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The Hockey Show: Gauging possibility of Kaprizov, McDavid, Crosby all playing for new teams

NHL training camps are off and running, and no podcast could be happier about it than The Hockey Show!

Not only is the new season basically here, but there are also plenty of interesting storylines to follow regarding several of the league’s top players and teams.

While discussing the biggest stories happening around the NHL, The Hockey Show hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period on the show this week.

Among the topics they got into were Kirill Kaprizov’s contract situation in Minnesota, the future of Connor McDavid in Edmonton and where goaltender Carter Hart may end up now that he is allowed to sign with an NHL team.

They also discussed whether Sidney Crosby could be traded by Pittsburgh to a Stanley Cup contender at some point, and L.A. Kings legend Anze Kopitar announcing that this season will be his last in the league.

This week’s wins and fails included a durag appearance in a preseason game, a goalie scoring on himself during a prospect showcase and the Islanders players finally being able to grow out their facial hair.

You can check out the full episode and interview in the videos below:

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When the Jets Faced $152-Million Dilemma Ahead of 2016 Deadline

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

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Prepare For Launch - Jan. 25 2016 - Vol. 69 Issue 10 - Tim Campbell

THE FIRST GLANCE AT THE 2015-16 salary cap accounting holds something of a double take near its bottom. Is that really the Winnipeg Jets racing the likes the Arizona and Nashville to the salary floor?

The answer is yes, temporarily, and mostly by design.

The Jets are on track to go into the off-season with the most available cap space of 30 teams, all of which may be needed to solve issues that grow more urgent with each passing game.

Winnipeg may not have the most prominent pending free agents come July 1 – hello, Steven Stamkos, Eric Staal, Anze Kopitar and David Backes – but its combined list of those in the final years of contracts is the stickiest of situations.

Captain Andrew Ladd and Dman Dustin Byfuglien head the list. Both are UFAs on July 1 if they can’t find an extension with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Shrinking NHL Pre-Season Could Present Opportunity For AHLShrinking NHL Pre-Season Could Present Opportunity For AHLThe NHL's recent CBA changes could lead to a longer AHL pre-season, following the NHL cutting down on exhibition games. 

And coming out of their entry-level deals are defenseman Jacob Trouba and centers Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry. Goalie Michael Hutchinson is also an RFA.

After their first playoff berth since the 2011 relocation (and their first as a franchise since 2007), the team opted to give roster spots to young players (Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrew Copp, even Alex Burmistrov) instead of bringing in older free agents, allowing Cheveldayoff to orchestrate this enviable amount of cap space. But does he have enough to satisfy everyone?

The answer appears to be no, unless he can realize some extraordinary hometown discounts. That’s not likely to happen or even be proposed.

The Jets reside in the NHL’s smallest market yet are solidly a middle-revenue team and have said repeatedly they will spend at the appropriate time. That time is upon them, but when it comes to the inevitable choices, they won’t be easy.

Fitting the puzzle together almost surely starts with Ladd and Byfuglien, two clear leaders in the room.

Ladd, who just turned 30, is coming out of a five-year, $22-million deal that was good value for the Jets. He was their leading scorer last season and has given the team nothing but 20-plus goal years plus leadership. Ladd is seeking a healthy raise and reportedly six years in likely his last big chance at a major contract score.

Byfuglien, who turns 31 in March, is also coming out of a five-year deal, his worth $26 million and paying him $6 million in this final season. That contract was also good value for the team, given the big man’s in-game impact, especially once he got past conditioning issues in earlier Winnipeg seasons. His ask is reportedly eight years and $55 million.

Exclusive: Dale Hawerchuk’s Heartfelt Reflections on Winnipeg, Shared Before His PassingExclusive: Dale Hawerchuk’s Heartfelt Reflections on Winnipeg, Shared Before His PassingThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Five-and-a-half months after the negotiation window opened, however, no extensions had been agreed upon. Only a few dribs of information had emerged as Cheveldayoff has held fast to his policy of refraining from comment, whether on proposal, progress or pothole.

Neither veteran appears to be unaffordable, but the matter of longer terms does seem to be of issue, including some serious skepticism that a big commitment to Byfuglien through age 39 would be wise.

If agreements aren’t possible by the Feb. 29 trade deadline, expect Cheveldayoff to simply deal, since the Jets are in no position – given their consensus unattractiveness to free agents – to let either walk.

The Jets' approach seemed to be that a lot of effort can still go into the two months prior to the trade deadline.

Another element to the picture is some history.

As former GM of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, Cheveldayoff was a member of the Atlanta Thrashers family long enough to know how waiting too long resulted in a costly outcome for the franchise when it finally traded Ilya Kovalchuk in early 2010. He will be mindful of making the same error, especially since such mistakes have ramifications that ripple long into the future.

If all of that didn’t inject enough uncertainty into the Jets’ situation, then the Trouba situation will.

The 2012 first-rounder, who turns 22 in February, has reportedly put a big proposal on the table for the max eight years and more than $56 million. It appears to have been a non-starter for Winnipeg, due to the price or Trouba’s shaky start to the season, or both, and so the sides have reportedly decided to adjourn the matter to the off-season.

Former Jets Goaltender Expected To Miss Significant Time Once AgainFormer Jets Goaltender Expected To Miss Significant Time Once AgainFormer Winnipeg Jets backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit faces another lengthy absence with new injury.

If no bridge deal is found for Trouba, his raise will be substantial, possibly enough to make either Ladd or Byfuglien impossible to fit.

The math is fuzzy at this stage because none of the deals was yet done and the league’s cap for 2016-17 is not concrete. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at the December GM meetings that the new number is projected to “be somewhere between where it is now and up $3 million, in that range.”

