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NHL Rumor Roundup: Flyers Seek Blueline Help, More Nazem Kadri And Logan Cooley Speculation

The Philadelphia Flyers started this season missing two of their top four defensemen.

Cam York is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and expected to miss the Flyers' first three games. Meanwhile, Rasmus Ristolainen is still recovering from surgery in April to repair a ruptured triceps tendon.

On Oct. 7, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Flyers were “definitely checking what's out there on defense” in the trade market. However, he doesn't anticipate much activity this early in the season.

The Flyers have over $6.6 million in salary cap space after trading permanently sidelined defenseman Ryan Ellis to the San Jose Sharks earlier this week. Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco cited sources suggesting they could use that room to bolster their blueline.

Jonathan Bailey of The Hockey News doesn't expect the Flyers to trade assets for an older defenseman or a smaller, offensive-minded blueliner. Di Marco agrees, believing they'll target an impact player if they make a move.

Di Marco indicated the Flyers were interested in Bowen Byram before he signed a two-year extension with the Buffalo Sabres earlier this year. He wondered if they might revisit their interest, suggesting they offer up winger Owen Tippett and young blueliner Emil Andrae.

However, Bailey doesn't consider Byram the defensive stalwart they need. He noted that Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars and Philip Broberg of the St. Louis Blues will be RFAs seeking big raises next summer but doubted they will be available. He also doesn't see the New Jersey Devils trading Simon Nemec to a division rival.

Nazem Kadri (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Meanwhile, in Calgary, Flames center Nazem Kadri has surfaced again in trade speculation.

Kadri, 35, has been a frequent subject of media trade conjecture for the past two years, mostly based on the Flames' position as a retooling club. For his part, Kadri has insisted he and his family enjoy living in Calgary and he has no intention of requesting a trade.

Nevertheless, the possibility of a Kadri trade hasn't gone away. During the Oct. 3 episode of Flames Nation's Barn Burner podcast, TSN's Darren Dreger suggested the Flames might consider moving the veteran center if they're out of playoff contention by the March 6 trade deadline.

If the Flames attempt to move Kadri, they might wait until the off-season. That's when his full no-movement clause reverts to a 13-team no-trade list on July 1.

Turning to the Utah Mammoth, NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently reported Logan Cooley rejected an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $9.6 million, which would've made him their highest-paid player.

Cooley, 21, centers the Mammoth's top line and in the final season of his entry-level contract. Given the rising salary cap, he's likely waiting to see how the market unfolds. He could set his sights on something closer to $11 million.

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Despite Loss To Penguins, Islanders’ New Additions Make Strong First Impressions

PITTSBURGH, PA -- There's no question that the New York Islanders would have loved to come away with a win to open their 2025-26 season when they battled the Pittsburgh Penguins.

There were several positives in their 4-3 loss at PPG Paints Arena, but a few issues from last season persisted, including the power play going 0-for-3 and the penalty kill allowing goals on their first two chances, finishing the night 3-for-5. 

No team wins a Stanley Cup in game one of the regular season. It's about building something, and for three of the newest Islanders to find the scoresheet, two of which found the back of the net, is so incredibly important for confidence.

No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, who doesn't need moral victories to earn confidence, connected with a fellow newcomer on the Islanders' first goal, finding Jonathan Drouin in the high slot off a rush chance:

"Our team is so easy to make plays with them, and everyone's in the right spot," Schaefer said postgame. "So yeah. I mean, I found Drouin there and it was an easy pass to him, and of course, he puts in the back of the net. So yeah. I mean, I'd have to thank my teammates for that, because they're always in the right spots.”

Drouin, who signed a two-year deal worth $4 million annually on July 1, is something the Islanders are going to rely on heavily. He was brought in to gel with Bo Horvat on the club's top line, and scoring in your first game with your new team is a heck of a start. 

The 29-year-old logged 19:47 minutes, scoring on three shot attempts. He did receive a five-minute major and a 10-game misconduct late in the third period and will be having a hearing. 

