Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle (7) bats a single against New York Yankees during the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (34-45) vs. Houston Astros (39-43)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: The Crawfish Boxes Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (4-0, 2.56 ERA) vs. RHP Tatsuya Imai (4-3, 6.15 ERA)
Luke Tuch's time with the Montreal Canadiens organization has come to a close.
TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported that the Canadiens have traded Tuch to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Hunter McKown.
Tuch was selected by the Canadiens with the 47th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. After finishing his collegiate career with Boston University, Tuch spent each of the last three seasons down in the AHL with the Laval Rocket.
In 114 games over three seasons with Laval, Tuch posted 15 goals, 13 assists, 28 points, and 122 penalty minutes. In 68 games this past campaign with the Rocket, he had nine goals, 14 points, and 82 penalty minutes.
As for McKown, he has spent each of the last three seasons in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters. In 63 games during this past season with Cleveland, he recorded nine goals, 16 assists, and 25 points.
McKown also has NHL experience, as he had two assists in 12 games for the Blue Jackets during the 2022-23. He has not played at the NHL level since that campaign, though.
Overall, this is a minor swap between the Canadiens and Blue Jackets. It will be interesting to see how these two players perform next season with their new teams.
The Los Angeles Lakers had several loose ends heading into the offseason.
The Lakers executed a blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic in February 2025, signaling the franchise had landed its next generational star. Doncic’s first full season in LA didn’t pan out as planned as he dealt with injury, completely missing the playoffs.
Without Doncic on the court, the Lakers faced the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder shorthanded. The holes on the roster were evident in both playoff series, and it was clear the Lakers would need a major rehaul over the offseason to regain contender status.
LeBron James’ future with the Lakers remains a mystery. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But James’ future with the Lakers remains a mystery.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Lakers haven’t offered the 41-year-old a contract and there has been no communication between the two parties since the negotiation window initially opened.
The Lakers have NOT offered LeBron James a contract yet and there has not been any communication between the two since the negotiation window first opened, per @ShamsCharania
The Lakers reportedly have not offered LeBron James a new contract yet. Getty Images
There are several different scenarios that could unfold for James. The four-time MVP could very well retire after 23 illustrious seasons in the NBA, though that doesn’t seem like the storybook ending for a legend like James.
James could also join another team this offseason, which is perhaps more likely than retirement. James has been linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, among others.
Regardless, general manager Rob Pelinka faces immense pressure to transform the Lakers roster over the summer. Whether James is apart of that plan for LA, remains to be seen.
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Major League Baseball's All-Star Game is about three weeks away and Phase 1 of voting is over. While fans will still have time to vote for their favorite players, only finalists will be available for voting to start in this year's game from now on.
Two players at each infield position, plus a designated hitter and six outfielders, are now the only players capable of starting this year's All-Star Game, with the leading vote-getters in each league from Phase 1 earning automatic bids into the All-Star Game.
So who earned those automatic bids, and which players are still in the voting pool ahead of the Midsummer Classic? Here are the finalists at each position.
*- indicates leading vote-getter from Phase 1 (guaranteed starter for All-Star Game)
American League
Catcher:
ATH Shea Langeliers
TOR Alejandro Kirk
First base:
TOR Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
NYY Ben Rice
Second base:
TOR Ernie Clement*
Third base:
TOR Kazuma Okamoto
TBR Junior Caminero
Shortstop:
KCR Bobby Witt Jr.
TOR Andres Gimenez
Outfield:
NYY Aaron Judge
LAA Mike Trout
MIN Byron Buxton
NYY Cody Bellinger
TOR Jesús Sanchez
TOR Daulton Varsho
Designated hitter:
HOU Yordan Alvarez
TOR George Springer
National League
Catcher:
ATL Drake Baldwin
LAD Will Smith
First base:
LAD Freddie Freeman
ATL Matt Olson
Second base:
ATL Ozzie Albies
PHI Bryson Stott
Third base:
LAD Max Muncy
PHI Alec Bohm
Shortstop:
WSH CJ Abrams
LAD Mookie Betts
Outfield:
LAD Andy Pages
PHI Brandon Marsh
ATL Ronald Acuña Jr.
