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'He's Been Buzzing': Nicolas Roy Impressed With Morgan Rielly During Captain Skates And Other Takeaways Ahead Of First Maple Leafs Camp

MILTON, Ont. —Nicolas Roy has been in Toronto for three weeks working with some of his new Toronto Maple Leafs teammates and has been impressed with everyone he has skated with. But one player in particular caught his eye.

"Morgan Rielly's been buzzing in those skates," Roy said. "I wasn't there before. I've seen him, played against him, but he's been a really good player."

The Maple Leafs are hoping their top-pair defenseman, who is the longest-tenured player in Toronto and entering his 13th season, can take a leap. Outside of that, Toronto’s defense is mostly set, with much of the big moves at the position being addressed last season.

This season, the Maple Leafs' focus is on the depth they added, particularly after Mitch Marner’s departure for Las Vegas. Roy was the key piece in a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and he is looking forward to bringing his Stanley Cup-winning skillset from Vegas to the Maple Leafs.

"I can bring the skillset that helped me win a Stanley Cup," Roy said speaking ahead of the club's annual charity golf tournament on Monday. "PK, power play, different things in the game. So, yeah, I'm definitely going to try to help the team win."

'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner Deal'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner DealNic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While there is a certain pressure that comes with playing in the NHL, Roy will get his first taste of playing in a market that demands more of his time, like Toronto—something the native of Quebec has no problem with.

"It'll be different for sure. Big market, Canada," Roy admitted. "I mean, it's always nice to have a little pressure. That's what you play for. So it'll be different, but I'll enjoy it for sure. Having that pedigree in the playoffs, we've been there for multiple years. You don't want to be too high, too low. I've been there. So, I mean, this team's been there too. But I know what I can bring in the playoffs to help this team win. So, I'm excited for that."

Roy said he’s had some conversations with new head coach Craig Berube about where he'll fit in. For a player who moved around a bit in Vegas’ lineup, it sounds like the coach will rely on some of that same versatility.

"A little bit of the same thing I had in Vegas, I guess. Playing in different roles," Roy said. "Can play power play, PK. But I guess we'll see where it's at. But, yeah, I had a really good conversation with him."

Maple Leafs camp is set to open with medicals on Wednesday and first on-ice sessions on Thursday.

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Red Wings Prospect Showcase Takeaways: Lombardi, Buium Could Be Ready For NHL Jump

Exploring key moments from the Detroit Red Wings Prospect Showcase with the Dallas Stars this past weekend, including standout performances, areas in need of improvement and future roster implications. 

The Detroit Red Wings split their two-game Prospect Showcase with the Dallas Stars in Frisco, Texas and provided some interesting topics for fans to explore, heading into training camp later this week on Thursday. 

The first game saw an offensive frenzy with four unanswered goals from the Red Wings as they topped the Stars 6-2 on Saturday. Game two on Sunday was a different story however, as Detroit found themselves down early after giving up a goal in the first minute of the game. They managed to climb out of a 2-0 hole before blowing a two-goal lead themselves when up 4-2 entering the third period. They would go on to lose 6-5 with the offense still showing bright spots. 

Detroit's lineup for the showcase consisted of several big name prospects like three first round picks including Nate Danielson (9th overall, 2023), defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka (17th overall, 2023), right winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (15th overall, 2024).  Some rising prospects like Amadeus Lombardi (4th round, 2022), Shai Buium (2nd round, 2021) and Emmitt Finnie (7th round, 2023) all had impressive performances. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Red Wings 2025 Prospect Showcase Player Stats (two games): 

Shai Buium - 2G, 1A

Amadeus Lombardi - 1G, 4A

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard - 1G, 3A 

Alexandre Doucet - 1G, 2A

Nate Danielson - 1G, 1A

Axel Sandin-Pellikka - 1G, 1A

Ondrej Becher - 1G, 1A 

Carson Bantle - 1G, 1A

Emmitt Finnie - 1G

Liam Kilfoil - 1G

Justice Christensen - 1A

Vincent Collard - 1A

Will Murphy - 1A

Detroit Red Wings Unveil New Centennial JerseysDetroit Red Wings Unveil New Centennial JerseysThe Detroit Red Wings revealed special third jerseys on Monday to celebrate their Centennial season. 

