Report: Kings' Kopitar Believed To Be Entering Final NHL Season

The Los Angeles Kings have made some changes to their roster this offseason, and one thing that fans have been waiting for is a potential extension for long-time forward Anze Kopitar.

In a recent report, it was revealed that Kopitar could be entering his last season in the NHL and isn't expected to sign an extension with the Kings.

Kopitar, who is 37 years old, has scored 440 goals and added 838 assists for 1278 points through 1454 games in his career. He has spent his entire career with the Kings, helping them win two Stanley Cups in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons.

Time will tell if he ends up hanging up his skates, but if this is his last season in the NHL with the Kings, he has built himself a potential Hall of Fame career.

Report: LA Kings GM Claims Anze Kopitar Extension Won't Come This SummerReport: LA Kings GM Claims Anze Kopitar Extension Won't Come This SummerWhile the Los Angeles Kings try to build a roster capable of going deep into the playoffs next season, fans have begun to wonder what is next for forwards Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar. While general manager Ken Holland mentioned that extension discussions were going to get underway with Kempe, he delivered some not-so-positive news about Kopitar. Report: Kings' Adrian Kempe Asking Price On Next Contract RevealedReport: Kings' Adrian Kempe Asking Price On Next Contract RevealedThe Los Angeles Kings will soon have to focus on trying to re-sign forward Adrian Kempe, and while there is no indication he has any interest in leaving the organization, his asking price was revealed in a recent report from The Fourth Period, and the two sides are expected to ramp up contract talks soon. LA Kings & NHL Announce 2025-26 Regular Season ScheduleLA Kings & NHL Announce 2025-26 Regular Season ScheduleThe Los Angeles Kings & the National Hockey League revealed the Kings' 2025-26 regular season schedule on Wednesday (Jul. 16).

Flashback Friday: Where Are They Now? Alexander Wennberg

Drafted in the first round (14th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Alexander Wennberg joined the Seattle Kraken as an unrestricted free agent on July 28th, 2021 after six seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and a single season with the Florida Panthers. 

A fan favorite, Wennberg is known for his quick feet and playmaking ability.   In his (almost) three seasons with the Kraken, Wennberg played in 222 games scoring 33 goals and amassing 67 assists.  He was responsible for scoring the game-winning goal nine times.

 

November 30, 2024: Alexander Wennberg photo by Candace Kludt | Come As You Are Hockey

In March of 2024, the Kraken traded Wennberg to the New York Rangers for a 2024 2nd round draft pick and a conditional 4th-round pick in the 2025 draft.  He finished out the season in New York where he reached 700 NHL games.

November 30th, 2024: Alexander Wennberg Faces Off With Yanni Gourde photo by Candace Kludt | Come As You Are Hockey

Once again a free agent, Wennberg signed a two-year, 10 million dollar contract with the San Jose Sharks.  The 2025-26 season marks the second year of that contract.  In the 2024-25 season, Wennberg played in 77 games with the Sharks.  He amassed 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in that time.  Time will tell if the Sharks will re-sign the veteran center or use him for trade collateral.  The team is young and rebuilding, and it is not clear if there is a permanent place for Alexander Wennberg.

 

Related:

Kraken's Recently Acquired and Bought-Out Forward Signs With CanadiensKraken's Recently Acquired and Bought-Out Forward Signs With CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens have signed recently acquired and then bought out Seattle Kraken forward Joe Veleno to a one-year, $900,000 contract. 


Exciting Penguins Prospect Named Among Top Young Goalies

The Pittsburgh Penguins are hopeful that goaltender Joel Blomqvist will become a long-term answer for them between the pipes. It is understandable, as the 23-year-old has shown promise at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins early on in his career.

During the 2023-24 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he had a 25-12-6 record, a .921 save percentage, and a 2.16 goals-against average. He followed that up with an 8-7-3 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.84 goals-against average this past season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He also played in his first 15 games with Pittsburgh in 2024-25, recording a 4-9-1 record, a .885 save percentage, and a 3.81 goals-against average.

Due to his strong AHL play and solid upside, Blomqvist has now gotten some praise. In a recent article for NHL.com, Kevin Woodley ranked the 10 best goalies who are under 25, and Blomqvist secured the final spot on the list. 

