At long last, Keith Tkachuk is a Hockey Hall Of Fame member.
The former St. Louis Blues left wing, among the greatest goal scorers among American-born players in NHL history, was indicted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for the Class of 2026, which was announced on Monday afternoon, 16 years after the power forward retired from the NHL.
“I think like a lot of people on this (call), the inductees, I was shocked," Tkachuk said. "You don’t go into your career thinking you’re going to be a Hall of Famer. You don’t play for that. But as you get older, when you get that call, it was truly the biggest honor I could ever have. I’m thrilled. I don’t know how I’m going to react in the NHL in November. It’s going to be overwhelming. But we’re doing this for our families who have sacrificed everything for us. I’m looking forward to spending that time with my family, my grandkids, my wife Chantal who sacrificed a ton for me. I’m looking forward to going in representing all the teams that I played for, especially the St. Louis Blues. I’ve been here a long time, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Tkachuk, who played the final eight-plus seasons of his NHL career with the Blues (2000-2010), who also had stints with the old Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes and a short stint with the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers, who relocated to make up the current Winnipeg Jets franchise, played in 1,201 regular-season games and had 1,065 points (538 goals, 527 assists).
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026
Tkachuk, who played 18 seasons in the NHL starting in 1991, never won the Stanley Cup in his career, and one wonders if that was a sticking point as to why it's taken him this long to finally be enshrined, is third among American-born players in NHL history in goals scored behind former Blue Brett Hull (741) and Mike Modano (561).
It's a long time coming and well-deserved for the 54-year-old, who currently serves as the team's director of recruitment. It was a decade-long wait.
"I don’t think about that," Tkachuk said. "I’m enjoying life right now. I’ve got a great family, grandkids now. This is the ultimate, for sure. The Tkachuks are never known to be patient, but we had to be a little patient."
Tkachuk was enshrined into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 and Blues Hall of Fame; he will become the 27th former Blue to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Tkachuk played in 543 regular-season games with the Blues and ranks 14th in franchise history with 427 points and sixth with 208 goals.
He is a five-time NHL All-Star (1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009) and two-time selection to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team (1995, 1998).
"Keith Tkachuk’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved," Blues chairman Tom Stillman said in a statement. "One of the greatest American-born hockey players of all time, ‘Big Walt’ brought a unique blend of skill and toughness to the St. Louis Blues. It was a privilege to watch him play in the Blue Note for nine seasons, and his impact on the franchise and our broader hockey community continues to be felt to this day. On behalf of the Blues organization and Blues fans everywhere, heartfelt congratulations to Keith and the entire Tkachuk family on this prestigious honor."
The news came 24 hours after Tkachuk's youngest son, Brady, was traded by the Ottawa Senators to join forces with older brother Matthew and the Florida Panthers.
“They’ve dreamt of playing together," Keith Tkachuk said of his sons. "They had an opportunity in the Olympics and 4 Nations. They’re best friends, they wanted to do this together and fortunately, it worked out. Both parties found a way to get it done.
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The Philadelphia Flyers have already addressed one major need this offseason by trading for goalie Joseph Woll, and next up on the list appears to be the center position.
The left defense position has been the talk of much of the offseason so far, given that the Flyers will most easily be able to address it, specifically at the 2026 NHL Draft.
Center, of course, is the position in much greater demand around the NHL, and as a result, the Flyers may need to buy low and explore bargain bin options around the league.
One such option is reportedly Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright, a former No. 4 overall draft pick who is just one year removed from a promising 44-point campaign as a 21-year-old player.
Wright, 22, had an uninspiring 2025-26 season that saw him score just 12 goals and 27 points while averaging only 13:48 of ice time on a bad Kraken team that needed some juice.
Offensive involvement has been the question mark for the former top prospect, as Wright has just 204 career shots on goal, though he does have 36 goals to show for it thus far.
But, with all that said, The Fourth Period and NHL Network NHL insider David Pagnotta recently reported that "Young centre Shane Wright is still available and remains open to a move.
"[Seattle Kraken GM Jason Botterill] prefers to package him in a larger deal for a top-tier forward and he continues to scour the market. Teams continue to poke, and sources say the Philadelphia Flyers recently entered the chat, and trade discussions should pick up this week."
Of note, the 2026 NHL Draft is just four days away, and the Flyers were previously reported to not have much interest in Wright as a player.
If things have changed, as Pagnotta indicates, the Flyers have accepted that the market for centers is not favorable for what they would like to achieve.
Head coach Rick Tocchet liked having veteran Luke Glendening in the lineup for matchup purposes as the Flyers' lone right-hand center, and prospect Jett Luchanko is still not close to being ready for a full-time NHL role.
Those factors lend themselves well to the Flyers throwing a dart at Wright, who has plenty of talent and is still very young.
Wright has only one year remaining on his entry-level contract at a $866k cap hit, so if things don't pan out, he and agent Kurt Overhardt can work out something else out next offseason.
The Flyers have a surplus of wingers, a need for a young center with talent, and a need for a right-hand center.
Wright checks all those boxes for them, and it seems they are starting to coming around the idea of giving the 2022 No. 4 overall pick a fresh start in Philadelphia.
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 15: Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu (52) throws a pitch in the top of the ninth inning during the MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros on June 15, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Today, the Houston Astros announced that they had placed RP Bryan Abreu on the restricted list, and recalled RP Logan VanWey from Triple-A Sugar Land to replace him on the active roster.
No reason for moving Abreu to the restricted list was given.
