Stephen A. Smith has found an unexpected way to describe Kawhi Leonard’s exit from the Clippers’ salary-cap scandal.
“He’s a gangster.”
The ESPN personality delivered that assessment Tuesday on “First Take,” marveling at the relatively limited punishment Leonard received before completing his return to the Toronto Raptors.
Kawhi Leonard attends the Public School New York SS27 show at Starrett-Lehigh in New York City on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock
“He broke the rules, got caught, pointed the finger at somebody else, threw the organization under the bus,” Smith said.
The NBA determined that Leonard and the Clippers violated salary-cap circumvention rules through off-court financial arrangements involving companies connected to the franchise. Those included a $28 million endorsement agreement with Aspiration under which Leonard reportedly performed no promotional work.
Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000 but avoided a suspension and kept his contract intact.
The Clippers received the far more damaging sentence: a $30 million fine, the forfeiture of five first-round picks and suspensions for several organizational leaders. Owner Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension before eventually accepting the NBA’s punishment.
Smith called the discrepancy outrageous, arguing that Leonard helped create enormous problems for the franchise before escaping with little more than restitution that represents a fraction of his NBA earnings.
Stephen A. Smith speaks on stage as he and Christopher Russo host SiriusXM shows live from Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City on Friday, July 17, 2026. Getty Images for SiriusXM
He then pushed the description further, saying Leonard “got his money and left the country.”
That was a reference to Leonard’s trade to Toronto, which became official Monday after being delayed during the investigation.
The Raptors acquired the two-time Finals MVP for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a first-round swap and two second-round selections.
The destination makes Leonard’s exit particularly favorable. He returns to the franchise he led to its first championship in 2019, where his single season remains the most celebrated portion of his NBA career.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, must begin again without its best player, much of its leadership or control of its own first-round draft picks through 2033.
Smith’s language was crafted for television, but the imbalance behind it is real. The Clippers absorbed a franchise-altering punishment. Leonard paid $700,000 and landed with the team he wanted.
“I mean, damn,” Smith said. “How much better can it get than that?”
San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard reacts to a play as he waits to enter the game during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in San Antonio on Thursday, April 6, 2017. AP
\n\n\n\tPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 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. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images\t\n\n
BOSTON — Paul George has played just 78 games combined in his previous two seasons in Philadelphia. Since 2019, he’s been available for more than 56 regular-season games just once in his career — and he’s seemingly endured more injury-riddled offseasons than healthy ones.
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But sitting at the Auerbach Center podium on Tuesday afternoon, George made sure to emphasize just how healthy he now feels relative to the last few years.
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“Obviously, the last two years have been rough just with injuries, but for myself personally, I feel great again,” he said. “I feel like I’ve turned that corner in dealing with injuries, and now kind of re-establishing myself from a physical standpoint again, and with that, I can carry it over to the court.”
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The 36-year-old joins the Celtics as a result of the trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. He made clear that he plans to play a deferential role on the roster: “We have a superstar, and that’s JT… I’m here to help JT. He’s the guy.”
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Paul George joins the Celtics off of a healthy offseason
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Last year, before the season began, George underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee to treat an injury suffered during a workout. The previous season — his first as a member of the 76ers — he missed games due to a myriad of injuries, including a knee hyperextension he suffered in the offseason and adductor injuries.
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“This summer really was a chance to continue to work: strengthen my body, strengthen my knee,” George said. “It’s almost like a kind of rebirth, or reborn again — to be in a system, to be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good. To be able to work, to be able to train again in the summers — my summers the last couple of years were dedicated to rehab.”
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Paul George on his health heading into the season:
“I feel really good physically. I've worked hard this summer. My body has naturally just healed…It's almost like a kind of rebirth…to be in a winning culture, a winning environment, and to feel good.”
The Celtics have plenty of young wings who can slot into his starting spot if injuries do pop up, like Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr., among others. But if George can stay relatively healthy and be good to go come playoff time, the Celtics will be far better off for it.
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Can George stay healthy throughout an 82-game season and into a playoff run?
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Only time will tell, but in his introductory press conference, George said all the right things.
Eight Mets prospects will be participating in the Arizona Fall League, including a few players who were acquired in trade deadline deals last month.