Lombardi, Buium Set to Crack Main Roster? 

The most notable name for Detroit to come out of the showcase is Lombardi after playing a key role in three of the Red Wings' five goals on Sunday, it was hard to miss the 22-year-old forward. After playing in 116 games in the AHL with the Griffins and posting a near point-per-game average last season with 40 points in 44 games, it was expected that Lombardi would be contending for a spot with the Red Wings at training camp. 

His performance in the showcase only reminded management that they have a player who is too good for junior competition and will likely be a top player in the AHL once again. We could see an approach with Lombardi similar to Red Wings winger Elmer Soderblom last season, who played 38 games with the Griffins as well as 26 games up with the Red Wings. 

Buium on the other hand, may have an opportunity to carve out a meaningful role. The Red Wings struggled on backend last season with a bottom 12 defense in the league. They got some help in the crease when trading for former all-star goaltender John Gibson but more adds on the blueline are needed. They took a lottery ticket on former first round pick Jacob Benard-Docker but besides the former Senator, the Red Wings didn't make any meaningful adds with their unit and could lead to opportunities for AHL defenseman like Buium. 

Last season, the San Diego native posted a 25 points in 67 games with Griffins assistant coach Brian Lashoff telling the Hockey News that he regularly relied on Buium and routinely gave him bigger minutes than most.  If he can show that his game translates to the NHL after spending the offseason training with his brother Zeev, who made a significant leap to the NHL with the Minnesota Wild last season and even earned power play time, Buium might be able to establish himself as a regular in Detroit sooner than expected. 

Exclusive: Red Wings Prospect Shai Buium Eyes NHL Roster Spot: “Make It a Hard Decision”Exclusive: Red Wings Prospect Shai Buium Eyes NHL Roster Spot: “Make It a Hard Decision”Red Wings prospect Shai Buium reflects on his journey from NCAA champion to AHL standout in exclusive interview with The Hockey News.

Sandin-Pellikka Needs More Time For Defense

One of the key focuses for fans and coaches entering the Prospect Showcase was looking out for Sandin-Pellikka's defense. It has been a widely-discussed topic as fans are worried that his offensive talent is top-tier but his defensive game needs improvement. In the second game of the Showcase, this was more evident. Sandin-Pellikka was given chances to shut down incoming fastbreak chances like on the Stars first goal.

After a teammate turned the puck over in the Detroit zone, Sandin-Pellikka attempted to cut off the attacking forward. However, the opponent made a quick move, pulling the puck back and slipping past him before burying a low shot past the goaltender. Given the situation, with limited space to cut inside, the smarter play would have been a stick check, as the forward's only option was to cut across and go high, which he did. 

Sandin-Pellikka failed to anticipate the move, couldn’t match the Stars forward’s shift in direction, and it resulted in enough space for a clean scoring chance in the high slot. It's a small play and the turnover wasn't his fault that he was put in that situation but an NHL defenseman would've gotten off a better stick check in that situation to mitigate the chances of a clean shot getting off. 

Positioning and situational awareness is something he can continue to develop in the AHL this upcoming season. The last thing management will want is to call him up too early where his defensive skills aren't up to standard and he turns into a Shayne Gostisbehere-type defender in a bottom pairing role. 

Danielson's Big Minutes in Multiple Roles

The team relied on Danielson in multiple roles as a top-line center, penalty killer, and power play contributor who consistently won key faceoffs. Despite being on for two goals against, Danielson made a strong impact throughout the game and responded by scoring one of his own with his quick release was on full display with a top-shelf goal in the second game of the Showcase. 

His ability to contribute in all situations, including the penalty kill, improves his chances of making the roster. That versatility could allow him to slot in alongside another former ninth overall pick in Michael Rasmussen. Proving he can be effective in an all-around role only strengthens his case to earn a spot on the Red Wings.