When noting that Blomqvist has the potential to emerge as an NHL starting goalie, it makes sense that he made Woodley's list. The Finnish netminder has been a very good goalie at the AHL level, and he should only improve as he continues to get more experience with Pittsburgh moving forward. 

Overall, it is hard not to feel optimistic about Blomqvist's future. It will be interesting to see what kind of season he can put together in 2025-26 from here.

NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins' Bryan Rust Linked To 3 TeamsNHL Trade Rumors: Penguins' Bryan Rust Linked To 3 TeamsPittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust is one of the NHL's top trade candidates right now. With the Penguins retooling, the 33-year-old winger would have the potential to land them a significant return if they decided to trade him.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Oilers' Connor McDavid And Canucks' Quinn Hughes

The NHL's 2026 UFA class contains several notable stars who could become available to the highest bidders. Topping the list is Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. 

It seems unthinkable that McDavid would depart the Oilers and chase a Stanley Cup elsewhere. Nevertheless, the possibility is reportedly being talked about in league circles. 

TSN analyst Chris Johnston discussed the issue with the SDPN panel on Monday. While he believes McDavid will re-sign with the Oilers, he felt there could be 10 teams that would become serious suitors if the 28-year-old superstar hits the open market. 

“I'm sure it has occurred to the Kings,” said Johnston. “I'm sure it has occurred to the Rangers. You don't think Julien BriseBois down in Tampa Bay is looking at his long-term roster?”

Those clubs could indeed think of it. With the salary cap projected to rise to $104 million for 2026-27, the Kings, Rangers and Lightning will have the cap room to sign McDavid even if he seeks to become the highest-paid player in the NHL.

However, if McDavid seeks upward of $20 million annually, that would still take a huge bite out of any team's salary-cap payroll.

It could leave the Kings lacking sufficient cap room to re-sign UFA-eligible winger Adrian Kempe. The Rangers would have to part ways with Artemi Panarin. The Lightning have all their core players under contract for 2026-27, but adding McDavid would make it difficult to fill out the rest of their roster with suitable depth talent.

Connor McDavid and Quinn Hughes (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

Meanwhile, the possibility of Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes reuniting with his brothers Jack and Luke on the New Jersey Devils created a stir in the rumor mill this spring. Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford raised that issue during his club's end-of-season media availability in April. 

Hughes, 25, is UFA-eligible in 2027. Rutherford indicated his club would do all it can to keep their captain in the fold, but his off-the-cuff remarks rattled Canucks followers while exciting Devils fans. 

However, Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers doesn't buy the notion of his teammate joining his brothers in New Jersey. The Hockey News’ Adam Kierszenblat cited the blueliner's recent appearance on the Cam and Strick Podcast, where he said he felt the story was overblown. 

Myers said Hughes loves his brothers, but he doesn't go around the dressing room saying he wants to play with them. 

“I know it's a big, big story around the hockey world, but everyone makes it a lot more than it is,” Myers said. 

Nevertheless, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now wondered if Myers was trying to downplay the speculation, or if Rutherford said what he did to gauge his captain's value in the trade market. 

Despite Myers' remarks, this story isn't going away until Rutherford or Hughes address it directly.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Former Islanders Goalie Announces Retirement

Former New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday.

A member of the franchise for four seasons, the netminder hangs up the pads following a 17-year NHL career. 

Tomáš Prokop (@Lewysko) on XTomáš Prokop (@Lewysko) on XJaroslav Halák has officially retired at age 40. He played in the NHL from 2006 to 2023, appeared in 581 games, suited up for eight teams, and won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice. He confirmed it to me in an interview for @DennikSport

Halak joined the Islanders in the 2014 offseason as part of an offseason overhaul, joining the Islanders in the summer of 2014 in exchange for a fourth-round pick. 

Halak and Chad Johnson were the new names in goal for the team, joining incoming defensemen Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk and forwards Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski. Halak became the new starter in net and immediately paid dividends, making the All-Star Game in his first season. He finished his first season with a 38-17-4 record, 2.43 GAA and .914 SV%. His 38 wins still stand as an Islanders single-season record. 

He followed the season up with another solid season, making 36 with an 18-13-4 record with a 2.30 GAA and .919 SV%. However, his season was cut short, suffering a season-ending injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 8, 2016. 