The AFL, which starts play in October, features some of the best prospects in baseball and serves as a way for young players to get additional development following the conclusion of the minor league season.
Here are the Mets who will be participating, along with their ranking on SNY's top 30 list:
Mathis was acquired from the Cubs in the deal that sent David Peterson to Chicago, while Agbayani was acquired from the Twins in the A.J. Minter trade.
Lambert, 24, opened eyes this past spring training as he showcased his high-octane fastball-slider combination, but he hasn't had much success in Triple-A Syracuse this season.
The 23-year-old Ziegler was once a heralded prospect, and recently returned after missing most of the last three seasons due to Tommy John surgery (which he had in 2024) and other injury issues.
It's been noted on multiple occasions that the St. Louis Blues have real interest in acquiring defenseman Alexander Nikishin from the Carolina Hurricanes.
Their moves this off-season indicate they are looking for proven NHL talent in their early to mid-twenties, and Nikishin fits the bill. The Blues want to improve their current roster and keep competitive without hemorrhaging their future.
Nikishin is an ideal fit, and many analysts believe St. Louis is the perfect location for him.
But no progress has been made since the rumors began circulating in July. Nikishin hasn't been dealt yet, and the Hurricanes haven't offered the current restricted free agent a deal. Nikishin is also not offer-sheet eligible, which is why no team has tried to acquire him through an offer sheet.
But recently, TSN's and The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun revealed that Nikishin has formally requested a trade from the Hurricanes, citing that he wants a change of scenery. At first glance, it's peculiar to see a player request a trade after just one season with a team, but a deeper look shows it makes sense.
With the depth the Hurricanes possess on the left side of their blueline, Nikishin is slated to skate on the third pairing despite being far better than a bottom-pairing defenseman. He is also second in the pecking order to run the power play, as those duties have been given to Shayne Gostisbehere.
With those elements adding up, and the sheer fact that Nikishin's numbers and overall play suggest he is more than worthy of a top-four role, it makes sense why Nikishin does not want to sign long-term in Carolina, and why Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky doesn't want to pay a premium for a defenseman who will play on the bottom pairing.
The Blues, meanwhile, have the perfect opening for Nikishin. Philip Broberg is the Blues' top pairing No. 1 defenseman, but Nikishin could slot into the second pairing, play big minutes, and quarterback the top power-play unit. Besides Logan Mailloux, no Blues player is really equipped to run a power-play unit.
Acquiring Nikishin would also help the Blues integrate their defensive prospects patiently. Although Theo Lindstein has shown he can be an NHL-level player, another season in the AHL could help him continue developing. He can improve his game and then step into the lineup when Cam Fowler's contract expires. It would also give Adam Jiricek time to develop in the AHL and be prepared to slot in alongside Nikishin when he is NHL-ready.
With his 6-foot-3 frame, Nikishin brings everything the Blues want in a blueliner. Although trade talks have stalled, publicizing Nikishin's trade request could help the Blues. The season begins in just two weeks, and neither Nikishin nor the Hurricanes want this to linger into the NHL season.
The Blues hold some leverage in trade discussions, but they aren't the only team interested. The Nashville Predators have reportedly entered the race, and the Winnipeg Jets have had known interest in acquiring the Russian defender.
The price might be a bit steep to acquire and pay him, but he will bring results now and in the future.
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Kawhi Leonard left Los Angeles with his contract intact and a path back to Toronto. The Clippers were left with a $30 million fine, five forfeited first-round picks and a damaged future.
ESPN insider Shams Charania said the imbalance was less about the NBA viewing Leonard as innocent than the evidence it found.
“They needed every form of evidence to void Kawhi Leonard’s contract or suspend him,” Charania said, in remarks edited for clarity. “Clearly, the league didn’t have it.”
Noah Clowney of the Brooklyn Nets defends against Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers during the first quarter on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Barclays Center. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“You have to have a stone-cold case,” he added. “Otherwise you’re dealing with a ton of real litigation and real arbitration through the NBPA.”
The investigation found that Leonard violated circumvention rules through the conduct of former representative Dennis Robertson, who acted on his behalf.
That was sufficient to order Leonard to pay $700,000, but not enough to risk an arbitration fight by suspending him or canceling his contract, explaining why he escaped the harshest penalties.
