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Kaprizov Declines Historic Extension Offer, Red Wings a Possible Suitor Next Offseason

Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov has declined a historic contract extension, potentially setting the stage for free agency and making him a possible target for the Red Wings next offseason. 

One of the biggest stars in the sport of hockey Kirill Kaprizov made headlines on Wednesday when it was revealed that the Russian superstar turned down the biggest contract in NHL history. The reported extension was for a record-breaking eight years, $128 million with a cap hit at $16 million per season.

Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin and team owner Craig Leipold have both been vocal about their desire to keep the 28-year-old winger and he could be using it to his advantage.

Knowing they are willing to pay whatever he asks for, Kaprizov could continue to draw out the extension talks and force Guerin's hand. If Kaprizov follows in the footsteps of Connor McDavid, he too could be looking to leave for a more bonified contender. Kaprizov has never been apart of a playoff series win in his career and the Wild as a whole haven't won a series since 2015. 

Few teams will be able to accommodate a contract that is Kaprizov-sized at $16+ million per season while also being in the conversation of being a contender or playoff team with one of them being the Detroit Red Wings. Depending on roster moves, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman could have up to $24 million in cap space to play with next season, making him able to take a big swing at a big ticket free agent. 

The Red Wings have been a few points outside of the playoff picture in each of the last three years as they currently ride a nine-year playoff drought. Adding a player like McDavid would be tall order but Kaprizov could see a perfect fit. He would be able to perfectly slide into the top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, could take a larger contract than most teams are willing to give and could be the final piece in a playoff team that could go on a deep run. 

Detroit would also have money left over to help bring in another defender as their defense has been a point of weakness in recent years and could give extensions to veteran winger Patrick Kane and to breakout defenseman from last season, Simon Edvinsson. The Red Wings also have several prospects in the minors on the verge of making the jump to the NHL and could work as another argument for Kaprizov in that the franchise is moving in the right direction for the future.

Red Wings’ Alleged Interest in Former Norris Trophy Winner Refuses to Go AwayRed Wings’ Alleged Interest in Former Norris Trophy Winner Refuses to Go AwayWhile the Detroit Red Wings were among the more active teams in free agency this summer, none of their acquisitions can realistically be considered a major addition. 

Potential 2026-27 Lineup with Kirill Kaprizov:

Kirill Kaprizov - Dylan Larkin - Lucas Raymond

Carter Mazur  - Marco Kasper - Alex DeBrincat

Michael Rasmussen - Nate Danielson - Patrick Kane

Andrew Copp - J.T. Compher - Mason Appleton

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Simon Edvinsson - Moritz Seider

Niko Mikkola (Free Agent) - Albert Johansson 

Shai Buium - Axel Sandin-Pellikka

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John Gibson - Sebastian Cossa

Sandin Pellikka Ranked 21st in Controversial NHL Network Top 25 Prospects ListSandin Pellikka Ranked 21st in Controversial NHL Network Top 25 Prospects ListRed Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka mentioned in controversial prospect rankings list made by NHL Network. 
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Projecting Sabres Trade Cost – Luke Evangelista

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just a few weeks before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season. 

Nashville forward Luke Evangelista is in a similar predicament to Peterka prior to the trade in June. Selected eight picks after the former Sabre in 2020, the 23-year-old winger was a scoring star with the London Knights in 2022, and after half a season in the AHL, jumped up to the NHL at 21 years old. He scored 16 goals in his first full season with the Preds two years ago, but as with most things in Music City, the young winger regressed last season in the final year of his entry-level contract, scoring 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 68 games.  

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Evangelista has still not signed a deal with the Predators, who went on a wild spending spree last summer with the signings of Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Jonathan Marchessault, but this recent offseason, they were more conservative, adding blueliners Nick Perbix and Nic Hague. Based on his past two seasons, the Sabres could sign the Toronto native to a two-year bridge deal, similar to what Jack Quinn agreed to, to see if he can take a step forward and into a top-six role. 

What Would It Cost?

