It’s early. A lot will happen over the next three months of college football. Nobody is guaranteed anything. That said, hope reigns all across Florida.
Illinois football stadium gets new name after $100 million gift from Larry Gies
The University of Illinois has announced a record-breaking $100 million donation from Larry Gies to its athletics programs.
Josh Giddey re-signs with Chicago Bulls for reported four years, $100 million
Compromise — a lost art in these times — has secured Josh Giddey's spot with the Chicago Bulls for the next four years.
Chicago and Giddey have agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract, his agent Daniel Moldovan of Lighthouse Sports Management told Shams Charania of ESPN, who broke the story. The Bulls soon confirmed it.
OFFICIAL: We have re-signed @JoshGiddey.
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 9, 2025
Read ➡️ https://t.co/ravAZLyPJhpic.twitter.com/LFf1xL8Hs5
Giddey showed what he can mean to this franchise with the numbers he put up last season after the All-Star break: 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists a game for a Bulls team that went 17-10 in that stretch. Last season in Chicago, he had 30 double-doubles and seven triple-doubles.
Negotiations dragged out all summer because Giddey — based on his play the final stretch of last season — wanted to be paid in the Tyler Herro, Derrick White range of $30 million a year. That was not happening, and the last offer reported to be on the table was four years, $88 million ($22 million a season).
However, Chicago hurt its leverage because a year ago when it gave the unproven Patrick Williams a five-year, $90 million contract purely based on his potential. Giddey, despite his flaws (notably his lack of defense), is a proven commodity who can score and run an offense. What is that worth?
Chicago and Giddey met somewhere in the middle with a nine-figure contract that works for both sides. Giddey gets paid, but at that price Chicago can trade him if they decide to pivot.
GIDDEY UP. Welcome back @JoshGiddeypic.twitter.com/uhHqg7QW3N
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 9, 2025
If Giddey plays this coming season like he ended the last one, he could make his first All-Star team next February.
Giddey, the 22-year-old Australian, is expected to start at the point with Coby White at the two (and serving as a secondary shot creator). Combine them with second-year and improving player Matas Buzelis, just-drafted Noa Essengue from France, and the potential of Williams, and the Bulls may be starting to build something. It's been tough to see the big-picture vision in Chicago for a while — and that fog still hangs in the air — but locking up Giddey gives them a potential direction. This is a good deal for both sides.
Giddey inking his contract leaves two unrestricted free agents hanging out there, Jonathan Kuminga with the Warriors and Quentin Grimes of the Philadelphia 76ers. Both of those scenarios feel more like they could end in the player accepting the qualifying offer — as Cam Thomas did with the Nets — rather than the sides compromising on a deal.
Nashville Predators announce training camp, preseason roster, dates
The boys are back in town as the Nashville Predators announce their training camp roster, which is set to start on Sept. 17. All on-ice training camp practice sessions are open to the public and will be held at Ford Ice Center Bellevue.
Team meetings will be held on Sept. 17, with practices beginning on Sept. 18. The Predators will play two of their four preseason games at Bridgestone Arena against the Florida Panthers (Sept. 21) and Tampa Bay Lightning (Sept. 23).
Nashville will face the Lightning and Panthers on the road on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28.
Its game against the Panthers on Sept. 21 will be a split roster session. The first game will start at 2 p.m., followed by the second game at 6 p.m. I
The Predators will also host a Gold Star Showcase, which is an intersquad scrimmage, at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville on Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Predators training camp roster
FORWARDS (29)
7 Dylan Gambrell * 6-0 191 R Bonney Lake, Wash. 8/26/96 Cleveland (AHL)
9 Filip Forsberg 6-1 205 R Ostervala, Sweden 8/13/94 Nashville (NHL)
21 Jacob Lucchini 6-0 180 L Trail, B.C. 5/9/95 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
25 Joakim Kemell 5-11 182 R Jyväskylä, Finland 4/27/04 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
26 Daniel Carr * 6-0 186 L Sherwood Park, Alta. 11/1/91 HC Lugano (Swiss League)
