It is no secret that it has been a far quieter off-season this year for the Chicago Blackhawks compared to last year. While this is the case, the Blackhawks did make a few new additions, as they brought in Andre Burakovsky, Sam Lafferty, and Dominic Toninato.
With this, let's take a look at where each player could end up fitting into the Blackhawks' lineup now.
Andre Burakovsky Should Fit In Blackhawks' Top Six
When looking at the Blackhawks' current roster, it is likely that Burakovsky will have a spot in their top six. There are not too many better wingers than Burakovsky on the Blackhawks right now, and they are likely to give him the best chance to succeed after acquiring him from the Seattle Kraken.
Burakovsky could be a nice fit playing with either Connor Bedard on the first line or Frank Nazar on the second line. In either scenario, Burakovsky would give one of Chicago's young centers the opportunity to play with a skilled veteran.
Sam Lafferty Should Fit On Blackhawks' Fourth Line
Lafferty has been a bottom-six forward throughout his career, and this should not change during his latest stint with the Blackhawks. When looking at Chicago's current group, Lafferty could be a nice fit as their new fourth-line center. However, due to his versatility, he could move to the wing on their fourth line if needed.
Dominic Toninato Should Fit As Extra Or AHL Forward
It seems likely that Toninato will serve as simply an extra orward for the Blackhawks next season if he makes their NHL roster. However, Toninato could also be a nice addition for the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, as he would give them a veteran forward to help mentor their youngsters.
As one of the more active teams in free agency during the offseason, the Detroit Red Wings have brought in multiple new players that will suit up for them in the upcoming 2025-26 NHL Season.
One new face in Detroit is veteran forward James van Riemsdyk, who had spent the last two seasons playing for the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively.
The former second overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft behind his now-current Red Wings teammate Patrick Kane, van Riemsdyk brings 1,082 games of experience to a team hoping to break their postseason drought.
Having already played with multiple high-profile veteran players during his career like Claude Giroux, Danny Briere, Brad Marchand, and John Tavares, van Riemsdyk will be bringing his own leadership style to the Red Wings as he explained via the club's official website.
“It’s a full-time commitment,” van Riemsdyk explained shortly after signing. “Whether that’s your preparation, being ready to practice, being ready to play and being ready to recover to get ready for the next game. Just trying to do the right things like that every day. And just trying to bring positive energy to the group and on the bench. It can be a long year, lots of ups and downs, so I think you need to have some of that sounding board just to help things stay even keeled when maybe things aren’t going your way.”
Throughout his career, van Riemsdyk has been known for making a living around the net and the lip of the crease in a style similar to that of former four-time Stanley Cup champion forward Tomas Holmstrom.
van Riemsdyk also brings considerable experience in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Red Wings, having skated in 82 career playoff games, including a trip to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final (against Kane's Blackhawks).
Having already trained with Kane and represented the United States alongside him as part of the 2014 Sochi Olympics as well as the World Juniors Championships and World Cup, van Riemsdyk is looking forward to playing with Kane for the first time on an NHL roster.
“(Kane) is one of my really good buddies and we’ve obviously been through this whole journey over the years together in a lot of ways,” van Riemsdyk said. “Through some different USA Hockey things, with training or bouncing ideas off each other for stuff like that, so really exciting that we get a chance to do all that."
van Riemsdyk, Kane, and the rest of the Red Wings are now just over one month away from the start of Training Camp, held annually in Traverse City, Michigan.
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Yankees outfielder Austin Slater exited Monday's game against the Texas Rangers in the first inning with what the team called left hamstring tightness.
Slater, making just his second start since coming over at the MLB Trade Deadline in a deal with the White Sox, smashed a hard grounder to short in the top half of the first inning and appeared to experience some discomfort in the back of his left leg as he was running to first base.
With Slater at first after the fielder's choice and runners on the corners, Rangers starter Patrick Corbin was set to deliver the next pitch, but time was called, and Slater called for the trainer. He was hardly examined and began walking off the field toward New York's dugout on the third base side of the field under his own power, after grabbing at his hamstring.
Jasson Dominguez entered as his replacement.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the deadline acquisition is headed for the IL, which is a big loss for the Yankees in this regard: the right-handed batter came in to provide another weapon against left-handed pitchers. Entering the night, he had an .825 OPS in 72 at-bats against southpaws on the season.
"Feel pretty devastated, to be honest," he said about the timing of the injury. "This was especially a night where I feel like I could have helped the team in a lot of different ways. Definitely not how I wanted to start off my tenure here. But the goal now is to get healthy quick, and get back on the field."
Slater said it was too early to tell the severity of the injury and hoped to get an MRI before the club left Texas to "reevaluate" the injury.
The Yanks are expecting to reinstate Aaron Judge from the injured list just on Tuesday, so they were expected to make a move this series. But with Judge only DHing in the first games he comes back, and Giancarlo Stanton not going to play the outfield in Texas, a second move could still happen to get an outfielder.
The Ottawa Senators recently released their 2025–26 regular season schedule, and with it comes a parade of familiar faces poised to make their returns to Canadian Tire Centre. Fans can look forward to equal doses of nostalgia and rivalry as several former Sens come back this season in different sweaters, some for the first time.
That includes Josh Norris, who'll roll into Ottawa for the holidays wearing white, blue and gold and the number 13 – possibly a number chosen to offset his bad luck in the injury department.
Here's a look at the notable dates and returning players, along with a brief snapshot of their time in Ottawa:
Thursday, October 16 vs Seattle Kraken — Joey Daccord
Daccord, drafted by Ottawa in 2015, played parts of two seasons before being claimed in the Seattle expansion draft. Now entering the first year of a 5-year, $25 million deal, he’s back where his NHL journey began. Not bad for a 7th-rounder.
Saturday, October 18 vs New York Islanders — J.G. Pageau, Anthony Duclair, Matthew Highmore
"Pageau! Pageau! Pageau! Pageau!" The fan-favourite and Ottawa native spent seven seasons with the team and was known for his playoff heroics and clutch goals. Duclair, who had a 23-goal season with Ottawa in 2019–20, and possibly Highmore (if on the roster), also join him in the return. Pageau is entering the final year of his contract.
Monday, October 27 vs Boston Bruins — Mark Kastelic, Joonas Korpisalo
Mark Kastelic, a rugged centerman drafted by the Senators in 2019, will face his old team for the first time since being traded. Meanwhile, goalie Joonas Korpisalo—whose tenure in Ottawa didn’t go as planned—will be back in town on the Sens' dime. They’re still paying $1 million of his salary annually for the next three years.
