Kirill Marchenko trade rumors had swirled since the draft, and it came to fruition when the Columbus Blue Jackets dealt him to the Toronto Maple Leafs right before the NHL roster submission deadline on Monday, Sept. 28.
The Blue Jackets get back forwards Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae and a second-round pick for Marchenko, 26, who scored 31 goals two seasons ago and had 27 goals last season. Forward Miles Wood and injured goalie Elvis Merzlikins also head to Toronto in the tarde.
Toronto agreed to terms with Marchenko on a six-year, $75 million extension with a cap hit of $12.5 million starting in 2027-28, agent Dan Milstein posted on social media.
Here are trade grades for the Columbus Blue Jackets-Toronto Maple Leafs deal involving Kirill Marchenko:
Kirill Marchenko trade details
According to multiple reports, the Columbus Blue Jackets traded forwards Kirill Marchenko and Miles Wood, plus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for forwards Matthew Knies and Steven Lorenz, defenseman Emil Andrae and a second-round pick. Columbus retains 18 percent of Merzlikins' contract.
Kirill Marchenko trade grades
Columbus Blue Jackets - B+
This is a solid return for Marchenko, considering he reportedly did not want to re-sign with Columbus when his contract expires in July. Knies is three years younger than Marchenko and is a 6-foot-3 power forward. He totaled 52 goals over the past two seasons and could benefit from a change of scenery. He's signed through 2030-31 at a reasonable $7.75 million cap hit. Dealing Wood and Merzlikins helps the Blue Jackets get under the salary cap after re-signing Adam Fantilli.
Toronto Maple Leafs - B+
Marchenko was the Blue Jackets' leading goal scorer and could put up even bigger numbers playing in the Maple Leafs' top six. Wood has plenty of speed, though he's coming off a disappointing 14-point season. Andrae, acquired by Toronto this offseason, was available because the Maple Leafs signed Nick Blankenburg this week. New GM John Chayka has been busy reshaping the Leafs after their nine-season playoff streak ended.
Elsewhere in the NHL
The Winnipeg Jets claimed goalie Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals. Winnipeg gets goalie depth with Connor Hellebuyck still not reporting amid a trade request.
The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forwards Justin Brazeau, Ben Kindel, Blake Lizotte and Bryan Rust and defenseman Ryan Graves on injured reserve.
St. Louis Blues defenseman Logan Mailloux, injured in a fight, had surgery on his hand and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks.
Defenseman Alberts Smits, the No. 5 overall pick in 2026, made the New York Rangers' opening roster. He played for Latvia in the Olympics, world championships and world junior championships.
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s going to take a long time for this all to set in.
These guys still haven’t even played a preseason game together yet, but 2026 Media Day was very exciting for the Philadelphia 76ers. It’s not every day one of the two best players of all time dons your jersey for the first time. It was also the first time LeBron James answered questions about joining the Sixers from reporters as opposed to a recorded podcast.
The excitement around James joining the Sixers and his first day at the team’s practice facility nearly overshadowed the first major domino that brought him here in the first place. While it wasn’t Jaylen Brown’s first time talking to the Philadelphia media, it was also his first time wearing a Sixers uniform. Frankly, it was weird to see a guy who spent the first 10 years of his career terrorizing the Sixers as a member of the Boston Celtics put on the other team’s jersey.
Every time Brown has been asked about going from one rival to another, he’s repeated the same one-day-at-a-time mantra. The focus of Brown’s quotes since joining the Sixers have rather been about leveling up his game while being a contributor to his community.
“I’m not sure. I’m taking it one day at a time. Obviously, things happen in this league. It’s a business,” Brown said. “I think what I value about this game is the human connection, to be able to bring people together, to be able to uplift their community, inspire people.”
As someone who’s been on the other side of the rivalry for nearly as long, Tyrese Maxey did point out how weird it felt to see Brown in a Sixers uniform.
“I was just messing with JB before we came up here,” Maxey said. “It’s just like seeing him in Philly’s uniform in red, white and blue is kind of awkward, but it’s good.”
As someone who hasn’t just watched the Sixers and Celtics go to battle time and again for the last decade, but has been a part of several of them, Maxey admitted he has to recalibrate his thinking now that Brown is his teammate. Of the Sixers who discussed their reactions to the trade, Maxey was the one who conveyed a similar amount of shock to the rest of the league.
“Every time we stepped in between the lines I didn’t really mess with Jaylen, it was smoke, I wanted to beat him every single time,” Maxey said. “I think my initial reaction was just, it’s just crazy. We’re division rivals, I see him, I feel like 12 times a year. I feel like we play the Celtics at least 7-8 times every season. For him to be on our side, you kind of got to reframe, reprogram your mind just to be cool with him.”
The fact that one of the most important players to this rivalry’s recent history swapped sides out of nowhere in the middle of his career is jarring. With the joy of signing LeBron James a few weeks later, there’s hardly been time to process that type of whiplash.
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Adam
Jiricek took the news as well as could be under the circumstances.
Of
course, the first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft by the St. Louis
Blues was disappointed when told he was being assigned to Springfield
of the American Hockey League following a 1-0 preseason win over the
Chicago Blackhawks last Thursday, but the defenseman understood.
“After
the interview I had after (Thursday's preseason game), I got the call
to go up and speak to the management in 10 minutes and they told me,
and you have to accept it,” Jiricek
said.