36 Cole Smith 6-3 195 L Brainerd, Minn. 10/28/95 Nashville (NHL)
40 Fedor Svechkov 6-0 187 L Togliatti, Russia 4/5/03 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
44 Brady Martin 6-0 185 R Kitchener, Ont. 3/16/07 Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
45 Kalan Lind 6-1 162 L Swift Current, Sask. 1/25/05 Milwaukee (AHL)/Red Deer (WHL)
47 Michael McCarron 6-6 232 R Grosse Pointe, Mich. 3/7/95 Nashville (NHL)
49 Reid Schaefer 6-5 226 L Edmonton, Alta. 9/21/03 Milwaukee (AHL)
53 Hiroki Gojsic 6-3 210 R Langley, B.C. 5/1/06 Kelowna (WHL)
56 Erik Haula 5-11 191 L Pori, Finland 3/23/91 New Jersey (NHL)
58 Michael Bunting 6-0 186 L Scarborough, Ont. 9/17/95 Nashville (NHL)/Pittsburgh (NHL)
60 David Edstrom 6-4 193 L Gothenburg, Sweden 2/18/05 Frolunda (Sweden)
61 Joey Willis 5-11 184 L Elmhurst, Ill. 3/14/05 Kingston (OHL)/Saginaw (OHL)
63 Kyle Marino * 6-3 220 R Niagara Falls, Ont. 6/1/95 Milwaukee (AHL)
65 Cole O'Hara 6-0 189 R Richmond Hill, Ont. 6/20/02 Milwaukee (AHL)/UMass Amherst (Hockey East)
68 Zachary L'Heureux 5-11 197 L Montreal, Que. 5/15/03 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
71 Matthew Wood 6-4 202 R Nanaimo, B.C. 2/6/05 Nashville (NHL)/Minnesota (Big Ten)
75 Navrin Mutter 6-3 202 L London, Ont. 3/15/01 Milwaukee (AHL)
77 Luke Evangelista 6-0 183 R Toronto, Ont. 2/21/02 Nashville (NHL)
78 Ryder Rolston 6-1 175 R Boston, Mass. 10/31/01 Milwaukee (AHL)/Rockford (AHL)
81 Jonathan Marchessault 5-9 185 R Cap-Rouge, Que. 12/27/90 Nashville (NHL)
89 Ozzy Wiesblatt 5-10 183 R Calgary, Alta. 3/9/02 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
90 Ryan O'Reilly 6-1 207 L Clinton, Ont. 2/7/91 Nashville (NHL)
91 Steven Stamkos 6-1 193 R Markham, Ont. 2/7/90 Nashville (NHL)
93 Austin Roest 5-10 184 R Coldstream, B.C. 1/22/04 Everett (WHL)
97 Oasiz Wiesblatt * 5-7 180 L Vancouver, B.C. 4/8/04 Medicine Hat (WHL)
DEFENSEMEN (19)
5 Kevin Gravel 6-4 205 L Kingsford, Mich. 3/6/92 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
8 Andreas Englund 6-4 200 L Stockholm, Sweden 1/21/96 Nashville (NHL)/Los Angeles (NHL)
20 Justin Barron 6-2 198 R Halifax, N.S. 11/15/01 Nashville (NHL)/Montreal (NHL)
24 Spencer Stastney 6-0 184 L Woodbridge, Ill. 1/4/00 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
37 Nick Blankenburg 5-9 177 R Washington, Mich. 5/12/98 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
41 Nicolas Hague 6-6 245 L Kitchener, Ont. 12/5/98 Vegas (NHL)
42 Zack Hayes * 6-3 224 L Calgary, Alta. 4/24/99 Laval (AHL)
48 Nick Perbix 6-4 206 R Elk River, Minn. 6/15/98 Tampa Bay (NHL)
50 Tanner Molendyk 5-11 190 L McBride, B.C. 2/3/05 Medicine Hat (WHL)/Saskatoon (WHL)
51 Jack Matier 6-6 205 R Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. 4/8/03 Milwaukee (AHL)
52 Cameron Reid 6-0 179 L St. Thomas, Ont. 4/8/07 Kitchener (OHL)
57 Chad Nychuk * 6-1 194 L Rossburn, Man. 3/6/01 Milwaukee (AHL)/Atlanta (ECHL)
59 Roman Josi 6-1 201 L Bern, Switzerland 6/1/90 Nashville (NHL)
76 Brady Skjei 6-3 210 L Lakeville, Minn. 3/26/94 Nashville (NHL)
82 Jordan Oesterle 6-0 181 L Dearborn Heights, Mich. 6/25/1992 Nashville (NHL)/Boston (NHL)
83 Adam Wilsby 6-1 188 L Stockholm, Sweden 8/7/00 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
85 Ryan Ufko 6-0 174 R Smithtown, N.Y. 5/7/03 Nashville (NHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
92 Andrew Gibson 6-4 211 R Windsor, Ont. 2/13/05 Oshawa (OHL)/Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
98 Alex Huang 6-0 180 R Montreal, Que. 7/30/07 Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
GOALTENDERS (7)
1 Ethan Haider 6-3 197 L St. Louis Park, Minn. 9/4/01 Milwaukee (AHL)/Atlanta (ECHL)
29 Justus Annunen 6-4 210 L Kempele, Finland 3/11/00 Nashville (NHL)/Colorado (NHL)
30 Magnus Chrona 6-6 225 L Stockholm, Sweden 8/28/00 Milwaukee (AHL)
31 T.J. Semptimphelter * 6-1 190 L Marlton, N.J. 5/9/02 Bridgeport (AHL)/North Dakota (NCHC)
32 Matt Murray 6-1 196 L St. Albert, Alta. 2/2/98 Milwaukee (AHL)
39 Jakub Milota 6-1 178 L Ostrava, Czechia 4/14/06 Cape Breton (QMJHL)
74 Juuse Saros 5-11 180 L Forssa, Finland 4/19/95 Nashville (NHL)
* indicates player is attending camp on a tryout agreement
Predators training camp, preseason schedule
Wednesday, Sept. 17
All day Physicals/team meeting Bridgestone Arena
Thursday, Sept. 18
8:45 a.m. Practice - Group A Ford Ice Center Belleuve
10:50 a.m. 12:50 p.m. Practice - Group B Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Practice - Group C Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Friday, Sept. 19