Could Trouba be moved? The interest would be high, but that scenario seems less likely than Ladd or Byfuglien given Trouba’s age and upside.

Beyond the trio, whose starting-point proposals totaled more than $152 million in commitments, Scheifele and Lowry in particular are poster players for the Jets draft-and-develop scheme. They both have earned raises, in bridge deals or not. Their increases figure to be less jolting in terms of headlines, but given their ages (22), both are integral figures in the culture and blueprint that Cheveldayoff is trying to execute.

The outcomes for Cheveldayoff and his pending free agents are very difficult to predict. The only easy call is that you won’t find the Jets in the race to the salary floor come next fall.

BULL OR BEAR MARKET?

Of the top 10 impending UFAs based on their 2015-16 cap hits, we see three getting pay bumps this summer, while the rest take a shave or get the same

ImageEarly Takeaways From Jets Training Camp: Groups, Players To Watch, Position BattlesEarly Takeaways From Jets Training Camp: Groups, Players To Watch, Position BattlesBreaking down the early takeaways of Winnipeg Jets Training Camp including storylines from each group, position battles to watch and prospects to keep an eye on.
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Mets force extras but allow deciding inside-the-park homer in 5-3 loss to Nationals

The Mets overcame early defensive miscues to send the game to extra innings, but allowed a two-run inside-the-park homer in the 11th to drop the middle of their three-game set to the Nationals, 5-3, on Saturday evening.

After New York scored twice in the ninth, Tyler Rogers could not keep the Nationals down in the 11th. After CJ Abrams made a bone-headed play to get called out at third base with no outs, Daylen Lile did the unthinkable. He launched the ball to Cedric Mullins in center, who got a bad break on the ball that kept carrying and ricocheted off the wall and trickled away from him. The speedy Lile came all the way around to score the home run and give the Nationals the two-run lead, and the eventual win after Mullins, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto went down 1-2-3. 

It's the first inside-the-park home run at Citi Field in eight years. The Mets are now 0-66 when trailing after eight innings this season.

Here are the takeaways...

-Nolan McLean walked James Wood to lead off the game and it came back to bite him after Josh Bell hit a one-out excuse-me single down the left field line that moved Wood to third. Lile's speed prevented the Mets from turning two to allow Wood to score.

Similar to Brandon Sproat's start in Friday's series opener, the Mets' defense betrayed McLean. After an infield single by Dylan Crews, Riley Adams hit a bloop single to left field thatSoto tried to play on a bounce, but it skipped over his glove and rolled to the wall, allowing Crews to score. Brady House then hit a grounder to Pete Alonso, but his toss to McLean at first was high, allowing House to reach safely on the second Mets error of the inning. McLean, however, bounced back, striking out Nasim Nunez and Wood. McLean was one strike away from gettingAbrams, but he threw a wild pitch to allow Adams to scamper home, before the inning mercifully ended on a groundout.

Sloppy fielding behind him aside, McLean gave the Mets five solid innings but left on the long side of the ledger. He tossed 92 pitches (59 strikes), allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out six. He now has a 1.27 ERA in his first seven big league starts.

-The defensive miscues weren't just for the Mets. In the third, the Nationals made two errors, one on a poor throw to first and one on a catcher's interference. But the Mets couldn't take advantage thanks to a nice play by Nunez, who made an over-the-shoulder catch sliding into shallow left field. Lindor and Soto read the ball was going to drop in, but Nunez rushed the throw to first base, trying to double up Soto and threw it away, but neither could advance because of how far both players were. Brandon Nimmo grounded out to end the Mets' threat.

The Mets had trouble getting any runs on starter Cade Cavalli, but they had their chances. Aside from the missed opportunity in the third, they had runners on first and second in the fifth for Alonso, but the slugger flew out.

Even getting to the much-maligned Nationals bullpen was a chore early on. After getting just one baserunner in the sixth and seventh, the Mets finally got on the board against the Nats' closer, Jose Ferrer, in the eighth. Alonso reached after getting plunked with one out, and Starling Marte's double put runners on second and third with two outs. Carlos Mendoza had Mark Vientos pinch-hit for Jeff McNeil, and Vientos rewarded his manager by fighting back from an 0-2 count and lacing a two-run double down the left field line. Francisco Alvarez struck out swinging to end the threat.

In the ninth, Mendoza pinch-hit Luis Torrens for Brett Baty against the lefty Ferrer to lead off and the backup catcher hit a single. Mullins bunted Jose Siri -- pinch-running for Torrens -- to second before Ferrer hit Lindor in the foot to put two runners on for Soto. Soto dunked a single into shallow center to tie the game at 3-3. After Lindor and Soto pulled off the double steal, the Nats walked Alonso intentionally to load the bases and play for the double play. Nimmo struck out swinging, leaving it up to Marte. The veteran slugger struck out swinging also, sending the game into extras.

-The Mets' bullpen was great for the second straight game. In relief of McLean, three relievers got the final 12 outs before extra innings. Here's how it broke down:

  • Huascar Brazoban: 1.2 IP, 1 K (a nice bounceback after allowing two runs in Friday's game)
  • Richard Lovelady: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 K (Lovelady was called up before Saturday's game)
  • Ryan Helsley: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K (Helsley walked the leadoff hitter, but struck out the next two batters before Alvarez got Crews trying to steal second)

In the 10th, Edwin Diaz got Nunez to pop up on a bunt attempt before getting Wood to ground out and striking out Abrams, setting up the Mets in the bottom half of the inning. Luisangel Acuña led off with a bunt attempt that popped up in front of the catcher, but Adams could not come up with the catch, allowing Acuña to reach safely. The Nats argued Acuña interfered with Adams, but the umps did not agree. Alvarez could not come through, hitting a double play as Ronny Mauricio came up with two outs and Marte -- the free runner -- on third. Mauricio hit a liner to left field but right at Wood for the third out.

