LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Keaton Wagler #1 of the LA Clippers poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Keaton Wagler is the most important player on the LA Clippers roster.
That might sound ridiculous when we’re talking about a 19-year-old rookie who hasn’t played a meaningful NBA minute yet, but hear me out.
The Clippers’ future outlook is bleak after being handed the most substantial team penalty in NBA history. The punishment includes fines and suspensions, but the most damaging part is the loss of five first-round draft picks from 2029 through 2033.
The Kawhi Leonard trade helped soften the blow. LA was able to get two unprotected future first-round picks from Toronto, but I don’t think it can be overstated how important it is for Wagler to become a legitimate NBA player.
Over the next seven NBA drafts, the Clippers have only those two Toronto first-round picks that aren’t tied up in complicated swaps, protections or forfeitures.
Unless the Clippers acquire more picks through trades, they simply aren’t going to have many opportunities to add high-level young talent through the draft. Even making those trades becomes harder when half the league can offer a pile of first-round picks and the Clippers are basically searching the couch cushions.
That’s what makes Wagler so important.
If Wagler develops into a star, the Clippers already have the hardest piece of a rebuild sitting on their roster: a young cornerstone they can build around.
If he doesn’t?
Well, then the Clippers have a problem.
They selected Wagler fifth overall in June, making him their highest draft pick since Blake Griffin went No. 1 overall in 2009. At the time, it looked like the Clippers had found an opportunity to inject some young talent into one of the oldest rosters in basketball.
Less than three months later, that pick looks more like a lifeline.
Wagler doesn’t have to become a Hall of Famer. He doesn’t have to become the best player from the 2026 draft. Honestly, he doesn’t even have to become a superstar.
But the Clippers desperately need him to become something.
A 20-point-per-game scorer. A legitimate long-term starter. A secondary creator. Ideally, an All-Star.
Because the normal safety net is gone.
If a normal NBA team misses on a top-five pick, it hurts. But eventually they get another shot. They go back into the draft, take another swing and hope they get it right the next time.
The Clippers don’t have that luxury.
It’s basically the basketball version of Michael Scott declaring bankruptcy. Losing five first-round picks doesn’t magically make all of your other problems disappear. You can’t just yell “I DECLARE A REBUILD” and suddenly have a bunch of 20-year-olds and lottery picks show up.
The Clippers’ next clean opportunities in the first round are years away, and there’s no guarantee those Toronto picks eventually land anywhere near the top of the draft.
That means Wagler’s development could legitimately determine what the next era of Clippers basketball looks like.
Fortunately, there are plenty of reasons to believe in him.
Wagler went from an overlooked recruit to one of the best players in college basketball in a matter of months. As a freshman at Illinois, he averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting nearly 40 percent from three. He led Illinois to the Final Four, became the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and played himself all the way into being the No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft.
Now the Clippers need him to make another leap. And this is where his rookie season becomes fascinating.
Nobody should expect Wagler to walk into the NBA at 19 years old and immediately become the Clippers’ best player. There will be bad games. There will probably be stretches where he looks completely overwhelmed. That’s what happens with young guards in the NBA.
The Clippers can afford patience with Wagler.
What they can’t afford is for him to eventually become just another guy.
Because this isn’t simply a team hoping its top-five pick works out anymore. Every team hopes its lottery pick becomes a star.
For the Clippers, the stakes have changed. They aren’t just developing a promising rookie. They might be developing the player who determines whether this franchise can survive the consequences of one of the harshest punishments the NBA has ever handed down.
Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz (2) singles to center field during a Major League Baseball game against the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on September 13, 2026. The Rays defeated the Astros 14-4 to sweep the series. (Photo by Kim Hukari/Image of Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
So far this year the Rays as a team have produced just a 91 wRC+ against left-handed pitching heading into Wednesday’s game – ranking just 22nd in the league. After watching Martin Perez throw seven shutout innings against the Rays last week in Atlanta, I began wondering whether their struggles against left-handed pitching could become a problem in October. The short answer is no, and the current iteration of the roster suggests they should be better against lefties going forward.
First, that overall team wRC+ is skewed a bit. The problem is concentrated among the team’s left-handed hitters. They have combined for a 72 wRC+ against southpaws, while the team’s right-handed hitters have posted a 101 wRC+. Some left-handed hitters will still have to appear in a postseason lineup, but the Rays have enough alternatives that the weakest platoon bats do not all need to play.
Chandler Simpson should be in the lineup against lefty starters. He has transformed himself into an impact defender, and his skillset is platoon-neutral so there’s no reason his performance data should be as low as it has been against lefties. His contact rates are still near elite against them, but he does chase quite a bit more versus left-handed pitchers. Simpson’s underlying contact ability suggests there is room for improvement in his production against lefties, particularly if he can reduce the additional chase that has limited his results. It wasn’t an issue for Simpson in his minor league career as he maintained nearly identical chase rates against both righties and lefties, so I expect that to take shape in the majors with more time.
Jonathan Aranda is another player who could be in a lineup against left-handers. His approach is more passive against them; he gets his A-swing off about half the time compared to when he faces right-handers, but Aranda maintains similar contact rates against lefties. His results against southpaws have been roughly league average, and his batted-ball profile suggests he has leaned into contact toward left field and up-the-middle rather than trying to pull the ball. Here’s his spray heatmap against righties this year:
And then we can see how he’s going less pull-heavy when he faces a lefty:
That may not be enough to keep him in the lineup if Victor Mesa Jr. establishes himself as a viable everyday option.
Mesa looks like a potential everyday option for the Rays when healthy. He has similar contact and chase rates against both righties and lefties for his brief major-league career so far, and that trend extends back to his time in AAA since 2024. Mesa even gets to his best bat speeds when facing lefties, so he doesn’t appear to be overmatched by same-side matchups. I’m cautiously optimistic he could start and hold his own against lefties in a larger sample in the majors because of his underlying data. He plays near-elite defense in right field, so a configuration of Vilade at first base and Mesa in right field against lefties offers more impact on both sides of the ball compared to Aranda at first base and Vilade in right field.