The contrast remains difficult to ignore. Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension, several Clippers executives were sidelined and the franchise lost the draft capital it needs to recover from the Leonard era.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer congratulates Kawhi Leonard at Intuit Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2025, in Inglewood, California. Leonard scored 55 points to lead the Clippers to a 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Getty Images
That cost began before the investigation. Los Angeles surrendered Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two swaps in the Paul George trade after Leonard made adding another star a condition of joining the Clippers in 2019.
The gamble produced one Western Conference finals appearance and no championships. Leonard remained exceptional when available, but injuries repeatedly removed him from postseason runs.
He now returns to the franchise he led to the 2019 title, while the Clippers begin another reinvention without control of five future first-rounders.
Toronto at least supplied a lifeline. Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one swap and two second-rounders give Los Angeles talent and flexibility. They do not erase the damage.
The Clippers made their own choices and earned their punishment. Leonard nevertheless received the benefits, avoided the harshest consequences and departed before the bill came due.
Charania explained why: The NBA did not find enough evidence to go further. The condition of the Clippers explains why that answer remains unsatisfying.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard reacts on the court during the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Randy Rodríguez #73 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oracle Park on August 15, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants season is, mercifully, almost over. But baseball never sleeps, and for you sickos who will miss this horrific season as soon as it ends, worry not: there’s more baseball on the horizon.
On October 3 — just six days after the MLB regular season ends — the Arizona Fall League will kick off their six-week season. And on Tuesday morning, the Giants announced the players that they will be sending to the desert to play for the Scottsdale Scorpions, a team comprised of players from the Giants, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays.
As is the norm, the Giants are sending eight players to Arizona for the festivities, and unlike in some years, there are some pretty big names on the list.
Highlighting the octet is right-handed reliever Randy Rodríguez, and my goodness is that nice to see. It’s not often that teams send Major Leaguers to the AFL, but it makes perfect sense for Rodríguez. The flame-thrower, who likely will be San Francisco’s closer in 2027, hasn’t pitched since last August, when he underwent Tommy John surgery. Not only will it be good for Rodríguez to get into some games before next year, but it will be critical time for both the Giants’ coaching and medical staffs, since Rodríguez will not be able to have contact with either once the labor stoppage inevitably begins in early December.
There’s never any telling how a pitcher will recover from Tommy John, and Rodríguez still has a lot of hurdles to clear before he’s staring down batters in the ninth inning of a meaningful game. But the fact that his rehab has progressed well enough for him to head to the AFL is highly encouraging, and should give everyone optimism that he can hit the ground running next season.
The other big name who will don a Scorpions jersey is outfield prospect Dakota Jordan. A 23-year old who was taken overslot in the fourth round of the 2024 draft out of Mississippi State, Jordan has astounding raw physical talents, as he’s one of the fastest players in the system and arguably the most powerful. He spent most of the season with High-A Eugene, where he compiled phenomenal numbers, slashing .290/.346/.533 with 18 home runs in 81 games, good for an .879 OPS and a 125 wRC+.
He ended the year with a stint in AA Richmond, which was interrupted by an injury, and his numbers there were not so hot: he slashed .253/.330/.367 with one home run in 21 games, for a .697 OPS and an 87 wRC+. Jordan’s AFL assignment is likely about two things: working on contact issues, and making up for lost time. The slugger has had a hole in his swing his entire career (and in college), and struck out in 28% of his plate appearances this season. And injuries have interrupted all three of his years since getting drafted, as he’s played in just 192 career games.
In addition to Rodríguez and Jordan, the Giants are sending a pair of prospects that they acquired at this year’s trade deadline: right-handed pitcher Miguel Mendez, and infielder Kaeden Kent. Mendez, a 24-year old from the Dominican Republic, came over from the San Diego Padres in the Robbie Ray trade. He’s made just four appearances since joining the organization, all for AA Richmond. Across three levels and two organizations this year, Mendez — who is on the 40-man roster but has yet to make his MLB debut — posted a 5.62 ERA and a 3.74 FIP, with 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Like so many AFL players, he’s in the desert partially just to get reps that he lost during the season, as injuries limited him to just 49.2 innings this year, despite working as a starter.
