With dancing feet, Lawrence pushes into the offside to reach another fifty – off just 35 balls. He’s averaging an incredible 80.88 at the moment, with four hundreds. And every time he has reached fifty this season, he’s gone on to three figures. Hampshire might just have to grin and bear it.
Sibley and Lawrence are very eager between the wickets now – the 50 partnership comes up in a rapid 53 balls and, with another quick single, there’s another fifty for Sibley – his second of the season, to go with his two centuries.
Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal scored for a fourth straight game on Tuesday night, giving his team a 3-1 lead at 12:48 of the first period on the power play.
With that goal, Staal became the first player to accomplish that feat since New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy scored in four straight Stanley Cup Final games agains the Vancouver Canucks in 1982.
Bossy went on to score seven goals in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals, tying Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau's 1956 record for most goals in a final series.
The Islanders swept the Canucks for their third straight Championship, officially being labeled a dynasty.
The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently ranked the NHL's top 50 pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) heading into the summer. Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev made the cut, as he was given the No. 31 spot.
Seeing Mikheyev be ranked among the top pending UFAs in the NHL is not too difficult to understand. The 31-year-old forward is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 34 points and is a highly impactful penalty killer. Because of this, it is very likely that he will generate a good amount of interest from teams looking to boost their bottom six if he tests the free agent market this summer.
Mikheyev appeared in 77 games this season with the Blackhawks, where he recorded 18 goals and set a career high with 36 points. This is after he posted 20 goals and 34 points in 80 games for the Blackhawks during the 2024-25 campaign. With this, he has been a solid part of the Blackhawks' roster over the last two seasons.
It is going to be interesting to see what happens with Mikheyev leading up to July 1. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported last month that the Chicago has made Mikheyev's signing rights available for trade. Yet, with how well Mikheyev has played for the Blackhawks, it would not be surprising if they continued to try to keep him in Chicago.
The question for years surrounding LeBron James hasn’t been whether he can still play at an elite level. It’s how long he wants to keep doing it.
At 41 years old and coming off his 23rd NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers star remains one of basketball’s most productive players. Yet despite constant speculation about retirement, James says the decision won’t come down to age, statistics, contracts or outside opinions.
LeBron James reveals the moment he’ll know it’s time to retire from the NBA and leave the Lakers. AP
Instead, it will come down to something much simpler.
In a wide-ranging interview with TIME Magazine, in which he was named the “athlete of the century,” James explained that he already knows the signal that will tell him his career is over.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during a press conference Getty Images
“It’s up to the mind,” James said. “Where the mind goes, the body will lay.”
For a player who has built his career on relentless preparation, that mindset remains central to everything.
“When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation, if I’m out of love with getting to practice 2½ hours beforehand, then I know I’ll be done,” James said. “Because then I’m going to start cheating the game.”
The comments offer a rare glimpse into how James views the final chapter of a career that has spanned nearly a quarter of a century.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers crouches down in pain on the bench after he was hurt against the Golden State Warriors Getty Images
While many aging athletes measure their future by declining production or physical limitations, James believes the decision will be determined by whether he still enjoys the daily work required to compete.
So far, there are few signs that passion has faded.
Injured LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers sits on the bench Getty Images
Despite missing 22 games, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds during the 2025-26 season while helping the Lakers reach the playoffs.
His scoring dipped to its lowest average since his rookie year, but much of that reflected a changing role alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves rather than a dramatic decline in effectiveness.
James elevated his game in the postseason averaging more than 23 points per contest and carrying stretches of the Lakers’ playoff run with Doncic and Reaves sidelined with injuries.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, goes up for a dunk AP
His future remains uncertain. James is an unrestricted free agent and recently reiterated on his “Mind the Game” podcast that he plans to take his time before deciding whether to return for a 24th NBA season.
Family considerations will play a major role, as will his desire to compete for championships. One thing appears settled, however.
James won’t retire because the calendar tells him to. He’ll retire when the preparation no longer excites him.
And based on his latest comments, that day does not appear to be arriving anytime soon.
On Tuesday night, Sound Beach, Long Island native Brandon Bussi got the start for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
For Bussi, a journeyman who went undrafted, played 111 AHL games, and spent time in three different organizations with countless waiver adventures in between, he's never stopped believing that he belonged in the NHL.
Ahead of his first career Stanley Cup start:
My chat with Brandon Bussi’s former goalie coach — my former goalie coach — @cmtesta1 on Bussi’s development, the challenges along the way & what it means to see a LI kid find his way to the top @TheElmonters:https://t.co/R9xC2eqCYH
After 31 regular-season wins, becoming the fastest goalie in NHL history to reach 11 games, Bussi made 18 saves in a 5-3 win to even the series at two apiece.
This was his first start since April. 14, their regular-season finale win over the New York Islanders. He did relieve Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, turning aside 19 of 20 shots in a 5-4 double overtime loss.