Game MVP: Daylen Lile

After so many baserunning blunders in this one, Lile's speed and aggressiveness was the difference in this one.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets play their final home game of the regular season in a Sunday matinee. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m.

Sean Manaea (2-3, 5.40 ERA) will start the game with Clay Holmes relieving him, while the Nationals will send Jake Irvin (8-13, 5.76 ERA) to the mound.

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Thomson, Castellanos have ‘productive' meeting following commentary

Thomson, Castellanos have ‘productive' meeting following commentary originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

PHOENIX – After his two-hit, three RBI night in which he didn’t enter the game until the sixth inning, Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos explained his struggles with learning how to accept and prepare for his new role as a backup outfielder.

He also alluded to a communication problem between him and manager Rob Thomson, basically saying that the two rarely talk and expressed that it’s been that way for some time.

Saturday, the two met at Chase Field before the Phillies took on the Arizona Diamondbacks. The meeting didn’t change the fact that Castellanos will still be a spot starter for the time being, but there was communication.

“I met with him today and I thought it was really productive,” said Thomson. “I’m not going to get into specifics of what we talked about, but I thought it was good.”

Like Friday, Castellanos can still provide some offensive pop when called upon and he is hitting .323 (10-for-34) with eight RBIs in the month of September.

Thomson was asked if he believes Castellanos can still help the team in this new role. “Absolutely,” he said. “And like I said yesterday, at some point there’s a really good chance that he’s going to get hot. I think right now, if you look at the last month with all four of those outfielders, they were really productive. The job is to try and put them in the best spot to succeed and so far it’s been pretty good, as of late.

“I think he is getting more comfortable. As I’ve said all along, it’s a tough thing for a guy that’s played every day throughout the minor leagues, every day in his big-league career, to take this type of role. So, your routines change, your mindset changes a little bit. It takes a while. He’ll play tomorrow and Tuesday.”

Thomson is generally regarded as a player’s manager, one who is easy to communicate with. But with Castellanos’ comments on Friday, he feels he may have to make sure of it.

“As far as the communication part of it, not only Nick, if anybody else in that clubhouse doesn’t think that I’m communicating enough with them, I’m probably not and I’ve got to do a better job at it,” the manager said. “That’s just being accountable. But there’s two ways of communicating and that door is always open. I’m not a mind reader; I can’t tell the future and I’m not a mind reader. I urge players, I want players to come in here and tell me what’s on their mind. Obviously, I have to do a better job. If a guy’s frustrated, I want him to come in here.”

Trea Turner updates, final stretch coming up

All good on the rehabbing front when it comes to shortstop Trea Turner. He has amped up his workouts, Thomson said, to include running and cutting and change of directions stuff as he works to come back from a hamstring strain.

The lineup will change again when Turner returns to his leadoff spot. Thomson wouldn’t say exactly who will hit where, but he’s got some fun options with a team that is hitting so well of late.

The team finishes their road schedule for the season on Sunday against the Diamondbacks. They will have off Monday before finishing out the series with three games against the Miami Marlins and three more against the Minnesota Twins.

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Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge records first MLB hit against Dodgers

Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge records first MLB hit against Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After years of anticipation, top Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge recorded his first MLB hit on Saturday night. And who better to do it against than San Francisco’s most bitter rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the bases loaded in the first inning, Eldridge ripped a 2-1 fastball to the opposite field off Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow, driving in three runs and making a memory that will last a lifetime.

Eldridge went hitless in his first nine MLB at-bats, but had come close to breaking the seal on a few occasions earlier this week.

No. 10 turned out to be the magic number for Eldridge, who etched his name into one of baseball’s most storied rivalries for the first time on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

The 6-foot-7 slugger was called up for San Francisco’s final late-season push after impressing at all levels of the minor leagues during the 2025 campaign.

Eldridge smacked 18 home runs in 66 games for the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate Sacramento River Cats, and has flashed that immense power grade on a handful of occasions in his first week at the game’s highest level.

While the Giants’ postseason hopes are fading fast, Eldridge represents hope for the future, and a strong performance to end the 2025 MLB season could force San Francisco’s hand in making the 20-year-old a fixture on the big-league roster next spring.]

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Manchester United hold off 10-man Chelsea after Casemiro red offers hope

Manchester United kicked off in a deluge and 17th place, and ended soaked-through and jubilant at a benchmark victory that lifts them to ninth. The win is notable as it can be used as the calling-card performance for the Ruben Amorim project. In the first half 10-man Chelsea were pummelled mercilessly by his United unit that was quicker, stronger, more menacing, and just plain better than the club world champions.

After this, the conditions and Casemiro’s late opening period sending off matched Robert Sánchez’s own early shower, and the teams levelled the other out.

Continue reading...
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(9-20-25) Blues-Stars Preseason Gameday Lineup

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- After three training camp practices, the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars kick off the preseason slate with the first matchup on Saturday at 6 p.m. from American Airlines Center in Dallas (stlblues.com, blues app, ESPN+, 101 ESPN).

“Once you get into game action, it’s a big difference,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Practice is set up, you know what the drill is you know what the purpose is. And we expect them to execute. If they’re not executing what we’re giving them, that’s a real fire alarm for us. But the in-games, now we see instincts, and now we see the guys that can make plays offensively, guys that are getting what we want in the structure without the puck.”

The Blues will get their first looks from a number of players, including defenseman Logan Mailloux, acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on July 1 for Zack Bolduc.

Mailloux will be paired on defense with Philip Broberg as the featured unit for the visitors as well as quarterback the first power play unit.

