ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 24: Atlanta Braves bench coach Walt Weiss (4) congratulates Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) after a 13 strike out, two hit effort during the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves on April 24, 2023, at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
So apparently, the rumors of Spencer Strider’s baseball demise for 2026 may have been somewhat exaggerated. Right before the trade deadline, there was “scuttlebutt” from MLB.com Braves beat writer Mark Bowman that Spencer Strider had cleared out his locker room and was likely done for the season.
However, during today’s pregame press conference, Walt Weiss indicated that Strider may not be done for 2026 after all. When Weiss was asked for updates on various pitchers who are currently on the shelf, he shocked the room by casually including Strider in those updates as well.
Weiss had no updates as far as Robert Suarez goes and maintained that Spencer Schwellenbach had a way to go before returning from his throwing program. Weiss did mention that Hurston Waldrep had a “good report” once he got a second opinion on his throwing arm and then mentioned that both he and Strider would be starting up throwing programs soon.
“There was a possibility that he could’ve been out for the year,” explained Weiss. “It’s tough to put timelines out there because things just change. Their progression changes day to day — it’s never linear.” Weiss went on to explain that apparently it was just down to Strider himself noticing that he was feeling somewhat better than expected. “He’s feeling good, the tests are positive and when that happens you get to the next step where it’s ‘Let’s start throwing again,’ so he’s felt good enough to do that,” stated Weiss.
With that being said, it’s still pretty tough to imagine Spencer Strider coming back and having a major impact on the rotation here in 2026 and Weiss mentioned as much while continuing to give his thoughts on the situation. “There’s a big leap between starting a throwing progression and throwing on a major league mound,” explained Weiss. “There’s a lot to uncover but at least he’s starting to throw again.”
There’s already a prime example of just how long a throwing program can take — after all, it sure seems like Spencer Schwellenbach has been on a throwing program for what feels like half of the season so far. I’d imagine that it’s still doubtful that we’ll see Strider pitch in a big league game again in 2026 and if he does, I anticipate it being out of the bullpen. But for now, don’t close the door on Strider returning because apparently the Braves themselves still think he might have something to contribute here in 2026.
Meanwhile, BravesVision analyst Paul Byrd tried to get the skinny on the confusion that occurred on Saturday (and bled into Sunday) when it came to Chris Sale and that contentious balk call. Weiss stated that he was still just as confused as ever with what happened out there, despite having a conversation with crew chief Dan Bellino.
“This is not something that we have ever done. Chris Sale has never done this in his career; declaring from hitter-to-hitter. That’s never been a thing. You declare once and that’s it,” stated Weiss. “Now, if you’re going to go back to the stretch then you have to redeclare but he’s never had to declare from hitter-to-hitter — you declare one time.”
“So I don’t know where that came from,” continued Weiss. “I don’t know if the league is cracking down on it. […] If this is something that we’re cracking down on […] then that’s a conversation at the home plate meeting or a heads up. I haven’t heard anything about cracking down on it — it’s news to me! Usually there’s a memo that goes around at the very least. We’ve never dealt with this before and we didn’t even know what the heck was going on when the balk was called. I think there needs to be clarity.
“My conversation with Bellino is that he’s going to have to declare every hitter moving forward,” said Weiss as he continued to discuss the weird situation. “If that’s the case, then let me know and let Chris know. We’ve dealt with a lot of changes — not that this is a rule change. We’ve dealt with having to adjust with pitch clocks and throw-overs and we do it seamlessly because these guys adapt very well. If that’s the case then we need to know that. I think we’ll get to the bottom of it soon. It was a weird chain of events there and I’ve never dealt with that before.”
So yeah, there are still some feelings of contention between the Braves and that particular umpiring crew but for now, the Braves appear to be prepared to deal with it, adjust and move on. That should be the end of what was a wacky saga that somehow turned into a two-day affair (and now three since here we are, talking about it).
If you want to get the good news first, the Dodgers did win Saturday's game vs. the Diamondbacks, 2-1 in extra innings. Aside from that, it's been depressing results for the Boys in Blue.
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Los Angeles has now lost 10 out of the last 13 games. During its recent seven-game skid, it was outscored 46-25. The World Series shine has lost its luster, and the seemingly unstoppable force has hit a very immovable object in the schedule. Or, at the very least, a concerning speed bump en route to the postseason.
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Enter Skubal, who started for the Dodgers on Aug. 4, giving up two earned runs and four hits while striking out six across six innings pitched. The star pitcher may be what Los Angeles needs to stop the bleeding or could very well see his own star power dimmed amid the summer malaise.
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Here is how to watch Tarik Skubal with the latest updates for Dodgers vs Royals on Monday.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 8: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the third inning at Busch Stadium on August 8, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a spectacular week against the Tampa Bay Rays and the St. Louis Cardinals, Major League Baseball has named Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy as the National League Player of the Week. He is the first Rockie to win NL Player of the Week since Hunter Goodman earned the honor on September 8, 2025, and the first Colorado outfielder to do so since Brenton Doyle won the award on July 8, 2024.