"They're the reason I'm able to do what I'm doing right now. Their sacrifice means everything. And yeah, they're the best." ❤️
Brandon Bussi gets emotional speaking about his family in his interview with @sportsnetkyle following his first win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/zsPpEdTk2k
As we near the date of the 2026 NHL draft, it’s hard not to think back on some of the most formidable picks made in the Montreal Canadiens’ history. 55 years ago, on June 10, 1971, the Habs made not one but two franchise-altering picks.
That year, fresh off another Stanley Cup conquest, the Canadiens had the first-overall pick thanks to an astute trade by Sam Pollock a year earlier. The GM had sent Ernie Hicke and Montreal's 1970 first-round pick to the California Golden Seals in return for Francois Lacombe and the Golden Seals’ first-round pick at the 1971 draft. The California side had finished last overall with just 45 points in 78 games, giving Montreal the first overall pick just in time for one of the most promising prospects ever to be available to draft: Guy Lafleur.
The Canadiens therefore picked Lafleur first overall, and he would go on to become one of the best players in history. To this day, he still holds the record for most points while wearing the Sainte-Flanelle, with 1246 points in 961 games, and the record for most points in a single season with the Habs, with 136 points. A real phenomenon that marked not only the Canadiens’ history, but also the NHL’s. Nowadays, you can sometimes hear people say that Ivan Demidov is the most talented player the Canadiens have had since Lafleur, but will he be able to catch him in the history books? It remains to be seen.
If that wasn’t a good enough pick up for the Canadiens, in the second round, they drafted Larry Robinson, who, like Lafleur, has marked the team's history. Big Bird, as he was nicknamed, put up 883 points in 1202 games with the Tricolore and also holds the record for most points in a single season by a Canadiens’ defenseman with 85.
Of course, it looks like Lane Hutson may just break that record, since he reached 78 points in just his second season, but still, Robinson’s points total and the number of games he played with the Canadiens will be hard to catch. At the end of his eight-year contract, Hutson will have played 838 games with the Habs, unless he misses some games due to injury or is moved before then, which seems highly unlikely.
The Canadiens' odds of making a franchise-altering pick in the upcoming draft are slim, but you can never say never, after all, Hutson was a 62nd overall pick, and there can always be some hidden gems.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts to a play during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Masai Ujiri was hired he was tasked with a difficult balancing act; build a competent winning team, and set up success in the future. The idea of a full rebuild is sadly impossible due to the lack of draft picks over the next 5 years, and Cooper Flagg’s rapid ascension could mean the desire to win sooner rather than later.
But the Mavericks can’t go all in right now.
The roster is full of odd-fits and mismatched timelines. The addition of the 9th pick further complicates this dynamic because that player will need development.
But blowing up the roster is also not an option, so what do the Mavericks do?
Well I decided to put on my GM hat and take the Mavericks through an entire simulated offseason. This will include everything from coaching hires to mock trades, all in an attempt to correct both the present and future of the franchise.
But before we dive in, what are the specific goals the Mavericks must accomplish this offseason?
Use aging veterans and financial flexibility to acquire future draft assets
Build the current team to suit Cooper Flagg’s playstyle
Begin building the foundation of the basketball culture that will define this era
So with all of that out of the way, let’s begin
The head coach
The first order of business is to hire a new head coach, and with the Mavericks being very early in their search we can only speculate on the potential hire.
But for this excersise we will hire former Portland Trailblazer head coach Tiago Splitter as the next leader of the Mavericks.
Splitter had an impressive season for the Blazers, as he stepped in when Chauncy Billups was fired in an FBI gambling investigation. Splitter led the Blazers to the playoffs, an impressive feat given the impossible circumstance he was placed into.
Splitter would bring a focus on offensive organization and a more balanced shot diet, as the Blazers attempted the majority of their shots at the rim or from three. This change is philosophy is much needed for a Mavericks team who were nearly last in both three point attempts and percentage last season.
Finally, Splitter would have a connection to current GM Mike Schmitz, with the pair overlapping in Portland for a couple of years.
The Kyrie conundrum
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 6: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks smiles before the game against the Boston Celtics on March 6, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With all the talk of resetting the timeline it may feel obvious that Kyrie Irving would be on the trade block.
But it may be smarter to keep Irving for the time being. Irving can still provide value on the court even if his athleticism is diminished from his ACL injury. But this injury is the reason the Mavericks should keep him, with his trade value probably being diminished from where it was before he got hurt.
Now this doesn’t mean the Mavericks shouldn’t listen to offers, and if they get a package that can restock their future draft assets, they should take it. But I don’t expect teams to be lining up with packages that involve multiple first round picks, which is my minimum with any Irving trade.
It would be smart to keep Irving around for now, with any trade being revisited at the deadline. This would allow Irving to come back and show his extraordinary abilities, and possibly drive his price to the point where a trade would make sense.
The Draft
By far the single most important aspect of the Mavericks offseason will be nailing the draft.
The Mavericks do not own another outright first round pick until 2031, and won’t have another opportunity to acquire a premier young player for some time.
Not only do the Mavericks have to draft a player with high-upside, but they also have to fit next to Cooper Flagg long term. Now the draft is still two-and-a-half weeks away, and the order could be shaken up dramatically. But it feels obvious that the Mavericks need a guard, but whether that player will be a ball-handler is still unknown.