Schaefer played 17:50 in his NHL debut, which included time late with the Islanders down a goal in a 6-on-5 situation -- recording the assist with one shot on goal on six attempts -- five were blocked -- with a hit, a giveaway and a takeaway. 

The other newcomer, Maxim Shabanov, who signed a one-year entry-level deal this summer out of the KHL, came through with a one-time finish from his knee to tie the game at 2-2 with less than 30 seconds to play in the middle frame. His goal came off a wicked feed from Simon Holmström:

Shabanov had been quiet during training camp and preseason, finding the net in their exhibition finale, as he looked to get more comfortable.

He finished his NHL debut with 9:45 minutes played, scoring on his only shot while adding a takeaway. 

Emil Heineman, the only other newcomer who came over from Montreal, played 13:12, with one shot on three attempts, two hits, two giveaways, a blocked shot, and won the only draw he took. 

All four players finished the night at +1. 

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All fluffed up: why modern balls are causing frustration and injury in tennis

Daniil Medvedev is one of a growing number of leading players who say that the balls have become unpredictable and are affecting their game

It did not take Daniil Medvedev long to realise he was in serious trouble at the French Open. As he tried to find a way past Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the first round, Medvedev simply did not feel comfortable on the ball.

With his prospects of advancing in one of the biggest tournaments in the world dwindling, the 29-year-old settled on a drastic solution. Medvedev requested completely different strings when he sent his rackets for restringing mid-match, switching from a hybrid of natural gut and polyester strings to a full polyester setup.

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Northampton welcome back Lions – and not a day too soon as Leicester loom

Phil Dowson has Fin Smith, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman available again and eager to make up for last season’s 33-0 defeat

It does not feel like a coincidence that the Prem’s first derby weekend of the season marks the return of most British & Irish Lions players and for Northampton it is a welcome boost indeed. Phil Dowson has Fin Smith, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman back at his disposal as they seek to avenge last season’s 33-0 home drubbing at the hands of fierce rivals Leicester.

For Saturday’s game Dowson has selected Smith, Mitchell and Freeman to start while Pollock is named on the bench and across the league a number of other Lions return now that the mandatory rest period has ended. Marcus Smith starts for Harlequins against Saracens, who field Ben Earl from the start. Jamie George is on the bench but Maro Itoje is still considered “unavailable”. Bath are led by Finn Russell in their West Country encounter with Gloucester with Will Stuart also starting. Ellis Genge lines up for injury-hit Bristol against Exeter.

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Stay or Go: Should the Mets trade Kodai Senga?

As the 2025 Mets devolved from a team with World Series hopes to one that missed the playoffs, the main culprit behind their fall was the pitching -- the starting rotation specifically. 

Among the issues?

The season-ending injuries suffered by Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill in June, the summer struggles of David Peterson and Sean Manaea, and the transition from reliever to starter that led to truncated starts by Clay Holmes.

But the most puzzling thing that impacted New York's 2025 rotation was the Jekyll and Hyde performance of Kodai Senga.

Over his first 13 starts from April 1 to June 12 -- spanning 73.2 innings -- Senga posted a 1.47 ERA (3.24 FIP) while allowing just 51 hits.

During his start on June 12, Senga injured his hamstring while receiving a high throw from Pete Alonso as he covered first base. That injury kept him out for roughly a month, and there are many who draw a throughline right there when trying to assess why it all went wrong.

But Senga was strong in his first start back from the IL, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings on July 11 while allowing four hits, walking two, and striking out four.

After that, it was a nightmare for the 32-year-old, who had a 6.56 ERA (6.11 FIP) in 35.2 innings over eight starts from July 21 through Aug. 31. After his start on Aug. 31, Senga accepted an assignment to the minors, where he was unable to get his mechanics straight or find his stuff. 

In light of Senga's massive struggles, and with the Mets needing to transform the starting rotation, is it time to explore a trade?

Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field.
Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO TRADE SENGA

More than anything, it is Senga's ongoing struggle to get his mechanics right -- and the massive issues that often pop up when he doesn't feel they're 100 percent in place -- that has been the most frustrating aspect of Senga's tenure in New York.

And while it took until September of this season for things to come to a head, Senga was pointing to his mechanics and "overthinking" as early as July 22.