Abreu, 29, has allowed 1 ER in 7 appearances since a 3-run blow-up June 2 vs. Pittsburgh. He allowed a solo HR in a 9-3 loss to the Tigers June 15 in a game that had long been decided.
Abreu last pitched on June 20, pitching a perfect inning in an 8-1 loss to the Guardians.
For the season, Abreu is 2-3 with 5 SV, a 6.39 ERA and 1.82 WHIP. Abreu’s career ERA is 2.92 and career WHIP is 1.22.
VanWey, 27, has only pitched 3 innings for the Astros this season and has not allowed a run. All 3 of his innings were closeouts of losses. In those 3 innings, he has allowed 1 hit, no walks and struck out 5.
This season at Triple-A Sugar Land, VanWey is 2-3 with a 6.20 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. In 24.2 IP, he has allowed 32 hits, 9 walks, and struck out 34. VanWey figures to be a long man in the Astros pen.
Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have a game for the ages, Paul Goldschmidt is defying age, the Marlins are stepping up, and a host of big names are set to return from the injured list.
As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.
One programming note before we get started: I’ll be on vacation next week, so Dave Shovein will be providing his insight and analysis.
In a potential playoff preview, the Braves took two out of three from the Brewers over the weekend. They handed Jacob Misiorowski his first loss since April 19 on Friday before Ozzie Albies played the role of hero on Saturday.
The Dodgers have lost consecutive games for the first time since May 12. Obviously there’s no reason for panic here, but the club might have to make a decision about Emmett Sheehan soon. After giving up six runs in a lopsided loss to the Orioles on Sunday, Sheehan’s ERA sits at 5.32 for the year.
3) Milwaukee Brewers
Last week: 3
After missing nearly two months following a procedure to drain a cyst from his right shoulder, Brandon Woodruff is set to rejoin the Brewers’ rotation on Monday against the Reds. This likely means Shane Drohan going back to the bullpen, especially with Robert Gasser back on the scene.
4) New York Yankees
Last week: 4
Paul Goldschmidt’s return to the Yankees didn’t garner much in the way of headlines this offseason, which was understandable given how he performed last year, but he’s recaptured some of his old magic this season. The 38-year-old has already surpassed his home run total from last year and his .896 OPS is his highest since his MVP season in 2022.
I couldn’t finish this Yankees section without showing Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart of the NBA Champion New York Knicks throwing out the first pitch last week. These guys are the best buddy comedy going right now.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart toss out first pitches at Yankee Stadium after securing the New York Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years pic.twitter.com/V7eFvdriys
Having a player hit for the cycle and hit three homers in the same game isn’t just something you can do in MLB The Show. It also happens in real life, as we saw with Bryce Harper (first career cycle) and Kyle Schwarber (fifth career three-homer game) on Saturday against the Mets. Harper and Schwarber are just the second pair of teammates to reach these feats in the same game, joining Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri of the 1932 Yankees.
After winning two out of three against the Nationals over the weekend (with a couple of big swings from the returning Jonny DeLuca), now the Rays have a chance to end June on a high note. They’ll play seven out of their next 10 games against the Royals, with the other three coming against the banged-up Diamondbacks.
7) St. Louis Cardinals ⬇️
Last week: 6
After a quiet month of May, JJ Wetherholt is slashing .333/.403/.500 this month. Yes, he slugged two homers in a wild win over the Royals on Sunday, but the most impressive thing this month is that he has more walks (six) than strikeouts (five). The National League Rookie of the Year race is far from over, as Sal Stewart of the Reds, Carson Benge and Nolan McLean of the Mets, Bryce Eldridge of the Giants, and Konnor Griffin of the Pirates will have something to say about it, but Wetherholt is the clear favorite right now.
8) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️
Last week: 9
The Guardians have lost four out of six since José Ramírez went down with hamate bone surgery. Travis Bazzana is certainly doing his part to help pick up the slack offensively. He’s hit safely in five straight games, during which he’s launched three homers.
9) Chicago White Sox ⬇️
Last week: 7
No rest for the weary here. After getting swept by the Tigers over the weekend, now the White Sox are set to square off against the Guardians to begin the week. After a long wait, catcher Kyle Teel is finally ready to make his season debut.
10) Chicago Cubs ⬆️
Last week: 12
PCA continues to enjoy a ridiculous month. He’s hit .550 (11-for-20) over the past seven days, including the first cycle of his career last Monday. He’s now homered in five out of his last seven games.
11) Seattle Mariners ⬆️
Last week: 14
It’s been an uneven few days for the Mariners, as they lost two out of three to the Red Sox over the weekend, but they also got Cal Raleigh back from the IL and Logan Gilbert is showing ace form once again. We’ve been saying it for a while, but the Mariners should be better than their record shows.
12) Miami Marlins ⬆️
Last week: 15
This is not a misprint. With the best record in baseball this month, including a four-game winning streak, the Marlins are on the verge of our top 10. The club will have to hope that 2026 breakout Liam Hicks won’t have to miss much time as he deals with a lower-back strain.
13) San Diego Padres ⬇️
Last week: 10
After abbreviated stints with the Royals and the Mariners, Samad Taylor has been a shot in the arm for the Padres’ offense, slashing .362/.423/.447 across 13 games. He’s hit safely in each of his starts with the club and has recently moved up near the top of the order. For a team who has struggled to find offense, they are literally riding the hot hand as far as it will take them.
