Trading for NHL players is a lot like playing the stock market.
Teams are always on the hunt for depressed assets who, for whatever reason, have underperformed in their current situation but may offer more potential value than the opportunity cost of acquiring them.
A quick glance around the league and several targets immediately come to the forefront. Injuries ravaged Michael Kesselring’s season in Buffalo, and he was frequently made a healthy scratch during the postseason. The hulking defenceman only played one game for the Sabres, logging 4:25 of ice time.
In Anaheim, Olen Zellweger and Mason McTavish were similarly made healthy scratches during the Ducks’ postseason run, the latter of whom has had his name surface in reports within the last week.
Sources indicated to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that thSenators were actively scouring the market for a top-six forward, and inevitably, the conversation turned to McTavish.
The 23-year-old centre had a relatively disappointing campaign with the Ducks in which he tallied 17 goals and 41 points in 75 regular season games. It was the fourth consecutive season in which McTavish surpassed 40 points, but the campaign represented a down year after he set career highs in goals (22) and points (52) the season prior.
Naturally, McTavish is going to generate extra interest because he was the third overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and he is a local hockey product. His parents moved from Switzerland, where his father, Dale, played professionally, to Carp when McTavish was just eight years old. McTavish would play for the Ottawa Valley Titans and the Pembroke Lumber Kings before being selected fifth overall in the 2019 OHL Draft by the Peterborough Petes.
There is also the connection to Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios. The two acquired Mason McTavish when they ran the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. And, in one of his first moves after becoming the Senators’ general manager, Staios hired Dale McTavish as a pro scout.
Beyond those connections, the idea of adding McTavish to the fold is intriguing on several fronts.
A lot of attention has been paid to the idea that the Senators need a quick winger for centre Tim Stützle. Especially in the playoffs, where every microcosm of the game is magnified, there were instances where it looked like the shifty German centre would attack the opposition’s end with possession, only to look for support and find none.
The NHL Edge data is not particularly flattering of McTavish’s skating ability.
He ranks below the 50th percentile in both his max skating speed and each speed-burst metric. His presence, however, would afford the organization the flexibility to consider using Dylan Cozens on the wing - a position where he flourished alongside Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby at the World Championships. Cozens finished the tournament recording four goals and seven points in 10 games.
His max skating speed of 22.40 miles per hour ranked in the 84th percentile, while his 22+ miles per hour bursts ranked in the 91st percentile. Cozens had a resurgent 2025-26 campaign, scoring 28 goals and 59 points. They represented his highest totals since his breakout 2022-23 season in Buffalo.
Given the opportunity cost required to acquire a more proven scorer, it may benefit the Senators to target McTavish as a second-line centre and elevate an internal option like Cozens.
Perhaps the organization has suspicions that Cozens’ strong play in 2025-26 was primarily driven by the team’s structure and the fact that his most common linemate was Brady Tkachuk. If the physical, shot-generating Tkachuk is moved off Cozens’ wing and there are concerns that the centre will be hampered by that fact, it could make sense to use Cozens on the wing.
McTavish’s underlying metrics are a bit of a mixed bag to this point. Offensively, there are reasons to believe that his offence can play up.
According to HockeyViz, McTavish’s isolated offensive impacts were strong.
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And, when he was on the ice, Anaheim did a significantly better job at generating chances.
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The opposite can be said about his defence.
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The defensive impacts make sense because the Ducks played a run-and-gun style. They ranked in the top five in shot generation at five-on-five, but gave up almost as many chances as they generated, with the fifth-highest expected goals allowed per 60 in the league.
McTavish played predominantly with rookie Beckett Sennecke and sophomore Cutter Gauthier, so given the team’s structure and the inexperience of his line, it is reasonable to understand why his line gave up its share of scoring chances. Granted, despite that rate, the line still generated 56.55 percent of the shots (CF%), 54.48 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), 56.21 percent of the total goals (GF%), and 58.65 percent of the expected goals (xGF%) per Evolving-Hockey.
The buy-in from the players in Ottawa under Travis Green’s watch has created strong structure and ushered in impressive underlying metrics for seemingly every player. With McTavish’s competitiveness, the hope would be that he could buy in and be part of the solution. His age would certainly align with the window created by the average age of the Senators’ young core.
His situation is reminiscent of what another high pick, Sam Bennett (fourth overall, 2014), experienced in Calgary. After some mildly productive years, Bennett was dealt, in his age-24 season, to the Florida Panthers for a 2022 sixth-round pick and Emil Heineman, along with a 2022 second-round pick. In Florida, Bennett flourished and became an important cog on two championship teams.
McTavish may not develop into Bennett, but the situations are similar. And for that, I believe there is enough under the hood to explore what it may take to bring the centre to Ottawa. The cost will assuredly be higher than what the Panthers paid for Bennett in 2021, but if the Senators perform their due diligence and find that the projected future value outweighs what they would have to give up now, it would make sense.
