4 Former Blackhawks Placed On Waivers

Mackenzie Entwistle (© Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images)

According to PuckPedia, former Chicago Blackhawks players Ian Mitchell, Mackenzie Entwistle, Andreas Englund, and Boris Katchouk have all been placed on waivers.

Mitchell was placed on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings. The right-shot defenseman is entering his first season with the Red Wings organization after signing with them this summer. In 15 games with the Boston Bruins in 2024-25, he posted one assist and a minus-2 rating. In 82 games over three seasons with Chicago, Mitchell had four goals, 16 points, and a minus-21 rating. 

Entwistle was placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers. The gritty winger was limited to only seven regular-season games this past season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, where he posted one goal and one assist. He also had two goals, one assist, and 20 penalty minutes in eight playoff games for Charlotte this spring. In 193 games over four seasons with Chicago, Entwistle had 15 goals, 35 points, and 404 hits.

Englund was placed on waivers by the Nashville Predators. In 35 games last season split between the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville, he had one goal, three points, and 48 penalty minutes. He played in 11 games with the Blackhawks in 2022-23, where he had one assist. 

As for Katchouk, he was placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent all of last season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, recording 21 goals and 49 points in 67 games. In 117 games over three seasons with Chicago, he had 11 goals, 26 points, and 176 hits. 

Hogberg & Highmore Clear Waivers; Rocky Thompson, Bridgeport Islanders Win First Preseason Game

Goaltender Marcus Hogberg and forward Matthew Highmore have cleared NHL waivers and will report to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. 

Both will help Bridgeport, for sure. 

While those two made their journey across the sound, head coach Rocky Thompson got behind the bench for his first preseason game since the Islanders hired him to take over AHL coaching duties after clearing house. 

Bridgeport came away with a 6-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers' AHL affilaite. This game was not available on video. 

After allowing the opening goal just 8:09 into the first period, forward Eetu Liukas tied the score at 12:27, with Cam Thiesing recording the primary assist on what was a shorthanded goal. 

Hartford found themselves ahead 2-1 at 15:09 of the opening period to head into the first intermission up by one.

Then, it was all Bridgeport, scoring four unanswered goals. Defenseman Calle Odelius scored at 2:09 of the second, with Hunter Drew and Matthew Maggio recording the assists. A few minutes later, at 5:41 of the second, Joey Larson scored with Maggio snagging his second assist of the day.  Cole McWard regarded the secondary assist. 

Then it was Adam Beckman times two, scoring at 10:33 and 19:13 of the second, the latter of the two a shorthanded marker, Bridgeport's second of the game. 

Beckman is not eligibl to play in Bridgeport's first three games due to a suspension that carries over from last season.

Islanders Bring Back Beckman For BridgeportIslanders Bring Back Beckman For BridgeportOn Tuesday night, the New York Islanders brought back forward Adam Beckman on a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $150,000 at the AHL level with a guaranteed  

The first was assisted by Sean Day with the second goal coming off a play from Alex Jefferies. 

Hartford made it 5-3 at 15:38 of the third courtesy of Shane Ott but Cam Berg answered with an empty-net tally at 19:29 of the third, with McWard earning his second assist of the night. 

Parker Gahagen got the start in goal, turning aside 17 of the 20 shots he faced. 

After being outshot 11-5 in the first period, the Islanders outshot them 10-3 in the second and 12-6 in the third to win the shooting battle 28-20. 

Thompson said during his introductory press conference that Bridgeport would no longer be punching bags after a miserable 2024-25 season that saw them win a historic-worst four home games. 

Rocky Thompson's Plan To Building A Winning Culture In BridgeportRocky Thompson's Plan To Building A Winning Culture In BridgeportLOS ANGELES -- On Thursday afternoon, Bridgeport Islanders head coach Rocky Thompson addressed the media for the first time since the New York Islanders announced his hiring on June 23. 

While preseason games don't matter in the standings, seeing Bridgeport's offense come alive while keeping pucks out of their own net is a sure positive. 