Halak’s final two years were filled with ups and downs, starting in 2016-17 with an underwhelming start to the season. He started the season 6-8-5 with a 3.23 GAA and .904 SV%, with additional controversy surrounding a three-goalie room with Thomas Greiss and Jean-Francois Berube. 

Ultimately, Halak was sent down to AHL Bridgeport on Dec. 30, getting recalled to finish the year in March. He was able to salvage his season with a 12-9-5 record, 2.80 GAA and .915 SV%. 

His final year with the team was a down season, mired by underperformance and shaky team defense. The season was his only one with a losing record with the Islanders, finishing with a 20-26-6 record, 3.19 GAA, and .908 SV%. The following offseason, Halak signed a contract with the Boston Bruins, splitting time with Tuukka Rask for three seasons. 

Halak finishes his NHL career with a 295-189-69 record in 581 games, posting a 2.50 GAA and .915 SV% across seven different teams. He also split a pair of Jennings Trophies for the fewest goals allowed in the league in the 2011-12 and 2019-20 seasons with Brian Elliott and Rask, respectively.

Matthew Page wrote this story. 

PHOTO: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Former Canadiens Star Goalie Announces Retirement

A former Montreal Canadiens goalie is officially hanging up the skates. 

While speaking with Dennik Sport's Tomas Prokop, former Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak shared that he has officially retired. 

Halak, 40, has not played in each of the last two seasons, as his last NHL campaign was in 2022-23 with the New York Rangers. Now, his career is officially over, and it was a very good one. 

Halak was selected by the Canadiens with the 271st overall pick of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he spent his first four seasons in Montreal and was excellent. In 101 games as a Hab from 2006-07 to 2009-10, he had a 56-34-7 record, a .919 save percentage, and a 2.62 goals-against average.

Halak also memorably appeared in 18 playoff games for the Canadiens during their 2010 run, posting a 9-9 record, a .923 save percentage, and a 2.55 goals-against average. Following this outstanding post-season performance, Halak was traded to the St. Louis Blues, as the Canadiens opted to go with Carey Price as their full-time starting goalie.

In 581 career games over 17 seasons split between the Canadiens, Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and Rangers, Halak had a 295-189-69 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.50 goals-against average. 

Canadiens Are One Big Move Away From Perfect Off-SeasonCanadiens Are One Big Move Away From Perfect Off-SeasonIt is hard not to be a fan of what the Montreal Canadiens have done this off-season. After taking a nice step forward in 2024-25, general manager Kent Hughes has improved the club's roster with some excellent moves. Among the most notable moves was acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders and trading for Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues.

Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images

Yankees at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 18

It's Friday, July 18 and the Yankees (53-43) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (42-53). Spencer Strider is slated to start for Atlanta, while New York has yet to announce a starting pitcher.

New York lost the past two games to the Cubs, but won five prior to that for a 5-2 record over the past seven entering the All-Star break. The Yankees are 2.0 games back of the Blue Jays for the AL East lead and 1.0 game ahead of the Red Sox.

Atlanta had a disappointing start to the season and finished the first half with a 3-7 record over the last 10 games. The Braves are 9.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Yankees at Braves

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: YES, FDSNSO, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Yankees at the Braves

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Yankees (-110), Braves (-109)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Spencer Strider vs. TBA
    • Yankees: TBA
    • Braves: Spencer Strider, 3-7 3.94 ERA
      Last outing: 6.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 11 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Braves

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Yankees and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Braves at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Yankees at Braves

  • Atlanta is 3-7 over the last 10 games
  • New York is 5-2 over the last 7 games
  • Aaron Judge leads the MVP race as a -700 favorite and ranks second in the MLB with 35 homers
  • Aaron Judge leads the MLB with a .355 batting average
  • Matt Olson is tied 16th in the MLB with 61 RBI

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

From The Archive: Whalers going to Columbus?

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 78 years of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here and read the full issue here.

Also, go to thn.com/free to subscribe.

Whalers Going To Columbus? - Apr 11, 1997/vol. 50, issue 30

If the Hartford Whalers had to leave town, they couldn’t have picked a better time.

The NHL is in the midst of its expansion process, with site visits commencing in the first week of April, and that gives Whaler owner Peter Karmanos a built-in pool of relocation possibilities and chances for a nice, soft landing.