And if not McTavish, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Senators expand their search for a top-six forward beyond just wingers. If there is one common theme to Steve Staios and his management group, it is that they are diligent and will explore all of their options to make this group better.
SANTO DOMNDO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - MARCH 9: Boston Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry talks with Former Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz before the 2024 Dominican Republic Series game against the Tampa Bay Rays as part of the MLB World Tour at Estadio Quisqueya on March 9, 2024 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
David Ortiz is near-impeachable in these parts and it’s well-earned. He’s plainly the most important player in the history of the Red Sox, and that distinction has spoils, especially for those with whom he danced to get there, both on the field and in the organization. It is for this reason, and several others, including his obvious natural charisma, that he will remain the team’s biggest booster, all on top of being its white knight several times over. So when he recently defended John Henry by way of saying the 76-year-old owner felt “worried” about how the team has turned out, I was like… lmao. Sure. If you say so. I’d probably say the same thing too, even if Henry’s been at the project for six years. But nah. LMAO. Fuck outta here. Love u tho.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after being awarded the Earvin "Magic" Johnson MVP Trophy after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spurs kept their composure and closed out Game 7. Should their poise in the Conference Finals finally put to rest the concerns about their inexperience?
Marilyn Dubinski: They’re going to make mistakes, but so is everybody else, and they’ve put this narrative to rest. They showed that an alleged “lack of experience” can be overcome with maturity, togetherness, chemistry, good coaching, and of course talent. A theory that has been building in my head is that last year was the “experience” year (i.e. win, lose, learn and grow), and they would have gotten that playoff experience had Victor Wembanyama not gotten deep vein thrombosis. Sure, it got cut short and they came into this season with a lack of “playoff” experience, but they do know what losing feels like, and they also have a lot of guys who have that experience at other levels, whether it’s Wemby in Europe or the Olympics, Castle at UConn, etc. Maybe even the NBA Cup Finals was that “losing experience” they needed. That’s my theory, at least.
Mark Barrington: The Silver and Black made a ton of critical mistakes headed down the stretch of Game 7, with turnovers from Harper and Castle giving the Thunder chances to bring the margin down to two scores several times in the last couple of minutes. But partially thanks to Luke Kornet’s timely block and some incredible rebounding and putbacks, they overcame their poor plays with some really good ones. So, I think the inexperience is still a big concern, but the fact is that the team is so talented and resourceful that they were able to overcome it by not dwelling on the mistakes and making more positive plays than the negative ones, assisted by one veteran hustle play from Luke to make it to the end. I still have concerns, but I also have confidence in the team’s mental toughness to work hard and smart enough to win, even with inevitable mistakes along the way.
Jacob Douglas: I’d encourage anyone still considering this narrative to go watch Mitch Johnson’s locker room speech after Game Seven. It puts into perspective everything this team has been through in the last 7-8 months. This is a team that is much more mature than its age. As some of the other writers have pointed out, they are still making some silly, immature mistakes. However, it’s the team’s toughness and resilience that overcome their youth. This is a team that is not afraid of anyone, nor of the moment. That kind of mental willpower overcomes a lot of their “inexperience”.
Bill Huan: The Spurs have proven that they’re good enough to overcome the experience deficiency, and even if they lose in the finals, I don’t think it will be because of their inexperience. I see their youth as both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because of their athleticism and ability to maintain the energy needed for a long postseason run, but also a curse when they make some boneheaded plays, especially in crunch time. For example, even in game 7, Castle’s lob to Wemby was stolen by Dort on that final inbounds play, which came on the heels of him turning it over on the previous possession. Fox should’ve had the ball down the stretch, and he showed his veteran savviness by fouling to get their defense set, which will go down as one of the most underappreciated plays of this entire run. Still, given that they just beat the defending champs, I don’t think the inexperience card can be played anymore.
Devon Birdsong: I suppose that depends on what we’re terming experience at this point. If experience just means no previous postseasons, I’d say I think that ignores the value of the current postseason, which has been challenging enough to count for multiple postseasons for some teams. They survived injuries to their superstar. They’ve taken down a recent Western Conference finalist. They took down the defending champions. They’ve pretty much subverted the entire idea of concerns at this point. A game or two will likely slip away because of inconsistency, but it’ll be hard to argue that that’s because of youth alone, because there are plenty of ‘more experienced’ teams who didn’t make it here because they were more inconsistent than these youngsters. I expressed earlier in the postseason that this is a team of assassins, of gangsters, of silent killers. At this point, my biggest concern is that they’ll start taking themselves too seriously.
Jeje Gomez: I think at this point the concern should be put to rest. If they happen to lose the Finals, it won’t be because they are young and inexperienced. Even if they benefited from key injuries to opponents on their way there, they took down two seasoned teams with impressive, gutsy wins while occasionally dealing with absences of their own. Adversity didn’t deter them, and no one looked afraid of the moment. They are ready.