Bridgeport's next presesaon game is Friday at 6 PM ET vs. the Hartford Wolfpack, the New York Rangers AHL affiliate. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Former Blues First Overall Pick Announces Retirement After 17 NHL Seasons

Former 2006 St. Louis Blues first overall pick Erik Johnson has retired from professional hockey after 17 seasons in the NHL.

Johnson was selected as the defenseman who was supposed to turn the Blues' blueline around, and although he went on to have an impressive NHL career, he never quite lived up to the billing of a first overall pick. 

He spent just two and a half seasons with the Blues, notching a career-high of 39 points in his sophomore season, a total that was matched once afterwards. In 203 games with the Blues, Johnson scored 20 goals and 91 points.

His Blues tenure didn't last as long as some thought it would. In the 2010-11 season, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche alongside Jay McClement and draft picks for Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and draft picks. 

Johnson went on to play 731 of his 1023 NHL games with the Avalanche, winning a Stanley Cup in 2021-22. Shattenkirk played 425 games with the Blues, scoring 59 goals and 258 points, but was dealt before the Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2018-19. 

Including the Blues and Avalanche, the 37-year-old Johnson had brief stints with the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers late in his career.

Internationally, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound defender won two gold medals at the U-18s, bronze at the World Junior Championship and the World Championship, and won a silver medal at the 2010 Olympics with Team USA. 

Buster Posey doesn’t consider former manager Bruce Bochy a candidate to fill San Francisco’s vacancy

SAN FRANCISCO — Giants executive Buster Posey doesn’t consider his former manager Bruce Bochy a candidate to fill the vacant position again for San Francisco.

Posey, the club’s president of baseball operations, said he had spoken to Bochy and mentioned there could be a position for the 70-year-old in the organization — just not the managerial job.

“The door’s always open here for some sort of role,” Posey said during a news conference at Oracle Park. “I don’t see us going that route with Boch.”

The Giants fired Bob Melvin after his second season ended with an 81-81 record — one more victory than last year — and a fourth straight missed playoff opportunity.

The Texas Rangers announced a mutual parting with Bochy after three seasons that featured the organization’s first World Series championship in 2023.

Posey expressed the hope of finding someone who could provide stability for years to come on the dugout’s top step as the club tries to become a regular contender again, but he didn’t provide any details about the process except that interviews are happening this week. Under Bochy, the Giants won biennial World Series championships in 2010, ‘12 and ’14.

“We had a pretty consistent stretch of not playing good baseball,” Posey said. “... There’s a lot of good things in place, but ultimately we did not achieve our goal this year.”

When Posey took over in his current job at this time last year to replace Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ longtime catcher committed to three seasons. And he is still planning to fulfill that agreement.

“I’m fully committed, but I think the focus has to be on the present,” the 38-year-old Posey said. “That’s the way I try to look at it. Would I like to do it longer, sure, but I think the focus has to be in the moment.”

Nashville Predators claim Hurricanes forward Tyson Jost off waivers

With a little over a week until the start of the NHL season, the Nashville Predators have made a significant addition off waivers. 

It was announced on Wednesday that Carolina Hurricanes forward Tyson Jost has been claimed off waivers by the Predators. The veteran forward split time between the Hurricanes and their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, last season. 

Jost scored nine points (four goals and five assists) and logged 33 penalty minutes in 39 NHL games last season. 

Jost was a regular on the Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres' rosters from 2019 to 2023, but he has seen his play decline in the last two seasons. In December 2023, he was placed on waivers by the Sabres and went unclaimed, playing 25 games with the Rochester Americans. 

He signed as a free agent with the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2024 offseason, but played only 39 games with the Hurricanes before being assigned to the Chicago Wolves.

Dec 5, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Jost (17) looks for the puck during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Despite his decline over the last few seasons, the 27-year-old has played 495 NHL games, scoring 61 goals and 88 assists for 149 points. In the playoffs, Jost has played in 46 games, scoring 10 points. 

Jost's best season came during the 2018-19 season with the Colorado Avalanche, where he scored 26 points in 70 games. He was drafted 10th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Avalanche out of the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League. 

The Predators are taking on a one year, $775,000 contract in claiming Jost. 

In addition to claiming Jost, the Predators have also placed defenseman Andreas Englund on waivers. He spent last season with the Los Angeles Kings and Predators.