McCarthy, 29, led the NL in batting average (.519), OPS (1.352), hits (14), and total bases (23), while his eight runs scored tied for second. In 28 plate appearances over six games, McCarthy also hit three doubles and two home runs while driving in five runs and stealing three bases. Perhaps the most interesting fact was that he struck out just one time during the week.
On Saturday, August 8, McCarthy had four hits, including his two home runs, marking his fifth career game with at least four hits and third career game with multiple home runs. During that game, he became just the third player since 1920 to have four hits, two homers, three RBI, and two stolen bases in a game, joining Shohei Ohtani in 2024 and Breggo Roth. He also became the eighth player since 1900 to have at least four hits, two home runs and two stolen bases in a game, and the first to do so since Mickey Moniak accomplished the same feat for Colorado last September.
2026 has been a breakout season for the Scranton, Pennsylvania native. Since being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks, McCarthy has settled into a crucial role at the top of the Rockies lineup. He enters the start of the series against his former club on Monday batting .306/.342/.518 with a career-high 13 home runs, including two inside-the-park home runs, as well as career-highs in doubles (25) and RBI (67) with 20 stolen bases. He also has 32 multi-hit games, which are tied with rookie TJ Rumfield for the most on the club.
McCarthy has also settled in nicely as the leadoff hitter, where he has hit .307/.336/.546 with 11 home runs out of the top spot in the lineup. He has also slugged four leadoff home runs for the Rockies this season, with his leadoff home run on Saturday marking the second to come on the first pitch of the game. He is the first Rockie with multiple first-pitch leadoff home runs in a single season and the first Rockie with at least four leadoff shots in his first season with the club.
What’s more important is that McCarthy has not been fazed by home and road splits. At Coors Field, he is hitting .318/.345/.559 with eight home runs, while on the road he is hitting .293/.339/.471 with five home runs. Additionally, on the platoon front, he is hitting .297/.333/.498 against right-handed pitching and .333/.366/.573 against left-handed pitching.
Under team control for two more seasons, McCarthy has found a comfortable home in Colorado with his continued dynamic level of play.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 16: Miami Heat President Pat Riley (L) and head coach Erik Spoelstra (R) pose for a photo with Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.
Giannis trade discourse has dominated the summer, and thankfully, it’s over now. I think most Bucks fans would agree that, in the end, Milwaukee did alright in the deal, getting back young players, picks, and other helpful pieces. With that said, the return was still not what you imagine when you trade a two-time MVP still in their prime. It just wasn’t. And the reason it wasn’t is because of one factor: a lack of leverage.
You see, Bucks GM Jon Horst waited until basically the last moment to trade Giannis, who had just one guaranteed year of team control remaining on his deal. The wider basketball media—including ESPN, CBS Sports, and Yahoo Sports—seems to agree that Horst waiting until now was a mistake (and as you’ll see tomorrow, so do I). If Horst had initiated trade talks a year ago—when Dame tore his Achilles and the Bucks’ hopes of contending went up in smoke—he would’ve had all the leverage in negotiations.
Then again, there’s another (completely reasonable) angle that you never, ever trade a top-three player without them demanding it, and Giannis did not do that last offseason. On top of this, you also need to consider what Giannis means to the city of Milwaukee, and how a decision to trade him has more than just on-court reverberations. Obviously, Giannis will always be a cultural icon in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, which is why many Bucks fans have a more nuanced view on the topic than outsiders do. For what it’s worth, I totally understand both sides (even though I happen to agree much more with the former).
Thus, for this week’s Reacts question, we wanted your take:
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Pitching coach Kyle Snyder #23 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on from the dugout before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 12, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To begin, their overall offspeed usage is on pace to be the highest in team history during the pitch tracking era since 2008. They’ve also got a franchise low wOBA against those pitches. Here’s how they stack up historically in their top five highest usage seasons:
Year
Usage
wOBA Against
2026
21.8%
.211
2013
21.7%
.274
2012
20.2%
.252
2014
18.8%
.275
2025
17.4%
.245
The Rays aren’t just throwing more offspeed pitches; they’re getting better results from them. Four of the lowest team wOBA-against seasons for offspeed pitches have come in the last five years, while five of the highest-whiff seasons have come during the last seven years. The 2026 Rays are barely ahead of their 2013 club in offspeed usage, but the performance gap is enormous. Their .211 wOBA-allowed is 63 points lower than the previous franchise low among their five highest-usage seasons, and it’s lower than the league average .267 wOBA on offspeed pitches this season.
So what makes a good offspeed pitch? Two traits matter in particular: vertical separation and velocity separation from the fastball. A larger gap in vertical approach angle (VAA) between a pitcher’s fastball and offspeed pitch generally produces more chase, while greater velocity separation can help generate whiffs – including in the strike zone. The Rays have tapped into these two metrics when acquiring and developing offspeed pitches.