Tuesday, November 11 vs Dallas Stars — Matt Duchene
Duchene returns once again to face the team that gave up a significant trade package to acquire him back in 2017. His time in Ottawa was brief and turbulent during the team’s retooling years.
Thursday, December 4 vs New York Rangers — Mika Zibanejad
Drafted sixth overall by Ottawa in 2011, Zibanejad played parts of five seasons before being traded to New York, where he blossomed into a top-line NHL centre.
Saturday, December 6 vs St. Louis Blues — Mathieu Joseph
Joseph returns after being traded in the 2024 offseason. He spent parts of three seasons in Ottawa.
Tuesday, December 9 vs New Jersey Devils — Connor Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, Stefan Noesen, Angus Crookshank (if rostered)
Brown, a key player during the rebuild; Dadonov, a high-priced signing who struggled in Ottawa; and possibly Crookshank, a former B-Sens standout, all come back under the Devils' banner. Noesen was a 2011 first-rounder who was dealt to Anaheim in the Bobby Ryan trade.
Thursday, December 18 vs Pittsburgh Penguins — Erik Karlsson
A marquee night as the two-time Norris Trophy winner with the Sens makes his return. Drafted in 2008, Karlsson served as captain and spent nine seasons in Ottawa before being traded in 2018.
Saturday, December 20 vs Chicago Blackhawks — Nick Foligno
At 37, Foligno is still rolling. A first-round pick by the Sens in 2006, he spent five seasons in Ottawa before being traded to Columbus for Marc Methot 13 years ago.
Tuesday, December 23 vs Buffalo Sabres — Josh Norris
The biggest homecoming of the season. Traded at last season’s deadline in a blockbuster that brought Dylan Cozens to Ottawa, Norris—if healthy—will face the team that gave him his NHL start and his current massive contract.
Monday, December 29 vs Columbus Blue Jackets — Erik Gudbranson
The Ottawa native played 36 games for the Senators during the shortened 2020–21 season. Now wearing an "A" in Columbus, he’ll enjoy some home cooking with the family.
Thursday, January 1 vs Washington Capitals — Jakob Chychrun
Chychrun returns after an impressive first season in Washington. He’s in year one of an eight-year, $72 million deal with the Caps.
Saturday, January 3 vs Winnipeg Jets — Vladislav Namestnikov, Dylan DeMelo
DeMelo was solid and a social media darling during his time in Ottawa. Namestnikov was here for a short cup of coffee in 2019–20.
Monday, January 5 vs Detroit Red Wings — Alex DeBrincat, Austin Watson, Cam Talbot, Jacob Bernard-Docker
A loaded return night. DeBrincat, once pegged as a long-term core player, didn't want to be here. So he was traded after just one season. The popular Watson brought grit and leadership during his three seasons. Talbot and Bernard-Docker round out the group of familiar faces.
Saturday, January 24 vs Carolina Hurricanes — Mike Reilly
The smooth-skating defenseman played 70 games with the Sens between 2019 and 2021. Reilly missed over four months with the Islanders after a heart procedure last season—so it’s good to see him playing anywhere.
Saturday, January 25 vs Vegas Golden Knights — Mark Stone
Stone, who spends his summers here, plays in Ottawa for the first time since 2022. The Sens’ 2010 sixth-round steal captained Vegas to a Cup two years ago.
Wednesday, January 28 vs Colorado Avalanche — Parker Kelly
Known for his relentless motor, Kelly was a locker room favourite during his tenure in Ottawa. He now grinds it out for the Avs.
Sunday, March 15 vs San Jose Sharks — Adam Gaudette, Zack Ostapchuk (if rostered)
Gaudette played a short stint with Ottawa, scoring a surprising 19 goals. Ostapchuk, a former Sens prospect, could face his former organization if he cracks the Sharks’ NHL lineup.
Saturday, April 4 vs Minnesota Wild — Filip Gustavsson, Vladimir Tarasenko
Gustavsson is no longer being pushed by veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, who's now retired. Now the internal competition comes from young Jesper Wallstedt. Tarasenko, whose brief stay in Ottawa helped out the top-six, comes back with the Wild after a tough season in Detroit.
Tuesday, April 7 vs Tampa Bay Lightning — Nick Paul, Boris Katchouk
Paul, a do-it-all forward in Ottawa, has been excellent for Tampa. Katchouk, once a Sens fourth-liner, also returns.
There it is — a season filled with emotional reunions, feel-good storylines, and, in the case of the well-liked Norris, whose exit is still so fresh, maybe a few tears.
If the Phillies can take advantage of breaks like the one they caught Monday night, this might turn out to be a pretty special year.
A challenged two-out call to keep J.T. Realmuto on base in the sixth inning was the first of many cascading events that led the Phillies to a 13-3 win over the Orioles.
Much of the crowd may have been hoping for a close game, thus demanding the services of new closer Jhoan Duran. But it was his former and current teammate who provided much of the excitement as the Phillies rode a spectacular sixth inning into a dominant win.
With two outs in the sixth, J.T. Realmuto was called safe on a ground ball to third. Replay appeared to show the throw may have beaten him by the slightest of margins.
Put it this way. If it was watched 100 times, it’d probably split down the middle whether he was out or not. But the call on the field stood and Realmuto was at first with two outs in a 3-3 game.
Nick Castellanos then singled on a 3-1 pitch to bring up Harrison Bader, the newly acquired outfielder Dave Dombrowski plucked from the Minnesota Twins, just a day after pilfering closer Duran at the trade deadline.
Not to be outdone by the weekend of Duran thrills, Bader turned on a high, 97-mile-an-hour fastball from Orioles reliever Corbin Martin and buried one deep into the left field seats for a 6-3 lead.
That was his first big moment as a Phillie.
“New team, new situation, new fan base, new city. I’m here for a reason, one singular reason, and that’s to perform and help this team win,” said Bader. “It feels really good to come through in that situation. Good to get the first one out of the way.
“I’m very flattered and grateful for the opportunity. When I’m out there and so many fans are behind me and cheering for me and wanting me to succeed for this team, it makes me feel really good and I’m just extremely grateful. I’m just going to try to settle into that and play the best I can for my teammates and for this fan base.”
He may not have had that opportunity Monday night had it not been for the hustle of Realmuto, who just barely kept that miraculous inning alive.
“Just the hustle of J.T. down that line kept the inning going; we score eight runs after that,” said Rob Thomson. “You have to give a lot of credit to J.T.” Asked what he thought of the call, Thomson said with a bit of a smirk, “I thought they got it right.”