14) Washington Nationals ⬇️
Last week: 11
Selected No. 2 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Dylan Crews hasn’t had the smoothest transition to the majors, but maybe just maybe we’re seeing what made him so highly-coveted. The former Golden Spikes Award Winner has three homers and 10 RBI over his last 10 games. While his patience leaves a lot to be desire, he’s making lots of solid contact. His .268 xBA and .489 xSLG indicates that he’s deserved better than his results would indicate. The Nationals’ lineup is already potent as it is, but it would be something if Crews begins to meet the hype.
15) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️
Last week: 13
Jordan Lawlar is back on the IL with a hamstring injury while Ryne Nelson is dealing with a flexor strain and Michael Soroka has a strained right glute. The Diamondbacks were looking forward to returns from Corbin Burnes and A.J. Puk, but they both suffered setbacks while ramping up their respective rehabs. If you’re around the .500 mark, you have a chance in this modern playoff structure. And that’s pretty much where the Diamondbacks find themselves. However, the injuries just might be too much to withstand.
16) Pittsburgh Pirates
Last week: 16
Scary moment in Sunday’s game, as Jared Jones was hit the elbow by a comebacker. He had a very emotional reaction, understandable given his return from Tommy John surgery, but fortunately X-rays came back negative.
Initial imaging for Jared Jones is negative, but Jones will be reexamined in Pittsburgh by team medical staff tomorrow @mearshannah_ with an update from the @pirates ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QOzhpGpWQe
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) June 21, 2026
17) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️
Last week: 19
The Blue Jays went 4-1 on their road trip and now they’ll return home for a 10-game homestand as they finally get Shane Bieber back from the IL on Tuesday. With a big four featuring Cease, Bieber, Yesavage, and Gausman, it would be surprising if we didn’t see the Jays rise in the rankings moving forward.
18) Athletics ⬇️
Last week: 17
This weekend’s series against the Angels was a wild one, so it’s hard to pick just moment, but this catch from Colby Thomas is a ton of fun. It also makes my back hurt.
Something to watch this week: Zach Gelof owns a 24-game hitting streak, three shy of Arizona’s Ildemargo Vargas for the longest in MLB this season.
19) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️
Last week: 20
The pendulum is starting to swing the other way again. Fresh off taking two out of three from the Yankees, the Reds are set to welcome Elly De La Cruz back on Tuesday and Hunter Greene has begun a minor league rehab assignment.
20) Minnesota Twins ⬆️
Last week: 22
To their credit, the Twins aren’t going away. They’ve won six out of their last seven as they attempt to quell the annual trade rumors involving Byron Buxton. While Buxton remains the centerpiece of this offense, Josh Bell has enjoyed a healthy turnaround over the past month. He’s hitting .337 with four homers and 19 RBI over his last 23 games.
21) Texas Rangers ⬇️
Last week: 18
Wyatt Langford has been a force since returning from the injured list, hitting .317 with five homers and 12 RBI in 15 games.
22) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️
Last week: 21
The Orioles took two out of three from our No. 1 team in the Dodgers over the weekend, but they’ll be without a key piece this week after Adley Rutschman was hit in the head by a throw and had to go on the 7-day concussion injured list. Talk about some awful luck.
Adley Rutschman has been placed on the IL four times in the past 365 days:
June 21, 2025 — Left oblique Aug. 21, 2025 — Right oblique April 11, 2026 — Left ankle June 20, 2026 — Concussion
Things are actually looking up for the Astros. They’ve won three straight series for the first time this season and they also have their ace Hunter Brown back in the fold.
24) Detroit Tigers ⬆️
Last week: 26
The Tigers pulled off a sweep of the White Sox over the weekend as they try to climb their way out of the hole they dug while Tarik Skubal was on the shelf.
The Tigers will be tested in a big way in the coming days, as they’ll play six out of their next 10 games against the Yankees. They also have a four-game set against the aforementioned Astros.
25) New York Mets ⬇️
Last week: 24
The Mets were hoping they got an ace with the acquisition of Freddy Peralta this offseason, but after giving up a career-high 10 earned runs on Saturday against the Phillies, he’s now sporting a 4.83 ERA on the year. Even with Francisco Lindor expected to return this week, time is running out for this team.
26) Boston Red Sox ⬇️
Last week: 25
The Red Sox are signaling to the baseball world that it’s almost #HugWatch time.
Appropriately enough, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras are likely trade candidates leading into the deadline. Aroldis Chapman and Jarren Duran are among the other names to watch on this roster.
27) Kansas City Royals
Last week: 27
Jac Caglianone is starting to find his way against major league pitching. The 23-year-old has seven homers and 16 RBI this month to go along with a stout .379/.468/.742 batting line. He’s homered in each of his last three games.
28) Los Angeles Angels ⬆️
Last week: 29
Mike Trout appears on track to get voted into the All-Star Game by the fans, but now he’s on the injured list with a right hamstring strain. Hopefully he’s able to make it back in time, as it would be extra special to see him play in Philadelphia, just a short drive from his hometown of Millville, New Jersey.
29) San Francisco Giants ⬇️
Last week: 28
Oh, what a mess the Giants continue to be. Not only were they swept by the Marlins over the weekend, but Rafael Devers decided to go all Roger Dorn and try to waive off a pinch-runner in the ninth inning on Sunday. Giants rookie manager Tony Vitello tried to be diplomatic after the game, but the vibes are just awful here.