The Predators are loaded with draft capital over the next two seasons, and would likely be looking for a player who could step into the NHL in place of Evangelista. Adams could be attracted to the winger as an acquisition, as he is four years away from hitting unrestricted free agency and would likely cost at or below the $3.375 million AAV that Quinn signed for early in the summer. A player such as Isak Rosen, looking for a clearer avenue to the NHL, might make sense for both clubs. . 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Blues' Zach Dean To Receive Care From NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

St. Louis Blues forward Zach Dean entered the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Dean will be unavailable to the Blues indefinitely while he receives care from the program, the NHL and NHLPA announced Wednesday. He will return to the club when the program's administrators clear him for on-ice competition.

The league, players' union and Blues did not provide a reason for Dean receiving care from the program, which is the standard. In respect of his privacy, only the player can decide whether to give an explanation or not.

Dean, 22, played 11 games last season for the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. He recorded one goal and three assists for four points in the injury-riddled campaign.

Zach Dean (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

After the Vegas Golden Knights drafted Dean 30th overall in 2021, he won a world junior gold medal with Team Canada in 2023 and finished his QMJHL career with the Gatineau Olympiques. That same year, Vegas traded him to the Blues in exchange for center Ivan Barbashev.

In 2023-24, Dean put up 14 points in 49 AHL games while also getting a nine-game trial in the NHL. He awaits his first career NHL point.

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Blues Prospect Out Indefinitely In NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

St. Louis Blues prospect Zach Dean (52) has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues prospect Zach Dean has taken an indefinite leave of absence while he receives care from the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL, the league announced on Wednesday.

Dean was acquired by the Blues from the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 27, 2023; the 22-year-old was the No. 30 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Dean was injured most of last season with Springfield of the American Hockey League with a lower-body injury, playing in just 11 games (four points; one goal, three assists).

Dean was listed on the Blues' training camp roster, which was released on  Wednesday afternoon.

Under the terms of the joint program, Dean will return to the Club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.

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Giants' path to MLB playoffs passing through Dodgers is torturously fitting

Giants' path to MLB playoffs passing through Dodgers is torturously fitting originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – In an ideal world for the Giants, there would be a smooth path to the MLB playoffs. That’s not Giants baseball, though. Torture is. 

So is hating the Los Angeles Dodgers, and having that emotion run through your veins at the most important part of the season. The Giants didn’t look ahead Wednesday in their 5-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but they did make their upcoming three-game home series against the Dodgers that much more nerve-racking. 

Waking up early for afternoon baseball in front of their home fans, the Giants watched their bats go silent for far too long and saw a weakness in their starting rotation exposed. The Giants were no-hit until there was one out in the fifth inning, and their starting pitcher, Carson Seymour, only lasted 1 1/3 innings before being pulled by manager Bob Melvin. 

Now, they’ll need a little help entering a day off Thursday before gearing up to battle the Dodgers beginning Friday night. 

Handing 42-year-old Justin Verlander a $15 million contract in the offseason looked like a grave mistake, as the future Hall of Famer struggled mightily in the early portions of the 2025 MLB season. In his last three starts, however, Verlander has more closely resembled the pitcher who has won three Cy Young Awards and an MVP than the one who went 16 starts before finally getting his first win in a Giants jersey. 

Verlander in that span has gone 2-0 with a no-decision, allowing only two earned runs in 17 innings. He racked up 21 strikeouts while walking only six and didn’t give up any home runs in those three starts against the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals. Verlander has not pitched against the Dodgers this season. That will change come Friday night.

It sure sounds like he’ll be followed by the Giants’ two All-Star starting pitchers. Melvin didn’t give a firm answer, but did allude to Logan Webb and Robbie Ray starting after Verlander thanks to Thursday’s day off. 

“That’s definitely an option,” Melvin said Wednesday during his pregame press conference. 

Webb on Monday eclipsed 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career when he struck out seven and gave up one earned run in Monday’s 14-9 win against the Diamondbacks. The staff ace last faced the Dodgers on July 11, earning a win despite giving up two homers and six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Although Webb has a 5.84 ERA against LA this season, he has won both of his starts against the rivals and the Dodgers are batting .185 off him. 

