Posts

Posted on

Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets Game 1 preview, Wednesday 6/24, 12:10 CT

SITE NOTE: Here’s how all the BCB threads will go for today’s doubleheader. This is a normal game preview as would be the case for any afternoon away game. Since this is a split doubleheader, I’ll write a recap after the first game and also include the pitcher matchup and other info for the nightcap. That recap will post as soon as possible after Game 1 is over. Now, on to the particulars for the first game of today’s doubleheader.

We don’t yet know who the Cubs’ 27th man for the doubleheader is, but we do know this:

So, my guess is: Vince Velasquez is the 27th man, with Edward Cabrera to the 60-day IL to make room for him on the 40-man roster. Gavin Hollowell is recalled to replace Cabrera on the 26-man active roster and will stick around for a while, at least until the Cubs decide who’s going to take Cabrera’s spot in the rotation. That spot doesn’t come up until Sunday.

I know, clear as mud. As always, we await developments.

Wednesday notes…

  • DOUBLEHEADER FACTS: This will be the Cubs’ second doubleheader of the season. The first, at Cleveland on Sunday, April 5, was due to a rainout the previous day. The Cubs won, 1-0, then lost, 6-5. The Cubs swept their only twin bill last year, at home vs. the Brewers, 6-4 and 4-1. They have not swept any of their last eight doubleheaders on the road, splitting five and dropping both games of three. Splits: 2023, 2022 and 2018 at Cincinnati; 2017 at Colorado; 2015 at Pittsburgh. Swept: 2024 and 2022 at St. Louis; 2018 at Washington. The split in 2015 at Pittsburgh was on Sept. 15. Four days earlier, on the 11th, the Cubs won twice at Philadelphia. In the first game, Jake Arrieta gave up one run on six hits and two walks in eight innings, then Justin Grimm pitched a scoreless ninth to complete a 5-1 win. In the second, Kyle Schwarber homered twice and Kris Bryant once, as the Cubs won, 7-3. Bryant and Miguel Montero each had three of the Cubs’ 12 hits. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • RUN SCORING, PART 1: The Cubs have scored at least six runs in four consecutive games, tying for their second-longest streak of the season, April 21-24. They did it in five straight April 12-17. Last year, they had one streak of five games and two of four. They have not had a streak of more than five in 26 years, since they had six in a row April 22-28, 2000. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • RUN SCORING, PART 2: In their last four games, the Cubs have scored 39 runs (eight, 16, six and nine), their second most in a four-game span this season, after 40, April 13-17 (seven, 10, 11, 12). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel combined to no-hit the Dodgers in Los Angeles, as the Cubs won 4-0. The four pitchers combined to walk eight (!) Dodgers hitters in the first combined no-hitter in Cubs history. It happened five years ago today, Thursday, June 24, 2021.

Cubs lineup:

Mets lineup:

Javier Assad, RHP vs. Nolan McLean, RHP

Javier Assad has been a revelation since his recall from Triple-A Iowa. In three starts this month since that recall: 1.00 ERA, 0.611 WHIP, two runs allowed (both on solo homers). His season numbers are now pretty much in line with his career before this year.

Assad is kind of a Kyle Hendricks-type pitcher. He just gets guys out.

He did that April 19 vs. the Mets at Wrigley Field — 5.2 innings, three hits, one run. That’d do for tonight’s game. I’d say.

Nolan McLean was a Top 10 MLB prospect last year and had a brief eight-start cameo with the Mets. One of those games was against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Sept. 25, 2025. He struck out 11, but the Cubs also scored five off him in five innings, including a home run by Dansby Swanson and two long balls by Seiya Suzuki.

This year most of McLean’s starts have been pretty good, save for a two-start run in May in which he allowed 13 earned runs in nine innings. Since then: four starts, 1.64 ERA, 1.091 WHIP.

Overall he has a 28.2 percent K rate and 9.3 percent walk rate. This will not be an easy pitcher to hit.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Citi Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Mets site Amazin’ Avenue. If you do go there to interact with Mes fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!
Posted on

The Pressure Just Went Up For Canadiens GM Hughes

When the Ottawa Senators traded Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for a truckload of futures earlier this week, it didn’t feel like the pressure was mounting up for Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes. After all, Tkachuk was in the division before and was staying there. Of course, a rival got better, but one could argue another got significantly worse at the same time. That was before Tuesday’s trading mayhem, though.

The Senators made another move on Tuesday. They knew they needed to replace their former captain in the lineup for the upcoming season, so they used some of the draft capital they got from the Panthers, sending the ninth overall pick to the San Jose Sharks to acquire William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen, and prospect Brandon Svoboda. While Eklund doesn’t have the same playing style as Tkachuk, their offensive production isn't that different, and, of course, it will be interesting to see how he does away from Macklin Celebrini. Still, the trade achieves what the Senators needed: getting back on track.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres, knowing that they couldn’t re-sign left-shot blueliner Bowen Byram, sent him and Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks in return for the fourth overall pick, the 45th overall pick at the upcoming draft, and 6-foot-8 right-shot defenseman Louis Crevier. Somehow, Jarmo Kekalainen managed to barter the former fourth-overall pick, who had already been traded once, for a fourth-overall pick in a deep draft. Granted, Crevier’s 25 points don’t quite measure up to Byram’s 42 points, but he’s still a right-shot D with a big body.

Furthermore, a player rumored to be of interest to the Canadiens, Jordan Kyrou, was sent to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin, and the 16th overall pick in the next draft. That wasn’t exactly a king’s ransom, but more importantly, that’s a door that’s now shut for the Canadiens.

It’s also worth noting that another right-shot defenseman who was rumored to be on the move was traded on Tuesday. The New Jersey Devils sent Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames for two first-round picks (in 2027 and 2028), a second-round pick at the upcoming draft, and Etienne Mornin. Nemec was the second-overall pick at the 2022 draft, right behind countryman Juraj Slafkovsky. The Canadiens weren’t really linked to Nemec, but it still makes the right-shot defenseman market barer than it already was.