“I’m excited; he skates extremely well,” Mailloux said of Broberg. “It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to, kind of get out there, play with him and feel it out.

“I’m ready to get going here tonight. It’s always good to get back after it after the summer, especially a new place, so I’m excited. … I’m focused on getting here, making an impact, whatever way that is.”

Montgomery said they want to get Malloux running so they can process what information to relay after seeing him in games since this will be his Blues debut.

“We’ve got to get him up and running, we’ve got to get him playing in our systems so we can give him feedback and start doing video with him,” Montgomery said. “So then the things that we like, ‘This is what we like, this is what you’re doing, and here’s areas that we want to do this in our structure.’”

- - -

The featured Blues line will include 2023 first-round pick Dalibor Dvorsky centering a line with 2020 first-round pick Dylan Holloway and 2025 first-rounder Justin Carbonneau.

It’s a continuation of early camp where the younger first-round picks get looks with older, more established NHL players.

“It’s an opportunity for them to play with a high-end player in the NHL and see if they can think and play at the same pace as him,” Montgomery said.

- - -

Defenseman Theo Lindstein, also a 2023 first-round pick (No. 29) will make his Blues debut as well and be paired with Matthew Kessel.

Montgomery’s thoughts seem to be a little mixed through the first three days.

“Really poised with the puck,” the coach said. “Kind of plays the game in a rocking chair. We’d like to see a little more playing on his toes, killing plays defensively.”

- - -

The Blues held their first scrimmage of the preseason prior to the game group going on the ice, and it finished 1-0 for Team White over Team Blue on a goal by defenseman Michael Buchinger.

The teams played a 30-minute game.

Montgomery said there was plenty to like.

“Really liked the pace, and I saw players making plays offensively and defensively, especially defensively,” Montgomery said. “That’s the hardest part of your game to get down because guys are skating all summer and they’re all skating and playing with the puck and trying to make plays offensively. But defensively getting the structure back in, getting back on pucks, I was really happy with.”

As for any players that stood out?

“I thought [Dylan] Peterson and [Jakub] Stancl of non-(roster players) that played last year, they jumped out,” Montgomery said. “I think of the vets, [Jimmy] Snuggerud caught my eye quite a bit, [Pius Suter] caught my eye a bit, [Nick] Bjugstad, especially in the defensive end doing good stuff.”

There was one instance where Mathieu Joseph getting in the way and blocking a shot from the left point drew stick taps and cheers from teammates of the White team.

“Guys are already sacrificing, playing to a Blues identity that we think is our blue collar work ethic,” Montgomery said. “I’m glad you brought him up because I thought he was really good out there today.”

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Dylan Holloway-Dalibor Dvorsky-Justin Carbonneau

Alexey Toropchenko-Nathan Walker-Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Simon Robertsson-Matthew Peca-Nikita Susuev

Antoine Dorion-Adam Jecho-Matt Luff

Philip Broberg-Logan Mailloux

Theo Lindstein-Matthew Kessel

Lukas Fischer-Will McIsaac

Jordan Binnington is projected to start in goal; Colten Ellis is projected to be the backup.

- - -

Stars Projected Lineup:

Adam Erne-Radek Faksa-Nathan Bastian

Colin Blackwell-Sam Steel-Mavrik Bourque

Oskar Back-Justin Hyrckowian-Kole Lind

Emil Hemming-Antonio Stranges-Arttu Hyry

Vladislav Kolyachonok-Nils Lundkvist

Trey Taylor-Alexander Petrovic

Kyle Capobianco-Gavin White

Remi Poirier is projected to start in goal; Antoine Bibeau is projected to be the backup.

Nick Bjugstad Is Healthy, Feeling Good About Getting Back To Past Numbers For BluesNick Bjugstad Is Healthy, Feeling Good About Getting Back To Past Numbers For Blues MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- For Nick Bjugstad, last season was one to forget for the newly-signed St. Louis Blues veteran center. News And Notes From Day 2 Of St. Louis Blues Training CampNews And Notes From Day 2 Of St. Louis Blues Training Camp MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Day 2 of St. Louis Blues training camp found coach Jim Montgomery a little more boisterous – and animated – towards his players. Former Blues Defenseman Remains Without A Contract; Isn't Forcing ItFormer Blues Defenseman Remains Without A Contract; Isn't Forcing ItFormer St. Louis Blues defenseman Ryan Suter is still without a contract, but the longtime NHLer isn't forcing a deal. Young Rising Blues Forward: Young Rising Blues Forward: "I Want To Be A Top Player In This League One Day" MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Don’t mistake Dylan Holloway the wrong way. The St. Louis Blues forward is beyond grateful to be healthy and skating 100 percent for the first time since what turned out to be an ugly injury that derailed a fantastic first season in the Gateway City.
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Mets Notes: Sean Manaea to start Sunday with Clay Holmes out of bullpen; UCL surgery 'most likely' for Tylor Megill

Prior to the Mets game on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, manager Carlos Mendoza gave a handful of updates on the team...

Sunday's pitching plan

Sean Manaea will return from the paternity list and start New York's final home game of the regular season on Sunday against the Nats with Clay Holmes available out of the bullpen.

New York flipped things around compared to last time both players pitched, as Holmes started and threw four innings with Manaea coming in to finish the final five innings of the game.

In Manaea's last start on Sept. 9 against the Philadelphia Phillies, he gave up two home runs and allowed four runs on five hits over 5.0 IP. The lefty bounced back with his bullpen performance, allowing one run on a solo HR over 5.0 IP.

"It helps when we're making these decisions, the fact that they've done it in the past," Mendoza said. "But again, they want to start and we consider them starters. But given where we're at, they're all on board, they understand. When it comes down for us making those decisions, they know what it takes to come out of the bullpen. It's a completely different routine, but they've done it before, so that helps."