Adding vertical movement to a pitcher’s fastball can be difficult, but subtracting vertical movement from an offspeed pitch is comparatively straightforward. Sometimes this is accomplished by “spiking” a grip or utilizing a “kick change” grip. We can see Rays’ pitchers average vertical movement on offspeed pitches drop over time as they have leaned into this metric:
Maybe the most intriguing trend in their usage of offspeed pitches is how often they throw it to same-handed batters.
The 2026 Rays pitching staff is on pace to throw the highest rate of same-side offspeed pitches since 2013 when that Rays pitching staff set the record at 28.6%. This year, they’re sitting at 28.6% as of August 10th. The Angels are the next closest at same-side offspeed usage this season at 20.2%, and the league average is just over 11%.
Even at such a high usage, the Rays are performing among the league leaders in terms of wOBA-against on same-side offspeed pitches, ranking 5th best in the league as a team in right-on-right and left-on-left offspeed wOBA-against. Both marks are over 60 points better than the league average wOBA-against for left-on-left and right-on-right offspeed pitches.
Why this works
There are a few reasons why the Rays are having so much success going against traditional baseball wisdom and throwing offspeed pitches to same-handed batters.
The first is simple: pitch quality matters more than handedness. The Rays have acquired and developed offspeed pitches that have optimal VAA and velocity differences from their fastballs. A pitch that meaningfully disrupts timing doesn’t necessarily need the traditional platoon advantage to be effective.
Same-side breaking balls have historically been effective because their glove-side movement makes them difficult for same-handed hitters to handle. When sweepers exploded in popularity in the late 2010s and early 2020s, they became increasingly common in hitter training, including through pitch-replication systems such as Trajekt. As hitters have accumulated more reps against those shapes, their effectiveness has declined. Even same-handed batters have been able to train against these shapes to the point where they’re significantly less effective than they were just a few years ago.
Same-side offspeed pitches present a different problem. Hitters simply aren’t used to seeing them. Rays pitchers are exploiting a training gap brought on by the last big wave in pitching theory. By being ahead of the curve and throwing more offspeed pitches than any other team (the Rays are also among the bottom of the league in sweeper usage over the last two seasons), they have found a new way to disrupt timing in the batter’s box.
Eventually, hitters will adjust. They’ll see more same-side changeups in the cage, more Trajekt reps will be built around them, and what currently looks unfamiliar will become another standard pitch shape to prepare for. When that happens, the Rays will probably have moved on to something else.
The Mets are placing closer Devin Williamson the IL due to a right shoulder strain, with the move coming five days after Williams was held out of a game against the Cleveland Guardians due to arm fatigue.
At the time, interim manager Andy Green said Williams was "fine," adding that he had "a little bit of arm fatigue" but had recently played catch and felt better.
Williams' next appearance was this past Friday against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, when he allowed two runs in an inning of work while giving up three hits and walking one -- it was just his second outing since July 30.
On Friday, Williams threw 21 pitches (15 fastballs, six changeups), with his four-seamer averaging 94.1 mph and topping out at 95.2. For the season, Williams' four-seamer has averaged 93.9 mph.
Green told reporters on Monday that he doesn't believe this to be a "long-term serious" situation for the closer.
"He’s been dealing with a little bit of shoulder fatigue for a while now. Something that he felt confident he could pitch through, and we appreciate that warrior mentality to step on the mound and continue to compete for us," Green said. "After the last outing, it just made sense to get an MRI and get it checked. We don’t think this is long-term serious for him. We think it’s a short stint, hopefully. A few weeks back to throwing the baseball.
"I know he wants to compete for us before this year’s out and I know he wants to get on the mound and finish strong."
With Williams on the IL and the Mets having recently gutted the back end of their bullpen by trading Luke Weaver, Huascar Brazoban, Brooks Raley, and A.J. Minter, and with Kodai Senga currently transitioning from his bulk relief role to a short-inning, high-leverage one (with the early results being promising),there is no obvious option to replace Williams at the end of games.
Green said on Monday that the Mets won't name a specific closer at the moment, but will play things by ear for the time being.
Williams, in the first season of a three-year deal he signed this past offseason, has had a bit of an up-and-down campaign. However, his results had been relatively good since a shaky start to the season (Williams' ERA entering play on April 26 was 10.29).
In 31.2 innings over 33 appearances since April 26, Williams has a 3.41 ERA (2.93 FIP).
Overall in 2026, Williams has a 4.66 ERA (3.09 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP in 38.2 innings. When it comes to his advanced stats, Williams has been elite in many of the key metrics tracked by Baseball Savant. Despite that, he has been as hittable as ever (career-worst 10.0 hits per nine) and has the worst walk rate of his career (4.9).
To replace Williams on the active roster, right-hander Jonathan Pintaro was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 14: Charles McAdoo #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays takes the field against the New York Yankees in their MLB game at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Jays made a bunch of roster moves:
Lazaro Estrada and Davis Schneider were sent to Buffalo.
Charles McAdoo has been called up.
As has Simeon Woods Richardson.