As for Kent, he’s a just-turned 23-year old left-handed hitter who was drafted in the third round of the 2025 draft by the New York Yankees, and sent to the Giants in the Heliot Ramos deal. The son of the Giants’ newest Hall of Famer, Jeff, he’s a well-rounded, toolsy infielder who does everything well, but doesn’t particularly have a standout trait. He has also lost time this year due to injury, as he only played in 86 games. In those 86, which were all in High-A, the Texas A&M product hit .298/.350/.440 with eight home runs and 24 stolen bases, for a .790 OPS and a 107 wRC+. He plays quality defense at both shortstop and second base, and struck out just 16% of the time this year.
On the topic of recently-drafted infielders, the Giants are doing something that isn’t all that common: sending a player from this year’s draft class. Infielder Dalton Wentz, a switch-hitter who just turned 21, will rock a Scorpions jersey after making a brief pro debut. Wentz, who was drafted in the 16th round out of Wake Forest but given a bonus commensurate with a fourth-round pick, got into 13 games with High-A Eugene this year, and hit the ground running, posting a slash line of .265/.368/.429 with one home run and three stolen bases, for a .797 OPS and a 114 wRC+. Wentz was primarily a third baseman in college, and played a few games there for Eugene, but spend most of his time at second base.
Another intriguing name is right-hander Drake George, who turns 25 at the end of the month. George was a 13th-round pick in 2024 out of a small NAIA school, Lewis-Clark State. He posted very intriguing numbers in his debut season a year ago, with a 3.20 ERA, a 2.88 FIP, and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 13 games for Low-A San Jose. But, like Rodríguez, George underwent Tommy John surgery, and hasn’t pitched since June 2025. It will be great seeing him work off the rust and prepare for the 2027 season, as he has a ton of potential.
Rounding out the cohort is a pair of right-handed pitchers who lost much of the year to injury: Alexander Fuentes and Darien Smith. Fuentes is a 21-year old from Venezuela who has really jumped onto the national radar, and started to appear on prospect lists (he’s one of four players in this group who made MLB Pipeline’s list of the top 30 prospects in the system: Jordan is No. 7, Mendez is No. 16, Kent is No. 20, and Fuentes is No. 26). Fuentes had a breakout season in the Arizona Complex League last year, when he posted a 2.62 ERA and a 3.97 FIP. He returned to the Complex League this year, but injuries limited him to 18 innings (plus 2.2 more with Low-A San Jose). In those 18 innings, Fuentes had just a 4.00 ERA and a 6.29 FIP, with a ton of walks, but he struck out 31 batters, showing the electrity in his arm.
Smith is a 26-year old who signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024 out of Southeastern. He dominated in his debut season last year, posting a 1.91 ERA and a 3.68 FIP across 20 appearances for Low-A San Jose and High-A Eugene. He began this season with AA Richmond before losing a few months to an injury, and now he’s closing the year with AAA Sacramento. Across 14 games (four with Sacramento, seven with Richmond, and three rehabbing in the Complex League), Smith has a 3.42 ERA and a 4.90 FIP, with 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Notably, after sending Spencer Miles to the AFL last year, where he wowed scouts across the league, the Giants have opted against sending any players who will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this year. That might be coincidental, but it might not be.
For those curious, here’s last year’s contingency: right-handers Miles, Jose T. Perez, and Ryan Murphy; left-handers Juan Sánchez and Ricardo Estrada; and infielders Parks Harber, Maui Ahuna, and Walker Martin.
In addition to the eight players, the Giants are sending High-A Eugene pitching coach Luis Pino to Scottsdale. He will be one of two pitching coaches for the Scorpions.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 20: Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at the United Center on March 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Getty Images
CHICAGO — Connor Bedard has been named the 37th captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, capping a busy offseason for the young center.
The 21-year-old Bedard is the second-youngest captain in the history of the storied franchise, behind Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks had gone without a captain since trading Nick Foligno to Minnesota in March.
“Being named captain of the Blackhawks is an unbelievable honor and something I’m truly humbled by,” Bedard said Tuesday in a news release. “The captains who have come before me have left an incredible legacy. To now have the opportunity to carry that tradition forward is something I don’t take lightly.”
The long-expected move comes after Bedard agreed to a $75 million, five-year contract in July. It occurs as Bedard ramps up his rehab in his recovery from an operation on his left shoulder. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft is expected to miss the start of the coming season after getting hurt while skating with a group of NHL players in western Canada.