Exclusive: Red Wings Top Prospect Nate Danielson Focused on Cracking NHL RosterExclusive: Red Wings Top Prospect Nate Danielson Focused on Cracking NHL RosterRed Wings top prospect Nate Danielson explains main goal is to make main roster in exclusive interview with The Hockey News. 

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Can Logan Mailloux And These AHL Defensemen Become Full-Time NHLers Next Season?

The upcoming 2025-26 season could see a handful of talented defensemen transition to full-time NHL roles. 

Some of these blueliners are simply growing, maturing and improving all the way to NHL consideration. Others may benefit from a change of scenery, opening themselves up to an opportunity that might not have been possible in another organization.

Here are three AHL D-men to break into the NHL for this coming season.

Logan Mailloux, St. Louis Blues

Following a solid campaign with the Laval Rocket last year in the Montreal Canadiens organization, Logan Mailloux was traded to the St. Louis Blues, and there’s no sign of him suiting up for the Springfield Thunderbirds.

All signs point to Mailloux playing in his first full NHL season after the Blues acquired the 22-year-old for Zack Bolduc on July 1.

The right-handed D-man has played two full AHL seasons since he was drafted by the Canadiens in 2021, with a handful of NHL games mixed in. Last season, he made 63 appearances for the Rocket, scoring 12 goals and 33 points. The season before that, he registered 14 goals and 47 points in 72 games.

His NHL experience is light, with a total of nine games and five points to his name. But his experience in The Show should be a lot higher at this time next year.

Logan Mailloux (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

Luca Cagnoni, San Jose Barracuda

Despite being a fourth-round pick by the San Jose Sharks in the 2023 draft, Luca Cagnoni has been a pleasant surprise for the organization thus far. As a rookie in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda last year, Cagnoni scored 16 goals and 52 points in 64 outings. He finished tied for third in scoring among all AHL defensemen.

The 5-foot-9 blueliner may have a small frame, but he has proven to be a dynamic player who has a notable offensive impact at different levels. He played six games with the Sharks last year, recording two assists. But it was in junior when he might’ve turned some heads.

Following his draft year, Cagnoni had an offensive explosion in his final season with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. He led all CHL defensemen in scoring for that 2023-24 season, recording 18 goals and 72 assists for 90 points. 

If Cagnoni can keep up that scoring pace, he could earn consistent NHL time with the Sharks at some point next season.

Blue Jackets’ Jet Greaves To Challenge For Starting Gig: AHL Goaltenders To Make The ShowBlue Jackets’ Jet Greaves To Challenge For Starting Gig: AHL Goaltenders To Make The ShowThe goaltender is arguably the most important position in hockey. It is believed that without a great goalie between the pipes, a team has little chance of winning silverware, let alone hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Tristan Luneau, San Diego Gulls

The final defenseman on this list is Tristan Luneau of the San Diego Gulls and Anaheim Ducks. After a handful of games between the AHL and NHL in 2023-24, Luneau played a full season with the Gulls last year.

In 59 games, Luneau scored nine goals and 43 assists for 52 points, equalling Cagnoni’s total for the third most by a D-man in the AHL, also as a rookie. 

Luneau’s chances to crack the Ducks roster are a little tougher than the rest of the defensemen on this list. Anaheim has an abundance of young blueliners, including Pavel Mintyukov, Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger and Drew Helleson.

However, it’s not impossible for Luneau, as the 21-year-old played a total of 13 NHL games across the last two seasons. Only time will tell if he can rise Anaheim’s depth chart and become a full-time NHLer.

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker. 

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Bismack Biyombo returns to San Antonio on one-year deal

When Victor Wembanyama went out last season with a blood clot in his shoulder, the San Antonio Spurs turned to Bismack Biyombo. They signed the veteran big man and he played in 28 games for them, starting 26, giving them 5.1 points and 5.6 rebounds a game.