“We’re now into detailed research on the markets out there,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told The Hockey News. “The process we’re going through will be able to serve two purposes.”

That is, 1) decide how many of the six remaining applicants for expansion will be accepted; and 2) which of the others is best suited to be the new home of the Whalers.

Karmanos met with Bettman in New York on March 28, two days after the chairman of Compuware officially announced this would be the Whalers’ last season in Hartford.

Karmanos and the state of Connecticut, led by Gov. John Rowland, were unable to come to an agreement to save the Whale. The state had offered to build a new arena, but the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement on economic viability.

So Karmanos will pay a $20.5-million penalty to escape the final year of the agreement to remain in Hartford and seek greener pastures elsewhere.

“I feel bad,” Karmanos told THN, “we worked hard, but we lost. We failed, and I’m not used to that.”

Karmanos bought the Whalers in 1994 for the relatively modest fee of $22.5 million. Since then, though, the club has reported operating losses of $14.5 million two years ago, $21 million last season, and projected losses of $14 million this season. Throw in the $20.5 million penalty, and Karmanos’ investment in the Whalers amounts to approximately $92.5 million. getting dangerously close to or beyond what the franchise is actually worth. He figured it was time to cut his losses and get out of town.

He is no doubt hoping to make back some of that money with a sweetheart, incentive-laden deal with some other city desperately seeking an NHL franchise.

The smart money is on it being one of the remaining six expansion applicants, although Raleigh-Durham. N.C. is a distinct possibility.

For now, Atlanta, Houston, and Nashville are not considered to house the Whalers. Each expansion applicant there has arena rights locked up and isn’t about to let Karmanos in, not that the NHL necessarily would want him eliminating such prime expansion markets anyway.

However, the same cannot be said for Columbus, Ohio, St. Paul, Minnesota, Oklahoma City. Okla., and Raleigh-Durham.

“I don’t have a first choice,” Karmanos said. “It will depend upon the business deal in each place, and I want to see what the level of interest is.”

All things considered, though, it’s believed Karmanos would like to end up in central Ohio.

“There are 7.5 million people within a 100-mile radius of Columbus,” Karmanos said. “It’s the second most densely populated state in the union.”

The problem, however, is that there is no long-term commitment to an arena. A referendum will be held on May 6 to determine the arena issue. It’s assumed the outcome will be positive, but that still would leave the Whalers without a suitable arena for two or three seasons.

Karmanos is something of an unconventional businessman. That’s how he became as big as he is in computer software. He talks of “finding the biggest building possible that can be fitted with seats and an ice-making plant and making it work for a year.”

The possibility is there for an NHL team to move into Ohio State University’s new arena for 1998-99, but again, it would only be a temporary arrangement. Karmanos also said he would look at the 10,000-seat Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio, and may even examine temporary homes in Cincinnati or Cleveland.

St. Paul is another possibility as civic authorities there continue to pledge support to refitting the St. Paul Civic Centre to NHL standards, but it’s doubtful the Twin Cities are high on the list. The best thing it has going for it is a No. 14 rank amongst U.S. TV markets.

Oklahoma City has already committed to building a new arena with a sweetheart lease/management agree-ment-and it has a 10,000-seat minor league facility that could do for now.

The question there is whether it’s a legitimate big-league market.

Raleigh-Durham is a solid dark horse candidate, a rather attractive and unique market that is committed to building a new arena. An interim home could be 60 miles down the road in Greensboro, which has a new 16,000-seat facility (home to the Carolina Monarchs of the American League).

Columbus has to be considered the favorite, pending the outcome of the May 6 referendum, but Raleigh-Durham shouldn’t be discounted even though the potential expansion ownership group there withdrew its bid.

A final decision on the Whalers’ destination is expected by the end of April, although it may be a week later to allow for the outcome of the May 6 referendum.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts on our forum.

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What Is Yegor Chinakhov's Trade Value?What Is Yegor Chinakhov's Trade Value?With the news today that Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade away from the Columbus Blue Jackets, many are left to wonder what his worth is. Yegor Chinakhov Requests Trade?Yegor Chinakhov Requests Trade?Per Shumi Babaev on X, his client, Yegor Chinakhov has reauested a trade out of Columbus.  Loading The Cannon: Dysin MayoLoading The Cannon: Dysin MayoYesterday, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed 28-year-old defenseman Dysin Mayo to a one-year, two-way contract. But who is Dysin Mayo? Let's take a look. 