“I did my best, but it didn't happen. So I went down and I was
ready to work there and wait for my chance again and it came pretty
quick. I'm happy for that and very excited.”
The
20-year-old didn’t have to wait long.
He
barely got settled in Springfield, where the right shot D-man was to
get tons of playing time and a plethora of minutes.
“I
got there Friday night,” Jiricek
said.
“I was there Saturday, just like morning skate, and on Sunday I
went with (Juraj) Pekarcik to move their stuff from storage to the
house and I was about to buy my bed and furniture. But I got the call
that I'm going up, so we turned around and I didn't buy anything. I
went to pack my stuff and I put my hockey bag in the moving truck and
he just drive me in this truck to the airport and they went to move
into the house.
“If
(the Blues) would have called me an hour later, I would have bought
the bed and moved everything. I was lucky I got the call before and
didn't buy anything. I just used the truck to move my stuff to the
airport and he dropped me there and he went to his new house there.
Juraj Pekarcik and Jakub Stancl, they're going to live together and I
was supposed to live with them. But I went with Pekarcik, so he
dropped me off there, and I appreciate that he did that for me.
Change of plans pretty quick.”
“I
left Sunday at 5 p.m. and I got here (in St. Louis) like at 9. I
spent the day at the airport with one flight connecting. It was
pretty quick.”
But
when Logan Mailloux injured his right hand in a fight Saturday during
a 3-2 preseason loss in Chicago, that the Blues confirmed on Monday
that will sideline him for at least eight weeks, things changed
drastically, and Jiricek has been summoned to go into the fire.
“I
feel like I didn't realize everything right away because it was so
fast and I couldn't process all the thinking,” Jiricek said. “It's
hard to see what is happening. I just get there, I was there one
night, and I'm going back. It was pretty quick and I don't have time
to think about it, so I'm just excited. I'm moving my thinking to
play here.”
Montgomery
called it, “Very
deserving. I believe mentally, he thinks he shouldn’t have been
sent down, but you like that,
that’s what you want.”
Now
the question becomes: what do the Blues do with Jiricek?
Well,
they didn’t bring him up to the NHL to sit, so you have to assume
he will play, but will he play alongside Philip Broberg in Mailloux’s
place? It’s a 50/50 shot, because Montgomery said he will not make
the mistake of playing two young d-men together. That means Jiricek
will not play with Theo Lindstein and get either Broberg or Cam
Fowler.
“I
hope not, but if the game calls for it to make adjustments … for
instance, (Broberg) playing with Jiricek, you can think it’s great
chemistry right now,” Montgomery
said.
“In my mind I can think it, but I’m going to look out there and
see like there isn’t. Now maybe Fowler goes with Jiricek. But he’s
definitely going to play with a veteran. I’m not going to have
Jiricek and Lindstein out there together. It’s just not fair to
them.”
“We
haven’t made complete, finished plans yet. I have no problem
sliding him in there
(with Broberg),
but if he slides in there, they’re not going to play the No. 1
offensive line, they’ll play in the two-hole. The good thing is we
have so much depth on our D-core. (Brandon)
Carlo
and (Colton)
Parayko
have played in line matchups against top pairings their entire
careers, Broberg has, so had 17 (Fowler). We have four D-men that
have done that at the NHL at a high level.”
Blues
general manager Alex Steen realizes that with Jiricek, this is a
long-haul project, but that doesn’t preclude things from happening
perhaps sooner than they expected.
“Yeah,
we were looking at everything,” Steen
said.
“With Adam we're in it for the marathon, so we wanted to make sure
that we were putting him in the best position to succeed. That's
still the goal, (but) obviously things change in the game very
quickly. We try to re-adjust and still be able to give him that
opportunity to be in positions to succeed consistently. Yeah we feel
strongly about Adam. He's had a great camp. I'd say great over his
last 18 months, he's taken a lot of steps, so it's an exciting time
for him.”
But
Montgomery doesn’t to put any expectations on Jiricek … not yet
anyway.
“I
don’t want to put any labels on him because of the undue pressure,
but I think the ceiling is very high and I hope to see it as soon as
possible,” Montgomery
said.
“He has shown the ability to adapt his game and easily make changes
that are going to make him harder to play against offensively and
defensively. I don’t see any … live with mistakes, yeah I want to
live with aggressive mistakes, and the way he thinks, the way he
plays the game, he’s going to make mistakes being aggressive, and
we can teach him. You’d rather teach a tiger with stripes on
already than someone that doesn’t have any stripes and have that
mindset.”
It
appears, unless the Blues insert Justin Barron, who was claimed off
waivers from the Nashville Predators on Sunday, into the opening
night lineup, that Jiricek will get his chance to make his NHL debut
in the season-opener against the Dallas Stars on Friday, and he will
get special teams work right away.
“He’s
going to play power play,” Montgomery
said.
“He’s special offensively, and we’re going to put him in
situations to succeed. It’s up to him to grab it and take it.
“The
levels that he’s played at so far, he can get away with holding
onto pucks and moving pucks, skating with pucks longer. When you’re
in the NHL on the power play, the puck should move faster than any
player, it always has, and he’s got to learn to learn to get to the
middle of the ice and be a little more stationary and let his puck
skills and deception with the puck … instead of moving all over the
place at the blue line, he should move it and get to the middle and
make the power play go from the middle of the ice. That’s something
that people have to learn.”