Wembanyama won MVP of the Conference Finals. Who was the second most important Spur?
Dubinski: It could be any one of the guard trio, as they all had their highs and lows that showed how important they are. Castle was their second-best scorer in the series, played great defense and was steady across the board, but his limitations as a ball-handler were exposed with 20 TO’s in Games 1 and 2 without Fox. In turn, that made Fox’s mere presence super important for managing the game and limiting turnovers, even if he struggled to score at times due to his ankle injury. That being said, I’m going to go out on a limb (and probably differ from everyone else) and say Harper because he is the biggest wildcard of the group. Outside of Wemby, perhaps the biggest deciding factor in each game was if the Spurs’ bench would hold on when he sat, and when Harper was out for most of Game 2 or ineffective from games 3-5 with the sore adductor, it was a much bigger hurdle for them to overcome. When he was on point in games 1 (which he admittedly started), 6 and 7, the Spurs had the upper hand almost the entire time.
Barrington: Castle’s toughness and relentless effort on both ends of the court makes him the engine of the team, while Harper’s smoothness and patient demeanor allowed him to break down the defense in the paint anytime he wasn’t double teamed, and he made the good teammate play of the game by making sure that Castle didn’t go after Caruso after his dangerous takedown on a breakaway fast break that was puzzlingly ruled to be just a common foul. Stephon was rightfully mad at being knocked out of the air from behind in what looked like a dirty play, but if he had retaliated, it would have been bad for the Spurs, and Dylan stepped in to keep him from getting a costly technical foul or worse. It’s hard for me to choose between those two guys, because they both bring good things to the team, and they have complementary skills.
Douglas: It’s hard for me to pick between Castle and Vassell. The edge goes to Castle because of his two-way impact and overall toughness, but I am more excited to talk about Vassell. This felt like the first series where we saw the realization of Vassell’s potential. A legit two-way wing who can create his shot off the bounce when needed. He took on a pretty tough defensive challenge in Chet Holmgren and thrived. He spent time guarding SGA and survived. He hit big shots on offense and made game-breaking steals and blocks on the other end. His motor was running at an all-time high. It’s exactly the type of performance that you hope for from your 4th or 5th option.
Huan: Castle. He had three rough turnover games and two bad shooting nights, but his playmaking, defensive intensity, and overall toughness were always present. In a series where Fox and Harper were either banged up or sidelined, Castle had a huge burden on his shoulders and stepped up as well as one could hope. Outside of Wemby, he’s the primary reason why Shai struggled so much, and there was not a single moment where I thought he was rattled, even during the high turnover games. Vassell deserves a shoutout too, as he made timely buckets and was also a huge reason why the perimeter defense was so suffocating.
Birdsong: In that series, I think it has to be Harper. Castle is close due to his defensive assignment, but the Spurs were losing when their bench couldn’t outscore the Thunder bench. As important as Keldon is, it was Harper who was keeping the bench afloat most of the time, and it’s no coincidence that the Spurs won when he had great games. Castle is a very close (and highly defensible) second choice, though. He really put SGA in the dungeon (with help) and that was the other gigantic factor in my mind.
Gomez: I’m tempted to say Vassell, because he made a lot of big plays and even more smaller ones that mattered a lot, but I’ll give Castle the nod. Even when he made mistakes, and there were a lot of them early in the series, he was being aggressive, which is hugely important to set the tone for this team. The two-way production was there, too. It was a team effort, but Wembanyama and Castle led the way in many ways.
If you had to describe why the Spurs won in one word, what would that word be and why?
Dubinski: Determination. We already talked about how the Spurs overcame the supposed “lack of experience” problem, and this was another way: they just flat-out wanted it more. (This is not to say the Thunder didn’t want it, of course they did, but there’s no denying that in watching those last two games, the Spurs just had more fire in their eyes.) We saw it in the Big Three era, when we knew that Tim, Tony and Manu all had the right combination of willpower and talent to make what was in their control happen, and that same level of determination can be seen in this group.
Barrington: Resilience. The Thunder threw so many different things at the Spurs and made the Spurs have to adjust and change their approach from game to game to adapt and overcome the different types of OKC strategies. Daigneault did a great job at switching up lineups and defenses (partly necessitated by injuries) to keep the Spurs off balance, and while these strategies often worked as a one-shot, the Spurs would always respond with effective counters the next game. It was a coaching duel until Game 7, at least, where the coaches ran out of ammo and the most talented team took the win.
Douglas: Strategy. It felt like Mitch Johnson was constantly tweaking the game plan to give his team an edge. Once the Thunder’s role players started to hit shots, the Spurs stopped doubling SGA so early. In Game Six, they went to an empty-side pick-and-roll play that got them multiple good looks early in the game to get their offense in a flow. In Game Seven, they flooded the strong side when SGA had the ball to try to throw off his rhythm and disrupt OKC’s offense. The game plan was constantly evolving to give the Spurs an edge. Yes, OKC was beat up and shorthanded, so Mark Daignault had a more difficult coaching task. But I thought Johnson outcoached him in this series.