The most likely players in my opinion are either Brayden Burries or Kingston Flemings, 2 players with wildly different skillsets. It remains to be seen if the Mavericks want the more pro-ready candidate in Burries, or the higher upside bet in Flemings, either way, a guard being drafted feels extremely likely.
For this excersise, I will default to the mock draft that we recorded on Pod Maverick last Monday, in which the Mavericks selected Flemings.
Flemings would immediately fill multiple holes within the team, serving as a primary point of attack defender, and another downhill threat. He would also help as a floor-general, as his 32.6% AST ranked in the 86th percentile. His shooting is a large concern, but his on-court play and high basketball IQ make him a tantalizing fit on this team.
But the Mavericks also posses the 30th pick, where I will again default to the previously mentioned mock draft, in which the Mavericks select Meleek Thomas.
Thomas was a Freshman last season at Arkansas, and while he was overshadowed by his teammate Darius Acuff Jr., Thomas was still very impressive. His most standout skill is his three-point shooting, as Thomas shot 41.6% from three on 5 attempts per game. Thomas’s size and defense are real concerns, but he would fill the most desperate need on the roster, and could become a very useful player.
Finally, the Mavericks have a second round pick, but this pick will be used in a trade later on.
Overall, the additions of Flemings and Thomas would help to address 3 biggest needs of the current roster. They would also be building blocks of the future, as both were just freshman in college last season.
Possible re-signings
INGLEWOOD, CA – APRIL 7: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on April 7, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before the Mavericks can make any new additions to the roster, they have some decisions about players currently on the team.
The 5 players who could receive an extension this offseason include: Dereck Lively, Naji Marhsall, Max Christie, Ryan Nembhard and Moussa Cisse.
The first 2 that we’ll focus on are Nembhard and Cisse, as both will be receiving extensions in this scenario. Nembhard will be signed to a 3 year $9 million deal, and Cisse will be signed to a 2 year $6 million deal. Both of them showed potential last season, and can give you rotation minutes at the very least. Cisse especially showed tremendous upside, and he should be kept around no matter what.
Resigning Nembhard means that Brandon Williams is gone, and while I enjoyed watching Williams play, I do not believe he fits next to Cooper Flagg.
The next player to receive an extension will be Marshall, signing a 3 year $45 million extension. This was the hardest decision of this bunch, but in the end, I felt it was better to keep Marshall around rather than trade him. His new deal is also not very expensive, and if he needs to be moved in a future transaction he still can be.
Finally we get to both Christie and Lively, 2 players who fit Flagg’s timeline, but have significant issues that hinder my excitement.
First with Christie, while he is an effective 3 point shooter and decent defender, his impact is inconsistent at best, and is not worth a potentially lucrative extension. This carries risk due to his current contract because of his player-option next season. If the Mavericks choose not to extend him now, he could become a free agent next offseason, but that is a risk that Mavericks must be willing to take.
On the other hand, there is not questions about Lively’s impact when he plays, as the young big-man has consistently been one of the more impactful role-players in the league. The issue, of course, is his health, as Lively has played in fewer than 50% of the possible games in his career.
But his health issues could help with his next contract, with the Mavericks having the option of extending him now at a cheaper price, rather than waiting for restricted free-agency. The contract I have devised is 4 years 64$ million, but with the only guaranteed seasons being the first 2. This type of contract has been done before, and allows for a compromise between the 2 parties.
Now this still carries risk, especially if Lively is a shell of himself due to the injuries, but the upside is tremendous. If Lively is able to overcome his early career injuries, the 16$ million contract per year will feel like a steal.
Trades
Finally we have reached the most exciting part of any mock offseason; trades.
P.J. Washington
Dallas receives: Keldon Johnson, 2027 Atlanta Hawks first round pick
San Antonio receives: P.J. Washington
This trade has been brewing in my mind while watching the NBA finals, specifically with how much the Spurs have struggled to contain Karl-Anthony Towns. Washington has proved to be a great defender in his time with the Mavericks, and fills a roster hole the Spurs have. The Spurs do not have a player of Washington’s build on roster, and should be in the market to upgrade if they end up losing in the finals.
For the Mavericks this trade is simple; a 2027 first round pick alleviates pressure for next year’s team. If the Mavericks had the security of this pick they would not feel forced to win games, and could put a greater focus on development. This pick is also not a meaningless first, as it would not be surprisng if the Hawks pick could end up in the lottery.
The real hold up for this trade could be the inclusion of Keldon Johnson, with the Spurs possibly being hesitant to move off of the reigning 6th man of the year. But if they feel the need to make major improvements next year, Johnson’s $17 million contract will have to be moved.
Daniel Gafford
DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 30: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots against Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter at American Airlines Center on March 30, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dallas receives: Jarred Vanderbilt, 2032 Lakers first round pick
Los Angeles receives: Daniel Gafford, pick 48
This next trade could trigger some Mavericks fans, with the prospect of helping the Lakers being the last thing many fans want.