If
Jiricek gets to make his debut Friday, he welcomes it with open arms,
and after the training camp he had, the confidence should be pretty
steady.
“It's
exciting,” Jiricek
said.
“I didn't play in the NHL yet, so it's a dream. It's still a couple
of days until the game. I think it's going to hit me like harder when
I'm going to see that I'm in the lineup.
“…
I
was trying to play my best hockey (in
camp) and
I think I did pretty good. I showed myself and I want to keep
building on that and continue what I'm supposed to do. I feel like I
can play here and I can make the team better and that's what I'm
going to try to do.”
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When discussing the state of the Pittsburgh Penguins and both the immediate and far-out picture of where the team is at, general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has always remained a bit coy.
But, that was not the case during his season-opening press conference on Monday.
Dubas and the Penguins have no plans to regress this season and in a general sense, and that much was made clear during his presser when he said they want to "preserve where we're at" while making progress toward separating themselves from the mid-tier teams in the league.
The big question, though, is how they're going to execute getting there. He said that the core-level veteran players the Penguins have cannot keep carrying the load if they expect to become sustainable, legitimate contenders, and they need youth to begin taking more and more of that mantle while keeping the team competitive in the process.
"This year, it's a very pivotal season for the group in that regard," Dubas said. "Can we continue to add younger players to the group to not only preserve where we're at but push us ahead and remove us from what I would say is the middle ground of the league?"
In a telling presser where he was a bit bolder than usual, he may have pulled back the blinds on the Penguins' plans, even just a little bit. Here are three takeaways from that presser.
1. The Penguins will remain vigilant in the trade market
As far as how they're going to acquire that much-needed talent to ease the burden of their oldest players to drive the team to contention? A lot of it, Dubas said, is about priming the younger players they have to take the next step, but it's also going to involve staying alert and vigilant regarding the trade market when it comes to Egor Chinakhov and Nick Robertson types.
However, if the team continues to take steps toward contention this season, and if bigger-name players become available, Dubas won't rule out the Penguins' involvement.
"There's not a younger player in the league that becomes available that we don't investigate, both in terms of the assets that we have - younger players, draft picks - and also, if a team is looking for more veteran players, we have those, too, that can help their clubs," Dubas said. "Where we get into is whether it’s a fit overall between the two teams in terms of the pieces that they’re looking for."
He mentioned that being involved in discussions involving bigger names is tough without the assets to do so, citing the Bowen Byram trade before the draft this summer that involved a fourth overall pick going the other way. But he was adament in saying that the Penguins would be on the phone regardless.
"Every single player of that nature that becomes available, regardless of their profile, we’ll be involved," Dubas said. "And, as we’ve executed on repeatedly over the last two-plus years, those are the types of players that we’re almost exclusively acquiring via trade. We’ll continue to look at all of those that come up."
In other words, don't rule out the Penguins being "splashier," as their GM would say. But being "splashier" will require both their veterans to keep playing at a high level and their young talent to take pretty substantial steps to bolster value. The Penguins don't have the high-end draft capital that rebuilding teams covet, but they won't hesitate to move out veterans and prospects if it means they're acquiring an impact player who projects well with their future plans.
In the meantime and the short-term, though, expect them to stay quite active in acquiring change-of-scenery and upside-types until bigger talent becomes available and until they have the proper ammunition to pull something bigger off.
2. It's all about timing for younger players, but the time is fast-approaching
Speaking of younger players, there is still a whole lot of belief in the young players the Penguins have within their organization. Dubas touched on the two main prospect pieces of the Jake Guentzel trade in Ville Koivunen and Harrison Brunicke being on the verge of, hopefully, taking some big strides in their development, and he and the rest of the staff were impressed with goaltender Sergei Murashov's Calder Cup Playoff run at the end of the 2025-26 season enough to make him a shoe-in for an NHL roster spot this year.
However, even when discussing players like Rutger McGroarty and Owen Pickering, Dubas understands that development isn't linear nor the same for every player. Some players may take a bit longer than others, and some may not reach their potential at all.
"I would love if all of them came in, had one year in the minors, and made the NHL right away. You’re trying to really thread it between giving a clear opportunity for them to earn but also make it really competitive," Dubas said. "The players always always come through it better when it’s competitive and they have to go out and get it rather than it just being handed [to them].
"There’s always competition between the prospects, as well. I would love every one of them at 22 to be in the NHL full time, and that’s what we aspire to and push for. But we can’t force them in when it’s too early. We just have to keep with our plan."
But he also knows where the organization is at and that, at some point, the burden is on players like McGroarty and Pickering - even the 20-year-old Brunicke, who is expected to play a huge role next to Pickering for WBS this season - to keep pushing and shoving through the competition for roster spots until they earn their full-time ticket to the NHL. The Penguins are at a point where they need some of these players to start showing out, even if some aren't in the NHL to start the season.
"What I would love to see happen is for younger guys to work their way up the lineup to beat down the doors in the American League and force us to have to create room for them and they can make a positive impact here," Dubas said. "If we get deep into the year and we're not in that position, or we don't feel we're truly gaining ground on Carolina or truly contending, we'll have to make some more difficult decisions."