Phillies, MLB unveil logo for 2026 All-Star Game in Philly

Phillies, MLB unveil logo for 2026 All-Star Game in Philly originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Baseball’s midsummer classic is coming to Philadelphia next year during the nation’s 250th birthday and the MLB unveiled the official logo for the momentous event.

The 2026 All-Star Declaration ceremony was held on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Philadelphia’s Dilworth Park. During the ceremony – which featured appearances by Bryce Harper, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels and Larry Bowa — the MLB revealed the official 2026 All-Star Game logo. The 96th Midsummer Classic will take place at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in celebration of America’s 250th year of independence. A league spokesperson described the logo as a tribute to Philadelphia as well as America’s semiquincentennial.

“At the center of the design is the Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of the city and the nation, reimagined with energy and movement to reflect the spirit of the Midsummer Classic,” a league spokesperson wrote. “The typography takes cues from the bell’s historic inscriptions, blended with design touches inspired by the Phillies’ signature style. Anchored by patriotic themes and layered with modern flair, the mark is a dynamic expression of baseball’s place in American culture — past, present, and future.”

Next year’s festivities will also include the All-Star Futures Game and the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park.

Next year will be the fifth time that Philadelphia hosted the MLB All-Star Game and it will be the first time at Citizens Bank Park. Past all-star games took place at Philadelphia’s former Veterans Stadium in 1996 as well as 1976, the year of the nation’s bicentennial. Other all-star games in Philly took place at the former Shibe Park Stadium in 1952 and 1943.

Learn more about the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia in the document embedded below:

Pros and Cons: Should Mets trade for David Bednar?

At one point early this season, David Bednar looked like anything but a potential bullpen savior for a contender. The Pirates closer was so awful in his first three appearances – coming off an uncharacteristically rough 2024 season – that the two-time All-Star was demoted to Triple-A to get right. 

He stayed in the minors almost three weeks before returning, and his ERA was a bloated 5.52 as recently as May 23. But Bednar has turned around his season since – 18 appearances, no earned runs – and the righty could be the biggest impact reliever moved at the trade deadline. 

Maybe the Mets should pursue him to bolster the bridge to Edwin Díaz.

Despite his wobbles across 2024-25, Bednar has been a dominant reliever for long stretches in his career. From 2021-23, he had a 2.25 ERA and struck out 226 in 179.2 innings while allowing just 135 hits. 

So should David Stearns and his front office pepper the Pirates with calls about Bednar? Let us consider the pros and cons of such a deal.

Pros

Fortifying the bullpen might be the biggest need for a Mets team with a real chance this October. Mets relievers have accumulated 3.3 WAR so far this season, seventh-best in MLB via FanGraphs, and their pen ERA is 3.83 (14th in MLB). 

But there are looming workload concerns. 

They have used 31 different pitchers in relief, thrown the fourth-most relief pitches in MLB and have recorded 371 innings from the bullpen, tied for seventh-most with the Rockies. Perhaps most alarming, they are getting five innings per start from the rotation. Only four teams get fewer innings pitched per start. The average team is getting two more outs per night from the rotation than the Mets. 

Acquiring Bednar would allow the Mets to change their bullpen pecking order and get bigger arms into games earlier. Bednar, who has pitched comfortably in a setup role before, would be an eighth-inning beast capable of facing the best hitters in an opposing lineup. He also could close on nights Díaz must rest.

Bednar, who will be 31 in October, was the National League Reliever of the Month for June when he struck out 16 of the 36 batters he faced. This season, he has a 2.53 ERA, and his 12.7 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 would both be the best marks of his career. Overall, he is striking out 34.6 percent of batters, in the 96th percentile of MLB, according to Statcast. 

Bednar features a 97-mile-per-hour four-seam fastball, a plunging, high-70s curveball that changes pace and eye level and a splitter that goes low 90s. The expected slugging percentage on at-bats that end on his curve is a microscopic .147. 

David Bednar
David Bednar / Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

Cons

Relievers are combustible. It’s a fact of pitching life. 