Here’s how each position player on the current roster stacks up in the majors against righties and lefties from the start of 2024 through September 15th, 2026:
Player
Contact%(vs RHP and LHP)average ~77%
EV90(vs RHP and LHP)average is ~104mph
FB+LD% (vs RHP and LHP)average is ~48%
Yandy Diaz
85.8%, 88.6%
108.1mph, 108.2mph
39.5%, 47.4%
Jonathan Aranda
79.7%, 79.0%
105.9mph, 103.3mph
60.2%, 46.0%
Junior Caminero
76.4%, 78.4%
109.7mph, 110.2mph
43.0%, 43.2%
Liam Hicks
88.5%, 87.8%
101.1mph, 96.5mph
50.2%, 44.1%
Chandler Simpson
91.3%, 92.5%
96.7mph, 96.3mph
39.1%, 29.7%
Victor Mesa Jr.
77.3%, 84.7%
105.4mph, 98.0mph
60.3%, 45.8%
Cedric Mullins
80.2%, 81.6%
102.8mph, 100.9mph
53.4%, 49.0%
Richie Palacios
79.4%, 80.3%
101.4mph, 97.8mph
50.6%, 39.4%
Taylor Walls
79.3%, 79.9%
100.3mph, 98.0mph
51.5%, 46.1%
Ryan Vilade
78.6%, 79.9%
106.8mph, 106.9mph
41.0%, 53.2%
Nick Fortes
85.3%, 86.1%
102.6mph, 103.0mph
37.7%, 40.7%
Jonny DeLuca
79.9%,75.8%
102.7mph, 102.2mph
44.4%, 47.5%
Jake Fraley
78.8%, 82.2%
102.9mph, 97.0mph
52.7%, 42.4%
Jorge Mateo
72.1%, 75.1%
104.5mph, 104.0mph
44.9%, 55.0%
Nick Madrigal
89.9%, 92.5%
99.1mph, 97.7mph
38.1%, 35.7%
Ben Williamson
80.2%, 84.0%
102.9mph, 104.4mph
39.4%, 38.6%
Simpson’s underlying contact profile is nearly identical against both handedness groups, while Mesa’s contact and batted-ball data provide reason to believe he may be able to handle left-handed pitching better than his limited major-league results suggest. His Triple-A EV90 against lefties was 102.8 mph, suggesting the major-league split may have room to stabilize. Also, it’s likely that Mateo and Madrigal won’t be on the roster when Walls and Williamson get healthy. The left-handed hitters whose overall offensive production is weakest against southpaws are Aranda, Hicks, Mullins, Palacios, and Fraley.
With their current roster, the Rays have to use at least two left-handed hitters in a lineup against a left-handed starter. Here’s how I’d lineup against a left-handed starter with the current roster:
Yandy Diaz DH
Ryan Vilade 1B
Junior Caminero 3B
Jonny DeLuca CF
Chandler Simpson LF
Nick Madrigal 2B (or Ben Williamson when healthy)
Victor Mesa RF
Nick Fortes C
Jorge Mateo SS (or Taylor Walls when healthy)
This alignment prioritizes right-handed bats and defensive range while keeping the weakest left-handed platoon options on the bench. Cash could still use Aranda aggressively as a pinch hitter. Even if an opposing manager responds with a left-handed reliever, Aranda’s ability to shoot a single into left-center may be more valuable in a late-game matchup than in several early at-bats against a left-handed starter due to the difference in leverage.
While the lineup they can run against right-handed starters is more impactful, the drop-off against left-handed starters is not as severe as the Rays’ overall numbers might suggest. The combination of right-handed power, platoon-neutral contact skills, and strong defense gives them enough flexibility to build a competitive lineup against southpaws. If Mesa can establish himself as an everyday option, the Rays may have enough depth to handle left-handed starters without compromising their defensive identity.
For the tea time scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the “candy” flower cup that Gene Wilder chomped on was actually made of wax. Additionally, the chocolate river was made of actual water, chocolate, and cream that spoiled throughout shooting.
The smallest ocean is the Arctic ocean.
It is also the shallowest and the coldest ocean among the world’s five ocean basins. The Arctic ocean is about 1.5 times the size of the United States.
An episode of Peppa Pig was banned in Australia.
This was mainly due to the episode’s message that aimed to teach children not to fear spiders. For Australians, spiders found on the continent are much larger and deadlier compared to other parts of the world. This episode was banned in the country so that children would not harm themselves whenever a spider was around.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 16: Nick Madrigal #20 of the Tampa Bay Rays secures a catch over his shoulder in the top of the seventh inning against the Athletics at Tropicana Field on September 16, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wednesday ended up producing one of the more frustrating Yankees’ games of the season. Having rallied to tie the game after being down to their last out, the Yankees took leads in the 10th and 11th innings, and had the bases loaded and nobody out in the 12, but couldn’t put up a crooked number on any occasion. That allowed the Twins to continue answering and then eventually walk the game off in the 13th. While the Yankees had already won the first two games of the series, that was another very winnable one that they let slip away.
While that was a missed opportunity, just how much did it end up hurting the Yankees? Let’s check in on action from around the AL playoff races on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay Rays (92-59) 4, The Athletics (61-91) 3
Well, New York didn’t get any help in the race atop the AL East, as the Rays scored four early runs and withstood an A’s charge to hang on and gain a game on the Bombers. They’re 4.5 ahead of the Yanks and could boost it to a full five with another win over the A’s this afternoon.
Tampa Bay seemed like they were going to walk away with an easy one early. They picked up two runs in the first inning on Jonny DeLuca and Chandler Simpson RBI hits. They then opened up a 4-0 lead in the second after Nick Fortes and Ryan Vilade drove home runs with hits of their own.
However, the A’s kept Tampa Bay off the board after that and got back into the game. Tommy White and Henry Bolte each hit solo homers in the third, halving the Rays’ lead immediately. A Shea Langeliers RBI single in the sixth then had the A’s within one.
After that though, the Rays’ bullpen kept the Athletics in check. The A’s managed just one more hit over the final three innings, and it was a single that didn’t lead to much.
Other Games
Cleveland Guardians (78-75) 6, Chicago White Sox (77-75) 3: The Guardians have taken over first place of the AL Central after rallying to defeat the White Sox. Petey Halpin’s three-run home run helped Cleveland put up four runs in the sixth, taking the lead for good. The Pale Hose had gotten their own key three-run homer from Tommy Pham, but they couldn’t hold onto their edge and have now dropped to second place for the first time since July 3rd. Chicago is half a game behind Cleveland now and also only a game up for the last Wild Card spot.