Bedard has been Chicago’s most important player since he made his much-anticipated NHL debut in October 2023. He continued his steady improvement in his third season, setting career highs of 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games.
“Connor perfectly embodies what it means to be a Blackhawk,” general manager Kyle Davidson said. “From the moment he entered the league, Connor has led by example and has set a remarkable standard for himself while demonstrating his ability to make the players around him better.”
But Bedard hasn’t experienced much winning since arriving in Chicago. The Blackhawks went 29-39-14 last season, an 11-point improvement from the previous season and still nowhere near playoff contention. The Original Six franchise has finished No. 31 in the NHL each of the past three years.
Chicago is looking for its first postseason appearance since the NHL used an expanded playoff format after the 2020 season was affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Dec 21, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Montréal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis (middle) talks to center Oliver Kapanen (91) and right wing Josh Anderson (17) on the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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LAVAL, Quebec — The Montreal Canadiens have signed coach Martin St. Louis to a multiyear extension.
The team announced the deal without revealing how long St. Louis now is under contract.
St. Louis, 51, has guided the upstart Canadiens to consecutive playoff berths, including a trip last year’s Eastern Conference final, after beginning his tenure during a full-scale rebuild.
Montreal hired St. Louis in on an interim basis following Dominique Ducharme’s dismissal in February 2022, taking on his first-ever role behind an NHL bench after previously coaching at the youth level.
A Hall of Fame winger as a player, he had the interim tag removed at the end of that season.
St. Louis has a 163-155-47 record entering his sixth season as Canadiens coach. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2025, after leading the Canadiens to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season. Montreal, at the time the youngest team in the league, was eliminated in the first round by the Washington Capitals.
“Marty has done a terrific job leading our young team,” Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said in a statement. “He is a great communicator and teacher. We look forward to his continued efforts to mold this group into a championship-caliber team.”
Inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018, St. Louis totaled 1,033 points before retiring in 2015.
His most decorated season was in 2003-04, when he won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, the Art Ross trophy as leading scorer with 94 points and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup.
Chris Kreider joins the Canadiens after being a Montreal villain
Chris Kreider has skated onto the Bell Centre ice to a chorus of boos for most of his career. That, he hopes, is about to change after signing a one-year contract with the Canadiens.
“Pretty amazing, pretty iconic logo,” Kreider said as he walked to the podium with the Canadiens’ crest stitched on his chest at Montreal’s season-opening golf tournament. It’s not just a sport here. It’s a religion.”
Kreider has been on the receiving end of that fervor for more than a decade, gaining villain status in 2014 when the then-New York Rangers winger crashed into Carey Price and knocked the star goalie out of the Eastern Conference final.
Montreal’s fury, however, never gave Kreider pause when the Canadiens came calling aggressively with an offer, after he agreed to mutually terminate his contract with salary cap-strapped Anaheim to move back East, closer to family.
“Montreal was pretty aggressive right out of the gate, and obviously there’s several connections to my time spent in New York, so there’s a familiarity there,” Kreider said, before listing more reasons for his signing. “Everything that they’re doing here and have been doing for a few years now, the culture that they’ve built, the group that they have.”
St. Louis being behind the bench was a big influence. He and Kreider played together on the same line more than a decade ago with the Rangers
“Super wise, incredibly smart,” Kreider said. “I don’t think I can say that I’ve learned more from any one individual than the time that I spent playing with him on his line.”
St. Louis, meanwhile, will coach a former teammate for the first time. He said he’s glad it’s Kreider.
“To me it’s simple,” St. Louis said. “You look at our club, what do we need? Well, we need probably a little more experience; he checks that box. We need a little more sandpaper, checks that box. Net-front guy, checks that box.”
Apr 11, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer speaks to the media after their game against the Ottawa Senators at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images
Alexander Wohl/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
WESTBURY, N.Y. — When Peter DeBoer took over as coach of the New York Islanders near the end of last season, his runway of four games was not long enough to make the playoffs in a last-ditch effort.
Players did get a small taste of what DeBoer is like. Now, reigning rookie of the year Matthew Schaefer, new captain Bo Horvat and the rest of their teammates will get the full effect of life playing for DeBoer when training camp opens.