Unlike in years past, big things are expected from some young players this season, particularly the five mentioned here. Dubas and the Penguins are relying on them taking steps to show they will help the team win now and in the future. If they don't take those steps, things could get a bit dicey, and some decisions will have to be made.
3. 'Tough decisions' are on the horizon... and they won't be afraid to push things along.
Of course, the most glaring bit that got folks talking after this press conference was when Dubas was - once again - asked about the potential of Evgeni Malkin's future and whether another extension would be considered.
“I’m not going to do this day-to-day, year-by-year thing with Geno again this year," Dubas said shortly and simply.
I asked Kyle Dubas if his understanding with Evgeni Malkin when they discussed a contract for this season was that it would be his final year in Pittsburgh.
Dubas gave a blunt answer: "I'm not gonna do this day-to-day, year-by-year thing with Geno again this year."
Personally, I wouldn't read into this as Dubas saying "Geno isn't coming back" rather than him just getting tired of fielding questions about Malkin's future when the response is pretty much always the same. However, it's not difficult to read between the lines a little bit, especially as he gave an extended answer to a similar question offered about Sidney Crosby earlier.
Later on, Dubas did speak on the "reverance" for Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang, who are entering their 21st season together and have spent more time with each other on one team than any other trio in North American professional sports history. It's a unique situation, and it puts the team in uncharted territory when it comes to getting younger while also understanding the impact these players have on that young talent that is supposed to shape their future.
But, again, he was up-front about where he believes this team is at and where it needs to go. And he knows that, even with other peripheral core players like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson, they can't fall short on taking action to get them closer to their goal of closing that gap with Carolina.
"I don't think remaining in that middle ground can get us back into contention in any sort of short order," Dubas said in his opener. "So, that'll take bold decisions and hard decisions."
And, if push comes to shove, some of those hard decisions are likely to involve roster mainstays and veterans. If Letang is pushed out of playing time by a guy like Brunicke, they're not going to hold Brunicke back on Letang's account. If Malkin takes a step back and is surpassed on the depth chart by Koivunen, McGroarty, Bill Zonnon, or anyone else, they're not going to bring him back next season. If Rakell, Rust, or Karlsson - if the third is willing to waive his no-movement clause - can be packaged to help them land a young talent they covet, they'll do it.
It seems like Dubas is done beating around the bush and is at a juncture where he won't hesitate on making the necessary but difficult moves to allow the team to get younger and progress closer toward being a sustainable contender.
Progression isn't just an ideal anymore, it's an expectation. And it's one that they're banking on this season.
"At the end of the year, we have to say we're getting closer to our goal where I think the public and you all and sit up there and say, 'They're a lot closer to being a team that can contend or they are a contender now.' It's just definitive," Dubas said. "And that may mean some difficult decisions along the way that are going to have to be made, you know, from my seat, but that's the job.
"That's really what we're aiming for in the year. I don't think we ever go into the year thinking that we're going to regress. We have to take steps toward getting back to, in the end, saying, 'Geez, this team is awfully close to knocking down the door again to being a team that can contend.'"
Stay seated, folks. The team's contention status at the end of this season should have a pretty profound impact on where things go from here.
Nikola Jokić, arguably the best basketball player in the world, committed to sign a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets.
Jokić, the three-time Most Valuable Player, has been eligible to sign a massive, max contract extension each of the last two summers, but he has delayed that, seemingly so that he can maximize his earning potential for an enormous five-year deal worth up to $360 million.
The delay, however, has caused some angst among Nuggets fans, given that Jokić is under team control for just this upcoming season, though he does have a player option for $62.8 million.
At Nuggets media day, he tried to ease the apprehension of any nervous fans.
“I’m going to sign next year – if they want me,” Jokić said Monday, Sept. 28.
Jokić posted one of the most prolific seasons in NBA history last year, averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game – the second consecutive season he averaged a triple-double. Only two other players in history have averaged triple-doubles, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
In April, after Denver was eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Jokić told reporters that he wanted to be wanted to be “a Nugget forever.” He has repeatedly expressed his loyalty toward the franchise, where he won the 2023 NBA Finals.
Jokić has been with the Nuggets for 11 seasons after Denver drafted him with the 41st overall selection in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft.
One of the more decorated and accomplished players of his generation, Jokić instantly makes the Nuggets more competitive. Denver, however, has been navigating a tight salary cap situation and had a difficult offseason that included trading away Peyton Watson, a key forward who has steadily improved.
There had been speculation that Jokić was perhaps delaying his extension to see the direction the Nuggets would take, but executive vice president of basketball operations Ben Tenzer echoed Jokić’s comments at media day.
Dean Elgar, the South African star responsible for cricket’s most overshadowed century, signed off from the game on the weekend in Wales in typically hard-nosed and superb fashion.
SAN FRANCISCO ― The Golden State Warriors might have won the steal of the 2026 NBA Draft, landing Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick of the first round.
Lendeborg put the league on notice over the summer, helping lead his summer league team filled with first-year, second-year and two-way players to the 2026 Summer League title, earning MVP along the way.
A confident Lendeborg is going to strut his stuff, and on Monday during the Warriors media day, he told reporters what he believes his ceiling is and how good he thinks he can be this season.