8:50 a.m. Practice - Group B Ford Ice Center Belleuve
9:30 a.m. 10:10 a.m. 10:10 a.m. 10:50 a.m. 11:20 a.m. Scrimmage - Group B/C Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Scrimmage - Group A/B Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Practice - Group C Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Scrimmage - Group A/C Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Practice - Group A Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Saturday, Sept. 20
9:15 a.m. Practice - Group C Ford Ice Center Belleuve
10 a.m. 11 a.m. 1 p.m. Scrimmage - Group A/C Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Practice - Group A Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Practice - Group B Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Sunday, Sept. 21
2 p.m. Game vs. Florida Panthers Bridgestone Arena
6 p.m. Game vs. Florida Panthers Bridgestone Arena
Monday, Sept. 22
Day off
Tuesday, Sept. 23
7 p.m. Game vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Wednesday, Sept. 24
10 a.m. Practice - Group A Ford Ice Center Belleuve
12:15 p.m. Practice - Group B Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Thursday, Sept. 25
6:30 p.m. Gold Star Showcase Presented F&M Bank Arena By Ticketmaster
Friday, Sept. 26
10 a.m. Practice - Group A Ford Ice Center Belleuve
12:15 p.m. Practice - Group B Ford Ice Center Belleuve
Saturday, Sept. 27
6 p.m. Game at Tampa Bay Lightning Benchmark International Arena
Sunday, Sept. 28
6 p.m. Game at Carolina Hurricanes Lenovo Center
Warriors star Draymond Green reveals toughest defensive assignment of NBA career
Warriors star Draymond Green reveals toughest defensive assignment of NBA career originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s no secret Warriors forward Draymond Green takes pride in his defense.
The nine-time All-Defensive player and 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year has owned his reputation as one of the best on the floor at covering all five positions during his historic NBA career.
On Thursday, Green joined streamer Kai Cenat and spoke about what players have been the toughest to guard over the course of his career.
“The hardest player I had to guard in my career is KD,” Green said, speaking of Kevin Durant. “KD in OKC. After that, I figured him out, right. Slim can’t score on me no more – nah, he going to score on everybody, but I got better and learned more about his game. But, in OKC and just coming into the league and figuring — oh my God. No chance.”
Durant, who’s eighth all-time in NBA scoring with 30,571 points, hasn’t been figured out by anyone, so it’s no surprise Green gave him his flowers.
The topic then shifted to who currently gives the 35-year-old forward fits.
“The hardest now is Joker,” Green said of Nikola Jokic. “I play with Steph so I don’t have that headache. Joker — Luka [Doncic] will always be one of the toughest covers, but that ain’t my matchup. Of my matchups, the hardest to guard right now is Joker.”
The four-time NBA All-Star didn’t stop there, however. While he didn’t name another player, he did mention one anonymous big man in the Western Conference.
“There’s one that’s really tough. … I’m not saying it,” Green told Cenat, who pushed for him to say the name. “I don’t want to give him that edge. He probably don’t believe he has that edge, so I can’t give him that edge.”
We might never know who the mystery player is, but they must be a good enough talent if they’re able to get Green to almost mention them.
Mets activate Jose Siri from IL, option Jared Young amid flurry of roster moves
The Mets are receiving a nice boost ahead of Tuesday's game against the Phillies, as Jose Siri has officially been activated from the injured list.
Siri immediately jumps back into the starting lineup, batting ninth and playing center.
In a flurry of corresponding moves, Jared Young has been optioned back down to Triple-A, right-hander Wander Suero has been designated for assignment, and Justin Garza was outrighted to Syracuse.
Siri has been sidelined since the middle of April due to a fractured left fibula.
He appeared to be closing in on a return in late July, but hit a bit of a setback in his recovery when imaging showed the bone hadn't healed to the Mets' liking.
The speedster was shut down from all baseball activities until resuming a rehab assignment the past few weeks, in which he recorded hits in five of six games.
Siri figures to take on the bulk of the playing time in center down the stretch with Cedric Mullins struggling mightily and Tyrone Taylor still in the IL with a hamstring injury.