The hope when Senga went to the minors was that it was a largely stress-free spot where he could get right. That he couldn't reach a point where he was able to return and pitch in the majors should have alarm bells going off.

Looking at Senga's pitch mix, his forkball remained elite in 2025 -- hitters slugged a minuscule .188 against it -- but he had serious difficulties with consistency when it came to the offering.

Meanwhile, Senga's two other most used pitches (his four-seam fastball and cutter) were crushed.

Opposing hitters slugged .543 against the four-seamer while slugging .483 against the cutter.

Beyond Senga's battle to get his mechanics in order and find the correct pitch mix is his growing injury history.

Since the start of the 2024 season, Senga has missed time due to injuries to his shoulder, calf, and hamstring. Those issues limited him to just 5.1 regular season innings in 2024 and 113.1 innings in 2025.

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. / Rick Scuteri - Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP SENGA

Senga's rookie campaign in 2023 and his first few months in 2025 are proof that he can pitch near the top of the rotation when he's at his best.

His advanced numbers from April through June in 2025 show that he was perhaps due for a bit of a regression, but his 2023 was utterly dominant.

In 166.1 innings over 29 starts, Senga had a 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while allowing just 126 hits and striking out 202 batters -- a rate of 10.9 per nine innings.

Senga's four-seamer (grading out in the 98th percentile) and forkball (93rd percentile) were also elite in 2023, as was his whiff percentage, barrel percentage, strikeout rate, and xBA. Meanwhile, his ground ball rate and xERA were above average. 

Senga might not profile as a true ace in the event he gets it together, but he possesses high upside. 

He's also relatively affordable -- set to make $15 million each of the next two seasons. The Mets have a conditional club option for 2028 worth $15 million that will kick in if Senga has Tommy John surgery or a right elbow injury that keeps him on the IL for 130 or more days.

There's also the rest of the rotation to consider when weighing Senga's future. In other words, while there are concerns about Senga, there are questions surrounding most other potential members of the rotation, too.

May 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) waves to the crowd after getting taken out in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field.
May 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) waves to the crowd after getting taken out in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images

VERDICT

Using logic and deductive reasoning, it's fair to believe that three pitchers might be penciled in right now as members of the Mets' 2026 rotation: Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, and Nolan McLean.

Manaea did not perform well in 2025, but he was also pitching with loose bodies in his elbow. Additionally, his salary ($22 million annual luxury tax hit through 2027) could be prohibitive when it comes to finding a potential trade partner. 

It's also likely that Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong will both play a big role in 2026, though that might not come from the jump. 

As far as David Peterson, who is entering his final season of arbitration, it would be hard to give up on him.

Meanwhile, it can be argued that the Mets need to find a top of the rotation starter externally -- and probably will.

If you put all of it together, something will have to give. And the most sensible scenario has the Mets dangling Senga via trade. 

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How Steph Curry, Warriors vets helped Jonathan Kuminga throughout contract saga

How Steph Curry, Warriors vets helped Jonathan Kuminga throughout contract saga  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga shared that the Warriors’ veteran core was instrumental in helping him navigate his recent contract negotiations.

In an exclusive with Andscape‘s Marc Spears, Kuminga revealed that teammates Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield each offered steady support and advice throughout his free-agency process.

“The one thing I really appreciate is my teammates,” Kuminga said. “I never heard one of them call me and tell me, ‘Yo, hurry up and do this.’ Just knowing that people like that who I go to work with every other day on that floor have my back, I appreciate that.”

At just 23 years old, Kuminga still is carving out his place with Golden State after being drafted seventh overall in 2021. He averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds last season — both career highs — while continuing to grow alongside veterans who already have defined the franchise’s dynasty.

Kuminga added that what stood out most during negotiations was the way those leaders shared their perspective, teaching him about the contract process and giving him patience when he needed it most.

“I spoke to Buddy. I spoke to Draymond. I spoke to Jimmy. I spoke to Steph,” Kuminga added. “All of them. I had a 20-plus type of conversations of how contracts work, how to feel about certain things. They were teaching me certain things.”