It was a home run hitting night at The Bank as a total of eight left the yard, six by the home team. And you know when you’re talking homers this season, Kyle Schwarber has to be involved.
Bryce Harper opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning. But the Orioles quickly answered in the second, as Tyler O’Neill launched a two-run shot off Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo to give Baltimore the lead.
The Orioles went up 3-1 in the third when Jordan Westburg went yard, but Schwarber answered in the bottom of the inning when his second-deck, 427-foot blast tied it at three.
Then came the two-out magic in the sixth for the Phils. After Bader’s heroics, the Phillies got three straight singles to score another run and then a walk to Trea Turner to load the bases.
As Schwarber strode to the plate, deafening chants of “MVP” greeted him. Schwarber blasted a second-pitch grand slam to the second deck to bring four more to the plate.
“You hear MVP chants, and I think they’re warranted,” said Luzardo. “He’s a stud and I couldn’t be happier for him. It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
“It was incredible,” said Thomson. “He’s had a great year, he really has. The home runs, the RBI, the big hits he’s had for us, the on-base (percentage). He’s just had a great year.
“He’s one of those guys. He’s very humble. He’s a great person. He does a lot for the community, does a lot in his organization and he’s a great player, great hitter. I can understand why everybody loves him. I do, too.
For good measure, Edmundo Sosa and Weston Wilson each hit solo shots in the eight to close out the huge scoring night for the Phils.
Luzardo delivered six innings with three earned runs and a pair of homers allowed. He did not walk a batter and struck out seven. Most importantly, he had his command, as 64 of his 91 pitches were for strikes.
His last outing was a seven inning, two-hit, no run performance against the Chicago White Sox last week. With the win, Luzardo improved to 10-5 and the Phillies upped their record to 64-48. They not have a one and a half game lead on the New York Mets in the East as they lost, 7-6, to Cleveland Monday.
“They put up some runs in the first three innings and you have to find a way to keep the team in the game,” said Luzardo. “I thought me and J.T. did a good job of that. I was grateful we could make the adjustments and kind of change the game plan on them. Anytime you can get a quality start and a win, that’s a great night.”
A great night it was for many, and Schwarber won’t forget any time soon. “I think that we always feed off energy and when you get into a spot and the crowd’s up and chanting whatever it is, you feed off it. Those are the moments that you take in as a player. Those are special things that happen and those are things that kind of just go back in the memory and hold on to those things for a while. I appreciate it. I’m just here to help these guys win on a daily basis.”
He’s doing that. Asked later about how he’s capable of doing what he’s done this season, Schwarber said, “baseball is fun.”
Former San Jose Sharks defenseman Markus Nutivaara has announced that he is continuing his hockey career with Kärpät of Liiga.
Unfortunately, Nutivaara was never able to play in a regular season game with the organization due to a hip injury that forced him to hang up his skates for a period of time.
Now, though, he is healthy enough to resume his career, and he’s very excited about it. In his press release, he had this to say:
"I have butterflies in my stomach and I feel like a little boy!" He went on to add, "The starting points are certainly challenging. I had hip surgery in November – it took a couple of months until I started to feel like I could move well. I went to watch a Kärppien game and realized that I couldn't just watch hockey, I wanted to be playing myself! I didn't have that feeling before the surgery because I was in so much pain. As the rehabilitation process progressed, I had the playful idea of trying it! Let's get my body back in top shape – there's nothing to lose. With good luck, you'll be able to play, with bad luck, at least you'll be in good shape and can live normally for the rest of your life."
Nutivaara has played 275 games in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers over six seasons. He has scored 17 goals and 54 assists for 71 points and had a plus-26 rating.
Just because Schaefer signed his ELC, that doesn't mean he's going to be on the NHL roster this fall.
The soon-to-be 18-year-old's goal is to make the Islanders out of training camp, where he'll likely be battling with Isaiah George for the final starting blue-line spot.
However, if Schaefer doesn't make the team, he'll be sent back to the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, where he must remain until the OHL season comes to an end before being recalled.
Signing his ELC eliminates Schaefer from going the collegiate route.
The most likely route for Schaefer and the Islanders is to give him a nine-game sample size at the NHL level before making a decision.
Once Schaefer plays in NHL game No. 10, he will burn a year off his ELC, and that's not ideal, hence the nine-game sample size we see often around the league.
Regardless of how this all plays out, signing his ELC is a huge moment for Schaefer and the franchise.
The Ducks have trimmed their unsigned RFAs list down to one. Mason McTavish is the lone RFA left for the Ducks to sign after they signed forwards Sam Colangelo and Tim Washe to two-year deals on Monday. Both deals are two-way contracts in 2025-26 and will convert into one-way contracts for the 2026-27 season.
Colangelo split time between the NHL and AHL with the Ducks and San Diego Gulls during the 2024-25 season. He scored 22 goals in 40 games with the Gulls during his first full season as a pro and was named to the AHL All-Star Game. In 32 games with the Ducks, he scored 10 goals, with five of those coming during a four-game goalscoring streak at the beginning of March.
"I think I've grown a lot this year," Colangelo said. "I think the biggest thing I've probably gotten better at is my defensive play. Still a work in progress, especially playing against the best players in the world. It's hard to defend them, but just playing through bodies and using my size to my advantage, finishing checks. I think I've grown a lot, but I still think I have a long way to go."
Primarily used in the bottom-6 at the NHL level after occupying a top line role in the AHL, Colangelo is likely to have a similar role for the Ducks this upcoming season. Despite the departure of Trevor Zegras via trade, the additions of Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund will fill out the top-6, pushing the likes of Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano down the lineup. Colangelo's best bet at a regular lineup spot may be on the fourth line, perhaps playing alongside another new addition in Ryan Poehling and fellow youngster Nikita Nesterenko.
At 6-foot-2 and weighing over 210 pounds, Colangelo can use his size and strength to help create what would be a much more complete fourth line than any that the Ducks have had in seasons past. With Granlund taking No. 64, Colangelo has switched to No. 12, which he wore during his senior collegiate season with Western Michigan.
Washe has just two NHL games under his belt, joining the Ducks as an undrafted free agent in April after helping lead Western Michigan to an NCAA championship. A sturdy center who excels on faceoffs, Washe said that he signed with the Ducks because of their young core and their need for another center.
"I'm just trying my best to make that fit and help the team," Washe said. "Just try to help any way I can. At the end of the day, you control what you can control. Effort, attitude, all that stuff. Just focus on that and getting better each day."