Prior to the injury, he had just one hit in 20 at-bats, but provided a nice spark with his speed and defense.
NHL Anticipates Eligibility Update On Hart, Formenton, Dube, Foote And McLeod In 'Near Future'
Nearly seven weeks have passed since the five players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault trial were found not guilty on all charges. And yet, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Dillon Dube continue to remain ineligible to return to the NHL.
At least, for now.
According to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, a decision on the players’ future is coming. The question is whether it will arrive before the start of the 2025-26 regular season.
“I don’t have an update,” Daly told reporters at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas on Tuesday. “But I do anticipate a decision in the relatively near future.”
There is no guarantee that any of the players will be allowed back into the NHL this season. Even if they are, there is no guarantee that any of the 32 teams will want to offer any of them a contract.
Although all five players were found not guilty of sexual assault, the details of the trial shined a light on toxic masculinity and the negative culture that still pervades the sport of hockey. What the players did behind closed doors after a night of drinking at a Hockey Canada gala honoring their victory at the 2018 World Junior Championship might not have been criminal. But it was wrong on several levels.
NHL Made The Right But Difficult Decision With The Five Former WJC Players Found Not Guilty When a London, Ont., judge ruled on Thursday that all five players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault trial were not guilty on all charges, the NHL found itself at a crossroads of moral decency.
“The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing, and the behavior at issue was unacceptable,” the NHL released in a statement at the conclusion of the trial.
“We will be reviewing and considering the judge's findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the league.”
The NHL’s strong stance could explain why Formenton, whose NHL rights are still owned by the Ottawa Senators, recently signed a three-and-a-half-month contract to play in Switzerland.
When asked about Formenton during the Senators’ annual charity golf tournament on Monday, GM Steve Staois refused to say whether he had interest in the 25-year-old left winger.
Senators Aren't Saying Whether They'll Sign, Trade, Or Walk Away From Alex FormentonAt the team's annual charity golf tournament on Monday, Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios held court with the media and was asked, among other things, about winger Alex Formenton. TSN's Clare Hanna brought up the fact that Formenton had signed to play in Switzerland again, that his rights still belonged to Ottawa and asked Staios if he had spoken to the player or if he had any thoughts.
“I have no comment on that. In fact, it's a league matter, and the player is ineligible to play,” Staios told reporters. “I won't comment on it.”
Formenton is not the only player who has played in Europe since London police initially laid charges on the five men.
Dube and McLeod, who last played for the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils, respectively, spent last season in Russia. Foote, a Tampa Bay Lightning first-round draft pick who has played for Nashville and New Jersey, spent last season in Slovakia.
Report: Flyers Interested in Carter Hart ReunionAccording to a report, the Philadelphia Flyers are one of several teams interested in free agent goalie Carter Hart.
Hart is so far the only player who is yet to play in North America or elsewhere. However, there are reports suggesting that several teams, including Philadelphia, where he last played, could be interested in signing the once-promising goalie if he becomes eligible to return to the NHL.
When — or if that is — remains unclear.
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.
Alex Orji injured: Former Michigan football QB out for season at UNLV
Former Michigan football quarterback Alex Orji sustained a season-ending injury at UNLV on Sept. 6. Here's what to know.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Brandon Sproat, Brad Keller, and Andrew Benintendi
We are officially in the fantasy baseball championship push.
While the rest of your leaguemates are focused on their fantasy football waiver wires, paying a little extra attention to some recent activity around the majors can help you find the necessary edge to putting the finishing touches on a winning season.
Most waiver wires have been picked over though and it’s difficult to find impact players readily available in most leagues at this point in the season.
Fear not, because there are still a handful of available players that have the chance to be difference makers that help push us towards glory.
Mookie Betts jumps back up, and Brad Keller is the high debut in this week’s top 300 update.
Matthew PouliotHere are three players that are under 40% rostered on Yahoo leagues that you should strongly consider adding.
If you want a larger list, Eric Samulski wrote his extended waiver wire piece on Sunday.
Brandon Sproat, SP Mets
(20% Rostered on Yahoo)
Sproat debuted for the Mets on Sunday against the Reds and struck out seven batters over six innings, walked four, and allowed three earned runs. The walks were a bit worrisome, but Sproat seemed content to give hitters a free pass rather than something to hit.
All of that damage came in that sixth inning too after he held Cincinnati hit-less over the first 5 1/3 frames.
Then, they smacked three straight hits that brought home all three of their runs. Sproat did well to strike out the following two hitters to stop the bleeding and leave his first start on a high-note.
Still, this was an excellent debut and he joins other impressive Mets’ rookies Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong to form a trio that’s reestablished some confidence in their rotation.
Yet, Sproat’s call-up was met with much less fanfare than that of the other two. That’s probably because after peaking as a top-40 prospect this winter, he scuffled to a 5.95 ERA through his first 15 starts at Triple-A this season.