Rudy Martin Jr. cleared waivers and was assigned to Buffalo.
Willie MacIver was DFAed to make room for Woods Richardson.
McAdoo was named International League Player of the Week. He was 13 for 28 with 4 home runs on the week. I hope he can continue that with the Jays. He’s in, playing third tonight, as tonight’s lineup is Okamoto-less, as he’s got a bruise on his knee from fouling a pitch off his knee.
Woods Richardson has a 4.07 ERA in 6 games for Buffalo. In 24.1 innings, he’s given up 23 hits, 9 walks with 20 strikeouts. Lazaro had pitched in the last three games, so he was going to get tonight off and likely tomorrow. So why give him big leaguer money?
The Jays are saying that Spencer Arrighetti’s foot issue is Morton’s Neuroma, “It is basically a skin buildup around the nerve in your foot, leading it to feel like you have a rock in your shoe.” says prominent doctor John Schneider.
Luis Urias is out ‘a couple of weeks’ with a quad injury.
Former members of the Vancouver Canucks will take the spotlight in this off-season article series. From those skating with new NHL teams heading into the 2026–27 season to those who are now playing for international clubs, these featured players have skated in at least one game at the NHL level as a member of the Canucks.
Today’s segment will take a look at the 12 former Canucks that are set to compete for teams in the NHL’s Atlantic Division during the 2026–27 season.
Vancouver signed Mikheyev in free-agency during the summer of 2022, locking him down for four years — though the forward’s tenure with the Canucks didn’t end up lasting that long. Though he did manage to register 28 and 31 points respectively in 46 games 2022–23 and 78 in 2023–24, ultimately, Mikheyev’s near $5M salary per year resulted in the team trading him to the Chicago Blackhawks in June of 2024.
Mikheyev enjoyed two relatively productive seasons in Chicago after leaving Vancouver, recording his first 20-goal season in three years during the 2024–25 season. He put up a career-high of 36 points in 77 games with the Blackhawks in 2025–26, leading Tampa Bay to sign him to a four-year, $3.85M AAV contract during the 2026 free-agency period.
Once an 82-point player with the Calgary Flames, Lindholm was acquired by the Canucks in the 2023–24 season, adding to their depth down the middle in preparation for a playoff run. A wrist injury resulted in the center only playing in 26 regular-season games for Vancouver, during which he scored six goals and six assists. By the end of the Canucks’ playoff run, Lindholm had 10 points in 13 games.
Lindholm signed a seven-year contract with the Bruins the summer after his time with the Canucks. While he hasn’t quite made it back to that 82-point form he established in 2021–22, he has logged back-to-back 17-goal seasons and come close to 50 points in both. In 2025–26, he logged his second-highest faceoff win-rate in a single season with 56.1%.
Nikita Zadorov, Boston Bruins
A fan-favourite early on in his time with the Canucks, Zadorov made his presence known with thunderous hits and a personality as large as his stature. The defenceman was traded to Vancouver from Calgary for picks in the third-round of the 2026 NHL Draft and in the fifth-round of 2024. Possibly one of the most notable moments of Zadorov’s time with the Canucks was his hefty slap-shot on the blueline to help Vancouver claw back from a 4–1 deficit in Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Joining his former Flames and Canucks teammate Lindholm in Boston during the 2024 free-agency period, Zadorov has posted consecutive 22-point seasons with the Bruins. During the 2026 post-season, he logged one assist while playing with a torn MCL during Boston’s first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.
Gadjovich’s time with the Canucks dates back to 2017, when he was selected with the 55th-overall pick by Vancouver. Though he spent a fair bit of time with the Canucks’ AHL affiliate at the time, the Utica Comets, his time in Vancouver only spanned a single game during the 2020–21 season.
After a couple of seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Gadjovich signed a contract with the Panthers, the team that he won the Stanley Cup with in 2023–24 and 2024–25 and remains with to this day. He sustained a bad neeck injury at the beginning of the 2025–26 season and ultimately missed the remainder of the year, skating in only 10 games and recording three assists.
Sam Lafferty, Florida Panthers
Lafferty, a single-season Canuck, enjoyed a career-year in 2023–24 with Vancouver, scoring 13 goals and 11 assists in 79 games as a depth player. He was sent to the Canucks from the Toronto Maple Leafs in October of 2023 and was traded again less than a year later, this time heading to Chicago.
The 2025–26 season marked the third time in Lafferty’s career that he was acquired by the Blackhawks. He was first acquired by the Blackhawks in 2022, then again from the Canucks in 2024 (though his signing rights expired and he ended up signing a deal with the Sabres shortly after), and once more in 2025. He only ended up skating in 29 games through the past season, scoring a goal and an assist in that span.
Jacob Markström, Florida Panthers
Vancouver’s former starting goaltender, Markström, was part of the Canucks organization from 2013–14 to 2019–20. He has played the most NHL games of his career with Vancouver thus far, logging 229 games and stringing together a record of 99–93–27. In his final season as a Canuck, he was named to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game and came fourth in voting for the Vezina Trophy.