Rafael Devers didn't want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the ninth pic.twitter.com/PR3DCOFd3M
My favorite thing about this might have been Jake McCarthy’s comments after the game. As he told Thomas Harding of MLB.com, “I was tired — I was trying not to throw up.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 49-29 record, face the Minnesota Twins, who are third in the AL Central with a 38-41 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -155 moneyline compared to the Minnesota Twins' +125. Starting pitchers are Eric Lauer for the Dodgers, with a 5.37 ERA, and Zebby Matthews for the Twins, with a 4.78 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Minnesota Twins
Date: Monday, June 22
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET / 4:40 p.m. PT
Where: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
TV Channels: Twins.TV Presented by Progressive, SportsNet LA
It’s been an up and down week for the Yankees, as they took a series against the surprise contender White Sox but dropped their weekend series to the Reds scoring just three runs in their two losses. There were still plenty of highlights to point out, from Cam Schlittler dominating for another six innings of shutout ball with 13 strikeouts to further his early Cy Young case or Ben Rice clobbering another couple of balls to jump up to 22 homers on the year and moving him back up to fourth in MLB.
Now that we’re officially into summer though, it’s time to start getting serious about the team’s place in the standings and how to improve their chances of going the distance. The team sits in first place with a two-game lead over the Rays, but even if you believe that the gap should be a little wider based on the quality of their wins the fact of the matter is Tampa has been neck-and-neck with them thus far. Rumors of a Tarik Skubal all-in rental are floating, but would an absolutely overwhelming rotation solve the team’s issues in the lineup and bullpen? Are their prospects good enough to outbid the other teams seeking his services, and can they do anything else if they go that route? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of June 25th will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 16: Starting pitcher Grant Holmes (66) of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants on June 16, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are headed out west to face the Padres and they could use a series victory to get back on track. The. The Braves did take two from the Brewers, but they won in games where the Braves did not produce much offense.
The Braves will likely need their offense to kick it into gear tonight since Grant Holmes is on the mound. Holmes has arguably had the worst two game skid in his career his last two outings. In his last two starts he combined for only 5.2 innings pitched while giving up six runs, eight hits, and walking five hitters to only four strikeouts. He also got saved a few times when he loaded the bases multiple times where a lot more damage could have been done.
It is no secret now that Holmes struggles the second time through the order. The average hitter is hitting .320/.395/.660 against him. If a hitter had that slash line for an entire season, they would get MVP votes. For reference, if a hitter had an OPS of 1.055, they would have the second highest OPS in MLB behind the otherworldly Yordan Alvarez.
No player on the Padres has faced Holmes in more than five at-bats, so there is not a lot of past matchup data to draw conclusions from. Ty France has seen Holmes the most and in his five at-bats is hitting .400 with a 1.100 OPS. Manny Machado has a hit against Holmes both times he faced him.
Unless something crazy happens, it is likely that we will see a lot of bullpen arms used today. It will be interesting to see if it will be a planned long reliever like Didier Fuentes or someone like that.
Michael King will be taking the mound for the Braves. The last time King faced the Braves it was his first start of 2025 where he only lasted 2.2 innings when he gave up four hits to include a HR, four walks, three earned runs, and three strikeouts. The Padres ended up winning that game, but it was not because of King.
King has been very good this season when looking at his on the field surface numbers. He has a 3.60 ERA in 85.0 innings over fifteen starts with a WHIP of 1.188. His underlying metrics show a different story with his expected ERA (xERA) being 4.79 which is in the bottom 25.0 percent of pitchers. He also has an expected batting average against (xBA) him of .252 which places him in the bottom 37.0 percent of pitchers.
Hopefully King’s regression to the mean will start tonight with the Braves. The difficulty with King will be that his best skill this season is preventing hard contact, and that is what the Braves’ greatest strength is offensively.
Every player on the Braves’ active roster outside of Eli White has faced King before. Rowdy Tellez leads the team with fourteen at-bats against King, but likely won’t get the start. Unfortunately, no one on the Braves has established success. Albies has a HR in two at-bats, and Kim has a hit in his one at-bat, but everyone else has an OPS that is .715 or lower against King.
On paper, the Padres seem to have the advantage in this game, but you never know when one of the Braves start to get hot. That seems to be the trend this season. Dominic Smith had a spurt, Matt Olson had a hot streak, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris have been steady, and Ozzie Albies seems to now be heating up.
Grab your coffee because the first pitch is at 10:10 pm EDT.
The Hockey Hall of Fame unveiled its Class of 2026 on Monday, a group headlined by Patrice Bergeron — who spent 20 years in Boston winning six Selke Trophies and a Stanley Cup — alongside goaltenders Carey Price and Pekka Rinne, power forward Keith Tkachuk, women's hockey pioneer Cindy Curley, and builder Brian Burke.
For Oilers fans, it's that last name that carries the most history.
Burke and Edmonton go way back — and not always warmly. Before winning the Stanley Cup in 2007, he orchestrated the trade that sent Chris Pronger from the Oilers to the Ducks, a deal that will forever go down as the start of the Oilers Decade of Darkness.
His link to the Oilers was memorable, given his feud with former Oilers executive Kevin Lowe. Burke once threatened to rent a barn to fight Lowe after a heated offer sheet dispute — a threat serious enough that Commissioner Gary Bettman called within ten minutes to threaten a suspension.
Lowe, for his part, was equally colorful in return, calling Burke "a moron" and "an absolute media junkie" on the radio. The Ducks let Edmonton have Dustin Penner (the target of the offer sheet), and it didn't go down as well as the Oilers would have hoped.
Eventually, the two patched things up, but it was a time in which offer sheets aren't as prevalent as they are in today's NHL.