There were quite a few areas the Habs needed to improve this offseason: a second-line center, a right-shot defenseman, more physicality on the bottom six, and that was before the Panthers, the Senators, and the Sabres made significant moves to improve their lineups. It wasn’t exactly easy for the Canadiens to get out of the division in the playoffs; they needed seven games to rid themselves of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo, and what has happened so far this offseason won’t make coming out of the Atlantic an easier task. In other words, the ball is now squarely in Kent Hughes’ court. Will he watch the parade go by, or will he hop on? Canadiens fans have been accustomed to Montreal making moves in the offseason; Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Sean Monahan, Patrik Laine, Noah Dobson, and Zachary Bolduc all became Habs during the summer. Who’s next? Or is anybody next?

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Posted on

Yankees Birthday of the Day: Phil Hughes

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Phil Hughes #65 of the New York Yankees celebrates with champagne and the trophy in the locker room after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For those of us who grew up in the mid-2000s, Phil Hughes was the first real Yankees super-prospect. Drafted in the first round of the 2004 draft, the young right-hander shot up prospect boards and through the Yankees farm system, taking the league by storm even before officially making his Major League debut. Injuries and unerperformance ultimately consigned Hughes to the list of “Top Could-Have-Beens of Yankees History,” but not before he emerged as a critical part of 2009’s World Series run.

Philip Joseph Hughes
Born: June 24, 1986 (Mission Viejo, CA)
Yankees Tenure: 2007-13

A lifelong Red Sox fan despite being born and raised in California, Hughes signed with the Yankees for $1.4 million, foregoing his commitment to Santa Clara University. Following a brief run in rookie ball after signing — shoulder tendinitis limited him to just five innings — he began turning heads during his first full professional season, reaching High-A Tampa despite, once again, being limited by injuries.

When he received an invitation to spring training in 2006 at just 19 years of age, Hughes was ranked as Baseball America’s 39th overall prospect. Immediately, his future teammates took notice. Jason Giambi compared him to Roger Clemens, Jorge Posada declared him “the best arm in camp,” and Alex Rodriguez turned to senior vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman after facing him in live batting practice and asked, “Who the [heck] is that guy?” While his age and lack of professional experience meant that he received a ticket back to the minors, he quickly showed that he was ready for more, flirting with a pair of no-hitters and winning the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award.

Although Hughes started 2007 in Triple-A Scranton, it was only a matter of time before he would get the call to the Bronx, and on April 26 — earlier than expected due to a flood of injuries to the rotation, and simultaneously delayed a day due to rain — the Yankees’ top prospect made his Major League debut. His first start was OK, but forgettable, as he allowed four runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Five days later, though, Hughes announced his arrival to the league, flirting with a no-hitter across 6.1 innings…before feeling a pop in his hamstring and becoming the fifth Yankees pitcher to hit the injured list in less than a month.

View Link

Hughes would not return to the rotation until August, where he showed enough promise that the Yankees opted not to trade for Johan Santana and instead penciled him into the 2008 starting rotation, alongside fellow youngster Ian Kennedy.

The decision to roll with the kids backfired horribly for the Yankees. Injuries limited Hughes to just eight starts, and even when healthy, he was horrendous, allowing 26 runs in 34 innings, and his failures on the mound were part of the reason the Yankees went out and acquired both CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett that offseason. Relegated to rotation depth, Hughes put together an inconsistent start to the season, surrendering eight runs on May 9th, tossing eight shutout innings on May 25th, and allowing three or four runs in four of his other five starts. With Chien-Ming Wang returning to the rotation after a few appearances in relief, the Yankees relegated Hughes to bullpen duty…where he suddenly morphed himself into a shut-down setup man.

From the first of June through the end of the season, Hughes was the most valuable reliever in baseball, posting a league-leading 2.1 fWAR, a miniscule 1.40 ERA, and a dominant 33.7 strikeout percentage (fourth in baseball among relievers with at least 30 innings of work in that span). His performance in the bullpen was so valuable that, when Wang hit the injured list again in July, the team opted not to return Hughes to the rotation. Between him and David Robertson, the Yankees’ biggest weakness — the bridge to Mariano Rivera — had been repaired.

And while he struggled in October, his teammates picked him up, as Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, and Dámaso Marté locked down the middle innings and brought a World Series championship back to the Bronx.

The 2009 season turned out to be the main highlight of Hughes’ Yankees career. Returned to the rotation in 2010, Hughes earned an All-Star nod, but faded in the second half before falling apart against the Rangers in the ALCS. Significantly, he began to develop a propensity for the long ball, and without the swing-and-miss stuff he had flashed early but which he could never access with any consistency, that is a recipe for disaster in the Bronx. Across the next three years, he made 79 appearances (75 starts) and went 25-32 with a 4.83 ERA, accruing just 0.4 rWAR. While it did include some hot stretches, including a dominant performance in the 2012 playoffs, it was capped off by a disastrous 2013 that can be summed up by the fact that he allowed a .260/.320/.461 slash line to opposing batters after jumping ahead 0-2 against them.

To his credit, Hughes managed to pull his career out of the toilet after leaving for Minnesota in free agency. He found himself on the cusp of the Cy Young conversation in 2014, setting the record for the highest K/BB ratio in baseball history (11.63), earning him a three-year, $42 million contract extension.

Unfortunately, the injury bug resurfaced, as back problems, a fractured femur, and thoracic outlet syndrome robbed Hughes of most of the 2016 and 2017 seasons. After 23 appearances between the Twins and Padres in 2018, Hughes was released, and although he didn’t retire until 2021, he never returned to the Show again.

Since stepping away from the game, Hughes has kept baseball part of his life, running a YouTube channel where he pulls various cards. He has been invited to Yankees Old-Timers’ Days, including the 2024 15th anniversary celebration of the 2009 champs, but he has not attended any. Perhaps it’s simply because–as he himself pointed out–he was not really an “old-timer” in terms of age just yet.

Well Phil, we hate to break it to you, but now that you’re turning 40 today, you’re probably in that realm! Here’s hoping that he has a happy birthday and that comes back around the Bronx sometime soon.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Posted on

Giants’ Rafael Devers apologizes to Tony Vitello after storming into dugout

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers was back in the San Francisco Giants’ starting lineup after apologizing to manager Tony Vitello for a “misunderstanding” that had the first baseman storming into the dugout.