Bednar went through woes over the past two seasons, finishing 2024 with a 5.77 ERA. He allowed nine home runs in 57.2 innings, a 1.4 HR/9 that was easily his worst since he became a valuable part of the Pittsburgh pen. His K/9 and BB/9 were career worsts for a full season, too.

The 2023 season might be peak Bednar – he led the NL with 39 saves – and he got batters to chase at a rate in the 96th percentile that year. But that number has gone down over the past two seasons. Now, hitters are chasing at a rate in the 46th percentile. Will that matter? He’s still getting plenty of outs. 

Prospect cost is always a concern, especially for a club committed to its farm system like the Mets. Bednar is under club control for one more season and won’t hit free agency until after the 2026 season, which might up the asking price since whatever team might acquire him gets more than a year of potentially-great relief pitching. 

Here’s another con, though it’s certainly no strike against Bednar – he’s a Pittsburgh local. He was a 35th-round pick by the Padres out of Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. and got to his hometown team via the three-team trade between the Padres, Mets and Pirates in 2021 that sent Joey Lucchesi to New York. He’s used the Styx song “Renegade” as a warm-up tune – that’s also a famed anthem of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The Pirates (39-58) don’t seem to be going anywhere, but would they really trade a hometown kid made good?

Verdict

Easy – the Mets should go get Bednar if he’s available. You could probably say the same about most available relievers, even those without his huge upside.

He is making $5.9 million this season and will surely get a raise in arbitration. Would the Pirates really pay big money for a reliever after this season? Maybe that mitigates the ultimate asking price.

This Mets season is too promising not to add significant bullpen help. It’s great to have so much promise on the farm, but part of the system’s purpose is to fuel the big league operation, too.

Envision this – an October night this fall, Kodai Senga delivering seven superlative innings against a rugged playoff opponent. Bednar comes in for a shutdown eighth, Díaz for a blazing ninth.

As Gary Cohen would say, “And the ballgame is over!”

Pros and Cons: Should Yankees trade for Zac Gallen?

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that he will be looking for pitching during this trade deadline season.

While Cashman will be trying to fortify the bullpen, the rotation needs some work after numerous injuries this year. Ace Gerrit Cole is out for the season after Tommy John surgery, and Clarke Schmidt will miss the rest of the year with his second Tommy John surgery. That's not to mention 2024 Rookie of the Year Luis Gil missing more than half the season.

Although the arms the Yanks do have are performing very well -- especially Max Fried and Carlos Rodon -- reinforcements are needed. That's where Diamondbacks righty Zac Gallen comes in.

The 29-year-old is in the final year of his contract and if Arizona falls out of contention, he could be the perfect trade piece this deadline season.

Should the Yankees take a flyer on Gallen?

Here are the pros and cons of acquiring the right-hander....

Pros

Gallen has been a big-game pitcher for the D-backs, pitching to a sub-4.00 ERA from 2022-24. He received Cy Young votes in three seasons and was third in voting in 2023 when he had a 3.47 ERA during Arizona's improbable run to the World Series.

Although he hasn't been at his best this year, the Yankees saw how devastating Gallen can be firsthand. Back on April 2, Gallen struck out 13 batters across 6.2 scoreless innings.

The potential for dominance is there -- Gallen just hasn't been consistent enough. But that could fall in the Yankees' favor as Arizona may not receive many great offers for Gallen, so New York could potentially acquire him for cheap or in a package deal for, say, Eugenio Suarez.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park / Brett Davis - Imagn Images

Gallen also has postseason experience. In six starts during that 2023 run, he pitched to a 4.54 ERA. While not overly impressive, Gallen saved his best playoff start for last. In Game 5 of the World Series, the right-hander allowed just one run on three hits across 6.1 innings while striking out six.

Again, the potential for dominance is there.

Cons

To put it lightly, Gallen is a reclamation project.

Gallen is far enough removed from his career season of 2023 that teams should be concerned about whether he'll be able to sustain those heights ever again.

If the season were to end today, Gallen would have career-worsts in ERA (5.40), WHIP (1.374) and K/9 (8.6). The biggest problem for Gallen this season has been his control and walks. He's walked 45 batters in 20 starts. He walked 54 batters in 28 starts a year ago and just 47 the previous two seasons in 34 and 31 starts, respectively.