Huan: Poise. We talked about this team’s inexperience, yet somehow the lights never seemed too bright for them. To go into the defending champ’s arena and snatch their soul in one of the most consequential games in recent memory proved that the Spurs are tough as nails, which will bode well now that they’ll be entering the most raucous stadium in perhaps all of sports.
Birdsong: Attitude. It was one thing to put the defending champions away on their home court. It was another to end it with a statement dunk instead of just running out the clock. Poise, and resilience, and all those other factors are so reliant/dependent on what these Spurs think they’re capable of. Their declaration about ‘not caring’ wasn’t a declaration of apathy so much as a mission statement about their animosity for the very concept of needed experience. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Spurs team with swagger like this. They’re not just looking to beat you, they’re looking to punk you if they catch you sleeping, and they will absolutely embarrass you and put on a display while they do it. In the end, there’s always a possibility that will be their downfall, but I’d also be willing to argue that that’s the only reason that they got where they are in the first place. This team has the audacity. Now we’re going to see if they can turn that into something more substantial.
Gomez: Talent. It might seem like saying they won because they had more talent is somehow shortchanging the coaching staff or the character of the players, but it isn’t. Less talented teams prevail all the time. It takes more to win and the Spurs also had the intangibles. But it shouldn’t be overlooked how good the guys getting minutes for San Antonio were, and that edge was one of the main reasons they advanced. To be fair, the Thunder were missing an All-NBA performer, but the Spurs had more top-end talent in their rotation, which is an impressive feat from the front office.
Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Adelman died on Monday, June 1. He was 79.
One of Adelman's former teams, the Sacramento Kings, and the NBA Coaches Association (NBCA) announced the news that day. A cause of death has not been revealed.
Adelman spent 29 seasons as a coach in the NBA and reached the playoffs 16 times, including two Finals appearances with the Portland Trail Blazers. The coach, known for his stoic nature, had stints with the Kings, Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. He is 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins and 12th in total games coached at 1,791.
The Kings said the organization was "deeply saddened" by Adelman's death.
“During his eight seasons in Sacramento, he led the team to unprecedented success and helped create some of the most memorable moments in franchise history," the team said in a statement. "For an entire generation of Kings fans, Coach Adelman represented the very best of Sacramento basketball, and he will be remembered for the way he inspired those around him – with humility, integrity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the power of teamwork."
Adelman created a basketball family. His younger son, David, shadowed him growing up and is now the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. His older son, RJ, was an assistant coach for him with the Rockets and then the director of player personnel for the Timberwolves before he was killed when he was hit by a car in 2018. His oldest daughter, Kathy, won a basketball state championship in high school and was a girls high school basketball coach in the Portland area for more than 20 years.
Tributes poured in from across the internet mourning the passing of the 2021 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee.
Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors pay tribute to Rick Adelman
Many of the teams Rick Adelman coached for mourned his passing on social media. Besides the Kings tribute, the Warriors and Rockets also shared fond memories of the coach.
"The Houston Rockets and the Fertitta Family mourn the passing of Rick Adelman, one of the most respected and influential figures in NBA history," the Rockets said in an X post. "During his four seasons in Houston, Coach Adelman guided the Rockets with professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to the game. His role in leading the team during the 22-game winning streak in 2008 remains one of the most remarkable achievements in franchise history and will always be remembered by Rockets fans."
"Rick Adelman left an indelible mark on the NBA during his nearly four decades in the league, both as a player for seven seasons and as a coach for 29 seasons, including two seasons with the Warriors (1995-97)," the Warriors said in a statement. "His creativity and ingenuity led his teams to 1,042 wins during his illustrious coaching career, the 10th-most in NBA history, and earned him entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. We extend our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and the hundreds of lives he impacted, both on and off the court, throughout a legendary career."
The Sacramento Kings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a beloved coach whose leadership, character, and vision helped define an era of Kings basketball that inspired our city and captivated fans around the world.
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) June 1, 2026
Rick Adelman left an indelible mark on the NBA during his nearly four decades in the league, both as a player for seven seasons and as a coach for 29 seasons, including two seasons with the Warriors (1995-97).
The Houston Rockets and the Fertitta Family mourn the passing of Rick Adelman, one of the most respected and influential figures in NBA history.
During his four seasons in Houston, Coach Adelman guided the Rockets with professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to the… pic.twitter.com/p3Zdr60y8s
Several journalists paid respects to Rick Adelman and gave insight into his life as an NBA coach and father. Two of his children, David and Kathy, are still carrying on his legacy as coaches.
Aside from being one of the winningest coaches of all time, Rick Adelman’s influence on David is obvious to anyone who watches the Nuggets. Erik Spoelstra told me that 10-year-old David would pull film edits in Rick’s home office and eagerly show Spo what Rick was working on. RIP https://t.co/ewsTA2mCkx
Adelman's fingerprints are all over the hoops scene here in Portland, both because of his time with the Blazers and his children who also had huge impacts.