The Giants’ 5-3 win against the D-backs on Tuesday night put a stop to a rough stretch for Ray. After three straight bad starts, Ray earned his first win since Sept. 18, putting together five strong innings. He has pitched against the Dodgers just once this season. 

Ray was given a no-decision in the Giants’ 11-inning loss on July 13 as he gave up three hits and two earned runs in six innings. 

Even though the Giants can get a breather Thursday, it’s still a big day – specifically for Giants third baseman Matt Chapman. 

The league will hear Chapman’s appeal of his one-game suspension stemming from last week’s brawl with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Chapman has yet to serve his suspension and would miss one of the Giants’ three games against the Dodgers. In the game he was ejected from and given a suspension, Chapman didn’t have any plate appearances and didn’t play at all in the field. 

“I have a pretty good feeling that hopefully it’s reduced and he just gets fined like the other guys did,” Melvin said. 

There’s needing help from other teams to beat the New York Mets, currently ahead of the Giants for the third NL wild-card spot, and those on their heels in the standings. There’s hoping for good results when it comes to Chapman, and then there’s relying on their Big Three of Webb, Ray and Verlander. 

Scoreboard watching is natural with so much on the line. 

It’s up to the Giants to keep their focus on themselves. 

“What’s in our control is just trying to win a baseball game,” Melvin said. “There’s a lot of teams bunched up. A couple behind us, or whatever. A couple ahead of us. It’s just trying to win as many baseball games as we can. That’s what we’ve been talking about more so than who, where and when.”

This is what September baseball is all about. The Giants’ season coming down to two more series with the Dodgers, one at home and then one on the road, is perfectly – and torturously – fitting.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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5 Must-See Blackhawks At Tom Kurver’s Prospect Showcase

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to participate in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase alongside the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. It is an opportunity for some of their best young players to play high-level matches against other good prospects of a similar skill set. 

Earlier in the week, the Blackhawks announced their roster for this showcase, and it is loaded with talent. Some players will be in other developmental leagues in North America this season, others who aim to be in the NHL, and a handful who have the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL in their near future. 

Every prospect is worth watching, as they are all there wearing NHL colors for a reason. However, these five stick out above the rest as “must-watch”: 

Artyom Levshunov

Artyom Levshunov’s importance to the organization can’t be put into words. Chicago selected Levshunov with the 2nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, so they believe that he has the pedigree to be a top-flight defender. 

After playing for about a third of the 2024-25 season with the Blackhawks, and looking like he belonged in the process, he has another chance at competing in this event. As one of the more experienced players on any of the three teams, Levshunov should be on everyone’s radar. 

Sam Rinzel

When Sam Rinzel was selected by the Blackhawks in the latter stages of the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, it wasn't a guarantee that he would be a possible number-one defenseman on a team. The ceiling was always there, but he had to grow into it. It appears as if he has. 

With the regular season approaching, Rinzel is coming in with a chance to lead the Blackhawks in minutes, or at least be near the top. He only has 9 games played, so they must be smart about it, but he didn’t look out of place once at the end of 2024-25. 

Both Rinzel and Levshunov project to be key contributors to the 2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks, so they should be major factors in an event like this. 

Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis scored 71 goals with the Brantford Bulldogs in 2024-25. Add in 46 assists for a big total of 117 points in 65 games played. That's outstanding, especially for a player picked in the 3rd round (67th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. 

Now, Lardis is looking to turn pro. Whether he sticks with the Chicago Blackhawks or Rockford IceHogs at the beginning of the season remains to be seen. How he plays in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase will certainly impact that. 

Ryan Greene

Ryan Greene played in 2 NHL games last season after a strong year as the captain of Boston University. Greene was a second-round pick (57th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, and he has all of the tools to make him a successful NHL role-player. 