Texas Rangers (76-76) 7, Boston Red Sox (82-70) 3: The Red Sox failed to take advantage of the Yankees’ loss, while the Rangers — aided by the game below — won to draw even for first in the AL West (yes, at .500). The game was tied going into the seventh, where Texas scored three runs via RBI hits from Brandon Nimmo and Ezequiel Duran. Nathan Eovaldi also gave them four good innings out of the bullpen, helping the Rangers to a key win.
Kansas City Royals (67-85) 5, Houston Astros (76-76) 2: Meanwhile, the Astros failed to beat the lowly Royals, resulting in the aforementioned tie atop the AL West. Houston couldn’t muster much against KC starter Daniel Lynch IV, who allowed just two hits in five innings. The Royals themselves only managed two runs off Cristian Javier, but they tacked on some insurances runs late on, allowing them to hang on for the win. Houston does have the tiebreaker over Texas, but this division struggle should go down to the wire.
Toronto Blue Jays (76-77) 5, Detroit Tigers (72-80) 1: Max Scherzer turned back the clock, allowing just one run in his five innings to help the Blue Jays to a win. The Tigers scored first, picking up a run in the top of the first, but that was all they got. Seven Toronto position players recorded at least one hit as the Jays overtook Detroit in the fourth inning and held on from there. The Jays are a game and a half back of the White Sox for the final Wild Card.
Baltimore Orioles (75-78) 7, New York Mets (69-83): Pete Alonso homered against his former team again as the Orioles picked up a necessary win for their slim playoff hopes. Mets’ starter Xzavion Curry was crushed to the tune of six runs in three innings, as the O’s went up big early and never looked back. Baltimore is still alive at two and a half games behind Chicago, but there’s no margin for error as they welcome the NL Central-winning Brewers to town tomorrow.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases after his seventh inning two run home run against Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Mets (69-83) began their 2026 home schedule on MLB Opening Day by beating up on 2025 NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, which filled fans with hope and excitement even beyond what we imagined was possible, for a team coming into the year with playoff expectations. The team will now conclude their home schedule with four games against the Philadelphia Phillies (84-68) after being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and as a club just playing out rest of their schedule. For what little it’s worth, the Phillies lead the season series 5-4 and have won two of the three games at Citi Field.
The Mets are coming off one of the most surreal home series in recent memory, to say the least. Franchise Home Run Leader Pete Alonso took center stage in his return to Citi Field after leaving for Baltimore in the offseason, and the fan reaction sparked much lively debate on the radio waves, on podcasts, on social media, and everywhere else where sports discussion takes place. Mets fans, unsurprisingly, gave Alonso a hero’s welcome, but perhaps some, including the Mets’ players, did not expect just how resounding the applause would be. Alonso was cheered early and often, as his chase for 300 home runs seemed to be at the forefront of the fans’ mind.
In the end, he reached the feat at the most opportune time for his club, tying the game in the top of the ninth of Kodai Senga on Tuesday. The moment resulted in a standing ovation and a curtain call, which stunned many. For what it’s worth, I had very little problem with the Mets fans celebrating Alonso the way they did, and I thought it resulted in a nice moment with the fans who returned the ball, and that is the last we’ll say about that. Oh, and the Mets got swept, losing 2-1 on Monday, 7-5 in 11 innings on Tuesday, and 7-1 on Wednesday, which, at the very least, helped their tankathon odds. So it goes.
The Mets and their fans will go from celebrating and recognizing an icon who left the organization to two icons who remain within the organization during the final home weekend of the season. First, the club will recognize Carlos Beltran, who recently was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, by retiring his number and putting him in the Mets’ HOF on Saturday, September 19. On the following day, the team will appreciate long-time radio voice Howie Rose, who is retiring at the end of the season, with a special pregame ceremony on Sunday, September 20, which also represents the final Mets’ home game this year. The hopes are that, despite the bad record and despite being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention—this formality took place after Monday night’s loss to the Orioles—the Flushing Faithful will turn out to show their love for both Beltran and Rose, who each have a special place in Mets’ history.
The Phillies are in a completely different spot from the Mets, still fighting for their playoff lives but firmly in a spot at the moment. It’s a stark contrast between the two clubs, both of whom began the season pretty wretchedly. The two stories diverged when Philadelphia fired manager Rob Thomson on April 28, two full months before New York relieved Carlos Mendoza of his duties. The Phillies never looked back, and with Don Mattingly at the helm, they find themselves one game up in the Wild Card race. If the season were to end today, they would be the second NL Wild Card club, meaning they would travel to Wrigley Field for a date with the Cubs. However, both the red-hot Padres and the Diamondbacks, who sit on the outside looking in, are right behind them, so every game in this series is of the utmost importance to Philadelphia. The Phillies just split a two-game set with the Nationals.
Thursday, September 17: Nolan McLean vs. Aaron Nola, 7:15 PM EDT on FOX
For McLean to win NL Rookie of the Year, he basically had to end the year on a flawless run to make headway in the race. His chances took a big hit in his last start, as he allowed five earned runs on a career-worst 10 hits over five innings at Yankee Stadium. He only struck out five, which makes his quest for 200 Ks a bit challenging, as does his chance of reaching 180 innings. He likely has just one start left after this one against the Phillies, which means he’ll need to go 13 1/3 innings and strike out 16 across these two outings to reach two numbers that might make the voters take notice. In any event, he has been, by far, the best rookie hurler in the NL, though he still has a lot of things he can focus on fixing heading into his 2027 sophomore campaign, including his walks issued and his home runs surrendered.
It’s been a tale of two halves for Nola. In his first 21 starts of the year, he posted a 5.82 ERA and a 5.06 FIP in 108 1/3 innings. In nine starts since then, he’s posted a 2.38 ERA and a 4.44 FIP in 53 innings. Five of those nine outings have qualified as ‘quality starts’, and Nola has looked a little bit more like his old self. His last two starts have come against the Braves, and he went a combined 13 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on ten hits, with eight strikeouts and four walks. Despite the back-to-back quality starts, the Phillies lost both games, those Nola settled for a no decision in both. This is his third time facing the Mets this year and 33rd time in his career. He owns a 3.46 ERA with 230 strikeouts in his 32 appearances against New York.
Friday, September 18: Zach Thornton vs. Alan Rangel, 7:15 PM EDT on Apple TV+
Thornton is coming off one of his most impressive major league start. In the hitter friendly Yankee Stadium, he limited the potent Yankees’ lineup to two earned runs on five hits. He struck out four, walked one, and tossed 75% of his 81 pitches for strikes. He peppered the strike zone all afternoon and kept the Yankees’ bats at bay, while the Mets’ offense did more than enough to get the left-hander his fourth career win. Thornton has two more outings left to showcase his stuff as he looks to improve his standing within the club in the hopes of securing a spot in the 2027 rotation.