Markström spent four seasons with the Flames and two with the New Jersey Devils before being traded back to the team that drafted him, the Panthers, on June 30 of 2026. While the 2025–26 season was a down-year for the goaltender regarding his numbers (3.07 GAA, .883 SV%), he will still be looked to in order to fill the gap left by former Florida starter Sergei Bobrovsky.
One of six ex-Canucks expected to suit-up for the Maple Leafs next year, Blueger first joined Vancouver via free-agency in July of 2023. In his three seasons as a Canuck, the center played in 185 games, scoring 23 goals and 48 assists in that span. Towards the end of his tenure, after some key veteran departures, the forward started taking up more of a leadership role.
Despite not being traded at the 2026 Trade Deadline, Blueger ended up departing from the Canucks in free-agency, signing a two-year, $2.5M AAV contract with Toronto.
Dakota Joshua, Toronto Maple Leafs
A free-agent signing in 2022, Joshua spent three seasons as a member of the Canucks, hitting a career-high in points with 32 during the 2023–24 season. He signed a four-year, $3.25M AAV contract with Vancouver after that, but was traded to Toronto after one season of his new deal.
The 2025–26 season was Joshua’s first with Toronto. The forward got back to the double-digits mark in goals with 10, adding eight assists to his total in 55 games played. A kidney injury sustained in December of 2025 prevented him from playing a full season, though he did end up returning to Toronto’s lineup after the Olympic break.
Dec 11, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua (81) reqcts after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Zack MacEwen, Toronto Maple Leafs
MacEwen’s time with the Canucks began when he started the 2017–18 season with the Utica Comets as a free-agent. He managed to sign a contract with Vancouver from there, making his NHL debut for the Canucks in February of 2019. He was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers in October of 2021, ending his time with Vancouver at a little less than three seasons.
As a depth, fourth-line or 13th-forward, MacEwen has bounced around the NHL a little since leaving Vancouver, playing for the Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, and Devils before signing a two-year deal with Toronto during the 2026 off-season. He played in three games with the Devils during the 2025–26 season.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs
A centerpiece in one of the most controversial trades in Canucks history, Ekman-Larsson joined Vancouver alongside Conor Garland when both were moved from the Arizona Coyotes in 2021. The defenceman spent two seasons with the Canucks, not quite living up to the expectations of his $8.25M AAV contract (though 12% of this was retained for Vancouver in the trade), before he was bought-out at the end of the 2022–23 season.
The buy-out may have been the best thing for Ekman-Larsson’s career, as the defenceman then signed a one-year deal with the Panthers, winning his first Stanley Cup in 2024. He signed with the Maple Leafs the year after. In 2025–26, he put together eight goals and 31 assists in 78 games as one of Toronto’s most depended-on defencemen.
Chris Tanev, Toronto Maple Leafs
Tanev’s NHL career started with the Canucks back in 2010, when the defenceman signed an entry-level contract with Vancouver in May of that year. He played out the following 10 years with the Canucks, establishing himself as a solid defensive-defenceman and dependable locker room leader. In 2020, he signed a four-year contract with the Flames in free-agency.
After stints with the Flames and Dallas Stars, Tanev signed a six-year, $4.5M AAV contract with the Maple Leafs, which he’ll be half-way through come the end of the 2026–27 season. A groin injury requiring surgery resulted in the defenceman playing in a total of 11 games through the 2025–26 season.
Troy Stecher, Toronto Maple Leafs
Stecher first joined his hometown team’s organization after signing a two-year entry-level contract as an NCAA free-agent in April of 2016. Impressing with his heart and unyielding effort, the defenceman put together a career-high of 24 points in his first season with Vancouver (2016–17). After four seasons with the Canucks, Stecher signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings during the 2020 free agency period.
Claimed off waivers by the Maple Leafs from the Oilers in November of 2025, Stecher signed a two-year extension with Toronto during the 2026 off-season. He had three goals and 11 assists in 58 games with Toronto in 2025–26, with this being his highest season point total since his first year with Detroit in 2020–21. Throughout that time, he also played for the Kings, Coyotes, Flames, and Oilers.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Here are a few decisions the franchise needs to tackle between now and Opening Night:
FILL OUT ROSTER
The Knicks have 13 players under contract. They can carry as many as 21 players in training camp. So they have several roster spots to fill out.
The biggest opening is at center. New York needs to find a third-string center to replace Ariel Hukporti. To that end, the Knicks spoke to multiple teams about trades for big men under contract earlier in the offseason. One of those big men was New Orleans’ Karlo Matkovic, per league sources; nothing came to fruition. New York targeted Moussa Cisse as a restricted free agent, but Dallas matched the offer.
As you’d imagine, the Knicks have also been in touch with free agent centers who would fit the third-center profile. If they liked any of those centers enough to offer them a guaranteed contract, they probably would have done so already. So the most likely route here is to sign a couple of veteran bigs to training camp deals and let them compete for the third center spot. They would be able to add that veteran center and remain under the second apron in team salary.