After Devers drew a leadoff walk in the ninth inning of the Giants’ 2-1 loss to the Marlins, Vitello sent Jonah Cox on the field to pinch-run. Devers demonstrably waved off Cox, then angrily headed into the dugout.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Devers said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “Two days prior to that, I had told the manager that I had a problem with my hamstring and I thought that was the reason that he was taking me out of the game.

“That’s why I didn’t want to come out. It just got a little bit blown out of proportion. ... I apologized, which is the right thing to do.”

Devers, who went 1 for 4 with an RBI in the Giants’ 3-1 win over the Athletics, said he and Vitello spoke about the situation on the team’s flight from Miami to San Francisco.

Vitello, the first manager to go directly from being a college head coach to leading a major league team, appreciated Devers coming to speak with him.

“It was needed,” Vitello said. “We were going to have to have a conversation, but it was a great talk. ... From this point on, it’s a non-issue.”

The Giants acquired Devers from Boston last June. He was batting .238 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs. He had struck out 97 times in 298 at-bats.

San Francisco got swept by the Marlins, dropping its record to 31-46. Devers was asked if his reaction stemmed from the frustration of the season.

“We have a long season ahead of us,” Devers said. “We all have ups and downs. ... This could change any time and we just cannot get frustrated by anything.”

In an early afternoon news conference, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey defended Devers.

“Everybody has missteps,” said Posey, the former longtime San Francisco catcher. “So, I don’t think you can have an instance like that and say that he’s not a good teammate.”

Posey mum on Pride Night criticism

Posey declined to answer any questions regarding the Giants’ Pride Night on June 12.

Three San Francisco pitchers — starter Landen Roupp and relievers JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker — inscribed a Bible verse on their caps, which had the S.F. logo in rainbow colors. Reliever Sam Hentges opted to wear the team’s traditional cap.

Some fans and media members criticized the pitchers and the organization for not supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Others criticized the organization for not making allowances for the pitchers’ religious beliefs.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in a letter to Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri that the team failed to properly explain to players that they were allowed not to wear the rainbow caps.

“I understand that there are strong feelings on this topic,” Posey said. “There are differing perspectives and out of respect to everybody involved, it’s not something that I’m going to revisit.”

Posted on

Do we owe Alec Zumwalt an apology?

May 19, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals hitting coach Alec Zumwalt during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

I have never been a big league hitter. I received some hitting instruction as a youth, but it was mostly “keep your eye on the ball”, “be a hitter”, and “stop adjusting yourself down there so much.” Big leaguers get all sorts of more sophisticated hitting advice from not only their hitting coach, but the assistant hitting coach, the assistant to the assistant hitting coach, the director of hitting, the doctor of hit-ology, and the Chief Strategic Officer for Launch Angle Excellence and Exit Velocity Innovation. And that’s only within the organization! They also probably have their own personal hitting coach, a hitting academy they visit in the off-season, their dad (make contact or I’m not visiting you this holiday season!), and their buddy Little Jim, who thinks everyone would hit .300 if they just stopped swinging for their fences (its just that easy!).

So I don’t really know what Alec Zumwalt, the Royals’ Director of Hitting Performance, actually does. But he is in charge of overseeing how the Royals develop hitters. And in case you haven’t noticed, the Royals have not been particularly good at hitting over the last two seasons. They finished last year with the fifth-fewest runs scored per game and were abysmal with runners in scoring position. This year they got off to a very similar start, burying the team in the standings early on. There were calls to fire Zumwalt. Even from me!

They don’t walk. They don’t hit for power. They swing too much, chase too much, and yet, are far too patient on the first pitch. They hit too many flyballs for a team that doesn’t hit the ball hard. They are also terrible at hitting fastballs, which should be the easiest pitch to hit. In short, while Zumwalt has advocated for a strategy of identifying a good pitch to hit and doing damage to it, the Royals have utterly failed.

Yet despite a growing list of injuries, the offense has begun to flourish this month. Royals hitters are batting .284/.349/.460 in June, with a 121 wRC+ that ranks seventh in baseball, and they are second in the majors with 5.9 runs per game.

Arguably Zumwalt’s most important job has been overseeing the development of the Royals’ two prized hitting prospects—Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone. Those two lefty power hitters are the future of this lineup, and brother, the future is starting to look really bright. Jensen is hitting .280/.325/.507 this month, and has his season wRC+ at 100, which is impressive considering the average rookie catcher has a wRC+ of 81.

Meanwhile, Caglianone is on another planet right now. A planet of home run-hitting beasts! This month, he is hitting .373/.453/.773 with nine home runs and a 10.5 percent walk rate. His June wRC+ of 232 is better than anyone in baseball, save for Pete Crow-Armstrong.

And it does appear that the hitters have made changes. As friend of the site Jack Johnson pointed out, Jensen has opened his stance and moved his hands up.

Jac Caglianone has also appeared to make some changes, simplifying his stance and shortening the distance between his bat and the ball.

Now don’t get me wrong, the offense overall is still near the bottom of the league. Those shutouts back in April still count, and the team buried itself in a hole that may be too deep to escape from. Zumwalt is responsible for more than just two hitters, and the Royals have received disappointing production from Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, Jonathan India, and Isaac Collins.

But those are veterans, many of whom may have been dealing with injuries much of the season. Hitting coaches and coordinators often have a greater impact on younger players than on established veterans who already have years of ingrained habits. And it is not just Jensen and Caglianone that are coming on, the Royals have gotten impressive offensive streaks from young hitters like Michael Massey and Nick Loftin lately that could provide more depth to the lineup.

As the injuries pile up, this is looking more and more like a lost season. But the Royals could use this as an evaluation season for several young hitters. And at least this month, they look like they could be on the right track. I’m not ready to issue a full mea culpa to Zumwalt quite yet, but the recent results suggest something may be working.

Posted on

Diamondbacks News: Eduardo Rodriguez Stimies Cardinals

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 23: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on June 23, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

Late, Clutch Offense Salvages Win from E-Rod Gem
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched 6.2 innings of scoreless baseball. He left with the score tied. But then, Nolan Arenado got key knock, giving the Diamondbacks their first hit with runner in scoring position in what seems like an age. Paul Sewald was terrible, but Torey Lovullo actually pulled him in time and the Diamondbacks celebrated the win after Brandyn Garcia pitched the one-batter save.