UCL surgery on the table for Megill

Tylor Megill, who felt tightness when throwing his secondary pitches in his rehab start, will go to Los Angeles for an in-person visit and it's "most likely" he'll get UCL surgery.

Megill has been out since June 14 and started his rehab in the minor leagues on Aug. 12. He went 1-1 with a 4.95 ERA over six starts in Double-A and Triple-A, having last allowed five runs over 2.0 IP on Sept. 7.

The 30-year-old would likely miss the entire 2026 season if he gets UCL surgery. He has two more years of arbitration on his contract before becoming a free agent ahead of the 2028 season. 

Megill finished the 2024 season with a 5-5 record, 3.95 ERA, and 89 strikeouts over 68.1 IP across 14 starts. The righty owns a career 26-26 record with a 4.46 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 435 strikeouts.

No update on Garrett

Reed Garrett was placed on the 15-day IL on Thursday with a "concerning" elbow injury and the team is still determining the next steps for him.

"Reed Garrett, we haven't heard anything," Mendoza said. "We know he's got a ligament strain there, but there's a couple of options that are being recommended. We're still waiting for a couple of other doctors to review it and give us more information there."

The reliever landed back on the IL after just being activated on Sept. 7 while dealing with right elbow inflammation.

Mendoza said Thursday that Garrett is experiencing similar issues as he did with his last IL stint and "continues to have a hard time recovering after every time he pitched."

Senga to throw live BP

Mendoza spoke Friday about the next steps for Kodai Senga, saying he will face hitters again, but they weren't sure in what environment that would take place.

The team made a decision Saturday and will have Senga throw a live BP next week.

Mendoza said Thursday that Senga is not a lock to make the potential postseason roster and the righty didn't help his case, having a rough second outing in Triple-A.

"Stuff-wise was down. Whether it was the velo, execution, the secondary pitches weren't sharp," Mendoza said Friday. "That's the report I got, and watching film, you could see it. That's probably one of the reasons why he's asking for one more time to face hitters, to continue to work through those issues."

Taylor getting close to returning

Tyrone Taylor (hamstring strain) played in a rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night and will do so again Sunday.

He was seen taking batting practice at Citi Field on Saturday and told reporters that he's feeling "100 percent."

Taylor went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the sixth inning and was subbed out in the bottom of the seventh.

"He's playing tomorrow again in Triple-A," Mendoza said. "We just got to build up volume, making sure that he continues to play. Like he told you guys, he feels good physically. Now it's more getting him to be able to play nine innings back-to-back."

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12-Team, 9-Cat Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft 2025-26: Take Giannis Antetokounmpo and don't look back

Another day, another mock! I joined 11 other analysts in a nine-cat, head-to-head mock draft that was hosted by Adam King on Fantrax, selecting from the fifth spot. The other unique aspect of this draft is that it had a third-round reversal, which flips the draft order after the second round.

The top four picks in every draft should be pretty much locked in, which makes the fifth pick an interesting place to start, leaving you with plenty of options.

Round 1

1. Nikola Jokic (C - DEN)

2. Victor Wembanyama (C - SA)

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (G - OKC)

4. Luka Doncic (G - LAL)

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (F - MIL)

6. Anthony Davis (F - DAL)

7. Anthony Edwards (G - MIN)

8. Cade Cunningham (G - DET)

9. James Harden (G - LAC)

10. Trae Young (G - ATL)

11. Devin Booker (G - PHO)

12. Karl-Anthony Towns (C - NY)

To me, Giannis is the way to go, and he’s a fun player to build around, with a clear punt path. He’s dominant in a handful of categories, and his weaknesses are clear, meaning you can either try and make up for it, or lean into them. I opted to lean into his strengths by emphasizing points, rebounds, assists, steals and field goal percentage while largely disregarding the other four categories. The end of the first round feels weak this year, so the third-round reversal helped even out the league.

Round 2

13. Stephen Curry (G - GS)

14. Tyrese Maxey (G - PHI)

15. Evan Mobley (F - CLE)

16. Domantas Sabonis (C - SAC)

17. Kevin Durant (F - HOU)

18. Donovan Mitchell (G - CLE)

19. Amen Thompson (F - HOU)

20. Jalen Johnson (F - ATL)

21. Jalen Williams (G - OKC)

22. Josh Giddey (G - CHI)

23. Jaren Jackson (C - MEM)

24. LaMelo Ball (G - CHA)

I felt comfortable taking Johnson here. I’m expecting him to be an All-Star this year, and he fits in well with Giannis. I would’ve loved to get Thompson, but he went one pick before me, which made my decision regarding Johnson much easier. I also thought about Williams, who I have ranked higher than Johnson, but I opted for the better fit. There are quite a few options I really like in round two.

Round 3

25. Myles Turner (C - MIL)

26. Jamal Murray (G - DEN)

27. Scottie Barnes (F - TOR)

28. LeBron James (F - LAL)

29. Tyler Herro (G - MIA)

30. Chet Holmgren (C - OKC)

31. Dyson Daniels (G - ATL)

32. Alperen Sengun (C - HOU)

33. De'Aaron Fox (G - SA)

34. Jalen Brunson (G - NY)

35. Ja Morant (G - MEM)

36. Deni Avdija (F - POR)

While I love the second round, things start to drop off in round three. However, I really lucked out here in a way that made up for a previous mishap. I have Sengun ranked much higher than this and even higher than Johnson. It was an oversight on my part, but it ended up working out flawlessly. I also would’ve been thrilled with Holmgren or Daniels, but they went right before. Also, I suspect Herro will be drafted later after undergoing a procedure on his foot and ankle on Friday.