EXTEND THE VETS?
Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride are all eligible for veteran extensions. My buddy James Edwards III wrote recently in The Athetic that he doesn’t expect the Knicks to offer Towns a max extension. Towns is a forever Knick; his play in New York’s championship season will be celebrated for as long as the franchise exists. But I agree with Edwards on this: I don’t think the Knicks will offer Towns a max in extension talks.
Also, if I had to take a guess, the two sides will reach an agreement. Towns clearly loves New York. Maybe he can make more money with another team next summer (Towns has a $57 million salary this season and his contract has a $61 million player option for 2027-28).
But why would he leave? He won a timeless championship with his hometown team. Unless the Knicks make an insultingly-low offer to Towns, I think they get something done here.
If I’m using the recent Rudy Gobert extension as a baseline, I could see an extension for Towns starting around $45 million. By signing this kind of deal, Towns would obviously lose the opportunity to make more money as a 2027 free agent. But given all of the factors at play (the state of NBA economics, teams’ approach to the second apron, the Knicks’ title), there are reasons for Towns to play it safe and sign an extension.
Towns leaving New York also would hurt the Knicks. If Towns and the team can’t agree on a deal, New York would have to make a significant pivot to find another front-line center. So from the outside looking in, it seems like it makes sense for both sides to figure out a deal.
What about Hart? Similar to Towns, I could see the Knicks asking him to take less on his next contract in an effort to create future roster flexibility. What would Hart want to do? I have no idea. But if I had to guess, he wants to be in New York to see how the rest of the years with this core play out.
McBride’s situation is a bit different due to his contract. McBride is on one of the most team-friendly deals in the NBA. He should be looking for a significant raise on an extension. He’s earned it.
But can the Knicks extend Towns, Hart and McBride while also maintaining some roster flexibility? If they want to stay under the second apron, the answer is probably no. It would be very difficult to build out a roster with all of these new extensions on the books. Don’t forget, the Knicks, presumably, will also be signing Jalen Brunson to a major extension/free agency contract once the time comes. And Brunson has set the precedent for a Knick player taking less on an extension to help build the roster.
Another element of the conversation is owner James Dolan’s decisions on spending. Dolan said on WFAN before free agency that he would not exceed the second apron in team salary next season. Does that apply to the 2027-28 season as well? What about 2028-29? (As an aside: It is unclear if the second apron decision was Dolan’s alone or if it was made in conjunction with Leon Rose and the Knicks front office. If it was Dolan’s alone, that would be a shame because the Knicks’ fan base spends significant money to attend games. It’s worth noting on this that Dolan and Rose have made many important decisions together during Rose’s tenure)
One last note on the extensions: As Jeremy Cohen notes over at KnicksFilmSchool, any extension signed on August 12 or later will likely make that player untradeable at the 2027 deadline.
TWO-WAY SPOTS?
The Knicks have three open two-way spots. Jack Kayil won’t be taking one of them. There are reports that Tyler Nickel is considering going back to college, but, as noted last week, league sources say he is all-in on starting his pro career). If they sign Nickel to a two-way deal, the Knicks will have two other two-way spots to fill. With Trey Jemison III signing in Toronto, you would think the Knicks target a big man for at least one of those two-way spots.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 13: JJ Redick #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers smile before a game on December 13, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s hard to believe that Ben Simmons only just turned 30 years old this summer.
Once an All-NBA player at 23, things sharply and drastically changed for Simmons, who was out of the league entirely last season and hasn’t played relevant basketball in years. However, after taking time to heal physically, Simmons is attempting a comeback, beginning by taking part in a mini-camp for the Australia men’s basketball team this week in Melbourne.
According to Marc Spears of ESPN, Simmons has already drawn interest from teams, including one Western Conference team that has offered him a training camp invite.
Several NBA teams have expressed interest in Simmons, who is open to signing a minimum contract, according to sources. One source said he has a non-guaranteed offer on the table for minicamp with a Western Conference team.
Trying to figure out who that Western Conference team is feels like a fool’s errand. A training camp invite is the lowest-risk offer a team can hand out, so anyone could have given it out.
Does that include the Lakers? Well, perhaps in NBA 2K, it makes sense. The team has a hole at power forward and Simmons, as a once-elite defender, would fill that need. But this isn’t a video game and there’s a lot more going on here.
That being said, there is a notable connection between head coach JJ Redick and Simmons. At Simmons’ best, Redick was playing alongside him in Philadelphia. The two had some of the finest moments of their careers alongside each other.
Having said all that, there are obvious complications here. As much as Redick and Simmons might have a relationship, that doesn’t make the latter a good basketball player anymore. Simmons became more and more a shell of his best self as his career wound down in Brooklyn and then with the Clippers.
There are also plenty of fit concerns. Simmons is a ball-dominant player who can’t shoot. That’s hardly a seamless fit next to Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić.