Diamondbacks Escape Sewald Meltdown
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched a gem. The Diamondbacks finally managed a productive few hits with runners in scoring position. That resulted in Sewald entering the game with a four-run lead, a non-save situation. As seems to be his M..O. Sewald struggled and only recorded two outs while allowing three runs. Brandyn Garcia then came in and pitched lefty on lefty to record his first save through a one-batter outing.

Diamondbacks and Giants Agree to Schedule Change in August
The two teams will now play a day-night double header on 29 August, giving both teams an important day off. For the Diamondbacks it gives them a day off before taking on the Phillies in a series with potential playoff implications.

Right at Home, Arenado Silences Crowd with RISP Hit
Some things just feel like they were scripted – but not in a bad way. This is one of those times.

Other Baseball News

MLB’s Competitive Balance Issue “Explained”
The disconnect between the players, the owners, the fans, and reality is staggering and pieces like this do nothing to alleviate the growing impression that an extended lockout is looming and inevitble.

Freddy Peralta Deal Has Been a Dud for Mets
For all the hand-wringing about how poor Zac Gallen has been this season (incredibly poor), at least it isn’t the situation of Freddy Peralta with the Mets. Yikes!

How ABS if Helping Fuel Left-Handed Hitting Resurgence
The more uniform strike zone has resulted in a rather sizeable split between left-handed and right-handed wRC+.

Zack Gelof Leaves Game with Spiked Hand Laceration
The Athletics’ Zack Gelof saw his 24-game hit streak come to an end after his hand was impaled by the Giants’ Matt Chapman during an awkward play at second base in which Chapman stod p while Gelof’s hand was under the cleats.

Craig Counsell Perplexed, Irked by Rainout Decision
Back-to-back rainouts in two cities have caused something of a scheduling conundrum for Craig Counsell and the Chicago Cubs. The Chicago skipper is displeased with the situation and questioned the decision-making process, given that no rain fell during the game’s scheduled window for play.

Tigers Relied Too Heavily on False Production from 2025
When the Tigers did their winter business, they were mistaken in what the team needs really were and now it is showing up in the standings in a big way.

Posted on

3 Forwards Winnipeg Should Target in Free Agency

 With free agency set to open next Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets find themselves at a familiar crossroads as a team with genuine Stanley Cup aspirations but in need of the depth scoring that has recently eluded them.

The Jets averaged just 2.79 goals per game this past season, a mark that tied the New York Islanders for seventh-worst in the entire NHL. While some names have already come off the board in Jason Dickinson and Bobby McMann among those recently re-signed or extended elsewhere, a handful of intriguing options remain available, and Winnipeg would be wise to pursue at least one of them aggressively.

Anthony Mantha, RW/LW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Few players on the open market this summer had a better season than Mantha, who put together a 64-point campaign in Pittsburgh while helping the Penguins pull off one of the more surprising playoff qualifications of the year. The 31-year-old from Quebec has always had the tools to be a difference-maker, and last season he proved what happens when those tools are put to proper use. 

With Pittsburgh's long-term direction still very much in question, Mantha will likely prioritize landing somewhere with a realistic shot at winning and Winnipeg fits that description. A second-line pairing with Cole Perfetti would give both players a chance to thrive.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

There was a time not long ago when Bjorkstrand was one of the more quietly productive wingers in the league, regularly posting 50 to 60 points and looking like a fixture in any competitive lineup. Last season in Tampa told a different story, with just 32 points in 80 games in a bottom-six role that never really suited him. 

The 31-year-old Dane is the kind of player who needs the right environment to produce, and Winnipeg could be exactly that. Give him top-six minutes and real responsibility, and a bounce-back season is well within reach. On a reasonable multi-year deal, the upside far outweighs the risk.

Mason Marchment, LW/C, Columbus Blue Jackets

The Jets had an edge problem this past season. Without Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, the lineup lost a nastiness that opposing teams had come to respect, and that absence was felt when the games got physical. Marchment solves that problem while bringing genuine offensive value alongside it, a rare combination at 30 years old. 

The Uxbridge native has established himself as one of the more sought-after power forwards available, consistently delivering in the 45-to-55-point range while making life difficult on opponents every shift. Slotting him into the bottom six would free up the second line to focus on pure production, and it would restore an identity to this Jets group that has been missing for the better part of a year.

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Buffalo Sabres land No. 4 pick in the draft after trading Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres acquired the No. 4 pick in the NHL draft in a trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks.

As part of the deal, Buffalo also acquired third-year defenseman Louis Crevier, who had a career-best 25 points in his first full NHL season, and a second-round draft pick, 46th overall. Chicago also acquired hard-hitting forward Jordan Greenway.

Byram is the key player in the trade.

The 25-year-old had a career-high 42 points and matched a career high with 11 goals in 82 games in spending much of the season playing alongside captain Rasmus Dahlin as Buffalo’s top defensive pairing. He was part of a deep and talented blue line that contributed to the Sabres winning their first Atlantic Division title and snapping an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.

With the fourth pick, the Sabres are positioned to land a top prospect in a draft class that’s loaded with highly regarded defenseman. Among the defensive candidates expected to be available at No. 4 are Carson Carels (WHL Prince George), North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff and Latvia’s Alberts Smits.

Buffalo hosts the two-day draft.

In Chicago, Byram adds offense to a team that finished eighth in the Central Division standings for a fourth straight season and hasn’t made the playoffs in six years. The Blackhawks have struggled to improve despite picking seventh or better in each of the past four drafts — a stretch that included them selecting Connor Bedard first overall in 2023.

Chicago has a group of promising young defensemen, including Artyom Levshunov — the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft — and Kevin Korchinski — the No. 7 pick in 2022. But the Blackhawks needed another veteran leader on the blue line after trading Connor Murphy to Edmonton on March 2.

The 29-year-old Greenway is a 10-year NHL veteran, who spent three-plus seasons in Buffalo. He played a valuable checking line role, but has been slowed by injuries, limited to 74 games over the past two seasons.

Byram spent his first three-plus seasons with Colorado, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2022 before being traded to Buffalo two years later.

Former Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams signed Byram to a two-year, $12.5 million contract last summer in a deal reached before the defenseman’s arbitration hearing.