But feelings cannot get in the way of a good deal, and this deal makes perfect sense for both teams.
The Lakers are in desperate need of more athleticism and size across their team, with Gafford bringing both in spades. There is also the connection that Gafford and Luka Doncic share, with the ladder being able to advocate for the big men’s services. If the Lakers want to keep Doncic happy they need to continue to add more talent, and who makes more sense then a starter on Luka’s only finals appearance.
The purpose of this trade for the Mavericks is simple; adding another unprotected first round pick. Obviously 2o32 is 6 years away, but all first round picks are incredibly valuable. Whether the Mavericks ever use this pick isn’t the point, rather, gaining more assets and flexibility gives the Mavericks more avenues to build around Cooper Flagg.
So why did I choose these 2 players to trade?
Simply put, their skillsets are redundant on the current roster, and both will be on the decline when the Mavericks are actually ready to contend. The Mavericks already have a plethora of center options, with Gafford being the oldest and most worn down of them all.
Washington’s issue is his fit next to Flagg; simply put, it doesn’t really work. Both players occupy similar roles defensively, and have similar size and athletic profiles. Washington also pigeon-holes Flagg at the 3, rather than his more natural position at the 4.
Finally, Washington does not provide the requisite shooting the thrive off of Flagg’s gravity, and unlike Marshall, he cannot be a primary ball-handler.
The final trade of this offseason is using an underrated tool that the Mavericks posses; a traded player exception. This exception allows for the Mavericks to absorb any player who has a salary of $20.2 million or under, which is incredibly useful for absorbing a bad contract. The Thunder have to make a move like this due to their proximity to the second apron, and while Joe is a useful player, his minutes had decreased heavily in this year’s playoffs.
The Mavericks would receive Joe, who would add much needed three point shooting, along with 3 second round picks to help the Thunder out.
Free Agency
PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 8: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on April 8, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the last several years free agency has become much less important, with few teams having any cap space, and exceptions being the only way contenders add players.
This fact is especially apparent in this year’s free agent class, with there being few high-level contributors available, and even fewer who would want to join the Mavericks.
Due to this, I will have the Mavericks split their full non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($15,000,000) on two players: Marvin Bagley III, 3 years $25 million, and Simone Fontecchio, 2 years $7 million.
Bringing back Bagley is obvious for me, he was a spark for the Mavericks after the Anthony Davis trade, and brought a different skillset to the center position. Bagley averaged 10 point and 6 rebounds after the trade, but the most interesting development was him shooting 48% from three. If this development can continue over a full season it would allow for the Mavericks to have true versatility at the center position, rather than the simple rim-running big men that have populated the position.
Fontecchio is a lesser known name, as the Italian wing has only spent 3 seasons in the NBA after leaving the Euro league. But his skillset is very intriguing, with his primary value coming from his three-point shooting. Fontecchio has shot 37% from three over the course of his career with an elite .70 3PR. Fontecchio can also compete on the defensive end thanks to his size, measuring at 6’7 and 220 LBS.
While this class may feel lackluster, the Mavericks would be adding 2 solid contributors on cheap contracts, which is exactly what they should be doing.
Final roster
So after all this maneuvering and changes, what does the final roster look like?
PG: Kyrie Irving, Kingston Flemings, Ryan Nembhard
SG: Max Christie, Isaiah Joe, Meleek Thomas,
SF: Naji Marshall, Simone Fontecchio, Caleb Martin
PF: Cooper Flagg, Keldon Johnson, Caleb martin
C: Dereck Lively, Marvin Bagley III, Moussa Cisse, Jarred Vanderbilt
Overall the roster has been changed heavily from what is was before this exercise, with the majority of the focus being on restructuring the depth of the roster. While the starting lineup is similar to last season, the bench has been completely slanted towards three point shooting and offensive creation.
This choice would certainly hurt the defensive upside of the roster, but would completely change the way they play on the offensive end of the court. Joe, Fontecchio and Bagley all bring real three-point shooting, with Flagg, Marshall and Flemings relentlessly attacking the rim.
Klay Thompson is also absent from this roster with the Mavericks buying out his contract. While I searched for a trade, nothing felt very likely, and it would be fair to let the veteran try and win one last ring on a contender.
But the X-factor would be Kyrie Irving. If Irving is able to return to the level of play that he was showcasing pre-injury, then this could be an offense that causes serious problems. But even if he isn’t at his peak anymore, he still brings elite shooting and a clutch-gene that was sorely missing last year.
Combine these upgrades to the roster with 2 more first-round picks, and I would say that this offseason accomplished the goals that were laid out at the beginning: more three-point shooting and creation for the current roster, all while gathering future draft assets.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 8: Cardi B performs during halftime during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks on June 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
New York, New York, the town so nice they named it twice. Madison Square Garden is considered the mecca of sports arena, and the New York Knicks pulled out all the stops for their first Finals home game in twenty-seven years.
The Garden always boasts celebrities and Game 3 of the NBA Finals was no exception. From steadfast fans Spike Lee, Fat Joe, Ben Stiller, and Timothée Chalamet to televison personalities Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, during each break in play, the camera found well-known faces.