That was enough for the Spurs to bring him back. The Spurs have agreed to a one-year contract with Biyombo, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Biyombo, entering his 15th NBA season, is an insurance plan for the Spurs. Wembanyama will start at center and seems poised for another huge leap entering his third season (which should scare the league). Behind him, the Spurs added Luke Kornet for depth. Biyombo slots in behind them at the five, he's not going to see a lot of run, but it's smart to have the veteran in house.

This is likely a fully guaranteed contract at the veteran minimum. That brings the Spurs up to a full roster of 15 heading into training camp, although Lindy Waters III is only partially guaranteed.

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Minnesota Wild Youngster Shines During Prospect Showcase

 Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images.

ST. PAUL, Minn - Recent 2025 NHL Draft pick Adam Benak, signed during the 2025 Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase at The TRIA Rink.

In the first game against the St. Louis Blues, Benak picked up two assists and turned some heads of Wild fans and management.

He was drafted with the 102 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft in the fourth round. He is 5-foot-8 and dropped so far in the draft because of his size.

But Benak did not let that stop him during the showcase.

In the second and final game, Benak recorded another assist after a great forecheck that turned into a Rasmus Kumpulainen goal.

New Iowa Wild head coach Greg Cronin had nothing but good things to say about the 18-year-old forward after the showcase.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

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Rangers legend Eddie Giacomin dead at 86

Legendary Rangers goalie Eddie Giacomin has died at the age of 86.

Giacomin, the second Ranger to have his jersey number retired, had his No. 1 raised to the rafters in 1989.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.

"Eddie Giacomin was an integral member of the New York Rangers for a decade and personified what being a Ranger is all about, both to his teammates and the Blueshirts faithful," the Rangers said in a statement. "You cannot discuss the history of this organization and not immediately think of Eddie. The great Rod Gilbert called him the heart of their team, and we cannot think of a greater honor to bestow on one of the greatest goaltenders to ever play the game. Our thoughts are with Eddie's family, friends and teammates during this incredibly difficult time."

Giacomin debuted with the Rangers during the 1965-66 season and spent his first 10 1/2 seasons with New York before finishing his career with the Red Wings.

A six-time All-Star (all with the Rangers), he won the Vezina Trophy following the 1970-71 season, when he had a 2.07 GAA and led the league with eight shutouts.

During his career on Broadway, Giacomin went 267-172 with a 2.70 GAA and .905 save percentage. 

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Warriors reportedly up offer to Jonathan Kuminga to three years, $75.2 million, but stalemate remains

Jonathan Kuminga wants to be somewhere he is given a legitimate chance to shine. Right now he's a power forward on a team that already has Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, a team coached by Steve Kerr, who has never fully trusted him. The Golden State Warriors want a Kuminga contract that is primarily a trade chip, with a team option on the final season. Kuminga doesn't want to have his fate in the hands of a fickle trade market.

Which is why there remains a stalemate on a new Kuminga contract despite the Warriors increasing their offer to three years, $75.2 million, with a team option on the final year, reports Shams Charania and Anthony Slater at ESPN. That team option makes this a much more tradable contract. Even though the new offer would guarantee $48.3 million for Kuminga over the next two years — literally doubling how much money he has made in the NBA over his first four years — what Kuminga wants most is an opportunity. Something he has felt he never really got a fair chance at under Kerr. That's why one of Kuminga's counteroffers was the same contract, but with a player option in the final year.

All that boiled over and led to this exchange between Kuminga and Warriors owner Joe Lacob, ESPN reports.

But there was an underlying question from the Lacob side that felt most pressing. "Do you want to be here?"...

So Kuminga turned the question back on Lacob and the Warriors. "Do you even want me here?"

What Kuminga's camp wanted was a sign-and-trade this summer, but the offers that came in were not enough for Golden State. For example, Sacramento reportedly offered Dario Saric, Devin Carter and a lottery-protected first-round pick (some rumors suggest Malik Monk was the player to go with the pick). Phoenix made an offer as well that didn't include a first-rounder. What Kuminga liked about both of those situations was less about the money — which was close per year to what the Warriors just offered — and more that it was a three- or four-year contract with a player option, and both teams were going to make him their starting four.