Greene didn't collect any points in his two NHL games, but he isn't out there to be a primary scorer. He can contribute, but it's the little things that he does at a high level everywhere he goes that make him noticeable.

During the Prospect Showcase, watch him to see how he impacts the game, whether the puck is on his stick or not. His style of play would make for a great bottom-six forward on a good team. 

Oliver Moore

Oliver Moore could be the fastest player on either of the three teams. Sometimes, he moves too quickly for his own good. However, there is no denying the talent that made him a first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

After a good year at Minnesota (and back-to-back Gold Medals at the World Junior Championships with Team USA), Moore came to the NHL for nine games at the end of 2024-25. He collected four assists in those nine games.

Watch him at this event to see if he brings the speed and tenacity that he's capable of bringing. If he does, he will help the Blackhawks win games. Moore is one of those players capable of being all over the ice because of his speed, which will keep eyes on him at this event. 

He'd like to be in the NHL to begin the year, which could happen if he has a good camp. A strong showing here would be a great start. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Sabres Prospect Profile – Devon Levi

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#3 - Devon Levi  - Goalie (Rochester - AHL, Buffalo - NHL) 

The Montreal native was a 2020 seventh-round pick of the Florida Panthers and was acquired by the Sabres in July 2021 in the deal that sent Sam Reinhart to the Sunshine State and brought back a 2022 first-round pick that turned into center Jiri Kulich.

The 23-year-old's list of accomplishments includes winning the top goaltender at the 2021 World Junior, making Team Canada for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and winning the Mike Richter Award for best NCAA goaltender twice at Northeastern University before turning pro and signing with Buffalo late in the 2022-23 season.

Levi played well in a seven-game stint at the end of the season, which convinced the Sabres hierarchy that he was ready to be their starter, but after going 1-3 in four straight starts at the start of last season, the weight of being the go-to guy appeared to be too much, too soon.

After posting a 10-8-2 record with a sub-900 save percentage in the first half, Buffalo decided it was best for the youngster to play regularly in the AHL, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen getting most of the starts with the Sabres. The decision paid dividends, as Levi went 16-6-4, with a 2.42 GAA and .927 save %, and had a positive experience with the Amerks.

Last season, Levi started as a backup for Luukkonen after Anaheim claimed veteran James Reimer, but the youngster went 1-4-0 in his first five starts. After Reimer was reclaimed, the Sabres took advantage of Levi’s waiver exemption and chose to have him play regularly in the AHL. In 42 games, Levi compiled an impressive 25-13-4 record, 2.20 GAA, and .919 save percentage, but the Amerks lost to Laval in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The path to playing in the NHL this season is in question, with Luukkonen likely to remain the workhorse in Buffalo and the club adding veteran Alex Lyon on a two-year free agent deal. Levi signed a two-year extension at $812,500 per season in July, but still being waiver-exempt means it is likely that he remains in Rochester at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Kawhi Leonard's uncle reportedly asked Toronto to get the player 'no-show' endorsements in 2019

On Wednesday in New York, the NBA's Board of Governors — the 30 NBA owners — are meeting. While discussion of league rules and other details will be on the agenda, the big topic will be the report that the Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap by Kawhi Leonard having a "no-show" endorsement deal with a team sponsor, a "green bank" company called Aspiration that has since gone bankrupt with the CEO pleading guilty to defrauding investors. The NBA is now investigating the charges, and when Adam Silver meets with the media on Wednesday, that will be the main topic of conversation.

A new report from Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star says that when Leonard was a free agent in 2019, his uncle and manager Dennis Robertson — commonly referred to in league circles as Uncle Dennis — asked the Raptors for no-show endorsement deals at that time. As has been previously documented (and investigated by the league at the time), Uncle Dennis asked for a lot of things during that free agency.

Robertson asked for ownership stakes in outside companies: not just the (NHL's Toronto) Leafs, which he seemed to believe was separate, but with other companies with whom [Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment] had a relationship. And two, the Raptors were told they needed to match at least $10 million per year in extra sponsorship income. Teams are allowed to introduce players to team sponsors; teams cannot negotiate deals, and MLSE was aware of that fact.