It was a mess down there too. He leaned too hard onto his sinker and sweeper which left him susceptible against left-handed batters. They had a .336/.430/.516 slash line against him to that point and he didn’t have any solutions.
That is, until he rediscovered consistency with his changeup and curveball.
Sproat leaned on those two pitches when he was a younger prospect and during college at Florida. His feel for multiple secondaries is one of the things that made him such an intriguing prospect early on. Then, as he developed his sweeper after arriving in the Mets’ organization, something changed and he no longer mixed up his repertoire as much.
Those pitches came back in a big way this June though and everything changed.
He immediately ripped off a 23 inning scoreless streak and that lefty slash line fell to .135/.247/.216 over his final 11 appearances in Triple-A. He once again looked like one of the best pitchers in the upper minors.
Brandon Sproat since June 25th:
— James Schiano (@James_Schiano) September 4, 2025
59 IP / 2.44 ERA / 29.9 K% / 8.9 BB%
-Stopped throwing sinker & sweeper to lefties
- Replaced with changeups and curves
- Finally found consistency with those two
- Fastball sits 96-97 MPH
Another SP that could hit the ground running pic.twitter.com/ljGPAsM4M3
If you want to read in a little bit deeper on the importance of Sproat’s curveball specifically, Aidan Lippencott’s thread right here is fantastic.
Brandon Sproat has made some exciting changes in Triple-A, resulting in 18 straight scoreless innings since his 6/28 start.
— Aidan Lippencott (@AidanLippBB) July 11, 2025
It’s all about complementary pitches & attacking lefties: https://t.co/SPt9F2EVm8pic.twitter.com/DDZLJyPkHQ
He brought that curveball with him to the majors and it helped deliver his first big league strikeout.
Brandon Sproat's 1st MLB K pic.twitter.com/9JslnpZOcN
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 7, 2025
What a gorgeous back-door hook. Overall, Sproat’s sweeper accounted for nearly half of his total pitches and all of his swings-and-misses.
If anything will hold him back right now, it will be the inability of his fastballs to generate whiffs. With that, he has impressive feel for both of those breaking balls for a rookie and will be a tough at-bat for hitters from either side of the plate.
On top of all that, he’s scheduled to face the injury-riddled Rangers, Nationals, and Marlins to close out the season. That alone makes him an intriguing option off the waiver wire.
Brad Keller, RP Cubs
(22% Rostered on Yahoo)
Cubs’ closer Daniel Palencia left his appearance on Sunday with shoulder discomfort and has since been placed on the injured list with a strain. That opened the door for Keller to step in as Chicago’s closer for what could be the rest of the regular season.
The former starter has been incredible out of the bullpen full-time this season with a 2.17 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and hasn’t allowed an earned run since before the All-Star break.
Moving to relief has helped him add some serious velocity. For his career, Keller’s fastball sat around 93-95 mph. This season, it’s above 97 mph with over two more inches of induced vertical break.
That pitch has never had a good shape, but now it’s much better and the added velocity has covered up the remaining deficiencies.
Every other pitch has ticked up as well. His changeup is coming in four miles per hour harder and nearly two more inches of arm-side run. It’s become his second-most thrown pitch against lefties and they have a 43.1% whiff rate against it.
Brad Keller. NAILS! pic.twitter.com/QHVsJ0si1X
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 1, 2025
The development of his sweeper is another huge reason for his success. Only introduced in 2023 and used just 6% of the time last season, it’s become his go-to breaking ball against righties and has a 49.1% whiff rate against them.
Outside of one rough appearance, Brad Keller had a strong month of July for the @Cubs with 7 scoreless outings out of 9. His sweeper was our RP Pitch of the Month pic.twitter.com/enavy3uCFo
— Baseball Prospectus (@baseballpro) August 4, 2025
Like everything else, he’s throwing it much harder and now at 86 mph, is in the 88th percentile of sweeper velocity among all qualified pitchers.
Great stuff and an opportunity to close full-time on a good team can make Keller an impact reliever over these final few weeks.
Andrew Benintendi, OF White Sox
(7% Rostered on Yahoo)
Something strange has happened with Benintendi in each of the last two seasons: he swings a pool noodle in the first half before catching fire after the All-Star break.
Last year, he dragged his feet to a .568 OPS in the first half and could barely keep his batting average over the Mendoza line. He was rightfully nowhere close to fantasy managers’ radars.
Then, his 13 home runs were tied for 14th-most in the league across the second half and his .830 OPS was a huge boost to anyone who noticed this turnaround happening.
Oddly enough, the same trend has appeared this season. While not as stark, Benintendi’s .233/.297/.429 slash line in the first half has bumped up to .269/.335/.442 after the break. That’s a useful player in deep leagues.