Burke also held the title of president of hockey operations with the Calgary Flames — Edmonton's fiercest rival — before later joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in the same capacity.
Love him or hate him, few figures have shaped the modern NHL front office more than Burke. The Hall of Fame nod is well earned.
The New York Yankees, ranked first in the AL East with a 46-30 record, face the Detroit Tigers, who are fourth in the AL Central with a 33-44 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -125 moneyline compared to the Detroit Tigers' +105. Starting pitchers are Gerrit Cole for New York, with a 2.57 ERA, and Framber Valdez for Detroit, with a 4.09 ERA.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to be an interesting team to watch this off-season. While they made the playoffs in 2025-26, they are a team that is still focused on the future. Due to this, it is fair to wonder if they could end up trading some of their veteran players.
Rakell was given the No. 21 spot on Johnston's trade board. It is not necessarily surprising, as questions about Rakell's future in Pittsburgh have come up since the end of the club's playoff run. He was also the subject of trade speculation this past summer.
If the Penguins do shop Rakell, he should generate a good amount of interest. The 33-year-old winger is still an impactful top-six forward at this stage in his career, as evidenced by his 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games this past season.
As for Rust, he landed the No. 22 spot on Johnston's trade board. Like Rakell, Rust has also been talked about often in the rumor mill often this summer, just like was last year.
Trading Rust would be a big deal, as he has spent all 12 seasons of his NHL career with the Penguins. However, the Penguins could also get a serious return for him if they moved him this off-season. The veteran forward had 29 goals and 65 points in 72 games this past season with Pittsburgh. This was after he had 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games for the Penguins in 2024-25.
The hockey world was put into a frenzy on Sunday by the Brady Tkachuk trade from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers.
When it came to the Tkachuk trade rumors over the past two years, the New York Rangers were certainly linked to him, whether that speculation was true or not.
However, Tkachuk reportedly released a four-team trade list, which included the Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Carolina Hurricanes.
“At the outset of discussions between Staios and the Tkachuk camp, Oster presented a list of four teams Tkachuk would consider in a potential trade: the Wild, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Vegas Golden Knights and, of course, Brady’s brother Matthew’s team, the Panthers,” NHL insider Pierre LeBrun wrote.
“At no time did Tkachuk promise to waive for all four teams. And that’s an important distinction, because as the process went and as Ottawa talked trades with the four teams, one thing became apparent: This was really just about Tkachuk wanting to be in Florida.”
The Rangers were notably not one of the teams on Tkachuk’s list.
It shows that, despite New York being a desirable market for players to flock to, the Rangers are not ready to truly emerge as a Stanley Cup contender, which is deterring star talent from seeking a trade to The Big Apple.
Dylan Larkin reportedly requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings and submitted a list of three teams he would like to be traded to, which includes the Panthers, Golden Knights, and Wild, with the Rangers absent from his list.
En route to missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter to fans in January outlining the team’s plan to “retool” the roster and focus on the future as opposed to the immediate present.
Drury then went ahead and traded the Rangers’ to point producer, Artemi Panarin, and is rumored to be shopping Vincent Trocheck this offseason.
Withstanding some of the organization's mixed messaging about fast-tracking the retool, whether it’s from Drury or head coach Mike Sullivan, the Rangers are not a team constructed to win now, and until that changes, star players will only continue to bypass the Blueshirts as one of their preferred destinations.
May 16, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Yerry De los Santos (73) reacts during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they called up right-handed relief pitcher Yerry de los Santos to the major leagues to shore up their bullpen ahead of their series with the Detroit Tigers. The team made the announcement via X.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees recalled RHP Yerry de los Santos (#73) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The hard-throwing sinker-changeup specialist takes Elmer Rodríguez’s place after his spot start on Sunday. De los Santos beats Yovanny Cruz, who was also in contention for a spot on the major league roster.
De los Santos has already been called up twice this year, pitching in a couple of games and completing 5.1 innings with a solid 1.69 ERA. He has walked three and struck out six hitters.
The 28-year-old has enjoyed a fairly successful campaign in Triple-A so far with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, posting a 3.41 ERA and a 3.14 FIP in 31.2 frames. He boasts a 27.7 percent strikeout rate and a 6.2 percent walk rate.
Cruz has also been solid in Triple-A this year with a 3.46 ERA and a 31.3 strikeout rate, but has been crushed to the tune of a 5.68 ERA this month and has pitched just five games in June. Perhaps he’s dealing with an undisclosed and minor issue, or just going through a bit of a slump.
During his career in the majors, de los Santos has shown a live arm and has always been seen as a promising pitcher, but an inability to get lefties out has limited his ceiling. So far, he has a 5.01 FIP vs. lefty hitters and a 3.12 mark vs. righties in MLB.
However, he appears to have made some strides in that department this year in the minor leagues, where he boasts a .164 batting average against while facing lefties and a .253 mark vs. righties. Whether he can keep up those gains against some of the most talented hitters in the world remains to be seen. If he pitches well, de los Santos could have a chance to stick around for a while.
Patrice Bergeron, Brian Burke, Cindy Curley, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne and Keith Tkachuk have been named to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, the Hall announced Monday. The inductees will enter the Hall in November.
Bergeron won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward six times, most of any player. He won his final Selke in 2022-23, his last year before retiring.
He was not just a defensive whiz. He scored 1,040 points, all for the Boston Bruins. His most productive offensive rates occurred while centering Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. The 2003 second-round pick developed into one of the top power-play specialists while working the bumper position.