LAD Teoscar Hernández
NYM Juan Soto
ATL Michael Harris II
Designated hitter:
LAD Shohei Ohtani*
When does Phase 2 of voting begin?
Phase 2 of voting begins on Monday, June 29 at noon ET. Fans will have just three days to cast their votes from the group of finalists before starters are determined. Votes from Phase 1 do not carry over into Phase 2, so everyone gets a fresh slate.
Starters will be announced on Saturday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 25: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 25, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another week, another reminder that being a Rays fan means constantly screaming into the void about depth (I assume you saw Matz goes back to the IL) while the front office continues to do its best impression of a magician pulling rabbits out of hats.
We threw up the latest Rays Reacts survey asking the community the big question of adding to the depth (or a the starting lineup!), and as we sit at 45-33 and in the thick of the AL East & wild card picture, let’s see the results.
A majority — 52% — want the team to get aggressive in the trade market on both sides of the ball. That tracks with what we’ve been seeing on the field and in the comments.
Despite all but three bats in the lineup going ice cold lately…
The Rays have a 9-18 record since May 24th, but the trio has been fine:
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: José Tena #8 (L) and CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals wait for their turns to bat in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on June 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nats have lost in truly heartbreaking fashion back to back nights. However, they still have a chance to salvage a split tonight. It will be a tall task though. Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez is on the mound, and he is having a truly special season.
The big news for the Nats is that CJ Abrams is out again with his side injury. Blake Butera did say he was available off the bench though. That means Nasim Nunez will play shortstop, Jorbit Vivas will be at second and Curtis Mead is at third. With a lefty on the mound, Andres Chaparro will play first. James Wood will DH and Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews will be in the outfield. Cade Cavalli looks to bounce back from a rough outing in Tampa.
Kyle Schwarber is back in the lineup for the Phillies at DH. Bryce Harper will move to first and Alec Bohm is back at third base. There is no Edmundo Sosa in the lineup today with the righty on the mound. As mentioned up top, the Phillies will have their ace Cristopher Sanchez on the bump
The Nats should be looking to finish the sweep, but unfortunately that is not the case because the bullpen is a flaming pile of garbage. A split would help bring some of the good vibes back though. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 24: Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves looks on from the dugout during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Emma Steinberg/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hoo boy, it has suddenly gotten tense in Braves Country. The Atlanta Braves are on a serious skid and it doesn’t help that their once-massive lead in the division has already been cut significantly as well. A spark (and maybe some major acquisitions ahead of the trade deadline) is needed at the moment so that hopefully this thing can get back rocking and rolling for our Braves.
In the meantime, we’ve got an off day here so now it’s time to relax and enjoy things before things get tense again for tomorrow’s action.
What am I watching?
USA! USA! USA! USA! The United States Men’s National Team (or USMNT for short) is in action tonight in their final match of the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They’ll be kicking off against Türkiye at the same time as Paraguay faces Australia and the good news is that since the USMNT has already won the group, the pressure is off a little bit and they can use this as a bit of a tune-up for the knockout rounds. As long as nobody gets hurt, any result is okay but I think we all want to see the US go ahead and make it three wins in a row, right? Kickoff is at 10:00 p.m. ET on the nose.
If nothing in the above paragraph appealed to you at all, there’s still good ol’ fashioned baseball on. The hate-watch is obviously taking place in Washington as the Phillies face the Nationals but with the way things are going now, all that’s going to do is make you upset as the Phillies continue to play at a scorching-hot pace. That game starts at 6:45 p.m. ET.
The other hate-watch is taking place in New York, where the Mets will be taking on the Cubs. Old friend Dansby Swanson essentially torched the Mets yesterday as he racked up a whopping 11 RBI across two games yesterday. You can take a guy out of Atlanta but you can’t take the Atlanta (aka taking great joy in beating up on the Mets) out of the guy, eh? First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET.