“He can just lay his foundation and what he wants for the year, lay (out) what exactly we need to do to be successful right away,” Horvat said at the team’s annual charity golf tournament. “Get a good training camp under our belt and kind of know what the game plan is going into Game 1. He’s very good at making things very clear. There’s no gray area, and things are black and white.”
DeBoer, 58, brings his 17 seasons of NHL coaching experience to his first camp on Long Island. This is his chance to mold the Islanders in his image.
“We need to establish a foundation and an identity,” DeBoer said. “That’s always the goal of a coaching staff: What’s going to be the identity of this year’s team? What are we going to hang our hat on? How are we going to win games? That’s on us as coaches to implement that and players to buy in.”
New York last season looked to be solidly in playoff position in mid-March before losing 10 of 14 games down the stretch and plummeting down the standings. Schaefer, the face of the franchise who became one of hockey’s top defensemen at age 18, called missing out unacceptable and believes people are now doubting the Islanders.
“I love when haters hate because we’re going to do our thing,” said Schaefer, who turned 19 on Sept. 5. “We don’t care what anyone else says because, at the end of the day, we’re a family and we’re worried about what we’re going to do. So, I’m super excited to have a full training camp with Pete and just get going because I think we have so much to show.”
DeBoer has a proven track record to that effect. He has coached two teams to the Stanley Cup Final — New Jersey in 2012 and San Jose in 2016 — and two others to the conference finals — Vegas and Dallas — each multiple times.
“We’re excited,” said winger Kyle Palmieri, who is returning from a torn ACL in his left knee. “It’s an exciting opportunity for our group to really wrap our heads around the way he wants to play and the way we’re going to need to play to be successful.”
Horvat gets the ‘C’
The departure of longtime captain Anders Lee in free agency created a void, and Horvat — who held that role in Vancouver — got the call from DeBoer to tell him the role is his. DeBoer was an assistant on Canada’s staff when Horvat played at the Olympics, and that preexisting relationship contributed to the move.
“I’m not going to say it was an easy decision, but it was a fairly easy decision,” DeBoer said. “At the Olympics, I got to spend three weeks with him there, saw him first-hand every day how he operates, what he’s about. I had a real comfort level with what he was going to bring in that spot. He’s going to have fantastic support around him with the other people we have there.”
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Joe Sakic will remain in the role of general manager for the Colorado Avalanche indefinitely with no search scheduled, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
Already the president of hockey operations, Sakic added the title of GM in June when the Nashville Predators hired away Chris MacFarland to lead their front office. The person spoke of Sakic's dual responsibilities on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the decision.
Sakic was the architect behind building the Avalanche squad that captured the 2022 Stanley Cup title. He turned the responsibilities over to MacFarland soon after the celebratory parade that summer. It's a position MacFarland held until the Predators made him their president of hockey operations/general manager.
As a player, Sakic led the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 — their first season in Denver — and 2001. The Hall of Fame forward is the only one in league history to win a title as a captain and GM with the same franchise.
It's been a busy offseason for Sakic that's included several trades with MacFarland (Ross Colton was sent to the Predators and later Jack Drury).
Sakic created quite a bit of buzz around the league in late August by making standout defenseman Cale Makar the highest-paid player in NHL history. Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, signed an eight-year, $163.2 million extension that kicks in next season. As a way to free up space to negotiate the extension, Sakic dealt Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets for draft picks.
Colorado is coming off a season in which the team won the Presidents' Trophy with the best record in hockey before being swept by Vegas in the Western Conference Final. Among the moves made by Sakic was bringing in forward Jaden Schwartz on a three-year contract. Schwartz had 11 goals and 15 assists over 50 games with the Seattle Kraken last season.
"A very talented group," Schwartz said of the Avalanche. "They're a team that's been up there in the standings every year and have a good chance every year. I feel pretty fortunate to be part of it now."
LUANDA, ANGOLA - SEPTEMBER 13: Will Smith, Owner of Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola and Lebron James, Owner of Team AlUla pose for a photo during the E1 Series Luanda GP on September 13, 2026 in Luanda, Angola. (Photo by Malcolm Griffiths/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sixers media day will take place on Sept. 28. That will be our first chance to hear from LeBron James (who is a Sixer now, by the way). Training camp starts the next day.