He won the Stanley Cup in 2011. The Quebec native helped Canada win Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014. He also claimed international titles at the 2004 World Championship and 2005 World Junior Championship. Coaches regularly used Bergeron with Sidney Crosby during international competition.
Burke will enter the Hall in the builder category. He served as general manager for the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs, winning the Cup with the Ducks in 2007. In Vancouver, Burke executed the trades that allowed the Canucks to draft Daniel and Henrik Sedin in 1999.
Burke was president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. He also worked for the NHL as senior vice president and director of hockey operations.
Curley played at Providence College. The forward helped the Friars win back-to-back NCAA championships in 1984 and 1985.
The native of Stow, Mass., was a member of Team USA’s inaugural World Championship team in 1990 and won three silver medals while playing for the Americans at the event.
Price played his entire career for the Montreal Canadiens. The netminder won a franchise record 361 games.
He reached his peak in 2014-15, when he posted a .933 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average in 66 appearances. The smooth-moving Price won the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie that season.
Price, a native of Anahim Lake, British Columbia, won Olympic gold with Team Canada in 2014. He was also a gold medalist at the 2007 World Junior Championship. His career ended early because of a knee injury.
Rinne played all 683 of his games with the Nashville Predators. The 2004 eighth-round pick developed into a workhorse for the Predators, playing a career-high 73 games in 2011-12. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2017-18 with a .927 save percentage and a 2.31 GAA.
The Finnish goalie represented his country at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships. He helped the Finns win silver in 2014.
Tkachuk was one of his generation’s most dangerous power forwards. The left-shot Tkachuk scored 1,065 points, including 538 goals, for the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers.
In 1996-97, Tkachuk, a native of Melrose, Mass., scored 52 goals for the Coyotes. He became the first American to lead the NHL in goals.
Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Providence Friars, Providence Friars, NHL, Women's Hockey, Men's Olympic Ice Hockey, Women's Olympic Ice Hockey
SAINT PAUL, MN - MARCH 18: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on March 18, 2023 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s been a pretty good start to the summer for Patrice Bergeron.
Just a few days after the Bruins announced that they’ll be retiring his #37 this season, Bergeron learned today that he has been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
This year was the first year Bergeron was eligible for induction, and it’s no real surprise that he got the call the first time around.
Bergeron will officially be inducted into the HHOF in this year’s induction ceremony on November 9.
The Leafs usually have a Hockey Hall of Fame Game around the induction too…might be a nice time for the Bruins to visit town.
From an NHL news release, Bergeron had this to say:
“This honour is the pinnacle of my career and represents the coaches and players that I went to battle with. It’s a surreal honour and I’m thankful that hockey has given so much to me and my family.”
Joining Bergeron in the 2026 class are:
Brian Burke (in the Builder Category)
Cindy Curley, a Massachusetts native who starred at Providence College and with the U.S. Women’s National Team
Pekka Rinne
Carey Price
Keith Tkachuk
It’s cool to see Bergeron go into the Hall with two other stars of his era in Price and Rinne, the former of whom had plenty of great match-ups with the Bruins teams of Bergeron’s prime years.
Tkachuk is the outlier here in that he comes from a different era of the NHL, but he finally earned enough votes this year to get himself in.
(Maybe Brady can demand to be included in the HHOF too.)
Looking at the stats that got Rinne elected as a Hall of Famer, I can’t help but wonder if he’ll one day be joined by a fellow Finnish goalie who spent his whole career with the Bruins.
Rinne has around 60 more career wins than Tuukka Rask, though he also started 122 more games than Rask.
Other than that, their career numbers are pretty similar. Rask has a slightly better save percentage and GAA, while Rinne had more shutouts.
Rask had better playoff stats than Rinne as well, while each of them won a single Vezina Trophy and were in the top-ten finalists five times.
Anyways, we can argue about that another day.
Congrats to Patrice Bergeron, who is already in the IIHF Hall of Fame and in the Hall of Fame of My Heart!
The projected top four in this year’s NBA draft — AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson — are all No. 1-caliber most years. The next wave of Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, Aday Mara, Kingston Flemings and Nate Ament have incredibly high ceilings. Teams that fell in the lottery will wind up with strong prospects.
Yes, this draft is that deep. Experts have been raving about this class for months, calling it one of the best in recent memory.
“There’s four or five at least perennial All-Stars in this group,” a longtime NBA scout said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Not rotational players, but actual All-Stars.”
It gets going Tuesday night at Barclays Center. The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks down the eagerly anticipated first round with his mock draft:
1. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa, BYU (F, 6-9 , 217 pounds)
I can see the Wizards debating No. 1 right up until their selection. There is no easy answer. Darryn Peterson may have the highest upside, but there are major red flags, from his health issues in his one season at Kansas to his at times inconsistent motor. Cameron Boozer is a safe bet to be a productive player for a long time to come, but he may not be a superstar, due to athleticism questions.
That’s why Dybantsa is the pick in the end. The BYU one-and-done standout has the fewest concerns, the highest upside and floor. It’s easy to envision him leading the league in scoring one day.
2. Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson, Kansas (G, 6-5 , 199 pounds)
There were times at Kansas that Peterson looked like the college version of Kobe Bryant – the game came easy to him. He dominated Dybantsa in a one-on-one matchup for a half, before an injury limited him to three second-half minutes. Peterson met with the Jazz over the weekend, after initially only spending time with the Wizards.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer. Getty Images
3. Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer, Duke (F, 6-8 , 252 pounds)
If not for injuries to his supporting cast, Boozer may have become the first freshman to lead his team to a national title since Anthony Davis in 2012. He’s a two-way dynamo, a bruising forward with playmaking skills who was just the sixth freshman to be the consensus National Player of the Year after averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and shooting 39.1 percent from 3.
4. Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina (F, 6-9, 211 pounds)
Five years from now, don’t be surprised if the Bulls landed the best player in this draft. Wilson is that talented. A supreme athlete, willing defender and fierce competitor, in a normal draft he is the No 1 pick. He brings a combination of production in his lone year of college – Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Tar Heels – along with immense potential growth.
5. Los Angeles Clippers
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville (G, 6-7, 221 pounds)
When healthy, he made Louisville appointment viewing. The electric guard has drawn Damian Lillard comparisons – although a back injury, which limited him to 21 games, is somewhat of a concern. Brown set an ACC freshman record with a dazzling 45-point showing in a rout of NC State and made at least three 3-pointers 10 different times.
6. Brooklyn Nets
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (G, 6-2, 185 pounds)
Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. Getty Images
You remember the Nets, right? Professional basketball team that plays in anonymity in Brooklyn. It’s just so easy to forget about them considering the Knicks’ spring takeover en route to their first championship in 53 years. The Nets falling to No. 6 after a tanking campaign that resulted in 20 wins was not ideal, but in this draft, it’s not a complete disaster. While the Nets are flush with point guards after drafting Egor Demin and Nolan Traore in the first round a year ago, they lack the Arkansas lead guard’s promise. He was the first player to lead the SEC in both points and assists since Pete Maravich in 1970.
7. Sacramento Kings
Keaton Wagler, Illinois (G, 6-5, 188 pounds)
There were supposedly 149 high school prospects better than Wagler in his class. Then, he started 6-for-21 in his first three games against high-major competition. From there, the freshman was one of the premier guards in all of college basketball, averaging nearly 18 points per game while shooting a shade under 40 percent from 3 on significant volume. Most importantly he won, leading Illinois to its first Final Four in 21 years. The Kings, who have suffered through 18 losing seasons over the last 20 years, can certainly use a player who impacts winning.
8. Atlanta Hawks
Aday Mara, Michigan (F, 7-3, 225)
The biggest riser in this draft, the 7-foot-3 Mara was a defensive linchpin for national champion Michigan. He’s a natural fit for the contending Hawks, who desperately need a quality big man to join their young core of Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil-Alexander Walker.
9. Dallas Mavericks
Kingston Flemings, Houston (G, 6-3, 183 pounds)
One NBA scout believes the Houston one-and-done guard is being undervalued. He defends, can make shots and is used to being coached hard after a season with Kelvin Sampson. “I think he’s going to end up being really good. He does all the things you want your point guard to be able to do,” the scout said.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Nate Ament, Tennessee (F, 6-10, 210 pounds)
Ament has the length, shotmaking and physical tools teams covet on the wing. His efficiency numbers at Tennessee – 39.9 percent shooting and 33.3 percent from 3 – were underwhelming, and he needs to get significantly stronger to avoid getting picked on defensively. Still, those are things that can be easily addressed, and Ament will have time to develop with the rebuilding Bucks.
11. Golden State Warriors
Brayden Burries, Arizona (G, 6-2, 215 pounds)
The Warriors are looking to win and not rebuild, making this a no-brainer choice. Burries can contribute immediately at both ends of the floor, and if his shooting in his freshman year at Arizona (39.1 percent on 4.6 attempts from 3) is an indication of his development in that area, his ceiling may be higher than some have projected.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan (F, 6-9, 241 pounds)
There isn’t a better story in this draft. Six years ago, Lendeborg was working at a warehouse, thinking his basketball career was over. His mother refused to allow him to give up. From junior college in Arizona to UAB and Michigan this past season, the 6-foot-9 forward from Pennsauken, N.J. is living out a dream he didn’t even think was possible.
13. Miami Heat
Hannes Steinbach, Washington, (F, 6-10, 248 pounds)
All it takes is one elite skill to stick in the NBA, and Steinbach can count rebounding as his. He led all of college basketball in that category (11.8) in his lone season at Washington, and his 22 double-doubles equaled Boozer for the most nationally. The German forward will get you extra possessions – he averaged 4.2 offensive rebounds, third most in the country – and he has a refined post game.
14. Charlotte Hornets
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan (F, 6-9, 250 pounds)
The unsung hero of Michigan’s first national championship team in 37 years. He’s a switchable defender, has untapped offensive upside and is a max effort guy that plays with an edge – attributes the Hornets could use up front, especially with Miles Bridges, Grant Williams and Josh Green all slated to hit free agency.
15. Chicago Bulls
Cameron Carr, Baylor (G, 6-5, 184 pounds)
One of my favorite fits in this draft: The silky-smooth Carr with the uptempo Bulls. He has pogo sticks for legs and in-the-building range. Pairing Carr with Wilson is a fun young tandem for new coach Tiago Splitter to work with.
16. Memphis Grizzlies
Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers (F, 6-8, 222 pounds)
The lone international prospect in my first round, Lopez needs time to further develop his perimeter jumper and ball-handling skills. But the Mexican-born Lopez has NBA athleticism, plays with physicality and has the potential to be a defensive menace with his 7-foot wingspan. He scored 358 points in 2025-26 in the Australian National Basketball League Next Stars program, the most ever by a draft-eligible player, and that list includes LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alex Sarr. A popular comparison: Aaron Gordon.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder
Dailyn Swain, Texas (F, 6-7, 211 pounds)
A strong perimeter defender who can touch the paint with a creative bag of counters moves sounds like a perfect match for the drive-and-kick Thunder. Swain lived at the rim this past season for Texas and shot an impressive 63 percent there, according to Synergy. Even if his 3-point shot doesn’t improve – Swain shot 34.4 percent from distance on limited volume for the Longhorns – he’s at worst a quality wing contributor for a winning team.