On top of that, the Lakers don’t even have a roster spot available. A training camp invite can still be extended but if things go well and Simmons actually looks good, the Lakers have one too many guaranteed contracts. They not only have to trim down contracts to have a legal roster, but also get rid of another just to sign Simmons. It’d be a lot of loopholes to jump through for someone who didn’t even play last season.
Even if it’s a buy-low opportunity for the Lakers, it doesn’t seem like one that’d make sense.
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson fields a ground ball during a game against the Twins on July 25. Wilson set an MLB record by playing 111 errorless games in a row. (Ellen Schmidt / Associated Press)
Two outcomes that scream failure on a baseball diamond are striking out and making an error. Jacob Wilson avoids both.
The third-year Athletics shortstop played his 111th consecutive game without an error Sunday, setting a major league record at his position.
Wilson, 24, also ranks among the top 5% of MLB players most difficult to strike out, making contact in more than 90% of his at-bats during his three-year career. The shortstop was a first-round draft pick out of Grand Canyon University in 2023 and played for Thousand Oaks High.
Failure is even more infrequent when he puts on his glove. Wilson surpassed Mike Bordick’s 2002 mark with the Baltimore Orioles for consecutive games played at shortstop without an error.
No wonder the A’s signed him to a seven-year, $70 million contract before the season.
Wilson, whose last error occurred July 6, 2025, credits his dad with prioritizing defense. Jack Wilson was a shortstop with elite range and a powerful arm during a 12-year MLB career from 2001-12, yet he never played a full season with fewer than 10 errors.
“He’s a very defensive-first guy for me growing up by teaching me defense first before the hitting side of things and making sure you’re always prepared to play defense every day,” Wilson told reporters after the Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Sunday at Fenway Park.
Based on advanced metrics, Jacob doesn’t have the range of his father, but so far he has been more consistent. He made only eight errors in 124 games last season and none in 27 games after being called up from the minors in 2024. That’s a total of eight errors in 216 career games and 1,899 innings at shortstop.
“He definitely has the consistency side of things down pat,” fellow A’s infielder Tommy White told reporters. “The stats don’t lie. He really takes in the second half of the play. Everyone sees the glove, but it’s the accuracy of the arm.”
Putting the bat on the ball is also a Wilson trademark. He was the toughest player to strike out in NCAA Division I, whiffing just 12 times in 438 at-bats as a Grand Canyon sophomore and junior. At Thousand Oaks High, where his dad was head coach, Jacob struck out a mere five times in 343 plate appearances.
Likely out of reach is the MLB record for consecutive games without an error at any position, held by outfielder Robbie Grossman at 440 games, a streak that ended in 2022.
Meanwhile, Wilson plans to focus on staying healthy: He missed a month earlier this season with a dislocated left shoulder after diving for a ball, and missed a few more games when the shoulder flared up again in late June.
Making plays and putting the bat on the ball should continue as long as he’s on the field. Wilson was an American League All-Star last season and finished second in voting for Rookie of the Year to teammate Nick Kurtz after batting .311 and striking out only 39 times in 523 plate appearances.
Before this season, Wilson told Foul Territory that his focus was on improving areas he considered deficient — a quicker first step toward the ball on defense and putting on 10 pounds of muscle to increase his power at the plate.
As for avoiding errors and strikeouts, that should continue to come naturally.
“I know how to stay in my lane, do what I do and help this team win,” he said.
Earlier this off-season, the St. Louis Blues bought out former Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin from the final season of his two-year, $8 million contract.
Now, with the middle of August almost here, Drouin has still not found his next home.
Drouin still being a UFA at this point in the summer comes after he had an ugly 2025-26 season. He posted just four goals and 24 points in 64 games split between the New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues. This was a notable decrease in offensive production from the 2013 first-round pick, as he had 11 goals and 37 points in just 43 games with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2024-25 season.
Although Drouin struggled last season, there is still a chance that he could get a one-year contract or a professional tryout (PTO) agreement with an NHL club. This is a player who posted 56 points just back in 2023-24 and has shown at times that he can be a solid offensive contributor.
It will be interesting to see if Drouin can land an NHL contract before the start of the season. A return to the Habs won't happen, but he could be a decent buy-low option for an NHL team that needs more depth offensive production.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 07: Devin Williams #38 of the New York Mets pitches in the ninth inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 7, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets have placed closer Devin Williams on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder fatigue. To take his place on the roster, the club has recalled right-hander Jonathan Pintaro.
Williams was unavailable for a game against Cleveland earlier in the road trip with what the club called “right arm fatigue”. In his absence, Daniel Duarte stepped in to pick up the save for New York. Williams returned on August 8 to pitch in a non-save situation against Pittsburgh, but allowed two earned runs in an inning of work. He has allowed three earned runs in two innings of work this month.