You know about David, but his daughter Kathy also was a standout with the Portland Pilots and coached at two high schools… https://t.co/fv1R5WkNNY
UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 10: Rick Adelman addresses the media during the Class of 2021 Press Conference as part of the 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 10, 2021 at the Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA lost a Hall of Famer on Monday, and one with ties to the Golden State Warriors. According to an announcement from the National Basketball Coaches Association, the legendary Rick Adelman has died at the age of 79.
Adelman was a head coach for a whopping 23 NBA seasons, while also spending six years as an assistant coach. He coached five different franchises and amassed a record of 1,042-749, and sits 10th all-time in the win column. Adelman made the playoffs 16 different times, and finished with a 79-78 record, which included winning the Western Conference twice while with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The basketball lifer spent two seasons at the helm for the Warriors, coaching them to a 36-46 record in 1995-96, and a 30-52 record in 1996-97, before being fired. While those records aren’t very good, they were better than before he took over, as the Dubs went 26-56 the season before hiring Adelman.
While Adelman was best known for his lengthy coaching career, he also played in the NBA. After starring at Loyola Marymount, where he was a WCC Player of the Year winner, Adelman was drafted in the seventh round of the 1968 draft by the San Diego Rockets. He spent seven years as a point guard in the NBA, and played for five different franchises.
In 2021, Adelman was inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 2023, he was honored by the Coaches Association with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.
While Adelman is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in the NBA. His son David — one of six children — is currently the head coach of the Denver Nuggets.
Two of the Mets' regulars will be in Triple-A this week as they continue working their way back from injury.
Francisco Alvarez is officially set to take a huge step in his recovery, as he will kick off a rehab assignment Tuesday, catching four innings behind the plate for Syracuse.
The young backstop has progressed incredibly following meniscus surgery on May 14.
Alvarez was able to hit, catch bullpens, block, run the bases an d throw over the past couple of days before the training staff gave him the okay to take the final step in his recovery.
Kodai Senga will then toe the rubber on Wednesday night, making his third appearance during his rehab assignment, and his second up with Syracuse.
The right-hander struggled a bit during his first one with the team last week, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and a pair of walks across just 3.2 innings.
He's expected to throw roughly 85 pitches this time around, and Mendoza said that the team will see how he fares and feels afterwards before deciding his next step.
Senga has been sidelined since late April due to lumbar spine inflammation.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: TJ Shook #89 of the Colorado Rockies gets set to throw a pitch during a Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies announced today that they have made three moves that affect their pitching staff:
Selected the contract of right-handed pitcher TJ Shook (#52) from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Optioned right-handed pitcher Zach Agnos to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Transferred left-handed pitcher Welinton Herrera to the 60-day injured list.
TJ Shook, 28, was selected by the Rockies in the Minor League Phase of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft from the New York Mets and has spent the 2026 season in Triple-A Albuquerque. In 22 appearances, the right-hander has gone 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA that includes seven saves, eight walks and 29 strikeouts. He leads the PCL in saves and is tied for second in appearances.
Shook was originally signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 out of the University of South Carolina, and has a 34-23 record with 20 saves and a 4.30 ERA over six minot league seasons (151 appearances).
He will be making his MLB debut.
Meanwhile, Zach Agnos was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. This comes after a terrific start on May 21 that saw him pitch five one-hit, shutout innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Unfortunately, since then, Agnos has allowed 14 earned runs combined over his last two outings (three total innings pitched). Agnos has been up-and-down all season, but given the last two outings, the Rockies decided to send him to ABQ for a reset.
The most unfortunate news, though, is that of rookie left-hander Welinton Herrera (No. 17 PuRP) being transferred to the 60-day IL after being diagnosed with left elbow inflammation on Saturday. He was originally recalled when José Quintana suffered an elbow injury last Sunday, and made three excellent appearances out of the bullpen (2.1 IP) — allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out two (the first of which was a failed ABS challenge by Dodgers’ catcher Daulton Rushing).
This brings Brennan Bernardino back to being the lone lefty in the bullpen.
MILWAUKEE — Hector Borg didn’t last long as the Giants’ third-base coach, and his interim replacement, Ron Wotus, doesn’t seem to be long for the gig, either.
The Giants are in discussions with Gary Pettis to become first-year manager Tony Vitello’s third third base coach in as many months, a major-league source confirmed Monday afternoon.
The Giants are making another change on rookie manager Tony Vitello’s staff, adding Gary Pettis to serve as third base coach. Getty Images
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the sides were in agreement, though the Giants have not announced anything and Vitello indicated they were still not yet across the finish line.
“Definitely closer,” the manager said before the Giants began a four-game series against the Brewers. “There’s been a couple twists and turns to it.”