But it didn't end there. As one source put it, when told about all the corporate sponsors in Toronto who would be happy to have Leonard as a pitchman, his camp said, "We don't want to do anything." Raptors representatives said any sponsor would want to shoot ads or arrange appearances; Robertson reiterated Leonard didn't want to do anything for the money.

That does sound awfully familiar, and for a lot of fans and people around the league it just adds to the wave of circumstantial evidence in this case. That said, a couple of things should be noted here:

• While the no-show endorsement part with Toronto is new, Uncle Dennis asking in 2019 for stakes in the franchise, exclusive use of planes, a home, and much more is well known and something the NBA knew about. Uncle Dennis's requests are the stuff of legend around the league. The NBA investigated this when the Clippers signed Leonard as a free agent and found no wrongdoing or illegal benefits.

• Even before Leonard was traded to Toronto in 2019, it was known around the league that he wanted to get back closer to where he grew up in Los Angeles. It was thought at the time that he would end up with the Lakers or Clippers as a free agent, and Leonard reportedly was not enamored with the idea of playing next to LeBron James, which gave the Clippers an edge. They pursued him hard, with Clippers' team executive Lawrence Frank conspicuously attending many Raptors games, both home and away, that season. Despite all the rumors and actions by Uncle Dennis at the time, Leonard's signing with the Clippers was not some out-of-the-blue surprise, and he signed a four-year max contract with the move.

The NBA's investigation could head in numerous different directions, depending on whether they find any genuine connection between Ballmer or another Clipper employee and this no-show endorsement deal. Ballmer and the Clippers have vehemently denied any knowledge of impropriety or connection to the endorsement deal. In the initial investigation reported by Pablo Torre on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, he said he had seven different employees with Aspiration tell him this was about salary cap circumvention. This is where the NBA being a league run by lawyers — with an outside law firm running the investigation — will bog down in legal terminology. Employees at Aspiration being told by other people with the company that this was for salary cap circumvention does not prove the Clippers knew or participated in it (was it just an office rumor started by someone without direct knowledge?). It's not that these people are lying or doing anything wrong, but it's not the kind of direct evidence lawyers will demand. Also, another report surfaced that Aspiration gave other celebrities huge endorsement deals with little or no work required, however, as part of those contracts the endorsers then hired Aspiration back using part, but not all, of that endorsement money (which helped inflate the books for Aspiration, who could point to large contracts on their books). It's unclear if Leonard was involved in such a deal and, if so, whether the Clippers were aware of it.

When Mark Cuban appeared on Pablo Torre Finds Out to defend Ballmer, he suggested it was possible this was simply Uncle Dennis and a fraudulent company working together, and that the Clippers were genuinely unaware.

We simply have more questions than answers at this point. About all of it. The NBA's investigation will try to answer them, but it's possible that the evidence we currently have is basically all we will have. While that looks bad in the court of public opinion, whether it would be enough for other owners to bring the hammer down on one of their own is up for debate.

You can be sure Adam Silver will be asked about it on Wednesday in New York.

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Sanchez's evolution has been astounding to watch for Thomson

Sanchez's evolution has been astounding to watch for Thomson  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The amazement in which Phillies manager Rob Thomson watches pitcher Cristopher Sanchez seems to surprise even him.

And why not? All Sanchez has done this season, before facing the New York Mets on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park, is thrust himself firmly into the Cy Young conversation with his 12-5 record, 2.60 ERA, 20 quality starts and a 1.12 WHIP. He also hasn’t given up a home run in 48 and 1/3 innings and has given up more than three earned runs in just three of his 28 starts.

“I’m always astounded by him,” Thomson said. “I always think about the first time I saw him and it was trouble for him to throw a strike, to be honest. But with the great fastball and the great velocity and how he’s kind of evolved into this pitcher that has power, and his great changeup and the great poise and how tough he is. I’ve been around a long time, as we know, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the evolution of a pitcher like I have with Sanchez.”