Englund scored a point in 11 games with the Kings before he was placed on waivers and claimed by Nashville. He played 24 games with the Predators, scoring two points. 

With Englund now on waivers and Jost claimed, the Predators' training camp roster remains at 28 players. 

Union Saint-Gilloise 0-4 Newcastle United: Champions League – as it happened

Newcastle got off the mark in this year’s league stage with an easy but nevertheless impressive win in Belgium

6 min: USG launch it long down the right. Botman attempts to hook back upfield, but only succeeds in kicking the ball into his own face and out for a corner. The set piece comes in from the right. Leysen, in the centre heads it back to the near post, from where Rodriguez eyebrows over the bar. That was a decent chance, and Newacstle were fortunate the USG striker didn’t get that on target. Had he done so, Pope was most likely picking the ball out of the net.

4 min: Tonali and Elanga combine well down the inside-right channel. The latter works himself a little space to shoot … but not enough so his eventual effort doesn’t get blocked the moment it leaves his boot.

Continue reading...

New Philadelphia Flyers Forward Hits Waivers

Lane Pederson (

© Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers have made another roster move, as they have placed forward Lane Pederson on waivers, PuckPedia reports

Pederson became a Flyer this off-season after he signed a one-year deal with the Metropolian Division club in free agency. This was after he recorded five goals, seven assists, and 12 points in 18 games with the Edmonton Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, this past season. 

Pederson last played at the NHL level during the 2022-23 season. In 27 games that season split between the Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets, the 6-foot-1 forward recorded three goals, three assists, six points, and a minus-1 rating. 

In 71 career NHL games over three seasons split between the Arizona Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Canucks, and Blue Jackets, Pederson has recorded four goals, seven assists, 11 points, and 38 penalty minutes. 

If Pederson clears waivers, the Flyers will be able to send him down to the AHL to play for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. If he does start the year with the Phantoms, he will be a key veteran forward on their roster.

New Jersey Devils Rank High in NHL Franchise Values

The New Jersey Devils have been ranked 11th among all NHL franchises in Sportico’s latest team valuation report, coming in at $2.06 billion.

According to Sportico, the average NHL team is valued at $2.1 billion. The Toronto Maple Leafs top the list at $4.25 billion, while the Columbus Blue Jackets sit last at $1.3 billion. Collectively, the league’s 32 franchises are worth $67.1 billion.

Sportico’s rankings are based on multiple factors, including team revenue (sourced from public records, interviews with owners, and industry insiders), as well as valuations of related businesses and real estate holdings. Their breakdown includes:

  • Total Value: Enterprise value of the team plus related businesses and real estate.
  • Team Value: Fair market value of the franchise itself, derived from hockey-specific revenue metrics.
  • Team-Related Businesses & Real Estate: Additional assets such as practice facilities, AHL affiliates, and arena-related properties.

The Devils’ valuation represents a 21% year-over-year increase, placing them just behind the Detroit Red Wings and ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Top 15 NHL Team Valuations (Sportico 2025)

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs – $4.25B (↑16%)
  2. New York Rangers – $3.65B (↑12%)
  3. Montreal Canadiens – $3.3B (↑13%)
  4. Boston Bruins – $3B (↑12%)
  5. Los Angeles Kings – $2.96B (↑18%)
  6. Edmonton Oilers – $2.76B (↑15%)
  7. Chicago Blackhawks – $2.74B (↑12%)
  8. Philadelphia Flyers – $2.66B (↑16%)
  9. Washington Capitals – $2.3B (↑24%)
  10. Detroit Red Wings – $2.11B (↑14%)
  11. New Jersey Devils – $2.06B (↑21%)
  12. Vegas Golden Knights – $2.02B (↑14%)
  13. Dallas Stars – $1.94B (↑18%)
  14. New York Islanders – $1.93B (↑15%)
  15. Carolina Hurricanes – $1.92B (↑49%)

The full rankings of all 32 franchises are available on Sportico.

Preseason Standout Among Six Players Waived By Red Wings Wednesday

The Detroit Red Wings announces flurry of moves on Wednesday as they narrow down their roster before heading into their preseason-ending series versus the Maple Leafs. 