Round 4

37. Austin Reaves (G - LAL)

38. Darius Garland (G - CLE)

39. Derrick White (G - BOS)

40. Paolo Banchero (F - ORL)

41. Pascal Siakam (F - IND)

42. Kawhi Leonard (F - LAC)

43. Bam Adebayo (C - MIA)

44. Jimmy Butler (F - GS)

45. Cooper Flagg (F - DAL)

46. Franz Wagner (F - ORL)

47. Trey Murphy (F - NO)

48. Kristaps Porzingis (C - ATL)

I had three players on my mind entering this round, and I opted to go with the veteran player in Siakam, partially because Banchero was taken one pick before me. The other player was Zion Williamson, who went one pick before me in the next round, sadly. However, Siakam fits well and should be in for a monster season with Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) sidelined and Myles Turner now in Milwaukee.

Round 5

49. Payton Pritchard (G - BOS)

50. Desmond Bane (G - ORL)

51. Jaylen Brown (F - BOS)

52. Walker Kessler (C - UTA)

53. Brandon Miller (F - CHA)

54. Coby White (G - CHI)

55. Zion Williamson (F - NO)

56. OG Anunoby (F - NY)

57. Zach LaVine (G - SAC)

58. Ivica Zubac (C - LAC)

59. Immanuel Quickley (G - TOR)

60. Mark Williams (C - PHO)

As I mentioned previously, I was hoping to get Zion, but that just didn’t happen. Anunoby isn’t my favorite fit with the rest of my team, but he is certainly a productive, helpful piece that isn’t going to hurt me anywhere. Plus, he’s a strong source of steals, which I hadn’t really addressed yet. Wasn’t part of my plan, but I’m not upset about it at all. Also, Pritchard in the top-50!

Round 6

61. Jordan Poole (G - NO)

62. Jalen Green (G - PHO)

63. Jakob Poeltl (C - TOR)

64. Fred VanVleet (G - HOU)

65. Ausar Thompson (F - DET)

66. Nikola Vucevic (C - CHI)

67. Rudy Gobert (C - MIN)

68. Lauri Markkanen (F - UTA)

69. Deandre Ayton (C - LAL)

70. Julius Randle (F - MIN)

71. Jalen Duren (C - DET)

72. Joel Embiid (C - PHI)

Yes, this was really early for me to select Thompson, but he fit my team too well for me to risk waiting another round. This Thompson twin is the one I’m hoping to leave every draft with, and I think he’s in for a breakout season like his brother had last year. He may not reach those heights, but he should play more than he ever has, and when he’s been on the floor, he’s been elite. I’m all in on Ausar.

Round 7

73. Miles Bridges (F - CHA)

74. Donovan Clingan (C - POR)

75. Brandon Ingram (F - TOR)

76. Andrew Nembhard (G - IND)

77. Paul George (F - PHI)

78. DeMar DeRozan (F - SAC)

79. Jarrett Allen (C - CLE)

80. Onyeka Okongwu (C - ATL)

81. Josh Hart (G - NY)

82. Matas Buzelis (F - CHI)

83. Alex Sarr (C - WAS)

84. Shaedon Sharpe (G - POR)

I didn’t expect Okongwu to be here, but I certainly wasn’t upset about it. I still think he could start for the Hawks this season at center, and he was producing at an elite level to close out last year. I would’ve loved to get Clingan here, and I was between Allen and Okongwu, though that decision was made for me.

Round 8

85. Isaiah Hartenstein (C - OKC)

86. Mikal Bridges (F - NY)

87. Kel'el Ware (C - MIA)

88. Cameron Johnson (F - DEN)

89. Jalen Suggs (G - ORL)

90. Toumani Camara (F - POR)

91. Keegan Murray (F - SAC)

92. Zach Edey (C - MEM)

93. Michael Porter (F - BKN)

94. Herbert Jones (F - NO)

95. Christian Braun (G - DEN)

96. Bradley Beal (G - LAC)

At this point, I didn’t have a guard, so I really needed to start adding some. I went with Suggs, who will add some defensive stats. He may not provide as many assists as he has in the past with Desmond Bane now in Orlando, but he’ll still be able to produce strong value. I also wanted Edey and Braun, but they didn’t fall to me in the next round.

Round 9

97. Tobias Harris (F - DET)

98. John Collins (F - LAC)

99. Jay Huff (C - IND)

100. Norman Powell (G - MIA)

101. Naz Reid (C - MIN)

102. Draymond Green (F - GS)

103. Kyrie Irving (G - DAL)

104. Brandin Podziemski (G - GS)

105. Devin Vassell (G - SA)

106. Scoot Henderson (G - POR)

107. Anfernee Simons (G - BOS)

108. Kevin Porter (G - MIL)

Podz fits my team perfectly, and I was happy he fell to me here. He’s an excellent rebounder from the guard spot, and he stepped up his play after the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler. Golden State has a lot of questions left to answer this offseason, but Podz is locked in as a starter. He’ll end up being a bargain outside the top-100.

Round 10

109. Donte DiVincenzo (G - MIN)

110. Jaden McDaniels (F - MIN)

111. Jaden Ivey (G - DET)

112. Kyle Filipowski (C - UTA)

113. Tari Eason (F - HOU)

114. Kyshawn George (G - WAS)

115. Cameron Thomas (G - BKN)

116. Jrue Holiday (G - POR)

117. D'Angelo Russell (G - DAL)

118. RJ Barrett (F - TOR)

119. CJ McCollum (G - WAS)

120. Dennis Schroder (G - SAC)

At this point, I was looking for upside, and nobody fits that better than Eason. The addition of Kevin Durant isn’t going to limit Eason, and there aren’t many players that can contribute defensive stats like Eason. I also considered Schroder to get me some assists, and George is a player I’m hoping to get in the last few rounds of every draft. He just went a tad earlier in this mock.