Plenty of value can be found in these steady yet unspectacular players this time of year who play every single day and produce enough to be better than league average. Plug and play Benintendi if you need help in an outfield spot.
Sabres Prospect Profile – Noah Ostlund
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games.
Other Sabres Stories
Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse
Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere
#4 - Noah Ostlund - Center (Rochester - AHL, Buffalo - NHL)
Ostlund was the Sabres second first-round pick (16th overall) at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal after scoring 42 points for the Djurgardens junior-level club, 10 points for Sweden at the Under-18s, and a brief stint in the SHL. The following season, he had 26 points (8 goals, 18 assists) in 37 regular-season games in the second-level pro league Allsvenskan and four points (1 goal, 3 assists) for Team Sweden at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships.
He travelled to North America after his season in Sweden and joined the Rochester Americans for their Calder Cup Playoff run, but did not play. The Stockholm native chose not to come over to start the 2023-24 season, instead returning to Sweden to play for Vaxjo and play again for his country at the 2024 World Junior in Gothenburg.
The 20-year-old thrived at the WJC, scoring 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in seven games and earning a silver medal. Ostlund was also a solid contributor for Vaxjo, with 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 38 games, and joined Rochester at the end of the AHL season, earning an assist in two regular-season games and one goal in three playoff games.
In his first full season in North America, Ostlund missed nearly two months with a hand injury, but returned just before Christmas and went goalless in his first 10 games, but the 21-year-old began to produce at a high rate since the middle of February, scoring 11 goals in a 15-game stretch, earning an NHL recall and playing the final eight games with the Sabres. In 45 games with the Amerks, he scored 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games in the regular season.
Similar to countryman Isak Rosen, Ostlund is a player with talent, but it is unknown whether he will get a legitimate NHL opportunity. Being a year younger than Rosen, the young center has more time to develop his game and will need to put up big numbers in Rochester this season to earn a chance with the Sabres.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Blues' Dalibor Dvorsky’s Breakthrough Might Have To Come On The Wing
Dalibor Dvorsky's rookie season in the AHL was outstanding, so much so that he earned a call-up to the NHL, where he skated in his first two games, but if the 20-year-old wants to be a full-time NHLer, he may have to do it on the wing.
Throughout his junior and AHL career, Dvorsky has been a center, and a very good one at that. But the current makeup of the St. Louis Blues indicates that his initial breakthrough into the NHL may have to come on the wing, a position he has some experience playing in.
Currently, the Blues centers consist of Robert Thomas, Brayden Schenn, Pius Suter and Oskar Sundqvist, all of whom aren't moving from the middle of the ice unless injuries occur. Where the Blues may have openings is on the wing, especially after Zack Bolduc was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in the off-season.
Dvorsky plays a very balanced game. He is an excellent puckhandler and uses his stick handling to create open ice to show off his elite release and passing abilities. On the defensive side, Dvorsky's 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame allows him to use his size to knock players off the puck and his hockey IQ to position himself to break up plays.
Dvorsky's AHL rookie campaign witnessed him notch 21 goals and 45 points, ranking tied for second in goals and tied for third in points on the Springfield Thunderbirds. A strong rookie camp, followed by training camp, pre-season and then the start of the AHL season should put Dvorsky at the top of the list of forwards to be called up to the NHL.
Schenn, the Blues' captain, is the current second-line center, but now 34 years old, Schenn isn't getting any younger, and as he inches towards the conclusion of his eight-year, $6.5 million contract, it may be wise for the Blues to transition him to the wing in the next two seasons. At the moment, Schenn hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, but when that day does come, the patience the Blues have demonstrated with Dvorsky, their 2023 10th overall pick, will pay off.
He'll be able to take Schenn's role as the No.2 center and allow him to move into the bottom-six, providing the Blues with additional depth.
The Blues have made it very apparent that they are willing to give their prospects as much time as they believe they need to be NHL-ready and fit a role when they do enter the lineup. No Blues prospect highlights this more than Dvorsky. He may not play all 82 games with the Blues or be in the lineup when the playoffs roll around, but when he does enter the lineup, he won't be taken aback by the level of play.
Blues Announce Roster, Schedule For Tom Kurvers Prospect ShowcaseThe St. Louis Blues announced their roster and schedule for the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, which will take place from September 12-14, at TRIA Rink in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ryane Clowe Leaves Sharks To Become Rangers' Assistant General Manager
Ryane Clowe left the San Jose Sharks to join the New York Rangers organization.
After serving as the Sharks’ assistant general manager for one season, Clowe announced his resignation from the position on Sunday.
“I loved being back in San Jose and working with [Sharks GM] Mike Grier and his entire team, but at this point, this decision is in the best interest of my family,” Clowe said in the statement.
“The franchise has an exciting future ahead and is set up to be successful for a long period of time, and I am grateful to Mike and [team president] Jonathan Becher for giving me the opportunity to return to San Jose.”