The arena was rife with sports personalities. Eli Manning, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Rick Pitino, Francisco Lindor, John Franco, Juan Soto, Todd Zeile, Woody Johnson, Jonathan Quick, Adam Fox and Vincent Trocheck were seen throughout the game.
Speaking of sports greats, it couldn’t be a Knicks Finals series without former players and legends. Patrick Ewing, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Allan Houston, Gerald Wilkins, Al Harrington, Bill Bradley, Richie Guerin, Baron Davis, Tim Thomas, Charles Smith, Steve Novak, Raymond Felton, Larry Johnson, John Starks, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby all greeted the crowd. Jeremy Lin brought the “Linsanity” to MSG.
As if Broadway stars, sports legends, and celebrities weren’t enough, the Knicks pulled out all the stops and surprised attendees with a halftime performance by Cardi B.
Of course, the best known celebrity of the night was President Donald Trump. His attendance altered the fan experience considerably. Considering the alterations to schedule, the timing of the game went off without a hitch.
In the end, the most memorable sound was the silence of the over 19,000 fans walking away empty-handed after the Spurs took their first win of the series.
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TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 10: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock looks on from the bench at an NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 10, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“What is one of the Devils’ biggest needs, if not the biggest? A top-six winger to complement Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. The Devils finished 31st in five-on-five goals last season, and while playing style was part of the reason, Kyrou may be the perfect fit to bolster the Devils’ offense.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“Only Hischier knows for sure…but maybe — just maybe — all this losing has shifted his priorities. While AFP Analytics projects an eight-year, $11.459 million AAV contract for him, say he takes $9 or $10 million instead. He’d still earn $72–80 million over the life of the deal, on top of the roughly $45 million he’s already earned in the NHL. That extra cap flexibility could make a world of difference when attempting to properly complement the roster.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
We have named Peter Laviolette as the club’s 32nd head coach in franchise history, it was announced today by Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland.
“The Edmonton Oilers are in consultation with the NHL Players’ Association to see if there are objections to potentially hiring Mike Babcock for their vacant head coaching job, according to league sources.” [The Athletic ($)]
“Larkin has a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, and his list was limited to being dealt to Vegas, Minnesota and Florida.” [Associated Press]
Where might Dylan Larkin end up in a trade and what assets might the Red Wings get back? [The Athletic ($)]
Gabriel Landeskog is this season’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy awardee:
Gabriel Landeskog is the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner for the 2025-26 season! 💪
The trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. #NHLAwardspic.twitter.com/hMbgQ8g71B
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Cooper Pratt #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Seattle Mariners at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Note: the stats in this article were accurate through Monday; Pratt hit another homer on Tuesday.
When Cooper Pratt signed an eight-year, $50 million contract (with two lucrative option years) on April 3, a clock started. Pratt was no longer beholden to any concerns about team control, super two status, 40-man roster status, any of it. That’s all been sorted out.
This clock was for the players on the left side of the major league Milwaukee Brewers infield.
This was a known weakness coming into the season. When the Brewers traded Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler to Boston before the season, they opened up some holes. Despite offensive concerns, Joey Ortiz was still around to play shortstop, and Seigler, maybe, was never in the plan beyond providing some minor league depth. Monasterio played a utility role, and though he played that role nicely, David Hamilton, who came back in the trade, could probably make up for that loss.
The starting role at third base, though, was a question. Milwaukee’s minor league system is chock-full of tantalizing infield talent, but before the season started, all of Pratt, Jett Williams, Jesús Made, Luis Peña, and Andrew Fischer had a combined 151 plate appearances at Triple-A or higher. All of those belonged to Williams, and his OBP during that stretch was .285.
The problem
The kids weren’t quite ready, so Milwaukee made a move for a temporary solution: Luis Rengifo, a proven commodity, a 29-year-old with six years of MLB experience who was coming off a tough year but had a reasonable track record of success going back to 2022. It wasn’t unreasonable to think it would work fine for a year until someone showed they were ready for the big-league Brewers in 2027. My own analysis told me that Rengifo’s issue was less about hitting the ball hard than about needing to elevate the ball. If he could just hit more fly balls than line drives, he could turn back into a 15-homer guy and provide solid-enough offense for Milwaukee.
Well, it hasn’t happened. Rengifo’s exit velocities are largely in line with his career average, but the launch-angle aspect hasn’t come to fruition at all. There’s somebad luck in Rengifo’s season results: his BABIP is just .226, and his weighted on-base average (.243) is underperforming his expected number (.296) by more than 50 points.
But that xwOBA would still be the worst for Rengifo since he became a regular player in 2022. He has zero home runs. The doubles he was hitting at the beginning of the season have mostly dried up. What’s worse, arguably, is that he’s not offering any defensive value while all of this is happening. Rengifo, depending on whether you prefer looking at DRS or OAA, is either slightly above or slightly below average in the field. He’s passable, but he’s not good.