Pettis, 68, is a veteran third-base coach, most recently holding the title for 10 years under three different managers with the Astros until his contract wasn’t renewed after 2024. Before that, he coached third and first on Ron Washington’s staff with the Rangers for eight seasons.
An Oakland native, Pettis’ name should be familiar for local sports fans: Dante Pettis, the former 49ers receiver, is one of his four children. He also played 11 big-league seasons as an outfielder and a speed demon for the Angels, Tigers, Rangers and Padres.
The Giants reassigned Borg to a player development role and elevated Wotus before their weekend series against the Rockies that began the road trip.
Borg, in his first season on the major-league staff after two decades in the organization, became the center of attention for the wrong reasons too many times. The tipping point apparently came in the finale of their home stand Wednesday, when he waved Willy Adames into an out at home plate in a 3-2 loss that finished off a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks.
Already with one of the worst records in the MLB, manager Tony Vitello is now on his third third base coach in just his rookie season. Getty Images
Despite an emphasis in spring training, San Francisco has been the worst base-running team in the majors, according to FanGraphs’ all-encompassing metric.
Entering Monday, the Giants had been thrown out on the bases 18 times, tied for the ninth-most of any team, including seven times at home plate.
Wotus, the longest-tenured coach in the organization, was in the third-base coach’s box for the first time Friday in Denver and remained there to begin their series against the Brewers.
Wotus, officially a senior adviser, has been in the dugout for home games but has not traveled regularly with the team since he retired from coaching full-time after 2021.
There's certainly no love lost between Ottawa Senators fans and Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher.
So when Gallagher announced to the Montreal media on Monday that his time with the Canadiens was coming to an end, Senators fans likely viewed the moment a little differently than those in Montreal.
For Canadiens fans, Gallagher was the undersized, go-through-a-wall, heart-and-soul player who spent 14 seasons giving everything he had to the organization. Love him or hate him, he carved out an impressive NHL career and clearly wasn't prepared for the emotions that came with admitting his time in Montreal was over.
"I got to do it for 14 years now and it's not lost on me how special it was to call the Bell Centre home,’ Gallagher told the media.” The very first time I stepped foot in this organization, management, coaches, teammates I've had along the years. I can't (say enough good things). There's been ups and downs, but I don't have a single regret.
“It's pretty clear, I'll be kind of moving on here, but you know, I'm incredibly, incredibly..."
With that, Gallagher got emotional.
Gallagher still has a year left on his contract, which pays him $6.5 million. The 34-year-old is coming off his least productive season as a pro, recording 23 points in 77 games. While the Canadiens enjoyed a lengthy playoff run, Gallagher appeared in just three games, scoring one goal.
Whether his next step is a trade, buyout, or retirement remains to be seen. What isn't in doubt is that Gallagher leaves behind a memorable legacy in Montreal.
But in Ottawa, part of his legacy will always be tied to Tim Stützle.
Gallagher famously called out the young Senators star for embellishment following a game in April of 2022. Stützle had taken a knee-on-knee hit from Nick Suzuki and remained down on the ice for about 30 seconds before getting up and finishing the game. Gallagher wasn't impressed.
"You know, there's kids watching," Gallagher said. "We're role models. If I was a teammate of his, I'd tell him to smarten up. You know, it's just not a good look. Very talented player, very good player. He needs to stop laying on the ice. It's embarrassing."
The comments generated headlines across the hockey world and helped fuel an excellent Atlantic Division rivalry.
The irony, at least from Ottawa's perspective, was that Stützle was actually injured on the play. He gutted it out for the rest of that night, but missed the next two games against Nashville and the New York Rangers with a lower-body injury.
Nick Suzuki apologized for the hit, but Gallagher never walked back his take-down of Stützle. D.J. Smith would later say that after Gallagher's comments, he noticed an uptick in players from other teams taking runs at Stutzle.
At the time of the comments, Gallagher was a 30-year-old veteran in the league, while Stützle was 20 and wrapping up his second NHL season. Rather than escalating the situation, Stutzle chose not to react.
"I respect (Gallagher) as a player. Everyone has their own opinion. He's a veteran player. I have my opinion. That's all I want to say about it."
While Senators fans saw an older NHL player unfairly calling out one of the league's emerging young stars, Canadiens fans saw a beloved veteran standing up for what he believed.
Years later, opinions on the incident haven't changed much on either side.
Now, with Gallagher's Montreal career coming to an end, Canadiens fans will remember him as a fiery, buzzsaw player who was more than happy to bleed for the brand. Senators fans will remember him as a pain in the butt and a player they loved to hate.
Either way, Brendan Gallagher made sure nobody was indifferent.
It looks as though it was one-and-done for Eduards Tralmaks and the Detroit Red Wings organization.
Tralmaks, who was signed by the Red Wings last March to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season, has signed a contract in Czechia - but also made it clear that if an opportunity to return to North America presented itself, he would consider it.