Looking at advanced metrics, Gallen ranks in the bottom 10 percent in hard hit percentage, bottom 13 percent in average exit velocity, and bottom 18 percent in xERA (4.86). All that translates to Gallen getting hit hard and allowing a lot of runs.

There's also the rental aspect of a Gallen acquisition. If the Yankees were to part with prospects for Gallen, it's only for a couple of months -- and it will need to work down the stretch and in the postseason to justify the trade. It's a big risk.

Verdict

Gallen is an interesting case. This all comes down to what the price would be.

The high strikeout potential is tempting, but if Gallen costs too much, it's a pass. I would do it if he's paired with Suarez but on his own, the Yankees can likely do better elsewhere.

Padres at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 18

Its Friday, July 18 and the Padres (52-44) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (38-58).

Dylan Cease is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Michael Soroka for Washington.

The Padres sit in second place and 5.5 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West. They won six of their last ten prior to the All-Star Break. Mired again this season in last place in the National League East, Washington overhauled their front office and coaching staff prior to the Break. Pitching has been the primary issue as the Nats have allowed 519 runs. Only the Rockies (589) and the Athletics (551) have allowed more.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Padres at Nationals

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: SDPA, MASN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Padres at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (-157), Nationals (+132)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Dylan Cease vs. Michael Soroka
    • Padres: Dylan Cease (3-9, 4.88 ERA)
      Last outing: July 9 vs. Arizona - 6IP, 6ER, 5H, 3BB, 8Ks
    • Nationals: Michael Soroka (3-7, 5.35 ERA)
      Last outing: July 10 at St. Louis - 4IP, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 4Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Nationals

  • The Padres have won 7 of their last 9 games at Washington
  • The Over is 5-0 in the Nationals' last 5 home games
  • The Padres have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.93 units
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. is enjoying a 6-game hitting streak (9-21)
  • Manny Machado was 3-10 (.300) in the Padres' 3-game series against the Phillies just prior to the Break
  • James Wood is 10-41 (.244) with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs in July

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Nationals

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Padres and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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Vancouver Canucks 2024–25 Report Card: Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Welcome back to another Vancouver Canucks 2024–25 Report Card. Today, we’ll be taking a look at how Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki’s season went as a member of both Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks

This was Lekkerimäki’s first full season with both Vancouver and Abbotsford. Prior to 2024–25, Lekkerimäki’s only experiences on North American ice were the six games he played with the AHL Canucks at the end of the 2023–24 season. His first AHL game of the 2024–25 season was Abbotsford’s home-opener on October 25, during which he tallied an assist and three shots on goal. In his first seven games with Abbotsford, he scored five goals and two assists while tallying a total of 39 shots. 

Lekkerimäki stayed in Abbotsford’s lineup until the start of November, as he was called up to Vancouver while the team dealt with injuries. He made his NHL debut on November 12 against the Calgary Flames, putting up two shots in 14:07 minutes played. The game after, against the New York Islanders on November 14, he scored his first NHL goal against Ilya Sorokin with a sweet shot off the rush. He stayed in the lineup for the following three games before being sent back down to Abbotsford. 

From mid-November to early January, Lekkerimäki continued playing with Abbotsford, putting up seven goals and three assists in 14 games. This included back-to-back three-point games on December 7 and 8. While he was still shooting at a high rate of around three shots per game, this wasn’t as close to the offence he’d produced at the start of the season. With injuries once again striking the Canucks, he was called up to Vancouver and placed in the lineup on January 6 against the Montréal Canadiens. In a high-scoring 5–4 overtime loss for Vancouver, Lekkerimäki had a goal and an assist in 13:47 minutes played. 

Lekkerimäki’s stint in Vancouver’s lineup ended after January 16 and didn’t continue until mid-March. During this time, he continued to build on his offensive successes in Abbotsford, contributing a goal and two assists in his first game back from Vancouver on January 19. He registered a four-game and three-game point streak that were only separated by one game in which he did not get a goal or an assist. 

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While Vancouver’s lineup was unsteady throughout the season, Lekkerimäki was able to find some consistency within it towards the end of 2024–25. With a crop of Abbotsford players playing for the Canucks from mid-March to the end of the season, there was enough familiarity in the dressing room for Lekkerimäki to become a little more comfortable with the NHL. By the end of Vancouver’s 2024–25 season, he had three goals and three assists in 24 games. With Abbotsford, he had 19 goals and nine assists in 36 games. 