That mentorship became especially important when Kuminga missed the Warriors’ players-only minicamp in San Diego. He said Butler was one of the first to understand his decision to stay back and focus on negotiations.

“We had a [players] team camp out there in San Diego. I did not go,” Kuminga explained. “That’s when I had to speak to Jimmy and tell him how things were going and that I can’t get there. He’s one of the guys that really understands where I was coming from because he’s been through contract situations.”

He also leaned on Curry and Green after their offseason travels, crediting their long conversations for putting him at ease.

“Me and Steph had a long, long talk and I really appreciate that,” Kuminga said. “Me and Draymond, obviously, we always talk, but we had a long talk after he was coming back from China. They just gave me hope and patience for sure. I felt like I was comfortable after talking to them.”

As Kuminga looks ahead to the new season, he says the biggest takeaway is knowing he has the full backing of his teammates.

“I think that was the biggest thing I learned: I got people that support me and are always behind me,” he said. “I’m glad and I’m happy to always call them my teammates, my brothers.”

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Wigan eye third consecutive Super League title and place among all-time greats

Hull KR have taken two of Wigan’s crowns this year and stand in the way of Matt Peet’s team at Old Trafford

It is not just the walls of Wigan Warriors’ plush Robin Park training complex that are draped with the historic moments of rugby league’s most famous club. Almost everywhere you turn in the town, there is a nod to the great players and triumphs Wigan recalls with immense pride.

The modern era has not exactly been short on supply when it comes to similar memorable moments but in terms of teams and players that will stand the test of time, it is not unreasonable to suggest this current incarnation of Wigan Warriors is on the verge of entering the pantheon of the club’s all-time greats.

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Stephen A states Giannis joining Steph Curry, Warriors wouldn't be fair to NBA

Stephen A states Giannis joining Steph Curry, Warriors wouldn't be fair to NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With yet another round of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talk rumors surfacing, the NBA world brought back a familiar hypothetical.

What if Antetokounmpo joined forces with Steph Curry and the Warriors? 

Stephen A. Smith said the pairing would be “unfair” on ESPN’s “First Take.”

“You want to talk about unfairness in the National Basketball Association? Don’t let Giannis get to Golden State with Steph Curry,” Smith warned. “If that happens – oh my lord. It wouldn’t be fair to the basketball world.”

On paper, it would be a monstrous pairing. Curry and Antetokounmpo have a combined four NBA MVPs, five NBA Championships and two NBA Finals MVPs.

If Draymond Green still were in the mix in that hypothetical, that would give the Warriors two Defensive Player of the Year award winners. But, Smith notes the offensive opportunities with that trio. 

“For those two to be wearing the same uniform on the same court — especially — if you kept Draymond Green, who’s your point forward facilitator, who’s your Energizer bunny, and who feeds Steph Curry better than anybody on the planet. If you had those two in the same uniform as Giannis Antetokounmpo, forget the betting odds and all of that stuff in Vegas,” Smith said, “Golden State would coast to the title.” 

All three players have played their entire NBA careers with just one team. They have the three longest active tenures with a single team, with Curry and Green entering their 17th and 14th seasons, respectively, with Golden State, and Antetokounmpo entering his 13th season with the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Antetokounmpo reportedly was open to leaving Milwaukee this offseason for the first time in his career. The Bucks star, however, has recently reaffirmed that he’s “locked in”  to playing for Milwaukee. 

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Top Performances From Nashville Predators' Season-Opening Victory Over Blue Jackets

Oct 9, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Coming into Thursday’s season opener at Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Predators hadn’t lost at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets since March 30, 2019, a span of nine games.

That streak was stretched to 10 following Thursday night’s 2-1 victory. It may not have been pretty, but the Predators are already off to a better start than this time last year, when they dropped their first five games in 2024-25.

“Columbus is a really good team,” Preds head coach Andrew Brunette said following the win. “They're fast, they're big. I thought we were a little nervous. We had a lot of guys, that was their first Opening Night in a Predator jersey, whether they're young kids or guys that just came in the lineup… I thought we settled down in the third. I thought it was by far our best period."