Kuminga's leverage in negotiations with the Warriors is that he could follow the route Cam Thomas took in Brooklyn, sign the one-year qualifying offer at $7.8 million, which gives him a no trade clause for this season (which he could waive for the right deal) and would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer when half-a-dozen teams or more will have cap space to sign free agents. Kuminga's agent reportedly made a "souped-up" qualifying offer proposal, where Kuminga gets more than the $8 million but on a very tradable one-year contract. The Warriors don't like that because of the risk he could walk away at the end of the season for nothing if no trade is found.

Kuminga, 22, averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 47 games last season (he missed time with an ankle injury).

The Warriors remain in a holding pattern while the Kuminga situation plays out. Golden State has agreements in place to sign Al Horford at the taxpayer mid-level exception, then sign some combination of De'Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II and Seth Curry at the veteran minimum. To do that, the Warriors (hard-capped at the second apron) can't offer Kuminga more than $22.5 million for the first year of his contract. At that price, he's not going to accept the team option on the final season.

So the Warriors remain stuck, trying to work out something with Kuminga before the Oct. 1 deadline when he would just take the qualifying offer.

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Chris Wilder appointed Sheffield United manager for third time with goal of promotion

  • Wilder returns after three months with club bottom

  • He departed following playoff defeat to Sunderland

Chris Wilder has been confirmed as Sheffield United’s new manager on a contract to 2027 after Rubén Sellés was sacked on Sunday. It is the 57-year-old’s third spell in charge of his boyhood club – and comes just three months after he was sacked by the club. He takes over a team bottom of the Championship after defeats in all five of their league matches.

United said in a statement that promotion remained the ambition for the season. The club are nine points off the playoffs and 13 behind the leaders, Middlesbrough, after the 5-0 loss at Ipswich on Friday that triggered Sellés’s dismissal.

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The Rangers May Find Another Brad Park At Training Camp

 Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Don't be surprised if your Blueshirts find a diamond on their training camp ice. Granted, it's a longshot, but Vinnie Vegas will tell you that longshots do come in.

My personal favorite as the 14-carat gold find happens to be 22-year-old Scott Morrow from – coincidence-coincidence – Chris Drury's state, Connecticut. But The Maven will get to Morrow in a moment.

First I must tell you a quick story about how I – personally – discovered Hall of Famer Brad Park. Well, sort of "discovered" him.

This was Park's first training camp in September 1968 and he was so far from making the big club I'd say it was about 99-1 against him. I mean nobody knew this kid.

Rangers GM Emile (The Cat) Francis had his heart set on a tall defenseman Al Hamilon who seemingly had a job locked up.

Meanwhile, I was sitting in the stands with a husband and wife with their son who was wearing  a light blue sweater. It happened to be Mr and Mrs. Park of Toronto and their son Douglas Bradford. That's how I "discovered" Brad Park -- sitting in the stands.

We three schmoozed a little and then Brad excused himself to suit up for the workout. An hour

of watching left me shaking my head; Mr. and Mrs. Park's son was the best darn D-man on the ice. (And I don't mean maybe either!) Much better – I might add – than that big Hamilton guy.

When camp finally ended, Cat was so set on Hamilton making the team, he foolishly dispatched Park to Buffalo and kept Big Al except that – after a while – Francis realized that he was in error and promoted Douglas Bradford Park to the big club, alias the Rangers.

Forgotten-Unsung Heroes From The Rangers PastForgotten-Unsung Heroes From The Rangers PastThe Garden's diligent historians are working full-tilt to mark the Rangers' Centennial celebration by honoring those who've made the franchise the historic, living legend that it has become.

You know the rest. Brad emerged as the best Rangers defenseman since Harry Howell and better for sure on offense. Hamilton bounced around but never came near All-Star calibre as Francis had hoped.

If Sir Park could excuse himself from his parents to begin a Hall of Fame career, who's to say Scott Morrow of Darien, Conncticut won't fool everyone – especially the Carolina Hurricanes who dumped Morrow on Chris Drury's lap – and become a latter-day Park.