Rangel will step in for Luzardo, who hit the IL and will not pitch again in the regular season. He made three starts this year, all in July, with one of those outings coming against the Mets. New York treated him rather rudely, putting up five runs on seven hits in four innings to hand the right-hander a loss back on July 19. Overall, he’s given up eight earned runs on 13 hits over 11 1/3 innings as a starting pitcher in 2026.
Saturday, September 19: Christian Scott vs. Andrew Painter, 4:10 PM EDT on SNY
Scott was really impressive against the Yankees, completing six innings of work for just the third time since the All-Star break. He allowed two earned runs on three hits and struck out seven while allowing two walks. Unfortunately, two solo homers and a lack of offense against Cam Schlitter handed the right-hander his fifth loss of the season. Despite that, it was an encouraging outing for the right-hander, who looks to cement his spot in next season’s rotation with a strong finish to his first season coming off Tommy John Surgery.
The Phillies picked Painter in the first round (13th overall) in the 2021 MLB Draft, and he finally made his debut for the club this season. He’s had an up-and-down rookie campaign though has shown signs of promise as of late. He picked up a win in his first career start on March 31, as he held the Nats to one earned run on four hits with eight strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. From then on, he went 0-8 and posted a 7.06 ERA and a 5.53 FIP in 53 innings across 14 starts, which earned him a demotion to Triple-A. Since returning on July 31, he’s been much better, posting a 3.58 ERA and a 3.77 FIP over 50 1/3 innings in nine starts. His last time out, he held the Braves to one earned run on six hits over five innings as he settled for a no decision. This will be his first taste of the Mets-Phillies rivalry.
Sunday, September 20: Jonah Tong vs. Cristopher Sánchez, 1:10 PM EDT on WPIX
Tong is coming off arguably the most impressive start of his young career, for many reasons. For one thing, it was the first time going six innings while not allowing an earned run. For another thing, he had to deal with the unique situation of having Mets fans loudly cheer an opposing player, and he handled it about as well as could be expected without appearing rattled. In all, he finished the outing allowing just one unearned run on four hits, with six strikeouts and one Polar Bear-sized walk. With a strong finish, he could put himself in a place to earn a spot in the rotation coming into spring training.
Through the end of June, Sánchez seemed to be the NL Cy Young frontrunner. The left-hander had an 2.00 ERA and a 2.30 FIP, with 136 strikeouts in 117 innings heading into July, but after that, he’s been much more pedestrian, posting a 4.34 ERA and a 3.54 FIP, 79 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate has dropped from 28.6% in March-June, to 23.9% in July-September, while his HR/9 has jumped from 0.62/9 to 1.06/9 during those same stretches. He is also walking more batters, going from a 4.8% BB% from March-June to a 6.4% BB% in July-September. His struggles have been front-and-center across his last two starts, where he’s allowed 11 earned runs on 18 hits across 12 1/3 innings, with eight strikeouts, two walks, and three home runs allowed. With Luzardo hurt, it is imperative for Philadelphia’s World Series chances that Sánchez gets back to pitching like he did in the first half of the regular season.
FT. MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Executives Mike Groopman, Eddie Romero, and Brian O'Halloran of the Boston Red Sox look on during a spring training team workout on February 15, 2024 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning A’s fans!
The A’s have cast a growing net in their search for their next General Manager. Looking to replace their former long-time GM David Forst with someone capable of getting the A’s back to the playoffs, the first names to emerge were former GM’s James Click and Mike Rizzo, as well as current A’s assistant GM Billy Owens, who has been with the organization for the better part of three decades.
Well now we can add a couple more names to the list of potential new voices for the front office. Joe Doyle of OverSlotBaseball threw out a post a couple of days ago naming Red Sox assistant GM’s Mike Groopman and Taylor Smith as the newest candidates to lead the Athletics heading into Las Vegas:
The Athletics are casting a wide net in their search for their next general manager. According to multiple sources, they’ve had conversations with Boston Red Sox SVP/AGMs Mike Groopman and Taylor Smith about the role.
The AGM’s have been speculatively connected to bigger jobs over the past couple of years, especially Mike Groopman. The 41-year-old originally worked under current Mets PBO David Stearns in Milwaukee in their international scouting and player development department before getting a promotion and joining the Red Sox in 2022. He’s done a bit of everything with Boston but was especially involved in roster building, and is largely credited within the Red Sox’s organization for pushing the Garrett Crochet trade over the top.
He originally was in charge of analytics under then-GM Chaim Bloom, who famously delegated different duties to his lieutenants. But he would eventually secede those responsibilities to the other name connected in Joe Doyle’s report, fellow assistant GM Taylor Smith. Smith is yet another graduate of the Rays’ organization, joining the AL East rivals in 2024 after being Tampa’s director of “predictive modeling”. Since he’s been with the Red Sox for a shorter amount of time it’d be fair to assume he’s lower on the totem pole within the Boston front office but many in the league think it’s just a matter of time until he gets to build his own team somewhere.
Both of these guys have had interviews for full GM spots before with Boston, though these might be their first for new organizations. Between the two, Groopman seems to have more hands-on experience while Smith might have more of an analytical mind. If the A’s want a first-time GM, and one who comes from outside of the organization, you could do a lot worse than starting with these two guys. Is that the direction the team wants to go though with Las Vegas now just a year away? We’ll have to wait and see but there’s rumors they might pick their man before the season is over.
Fantastic development for Ryan Lasko leaving the hospital!
22 strong, always 💚💛
Ryan is heading home today after spending time in a rehab facility and he received a special surprise clap out from everyone along the way! He will begin out patient therapy and continue his journey to recovery.
No Devin Taylor this Fall League. Instead Breyson Guedez getting extra work this offseason:
A's are sending OF Breyson Guedez, catchers Cole Conn & Davis Diaz and pitchers Kenya Huggins, Tucker Novotny, Jared Johnson, Jay Dill & Grant Richardson to the Arizona Fall League. Originally planned to send Devin Taylor instead of Guedez but decided to give Taylor a rest.
Positive signs but definitely not enough to prevent the team from adding pitching this offseason:
“I said, ‘Look, if you get back here and get this opportunity, you need to take advantage, because you haven’t taken advantage yet.’ Tonight was a big step.”