(Translated from Latvian)
"I’ll be ready, I have a signed contract in Czechia, however, if an NHL offer comes my way, I can still consider it and go back to the NHL," Tralmaks explained. "This is the month when hockey ends and agent work begins. I think that in a month and a half we’ll see where I’ll be in the future."
🚨 “Būšu godīgs, man ir parakstīts līgums Čehijā, tomēr, ja man parādās NHL piedāvājums, es to tāpat varu izskatīt un braukt atpakaļ uz NHL. Šis ir mēnesis, kad hokejs ir beidzies un sākas aģenta darbs. Domāju, ka pusotra mēneša laikā redzēsim, kur būšu nākotnē,” atzina hokejists… pic.twitter.com/QEwdeRH4PJ
Tralmaks appeared in 64 regular-season games this season for the Grand Rapids Griffins, finishing fourth overall in total team scoring with 26 goals and 16 assists and helping them become the first AHL club in decades to clinch a playoff spot in February.
His 26 goals were second overall on the club behind only John Leonard's 33 goals. He also registered four goals in eight Calder Cup Playoff games.
Before signing with the Red Wings, Tralmaks played with Rytíři Kladno in the Czech Extraliga, and led the club in scoring with 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 total points, which were good for the most of any player in Czechia’s top professional league.
He did have previous experience playing in North America, spending several years with the University of Maine before collecting 41 total points in parts of three seasons with the Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Boston Bruins.
Tralmaks also previously played for the EHL's Boston Jr. Bandits as well as the Chicago Steel of the USHL.
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Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) hits a two run home run against the Miami Marlins.
SEATTLE — Marcus Semien’s numbers with runners in scoring position haven’t been the issue as much as his production the rest of the time.
Unfortunately for the Mets, the vast majority of the veteran infielder’s at-bats this season have occurred the rest of the time. But over the last week, there’s been an uptick in Semien’s all-around performance.
“There have been lots of ups and downs, but the work never stops,” Semien said before going 1-for-3 with a home run and a strikeout. “That is what I love about this game is we have eight months to basically work as hard as we can to get to the point where we are playing in the game and the ball slows down a little bit and we’re swinging well.”
Even with his recent surge, Semien began play with an anemic .615 OPS for the season. Among his troubling underlying numbers are an average exit velocity of 86.1 mph that ranked in MLB’s ninth percentile. His average bat speed of 68.4 mph also ranked in MLB’s ninth percentile.
Semien went 5-for-10 with a homer in a three-game sweep of the Marlins that completed the homestand. It was a contributing factor to one of the Mets’ best series offensively this season after a dreadful showing the previous weekend in Miami. Over those three games the Mets scored only two runs and got swept.
Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) hits a two run home run against the Miami Marlins. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I think we learned from the series in Miami what worked against us,” Semien said. “And I think that is what this league is always about is making adjustments when the other team has really good stuff. They threw us a lot of offspeed pitches even though they have high velocity, too, so you have to be able to handle velocity but get it in the right spot … we chased a lot. It’s never going to be perfect but if everybody goes with that approach, that was part of the conversation.”
Semien entered the day with an .830 OPS with runners in scoring position. Included into that equation was a .354 batting average (17-for-48) in such instances.
Manager Carlos Mendoza described Semien as “short to the ball and quick” when he’s successful offensively.
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“He’s not missing pitches there, controlling the strike zone a little bit better,” Mendoza said. “We are going to need him. It’s been hard for him, but this guy is going to continue to play and grind out. It was good to see him continue to get results.”
Juan Soto continues to carry the Mets lineup, but the Mets received big contributions from Carson Benge, Mark Vientos and Jared Young, among others, in building the four-game winning streak they took into play.
Semien, who won a Gold Glove at second base last year with Texas, can appreciate the team’s defensive growth — with the addition of rookie A.J. Ewing to join Benge in the outfield — as much as the offensive resurgence.
“A lot of those balls are being hit over my head and you feel like they are going to be doubles or triples and they are running them down,” Semien said “It’s a good feeling and it makes our pitchers feel like they can be confident in the zone. Their talent is through the roof and experience is how they are going to get better every day.”
Rick Adelman, the winningest coach in Sacramento Kings history and Basketball Hall of Famer, has died.
He was 79. His cause of death is unknown.
Adelman, a Lynwood, Calif. native who starred at Pius X High School in Downey outside of Los Angeles, led the Kings to the playoffs in all eight of his seasons at the helm from 1998-2006.
His 395 wins are the most in franchise history, and his 1,042 regular-seasons wins are 10th-most among coaches in NBA history.
Rick Adelman, the winningest coach in Kings history, had died at the age of 79. NBAE via Getty Images
“The Sacramento Kings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a beloved coach whose leadership, character, and vision helped define an era of Kings basketball that inspired our city and captivated fans around the world,” the team wrote on X.