In addressing reporters after Buffalo was eliminated by Montreal in the second round of the playoffs, new Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he was placing a priority on signing Byram to a long-term contract this offseason.

At 6-foot-8 and 228 pounds, Crevier brings size and a hard shot to the Sabres a mere five days after they traded 6-foot-5 defenseman Michael Kesselring to San Jose. The teams swapped first-round selections with Buffalo moving up seven spots in the order by landing the Sharks pick at No. 20.

The Sabres now have six picks in this year’s draft.

Posted on

Game 80 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Miami Marlins

Jun 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Alejandro Osuna (19) celebrates scoring a run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Texas Rangers @ Miami Marlins

Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 11:10 AM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

loanDepot park

RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Eury Perez

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSMARLINS
Joc Pederson – DHXavier Edwards – 2B
Wyatt Langford – CFOtto Lopez – SS
Josh Jung – 3BKyle Stowers – 1B
Brandon Nimmo – RFHeriberto Hernandez – LF
Jake Burger – 1BGriffin Conine – DH
Ezequiel Duran – SSJakob Marsee – CF
Alejandro Osuna – LFOwen Caissie – RF
Elias Diaz – CLeo Jimenez – 3B
Nicky Lopez – 2BBrian Navarreto – C
Jacob deGrom – RHPEury Perez – RHP

Go Rangers!

Posted on

The floor of the Washington Nationals bullpen is incredibly low

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Brad Lord #41 of the Washington Nationals looks on after conceding a three-run home run to Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Nationals Park on June 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With Trea Turner at the plate, Brad Lord and the Washington Nationals were one strike away from completing another emotional win over the Phillies. In what felt like an hour later, Trea Turner came to the plate again in the top of the 9th to single and make it 14-8 Phillies. I would say I have never seen anything like this, but I did just a couple weeks ago in San Francisco.

At this point, we know what the floor of this bullpen is, and it is at the Dead Sea. The bullpen can actually string together some decent performances. However, when it is not going right, this unit is legitimately unable to get outs. That 9th inning in San Francisco and the 9th inning tonight are perfect examples of that.

All the damage in those innings came without the other team even making an out. Tonight, 10 straight Phillies reached base with two outs, turning an 8-6 lead into a 14-8 deficit. The normally reliable Brad Lord crumbled so quickly that he gave up 5 runs before another reliever was even able to get ready.

It was so close to being such a statement victory at Nationals Park. The crowd was engaged and fired up in a way that I had not seen in years. They were ready to explode when Lord got two strikes on Trea Turner. Instead, they went home disappointed like they have so many times over the past 6 years.

At the end of the day, this bullpen just does not have the horses. The floor is super low in the bullpen for a reason. It is because these guys do not have swing and miss stuff. When they desperately need it, these guys cannot get that big strikeout. Blake Butera mentioned all the times Nats pitchers got into 2 strike counts and could not finish the job.

He talked a lot about execution, and that is part of the problem. However, the bigger problem is something he cannot really say. These relievers just do not have good enough stuff. Butera knows this, but clearly you cannot totally throw your guys under the bus. Nats relievers have the lowest whiff rate in the MLB by a large margin and have the worst stuff with the least velocity.

As Paul Toboni sinks his teeth into this project further, that will change. However, for now, this bullpen is always on the brink of disaster because if they are not executing, there is nothing for them to fall back on. I wrote about the Nats lack of stuff in the bullpen and some options to fix that.

These pieces really loom large right now. I love me some Brad Lord and still think he is an extremely valuable piece of this bullpen. However, his best role is as a multi-inning guy. His stuff is fine, but it is not lockdown closer stuff. When the Phillies have a tight game in the 9th, they can turn to Jhoan Duran, who averages over 100. Meanwhile, the Nats don’t have anyone who even averages 97.

The Nats have some okay pieces in the bullpen, but they do not have an alpha, or anything close to that. Clayton Beeter has good stuff, but he can’t throw strikes. Richard Lovelady has a closer mentality, but he does not have closer stuff. Orlando Ribalta is solid, but he is not elite either. PJ Poulin is a nice opener, but nothing more. Gus Varland has gotten big outs before, but he also has plenty of blow up potential. It is just slim pickings for Blake Butera when he needs to get big outs.

Paul Toboni has been so long term driven in his quotes this year, but this morning on the radio, he struck a different tone. He talked about how much this loss ate at him and acknowledged that this team could be in a very different place with a better bullpen. 

Toboni is a big reason why the bullpen is in this spot. He traded the Nats highest upside bullpen arm that he inherited in Jose A. Ferrer. The Ford for Ferrer trade made a ton of sense at the time, but it has not aged well so far. Ferrer is not some perfect reliever, but he throws gas and has been good in high leverage. 

He also used the waiver wire to build the bullpen, instead of signing more proven options. When the Rangers rebuilt their bullpen this offseason, they went down the cheap veteran route. They signed Tyler Alexander, Chris Martin, Jalen Beeks and Jakob Junis. Alexander, Junis and Beeks have all been hits, posting ERA’s below 4. These guys were not big money options, but all had fairly long track records.

This is not a bullet proof plan. We saw that last year, when Mike Rizzo brought in Jorge Lopez, Lucas Sims and Colin Poche. None of those guys worked out. However, you have a better chance of finding reliability when you bring in these veterans.

I do not necessarily blame Toboni for choosing the route he did. It is clear that he viewed this as a rebuilding year, and wanted to take some chances on arms that have the team control to help the team beyond this year. However, these guys were on waivers for a reason.

Now that Toboni knows that this team has something about them, I hope he addresses the bullpen at the deadline. I am not asking him to bring in a rental like Aroldis Chapman. Rather, I would like to see him bring in a younger, hard throwing controllable arm like Sam Bachman or Jaden Hill, who I wrote about.

With the lack of stuff in the bullpen, total implosion is on the table at any time for the Washington Nationals. As we get deeper into this build, Paul Toboni must find better stuff in the ‘pen. Whether that is through trades, or converting a guy like Luis Perales to the bullpen, we just need to find swing and miss stuff. Without elite stuff, it is tough to get those final outs, and we saw that last night and in San Francisco.

Posted on

Leaving So Soon? Should Canadian NHL Teams Have Concerns About American Players?