So yeah, there’s the guide for tonight. You can choose your own journey, I’m not your boss. Let us know what you’re doing or how you’re feeling or if we should just let the Earth swallow us up into a bottomless pit so we can just navigate the abyss. Have a good evening, y’all!
The New Jersey Devils made a small trade on Thursday night. They sent a 2026 fourth-round pick (108th overall) to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for center Amadeus Lombardi.
This is a move that the New Jersey Devils made to add some forward depth to the organization. At 23 years old, Lombardi is still young, but he has yet to make his NHL debut.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
We’ve acquired Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for our fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. pic.twitter.com/46te2tnVW7
Lombardi was a fourth-round pick himself in 2022, and he was a high-end offensive producer in the OHL with the Flint Firebirds. Since arriving in the AHL, Detroit has kept him there, and he's gotten progressively more productive as the years have gone on.
He had 26 points as a rookie AHL player in 70 games played during the 2023-24 season. Over the last two years, however, he was much closer to being a point per game player with 82 points in 91 games.
His issue is that he must find ways to play more games without spending time away from the lineup due to injury. Despite those concerns, he has a promising set of skills, and Sunny Mehta is taking a chance on them.
Lombardi very well might get his chance to make his NHL debut at some point with the Devils, but he will certainly be an option for the Utica Comets, too, who are looking to bounce back from a subpar season.
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 17: Nolan McLean #26 of the New York Mets pitches in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 17, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
Carson Benge – RF Bo Bichette – 3B Juan Soto – DH Mark Vientos – 1B Francisco Alvarez – C A.J. Ewing – CF Ronny Mauricio – SS MJ Melendez – LF Brett Baty – 2B
SP: Freddy Peralta – RHP
Cubs lineup
Pete Crow-Armstrong – CF Michael Conforto – RF Michael Busch – 1B Alex Bregman – 3B Ian Happ – LF Nico Hoerner – 2B Pedro Ramirez – DH Miguel Amaya – C Dansby Swanson – SS
SP: Matthew Boyd – LHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:10 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 19: Tatsuya Imai #45 of the Houston Astros pitches in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Daikin Park on June 19, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (39-43) begin a 4-game series vs. the Detroit Tigers (34-46) at Comerica Park tonight.
RHP Tatsuya Imai (4-3, 6.15 ERA) will start for the Astros vs. Tigers RHP Troy Melton (4-0, 2.56 ERA). Tonight will be Imai’s 1st career appearance vs. the Tigers.
ROAD TRIPPIN: Tonight is the 4th game (2-1 thus far) of a 7-game road trip for the Astros. They were 2-1 at TOR on the 1st stop of the trip.
Road Recovery: The Astros are 12-7 in their last 3 road trips combined. They have have posted an 18-13 record on the road since going 1-9 on their 1st road trip of the 2026 season.
Road Bats: The Astros are T-1st in the AL in road batting avg. at .251. They also rank 2nd in road HR (56), SLG (.417) and OPS (.740) and 3rd in OBP (.326).
ASTROS-TIGERS: The Astros took 2 of 3 games from the Tigers last week at Daikin Park (June 15-17). The 2 clubs will play all 7 of their scheduled games between June 15-28. In 2025, the Astros and Tigers finished with identical 87-75 records, with the Tigers earning the final AL Wild Card spot due to winning the season series vs. HOU.
Recent Success: Since 2022, the Astros are 18-10 vs. DET with a 7-4 record at Comerica Park.
ABOUT IMAI: RHP Tatsuya Imai will make his 11th start of the season tonight and the 1st of his career vs. DET.
In his last start on June 19, Imai tallied a career-high 11 K’s en route to a 9-3 win vs. CLE (6 IP, 3 H, 3 ER).
Solid Stretch: Since May 25, Imai is 3-1 in his 5 starts with a 4.56 ERA (12 ER/23.2IP) with 27 K’s in 23.2 IP.