This might be an issue for the Brewers as a whole. I say “might be” because your preferred defensive stats will influence this conversation. By DRS, the Brewers rank eighth, which is actually a slight step above the 10th-place finish they had in 2025. But by Outs Above Average, Milwaukee, at -5, is 18th; they were thirdin 2025 at +33.
Rengifo is not solely responsible for that drop in OAA. Jake Bauers is way worse in 2026 than he was in 2025. Andrew Vaughn has flipped from +5 to -2. Sal Frelick has gone from one of the team’s best defenders (+7 in 2025, behind only Joey Ortiz) to neutral (0). David Hamilton weighs heavily on the Brewers’ OAA score — at -6, he’s the worst defender they’ve had in the last two years by this measurement. (This should be taken with a grain of salt, though; DRS quite likes Hamilton’s defense, and this accounts in large part for the Brewers’ gap between DRS and OAA).
The thing about all of those other guys (save for Frelick, who might be a discussion for a different time): they’re not all that easily replaceable. The Brewers need offense from Vaughn and Bauers. Hamilton is coming around offensively, offers a lot of value as a base runner, and the Brewers may very well believe that he’s a good defensive player (which wouldn’t be unreasonable at all).
The solution
In Pratt, the Brewers have a replacement.
Will he struggle when he gets the call? Probably. Pratt started the season badly at the plate, and he had just a 107 wRC+ at Double-A last season. But in his last 24 games, which covers exactly the last month, Pratt is hitting .301/398/.516 for a 143 wRC+. He’s striking out only 16.5% of the time and walking almost 13%. His wRC+ for the season was at 74 at the end of play on May 8; it’s now at 105.
And the thing about Pratt is that he could give the Brewers a huge defensive boost, not just because of his own ability but because of how the pieces would fall into place alongside him. His scouting grades give him a 60/60 fielding/arm score. People feel like he’s ready today to be plugged in at shortstop at the major league level. He might not be better than Ortiz, but he probably isn’t much worse.
My solution, then, would be to cut Rengifo, move Hamilton and Ortiz into a third-base platoon, and give Pratt the shortstop job. Hamilton is clearly better against right-handed pitching; Ortiz has reverse splits this season, but has been clearly better against left-handed pitching over the course of his career. If you believe DRS’s measure of Hamilton’s impact is more accurate than OAA’s, then you’ve vastly upgraded the defense at third base. A Hamilton/Ortiz platoon isn’t going to strike fear into opposing pitchers’ hearts, but it’s going to give you more than what Rengifo has this season.
Crucially, it paves the way for Pratt to play every day, which seems to be a major concern of management. It’ll probably be a struggle for a while at the plate, but when the guy being replaced has a 49 OPS+, I’m not all that worried about Pratt’s struggles. This is a rare move that works at two levels: it’s a pivot to the future, but it’s also a move that makes the team better today.
The case for haste
Look: I don’t like doing this. I’m acutely aware of the fact that baseball players are human beings, even if they are lavishly compensated for that work. I feel bad saying this. But the Brewers should cut their losses with Rengifo. They’re already on the hook for a $1.5 million buyout of a mutual option in 2027, and he has a clause in his contract that rewards him an extra $100,000 for every 50 plate appearance he makes at this point in the season (and more if he gets to 400+); that’s not a ton of savings, but there’s no reason Milwaukee should keep paying those bonuses. Rengifo is harming the team offensively, and he’s not helping on defense.
The Brewers are winning. That has afforded them time to wait and see if Rengifo turns it around. With the wins piling up, there’s no harm in that.
But there could be a form of harm later in the season, specifically in the postseason. It seems certain that at some point soon, the Brewers will need to come to the conclusion that Rengifo is not going to be who they want at the hot corner in a postseason series.
Maybe they think the answer is outside the organization. I’m skeptical. I haven’t really done my pre-deadline scan of the league yet, but I’m not expecting the Brewers to trade for a real difference maker at third base when they have the upcoming prospects that they have.
So if the answer is not coming from outside, that means it’s already here, and that means it’s either Pratt or Williams. Williams is struggling. Pratt is improving. The longer the Brewers wait, the less time Pratt will have to adjust to major league pitching, and the less prepared he’ll be for a potential postseason series. It’s time to make this happen.
A quick post-script
Given that Luis Lara signed a contract similar to Pratt’s after I had already done much of the research for this piece, I do feel it’s necessary to address his situation at least a little bit. Lara is now in line to come up to the big leagues if there’s any immediate need, but I don’t see it happening unless something else happens first. For one thing, Lara’s track record is far shorter than Pratt’s.
There’s also an issue of playing time. Garrett Mitchell has been good lately. Frelick hasn’t been, but he’s a favorite of the manager, and he was a three-WAR player last season and a Gold Glove winner the year before. Blake Perkins will be sent back to the minors as soon as Brandon Lockridge is ready to return, and if what Murphy said about Pratt is true — that they don’t want him in the big leagues unless he’s going to play regularly — then one would assume that would also be true of Lara, and he would thus not fill a soft-side platoon role in the majors. (Lara is also a switch-hitter, which complicates things; he’s better from the right side, so could conceivably do a loose platoon with Frelick.)