Jack Perkins’ best start as a big leaguer Tuesday in Tampa could not have come at a better time. https://t.co/MxDwnwB94m
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Ethan Salas #8 of the San Diego Padres hits his first career home run in the second inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning everyone and happy Thursday!
The Mariners managed to secure a victory in the series finale against the Angels, winning 7-2. The team has an off-day today as they head to Denver for what is sure to be a high-scoring affair with the Rockies.
In Mariners news…
Everett is in danger of losing the AquaSox with its stadium project hitting major hurdles. Neetish Basnet at Puget Sound Business Journal has more.
Felnin Celesten is taking home some hardware following a breakout season with the AquaSox.
Inglewood, CA - February 15: Tyrese Maxey of Team USA Stars drives past LeBron James of Team USA Stripes in the final game of the 75th NBA All-Star game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday February 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Every year, ESPN rolls out “Future Power Rankings,” which are its “projection of the on-court success expected for each team over the next three seasons.” After one of the greatest offseasons in franchise history (if not the best), the Sixers unsurprisingly went soaring up the latest edition of the rankings.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Sixers were fourth (!) in the future power rankings after they signed Paul George in free agency. Following the injury-ravaged hellscape that was the 2024-25 campaign, they plummeted to 19th in last year’s edition, which was the biggest drop of any team.
This year? The Sixers are back up to eighth, mostly fueled by a surge in the “players” category.
ESPN’s Dean Oliver noted that “despite having one of the most hyped starting fives in history,” the Sixers only landed sixth in the players category. By contrast, the Brooklyn Nets were first in that category in 2021 when they had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden; the Milwaukee Bucks were third when they had Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard; and the Phoenix Suns were fourth when they had Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal (even though that was an obvious disaster in the making).
“Apparently, the FPR committee has gotten a bit skeptical of these star-packed lineups,” Oliver added.
Which teams landed ahead of the Sixers in that category, you might wonder? The Oklahoma City Thunder (fair), San Antonio Spurs (also fair), New York Knicks (defending champion bump), Cleveland Cavaliers (lmfao) and Boston Celtics (huh????). Apparently, ESPN’s panel buys into the Cavaliers’ reputation as the NBA’s reigning Analytics Champions, even though they could be in real trouble against the Sixers in particular.
ESPN’s Zach Kram correctly pointed out that LeBron James and Joel Embiid “might not help the 76ers for the entirety of the three-year span under consideration for these rankings, but they’re key members for a title contender in 2026-27.” Even without those two, the trio of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown give the Sixers a solid foundation to build around for the next few years.
The Sixers’ lack of financial flexibility hurt them in these rankings—they’re 25th in the league in that category—as having Embiid, Maxey and Brown on max contracts will limit what they can do moving forward. Right now, they’re only $1.8 million below their first-apron hard cap, which means they can’t even sign someone to fill their last remaining open roster spot until December at the earliest.
With that said, the NBA recently issued an updated salary-cap projection for the 2027-28 season that was $2 million higher than the initial projection. While the Sixers aren’t going to waltz into the offseason with significant spending power as long as they have three max contracts on their books, it’s possible that they could have access to most or all of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception next summer.
The Sixers also jumped from 16th in the “management” category last year to 10th this year, which is likely a reflection of what new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey was able to pull off during his first offseason in charge. And hilariously, they went from 14th in market last year to ninth this year. It’s amazing what signing LeBron to a minimum contract can do for the perception of your franchise.
Honestly, it’s hard to pick too many nits with the Sixers’ placement in the latest future power rankings. No one in their right mind would put them behind the Charlotte Hornets (ranked seventh) in power rankings strictly for this year, but it’s at least feasible that the Hornets are in a better place than the Sixers two years from now. The same goes for the Houston Rockets (fourth) and Detroit Pistons (sixth), both of whom have more young talent to build around.
Still, the Sixers’ 11-spot jump from last year’s rankings to this year’s is a testament to work that Gansey and the rest of the new front office did this offseason. If they can cash in on that this coming season, they figure to crack the top five in the next edition of these rankings.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 03: Jake Bennett #64 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 03, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! Last night, Jake Bennett was unable to hold the Rangers in check during the team’s 7-3 loss in Texas. Some of his numbers look good (seven strikeouts against just one walk), but he also surrendered eight hits in just 4.2 innings, which did in his evening.
With just ten games left in the season, the question now becomes how should the Sox use Bennett going forward? With some combination of Sonny Gray, Payton Tolle and Ranger Suarez likely to get lined up in a best of three Wild Card Series, do you just hold Bennett on the sidelines and hope he gets to come back into the fold as a fourth starter in the ALDS or even ALCS? Or do you start transitioning him to some sort of relief role?
It’s a bit of an awkward moment for Bennett. He’s been getting knocked around during his last two outings while Suarez is seemingly getting locked in. It almost certainly cuts him out of the Wild Card rotation, and if the Sox get some combination of Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Tyron Guerrero back to add to Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock and Erik Miller in the bullpen, Bennett largely gets squeezed out of relevance.
So how do you want him used? Do those six shutout innings Bennett threw against the Yankees back on August 29th make you want the Sox to find a role for him if they play New York? Do you think he’s just a young pitcher who looks out of gas and want to hide him until the team needs a fourth starter?
Use this space to talk about Bennett and the rest of the difficult upcoming pitching staff decisions, and, as always, be good to one another.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Ethan Salas #8 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting his second career home run in the fifth inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ethan Salas had been mired in an 0-for-15 slump since he was called up to the MLB roster by the San Diego Padres before he logged his first hit in the form of a triple against the San Francisco Giants. That slump is just a thing of the past for the top prospect who hit his first big league home run and led the Padres to a 9-3 win over the Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday.
Salas connected on a solo home run to center field to lead off the top of the second inning, which put San Diego ahead of Colorado, 3-1. Two is always better than one, so Salas hit his second career home run and second of the game in the top of the fifth inning when he hit a two-out, two-run home run just over the wall in right field which put the Padres ahead, 8-1.
Salas had a career day at the plate and that was in support of his battery mate Robbie Ray. The veteran left-hander cruised through much of the game, holding the Rockies to one run on one hit until he reached the bottom of the sixth inning. Ray allowed his second hit of the game with a leadoff double to Connor Norby. He then allowed a one-out, two-run home run to Kyle Karros before completing the inning and finishing his day. Ray walked off the mound after the sixth inning with a 9-3 lead.