“During his eight seasons in Sacramento, he led the team to unprecedented success and helped create some of the most memorable moments in franchise history. For an entire generation of Kings fans, Coach Adelman represented the very best of Sacramento basketball, and he will be remembered for the way he inspired those around him – with humility, integrity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the power of teamwork. His leadership helped establish a culture that continues to resonate throughout our organization today.
“Our thoughts are with Mary Kay, his family, friends, former players, and all who loved him.”
Rick Adelman (r.) talks to Kings guard Mike Bibby (l.) in 2006. NBAE via Getty Images
Adelman, drafted by the San Diego Rockets out of Loyola Marymount in 1968, played parts of seven NBA seasons for the Rockets, Trail Blazers, Bulls, New Orleans Jazz and Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
He began his coaching career at Chemeketa Community College in 1977 before joining the Trail Blazers as an assistant in 1983. He took over as Portland’s head coach in 1989, leading them to the NBA Finals twice; they lost to the Pistons in 1990 and the Bulls in 1992.
After he was fired in 1994, Adelman sat out a year before taking over the Warriors gig in 1995. He was fired after two disappointing seasons before getting the Kings job in 1998.
The Kings went 16 years without a playoff appearance after Adelman left, and they haven’t won a playof series since 2004.
“Adelman will be remembered not only as a coach and a player, but also as a mentor to so many in the basketball community,” the NBA Coaches Association wrote on X.
SAN ANTONIO — The final frontier awaits. What the Knicks have dreamt of since childhood, what they’ve chased as men.
On a team that won the Eastern Conference for the first time in 27 years and is seeking its first title in 53 years, OG Anunoby is the only player with a ring, but he has never played a minute in the NBA Finals. Jordan Clarkson made the trip with the 2018 Cavaliers, but barely saw the floor in Cleveland’s four-game sweep against Golden State.
Only Mikal Bridges has seen significant action on this stage, starting for the Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Phoenix entered that series against Milwaukee as the favorite and won the first two games by double digits, leaving the level-headed swingman uncharacteristically overconfident that he would be adding another ring to his collection from Villanova.
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges celebrates after a 3-pointer during the second half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
“I remember going up 2-0 [and] I thought we was good,” Bridges told teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart on the “Roommates Show” in 2024. “We ’bout to win the chip, especially in the West, especially then, the West all had tough teams. East, we were like, whatever … We go see Milwaukee, we’re over here like, ‘Pfft.’ I’m like, ‘It’s light. It’s the East. It’s Milwaukee. I know they got Giannis [Antetokounmpo] and obviously they got hoopers, but the West is tougher than the East.’ We’re like, ‘We good.’ Go up 2-0, we’re looking like, ‘Exactly. This is what we’ve been talking about. It’s the East, bruh. We’re about to win this.’ And then they went on to win four straight. I just couldn’t believe it.”
Bridges was a big reason the Suns were in position to win their first NBA title, scoring 27 points in Game 2 to put his team in control. But the former Villanova star disappeared in the final four games, averaging just over four shots per game despite hitting 53 percent from the field and nearly 43 percent on 3-pointers in the series.
Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals on June 20, 2021 at Fiserv Forum. NBAE via Getty Images
Five years later, Bridges, 29, has put his fingerprints all over the Knicks’ dominant postseason run. Since being benched during a scoreless performance in Game 3 of the first-round series against Atlanta, he has demonstrated newfound aggressiveness, averaging 18.7 points (shooting over 62 percent from the field) while shutting down multiple All-Star guards on the other end of the floor.
Bridges has helped the Knicks build one of the longest postseason winning streaks of all time (11), along with the largest point differential (+19.4 per game) of any team ever to reach the NBA Finals.
But a title will never be taken for granted again.
“[There are] a lot of questions, a lot of talk about how great we are, how great we’ve been,” Bridges recently said. “It doesn’t matter. We just got to worry about being ourselves and stay locked in.
“It’s great to get there, but that’s not our main goal.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 19: Starting pitcher Landen Roupp #65 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 19, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, it’s time for a new series. I’m not sure if that’s the good news or the bad news, but the San Francisco Giants are in cheeseland for a quartet of games against the Milwaukee Brewers.
It begins tonight, with right-hander Landen Roupp on the mound. Through 11 starts, Roupp is 3-3 with a 3.30 ERA, a 2.66 FIP, and 68 strikeouts to 22 walks in 60 innings. He pitched five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last start, giving up four runs and two earned runs.
On the other side is lefty Shane Drohan, a rookie. Drohan is an opener for the Brewers, and in 11 games is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA, a 2.38 FIP, and 28 strikeouts to eight walks in 27.1 innings. He tossed two shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in his last game.
Brendan Gallagher Was A Great Canadien. Here's Why Ottawa Fans Remember Him DifferentlyCanadiens fans will remember Brendan Gallagher as a heart-and-soul player. Senators fans remember a fierce rival who was never afraid to stir the pot. 