Hey, it could happen. And if you don't believe The Maven, the estimable, worthy and personable Brad Park will gladly underline my point.

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NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Martin Necas, Rasmus Andersson And Yegor Chinakhov

Recent speculation over the futures of Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov overshadowed Martin Necas' contract situation with the Colorado Avalanche.

Like McDavid and Kaprizov, Necas is UFA-eligible next July. If those two end up staying with their respective clubs, the 26-year-old right winger will become one of the most prized players in next summer's free-agent market.

Corey Masisak of The Denver Postrecently included Necas' contract negotiations among his 10 biggest questions facing the Avalanche this season. He believes they must get him signed to a deal that works for them now and after superstar defenseman Cale Makar's next contract goes into effect.

Otherwise, Avalanche management must consider a trade. Masisak believes their asking price for Necas will be expensive, considering he was part of the return from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade in January.

The Denver Gazette's Evan Rawal was asked if Necas would re-sign with Colorado before Kaprizov does with the Wild. He doesn't rule out the possibility of him waiting to see what Kaprizov gets before putting pen to paper with the Avalanche.

Martin Necas and Rasmus Andersson (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Speaking of pending UFA players, Rasmus Andersson recently returned to Calgary and spoke with the local media regarding his future with the Flames.

Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sunreported the 28-year-old defenseman is eager to start this season despite it potentially being his last with the Flames. He denied a report from earlier this summer claiming he'd only accept a trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, calling it “fake information,” and doesn't believe his situation will be a distraction for his teammates.

Austin thinks Andersson will be moved at some point before the March 6, 2026, trade deadline. However, he pointed out that Flames GM Craig Conroy hasn't closed the door on a contract extension.

Meanwhile, in Columbus, Yegor Chinakhov hasn't rescinded the trade request he made two months ago. Nevertheless, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic indicated last week that the 24-year-old center's situation hasn't reached the point of no return.

While GM Don Waddell remains open to moving Chinakhov for the right offer, he noted that the young forward was among the first players to return to Columbus for training camp and appears to be in excellent shape.

Waddell is taking that as a positive sign. However, Chinakhov must meet with coach Dean Evason before training camp opens this week to discuss the “misunderstandings” that prompted his trade request.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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After a strange down season, Phil Foden looked back to his best in the Manchester derby | Jonathan Wilson

The attacking midfielder sparkled against United, giving City a boost for the season and England hope for the 2026 World Cup

One of the many mysteries of last season for Manchester City was Phil Foden. When he was a teenager, everybody knew how good he was. He had been probably the key player shortly after turning 17 as England won the Under-17 World Cup in 2017, and there had been a clamour for him to play for Manchester City long before Pep Guardiola began to start him regularly in 2020-21. For four seasons he was one of the best players in the league and then, suddenly, there was nothing – at least by the exceptionally high standards he had set.

Foden had not had a good Euros in 2024. He has never really produced his best for England, a function perhaps of him playing for a club with such a specific style of play. Take him out of that regimented environment where he knew exactly what runs to make, exactly where his teammates would be moving, and he found it hard to adapt. And England generally did not play well at that Euros, despite reaching the final; the front end of the team was a mess, lacking the balance of previous Gareth Southgate sides.

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Detroit Red Wings Load Up Centennial Uniform With Historic Features

The Detroit Red Wings unveiled a new jersey on Monday to celebrate their centennial season.

The uniform commemorates 100 years of Hockeytown history and will be worn for more than a dozen home games, the team said. The franchise entered the NHL in 1926 as the Detroit Cougars. They then became the Falcons for two seasons before changing their name again to the Red Wings in 1932-33.

"Red Wings fans have long embraced the Winged Wheel, and we wanted our Centennial uniform to commemorate its legacy," Ryan Gustafson, president-CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, said in a news release. "This design honors the traditions that make Red Wings hockey truly distinctive, while incorporating meaningful details to celebrate this remarkable milestone in a way that stays authentic to Detroit."

The result is a traditional Winged Wheel jersey loaded with elements telling the history of the franchise.