With the regular season fast approaching, the Detroit Red Wings made a series of roster moves on Wednesday aimed at streamlining their lineup and maximizing flexibility.

Forwards Austin Watson, Dominik Shine, John Leonard, Sheldon Dries, Alex Doucet, Jakub Rychlovsky, Eduards Tralmaks, Carson Bantle, and Gabriel Seger, as well as defensemen Ian Mitchell, William Lagesson, Alex Kannok Leipert, and Jacob Truscott were assigned, released from their professional tryout or returned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate.

The moves reflect the organization’s efforts to open roster spots, manage the salary cap, and maintain depth at both the NHL and AHL levels. By placing these players on waivers, Detroit not only opens up opportunities for younger or more versatile players to step into the lineup but also ensures that, if unclaimed, these veterans can be assigned to their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, maintaining experienced depth in the system

Austin Watson 

The former longtime Nashville Predators winger has been a frequent shuttle between Detroit and Grand Rapids. In the 2024–25 season, he appeared in just 13 NHL games for the Red Wings, scoring three goals and logging 17 penalty minutes as a known gritty player. In the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Watson was a difference maker with 19 goals and 23 assists for the third-most points on the team with 42 and leading the team with 112 penalty minutes.

Red Wings Reveal Centennial Jersey Night ScheduleRed Wings Reveal Centennial Jersey Night ScheduleThe 2025-26 NHL season is set to be a historical one for the Detroit Red Wings, who are celebrating their centennial campaign. 

Dominik Shine

Shine enters the final season of a two-year, two-way deal with the Red Wings and has spent the last two seasons as an integral role as part of the Griffins leadership group in the AHL. With a team full of young prospects, the 32-year-old veteran has remained a steady producer, notching 14 goals and 32 assists for 46 points during the 2024–25 season. His return to Grand Rapids will see likely see the Michigan native be named an assistant captain for the third straight season. 

Ian Mitchell

Mitchell had his moments during the preseason with some standout defensive plays as well as a surprising amount of offense with a pair of assists and five shots on goal through three preseason games. In recent years, Mitchell has split time between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks organizations, appearing in 110 NHL games and tallying four goals and 15 assists for 19 points. He’s found more success at the AHL level, where he’s posted 23 goals and 70 assists for 93 points in 156 games. Still just 26, Mitchell has time for a late breakout, but he'll need to keep proving himself in the AHL to earn another shot at the NHL. 

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John Leonard

Leonard had a standout AHL season in 2024–25 with the Charlotte Checkers, leading the club with 36 goals and 61 points (36 goals, 25 assists) and adding a +21 rating in 72 games. He continued his hot stretch into the preseason scoring both of Detroit's goals in their 3-2 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last Friday. At 27, Leonard may get another shot at NHL minutes in the future but his best chance is being a late career breakout after playing 70 NHL games in his career so far with the San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators and Arizona Coyotes and failed to put up impressive numbers with six goals and 11 assists for 17 points. Leonard will be a player to monitor but probably no more than an AHL contributor.

William Lagesson 

The 29-year-old journeyman defenseman has long been a depth defenseman toggling between the NHL and AHL. Lagesson played just a pair of games for Detroit last season while spending most of his time in the AHL. In 2024–25, he posted three goals and six assists for nine points and a +13 rating in 23 AHL games. Lagesson’s journey through the NHL has included stops with the Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks. 

Latest Valuation Sees Red Wings Franchise Value Doubled Over Last Four SeasonsLatest Valuation Sees Red Wings Franchise Value Doubled Over Last Four SeasonsA new valuation from Sportico has the Red Wings team value having doubled over the last four seasons, ranking ahead of notable sports teams. 

Sheldon Dries

Dries has spent the bulk of his career in the AHL, gradually carving out a role as a reliable depth forward. In 2024–25, he notched 19 goals and 27 points with a +6 rating over 48 games for Grand Rapids, generating strong interest within the Red Wings organization.  The year prior, while part of the Vancouver Canucks system, he tallied an impressive 29 goals and 23 assists for 52 points in 55 games with their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. Though primarily an AHL presence, Dries has seen NHL action in a fourth-line role, appearing in 122 NHL games but contributing just 26 points.