One day after resigning, he joined the Rangers, becoming the team’s assistant general manager along with Jim Sullivan.
From 2021 to 2023, Clowe served as a hockey operations advisor for the Rangers while he was elevated to the position of senior advisor during the 2023-24 season before leaving for San Jose.
Josh Giddey, Cam Thomas conclusions won't impact Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga saga
Josh Giddey, Cam Thomas conclusions won't impact Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga saga originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
After collectively whistling into the wind for more than two months, the four most notable restricted free agents in the NBA are starting to splinter. Two have taken themselves off a market offering nothing, and neither was Jonathan Kuminga.
The stalemate between Kuminga and the Warriors remains precisely that, but they are steadily creeping toward resolution if only because every minute brings them closer to an Oct. 1 deadline.
The initial reaction to Cam Thomas returning to the Brooklyn Nets and Josh Giddey re-signing with the Chicago Bulls is to ponder whether that impacts the Warriors and Kuminga. The answer is, um, complicated.
Let’s begin with Thomas, who last week swallowed hard and accepted Brooklyn’s $5.99 million qualifying offer. With no market for his services, he reportedly had three options, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. One, stay with the rebuilding Nets for one year at $9.5 million plus incentives that could bring him to about $20 million. Two, re-sign for two years at $30 million, with a team option in Year 2. Three, sign the one-year qualifying offer, the only option that gives him a right to veto any trade and puts him on the market next summer, when the market projects to be more lucrative.
The market for Kuminga was slightly warmer, but not enough to force a move by the Warriors. He entered September facing two options. One, accept Golden State’s qualifying offer of $7.99 million. Two, sign a two-year contract at $45 million, with a team option in Year 2. He has shown no interest in that.
Kuminga has shown more interest in the qualifying offer – which gives him trade veto power and puts him on the market next summer – than the two-year deal preferred by Golden State that pays more but diminishes his leverage.
A third option could be looming, but the Warriors’ payroll has much less latitude than that of the Nets.
The Giddey contract, re-signing with rebuilding Chicago for four years at a reported $100 million, was almost a formality. The Bulls sweetened their initial offer (four years, $88 million), and Giddey’s representatives compromised on their pursuit of something in the $110-120 million range.
One clear and significant distinction between Kuminga-Warriors and Giddey-Bulls is that only the latter involves parties with mutual desire. Giddey and the Bulls envision a future together. Kuminga and the Warriors do not share the same dream.
Another difference is that the Bulls, mediocre in the inferior Eastern Conference, are building for years ahead. Giddey has been a starter since his rookie season with Oklahoma City and was a 30-minutes-a-night starter in his first season in Chicago. He is part of a core they hope can thrive in two or three years.
The Warriors, by contrast, are operating with urgency. With a veteran core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green – average age 36.5 years – they’re not looking beyond the next two seasons.
It’s conceivable, even likely, Kuminga stays with the Warriors – just as it seems likely that Quentin Grimes, the fourth RFA, stays with the Philadelphia 76ers. The difference there is, again, there is mutual interest between both parties, according to league sources. Philly reportedly is seeking to shed salary elsewhere to re-sign Grimes.
Aside from RFA status, Kuminga does not share a lot of parallels with Thomas, Giddy or Grimes. The Warriors will not offer JK the kind of contract the Bulls gave Giddey, and they have no plan to dump salary to retain Kuminga, as is the goal of the 76ers.
Kuminga signing the qualifying offer remains the anticipated outcome. The deadline to do so is Oct. 1. Meanwhile, Al Horford and the rest of the veterans in Golden State’s waiting room are quietly pleading for clarity.
Philadelphia reportedly considering trading Drummond, Oubre to open up cap space for Grimes
Quentin Grimes thrived in Philadelphia after being traded there from Dallas at last February's deadline. In 28 games for the 76ers he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game. Suddenly it was easy to picture him in a rotation with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and just-drafted VJ Edgecombe to be the future in Philly (whatever happens with Joel Embiid and Paul George).
Except, the 76ers have to pay the restricted free agent Grimes, and reportedly the team wants at least a three-year deal. He reportedly wants a contract averaging $20 million or more a season, and he has the option of taking the $8.7 million qualifying offer, playing out this season and becoming a free agent.
Philly wants to pay him (maybe not $20 million a season based on just 28 games), but even giving him a contract around the mid-level exception (starting at $14.1 million next season) could send them deep into the tax aprons. So to create cap space, the 76ers are considering salary dump trades of Andre Drummond (set to make $5 million) and/or Kelly Oubre ($8.4 million), Jake Fischer said during a Bleacher Report live stream.