18. Charlotte Hornets
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama (G, 6-3, 176 pounds)
It’s the annual draft debate: Production or projection? Philon had a fantastic sophomore season for Alabama, tallying 22 points, five assists and shooting 39.9 percent from distance on 6.1 attempts. But teams are concerned about his thin frame holding up against NBA physicality and his agility testing at the combine created questions about his lateral quickness. It’s why he’s still here in the late teens.
19. Toronto Raptors
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa (G, 6-3, 186 pounds)
The shooting-starved Raptors can use someone like Stirtz, one of the top 3-point marksmen in this class. He can initiate offense and spread the floor. The Iowa standout is comfortable on and off the ball, which makes him a fit in Toronto’s Scottie Barnes-centric system.
20. San Antonio Spurs
Chris Cenac Jr., Houston (F, 6-10, 240 pounds)
The Spurs need help on the interior to support Victor Wembanyama, and Cenac can provide backup minutes to the superstar Frenchman and play alongside him. He has potential to stretch the floor and profiles as a high-level rebounder with his 7-foot-5 wingspan, averaging 7.9 boards in only 24.8 minutes as a freshman at Houston.
21. Detroit Pistons
Christian Anderson Jr., Texas Tech (G, 6-1, 180 pounds)
Detroit wants to add offensive firepower, especially from long distance, to make it tougher on teams to load up on star Cade Cunningham. Anderson fits that need as arguably the top shooter in this class.
22. Philadelphia 76ers
Allen Graves, Santa Clara (F, 6-8, 226 pounds)
Graves bet on himself by passing on a huge college payday to go pro after an impressive season at Santa Clara. The 6-foot-8 forward has a 7-foot wingspan, soft touch from deep (41.3 percent from 3 on 2.6 attempts) and possesses offensive hub potential. Has an advanced feel for the game, a byproduct of playing point guard prior to a late growth spurt.
23. Atlanta Hawks
Koa Peat, Arizona (F, 6-7, 245 pounds)
Major bust potential. Non-shooting wings like Peat who don’t project to be a difference-making defender rarely stick in the league. In the Final Four, Peat was overwhelmed by Michigan’s size – the kind of length and athleticism he will see nightly in the NBA.
24. New York Knicks
Isaiah Evans, Duke (G, 6-6, 186 pounds)
Duke guard Isaiah Evans (3) Getty Images
The big guard flashed lottery potential at times as a sophomore, but lacked consistency. He went from a spot-up shooter to a multi-faceted scorer in his second season at Duke, and has upside to be a steal in this spot. A potential Landry Shamet replacement if the valuable reserve leaves in free agency.
An old school-style big man, Reed was dominant in Connecticut’s run to the NCAA Tournament championship game, posting 19.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks. Improved as a passer and defender this season, and has the physicality and length with his 7-foot-4 wingspan to be effective against more athletic big men.
26. Denver Nuggets
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State (F, 6-8, 246 pounds)
Editor’s note: The author is part of the Iowa State forward’s fan club, and with good reason. He may not have one elite skill, but Jefferson does everything well. He rebounds, he guards, he distributes, he can score and the 3-point shot is improving, too. Productive college players tend to impact winning at the next level – just look at the world champion Knicks.
27. Boston Celtics
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s (F, 6-8, 245 pounds)
Detractors point to Ejiofor lacking a true position as an undersized big, and see offensive limitations. A smart team – like the Celtics – focuses on his immense improvement in recent years, his winning traits and high character as valuable assets. The face of the Rick Pitino era at St. John’s has a motor that is difficult to teach. A scout compared him to a modern-day Charles Oakley.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves
Ebuka Okorie, Stanford (F, 6-1, 186 pounds)
He’s undersized, at 6-foot-1, but that didn’t stop the freshman from averaging 23.2 points and shooting 46.5 percent from the field in the ACC. Okorie can contribute right away in a reserve role, and the Timberwolves will be in need of firepower in the backcourt. Donte DiVincenzo is recovering from a ruptured right Achilles tendon and Bones Hyland could potentially leave through free agency.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers
Meleek Thomas, Arkansas (G, 6-3, 190 pounds)
The Cavaliers appear committed to running it back with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and that duo could use more perimeter shooting to space the floor. Enter Thomas, a terrific shooter on the move as well as in spot-up situations. Shot 41.6 percent from 3 as a freshman for John Calipari at Arkansas. Should be able to contribute immediately as a microwave scorer off the bench.
30. Dallas Mavericks
Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky (C, 6-9, 253 pounds)
If not for questions about his surgically repaired right knee, the rim-running, shot-blocking prospect would have gone in the lottery. After ACL surgery in March of 2025, Quaintance appeared in only four games a year ago. One of them, a win over St. John’s in which he had 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 17 minutes, showcased his tantalizing talent.
Blues Inquired About Trading For Brady TkachukArmstrong admitted team was interested, not on player's list and "that's that." They have to find way to get on those types of players' list
Patrice Bergeron, Brian Burke, Cindy Curley, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne and Keith Tkachuk have been named to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, the Hall announced Monday. The inductees will enter the Hall in November.