Here are three top performances from Thursday’s win.

The New Dad Lights The Lamp

Fatherhood apparently agrees with Michael Bunting.

Just two weeks ago, the 30-year-old Predators forward welcomed his son Bo into the world. Prior to Thursday’s season opener, Bo took the gold walk at Bridgestone Arena.

Bunting scored the Predators’ first regular-season goal of 2025-26 later that evening, putting them in the lead 1-0 at the 6:45 mark of the opening period.

Bunting took the puck off a turnover, but his first shot was blocked by a Columbus defender, then bounced off another. Linemate Erik Haula fed the puck back to Bunting, and his second try went over the shoulder of Columbus goalie Jet Greaves. Haula was credited with the lone assist.

At 10:08 of the first, Bunting went to the penalty box for slashing, but former Predator Dante Fabbro also went off for interference at the same time, creating a 4-on-4.

Bunting’s goal put him four shy of 100 for his NHL career. He was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins with a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn last March.

Bunting also lit the lamp in the Predators’ last meeting with Columbus, an 8-4 loss last Apr. 1. After the Blue Jackets took a 4-1 lead in the second period, Nashville scored two goals within 43 seconds of each other. Bunting cut the deficit to 4-2 at 5:43, then Justin Barron narrowed the gap to 4-3 at 6:26.

Here's to a great start of 2025-26 for the new dad, on and off the ice.

Ryan O'Reilly Gets The Game-Winner

Last season, the Predators ranked 18th in the NHL on the power play. On Thursday, they went 1-for-4, but that goal was a big one. It came from Ryan O’Reilly to put the Preds ahead 2-1 in what would eventually be the game-winner.

At 16:41 of the third period, O’Reilly took a pass from Filip Forsberg down low, showed some adept stick-handling skills before firing a high backhand past Greaves.

Forsberg picked up the assist, giving him a point in 10 consecutive season-opening games dating back to 2016-17. He’s only the fifth player in NHL history to accomplish that milestone.

“It's a good feeling,” O’Reilly said of Thursday's win. “It wasn't pretty at times out there. They had some momentum, and we got caught on our heels, but still, to find a way to win, to kind of stay with it… It's so important to establish that right away and get that first win. It's definitely a great game to build on."

O’Reilly was on a power-play unit with Forsberg, Roman Josi, Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. They had great puck movement on that particular shift. It’s definitely something they can build on.

Juuse Saros Slams The Door

Oct 9, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) makes a glove save from the shot of Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (23) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

In last season’s loss to Dallas on Opening Night, Predators goalie Juuse Saros didn’t play due to an injury. The Stars scored all four of their goals in the second period off backup Justus Annunen, and Nashville fell 4-3.

Saros was in net Thursday, and made the most of his season opener. He had several key saves in the first period after the Predators had grabbed a 1-0 lead. One was on Kirill Marchenko on a wraparound attempt going left to right.

Saros was up to the task all night, stopping 38 of 39 shots. The Blue Jackets outshot Nashville 28-18 through 40 minutes before the Predators won the third period advantage 13-10.

“Obviously, he's the backbone of our team," Forsberg said of Saros. "And then for two periods, we relied on him a lot, too, a lot more than we…want to on a regular basis. But that's why he's here. That's why he's ours and not someone else's. He's one of the best, if not the best.”

The Blue Jackets almost went ahead 2-1 with 17 seconds left in the middle frame after Mathieu Olivier put one in after Saros partially saved a previous shot by Damon Severson. However, the goal was disallowed after video review for goalie interference.

Saros’s previous performance against Columbus was forgettable. He saved 19 of 26 shots over two periods in the 8-4 loss last April before giving way to Annunen.

Thursday, the Predators saw the vintage Saros. If the club has any hope of a turnaround in 2025-26, it starts with Saros being consistent throughout the grind of a season.

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Blue Jackets Play Well, But Can't Overcome The Demons Of Playing In Nashville

Dmitri Voronkov (1) provided the only offense for Columbus, and Jet Greaves was stellar, making 29 saves, but the Jackets would fall to the Nashville Predators 2-1. 