That is extremely high praise coming from a man that spent close to 20 years in the New York Yankees organization before becoming a bench coach with the Phillies in 2018. Especially when you take into consideration how erratic Sanchez was when Thomson first saw him.

“I think he believed it. Me, I wasn’t quite sure,” Thomson said of the success level Sanchez has reached. “But that was one time seeing. You’ve got to see people over and over. I’m just really astounded where he’s come.”

Outfield a good problem 

The shuffling of the outfield has been talked and written about almost daily since the Phillies acquired Harrison Bader back on July 31. And while it’s been ever-changing, it’s always been a semi-hot topic.

Thomson had a wish when it all came about, and that was that all five of his platooning outfielders play well enough that no matter who he pencils in, the results are good. He’s pretty much gotten that of late from Bader, Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler, Nick Castellanos and Weston Wilson.

“He’s been really good,” Thomson said of Castellanos, who knocked in two first-inning runs on Tuesday. “He really has. He’s stayed within the zone for the most part. Big double last night to get a couple runs on the board early. I think he’s been good.”

Castellanos was not in the starting lineup on Wednesday in favor of Marsh, Bader and Kepler. Days off for the player who has played almost all of them for close to a decade seems to be working for Castellanos right now.

“I think it has to do more with having some days off,” Thomson said. “It makes their bodies feel a little bit better, a little fresher. I don’t think he’s working on anything in particular. I know he’s always trying to stay within the strike zone and use the entire field. I think that’s just his game plan. I think having days off, for all these guys at times, is good for them.

“It’s been great, it really has. I’m really happy with where we’re at right now. We’ve just got to keep moving forward. Everybody is contributing. It seems like a different guy every day that steps up. It’s been great.”

Bader seems to be firmly planted as the (nearly) everyday center fielder right now. Wednesday, he was at the leadoff spot for the second game in a row.

“He had a big night last night, so we’ll run it back through again,” Thomson said. “He works hard, and he’s improved his offensive game. But I think he’s fit in well in this clubhouse because he has a really good personality and brings a lot of energy, and I think that fits perfect with the group that we’ve got.”

Numbers game 

There were a lot of numbers to comprehend on Tuesday when you consider Kyle Schwarber became just the second Phillies player to hit 50 home runs in a season (Ryan Howard the other), Bryson Stott got his 500th career hit and Ranger Suarez struck out a career-high 12. So, what are some of Thomson’s favorite numbers to observe with this team?

“That’s a good question, I’d have to think about that,” he said. “There are so many numbers. The 50 home runs are pretty cool. The 500 hits for Stott are pretty cool. I think the fact that we’ve improved our discipline at the plate is really good. There’s a lot of stuff. I stay pretty traditional, to tell you the truth. For me, anyway, that’s the best approach.”

Thomson had the team roaring in the clubhouse after Tuesday’s game when the team toasted Schwarber on his huge accomplishment. 

“You’re a gift,” Thomson said to Schwarber, drawing huge laughs from his players. Turns out, that’s a Bader quip.

“It’s great. It’s been a long time not being able to do that,” said Thomson of his speech. “When I have an opportunity to celebrate somebody’s successes it feels really great for me. ‘What a gift’ is his saying, so that’s why I said it.”

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Canadiens To Honour Former Blueliner Andrei Markov

Andrei Markov skated in 990 NHL games, all of them wearing the Montreal Canadiens’ colours, but his association with the team ended abruptly when he couldn’t reach a new agreement with then GM  Marc Bergevin. After the 2016-2017 season, both Markov and fellow Russian Alex Radulov left the team after the famous "If you want loyalty, get a dog" quote from the GM. While Markov headed back home to play in the KHL, Radulov signed a five-year contract with the Dallas Stars.

Nearly 10 years later, and with Bergevin being long gone, the organisation has announced that on Wednesday, December 3, the game against the Winnipeg Jets will serve as the former defenseman’s homecoming.