Overall, the right-hander, who is in the first year of a three-year, $51 million deal, has had a rough go of it for the Mets. He has posted a 4.66 ERA and -0.6 bWAR in 38 2/3 innings, but owns a much more palatable 3.09 FIP. He has struck out 51, walked 21, and posted a 1.66 WHIP for the Mets. He has had solid stretches for the team but has had a couple of big blow-up innings, which have slightly warped his numbers—most notably, he allowed four earned runs in 1/3 of an inning on two separate instances.
The club will likely employ a ‘closer by committee’ approach until Williams returns, since the team traded away their high leverage relievers prior to the deadline. On the bright side, if the team continues to score runs at the rate they have on this road trip, they won’t need to worry about a closer. Pintaro, who takes his place in the bullpen, own a 4.40 ERA in 14 1/3 innings across three stints for the Mets this season.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 05: Sean Murphy #12 of the Atlanta Braves bats in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on August 05, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dominic Smith has had his share of big moments for the 2026 Atlanta Braves, but with Sean Murphy healthy (for now?), there has been a rising clamor of, “Why don’t we let Murphy catch rather than adding Smith’s bat?” There’s a bit of a point there:
Sean Murphy has consistently been an excellent defensive catcher;
Drake Baldwin has been an average-y defensive catcher; and
Dominic Smith is currently wearing a .313 wOBA / .306 xwOBA, with a pedestrian line against right-handed pitching.
So, at least for tonight, the Braves agree with said clamor, as Sean Murphy is catching and hitting ninth, while Drake Baldwin is ensconced at DH. No Dominic Smith in sight, even with the Mets giving a righty (Christian Scott) the start tonight.
Something that’s kind of interesting is that Mike Yastrzemski isn’t starting in lieu of Mauricio Dubon. Aside from the weird game where the Braves started Lane Thomas and Murphy against a righty, Yastrzemski hasn’t missed a start against a righty while on the active roster since April 26. But, he’s giving way to Dubon tonight, at least in the early going. I wonder if he’s got a nagging or stinging ailment of some sort.
Everyone but Murphy has faced Scott in a couple of games so far in Scott’s young career. Michael Harris II and Jim Jarvis have enjoyed their very limited PAs against him so far (wOBA and xwOBA above .500), while Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Ronald Acuña Jr. have not (wOBA and xwOBA below .250). The collective line is a .321 wOBA (eh) and a .282 xwOBA (not great), but it’s just 49 PAs.
Here’s the Mets lineup, sans tweet:
Though most of these names are familiar, it is indeed a new lineup for the Mets, who generally haven’t hit Jared Young fifth and Francisco Alvarez ninth in the same array.
It’s funny, you’d think the Mets would be more familiar with Bryce Elder than the Braves with Scott, but not so much — it’s a collective 52 PAs. Only Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty have double-digit PAs against Elder; Lindor has crushed him (.606 wOBA, .496 xwOBA) while Baty has struggled (.279 wOBA, .233 xwOBA). Both Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing have really stung Elder in three PAs each. The collective line in those 52 PAs is a .453 wOBA and .398 xwOBA, so there’s definitely a whole suite of improvement available if Elder has his mechanics working tonight.
For the second consecutive year, the NHL Network's ranking of the league's top defensemen has Edmonton Oilers' blueliner Evan Bouchard sitting below where many think he should be ranked.
Coming in at No. 10, it's good to see Bouchard is considered a Top 10 defenseman, but one might think a season in which he scored 21 goals and 74 assists for 95 points in 82 games would earn him a higher ranking.
NHL Network's Top 20 Defensemen Right Now list has a total of: • 21 total All-Star Game appearances • 11 All-Rookie team honors • Seven Norris Trophies • Seven Olympic Gold Medals • Four Calder Trophies • Two Conn Smythe Trophies • Six Stanley Cups
For fans and analysts arguing Bouchard got snubbed, the case for a better position is that he came in fourth in Norris Trophy voting, meaning he should have been ranked higher than names like Miro Hieskanen, Lane Hutson, Matthew Schaefer, Jake Sanderson and Moritz Seider.
The counter-argument, of course, is that all of those defenseman are excellent and that any or all of them deserve to be where they're slotted.
One fan wrote, "This is just so disrespectful to Evan Bouchard...He lead all defensemen last season with 95 points after all. But you know what? Nirvana never won a Grammy and it's still considered one of the greatest bands of all time, so... Bravo,"
Others took the stance that the definition of defenseman needs to be accounted for. If your ranking is based on playing defense, then point producers shouldn't get as much love as those who stop the puck from going in. Bouchard doesn't rank as well if that's the criteria, even if he's better than some give him credit for.
Another key aspect of this list is the "right now" component. The excerpt clearly states that this is not a list that takes into account what a defensen will become or once was. If fans are ranking based on how a player used to play in their prime, they're missing the point of the list. If they're saying Matthew Schaefer should be where he is or higher because he's going to a Norris trophy candidate, they've, again, lost the plot.
One could argue that there were very few better defensemen than Bouchard last season. The top three are probably locks. It's hard to dispute Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Zach Werenski as the best the NHL has to offer. Outside of that, Bouchard should be in the conversation for top five.