The Padres offense continued to hit Rockies pitching, adding another 13 hits in the game, which give them 37 hits over the first three games of the series. The main statistic for San Diego in their six-run win on Wednesday was 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Jackson Merrill stayed hot and finished the day 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Dustin Harris, Jake Cronenworth and Samad Taylor all finished with multiple hits in the game.
Ray was replaced on the mound by David Morgan in the seventh inning and he pitched two scoreless frames before handing the ninth inning over to Yuki Matsui to secure the win.
The Padres will try to win the series when they face the Rockies today at 12:10 p.m.
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 16: Members of the Texas Rangers celebrate after the Texas Rangers defeated the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kelcee Skoug/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Rangers 7, Red Sox 3
Your Texas Rangers are back to .500 for the first time since August 24.
Your Texas Rangers are in first place, also for the first time since August 24.
This is thanks to a come-from-behind win against the hated Red Sox of Boston, with MacKenzie Gore and Nathan Eovaldi contributing four innings apiece as part of a Jakob Junis sandwich.
MacKenzie Gore didn’t look right from the outset, walking Roman Anthony on four pitches to start the game, the first three of which were not close. Anthony came around to score when Willson Contreras pulverized a poorly located slider, with the ball ultimately coming down in the seats for a two run homer.
Gore settled down for the next few innings, though his velocity was down, and Robby Ahlstrom was warming early, in apparent anticipation of having to come into the game.
It turned out that Gore was dealing with back and shoulder spasms throughout the outing. Though he was able to navigate the second, third and fourth innings, a walk and a hard hit single off the glove of Josh Jung to start the fifth resulted in Jakob Junis coming into the game.
With runners on first and third and no outs and the score tied at 2, Junis got a strikeout, a groundout, and a strikeout. Unfortunately, he also had the ball slip out of his glove while standing on the rubber, resulting in a balk which brought home a run to make it 3-2 Boston.
All that did is make the game more the thrilling for those of us rooting for the home team, though.
Nathan Eovaldi, summoned to pitch the sixth after the Rangers tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth, gave up a single to the first batter he faced, then hit the third batter he faced. Not an auspicious start.
Eovaldi then retired the final 11 batters he faced, reminding us all of why we got his face tattooed on our backs that one time.
Nailbiting though much of the game was, a three run rally in the bottom of the seventh allowed sphincters to finally relax a bit, with Corey Seager adding an insurance run in the eighth.
It would have been fun if the Rangers had taken the lead with Junis in the game, and thus Eovaldi could have gotten a four inning save, but I’m sure he’s fine with the win.
The Rangers were 7 for 16 with runners in scoring position. That seems like a lot of at bats with runners in scoring position, a lot of hits with runners in scoring position, and a very good success rate with runners in scoring position.
In fact, I’m wondering how the Rangers didn’t score more runs, given that.
Everybody in the starting lineup got a hit, which is fun. The Nicky Lopez fans out there — and I know that you are legion — got to see their hero enter the game as a pinch runner, which had to have been thrilling.
The Rangers are now 9-6 in their last 15 games. They’ve been playing of late like, well, like we’ve thought they are capable of playing, and that they haven’t been doing much of this season.
So now the Rangers are in first place in the American League West again, tied with the Houston Astros, after the Astros lost at home to the Royals. And yes, the Astros have the tiebreaker advantage, but I’m not going to worry about that right now, I’m just going to enjoy seeing the Rangers with a “—” next to their name in the games back column.
Texas is a game back in the Wild Card standings, but because the Guardians beat the White Sox, the Rangers are a game back of Chicago rather than Cleveland, which is bad because the Rangers have the tiebreaker advantage over Cleveland but not Chicago.
Toronto is a half game back of Texas and Houston the Wild Card race, and Texas has the tiebreaker over Toronto, and is also playing Toronto this weekend in a three game set which should likely be meaningful.
Oh, and Baltimore, despite being sellers, are still just a game and a half behind Texas and Houston, and a game behind Toronto, for the Wild Card Three spot.
Exciting, scoreboard-watching September baseball! Woo hoo!!!
MacKenzie Gore touched 95.9 mph on his fastball, averaging 94.0 mph. Jakob Junis threw one fastball that was 93.0 mph. Nathan Eovaldi’s fastball topped out at 93.7 mph.
Jake Burger had a 110.2 mph double. Brandon Nimmo had a 105.3 mph double. Justin Foscue had a 103.5 mph single. Josh Jung had a 101.6 mph single and a 100.3 mph double.
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees travel to Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks in a three-game series starting Friday...
5 things to watch
Latest on Judge
In the series finale against the Twins on Wednesday, Aaron Judge exited early with lower leg tightness.
While the Yankees and Judge himself are keeping things close to the vest, his status for the weekend series and the rest of the regular season is in question. The off day Thursday helps Judge and the Yankees potentially prevent an IL stint, but we have to wait until Friday to learn more about Judge's fate.
The Yankees do have Monday off, so New York could use the weekend to give Judge extra rest before the four-game series with the Rays when they return home Tuesday.
AL East race
Speaking of the Rays, the Yankees will enter Thursday 4.5 games behind Tampa for the AL East crown. While the Yankees' chances of stealing the division away are slim, they'll need to continue stacking wins against Arizona to have a shot when the two AL East foes clash next week.
It won't be easy, though. The Diamondbacks are fighting for a Wild Card spot and will send three of their best starters (Bradon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez and Corbin Burnes) to the mound.
Can Cole rebound?
Gerrit Cole has struggled recently. He's allowed seven home runs over his last two starts, and after his loss to the Mets last weekend, he was left searching for answers.
Sep 12, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) walks off the filed after getting taken out of the game in the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Cole has had a good season considering he's returning from Tommy John surgery, posting a 3.67 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 20 starts, but the Yankees will need the former Cy Young winner to make a deep playoff run.
Perhaps Cole can figure out what the issue is against the Diamondbacks. He said it wasn't physical, so it could be pitch-tipping or something more.
In six career starts against Arizona, he's posted a 3-2 record and an ERA of 1.96. However, all of those starts have been with the Pirates and Astros. His last start (May 28, 2018) saw him pitch a complete-game one-hitter with Houston.
Progressing Schmidt
Clarke Schmidt made his return to the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing two hits while striking out both batters he faced against the Twins.