That includes the "Olde English 'D' " the Cougars wore on their jerseys, which resurfaces as a secondary mark that appears on the pants, the jock tag at the front of the jersey and on the back. The number font is also inspired by the Cougars' 1927-28 uniforms.

The Detroit Red Wings used elements from their past for the Centennial jersey. (Courtesy of Detroit Red Wings)

The Centennial uniform also features striping on the sleeves, hem and socks, commemorating the Falcons uniforms.

The Winged Wheel crest uses the first version of the logo from 1932 to 1948.

Other uniform details include a lace-up collar, matte red helmets, the franchise's 11 Stanley Cup-winning years on the inside hem, a reimagined Hockeytown mark and some faux leather patches on the jersey.

The Centennial uniform debuts in Detroit's home-opener on Oct. 9 against a fellow Original Six squad, the Montreal Canadiens.

The Red Wings and Canadiens have faced off 612 times in NHL regular-season history. Detroit has a 219-291-6 record against Montreal, with 96 ties. In the playoffs, Montreal has a 33-29 edge.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Mets vs. Padres: 5 things to watch and series predictions | Sept. 16-18

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Padres play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

5 things to watch

Get on my back for a piggyback ride

On Tuesday night, the Mets are going to do something that has been bandied about for a while.

Clay Holmes will get the start, with Sean Manaea expected to piggyback him.

With Holmes -- who is well past his previous high for innings in a season -- having pitched more than 5.0 innings just once in his last nine starts, using him as an opener of sorts makes all the sense in the world.

As far as Manaea, having him be the pitcher who comes on in relief is sensible since he has experience pitching out of the bullpen and has fared well his first time through the order this season -- holding the opposition to a .703 OPS (that OPS rises to .811 the second time through and 1.071 the third time through).

With Holmes and Manaea pitching on the same day, the Mets could either go to a five-man rotation of sorts (with David Peterson, Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Nolan McLean following) or possibly insert Kodai Senga back in the next time through. Senga was strong in his first start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

The offense is still searching for it

While the Mets won on Sunday, snapping their losing streak in the process, the offense was still largely absent.

They mustered just two runs over the first eight innings, with Pete Alonso's walk-off homer accounting for three runs in the ninth.

But there were some good signs over the weekend, including Francisco Alvarez's big series (four hits, including a homer), Francisco Lindor reaching base five times, and Brandon Nimmo smacking a homer on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Juan Soto continued to mash, crushing his 40th homer of the season.

New York will not have an easy assignment against the Padres' starting pitching, with San Diego sending out Michael King on Tuesday, Nick Pivetta on Wednesday, and Randy Vasquez on Thursday.

How will Jonah Tong bounce back?

It was a start to forget for Tong this past Friday, when he allowed six runs on four hits and three walks while failing to escape the first inning.

While Tong had serious issues with his control on Friday, he was also very unfortunate with the balls that were put in play.

That included the soft single that kept the inning going with two outs when he was one strike away from escaping unscathed. 

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) takes starting pitcher Jonah Tong (21) out of the game against the Texas Rangers during a pitching change during the first inning at Citi Field.
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) takes starting pitcher Jonah Tong (21) out of the game against the Texas Rangers during a pitching change during the first inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Unlike his first and second starts, things snowballed for Tong on Friday. And for the first time, he looked a bit out of sorts.

He is expected to get the ball in Thursday's series finale. 

The out of town scoreboard

With 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Mets enter Monday's day off with a 1.5 game lead over the Giants for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.

New York is 2.0 games up on the Diamondbacks, and 2.5 games ahead of the Reds.

The Mets hold the tiebreaker over the Giants by virtue of winning the season series, while the Reds hold the tiebreaker over the Mets. The tiebreaker between the Mets and Diamondbacks is TBD, and will likely be based on intradivision record since the two clubs split the season series.

As the Mets face the Padres this week, the Giants and D-backs play eachother in Arizona while the Reds travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals. 

Padres are in a comfortable spot

San Diego enters this series trailing the Dodgers by 2.5 games (three in the loss column) for first place in the NL West, while holding the second Wild Card spot.