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Expect a celebration similar to the ones Saku Koivu had in 2014 and P.K. Subban received in 2023. While his 16 seasons in Montreal would make him worthy of the Ring of Honour in my opinion, he won’t be added there since that honour is reserved for former Canadiens’ players who have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Does it make sense for Pierre Turgeon to be on the Bell Centre’s wall while Markov isn’t? The answer seems obvious to me, but there we are.

It will be interesting to see how Markov reacts to being under the spotlight since it’s not something he’s ever really relished. Given the ovation he received as a spectator at a game last season, he should expect a very warm welcome.

In his 990 career games, the General gathered 572 points, including 119 goals and 453 assists. Despite being plagued by a serious knee injuries, the rearguard never lost a step, and while his mobility might have gone down somewhat, he always found a way to make up for it with his hockey IQ. His 572 points put him in third place for points by a defenseman in franchise history (Guy Lapointe has the same number of points, but played fewer games, so he gets second place behind Larry Robinson, who recorded 883 in 1202 games), and that alone is more than worthy of celebration.

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From tots to taters, Harrison Bader has thrived in the pressure cooker of Philadelphia pennant race

PHILADELPHIA — From tots to taters, Harrison Bader has thrived in the pressure cooker of a Philadelphia pennant race.

With enthusiasm and elite defense, Bader became an instant fan favorite when the Phillies acquired the Gold Glove outfielder from Minnesota at the July 31 trade deadline.

The “Bader Tots” T-shirts zipped off team merchandise store shelves faster than Bader can rip off hits this season against the rival New York Mets.

With NL batting leader Trea Turner sidelined with a hamstring injury, Bader was bumped up to the leadoff spot against the Mets and rewarded the Phillies with a solo homer — a tater, in home run slang — and his second straight three-hit game in a 9-3 win.

As for the tots?

Well, Bader’s homer into the left-field seats landed not far from the concession stand on the outfield concourse that unveiled Bader Tots on the menu before he could even dig in at the plate.

At the baseball home of cheesesteaks and crab fries, the tots come like the heart of the Phillies’ order: loaded. They’re topped with American cheese sauce, crumbled bacon, Cheddar Jack cheese, sour cream, and scallions.

Only embattled reliever Jordan Romano this season is responsible for so much agita in Philly.

A game after Bryce Harper went 0 for 4 in his leadoff stint, manager Rob Thomson turned to Bader against left-hander Sean Manaea. Bader won’t be the regular leadoff hitter, especially against right-handers, but the move paid off. Bader, who had three hits against the Mets a night earlier and entered 12 for 21 against his former team this season, followed Otto Kemp’s solo homer in the second with his 16th homer of the year for a 4-0 lead.

“I just try to be like Trea and shoot the ball all over the place, run as fast as I can, not get thrown out between first and second, not get thrown out by catchers,” Bader said. “Just try to play my game.”

His game has been about as good as it gets since he joined the NL East leaders.

Bader slashed .320/.389/500 in his first 32 games with the Phillies after he was acquired for two minor leaguers.

There is just one drawback to batting first.

“I’ve got to sprint down a little faster after the top of the first,” he said with a laugh.

Bader found himself in the thick of an apparent dispute over a home run ball he hit last week in Miami against the Marlins.

Bader hit a solo homer into the left-field stands in the fourth inning at loanDepot Park. Several fans scrambled for the ball before a man came up with it and walked over and gave it to a boy and hugged him. Both were wearing Phillies gear, and it was the boy’s birthday.

Moments later, a woman, also wearing Philadelphia apparel, approached and appeared to shout at the man, who then grabbed the ball from the boy’s glove and gave it to her.

The boy ended up going home with a signed bat from Bader, who met with him outside the Phillies’ clubhouse after the game.

Bader’s homer against the Mets didn’t seem to ignite any fireworks in the stands — just crooked numbers on the scoreboard.

“He’s really improved over the years, and he’s got all kinds of power, and it comes out every once in a while,” Thomson said. “I think we all know how good of a defender he is, how good a thrower he is, but I think that the offensive side is impressive.”