Tim Washe speaks to local media at 2025 Ducks development camp
With a strong set of players down the middle in Leo Carlsson, McTavish, Strome and Poehling, Washe will likely start the season in the AHL to get more seasoning, barring an impressive training camp performance. The Gulls' center depth is quite strong as well, led by AHL veteran Ryan Carpenter and supplemented by Nathan Gaucher and Jan Myšák, who had a breakout AHL season in 2024-25.
All attention now turns to McTavish, who will likely see a large pay bump on his next contract. With a little over a month until training camp, there has been plenty of speculation on McTavish's future from external media outlets. Reaching an agreement before training camp would prevent a scenario similar to the one that played out with Zegras and Jamie Drysdale in 2023, where the pair of players signed mid-way through camp but then got injured.
Featured image caption: Nov 27, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Sam Colangelo (64) shoots the puck during the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
The Yankees haven't made a decision on reinstating Aaron Judge from the injured list just yet. That will come after the slugger arrives in Arlington later on Monday night, where New York is gearing up for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers.
Speaking to reporters before the series opener, manager Aaron Boone didn't want to definitively say that Judge will be activated before Tuesday's game and that he wants to talk to his outfielder before any such decision is made.
Judge has spent the last two days in Tampa, where he was taking live batting practice, and although no decision has been made on his return to the team, it seems likely that Judge will return on Tuesday.
It's also possible that Judge begins a throwing program at some point soon after landing on the IL with a flexor strain.
Once he returns, Judge will DH before he's healthy enough to play in the outfield.
Boone added that Giancarlo Stanton will not be playing the outfield during the series, which could mean he is relegated to the bench if Judge when Judge returns to the lineup. However, the skipper said Stanton could see time in the outfield when the Yanks return to The Bronx for a weekend series against the Houston Astros.
Welcome back to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s Coaches as Players series. Last time, we looked at Canucks icon and player development coach Henrik Sedin’s playing career. Today, we’ll be taking a look at skills and skating coach Jason Krog’s NHL career with the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Canucks.
Krog, an undrafted forward, specialized in faceoffs during his time in the NHL. Originally from Fernie, BC, he played with the Creston Valley Thunder and Chilliwack Chiefs from 1992 to 1995 before embarking on a four-year NCAA journey with the University of New Hampshire. He enjoyed back-to-back 66-point seasons, the latter of which he scored 33 goals during, and finished his time there with a total of 94 goals and 144 assists in 152 games. Krog was named captain in his final year and scored an NCAA career-high of 34 goals and 51 assists in 41 games.
The 1999–2000 season was Krog’s first in the NHL, during which he played with the Islanders. He made his NHL debut on December 4, 1999, in a 4–3 loss to the Thrashers. Krog’s first NHL point came on February 10, 2000 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, after tallying an assist on the game’s opening goal scored by Mariusz Czerkawski. The game after, he had his first multi-point game with two assists against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game after that, he scored his first NHL goal against the Rangers. Krog finished his first NHL season with two goals and four assists in 17 games played. During this season, he also spent time with the Lowell Lock Monsters and Providence Bruins of the AHL.
Krog spent most of the season after, 2000–01, in the AHL. While he did slot into the Islanders’ lineup for nine games, tallying three assists in this span of time, he split most of his season with the Lock Monsters and Springfield Falcons. He tallied 11 goals and 16 assists with Lowell and seven goals and 23 assists with the Falcons, adding up to 57 points in 60 AHL games.
In 2001–02, Krog played in 64 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 26 goals and 36 assists. He only played in two games for the Islanders, but had the chance to join Bridgeport in their quest for the 2002 Calder Cup. Despite a 10-goal, 13-assist effort in 20 playoff games, Krog and the Tigers lost 4–1 to the Chicago Wolves in the Calder Cup Final. Even so, this was only the beginning of Krog’s experience with Calder Cup Finals action.
2002–03 marked the start of a different journey for Krog. Newly acquired by the Ducks organization, Krog spent 67 games with Anaheim in his first season with the club. It only took him two games to get his first point as a Duck and five to get his first goal. He had his first two-goal game on January 9, 2003 against the Colorado Avalanche, and recorded three assists against the Phoenix Coyotes on February 7. He finished the season with 10 goals and 15 assists.
The 2003–04 season was Krog’s first full season spent in the NHL, as he played in 80 of the Ducks’ games. However, he saw a decline in his overall point production, scoring six goals and 12 assists — seven points less than what he had the season prior. During the lockout the year after, Krog played for Villacher SV of the EBEL, posting 27 goals and 33 assists in 48 games. While the NHL returned to play the year afterm Krog remained in Europe, spending the season with Genève-Servette HC of the NLA and Frölunda HC in Elitserien.
Krog made his return to the NHL in 2006–07, joining the Thrashers for only 14 games. He potted a goal and three assists before ending up with the Rangers. With New York, Krog found his way to the Wolves — the team that had beaten him in the Calder Cup Final only five years prior. In 44 games with the Wolves, he scored an impressive 26 goals and 54 assists. In the postseason, he posted five goals and 14 assists in Chicago’s 15-game run.
In 2007–08, Krog stuck solely with the Wolves in the AHL. This seemed to have paid off, however, as he finished the season with 39 goals and 73 assists in 80 games played, making this his first 100-point season in any league. This effort earned him the Les Cunningham Award, which is given to the most valuable player in the AHL. Krog was a beast in the postseason as well, scoring 12 goals and 26 assists in 24 games and being named MVP of the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs. Six seasons after losing to the Wolves in the Calder Cup Final, Krog hoisted the Calder Cup as a member of the very team that defeated him back then.
After the success of his 2007–08 season with Chicago, Krog ended up signing a deal with none other than the Canucks. Despite only playing in four games and scoring a goal for Vancouver, Krog had yet another offensively-prolific season in the AHL — this time with the Manitoba Moose. He put together his second consecutive 30-goal season and added 56 assists to this, also stringing together an eight-goal, 15-assist performance in the postseason. While Krog had come out victorious in the 2008 Calder Cup Final, he and the Moose were on the opposite side in 2009, losing in six games to the Hershey Bears.
Krog’s four games with the Canucks were the final games of his NHL career, as after this, he played in the AHL and a variety of European leagues before hanging up the skates in 2016–17. Before departing for Europe, he spent two more seasons with the Wolves, both as captain, and put together back-to-back 75-point seasons.
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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, but 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 earlier this month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks.