So, what’s on your mind as we inch closer to the start of the season? Anything you’re hoping to hear from LeBron? What about Joel Embiid, who’s kept a very low profile this offseason? Or how about any of the new guys?
It’s an exciting time to be a Sixers fan. Drop your questions or thoughts in the comments and I’ll do my best to respond to as many as possible.
Also, I’m going to keep recommending the SB Nation app to everyone. It’s made responding to you all a million times easier. I’m also looking forward to using it more on gamedays and possibly hopping in discussion threads on game nights.
Despite hiring a search firm and reportedly considering more than 100 candidates, the Detroit Red Wings have decided that assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff will serve as the club’s interim general manager.
Horcoff, who has been overseeing operations since former GM Steve Yzerman vacated his role exactly two months ago, will report directly to governor and CEO Chris Ilitch.
“As our process continues to find the best possible leader for Red Wings hockey operations, I’m appreciative of Shawn for stepping up to serve in this capacity. His knowledge of our organization and range of experience allows us to operate with a clear decision-maker in place for the season ahead, while maintaining our commitment to carry out a thorough, methodical search process on our own timeline,” Ilitch said in part. “Shawn has my complete support and the authority to make decisions in the best interests of our organization.”
The Red Wings, who have been operating without an official general manager since the middle of the summer, at least now have someone in place - albeit on an interim basis - with the authority to oversee several key decisions that need to be made.
And it’s not going to be an easy task.
The most obvious and immediate priority is signing defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a restricted free agent who has blossomed into Detroit’s second-best blue liner behind Moritz Seider, to a new contract.
Secondly, Horcoff must deal with the ongoing situation involving former captain Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade earlier this summer but remains on the roster and is expected to attend training camp when it begins Thursday.
And third, forward Alex DeBrincat, who became Detroit’s first 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2008-09, is entering the final year of his current contract. He became eligible for an extension on July 1 and has already spoken openly about his desire to remain with the Red Wings.
In the short term, Horcoff will have an opportunity to officially audition for the full-time role as Detroit’s general manager.
Horcoff, who played collegiate hockey at Michigan State University, was selected in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 1998 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, with whom he spent most of his NHL career.
Horcoff was also part of the upstart No. 8-seeded Oilers squad who stunned the Red Wings in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2006. Later playing for both the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks, Horcoff retired from the NHL after appearing in 1,008 career games, tallying 186 goals with 325 assists.
He's worked with the Red Wings since being named director of player development in 2016; he was later named assistant GM and the GM of the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Red Wings begin Training Camp on Sept. 17, and will play their first preseason game on Monday, Sept. 21 at Columbus.
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Jorbit Vivas #84 of the Washington Nationals celebrates after driving in a run with a single in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Nationals Park on September 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It took the Nationals until the 11th day in September to get their 2nd win of the month, but they proceeded to sweep the Los Angeles Angels in a 3-game series to boost morale going into the last 2 weeks of the 2026 season. All 3 games were decided by just 1 run, but a healthy mix of starting pitching and well-timed offense pushed them over the top in each contest. With 4.5 games separating the Phillies and Atlanta Braves for the top spot in the National League East, Philadelphia is much more concerned with maintaining a spot in the playoff race, sitting just 1.0 game ahead of the San Diego Padres for the 2nd Wild Card spot.
It’s been a rocky month of September for the Phillies, but they were able to salvage their most recent series against Atlanta with a Game 3 victory. It’s crunch time for them as the NL Wild Card race continues to heat up, with the next 2 weeks deciding who makes the playoffs, as well as which team will host a series in October. The Nats will have to face 2 elite arms this week and are taking on a team with everything to lose over their upcoming 12 games.
Game One – Tuesday, 6:45 PM ET
WSH: LHP Jackson Kent (1-4, 6.59 ERA) PHI: LHP Cristopher Sanchez (17-5, 2.79 ERA)
Sanchez was finally able to earn his elusive 17th win in his last start, and the southpaw is set to finish in the Top 5 of National League Cy Young voting this year. The Nats might have an advantage, however, as not one of the Phillies’ hitters has faced Kent before, and the Philadelphia lineup notoriously struggles against new matchups.
These pitchers are about as close as it gets statistically, and Cavalli’s young career mirrors much of what Wheeler went through back when he was a top prospect in the New York Mets’ system. Cavalli will be looking to put finishing touches on his phenomenal 2026 campaign, and outdueling a top veteran arm in Wheeler would be a perfect way to do so.