The post-Brady Tkachuk era began at least one season earlier than anyone could have imagined on Sunday night, and the announcement ruined many a Father's Day dinner.

Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers for the 9th and 25th overall selections in Friday’s NHL Draft, a conditional, lottery-protected first-round pick in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2027.

GM Steve Staios met the media on Monday and made it very clear this was not his idea and that he felt it best to accommodate the trade request rather than play a waiting game.

Though many Sens purists were in denial about this day ever coming, the signs were there. Matthew relocated to Florida, won two Stanley Cups, played with Brady at the 4 Nations Faceoff, and captured Olympic gold alongside his brother.

Now that the deal is done, rather than roasting the departed, it's important to note what this might mean in the big picture, not just for the Senators, but for all Canadian NHL markets.

1) What Canadian Teams Can Learn From The Brady Tkachuk Trade

This is not the first time this has happened in the NHL or even to the Senators.

Tkachuk was selected in the 2018 draft, and Alex DeBrincat was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022.

Neither was ultimately committed to a long-term future with the Senators, and for their own reasons, wanted to return to play in the States. 

The template for this kind of move was set by Matthew Tkachuk, who forced Brad Treliving’s hand in Calgary and landed himself in Florida via trade.

Making a star American-born player the linchpin in a Canadian market via the draft or a blockbuster trade can carry an extra risk if they hope to keep them after free agency hits. Canadian teams need to be cautious and understand that.

2) American Players Currently Available Through Trade or Free Agency 

Potential replacement players in the marketplace for Tkachuk and to fill the already existing top-six scoring forward dilemma are the talk of the town. The Sens got started with a deal on Tuesday for San Jose's William Eklund and two prospects, but their search may not be over.

They've also been linked to American players like RFA Jason Robertson and UFA Alex Tuch.

Robertson seems like a no-brainer if he wanted to come. He would really take the sting off losing a player like Tkachuk. Would he come in a sign and trade scenario? That is the $12 million question.

3) No Movement Clauses in Negotiations

These clauses have become more common with top players.

However, the Tkachuk trade is not the only trade where this sort of clause, regardless of the player’s citizenship, has put the team and others around the league in a bad position when it comes to negotiations and finding them new NHL homes.

Policy on the use of these clauses should be particularly stringent in negotiations with American players where it might be best to pay the higher AAV to ensure maximum return when an asset needs to be moved.

Contracts like Dylan Larkin’s, where the full no movement is in the early years of the player’s contract before any decline has occurred, seem to make more sense than a full NMC end-to-end.

There is a path forward, and there is life after Brady Tkachuk. If Steve Staios believes the team does not need to take a step backwards to recover from this, then let him execute his plan. 

When push comes to shove, the lessons listed above need to be on the minds of all Canadian NHL General Managers.

By Pat Maguire
The Hockey News

Posted on

Pat Riley and the Miami Heat Bet Everything on Giannis Antetokounmpo

Brennan Asplen / Getty Images
Riley pushed all his chips in to land Giannis. Breaking down the blockbuster trade, the fit with Bam Adebayo, and what's next for the Miami Heat.

Nobody should be surprised. That's the first thing to understand about what happened Monday night, hours before the 2026 NBA Draft was set to begin in Brooklyn. The Miami Heat trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't shocking. It isn't unexpected. It is, in fact, the most Pat Riley thing that has happened in the NBA in years, and he has been doing Pat Riley things for decades.

Riley cleared the deck when Jimmy Butler walked out the door at the deadline last year, took a long look at the roster he had left, and decided the only logical next move was the biggest one available. That's who he is. That's always been who he is. You don't get to 81 years old with Riley's résumé by playing it safe and hoping the ping pong balls bounce your way. You pick up the phone, you make the call, and you find a way to get it done. Monday night, he got it done.

The Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, including the 13th overall selection Tuesday night -- which turned into Nate Ament, who could be the steal of the draft at that selection -- a 2030 pick swap, and a 2033 second-rounder. That's the whole medicine cabinet. Every asset Miami had been quietly stockpiling since the Butler era ended got shipped to Wisconsin in one transaction.

Riley and the Heat didn't dip their toes in. They cannon-balled off the high dive.

John Fisher / Getty Images

Let's talk about what they gave up, because it matters. The Bucks chose Miami's offer over a Celtics package that reportedly included Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, which tells you everything about how aggressive Riley was willing to be. Herro was the centerpiece heading to Milwaukee, a former Sixth Man of the Year and the kind of scorer that most rebuilding teams would love to have. Ware is a 20-year-old center with legitimate upside. Jakucionis was a first-round pick from this cycle who hadn't played an NBA game yet. And three unprotected first-rounders going out the door means Miami is betting everything -- and I mean everything -- on this working.

Now for the part that's going to generate debate all summer.

The fit isn't obvious. Giannis and Bam Adebayo together create one of the most suffocating defensive frontcourts in the history of the league -- two of the best defenders at their respective positions, both capable of guarding one through five, both elite rim protectors, both the kind of players that opposing coaches design entire game plans around. On that end of the floor, this pairing is genuinely terrifying. Erik Spoelstra is going to have a field day.

But offense is where the questions live. Giannis operates best in space, attacking the rim in a straight line, using his combination of size and athleticism to punish defenses that can't contain him one-on-one. Bam is a brilliant offensive player in his own right -- skilled in the post, lethal as a pick-and-roll operator, one of the best passing big men in the game. The issue is that they both need the paint to do their best work. Put them together, and you have two of the most physically dominant players in basketball fighting over the same real estate. It's more than fair to question Miami's ability to build a true contender around Giannis and Bam, especially on par with the reigning champion Knicks.

And then there's the roster around them. After sending out Herro, Ware, Jaquez, Jakucionis, and a small fortune in picks, what exactly is left? The Heat's depth chart after the trade is thin, which doesn't begin to cover it. Portis comes over from Milwaukee, which helps at backup center, but the situation gets worse when you factor in Norman Powell. The veteran wing is an unrestricted free agent this summer and one of the more coveted players on the market, and with Giannis's $58.5 million salary now on the books and the second apron looming, Miami almost certainly won't have the financial flexibility to bring him back. That's a 20-point-per-game scorer walking out the door right as their most important acquisition is walking in.