The name of Calgary winger Joel Farabee has been linked to the Sabres in the past, going back to his days with the Philadelphia Flyers. Farabee was a 2018 first round pick out of the US National Development Program and turned pro after one NCAA season at Boston University. After playing briefly in the AHL, he played 52 games as a 19-year-old rookie with the Flyers, and as a sophomore posted 20 goals in the post-COVID 56-game 2020-21 season.
Philadelphia was proactive and signed the winger to a six-year, $30 million extension, but the next few seasons saw a regression in his game due to injuries and a lack of confidence brought about by Flyers head coach John Tortorella. After a career-high 22 goals in 2023.24, the Syracuse native was dealt to the Flames mostly to clear the final three years of his contract off their books.
Calgary is looking to challenge for a playoff spot, but there continues to be chatter that players like veteran center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Rasmus Andersson (who is entering the final year of his contract) could be dealt if the Flames show signs of not being in the mix.
What Would It Cost?
The Sabres could see an opportunity to bring in a Western New York native at a favorable number and cost certainty the next three seasons for a reasonable return. If the Flames shop Farabee, they could have interest in younger forwards who they would give more of an opportunity to. An almost perfect fit might be Calgary native Peyton Krebs, who was rumored to be a target of Philadelphia and could pique the interest of Flames GM Craig Conroy.
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The Buffalo Sabres want nothing more than to qualify for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs. Ending Buffalo's 14-year drought without any playoff games is a gigantic stain on the organization, but there's no assurace the Sabres will be able to vault over many solid teams and grab a playoff berth.
Indeed, with all but a few Eastern Conference teams having legitimate designs on being in the next post-season, Buffalo has almost zero room for error this coming season. If they don't start strong coming out of the gate, it could be impossible for them to dig out of the crater they leave and knock off a top-level Atlantic Division rival like the Toronto Maple Leafs or Tampa Bay Lightning. The Atlantic standings could feature five teams getting into the playoffs next year, but that would have to come at the expense of the Metropolitan Division's slew of teams that will be vying for a post-season spot. So the Sabres need to play well against the Metro's teams.
To that end, we've been going team-by-team through the Metro and the Eastern Conference in general to examine all the rivalries the Sabres will be immersed in next year. In today's file, we're finishing up the East with a look at the best team in the conference this past season -- the Washington Capitals, who finished first in the Metro last season.
The difference between making and missing the playoffs could come down to a few points, so the Sabres need to win more series than they lose -- and that will be difficult against a Capitals team that was dominant last season. But let's break things down in our usual format, and figure out if Buffalo really has a legitimate shot at winning their series against the Caps.
BUFFALO SABRES VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS
NEW CAPITALS PLAYERS: Justin Sourdif, RW; Declan Chisholm, D
2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Capitals 1-1-1
2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: November 1 at Buffalo; March 12 at Buffalo; April 4 at Washington
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Sabres actually did fairly well against the Capitals last year, winning a 4-3 shootout game, then smacking Washington 8-5 in their final game of the season. That said, the Caps did win their first game against the Sabres, and they were on cruise control for a good portion of the latter part of the regular season, so Buffalo shouldn't be cocky that they can win two of three games against Washington this coming season.
The Capitals made very few changes to their roster this summer, adding only fringe players Sourdif and Chisholm. If either of those players sees significant time, it will mean one of two things: either the Caps find a way to play so well, they can affort to rest their regulars, or Buffalo has so many injuries and/or underwhelming performances from their veterans, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery has no choice but to play the two players.
We don't expect the Capitals will get to that point, though. And while Buffalo can point to their two wins over Washington last season as a building point for future showdowns against the Capitals, the truth is that the Caps didn't need to make many moves this summer, and that they match up very well against the Sabres on paper.
To wit: Washington's defense corps performed very well last season, and while Buffalo may have more high-end depth on 'D' than the Capitals, the Sabres' overall play in their defensive end was a major stumbling block to their success, in a way that obviously wasn't what we saw from the Caps. And the Caps have many skilled, experienced players to help them be not only a playoff team, but a top team in their division and conference, and the league in general.
Buffalo has two of its three games against Washington at home this coming year, and as we saw last season, the Sabres were a much better home team than they were on the road. And again, the NHL's playoff race could come down to one or two standings points. So having that second home game against the Capitals could be the difference between Buffalo making and missing the post-season next year.
So, to answer the above question -- can the Sabres beat this Capitals team? -- the answer is "Yes, they absolutely can". And if Buffalo does lose out on playoff hockey for a 15th consecutive season, and they lose the season series against Washington, their play against the Caps will underscore significant problems with the Sabres, problems that will be addressed next summer with many roster changes.
But if Buffalo wins their series against the Capitals, and they do get into the playoffs, the Sabres will be able to point to their play against Washington as one of the reasons they got into the post-season. There's no more excuses for Buffalo, and their performance against the Caps needs to prove to skeptics that this Sabres team is at long last ready to take the next competitive step.
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the best 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.
#39 - Gustav Karlsson – Center (Falu IF - HockeyEttan - SWE)
Karlsson was the second of the Sabres sixth-round picks at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, where Buffalo chose three Swedish prospects with their last three picks. The 6’1”, 165 lb. center was selected as a 19-year-old overager out of the Orebro HK juniors after scoring 31 goals in 41 games, but the following season his goal totals dropped to 14.
The 21-year-old has earned a couple of stints totaling 11 games at the SHL level, but has not shown he is ready to play at the top level yet. After another season in juniors, Karlsson was assigned to the third-level pro league (HockeyEttan) and posted five goals for Vimmerby. Last season, he played at the same level for Falu IF, and only showed marginal improvement. According to Elite Prospects, he is slated to play for a third different club in as many years.
Hockey Prospect’s Black Book said in his draft year that Karlsson “doesn’t engage in puck battles hard enough and often goes in with the intent of letting someone else bring the physicality.” His inability to generate offense even at a lower level does not speak well of his future prospect of earning an NHL deal.
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The Mets player development system has taken significant strides over the last couple of years, as evidenced by the trade deadline the team was able to have. To acquire Gregory Soto, Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers and Cedric Mullins, the Mets surrendered 10 prospects, and only one of them would have made the updated top 10 prospects. Quite a few would have made this top 30, but the Mets were able to have an aggressive deadline and still retained all of their top, top prospects.
Naturally, this has made the Mets system shallower than it was, but there are plenty of new names on this list that weren’t on it in the preseason who are having standout seasons. On the other side of the coin, the top of the system is in as good of shape as it has been in recent memory.