The No-No: Imai was the starting pitcher in the Astros combined no-hitter on May 25 at TEX, hurling 6.0 hitless innings on that historic night. In January, the Astros signed Imai to a three-year deal. In 2025, he was an All-Star for the Seibu Lions in the NPB in Japan, where he went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA (35ER/163.2IP) in 24 games.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Astros have now won 4 cons. series for the 1st time in 2026, posting an 8-4 record in that span. The last time that the Astros won that many series in a row was when they won 5 straight, from June 20-July 6 of last season (went 12-3 in that stretch). Adding to that note from last season, the Astros did not lose a series between May 22-July 6, going 13 consecutive series without losing one (11-0-2 in series during that stretch).
CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are now 16-10 in 2-run games, 8-4 in 1-run games and 4-4 in extra innings.
ROSTER MOVE: Effective today, the Astros reinstated RHP Bryan Abreu from the Restricted List. LHP Colton Gordon was optioned to Triple A Sugar Land following last night’s game.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, over the last month or so (May 21-June 24), the Astros are 19-12 (.613), which is the 2nd-best record in the AL in that span.
Top Records since May 21 (AL)
1. NYY: 18-11 (.621)
2. HOU: 19-12 (.613)
RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 3 of 4, 6 of 8 and 8 of their last 12 games.
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid 1st half to his season, currently leading all of baseball with a 1.069 OPS. Additionally, he leads the AL in SLG (.634), OBP (.435), TB (185), is T-1st in HR (25), 2nd in batting avg. (.322) and T-2nd in RBI (56).
Alvarez, who was the AL Player of the Month for May, is hitting .382 (29×76) in June with 5 HR and 17 RBI with a 1.121 OPS (.489 OBP/.632 SLG).
ALL-STAR VOTING: Yordan Alvarez leads all AL DH’s in All-Star voting, per MLB’s update on Monday. His 1,974,459 votes rank 2nd in the AL and 3rd overall in the Majors.
PEN PALS: Since May 15, the Astros bullpen has been one of the best in the AL, posting a 2.75 clip (41ER/134IP) in that span. The Astros are 22-15 since May 15.
OKERT’S 0’s: LHP Steven Okert has not allowed a run in his last 17.0 innings, which is the longest scoreless streak by an Astros hurler this season and the 3rd-longest by a reliever in the Majors this season. In his current streak, which spans 14 appearances, and began on May 23 at CHC, Okert has allowed just 8 hits in those 17.0 innings pitched.
Longest 2026 Scoreless Streaks – Relievers
1. Luke Weaver: 21.1 IP (active)
2. Chad Patrick: 18.1 IP
3. Steve Okert: 17.0 IP (active)*
*Okert’s streak is the longest by a LH reliever in ‘26.
HADERADE: In his 10 appearances since coming of the IL on June 3, opponents are just 2×32 off LHP Josh Hader. Hader has posted a 0.90 ERA (1ER/10IP) and is 6-for-6 in save opportunities (.063 opp. avg., .040 WHIP).
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2022 – In the Bronx, 3 Astros hitters combine for a masterful, 3-0 no-hitter over the Yankees. RHP Cristian Javier is the main cog, punching out 13 batters with just 1 walk in 7.0 innings of work. RHP Hector Neris hurls a hitless 8th inning and RHP Ryan Pressly hurls a hitless 9th to preserve the no-hitter. Jose Altuve and J.J. Matijevic each hit solo HRs to provide the offense.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, June 25, 5:40 p.m. CT
Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
TV: SCHN
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
It’s been nothing short of a banner year for Big Ten men’s basketball.
In April, Michigan became the first Big Ten men’s basketball champion in 26 years. In the same tournament, Illinois appeared in its first Final Four since 2005, No. 8 seed Iowa upset the reigning champion Florida Gators en route to the Elite Eight, and six teams from the conference made the Sweet Sixteen.
The Big Ten carried the momentum forward this week in the 2026 NBA Draft with 11 selections. Such a big class has practically become routine for the conference. In 2025, 10 Big Ten players came off the board, with seven in the first round. Former Rutgers Scarlet Knight Dylan Harper headlined the 2025 group at No. 2 overall and has quickly become a vital piece for the contending San Antonio Spurs. The trend goes back even further, as 10 or more Big Ten players have been drafted in four out of the last five years.