If Mitchell (or Jackson Chourio) gets hurt again, Lara will be up. If Frelick is still rocking a 70 OPS+ in August, then Lara will probably be up. But I think Mitchell and Frelick have earned some patience here that Rengifo has not, and this is why I’d make the Pratt move immediately and save Lara for later.
1892 – Though Baltimore fails to score after the 6th inning‚ the Orioles explode for 25 hits and swamp St. Louis, 25-4. Wilbert Robinson‚ Orioles catcher‚ goes 7 for 7‚ bats in 11 runs‚ then a major league record.
1998 – Yankee OF Tim Rainessteals the 800th base of his career in New York’s 6-2 win over the Expos. He is the fifth player in history to reach that milestone.
2023 – In only his fourth start since coming back from a serious shoulder injury that cost him the second half of last season, Kyle Hendricks takes a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Mitch Haniger hits a two-out double. Hendricks then retires the next batter and Julian Merryweather pitches the 9th inning to complete the Cubs’ 4-0 shutout win over the Giants, the first victory of the season for Hendricks.
1692 – First victim of the Salem witch trials, Bridget Bishop, is hanged after being found guilty of witchcraft in the Colony of Massachusetts.
1752 – Benjamin Franklin tests the lightning conductor with his kite-flying experiment.
1845 – Andrew Jackson‘s African Grey parrot “Poll” is removed from his funeral for swearing at The Hermitage, Tennessee. Funeral attendee William Menefee Norment records: “Before the sermon and while the crowd was gathering, a wicked parrot that was a household pet got excited and commenced swearing so loud and long as to disturb the people and had to be carried from the house”.
1898 – US Marines land in Cuba during the Spanish–American War.
1933 – Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker flip their car into a ravine. Parker suffers serious third degree burns from the accident which would affect her for the rest of her life.
1933 – John Dillinger robs his first bank, taking $10,600 from the National Bank in New Carlisle, Ohio.
1991 – Final episode of David Lynch‘s “Twin Peaks” television series airs on ABC-TV.
2003 – The Spirit Rover is launched, beginning NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover mission.
2007 – “The Sopranos” series finale on HBO (infamous “cut to black” ending).
Today in music history:
1964 –Rolling Stones record their “12×5” album at Chess Studios in Chicago, Illinois.
1966 –Janis Joplin plays her 1st live gig with Big Brother & The Holding Company, at Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, California.
1966 – The Beatles release single “Paperback Writer” / “Rain” in UK; “Rain” featured experimental studio tricks of slowed down bass and drums tracks, and backwards vocals in the fade out.
1966 – The Mamas & the Papas are awarded a gold record for “Monday, Monday”.
1972 – Elvis Presley records a live album at NYC’s Madison Square Garden.
1972 – Sammy Davis Jr.‘s cover of “The Candy Man” by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse (from the film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”) goes to #1 on the charts – his biggest single.
1976 – 67,000 fans attends Paul McCartney & Wings concert at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington
FLUSHING, NY - SEPTEMBER 28: Mr. Met entertains fans before the game between the New York Mets and the Florida Marlins at Shea Stadium on September 28, 2008 in Flushing, New York. The Marlins defeated the Mets 4-2. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images
Syracuse initially kept pace with the Herd, but Buffalo began pulling away in the middle innings; with a good two months plus into the season, it is beginning to look more and more apparent that the tinkering the Mets have made with Jonah Tong has made him a worse pitcher than he was last season, so here’s hoping this experiment comes to an end sooner rather than later. It started raining hard in the sixth and the game was delayed, and then eventually ended early; in my mind, no question: Syracuse would’ve come from behind to take this one if given the chance and it would’ve been an epic walk-off win that would’ve been the impetus of a ten game winning streak that would’ve bumped Rochester out of first place.
Binghamton’s modest little five-game winning streak came to an end, falling in game one of the Double-A Subway Series in a laughter. Binghamton had the initial lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first on a Jose Ramirez single, but the Patriots took over in the fourth thanks to the Rumble Ponies’ own carelessness, taking the lead on a wild pitch and adding an insurance run on an error. They continued piling on and piling on, while the Binghamton bats forgot how to hit.
Jose Chirinos had a strong start, allowing three runs over six innings, allowing four hits and walking three while striking out ten, but it wasn’t good enough to avoid getting tagged as a hard luck loser. The Brooklyn bats were mostly shut down, managing only six baserunners on three singles, a double, a walk, and a hit batsman.
For six-and-two-things inning, Cam Tilly was phenomenal. Not perfect, but pretty close, walking three and striking out four while not allowing a hit. He ran into some trouble in the seventh, walking a pair of batters and was replaced by Elwis Mijares, who wiggled out of trouble, inducing a flyball and groundball to end the inning. Mijares pitched a clean eighth and ran into a little trouble himself in the ninth, but once again got out of trouble, completing the no-hitter, the second in the Florida State League this year and the ninth in all of Minor League Baseball. For St. Lucie themselves, it was the franchise’s first no-hitter, and for the Palm Beach Cardinals, it was the first time ever that they got no-hit.