Alex Doucet

Doucet was a prolific scorer in junior, ranking among QMJHL leaders in 2022–23 with 45 goals in 58 games, 44 assists (89 points), a league‑leading 26.9% shooting percentage, eight shorthanded goals, and 11 power‑play goals. In his first pro season, he split time between the AHL and ECHL: with Toledo of the ECHL, he posted 41 points in 52 games (19 goals, 22 assists) and a +19 rating, while in six appearances with Grand Rapids he logged two penalty minutes and a −2 rating. 

Jakub Rychlovský

Rychlovský arrived in Detroit’s system after a jump season in the Czech Extraliga, where he led the league with 26 goals and added 20 assists for 46 points in 51 games, along with a +8 rating, nine power‑play goals, three shorthanded goals, and five game‑winners. In his first AHL season with Grand Rapids (2024–25), he appeared in 38 games, recording 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points, with 12 penalty minutes and a −1 rating. He missed 27 of the final 29 contests while rehabbing an upper-body injury.

Red Wings Reveal Centennial Jersey Night ScheduleRed Wings Reveal Centennial Jersey Night ScheduleThe 2025-26 NHL season is set to be a historical one for the Detroit Red Wings, who are celebrating their centennial campaign. 

Eduards Tralmaks

Tralmaks signed a one‑year, two‑way deal for 2025–26 after leading the Czech Extraliga in scoring in the 2024–25 season, tallying 23 goals and 28 assists (51 points) in 48 games. In prior AHL stints, he registered 22 goals and 41 total points in 87 career AHL contests. He also had a brief stretch in the ECHL, collecting 4 goals and 7 points in 3 games. 

Carson Bantle

Bantle had shown offensive promise in the ECHL before his tryout. In 15 games with Toledo prior to being recalled, he recorded 10 goals (10 points) and 13 penalty minutes. He made his AHL debut on October 26 against Lehigh Valley and saw limited action in six AHL games (0 points, 6 PIM) before being reassigned. He also scored his first AHL goal in January 2025 during a victory over Rockford. 

Gabriel Seger

Seger is a less-publicized forward, but according to league stats, he appeared in 59 games for Grand Rapids’ organization and recorded 10 goals, 7 assists, and 17 points, along with 10 penalty minutes. His relatively modest totals suggest he is still developing consistency and adjusting to the pro ranks.

Sniped: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård Powers Red Wings To Win Over Blackhawks Sniped: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård Powers Red Wings To Win Over Blackhawks The winless streak of the Detroit Red Wings in pre-season play came to a halt on Tuesday night in the Windy City, and once again, an intriguing young prospect played a key role in the victory.

Alex Kannok-Leipert

Kannok Leipert, a 2018 6th-round NHL draftee, most recently played in the AHL for Bakersfield in 2024–25, posting 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in 59 games, along with 93 penalty minutes and a −1 rating. Before that, he spent three seasons with the Abbotsford Canucks (123 games, 12 points total, 140 PIM, +10 rating) and appeared in 2 Calder Cup Playoff games (1 assist). In junior (WHL with Vancouver Giants), he compiled 83 points (21 goals, 62 assists) in 219 games plus a +47 rating.

Jacob Truscott

Truscott is a defenseman who played collegiate hockey at the University of Michigan. Over his Michigan career, he had modest offensive output: one goal and four assists in 26 games as a freshman, followed by 2 goals and 15 assists in 40 games as a sophomore. He was drafted 144th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2020 and began his professional journey in 2025 with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

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New York Rangers Place Defenseman On Waivers

Casey Fitzgerald (© Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images)

According to PuckPedia, the New York Rangers have placed defenseman Casey Fitzgerald on waivers. 

Fitzgerald spent all of the 2024-25 season with the Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. In 66 games with the AHL squad on the year, the right-shot defenseman recorded five goals, 16 assists, 21 points, and 75 penalty minutes. Overall, the Massachusetts native proved to be a solid part of the Wolf Pack's blueline this past campaign.