Getting Schmidt back is a boon for the Yankees bullpen, but they'll need to get him rolling in the regular season before they can trust him in the postseason. He'll likely get an opportunity or two this weekend. We'll see how he does.
Outfield production
If Judge misses time, the rest of the outfielders will need to step up. Aside from Cody Bellinger, who has been killing it at the plate, Spencer Jones -- who has seen the bulk of the CF playing time with Trent Grisham out -- will need to continue producing.
Jones is 9-for-30 (.300) with a home run and six RBI in his last seven games, and that's with the 0-for-6, five-strikeout game on Wednesday.
Heliot Ramos will get the starts in right field if Judge is down, and the trade deadline acquisition will need to step it up. Although he's produced somewhat (5-for-18 with a home run) in limited playing time over the last seven games, he's looked more comfortable with his new team.
How these three produce this weekend could tell how much the Yankees need Judge the final week of the season.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Cody Bellinger
Bellinger continues his hot stretch this weekend. He's 13-for-28 (.464) with three home runs in his last seven games.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Cam Schlittler
Schlittler's Cy Young campaign continues with another strong start.
Which D-backs player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?
Corbin Carroll
The outfielder has been clutch for Arizona this season.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 24: Ville Koivunen #41 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Colorado Avalanche at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
This is one of those days where I have a few thoughts bouncing around but I am not sure any of them are enough for a full, dedicated article. So you’re getting a bunch of random thoughts just emptied out of my head for your consumption as the Pittsburgh Penguins open training camp.
1. Does anybody need a strong camp more than Ville Koivunen?
The most surprising, and some might say shocking, Penguins move of the offseason was actually one of their last moves when they signed Ville Koivune, after just 47 NHL games and only two goals, to an eight-year, $32 million contract.
Given everything that’s happened over the past couple of weeks, and especially the past few days in the lead-up to the start of the new CBA, it’s starting to make a little more sense, and honestly doesn’t look quite as baffling (and while it shocked me, I never quite saw it as THAT baffling and could see the thought process behind it). Given the buyout rules, where the cap is going in the coming seasons, what player contracts are starting to look like, and all Koivunen needs to do to make it worth it, it’s still a relatively low-risk, potentially high-reward deal.
EVEN WITH THAT, there are no good optics in the short-term for him showing up at camp, not earning a spot on the roster, and being sent to the American Hockey League after signing an eight-year deal.
Maybe it’s for that reason that he already has a spot “locked” in. And maybe, given the current depth at forward, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he did get sent down at the start (because they do have a lot of good players at forward), but it still wouldn’t look great. Sometimes optics stand out more than facts and reality, but that still matters.
Everybody has talked about what a good offseason he has had. His underlying numbers this past season were some of the best on the team. There is reason to like him. But it is time to start turning all of that into tangible results on the scoreboard.
2. The goalies will dictate the season and where it goes
In terms of the forwards and defense, I see this roster looking pretty similar to the one the Penguins were using in 2025-26. The forwards are pretty good, and pretty deep. I don’t love the defense, but Erik Karlsson can still be an impact player and I do think there is a chance this current group will defend better than last year’s (I like Declan Carlile as a potential under-the-radar steal; Trevor van Riemsdyk is a legitimately good defensive player; I am intrigued by what Kaeden Korczak can do in a potentially bigger role).
But going into the season with two young, still very unproven goalies is a GIGANTIC wild card that could take this thing in any number of directions.
Everybody loves Sergei Murashov’s upside, and he has been great at every level since coming over to North America. But it’s still just upside with him at this point, and the AHL isn’t the NHL. He’s still a young goalie, and young goalies are still completely unpredictable. His ceiling is high. His floor is low. There’s a gigantic empty space he could fit in.
Arturs Silovs has had his moments, but consistency has not been his calling card in the NHL.
If these two guys put it all together and show they are ready for the big-time on a full-time basis, I could see a scenario where this team is not only back in the playoffs, but that it’s ceiling is a little higher than last year’s team and a higher than a lot of people are expecting.
If they are not ready for that? Or if they struggle? You might very well end up in a position to get the top-five pick you are still searching for.
3. Egor Chinakhov and Nicholas Robertson intrigue me more than any other veteran players in camp
I know what Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are going to do this season.
I have a pretty good idea as to what Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are going to do.
The fourth line guys are what they are, and I know what they are.
There are a lot of unknowns with the younger players like Ben Kindel, Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Bill Zonnon, Harrison Brunicke, Tomas Galvas, and the goalies, but that is the nature of the beast with young players. Some of them will become NHL players. A couple might be really good NHL players. You might get lucky and one becomes an All-Star. Some will be a hit, most will strike out. As smooth Jimmy Apollo once said, “when you’re right 52 percent of the time, you’re wrong 48 percent of the time.”
But Chinakhov and Robertson remain the most intriguing mysteries to me because they have some NHL track record, have shown some ability to be good NHL players, and they have very obvious NHL talents, but they are still very much unknowns.
Chinakhov is oozing with talent and top-line ability, and he really put it all together in the second half of the 2025-26 season after being acquired in the trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Was it a real improvement, or just a short-term flash? Can he still take a star turn? If he can, that changes some math for you in the short-term and long-term.
It is a similar question for Robertson, who has some very real NHL skills, and has scored goals at a top-line rate per minute, but has never really had an opportunity to show if that can translate into something more.
Is 30 goals out of reach for Chinakhov?
Is 20 out of reach for Robertson?
I don’t think either is out of reach, but neither one is guaranteed to reach those levels. They are not quite as big of a wild-card as the goalies, but they remain wild-cards for what the team’s success level and ceiling is.
4. Which veteran is going to get waived?
After last year’s training camp we see Ryan Graves and Danton Heinen get waived.
Matt Dumba and Philip Tomasino followed not long after during the season.
Given the forward depth it, where they legitimately have 17 or 18 players that could play on the NHL roster, it seems likely that somebody is going to get waived by the conclusion of camp.
I suppose a trade is still possible, but I just don’t know where that comes from at this point.
5. Sidney Crosby contract prediction
This is just a guess. It is just a prediction. But I say he signs a one-year, $8.7 million extension by the end of camp and does this every year from now until his eventual retirement. I do not believe he has any interest in playing elsewhere. I also believe he means it when he says it is all just about how he feels physically.
The Golden Knights enter the 2026–27 season with Stanley Cup expectations but several important questions. Vegas still boasts an imposing veteran core led by Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone and Alex Pietrangelo, yet talent alone will not determine how far this team advances.