All of the top five belong on top 100 lists, and you can make an argument for any of the top three to be ranked as the top prospect in the system. Importantly, I think the top young players are getting close to the big leagues, whether that is this year or next.
Here is my post-draft / trade deadline Mets top 30 prospects list:
1.INF/CF Jett Williams
After missing most of the 2024 season with a wrist injury, Jett has bounced back to look like himself. As of this writing, he is hitting .278 with an .870 OPS with Double-A Binghamton and is the only player in minor league baseball with 25+ doubles, 25+ stolen bases and 10+ home runs.
The well-built 5-foot-6 Williams has above average bat-to-ball skills, plus plate discipline, and average, flashing above average power. He is a plus runner who can make an impact on the basepaths and can handle all three up-the-middle positions. Most evaluators I speak to prefer him at second base to center field, but Jett’s versatility is valuable. He is the type of player you can see being a dynamic top-of-the-order threat.
MLB ETA: 2026
2. RHP Jonah Tong
What more is there to say about Jonah Tong? He has gone from a seventh-round pick with some raw pitch metrics to an ascending prospect to genuinely one of the best pitching prospects in Minor League Baseball. In 92 innings as of this writing, Tong is second among minor league pitchers with at least 90 innings pitched in ERA (1.66). He leads all minor league pitchers in strikeouts with 146, strikeout percentage at 40.6 percent, and is third in WHIP (0.80).
His repertoire features a fastball that will sit 93-95 and touch 97 mph with elite carry on it, generating north of 20 inches of induced vertical break. He has an old-school mid-70s 12-to-6 curve and his new Vulcan change has been an incredible weapon this year. He still is working on finding a consistent tight slider / cutter shape and he will even tell you he needs continued growth with his command. Tong has a chance to be a legitimate No. 2 type of starter.
MLB ETA: 2026
3.OF Carson Benge
The Mets took Benge with the No. 19 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft as a two-way player out of Oklahoma State. He gave up pitching and has focused exclusively on hitting and he has had one of the best first professional seasons from the class. He has quickly emerged as a consensus top 100 prospect in baseball, and I think you will see him inside multiple top 50 lists soon.
Among all minor league players with at least 350 plate appearances, Benge as of this writing is second in OPS (.969) and first in wRC+ (185). Specifically, his bat has really taken off once he left the more difficult environment that was Brooklyn for Binghamton. In 25 Double-A games he is slashing .370/.462/.670 (1.132 OPS) with four doubles, a triple, eight home runs and a 16/14 BB/K ratio.
From a tool standpoint, Benge is considered above average across the board offensively, whether that is the hit tool, power tool or plate discipline. He is a professional hitter with a natural opposite field approach, but he has really shown the ability to turn on the ball at the Double-A level. His swing can be a little long, which leads some scouts to wonder if he will be susceptible to velocity, but that has yet to be an issue in pro ball.
He was mostly a right fielder in college, but the Mets have given him plenty of opportunity to play center field and they have been impressed by his growth in reactions and his reads. He is an average to slightly above average athlete, so it remains to be seen how he will translate in center field long term, but the Mets will continue to have him grow there.
Benge is flying through the system, and I expect him to be knocking on the door of the big leagues at some point in 2026.
MLB ETA: 2026
4. RHP Nolan McLean
McLean has been a model of consistency this year. After allowing only four earned runs in 26.1 Double-A innings, McLean was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse where pitchers often find a big adjustment and he hasn’t missed a beat. In 14 appearances across 77.2 innings with Syracuse he has 3.01 ERA and 83 strikeouts.
McLean will throw five pitches, headlined by his mid-80s sweeper, which is one of the nastiest pitches in minor league baseball that has generated a 30 percent whiff rate at Triple-A. He mixes in two fastball shapes in a sinker and four-seamer that average around 95 mph and will touch 97. He also has a cutter and a curveball that he can really spin but only throws 9 percent of the time. In that sample size he is generating whiffs at a 49 percent clip, so he should throw that pitch even more probably.
There are a few things for McLean to work on, specifically against left-handed hitting, but I think he is close to being big-league ready. I would personally be surprised if you did not see him in Queens in 2025.
MLB ETA: 2025
5. RHP Brandon Sproat
Sproat’s fall on this list is a combination of the excellent seasons that the above prospects have had and some level of inconsistency that Sproat has shown throughout the season. A lot of that can be attributed to his overthinking and trying to outsmart opposing hitters early in the season rather than trusting his stuff.
Since the end of June, Sproat has really turned his season around. In those 33 innings he has a 0.55 ERA with 39 strikeouts and opposing hitters are hitting only .145 with a .430 OPS against him.
He is back to attacking hitters with his fastball that sits in the mid-upper 90s and has touched 100 mph in each of those starts. He also throws a sinker that has helped him generate a 56 percent groundball rate on the season. He mixes in two breaking balls with a sweeper and gyro slider, with a change-up that could be a weapon versus lefties but has some inconsistencies.
Much like McLean, I think Sproat is nearing a big-league opportunity.
MLB ETA: 2025
New York Mets first baseman Ryan Clifford (87) works during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
6. 1B Ryan Clifford
Clifford is still the biggest power threat in the Mets system, around a 60 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. The 21-year-old has taken a step forward in every statistical category in his second year at the Double-A level. He is slashing .245/.361/.484 (.845 OPS) with 17 doubles, 21 home runs and 70 RBI while trimming his strikeout percentage by over 3 percent from last year. Those 21 home runs are tied for sixth in Minor League Baseball.
While the strikeout rate is still a little higher than you’d like at 26 percent, Clifford has taken strides in being more aggressive earlier in counts than he was in 2024, when at times it seemed like he was simply trying to work counts. In 2025 he is now hunting pitches regardless of count but has good enough plate discipline to take his walks (15 percent walk rate).
Defensively, Clifford will play some right field where he does have a strong throwing arm, but lacks in range that will likely keep him as a first baseman at the next level. I can see a promotion to Triple-A occurring in 2025, putting Clifford on the big-league radar sometime in 2026. He has the chance to be a low average, high on-base percentage middle-of-the-order power bat.
MLB ETA: 2026
7. SS Elian Peña
Peña signed with the Mets in January of 2025 for $5 million, which is the franchise record bonus for an international amateur.
Peña started his professional career in the Dominican Summer League by going 0-26. Not ideal, but in 34 games since then, Peña is hitting .330/.449/.563 (1.012 OPS) with nine doubles, five home runs, 22 RBI with 15 stolen bases while posting a strong 25/18 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
The 17-year-old comes equipped with plus bat-to-ball skills and plus plate discipline. The advanced knowledge of the strike zone showed up in showcases even before turning professional, as well as in batting practice, where he will refuse to swing at pitches that he deems to be a ball as to not make a habit out of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone.