"For me, I would probably just say playing meaningful minutes. You know, when the game is on the line, I want to be the guy on the court trying to make a play on defense or offense, whatever it has to come to," Lendeborg said. "Then just hopefully becoming like First-Team All-Rookie. I feel like I could win Rookie of the Year, but that's not my main focus. I just want to be able to set in stone here on the Warriors."
Warriors rookie Lendeborg finds way with vets
Lendeborg has been making his presence known in the NBA space, as well as with the Warriors. His ever-growing relationship with Draymond Green is nonstop banter and fun between the rookie and vet.
"Hopefully become All-Rookie First Team. I feel like I could win Rookie of the Year but that's not my main focus."
"It's been very, like, funny. You know, very goofy in a way. He's definitely like one of those uncles that you have that you see at a barbecue one time and don't see them for a long time, you know. So it's definitely kind of cool to have him around like that," Lendeborg said.
His bond with Green came as a surprise, he said.
"I didn't expect it to be like that, you know, because he looks super mean. He looks like, I don't even know you or I'm not going to talk to you kind of guy," Lendeborg said. "Being able to joke around with him -- I actually just took a picture with him, and it was kind of cool. I'm happy that he's that way, and he's allowing me to be kind of like annoying without him getting bothered for now."
He's been getting acclimated with his teammates; just as important, he's been winning over his veterans such as Green, Jimmy Butler, and Stephen Curry.
"Well, for me it would just be asking them a bunch of questions. At Jimmy's house I asked him every question that popped up, even maybe created some, just to ask some questions. I do that," Lendeborg said, on how he was able to gain respect from his vets.
"Just play basketball the right way. Let them know that I'm willing to do whatever," he added. "I'm getting all the rookie duty stuff like cleaning up the court, grabbing all these cards and stuff for them too. You know, just doing my job, making sure that I don't do nothing dumb."
Lendeborg knows that he won't be the main guy like he was during summer league. Instead, his focus will start on the defensive end, but if there's any challenge ahead, the rookie is willing to accept the call and step up.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 05: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Arena on April 05, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pacers 117-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell made one thing clear at media day: he believes wholeheartedly in this group. That was also made clear when he signed a four-year, $273 contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland through the start of the next decade.
For Mitchell, there wasn’t much of a discussion about whether he wanted to lock up his foreseeable future with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I told Koby [Altman, Cavs president of basketball operations], ‘Listen, you ain’t really gotta ask,’” Mitchell said when asked about the extension during media day on Monday. “The first day it’s allowed [I’m signing]. It wasn’t really much of a talk.”
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The main concern about Mitchell when the Cavs first traded for him in 2022 was that he would leave in free agency for a bigger market — such as his hometown New York Knicks — when his contract expired. Fast forward four years, and the idea of Mitchell turning down a contract offer from Cleveland seems almost unfathomable.
Mitchell hasn’t just embraced the basketball team, he’s also embraced the community. That was seen once again this past weekend as he made it a point to go to the Walsh Jesuit and Arch Bishop Hoban high school football game with some of his teammates.
“Everybody comes to see us; why not flip the script and go see them?” Mitchell said. “You never know what that one moment on that particular Friday could do for that one child.”
Mitchell went on to tell a story about parents who reached out to him through Instagram to tell them about their son who was going through a difficult time and was on the football team. The son wasn’t able to play in the game, but he was able to see the stars of his local NBA team.
“[We’re] just trying to give kids that little bit of life,” Mitchell said. “Just saying, ‘Hey, we’re humans too. We’re here to see y’all.’ I know you put us on this pedestal, but at the end of the day, we appreciate the fans as much as they appreciate us.”
Mitchell is already one of the most accomplished players in franchise history as he’s set to enter his fifth season in Cleveland. That individual success has carried over to team accomplishments as well, even though they still haven’t reached their ultimate goal in the playoffs. That’s something Mitchell and his teammates hope to change this upcoming season.
“I’ve said I want to be here,” Mitchell said. “ I’ve said that publicly. I love being here. And now it’s about delivering everything else that comes with it.”
The 5 p.m. cutoff for teams around the NHL to submit their opening night rosters has come, and the Minnesota Wild have unveiled theres.
Not featured on the roster are Filip Gustavsson and Brock Faber, both of whom will start the season on the injured reserve. Gustavsson is still recovering from off-season surgery, while Faber picked up an upper-body injury in a pre-season game.
Taking Gustavsson's roster spot is Calvin Pickard, whom the Wild acquired in the off-season on a one-year, $1 million contract.
Also making the opening-night roster are Charlie Stramel and David Spacek, both of whom competed for roster spots. Stramel beat out several other Wild prospects, while Spacek impressed the Wild coaching staff more than Carson Lambos, who cleared waivers and has joined the Iowa Wild in the AHL.
Besides Stramel and Spacek, there are no real surprises. Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Foligno will wear the 'A's as alternate captains while Jared Spurgeon wears the 'C' as captain for the seventh season of his NHL career.
The Wild's NHL roster:
Forwards: Bobby Brink, Matt Boldy, Yakov Trenin, Joel Eriksson Ek, Charlie Stramel, Marcus Foligno, Blake Coleman, Danila Yurov, Ryan Hartman, Michael McCarron, Max Shabanov, Nick Foligno, Nico Sturm, and Kirill Kaprizov.