The Padres are 5.0 games ahead of the Mets for the third Wild Card, and 3.5 games (four losses) behind the Cubs for the first Wild Card.

So the very likely scenario is that they stay right where they are, which would mean getting the No. 5 seed in the playoffs and traveling to Chicago for the three-game Wild Card series.

How that motivates them for the remainder of the regular season remains to be seen.

San Diego is 6-4 over its last 10 games, which has all but cemented their playoff spot. 

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Juan Soto

Soto has been carrying the Mets for over a month

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

David Peterson

Peterson was solid his last time out, limiting the Phillies to three runs in 5.0 innings while striking out eight

Which Padres player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Luis Arraez

The pesky Arraez has six hits in his last 13 at-bats

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Giants notes: How Bob Melvin's managing rotation options during MLB playoff push

Giants notes: How Bob Melvin's managing rotation options during MLB playoff push originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Before Sunday’s game, Giants manager Bob Melvin said they’re “TBA” for Tuesday’s matchup at Chase Field. During the ensuing blowout loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Melvin tried to make sure he will at least have a few more options. 

Spencer Bivens, one of several long reliever types in the bullpen, was limited to one inning Sunday and JT Brubaker was pulled after two. On Saturday, Tristan Beck was pulled after two innings in a lopsided game. Melvin said the staff tried to save some arms so they can possibly come back to help out Monday or Tuesday, but they also don’t know what kind of length they’ll receive from rookie Kai-Wei Teng in the opener at Chase Field. 

“It all depends on how much we get out of Teng tomorrow,” Melvin said of the plan for the next couple of days. 

It’s not a comfortable place to be this time of year, but reinforcements might be on the way. Lefty Carson Whisenhunt will make a rehab start for the Sacramento River Cats on Tuesday and could return from his back strain after that. Whisenhunt could be an option next Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

If the Giants can survive that series and sneak into the playoffs, they could at some point get another big boost. Landen Roupp, their No. 3 starter for most of the year, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Friday and has not been ruled out if the team makes the postseason. 

When Roupp hurt his knee in San Diego last month, it looked like the Giants would be eliminated long before he could face hitters. But Roupp’s rehab has gone well and the team climbed back in the race, giving him a chance to return in October. Melvin said the plan all along was for Roupp to at least throw a bullpen session before the end of the season. 

“We wanted him to get on the mound and feel good about himself going forward,” Melvin said. “If there’s more time (in October), we’ll see where it goes … first and foremost (this was about) him getting on the mound and feeling good after what he has been through.”

If Roupp does return, it likely would be as a reliever. But right now, the Giants will take anything they can get. The pitching staff gave up 23 runs over the final two games against the Dodgers, and the next week won’t be any easier. They have three at Chase Field before four more against the Dodgers, who seem to have finally flipped the switch offensively. 

Help For The ‘Pen, Too?

Lefty Erik Miller threw a fastball-only bullpen session over the weekend and came out of it well. The plan is to throw a couple more bullpen sessions this week and then see where he’s at. A lot of this will also depend on where the Giants stand as he continues to rehab.

The hope is that the lefty can be back on the field at the very end of the season or in October, but given how much time he has missed with an elbow sprain, the Giants won’t push it if Miller isn’t needed. Miller hasn’t pitched in a big league game since July 2 but had a 1.50 ERA before going down. 

More Bad Luck

Under Farhan Zaidi, the Giants took two-way players in back-to-back drafts. While Bryce Eldridge will make his MLB debut this week, the other one continues to struggle with bad injury luck in his own bid to reach the big leagues. 

Left-hander Reggie Crawford had a second shoulder surgery recently, per team sources, pushing his return to the mound back to next summer. Crawford had labrum surgery last September and had been doing well in his rehab, but another issue popped up after he started throwing off a bullpen mound. 

The Giants took Crawford with the 30th overall pick in the 2022 draft and initially let him compete both ways. They ultimately settled on pitching and he made 14 appearances in Double-A and Triple-A last season before undergoing the first shoulder procedure. 

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