This team is going to need to find shooters, wings, and secondary playmakers in the bargain bin of free agency and the buyout market, all while navigating cap constraints that leave very little room for error. The roster construction puzzle that Miami's front office is going to be solving right up until opening night just got significantly more complicated.

Here's the counterargument, and it's a legitimate one: Maybe none of that matters.

Antetokounmpo still averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting 62.4% from the field this past season in the 36 games he played. When healthy, he is still one of the three or four best players alive. Pairing him with Bam and turning Spoelstra loose on a defensive scheme built around two generational defenders is a formula that could make up for a lot of offensive inefficiency. The Heat under Spoelstra have always been more than the sum of their parts. They've won playoff series with rosters that had no business winning playoff series. They went to the Finals with Butler and a collection of castoffs. What they do with two legitimate stars and a Hall of Fame coach is a different conversation entirely.

The goal now for Miami is to get Giannis signed to an extension. He becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million supermax in January 2027, and if he doesn't sign it, he could opt out the following summer and walk. That's the sword hanging over everything here. If Riley can get the extension done -- and the expectation is that he can, given that Giannis chose Miami over Boston when he could have gone either way -- then this is a franchise-altering move that sets up the Heat for the next four or five years. If he can't, Miami just gave away its entire future for one year of a 31-year-old coming off an injury-plagued season.

The irony of all of this is that the Lillard era in Milwaukee indirectly delivered Giannis to South Florida. The Bucks waived Dame, signed Myles Turner, went 32-50 anyway, and Giannis watched all of it from the sideline while his knee healed. The relationship between player and franchise deteriorated quietly, and Riley was positioned perfectly to take advantage. That's not luck; that's decades of understanding how the league works and being ready when the moment arrives.

Should it have been more surprising? Probably not. Riley has been doing this his entire career, finding a way to the table when the biggest names become available by outworking everyone else in the room and betting on himself to figure out the rest later. He got Shaq. He got LeBron. He got Jimmy. Now, he's got Giannis.

The fit questions are real. The roster concerns are legitimate. The risk is enormous, and everyone in South Florida knows it.

But this story isn't really about Pat Riley anymore. It's about Giannis Antetokounmpo. It's about what happens when one of the most dominant players of his generation gets a fresh start, a new challenge, and an organization that believes championships are the only acceptable outcome. Miami has done more with less before. Now it has something it rarely gets: a player with a résumé that already belongs among the all-time greats. The question isn't whether Giannis can elevate the Heat. It's whether this partnership can unlock one more level in a career that still feels unfinished.

Everything about this move is a gamble. But if you're going to bet on someone, betting on a two-time MVP still in his prime is a pretty good place to start.

Read More:

ArtJune 24, 2026

How Matt McCormick Turned a Mike Tyson Painting Into a Card-Collecting Experience

SportsJune 23, 2026

Why the Utah Jazz Are Closer to a Ring Than You Think

SportsJune 22, 2026

NBA Draft: With All Eyes On AJ Dybantsa & Darryn Peterson, Don’t Forget Caleb Wilson & Darius Acuff Jr.

MusicJune 22, 2026

Clive Davis, 1932–2026: The Executive Who Changed Pop Music

SportsJune 22, 2026

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova Open Up About Cancer, Competition, and Netflix’s ‘The Final Set’

SportsJune 19, 2026

Joy, Chaos, and Grown Men Crying: Inside the Knicks Championship Parade

Posted on

Islanders Anxiety – Episode 376 – A Meaty Wrap

What was supposed to be an easy episode about the draft turned into a look at a wild few days in the NHL and where the Islanders sit among the craziness.

We don’t know anything about prospects. So we reached out to our Patrons and asked them who they’d like to see the Islanders draft this Friday. A few names rose to the top for a variety of reasons, some good and some silly. Most of all, we want the Islanders to come out of Buffalo this weekend with a clear direction and a plan forward. Some nice prospects would be good, too, of course. But there’s a difference between working towards a goal and just keeping the lights on.

A few teams around the NHL are certainly working towards their goals, although it’s hard to see what some of those are. The Panthers grabbed Brady Tkachuk with the goal of winning another Stanley Cup, and the Senators replaced their captain by using one of their acquired picks to get William Eklund from the Sharks. The Blackhawks and Capitals spent a lot to get Bo Byram and Jordan Kyrou, respectfully, which makes us think the Islanders might be better off playing it safe. But the reality is, they might not have a choice. With a lot of older players locked into long, expensive contracts, they don’t have the wiggle room to maneuver the way other teams do, which means there’s a good chance next season’s team looks a lot like last season’s. That’s certainly a direction. Just not the one we want.

Along the way, we make some predictions about the draft, come to a startling revelation about the Islanders involvement in one of Wednesday’s trades and lament the hiring of longtime Islander villain Pascal Dupuis to their front office. Really, guys?

REFERENCES:

Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.

PLUGS!

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.
  • The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
  • Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.

Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

Posted on

Can we leave Bryce Harper alone please?

Jun 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (3) reacts after hitting an RBI triple against the New York Mets in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

This off-season, there were reasons to be critical of Bryce Harper.

First, he simply wasn’t as impactful on the field in 2025 as he had been in previous seasons. His .844 OPS was his lowest since 2016 and he failed to make an impact in the postseason for the first time in his career.

He never looked right. There was little emotion, little fire. He seemed to drift through the season as a spectator, not a leader.

Second, when Dave Dombrowski made his “elite” comments about Harper after the season, I felt Harper’s decision to publicly dispute the comments, replete with his “Not Elite” T-shirt months after Dombrowski’s comment, showed a lack of situational awareness.

I was highly critical of Harper during that time.

So yes, I came into the 2026 season a little annoyed with the Phillies’ star first baseman, and I truly did wonder if the 33-year-old’s best days were behind him.

Those fears have been allayed.

Despite a brief two-week slump heading into last weekend’s series against the Mets, Harper had been having a more impactful season than last. And then, he went off on Saturday and Sunday against New York.

Harper finished Sunday night’s game a triple short of a cycle after hitting for the cycle on Saturday. The last player to finish one element short of a cycle the game after hitting for a cycle was teammate Trea Turner, when they were Nationals teammates in April 2017 (via OptaSTATS).