He has good bat speed and projects to have above average power and the chance to be a 25-home run type of bat down the road as he physically matures. Defensively, most project that he will end up at third base long term, but the Mets will start his career at his position of comfort at shortstop.
Peña may have the highest ceiling of any prospect in the Mets system, but he is years away from potentially contributing at the major league level.
MLB ETA: 2029
8. 3B Jacob Reimer
Reimer is a beneficiary of the hitting lab that is in the same space as the pitching lab in Port St. Lucie. Now, there isn’t the same level of tech related to hitting as there is pitching, but the utilization of force plates as well as mechanical analysis helped develop a new stance for Reimer that has led to a breakout 2025.
After missing largely all of 2024 with a torn hamstring, Reimer has bounced back to slash .267/.369/.471 (.840 OPS) with 24 doubles, 12 home runs and 57 RBI split between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.
Reimer has average bat-to-ball skills, but grades above average in raw power as well as plate discipline. Defensively he has enough arm and good hands at third base, enough so that evaluators believe he could stick there with first base being another option, though that would put extra emphasis on the bat.
Unlike some of the prospects above that have high ceilings, Reimer makes the list here as more of a floor player who could be a future starting third baseman.
MLB ETA: 2027
9. OF A.J. Ewing
Ewing was a fourth-round compensatory pick in the 2023 MLB Draft that the Mets received when Jacob deGrom signed with the Texas Rangers.
He was likely my biggest oversight in my preseason top 30 list, where he just missed, and he has had a massive 2025 season. In 91 games split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn, Ewing is hitting .318/.421/.433 (.864 OPS) with 18 doubles, eight triples, three home runs and 56 stolen bases.
Ewing is a plus athlete who has transitioned smoothly in center field. Offensively, he thrives with his pitch recognition as well as not swinging and missing (only 70 strikeouts in 91 games). I don’t think home run power will be a big part of his game, though he does have some room to physically mature and shows the ability to pull the ball with authority at times. Where Ewing could thrive is focusing on a gap-to-gap line drive approach and utilizing his wheels.
Ewing is a fun player with room for a little more physical maturation who should start 2026 at the Double-A level as a 21-year-old.
MLB ETA: 2028
10. LHP Jonathan Santucci
Santucci was the Mets’ second-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Duke. He was a former two-way player who became a full-time pitcher for the first time in his last year of college.
After a slow start to his professional career, in 65 innings since May 16, the lefty has posted a 2.08 ERA and batters have hit .175 against him and he’s struck out 77.
Santucci has a clean delivery with two plus pitches with his mid-90s fastball and mid-80s gyro slider. There is some reliever risk as he needs to continue to refine his third pitch and his command, but he is a hard-working kid who Mets people believe will get there.
If he can put the package together, there is no reason this can’t be a future No. 3 or No. 4 type of starter.
MLB ETA: 2027
/ USA TODAY Sports/SNY Treated Image
11. RHP Jack Wenninger
Wenninger has had a breakout 2025 in Double-A with a 2.84 ERA in 101.1 innings with 113 strikeouts. The 113 strikeouts has him tied with McLean for 11th in all of Minor League Baseball. He has had a tick up in velocity, with his fastball now touching 97 mph. His splitter is a swing-and-miss offering and he also mixes in a two-seam fastball, curveball and gyro slider. Profiles like a back-end starter.
MLB ETA: 2027
12. INF Boston Baro
This is a buy-in on the tools. Baro hasn’t had the best season statistically, though over the last 28 days he is hitting .301/.342/.425. He has above average bat-to-ball and pitch recognition skills. He still needs to impact the baseball more, but I think this is a pure hitter. He is a slightly above average athlete who has stolen 24 bases and played second, shortstop and third, with third base likely being his best position to play to his strong throwing arm.
MLB ETA: 2028
13. OF Eli Serrano III
Serrano in a way is the opposite of Baro – he got off to a great start but has struggled more of late. He had an ankle injury that set him back, but he is getting back into the flow of things. He has 17 doubles and seven home runs in 73 games for High-A Brooklyn. He has added good weight and strength to his 6-foot-5 frame that should lead to at least above average power once he leaves the confines of Brooklyn. He also possesses a good plan at the plate. He has played a fair amount of center field and handled himself adequately, but most believe he will profile best in right field where his plus arm will play.
MLB ETA: 2027
14. RHP Will Watson
Watson was the Mets’ seventh round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of USC. He has made strides in his first professional season working with the Mets pitching development program posting a 2.76 ERA in 84.2 innings split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn while striking out 97. He specifically has been much better at the higher level with a 1.99 ERA for Brooklyn. He has a four-pitch mix, with a fastball that will sit 94-95 and touch 97 mph. He also throws a change-up, gyro slider and cutter. He will need to continue to refine his command, but this has the early signs of another Mets pitching development win.
MLB ETA: 2027
15. OF Nick Morabito
Morabito was the Mets organizational player of the year in 2024 and has continued on his trajectory here in 2025. He is hitting .284/.356/.412 for Double-A Binghamton with 23 doubles, four home runs and 34 stolen bases. Morabito’s calling card is his athleticism, where there is little doubt that he can handle center field at the next level. He has good bat-to-ball skills but needs to improve the quality of contact, though he has begun to pepper gaps more this year. It is possible this is a fourth outfielder profile, but I think Morabito is a future big-leaguer.
MLB ETA: 2027
16. C/1B/OF Chris Suero
The Bronx native is the most versatile player in the Mets system. He has spent considerable time at catcher, first base and left field this year where he is slashing .238/.381/.452 (.833 OPS) with 15 home runs, 59 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 85 games between High-A Brooklyn and recently Double-A Binghamton. There may not be a plus tool in his bag, but he is average across the board with a chance for above average power. His versatility will likely carry him to the big leagues, even if it is in a reserve role where he could almost be a bonus player with his versatility including catching.
MLB ETA: 2027
17. 2B Mitch Voit
Voit was the Mets first pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Michigan, where he had a breakout season for the Wolverines with a 1.140 OPS. The former two-way player began focusing exclusively on hitting in his final year of college, and that will be the path forward with the Mets. Offensively, he has excellent bat speed and in-zone contact rates. His swing is natural at lofting the ball in the air and he posts above average, at times plus exit velocities. He is a good athlete who thrived at second base despite never playing it before this season. I look at him as more of a high-floor player rather than a big ceiling.