In Abbotsford’s Calder Cup victory, Lekkerimäki was noticeable at a bunch of different points for many reasons. First, he missed three games due to complications from dental surgery early in Abbotsford’s playoff run. Then, he was healthy-scratched for four games, including the team’s Western Conference Championship win. Finally, in his second game back in the lineup during the Calder Cup Final, he potted two goals and also played excellently without the puck on his stick to help Abbotsford take a 3–1 series lead. While many may have expected more from him offensively during this playoff run, Lekkerimäki still showed up when the team needed him most. 

Two-Goal Game 4 Performance A Big Momentum Shifter For Abbotsford Canucks’ Jonathan LekkerimäkiTwo-Goal Game 4 Performance A Big Momentum Shifter For Abbotsford Canucks’ Jonathan LekkerimäkiFor a while, Vancouver Canucks and Abbotsford Canucks fans alike were intrigued. The AHL Canucks were rolling through the Calder Cup Playoffs with a lineup full of stellar players like Artūrs Šilovs and Linus Karlsson. Virtually everyone not-injured was accounted for — except for one player. 

The movement to-and-from lineups can be a bit difficult for a player who is still adjusting to a multitude of things. Positively speaking, Lekkerimäki was able to gain valuable NHL experience while honing his skills in the AHL — but this shifting can also be tough to work with when still trying to learn specific systems and skills. Because of this, Lekkerimäki gets a B- for his rookie season. Though many may have expected a little more from him at the NHL level, he’s still adjusting to AHL and NHL play. With that being said, fans may see an even more dangerous Lekkerimäki come the 2025–26 season. 

Player Review Series Articles: 

Marcus Pettersson

Linus Karlsson

Kevin Lankinen

Thatcher Demko

Jake DeBrusk

Filip Hronek

Brock Boeser

Tyler Myers

Conor Garland

Elias Pettersson (F) 

Quinn Hughes 

Nov 12, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (23) during a stop in play against the Calgary Flames in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Hockey News

Canadiens: Fowler Makes NHL.com’s Top 10 Goaltenders Under 25 Ranking

Yesterday, we reported that Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield had made NHL.com’s top 10 under-25 forwards ranking, and today, it’s Jacob Fowler’s turn to make the Top 10 under-25 goaltenders ranking. We’ve been saying for years that the future was bright in Montreal, and it looks like, slowly but surely, the future is arriving.

Just like Caufield, Fowler is ranked fifth in the list behind Calder Trophy finalist and Calgary Flames netminder Dustin Wolf, Chicago Blackhawks’ Spencer Knight (who was drafted two spots before Caufield at the 2019 draft), San Jose Sharks’ Yaroslav Askarov, and Ottawa Senators’ Leevi Merilainen. Interestingly, Jakub Dobes, who’s under 25 as well and has better stats than a lot of goaltenders on the list, was ignored.

Fowler is one of only two goaltenders, alongside Trey Augustine, to make the list without having played a single game in the NHL. The latter hasn’t even signed his ELC with the Detroit Red Wings yet and will be heading back to the NCAA with Michigan State University for a fourth year, meaning the Wings will have to be patient and wait for their second-round pick at the 2023 draft to be done with school before he suits up for them.

Given Fowler’s non-existent NHL stats, his NCAA career, and his limited experience in the AHL sealed the deal. He finished his season with Boston College with a 25-7-2 record, a 1.63 goals-against average, and a .940 save percentage. The masked man also posted seven shutouts, up from three in his rookie year.

The youngster also showed a bit of a mean streak, hitting an opponent who got a bit too close to his liking with his blocker, which earned him an ejection and a one-game suspension.

After signing his contract, the 20-year-old appeared in three regular-season games with the Laval Rocket, going 2-1-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .914 SV. He also played eight games in the postseason, going 3-3 with a 2.48 GAA and a .902 save percentage. It will be interesting to see what he can do in his first full year of professional hockey, which he is highly likely to spend with the Rocket as the number one netminder.

The question now becomes how the Canadiens do in NHL.com’s top 10 under-25 defenseman ranking. I have a slight suspicion that a certain Lane Hutson will find his way there and that he’ll be higher than fifth. Could another one make it? I expect we’ll find out in the next few hours or days…

Photo credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images


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