If Fitzgerald clears waivers, he will once again be expected to be a key part of the Wolf Pack's defensive group this season. 

Fitzgerald signed a two-year contract with the Rangers during the 2024 NHL off-season but has yet to make his regular-season debut with the Original Six club. He last played at the NHL level during the 2022-23 season, where he posted zero points, three assists, 12 blocks, 35 hits, and a minus-2 rating in 27 games split between the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers. 

Weighing pros, cons of Warriors' veteran roster additions for 2025-26 NBA season

Weighing pros, cons of Warriors' veteran roster additions for 2025-26 NBA season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors strolled into summer with a plan that required flexibility. They would find a way to resolve the Jonathan Kuminga matter and then fill their roster around the nine players already under contract.

They recognized their needs, identified players to fill them, entered negotiations with those players and . . . waited.

And waited.

And waited.

The wait ended Tuesday, the eighth day of autumn and one day into NBA training camp. Incumbents Gary Payton II and Kuminga are back. The new last-minute roster additions are as expected: Seth Curry, Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton.

Golden State’s front office it believes it has a squad capable of contending in the unyielding Western Conference. Moreover, one that can ride its talent and big-game experience to a deep NBA playoff run. Decorated veterans Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green were and are on board with the plan.

We know what Payton brings. We know what Kuminga can bring, and what he wants to bring. But it’s the three new acquisitions that, aside from the vagaries of health, could determine the success of the team. All three should be beneficial, though they come with pros and cons.

Seth Curry

PROS: The Warriors need perimeter shooters off the bench. Curry, along with Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, can terrorize second units. Curry led the NBA in 3-point shooting accuracy at 45.6 percent. His career percentage from deep, 43.3, is second among active players (his more celebrated brother is third).

Curry is a 11-year NBA veteran who has appeared in 41 playoff games, with his 46.8-percent shooting from deep testimony to his efficiency on the big stage. This addition allows coach Steve Kerr to concoct lineups that provide the spacing of his dreams.

CONS: Seth’s defense always has been his most visible liability. He’ll give back some of his buckets on the other end.

VERDICT: Smart move for quality depth. Considering the immense value of deep shooters in today’s NBA – with defending champion Oklahoma City leading the way – Golden State is fortunate that an affordable, low-maintenance individual was available. It doesn’t hurt that he’s the baby brother of the team’s superstar.

Al Horford

PROS:Horford is a high-character professional who should fit nicely with Curry-Butler-Green leadership council.  Moreover, Horford’s floor spacing offsets the lack of spacing afforded by forwards Butler and Green. Horford is a career 37.7-percent shooter from deep but dipped to 36.3 percent last season. Sharing the floor with a Curry should put him closer to the 44.6 and 41.9 percent he shot in the previous two seasons in Boston. How deep is Horford’s playoff resumé? He has played more postseason minutes than anyone on Golden State’s roster.

Kerr has been seeking a floor-spacing big man ever since Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica left the roster three years ago. It’s why general manager Mike Dunleavy signed Dario Šarić in 2023 and drafted Quinten Post in 2024. Horford, 39 years old and still playing solid defense, is a significant upgrade.

CONS: The Warriors have a platoon of “uncles,” and he’s the oldest. Even if uninjured, it’s reasonable to assume he will miss 12-15 games. He’s one of several pet projects for Dr. Rick Celebrini.

VERDICT: Wise move. It’s a risk, but it’s calculated – and very much worth taking for one season at $5.7 million, considering he’s slotted to play 24-28 minutes per night.

De’Anthony Melton

PROS: Melton was a splendid fit last season, earning the starting backcourt spot alongside Stephen Curry ever so briefly before sustaining a season-ending injury to his left ACL last November. If healthy, he likely would have remained the starter.

Melton has been working out, and if he’s healthy – his rehab could carry into the season – his shooting and defensive ability should give him an edge to reclaim that role.

CONS: Melton is coming off surgery to repair that torn ACL and, more concerning, has a history of assorted injuries, the most serious being problems with his back. He’s another project for Celebrini, who has a good track record (see Porter Jr.) managing physiques requiring frequent maintenance.

