heavy up front, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jason Dickinson, Mattias Janmark, and Matthew Savoie all on IR.
With Edmonton running a lineup with little to no depth, and with the Ducks having the benefit of last change, the game on Wednesday may be as good a time as any for Klepov to make his NHL debut. However, Quenneville has made a habit of being reluctant to alter a lineup that won the game prior in any meaningful way.
Following their game against the Oilers on Wednesday, the Ducks will head to Winnipeg to take on the Jets on Friday, followed by a home-and-home against the Calgary Flames. One would be surprised if Klepov returned to Anaheim on Saturday, Oct. 13, having not made his debut. Beyond that, it’s conceivable his usage will be driven by performance vs. development.
Los Angeles, - October 04: Relief pitcher Brock Stewart #41 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning of Game 2 of an NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 4, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The reflection of the performance by the Dodgers bullpen in Game 2 of the NLDS is entirely skewed by a dismal offensive showing, making it extremely unlikely the home team could secure a 2-0 series lead. A rabbit hole exists for those who favor a pessimistic outlook, with Chris Sale starting the next game fully rested. Before raising major concerns about the future of this National League Division Series, the Dodgers’ bullpen’s work must be addressed as a positive from this last game; even if it may ultimately be attributed to the loss, it was the most blameless of the three units (starter, relievers, hitters).
Blake Snell’s inability to get a rhythm at any point cost him in length if not in actual runs—the left-hander couldn’t even get out of the fourth, leaving the Dodgers bullpen to cover 19 outs as they trailed 1-0. Snell’s line could’ve been worse, but he had the bullpen to thank for keeping Atlanta at just one, as Brock Stewart was effective in a pivotal spot, retiring Ronald Acuña Jr. with two men on. Given where Snell was, having walked two in his final inning, it’d be no stretch to contemplate Acuña doing damage off him in that spot.
Unlike the Braves, who nearly rode the Didier Fuentes train all the way to a four-inning save, the Dodgers distributed their bullpen innings quite evenly. Roki Sasaki was the one of six relievers to cover more than just a single frame.
Through those 6.1 innings, Dodger relievers allowed a pair of runs, first on an unfortunate wild pitch by Kris Bubic with a runner on third, enough to score a run that would not have come in without it—a few innings later, with a two-out double from Michael Harris II off Edgardo Henríquez to drive in Matt Olson. It wasn’t perfection, far from it, but Stewart, Evan Phillips, Edwin Díaz, and company were effective. If they deliver an outing such as this one whenever they’re called upon earlier than usual and the team doesn’t win, it is entirely down to the offense’s shortcomings.
Acuña stranding a pair in the fourth after Snell left the game was just the first wasted moment for the Braves offense—there were a few more in which Dodger relievers came through to keep this a close game until the end. Even without allowing a hit, Roki Sasaki created quite a mess for himself with walks and hit-by-pitches; his effectiveness and a bit of luck saw him through two scoreless innings, including a bases-loaded double play to end the inning against Acuña. And that’s probably the best way to emphasize how strong of a bullpen performance this was: in three at-bats against the Dodgers’ bullpen, Acuña had a combined total of five players on base, and he didn’t drive in a single run—play these numbers again, and the result is probably different.
The way in which the Dodgers create bullpen depth by maximizing their resources might not be as obvious as with the rotation or lineup, but it doesn’t mean it is any less effective. Lower and lower on the leverage ladder, you’re still getting quality innings from imposing relievers.
The Angels celebrate their 2002 World Series title. Scouting director Bob Fontaine Jr., who was credited with assembling much of that championship roster, has died at 73. (Los Angeles Times)
The baseball world was captivated by left-handed pitching prospect Jim Abbott ahead of the 1988 major league draft mostly because he didn’t have a right hand. Seven teams passed on him before the Angels picked him.
Why? Largely because Angels scouting director Bob Fontaine Jr. ignored the potential limitations that others fixated on when evaluating Abbott. Rather than dwelling on the absence of a right hand, Fontaine saw something wondrous coming out of Abbott’s left hand — a cut fastball.
“He’s actually more suited to the pro game than the amateurs with the aluminum bats,” Fontaine told The Times after the draft. “He’s going to be breaking off a lot of these wood bats with that cut fastball.”
As usual, Fontaine, who died Saturday at age 73, was prophetic in his assessment. Abbott became the rare pitcher to go straight from college — he’d starred at Michigan — to the major leagues, skipping the minors entirely and enjoying a 10-year MLB career while inspiring numerous fans in disabled communities.