Harper’s weekend pushed him atop the leaderboard among first basemen in OPS (.897) entering Tuesday’s game against the Nationals. But his triple to cap the cycle on Saturday has people talking.

For those who didn’t see it, Harper’s three-bagger was essentially a double to the left-center field wall that he turned into a triple simply because he had decided he wasn’t going to stop running, no matter what.

When Harper stepped to the plate, it was an 11-1 game with two outs in the 5th inning. His hit into the gap made it a 13-1 game. In this instance, Harper’s decision to try for the triple, at the risk of getting thrown out at third to end the inning, was a no-brainer.

In a one-run game, it’s a stupid decision. In a 12-run game? Light your hair on fire, dude.

Harper was credited with a triple because he never stopped running, so the official scorer made the decision that he did not advance to third because of the throw home. Harper’s intention was to get his triple and, after doing so, erupted in the kind of emotional celebration we saw routinely from Bryce during the 2022 and ’23 playoffs, but haven’t seen much of since.

Some fans didn’t like it. They didn’t like that Harper celebrated his individual accomplishment with such vigor. But why?

The game had already been won. It was a cool moment. Triples are awesome. Cycles are rare. Harper had never gotten one. What’s the harm?

After the game, Harper was asked about his decision to try for the triple, and about his tendency to run the bases aggressive on the bases.

“I’ll tell you what, I don’t really care what people think about my base running because that’s how I’ve always played,” a vindicated Harper said. “I’ve done it since I was seven years old. I don’t really play a different way when I know I can try to get to second base. I’ve made mistakes on the bases. I’m going to. Little kids are going to do the same thing, and I’ll preach to them to play the game hard, and if you get thrown out at second or third, then so be it.”

This answer, and Harper’s aggressive pursuit and celebration of his cycle, apparently rubbed some people the wrong way.

With a little over 12,000 votes cast online, 90% of the above respondents said “no.” I reckon that would be your answer, too. And the ratio on the tweet speaks to the silliness of the question itself.

I may be in the minority, but I think sports talk radio is fun. Most of the time, I think it adds to the enjoyment of following sports in Philadelphia. And if you think sports talk radio in Philly is “too much,” you weren’t around for the sports talk radio environment of the 1980s, ’90s and the early 2000s. It was a very, very rough scene.

Still, this question, and this take, was a misfire.

There was reason to criticize Harper last year and this previous off-season.

But now? After the monster weekend he had at Citizens Bank Park and the bounce-back season he’s having? You’re going there now?

Harper is playing terrific baseball. He’s a great teammate. I wholeheartedly agree that he sometimes says and does things that are worthy of criticism, but I also believe Harper would not have pushed for the triple on Saturday night if the game had been close. I absolutely do not believe Harper is a selfish player who is focused first on selfish goals and second on team goals.

To believe otherwise is to ignore his history with the Phillies.

As someone who was highly critical of Bryce during the off-season, I feel I can say this with some credibility.

Enough already. Leave the guy alone.

He’s playing great baseball.

He’s enjoying the game.

The team is feeding off him in a positive way.

And let’s not forget all the incredible moments he’s given the fanbase over the last seven years.

Criticize Harper when he deserves it. Let’s not go out of our way to make up things to criticize him for.

Posted on

Pittsburgh Penguins sell for $2 billion. Details on Florida-based buyer

The Pittsburgh Penguins have found a new owner after a Florida-based company struck a deal that's set to cost a little shy of $2 billion.

The sale has yet to officially close, but with the NHL Board of Governors approving the deal on June 23, it's expected to go through shortly.

Here's what to know about the Penguins' buyer.

Who bought the Pittsburgh Penguins?

The sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins from The Fenway Sports Group to Hoffman Family of Companies was unanimously approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 23.

The sale was announced more than six months ago on Dec. 19, 2025, and it's expected to close imminently.

How much did the Pittsburgh Penguins sale cost?

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL.com the transaction is set to cost about $1.75 billion.

In 2021, Fenway Sports Group bought controlling interest of the Penguins for $900 million from Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle. FSG owns several sports properties, including the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park in Boston.

"Actually, the deal was made a year ago, so based on the valuations at that time, that was consistent with what Sportico and Forbes and CNBC were doing, although at the time and even now I think it was low," Bettman said of the $1.75 billion valuation for the Penguins to NHL.com. "Having said that, it's nice that the Hoffmans got a good deal and it's nice that Fenway in five years doubled its investment. I still think it's low, but that's OK."

What are the Hoffmann Family of Companies that bought the Penguins?

The Hoffman Family of Companies, or HF Companies, is owned by couple David and Jerri Hoffman of Naples, Fla. The company owns a large catalog of area real estate, businesses, the Florida Everblades minor league hockey team and Hertz Arena.

With the acquisition of the Penguins, Geoff Hoffmann, CEO of HF Companies' Private Equity arm, will serve as Governor. Greg Hoffmann, CEO of the firm’s Real Estate arm; Kyle Dubas, General Manager & President of Hockey Operations of the Pittsburgh Penguins; and David Hoffmann, Founder & Chairman of HF Companies, will each serve as Alternate Governors.

David Hoffman bought Florida's Everblades and Hertz Arena in August 2019. The Blades were affiliated with the St. Louis Blues for the last two seasons, but the Blues announced June 22 that they have moved their ECHL affiliation to the Worcester (Mass.) Railers with an agreement through the 2030-31 season, leaving Florida looking for a new partner. Pittsburgh has had an affiliation agreement with the Wheeling Nailers for 29 years.Four years ago, Geoff Hoffman and his wife Megan founded Type 1 Timer Hockey in 2022. Inspired by their son Henry's experience of living with Type 1 diabetes, it's the only hockey camp in the United States intended specifically for kids with the diagnosis and is held annually at Hertz Arena.

"The Penguins represent everything Hoffmann Family of Companies stands for — community, excellence and long-term thinking," Geoff Hoffman said in a release. "We look forward to building on the team’s success by providing support and resources to both Kyle Dubas and the hockey operations team, as well as the established leadership group on the business side. We're proud to represent this storied franchise and are eager to become an active, invested part of the Pittsburgh community."

Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Key details of Pittsburgh Penguins $2B sale to Florida-based company