Bridgestone Arena is absolutely a house of horrors for the Columbus Blue Jackets. With last night's loss, they move to 9-37-1-7 all-time in Nashville. So, it's a blessing that this game was played so early in the season. 

The Jackets played really well, but just couldn't solve Preds goalie Juuse Saros. The 30-year-old Finn made 37 saves on 38 CBJ shots to stifle the young Jackets. The Jackets thought they took the lead with 18 seconds left in the second period, but upon further review, it was ruled that Mathieu Olivier made contact with Saros, so the goal was called back. That would be it for the Blue Jackets, as the Preds would of course score a power play in the third to end it. 

They played well against a tough and skilled team and playing well defensively. There's really nothing to be upset about in this one. 

Quotes

  • HC Dean Evason - "A ton of positives. Obviously, their goaltender was really good. We did so many really good things in this hockey game. It's frustrating, obviously, but the guys know how hard and how well they played."
  • Mathieu Olivier - “I thought our game was really good. We put a lot of pressure on them, did the right things to win. Ultimately, their goalie was really good. So was Jet. It was a very tight game, and that’s just the way it goes sometimes, but as far as the way we played, I don’t think there’s much to look at and not be satisfied with. We played well. Just not satisfied with not getting the two points, but other than that, not a bad performance by our group.”
  • Jet Greaves - "Excited for the opportunity to be out there with the guys tonight. So, I felt good, but obviously like there's some positives but also some things to improve on, so it's I think it's a good step, but I think there's a lot for myself and for us to learn from going forward."

Final Stats

Courtesy of the CBJ APP

Player Stats

  • Dmitri Voronkov scored his 1st goal of the season.
  • Damon Severson tallied an assist
  • Denton Mateychuk recorded an assist.
  • Kirill Marchenko led the CBJ with 8 shots.
  • Zach Werenski had 5 shots on the night.
  • Jet Greaves made 29 saves.

Team Stats

  • The Jackets' power play went 0/1 on the night.
  • The Columbus PK stopped 3 of 4 Predator power plays.
  • Columbus won 46.8% of the faceoffs.

Up Next: The Blue Jackets travel to Minnesota to play the Wild on Saturday night. 

Let us know what you think below.

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What Buster Posey took away from Bryce Eldridge's late-season Giants call-up

What Buster Posey took away from Bryce Eldridge's late-season Giants call-up originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — During the final homestand at Oracle Park, the lower deck was dotted with No. 78 jerseys, which will become a throwback next spring when Bryce Eldridge is given a much lower number. But those weren’t the only souvenirs from the 20-year-old’s two-week cameo in the big leagues. 

Eldridge picked up his first big league hit, and his mom even managed to snag a Matt Chapman foul ball while watching a game at Dodger Stadium. There were a lot of lessons that the organization’s top prospect will take away from September, too.

“You’ve got to make adjustments at this level,” he said on the final day of the season. “I’m just excited that I got the opportunity. I love the fact that I got that out of the way going into next year. I know the things I’ve got to work on. I’m just excited and looking forward to next year and continuing to have a bigger role on this team.”

The Giants never intended to have Eldridge get his feet wet in September, but when Dominic Smith went down with the team still fighting for a Wild Card spot, Buster Posey made the move in hopes that it could provide a jolt down the stretch. Eldridge ended up getting 37 plate appearances over 10 games, showing why he’s potentially a franchise-altering hitter and also what he has to work on.

Eldridge finished with just three hits, but when he made contact, he showed his elite power. He had an average exit velocity of 95.6 mph, a tick above Aaron Judge, who led qualified big leaguers at 95.4 mph. In a small sample, Eldridge also posted what would have been the league’s best hard-hit percentage. He was at 68.8 percent, well ahead of Kyle Schwarber’s 59.6 percent. His expected slugging percentage would have been a top 20 figure in the league over a full season. 

That power was there throughout his Triple-A season, too, but Eldridge also had a high strikeout rate, which is one reason the Giants were holding him back all summer. That showed in the big leagues, too. His 35.1 percent strikeout rate would be the highest in the big leagues over a full season. He did, however, counter that with a high walk rate. 