“I think every scout, if they scout for any length of time, is going to have one player that just is special to you. Jimmy Abbott was that,” Fontaine told JapanBall in 2022. “There were people that were even kind of saying, ‘Oh, they did it for a publicity stunt.’ I remember saying, ‘Yeah, we took the eighth player in the country for a publicity stunt? Give us some credit!
Fontaine was showered with plenty of posthumous credit over the weekend. He scouted for six teams, and a highlight of his resume was drafting the nucleus of the Angels roster that won the 2002 World Series.
“What a character ... what a storyteller ... and what a talent evaluator ... there is no 2002 World Series title for the #Angels without Bob Fontaine Jr. ... RIP,” wrote former longtime Times baseball writer Mike Digiovanna on X.
What a character ... what a storyteller ... and what a talent evaluator ... there is no 2002 World Series title for the #Angels without Bob Fontaine Jr. ... RIP https://t.co/1eHIStuWWY
“Crushed regarding Bob Fontaine Jr.’s passing, as he was a special man who I was lucky to work closely with three times @WhiteSox @Mariners, and @BlueJays. Fun as hell, elite evaluator, and phenomenal people skills. RIP, Robert,” added former Dodgers general manager Dan Evans.
“A gifted talent evaluator and mentor, Bob helped shape generations of Angels by overseeing the signing and development of numerous Halos, including Jim Abbott, Jim Edmonds, Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon and Darin Erstad,” the Angels said in a statement. “Bob left a lasting mark on baseball by devoting over five decades to the game. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
The Angels frustrated Fontaine at times by declining to spend big on players from talent-rich Latin America. Rather than sulk, however, he scoured the globe, in 1992 signing three players from Russia and a fast-pitch softball player from New Zealand named Gus Leger.
Asked by The Times’ Bill Shaikin if he had ever played baseball, Leger responded, “I haven’t. Would it help?”
The experiment failed — none of the quartet advanced beyond Class-A — yet Fontaine maintained the sunny outlook he inherited from his father. Bob Fontaine Sr. was a scout who worked under the legendary Branch Rickey with the Brooklyn Dodgers before becoming scouting director of the Pittsburgh Pirates for 18 years and the first scouting director of the expansion franchise San Diego Padres. He also served as general manager of the Padres from 1977-1980.
“[My father] told me when I got started, ‘Don’t you ever, ever not appreciate where you are and what you’re doing, because you’re lucky. You’re going to a ballpark to make a living, so your bad days aren’t that bad,’” Fontaine Jr. said. “I never forgot that, I never forgot how lucky I am.
“Hey, you’re looking at a guy that barely squeaked through high school, who doesn’t have any ability, and I lasted almost 50 years. It’s because in baseball, if you listen, and you’re not afraid to take a chance once in a while, even somebody with my lack of ability can stay around for a while,” he said.
Fontaine got his foot in the door through his father. His first job as a teenager was as a minor league bat boy with the Pirates. Next he became a peanut vendor at Forbes Field. By age 19, he caught on with the Padres as an area scout.
Both Fontaines were scouts well ahead of the deep empirical and objective analysis of baseball data — sabermetrics is the catch-all term — that some believe has made scouts obsolete. Fontaine maintained the best evaluations come when scouting is utilized along with numbers.
“What the traditional scout gives you is personal reference, like with things I learned on players that I missed on,” he said. “Analytics didn’t do that. I’m a firm believer that the best video camera is your eyes, the best model is your brain, and the best way to make a tough decision is with your heart.”
Fontaine’s methods produced results. Under his guidance in 1977, the Padres drafted future Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith in the fourth round. Four years later Fontaine plucked another future Hall of Famer, taking outfielder Tony Gwynn in the third round.
And when Fontaine moved to the Montreal Expos in 1985, he took a 6-foot-11 left-handed pitcher out of USC named Randy Johnson in the second round — another Hall of Famer.
Fontaine co-authored a memoir in 2021, “In Search of Millionaires (The Life of a Baseball Gypsy): The Accounts of Bob Fontaine Jr.”
“Baseball has provided me with a fabulous opportunity to see the world and work in an industry that most people envy,” he wrote in the book. “I didn’t get rich, except in experiences. To meet and work against so many fine people, as well as some great general managers and owners, has been a privilege.”
Times sports columnist Bill Shaikin contributed to this story.