Round 11

121. Bobby Portis (F - MIL)

122. Dereck Lively (C - DAL)

123. Cam Whitmore (F - WAS)

124. Dejounte Murray (G - NO)

125. Andrew Wiggins (F - MIA)

126. Malik Monk (G - SAC)

127. Nicolas Claxton (C - BKN)

128. Isaiah Collier (G - UTA)

129. Carlton Carrington (G - WAS)

130. Zaccharie Risacher (F - ATL)

131. Jabari Smith (F - HOU)

132. Aaron Nesmith (F - IND)

After missing out on Schroder, I really needed to get some assists in the later rounds, and Collier can certainly provide those. He doesn’t do much scoring, but the rest of my team can help make up for that. I just really needed the dimes.

Round 12

133. De'Andre Hunter (F - CLE)

134. Keyonte George (G - UTA)

135. Scotty Pippen (G - MEM)

136. T.J. McConnell (G - IND)

137. Bennedict Mathurin (F - IND)

138. Jonathan Kuminga (F - GS)

139. Aaron Gordon (F - DEN)

140. Cason Wallace (G - OKC)

141. Mitchell Robinson (C - NY)

142. Kyle Kuzma (F - MIL)

143. Isaiah Jackson (C - IND)

144. Stephon Castle (G - SA)

Mathurin doesn’t fit my team well, but at this point, I don’t really care. This was 20 spots after his Fantrax ADP and 40 spots after his Yahoo! ADP. He’s going to score a ton of points. That’s more than what can be said for most of the other players going in this range.

145. Collin Sexton (G - CHA)

146. Neemias Queta (C - BOS)

147. Lonzo Ball (G - CLE)

148. Ace Bailey (F - UTA)

149. Chris Paul (G - LAC)

150. Moussa Diabate (C - CHA)

151. Bruce Brown (G - DEN)

152. Taylor Hendricks (F - UTA)

153. P.J. Washington (F - DAL)

154. Chris Boucher (F - BOS)

155. Daniel Gafford (C - DAL)

156. Ty Jerome (G - MEM)

The last round is for upside swings, and Hendricks has a ton of upside. He’s the best perimeter defender on the Jazz, and any progression offensively will allow him to be a top-100 producer in nine-cat leagues. He’s not a guarantee, but that’s not what the final round of your draft is for.

Here’s what my full team ended up looking like:

  1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (F - MIL)
  2. Jalen Johnson (F - ATL)
  3. Alperen Sengun (C - HOU)
  4. Pascal Siakam (F - IND)
  5. OG Anunoby (F - NY)
  6. Ausar Thompson (F - DET)
  7. Onyeka Okongwu (C - ATL)
  8. Jalen Suggs (G - ORL)
  9. Brandin Podziemski (G - GS)
  10. Tari Eason (F - HOU)
  11. Isaiah Collier (G - UTA)
  12. Bennedict Mathurin (F - IND)
  13. Taylor Hendricks (F - UTA)

Overall, I was really happy with how this team turned out. The first three rounds were spectacular, and I was able to get a few of my favorite mid-late round targets. As far as the other teams, there was a nice mix of risky swings and value picks, making this an excellent replica of a competitive draft.

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Flyers Training Camp: Nikita Grebenkin Continues to Shine as Roster Battles Get Real

(Photo: Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)

After three days, forward prospect Nikita Grebenkin has been the one constant in Philadelphia Flyers training camp, flashing his intriguing potential at seemingly every turn.

During Saturday's scrimmage session, Grebenkin, 22, was again paired with veteran center Sean Couturier and fellow Russian Matvei Michkov.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick has the puck skills to play ball with Michkov, and he's got the size and snarl to play a complementary power forward's game, especially down low.

Grebenkin's ability to protect and hold onto pucks is something that's stood out to Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet so far as he continues to make an earnest push for an NHL roster spot.

"I'm really close with Craig Berube, he had him in Toronto, and he said [Grebenkin's] a really sticky guy down low, comes up with loose pucks half-ice down," Tocchet said of Grebenkin Saturday. "I see that. There's some flashes out there, even the rookie camp.

"He's gonna have to be the same way, be a real good hockey player down low, because that's his gift, right? I've heard his skating isn't that great. I don't think it's that bad. I saw him in the neutral zone skating, so I don't think he's a bad skater at all. He can get up and down the ice, but I like his half-ice game around the net.

"Can he get those greasy goals for us? Can he complement other types of players? That's another thing. There's a lot to like about the kid, for sure."

And, again, it's only training camp and right out of rookie camp, but it's hard to imagine Grebenkin doing much more than he already has so far to insert himself into NHL roster conversations.

Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin Receives Mystery Advice from Alexander Ovechkin Ahead of NHL PushFlyers' Nikita Grebenkin Receives Mystery Advice from Alexander Ovechkin Ahead of NHL PushNikita Grebenkin is gearing up for his push to make the Philadelphia Flyers out of training camp this fall, and he's gotten some advice from Washington Capitals star and NHL legend Alexander Ovechkin on how to do it.

It should say a lot that Grebenkin is getting lots of burn next to Couturier and Michkov, who played with each other extensively for the Flyers already last season.

The defensive game will ultimately be the golden question, but Grebenkin is more experienced than Michkov at the professional level. Whether that puts him further ahead or means he has more bad habits to undo remains to be seen.

One advantage Grebenkin does have over players like Jett Luchanko and Alex Bump, for example, is that he's better suited to a bottom-six, chip and chase, grind and cycle game, given his size, attitude, and style of play.

Right now, the 22-year-old should be earmarked for a role with the Flyers, perhaps as the fourth-line left wing, but nothing is set in stone until the dust settles next month.