"There has been buzz all summer long about the Sixers looking to potentially move one of, if not both, Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre. If they are able to find a deal for one of those two guys as we get closer to camp that would open up some more wiggle room for Philadelphia to be able to pay Grimes a little bit more than what he's looking at right now and what that qualifying offer would be."
Things are not exactly clear-cut and straightforward for the 76ers.
Both Drummond and Oubre are expected to have larger, more important roles next season if Embiid or George are injured at any point — and both are already heading into training camp limited and likely to miss some time. Then there is the guard spot: Philly already has Maxey at the point backed up by Kyle Lowry, with McCain and Edgecombe playing the two and maybe the three. While Grimes could start and would certainly play in that guard/wing rotation, he's not going to have the touches and green light he did late last season on a broken-down and demoralized 76ers team playing out the clock. Grimes' numbers and minutes are not going to be the same. While he is unquestionably a quality player and a good fit, how much do they want to pay him?
The 76ers don't want Grimes to just take the qualifying offer, they would like to lock him down with a longer deal and have him as part of the future. While Grimes may want a bigger payday, the reality is he's made $11.1 million total across four NBA seasons and if Philly came to him with something like three years, $45 million, that much money would be tough to turn down. However, with a good number on the qualifying offer ($8.7 million), Grimes may still choose to bet on himself, given that around half a dozen teams or more are expected to have cap space next summer.
There is room for a compromise and a Grimes deal to get done with the 76ers, but it may involve a salary dump trade first.
Could Season Rentals Help Red Wings Land Oilers' Connor McDavid?
Exploring what it would take for the Detroit Red Wings to acquire Oilers’ Connor McDavid in 2026 free agency.
The speculation continues to grow around if Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid will re-sign with the team or explore free agency next off-season. More and more insider reports have indicated that an extension likely won't be done before the start of the season, meaning the pressure will be firmly placed on the Oilers to show their captain that they are an attractive destination that has the chance to win a Stanley Cup.
After two straight losses in the Stanley Cup Finals, reports suggest that McDavid has become "fanatical" when it comes to winning a championship. The same reports suggest this is why a deal hasn't been done yet as he isn't sure if after two Finals runs that the team has anything left in the tank. The Oilers are set to start two rookies in their top six next season with a poor outcome likely signaling McDavid's exit.
Elliotte Friedman: Re Connor McDavid: What this all comes down to, is that he thinks this team can win now, but he's not convinced that if he signs for any kind of term, 3-5 years from now, that he believes the team has the staying power - 32 Thoughts Podcast (9/5)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) September 5, 2025
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When these reports first came out, we laid out a potential plan of attack for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman as the the team has enough cap space to take on a contract of McDavid's size next season and beyond due to a few pending free agents. The Red Wings would have potentially $24 million in available cap that could allow the team to make any offer they so choose with McDavid. The second part of this problem is how do they show McDavid that they have the pieces to compete for a Stanley Cup?
Red Wings Emerging as Potential Landing Spot for Oilers' Connor McDavidRed Wings could present solid case if Oilers’ Connor McDavid opts for free agency in 2026.
The first step that could work as a season long objective is to make the playoffs. If they fail to do this once again, then there's little to no chance that McDavid will want to choose Detroit. They will then need to add pieces to their lineup while also leaving themselves in a position to have enough cap space for McDavid. A good angle for this could be season rentals.
The 2026 free agency class is loaded with talent and if the Red Wings can go out and add a player that is due for a new contract in 2026, they could work it around a chance at landing McDavid. An example of this could be Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who has been recently involved in trade rumors and could join the Red Wings for this season at a very friendly $4.55 million person.
If they can offer him something in the neighborhood of what Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad just got this past July with an eight-year deal and a cap hit at $6.1 million per season, that would still leave $18 million for the Red Wings. They could go after a player like McDavid or if they fail, Jets star winger Kyle Connor. Adding a stud defenseman like Andersson should help propel Detroit into the playoffs and could make them a dark horse to go far depending on their seeding.
Elliotte Friedman: Re Connor McDavid: Whether its $16m or maybe a little bit less...he will sign for a number that still allows them to do business - NHL Network (9/8)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) September 9, 2025
They could also go for a cheaper alternative and add a pair of cheaper options to further the depth in the lineup with low-cost players like a forward in Kiefer Sherwood or a Kevin Stenlund while adding to the backend with a player like Vincent Desharnais. The two additions could both total roughly $4 million or below and helped strengthen the overall team.
Either way, it could show star talent entering the market next off-season that Detroit is just one star player away from being a Stanley Cup contender. If Detroit finishes with a top three spot in the Atlantic with the help of some rentals via trade and also showcase their young talent coming up to the main roster in the next few seasons, it could present a solid case for McDavid or Connor to join the Red Wings.
3 Red Wings Prospects That Could Make NHL Debut This SeasonExploring three Detroit Red Wings prospects that could make the jump to the NHL in the 2025-26 season.
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