Defense: Olli Maatta, Zach Bogosian, Jonas Brodin, Quinn Hughes, Jared Spurgeon, Daemon Hunt, and David Spacek.
Goaltenders: Jesper Wallstedt and Calvin Pickard.
The Wild begin their NHL 2026-27 regular season on Thursday, Oct. 1 against the Nashville Predators on the road.
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He doubled down on that Monday, Sept. 28 in front of a packed room at 76ers media day.
"I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round," James said. "I know that for sure. Work needs to be done, and I’m ready to get to work."
The four-time NBA champion spent more than 18 minutes at the podium inside the 76ers' training facility on Monday, answering questions before a packed room that included team executives, Mike Gansey, the team's new president of basketball operations, with whom he had a previous relationship dating back to their Northeast Ohio roots and later their time together with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The session began with James cracking a joke as he removed his name tag from the table: "You guys know who I am, right?" But as his' introductory news conference continued, one overarching theme remained: Why Philadelphia?
Why return to the Eastern Conference and pick the 76ers, who got swept by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs last season and haven't reached the Eastern Conference Finals since 2001 with Allen Iverson?
James has developed a close relationship with the Sixers' All-Star point guard over the years, as the two share the same agent, Rich Paul, the founder and CEO of Klutch Sports Group, and have frequently worked out together.
LeBron on how his relationship with Tyrese Maxey served as a big factor in his decision to sign with the #Sixers: pic.twitter.com/Gv2E4vCtre
"I have a really, really good, great relationship with Tyrese," James said. " We talked a lot, and I kind of picked his brain a lot, not only about where he sees his career going, how he sees the franchise here, and how much he believes in the franchise. And if I was to come here, how does he see me fitting in? Do we think it'd be a plus, or do we think it'd be a negative?
"Because I understand my personality and what comes with me. Sometimes it can be a negative."
But in the end, when James weighed his options, which he said consisted of a group of five teams, Maxey was a main deciding factor in making the City of Brotherly Love the next stop in his Hall of Fame career.
"I was just asking all the questions I could ask him, and it wasn’t just one conversation," James said. "… When I broke a lot of the teams down, (when) I broke a lot of the franchises down that I could possibly play for, he was one of the main deciding factors."
"He called me one day, we chopped it up and I think he may be coming," Maxey said. "But him being here is really cool, really cool. I think it's going to be really good for our team, good for the organization, good for the city, for our team. He's someone who's done it before, who's won before. ... He's going to just uplift the whole entire team, entire organization."
James looking to bring veteran presence to 76ers
In addition to teaming up with Maxey, James will join a star-studded starting lineup featuring 2023 MVP Joel Embiid, Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, and VJ Edgecombe., a member of the 2025-26 All-Rookie team.
Maxey is entering his seventh season in Philadelphia, while Edgecombe begins his second NBA campaign after finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting last season. Embiid and Brown bring plenty of experience as established veterans, with the Sixers' All-Star center still searching for his first NBA title despite an accomplished career.
The 76ers bench includes Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2026 first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. and Dean Wade among others.
James hopes his championship pedigree, leadership and postseason experience can help unite Philadelphia's blend of young talent and veteran stars as the franchise looks to finally break through and make a deep playoff run.
"I have a lot of experience in this game, obviously, so I hope that I could bring that experience, bring that knowledge, bring the blueprint to guys that are trying to accomplish some things that they haven't done in their career," James said. "I've seen everything that this league has to offer on the floor and off the floor. I hope that every single day with my approach to the game, approach to the work that it can translate to every single guy and even guys that's being able to win at the highest level.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 25: President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon of the Detroit Pistons talk to the media for a photo during the Detroit Pistons press conference introducing Ebuka Okorie on June 25, 2026 at the Pistons Performance Center in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Media day has arrived once again, and while historically for the Detroit Pistons it has been about getting a sense of players’ offseason work, getting in the best shape of your life, and building on whatever you learned last season, this year it had a bit of extra drama — the Jalen Duren contract standoff.
Duren, the All-Star and All-NBA restricted free agent of the Pistons, was not in attendance at media day, and that left others to do the talking about Duren. There isn’t much people can say — Pistons president Trajan Langdon categorically refused to comment on anything even tangentially related to contract negotiations.
However, if I am free to award myself the latitude of informed speculation and intuition, I think there was plenty to learn about the Jalen Duren saga from today’s media day. Here are my top 5 takeaways.
1. Jalen Duren WILL be a Detroit Piston this season
Look, everything could be positioning and a negotiating tactic. But Trajan Langdon provided little daylight in his expressed expectations regarding Duren this season. “He will be a Detroit Piston,” Langdon said. You can’t get more unequivocal than that.
Moreso, Langdon seemed to go into today’s media session with a game plan to make one thing clear — whenever this drama plays itself out to its inevitable conclusion, mission one was to make clear that it will all be water under the bridge when Duren does arrive back with the team, whether that be on a new long-term deal or on a one-year qualifying offer.
“He’s going to be a huge part of the team, regardless of which decision he does make. He will be a Detroit Piston, and we’ll do everything we can to support him and get the best version of him, which is what we’ve done the past two years, and that will not change. Those are things that we can control. His decision is not a point that we can control,” Langdon said.