This year’s Big Ten NBA class is talented and deep. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Keaton Wagler was selected fifth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers after a year at Illinois. At 6’5”, Wagler is a tall guard with impressive footwork and sharp shooting who has proven that he can meet the moment, scoring 25 in the Elite Eight against Iowa and dropping a career-high 46 points in a road win against No. 4 Purdue back in January.
Michigan’s three-headed monster of Morez Johnson Jr., Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Aday Mara were selected No. 9, 11, and 12 by the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, and Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively. The trio created a dominant frontcourt that helped the Wolverines win their first national championship in 37 years.
The Charlotte Hornets rounded out the lottery, picking former Washington Husky Hannes Steinbach at No. 14. The versatile big man from Germany has an opportunity to make a profound impact on an up-and-coming Hornets squad. Two picks later, former Iowa Hawkeye Bennett Stirtz came off the board. Stirtz is a prolific three-level scoring guard that could mesh well with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship culture.
On the second night of the draft, five more Big Ten players took the next step in their NBA dreams. Ohio State point guard Bruce Thornton went No. 31, while Purdue’s veteran floor general, Braden Smith, went 38th overall. UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau, Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli, and Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn were selected 43rd, 55th, and 59th and will be heading to the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively.
Eleven picks out of the Big Ten is an achievement itself. But the different paths each of them took reflects how well the conference has evolved alongside the sport.
Wagler and Steinbach are the traditional one-and-done lottery picks. Then, there are the new, but not-so-new guys from the transfer portal. Johnson, Lendeborg, and Mara each spent just one year at Michigan after transferring in from other schools, building both their chemistry as a unit as well as their individual draft stocks. Stirtz is the ultimate transfer, playing two years of DII ball at Northwest Missouri State University before transferring to Drake and then to Iowa a year later. Bilodeau spent two years at Oregon State before going to UCLA for a pair, and in his senior season averaged a career-high 17.6 points per game. It’s clear that the transfer portal and increased NIL money have only elevated the product of Big Ten basketball.
But as much as the Big Ten has excelled in the transfer portal, most of the second-round picks represent what college basketball purists are longing for: four-year, one-team players. Smith and Thornton both made history in their long careers: Smith as the NCAA’s all-time assist leader, and Thornton as Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer. Martinelli became a two-time Big Ten scoring champion while helping turn Northwestern’s program around, and Kaufman-Renn helped lead Purdue to deep postseason runs.
The Big Ten has set a foundation for success in college basketball, but this is undoubtedly an exceptional group. Out of the 15 players selected by the coaches to All-Big Ten teams in 2026, only Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. and Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort are returning. But if recent history teaches us anything, the Big Ten should be right back at the top next season.
Jun 24, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) celebrates his home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Dusty May said it "wasn't an easy decision" to leave Michigan basketball for the Dallas Mavericks. According to his former boss, U-M interim president Domenico Grasso, the current landscape of college sports played a role in May's decision to leave for the pro ranks.
"Our current system is in dire need of clarity and equitable reform," Grasso said at a June 25 regents meeting, according to the Detroit Free Press. "Coach May told me that among his reasons for leaving were uncertainties and pressures involving the transfer portal and NIL support for student-athletes.
"He and I agree that the future of college sports is headed in the wrong direction."
While Grasso said the proposed Protect College Sports Act working its way through Congress could provide "greater stability, clearer national standards and more consistent rules" to college athletics, he also said it has "deeply concerning provisions."
"Rather than looking to conferences such as the Big Ten as models of athletic and academic excellence, it imposes restrictions that disproportionately affect the institution," he said. "Among the most troubling provisions are targeted limits on conference expansion and realignment, as well as harmful restrictions on student athletes' ability to benefit from additional NIL opportunities. These measures will reduce universities and conferences' flexibility to adapt to changing conditions for student innovative opportunities.