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'There's No Place I'd Rather Be': Tomasino Eager To Prove Himself In Pittsburgh This Season

After a third consecutive season of missing the playoffs, the long offseason was a grueling one for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Players were eager to get back in action, and some knew they were going to have to come into training camp this season with a purpose.  

And one of those players is forward Philip Tomasino, who was brought back on a one-year deal this summer.

"I feel great. Really happy to be back, and really excited for this year," Tomasino said. "I think it's a great opportunity for all of us, but especially for myself."

He added: "I feel like I'm ready to take that next step in my game, and I'm really looking forward to this year."

Tomasino, 24, was acquired from the Nashville Predators last November, and - while he got off to a hot start - it was a season of a good amount of ups and a few downs. The 6-foot, 187-pound forward - drafted 24th overall by the Predators in 2019 - registered 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games with Pittsburgh after putting up just one point in 11 games with Nashville last season. He was a healthy scratch at one point later on in the season, but he also saw time in the top-six alongside Evgeni Malkin and displayed some chemistry with the future Hall-of-Fame center. 

However, with the emergence of top prospects Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty - who is currently out indefinitely with an upper-body injury - as well as the free agent signing of Anthony Mantha, it's going to be a battle for Tomasino to assert himself in a top-six role. Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are all but guaranteed to flank Malkin and Sidney Crosby, and there are already precious few roster spots to begin with to go along with a crowded training camp roster. 

But, for Tomasino, all of that is just noise. He understands that there is a ton of competition in training camp this season and that no roster spot is safe or secure. But he's not letting that deter him from focusing on his own goals and what he needs to do to prove himself to the organization and a new coaching staff.

Penguins' Training Camp: Observations From Day TwoPenguins' Training Camp: Observations From Day TwoGroup B kicked off day two of Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on Friday, and we got to see some systems work for the first time. 

"There is competition. But, regardless of wherever you are, there's competition everywhere," Tomasino said. "It's the best thing in the world. So, for me, I'm not focused on anyone else.

"Right now, I'm just focused on what I can do every day to be the best version of myself and just go out there and compete as hard as I can because I know I can play, and I know I can help this team win from the start of the year to the end. It's always good to have competition, but I'm just focused on everything I can do to push myself to reach that next step for me."

And for him, that next step is showing that he be a part of the picture in returning this team back to contention. Tomasino is happy to be in Pittsburgh, and he wants to make the most of the opportunity he was given with that contract this summer. 

"Overall, I'm just really happy with how the process played out.," Tomasino said. "It's another opportunity for me to prove myself to everyone here. I'm just really grateful for this opportunity, and I'm definitely going to try to make the most out of it.

"There's no other place I'd rather be."

'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press Conference'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press ConferenceOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

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Could Joakim Kemell be a realistic option for Nashville Predators on the wing?

With Luke Evangelista absent from the first few days of Nashville Predators training camp due to ongoing contract negotiations, a gap has opened up on the wing. 

Evangelista is forecasted to skate with Fedor Svechkov at center and Steven Stamkos at right wing. Over the past few days, Milwaukee Admirals forward and Predators 2022 first-round pick Joakim Kemell has taken over the role. 

"They're great players," Kemell said on playing with Svechkov and Stamkos. "Stammer [Stamkos] was one of those players I looked up to as a kid and I've known Fedor [Svechkov] well. I've known him a little more as a center.

He made the jump over to North America in 2022 and has spent the last three seasons with the Admirals. Kemell made his NHL debut with the Predators last season, playing in two games. 

In the AHL, he's averaged 21 points a season, scoring 40 points in 65 games last year and earning a bid to the AHL All-Star game. Kemell had a breakout season with the Admirals, hinting that it could be his time to make the jump to the NHL. 

At training camp, Kemell's main focus remains to showcase his game and the skills he's picked up over the last few seasons. 

"I want to showcase my strengths: shooting and skating," Kemell said. "I like to score and I have an ability to find the free ice in the o-zone." 

The ability to make space on the ice is something that Kemell had to adjust to from playing in Finland to North America. A more physical game and a smaller rink forced Kemell to alter his game and find ways to generate his own opportunities. 

"I learned in Milwaukee that you have a lot more time and space than you think," Kemell said. "It's just about trying to find the lane and shooting quick." 

If things go awry with Evangelista, or even if they don't, could Kemell be a regular on the Predators roster? 

General Manager Barry Trotz expressed confidence in Kemell's game on the first day of training camp on Thursday, saying that Kemell has "made great strides" over the last few seasons.

Considering the Predators have been trying Kemell on the pseudo-second line, if things click in the preseason, Kemell could be frequenting Nashville more often. 

No matter what the future holds for Kemell, he has the utmost confidence coming into this season. When asked if he had nerves coming into this season, Kemell responded, "Not too much." 

"This is what I do for my job," Kemell said. "Of course, every player has their own pressure in their head, which comes from yourself. But I don't care about the pressure. I just try to do my best every single day." 

 

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Championship roundup: Olaofe leaves Wilder bereft on Sheffield United return

  • Blackburn v Ipswich abandoned with 10 minutes left

  • Sheffield Wednesday claim first win of campaign

Chris Wilder’s return to Sheffield United turned sour as the Charlton substitute Tanto Olaofe snatched a last-minute winner to leave the Blades rooted to the bottom of the Championship. Wilder swept back in to Bramall Lane to replace Rubén Sellés this week but Olaofe’s effort made plain the size of the task ahead, with his club still searching for their first points of an increasingly desperate campaign.

Tyrese Campbell missed two good chances in the first half but the Blades keeper Michael Cooper denied Lloyd Jones and Greg Docherty headed over for the visitors before Olaofe turned home a low cross in the dying seconds.

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