2. Jalen Duren’s reps might be off of the Christmas card list this year
Langdon was exacting and elegant with his word choice, but I think it’s pretty clear that as much as it’s all water under the bridge once Duren is finally back with the team, there is no love lost between Duren’s reps and Langdon. When Langdon was asked about the media reports that indicate that Duren feels disrespected by the franchise over how these talks have played out, Langdon felt particularly measured. Sometimes its the sense of what you’re not saying that says a lot, you know what I mean. That didn’t mean Trajan delivered useless pablum.
“I won’t let anybody’s feelings get in the way of decisions that I make professionally. That has nothing to do [with it]. So reports that are out there are also meaningless to me.”
It felt clear to me that Langdon understands that this is a bit of asymmetric warfare where Duren’s people are able to easily plant narratives into the media and that he isn’t going to get into the business of playing the same game. Whether that amounts to understandable hardball or not negotiating in good faith, I can’t quite tell. But it feels like if there is any bad blood, it is not on Duren and is instead on Duren’s reps.
3. Trajan Langdon hasn’t spoken to Jalen Duren all summer
This is the most straightforward — Langdon literally said, “I have not spoken to the young man all summer” in regards to Duren. I wanted to list this as its own line item because I am speculating it might get picked up and aggregated on social media. But please understand that a GM not being in direct contact with a player during negotiations is completely normal and expected. When you get to the point of negotiating big contracts, it can involve big feelings. We’ve certainly seen that play out. So it’s best to have a bright dividing line between the hard work of putting dollar numbers to worth and personal relationships. Contract talks are for agents not for players.
4. Even if the fans are in their feelings, the players have no beef with JD
It’s just business. That was a clear message anytime a player was asked about Jalen Duren. Most notably, that was the message delivered by Cade Cunningham. Much was made in the media of the fact that Cunningham organized a team retreat, and Duren opted not to attend while he was still negotiating his contract. Cunningham couldn’t have seemed to care less. Cunningham equated it to the high-level negotiations he himself had with the Pistons last offseason, and that Duren was just doing what was best for him.
“I mean, that’s my brother. You know, on the court, off the court, we went to war together, obviously. But you know, we’ve had dinners together. I’ve met his family. He’s met my family. The negotiation is between front office and his representation, and so they’re gonna figure that out,” Cunningham said. “So the best thing I can do is be there for them to support them, encourage them, not let them get too down whenever it’s such a crazy time for them.”
5. In Paul Reed we trust
While Duren was the main topic of the day in the minds of the media, nearly everyone spontaneously had great things to say about Paul Reed, who will serve as Duren’s backup or maybe even the team’s starting center should Duren continue his holdout deep into the season.
JB Bickerstaff called him the hardest-working player he’s ever been around. That is not faint praise when you consider how many players Bickerstaff has been around during his long coaching career. Cunningham praised Paul. Javonte Green praised Paul. Isaiah Joe reminisced about how they both entered the league in Philadelphia together and that he was the first player he heard from after the trade from OKC.
As for Paul himself, he was his typical self — hates losing, obsessed with working hard, and not making anything more complicated than it needs to be. Just do what you do to help the team be successful. We will see just how much will get put onto Paul’s plate once the season finally arrives.
SAN FRANCISCO ― Jimmy Butler III is in a rehabilitative state following a torn ACL injury in January that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. He still isn't back.
General manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters during Monday's media day that Butler is doing light court work but won't be available for opening night.
Still, Butler's presence shines a light in the Golden State Warriors locker room. Butler is always good for an annual meme, especially on media day. He stared and smirked at teammate Draymond Green as he was finishing his interview session with media members.
They shared a warm embrace as Green left the podium and Butler took his place. Butler rocked a new haircut and dangling diamond earrings that shone from ear to ear as he shared how great he felt.
Jimmy Butler injury update
"Rehabbing every day. I'm to a point now where I get to start running a little bit," Butler said. "I can dunk a basketball, in case anybody wants to know. Very excited about that. But it's still a process, but at least I get to play basketball a little bit now, and I know that all the work that I have been putting in, it's starting to get to basketball."
A vulnerable Butler shared how tough the process has been for him, not being able to play the game he loves.
"I think it's difficult to me because I do love to play basketball, and I know that I will return still being able to play at a high level, but I want to hoop now. I wanted to hoop two months ago, three months ago," Butler said. "I want to go out there and compete with my guys, with Dray, be Robin again to Steph's Batman. I know I will be able to do that at an incredibly high level, but I just miss the game. I miss not being around my guys. So any time I get to be around them and laugh, joke, compete in ways that I can't compete, it's all a plus for me."
Jimmy Butler on missing the game
Being around the guys is infectious. Butler knows that his personality can bring up their spirits. He relishes that aspect of being a favored teammate.
"Probably just being very vocal and just being around the guys. Honestly, I think it's more about the smiling, even when it's not going the way that we would want it to go, it's still okay to have fun and to smile," Butler said. "I'm coming back from an ACL. I'm smiling, I'm happy. I get to be around these guys, some of the greatest players of all time, phenomenal organization. It's never all bad. I'm not going to sit here and say it's all good either."
"I think my main job is going to be like, hey, guys, I can't go out there and play with you individuals, but that doesn't mean that this is a bad day," he added. "You know, I still get to be around y'all. I still get to call myself an NBA player. So as bad as things might seem, I promise you, it's definitely not that bad."