Mar 14, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (86) looks to make a pass during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Timothy T. Ludwig/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres are banking on forward Noah Ostlund’s potential by signing the 22-year-old to an eight-year, $52.8 million contract, the team announced.
The sizable terms of the contract reflects the confidence the Sabres have in a player who made significant strides last year in his rookie season. He finished with 11 goals and 27 points in 60 regular-season games, and then added a goal and assist in three playoff outings.
The Sabres are projecting Ostlund to fill a top-two line role this season as either a center or winger. The Sweden native was selected 16th in the 2022 draft and is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
He is now regarded as a key piece of Buffalo’s 27-and-younger core that includes forwards Josh Doan, Zach Benson and Josh Norris and defensemen Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power — all of whom are under contract through at least 2030.
The Sabres are coming off a season in which they snapped a 14-season playoff drought and advanced to the second round for the first time since 2007 before losing to Montreal.
The deal was made before the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement takes effect, when players are restricted to maximum seven-year deals when re-signing with their own team.
Aug 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) walks off the field after pitching against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound on Tuesday night against the Reds in what figures to be his penultimate start of the regular season. It’s been another fantastic year, once again the anchor of the Dodgers rotation, the only member to stay healthy and make every start this season.
Yamamoto enters Tuesday with 172 innings, only five outs shy of his MLB career high set last year. With two starts left, this year figures to settle into his third-most innings in a season, counting his time pitching for Orix in Japan, with 193 2/3 innings in 2021 and 193 innings in 2022, winning the first two of his three consecutive Eiji Swamura Awards as the best pitcher in Japan.
Unless Justin Wrobleski finds a way to cram 28 2/3 innings into these final 12 games, Yamamoto will once again be the only Dodgers pitcher to qualify for leaderboards, with at least one inning per team game played. Prior to Yamamoto this year and last, no other Dodgers starting pitcher qualified since 2022, when both Julio Urías and Tyler Anderson did so.
Yamamoto this year has the 10th qualifying season by a Dodgers pitcher dating back to 2017, an average of one qualifier per year though going four seasons without (2018, 2020, 2023, 2024) over the last decade. But here’s a fun little quirk: eight of the previous nine Dodgers pitchers to have enough innings to qualify all got Cy Young Award votes in that season.
Pitcher
Year
Innings
CYA finish
CYA votes
Clayton Kershaw
2017
175
2nd
3 1st, 25 2nd, 1 3rd, 1 4th
Hyun-jin Ryu
2019
182.7
2nd
1 1st, 10 2nd, 8 3rd, 7 4th, 3 5th
Clayton Kershaw
2019
178.3
8th
1 3rd
Walker Buehler
2019
182.3
9th
1 4th
Walker Buehler
2021
207.7
4th
2 2nd, 9 3rd, 17 4th, 1 5th
Julio Urías
2021
185.7
t-6th
3 5th
Julio Urías
2022
175
3rd
7 2nd, 9 3rd, 5 4th, 1 5th
Tyler Anderson
2022
178.7
n/a
n/a
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
2025
173.7
3rd
16 3rd, 11 4th, 2 5th
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
2026
172+
TBD
TBD
If we extend this back to 2013, 14 of the last 19 Dodgers pitchers to qualify received Cy Young Award votes, thanks to Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke each faring well in each of their three seasons as teammates (2013-15).
This season, Jacob Milwaukee Brewers ace Misiorowski is a lock for the National League Cy Young Award, and there is stiff competition with Chris Sale, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, and others all likely to receive votes as well. But there are five spots on each ballot, and 30 ballots for each league, so “receiving votes” shouldn’t be too high of a bar to clear for Yamamoto this year.
In the list above, Kershaw and Walker Buehler each received a lone vote in 2019, for third and fourth place, respectively, for instance.
Yamamoto is third in the National League in ERA (2.62) and xERA (3.05), sixth in innings (172), 10th in strikeouts (171), and ninth in strikeout-minus-walk rate (20.1 percent). Yamamoto is also tied for fourth in Baseball Reference WAR (5.4) with Sale, and is tied for fifth in the NL in FanGraphs WAR (4.3) with Reds right-hander Chase Burns.