"We want what's best for the Big Ten and for Michigan. We are not going to sacrifice competitive advantage that we built for more than a century. We stand ready to work with legislators on a bill that will establish a system in which every university can compete and thrive for generations to come."
May guided the Wolverines to the 2026 national championship in just his second season in Ann Arbor and had agreed most of the parameters of a new contract, but never signed it.
Instead, he left for the Mavericks where he'll get to coach 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg as well as a familiar face — former Wolverine Morez Johnson Jr., who the Mavs selected with No. 9 pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft.
WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 07: Ernest Udeh Jr. #8 of the Miami Hurricanes reacts during the second half of the basketball game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 07, 2026 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Udeh’s journey to the NBA hasn’t been straightforward. He started his collegiate career at Kansas. He then transferred to TCU after his freshman year for two seasons, and then finished it at Miami. This past season, he averaged 6.7 points per game for the Hurricanes.
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Udeh is a strong, physical big man who is an elite rebounder. He averaged 9.2 rebounds last season, which included 3.1 per game coming on the offensive end.
Most of Udeh’s damage offensively came at the rim. He completed 72.7% of his looks from the field, with much of that coming from finishing pick-and-rolls.
The strength and physicality that helped him as a rebounder and play finisher in college also made him a good rim protector. Udeh averaged 1.4 blocks per game. That was good enough to earn a spot on the ACC All-Defense team.
The concerns come from Udeh’s lateral quickness and lack of polish as an offensive player. Udeh has size, but projects to be mostly a drop-coverage big defensively. Those have value, but aren’t necessarily the most versatile.
Offensively, he hasn’t shown good touch as a passer — just 0.6 assists per game last season — and hasn’t shown much shooting touch as he converted just 51.2% of his looks at the free-throw line last season. Is his offensive game versatile enough to be a standard contract player at some point?
As of this moment, the Cavs have all three two-way spots filled with Tristan Enaruna and Riley Minix under contract. However, Minix’s spot could become available in the near future as reports from last week suggested that he was close to signing with ASVEL in France.
Outside of the San Jose Sharks and possibly the Buffalo Sabres, there is no other team more compelling to watch than the St. Louis Blues in the 2026 NHL draft.
With four first-round picks, the Blues can completely revitalize their prospect pool, whether they make all four selections or package some of those picks to move up in the draft.
If the Blues decide to keep their picks, TSN’s Craig Button suggests the Blues use their back-to-back picks at 15 and 16 to select the Ruck twins, Markus and Liam.
“We know what two twins playing together can do and they’ve spent their whole life playing together,” said Button. They’ve been dynamic. They’ve been productive.
“And for the St. Louis Blues, these are two really good offensive players. You think about on the Mock Draft 1.0, we had them going to the Vancouver Canucks. The Sedins had a big part of it. Well, don’t forget - the Sutter twins Ronnie and Richie played for the St. Louis Blues at one time. Maybe this is the next generation of twins to suit up for the St. Louis Blues.”
The Ruck twins spent the 2025-26 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, where they were dominant. Markus and Liam led the WHL and the CHL in scoring, as Markus scored 21 goals and 87 points for 108 points, while Liam notched 45 goals and 104 points.
Liam has been ranked ahead of Markus in most mock drafts, as his goal-scoring ability from the wing is more highly regarded than Markus’ playmaking up the ice.
The twins are great offensive players, but there are faults in their games. Their defensive game isn’t as well-rounded as others in the draft, but their biggest weakness is their skating.
Because their skating is poorer than that of other draft-eligible players, most analysts have them ranked lower in the first round, and sometimes into the second. The question being asked is whether their skating can improve, and if not, will their hockey IQ mask those skating issues?
The twins each stand six feet, with Markus a left-handed center and Liam a right-handed winger. They’ll both return to Medicine for the 2026-27 season before joining the University of North Dakota in the 2027-28 season.
Most scouts don’t believe Liam or Markus are worthy of being selected this highly, but maybe Craig Button knows something everyone else doesn’t. It would be a gamble to take the Ruck twins that early in the first round, but if they panned out, it would be a major win for the Blues.
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Kurt Helin