· SS Elian Peña: 0-3, 3 R, BB, K, HBP, SB (19), E (11)
Where would the Yankees be without Cody Bellinger? Even before the Aaron Judge injury, Bellinger was by far the Yankees’ third-most productive and perhaps the most consistent hitter at the plate. Now with Judge on the shelf for at least another month, the Yankees rely on Bellinger’s steady approach perhaps more than ever. On top of that, it is hard to name a hitter who has provided them more clutch hits this season, Monday night’s game-winning single in the 10th inning the latest example.
We join Bellinger with one out in the 10th, the score tied at five apiece. A one-out intentional walk of Ben Rice and an ABS-assisted walk of Max Schuemann have loaded the bases, placing automatic runner Ali Sánchez on third 90 feet away from scoring the go-ahead run. Bellinger lined a single up the middle in his last AB and faces a similar look in the 10th, Shawn Armstrong like Hunter Gaddis a righty reliever who leans on his mid-90s four-seamer.
True to form, Armstrong starts Bellinger with a first-pitch four-seamer at 95.
This is an excellent pitch from Armstrong, over the plate but elevated just above the zone. It’s a pitch that’s too close to take for Bellinger, who also appears to be hunting a first-pitch fastball that he can pull for power, and he fouls it back to the screen. The swing is on time, but just a little under the pitch.
After showing Bellinger a fastball that maintains its vertical plane and gets the chase and foul he was looking for, Armstrong switches to the sinker hoping to fool Bellinger with a pitch that has almost a foot more break down and away than the four-seamer.
Instead, he sails this sinker high and wide. The pitch looks like a ball out of his hand and never looks like a strike on its path toward home, making for a straightforward take from Bellinger.
Armstrong introduces another wrinkle with the 1-1 pitch, throwing his third different fastball in the cutter. The cutter come in about four mph slower than the four-seamer or sinker, but with late diving movement down and in.
Fortunately for Bellinger, the pitcher tugs this pitch badly and he has to maneuver out of the way to avoid being hit.
Given that he exhibited very little feel for the previous sinker and cutter, Armstong shelves those two pitches and sticks with the four-seamer for the rest of the encounter. Patrick Bailey flashes a similar target to the four-seamer Armstrong successfully executed above the zone first pitch.
It’s clear this is the only pitch Armstrong can command, and he nails his target centrally located over the plate but elevated above the hitting zone. Just like with the first pitch of the AB, Bellinger is right on time but can’t lift his barrel to match the four-seamer’s elevation and nicks a foul tip for strike two.
Now we get to see Bellinger’s two-strike approach, where he shortens his swing, lets the ball travel, and stays on his back side looking to shoot a base hit to the opposite side.
Bellinger’s superpower in these situations is his elite bat-to-ball that allows him to foul off pitchers’ pitches and stay alive until a mistake is made that he can jump on. Indeed, we see how he’s somehow able to get wood on this four-seamer that handcuffs him in off the plate and almost keeps it fair down the line in right for what would have plated at least two runs.
Bellinger finally seems to have figured out the movement profile of Armstrong’s four-seamer, getting a fatter piece of the bat to the previous pitch after previously swinging underneath for a foul to the screen and a foul tip. He should have no trouble finding the barrel should Armstrong give him something to hit.
That’s just what happens, Bellinger lining this four-seamer on the outer half through the hole on the left side to plate Sánchez and Rice as the go-ahead runs. Bellinger gets exactly one pitch in the zone in this encounter, and he makes sure he doesn’t miss it, that’s what I call clutch hitting.
Bellinger has been an absolute godsend for the Yankees since re-upping over the winter, with Gold Glove defense in left field and a 138 wRC+ that places him in the top-30 qualified hitters league-wide. He put all facets of his offensive profile on display in this AB, including zone awareness, bat-to-ball skills, and two-strike hitting. The Yankees will continue to lean on the possible All-Star’s all-around contributions while awaiting Judge’s return further down the stretch.
Jun 9, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) reacts during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Batted ball luck, when going against the team you choose to root for, is the worst thing to watch. The Blue Jays had quite a bit of luck in that final frame against Jhoan Duran, but the guy was simply going to show a crack in the armor at some point.
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights by a 5-3 final score in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. With this, the Hurricanes have tied the series up at 2-2 as they head back to Raleigh for Game 5.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jordan Staal certainly played a role in the Hurricanes' Game 4 win. This is because the veteran center scored two goals in the contest, including the game-winner.
This was just the latest strong performance from Staal during the Stanley Cup Final. The former Penguins forward has been playing some excellent hockey for the Canes, as he has five goals in four games this series. He also has scored at least one goal in each of the Hurricanes' four games against the Golden Knights this Stanley Cup Final.
With this, there is no question that Staal is heating up at the perfect time for the Hurricanes. The 37-year-old forward now has seven goals, four assists, 11 points, and a plus-6 rating in 17 games this post-season.
It will now be interesting to see if Staal can keep this kind of play up from here. It is clear that the former Penguins forward is red-hot right now.