Add it up and it’s about exactly what was expected given his age and lack of experience. When Eldridge makes contact, it’s special … but he certainly has work to do in terms of limiting strikeouts. 

“I think it’s kind of what we anticipated we might see,” president of baseball operations Buster Posey said on Giants Talk. “You could see some swing and miss, he hit the ball hard. I was impressed at some of his takes. I thought he did a nice job against some really tough pitchers. It’s a big jump. It’s a big jump from Triple-A to the big leagues for a lot of different reasons and one is the quality of arms that you’re seeing every day and every night, starting pitching and relief pitching. There were some takes against (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto that were balls just under the zone that he did a nice job with.

“It’s exciting to have a guy that you know there’s tremendous upside. I know he knows and we all know there’s a lot of room for growth still and we’re excited to keep watching that.”

The call-up put Eldridge on the 40-man roster, eliminating one hurdle to having him on the Opening Day roster next season. But the Giants haven’t committed to anything for 2026, at least publicly.

Eldridge showed he’s more comfortable at first than he was earlier in the year, but if the front office wants him to get a bit more seasoning on that side and continue to work on his approach in Triple-A, there’s an avenue to do that. Rafael Devers likely will be the primary first baseman next year, anyway. There’s some interest in a reunion with Smith, although that’s likely far-fetched given that the roster will at some point have two left-handed first base/DH types in Devers and Eldridge.

Given how much they have to do on the pitching side, the Giants could also go into the offseason with a plan to start Eldridge in the big leagues next year no matter what. A midseason injury limited him a bit in Triple-A, but he got a taste of MLB pitching late in the year and can work on adjustments all spring. That would set him up for an early matchup with Judge, a fellow 6-foot-7 hitter, and give him another chance to get one more milestone out of the way in a big game. The Giants open 2026 on national television against the New York Yankees.

Eldridge came a few feet short of picking up his first homer at Dodger Stadium. He didn’t get that first homer at Oracle Park over the final week, but he said that’s one part of the late-season cameo that wasn’t stressing him out.

“It’ll come when it comes. I’m not worried about it,” he said. “I think there will be plenty of them in my career. I just have to wait a little bit longer, but it’s not a big deal.”

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If you know your Lucas Neill and Mo Salah, the Guardian’s new football game is just for you

Our new daily puzzle, On the ball, involves guessing the identity of the Premier League footballers, past and present

That “dudes can just sit around and name old sports players” is a time-honoured social media meme. In football, this is especially true. Such wistful recollections can bring together all types of people.

A couple of seasons ago, on a Saturday night train back to London from reporting for the Guardian a match between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, I thought I had landed in the sanctuary of an abandoned carriage on the train home.

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Fraser Minten Plays Overtime Hero As Former Maple Leafs Prospects Make Impact On New NHL Clubs

The Toronto Maple Leafs paid a steep price when they bolstered their blue line back in March, dealing Fraser Minten and a top-five protected first-round draft pick in 2026 for defenseman Brandon Carlo.

Now in his second season with the Bruins, Minten is making an immediate impact. The 21-year-old center scored the overtime winner to help the Boston Bruins defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3. Minten, a late-season call-up for the Bruins in 2024-25, earned a spot in the opening-night lineup after just six games with his new club. The Bruins missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years last season, but are now 2-0-0 thanks to the player Toronto selected with their first pick (38th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Minten wasn’t the only former Leafs prospect acquired at the deadline to make it to an NHL-opening roster. Nikita Grebenkin, acquired in the deal for Scott Laughton, made the Philadelphia Flyers out of camp. However, Grebenkin was a healthy scratch for Philly’s season-opening loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

Laughton has been out of action for the Leafs since blocking a shot in a pre-season game. He remains week-to-week with a lower-body injury. His lower-body injury appears to derail Leafs prospect Easton Cowan’s opening the regular season on the fourth line alongside Laughton and Steven Lorentz. Perhaps the prospect gets his chance when the Leafs head down the 401 to take on the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesar’s Arena on Saturday

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