VERDICT: Very good move, considering the team’s knowledge of Melton’s history and how well he fits the culture. It has potential to be a great move if his defense remains solid and he’s able to play 65-70 games.

In summary, the Warriors’ long-delayed roster remake provides more flexibility and weapons than the one that opened the 2024-25 season. They’re better than they were last October, but whether they are significantly better will be determined mostly by health.

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About Saturday's Lineup…

There was a lot of rough stuff in the game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night in Quebec City. Martin St-Louis' plan was to ice a near complete lineup at the Bell Centre on Saturday but given how the match went on Tuesday, should he alter his plan?


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NHL Waivers: Predators Claim Jost As 37 Players Hit The Wire On Oct. 1

The Nashville Predators claimed Tyson Jost off NHL waivers on Wednesday.

Jost, 27, leaves the Carolina Hurricanes after one season. He recorded four goals and nine points in 39 games last year while also playing 14 games with the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

This pre-season, the center had one assist, 10 shots on goal and 12 penalty minutes in four outings.

The Predators pick up Jost's one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL.

The other 21 players who were on waivers cleared.

On Wednesday, the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Florida PanthersLos Angeles Kings, Predators, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose SharksTampa Bay LightningUtah Mammoth, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets put 37 players on NHL waivers. Here's that list, according to PuckPedia.

  • Boston: Billy Sweezey
  • Colorado: Wyatt Aamodt, Danil Gushchin
  • Detroit: Sheldon Dries, William Lagesson, John Leonard, Ian Mitchell, Dominik Shine, Austin Watson
  • Florida: Mackenzie Entwistle, Nolan Foote, Wilmer Skoog
  • Los Angeles: Samuel Bolduc, Logan Brown, Martin Chromiak, Pheonix Copley, Glenn Gawdin, Cole Guttman, Joe Hicketts, Andre Lee, Akil Thomas, Taylor Ward
  • Nashville: Andreas Englund
  • NY Rangers: Casey Fitzgerald
  • Philadelphia: Lane Pederson
  • San Jose: Patrick Giles
  • Tampa Bay: Nick Abruzzese, Boris Katchouk, Jakob Pelletier
  • Utah: Jaxson Stauber
  • Washington: Louie Belpedio, Graeme Clarke, Henrik Rybinski, Bogdan Trineyev
  • Winnipeg: Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Kale Clague, Samuel Fagemo

The Columbus Blue Jackets also placed defenseman Christian Jaros on unconditional waivers for mutual contract termination.

For each player, the other 31 NHL teams can submit a claim for them before 2 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Gushchin, 23, joined Colorado in a trade with the Sharks in July. He put up an assist in 12 NHL games last season and had a goal and assist in three pre-season contests. The player who went the other way in the trade, Oskar Olausson, cleared waivers on Wednesday.

Watson, 33, has played 528 career NHL games between the Predators, Ottawa Senators,  Lightning and Red Wings. He had three goals and 17 penalty minutes in 13 games with the Wings last year while adding 42 points in 60 AHL games. Of Detroit's batch on the wire, 27-year-old Leonard put up the most pre-season points, with three in three games.

Entwistle, 26, played 67 games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023-24, recording five goals and 11 points. After the Panthers signed him ahead of last season, he played just seven AHL games due to injury issues, but he returned to post three points in eight AHL playoff contests. He had a goal in three pre-season games.

Brown, 27, was a first-round pick in 2016 but has 99 career NHL games. He last played in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues in 2022-23, when he had six points in 30 contests. He had 29 points in 33 AHL games last season. He recorded one shot in a pre-season game.

Englund, 29, has 197 games of NHL experience, including 24 last year in Nashville. He had two assists and 36 penalty minutes. He was a minus-1 with one shot in two pre-season games.

Jakob Pelletier (Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

Pelletier, 24, played 49 NHL games last season between the Calgary Flames and Flyers, recording 19 points. The 2019 first-rounder signed with Tampa Bay this past off-season and scored twice in three games this pre-season.

Anderson-Dolan, 26, has played 134 career NHL games but also featured in five playoff games for the Jets last spring, putting up a goal and assist. He had one assist in three matches this pre-season.

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