He's not listening to any naysayers. He knows he's 37. He doesn't care, nor listen to what critics say about him recovering from injury and returning to the player he once was.
"I am confident that whenever I come back, I'll be more than ready, I'll be more than healthy, and I'll be more of a better player, all-around player than I was whenever I went down," Butler said.
He doesn't have a target but simply said, "when it's time, it's time".
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 28, 2026 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After being massively underpaid for the first five seasons of his NBA career, Austin Reaves signed a four-year, $184 million deal this summer to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers for the foreseeable future. His 2025-26 salary ($41.2 million) rightfully ranks him among the league’s 40 highest-paid players as the 28-year-old presumably enters his prime and should vie for All-Star appearances out West over the next few seasons.
During Monday’s media day, Reaves described those contract negotiations as “weird” because he didn’t want to be anywhere else and told reporters he mostly took a hands-off approach by letting his agents handle things.
“It’s weird, to be honest with you. I’m glad that’s behind us and we got that over with. It’s difficult because I’ve been here for five years, this is going on my sixth year,” Reaves said. “This is home to me. I want to be here. Both parties wanted that to happen. It was just how can we figure out what’s best for our team, figure out what’s best for me at the same time. We had a good time doing it.
“I didn’t talk much. My agents took care of all that. Stay out of the way and then when we get a number we like, we take. Like I said, my heart was always here. I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I’m just happy to be back.”
Between Monday’s comments and ones he made during the summer, it’s evident the entire process weighed on Reaves. Shortly after he signed his new deal this summer, he called it “a sigh of relief” and a “breath of fresh air” to remain in Los Angeles.
Reaves clearly loves being a Laker and is ecstatic to be around for the long haul as the only franchise he’s ever known embarks on a new era with him and Luka Dončić leading the way.
A former Buffalo Sabres forward has finally found his home right before the start of the 2026-27 regular-season.
Former Buffalo Sabres forward Tyson Jost has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators for the 2026-27 season.
The Predators announced the news on Monday afternoon.
Jost attended Nashville's training camp on a professional tryout (PTO) with the hope of landing a contract for the season from the Central Division club. Now, the former Sabres forward has successfully done just that.
Jost appeared in 69 games last season for the Predators, where he recorded eight goals, eight assists, 16 points, and a minus-21 rating.
Jost spent two seasons with the Sabres from 2022-23 to 2023-24. In 102 games with the Sabres over that span, the 28-year-old forward recorded 10 goals, 18 assists, and 28 points.
Jost's time with the Sabres ended during the 2024 NHL off-season when he signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency.
Devin Booker kicked off his 12th season for the Phoenix Suns with a new number, but just as cool and as confident as ever.
As Booker approaches his 30th birthday in October, he has accomplished a lot in his career, but there is still a lot left in the tank.
“I love the game more than ever,” said Booker during his media day press conference. “Honestly, my body feels better than it’s ever felt going into a training camp. So, I think, you know, as you get older you know, you learn new ways to train, new ways to take care of your body… I’ve been a sponge to, you know, a lot of guys that have had success and played a lot of years in their career.”
Last year, Booker played in just 64 games and averaged 33.5 minutes per contest, both his lowest marks since his rookie season. No matter what version of him we get this season, the Suns need him healthy and confident to be the best team they can be this year. His level of play and status have fallen in the NBA player hierarchy, but the Suns cannot function without him in the lineup.
Because the Suns brought back almost the entire roster from last season, Booker expects more success and growth from the team this season.
“I’m excited about it. In the past, you know, I’ve been more successful; the team has been more successful when you know, we know what to expect going into the year,” said Booker.
“We’re coming in all with the same mindset to win. So time will tell, but you know, it’s definitely gonna be nice seeing some familiar faces back, with the same coach. We’re all on the same page. This summer was a big summer for us to keep all the same guys in the same building.”
For Booker, Jordan Ott is only the second head coach he has played consecutive seasons for in his career, with the other being Monty Williams. That alone, plus bringing back most of the roster, puts the Suns and Booker in a better position to begin the season strong.
“We got together a few times, you know, as a full team,” Booker said. “You know, I know Dillon [Brooks] had about half the guys in Toronto too. We all met in Vegas. We all were in Flagstaff, and you know, this past month we’ve been running a lot of open gyms, probably three times a week in the facility… There isn’t an off season anymore. You know, we’ve been building; we’ve been getting that chemistry together.”
For Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, building chemistry together is vital to the Suns’ success this season, with the trio only playing in 10 regular season games last season. Throw Miles Bridges and Khaman Maluach into the mix, and there is still a lot of untapped continuity for this team to figure out.
As for Maluach and Booker’s chemistry, the two have been working together this offseason to figure it out.
“You know, we would end up being in the gym at the same time late night, and then one time he just texted me and was like, you know, can we get some work in together?” said Booker. “So, you know, I think that guard and big relationship is super important, and you know, he’s way ahead of the curve.”
With all the Suns’ offseason work and hours together, they need to start fast and start healthy.
“To start the season, we’re gonna be definitely ahead of where we were to start the season last year,” said Booker.
“We have to remain healthy, and you know, we’re gonna get that chance to, you know, like I said, start this season off more on the same page than we were last year.”
Booker and the Suns have the chance to hit the ground running this year because of their depth and continuity, and the Suns franchise player has been leading the way all offseason.