A coaching transition, the loss of Pavel Dorofeyev’s goal production and lingering concerns surrounding health and goaltending create three defining storylines.
Ryan Craig must establish his identity with a veteran roster, secondary scorers must ease the burden on the stars and the Golden Knights must keep their core healthy.
How Vegas answers those questions could separate another championship run from an early postseason exit.
Can Craig successfully manage an aging, win-now roster?
Craig inherits a veteran team facing enormous expectations and offering little patience for transition. His challenge extends beyond installing a system. He must earn the confidence of Eichel, Marner, Stone and Pietrangelo while keeping the roster fresh for the postseason. Craig’s management of minutes, accountability and adversity will reveal whether the coaching change supplies renewed energy or creates an uncomfortable adjustment period.
That balancing act will become especially important when the inevitable losing streaks, injuries and lineup decisions arrive. Veterans accustomed to defined roles may be asked to accept reduced minutes, different line combinations or altered special-teams responsibilities. Craig must make those adjustments without disrupting the chemistry of a group that believes it remains capable of winning another championship.
He also must determine how aggressively to incorporate younger players. Vegas needs additional speed and energy, but developing inexperienced contributors can be difficult when every defeat creates pressure. If Craig can preserve the team’s veteran strengths while building greater pace, flexibility and internal competition, the transition could extend the Golden Knights’ championship window. If the team struggles to adapt, the coaching change may become the season’s dominant issue.
Where will the secondary scoring come from?
Eichel and Marner give Vegas elite offensive creators, but replacing Dorofeyev’s 37 goals will require a collective response. Ivan Barbashev, Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson and Victor Olofsson must deliver reliable production, while younger forwards such as Braeden Bowman may need to accept larger roles. If Vegas becomes too dependent upon its stars and power play, injuries or difficult playoff matchups could expose its forward depth.
Dorofeyev supplied more than finishing ability. His presence forced opponents to respect another dangerous shooting option beyond the established stars, creating space elsewhere in the lineup. Without that threat, opposing coaches may be able to concentrate their best defensive pairings and checking forwards against Vegas’ top line.
The Golden Knights therefore need balanced 5-on-5 production, particularly from their middle six. Hertl must continue creating offense around the net, Barbashev must complement skilled linemates with physicality and finishing, and Karlsson must remain a dependable two-way contributor. Olofsson’s shot could also become valuable on the power play. A breakout season from Bowman or another younger forward would make the lineup deeper and less predictable. Vegas doesn't need one player to replace all 37 goals, but it cannot afford prolonged scoring droughts when its top forwards are contained.
Can the core remain healthy - and goaltending stabilize?
Stone’s two-year extension confirms that Vegas still considers its captain central to another championship pursuit, but his availability remains critical. His 73 points in 60 games last season demonstrated both his value and the concern surrounding his durability.
Stone influences far more than the scoresheet. His defensive anticipation, puck retrieval and ability to create takeaways help Vegas control possession and dictate matchups. When he is unavailable, the Golden Knights lose a top-six scorer, penalty-killing option and emotional leader. Managing his workload - along with those of Pietrangelo, Karlsson and other veterans - will require careful planning throughout the longer regular season.
The Golden Knights also need stability in net after injuries disrupted Adin Hill and Carter Hart. A capable tandem can protect both goaltenders from excessive workloads, but only if each remains healthy and establishes a dependable rhythm. Frequent injuries or inconsistent performances would place greater pressure on the defense and force Vegas to chase games offensively.
Craig may need to prioritize rest over short-term results, particularly during demanding stretches of the schedule. Vegas possesses championship-caliber talent, but its ceiling will depend upon having its most important players available - and its goaltending settled - when the postseason begins.
PHOTO CAPTION
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight (30) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 08: Mackenzie Blackwood #39 and Scott Wedgewood #41 of the Colorado Avalanche hug after the team defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4 at Ball Arena on March 08, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s here, the new hockey sesson has arrived!
But first, before the games are played, every contracted player in the organization must gather for three days of training camp and for four preseason games before the 2026-27 season drops the puck on September 30th. Here is the expected roster comprised of 56 players hoping to make the Colorado Avalanche roster.
How real is the youth movement?
The biggest storyline on the new season concerns all the young forwards who could make the opening night roster. But before we get to that point, I’m keeping an eye on their usage at camp and in preseason. Of course the period before the games count is time for experimentation and no line or role is set in stone. Still, there are a lot of hints offered on how the organization views a player by how they are utilized in training camp. We’ll find out their place on day one of on-ice activity.
What are the roles for the veterans?
On the opposite side of the spectrum, it will be fascinating to see the early thoughts on how to utilize the incoming veterans, Jaden Schwartz and the first full season of the second Nazem Kadri era, in particular. The assumption is Schwartz was brought in to help anchor Brock Nelson’s line, which would likely lend Kadri to center the third line. If those assumptions are incorrect then we’ll see what Jared Bednar has in mind for his line construction.
Is everyone actually healthy?
Attendance has been strong at captain’s skates but there’s always a few curiosities leading to health questions. Cale Makar had been easing in and skating on his own away from the group for the most part. Jared Bednar remarked in his opening press conference that Makar is dealing with a new lower-body injury and might not participate right away in camp. Nathan MacKinnon was missing for all pre-camp gatherings but did skate with his teammates once two days before the start of training camp. Bednar said there was a handful of lingering issues from the offseason so attendance at camp might be an interesting topic to follow.
Colorado Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar provided some updates on injuries heading into training camp pic.twitter.com/evuN4avPXt
This is the first fall under the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which has increased the regular season slate by two games to 84. In exchange, preseason was shortened by a week and reduced to a maximum of four exhibition games. Will we see an Avalanche squad full of older veterans rejuvenated due to this extra rest or will they stumble out of the gate with a lack of cohesive preparation? Gauging energy and cohesion will be an early temperature check.
How are the goaltenders shaking out?
This one isn’t just for the Colorado Avalanche with the Lumberyard duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood as the Colorado Eagles have their very own interesting tandem set for this season with the entrenched Trent Miner and top prospect Ilya Nabokov now in the fold. I’m watching to see how their playing time is split especially with the lessened opportunity to get in just the four exhibition games. Four solid goalies in an organization is a good problem to have but the aim is probably to have a starter for each team identified by puck drop on the regular season.
What do you want to hear about from training camp? Let us know in the comments!