MLB ETA: 2027
18. INF Marco Vargas
Vargas was the headlining return of the David Robertson trade back in 2023. At one time he was a top 10 prospect in the system, but missed most of last year with a wrist issue and his 2025 has been just solid. He has above average bat-to-ball and pitch recognition skills but really does not impact the baseball at all. He is a solid athlete who has played around the infield and has stolen 33 bases. He probably projects more as a backup infielder type, if his hit tool carries him through the upper minors.
MLB ETA: 2027
19. RHP Dylan Ross
Ross, a pure reliever, was a 13th round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, but due to a Tommy John revision in 2023, he did not make his professional debut until September of 2024. He has since flown through the system, making it all the way to Triple-A in his first pro season. He has a 2.23 ERA in 36.1 innings with a whopping 61 strikeouts. It is a power arsenal with a fastball that will sit in the upper 90s and touch triple digits. His splitter is a plus offering at 90-91 mph and he has generated a 61 percent whiff rate on that pitch. He also has an upper 80s gyro slider that he’s thrown 30 percent of the time and has generated a 75 percent whiff rate. I wouldn’t rule out a big-league debut in 2025, but given the Mets trade deadline, I will lean 2026.
MLB ETA: 2026
20. INF Trey Snyder
Snyder was the Mets’ fifth round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, where the Mets signed him for an above slot $1,322,500. Although he hasn’t put up much by way of stats this year, the Mets are pleased with his advanced plan at the plate and work ethic. He can stand for further physical maturation to impact the ball more. Defensively he grades out above average, spending the most time at third base this year.
MLB ETA: 2029
21. RHP Ryan Lambert
Lambert, another reliever, was drafted in the eighth round in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma. In 37.1 innings split between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, Lambert has a 1.93 ERA in 37.1 innings with 60 strikeouts. He has a vintage power reliever repertoire with a fastball that sits 95-97 mph and will touch 100 mph with a power mid-upper 80s slider. I expect him to make his big-league debut in 2026, when he has a chance to be a high leverage reliever.
MLB ETA: 2026
22. RHP Jonathan Pintaro
We saw Pintaro briefly at the big-league level, and we know the story of him being signed out of independent ball just over a year ago. He is converting from starter to reliever but still manages a five-pitch mix with a four-seam fastball up to 97 mph, a cutter, sweeper, change-up and gyro slider. He likely projects best as a multi-inning relief option.
MLB ETA: Already Made It
23. C Yovanny Rodriguez
Rodriguez had a tough pro debut in 2024 after being the Mets top international signing in that period. In his second go in the Dominican Summer League, he is hitting .333 with a .958 OPS. He is a hit over power profile with an advanced knowledge of the strike zone for an 18-year-old. Defensively he has grown as a receiver, but his strength is his plus arm – he has thrown out 33 percent of base runners this year.
MLB ETA: 2030
24. LHP Zach Thornton
Thornton has been out since the end of June with an oblique injury, but prior to that he was having a big year. In 72.2 innings between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, Thornton posted a 1.98 ERA with 78 strikeouts and a minuscule 11 walks. He won’t blow anyone away with pure stuff, but he is a pitchability left-hander who can control his whole arsenal. He throws both a four- and two-seam fastball in the 91-94 mph range to go with a gyro slider, curveball and change-up. He has the feel of a future back-of-the-rotation type of starter, which would be a big player development win.
MLB ETA: 2026
25. C Daiverson Gutierrez
Gutierrez’s best trait is putting the bat on the ball and avoiding the strikeout. In 72 games with Low-A St. Lucie he has almost as many walks (47) as strikeouts (48). He shows the natural ability to loft the baseball, but he needs to hit it harder more consistently. Defensively, he is an average receiver with above average arm strength, but suboptimal pop times has led to some stolen base issues early in his career. The 19-year-old has a toolbox, but he is still very raw.
MLB ETA: 2029
26. INF Jeremy Rodriguez
Rodriguez was the prospect the Mets acquired from Arizona for Tommy Pham at the 2023 deadline. He got off to a hot start with the Mets organization, but the 2025 season has been a struggle. He still is just 19 and excels at avoiding chase and swinging and missing. He needs some real physical maturation as he does not impact the baseball much at all. He is an average athlete who can handle both second base and shortstop.
MLB ETA: 2028
27. OF Edward Lantigua
Lantigua was the Mets 2024 Dominican Summer League Player of the Year. He is having a strong first season stateside with the Complex League, hitting .288 with a .832 OPS. He has impressed with his plate discipline, with more walks (33) than strikeouts (29). He has above average raw power that is shown more in batting practice. The 18-year-old has plenty of room to physically mature and turn that raw power into game power. He is an above average athlete who plays primarily center field but has dabbled in the corners. It will be interesting to see what happens as he continues to physically mature.
MLB ETA: 2029
28. RHP Peter Kussow
Kussow is the only other 2025 draft pick to crack this list as a fourth round pick out of high school in Wisconsin. The Mets signed him for $897,500, which is second round money. He is a projectable 6-foot-5, 205 pounds with broad shoulders and some natural stuff. He is raw, as is usual for cold weather pitchers, but he has a fastball that will touch 97 mph and a power gyro slider that’ll get into the upper 80s. He has a change-up, but it needs work as he didn’t really need it in high school. He is a name to watch as we head into 2026.
MLB ETA: 2030
29. RHP Douglas Orellana
Orellana converted to a full-time reliever this year, and he has dominated the Double-A level with a 1.64 ERA in 33 innings with 46 strikeouts. He struggled in his first taste of Triple-A, but he should be back there soon. It is an extreme over-the-top delivery with his primary pitch being a mid-upper 80s tight slider/cutter. He also has a four-seam fastball that will sit in the mid-90s and a curveball.
MLB ETA: 2026
30. RHP Jace Hampson
Hampson was the Mets’ 18th round pick out of high school in Washington state in the 2024 draft. He was a two-way player that is fully moving to pitcher now. He showed a natural ability to throw strikes in his first season for the Complex League with only seven walks in 38 innings. He throws both a sinker and four-seam fastball in the 93-94 mph range and shows the natural ability to spin a gyro slider and curveball. The Mets believe there is more in the tank for Hampson, and he is a name to watch in 2026.
Blackhawks Key Forward Is Big X-Factor During the 2024 NHL off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year, $22 million contract. The expectation was that he would be a key part of the Blackhawks' forward group, and it is fair to say that he was just that for them during the 2024-25 season.
